JBL Pulse portable speaker

Credit: Think Geek

It’s not cheap at a list price of $US199, but a search will find prices around $US150, including Think Geek.

Looks great with the light display in operation, but reduces battery life by 50%, as reported by Cnet.

/ Bluetooth wireless music sound compact wireless Bluetooth speaker delivers good sound size integrated light show preprogrammed custom customize customizable themes built-in rechargeable battery LiIon lithium ion 10 hours battery life sound only 5 hours light show can distort at higher volumes rock tracks bass-heavy material no carrying case included not sound quite good $200 competitors integrated light show listening experience /

Revolutionary multi-directional elevator concept (video)

Unsurprisingly, Douglas Adams suggested it first*, but ThyssenKrupp look like bringing it to fruition: elevators (lifts) that move horizontally, as well as vertically. They are able to do this because they are driven electromagnetically. Elimination of heavy cables allows multiple lift-cars to occupy the same lift-shaft at the same time & improves energy-efficiency. Other claimed benefits include less floor space occupied by lift shafts & less waiting time for passengers.

http://www.gizmag.com/thyssenkrupp-magnet-drive-elevator/34976/

Claim of, “world's first cable-free elevator”, in the article linked above ignores hydraulic lifts, such as are used in the Statue of Liberty, which recently had an oil change:

http://machinedesign.com/news/miss-liberty-visitors-get-eco-friendly-lift

_________________
* The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams, 1980, chapter 10

“Modern elevators are strange and complex entities. The ancient electric winch and “maximum-capacity-eight-persons" jobs bear as much relation to a Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Happy Vertical People Transporter as a packet of mixed nuts does to the entire west wing of the Sirian State Mental Hospital.
“This is because they operate on the curious principle of “defocused temporal perception.” In other words they have the capacity to see dimly into the immediate future, which enables the elevator to be on the right floor to pick you up even before you knew you wanted it, thus eliminating all the tedious chatting, relaxing and making friends that people were previously forced to do while waiting for elevators.
“Not unnaturally, many elevators imbued with intelligence and precognition became terribly frustrated with the mindless business of going up and down, up and down, experimented briefly with the notion of going sideways, as a sort of existential protest, demanded participation in the decision-making process and finally took to squatting in basements sulking.

More at: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Life.2C_the_Universe_and_Everything_.281982.29 / elevator lift design progressed cabins move vertically shaft supported cables inefficient limiting large footprint people passenger ride wait a long time next lift German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp unveiled revolutionary Willy Wonka style elevator concept several cabins move horizontally vertically up and down sideways left right same elevator shaft same time dubbed Multi ThyssenKrupp's elevator concept world's first cable free elevator electromagnetic specialist MagneMotion may have got there first ThyssenKrupp's system doing away with cables implications for the future design of tall buildings propelled magnet based drive technology Shanghai's super-fast Maglev train built Transrapid International joint venture Siemens ThyssenKrupp elevator motor horizontal vertical movement single shaft skyscraper complex system of shafts passengers access elevator every 15 to 30 seconds smaller shafts typical elevators increase building's usable area 25 percent 25% lighter too lightweight materials cabins doors slims slim 50 percent 50% typical elevator's weight mass 300 m 984 ft tall building test system /

Xmas lights that charge your iPhone

Credit: ThinkGeek/The Gadgeteer

It’s bright

It’s Christmassy

It charges your iPhone

It’s iPhone Merry Charger! (Lightning only)

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/11/25/decorate-your-office-for-christmas-while-you-charge-your-iphone/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGadgeteer+%28The+Gadgeteer%29&_m=3n.002i.773.bg0ao004ub.114z / Apple iphone Christmas light lights charge recharge charging battery lightning connector cable string Christmas iPad holiday cable home office festive brighten up your work area USB plug in a charger cable 46″ 46 inch long charging cable 10 LED lights glow Lightning chargeable Apple devices /

Pilots report increased near-collisions with drones

Credit: Daily Mail

Air flight is relatively safe. At least, about as safe as flying through the air at hundreds of knots, thousands of feet up, in a fragile aluminium tube, carrying many gallons of flammable fuel, with an on-board ignition sources (electronic system & engine), can be.

Actually, the most dangerous parts are taking off &, most of all, landing. Which is why most air crashes occur at airports.

See image above.

Why is aviation relatively safe?
• participants put their life on the line
• barriers to entry are high: aircraft are expensive, pilot training is both expensive & time consuming
• very tightly regulated
• if you do something wrong, sooner or later you have to come back down, at one of few landing spots, & face the music

None of the above applies to the rapidly growing drone market. Regulations are rudimentary & difficult to enforce. In the USA there is a, “not above 400 feet, not within 5 miles of an airport”, rule. It is not always observed (placing aircraft at risk when they are most vulnerable – see links below), & doesn’t apply to areas such as hospitals, where rescue helicopters have to land from time-to-time. Another at-risk area is fire-bombing sites.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/11/pilots-report-increased-near-collisions-with-drones-faa-data-says/

http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_101745

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/07/15/drones_pose_new_risk_for_aircraft_in_canadian_skies.html / USA Federal Aviation Authority FAA increase complaints complaint incident pilots air traffic control controllers personnel near collisions with drones small drones came within a few seconds few feet crash crashing collision impact smash much larger aircraft pilot reported report seeing siting site drones drone restricted airspace near collision near airport previously unreported incidents New York Washington DC area regulations governing drones current guidelines hobbyists fly drones fly no higher than 400 feet at least five miles away from airports altitude altitudes over 1,000 feet one incident LaGuardia drone flying at 4,000 feet almost hit a passenger plane descending to land incident passenger planes taking off very close call drone at about 2,000 feet incident US Airways shuttle flight departed Reagan National Airport reported encounter yellow drone four foot wingspan passed within 50 feet aircraft approaching LaGuardia American Airlines jet struck drone flying 2,300 feet Tallahassee Regional Airport Jim Williams manager FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office metal and plastic aircraft big lithium battery high-speed turbine engine results catastrophic medical evacuation helicopters particular particularly particular risk take off and land at hospitals 5 mile radius rule airports tracking down offenders difficult resource consuming intensive time push to get drones in the air approve commercial use case by case basis commercial use of drones case-by-case basis Hollywood production companies hobbyist GoPro announced consumer drones today hot sellers this holiday season selfie self portrait photo dronie /

Want to fund a mission to the Moon?

Want to finance a space mission? Through the wonder of crowd funding, now you can be a part of Lunar Mission One, for as little as three British pounds.

Aims:
• land near the South Pole of the Moon – not previously explored
• drill a hole at least 20 metres (up to 100 metres) deep
• recover cores for examination by on board instruments
• insert a time capsule into the hole

Part of the time capsule will be occupied by private material, submitted by funders.

An ambitious project in itself will be the remainder of the contents of the time capsule:

"a publically assembled, authoritative record of life on Earth, with a history of humankind and a species database that chronicles the Earth's known biodiversity and how it all fits together – from geology to atmosphere. This archive will be available online both during development and after the Mission has been accomplished. We will have laid the groundwork for future generations to develop and maintain this hugely valuable research and educational tool. Publically owned and accessible to all, this archive is a hugely ambitious plan that could only be resourced by a project of this scale." – Wow!

Kickstarter project site:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunarmissionone/lunar-mission-one-a-new-lunar-mission-for-everyone

Media reports:

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/mission-moon-millions-may-help-lunar-landing/2014/11/19/fa3d5dda-700c-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html

BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30102343

Wired
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-11/19/space-mission-in-ten-years

Collins, & others, list "publically" (used in the quote from the Lunar Mission Project above) as an alternate spelling of "publicly":

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/publically / Lunar Mission One most inspirational mission to the Moon Apollo landings reserve your place in space follow space exploration be a part of it unmanned robotic landing module South Pole Moon unexplored previous missions pioneering technology drill down depth at least 20m drilled 100m 20 100 metres meters access lunar rock dating back 4.5 billion years discover geological composition ancient relationship Earth our planet effects asteroid bombardment project improve scientific understanding early solar system formation our planet Moon conditions initiated life on Earth Rosetta mission new era of pioneering space exploration engage with the secrets of the solar system truly international mission everyone everywhere get involved in finance next phase of development Lunar Mission One reserve your place in space digital memory box buried Moon mission 21st Century time capsule borehole drill preserved billion years conditions within the Moon private archive millions individual digital memory boxes Kickstarter supporter secure longer term funding launch information inside time capsule buried on the Moon public archive publically assembled authoritative record life on Earth history of humankind species database chronicle Earth's known biodiversity geology atmosphere available online during development accomplished completed groundwork future generations develop maintain valuable research educational tool publically owned accessible to all hugely ambitious plan resourced project of this scale ten years launch rocket Earth orbit Lunar Missions spacecraft inscribed space craft upper stage boost spacecraft lunar lander drilling platform slow down orbit lunar poles adjust orbit precision landing viewing gallery mission control members Lunar Missions Club slows preselected landing site South Pole position target area adjusts trajectory look for small hazards make final adjustments rocket engines cut out legs stabilising settling craft surface of the Moon retrieve cylindrical rock cores analysis suite scientific instruments onboard arrange return mission most important samples back more detailed analysis on Earth next mission funded Lunar Missions Trust /

Google’s new dashboard shows you all the devices accessing your account

Credit: Google/Wired

Security on the Internet is never going to be complete, but Google has a new tool to lean the balance a little more your way.

http://www.wired.com/2014/11/google-activity-dashboard/ / email hacking hack hacked hacker problem diligent take the proper precautions minimize the chances get into your account Google new tool easily check when and where account accessed unusual activity happening Devices and Activity Dashboard lists device devices connected your Google Account when and where access accessing accessed list past 28 days new device your account all caps product listing currently using your Google listed at the top something suspicious Secure your account change your password update your recovery information check app passwords account permissions check your two-step verification settings two step Gmail recent account activity bottom right of your inbox any open email Last account activity click Details access sign out other active sessions currently using. /

Mio LINK heart rate wristband review

Do you use a chest strap heart rate monitor as an aid to fitness training? Does it chafe/cut or is it just a nuisance? Mio have one that solves these problems by fitting round your wrist:

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/11/24/mio-link-heart-rate-wristband-review/#more-168251/ monitor your heart rate chest strap working work out pain irritation fitness device included Bluetooth HR chest strap cut bleed bled blood long run engineers Mio LINK wrist-based wrist band measure your heart rate more comfortable latest fitness product dual ANT+ Bluetooth SMART 4.0 optical heart rate wristband transmits data across both wireless protocols half the size health gadget Mio Alpha send heart rate data multitude smart-devices iOS Android fitness tech-gear Mio LINK heart rate band USB charging dock Quick start guide running working out chest straps chafe me heart rate data Mio Continuous Technology EKG accurate heart rate data performance speeds band placement fit critical accurate heart rate data LINK attached snugly to your arm above the wrist bone device communicate communication communicating two sizes sensor monitors heart rate sensing blood flow in your arm two green LEDs sensor between them communicating fenix 2 LG G3 iPad Mini five user-settable heart rate zones internal rechargeable battery USB cradle USB cable accuracy Polar m400 Bluetooth chest strap hand sensors comfortable accurate lightweight /

Lollipop for first gen Samsung Note & Motorola Moto G

CyanogenMod 12.0 incorporating Android 5.0 Lollipop
Credit: International Business Times

There is reason to think that there will be no release of Android 5.0 Lollipop for the original Samsung Note (N7000) or first gen Motorola Moto G.

http://www.techradar.com/au/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-l-5-0-release-date-when-can-i-get-it--1257804

A problem with any hardware is that, sooner or later, support from the manufacturer comes to an end. In this case, though there is an alternative: CyanogenMod will be releasing Lollipop for first generation Note 1 & Motorola Moto G. This illustrates just two of the advantages of custom ROMs: typically sooner to release, & continue support long after the manufacturer has lost interest:

http://www.android.gs/cm12-alpha-built-available-for-galaxy-note-n7000-and-moto-g/

http://www.cyanogenmod.org/

Ins & outs of rooting Android

http://www.androidauthority.com/rooting-for-beginners-144706/ / Galaxy Note N7000 1 one original device devices official Android updates over the air OTA Android 5.0 Lollipop first version of Samsung Galaxy Note lineup test latest Android platform install custom ROM firmware Galaxy Note N7000 first generation Motorola Moto G users xda developers developing stable version Cyaongen Mod CM12 Android 5.0 Lollipop software CyanogenMod custom ROM CM11 based stock Android KitKat available Android smartphones tablets next update CM 12 Lollipop firmware ported version custom ROM development stage pre apha build CM12 available Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 first model Motorola Moto G ROMs downloaded flashed devices custom recovery image of bugs software related issues user Nandroid backup testing flash flashing process root rooted rooting installed latest version CWM TWRP recovery installation process /

Formula E 2014 – Round 2 – Putrajaya, Malaysia – updated

Free Practice (1:16)


Qualifying (0:57)


Prost qualified fastest, but the 10 grid place penalty from the last lap collision at Beijing meant that he started the race 11th on the grid.

Race (1:09)


Complete results, including the race & qualifying:
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/results/putrajaya-eprix.aspx / Formula E all electric racing series second race Putrajaya Malaysia ePrix stadium races F1 FIA electricity sport electric vehicles EV terrific acceleration pass passing possible tracks with tight corners technology range race organizers identical cars Spark-Renault SRT_01E built French company Spark Racing Technology carbon fiber aluminum chassis Dallara electric powertrain electronics McLaren Electronics Systems Williams Advanced Engineering building 200 kiloWatt battery pack batteries powertrain generate 270 horsepower five-speed paddle shift gearbox fixed gear ratios Michelin 18 inch tires wet dry conditions sound 80 decibel whine full grid 20 cars FIA Formula E strategy street courses dedicated circuits tire wear grip management battery life charge prematurely testing drivers learn knowledge teams construction constructors constructing FanBoost pit stop second fully charged car advances in battery technology battery swaps charging battery Renault Michelin DHL Qualcomm Richard Branson Virgin Racing team Leonardo DiCaprio Venturi team lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge range battery management system BMS /

Formula E, round 2, tomorrow – update

Credit: BBC

Update: the race has been run & won. Full length video of practice, qualifying & the race.

Next Formula E race, round 2, is tomorrow:

Putrajaya, Malaysia
Round 2 - Saturday 22 November 2014
Practice - 07:45 Malaysian local time
Qualifying - 10:00
Race - 14:00

Note that all times have been changed from those previously published.

FIA, Formula E web site:
http://www.fiaformulae.com/ / Formula E all electric racing series second race Putrajaya Malaysia ePrix stadium races F1 FIA electricity sport electric vehicles EV terrific acceleration pass passing possible tracks with tight corners technology range race organizers identical cars Spark-Renault SRT_01E built French company Spark Racing Technology carbon fiber aluminum chassis Dallara electric powertrain electronics McLaren Electronics Systems Williams Advanced Engineering building 200 kiloWatt battery pack batteries powertrain generate 270 horsepower five-speed paddle shift gearbox fixed gear ratios Michelin 18 inch tires wet dry conditions sound 80 decibel whine full grid 20 cars FIA Formula E strategy street courses dedicated circuits tire wear grip management battery life charge prematurely testing drivers learn knowledge teams construction constructors constructing FanBoost pit stop second fully charged car advances in battery technology battery swaps charging battery Renault Michelin DHL Qualcomm Richard Branson Virgin Racing team Leonardo DiCaprio Venturi team lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge range battery management system BMS /

5 compelling reasons to buy an iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
Credit: Cnet

Recently on these pages, we looked at 5 reasons you should buy a Galaxy Note 4 instead of an iPhone 6 Plus. Today, in the interests of even handedness, why you should get an iPhone 6 Plus instead:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2014/11/20/iphone-6-plus-the-5-top-reasons-to-buy-this-powerful-phablet/

And how it works out longer term:

http://www.technobuffalo.com/videos/iphone-6-plus-how-does-apples-big-phone-hold-up-two-months-later/ / buying guide shoppers handsets handset buy devices guide Apple biggest iPhone bigger is better Adobe research consumers prefer browse Internet larger screens 5 inches above smaller screens 5.5 inch screen outrageous outrageousness new normal smartphone smart phone phablet sector extra inches apps experiences tailored for bigger screens apps iPad better functionality landscape mode handsets camera best smartphone cameras experts DxO labs megapixels faster autofocus opitcal image stabilisation stabilization OIS excellent cameras picture quality larger iPhone 6 Plus pictures shaky blurry reduce graininess improve colour reproduction low light situations battery life 2915 mAh battery standby mode faster charging out of the box Apple Pay iPad charger partnerships retailers banks market share credit cards Whole Foods New York Times 150,000 transactions accessories big business Apple accessory market Otterbox Defender Olloclip accessory market size too big one hand handed reachability option settings menu sleek metal finish ergonomic slip out of your hand /

Is climate change a threat to your security?

Credit: Eco News

US military thinks so. Something similar from the UK armed forces. Many other nations too:

https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/climatesecurity

http://www.americansecurityproject.org/climate-change-considered-top-global-threat-according-to-recent-pew-research-survey/ / world world’s leading militaries global warming climate change Pentagon most comprehensive climate change plan identifies climate change immediate threat must be dealt with now Great Brittain United Kingdom England Scotland Wales impact impacts climate change integrated into future military planning countries world identifying climate change threat to national security soaring global temperatures rising sea levels increased increasing increases weather events play a role intensifying conflicts increasing displacement people worsening destruction natural disasters defense defence department climate change threat multiplier climate change armed conflict available availability food water human migration resettlement struggles essential resources increased movement of people within countries across borders making conflict worse engage in conflict assist during humanitarian disasters plans world changing climate responses mitigation reduce greenhouse gas emissions adaptation cope changing climate US Navy Great Green Fleet ships powered biofuel used cooking oil algae Navy’s energy security problem reducing emissions prepare humanitarian assistance disaster relief extreme weather related disasters more frequent intense respond to climate change Australia Australia’s military responding global energy food water coastal flooding low lying regions increase natural disasters changes rainfall patterns agriculture agricultural production large scale human migration pressure resources increase risk insecurity conflict comprehensive response to climate changevevidence clear compelling very real challenges warming planet /

US Air Force rolls out plug-in vehicle fleet

Ford F-Series pickup truck with EVAOS plug-in hybrid conversion
Credit: EVAOS/Charged EVs

Electric vehicles have a number of advantages over those powered by internal combustion engines. For the armed services, they have some additional advantages:

• silence is an aid to covert operations
• US military pays $400 per gallon for gasoline delivered, in theatre*. Electric vehicles hold the promise of reduced costs.

With this in mind, the general purpose vehicle fleet of the Los Angeles Air Force Base has been replaced with plug-in vehicles. Many of them with vehicle to grid capability.

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/air-force-rolls-out-plug-in-vehicle-fleet-with-v2g/

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095510_u-s-air-force-unveils-fleet-of-42-electric-vehicles-nissan-leafs-included
___________________
* "By 2007 ... $3 million worth of fuel a day."
http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/05/mileage-military-vehicles-tech-logistics08-cz_ph_0605fuel.html / Los Angeles Air Force Base general purpose vehicle fleet with plug in vehicles 42 vehicles Nissan LEAF Ford pick up trucks EVAOS PHEV kit VIA Motors VTRUX van Electric Vehicle International medium duty trucks Phoenix Motorcars 12 passenger bus vehicle to grid V2G capability direct power to from electrical grid driven V2G capable CHAdeMO compliant fast charging station installed delivered commissioned Princeton Power Systems UL Certified bi directional multi port converter GTIB-30 provide 700 kilowatts power enhances power grid reliability security balancing demand against supply reserves standby generators fly fight win energy power Secretary Air Force Deborah Lee James vehicle-to-grid pilot /

10 questions on hydrogen fuel cell cars to ask Toyota, Honda & Hyundai

Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle
Credit: Toyota/Fuel Cell Today

A couple of issues which are not well developed in the linked articles:

• While hydrogen can be produced by splitting water electrolytically, “… in practice, the majority of hydrogen (∼95%) is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming or partial oxidation of methane & coal gasification …”* I.e. it is not “green”.
• “The large amount of energy required to isolate hydrogen from natural compounds (water, natural gas, biomass), package the light gas by compression or liquefaction, transfer the energy carrier to the user, plus the energy lost when it is converted to useful electricity with fuel cells, leaves around 25% for practical use.” – Dr. Ulf Bossel**

Questions:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1094899_10-questions-on-hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-to-ask-toyota-honda-hyundai

Answers – Part 1:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095441_hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-questions-toyota-honda-hyundai-respond-part-1

Part 2:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095464_hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-questions-toyota-honda-hyundai-respond-part-2

Part 3:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095477_hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-questions-toyota-honda-hyundai-respond-part-3

One good piece of news though: there is nothing fundamental to hydrogen fuel cell technology that requires FCVs to be as ugly as the one pictured above.
______________
* Production of hydrogen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_production#Electrolysis

** Dr. Ulf Bossel
http://phys.org/news85074285.html / hydrogen fuel cell vehicles California buyers users 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell lease fuel cell vehicle Los Angeles Auto Show Honda skepticism analysts green car fans electric vehicle car advocates viability practicality USA North America three automakers product executives hydrogen vehicles Hyundai Toyota Honda volume sales terms delivered minimum CARB California Air Resources Board ZEV rules launch sell lease battery electric plug in hybrid vehicles global auto production battery electric vehicle BEV hydrogen vehicle refuel for 300 miles less than 10 minutes Tesla Model S Supercharge Spercharger 200 miles 20 minutes larger batteries DC quick charged 135 kilowatts affordable battery electric car advantage disadvantage early adopter travel specific location refuel home workplace charging electric car miles today strong vocal lobby owners supporters advocates advocated groundswell fuel cell advocates consumer demand fueling infrastructure energy balance sector private enterprise profit making business building stations selling hydrogen fuel industry capital build thousands hydrogen fueling stations kiloWatt hour kWh energy propel one third distance hydrogen good use energy transportation wells to wheels footprint analysis same grid source critique higher carbon footprint dispute carbon footprint manufacturing batteries electric motors electric cars lifecycle carbon emissions manufacturing of its fuel cell vehicle results /

Does a feather really fall as fast as a bowling ball? Brian Cox takes a look – update

You may remember your science teacher telling you that all objects fall at the same velocity, regardless of mass. There is something counter-intuitive about this, but in practice, two rocks of different masses do fall at the same speed. What about a bowling ball & a feather? Obviously, the feather is slowed by air resistance. But what would happen if there was no air resistance?

Professor Brian Cox¹ took a look:



Brian Cox did it the easy way. In 1971, Commander David Scott went all the way to the Moon aboard Apollo 15 & did essentially the same thing:^2,3


______________________

¹ Wikipedia: “Brian Cox (physicist)”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_(physicist)

² NASA: “Apollo 15 Hammer-Feather Drop”, https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo_15_feather_drop.html

³ Wikipedia: Apollo 15, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_15

Update 30 May 2018: Apollo 15 material added. / force mass weight speed velocity acceleration due to gravity 10 9.8 metres meters per second per second squared force NASA vector scalar /

11 reasons why the iPhone 6 Plus is better than the iPhone 6

Credit: Apple/Pocket-lint

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/131751-11-reasons-why-the-iphone-6-plus-is-better-than-the-iphone-6

My list:

• Will it bend? – despite all the hype about bend-gate, when Consumer Reports actually did some measurements, they found that the 6 Plus is actually less bend-prone than the 6.
• More screen real estate – I've owned a succession of tablets because a 4 to 5 inch screen just isn’t big enough. 5 to 6 inch just might be.
• I have big hands – more comfortable with a bigger phone. Bigger fingers are less precise for touch screen use, so I use a stylus. For this reason, two-handed phone use is not a barrier for me. Also, on a bigger screen, all other things being equal, all of the touch-targets are bigger, so, paradoxically, I may actually be able to go to one-handed use with a bigger phone.

But … the iPhone 6 is outselling the 6 Plus 3 to 1:

http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6_is_selling_three_times_better_than_iphone_6_plus-news-10216.php / Apple latest generation iPhone 6 Plus massive leap forward a step too far massive cumbersome scored half-a-star lower stablemate reviews device lived with primary smartphone smart phone beast of a phone dropping down in screen size better option massive screen better great for watching films on movies TV shows travelling space is at a premium overlap nearby passengers screen higher resolution 4.7-inch Retina HD display 1334 x 750 1920 x 1080 Retina HD display view content full HD 1080p better experience pixel density 401 ppi pixels per inch apps games look crisper 326 ppi battery life daily battery life larger battery lasts longer talk time talktime data use 12 hours 3G LTE Wi-Fi real world use experience never run out of battery in a day heavy use watching TV show playing games Internet connection listening to music talking callers weight slim slimmer weight reduced heavy encased official Apple leather case device thief snatch slippery grip drop slippy aluminium casing better screen video capture iPhone camera more apps on screen word processing Microsoft Word word processing apps iOS larger screen keyboard documents on the move go sausage fingers statement /

Tesla Model S – tyres cost more than “fuel”

Credit: islandus.is

Electric vehicles are very cheap to run, compared with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. There are many factors which operate together to make this happen: an electric motor has one moving part. An ICE has hundreds, all grinding away at one another. And the whole thing is driven by explosions! An ICE vehicle has to be serviced frequently because of the ICE itself. Explosions & hundreds of pieces grinding one another to destruction have to be cooled &/or lubricated. Oil gradually loses its ability to lubricate, largely due to contamination with fuel & combustion products. Spark plugs, fan belts, air filters, oil filters & the oil itself all need to be replaced.

Another factor is that electricity is much cheaper per kilometre than petrol or diesel, or, as one Tesla owner has found, than tyres:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095439_life-with-tesla-model-s-tires-cost-me-more-than-my-fuel-does / electric vehicle car EV cheap to run set replacement tires for Tesla Model S 26000 miles less per mile electric fuel electricity power energy charge recharge tires Michelin Primacy MXM4 all season grand touring tires $250 each apiece mounting balancing distance miles 4.3 cents per mile high performance luxury sedan cost of electricity 8,531 kiloWatt hours electricity electric Tesla network of free high power Superchargers Supercharger 5,500 Supercharged miles 2,500 mile round trip Florida my home New York Hudson Valley 1,800 free kWh Superchargers local utility Central Hudson charge charged charges recharge 14 cents per kWh special night time electric car rates tire costs vary Model S owner Goodyear Eagles Model S owners optional 21 inch rims high performance tire replacement 15 cents per mile electricity rates vary tire expenses national average rate 11 cents per kWh many utilities special night time rates local utility Indianapolis Power and Light electric car only rate for off-peak charging free Supercharged miles /

Want to try the stock Android experience? Now it's easy

Credit: Google/Reddit

Want to try the stock Android experience? If you have Android 4.1 or later, you can. Just install Google Now Launcher.

Before you do that, you might like to install Home Switcher, which does pretty much what it says: allows you to easily switch the launcher you get when you press the Home button. A search for Home Switcher in the Play Store will find many matches, some with exactly that spelling. I’m using the one by “ymst”. Others may work as well, or better, but that’s the one that has done everything I’ve wanted on a Samsung Galaxy S4.

Home Switcher:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ymst.android.homeswitcher

Google Now Launcher:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.launcher

When the installation has finished, click [OPEN]. Congratulations, you’re now having the stock Android experience.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/08/06/stock-android-on-every-device/

If you decide you don’t like it, or want to switch back temporarily, just use Home Switcher to switch back & forth.

If neither the stock launcher, nor Google Now Launcher are to your liking, try Nova Launcher. Free & paid versions, with many options to tweak, if you are so inclined.

Nova Launcher free:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher

Nova Launcher paid:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher.prime / Google reinvented Android Nexus stock Android Nexus experience the future of Android tool app called update user interface device stock Android look latest tweaks device apply stock Android running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or above Android phone tablets most stylish version of Android easy access to Google Now voice control say Ok Google homescreen stock Android launcher runs incredibly quickly smoothly budget handsets Motorola several bloatware apps Moto E runs faster stock Android launcher Samsung Galaxy S4 TouchWiz Android skin Google partners Samsung reducing bloatware credit smartphone smart phone smooth slick easily upgradeable Android 4.4 KitKat hardware Google search homepage browser Google Chrome faster way to browse install link upcoming Android L Android 5.0 decision user driven customers win fix fragmentation issues Material Design strategy app makers Android revolution /

Lexus CT 200h Hybrid ad attacks electric BMW i3 – update

Update: the Lexus vs. BMW i3 advertisement has been taken down, moved, & taken down again several times. If you follow the link at the very bottom of this post, you may see it, if Green Car Reports is continuing to update their link. You can get the flavour from an earlier post, or check out the videos immediately below for something more measured:





You may remember a recent post about an upcoming survey of public electric vehicle charging facilities in Japan by Toyota & how puzzling such a survey is, when conducted by a company whose corporate attitude to electric vehicles varies between hostility & indifference.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095388_lexus-ct-200h-hybrid-ad-slams-electric-bmw-i3-gloves-come-off / Toyota threatened electric alternatives hybrid luxury Lexus brand shortcomings alternative powertrain sneer electric vehicle EV BMW i3 electric car vehicle ad advertisement removed taken down withdrawn Funny or Die re-posted YouTube Los Angeles area dealer Longo Lexus 5 minute video driving Van Nuys California Las Vegas Lexus CT 200h hybrid BMW i3 electric car stop to charge a few hours 3 hours fully recharge i3 240-Volt Level 2 charger 20 30 minutes 80 percent recharge public DC fast charging stations fitted CCS connector charge recharge without air conditioning BMW i3 range extending extender internal combustion engine ICE BMW i3 REx photoshopped gas petrol door /

5 reasons you should get a Galaxy Note 4 instead of an iPhone 6 Plus

Credit: newegg.com

Something the linked article doesn’t mention is the Note 4’s adaptive fast charging – zero to 50% charge in 30 minutes – only works with the supplied charger, but could be a lifesaver.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/11/5-reasons-why-you-should-get-a-galaxy-note-4-instead-of-an-iphone-6-plus.html / Apple massive big screen 6 inch phone Samsung Note series phone phones smartphone smart phone make phone calls device tablet phablet large smartphone Android owners switch iPhone big screen Note 4 Galaxy Note 4 iPhone 6 Plus larger screen smaller size larger display make room circular home button large bezels massive vibrant 5.7-inch display larger smaller 5.5 inch display more display content less wasted space true stylus support Note’s biggest draws S Pen stylus proprietary stylus functional reactive third party stylus variety of options tools software slot back of the phone multitasking open up apps side by side run simultaneously copying pasting copy and paste quicker Ultra Power Saving Mode massive batteries last at least all day huge benefit power users greyscale brick phone phone calls texts SMS manually refreshed email ten percent battery hours of battery life great safety feature removable battery expandable storage unibody design aesthetically pleasing sturdy removable back access battery micro SD slot biggest advantages Android devices iPhones tipping point buyers upgrade storage cost replace your battery /

Toyota to survey electric vehicle charging facilities in Japan – updated

Credit: Charged EVs

Toyota’s effort to manufacture sustainable vehicles has, so far been restricted to the Prius hybrid. In some markets, there is a plug-in version (with a larger battery), in which petrol is augmented by electricity from the grid.

In the US, Toyota marketed a battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant of the RAV 4, with battery & drivetrain supplied by Tesla. However, this vehicle was seen as a compliance car. I.e. produced & sold in small numbers, in restricted markets, to comply with emissions rules. Toyota hasn’t renewed its contract for supply of battery & drivetrain, & has, in fact, sold its Tesla shares.

A misleading advertisement produced by Toyota’s Lexus subsidiary in the US suggests that all BEVs require 4 hours to charge at a public charging station.

Update: accuracy of Toyota anti-BEV advertisements isn't improving.

Toyota’s plan to begin marketing a hydrogen fuel cell car in the US in December, seemed to put an end to any possibility of a BEV from that company.

With an attitude to BEVs which seems to range between disinterest & hostility, Toyota’s plan to survey charging facilities in Japan is puzzling:

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/toyota-tests-evse-expansion-in-japan/ / Toyota five month test public EV chargers charging charge recharge Aichi Prefecture Japan commercial tourist accommodation facilities tests cultural social service facilities aim ascertain optimal number location charging stations ease of use 147 standard chargers newly installed identify identifying ideal charger locations operating methods monitoring charging frequency duration facility installing chargers city owned facilities in hilly and mountainous areas will allay user concerns about running run out of charge instal installation installing multiple chargers commercial facilities where usage is heavy monitoring changes use usage energy management measures peak shaving /

Machines making machines

That’s a the Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 production line in Wolfsburg, earlier this year. / VW plant manufacture robot robotic mechanise production line automation automated computer CAD CAM manufacturer mechanised work station workstation /

Best smartwatch you can buy

Smartwatches haven’t taken the world by storm, but they are selling & appearing soon on a wrist near you. Is one of them right for you?



https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/7166935/the-best-smartwatch / smartwatches the next big thing connected informed living in the future virtually every mobile phone maker Apple smartwatch most people need uses wear wearing traditional watch wrist consider upgrading smartwatch tell see the time notifications phone wearing a computer bag pocket notifications pedometer counting your steps web searches apps Dick Tracy impression text SMS message core features extra features smart phone smartphones shapes sizes OS operating system platforms Pebble Steel best option iPhone Android price E-paper epaper e-ink eink LCD display see the time flick of your wrist turns backlight on read it in the dark killer smartwatch feature app app store install custom watchfaces compass control music playback charge charges leather strap steel link bracelet available Motorola Moto 360 Android Wear best looking full-color display resolution strap delete emails add notes Evernote account Google Now battery life efficiency charge Qi wireless charger dock /

Voicing Darth Vader

You may be aware that the Darth Vader character in the Star Wars movies was played by English actor, David Prowse. Did you know that James Earl Jones provided the voice?

Prowse’s voice certainly doesn’t have the presence of Jones, due at least in part, to the muffling effect of the mask, perhaps also affected by Prowse’s West Country accent.



Interesting, perhaps slightly amusing, but a long way from being as hilarious as some want to suggest.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/11/darth-vader-sounded-hilarious-before-voice-over/ / Darth Vader sounded hilarious before voice-over voice over The Force Awakens new Sith villains James Earl Jones threatening voice body English actor just gesture around silence mime filming voiced lines West Country English accent English actor bodybuilder mugging along behind-the-scenes featurette funny George Lucas /

Google study finds email scams are more effective than you'd expect

There’s a widespread belief that phishing emails have a very low success rate, & depend on a huge volume at virtually zero unit cost to get a return. Don’t relax just yet, thought, because a recent co-operative study involving Google & UCSD, shows a success rate of up to 45%:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/phishing-scams_n_6116988.html?&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000046 / weird emails trick handing over your information new study Google UCSD University of California San Diego websites phishing emails bogus pages imitate legitimate sites private details information data hackers hack hacking researchers tricked trick expected 100 phishing emails random sample self-reported Gmail users research random sample Google's Safe Browsing system how scams work websites Google Forms access data how people interacted emails websites worst performing phishing websites 3 percent users submitted their data most effective phishing sites 45 percent big business scammers attacker responsible millions of phishing emails access account account valuable enough Gmail's search function account looking term terms wire transfer bank get money account's contact list send emails person's friends family colleagues fake stories we were mugged send cash Google's advice staying safe enable two-step verification your email account report any suspicious emails respond responding suspect your account compromised realized something seemed off website visited friend asked you about weird email your address hackers access compromised accounts credentials scams problem online cyberattack against JPMorgan Chase hack 76 million households vulnerability vulnerable /

Gold Moto 360 hands-on – Let’s talk smartwatch luxury

Credit: Slashgear

Smartwatches – many of them are a bit plain-jane. Witness the original Pebble – now only $99. If you want something a bit more stylish, maybe Pebble Steel will do.

But for a real luxury look, check out some of the new gold variants of the Moto 360:

http://www.slashgear.com/gold-moto-360-hands-on-lets-talk-smartwatch-luxury-06354400/ / smartwatch smart watch stylish options market Moto Motorola 360 looks Android Wear OS operating system Champagne Gold version thinner 18mm band leather straps wrist glitzier wearable gold Moto 360 18mm wide metal bracelet light finish stainless steel version 23mm bracelets light black stainless steel Android Wear update standalone functionality platform offers health options Moto Health champagne gold model matching gold watch face strap leather cognac option masculine timepiece big round touchscreen style-conscious style conscious smartwatches Apple Watch ASUS clean minimalistic ZenWatch fashion form-factor form factor geek niche mass market traditional watch industry portfolio more tastes
/

0 to 100 km/h in 1.785 seconds* & less than 30 metres (video)

Credit: AMZ Racing/Gizmag

* awaiting official ratification by the Guinness Book of World Records

Built by students from ETH Zurich & Lucerne University of Applied Sciences & Arts in Switzerland, for the Formula Student international competition. Design & construction time was less than 12 months. Total output is only 147 kW (200 hp). Available power is put to best use by:
• carbon fibre construction, including monocoque chassis & wheel rims, limits mass to 168 kg (370 lb)
• hub motors drive all 4 wheels, with individual electronic traction control

Video of the 0-100 kph run:





This vehicle is so competent, none of the drama comes through in either video. Over so soon too! ;)

From the driver's seat, it must feel very different. Witness this description of 0-100 in 3.2 seconds in a McLaren F1: "It was among the most shattering few seconds of my life ... I just hung the hell on as the world melted into a smear."

http://www.gizmag.com/electric-car-world-record-acceleration-eth/34563/ / students ETH Zurich Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts new world record electric vehicle EV car acceleration EV dubbed Grimsel students previous record Delft University military airfield Dübendorf Switzerland awaiting official ratification ETH Zurich Lucerne University constructed carbon fiber total weight 168 kg 370 lb generates 147 kW 200 hp integrated planetary gearbox AMZ M4 wheel hub motors 37 kW 50 hp tire-shredding 1630 Nm 1200 ft-lb torque powerful electronic traction control torque distribution precisely control each wheel hub motor chassis one-piece carbon fiber monocoque very light very strong torsional stiffness of 4500 Nm/deg3319 ft-lb/deg one piece carbon fiber rims pushrod suspension many successes Formula Student international competition wins AMZ Racing /

Richard Branson angered by coverage of Virgin Galactic test accident

Credit: AP/BBC

Having seen the images above, the recent Virgin Galactic accident was widely interpreted as an engine explosion. However, a US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) representative has said that premature deployment of the feather capability was the cause of the accident.

National Transport Safety Board representative explains feathering



Spaceship 2 feathering in testing



Feathering is the solution Virgin Galactic has adopted for the problem of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere*. It was designed to be deployed at 350,000 feet. By decelerating the SpaceShip at extreme altitude, in a thin atmosphere, extreme heat build-up, as experienced by NASA & other space vehicles (with occasional catastrophic results), is avoided. Richard Branson & others have referred to this as, "carefree re-entry"**.

In the recent accident, feathering was deployed at a relatively low altitude (40,000 feet), where the atmosphere is much thicker, at a velocity greater than Mach 1. Forces generated were much greater than SpaceShip 2 would normally encounter. Apparently these forces destroyed the aircraft.

In the image at the top of this post, the right hand pane appears to show a ball of flame at the top right, with pieces of SpaceShip 2 & a debris trail below & to the left. The apparent ball of flame was widely interpreted as an explosion in progress.

In light of the NTSB investigation, the image may be interpreted as the feathered space vehicle with the rocket engine pointing straight up. I.e. away from the camera. In this case, the apparent, “ball of flame”, would be the rocket exhaust pointing straight down toward the camera.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-04/no-explosion-behind-virgin-galactic-crash-branson/5864110
_______________

* Virgin Galactic technology originated in Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites:
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-company-testing-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-2014-11

** Care-free re-entry:
http://www.typgalactic.com/english/faq.html / Virgin Galactic crash Richard Branson angered damaging innuendo feathering function deployed early Sir Richard Branson British billionaire founder Virgin Galactic self-proclaimed experts explosion crash spacecraft last week Mojave Desert California kill 39 year old pilot Michael Alsbury injure 43 year old Peter Siebold no explosion crash oxidiser oxidant fuel tanks engine irresponsible innuendo damaging sensationalist press reports incredibly hurtful journalists push on passenger travel space programme fly members of the public fly myself and family member investigation one year space safety expert warnings /

Forget Apple Pay – the master of mobile payments is – Starbucks

7 million mobile payments per week (90% of all mobile payments in 2013) & growing by almost 50% every year – Apple Pay still has some way to go to catch that.

http://www.wired.com/2014/11/forget-apple-pay-master-mobile-payments-starbucks/ / Apple Pay’s checkout counter Apple CEO Tim Cook mobile payment services companies mobile payments business Starbucks quarterly earnings recently latte transactions mobile device 7 million mobile payments per week 1 million credit cards registered launch buy a cup of coffee merchant-agnostic system in-person paying by phone coffee Wall Street analysts CEO Howard Schultz mobile payments stores growing by almost 50 percent annually 90 percent of all mobile payments tech Google Apple PayPal well-funded startup Square tech industry consumers physical wallet smartphone-based Google’s NFC mobile wallet mobile payment app offer offering coffee delivery order by phone e-commerce company pay coffee place order payments card smart phones proprietary payment option plastic card loyalty programs CurrentC scanningscan in-app QR code checkout counter loyalty program partnerships mobile payment companies value rewards program programme /

TrackR bravo – not just another tracker for your keys (video)

There are lots of trackers out there. Attach it to keys. Link it to an app on your smartphone. When your keys go missing, locate it using the app. You can even make the tracker beep. Works the other way too. If you misplace your phone, press a button on the tracker & your phone will beep. Even if on silent.

Heard all this before.

What makes TrackR bravo different is a, “crowd GPS network”. To quote the Indiegogo page: “When another user of the TrackR app comes within 100ft range of your lost item, you will receive a GPS update of where your item is.”

So they sell a few thousand TrackR bravos world wide, that doesn’t create a very big “crowd GPS network”.

Well, it doesn’t have to, because the the “crowd GPS network” already exists:



https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/trackr-bravo-the-thinnest-tracking-device-ever--2/x/9010251 / lose keys key wallet lose something looking for my keys hiding under the couch cushion design designed invented TrackR keep track of items smart phone research development R&D customer feature suggestions product revisions TrackR bravo slim slimmest tracking device Crowd GPS network locate TrackR app iPhone Android locate items distance indicator radar Ring Device button lost item to ring track any Bluetooth device Bluetooth tracker device locate silent mode item goes missing TrackR Crowd GPS network find GPS update track any Bluetooth device Bluetooth tracker device world's largest Crowd GPS network best techniques materials thinnest tracking device ever dog's name tag accessory pack track pet collar attachment water proof water-proof attachment water proof casing Compatible with iPhone 4s iPad 3rd Generation Android 4.4 device Bluetooth 4.0 /

Virgin crash sets space tourism back by years – update – no explosion

SpaceShip 2 has an engine explosion soon after being dropped from the White Knight 2 launch vehicle.
Credit: AP/BBC

Update: US National Transport Safety Board investigation has revealed the accident was caused by premature deployment of the re-entry system.

Virgin’s launch system has a “re-useable first stage” in the form of the jet-powered aircraft, White Knight 2. At 40,000 feet, SpaceShip 2, the second stage, is dropped, the pilot starts the rocket engine, & the craft continues to around 350,000 feet.

Virgin rocket motors are of a relatively new type, using rubber as fuel, with nitrous oxide as the oxidising agent. Porous rubber allows the oxidiser to diffuse through. Throttle control is obtained by varying the flow of nitrous oxide.

Rocket motors by their very nature, release huge amounts of energy in a very short period of time. By this means, they achieve amazing outcomes, such as lifting SpaceShip 2 to 350,000 feet. Sometimes the mechanisms creating, containing & directing this energy, fail. Result: an accident such as has just occurred.


Spaceship 2 wreckage
Credit: KABC News in Los Angeles/Phys Org

And space tourism? Virgin had plans to carry it's first paying passengers into space in 2015. That schedule will have to be revised.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29857182

http://phys.org/news/2014-10-virgin-space-tourism-years-experts.html / pilot killed injured Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft crashed California desert flying manned test a serious anomaly first powered test flight since January Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson shocked and saddened tragic loss blog post deeply saddened space is hard persevere and move forward together Dr David Whitehouse space scientist no such thing as routine regular safe access to space both pilots Scaled Composites designed pronounced dead transported local hospital debris Ken Brown photographer exploded released National Transportation Safety Board Saturday morning investigate cause accident supporting investigation George Whitesides chief executive of Virgin Galactic new type of rocket motor development challenge exceptionally hard /