01 July, 2016

Meet Candida Auris, The Drug-Resistant Yeast Infection That Kills Up To 60% Of Those Infected

Meet Candida Auris, The Drug-Resistant Yeast Infection That Kills Up To 60% Of Those Infected

Most women — and some men — are familiar with yeast infections. While they are no doubt an uncomfortable nuisance, they are rarely dangerous. Or at least we would hope. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new strain of drug-resistant yeast infections has recently been reported spreading throughout the globe. Not only is it resistant to medications, it’s also highly fatal.

The new strain of infection-causing yeast is known as Candida auris, and unlike its cousin Candida albicans, this version has developed a complete resistance to the antifungal medications used to combat it. C. auris was first identified in 2009, when it was seen in the ear discharge from a patient in Japan.

According to a CDC alert, there have been reports from health facilities worldwide claiming that the fungus is behind serious, and at times fatal, infections. Unlike C. albicans infections, which present in moist areas like the genitals and mouth, C. auris infections are typically found in the urinary and respiratory tract. In addition, rather than irritating the skin, these infections can lead to serious blood and wound infections.

So far, the strain has been identified in nine countries throughout four continents: Japan, South Korea, India, South Africa, Kuwait, Colombia, Venezuela, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. The CDC bulletin warns, however, that the new strain is especially difficult to track because most hospitals are not equipped with the tools needed to identify it, The Chicago Tribune reported. Health officials in the United States have been asked to look out for potential cases of the infection.

Without a way to combat this new strain of yeast, the death toll has been alarmingly high — 60 percent of patients with the infection have died already, The Washington Post reported. Additionally, at least two countries have reported outbreaks of C. auris infections involving more than 30 patients.
Although yeast infections can occur on nearly any part of the body, they are most common in the vagina because there’s already a natural mix of yeast living inside. They typically develop from antibiotic use — which inadvertently kills immune cells that control yeast populations — as well as from pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, and taking oral contraceptives.

Officials have reported that C. auris is mainly being contracted in long-stay hospitals, where patients risk infection from contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment. Common risk factors among patients who’ve contracted the fungus include recently undergoing surgery and using a catheter. The CDC says that properly cleaning equipment and accurately reporting cases of the infection are the first step to controlling C. auris.

Microsoft is giving students a free Xbox One with Surface Pro 4 purchases

Microsoft is tempting students to buy a Surface Pro 4 this week with a new promotion running at its retail stores in the US. The software maker is taking $300 off when students buy a Surface Pro 4 and Xbox One. "So basically a free Xbox One with the purchase of a Surface Pro 4," says Terry Myerson, head of Windows and devices at Microsoft, in an interview with The Verge. The deal goes live today and will run until August 14th.

The timing of Microsoft's deal comes just a week after the company revealed it's ending production of its Surface 3 devices by the end of the year. Microsoft originally aimed the Surface 3 at students looking for a cheaper version of its popular Surface Pro devices, and it's not clear whether a successor will ever arrive now. Most rumors have suggested Microsoft will focus on its Surface Pro and Surface Book devices with a refresh planned next year. Microsoft has typically launched its Surface Pro devices in time for the fall.

I asked Myerson if there were any plans for a Windows 10 October update, like there are for the Xbox One, that would typically accompany new devices. "Increasingly as we go out into the fall, it's a natural time for us to focus on new devices from our partners and from Microsoft," explains Myerson. "The Xbox One S will be shipping, but also many new devices will be available from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Asus, Microsoft, and others." That sounds like a hint that new Microsoft devices could be launching this year, but if anything it could be a refresh of Microsoft's Band wearable or the rumoured Xbox TV devices that didn't arrive at E3. "The fall time frame is really just a great time frame to celebrate new devices."

THE MOST COMFORTABLE SMARTWATCHES 2K16

The smartwatch is the mother of all smartphone accessories. It can tell the time, of course, but it can also beam important notifications straight to your wrist, and run native apps.

What's more impressive is that many of today's best models can also perform a ton of novel tricks, such as enabling you to search the internet with your voice, tracking your exercise over GPS, and letting you check-out at the grocery store without reaching for your wallet.

Oh yeah – and lots of them look absolutely stunning to boot.

Article continues below

For some time, jumping into the world of smartwatches was a risky move. But now, with competent efforts put forward from Google with Android Wear, Apple with watchOS, and more, there's never been a better time to strap up with wearable technology.

Choosing the smartwatch that's right for you isn't easy, but we hope to make the exciting process of getting paired up with your next (or first!) smartwatch as simple as possible.

1. Samsung Gear S2

Samsung is finally a real smartwatch contender

Innovative rotating bezel

Works with many Android phones

Too few apps

The Samsung Gear S2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market. It really feels like a step forward in smartwatch design. Plus, its rotating bezel and Tizen OS are genuinely useful innovations.

The Super AMOLED screen on the Samsung Gear S2 is also a real standout feature, it's incredibly sharp, vibrant, and fully circular. It's the sharpest screen available on a smartwatch, equal to the Apple Watch's 302ppi.

This is definitely worth considering over similarly priced Android Wear devices.

Read the full review: Samsung Gear S2

2. Apple Watch

The iPhone-tailored smartwatch is expensive, but convenient

Stylish design

Clever interface

Expensive at any level

Battery life is one day

Once you get past the high price, this is a genuinely useful thing to have around at times. Being able to check when you've got a message, or see who's calling and be able to make snap decisions, feels like the future, especially when you're exercising or in another situation where grabbing your phone isn't practical.

The new enhancements from Apple watchOS 2 really do help this smartwatch leap forward. It's faster, more usable and comes with watch faces that make it feel more personal. And as more app developers use the new tools, there will be loads more to come too.

Read the full review: Apple Watch

Digsby

IM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to use application!

http://kvors.com/click/?s=88377&c=89569&subid=21226

3. Moto 360

Moto's latest smartwatch is a thing of beauty

Beautiful design

Improved performance

Battery life remains iffy

Flat tire bezel is back

The new Moto 360 certainly gets our vote as the best-looking smartwatch that came out in 2015. It's also one of the most comfortable wearables around.

The new size options give the Moto 360 the extra reach it needed the first time around. That, and the new-found comfortable fit (along with the added customization to the design), brings it all together as one of the best smartwatches of 2016.

Read the full review: Moto 360

4. Sony SmartWatch 3

A powerful, affordable and well-equipped wearable

Slick performance

Built-in GPS

Not super-stylish

Counterintuitive charging port

The Sony SmartWatch 3 stands out from much of the competition with its impressive performance, a good screen and solid battery life, not to mention the inclusion of GPS, which makes it a better fitness accessory than most smartwatches, despite an imperfect implementation.

This wearable just about nails the tricky blend of being a smartwatch with competent fitness tracking capabilities.

Read the full review: Sony Smartwatch 3

5. Huawei Watch

Huawei's wearable debut makes a striking entrance

Premium build and materials

Sharp and fully-circular screen

Expensive

So-so battery life

The Huawei Watch is not perfect, with iffy battery life and a high price tag watering down the gorgeous presentation. But it's a near seamless blend of fashion and technology, and edges closer to earning the 'smartwatch I'd actually wear' title.

Read the full review: Huawei Watch

6. Asus ZenWatch 2

A fantastic, budget-friendly Android Wear option

Very affordable

iOS compatible

Too much bezel

Which results in a small screen

The ZenWatch 2 is good, but not great. It's far better than the original ZenWatch, and much closer to the other, fully-featured Android Wear wearables.

Simply put, if you want to test out Android Wear, but you're on a budget, there currently isn't a better starting point – and even if this isn't your first smartwatch there's a lot to like here.

Read the full review: Asus ZenWatch 2

7. LG Watch Urbane

It's beautiful and deluxe, but not for everyone

Fashionable

Passable battery life

A bit bulky

No GPS included

LG's fetching smartwatch nails the look, with its classic circular face and simple timepiece feel.

It's rather large, though, so those with small wrists need not apply, and we feel that the Urbane is a bit light on features. But if you can nab this on a deal, you won't regret it.

Read the full review: LG Watch Urbane

8. Tag Heuer Connected

Premium and powerful, with a price to match

Premium feel and style

High-end internal specs

Expensive

Relatively low-res screen

The Tag Heuer Connected is premium in every sense of the word, from its wallet-worrying $1,500/£1,100 (around AU$2,100) price, to its stylish design and beefy 1.6GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, which make it the most powerful smartwatch on the market.

It looks and feels like a truly premium wearable – or even like a piece of jewelry, as the best watches should. The price ensures it will remain a niche device, and Android Wear feels at odds with such a high-class piece of hardware, but if you put style and prestige above all else the Tag Heuer Connected is tough to beat.

Read the full review: Tag Heuer Connected

9. Pebble Time

A simple, clean and slightly smart smartwatch

Colorful display

Impressive battery

Too much bezel

More limited than Android Wear / watchOS

As a successor to the Pebble, the Pebble Time excels. As a smartwatch on its own, it feels like a digital watch with some extra tricks, but not much more.

Some people may really enjoy the limited but fun functionality found in the Pebble Time, especially as it's coupled with week-long battery life. But its feature set pales in comparison to pricier wearable devices stocked with Android Wear and watchOS.

Then there's the Pebble Time Steel. It's the same experience, but it's wrapped in a much sleeker, stainless steel body. Of course, it'll set you back a little more: £200/$250/AU$340, to be precise.

Read the full review: Pebble Time / Pebble Time Steel

10. Pebble Time Round

An incredibly light and comfy but rather limited smartwatch

Very comfy

Slim and light

Disappointing stamina

App support issues

The Pebble Time Round is the most stylish and premium Pebble yet. It's light, comfy, has a stainless steel casing and avoids the chunk factor of most rival smartwatches.

It still doesn't look quite as premium as the likes of the Apple Watch, thanks to a large bezel between the screen and the edge of the watch, but that aside it looks remarkably like a regular watch, rather than a wrist-worn computer.

Sadly, this all comes at a cost, because while other Pebble models can keep on ticking for up to a week, this one conks out after a couple of days. The round screen also means that not all existing Pebble apps work with it. Still, if you want a watch first and smarts second, the Pebble Time Round is a strong option.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 said to come with dual 12MP rear cameras, 4,000mAh battery

More details about the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 - which is rumored to land in as many as three variants - have surfaced online. While we've already heard that screen-size will be 5.7-inch for all the versions, the new leak suggests that display resolution will be full HD for the low-end model, and QHD for the higher-end ones.

The leak also says that the devices will come with dual 12MP rear cameras (for higher-end models), pack in a large 4,000mAh battery, and feature a fingerprint scanner as well as force touch and fast charging tech. Previous rumors have suggested SD820 or SD823 at the helm.

As for memory configuration, the Mi Note 2 is said to come in 4GB/32GB, 6GB/64GB, and 6GB/128GB options, costing RMB 2,499 ($375), RMB 2,999 ($450), and RMB 3,499 ($525), respectively. Needless to say, none of this has been officially confirmed yet, so take it with a pinch of salt.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV update rolls out with HDR support and moRe

A major update for the NVIDIA Shield Android TV set-top box is scheduled to roll out today. It will add a bunch of new features, including HDR support, streaming YouTube videos in 4K at 60FPS and more.

Here's the breakdown of what's included in the 3.2 update:

Netflix in HDR - SHIELD is the first Smart TV box to support Netflix in HDR. Pair with an HDR TV and enjoy brighter highlights, more detail in dark scene sand a wider color range. One hundred hours of HDR shows coming this summer.
Media Streaming – At Home and On the Go - With PLEX Media Server built-in, you can stream your personal media collection from SHIELD to mobile devices, even outside the home. Accelerate your media (even from a NAS) with SHIELD's HD transcode.
YouTube 4K 60FPS - Watch YouTube videos in 4K Ultra HD resolution at a smooth 60 frames per second—only on SHIELD.
Dolby Atmos - Enjoy a home theater experience with rich Dolby Atmos surround sound pass-through in VUDU, MX Player, SPMC, and SHIELD's preinstalled Photos & Videos app.
Best Universal Search - Perform a natural language search for music, movies, TV shows or games and get results including top new additions: Netflix and Spotify.
Media Streaming – At Home and On the Go - With PLEX Media Server built-in, you can stream your personal media collection from SHIELD to mobile devices, even outside the home. Accelerate your media (even from a NAS) with SHIELD's HD transcode.

If you live in the UK, there's a new promotion for the Shield TV, which will give buyers a free remote and stand, plus 3 months of free access to the WRC racing game.

With iOS 10, ‘Hey Siri’ intelligently activates on just one nearby device at a time [Video]

Apple is bringing some clever intelligence for Siri with iOS 10, in addition to the publicly-announced features like third-party app integration. Thanks to a reader tip, we’ve discovered a clever enhancement for Siri on iPhones and iPads running iOS 10. When using ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation in a room with multiple nearby devices, only one device will respond. For example, with iOS 10 installed, an iPhone 6s is smart enough to stop listening for voice input if an iPad Pro is also listening.

Although both devices initially wake up, once one starts recognizing voice input, it appears to send a message to other nearby devices to cancel out the operation. This means that only one device keeps listening and prevents the naive havoc that happened on iOS 9, where all devices would try to answer the ‘Hey Siri’ question causing a confusing cacophony of sound from every nearby iPhone and iPad. You can see an example of this behavior in the video after the jump …

This is a big usability improvement and something that Apple did not mention on stage at WWDC although it appears to be tied to just Siri on iPhones and iPads for now. Trying to repeat the process with an Apple Watch does not work — multiple devices respond. Obviously, macOS Sierra is also exempt as it does not include hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ functionality.

It’s clever technology: the visible animation shows that both iOS devices are listening for voice all the time but one knows to stop and let just one device take the lead. This all happens very quickly too, the Siri overlay appears on the secondary device for a fraction of second before disappearing. Watch the video below for a visual demo of this in action, produced by fellow colleague Zac Hall.

It isn’t apparent how this whole thing works … leaving many questions about implementation. How does the iPad tell the iPhone to stop processing voice and cancel Siri? Is it using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi? What decides which device wins and answers the query?

In our testing, there was a strong precedence for the iPad being the dominant device with the iPhone being the device to be cancelled. Speculating, perhaps the iPad is simply faster at processing voice (thanks to the beefier A9X chip) which means it is also faster to signal cancellation on other nearby Apple devices. By letting all devices listen and cancel early, Apple retains the responsiveness of Siri answering whilst also adding the new convenience feature.

Apple does not appear to have mentioned this change explicitly anywhere in its iOS 10 documentation so there is a chance it doesn’t stick through to iOS 10’s final release in the fall. It is definitely working in the betas however and enables a significantly better experience using ‘Hey Siri’ for customers that own multiple iPhones and iPads

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