Coker Confidential™

Saturday

Goodbye, Google Maps: Apple’s “New” Alternative Quietly Launches for More Users

CC™ MobiliTech

By Bogdan Popa

The rollout of the new so-called Detailed City Experience is taking place in stages. On the other hand, Apple never seemed to be in a rush to reach the broad availability stage, especially as the company seems to focus particularly on delivering an upgraded experience.

The new maps come with an impressive level of detail. They include road markings, trees, elevation, crosswalks, and everything else you typically find on the road.

3D landmark models play a major role in the new Apple Maps version. Apple has been working around the clock on the 3D makeover, and the release in Boston embraces the same direction.

Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and other landmarks in Boston are all part of the new Apple Maps with 3D versions. They can be explored on both the iPhone and Mac using an up-to-date version of Apple Maps.

The navigation provided to drivers is also getting a facelift. The 3D component is expanded on this front as well, so users can see further road details, including the approaching crosswalks and the nearby buildings. So, figuring out which way they need to go is more straightforward given the Apple Maps version accurately reproduces the real world.

The new Apple Maps also includes traffic lights and stop signs as drivers approach an intersection.

The debut of Apple’s new-generation Google Maps alternative in Boston is living proof the company is committed to building a better mapping service.

This incredibly slow rollout seems to be the main shortcoming that prevents Google Maps users from jumping ship. Google typically releases new features at a faster pace, and as such, Google Maps adopters get a chance to try them out quicker.

In the case of Apple Maps, the Detailed City Experience was announced in 2021, whereas the “new” version of the service based on Apple’s own maps was confirmed in mid-2018. Since then, the company has been working mostly on expanding the availability, but a big part of Europe is yet to get the new experience.

Apple needs to continue the work on improving Apple Maps from a feature perspective. Apple Maps is lacking essential features that are otherwise available in competing products like Google Maps.

Oddly enough, Apple Maps does not sport satellite map navigation, despite the satellite maps actually being available in the app. Offline maps are missing as well, so right now, the only way to get route guidance with Apple’s solution is to keep your device connected to the Internet all the time. Apple has so far remained tight-lipped on whether it plans to add these features to Apple Maps in the long term or not.

AUTO EVOLUTION

Friday

Drone Attack Shows Russia to Be both Desperate and Dangerous

CC™ VuewPoint

By Jason Simpkins

The U.S. military has the most extensive reach of any military in the world.

We can get anywhere at any time.

We also routinely conduct aerial surveillance operations and freedom of navigation missions around the globe, even — or rather, especially — in contested territory.

It’s a projection of strength and resolve, and it often yields vital information and data.

Of course, that also means U.S. forces are harassed on a fairly routine basis.

For example, as far back as 2020, the Pentagon estimated that roughly 90% of U.S. reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea were being intercepted by Russian jets.

However, what’s discomforting about this week’s confrontation is that the MQ-9 Reaper drone being harassed was knocked out of commission and crashed into the Black Sea.

That much is fairly certain, because on Thursday the Pentagon released declassified footage of the incident corroborating their claims.

What’s not clear is whether or not the collision was intentional.

On the one hand, it may not have been…

Yes, the Russian pilots were obviously dispatched to harass the Reaper. That’s something they accomplished by dumping gallons of fuel on it.

But they weren’t necessarily meant to disable it. That might have been the accidental result of human error — a drunk Russian pilot just getting a little too close, you know?

Or maybe they did mean to do it.

After all, Russia is losing a war to a supposedly inferior enemy thanks in large part to the financial and military assistance being provided by the United States and its allies.

Of course they’re pissed. Pissed and desperate.

But rather than straightforwardly shoot the drone down, creating an even bigger incident and further antagonizing the United States, it makes more sense to “accidentally” bump into it.

In that context, even if it were a mistake, it’s one Vladimir Putin would probably term a “happy accident.”

Especially when you consider Russian forces immediately raced to the area of the crash in an effort to recover the wreckage.

Or attempt to, anyway. There’s no sign yet that they’ve been successful in that endeavor. And if their vessels loiter too long 70 miles off the coast of Crimea, they could become targets for Ukrainian forces.

Speaking of which, the highly hyped Russian counteroffensive that was supposed to come this spring has so far been a dud.

After months of bloody battles, Russian forces have still been unable to capture the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which isn’t even an especially vital stronghold.

Russia’s mercenary group Wagner has been throwing waves of bodies at the city but Ukrainian forces claim to be killing them at a ratio of 5-to-1.

Now, with the effort waning, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin is accusing Russia’s regular army and officials in Moscow of sabotaging his group by withholding information.

At this point, the only thing that could salvage the battle for Russia is Ukrainian forces running out of ammunition.

And that’s the direct result of Putin’s willingness to forfeit so many soldiers’ lives — a policy that is equally as unsustainable as non-stop artillery barrages.

More than 200,000 Russians are estimated to have been wounded or killed since the start of the war. The Wagner Group in Bakhmut consists largely of convicts drawn from the prison population and promised pardons in exchange for their service.

But elsewhere, poorly equipped and under-trained Russian conscripts are being mowed down by the dozens. And their loved ones back home are getting increasingly vocal.

Putin’s regime doesn’t tolerate protests, but with so many Russians dying in such a questionable mission, it’s hard to keep the outrage muted.

Of course, Putin himself is unlikely to be moved by such protests or accept the fact that his misguided attempt to cement his legacy as a conqueror and reunifier of Russian lands has failed.

So he’s more likely to put more pressure on his generals and advisers and to take more drastic measures to win some kind of face-saving victory.

Lost in the uproar over the downed Reaper drone was news that Russia deployed advanced and powerful hypersonic missiles to destroy a Ukrainian power plant.

The missiles are long-range, are highly maneuverable, and fly as fast as Mach 5, which is more than a mile per second.

These missiles are difficult to detect because they move so quickly that typical air defense systems are useless against them.

In fact, they’re so advanced that the United States doesn’t have any that match them.

And that’s why the Pentagon has launched a multibillion-dollar effort to get our armed forces up to speed.

Let the arms race begin once again!

Tuesday

How Argentina Erased Its Black People From History

CC™ Histography

Monday

British Imperialism: Argentina ends deal but the UK still insists the Falklands are British

CC™ Global News

The UK has insisted the Falkland Islands are British after Argentina broke a co-operation deal and pushed for talks on the islands' sovereignty.

In 2016, both sides agreed to disagree on the sovereignty of the Falklands in favor of improved relations.

Argentina pulled out of the pact this week and informed UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

The Falkland Islands were subject to a bloody war in 1982 when Argentina tried to stake a territorial claim.

In response, Mr Cleverly tweeted: "The Falkland Islands are British.

“Islanders have the right to decide their own future - they have chosen to remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory."

The 2016 agreement between Argentina and the UK pledged to "improve co-operation on South Atlantic issues of mutual interests".

Mr Cleverly was informed about the decision by his Argentinean counterpart Santiago Cafiero when the pair met at the G20 summit in India earlier this week.

Mr Cafiero called for talks on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.

The UK's minister for the Americas, David Rutley, said it was a "disappointing decision" after he had had a "constructive visit" to Buenos Aires.

"Argentina has chosen to step away from an agreement that has brought comfort to the families of those who died in the 1982 conflict," he said.

The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands.

Argentina invaded in 1982 in a bid to reclaim sovereignty and said it had inherited the Falkland Islands from Spain in the 1800s.

A brief but bitter war lasting 74 days followed - with 655 Argentinian, 255 British and three Falkland casualties - before British forces regained control on 14 June 1982.

Saturday

Science and the transgender phenomenon

CC™ VideoScope

Friday

MIT confirms Lagos LP Gubernatorial candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour attended school and bagged a Masters Degree

CC™ Global News

American university, the Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT), has confirmed the certificate of Labour Party’s (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

Rhodes-Vivour has been at the center of a certificate forgery allegation after an email that purportedly came from the office of MIT registrar appeared on social media claiming he was not a student of the institution.

However, MIT has refuted the claim and confirmed that Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT between 2005 and 2008 and bagged a Master’s Degree in Architecture, Premium Times report disclosed.

Deputy Director, Media Relations, at MIT’s News Office, Sarah McDonnell, said Rhodes-Vivour indeed attended the school and earned a Master’s degree.

“Thank you for reaching out. The MIT Registrar’s Office can confirm that Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT from 2005 to 2008 and earned a Master of Architecture degree,” Ms McDonnell wrote.

In another email, Ms McDonnell was asked if the initial one that claimed that Rhodes-Vivour did not attend the school emanated from the record office.

McDonnell confirmed the authenticity of the mail, noting that it indeed emanated from MIT. She, however, claimed that the record office initially ran a search using a “variation of Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s name that did not match the information in MIT’s database.”

Meanwhile, Rhodes-Vivour had himself via his Twitter handle reacted to the forgery allegation as fake news and another attempt by his opponents to divert attention from issue-based campaigns.

“This is untrue and another failed strategy the opposition is using to divert your attention from having an issue-based campaign,” Rhodes-Vivour tweeted.

Thursday

The Black history of the United States of America

CC™ VideoScope

Wednesday

Evidence that Black people descended from the line of Shem

CC™ VideoScope

Monday

Liverpool destroy Manchester United 7-0

CC™ Monday Brew

By Imran Malik

Nobody would have predicted this. Not even in their wildest dreams. The Reds produced a dominant performance to thrash their fierce rivals in the Premier League clash at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were relentless in their pursuit of victory and never took their foot off the gas. United struggled to answer the questions posed by the Merseysiders and they outclassed the visitors from start to finish.

Liverpool’s resurgent form has seen them move ominously close to a Champions League spot while this massive defeat must have ended Erik ten Hag’s slim prospects of winning the title. This 7-0 loss equals United’s biggest ever defeat, which last happened against Wolves in 1931.

It was their heaviest defeat in the history of this fixture, and it could have a wide-ranging effect on their campaign, despite only being their second defeat in 21 games. Their renaissance under the Dutch coach already has the tangible reward of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool unleashed a brutal reality check on their progress with a severe thrashing.

They returned to vintage form and chalked up a fifth straight Premier League clean sheet to boot. Dutchman Cody Gakpo and Uruguayan Darwin Nunez - two United targets nabbed by Liverpool - inflicted the defeat with two goals each, and Mo Salah hammered a double of his own to complete United’s misery. This was Liverpool’s third consecutive Premier League victory and a perfect weekend for them, having been heartened by defeats for top-four rivals Tottenham and Newcastle.

They began with aggressive intent, and a full-throated Anfield behind them. United struggled to find their feet early on. The hosts took the lead just before halftime through Gakpo’s fierce shot. It was Liverpool’s first shot on target and sent Klopp’s men into the interval with their tails up. United had looked like taking control, having come from behind to defeat Barcelona and West Ham in the previous 11 days.

Liverpool doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart through Nunez, capitalizing on a loose pass from United’s Luke Shaw. United’s collapse was complete a few minutes later with a stunning Liverpool break, culminating in Gakpo netting an angled shot.

Fifteen minutes from time, Nunez got his second after United failed to clear a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick. Klopp’s men continued to cut United to ribbons, with Salah netting his 129th Premier League strike for the Reds to become their highest Premier League goalscorer passing Robbie Fowler and then sub Roberto Firmino fired home the seventh to send The Kop into raptures.

Liverpool are now very much in the chase for the Champions League places, standing only three points behind Tottenham with a game in hand while United remain third but heavily bruised mentally and physically after this mauling.

GULF NEWS