Sub $200 Windows laptop — finally (well, soon)

Credit: HP/Engadget

Apparently those promises of a sub $200 laptop are about to come to fruition. HP has announced additions to its Stream range. There will be two new laptops, with 11 & 13 inch screens.

● Centrino processor
● 2 GB RAM
● 32 GB SSD
● 1,366 x 768 pixel display
● optional touch capability on the 13-inch model
● Windows 8
● one year subscription to 1TB of online storage via Microsoft OneDrive
● one year subscription to Office 365

HP's Stream range will also include 7 & 8 inch tablets.

http://www.cnet.com/products/hp-stream-11-6/

http://au.pcmag.com/news/24808/hp-reveals-199-windows-stream-laptop

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/29/hp-stream-laptops-tablets/ / HP Hewlett Packard Stream lineup 14-inch version cheap cloud storage cloud reliant systems Web browser access online services Chromebook added flexibility Windows 8 clamshell laptops HP Stream 11.6 HP Stream 13.3 $199 $229 US £179 £199 UK 1,366x768-pixel displays optional touchscreen 13 inch model low power Intel Celeron processor 32GB SSD flash storage fan fanless design full Windows 8 install SSD applications files colours colors magenta blue budget laptops clamshells 1TB online storage Microsoft OneDrive subscription Office 365 one year Microsoft Store gift card $25 4G antenna 200MB of data per month 4G 250MB 3G UK HP DataPass least expensive Windows 8 laptops specifications specs Chromebook accessing remote cloud based apps services running installed software Windows 8 interface fast responsive optimized optimizing operating system OS CPU extended Web surfing productivity casual PC two slate-style tablets HP Stream 7 Tablet HP Stream 8 Tablet Intel powered tablets /

Gresso case protects the iPhone 6 from bending

Credit: Gresso/The Gadgeteer

If you're still not convinced by the reassurances provided by Consumer Reports on the strength of the iPhone 6 in yesterday's post, you might like to add some reinforcement in the form of a Gresso case. 2 mm of aluminium at top, bottom & sides has got to help.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/09/29/gresso-case-protects-the-iphone-6-from-bending/ / iPhone 6 phone bend bending carrying carry pocket phone fron back pocket sit down Gresso iPhone 6 cas CNC machined aluminumbumper style protection around edges 2mm solid back cover rigid rigidity 300 lbs of force bend phone unique clamshell design hing magnetic closure metal bumper cases already on the market /

Consumer Reports revisits Bendgate

You've seen the video of an iPhone 6 Plus being bent, but what does it mean? How much force was actually applied? What about the same "test" applied to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Is the force the same? Greater? Less?

Consumer Reports steps into the breach with some objective tests of the the forces necessary to bend iPhone 6, 6 Plus, as well as some comparable top-of-the-line smartphones.

Testing concluded that:

● IPhone 6 Plus is more resistant to bending than the iPhone 6
● Both are more bend resistant than the HTC One (M8)
● Both are scored lower than (in order of increasing bend resistance) LG G3, Apple iPhone 5, & Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Perhaps most important is Consumer Reports closing comment: "While nothing is (evidently) indestructible, we expect that any of these phones should stand up to typical use."

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/09/consumer-reports-tests-iphone-6-bendgate/index.htm / bent iPhone 6 creasing iPhone 6 Plus bare hands unscientific lab equipment delicate same tests comparable smart phones tougher test stress test phones three-point flexural test supported at two points either end force applied third point on the top measured force high precision Instron compression test machine tested LG G3 Samsung Galaxy Note 3 HTC One M8 iPhone 5 bendgate controversy Apple invited journalists labs stress tests published reports 25 kilograms 55 pounds force test flex increased force 10 pound increments deform engineers screen come loose case results tough more robust our testing deform 90 pounds of force came apart 110 pounds of force outperformed regarded sturdy solid phone underperformed some other smart phones recovered completely each step up in force screen splintered stopped working serious damage phones continued to work screens illuminated functional to the touch call smartphone smart phone carnage significant force damage indestructible typical use /

10 best remote control drones for 2014

Credit: faveable

Mention the word "drone", & most people think of a quadrocopter or a military drone similar to the one in the image above. Actually drones come in a large range of shapes, sizes, capabilities & prices.

● Single rotor, dual rotors, 4, 6, or 8 rotors, or fixed wing

● With or without GPS, gyroscope, gimballed or not

● Camera capability, sometimes accommodating a GoPro.

● Almost any price you want to pay. Prices in the linked article range from $34 to $60,000. The military style drone at the top of this item (a model of the U.S Air Force Predator drone with 5 foot wingspan) can be yours for just $460.

http://faveable.com/articles/74/best-rc-drones / drones buzz curiosity creative sci-fi fantasies drone fascinating expensive tech toys extremely wildlife photographers zoom up close subject aerial views epic landscapes what's other side mountain wall send your drone up scout trail ahead pilot piloting gadgets learning curve beginner tech-challenged newbie mounted camera fun quadcopter GPS capability do it yourself kit helicopter copter ready to fly flight time light frame stable in wind HT-450 Quad RTF with MultiWii STORM Drone 4 Flying Platform ready to fly 2.4Ghz transmitter controller drone carry GoPro camera minutes of flying landing land dragons dragon jet powered jet-powered engine fly 70 mph breathe breathes fire propane tank jet fuel kerosene Flying Fire Breathing Dragon Hammacher Schlemmer UDI RC U816A UFO Quadcopter 6 axis gyro gyroscope Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter controlled iPod touch iPhone iPad Android devices live stream 720p HD video smartphone tablet record AR.FreeFlight 2.0 piloting app 4 Channel Predator Reaper Style UAV Drone RC Plane brushless motor replica of the U.S Air Force Predator drone wingspan fuselage flight weight charge DJI Phantom FC40 Quadcopter UAV RC Drone Wifi camera aerial photography DJI Phantom Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter GoPro detachable first person camera transmitter 984 foot range connectivity 5.8GHz Wi-Fi transmitter GPS flight control learning to fly Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter acrobatic DJI F550 GPS Drone NAZA V2 RTF hexacopter six propellers much smoother flight bigger payload recording equipment DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal shoot smooth video crystal clear stills built-in camera 5200 mAh battery gps navigation USB port quadracopter quadcopter give you more power /

Apple replies to complaints of bending iPhones

Credit: YouTube/Unbox Therapy/ABC

In response to claims of iPhone 6 Plus bending in normal use, Apple has responded that:

● 10 million iPhone 6s were sold over the first weekend after going on sale

● only 9 users have complained to Apple about bending phones

● strengthening includes:
◌ construction from a custom grade of aluminum
◌ tempered for extra strength
◌ high-stress locations reinforced with stainless steel & titanium inserts

● iPhones are tested extensively before release, including the "sit test", which simulates sitting on a hard surface with the phone in the back pocket of a pair of tight jeans

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-defends-against-complaints-of-bending-iphones-1411668618

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/25/apple-response-bend-iphone6-6p-plus-nine-complaints / Apple responded firmly claims new iPhones bend in use problems went on sale last social media iPhone 6 larger 6 Plus warped bent carried trouser pockets normal use bend extremely rare nine customers contacted Apple bent iPhone 6 Plus Apple spokesman Adam Howorth contact Apple potentially damaging claims aluminium alloy 7.1mm thick thin thinnest available larger phones bending warping designed engineered manufactured sturdy precision engineered unibody enclosure constructed machined machining custom grade 6000 series anodized aluminum tempered extra strength stainless steel titanium inserts reinforce high stress locations strongest glass smartphone industry 6000 series aluminium alloy magnesium silicon harden high-quality materials construction strength durability perform rigorous tests development cycle 3-point bending pressure point cycling sit torsion user studies iPhone 6 Plus high quality standards endure everyday real life use /

Will It Blend? — Glow Sticks

You probably have a good idea of what happens, but worth a look. / blender light stick light-stick lightstick glowstick /

Will it bend? — iPhone 6 Plus

Credit: MacRumors/PD13/Sydney Morning Herald

Claims have been appearing across the 'Net, that iPhone 6 Plus have been bending in users' pockets. These claims appear to be supported by photographs & the videos below. Some users claim their phones bend after a slight bump.

Is this an example of Apple's "premium construction"?

If yours does bend, don't try to bend it back. Can lead to a cracked screen — see the second video below.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/24/iphone-6-plus-bend-pockets-complain

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/bendgate-apple-iphone-6-plus-found-bending-in-pants-pockets-20140924-10l5qm.html



/ bend-gate bend gate iPhone 6 Plus owners aluminium body bending pocket pockets bend LG bendy G FLEX MacRumors a small but growing number iPhone 6 Plus owners smart phone smartphone bent carry carrying device pocket pockets new 6 Plus bump lightly bumping into someone small nominal amount of force applied Geek.com reports kink front pocket bumped into someone light bump durable sturdier new iPhone 6 Plus 5.5inch diagonal aluminium Cult of Mac metal /

Samsung's Power Sharing Cable lets you share power between devices

Credit: Samsung/phonedog

Keeping multiple mobile devices charged can be difficult. Samsung may have the solution with their Power Sharing Cable, which does pretty much what it says: allow charge to be transferred from one device to another. This would be useful if the device you need to use is about to die & no other charging source is available.

If you are thinking of using this, be aware that neither charge, nor discharge is 100% efficient. So there is a significant loss any time charge is transferred between devices.

Perhaps the most likely use is charging a smart watch from your phone.

http://www.phonedog.com/2014/09/23/samsung-power-sharing-cable-lets-you-transfer-power-from-one-device-to-another/ / multiple smart devices charged up ready to go Samsung new accessory Samsung Power Sharing Cable transfer battery power Galaxy micro USB microUSB hardware users download Samsung’s Power Sharing app Google Play Store Samsung Apps control how much juice cable Samsung’s online store option smartwatch external battery pack /

Space elevator could be built by 2035, says new study

Credit: Extreme Tech

Space elevator? Yes — launching payloads into geostationary orbit is very expensive — around $20,000 per kilogramme using current technology. A space elevator could reduce this to $500.

A space elevator would be a cable, tethered at the equator, around 100,000 miles (160,000 km) long, with a counterweight at the end. An elevator car would climb the cable to geostationary orbit at an altitude of 22,236 miles (35,785 km).

What is needed to turn the theory into practice?

● Material for the cable. No existing material is strong enough.

● Energy to drive the elevator car. Energy to drive a conventional elevator is provided by conventional electric wiring to an electric winch which lifts the cable & the elevator car. A space elevator would consist of a stationary cable & an elevator car which would climb the cable. Electric wire or on-board energy supply would be too heavy. Microwave beam(s), possibly from both ends, may provide a solution.

● Design for the elevator car. This has to be a device which can lift its own mass, plus the mass of the payload, up the cable, without damaging the cable.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/176625-60000-miles-up-geostationary-space-elevator-could-be-built-by-2035-says-new-study / geostationary orbit GEO new report International Academy of Astronautics IAA carry seven 20-ton payloads tether geostationary geosynchronous orbit anchor two million kilograms payloads detailed case space elevator detailed accounting challenges pay-off cost-per-kilogram launch geostationary orbit geostationary orbit satellites Earth Earth's gravity well cheap Earth-assisted launch mission to Mars tether using small rockets predictably unstable fall loops around the Earth fuel budget base Moon Mars IAA’s projections launch mass different technologies significant investment private sector governments corporations billions installing infrastructure in space investment cheap access to space elevator /

Are artificial sweeteners making us fat?

Artificial sweeteners seem, on the surface, to be a simple way to reduce calorie intake, & so lose weight. On the other hand, for some time, there have been suggestions that artificial sweeteners may be implicated in weight gain.

Perhaps equally counter-intuitive, is the importance of gut bacteria in maintaining health.

Emerging evidence suggests, that artificial sweeteners may cause weight gain by their influence on gut bacteria:

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21613311-sugar-substitutes-may-mess-gut-bacteriacausing-obesity / diet coke Coca cola Coca-Cola sucrose sugar to achieve sickly sweetness 15.9 grams can total daily intake recommended women National Health Service Diet Coke sweetness aspartame acesulfame-K chemical chemicals sweeter sugar human body energy sweetness calories artificial sweeteners food additives waistline in check chemicals food sweeteners cause cancer associated with obesity paper Nature magazine evidence artificial sweeteners humans digest microbes guts digestive tract intestine bacteria live cells researchers “microbiome” gut bacteria depression arthritis regulation immune system artificial sweeteners affect intestinal bacteria paper lead authors Eran Elinav Eran Segal Weizmann Institute of Science Israel biomedical research rodents aspartame sucralose saccharin commercial sugar substitutes control group plain water glucose sucrose sugars energy glucose obesity diabetes artificial sweeteners glucose level blood sugar murine microbiome researchers mice broad spectrum antibiotics gut bacteria metabolic changes transplanted faeces artificial sweeteners sterile conditions glucose intolerance gene sequencing make people fat /

Android 5.0 L will automatically encrypt data

Some users store relatively little data on their phones: a few phone numbers & some old SMS conversations.

Others have much more. A politician once told me about his phone: "This is my office." A business woman: "I run my business on this thing."

Most people are somewhere in between, although there are a lot of people who believe they are in the first group, whose phones tell more about them than they realise. Some of this data actually belongs to others: "A few phone numbers," often includes a lot more, including physical address & birthdate. Such information is held in trust by the phone owner & shouldn't be passed on to others, even accidentally, as when a phone is lost or stolen.

Many (most?) phones contain data which exceeds the value of the phone itself. One way of protecting this data is to encrypt it. Android has had the capability to encrypt data, both on the device & an SD card, for some time. With Android L, encryption will become the default.

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/android-5-0-l-will-automatically-encrypt-data-19-09-2014/

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/566963/20140921/samsung-galaxy-note-4-s5-android-5.htm#.VB9d-dB_W2c

As indicated above, encryption has been an option on Android for some time. Not many have used this option. Reasons include:

● a PIN or password will be required every time the phone is woken from the locked state

● performance hit

● takes an hour or more to encrypt, depending on how much data is on the phone

● one way process — try it out, & don't like it, reversion will require a factory reset

More detail, including how to encrypt your existing Android phone at:

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/encrypt-your-android-smartphone-for-paranoid-level-security/ / Google automatic encryption data mechanism upcoming Android 5.0 L platform matching Apple's iOS 8 Samsung's latest flagship Note 4 S 5 Google's Android L update mobile OS operating system platform I/O conference revamped UI user interface 64 bit 64-bit support prying private personal data option optional 2011 access files data device password encryption keys not stored off of the device cannot be shared with law enforcement Niki Christoff spokeswoman next Android release enabled by default Google's attempt increase product resistance to government spying Samsung release Android updates early Samsung Galaxy S5 Galaxy Note 4 new Android firmware November December Sam Mobile Sony HTC Motorla LG release update plans /

Big screen iPhones — is it what Apple users needed?

Credit: CNET

CNET takes a look at the big screen iPhones. What do they think? A bit more to the point, what do they think of previous iPhones?

"I turned the 5S over in my hands. It looks small now, I realized. Really small."

A few years ago, I swapped an iPhone 4 for a Samsung Galaxy S4 largely for that reason. No pun intended.

http://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-6/

http://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-5s-vs-iphone-6-screen-size-matters/ / bigger crisp display improved LTE Wi-Fi WiFi speed better camera autofocus storage capacity 128GB NFC Apple Pay mobile wallet iPhone 6 battery model Android phones larger 5 inch screen same size frame optical image stabilization bigger more expensive 6 Plus bigger screen easy to handle features horizon better bigger big displays features Android display expansive small screen one-handed one handed operation iPhone 5S view viewing room 4 inch screen larger iPhones big bigger 4.7 inch screen phablet 5.5-inch display faster A8 processors improved cameras Wi-Fi LTE voice quality more onboard storage Apple Pay NFC-powered payment system credit card thin elegant performs lacks extra battery life optical image stabilization more expensive premium phones pixel display split screen split-screen effects iPad significantly bigger weighs more longer battery life top of the line potential buyers upgrade Android owners additional customization features of iOS 8, advantages removable SD card storage removable batteries /

iFixit does the new iPhones, finds they're no more difficult to repair than previous versions

Apple doesn't publicise the RAM & battery size of its phones, but iFixit reveals that the iPhone 6 has an 1810 mAh battery. 6 Plus has 2915 mAh. Both have 1GB of RAM.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/09/ifixit-tears-new-iphones-apart-finds-theyre-pretty-easy-to-fix/

iPhone 6
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone+6+Teardown/29213

iPhone 6 Plus
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone+6+Plus+Teardown/29206 / disassembly teardown take apart new iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus detailed information device difficult repair iPhone 5 5S dismantling iPhone 6 remove Pentalobe screws Lightning port screen suction cup TouchID button 5S cable routed display phone repair repairers integrate cable display assembly larger Qualcomm MDM9625M LTE modem WTR1625L transceiver faster 150Mbps LTE different LTE bands WFR1620 chip carrier aggregation Apple A8 SoC 1GB of RAM NFC Wi-Fi M8 motion coprocessor power management touch controller chips iPad iPod Touche screws retention clips display body glue heating pad iFixit publish repair instructions aftermarket iPhone repair business /

Horizon records your videos horizontally

Credit: Boy Genius Report

Videos made with your phone look like the tide is going out? Or made on the side of a hill?

Horizon uses your Android phone's sensor to hold your videos level, if you can't get it level before your start filming or start to tilt after filming begins. It really does work as shown in the image above.

May be an aid to those people who can't manage to turn their phones to landscape when making a video.

Free to try, but in-app purchase is required to remove a watermark & free up all features.

http://bgr.com/2014/09/17/best-android-camera-apps/ / watching unbalanced videos shot Android phone install Horizon brilliant new Android app keep your camera steady horizontal angle holding your phone upright in portrait mode videos nice wide horizontal landscape Horizon different video resolutions resolution device VGA HD Full HD video apps launch Horizon film videos device’s stock camera software shoot perfectly horizontal videos Nexus 4 Nexus 5 Sony Xperia Z1 Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Note 3 S4 HTC One HTC one mini Motorola Razr HD work more recent devices specifications spec free to download optional in-app purchases Google Play store /

MIT robotic cheetah

Previous attempts at mechanical quadrupeds have used an internal combustion engine driving a pump & hydraulic system. This is both noisy & inefficient. MIT's effort is all-electric & can hit 10 mph (16 kph) untethered, with a theoretical limit of 30 mph.



http://bgr.com/2014/09/16/mit-robot-cheetah-running/

http://gizmodo.com/mits-robot-cheetah-now-runs-free-without-cables-or-a-le-1634804576

http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/mit-cheetah-robot-running / cheetah robot developed MIT Biomimetic Robotics Lab project announced robot walking IEEE International Conference Robotics and Automation ICRA MIT team robot 22 km/h kph 13.7 mph robot energy efficiency real running animals speed second fastest legged robot Boston Dynamics Cheetah The MIT Cheetah Planar Biped MIT Leg Lab MIT Cheetah Boston Dynamics Cheetah sagittal plane roll yaw movement robots running free hydraulics tethered external power source MIT's Cheetah energy efficient efficiency run on-board batteries four 22.2-V lithium polymer batteries transition between trot to a gallop cheetah robot developed MIT's Biomimetic Robotics Lab laboratory lab robot walking on YouTube IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA MIT team cheetah-inspired robot running energy efficiency MIT Cheetah Boston Dynamics Cheetah sagittal plane roll yaw movement incorporated biomimetic principles Kevlar tendon bones light polyurethane foam core covered high stiffness resin /

Your gadgets will never be secure — chase the hackers instead

Credit: Business Insider

It is fundamental to security that nothing is secure against a sufficiently determined & resourced attack. This applies to computer systems as well as physical security of premises & objects.

Mobile devices have their own peculiar own set of security risks. Smartphone manufacturers are under pressure to match the opposition. This means a shiny new phone with shiny new features, annually. There is not a substantial piece of software in existence without bugs. Some of these bugs are security related. Each new revision brings the risk of new bugs. Occasionally, even a bug-fix release will introduce a new bug.

Public WiFi networks represent a security risk peculiar to mobile devices.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/your-gadgets-will-never-be-secure-chase-the-hackers-instead.html

http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/05/hacker-sabu-freed-from-prison/371649/

http://www.primagames.com/games/watch_dogs/tips/watch-dogs-multiplayer-how-catch-hacker / cyber-security all wrong Israel's intelligence unit patch each hole security experts focus finding puppet masters malware Nadav Zafrir military 8200 unit veterans Israel startup industry cyber defenders tools networks find traces hackers clues International Cybersecurity Conference Tel Aviv University Target hack exposed 40 million credit debit cards Home Depot damage defense pinpointing scripts malware people and the process behind the malware tenacity capacity resources malware have hack hacker hackign hacked game theory Keith Alexander U.S. National Security Agency company country solve hacker problem cyber security virus trojan worm script /

Formula E, Beijing (video)

That's the entire race, above.

For that incident, start watching at the 1:02:30 mark.

Pre race, & background of the event. / video complete race whole race entire race Formula E all electric racing series inaugural Beijing ePrix 2.14-mile street circuit Bird’s Nest stadium races F1 FIA electricity sport electric vehicles EV terrific acceleration pass passing possible tracks with tight corners technology range race organizers identical cars Spark-Renault SRT_01E built French company Spark Racing Technology carbon fiber aluminum chassis Dallara electric powertrain electronics McLaren Electronics Systems Williams Advanced Engineering building 200 kiloWatt battery pack batteries powertrain generate 270 horsepower five-speed paddle shift gearbox fixed gear ratios Michelin 18 inch tires wet dry conditions sound 80 decibel whine full grid 20 cars FIA Formula E strategy street courses dedicated circuits tire wear grip management battery life charge prematurely testing drivers learn knowledge teams construction constructors constructing FanBoost pit stop second fully charged car advances in battery technology battery swaps charging battery Renault Michelin DHL Qualcomm Richard Branson Virgin Racing team Leonardo DiCaprio Venturi team /

Dumpster Project

Why would a university professor decide to live in a dumpster?

Professor Jeff Wilson has a few reasons, but it runs something like: downsizing after a divorce started him thinking about how much do we actually need in a dwelling, the impact of the way we chose to live & the impact of our choices on the planet, the environment & climate.


Über Dumpster — early concept sketch
Credit: Dumpster Project

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/09/the-simple-life-in-a-dumpster/379947/

http://dumpsterproject.org/the-dumpster/ / make yourself comfortable fully furnished 33 square foot house dumpster project large cargo container tiny house perfect symbol present themes waste consumption imagination turning goal the new one percent 1 % Professor Dumpster spending one year in a dumpster six 6 feet x 6 feet size average new American home Professor Dumpster use 1% water energy create waste average American home innovative systems develop development developed water filtration climate control waste reduction creative collaboration greater international design and education community need to live comfortably intense central Texas climate average summer temperature high 90s ninety degrees dumpster evolution dumpster camping average American dumpster home uber über dumpster phase camping tent trash can technologies old school methods meeting basic needs water will Austin town lake Huston-Tillotson campus phase two plugged into electrical water grid electricity appliances washing machine dryer hot water heater baseline water power comfortable home utility closet 1% energy use water use 10 cubic yards experiment dialogue concept living with less green campus initiative Huston-Tillotson University Austin Texas mobile house educational tours final analysis dumpster project grand experiment /

First Formula E race today, Saturday 13 September 2014 – update

Update: video of the entire event.

Formula One has gone hybrid, so, time for a pure electric open-wheel formula. Enter Formula E.

Times (Beijing local):
Practice 1 — 08:15
Practice 2 — 10:30
Qualifying — 12:00
Race — 16:00

Race time in other time zones:
18:00 Australian EST
10:00 Berlin
09:00 London
04:00 US Eastern
01:00 US Pacific

In this first year, it will be a one-make formula, with all teams running Spark-Renault SRT_01E cars. Spark Racing Technology will build the cars, with components supplied by a who's who of F1:

● chassis — Dallara
● powertrain & electronics — McLaren Electronics Systems
● battery pack — Williams Advanced Engineering
● tyres — Michellin — 18 inch, with a single formulation for both wet & dry conditions

Figures for the size of the battery pack are hard to find, but 28 kWh (kilo Watt hours) has been suggested. Whatever the size, after 25-30 minutes, the battery pack will be exhausted. Drivers will swap to a second car for the remainder of the race. Battery swapping was dismissed on safety grounds, & recharging was considered to be too slow.

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en.aspx

http://www.wired.com/2014/09/formula-e-electric-racing/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_Formula_E_Championship

Android apps

FIA Formula-e
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=biz.app4mobile.app_6b298a09239143eb9b292d9ea5e0b342.app

FIA Formula E Championship
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.qtproject.FE360

iPhone app

FIA Formula-e
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fia-formula-e/id870131263?mt=8 / Formula E all electric racing series inaugural Beijing ePrix 2.14-mile street circuit Bird’s Nest stadium races F1 FIA electricity sport electric vehicles EV terrific acceleration pass passing possible tracks with tight corners technology range race organizers identical cars Spark-Renault SRT_01E built French company Spark Racing Technology carbon fiber aluminum chassis Dallara electric powertrain electronics McLaren Electronics Systems Williams Advanced Engineering building 200 kiloWatt battery pack batteries powertrain generate 270 horsepower five-speed paddle shift gearbox fixed gear ratios Michelin 18 inch tires wet dry conditions sound 80 decibel whine full grid 20 cars FIA Formula E strategy street courses dedicated circuits tire wear grip management battery life charge prematurely testing drivers learn knowledge teams construction constructors constructing FanBoost pit stop second fully charged car advances in battery technology battery swaps charging battery Renault Michelin DHL Qualcomm Richard Branson Virgin Racing team Leonardo DiCaprio Venturi team /

Towelroot app makes it easy to root Galaxy S5 & other locked Androids

Credit: geohot/LifeHacker

To root or not to root, that is the question ...

Several years ago, I had the first Android phone released, the HTC G1, which I rooted within days of purchase. At that time, it seemed the best course, as the stock G1 had a number of unnecessary restrictions, including no pinch to zoom & no WiFi hotspot.

Now I have a Samsung Galaxy S4, unrooted. Why no root? For me, the benefits are no longer there. Among other things, pinch to zoom & WiFi hotspot are both standard.

Some of the restrictions in stock devices are security measures. However, this can be fall down if a vendor is slow in releasing a security update.

Towelroot is a special case with respect to security, because it makes use of a vulnerability in many Android devices. The same vulnerability may be exploited by a piece of malware. Paradoxically, the best way to protect yourself against this exploit right now, is to exploit it yourself by rooting using Towelroot.

Executive summary:

http://lifehacker.com/towelroot-roots-android-kitkat-devices-in-one-tap-no-p-1592226618

Excellent coverage of the issues:

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2014/06/26/towelroot-app-makes-android-rooting-easy/

Official XDA thread:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2783157

Geohot's Towelroot site:

https://towelroot.com/

How does Samsung feel about it?

https://www.samsungknox.com/en/blog/samsung%E2%80%99s-official-response-%E2%80%9Ctowelroot%E2%80%9D / Samsung Galaxy phones S5 Towelroot iOS Apple ecosystem strictures iOS jailbreak jailbreaking Apple imposed prison sentence Android Androids vendor imposed system lockdown root rooting granting root access superuser administrator privileges approved unapproved open source operating system OS open ecosystem devices Google Nexus 7 devices popular researchers testers developers security reasons root access by default physical access phone unlock bootloader replace vendor supplied operating system Android Debug Bridge ADB via USB install software grant root access risks of rooting risk unlocked device install firmware bug bugs buggy recovery recovered recover bricking brick device mobile complete and utter vendor firmware reset factory reset Nexus 7 device vendor open source Android core layer of proprietary software limits access device good security reasons well implemented anti-root lockdown anti root infect virus malware software reading your contact list listening in on phone calls using the webcam intercepting SMS text posting to social media sites dialling dialing premium rate phone numbers malware extensive digital harm reputation bank balance why root because it's there non-security-related lockdowns restrictions on network access imposed by the vendor Wi-Fi access point WiFi hot spot hotspot access backup back-up back up otherwise inaccessible files APKs application packages software bought paid for installed remove unwanted apps bloatware) vendor own commercial reasons apply security updates vendor tardy providing security lockdowns often pitched vendor-imposed controls less secure prevent apply applying security fixes fix numerous benefits of rooting system administrators workplace policy company owned devices should not be rooted BYOD bring your own device prevent users connecting rooted devices business network rooted device well informed user safer faster more useful vulnerable hackers malware data security risks Towelroot no-reboot-required exploit Sophos Anti-Virus detects Andr/TowRoot-A Elevation of Privilege EoP exploit physical access to the device reboot Towelroot covert convenient quick security hole used covertly EoP purposes attacker GeoHot George Hotz author Towelroot vulnerability exists in Android kernels dated before 03 June 2014 Android 4.4.2 or earlier vendor Android update protect yourself exploits /

What is humanity's real problem — climate change or peak oil?

Answer: neither — they just aspects of a bigger problem that includes our still-expanding population.

World population passed 7 billion late in 2011 or early in 2012¹. Around one third of those 7 billion live in varying degrees of wealth, with more than enough food. Indeed, the dietary habits of the wealthy third are characterised by growing incidence of obesity & overweight. This is the same third that is largely responsible for climate change, & will be most affected by peak oil.

Of the remaining two thirds, many have a reasonable standard of living & enough to eat. Some though, live in poverty with malnutrition & famine a constant threat. You've seen the photos.

World population is expected to pass 9 billion around 2050¹. I.e. two billion more than we can't feed now.

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-09-02/why-peak-oil-refuses-to-die
_______________
¹ World population
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population / fears imminent peak decline world oil production environmental problem oil supplies planet Earth petroleum resources peak-oil debunk extracting extract extraction resources affordable oil industry costs of production very high oil prices resources tight oil Arctic oil ultra-deepwater oil bitumen deep water US economy recession $20 per barrel oil $100 per barrel oil industrialized countries response oil producers liquid hydrocarbons industry apologists environmentalists global warming climate change carbon dioxide monoxide CO2 greenhouse effect fossil fuel energy transition substitution efficiency low-carbon energy sources solar wind nuclear use energy smarter electrify transport battery powered cars electric vehicle EV battery LiIon lithium ion anthropogenic climate change environmental issue humanity humanity transition to renewable energy politics regulation climate campaigners electricity sector variability wind solar power energy storage capacity redundancy grid upgrades /

Yes, Apple is entering the phablet market

Left to right: Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, LG G3
Credit: GSMArena

Apple's big event yesterday announced the expected iPhone 6 in 4.7 inch & 5.5 inch variants, plus the smart watch that was less certain, & the payment system that was a late starter in the rumour stakes:

● iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen
● iPhone 6 Plus with 5.5 inch screen
● 16GB, 64GB & 128GB internal storage options
● prices in Australia, for outright purchase, range from $869 for a 16GB iPhone 6, to a startling $1249 for a 128GB iPhone 6 Plus
● Apple Watch — three versions — Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport & Apple Watch Edition — each available in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm in height, plus 6 different interchangeable band styles — although none of them to be called the iWatch
● Apple Pay — Apple's solution to security problems with credit cards

http://www.macworld.com.au/news/apple-september-event-wrap-iphone-6-iphone-6-plus-apple-watch-applepay-130342/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_content=News%20-%20Apple%20event%20wrap&utm_campaign=News%20-%20Apple%20event%20wrap&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=News%20-%20Apple%20event%20wrap&utm_campaign=News%20-%20Apple%20event%20wrap&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apple+Event+-+109&utm_content=Apple+Event+-+109+CID_80d05d9074870edf461d3c9992950628&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Find%20out%20all%20you%20need%20to%20know%20in%20our%20full%20event%20wrap%20here#.VA-JzdB_W2d

With Apple entering the phablet market, GSMArena compares the specs:

http://blog.gsmarena.com/xl-size-apple-iphone-6-plus-vs-samsung-galaxy-note-4-vs-lg-g3/ / Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller thinner iPhone Retina HD display curved bezel A8 chip stainless steel Apple logo iPhone 6 model 1334 x 750 4.7 inch display pixel density 326 pixels per inch ppi iPhone 6 Plus 1920 x 1080 5.5 inch displaypixel density of 401 ppi deeper blacks wider broader viewing angles slimmer backlight thinner previous generation iPhones 6.9 mm depth iPhone 6 Plus 7.1mm Messages app faces contacts power button new gesture Reachability double tap Touch ID button next generation 64-bit A8 chip GPU CPU power efficiency motion co-processor M8 chip cycling walking running estimate distance travelled steps flights of stairs climbed new technology called VoLTE camera 8MP iSight photography True Tone flash 1.5 micron pixels f/2.2 aperture phase detection autofocus sensor fast autofocus 1080p 30 60 fps slow motion videos 240 fps frames per second front-facing FaceTime HD camera improved face detection new sensor LTE /

Apple iPhone 6 announcement just hours away

Apple's big announcement later today (10 a.m., 09 September US PDT) is universally expected to include the iPhone 6. Both 4.7-inch & 5.5-inch models are expected.

On a personal note: the suggested relocation of the sleep/wake button from the top to the side will represent the loss of the only feature I miss from my iPhone 4.

All the hype:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/will-the-apple-iphone-6-be-a-crowdpleaser-or-a-flop-20140909-10ef4e.html

And a slightly different view:

http://theconversation.com/all-kneel-at-the-temple-of-apples-latest-technology-31364?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+9+September+2014+-+1905&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+9+September+2014+-+1905+CID_0f8224f68c78a5f4abcc34b3e46d8583&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=All%20kneel%20at%20the%20temple%20of%20Apples%20latest%20technology / hype Apple's product launch Wednesday Australian time new survey pricey iPhone 6 consumers Cupertino California smartwatch smart watch iWatch payment app feature iWallet health app eBay rumor rumour rumoured specs most expensive mass-produced smartphone market mobile wallet Visa MasterCard other credit companies connected wearable device iWatch Health app HealthKit developer tools track fitness exercise routine Samsung GearFit Fitbit sync smartphone wearable devices services launch near-field communication NFC payments tap-and-go payment cards Australian consumers contactless payments PayPass Paywave large screen iPhone L phablet iPhone 6L 6 Plus Samsung Galaxy Note larger screen functionality portability ease of use user experience software update iOS 8 Apple CEO chief executive Tim Cook predictive text respond to notifications unlock device new messaging features family user accounts connectivity smart devices hardware upgrades camera processor speakers wake/sleep button right-hand edge near the top top edge USB cable with a reversible plug longer battery life higher screen resolution more flash storage 128 GB /

Carbon fiber wheels cut weight & boost efficiency (video)

Carbon fibre wheels are stronger & lighter to reduce:

● Wheel flex for improved handling & control — see the video above.

● Unsprung weight for improved handling, traction, & ride.

● Gyroscopic torque — see the video above, around the 6:20 mark.

● Rotating mass — a moving object has kinetic energy. In a vehicle, this energy is provided by the motor. Less energy requirement means more distance for the same cost. A lighter vehicle accelerates faster, & is more efficient, because it requires less energy from the motor to increase its speed, & so its kinetic energy. Unlike many other parts of a moving car, the wheels also have rotational energy. Once again, this energy comes from the engine. Weight saved in any part of a car improves its performance & efficiency. Weight saved in a lighter wheel improves performance & efficiency as for any other part of a vehicle, plus reduced rotational energy.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1094265_carbon-fiber-wheels-proposed-to-cut-weight-boost-efficiency / probably don't think about your car's wheels heavy rotated tires change spare heaviness fuel efficiency energy low density light carbon fiber wheels improving efficiency improving performance lightweight weight wheels curb weight more efficient vehicle sprung mass unsprung suspension energy lower lifetime emissions less inertia hitting a bump rotational mass spinning mass Carbon Revolution Brett Gass start stop wheel light fuel electricity used increasing mileage range carbon fiber light very stiff strong racing cars prevent flex cornering expensive set of wheels cost cheap aluminum wheels economy efficiency carbon fiber wheels /

Archer fish shoots its prey (video)

Check out this amazing video of the archer fish shooting insects. Amongst the difficulties the archer fish has to overcome are: refraction at the air/water interface, which distorts the position of the insect; & the the necessary trajectory of the water stream through the air.

/ insect glow beetle fire fly firefly refraction trajectory water air aquatic river light /

And the winner is — Nevada!

Credit: Tesla/Inhabitat

Tesla has been in negotiations for several months about the site of what will be the world's largest lithium ion battery factory. Candidates included Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, & Texas. Cost will be $5 billion, $500 million of which will be provided as incentives from the chosen state.

http://www.teslamotors.com/about/press/releases/nevada-selected-official-site-tesla-battery-gigafactory

Tesla is establishing what has become known as the Gigafactory to push the price of electric vehicles (EVs) down. Price cutting is an aim of all business entities. In this particular case, it has a special purpose for Tesla's Model 3 (formerly Model E). Major design parameters are 200 mile range & $35,000 price point. To meet the Model 3 price point, EV battery price must fall by 30% [1]. Tesla's recipe for this price reduction is the Gigafactory.

Nevada won after a lengthy battle, including claims that California offered to waive certain environmental provisions [2].

To Tesla's credit, a spokesman replied, “It would be completely counter to the mission of the company to go against environmental legislation.” [3]
_______________
[1] Model E price point requires 30% reduction in EV battery cost:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/7048/20140515/elon-musk-200-gigafactories-must-be-built-to-lower-lithium-battery-prices.htm

[2] California rumoured to offer to waive environmental rules:
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81059930/

[3] Tesla doesn't want environmental rules waived:
http://www.siliconbeat.com/2014/08/14/tesla-we-have-to-respect-the-integrity-of-ceqa/ / Tesla Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion battery pack charge recharge range press conference electric car Tesla Motors gigafactory Nevada state governor Brian Sandoval Carson City Project Tiger site USA Parkway Business Park Reno Tesla gigafactory San Jose Mercury News spokeswoman Liz Jarvis-Shean site preparation work Reno Tahoe Industrial Center huge plant Tesla CEO Elon Musk stay on schedule start production lithium-ion cells battery packs /

New "Dreadnought" dinosaur is the most complete specimen of a giant

Credit: Jennifer Hall/Scientific American

Dreadnought represents the most complete giant dinosaur discovered to date. "Giant"? At seven times the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the term seems justified.

Most things that die are soon destroyed. Fossilisation, therefore, is a rare event. Meat is eaten by scavengers, often with bones broken up &/or moved considerable distances. Anything that's left will usually be broken down by agents of decay, such as bacteria & fungi.

Fossilization depends on some relatively rare event, usually involving rapid burial. Something small, say the size of a mouse, can be buried relatively easily. Burial of an entire animal seven times the size of a T. Rex is much less likely. Thus, fossils of large animals are usually more or less incomplete.

How did Dreadnought live? Given its size, it probably had nothing to fear from anything, even a predator like T. REx. Hence the name — dread nought — fear nothing. In feeding, that long flexible neck would have given it access to an enormous volume of plant matter. Modern day giraffes use a similar strategy on a much smaller scale.

Between imperviousness to attack & that enormous neck, Dreadnought probably spent its days planted in one spot, munching its way through all the food it could reach. After exhausting everything in reach, it would have moved a few metres & repeated.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-dreadnought-dinosaur-most-complete-specimen-of-a-giant/

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29050114 / calculated size specimens new supermassive dinosaur species paleontologist Ken Lacovara dino sauropod Dreadnoughtus schrani 25 meter long Dreadnoughtus genus name dread naught herbivores 65 tons seven times massive Tyrannosaurus rex Dreadnoughtus schrani Scientific Reports largest animals most complete fossil supermassive dinosaur insights late Jurassic giants moved grew Kristi Curry Rogers paleontologist Macalester College Minnesota sauropods Dreadnoughtuses sauropods long-necked herbivorous group dinosaurs includes apatosaurs giant dinosaur supermassive sauropods generally poorly preserved completely covered with sediment after death sediment-filled flood corpses mostly inaccessible scavengers|otherwise scatter their evolutionary relationships compare their femurs paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara Dreadnoughtus femur /

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 announced

Credit: Samsung/BusinessWeek

A few features worth noting:

● Metal/premium construction/premium product/quality feel/etc — Samsung has a record of using less glass & metal than some other manufacturers in its phones. Reviewers have been banging on about this for years. With the Note 4, Samsung has incorporated some metal into the case. One of the reasons I abandoned the iPhone 4 was its fragile glass/metal construction. Have you ever dropped a phone? Is there anyone who hasn't? If I'm carrying hundreds of dollars worth of hardware, that I depend on for a large & growing list of functions, I'd prefer something with the resilience of a basketball. That's not going to happen, but a minimum of glass, & replacing metal with shock-absorbing plastic is a good start. Better is to put it in a case/cover as well, which, fortunately, can make glass/metal/plastic construction moot, if you manage to chose the right one.

● Ultra low power mode lets it run all night on standby mode with only 5% battery.

● Fast charge to 50% — between this, ultra low power mode & the very slightly larger 3220 mAh battery, this thing should never let you down.

● Increased resolution — screen size is unchanged at 5.7 inches, but resolution has been increased from 1920 x 1080 to 2560 x 1440. Attention all mobile phone manufacturers: it is some time since anyone has been able to see the individual pixels in the display of top-of-the-line mobile devices. Enough already! The only practical consequence of further increasing resolution is the negative effect on battery life.

● Front facing camera resolution has been increased from 2 megapixels to 3.7 MP. Focal length has been shortened, increasing the viewing angle to 120 degrees. Although this will let you fit more people into a selfie, increased fish-eye effect won't make them look any better.

● Rear camera — resolution increased from 13 to 16 megapixels & optical image stabilisation added, adds up to better images.

Reviews:

http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/hands-on-review-samsung-galaxy-note-4-and-note-edge-20140904-10c6yn.html

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/mobile-phone/3512336/samsung-galaxy-new-note-4-release-date-price-specs-uk-photos-video-teaser-today/

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/09/samsung-galaxy-note-4-better-in-all-the-right-places/

http://bgr.com/2014/09/03/galaxy-note-4-review-pt-1-hands-on/ / long distance wireless charging Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Snapdragon 800 3 GB RAM Samsung phablet Galaxy Note 4 faux fake leather like effect rear metal frame 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen quad HD QHD resolution 2,560 x 1,440 extra grunt 2.3GHz Qualcomm 805 cpu processor Snapdragon 800 phablets stylus phones mobile phone cell smart phone smartphone metal-frame metal frame Samsung Galaxy Alpha Korean S5 big screen phones brushed aluminium fingerprint sensor Super AMOLED 13 MP 16 MP OIS optical image stabilisation quad core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset2.5GHz Adreno 420 GPU 4GB of RAM 3GB RAM 64-bit processor Android octa-core Exynos 5433 four low-powered cores 1.3GHz four higher powered cores 2.3GHz Mali-T760 GPU 16 32 64 GB microSD storage 128GB stylus tablet phablet Ultra Power Saving Mode TouchWiz UI charger wireless charging charging plate charge QHD display quad octa core processor aluminium frame QHD screen /

If anyone can get delivery drones legalised, it's Google

Delivery drones have been around, as a concept, for some time. But so far, regulations have been in the way. Now, Google has thrown its hat in the ring.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/09/if-anyone-can-get-delivery-drones-legalised-its-google/ / commercial drone industry powerful loaded Google secret drone delivery program Project Wing tech titan now commercial UAV unmanned aerial vehicle drone Remotely Piloted Aircraft RPA delivery drones law commercial drones banned by the Federal Aviation Administration case-by-case approved approval Amazon federal approval publicity stunt airborne delivery robots FAA requested permission hired lobbyist firm influence policymakers war chest influence policy fleet of autonomous vehicles self-driving cars self-flying vehicles U.S. airspace Indiegogo campaign promote innovation /

Google’s self-driving cars: not yet ready for prime time

Credit: Google/gizmag.com

Despite all the progress that Google has made with its self-driving-car, there are still many things that they can't do.

Google's system depends on detailed, up-to-date road maps (much more detailed than anything in Google Maps), so it is likely to be confused by changes to roads & traffic lights added since the last update. To date, only a small part of the the United States have been mapped to this degree of detail. Additionally, it has been questioned if mapping all of the US to the required level of detail & keeping the database up-to-date is even possible. Other things it can't deal with are construction zones & uncovered manholes.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/530276/hidden-obstacles-for-googles-self-driving-cars/ / self-driving car know knew parking snow heavy rain drive straight over gaping pothole Google Self-Driving Car robotic vehicle thoroughly tested Chris Urmson director Google car team Google’s cars safely driven more than 700,000 miles public technology issues solved Steven Shladover researcher University of California Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies outstanding challenges legally drive intricate preparations made beforehand exact route driveways extensively mapped data multiple passes special sensor vehicle pored over meter by meter computers humans vastly more effort Google Maps mapping omissions new stop light appeared overnight obey it slow down stop on-board sensors detected traffic obstacles Google’s cars detect respond stop signs temporary signs construction sites complex situation unmapped four-way stop fall back slow extra cautious driving avoid making a mistake identify almost all unmapped stop signs remain safe miss a sign traffic pedestrians and other obstacles Alberto Broggi professor studying autonomous driving Italy’s Università di Parma map-dependent system route changes Michael Wagner Carnegie Mellon robotics researcher transition autonomous driving very early-stage technology maintaining maintain constantly updating map national nation nation’s millions miles roads driveways steering wheel required states allow testing David Fierro, spokesman DMV Nevada Google run runs test car’s sensors /

Swatch to release its own smartwatch

Credit: swatch.com

Smartwatches — will they achieve popularity, or will they remain a technical curiosity & geek toy?

After letting the horse bolt on the digital watch, the Swiss, or at least Swatch (Swiss watch), are making sure this horse doesn't get away.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/gadget/3542397/swatch-release-its-own-line-of-smartwatches/ / Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT display user interface phone smartphone smart phone Bluetooth /