Google claims its box office performance predictions are accurate 94% of the time • “Quantifying Movie Magic with Google Search”

"Magic"?

http://bgr.com/2013/06/07/google-box-office-performance-predictions/ / new study company predict new movies hit up to four weeks before they reach theaters study titled using data search engine predict film opening weekend box office results 94% accuracy examines examine search volume trailer four weeks before film hits arrives theaters release approaches predictions become slightly less accurate one week movie arrives picture theaters search volume for a film’s title rather than the trailer, and combines it with theater availability to make predictions that were found to be 92% accurate notes film receives 250,000 more searches than another film opening same week make an average of $4.3 million more during opening weekend /

Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4 vs Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4: Double or nothing

Credit: GSMARENA

Samsung's Galaxy S4 is available with 2 different CPUs:

• GT-I9505 with quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipset; &
• GT-I9500 with Samsung's own Exynos 5 Octa chipset.

As has been reported previously on these pages, the Exynos 5 Octa has 8 cores in 2 sets of 4, one high processing power & battery consumption, the other low power & battery.  Only one set can be active at a time.  Idea is that, by selecting the best core set for each task, both processing speed & run time can be optimized.

In light of the above, why use the more conventional Snapdragon processor at all?  You may have read that the Exynos 5 Octa is incompatible with LTE (4G), so the Snapdragon would be fitted to Galaxy S4s in North America.

In the linked article, GSMARENA claims that:

• Snapdragon processors are being fitted in most markets around the world;
• both processors are compatible with LTE;
• production difficulties with Exynos 5 Octa processors is limiting their use;
• difference in benchmarked performance between the two processors is small;
• better battery performance makes the GT-I9505 model (Snapdragon) the better option; &
• talk time is much reduced in the GT-I9500 model (Exynos 5 Octa processor).

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_i9500_vs_i9505-review-930.php / Android smartphone smart phone cell mobile market high-end high end manufacturer flagship buyers versions price priced prices handsets quad core international model exclusive LTE support LTE connectivity manufacturing issues more widely available offering fastest fast TouchWiz Cortex-A15 Cortex-A7 core CPU processor /

Excellent dual pane file manager for Android

Credit: Lonely Cat Games

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/06/07/android-app-spotlight-x-plore/

Author's Web site:

http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore / Root access rooted device allowing changes read only read-only files FTP FTPS LAN SMB Samba servers Cloud storage access Google Drive Dropbox Box.net SkyDrive SugarSync Webdav Yandex Picasa image albums SQLite database explorer files .db extension Zip folder favorite folders displayable root built-in viewers image images video audio text hex viewer fast image viewer zoom slide previous next images  thumbnails types application app clear default application handlers multi-selection search files in folders archives search results APK share send files Bluetooth email device supports configurable buttons key shortcuts hide /

World's largest coal company to use solar power in bid to cut energy costs

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084655_worlds-largest-coal-company-to-use-solar-power-in-bid-to-cut-energy-costs

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/6/10/solar-energy/when-big-coal-goes-solar?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=315783&utm_campaign=cs_daily&modapt= / skeptic skeptical alternative energy organization fossil fuel industry carbon solar energy electricity farm coal producer power coal reserves Coal India dna India invest energy costs generation generate photovoltaic photo voltaic prospective bidders technology company bid document Sun sunshine depletion fossil fuels plan planning planners feasibility renewable sources wind supplies renewable energy incentives tariff-based tarrif based 2 megawatt solar farm scaled panels mining research arm skeptical skeptic deny denial denier /

Camera showdown: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Apple iPhone 5

Credit: Macworld

Although the Samsung Galaxy S III was generally recognized as having an excellent camera, the iPhone 5 was better in low light. But how does the Galaxy S4 fare?

http://www.macworld.com.au/blogs/camera-showdown-samsung-galaxy-s4-vs-apple-iphone-5-97556/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=iPhone+vs+Galaxy+S4+OS+X+update+Belkin+Thunderbolt+Express+dock+reviewed+and+much+much+more&utm_content=iPhone+vs+Galaxy+S4+OS+X+update+Belkin+Thunderbolt+Express+dock+reviewed+and+much+much+more+CID_c3670ccc9d31e46c6f5c47107d0468ee&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=See%20the%20breakdown%20here#.UbK05xBhiK3 / flagship Android device smartphone smart phone iOS Android market Quadcore CPU 4.99 in inch super AMOLED screen 13 MP megapixel mega pixel outdoor photos cell mobile phone camera outdoor indoor happy snaps photograph photography light source frame purple haze issue overexposed tinted sunlight detail close-up close up closeup screen handset managed to focus blurry low light low­light 8 MP saturated oversaturated low light shot color colour accuracy sunlight shot washed light indoor detail capture captures flash subject dimly lit restaurant, astonishing clarity focus focusing details details image blurry forefront sharp sharper background detail focusing shots settings High Dynamic Range HDR autofocus /

Pop Secret addresses the challenges of popcorn-making with a free helper app

Existing users will be delighted to know that the latest version has improved Facebook sharing functionality!  :)

http://techland.time.com/2013/06/07/pop-secret-addresses-challenges-of-popcorn-making-with-free-helper-app/ / microwave pop popping popped iOS Apple iPhone iPod iPad Android Popcorn Ready Perfect Popcorn /

DARPA prosthetic interfaces give amputees new hope (video)

Credit: DARPA/ Dvice

Not just thought controlled movement, but touch too.  Other benefits are lower risk, less invasive surgery for fitting the prosthesis.

http://www.dvice.com/2013-5-31/darpa-prosthetic-interfaces-give-amputees-new-hope / Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency armed forces suffered amputated limbs nerve muscle interfaces more advanced prosthetics controlled directly through the user's existing nerves Reliable Neural-Interface Technology RE-NET researching long-term potential brain interfaces goal research develop high-performance interfaces reliable new interfaces signals nerves muscles control prosthetics interface direct sensory feedback give users ability to feel research interfaces interface developed RE-NET bionic performance reliability test tested implant implanting interfaces lower risk less invasive procedure better solution amputees programme program work injured soldiers new prosthetic interfaces innervation re-innervation rewiring nerves amputated limbs interfaces prosthetics control over existing muscles demonstrate the new sense of touch researchers flat interface nerve electrode FINE interfacing FINE residual nerves partial arm sense fingers restored restoration /