When will the last gasoline car be built? 2070, Shell Oil says

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088044_when-will-the-last-gasoline-car-be-built-2070-shell-oil-says / disappearance internal combustion internal-combustion engines government governments predict predicted predicting last gasoline vehicles sold latest prediction particularly unlikely source Shell Oil Company largest petroleum producers producer world company predicts predict prediction latest report petroleum powered petrol gasoline gasolene petroleum-powered cars car gone 2070 concept Shell Shell's New Lens Scenarios report reports Autoblog Green forward looking forward-looking predictions company decide operate coming years scenario building 2013 policy develop development developing developed New Lens Scenarios scenario Mountains Oceans mountain ocean predicts predict prediction future based on two possible paths global economy coming decades decade affected technological developments global population changing pressures scenarios global population expected top 9 billion 2050 future very different depending each scenario lens incumbent governmental economic power persists natural gas dominant fuel 2030 demand liquid fuels derived from oils falls petroleum product products transport transportation driving much less 1,200 miles per year average mile miles mileage today shorter average journeys city-centric population better use two-wheeled transport public transport economic growth sluggish environment 2-degree 2 degree degrees Centigrade rise global temperatures temperature Oceans Shell predict predicts world greater understanding compromise world more prosperous dwindling food energy water become the new priorities natural gas solar grows grow growth world world's largest energy source global warming climate change technological developments, forcing society make significant adaptions oil phased out 2070 scenario Shell's overall estimate 2070 passenger road market nearly oil-free electricity oil free hydrogen dominant fuel fueling road transportation PDF file possible future outcomes social pressures energy global economy country countries German Germany German eCarTec Switzerland Swiss green pressure group electric cars dominate 2050 promote promoting electric charging wider use EV electric vehicles vehicle EVs vision visions United Kingdom GB Great Britain UK governmental government proposal proposals hybrid plug-in plugin plug in zero-emission zero emission illegal 2040 predict future global firm company companies firms perol gasoline /

Universal add on lenses fit any smartphone or tablet

Credit: Allputer/The Gadgeteer

Don't expect too much from these lenses. Between the prices ($6.95 – $10.95) & the potential difficulties with aligning the axis of the built in & add on lenses, results are likely to leave something to be desired. A case on your phone or tablet will create its own difficulties.

At the price though, you don't have much to lose. I've ordered the telephoto. :)

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/10/30/perk-up-your-pix-with-a-universal-clip-side-lenses/

Retailer's website

http://allputer.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=74_238&zenid=9dc370954ce2e9f0781aed90b6e134ec / photograph photography focus camera lens lenses clip on lenses iPhone macro wide angle capability capabilities capable built in camera clip on Clip-Slide lenses Allputer.com universal clips universal fit any smartphone phablet tablet aluminum multi coated multi-coated optical glass clip design slide edge device orient Clip-Slide lens device’s built in camera lens Allputer CPL glare reflection non metallic non-metallic surfaces surface polarize polarized polarizer filter polarizing 2X Zoom 2X Telephoto lens fisheye super wide angle lens Macro shot distance wide angle capability /

Phonebloks — it just might happen (video)

Credit: Hack A Day

You may remember a previous post about Phonebloks, the modular smartphone platform. At the time it seemed like a good idea, not really likely to become a commercial product. Now Motorola is adding a bit of real development & marketing muscle.

http://hackaday.com/2013/10/30/ask-hackaday-does-project-ara-solve-the-phonebloks-problems/ / tips line blowing Motorola’s Project Ara smart phone modularity modular components plug into base endoskeleton skeleton news coverage strewn across Web Project Ara similar vaporware Phonebloks concept Ask Hackaday article conspiracy theory circulating Motorola released concept viral marketing scheme generate hype official product line Hacker News Israeli startup, Modu similar modular mobile cell phone Google bought patents Project Ara is revised Modu partner partners partnered Phonebloks’ creator Dave Hakkens vaporware unavoidable hardware limitations hardware Android platform software vibrant third party third-party developer ecosystem lower barriers entry increase pace innovation substantially compress development timelines time times open source open-source hardware advances 3D printing evolving open hardware ecosystem next era phone development hack hacking hacker small startup company relationship PC peripherals peripheral slot slots attach attaching additional components website partnership /

MIT attempts to make its own dark matter

Credit: MIT/DVICE

http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-28/mit-attempts-make-its-own-dark-matter / dark matter scientist scientists exist exists gravity gravitation universal gravitational evidence invisible science dark matter certain features observe observation observed discovery discover MIT’s DarkLight lab project theoretical theory dark matter account accounts huge portion total mass Universe scientists studying discover discovering discrepancies mass masses mass massive galaxy galaxies mass account unaccounted mass dark matter proof researcher researcher research large photon team developed develop developing particle accelerator project machine beam electron electrons energy high power detector detect decays decay decaying exotic particles particle Higgs boson /

Why are Apple’s iPads so damn expensive?

Credit: Boy Genius Report

http://bgr.com/2013/10/24/ipad-mini-price-analysis-ipad-air/ / Apple debut debuted iPad 2010 bargain no basis for comparison $500 large portable Apple device expensive company company’s notebook computers computer lap top laptop fast forward 2013 Android vendors price tablet capable tablets big vendors around $200 7-inch size range Apple’s iPad lineup look pretty pricey expensive new iPad mini Retina display $399 nearly twice price Google Google’s Nexus 7 Amazon Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX iPad mini starts at $299 displays expensive Apple recent analysis mobile analyst Benedict Evans global tablet shipments Apple losing market share Apple losing tablet market share numbers chart Amazon tablet shipments Android tablet shipments growing rapidly iPad’s share global market declining Nexus tablet shipments insignificant affordable well equipped well-equipped sales non-existent non existent nonexistent share of tablet web traffic subset Android tablets growing most rapidly no name no-name tablet segment sold around China white box vendors dirt cheap compete competition competing used for emerging markets lower income groups west what that they’re being used for little bit of Web free gaming book reading video consumption for many buyers compete with TVs iPads Nexus Nexuses Tabs not being used the way iPads are used feature phone phones featurephones of tablets perspective $300 entry point competitive problem iPad doesn’t yet face a strong competitive threat two very different markets post PC post-PC ultra low ultra-low margin product totally different product /

Charge your smartphone while you party — or sleep

Credit: Vodafone/Ecouterre

http://www.ecouterre.com/vodafones-power-shorts-use-body-heat-to-charge-your-cellphone/ / running down cell phone mobile cellphone battery smartphone smart Vodafone Vodafone’s Power Pocket peripherals pumping body heat movement prototypes prototype prototyping denim shorts sleeping bag charge your gear walk dance sleep rest move breath live nap Isle of Wright Festival Thursday Power Pocket collaboration between British telecommunications company Department of Electronics and Computer Science University of Southampton smart material contains thermoelectric modules convert temperature differences between body heat energy temperature surrounding air volt amp current electric voltage concept physics Seebeck effect develop development developing developer research researcher researchers researching working printed smart material Stephen Beeby professor electronic systems University of Southampton low high temperature high-temperature ceramics energy harvesting energy-harvesting smart materials harvest harvesting energy Power Pocket shorts charge smartphone trial trials technology summer talk time hours standby time inside sleeping bag 37 degrees Celcius Celsius 98.6 Fahrenheit human body temperature details device commercial release sal research technology hard wearing hard-wearing sleeping bags bag example fold folded up compressed small package material materials flexible improve improvement improvements thermoelectric thermo-electric thermo electric effect /

Why a hydrogen economy doesn't make sense

Hydrogen fuel cell car — fabulous idea! It's even supported by such luminaries as George W. Bush & the brilliant minds at Top Gear (before the assault & the dismissal etc.) ...

... then the laws of physics & economics raise their ugly heads:


Credit: Ulf Bossel/Phys Org

In the image above, we see 100 kWh of energy being used to drive a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (on the left) or a battery electric car (on the right). Depending on how the hydrogen is managed, 19 or 23% of the energy at the beginning is actually available to drive the vehicle. For a battery electric car, 69% of the original energy is available to drive the vehicle.

I think we have a winner.

More:
http://phys.org/news85074285.html / study research researcher researching fuel cell expert Ulf Bossel explains hydrogen economy inefficient wasteful large amount energy required isolate hydrogen natural compounds water natural gas biomass package light gas compression compress compressor pressure liquefaction transfer energy carrier user energy lost when converted useful electricity fuel cells cell around 25% practical use unacceptable value run economy sustainable future niche applications applicarion like submarines spacecraft use hydrogen more energy needed isolate hydrogen from natural compounds compound recovered from use Bossel explains PhysOrg.com making new chemical energy carrier form natural gas would not make sense increase gas consumption emission CO2 dwindling fossil fuel reserves reserve replaced replace energy from renewable sources source scientists scientist around world technology Bossel reality realistic use hydrogen carrying energy overall energy analysis hydrogen economy demonstrates high energy losses inevitably result resulting laws physics hydrogen economy advantages hydrogen praised praise journalists non-toxic burns burn water abundance hydrogen Universe misleading production hydrogen depends depend availability energy water rare political issues issue oil and natural gas money thorough analysis scientists research money laboratory laboratories laws of physics research capital technology never make economic sense source energy green electricity grid new energy carrier solve energy problem wasteful process analyze analysis analyzes method methods synthesize synthesizing store storing deliver delivery transport transportation delivering hydrogen method naturally occurring synthesized renewable electricity electrolysis of water energy content converted back electricity fuel cells recombined oxygen water separating separate hydrogen water electrolysis massive amounts of electrical energy substantial amounts water source energy carrier of energy electron economy existing electricity infrastructure storage battery /

"Money doesn't grow on trees" — another myth busted (podcast)

Synchrotron images of leaf discs reveal traces of gold.
Credit: Dr. Melvyn Lintern/The Australian

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/10/23/3874913.htm?site=melbourne

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2471826/Australian-scientists-traces-gold-eucalyptus-leaves.html /cold hard cash gold researchers CSIRO CSIRO's Earth Science and Resource Engineering division found visible gold particles biological material study published online scientific journal Nature Communications discovered dry conditions Eucalyptus trees search moisture 35m below ground gold deposit precious mineral absorbed root system into the canopy leaves provide new way to locate gold deposits researcher research researched researching Melvyn Lintern collected field samples Australia Western Australia's gold mining town of Kalgoorlie from South Australia conducted greenhouse experiments experimentation experiment moisture in the ground interact with gold deposits dissolve small amounts Dr Lintern roots picking gold up absorbing gold ions ion into charged particles particle roots root moving water flow within the tree through continuum water going up through tree into the foliage replace water lost through transpiration breakthrough able actually see particulate gold particle particles magic equipment called Australian Synchrotron leaves leaf first gold occurs leaves visible particle biological material Melbourne based Australian Synchrotron accelerates electrons speed of light size of microns much smaller than a human hair study research team state confirmation biological biology geology geological biogeochemical absorption gold promotes confidence emerging technique may lead future exploration success maintain continuity of supply better able explore hidden gold deposits because hidden beneath sediments lower exploration costs reduce damage environment drill Australian companies company sponsored project sampled leaves obtained confidential results /

Google buys Flexycore, creator of a “10x speed boost” app for Android (video)

Credit: Flexycore/Ars Technica

This is looking likely to be the means to provide the performance improvements promised for Android 4.4 (KitKat).

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/google-buys-flexycore-creator-of-a-10x-speed-boost-app-for-android/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/google-buys-flexycore-to-make-android-more-buttery/

http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/22/google-flexycore/

Video:

http://youtu.be/Bduk--UTcf4

http://youtu.be/tEAz9fRoDmA / compile compiler compiling byte code interpreter interpret French site L'Expansion report reported reporting Google complete completed year-long acquisition company Flexycore Flexycore's most prominent product droidbooster app claims claimed claim claiming Android device run ten times faster claim company reputable reputation profile ARM partner site founder former head of R&D research and & development Texas Instruments 10 x 10x speed boost generate generated generation generating heavily optimized ARM binaries Android's normal Dalvik code Droidbooster claimed to increase battery life because sped-up device spend less time processing more time low power low-power state Flexycore's website down YouTube account still works watch a demo video extremely old droidbooster tech running on a Froyo-equipped Nexus One. Indeed, FlexyCore doesn't seem to have done anything on the Internet for the last two years actively promoted its product release releasing released releasing 11 videos one-year span then just stopped Dalvik Virtual Machine Android applications application applications run VM execute executes Dalvik bytecode byte code byte-code compiled programme programmes program programs written Java language syntax Dalvik VM Java VM JVM lack of recent activity unclear Flexycore continued develop developing developed development most pressing question speed boost worked 2010 Android 2.2 function today FlexyCore working work worked works significant Google company worth purchasing purchase purchased $23.1 million Gigaom reports report reported receive received confirmation purchase Google company's company companies statement FlexyCore team strong expertise building software optimize Android device performance great fit our team FlexyCore's employees absorbed into Android team Google significant strides smoothing out Android performance Project Butter L'Express Mountain View €16.9 million $23.1 million software increasing battery drain Android teams optimize performance Android mobile devices device release released Android 4.4 KitKat operating system OS compete competitive competitiveness modern modern-day smartphone smart phone platform /

Toq smartwatch (video)

Toq in its WiPower LE wireless charging base/earphone case.
Credit: Qualcomm/Cnet

Another take on the smartwatch from Qualcomm. This one has:

• reflective colour screen using low power Mirasol technology
• touch screen
• stereo Bluetooth headphones
• wireless charging of both watch & headphones using WiPower LE through a supplied cradle-cum-earphones holder

Qualcomm website:

http://toq.qualcomm.com/

Cnet:

http://reviews.cnet.com/watches-and-wrist-devices/qualcomm-toq/4505-3512_7-35827147.html

YouTube:

http://youtu.be/G2tnjzuadNk

http://youtu.be/YzTrqifCOhs

http://youtu.be/kJwVPWel-eg

About WiPower wireless charging:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiPower / color Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT hardware loaded software features useful usability never use company’s company modern smartwatch display sharp resolution processor wrist strap microphone calls Bluetooth smartphone connection glanceable notification incoming calls texts messages alerts clever integration smartphones so when you take the phone out of your pocket messages message instantly appear big screen virtual assistant dictate text messages set alarms create calendar entries hands free hands-free speakerphone voice connection contact paired smartphone user phone’s phone lock unlock sleep wake Qualcomm low-power /

Skully Helmets shows heads-up display for motorcycle riders (video)

Credit: Skully Helmets/Oh Gizmo

We may be looking at a new class of device, the "smart helmet".

It has a Head Up Display (HUD) with vision from a 180 degree rear view camera, turn-by-turn GPS navigation & voice control of telephone & music. Sounds pretty smart to me.

At the rear is an aerodynamic tail which reduces buffeting as well as housing the electronics.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/10/21/slick-motorcycle-helmet-with-an-hud-could-eliminate-blind-spots-provide-gps-guidance-and-make-your-friends-jealous/





Manufacturer's Web site
https://www.skully.com/ / DOT ECE European department of transport standard electronics smart phone smartphone Global Positioning System heads visor voice dialing dial turn-by-turn turn by turn navigation directions voice rear-mounted rear mounted view LiIon lithium ion battery 9 hours run time hour safety standards /

New iPhones score well with "Consumer Reports", but display & battery "no match" for Android competitors

Credit: Laptop Mag

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/16/new-iphones-score-well-with-consumer-reports-but-display-and-battery-no-match-for-android-competitors/

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/10/iphone-5s-and-5c-score-highly-in-consumer-report-ratings/index.htm

http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3-iphone-5s-comparison-reveals-slo-mo-not-really-720p-20131021/

http://www.wirefly.com/iphone-vs-android/ / Google Apple Android iOS OS operating system screen resolution Droid Motorola Samsung mobile cell phone smartphone smart 3G 4G apps app application /

Robot blocks magically turn themselves into absolutely anything (video)

Credit: MIT

http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-8/robot-blocks-magically-turn-themselves-absolutely-anything / cube cubes robot robots buildings MITcolour color colourful colorful blocks M-blocks mblocks reconfigure reconfiguration reconfiguring arrangements configure configuration arrangement create modular robots essentially indestructible Terminator block flywheels flywheel inside move rotate revolve 20,000 revolutions per minute stop within 10 milliseconds angular momentum cube flip magnet magnets sides cube stick to each othe moving cubes around possible create different shapes cubes powerful low amount of energy roll forward intermediate amount of energy might cause it to climb a wall highest amount energy jump MIT roboticist Kyle Gilpin M-Blocks arrange themselves cool patterns future hold great applications product help build temporary bridges structures move themselves over hard-to-navigate hard to navigate terrain smaller more capable won't form tkiller robot travel goes back in time destroy destroys all humans. /

1000 mile battery

Flow batteries have been around for some time in stationary applications. For vehicular use, they have the attractive qualities that they can be recharged, not only by plugging into a charger at home, but by replacing the electrolytes. Replacement of electrolytes is about as fast as filling a tank with petrol (gasolene).

Electrolytes removed from the battery can be recharged & reused indefinitely.

So why aren't flow batteries used in vehicles? To date, flow batteries have been restricted to stationary applications because of their size & weight.

Batteries of many types are now undergoing intense development. Lithium ion has had the most success to date. However, even the best solutions remain a balancing act between cost, range, size, & weight, with recharge times remaining the Archilles heel. If similar development efforts could overcome the size & weight problems, the recharge options would make flow batteries an ideal energy source for electric vehicles.

http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=181 / electric vehicle automobile EV car recharge charge driving range gasoline model refueled minutes time long driving trip home overnight fuel fueling petrol gas filling station researcher research flow batteries reported breakthrough Illinois Institute of Technology IIT chemical battery fuel cell electrolyte fluids rich metallic ions ion vandanium chromium exchange ion ions across membrane generate generating electric current replace the fluids recycled indefinitely electricity electric grid reverse process charge charging research groups technology Massachusetts MIT University of Michigan Fraunhofer Institute Germany Argonne Labs IIT technology bulky low energy density by volume lithium ion LiIon lithium-ion battery 150-200 Wh/liter litre energy Vandanium flow battery might be 20-35 Wh/liter power density 60-100 W/L versus 275 W/L for lithium University of Southampton in England experimented experiment prototype hybrid car lithium early Vanadium flow battery, weight mass volume success of a flow battery transport transportation grid energy storage working fluid accommodate more ions water breakdown voltages 1.2V Volt Volts Stanford University research paper technology disruptive innovation order of magnitude increase energy power density critical limiting factor solubility electroactive species electrolyte solution team researchers Argonne National Labs IIT $3.4 million ARPA-E research grant U.S. Energy Department nanoelectrofue disruptive innovation industry technology nano-scale materials ions lithium safe to handle liquid hydrogen ammonia recycle recycled environmentally benign methanol ammonia /

Pebble's Migicovsky: we're focused on software, not hardware right now (video)

Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/The Guardian

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/pebble-ceo/

http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/10/an-interview-with-eric-migicovsky-a-product-designer-who-had-to-ramp-up-from-0-to-10-million-in-funding-in-a-month/

MIT Technolgy Review's take: "How he invented the smartwatch"

http://www.technologyreview.com/lists/innovators-under-35/2013/visionary/eric-migicovsky/

Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2013/09/11/pebble-founder-eric-migicovsky-smartwatches-need-to-keep-it-simple/

Wired:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/hands-on-with-pebble-smartwatch-the-most-successful-kickstarter-project-ever/

My take: I'm a Kickstarter backer of Pebble & haven't regretted my investment.

Have a look at:

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2013/04/opinion-is-there-smartwatch-in-your.html

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-smart-should-your-watch-be.html

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2013/01/hands-on-with-pebble-smartwatch-first.html / future proof proofed future-proofed Pebble Eric Migicovsky tech Pebble watch shipped Kickstarter backer backers people judge software hardware startup's startup start up CEO New York Big Apple recent appearance MIT hackathon interact directly developer community company tremendously successful crowdfunding crowd funding fund campaign subsequent product launch Migicovsky's focus hardware user experience job that means fixing bugs helping to bring next killer app wearable platform we're focused on right now softwar soft-spoken exec executive founder founding Pebbles Kickstarter backers supporter supporters support us company move the software forward update firmware over the air updates updated updater updating WiFi publish software updates gap gaps broken Pebble box it's making your life better in tiny ways smartwatch smart watch /

Drayson Racing sets four new electric-car land speed records

Credit: Drayson Racing/Gizmag

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1087766_drayson-racing-sets-four-new-electric-car-land-speed-records

More about Drayson Racing:

http://www.gizmag.com/lola-drayson-b1269ev-electric-racing-car/21212/ / team led leader British science minister Lord Drayson land speed record lightweight electric cars 204.2 mph Elvington airfield Yorkshire England Drayson record set setting drive driver driving Lola B12 69/EV previous attempts Lord Drayson 205.13 mph flying mile set one-kilometer record 333.271 kph records wait waiting awaiting approval FIA top speed achieved reached Lola fastest vehicle Britain driven drive wheel wheels exclude excludes vehicles powered thrust jet rocket powered Bloodhound SSC being prepared 1,000 mph record run South African desert Drayson Racing Lola B12 69/EVDrayson set record electric car standing quarter mile time 9.74 seconds 92.38 mph record also awaiting FIA approval team statement last record run vehicle electric EV car still accelerate acceleration accelerating hard reached end speed zone prompting Drayson try again team originally intended take electric car Bonneville Salt Flats flooding forced Elvington Lola B12 69/EV designed Le Mans prototype race car racer racing powered four 4 quartet electric motors developing combined 640 kilowatts 850 horsepower innovate innovation innovative structural batteries name suggests suggestion suggestions they integrate energy storage Lola's bodywork chassis /

Image quality evaluation — how does your phone, point-and-shoot or DSLR score?

Credit: DxO Lab/The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/10/16/image-quality-evaluation-how-does-your-device-score/ / camera mobile cell phone pocket pocketable point-and-shoot point and shoot digital single lens reflex DSLR interchangeable lenses lens photographer device credible independent source image quality testing DxO Lab’s DxOMark DxOMark web site image quality measurements mobile cell phones digital cameras interchangeable lenses score quality characteristics tag compare devices extensive database separate scores score cell phone better individual qualities exposure low-light noise performance individual score shooting shoot scores specific qualities current camera competing cameras use same sensor score scores compare manufacturer manufacturers look up released release version II lens test tests very accurate comparing compare sharpness chromatic aberration first generation first-generation lens compare same lens receive slightly different scores mounted different model camera advertise advertisements quality screen Apple iPhone 5S tested earned DxOMark score mobile phone image quality Lumia 1020 41 mega pixel 41MP count, 41MP Nokia 808 Pureview smartphones tested test Sony are currently offering free license DxO FilmPack 3 Essential edition hefty discount latest release DxO FilmPack 4 Essentials Expert Editions edition /

New drone service delivers textbooks to students (video)

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/drone-service-delivers-textbooks-to-college-students/ / drones pizza deliveries beer airdrops Flirtey Zookal drone designed deliver textbooks students utilizing GPS coordinates person places order Flirtey company develops unmanned drone technology Zookal rents textbooks university Australian college students designed emulate speedy delivery digital textbook creators drone program programme delivery within minutes six hexacopter models rotation test run drone program students track delivery rented textbook utilizing utilize Google Maps interface smartphone tablet drone arrives student student’s location drone hover hovers air height approximate approximately around ten feet mobile app student triggers drone slowly lower textbook their grasp textbook retrieve retrieved hexacopter returns return Zookal representatives representative pick up parcel delivery lower cost of delivery students Zookal representatives estimate reduce same day shipping costs day delivery costs ranging from $8 to $20 depending weight package containing textbooks textbook drone delivery companies sell marketing market advertise advertisement advert space drone eliminate shipping costs consumer completely Flirtey Zookal approval Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority operate unmanned drones drone within residential areas approved companies plan continue testing drones throughout end year launch March Australian public launch Android application app available iOS Windows apps likely later date companies interested expanding program United States 2015 require approval Federal Aviation Administration /

Drug restores cells that are missing in MS patients

Credit: UC Denver/Ars Technica

http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/10/drug-restores-cells-that-are-missing-in-ms-patients/ / Multiple sclerosis MS autoimmune disease immune system destroys myelin sheaths surround surrounding neurons nerve cell cells myelin sheaths sheath insulator insulation surrounding electrical electric wires wire enable neuron transmit electrical impulses specifically specific efficiently efficient cells oligodendrocytes make myelin adult adulthood people MS oligodendrocyte precursor cells OPCs OPC migrate site sites myelination problem precursor cells fail mature properly myelin producing cells failure promotes disease progression progress current approved therapies therapy immunosuppressants research scientist scientists researchers The Scripps Research Institute screen screened 100,000 structurally diverse molecules find induce OPCs maturing maturation mature researchers researcher identified compounds rodent OPCs mature oligodendrocytes Petri dish thyroid hormone several physiological effects unattractive therapeutic agent for MS compounds work have limited therapeutic potential off target off-target activities toxicity, poor brain exposure demonstrated lack in vivo efficacy compounds provided valuable positive controls experiment useful compounds compound most effective inducers OPC maturation drug called benztropine already available oral form approved treatment Parkinson’s disease researchers benztropine, confirmed oligodendrocytes mature maturity myelin dish neuron neurons analyse analyzed benztropine’s activity mouse model MS diminished diminish clinical severity acute remission phases disease eliminate elimination eliminating relapse phase model system, benztropine immunosuppressive drugs treat use associated with dose depend dose-dependent adverse neurological side effects cognitive changes blurred vision anorexia psychosis authorb lower dose when combined with other therapies Fingolimod immunosuppressant reduced relapse rate relapsing-remitting reminder relapse remitting multiple sclerosis by over half. But its use can lead to a dose-dependent bradycardia it slows slow heart rate researchers' mouse model combination suboptimal doses of this with benztropine yielded decrease in clinical severity combination drugs results standard therapeutic dose of Fingolimod side effects dose dependent dependency /

How smart should your watch be? (update)

Updated Wednesday 16 November, 2013.


Do you have the time?
Left to right: Fitbit Force, Pebble, Galaxy Gear
Credit: CNet

New technologies require a new way of thinking. Human beings have to feel their way towards that new way of thinking.

Some examples:

• Edison, when attempting to sell the newly developed telephone, was told by one businessman, that if he wanted to communicate with someone, he would either visit in person, or send a boy with a note.

• An equally far sighted mayor of a small town which had just acquired a telephone, amidst the fanfare which accompanied this great step forward, made a speech in which he noted that he could foresee a day when every town would have a telephone!

Something similar happened with the automobile. Early designs look quaint today. To the engineers who conceived them, they were good design. What should a vehicle for people to drive on public roads look like? Like every other vehicle people drove. That is, a carriage which a horse might pull. So a very early automobile was, literally, a horseless carriage. And it was steered, not with the steering wheel that seems obvious to us, but with a tiller, or handle bars which might have come from a bicycle, which was obvious to the engineers of 1900.

We've recently worked through some of this with mobile (cell) phones. Much of what a mobile should look like, be & do is settled, but some of the details are still being worked out. Some of this is driven by the tension between competing aims, e.g., the desire for a larger screen, battery life & the ability to fit the phone into a pocket.

Something similar appears to be happening with the "smartwatch" at the moment. Mechanical watches occasionally included "smart features", such as alarms or phases of the Moon. Freed from the limitations of mechanical technology, miniaturized computer technology makes a plethora of options available.

Existing smartwatches include a range of different options from the many available. Do you want SMS on you watch? Email? Hands free telephone? Colour? Backlight? How big is too big? How long must the battery last?

If one day battery life is too short, scratch the Samsung Gear & Apple Watch.

Just want fitness tracking? Try Fitbit. Want the time too? Have a look at Fitbit Force (smallest device at the top of this item).

If colour isn't important & battery life of a week or more is a must, try Pebble.

Or, if 6 months of battery life is a must & SMS notifications (rather than the text itself) is OK, maybe Cuckoo will suit – see below.

Perhaps the very concept of a smartwatch will one day seem to be as short sighted as a tiller for steering an automobile. Maybe the place for such a display/interface is somewhere/something else. Google Glass, or something which is now only a gleam in some engineer's eye, may yet be the answer.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-34900_7-57607111/pebble-gear-..-fitbit-force-making-the-case-for-semi-smart-watch-over-smartwatch/

... Or maybe the Sony SmartWatch 2


Credit: Sony/cloudfront.net

http://www.gizmag.com/sony-smartwatch-2-review/29367/

Pebble

E-paper display, 1 week or more battery life.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-e-paper-watch-for-iphone-and-android?ref=live

Cuckoo

Limited display, 6 months battery.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cuckoo/cookootm-the-watch-for-the-connected-generation / Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT /

Intel shows PAX attendees SSD overclocking

Credit: Legit Reviews

Soon, you'll be able to overclock your solid state drive too!

http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-shows-pax-attendees-ssd-overclocking_122557 / Intel Developer Forum agenda workshop work shop SSD Overclocking new prototype Intel SSD next month community feedback IDF howing SSD Overclocking PAX Prime From what we gather Intel is thinking about about creating a ‘K’ series SKU for Intel Solid-State Drive Intel K series processors mainstream processors unlocked multipliers over clock clocked overclock overclocked K-series SKU SSD line up unlock dials SSD users user ability adjust clock speeds controller frequency NAND Flash memory bus frequency company companies overclocked drive drives clock speeds end users adjust the clock speeds picture pictures photo photos photograph photographs overclocking ability popular Intel Extreme Tuning Utility XTU Intel XTU popular enthusiast crowd overall system overclocking added ability overclock certain Intel SSDs popularity power more powerful speed SSD Intel overclocking part number SSDSC2BB480G4 : BTWL3070050Z480QGN first portion part number brings up a high end enterprise drive SSD DC S3500 Series 480GB w/ 20nm MLC NAND Flash overall drive custom prototype SSD overclocking drive demonstrated 480GB drive variety SSD sizes size prototype very early beta firmware two different settings setting controller clock speed default Intel Prototype SSD controller 400MHz Intel XTU software adjusted 625MHz 56.25% increase controller speed second setting speed NAND chips chips running 83MH boost 100MHz settings defined range /

Future of flexible displays

Credit: Centives

http://www.centives.net/S/2013/the-future-of-flexible-displays/ / Flexible displaysf. Jason Inofuentes wrote expect flexible displays made of plastics bend smartphone smart phone martphone-like device electronics within a phone food our phones tight squares bend at right angles displays won’t able bend about 18 degrees made plastic shouldn’t shatter when dropped lighter thinner more space battery longer standby times used cars wearable computers helmets history /

Voice of SIRI

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-live-chat-susan-bennett-the-voice-of-apples-siri-today-20131010,0,2326019.story

And in Australia

http://youtu.be/VMbtOo02ALI / Apple iOS iPhone 5s mobile cell phone smart smartphone personal assistant /

Next generation antibiotics could be turned on & off using light

Credit: ShutterStock/solarseven/Gizmodo

In 1st world countries, the revolution in medicine wrought by antibiotics has been largely forgotten. Before antibiotics, pneumonia had a frightening mortality rate. Syphilis killed more people than AIDS has done.

In 1988, a man in Wollongong, NSW, Australia died of a carpet burn! Why the exclamation mark at the end of the last sentence? Because in a first world country, in the antibiotic age, it normally takes an extraordinary effort of neglect for such a minor injury to lead to infection, septicemia & death.

Before antibiotics (pre World War II), prudence required that such a small abrasion be cleaned carefully with antiseptic, & then covered, to prevent entry of bacteria. If this was not done, & bacteria did enter the wound, serious, life threatening infection was possible.

Today, with antibiotics easily available, a carpet burn is likely to be ignored, until there is some sign of infection, at which point, a doctor's script would quickly solve the problem. Few would allow infection to proceed as far as happened in Wollongong in 1988.

However, there are signs that the antibiotic age may be coming to an end. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem.

What causes antibiotic resistance? Evolution. Bacteria are capable of reproducing very quickly. Several generations in an hour. An antibiotic represents a selective force. When exposed to such a selective force, a high reproduction rate allows bacteria to evolve resistance very quickly — around 600 times faster than human beings can evolve.

Bacterial evolution of antibiotic resistance is the essential problem, but it has been exacerbated by various types of mismanagement & abuse. Every time an antibiotic is used, the risk of antibiotic resistance is created. The obvious solution is to minimize antibiotic use. Trivial uses, such as on a minor cut (or carpet burn) are not justified. Cleaning with an antiseptic & covering the wound to prevent entry of bacteria should suffice.

Other abuses include:

• routine feeding antibiotics to animals. When animals are raised in confined situations, such as feed lots, infection risk rises. Antibiotics may be routinely fed to animals as a "growth promotant". Effectiveness of such use is controversial, but is pushed by drug companies, & used by farmers.

• in some parts of the world, antibiotic use is largely or wholly uncontrolled with resultant abuse.

What can you do?

Take all the tablets! A packet of antibiotic tablets, represents a course of treatment which will eliminate the infection. It is not sufficient to take the antibiotic until signs of infection disappear. At this point, a small number of bacteria may remain, with some acquired resistance. It is important to continue treatment to eliminate such bacteria. Failure to do so may result in return of the infection in a resistant form (which is more difficult to treat), or passing it on to others.

What are the drug companies doing? Running a race. There is an ongoing race between antibiotic resistant bacteria & drug companies. One of the measures they are taking is described in the linked article:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/10/next-generation-antibiotics-could-be-turned-off-using-light/ding / continue fighting pathogens new improved antibiotics antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains threat superbugs CDC staffers current salmonella outbreak more permanent solution stubborn bacteria scientist scientists University of Groningen Holland Netherlands technique tweak tweaks prove viable idea create smart antibiotic respond light heat turn turned on off switch protect healthy bacteria unnecessary damage deactivate residual antibiotics encourage resistance antibiotics designed stick inhibit enzymes keep bacteria alive specific shape bind effectively altering shape lock and key antibiotics researchers quinolones shaped like the letter C tagged light sensitive light-sensitive molecule azobenzene blasted light heat morph letter Z waste products bacteria bulk up against antibiotics pesky side effects researchers’ researcher research researchers coaxing the antibiotics respond ultraviolet infrared light superbugs superbug super bug bugs Nature /

Bigger screen for iPhone 6

Recently, I abandoned the iOS platform, largely because a 3.5 inch screen wasn't big enough anymore, & the tall, narrow 4 inch screen of the iPhone 5 didn't seem like a meaningful improvement.

Apparently, 4.7 & 5.7 inch screens are now under testing for use in the iPhone 6.

And the “iWatch”? — AMOLED display with 320 x 320-pixel resolution.

http://bgr.com/2013/10/08/iphone-6-specs-display-resolution-size/ / Apple iPhone 6 rumour rumors iPhone 5s iPhone 5c debut rumors rumor mill bigge new report well respected well-respected Apple analyst Peter Misek Apple’s next generation next-generation iPhone 6 larger 4.8-inch displa bigger screen next iPhone larger screens Android powered Android-powered iPhone rivals rival next flagship iPhone feature bigger display DisplaySearch analyst David Hsieh, upcoming iPhone 6 more standard high-definition resolution current Retina displays display welcome change many people user users customers customer Hsieh’s report research Apple’s supply chain suggests company test testing 4.7-inch panel 1,280 x 720-pixel resolution 5.7-inch display full HD 1080p resolution DisplaySearch has reported accurate details of unannounced products past earlier report The Wall Street Journal testing various display sizes 6 inches next generation next-generation iPhone larger side panels DisplaySearch Apple testing KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo accurately reported nearly every single detail Apple’s iPhone 5s iPhone 5c ahead unveiling measure 4.5 5 inches diagonally DisplaySearch several products Apple launches over the next year feature increased resolution second generation second-generation iPad mini MacBook Air 12 inch 12-inch panel flat-panel televisions television 55-inch 55 inch 65 inch 65-inch ultra HD 4K displays display Hsieh Apple’s iWatch feature flexible AMOLED display 320 x 320 pixel resolution /

Alien abduction lamp – I want to believe

Credit: Funky Company/The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/10/07/the-alien-abduction-lamp-i-want-to-believe/ / lamp lamps Alien Abduction Lamp Daisy Clara-belle Clarabelle Bossie cow abducted tractor tractor-beam wielding aliens aboard flying saucer LED lights high-quality Perspex beam space ship stainless steel black-pearl finish glow in the dark glow-in-the-dark aliens alien antenna toggle power switch toggles lights off on sets pulse mode lamp comes real fake grass cow additional cows purchase purchased separately itself is about $94.00 Funky Company located Australia ship to other countries including USA US offer power adaptors your location little green men LGM /

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

Credit: Boy Genius Report

Great new phone:

http://www.cnet.com/au/products/samsung-galaxy-note-3/

But, it appears to be cheating on benchmarks:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/galaxy-note-3s-benchmarking-adjustments-inflate-scores-by-up-to-20/ / Android noticed odd thing while testing Samsung Galaxy Note 3 scores really really well benchmark tests quick comparison scores similarly-specced similarly specced specification LG G2 something fishy going on Samsung's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 blows the doors off LG's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 Snapdragon different sleuthing Samsung artificially boosting US Note 3's benchmark scores special high-power high power CPU mode kicks when device runs large number popular benchmarking apps Samsung international Galaxy S 4's S4 GPU boost US device disable special CPU mode Samsung's benchmark optimizations scores smoking gun CPU idle speeds system monitor app picture shows how differently the CPU treats a benchmarking app different differently normal app normally Note 3 idling three four cores shut off conserve power battery remaining core drops down low power low-power 300MHz mode load up popular CPU benchmarking app Note 3 CPU locks into 2.3GHz mode fastest speed possible cores ever shut off idle idling affect benchmark scores benchmarks measure performance device Geekbench disassembling benchmarking app package name assemble assembling re-assembling reassembling Android Samsung Galaxy Note 3 OS operating system performance screen size phablet recent flagship devices device feature positively gorgeous displays display plastic hardware typically feels cheap flimsy hype launch rack huge sales numbers BGR boy genius report feature spam features feature focus focusing truly innovative useful hero features offering services lock customers ecosystem new Galaxy Note 3 Samsung gimmick gimmicky features approach /

Intelligent Glasses quickly translate foreign languages in real time

Credit: NTT Docomo/DVICE

http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-1/intelligent-glasses-quickly-translate-foreign-languages-real-time / ordering a meal non English non-English speaking country restaurant illustrations pictures pointing point nod picture read road sign posted notice unfamiliar text overseas over seas sea abroad invention creation NTT Docomo's Docomo Intelligent Glasses pair wearable spectacles translate foreign text native tongue read feature Google Glass needs demonstrated Japan Japanese Japan's CEATEC consumer electronics show Intelligent Glasses translate Japanese Korean Chinese English in real time swathe swath text place placed in front glasses character recognition technology projected image translated text layer layered over original foreign text translation processing time over five seconds prototype alpha beta software app application intelligent glasses manipulate virtual images wearer wearer's field of vision blank flat surface use using ring track tracks hand movements movement glasses wear wearer interact projected image turns surface into touchscreen touch tags see facial recognition feature summon recall personal details viewing range information name job title other personal details pulled up data retrieved retrieve retrieval smartphone's smartphones smartphone remote server develop development developing developers release date 2020 coincide with Tokyo Olympics improvements improve improvement size weight battery life endurance NTT Docomo's goals goal objective intention company glasses result results increase tourist tourism /

Spectacular simplicity of "Gravity"

Credit: Alfonso Cuaron/ Gravity/ The Atlantic

"... special effects that are at once so novel, so technologically ahead-of-the-curve, and so essential to the underlying narrative ..."

Have to see this!

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/10/the-spectacular-simplicity-of-em-gravity-em/280245/ / review movie film motion picture watch view film gravity spatial geometry Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron Children of Men 2006 fascinating experiment hybrid filmmaking awesome display cutting edge cutting-edge special effects compact character drama shot plays play deep space deep-space variation Sherif Ali iconic entrance Lawrence of Arabia supernal slice blue white blue-white Planet Earth space shuttle Sandra Bullock George Clooney Dr. Ryan Stone medical engineer rookie astronaut Matt Kowalski yarn spinning yarn-spinning space veteran final mission routine spacewalk tinker Hubble Telescope figure prominently detonation explosion Russian satellite chain reaction collision collisions massive debris field hurtling toward inadvertent projectiles primary antagonist more elegant title Flying Space Junk opening sequence stunning display pure cinema disengage cargo bay bay's arm pinwheel pinwheels helplessly around shuttle tsunami orbital flotsam twirls axis she's freed arm hurled silent void itself reveal details intermittent success find their way to safety shuttle neighboring space station any port in a storm back to Earth journey home physical spiritual convey visual spectacle spectacularity mathematical equations featuring vectors vector force acceleration customary prose unfolding series terrifying object lessons Newtonian physics spatial geometry cinematography collaboration collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki, alternates between harrowing sublime vertigo vertiginous sequences settle unexpectedly intimate closeups featuring special effects novel, technologically ahead of the curve ahead-of-the-curve essential underlying narrative an argument for 3D demands seen theater largest screen available the silence visual extravagance cast essentially consists Ed Harris voice of Mission Control succinct Peter Jackson story propelled simplest most universal human motivations motivation quest survival uncaring cosmos contribution contribute contributes arguably best work of her career coast limitless charm coasting principal reality life in space disappoint disappointment screenplay Jonas movie's magisterial visuals writing often pinched conventional overwrought unnecessary backstory clumsily executed hinge plot dialogue hoary cliché cliche narrative missteps disappointing easy to correct conversation avoid avoided moments clunky immersion movie theater rather Earth space walk silence air supply flaw genuine wonders big ones dazzlingly unforgettably right /

Tesla battery fire — does it mean electric cars are unsafe?

Credit: AJ Gill/ YouTube/ ABC News

Check the video

http://youtu.be/q0kjI08n4fg

Are electric vehicles (EVs) unsafe?

News flash people: all cars are unsafe — driving/riding in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous thing most people do on a regular basis. Very few people reading this have not either been in a motor accident where they were injured, or know someone who has (broken bones, bruises from seat belt in my case).

Do electric cars represent a fire risk?

News flash: all cars represent a fire risk. You can't put 10 gallons of petrol (gasoline) in a vehicle without creating a fire risk.

Do EVs represent a larger fire risk than internal combustion engine (ICE) cars?

News flash: ICE cars catch fire regularly. Over 500 per day on average in USA alone in 2011.

187,000 ICE vehicle fires in the United States in that year represent one fire for every 1,738 ICE. With almost 20,000 Teslas on the road, this fire makes one out of almost 20,000 in the past 12 months. If we include other brands of EV, the stats look even better.

Based on the record to-date, I'll take the electric.

Why don't we hear about all those ICE vehicle fires? Because they are so common. They're not worth reporting. On the other hand, one electric vehicle fire & the news media is abuzz.

Some have expressed concern that the fire wasn't extinguished by water. Hint: don't try water on a petrol or diesel fire either.

Elon Musk defends Model S fire safety

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/10/05/elon-musk-responds-to-tesla-s-fire-news-says-it-would-have-been-worse-in-a-regular-car/

Wired — Please calm the hell down

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/tesla-model-s-fire/

Nothing new to see here

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/model-s-fire/ / electric vehicle EV battery cell cells LiIon lithium ion charge recharge range petrol diesel petrochemical hydrocarbon fossil fuel BEV petrol gas gasolene gasoline energy density petroleum oil CEO electric car company Tesla battery Model S caught fire impaled metal object pierced penetrated Elon Musk more detail blog post fire Internet sensation unsettled Tesla investors defended the car's battery technology blog post more common conventional gas powered vehicles vehicle consumers concerned about fire risk zero doubt safer power car battery large tank highly flammable liquid curved metal component cause causing Tesla catch fire shape punch punching 3 inch hole armor plate protect protects car's bottom underside company said car properly contained blaze driver able exit highway Seattle suburb Kent flames engulfed front vehicle 194,000 vehicle fires U.S. each year, vast majority cars trucks gasoline diesel engines. Electric vehicles firefighters extinguish fire flames reignited dry chemical extinguisher Tesla shares fell sharply shares recovered loss 5.2 percent still up 400 percent /

Playing violent video games changes both the structure & behaviour of the brain

Latest research presented to a conference in Sydney, Australia, on Friday 04 October, shows that exposure to violent video games has the following effects:

• Limits size of the pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain which controls impulsive behaviour & rationality.

• Reduces activity in the pre-frontal cortex.

• Reduces sensitivity to violence.

These effects are both short & long term.

See a transcript of the radio programme, or stream or download at:

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3862722.htm / program radio behavior playing violent video games could change your brain mind Elizabeth Jackson reported story listen MP3 story WMA version MP3 download violent video games make cause causing making changes size player players player's players' brains brain mind speaking conference Sydney Dr. Doctor Wayne Warburton psychologist Macquarie University numerous studies show cumulative exposure violence limits growth pre-frontal cortex part brain controls impulsive behaviour Elizabeth Jackson brain images show changes short long term reduced activity pre-frontal lobes brain inhibit behaviours behaviour think through consequences plan things rational thought reduced reduce capacity respond diminished capacity respond rationally desensitise desensitisation decensitised desensitize decensitizeation decensitized violence short term long term MRI FMRI magnetic resonance imaging machine expose violent media emotion centre centres center centers brain limbic system diminished responding response responce less emotional response exposure media violence less exposure media violence EEG exposure expose violent exposure response strong emotional responses desensitised active suppression emotion centres literal starving blood turned off emotional content Elizabeth Jackson long short term cumulative effects long term affects violence in the real world loss of empathy decreases density frontal cortex affect neural migration psychologist Macquarie University /

Samsung Galaxy S5 — 64 bit processor & optical zoom

Credit: Samsung/ Gotto Be Mobile

Mmm, 64 bit processor & optical zoom — sounds good. On the other hand, the optics & sensor are unlikely to equal a Sony QX10 "smart lens" to add to my existing smart phone. And the QX10 will be a lot cheaper, more flexible, & available now, if less convenient.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/09/12/samsung-galaxy-s5-feature-confirmed/ / Samsung Galaxy S5 launch date months away already spilling the beans next Galaxy devices next Galaxy smartphones smart phone phones smartphone include Galaxy S5 64 bit 64-bit processing processor iPhone 5S Apple device perk perks camera fingerprint reader new A7 processor micro processor processing chip applications written display higher performance games gaming gamer gamers processing power assume Samsung’s mobile business chief Shin Jong-kyun Samsung Galaxy S5 feature confirmed rumors device powerful camera optical zoom March launch date rumor rumour rumours rumor Galaxy S5 2014 release Samsung Galaxy Note 3 iPhone 5S HTC One max HTC One company company’s flagship Galaxy S /

Caesium clock for your wrist

Credit: Bathys Hawaii/ The Register

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/10/03/highend_chrono_chaps_build_atomic_watch/ / loses lose loss losing second each millennium smartwatch smartwatches smart watch news personal atomic clocks clock timepiece Cesium 133 announce announced high end high-end Hawaiian Hawaii watch Bathys Hawaii contain single chip laser heater sealed cavity cesium gas microwave filter photodiode detector detect detecting combination watch count hyperfine lines excite excitation state excited cesium 133 atoms National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST NIST-F1 clock USA timekeeping time keeping counter-propagating lasers cool trap gas of cesium atoms US government shutdown NIST's site not available claimed accuracy of one second every millennium Bathys buyer buyers timepiece /

They're (almost) all doing it: cheating on benchmarks

Recently, an item on these pages included a link to a claim of a benchmark cheat mode in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Turns out almost all of them are doing it:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7384/state-of-cheating-in-android-benchmarks / AndreiF7's work discover discovery discovering investigate investigation investigating investigations Samsung’s CPU GPU optimise optimize optimisation optimisations optimizations international Galaxy S 4 Exynos 5410 Samsung detect detection detecting presence certain benchmark benchmarks raise raised raising thermal limits maximum maxima max GPU frequency edge benchmarks benchmarked benchmarking Snapdragon 600 Exynos 5410 SGS4 platforms platform Samsung detect detection detecting benchmarks auto automatic automatically driving CPU voltage frequency highest state Snapdragon platforms all cores plugged immediately upon benchmark detect Exynos 5410 equipped version Galaxy S4 S 4 III confirm GPU frequency MHz exceed exceeding exceeded Snapdragon 600 version platform platforms table subset devices test testing tested silicon benchmark detect maximum max CPU frequency all cores A15 cluster /

IPCC report on climate change summarized

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report on climate change was recently released, but its a very long read. Below is the short version as summarized by the Climate Council.

Infographic:
http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/climate-science-infographic/

5 minute summary:
http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CC.report.pdf / Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC publish published publishing publishes assessment current state scientific understanding human caused anthropogenic human-caused climate change assessment based on contributions thousands experts around the world through exhaustive review peer reviewed review peer-reviewed scientific literature rigorous seven year years long several-years-long review process publication fossil fuel fossil-fuel industry front groups lobbyists paid advocates gear up attack malign report mislead confuse public about sobering message release IPCC Fifth Assessment scientific report professional climate change deniers willing abettors enablers distort report actually says genuine scientific evidence reality climate change threat climate change deniers divided preferred contrarian narrative some would have us believe IPCC downgraded strength evidence degree of threat career fossil-fuel-industry fossil fuel industry apologist Bjorn Lomborg Rupert Murdoch's Murdoch Australian United Nations UN UN's mild climate change message lost in alarmist translation serial climate disinformer Judith Curry commentary same outlet announced announce announcement consensus distorts climate picture make up your mind critics mild message distorted picture consistency consistent consistently respond simply hobgoblin of little minds real reality claims members IPCC downgraded scientific confidence plentiful among usual purveyors of climate change misinformation Fox News editorial pages Wall Street Journal various conservative tabloids United States of America USA Canada Germany Australia Fox News even sought to mislead viewers bait and switch bait-and-switch focusing attention instead deceptive similarly named report that calls itself the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change NIPCC regurgitates standard shopworn denialist myths erroneous talking points non-peer-reviewed report published discredited industry front group known as the Heartland Institute publication actual IPCC report divert attention from the actual scientific evidence reality IPCC strengthened degree of certainty fossil fuel burning other human activities responsible warming globe past half-century raising confidence very likely previous report extremely likely current one expresses similar levels of certainty Earth experiencing impacts impact impacted warming form of melting ice rising global sea levels various forms of extreme weather evidence overly conservative in its assessment of the science institutions atmospheric wind patterns associated with phenomena El Niño so-called North Atlantic Oscillation global temperatures hockey stick curve /

A grizzly ate my GoPro!!! (video)

Credit: Hal Brindley/Shutterstock/ Device

A previously unrecognized problem of filming wildlife with a fixed camera has recently been discovered: Brad Josephs set up a GoPro to film grizzly bears, & one of them tried to eat it!

http://youtu.be/81DCfygJWwU / Alaska grizzly bear static booby trap camera ambush nature wildlife film movie motion picture video taste mouth teeth chew bite tongue chew eat ate black silver edition 1 2 3 + Brad Josephs GoProcapture bears bear BBC's BBC Great Bear Stakeout more action anticipated young grizzly check out camera up-close up close no damage done bear gnawing away tough protective case /

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

Credit: Ars Technica

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7376/samsung-galaxy-note-3-review

Benchmark cheat mode?

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/galaxy-note-3s-benchmarking-adjustments-inflate-scores-by-up-to-20/ / noticed odd thing while testing Samsung Galaxy Note 3 scores really really well benchmark tests quick comparison scores similarly-specced similarly specced specification LG G2 something fishy going on Samsung's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 blows the doors off LG's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 Snapdragon different sleuthing Samsung artificially boosting US Note 3's benchmark scores special high-power high power CPU mode kicks when device runs large number popular benchmarking apps Samsung international Galaxy S 4's S4 GPU boost US device disable special CPU mode Samsung's benchmark optimizations scores smoking gun CPU idle speeds system monitor app picture shows how differently the CPU treats a benchmarking app different differently normal app normally Note 3 idling three four cores shut off conserve power battery remaining core drops down low power low-power 300MHz mode load up popular CPU benchmarking app Note 3 CPU locks into 2.3GHz mode fastest speed possible cores ever shut off idle idling affect benchmark scores benchmarks measure performance device Geekbench disassembling benchmarking app package name assemble assembling reassembling Android Samsung Galaxy Note 3 OS operating system performance screen size phablet /