All leather, minimalist wallet – 33% off

Nash Solo & Trio are all leather, minimalist wallets:

● 100% vegetable tanned leather

● RFID blocking

● pull tab for card access

● holds 8-10 cards – still as thin as your phone

● 2 styles in 4 colours

Trio adds

● front pocket for cash

● rear pocket for your most frequently used card, with easy thumb push access

Nash Solo & Trio wallet project is crowd funding on both Kickstarter & Indiegogo. Pledge amounts are the same, but Trio is still available for a $24 pledge (33% off) on Kickstarter.

Kickstarter – “Nash Wallet: Leather Wallet with Easy Access Pull-Tab”
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/624879959/nash-wallet-leather-wallet-with-easy-access-pull-t/description

Indiegogo – “Nash Wallet: Sleekest & Most Functional Wallet”
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nash-wallet-sleekest-and-most-functional-wallet-lifestyle-innovative--3/x/9010251#/ / all leather minimalist wallet 33% off Dulo supply Co dulo supply company minimal leather wallet with pull-tab quick and easy access to all your cards RFID blocking holds 6-10 cards minimalist style bulky wallets carry our valuables find a better solution minimal wallets minimal wallets elastic durable protection cards cash theft protection priced RFID skimming RFID protection minimal wallet durable protected our cards easy and convenient access to our cards solution Nash Wallet line Nash Wallet slim functional stylish comfortably holds 8-10 cards and cash thin as your smart phone back or front pocket hardly even notice it's there made with 100% genuine leather easy-access pull tab effortless get to your cards RFID Blocking pesky thieves scanning important card information RFID blocking capabilities card information is safe from theft Nash Wallet 2 styles and 4 colors Nash Solo Wallet 100% genuine leather wallet leather look better with age easy access pull-tab pull-tab feature quickly effortlessly get to your cards ultra thin comfortably holds 8-10 cards thin as your smart phone frequently used card slot card you use daily multiple times a day back pocket slot easy thumb push opening daily use frequent use Kickstarter Indiegogo crowd funding crowdfunding /

CAPTCHA is about to disappear – “Prove you’re not a bot” won't be bothering you much longer

Credit: Infragistics

Above, an example of the CAPTCHA¹ we’ve all learned to hate.

Below, example of the much more user-friendly reCAPTCHA² we've started to see more recently.


Credit: PC Mag

And coming soon, to a screen near you – the invisible reCAPTCHA that you won't even notice.

Ars Technica – ‘Google’s reCAPTCHA turns “invisible”, will separate bots from people without challenges’
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/03/googles-recaptcha-announces-invisible-background-captchas/

Google – ‘reCAPTCHA’
https://www.google.com/recaptcha/intro/invisible.html
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “CAPTCHA”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAPTCHA

² PC Mag: “reCAPTCHA”, http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/58160/recaptcha / Google’s Google reCAPTCHA CAPTCHA turns invisible will separate bots from people without challenges Google separate man from machine without tricky tests checkboxes Google's reCAPTCHA leading CAPTCHA service Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart the Web CAPTCHAs sign-up pages across the Web separate humans from spam bots spambots challenge pop up asking you to decipher a picture of words or numbers pick out objects grid of pictures click a checkbox seeing CAPTCHAs less and less Google is making them invisible reCAPTCHA pretty easy simple I'm not a robot checkbox sign-up page new version even simpler doesn't use challenge checkbox works invisibly background identify bots from humans Google system uses combination machine learning advanced risk analysis adapts new and emerging threats more detailed information how the system works probably help bot-makers crack it details reCAPTCHA bought by Google in 2009 OCR optical character recognition software reCAPTCHA system solving by humans reCAPTCHA looks like a set of numbers Google's Street View cars identify house numbers OCR software CAPTCHA solving by humans sites switch over invisible CAPTCHA system most users won't see CAPTCHAs at all I'm not a robot checkbox flagged suspicious /

Motherbox – real wireless charging

Motherbox wireless charger
Credit: Motherbox/Indiegogo

Existing “wireless” charging solutions for your phone have a number of shortcomings:

1. positioning is critical – differences of less than a centimetre (0.4 inch) can substantially reduce the charging current

2. slower

3. inefficient

4. harms the battery – part of that inefficiency is due to heating of the receiving aerial in the phone – which heats the battery – which shortens its life

5. more expensive

Motherbox promises a solution to the first two:


Credit: Motherbox/Indiegogo

No information available on points 3 & 4, but at $89 it’s not cheaper than a charging cable.



More about Motherbox on the Indiegogo project page
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-motherbox-true-wireless-charging-power-phone--2/x/9010251#/ / wireless charging overrated current form dream wireless power sounds great current wireless charging technologies plugless wireless less convenient slower less-efficient less efficient just plugging phone in wireless chargers more interesting proof of concept future technologies practical charge your smartphone plug it in cable wireless chargers even more constrained charging cables use wireless charger place your smartphone down charging mat mat plugged in wire sits on table smartphone charging mat wirelessly transmit power phone smartphone mat wireless charging stop wireless technologies wireless Internet freedom move around charging cable better cable smartphone is very short very near a power outlet much longer third-party charging cables Lightning cables iPhones standard USB cables Android phones plug your smartphone into longer cable use while charging smart phone wireless charger smartphone bedside table charging mat use longer cable charging smartphone desk longer cable cheaper buying wireless charger device less convenient smartphone wireless charger a bit finicky lines up starts charging plugging it in wireless chargers charging pad outlet phone charging pad contactless wireless wireless charger takes longer uses more power generates more heat faster more efficient transmit energy over wire wired charging much faster charging overnight quickly top-up your phone wired connection wireless less efficient take more electricity charge phone wirelessly wasted power excess heat destroy your phone heat enemy smartphone’s battery wireless charging extra power electric bill extra heat accelerate battery’s decay downsides less convenient flexible simply plugging your phone in even less efficient even slower more wasteful electricity MotherBox Receiver transmitter base station induction charge charging charger aerial transmitter receiver Yank Technologies inefficient inefficiency /

Samsung Galaxy S8 – what to expect – update

Credit: Samsung

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 is expected to be revealed at the Galaxy UNPACKED 2017 event on 29 March, starting at 11 am (US) EDT.

Check it at http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/

There is much speculation about the new Samsung Galaxy S8, but more revealing than most, is this image from an advertisement for an, “Olixar Ultra-Thin Case - 100% Clear”. Judging from the name of the case & the image, this is essentially how the phone looks without a case.


Samsung Galaxy S8 in Olixar Ultra-Thin Case - 100% Clear
Credit: Olixar/Samsung/Mobile Fun

It supports two of the most popular rumours about the S8 – no physical home button, & a fingerprint sensor on the back.

More detail at http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/olixar-ultra-thin-samsung-galaxy-s8-case-100-clear-p62870.htm


Samsung Galaxy S8
Credit: GSMArena

Screen is rumoured to be 5.8" (6.2" for the S8 Plus). This won't make the phone as big as you might first think. Notice a few things in the image above:

● screen is edge-to-edge – no bezel at the sides

● the top & bottom bezels are small – in part due to the absence of a home button

Taken together, this makes for a smaller phone than a 5.8" screen would suggest. Comparing with the Samsung s7, as quoted by GSMArena:

S7 dimensions 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in)¹
S8 dimensions 140.1 x 72.2 x 7.3 mm (5.52 x 2.84 x 0.29 in)²
This makes the S8 2.3 mm shorter & only 2.6 mm wider than the S7 .

Update 30 March – GSMArena have updated the dimensions of the S8
S8 dimensions 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm (5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)²

This makes the S8 6.5 mm taller & 1.5 mm narrower than the S7.
On these numbers, S8 buyers will get a Galaxy Note size screen in a Galaxy S size phone.

More:

C|net – “Samsung Galaxy S8: Everything we know about Samsung's 2017 rebound phone, launching March 29”
https://www.cnet.com/au/products/samsung-galaxy-s8/preview/

GSMArena – “Samsung Galaxy S8”
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8-8161.php

Trusted Reviews – “Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs, rumours, & price explained”
http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s8-release-date-specs-rumours-price-uk

Forbes – “Galaxy S8 Release Date Revealed By Samsung?” https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2017/02/23/galaxy-s8-release-date-and-price/#12be23c94b7a
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¹ GSMArena: “Samsung Galaxy S7”, http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7-7821.php

² GSMArena: : “Samsung Galaxy S8”, http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8-8161.php / Trusted Reviews Samsung Galaxy S8 release date specifications specs rumours price explained Samsung Galaxy S8 Olixar Ultra-Thin Case - 100% Clear Samsung's Galaxy S8 flagship is coming on March 29 Galaxy S8 reveal date revealed by Samsung apologizing to fans yet again for its disastrous drama recalling 3 million fire explosion Galaxy Note 7 phones teasing the Galaxy S8 design and announcement date safe buyable Galaxy S8 South Korean company giant mobile show Samsung characteristically launches its Galaxy S phones Samsung's profits are soaring chips S7 and S7 Edge phone sales $5 billion lost on the Note 7 impending lawsuits Samsung truly great phone most impressive phones Samsung ever made Galaxy S8 can Samsung win back buyers' trust Galaxy S8 rumors leaks rumour speculation Samsung official Galaxy S8 announcement Galaxy S8 could start selling mid-April Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S8 March 29 in New York City Samsung's revised eight-point battery testing procedure more space inside for the battery Galaxy S8 Plus Galaxy S8 + Galaxy S8 Edge curved screen Galaxy S8 Samsung's flagship phone dual-curved screens scaled the production process curved screens two phones Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus Galaxy S8 could still come in two sizes Galaxy S8 Edge Galaxy S8 Plus sizes hardware specs S8 /

Hydro storage can secure 100% renewable electricity

Pumped storage facility at Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant¹
Credit: Tennessee Valley Authority/Wikipedia

Professor Andrew Blakers of the Australian National University Research School of Engineering has added his voice to the chorus supporting the practicality of renewables to provide reliable & cheap electricity for Australia.²

“With Australia wrestling with how to secure its energy supply, we've found we can make the switch to affordable & reliable clean power.” – Professor Andrew Blakers, Australian National University Research School of Engineering

“The zero-emissions grid would mainly rely on wind & solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, with support from pumped hydro storage, & would eliminate Australia's need for coal & gas-fired power.” – Professor Blakers

“The cost of a 100 per cent stabilised renewable electricity system would be around AU$75/MWh, which is cheaper than coal & gas-fuelled power.” – Professor Blakers

Australian National University, Energy Change Institute – “Hydro storage can secure 100% renewable electricity”,
http://energy.anu.edu.au/news-events/hydro-storage-can-secure-100-renewable-electricity

It is worth noting that Professor Blakers’ figure of AU$80/MWh for “clean coal” was calculated by CO2CRC which is in the business of carbon capture & storage. Other authorities calculate the cost of, “clean coal”, at AUD$134-$203/MWh & solar at AUD$78-$140/MWh.³
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “Pumped-storage hydroelectricity”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

² HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: ‘CSIRO: “There's no reason Australia can’t switch to 100% renewable energy”’, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/02/csiro-theres-no-reason-australia-cant.html

³ Clean Technica: “Pumped Hydro Storage Could Secure 100% Renewable Electricity For Australia”, https://cleantechnica.com/2017/02/28/pumped-hydro-storage-secure-100-renewable-electricity-australia/

/ CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation no reason Australia can’t switch to 100% renewable energy Australian government’s chief scientific body no apparent technical impediment to reaching 100 per cent renewables national electricity grid levels of up to 30 per cent renewable energy should be considered as trivial current energy systems pumped hydro storage build secure cheap Australian electricity grid 100 percent 100 per cent 100% renewable energy new study The Australian National University ANU lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers ANU Professor Andrew Blakers Australian National University Research School of Engineering ANU zero-emissions grid wind solar photovoltaic PV technology support from pumped hydro storage eliminate coal gas-fired power Australia wrestling secure its energy supply make the switch affordable and reliable clean power Professor Blakers ANU Research School of Engineering Professor Blakers wind solar PV electricity nearly all new generation capacity in Australia half the world's new generation capacity each year renewable energy accounts for around 15 per cent of Australia's electricity generation two thirds comes from coal-fired power stations most existing coal and gas stations will retire over the next 15 years cheaper to replace them with wind solar PV ANU research benefits hydro power energy storage water is pumped uphill stored generate electricity on demand pumped hydro energy storage 97 per cent of all storage worldwide support high levels of solar PV and wind cost 100 per cent stabilised renewable electricity system AU$75/MWh cheaper than coal and gas-fuelled power study map potential short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage STORES sites much greater share of renewable energy in the grid STORES pairs of reservoirs typically 10 hectares altitude difference between 300 and 900 metres hilly terrain joined by a pipe pump and turbine water circulated between upper and lower reservoirs closed loop to store generate power Dr Matthew Stocks ANU Research School of Engineering STORES needed much less water than power generated by fossil fuels minimal impact on the environment water was recycled between the small reservoirs hydro power hydropower doesn't need a river zero to full power in minutes effective method to stabilise the grid /

Teslas’s Insight

A conductor moving near a magnet generates an electric current. Or move the magnet & keep the conductor still – works too. This is the principle that generates electricity in the alternator in your car, or any wind, hydro, gas, oil or coal power station.

Teslas’s Insight is a novel demonstration of the principle.



As of this writing When I started typing this, there are were 2 left at $US35 on Indiegogo. Right now, 97 are available at $US40 + more at higher prices.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tesla-s-insight/x/9010251#/ / Tesla's Insight nifty new desk toy create electricity spinning magnetic Tesla top Nikola Tesla Nikola Tesla's vision energy spinning magnet elegant spinning top dazzle coworkers friends family enjoy exploring the possibilities Tesla's Insight red green blue power output Tesla's Insight output red green Tesla's Insight 1 Volt 6 Volts AC power electronics safe to handle Voltage speed Tesla top spin orientation arch blue Tesla's Insight slightly higher voltage blue LED LEDs higher voltage light many loops of wire power generation moving magnet causes electricity to flow through a nearby conductor wire electricity product Faraday's law of induction Nikola Tesla spinning magnet create alternating current nearby coils of wire insight made power plants possible electric shock shocked Tesla top purpose Tesla top Tesla's Insight spin desktop toy super fun law of physics illustrated Tesla top Faraday's law of induction Tesla top illustrates Faraday's law of induction Faraday's law of induction voltage wire related change in magnetic field increase the voltage increase strength magnet more loops of wire in the coil increase spinning speed magnet coil changing magnetic flux change in magnetic flux stretch goals Tesla top rose gold black stainless steel Tesla yoyo hand-powered green-energy Christmas lights kite based AM radio tower /

Pebble is no more – what next? – update 3

Update – alternatives to the Pebble smartwatch discussed below:

Samsung Gear S2 & S3

Ticwatch 2

ZeTime smartwatch with analogue mechanical hands & screen display
__________

Pebble has been bought out by Fitbit,¹ with just enough $ to cover Pebble’s debts. The Pebble name won’t continue.

Fitbit has also acquired Vector smartwatches, which makes a Fitbit branded Pebble clone less likely.

TechCrunch – “Fitbit acquires the Vector smartwatch startup, as the wearable giant continues its roll-up”
https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/10/vector-smart-watch-startup-acquired-by-fitbit-as-wearable-giant-expands-its-team/

Vector – “The Vector Watch software platform & team joined the Fitbit family”
http://vectorwatch.com/fitbit

So what does a Pebble owner do?

For now, nothing – my Pebble continues to do what it has always done. Fitbit has undertaken to ensure that Pebble devices will continue to work for the next year.² I expect core functions³ to continue working for many years after that.

If your Pebble isn’t performing at the end of the Fitbit guarantee, take a careful look at what they have on offer. New wearable(s) with more emphasis on smartwatch capabilities, & longer runtimes than 1 or 2 days seem likely – Fitbit has spent a lot of money acquiring the tech.

If a Fitbit/Pebble/Vector device doesn’t appear, doesn’t appeal, or you just can’t wait, have a look at:



Samsung Gear S2 & S3

Update – Samsung's smartwatches use their proprietary Tizen OS. Check this before you buy:
“Samsung’s Tizen operating system reported to be riddled with security vulnerabilities”
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/04/samsungs-tizen-operating-system-is.html


Samsung Gear S3 Frontier & Classic
Credit: Amazon

Android Central – “Samsung Gear S3 vs. Gear S2: Which should you buy?”
http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-gear-s3-vs-gear-s2

PCMag – “Samsung Gear S3”
http://au.pcmag.com/samsung-gear-s3/43198/review/samsung-gear-s3

Ticwatch 2


Credit: Wearable

ZDNet – “Ticwatch 2 hands-on: Forget expensive Apple & Google watches, this $200 smartwatch packs it all in”
http://www.zdnet.com/article/ticwatch-2-hands-on-forget-expensive-apple-and-google-watches-this-200-smartwatch-packs-it-all-in/

Ticwatch 2 Kickstarter project
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mobvoi/ticwatch-2-the-most-interactive-smartwatch

Buy Ticwatch 2
https://en.ticwear.com/collections/ticwatch

ZeTime


ZeTime smart watch – analogue hands & switchable digital display with numbers, heart rate monitor & step counter
Credit: MyKronoz Switzerland/ZeTime

ZeTime takes a 22 mm watch band, so you can use any that fit your Pebble.

More:
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/03/zetime-smartwatch-with-mechanical-hands.html
__________

¹ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Pebble scooped up by Fitbit”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/12/pebble-has-been-scoped-up-by-fitbit.html

² Pebble: “Pebble’s Next Step”, https://blog.getpebble.com/2016/12/07/fitbit/

³ Core functions

● vibrate/display name/number of caller

● vibrate/display SMS

● vibrate/display start of email

● next appointment

● vibrate/display warning on loss of connection to phone

● count steps with sync to fitness app(s)

● run for over a week on each charge

● even tell the time

/ Samsung wearable Gear S3 Frontier Gear S3 Classic Gear S2 Gear S2 Classic viable options lower prices smaller sizes similar functionality software updates viable reasons to choose last year's model smartwatch Samsung new Gear S3 and last year's Gear S2 design size style strong black on black finish large gnarled bezel textured side buttons definitely stands out smooth metal sculpted band flows right into the watch face appearance of a single piece very similar designs two-tone mirrored metal finishes classic design elements simpler bezel understated buttons leather strap exterior design cues size of these watches new Gear S3s significantly larger weight really large by analog watch standards particularly thickness comfortable average wrists software Samsung is updating older watches same software experience Gear S3 speaker GPS full Samsung Pay identical software hardware same processor storage screen resolution IP68 water resistance larger 1.3-inch displays 768MB of RAM 512MB battery much larger 380 mAh battery life specs speaker notifications voice calls cell connected GPS Samsung Pay Gear S3 new MST technology price value buying decision Gear Fit 2 excellent fitness tracking basic smartwatch features Bluetooth smartphone notifications fitness tracking SMS email vibration phone call control music /