ZF develops 9-speed auto transmission for improved efficiency

First application of the ZF 9 speed auto is in the Range Rover Evoque.
Credit: ZF/ Land Rover/ Green Car Reports

Not so much ridiculous to the sublime, more the ridiculous to to the ridiculouser!

One of the deficiencies of the internal combustion engine is the small range of engine speeds over which it's abysmal efficiency (less than 30%) reaches a maximum.  Solution: more gear ratios allow an engine to remain in its (relatively) efficient rpm range more of the time.  ZF is about to release a 9 speed auto at the Geneva Motor Show. First application is in the Range Rover Evoque, seen above.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082580_zf-develops-9-speed-auto-transmission-for-improved-efficiency

Crazy as 9 ratios sounds, during the late 60s, 50cc racing motor cycles had 15 to 20 gears. Mike Hailwood (multiple world champion on full size GP motorcycles) said that, "rubber ankles", were required to ride them. All those ratios were required because of the very narrow power band which accompanied 20hp at 20,000 rpm.     / internal combustion engine ICE gear box ratio gearbox ratio gears efficient engine speed range labouring laboring rev scream Grand Prix /

Max Virtual Cynaps Bluetooth bone conduction headset review

Portable music players & smartphones have made earphones ubiquitous.  But they are not without their shortcomings.  They fall out, ambient sound intrudes & some people find them uncomfortable.  Full size earphones have problems of their own.

Another alternative is bone conduction.  You hear you own voice partly by bone conduction.  This is why a recoding of your voice sounds so different than the way you normally hear it.  The recoded  version eliminates the bone conduction component.

Cynaps is a Bluetooth bone conduction headset which is fitted inside headwear, such as a cap or bicycle helmet.  Headwear can be supplied with the headset fitted, or you can buy a kit which you can fit to your own hat or helmet.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/27/cynaps-bluetooth-bone-conduction-headset-review/#more-123515     / baseball cap hat Max Virtual retrofitted it with. Their Cynaps system is a wireless Bluetooth bone-conduction headset integrated headgear listen to your music phone calls without wires or the need for anything in your ears bones skull compressional bone conduction high-pitched frequency sounds segments skull vibrate individually vibrations compression compressing compress bony case inner ear stimulate sensory cells perceiving sound waves in the air inertial bone conduction low-pitched low sounds vibrate the entire skull perception of sound just as if airborne compressional waves were moving those sensory parts while the skull was stationary /

Folding H 264 plug USB charger (video)

Video below shows a fold-flat USB charger for Britain.  With pins folded out of the way, plugs become much more pocketable.  You may be aware that British power plugs are the biggest in the world, so something even  better should be possible for other standards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6DvjKkGT6s&feature=youtube_gdata_player     / 3 three-pin plug folding plug USB power adapter folds fits pocket bag exposed prongs jab holes in the cloth two lower pins twist longer earth pin fold flat over them Mu Plug charging your iPhone iPod mobile devices charging charge through USB smartphone device Android iOS 1 amp 1A /

Unmasking an SEO spammer & rewarding their competition (case study)

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/unmasking-an-seo-spammer-and-rewarding-their-competition-a-case-study/4574     / DUI Lawyer Indianapolis Attorney Indianapolis, Defense keyword phrases Web site trying to rank for spam spammer spamming spammed blog blogs highest-ranking competition keyword phrases dofollow links site s incorrectly configured to show tons of internal emails and correspondence  individual who is ultimately responsible for the spam on my site SEO shameless spamming increase rankings email inbox blog comments are nofollow hilariously spammerific profile page spam profiles micro site Copyscape plagiarized content search engine optimization optimisation optimize optimise /

Climate change is cutting humans’ work capacity – update

Creating new risks to health too. The very latest research from the Australian National University in Canberra indicates that people producing the most physical labour in the hottest environments are, "chronically dehydrated". Long term, this threatens renal failure.

World wide there is an obesity epidemic. Unfortunately, the obese & merely overweight cope badly with heat.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-cutting-humans-work-capacity-study-finds-15654     / heat temperature humidity climate change work planet hotter muggier oil gas coal fossil fuels Industrial Revolution journal Nature Climate Change capacity researchers National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict reshaping daily life most populated areas planet climate change intensifies global warming greenhouse gas experiencing heat stress climate modeler NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory environment labor calculations relief offered by air conditioning take other measures to beat the heat wet bulb temperature wind speed cool sweating increasing the likelihood of heat-related illness climate model projected /

Despite Yahoo ban, most tech companies support work-from-home policies

http://allthingsd.com/20130225/survey-says-despite-yahoo-ban-most-tech-companies-support-work-from-home-for-employees/     / travel drive traffic accident full time part time /

Tesla Motors, Model S, & NY Times: Google+ Hangout Video (video blog 26 minutes)

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082468_tesla-motors-model-s-and-ny-times-google-hangout-video     / New York EV electric vehicle car battery LiIon lithium ion super charger cold weather trip overnight charge recharge /

How to become a search ninja: harnessing the true power of Google

Part 1
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/how-to-become-a-search-ninja-harnessing-the-true-power-of-google-part-1/1881

Part 2 • How to find older versions of software & much more
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/search-ninja-part-2-how-to-find-older-versions-of-software-and-much-more/3496

Part 3 • How to find unlisted YouTube videos
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/search-ninja-part-3-how-to-find-unlisted-youtube-videos-with-google/4419

Part 4 • How to search FTPs with Google
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/search-ninja-part-4-how-to-search-ftps-with-google/4690    / advanced AND complex engine file filetype negate operators OR query quotes result type find spider crawler FTP /

Sea level rise

"Global warming has raised global sea level about 8 inches since 1880, and the rate of rise is accelerating. Rising seas dramatically increase the odds of damaging floods from storm surges." 

http://www.climatecentral.org/what-we-do/our-programs/sea-level-rise / Global warming raised rising global sea level rate of rise accelerating dramatically increase odds damaging floods storm surge Climate Central analysis global warming climate change century worse floods problem is growing damage scientists 2 to 5 more feet of sea level rise this century peer review global warming climate change greenhouse gas CO2 carbon dioxide /

Unmanned gliders: Flights of fancy

Credit: NPS/ The Economist

Unmanned gliders will soon be able to stay airborne indefinitely & so act as communication relays, keep a persistent eye on the ground below & even track marine animals thousands of kilometres across the ocean.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/02/unmanned-gliders     / hand-launched Tactical Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial System TALEUAS developed United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California electric motor propeller airborne altitude riding rising currents warm air thermals  senses sense lift spirals around take advantage vultures eagles birds of prey soaring birds use  technique Kevin Jones charge project raptors drone more efficient endurance limited power requirements electronics payload battery powered covering the craft’s wings with solar cells PV photovoltaic photo voltaic generate power during the day lithium-polymer battery ithium-ion capable storing energy to last the night stay aloft indefinitely chance locate orographic dynamic soaring heavier-than-air artefact airborne /

Apple's full size iPad isn't dead yet: Completely redesigned iPad due in Q3

http://bgr.com/2013/02/21/ipad-5-release-date-specs-339334/?utm_source=hitlist-sb&utm_medium=home     / Apple AAPL iPad mini full-size tablet launched industry watchers market research firm TrendForce Taiwan research firm says that fifth generation third quarter extensive overhaul reignite consumer interest improvement product design  next generation of iPad thin GF2 touch module narrow bezel panel design solve issue of larger volume thickness weight mass better balance consumers mobility visual experiences report TrendForce analyst Eric Chiou’s findings research firm report next-generation design very similar current iPad mini it is to underline the product positioning cost reductions related to the new iPad’s display panel launch in the second half /

Code found in YouTube's most recent app update all but confirms pay-to-view channels are coming

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/02/24/code-found-in-youtubes-most-recent-app-update-all-but-confirms-pay-to-view-channels-are-coming/     / code program programme API application interface pay per view /

Galaxy Note 8.0 hands on: The 8-inch tablet as an 8-Inch … phone?

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/02/galaxy-note-8-0-hands-on-the-8-inch-tablet-as-an-8-inch-phone/     / Samsung Galaxy Note Galaxy S tablet costs price  8-inch tablet international version  8 inch phone 1280×800 resolution 16:10 ratio Kindle Fire HD 7-inch pixels per inch PPI 189 216 iPad Mini 1024×768, 163 PPI 4:3 display touch screen pixels here colour color balance converging convergence bluetooth headsets inline mike microphone /

PowerbyProxi debuts wireless charging solution, aims to fully integrate it into future smartphones (video)

Credit: Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/24/powerbyproxi-wireless-charging-solution-demo-mwc-2013-video/     / over-heating charge charger recharging battery potable mobile cell phone smartphone longer charging times wired  standard Mobile World Congress MWC AA AAA cells charging pad /

Pocket chainsaw

Credit: Liberty Mountain/ Gear Hungry

http://www.gearhungry.com/2012/03/pocket-chainsaw.html     / tree 28" chainsaw rolls up like a bike chain packing into a tiny tin efficient at felling trees, under 10 seconds 3" diameter trunk bidirectional teeth rust-resistant heat-treated steel /

Electric Lamborghini? Nope, just a rich guy who can't read

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082484_electric-lamborghini-nope-just-a-rich-guy-who-cant-read / EV electric vehicle battery recharge gas guzzler gasoline petrol LiIon lithium ion /

Meet the 9 most habitable worlds in the Universe (so far) (slideshow)

Credit: Dvice

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-20/meet-9-most-habitable-worlds-universe-so-far     / Nicolaus Copernicus 540th birthday list most Earth-like planets known Universe released Planetary Habitability Laboratory University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo warm and tropical have fallen off the list entirely Goldilocks Zone in-crowd researchers refined system categorizing potential habitability exoplanets Earth Similarity Index ESI releasing their findings temperatures radiation levels stars exoplanets orbit HITRAN high-resolution transmission molecular absorption HITEMP high-temperature spectroscopic absorption parameters relating stability of water Starship Enterpise scientists  confirming refuting habitability stellar cartographers of that tomorrow captains of the future will plot courses to these worlds, seeking new life and new civilizations where they might be headed, in order of likelihood are these nine planets /

Interactive light installation makes you an instant artist (slide show)

Credit: Chris Fraser/ Dvice

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-20/interactive-light-installation-makes-you-instant-artist     / Artist Oakland California unique works of art using light exhibit In Passing light in a very interesting way created holes small gaps walls art gallery allow beams light trickle adjoining rooms visitors place their hands over these gaps, dazzling light formations are created crafting specific situations framing light reveals portion complex order within the ambient environment entering your windows skirting around furniture slipping through a crack in the door want call attention type beauty usually goes unnoticed /

The sky is falling (video)

Credit: Mashable/YouTube

Well, not quite, but there's a lot of big, heavy, fast moving rocks up there. And there is ample evidence that from time to time, one of them will run into the Earth. Witness Meteor Crater in Arizona, Gulf of Carpentaria & the Gulf of Mexico.

Much more recently, there is the much smaller space object which intersected the Earth's orbit in Russia.

So, what's being done to protect us against such a potential Armageddon?

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/06/the-sky-is-falling/306807/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/16/space_asteroid_impact_inevitable/ / Asteroid Earth asteroid meteor meteorite planet orbit orbits quakes tug of Earth's gravity impacts ground-shaking blast radius disk disc discus of damage space rock asteroid impacts Armageddon Deep Impact breakthrough ideas seeming obvious retro­spect Columbia University geophysicist Dallas Abbott  craters comets asteroids smashed into Earth geologists space strikes rare events era of primordial mists number of craters found on land 70 percent Earth’s surface water most space objects hit the sea searching for underwater craters caused impacts other forces such as volcanoes  spine-chilling evidence several enormous asteroids or comets have slammed into our planet quite recently in geologic terms time Gulf of Carpentaria north of Australia 536 A.D. striking at up to 50,000 miles per hour release as much energy as 1,000 nuclear bombs Debris dust gas gases thrown into the atmosphere impact would have blocked sunlight temporarily cooling the planet contemporaneous accounts describe dim skies cold summers poor harvests 536 and 537most dread portent took place the Byzantine historian Procopius ocean impact rain as corrosive as battery acid ancient texts such as Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh support her conjecture, describing an unspeakable planetary flood in roughly the same time period /

Samsung Galaxy Note III coming in H2 2013 with 6.3-Inch display, Exynos 5 Octa CPU

Tantalizing stuff. 6.3 inch screen ... hmmm ... maybe use a headset.

"Octa CPU", what's that you ask? Not all together surprising that "octa" is a reference to eight cores. One set of four cores is high processing capacity & power consumption, the other, low processing power & battery consumption. Only one set can be active at a time. Net effect is fast response & completion of tasks (e.g. no lag & jitter-free video) with good battery life.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-GALAXY-Note-III-Coming-in-H2-2013-with-6-3-Inch-Display-Exynos-5-Octa-CPU-321810.shtml / large screen multi-core quad-core Android smartphone phone touch screen /

Ford EcoBoost: Turbo gasoline engines the near green future?

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082462_ford-ecoboost-turbo-gasoline-engines-the-near-green-future / petrol energy fuel efficiency economy mpg consumption /

Evolution of the smartwatch: Part 1

IBM Linux Watch (2000) & IBM WatchPad 1.5 (2001)
Credit: IBM/ Macworld Australia

Ubuntu Phone — not as original as you might think. Check the watches shown above & in this article:

http://www.macworld.com.au/features/evolution-of-the-smart-watch-part-1-87362/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=How+to+jailbreak+your+iPhone+the+evolution+of+the+smart+watch+AirPlay+speakers+Group+Test+and+much+more&utm_content=How+to+jailbreak+your+iPhone+the+evolution+of+the+smart+watch+AirPlay+speakers+Group+Test+and+much+more+CID_3a4880dec6b489c731a724fc9806523a&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=See%20its%20journey%20so%20far / smart watch

Wind power surpasses nuclear in China

http://m.inhabitat.com/inhabitat/#!/entry/wind-power-surpasses-nuclear-energy-in-china,5124f63dd7fc7b56703b5476

/ sustainable renewable environmental /

261 mpg Volkswagen XL1 production confirmed, debuts Geneva

Credit: Volkswagen/ Green Car Reports

Some extraordinary numbers associated with this vehicle (cD 0.189).  Don't expect the fuel consumption figure to be equalled in tests under EPA guidelines.  261 mpg will be flat, level road, no traffic, constant speed, not greater than 50 mph (80 kph).  And the gallons will be UK, not US.  261 mpg (UK) = 217.3 mpg (US).

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082463_261-mpg-volkswagen-xl1-production-confirmed-debuts-geneva#100419651

Check this Wikipedia entry for tips on reducing the coefficient of  aerodynamic drag (cD) of your existing vehicle.  Mainly obvious stuff, but possibly worth a look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient     / cigar-shaped cigar shaped ultra economical vehicle ultra-eco production car plug in plug-in diesel hybrid aerodynamic benefits reducing weight improving aerodynamics small body two people  streamlined body cd drag coefficient of only 0.189 Low weight 1,752 lbs small engine electric motor respectable performance construction constructed carbon fiber aluminium aluminum titanium test tested under EPA guidelines less fuel than any vehicle currently on sale diesel engine 0.8 liters 800 cc cm3 2 cylinders capacity produces 47 horsepower with a further 27 horses delivered by the electric motor power wheels 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox Those figures sound miniscule by modern standards, but the XL1 should reach 62 mph in 12.7 seconds. Top speed is 98 mph EV small battery 31 miles of range charged via plug or regenerative braking effect cost $100,000 Holger Boch, XL1 project leader, says "It's clearly going to cost a lot more than a Golf - it's made of carbonfibre and has two engines. The people who buy it will be people who like technology and who like being seen in a low-CO2 car drivetrain VW Up city car Whether either of these will ever reach the U.S. is unclear, though Volkswagen will reveal more details at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show /

3Doodler: World's first 3D printing pen by WobbleWorks LLC • Kickstarter project (video)

Credit: WobbleWorks LLC/ kickstarter

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351910088/3doodler-the-worlds-first-3d-printing-pen     / 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen ABS plastic feedstock feed stock material used  3D printers draws in the air or on surfaces. It’s compact and easy to use, and requires no software or computers. You just plug it into a power socket and can start drawing anything within minutes most affordable way to 3D print scribble trace extrudes heated plastic cools solidifies strong stable structure build an infinite variety of shapes items trace objects on paper and after only a few hours of practice you will be able to make far more intricate objects creating objects artistic works artist hobbyist 3D printing /

We've slashed account hijackings by 99.7% – Google

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/21/google_account_hijack_clampdown/ / 120-variable security checks + 2-factor auth = zapped interwebs pond scum Google appears to be making strides in the war against account hijacking ads search webmail giant recently announced that it had reduced takeovers by 99.7 per cent since introducing tighter security procedures improved spam filtering spammers switched to more aggressive account takeover tactics 419ers hijack email accounts before sending fraudulent messages to potential marks usually friends contacts account hijacking victim auto-generated newbie accounts no longer works because messages from these accounts were routinely blocked email account hijacks often follow either phishing campaigns database leaks insecure websites because many people make the mistake of re-using the same password across different accounts stolen passwords from one site are often valid across many others This is what made password database breaches Sony PlayStation Network, Gawker, LinkedIn eHarmony Last.fm leaked passwords purchased in bulk from underground cybercrime forums the pond scum Internet then launch various attempts to break into accounts across the web and across many different services /

Samsung Galaxy owners reporting crippling copy & paste bug

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/02/20/samsung-galaxy-copy-paste-bug/     / Owners of several Samsung Galaxy devices including the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet are reporting a crippling copy and paste bug wherein the Clipboard continually crashes and doesn’t allow users to use the copy and paste function or any of the features associated with the Clipboard. /

The definitive story of Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, & phone phreaking

Credit: Ed Piskor/bInternet Archive/ The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/02/the-definitive-story-of-steve-wozniak-steve-jobs-and-phone-phreaking/273331/ / blue box creation myth Apple computer the two Steves Steve Jobs Steve Wozniak Ron Rosenbaum Secrets Of The Little Blue Box Captain Crunch article Esquire phone companies phreak frequencies Joe Engressia whistle free calls tone frequencies Stanford Linear Accelerator Center SLAC Stanford University great technical library reference frequency analog tone generator kits  local electronics store 2600 Hz /

Coal's hidden costs make solar a bargain

Hidden costs? What the economists call "externalities". Included are damage to groundwater, release of noxious gasses (e.g. sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide) & damage to human health.

In the United State, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care, and Entitlements estimated the human health cost of coal fired electricity to be at least $37 billion annually.  

The Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in Australia estimated cost to be in excess of $2.6 billion per annum.

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/coals-hidden-costs-make-solar-bargain?utm_source=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_source=Climate+Spectator&utm_campaign=7e3008ce07-CSPEC_DAILY&utm_medium=email     / full cost accounting of externalities most expensive fuel acceptance simple concept would pave the way for the renewable revolution direct environmental damage water sources land food production infrastructure damage extreme weather events rising green house emissions human health mining transporting combusting coal increase air pollution particulates noxious gases CO2 carbon dioxide greenhouse gas global warming climate change culpability of the industry /

HTC One hands-on: An Android dream phone worth lusting over • Really?

Battery non-removeable, no flash card slot? What are they thinking?

Scrub this one.

Here's the link if anyone is still interested.

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-19/htc-one-hands-android-dream-phone-worth-lusting-over

Google Glass interface finally revealed in new video

Credit: Google/ Dvice

Primarily voice, with ancillary touch on the side.

$1,500?  Just a bit steep.  I'll pass for now.

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-20/google-glass-interface-finally-revealed-new-video     / touch control on its side official video release primary means operating Glass designed around voice controls high-profile interview Sergey Brin Showing wearer sees when wearing tiny translucent square menu upper right-hand corner with voice-activated options for search taking a photo photograph recording video Hangout video chat  getting directions video demonstration functions begin with the user saying okay Glass to prompt the device to accept next command followed by one of the afore-mentioned menu options photos Glass show the device twisted show flexibility rugged thin plastic shades sunglasses now common among professional cyclists runners demo video in which the user while eating, asked the device to tell him how to say delicious in Thai translation audio pronunciation of the word using Google's translation engine characters associated word Whether Glass turns out to be practical or not, this is definitely a device that is attempting to push us into the future developers buy $1,500 /

“Carry an Education” in a Stone + Cloth bag

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/20/carry-an-education-in-a-stone-cloth-bag/ / Matthew Clough founder sherpa guided climb Mount Kilimanjaro earned only $1-$2 per day Benson earn enough send his children school first world country third lucky born privileges wanted something to help those without the opportunities enjoy America receive education  Knock Foundation established doing good works in Tanzania work with them company produces a line of backpacks gear bags made California, and they donate $10 from the sale of each to the Knock Foundation to support their education efforts in Tanzania Africa Benson backpacks padded laptop sleeve inside have iPad sleeves sized to fit either the full-sized mini iPads gear bags hold cables chargers other small items  Each bag is available in a variety of fabric color colour patterns /

Mount Etna's new eruption caught on video

Credit: Klaus Dorschfeldt/ ZME Science

http://www.livescience.com/27235-mount-etna-eruption-video.html     / Italy ash lava gas shooting first big eruption most active volcanoes strong flashes in the volcano's New Southeast Crater clearly visible Sicilian foothills short violent eruptive bursts active activity tallest volcano Europe Bocca Nuova crater visible spotted from space /

How Gracenote is building a car stereo that senses your driving mood (Flash video)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/19/how-gracenote-is-building-a-car-stereo-that-senses-your-driving-mood/ / hacking hack Ford Focus tap into vehicle performance data feeds into the car’s infotainment system car plays different songs depending how you’re driving /

Genes are not esoteric knowledge • Gene expression

This item includes a story about a man who discovered that his wife was his half sister.  How would you feel?  The couple already had children.  What would you tell them?  When? 

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2013/02/genes-are-not-esoteric-knowledge/#.USRb4_1hiK0     /in vitro fertilization IVF sperm donor lesbian advice columnist husband wife half-brother half-sister parent biological father wife three children information for them biological father counselor reproductive technology sort through your emotions healthy children informed of this coefficient of relatedness children’s parents 1/4 genotyped sequenced pedigree constructed products consanguineous relationship would genome signs of inbreeding genetic origins genetic information disseminated manipulated  offspring genetic background adulthood ubiquity personal genomics inbreeding depression higher risk for morbidity later in life incest genetically equivalent avunculate marriage half-siblings aunt uncle niece nephew /

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" & the great 48fps debate (video)

Credit: The Hobbit/ Peter Jackson/ Digital Trends

http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-48fps-debate/     / frames per second five films are nominated Academy Award Oscar Visual Effects category amazing tricks filmmakers effects teams big screen nominee stand out director Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings prequel audiences Middle-Earth middle earth three-part adventure special effects cutting edge photographic trickery hit experience upgraded technology visual effect 48fps shoot project the movie at 48 frames-per-second speed twice the industry standard polarized fans critics blur fast movements camera moving around quickly image judder or strobe 3-D Blu-Ray players high-definition television IMAX format higher speed improves clarity of images smooths transition between frames filmmakers audience /

Facebook, Twitter, Apple hack sprung from iPhone developer forum

http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/02/web-forum-for-iphone-developers-hosted-malware-that-hacked-facebook/     / website infect engineers espionage malware identified iPhone developer forum investigation hacking incident Web page website iphonedevsdk.com expose visitors previously undocumented vulnerability Oracle's Java browser plugin zero-day zero day exploit attackers install collection malware Java-enabled computers visited the site compromised watering hole attack compromise site popular population desired hacking victims using security vulnerabilities install code Web server hosting which injects attacks into the HTML sent to its visitors hosts a Web forum for iPhone developers netted hack hacking hackers access computers software engineers developers working mobile application projects exploit attack theft usernames passwords source requested anonymity press sinkholed command and control server should check their systems /

Exercising with friends in a webcam fitness class with Wello (video)

Credit: Wello/All Things D

http://allthingsd.com/20130219/exercising-with-friends-in-a-webcam-fitness-class/     / three friends for a Circuit Training workout class at their homes our trainer was in California Wello website computer webcams one-on-one, trainer-led exercise classes Group Workouts up to five participants plus a trainer cost solo sessions first group class free tested how the site works /

Tesla Model S controversy • Understanding the effects of temperature on electric vehicle efficiency & range

Credit: Tesla/ AnandTech

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6759/tesla-model-s-effects-of-temperature-on-ev-efficiency-and-range     / EV electric vehicle LiIon lithium ion battery charge recharge Tesla Model S New York Times article engineer  understand how EVs work nor how to drive them Elon Musk Matlab data tailor your driving style to suit the powertrain performance in cold weather hot weather hard numbers battery performance reduced in more extreme environmental conditions, consume more energy  in those extreme climates quantifying technology background Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Powertrain Research Facility APRF engineers scientists test advanced technology vehicles in their temperature controlled dynamometer facility sustain temperatures -5 F to 100 F research Department of Energy Vehicle Technology Program DoE laboratory lab instrumentation collect speed and consumption metrics data setsdynamometer researchers Downloadable Dynamometer Database heater load climate control air conditioning load efficiency performance impact of temperature energy consumption range UDDS Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule CS cold start HS is hot start /

New iOS App switcher concept by the designer of Auxo offers a vastly improved multitasking experience (video)

Credit: Sentry/ Redmond Pie

http://www.redmondpie.com/new-ios-app-switcher-concept-by-the-designer-of-auxo-offers-a-vastly-improved-multitasking-experience-video/ / concept ideas help us to visualize a specific software hardware rather improve elements Apple’s mobile OS iOS jailbreak scene app switcher Sentry designer behind Auxo tweak Cupertino company could reinvent multitasking bar multitasking bar app switcher functionality poor long press before closing apps down one-by-one Jony Ive iOS 7 jailbreak developers app switching swipes up from the middle of the display interface breaks from the center to reveal open apps other settings such as volume brightness toggles similar to SBSettings NCSettings tweaks app switcher vertical split nice aesthetic touch /

ISS astronaut reveals inside view of life in space

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-18/iss-astronaut-reveals-inside-view-life-space     / Canada's first spacewalker spacewalk Chris Hadfield has been living aboard the International Space Station ISS photos messages from space share what it's like to live in space obscure details about life among the stars that aren't commonly discussed answering questions from his sleep station tiny, phone booth sized padded room with a door for privacy thoughts recent privatization space Space X Dragon coming ISS grab it with Canadarm2 Australia coolest looking part of Earth as seen from space vacuum space has no smell, when astronauts return from a spacewalk the ISS airlock has the distinct smell of gunpowder distant stars galaxies really look like  space versus the Hubble photos we've become so accustomed to examining here on Earth. Hadfield said, "it looks like a carpet of countless tiny perfect unblinking lights in endless velvet, with the Milky Way as a glowing area of paler texture astronaut most important question experienced space traveler to the furthest reaches of our knowledge the horse the wheel sailing ship steamship propeller jet rocket Space Station  establish permanent base on the Moon and beyond, but when depends on inventions not yet made power generation primary obstacle fossil fuels even solar power won't be enough crucible where space exploration technology is designed and tested /

Tick tock: why timing your Mac hardware upgrades makes good sense

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/16/tick-tock-why-timing-your-mac-hardware-upgrades-makes-good-sense/     / planning MacBook upgrade coincide Intel’s chip releases largest performance gains purchase historic Apple-Intel Apple Intel upgrade cycle update update Mac Macintosh buy new Mac next release wait  refresh significant performance improvements minor updates major overall performance boost decide hardware version operating system  OS X software release cycles processor performance history release dates waiting new release performance most important factor to consider chip benchmark Mac Geekbench GPU /

Mindfulness & meditation training eases PTSD symptoms in the US military

Mindfulness meditation & the military? Not things most of us would associate. To quote one originally sceptical, 50 year old veteran, “No one wanted to do it. We thought it was a waste of time.” However, after returning from his second tour in Iraq he had changed his mind: “For me, meditation was a lifesaver."

http://m.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/mindfulness-and-meditation-training-could-ease-ptsd-symptoms-researchers-say/2013/02/16/a296a52a-4ad2-11e2-b709-667035ff9029_story.html     / 2 million American soldiers served Iraq Afghanistan several hundred thousand post traumatic PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder struggle anxiety ange, depression flashbacks nightmares ailment take years emerge treated drugs behavioral therapy approaches for many these methods don’t work researchers new methodlimit future cases ease symptoms meditation cultivating tranquillity military particular type mindfulness important therapeutic tool reduce stress increase focus practitioners mindfulness meditation focus  single thing happening in the moment breathing regular practitioners physical emotional benefits lower stress in many context Elizabeth Stanley associate professor security studies Georgetown University studies began practicing meditation soldiers dealing with the extreme stress of combat basic training fire weapon march in formation research colleagues attracted attention military leaders, commander allied forces former Army military intelligence officer scientist research collaborators psychologists neuroscientists published results pilot study mindfulness protected soldiers anxiety other stress-related negative emotions 60 Marine reservists two months of intense training before being deployed to Iraq received regular instruction mindfulness meditation asked meditate 15 minutes a day other group got no meditation training researchers found that after two months meditation group reported significantly lower levels of stress anxiety another benefit soldiers smarter improved their capacity to retain new information known as expanding their working memory participants remember letters from alphabet while doing simple arithmetic did significantly better at this task than those who didn’t receive such training meditated more did better than those who meditated less initially skeptical We thought it was a waste of time suffering from problems related to combat stress marriage was in trouble  drinking a lot constantly angry calmer less angry follow-up tests stressful experiences tend to degrade working memory what is a target what  much more focused lifesaver funded by the Department of Defense alters brain circuitry MRI scans Martin Paulus UCSD increases activity in the insula region of the brain plays a major role in the perception of bodily sensation interpreted as innocuous painful pleasurable controlling emotions Bosnia combat diagnosis PTSD doctorate in government at Harvard /

Monsanto's Supreme Court seed fight • What would Woody Guthrie think?

Credit: Library of Congress/ Wikimedia Commons/ The Atlantic

What would Woody Guthrie think?  What any decent person would think.  That the behaviour, as described, of Vernon Bowman, the 75-year-old Indiana farmer mentioned in the article, is wholely reasonable & honorable.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/02/monsantos-supreme-court-seed-fight-what-would-woody-guthrie-think/266072/     / temporary use shipping containers building blocks O+A's festival backdrop in Amsterdam permanent with 4D A Architects' shipping container housing New Jerusalem Orphanage Gauteng South Africa project Mia Anfield 4D and A already on site for storage Adam Kalkin American architect prefabrication specialist houses designers design construction period six months Anfield arrival materials site donated consideration building thermal performance during cold weather hot sunny days orientation of the building timber screens constructed of eco-friendly composite decking roof garden thermal mass inside walls ceilings clad in dry wall 50mm Isotherm foam insulation raised on plinths encourage flow air solar thermal photovoltaic systems /

Twenty-eight containers transform orphanage in South Africa

Credit: Dennis Guichard/ Safintra/ Gizmag

http://www.gizmag.com/shipping-container-orphanage/26227/     / temporary use shipping containers building blocks O+A's festival backdrop in Amsterdam permanent with 4D A Architects' shipping container housing New Jerusalem Orphanage Gauteng South Africa project Mia Anfield 4D and A already on site for storage Adam Kalkin American architect prefabrication specialist houses designers design construction period six months Anfield arrival materials site donated consideration building thermal performance during cold weather hot sunny days orientation of the building timber screens constructed of eco-friendly composite decking roof garden thermal mass inside walls ceilings clad in dry wall 50mm Isotherm foam insulation raised on plinths encourage flow air solar thermal photovoltaic systems /

Strategic Recovery Institute develops electric off-road racing vehicle (video)

750 lb ft of torque at zero rpm
Credit: Strategic Recovery Institute/ Gizmag

Amazing as this vehicle is, even more amazing is the fact that the US military pays $400 per gallon for gasoline (petrol)! That's delivered, in theatre. Presumably, US gallons. Thats just over $480 per UK gallon, $105 per litre.

And you thought You were paying too much!

http://www.gizmag.com/sri-electric-off-road-racer/26242/     / desert racing off road top speed of 125 mph EV1 electric off-road off road racer green racing SRI California-based non-profit group focusing sustainable design e-racer e-road racers have few manufacturers U.S. Army Lt. Gen James Pillsbury (Ret) design build race all-electric car 2012 SCORE Baja 1000 U.S. military’s fuel bill for foreign theater operations comes in at roughly $400/gallon cost of fueling petrol powered vehicles abroad all-electric off-road vehicles in demonstrate superior performance reliability cost savings winner would then have the opportunity to score a lucrative e-vehicle contract for various personnel requirements and support needs EV West Strategic Racing Designs  2011 Baja 1000 in class 5-1600 400 kW 2000 Ah system powered by two NetGain Motors 69 cell lithium ion battery packs trailer mounted and solar charging system gas petrol /

iPhone 5 ranks 5th in user satisfaction, behind 4 Android phones

That's in the United States.  Fares better in the UK.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-5-ranks-5th-in-user-satisfaction-in-u-s-behind-four-android-phones/     / fifth generation customer satisfaction Apple handset placed recent report OnDevice Research poll smartphone tablet users 6 six countries US USA Android handsets major mobile marketsfour different Android handsets user satisfaction Samsung Galaxy Note 2 II user satisfaction score HTC Rezound Motorola Droid Razr M Atrix HD budget-sensitive lowered expectations less expensive handset boost  HTC One X Samsung line up of the Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S 3 Mini Galaxy S 3 III data France Germany Japan Indonesia overall device satisfaction Cupertino Google device /

The blind can now officially get bionic eyes (video)

"It's like watching TV on a screen with just 60 pixels."

And it's not for everyone. The optic nerve must be intact, for example.

So ... not perhaps not what you expected when you read the heading.  But it's a start & allows enough vision for the patient to move around.  Better than total blindness.

http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-14/partially-blind-can-now-officially-get-bionic-eyes / Second Sight's Argus II bionic eye officially approved for use U.S.A. U.S. US USA Food and Drug Administration FDA advisory panel  benefits helping cure partial blindness outweighed possible safety problems post-surgical infections artificial retina embedded electrodes surgically implanted into the eye pair glasses equipped camera visual processor video camera captures footage images processor relays feed bionic eye allowing impaired wearer to see doesn't restore complete vision /

Tesla vs New York Times battle obscures the EV affordability issue

Credit: Tesla/ CleanTechnica

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/17/tesla-vs-new-york-times-fight-ignores-the-money-issue/ / consensus electric vehicles are ready for prime time John Broder not ready for electric vehicles affordability Obama Administration $20 million new funding to develop affordable EV batteries driver’s lack of common sense expense involved in engineering high-range batteries public and private EV stakeholders utilities technology tech companies Google major fleet owners FedEx manufacturers automotive sector workplace EV charging national online database for EV charging station locations online guide for communities readiness /

Best Cydia Themes: iOS 6 WinterBoard themes for the iPhone

Credit: Boss.iOS/ Gotta Be Mobile

https://www.gottabemobile.com/best-cydia-themes-winterboard-ios-6/     / evasi0n jailbreake Cydia apps themes completely change the look of the iPhone users customize iPhone 5, 4S 4 3GS optimized Retina Display iPad iOS 6 free replacing many icons theme matching icons ThemeIt ayecon home screen lock many apps CarbonX HD wallpapers Fifty Foot Shadows HD tweak tweaks moving background images ARC’d HD Jaku Glasklart HD LeviathanHaz3 Boss.iOS /

Cell phone tracking system reveals how traffic jams start

Boston-area roads. Red areas are the biggest sources of drivers. Yellow is next, then green, dark blue, and purple.
Credit: MIT/ Ars Technica

Amazingly, 98% of roads are under capacity in peak periods.  Traffic jams are caused when a small number of drivers in key neighborhoods make intensive use of the critical remaining 2% of roads.  On these critical roads, problems arise & then ripple outwards across the entire road system.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/02/cell-phone-tracking-system-reveals-how-traffic-jams-start/     / Smartphones changed the way we drive going GPS-assisted GPS assisted directions real-time information traffic jams help eliminate traffic jams warning goal study mobile cell phone records data track drivers vehicle movements identify sources of traffic MIT UC-Berkeley UC Berkeley UCB analyzed cell phone records Boston-area commuters call logs towers used to transmit calls researchers trace each individual commute, anonymously from origin destination most detailed maps of urban traffic patterns ever constructed journal Scientific Reports, U.S. Census Bureau travel diaries Boston San Francisco few drivers 98 percent below traffic capacity backups these roads ripple outward, causing traffic to snarl across the Hub drivers from those areas make particularly intensive use of the problematic roads in the system problem neighborhoods might be the key alternatives public transportation carpooling flex time and working from home problem areas /

Three months with Microsoft's Office 365

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6718/microsoft-office-365-review     / Windows Office 2013 experience RT form 15 Consumer Preview major change subscription-based subscription based model still buy Office traditional retail boxed edition standalone license four different options Home & Student Word Excel PowerPoint OneNote Home & Business Outlook Professional Publisher Access  volume-channel only Professional Plus InfoPath and Lync large businesses paying yearly basis multi-device licensing cloud storage naming scheme here latest version Office suite Office 365 subscription service Office 2013 applications Home Premium University with 20GB of SkyDrive storage 60 Skype minutes multiple device installation sleek system leveraged seamless experience cloud-based document storage backup fee is a bit ambitious, but the University edition at $79.99 for four years is actually a pretty great deal consumer product value devices licenses install Microsoft ID occupation pricing scheme setup executable .dmg Mac Macintosh Apple downloaded serial number no DVD-based install purely digital distribution installation tasks background /

Plimer & the merry band of fake experts

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/business-spectator/plimer-and-the-merry-band-of-fake-experts/news-story/fde33857b97b2d66cb72387199132292     / global warming climate change CO2 carbon dioxide greenhouse gas /

Asteroid impacts: How to avert Armageddon

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/02/asteroid-impacts     / threats posed space rocks meteor meteorite asteroids hit Earth risk impact crater shock wave  passed overhead blew out windows injured hundreds of people 2012 DA14 zipping past Earth inside orbit some man-made satellites astronomers strikes NASA America's space agency watching the sky rock orbits bring them close to Earth near-Earth object NEO track tracking tracked down around 90% of the very biggest NEOs planet killers a kilometre or more across wiped out dinosaurs 7-10km heavyweights are smaller less dangerous damage hit town city hard harder to spot NEO-detection detection Japanese Space Agency universities ask for more money to expand their search researchers, meanwhile pondering what to do if an asteroid is detected that is indeed on a collision course with Earth blast dangerous asteroid apart using nuclear weapons doomsday scenario fracture large asteroid into several smaller ones 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear explosions in space The European Space Agency  mission called Don Quijote large heavy spacecraft to ram an asteroid out of the way send sending a rocket engine to an asteroid could work if the asteroid in question was relatively small and was detected with plenty of time to spare proposal paint one side of an asteroid in light or dark colours, tweaking its trajectory via a neat bit of physics called the Yarkovsky effect that describes the way in which sunlight gives celestial bodies a gentle push gravity tractor in orbit around an asteroid, and relying on its gravity to tug the rock gently out of the way /

Does watching TV lower your sperm count?

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2013/02/15/ncbi-rofl-does-watching-tv-lower-your-sperm-count/#.USCZT_1hiK0     / physical activity television watching viewing semen quality in young men has declined over the past decades reasons unresolved concurrent increase in sedentary behaviour behavior  contributing factor  evaluate relationship physical activity television TV watching sperm parameters population young healthy men Rochester Young Men’s Study participated analysis physical activity hours per week of moderate vigorous exercise assessed via questionnaire semen quality was assessed by sperm concentration motility morphology total sperm count directly related to physical activity after multivariable adjustment /

The beautiful thing that happens when you project video onto falling snow (video)

Credit: Brian Maffitt/The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/02/the-beautiful-thing-that-happens-when-you-project-video-onto-falling-snow/273049/     / snow fell Chestnut Ridge New York brilliant idea project movie falling flakes screen camera Canon EOS 7D upstairs window pine tree dark backdrop started filming greatest color saturation music stock options Final Cut Pro video editor /

Visual tour: From abacus to iPod

Nordsieck's Differential Analyzer • an analog computer
Credit: Computer History Museum/ ComputerWorld

http://www.computerworld.com/slideshow/detail/22547#slide1     / abacus punch cards Herman Hollerith machine analog computer Nordsieck's Differential Analyzer computer ENIAC Univac Mainframe IBM System /360 360 disk disc drive The IBM RAMAC 350 Supercomputer Cray-1 Cray 1 Minicomputer DEC PDP-8 PDP 8 digital logic Moore's Moore law input output Xerox Alto computer graphics music art Utah Teapot mouse pointing device graphic games Pong Personal computer IBM PC MS DOS mobile computing Palm Pilot Networking Web spaghetti wires /

BiteMyApple.co is the one-stop shopping location for successful Kickstarter projects

That's successful, Apple compatible, Kickstarter projects.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/16/bitemyapple-co-is-the-one-stop-shopping-location-for-successful-kickstarter-projects/     / funding period pledge purchase it Internet store  products Apple gear at least compatible with it iPhone iPads cases stands Bluetooth accessories to stylus styli camera accessories /

Apple hires a television expert from LG Display

So, why would Apple employ an expert in TV displays?

Apple television?

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/08/apple-snags-a-television-expert-from-lg-display/     / OLED Association James (Jueng-jil) Lee LG researcher expert television displays expert in flat panel industry group display research fellow  printed organic light-emitting diode OLED based television expert LCD production started new LCD product lines Samsung LCD research efforts intense interest action TV /

The future of search is gravitational: Content will come to you

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/07/the-future-of-search-is-gravitational-content-will-come-to-you/     / semantic search knowledge graphs surfacing information related keyword searches working make relevant content come to us anticipatory computing information gravitation future of search next-generation applications surface information we need semantic element search relevant content appear before your eyesWeb what to look for attention Christopher Eakins, CEO Grapple Data revolutionize desktop search flagship product Aikin similar to semantic search list of files, emails, contacts or other content ranked by relevance standard keyword search wouldn’t detect /

25 best Cydia Apps for iOS 6 (video)

https://www.gottabemobile.com/best-cydia-apps-for-ios-6-jailbreak-apps/     / evasi0n iOS 6 jailbreak users tweak customize jailbroken iPhone iPad iPod Touch iOS 6.1 5 Auxo Apple Switcher shows card each open app FullForce iPhone 5 larger screen full screen f.lux color colour temperature IntelliscreenX lock screen Notification Center Facebook Twitter News lockscreen without unlocking LowPower Banner annoying low battery popups Nitrous Safari load pages faster other speed up Chrome  /

Controversy over New York Times road test of the Tesla Model S

The New York Times article, "Stalled Out on Tesla's Electric Highway"
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/automobiles/stalled-on-the-ev-highway.html?_r=0

Rebuttal by Elon Musk, Tesla Chairman, Product Architect & CEO, "A Most Peculiar Test Drive"
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/most-peculiar-test-drive

Green Car Reports list of discrepancies between Tesla & New York Times accounts
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082296_teslas-elon-musk-ny-times-disturbing-discrepancies-on-model-s-range-reporting

Tesla Model S owners crowdsource trip to counter NY Times report
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082366_tesla-model-s-owners-crowdsource-trip-to-counter-ny-times-report     / EV electric vehicle LiIon lithium ion battery charge recharge Tesla Model S  last Sunday critical New York Times road test set defiant Tesla Model S owners are setting out to prove Times reporter John Broder wrong replicate trip Maryland Connecticut fully recharging their electric luxury sport sedans show that the cars are quite capable of making the trip he couldn't Tesla Service Center in Rockville Maryland arrive at the Delaware SuperCharger site connect with three additional Model S drivers, setting off fully charged stop again Milford Connecticut SuperCharger recharge their cars to full three drivers will even stay at a hotel in Groton, Connecticut just as Broder did returning the next morning to the MIlford SuperCharger to recharge once again drivers will head home replicate the trip as closely as possible said driver Aaron Schildkraut but showing that with proper full charges even not plugging in overnight at the hotel that the trip can be made owners have asked Tesla Motors NSDQ TSLA for access to their cars' data logs afterward, to provide the same level of detail that Tesla offered in Musk's rebuttal post Twitter account TeslaRoadTrip been set up team members can post regular updates during the weekend Perhaps Tesla's tweet-happy CEO Elon Musk will RT some of their updates retweet re-tweet /

Why almost everyone in Russia has a dash cam (video)

How were so many videos of the Russian meteor taken by motorists? Does every Russian motorist have an in-car video camera?

Well, yes, almost.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/02/russian-dash-cams/     / a dozen different motorists around the Russian city Chelyabinsk capture video massive meteor flying through the sky almost everyone in Russia has a dash-mounted video camera in their car size of the country lax often corrupt law enforcement legal system rarely favors first-hand first hand accounts traffic collisions made dash cams requirement for motorists get into your car without your pants on, but never get into a car without a dash cam Aleksei Dozorov motorists’ motorist rights activist in Russia told Radio Free Europe last year search for Russia dash cam crash in YouTube Yandex.ru the county’s equivalent of Google thousands videos showing massive crashes close calls attempts insurance fraud both other drivers pedestrians Russian drivers are accident prone 35,972 road deaths in 2007 latest stats available from the World Health Organization Russia averages 25.2 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people U.S.A. U.S. USA US United States of America comparison had 13.9 road deaths per 100,000 people in the same year despite having six times more cars combination inexpensive cameras flash memory regulations passed Interior Ministry 2009 removed legal hurdles in-dash in dash cameras easy cheap drivers install equipment online phenomenon today when dash cams catch a once-in-a-lifetime meteor falling from the sky, from every possible angle something that couldn’t have happened just a few years ago /

Think one fewer browser means less work? Think again

Opera browser is swapping from its own Web rendering engine to the open source WebKit which is used in Chrome & Safari.

http://news.techworld.com/applications/3426051/opera-follows-chrome-and-safari-to-webkit-rendering-engine/

http://www.webmonkey.com/2013/02/think-one-less-browser-means-less-work-think-again/     / home-built more widely used open-source WebKit employed open source communities said Opera Chief Technology Officer Håkon Wium Lie plans to use portions of Google's Chromium experimental Web browser project layout engines component render the source code provided browser finished Web page. WebKit KDE Software's KHTML, the open-source rendering engine for the Konqueror browser and file manager Google Chrome Apple Safari /

Nissan Leaf: World's most popular electric car at 50,000 delivered

Credit: Nissan/ Green Car Reports

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082350_nissan-leaf-worlds-most-popular-electric-car-at-50000-delivered

http://www.greencarreports.com/overview/nissan_leaf_2013     / company has now sold 50,000 examples of the Leaf sold across Japan Europe U.S. U.S.A. US USA United States of America Leaf owners have racked up over 161 million miles that figure probably even higher Nissan can only monitor those Leafs equipped with the Carwings telemetry system not every owner has registered higher than the 100 million electric miles covered by Chevy Volt drivers electric range is smaller but together, owners of the two cars have racked up significantly more than quarter of a billion electric miles Teslas Mitsubishi iMiev other plug-in hybrids and battery electric cars on sale today in the U.S. and elsewhere, and that figure could be over half a billion miles petrol gasoline gasolene gas saved tailpipe emissions Over 95 percent of Leaf drivers are satisfied with their cars topped several customer satisfaction surveys in its limited time on sale electric vehicles are comfortably matching the expectations of owners LiIon lithium ion EV electric vehicle battery charge recharge range /

Soak up CO2 with sponges, says CSIRO

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/13/csiro_carbon_capture_sponges/     / Australian science outfit CSIRO demonstrating material new approach carbon capture sponge  metal-organic framework absorbs gases point of release capturing flue gases in a power station, releases captured carbon dioxide exposure to sunlight storage facility somewhere else parasitic use as much as 30 percent of a generator’s capacity MOF eliminate parasitic energy load of adsorbent regeneration because they release the as much as 64 percent of the captured carbon immediately on exposure to ultraviolet light Monash University’s Richelle Lyndon CSIRO team Dr Matthew Hill lead author paper abstract Angewandte Chemie Impregnated light-responsive azobenzene molecules which react to UV light and trigger the release of CO2 reaction, material's ability to bend and flex, which makes the material we have created so unique she said surface area of a football field in one gram giving the material a high absorption capacity relative to its weight /

New Zealand court hands out second peppercorn downloading penalty

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/11/nz_second_file_sharing_case_handed_down/ / New Zealand’s Copyright Tribunal has handed down its second decision under controversial “SkyNet” anti-downloading legislation imposed fine considerably less than that sought by the country’s music industry lobby RIANZ the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand defendant  NZ$1,681 penalty fined the defendant NZ$557 defence BitTorrent downloaded by his children which seems plausible  two songs for which he was punished Coldplay’s Paradise Kesha’s We R Who We R, according to Stuff regime, RIANZ notifies an ISP  illegal downloading sends three notices customer no acceptable response received case is escalated to the Copyright Tribunal defendant claimed financial difficulties most of the fine was in the form of costs penalties fee of just $7.17 to pay for the actual songs RIANZ has also told NZ Radio it believes installing a BitTorrent client is proof that an individual is sharing files illegally /

Here's what would happen if a huge asteroid hit your city

Credit: Killer Asteroids/ The Atlantic

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/02/heres-what-would-happen-if-huge-asteroid-hit-your-city/4712/     / Asteroid 2012 DA14 Earth asteroid meteor meteorite planet astronauts International Space Station orbits geosynchronous weather satellites interplanetary asteroid-quakes quakes tug of Earth's gravity closest asteroid flyby science, 2012 DA14 wealth empirical data asteroid impacts ground-shaking fascinating simulator from the excellently named site Killer Asteroids tool estimates blast radius several sizes of asteroids data Google impact calculator from London's Imperial College Purdue University GoogleEarth plugin Firefox virtually decimate some cities estimated discus of damage space rock asteroid impacts Armageddon Deep Impact /

Apple’s Lightning chips contain manufacturer-specific serial numbers

"A cracked version of the authentication chip could be blocked via software."

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/02/apples-lightning-chips-contain-manufacturer-specific-serial-numbers/     / Lightning-compatible compatible accessories iPod iPad iPhone iOS 30-pin connector tightened up control MFi Program license use of its connectors third-party accessory makers Apple can see which accessories have been authorized and which ones haven't using unique serial numbers on their authentication chips battery pack maker Mophie manufacturer they must order a Lightning component directly from Apple serial numbers each accessory maker contain authentication chips that communicate with the phones block unauthorized accessories /

Even Obama knows patent trolls are extorting money

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/02/even-obama-knows-patent-trolls-are-extorting-money/

Skype calls now equivalent to one-third of global phone traffic

http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/02/skype-calls-now-equivalent-to-one-third-of-global-phone-traffic/     / New research TeleGeography telecom market analysis firm worldwide Skype usage shows that international telephone traffic grew 5 percent in 2012, to 490 billion minutes cross-border Skype-to-Skype voice and video traffic grew 44 percent in 2012, to 167 billion minutes This increase of nearly 51 billion minutes is more than twice that achieved by all international carriers in the world, combined Traditional telcos International providers apps services Viber Whatsapp Google Voice putting pressure traditional telcos /

Exotic but useful metals such as tantalum & titanium are about to become cheap & plentiful

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21571847-exotic-useful-metals-such-tantalum-and-titanium-are-about-become-cheap / rare earths earth metals elements lithium /

Georgia broadband legislation: restricts rural municipal broadband

http://bgr.com/2013/02/14/georgia-broadband-legislation-327617/#more-327617     / Georgia’s state legislature recently became the latest to take up the cause of protecting its constituents from the insidious menace of municipal broadband Internet access at speeds of 1.5Mbps highest-speed Internet North Carolina South Carolina legislation /

iOS 6.1 brings back bug that gives anyone access to your contacts, photos (video)

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/02/ios-6-1-brings-back-bug-that-gives-anyone-access-to-your-contacts-photos/     / old vulnerability iPhone's lock screen Emergency Call feature resurfaced iOS 6.1 right sequence button clicking possible user's user voicemails contacts photos locked password protected similar bug first appeared iOS 2.0 double-clicking Home button access contact favorites clicking Emergency Call button access call logs voicemails contact send SMS messages send read e-mails launch Safari Apple iOS 4.1. sequence of actions  complex dialing a random number same basic bug malicious hack hacker hacking gain acces data accessible from the Phone app lockscreen bypass fix  serious bug user security software update /

Watch this giant meteorite fly over Russia … you won’t believe the sound it made (video)

Credit: Yahoo

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/02/watch-this-giant-meteorite-fly-over-russia-you-wont-believe-the-sound-it-made/

In this video breaking glass can be heard around 6 seconds in & broken windows seen at 10 seconds.

Estimated 1,200 injured & 200,000 square meters (50 acres) of windows shattered. Injuries largely due to flying glass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFBtfR54Svk&feature=youtube_gdata_player     / space Earth asteroid meteorite meteor streaking across sky Russia crashing explosion furious bang almighty bang blew out the windows of a city evacutions evacuation evacuate /

Which apps will drain your battery & data plan? Verizon’s got a list

Useful to customers of other carriers too.

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/08/which-apps-will-drain-your-battery-and-data-plan-verizons-got-a-list/

http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2013/02/verizon-wireless-top-20-apps.html     / iOS iPhone iPod iPad Android apps based fun useful resources consume Facebook many popular games get docked Verizon Wireless shut down app store app curation carrier reviewing rating recommending Android and iPhone app customers engineers impact phone battery life drain customer’s data plan loose loosely plays with security customer privacy compiling regularly updated recommendation lists list 20 apps available either Android OS operating system iOS claims deliver best in class experience on smartphones tablets objective choices Verizon’s AppLuvr software which recommends apps based on what’s already installed more visible methodology top 25 free paid apps Google Play based on three criteria security, battery consumption data usage third set of reviews Verizon’s naughty list 13 apps games drain your battery eat up your data plan game development shops Enormously popular games like Halfbrick’s Fruit Ninja Free OMGPOP’s Draw Something battery drain Facebook Messenger eBay scored relatively high penalized because of their high data consumption /

Charge your phone with the heat energy in a cup of hot coffee (video)

Credit: Epiphany Labs/ KickStarter

So how does that work? I haven't seen one, but the claim is they use a small Stirling engine which utilizes difference in temperature to turn a crank. That implies a small generator which actually produces the electricity to charge your phone.

Cold drinks work too!

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/14/use-that-cup-of-joe-to-charge-on-the-go-with-one-puck/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/epiphanylabs/epiphany-one-puck?ref=category

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_XzSnqo4Ps&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_N5l_pgEc&feature=youtube_gdata_player / charge your phone on the go The Epiphany onE Puck Epiphany Labs Kickstarter project unique portable charging device uses heat cold temperature difference energy flow charge your phone small Stirling engine power to charge your phone USB charger drawing 1000 mA one Amp or less Kickstarter project funding starts at T tee shirt window sticker custom-engraved delivery in March 2014 ice cool cold hot tea coffee drink side red blue /

Group Test: Desktop hard disk storage

Credit: LaCie/ Macworld

http://www.macworld.com.au/reviews/group-test-desktop-storage-87069/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Cheaper+faster+Retina+MacBook+Pros+32+iOS+tips+and+tricks+latest+iPad+5+rumours+and+much+more&utm_content=Cheaper+faster+Retina+MacBook+Pros+32+iOS+tips+and+tricks+latest+iPad+5+rumours+and+much+more+CID_a151e3c6ba50ca426aded6263162f65c&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Group%20Test%20Desktop%20storage     / back up backup data hard drive disc four current models market Seagate Backup Plus PRO Social media backup performance; capacity restart PRICE review WD My Book VelociRaptor Duo Western Digital Performance; RAID reliability Expensive Buffalo DriveStation Velocity Three-year warranty Macintosh Mac software slow formatted for PC Winows LaCie d2 USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series Fast; multiple interfaces Can be a little noisy backup plus, buffalo, d2 USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series, DriveStation Velocity, lacie, My Book VelociRaptor Duo, seagate, wd disc /

Neptune Pine: Smartwatch & real wrist phone

Credit: Neptune Computer Inc.

At 2.4 inches, that's a very big screen to wear on the wrist. It's only 0.1 inch smaller than the latest, expanded iPod Nano screen.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/02/09/neptune-pine-smartwatch-first-wrist-phone/

http://www.neptunepine.com/     / Pebble Smartwatch SIM card slot insert a micro micro-SIM wrist makes receives phone calls shoot shoots video take takes pictures retrieves email txt SMS text messages browses Internet plays music 2.4-inch 2.4 inch capacitive touchscreen 320×240 resolution highly modified version Android OS Leaf OS watch powered 1 GHz single-core ARM Cortex A9 processor 16 Sixteen year old Daniel Bryant created Leaf OS as an open source tool to run as a browser home page Dick Tracy style quad-band GSM radio 3G  Wi-Fi GPS Bluetooth 4.0 headset telecommunications FM radio digital compass entering enter data small screen problematic 4-inch width  QWERTY keyboard same size as the iPhone user only sees a single line of text above the keyboard while typing Android’s built-in voice recognition functions features heart rate monitor track tracks wearer’s running walking pace track distance calories burned camera 5MP megapixels mega pixels images HD video shoot the image stability /

Coca-Cola sends SodaStream a cease-and-desist letter over display of trash

Credit: Inhabitat/ SodaStream

http://inhabitat.com/coca-cola-sends-sodastream-cease-and-desist-letter-over-display-of-trash/     / garbage rubbish can lawyer solicitor barrister notice beverage  letter company marketing campaign The Cage exhibit features waste cans bottles employees collected dump sites soda The legal action South Africa exhibit located in South O.R. Tambo International Airport infringes trademark rights advertising grounds possible legal action similar exhibits around the world including touring variants that have shown up in Times Square New York legal pressure Forbes CEO Daniel Birnbaum claim to have rights to their garbage, then they should truly own their garbage, and clean it up cleaning up Coke is now re-claiming ownership of the billions of bottles and cans that litter the planet with their trademarks.  In that case, they should be sued in the World Court for all of the damage their garbage is causing recycle clean up /

Plastic car windows: One way to save weight

Heavy cars require more energy when they accelerate.  As a result, acceleration is limited & fuel consumption increased.

Glass windows in a car can, together, weigh up to 50 kilogrammes.   Polycarbonate weighs half as much.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082238_plastic-car-windows-one-way-to-save-weight     / polycarbonate mass 100 pounds  rear windows sunroofs too strong accident first responders breaking windows injured trapped occupants prohibited windscreens side windows scratch resistance hazing cost UV ultraviolet ultra violet ultra-violet protection protecting layers prevent hazing years sunlight  additional layers prevent scratching twice double cost widely adopted company currently running trials /

Cheap Lightning cables now available at Monoprice for less than $12

Credit: Monoprice/ GottaBeMobile

Newer iOS devices, such as the iPhone 5 have had the problem that Lightning cables for their charge/ sync connector have been expensive. Now, problem solved.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/02/08/lightning-cables/     / Apple iOS connector 30 pin 30-pin iPhone 5 iPod iPad /

There's no such thing as everlasting love (according to science)

http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/01/theres-no-such-thing-as-everlasting-love-according-to-science/267199/     / new book Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become psychologist Barbara Fredrickson offers  radically new conception of love leading researcher positive emotions University of North Carolina Chapel Hill presents scientific evidence love not what we think it is not long-lasting continually present emotion sustains a marriage not yearning passion characterizes young love blood-tie kinship micro-moment of positivity resonance means that love is a connection, characterized by a flood of positive emotions, which you share with another person any other person whom you happen to connect with in the course of your day experience micro-moments romantic partner child close friend fall in love however momentarily less likely candidates stranger street colleague at work, attendant grocery store Louis Armstrong It's a Wonderful World I see friends shaking hands sayin how do you do? They're really sayin I love you /

Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter USB flash drive review

Credit: The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/12/victorinox-swiss-army-jetsetter-usb-flash-drive-review/#more-123955     / tools USB flash drive 8 16 32GB GB gigabyte capacities favorite EDC every day carry tool home office USB 2.0 exclusive Apple store product features detachable shock-resistant water-resistant tools pre-loaded security software specific Mac Macintosh devices computers standard Swiss Army knife plastic handles Victorinox Swiss Army logo silver aluminum handles no tools lack tools replace pocket pen knife carry every day blades capacity scissors nail file screwdriver tip removable tweezers tiny split key ring ballpoint pen blue ink clamshell package opener red and includes scissors bottle opener magnetic Phillips screwdriver wire stripper tweezers tiny split key ring Silver Tech screwdriver wire stripper LED mini light knife blade flight-friendly TSA compliant design package opener blade scissors shorter than the longest allowable length /

IBM’S supercomputer: Jeopardy was too easy. Time to cure cancer

http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/02/ibms-supercomputer-jeopardy-was-too-easy-time-to-cure-cancer/     / Watson supercomputer Jeopardy playing humans cure curing cancer parse parsing data cancer treatments Sloan-Kettering Memorial Center offered cloud cloud-based application determining the best course of action for cancer patients treatment battle man versus machine computer medicine panel discussion algorithms team diagnosis diagnose medical conditions tech support disease illness improved performance  task of internalizing 600,000 pieces of medical evidence 1.5 million patient record, 2 million pages of texts from medical journals 1,500 lung-cancer cases see connections trends data humans databases data base compiled app application accessed tablet computer compare cancer patient medical records index results returns recommendations treatment descending order of confidence on effectiveness algorithm operating strictly on cancer stacks treatments in order likelihood succeed results augmented insurance coverage considers which treatments authorized for payment application owned WellPoint adopted medical groups Maine center Cancer Medicine WestMed Westchester County New York AP. WellPoint sell applications other institutions price IBM receive a cut /

UPDATE on the UPDATE: OK to install the latest version of "Calctimate" calculator for iOS now

As indicated previously, there was a problem with a recent release of the Calctimate calculator for iOS (2.6.0, 07 February 2013).

The bug has been eliminated in the most recent release (2.6.1, 12 February 2013).  Get it at:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/calctimate-revolutionary-calculator/id468677289?mt=8&ls=1     / bug crash fix error application release exit SkyPaw /

PayPal & Lenovo launch a new campaign to kill the password with a new standard from FIDO Alliance

"A new standard that gives phones and PCs a bigger role in authentication could disarm attacks that rely on stealing passwords."

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/511001/paypal-lenovo-launch-new-campaign-to-kill-the-password/     / consortium world’s second-largest PC manufacturer launched technology standards reduce reliance password making online accounts more secure device log in account play  central role authentication impossible compromise accounts stealing passwords hackers break into Twitter LinkedIn customers credentials easily retrievable criminals techniques password guessing credential theft websites phishing says Michael Barrett chief information security officer at PayPal cofounder  FIDO Alliance credentials are much more bound  device much harder criminal abscond steal technical specifications being developed get proof device checking security chip that is installed  PC user with hardware fingerprint reader securing personal accounts /

President Obama: If Congress won’t act on climate change, I will

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/12/president-obama-if-congress-wont-act-on-climate-change-i-will/     / market-based market based means fight climate change early first term President Barack Obama urged Congress adopt solutions to fight climate change State of the Union speech consider options like the clean energy and climate bill climate change global warming greenhouse gas CO2 Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act EPA natural gas cleaner new oil gas permits research and technology gas burn even cleaner protects air water /

Bacteria – How they are good for you

Credit: Fernan Federici/ Getty Images/ Time

Bacteria in & on our bodies outnumber our own cells 10 or more to one.  Because bacterial cells are much smaller than our own, they only make up 1 to 3% of our body's mass.  That's up to 3 kilograms in a 100 kilo adult.

Not all these bacteria are a disease threat.  In fact, a body without any bacteria would be dead. Or very, very ill.   

So how did these tiny philanthropists get so much bad press?  Well, it's a very complicated story:

Gut bacteria – They are what you eat
http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/06/gut-bugs-they-are-what-you-eat/

Good bacteria – How the germs in your body keep you healthy
http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/14/the-good-bugs-how-the-germs-in-your-body-keep-you-healthy/

What do gut bugs have to do with high cholesterol? A Lot
http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/14/what-do-gut-bugs-have-to-do-with-high-cholesterol-a-lot/

The human microbiome – Scientists decode the genes of the millions of bacteria that keep the human body healthy
http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/14/the-good-bugs-how-the-germs-in-your-body-keep-you-healthy/

Connection between dirty diapers & childhood health
http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/12/the-connection-between-dirty-diapers-and-childhood-health/?iid=hl-main-lead / bug germ intestine digestive tract nappy nappies /

Counting raindrops • new development in weather forecasting

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21571384-how-use-mobile-phone-networks-weather-forecasting-counting-raindrops     / East Coast United States recovers Nemo importance weather forecasting become clear elegant solution age-old problem measuring rainfall measured satellites lack detail old fashion fashioned rain collection gauges have detail but don’t cover much land area degrade cell phone reception researchers invented developed system uses cellphone signals determine rainfall in an area detail rain gauges wide coverage of satellites most regions have cell phone reception information measured in realtime real time unlike satellites gauges areas without cell phone coverage weather forecasters help build cell stations towers to better measure weather data cell phone reception technology limitations measuring snow or hail technology limitations test runs /

Samsung-Apple rivalry analysis: Samsung happy to follow the leader

http://bgr.com/2013/02/11/samsung-apple-rivalry-analysis-nyt-324592/?utm_source=hitlist-sb&utm_medium=home     / Samsung leader consumer electronics industry South Korean company newcomer smartphone market dabbling with Android dominating handset shipment volumes sold estimated 63 million smartphones channels last quarter $6.6 billion in profit heat copying Apple’s designs formula is clearly working  recent interview top executive Samsung happy to follow other companies lead New York Times Brian X. Chen Apple-Samsung rivalry Apple focusing rise in popularity Apple AAPL has seen a true competitor since launching the iPhone Apple focuses on creating new markets dominating them Samsung entering existing markets and growing within them We get most of our ideas from the market Samsung EVP executive vice president Kim Hyun-suk Chen interview market is a driver Apple recent products have entered existing markets devices have offered innovation and clear benefits iPhone iPod obvious examples  strategy always something new and different to breaks into a new market refinement. Samsung Galaxy smartphone Galaxy Note phablet niche marketfollowing cheaper iPhone /

Latest trial of a virus engineered to kill cancer shows promise

http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/02/latest-trial-of-a-virus-engineered-to-kill-cancer-shows-promise/     / scientists working engineer virus attack cancer basic idea is sound promising-looking results tumor shrinking infection viruses small trials companies Medicine promising results different approach ensuring virus leads death of cancer cells revs immune system to attack them result clinic opportunity review general approach of treating cancer with viruses basic idea leverage decades common viruses research has identified a variety of mutations keeping viruses from growing in normal cells inject virus into a healthy individual it won't be able to infect any of their cells cancer cells are different carry a series of mutations of their own p53 protein normally induces aberrant cells to undergo an orderly death called apoptosis shut down the growth of viruses in a cell some viruses encode a protein that inhibits p53 damage eliminate copies of p53 so that it doesn't cause them to undergo apoptosis virus p53 inhibitor deleted can't grow in normal cells hey have p53 can grow in cancer cells eliminated their p53 cancer-killing virus great idea viruses dropped after preliminary trials new trial similar approach vaccinia smallpox used for vaccines carries a gene essential make copies of itself researchers have engineered a version without that gene ensuring can't grow in normal cells gene shut down cancer cells reactivate the gene hospitable environment mutant virus researchers insert inserting gene molecule recruit immune cells granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor GM-CSF immune system plays an important role in controlling cancer doesn't always generate a full-scale response to cancer bring immune cells to the site of the cancer and activate them creating a more aggressive immune response to any cells that survive viral infection study checking tolerance two different doses virus tolerated well tolerate subjects reported bout of flu-like symptoms only one subject out of 30 had a more severe response tumors did respond placebo-controlled trials low-dose group survival time higher dose group imaging of tumors showed lots of dead cells tests immune system virus generated robust response clinical trials company engaged in phase 2 trials designed identify treatment large-scale effectiveness trial promising results /