China unveils 500 megapixel camera that can identify every face in a crowd of tens of thousands

Chinese scientists have developed a 500 megapixel facial recognition camera four times more detailed than the human eye that can identify individuals from crowds of tens of thousands in streets or at sports stadiums.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/26/china-unveils-500-megapixel-camera-can-identify-every-face-crowd/

Today I learned about a place named Hindustan in Indiana

So, some time ago we were driving through Indiana along the Old State Road 37 and we were surprised to see that we were passing a place named Hindustan. 😯 Later I look up Wikipedia and it says that: Hindustan is an unincorporated community in Washington Township, Monroe County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.

While digging all that, next I discover that there's also a place called Hindostan (mark the spelling; on Wikipedia) in Indiana which is an unincorporated community in Northwest Township, Orange County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.

Quite a few surprises in a single day.

Today I learned about the Gulf Rupee

Today I learned that the Gulf Rupee, which was issued by the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India, was the official currency between 1959 and 1966 of the areas that today form the countries of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. It was initially pegged at par with the Indian rupee. A Wikipedia page on this is here. The Reference site for Islamic Bank Notes writes about it here.

Walmart Discontinues Savings Catcher

Starting today, 14 May 2019, Walmart has discontinued its price-matching program named Savings Catcher. The price-matching program, that automatically refunds customers any price difference between Walmart and its competitors, is popular among its shoppers. In its email to customers, Walmart has said that it is ending the program because it already offers the lowest prices in most cases.

The text of the email read like this:

Dear Customer,

Here at Walmart, we’ve always been committed to providing you with low prices every day, so you and your family can save money and live better. Savings Catcher, which compares nationally advertised prices through submitted receipts, was designed to catch occasions when a competitor’s price on a particular item was found to be lower than what you paid for it at Walmart.

What we’ve learned through Savings Catcher is that our efforts to lower prices upfront on thousands of items across our stores is working. Walmart’s prices win most often when you submit your receipts, which tells us that the program’s intent has been met.

That’s why we have decided to discontinue the Savings Catcher receipt submission, effective May 14, 2019. After May 14, you will no longer be able to submit your Walmart Pay eReceipts to Savings Catcher. But don’t worry, the money you have on your Savings Catcher eGift Card will remain yours to spend until you’re ready to use it.

We want to thank you for your loyalty and your participation in the program. We’ll continue to work hard to offer you features and services that deliver on our promise to save you time and money—whether you’re shopping in our stores or online at Walmart.com.

Questions? Learn more about this change here.

Sincerely,

Your Walmart Savings Catcher Team

The price matching program was convenient and appealing to many shoppers at Walmart. The refund was in the form of money reloaded onto an eGift Card on the Walmart mobile app which could be spent either at Walmart or Sam's Club. When a price match is done, an email is received stating the same. Here is a part of an email which was received on August 10, 2018.

Since the announcement of the discontinuation of the program, there is general outage in social media from Walmart's customers.

A user on Twitter wrote:

Walmart PLEASE reconsider your decision to do away with Savings Catcher. Your reasons do not seem to be legit. This helped me so much. I got cash back most of the time and am very disappointed with you. #SavingsCatcher

— Kimberly Guajardo (@kimbow72) March 21, 2019

Earlier, on October 29, 2018, Walmart had made a change in its terms of using Savings Catcher such that the price-matching program would be applicable only if customers paid using Walmart Pay in their mobile app. Paper receipts scanned using the app would no longer be considered under the program. Payment using the Walmart Pay mobile app is done by scanning a QR code at the register which generates an eReceipt. The eReceipt can be directly submitted to participate in Savings Catcher right from the app.

A WRAL story on this news is here.

A Business Insider article is here.

1TB microSD cards showcased at Mobile World Congress

Micron and Western Digital’s SanDisk brand both showcased their UHS-I microSDXC products at the Mobile World Congress which is being held in Barcelona, Spain.

Whereas Western Digital's 1TB SanDisk Extreme® UHS-I microSDXC™ card can reach a read speed of 160 MB/s [source], Micron Technology's Micron c200 1TB microSDXC UHS-I card can reach a read speed of 100MB/s [source].

The Verge has lots of details here.

Google Maps will now display speed limits for its Android and iOS apps

The new feature, spotted by Android Police (via Mashable), displays the posted speed limit on roads in the corner of the app, and also introduces an icon to denote the location of speed cameras.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/19/18189559/google-maps-speed-limits-android-and-ios-apps

From Project Fi to Google Fi: The Evolution of Google’s Revolutionary Wireless Service

On November 28, 2018, Project Fi subscribers received an email from Google announcing a bold new chapter for its growing mobile service: Project Fi became Google Fi. The rebrand reflects not just an aesthetic overhaul - a new name, logo, and polish - but also a culmination of innovation years in the making and a promise to embrace a wider world of devices and users.

The Origins: Project Fi’s Launch and Vision

Project Fi began life in early 2015, when Google unveiled its intention to not just be an internet services behemoth but an actual wireless carrier-albeit in a way that only Google could imagine. Unlike traditional giants like Verizon and AT&T, Google’s approach was to operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Instead of building and running its own wireless towers, Google would seamlessly rent existing capacity from multiple U.S. networks: namely, T-Mobile, Sprint, and later, US Cellular.

Subscribers using Project Fi on supported handsets such as the Nexus 6 (the original “designed for Fi” phone) could automatically jump between cellular networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots for the fastest, most reliable connection. Google’s algorithms would monitor signal strength, availability, and quality in real time, moving each call and data session to the optimal network - often without the user ever realizing a switch had occurred.

How Project Fi Connections Work

Unlike most MVNOs that pick a single carrier’s backbone and rebrands it, Google’s vision stitches together the best coverage, capacity, and quality across partner networks. When using a “designed for Fi” device, the technical process works like this:

• A Project Fi SIM allows the phone to authenticate with multiple carrier networks (T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular), each of which agreed - by contract - to let Google’s devices act as almost-native users.
• Google’s custom Fi app runs a complex monitoring routine, constantly testing for available Wi-Fi networks (with a database of millions of curated, VPN-secured public hotspots).
• Whenever possible, the app favors Wi-Fi, automatically initiating a secure connection with Google’s built-in VPN, encrypting user traffic to protect privacy, even on “open” hotspots.
• As users move, the Fi software dynamically evaluates radio signals from T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular, jumping from one radio network to another seamlessly, even mid-call or mid-data transfer, all without noticeable interruptions - thanks to a specialized combination of eSIM/SIM provisioning and network steering.
• For “non-designed” phones, the service can still provide core coverage but defaults to a single carrier, since most commercial smartphones lacks support for cross-network, mid-session switching.

This multi-network juggling is far more than a convenience for urban users; it provides reliable coverage in rural and fringe zones, where a single carrier might fail but an alternate could fill the gap.

Features and Proposition

From the outset, Project Fi prided itself on offering simple pricing and global reach:

• $20/month for unlimited domestic talk and text, plus $10 per GB of data used.
• International data in 170+ countries at the same per-GB price.
• Data-only SIMs available for tablets and other devices—rare among major carriers at the time.
• “Bill Protection,” enabling unlimited data usage with throttled speeds after a set limit (typically 15 GB), ensuring no overages but flexible high use.
• No service contracts, zero hidden fees, and pro-rated billing/refunds for unused data.

A New Chapter: Project Fi to Google Fi

By late 2018, the most common subscriber request was device compatibility, and Google listened: Today, on November 28, 2018, Project Fi officially became Google Fi, launched with support for nearly all Android devices and, for the first time, iPhones (in beta). The brand refresh aligns the service with Google’s existing suite of products and makes it clear: this was no longer a niche experiment but a core Google offering, ready to scale.

With the rebrand also comes expanded offers, gift cards for new phone purchases, and increased emphasis on travel-friendly global coverage. Legacy users with “designed for Fi” phones, like the Pixel series or Moto X4, will continue to enjoy the unique seamless switching and enhanced security features that set Fi apart - while newcomers will get most of the Fi perks, albeit with some technical restrictions.

Benefits in compatible Android phones

Users with compatible Android phones - specifically those “designed for Fi” like Google Pixel, Moto X4, and some selected Motorola and Nexus models - enjoy several unique benefits with Google Fi:

1. Seamless Network Switching: Google Fi can automatically switch between multiple cellular providers (T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular), ensuring users get the best signal quality and fastest data wherever they are. The process is invisible to the user, even during active calls or data sessions.
2. Automatic Secure Wi-Fi Connections: Fi-compatible Android phones will automatically connect to millions of trusted public Wi-Fi hotspots. All data sent over these hotspots is routed through a Google-managed VPN, providing additional security and peace of mind on public networks.
3. Consistent International Coverage: Google Fi offers worldwide coverage in over 170 countries, with data and texting available abroad at the same rates as in the U.S. Users can travel without worrying about swapping SIM cards or paying exorbitant roaming fees.
4. Flexible, Transparent Billing: Fi’s pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for the data you use, with bill protection kicking in at a set data threshold for unlimited plans. Unused data amounts are credited back to your account, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
5. Integrated Messaging and Calling: With compatible phones, your number works on multiple devices (phones, tablets, computers) simultaneously, and texts/calls can be placed and received using your Google account.
6. No Contracts, Easy Activation: Service is contract-free, activation is simple, and there are no hidden fees. Customer support is available 24/7.
7. Device and Account Management: The Google Fi app provides easy-to-use account controls, usage tracking, device location tools, and group plan management, making it straightforward to manage both solo and family accounts.
8. Consistent Updates and Support: Google ensures its “designed for Fi” phones get fast software and security updates, enhancing reliability and protecting user data.

These features combine to offer a flexible, secure, and user-centric mobile experience - especially for those with fully Fi-compatible Android phones.

Key milestones in Project Fi's transition to Google Fi

1. April 22, 2015: Project Fi was announced as a Google MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) service, initially available by invitation only and exclusively for the Nexus 6 smartphone, using T-Mobile and Sprint’s networks.
2. Summer 2015: The service began rolling out to select invitees on a limited basis, gradually expanding availability.
3. March 7, 2016: Project Fi dropped its invitation system, making service widely available to all U.S. residents.
4. June 8, 2016: U.S. Cellular was added as a third network partner, enhancing coverage, especially in rural areas.
5. October 4, 2016: Support added for the new Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones, with these “designed for Fi” devices fully supporting seamless multi-network switching and other Fi-exclusive features.
6. Late 2016: Introduction of Group Plans, allowing subscribers to add family and friends under one account.
7. 2017: Project Fi continued to improve network switching, security (with automatic VPN on Wi-Fi), and expanded international support, offering global coverage in over 170 countries at the same per-GB data rate.
8. November 28, 2018: Project Fi was officially rebranded as Google Fi.

Google Fi's First Email

Below is the exact text Google sent to its users on November 28, 2018:

Introducing Google Fi

After 3 years of growing with you, our Project Fi community, we're excited to announce some big news: Project Fi is now Google Fi. Your service and billing won't be impacted, but you'll notice a new name, logo, and look-and-feel in places like your Google Fi app and your Google Fi account.

You can now also bring most Android phones and iPhones to Google Fi. While these phones get most of the Google Fi features you know and love, only phones designed for Fi, like the Moto X4 you have, unlock all of Google Fi's unique features, including seamless switching between cellular networks and automatic connection to secure Wi-Fi hotspots. Since you're already on the best Google Fi experience, you don't need to take any action for your own account. Feel free to share the news with friends or family who might be interested in bringing a phone to Google Fi.

Finally, if you're looking for a new phone, we're celebrating our big day with one-day offers on all phones designed for Fi, from the Pixel 3 to the Moto G6. Everyone is eligible for these offers—whether you're looking for a phone for yourself or know someone you'd like to refer to Google Fi.

Today's update is just the start, and we can't wait to bring you more from Google Fi. As always, please reach out if you have any questions—we're here for you 24/7.

You have received this email to update you about important information regarding your Google Fi account.

Google North America Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy

Mountain View CA 94043 USA

References

1. Google launches Project Fi mobile phone network - BBC - Apr 22, 2015
2. Everything to Know About Google’s New Wireless Service - Time - Apr 22, 2015
3. A Look at Google's Project Fi - Linux Journal - Jul 17, 2018
4. Project Fi’s enhanced network brings faster, more secure connections - Official Google Blog - Nov 13, 2018
5. Bringing Google Fi to more people on Android and iOS - Official Google Blog - Nov 28, 2018
6. Google Fi Wireless - Wikipedia