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Internet Browser Market Share (1996–2019)

Posted by Nick Routley

on Tuesday, 21 January 2020 10:57

Web browsers are a ubiquitous part of the internet experience and one of the most commonly used digital tools of the modern era.

Since the first rudimentary interfaces were created in the 1990s, a number of browsers have entered the market, with a select few achieving market dominance over our access to web content.

Today’s bar chart race video, by the YouTube channel Data is Beautiful, is a nostalgic look back at how people used to access the internet, from Mosaic to Chrome.

The First Wave of Browsers

Simply put, web browsers are the software applications that act as our portal to the internet. Today, aside from the occasional pop-up box, we barely notice them. In the early ’90s though, when the web was in its infancy, the crude, boxy interfaces were a revolutionary step in making the internet usable to people with access to a computer.

The first step in this journey came in 1990, when the legendary Tim Berners-Lee developed the first-ever web browser called “WorldWideWeb” – later renamed Nexus. Nexus was a graphical user interface (GUI) that allowed users to view text on web pages. Images were still beyond reach, but since most connections were dial-up, that wasn’t much of a limitation at the time….CLICK for complete article

Billions Of Dollars Are Flooding Into The Flying Taxi Space

Posted by Anes Alic

on Tuesday, 21 January 2020 10:44

In the 1940s, Henry Ford regaled us with this little fantastical gem: “Mark my words – a combination aeroplane and motor car is coming…You may smile. But it will come.” Eight decades later, and Ford is vindicated.  Toyota just made a nearly $400-million bet on flying taxis as tech competition in this segment gets fierce.

The Japanese carmaker said it is investing $394 million in California-based Joby Aviation, an aerospace company that hopes to be among the first to develop and commercialize all-electric flying taxis.

It’s the second time Toyota has seen fit to pump money into this idea.

In early 2018, the Japanese auto giant teamed up with Jetblue, investing $100 million in Joby during the company’s previous funding round. With Toyota’s latest investment, Joby  just closed its latest round of financing with $590 million in venture capital funding.

And the year before that, Toyota backed Recogni Inc., a Silicon Valley maker of autonomous vehicle systems, and May Mobility, a Michigan-based operator of self-driving shuttle buses….CLICK for complete article

 

Ken Jennings Becomes Jeopardy’s ‘Greatest Of All Time’

Posted by Neer Varshney

on Wednesday, 15 January 2020 10:53

“Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” series will end three days ahead of its schedule, as Ken Jennings clinched the title on Tuesday with three matches remaining.

What Happened

Jennings registered his third win in four games to beat opponents Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer and get the $1 million cash prize. The other two will get $250,000 each. The longest winning streak record holder, with 74 games, had won the first and third matches, with Holzhauer grabbing the second one and Rutter remaining winless at the end of the series….CLICK for complete article

Eight Remarkable Inventions Unveiled at This Year’s CES

Posted by Smithsonian Magazine

on Friday, 10 January 2020 10:00

From a smart grill to a bike that rides on water, these were the coolest—and strangest—gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show.

For more than half a century, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been the place for companies and inventors to display their newest and coolest gadgets and gear, and for investors and trend-spotters to take a gander at the technology of the future. Often, the most successful reveals will become part of our everyday lives.

Now-iconic items unveiled at past CES events include the VCR (1970), the camcorder (1981) and the Xbox (2001). Which inventions from this year’s CES, held this week in Las Vegas, will become as popular? Here are our picks for some of the most interesting, innovative, and simply smile-worthy entries. CLICK to see the Smithsonian’s picks

Improving Investor Sentiment Helped Drive the Price Higher in 2019: Interim Silver Market Review

Posted by Larry Kahaner

on Monday, 6 January 2020 12:01

The last few months have seen a major improvement in investor sentiment towards silver, according to Philip Newman, Director at Metals Focus, who recently presented the Metals Focus / Silver Institute Interim Silver Market Review. The silver price benefitted in 2019 from a host of factors, including global economic and political concerns, as some investors sought safe haven investments, such as silver.

Highlights of the Interim Silver Market Review include:
• Healthy gains were projected for physical silver investment in 2019, with sales of silver bars and coins projected to rise by 7% to a three-year high. In the US, investment was on track to record its first annual increase in four years, thanks to improving price expectations and rising price volatility, although levels remained historically low. In India, the partial recovery that started in 2017 continued in 2019, although the sharp rally in the rupee price saw sales ease recently, particularly in rural areas.

• Disruptions and strikes across South America impacted global mine production, which was expected to fall by 0.7% in 2019 to 849.3 million ounces.

• For the second year in a row, silver industrial fabrication was expected to hold at a record high. However, in the wake of the escalating US-China trade war, several areas of silver electrical and electronic end-uses have struggled. That said, any negative impact on silver demand had been mitigated by higher silver usage in other categories, especially in the automotive sector.

• Global silver jewelry and silverware demand was projected to grow by 3% and 4% respectively in 2019. For both, the year’s increases were almost entirely led by India, where gains had been assisted by increasing awareness of sterling silver, and growth in organized retailing, along with the benefits from restrained silver prices in the first half of 2019. • Overall, the silver market was expected to record a small surplus in 2019. However, this metal should have been easily absorbed by investors as rising macroeconomic uncertainties and fresh monetary easing by major central banks rejuvenated the appeal of safe haven assets from mid-2019 onwards which, looking ahead, should continue to benefit precious metal prices.

For more information about the report including a supply & demand chart, click here.