Ford has made 400 new engineering hires, the company announced, and will create a new Research and Engineering Centre in Ottawa (yes, it’s a ‘centre’ because it’s Canadian). The majority of the hires come from BlackBerry, where they have extensive experience working with QNX, the operating systems that powers Ford’s SYNC 3, and is used by a large number of the world’s leading automakers in similar capacities.

The new hires more than double Ford’s existing team of engineers focused on mobility and connectivity, and essentially mean that Ford now has a larger group dedicated to this area than do many smartphone makers, as pointed out to me by Ford’s Global Director for Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering Chuck Gray.

So what does a focus on mobility and connectivity entail for this new cadre of Ford engineers, exactly? Well, autonomous vehicles are one aspect, but the more immediate concerns for the group will be working on specific elements of in-car connectivity, device-to-device communication and network technology that will eventually prove very useful in fielding the first generation of consumer self-driving cars.

“In order to have autonomy, the vehicle’s got to be connected, it’s just fundamental,” Gray explained. “The vehicle itself, whether there’s a driver or not, has to be communicating with the cloud for various reasons, so this group immediately is working on creating that connectivity spine or network upon which everything else can be built.”

“The majority [of hires from this announcement] are from BlackBerry,” he said, regarding the decision to place their new facility in Ottawa and the talent they’re drawing for the majority of this group of new employees. “Obviously they have deep skills, in embedded software, in mobile devices, in connectivity, and when you look at the subsets of products they work in – they work in RF, they work hardware, they work at the chip level, they work in operating systems, they have a renowned reputation for security and stability […] so it was a really good fit.”

Projects the group will focus on include in-car connectivity, as mentioned, as well as advanced driver assist features. The work of the group will also take place in additional engineering centers in Waterloo and Oakville in Canada, as well as North Carolina and Florida in the U.S. It’s also reasonable to expect the company’s investment in this area to grow over time, as it takes on an increasingly important role to automakers in general.

Gray says that the company set its sights on “really having full control over the software that shapes” much of a driver’s experience in the car, and sought out a talent pool that could support these ambitions, which led it to Canada’s automotive systems engineering hub in Ottawa, where BlackBerry’s QNX is based. Gray added that a focus on its own mobility engineering would help undergird revenue potential resulting from connected vehicles, as well as provide added potential for customers over the lifetime of their cars via convenience features like over-the-air software updates.

Data is the key for carmakers in the modern market, and making sure you have an internal organization that can effectively own in-car software and connectivity services will be key to keeping ahead in that race, especially as the industry moves towards autonomous cars and more free time for in-car activity.

Two Lagos Island youths, Olamilekan Kosoko, 21 and Tobi Quan, 28, who have been terrorizing Lagos Island residents have been arrested by the operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS, for alleged armed robbery.

According to the Police, the suspects on 5 November, 2016 invaded Aroloya Street in Isale-Eko, Lagos Island with Mascot and Lookman now at large, armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to rob residents of various houses and carted away their properties.

However, luck ran out on them when they returned to the area on 6 November, 2016. On sighting them, some residents sent a distress call to the DCP in charge of FSARS, Mr. Ibrahim Kaoge, for help.

The DCP dispatched a team led by Insp. Rotimi Ola to the scene to rescue the residents from the robbers.

On sighting the police, Mascot and Lookman, now at large, according to investigations reportedly opened fire on the police and in the ensuing gun battle, the two managed to escape while Kosoko and Quan were arrested and taken to the station.

During investigation, according to the police, Quan allegedly confessed to the crime that they have robbed residents of Ebute-Metta, Ajah and Lagos Island with guns and sold the stolen properties to their receiver, Zazi Mohammed Usman.

He led the police to arrest the receiver. Quan also allegedly told the police that Mascot and Lookman are the owners of the three guns and five cutlasses they used for the operation. All the suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate court, Lagos on a four count charges of armed robbery and receiving stolen properties.

Police prosecutor, Insp. Abraham Fadipe said the offences the accused persons committed are contrary to sections 5(b) and punishable under section 1(2)9(a) of the robbery special provision act CAP 393 and (a)(b) of the robbery and firearms special provision 1 act CAP xxi, laws of the Federation of Nigeria and sections 409, 326(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The plea of the accused persons was not taken and magistrate Mrs. A. T. Omoyele ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody for DPP’s advice on the matter.

She adjourned the case until 16 April, 2017 for mention.

1. The under listed candidates were successful in the aptitude test for Nigerian Navy Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) 24 Selection Exercise held on 17 December 2016. The candidates are hereby invited to appear before the DSSC 24 Selection Board for further screening at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School Ojo, Lagos from 10 – 24 April 2017. Candidates are to report on 10 April 2017, those who fail to report on stipulated date automatically stand disqualified.

2. The Exercise will involve the screening of academic certificates/credentials, medical test, physical fitness test, written and oral examinations. Candidates are to come along with the following:
a. Originals and photocopies of academic certificates/credentials including:
(1) Statement of Results.
(2) Testimonial for Primary and Secondary Schools attended (with Scratch Cards for Verification of O’Level Results).
(3) Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age.
(4) NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate.
(5) Four (4) recent coloured Passport Photographs.
b. Writing materials.
c. Three pairs of white (unmarked) vests and navy blue shorts.
d. A pair of white canvas/trainers.
e. Two bed sheets and pillow cases.
f. A set of Cutleries.
g. Toiletries.
3. Please note that the Nigerian Navy Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) 24 Selection Board will only attend to candidates whose names appear on www.joinnigeriannavy.com or www.navy.mil.ng based on the DSSC guidelines.

Visit the site to download the list.

Kemi96: I wish all members of ECHOng a blissful April

Happy New month to everyone 😀😀

A Facebook user posted this a few weeks back...Can any guy do what she is asking? As for me, I have not tried it don't think I can 😉. Lol

Liverpool's Sadio Mane leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Merseyside derby
Sadio Mane looks set to miss Wednesday's Premier League home game against Bournemouth after picking up an injury during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

But Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that the forward will not be absent for too long.

Mane has been a key figure at Liverpool since arriving from Southampton in the summer and gave them the lead in the eighth minute of Saturday's derby with his 13th Premier League goal of the season.

Controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike has taken to her Instagram page to share throwback photos of herself, going as far back as 2007.

The mother of one, who has being trending on social media for a while now, over her crashed marriage to estranged husband Mr. Churchill, decided to share throwback pictures of herself.

She wrote:

“#Tbt 2007,I didn’t change much did I? #how time flies #tontodikeh #Pokothou”

Guys, do you really think she has changed?

Tekno is unveiled as the new face of Pepsi..I say Congrats to him...God bless his hustle!!

The younger sister of Tboss, Wendy took to her Twitter handle to Show her appreciation to PayPorte which is the official sponsor of bigbrother naija and also to organiser of bbnaija for giving her the opportunity to visit her sister in the house.

Remember that the housemates all got a surprise visit from their family member.

Omotola shared these hot photos of her rocking a waist trainer and wrote

Good morning FAM, so I used to have a very tiny waist and need to get me back. Have had two of these ( waisttrainers ) but never used them. Do they really work? P.s if you say you use them, I’ll be checking your pics and …

Wow! With curves like that, who needs a waisttrainer...? Lol

It seems everyone is getting called out, as another aggrieved lady has called out her ex-lover who dumped her after getting the cookie.

The Port-Harcourt based lady. Kate James, took to Facebook, to call out a Custom Officer who she slept with for a phone.


According to her, the Custom Officer disappeared after getting what he want. She also disclosed that he has HIV, which he is ready to spread.


Here’s what she wrote:

“THE USELESSNESS OF MEN

THIS MAN Abdullahi Mohammed Be this a customs useless man. He likes girls alot he can sleep with 5 friends if given the Oppourtunity.

Many of my friends have slept with him because he is very useless.
He feels he has money and can ride on any girl he wishes no doubt he likes them slim 22-26 of age. I wish to let you know one thing you fail to understand is the fact that if one sleeps with you, that person will tell another add you up via chat and the next thing you foolishly fall.

At a point we planned to kill you because you will sleep with a friend and deny that they are just friends. I slept with this b*st*rd looking old man twice ,promised he was going to buy me a phone and he ran just like that fair enough you left, fair enough am coming for you

Mr. abudulahi sir I know you to be a dirty man no doubt the entire custom officers.
it’s a bad thing you sleep with anything under skirt. Just so you know at a point we planned to arrange your kidnapp just out of pity I let you be now you think you can just ignore me like that waoh great awsome feeling to.

My name is kate ebonhimen here is my little piece of advice to all customs officers who are so into women kindly be carefull porth-harcourt is just too small for us all i have my eyes on all of you

Am writing this piece with tears in my eyes just so you all on his contact can see .

I have not finished with you sir. just a reminder indeeed you think you can sleep with me and dump my ass sorry old f00l you failed am in with you “wink’’ with your black spotted dots on your skin no doubt u have hiv and ready to spread yeah? Remember Saturday nite outting with the girl? lol

Watch your back always SIR ABUDULAHI M.”

Hmmm...Wonders shall never end!

Pornhub just took five years off a lot of people's lives.
The p0** site played a pretty mean and also hilarious April Fools' Day joke on its users.

Anyone who clicked on a Pornhub video on Saturday got this message:
How kind of them! "No need to manually share your video to your friends and family ever again."

Of course, the "thanks for sharing" feature was a joke, which another message told users after they clicked "Thanks Pornhub!" or "WTF, reverse this now!"

April Fools!!

How to hug your girl

A Turkish tweeter user posted a video of a turkish desert that looks like the famous nigerian snack "puff puff" which he called "Lokma"
Nigerians on Twitter made sure that they spelt it out and insisted that the name remains "puff puff " not any other name.

Hahahaha Naija peeps got no chill o 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Mine is "Dragon Tiger's Gate" - Donny Yen...Can watch it over and over again!

Drop yours...