Why unlocking mobile phones is both a consumer rights & a green issue (video)

http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/why-unlocking-cell-phones-green-issue.html

http://www.wired.com/2014/03/cellphone-unlocking-bill-passed-good-thing/

My solution to all of these issues, no matter where you live: buy an unlocked phone outright. / lock unlock mobile cell smartphone freedom sale resale provider contract abuse cell phone unlocking flew under the radar consumers phones carrier Librarian of Congress banned practice software tweak disables device’s SIM lock contract is over owners of unlocked devices switch carrier AT&T Verizon unlocking a cell phone violation of copyright under the 1998 Digital Millenium Copyright Act law prevent piracy exempted Librarian of Congress illegal ban January 26 Internet protest digital rights activists personal property proponents mobilized forces petition We the People White House official petitioning forum support demand legalize cell phone unlocking White House response administration cell phones tablets smartphone smart phone common sense protect protecting consumer choice competitive wireless market delivers innovative products solid service meet consumer needs R. David Edelson White House senior advisor Internet consumer and digital rights unlocking also a green issue decommissioned every single day United States junk drawer rotting in landfills one billion cell phones sitting idle drawers closets losing value put back into service swapping old phones same carrier artificial limitation sharing economy re-legalizing unlocking more devices in service out of the national waste stream environment wireless technology iPhones iPads Samsung has produced 800 million mobile phones environmental consequences electronics manufacturing isn’t a clean industry conflict minerals e-waste electronics recycle recycling recycled landfills environmental damage electronics manufacturing gadgets reusable lock locked devices recycle recycling recycled free market economics /

We are headed towards a 4 to 5 Celcius degree increase in average world temperature by the end of the century

Credit: xkcd

http://xkcd.com/1379/ / CO2 carbon dioxide global warming climate change catastrophic greenhouse green house gas methane ice age fossil fuels coal petroleum petrol gas diesel hydrocarbon solar /

Urban bus tops up charge in 15 seconds

Credit: ABB/Treehugger

My take: probably using capacitors for electricity storage. Note that charges at stops along the route may take longer than 15 seconds & do not seem to completely charge the bus. Treehugger refers to charges at stops in, "as little as 15 seconds", while ABB mentions, "At the end of the bus line a 3 to 4 minute boost enables the full recharge of the batteries."

http://www.abb.us/cawp/seitp202/f32c9ded54dc0b20c1257b7a0054972b.aspx

http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/worlds-first-high-capacity-flash-charging-electric-bus-system-tops-charge-15-seconds.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Thanks to Miemie for the initial lead to this item. / ABB technology power flash charging electric bus 15 seconds overhead lines ultrafast charging times selected bus stops next generation silent zero-emissions urban mass transportation transport power automation technology high capacity flash charging electric bus system public transport company SIG TOSA electric bus system pilot project boost charging technology deployed large capacity electric bus passengers selected stops 15 second energy boost passengers Geneva airport international exhibition center Palexpo urban mass transport overhead power lines Claes Rytoft ABB Chief Technology Officer project public transport infrastructure reduce reducing pollution noise TOSA Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation system systeme zero carbon emission solution power electricity clean hydro power charging time bus schedule urban environment greater route flexibility laser controlled moving arm overhead receptacle charging at bus shelters trolley poles overhead lines high frequency bus routes peak times onboard batteries 400 kilowatt boost selected stops end of the bus line 3 to 4 minute boost full recharge of the batteries compact batteries vehicle braking energy regen regenerative braking charge recharge range electric vehicle charging power automation technologies lowering environmental impact technical terms super capacitor supercapacitor /

Why Tesla gave up on patents

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/06/why-tesla-gave-up-on-patents/372703/#comments / Elon Musk blog post Tesla website company renounce enforcing patents patent technology company's trademark electric cars electric vehicle EV LiIon lithium ion Tesla's patents made public new company policy conference call shareholders press wall of Tesla patents lobby of our Palo Alto headquarters statement spirit of the open source movement advancement of electric vehicle technology Tesla materialistic drive developing patents cars Zip2 patents societal benefit patents abuse of the patent system individual inventor created technology benefitting society inventors greater good inventions profit John Walker invented the humble match inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee creator of the World Wide Web Internet CERN open democratic Web presence critical mass of users incentive develop infrastructure widespread electric vehicle charging stations patents hold back competition slow down innovation competition enormous flood of gasoline cars more charging stations Tesla's benefit society society's healthy competition pollution polluted air global warming /

Blood transfusions easier, safer, cheaper

Credit: University of Essex/ExtremeTech

Many lives have been saved, & continue to be saved by blood transfusions. But there are difficulties:

● supply volume — despite enormous efforts of collection organisations & donors, shortages occur
● storage — blood supplies must be stored at controlled temperature at great cost
● limited life of blood in storage
● potential cross infection — e.g. fears related to HIV
● blood types continue to cause difficulties — almost unsurmountable problems with the most rare blood types

Researchers at the University of Essex have created artificial blood which promises to solve all of the above problems.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/184294-real-true-blood-safe-artificial-blood-heading-to-a-bloodstream-near-you

Interesting to see what those who object to blood transfusions on grounds of belief make of this. / human blood transfusion transfuse short supply 100 million donations every year supply lacked the proper facilities store manage scientists blood substitutes patients HaemO2 project University of Essex England designing safer oxygen carrier molecule stored at room temperature long periods toxic effects blood substitutes human blood immune cells proteins researchers red blood cell transfusion donut shaped non nucleated cells main solid constituent blood distinctive red color red molecule heart red blood cell ability to carry oxygen haemoglobin hemoglobin iron bearing protein oxygen atom molecule lungs body cells HaemO2 project replicated develop artificial blood toxic side effects walls red blood cell circulation bloodstream decompose ferryl intermediates free radicals HaemO2 modified hemoglobin molecule naturally occurring vitamin C uric acid additional amino acids tyrosine inserting recombinant genes E. coli bacteria growing culture bacteria protein metabolic activity red cells recombinant proteins purified concentrated emergency responders blood typing no blood type markers room temperature emergencies distribution remote areas blood replacement immune compromised individuals as-yet-undiscovered bloodborne pathogens HIV epidemic granted patents transfusions /

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 review: incredible battery life & value

Huawei Ascend Mate 2, Nexus 5, iPhone 5c
Credit: Moshi/The Gadgeteer

Want a phablet, but put off by the price? With its nice spec sheet & good battery life, the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 might just fill the bill.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8031/huawei-ascend-mate-2-review / commodity commoditization smart phone smartphone segment progression of the PC industry buy a good smartphone 500 dollars Google Motorola small Chinese OEMs high end specs price point 350 450 dollars relative market share marketshare OEMs Samsung Apple high spec high value smartphones 5 inch display size segment tablet phablets Galaxy Note midrange phablet Galaxy Mega 6.3 priced contract or more value Huawei Ascend Mate 2 Ascend Mate2 4G SoC LTE modem unlocked device market build brand recognition branding ODM statusscreen battery volume switch rocker power SIM microSD SD card /

IZZYbike has no chain + 2 wheel drive option

Bicycle chains are oily. Oil holds dirt. Chains are a highly efficient method of transferring power, but they still cause losses. By moving the pedals from between the wheels to directly connected to the front wheel, the chain is eliminated, & with it, all of its disadvantages. At the same time, the bicycle becomes shorter, making it easier to maneuver & store. With the front & back wheels much closer together, it is easy to insert an idler wheel between them, providing 2 wheel drive. / bike chain dirty and noisy manufacturer replace belt drive Polish inventor Marek Jurek IzzyBike prototype drivetrain built in front wheel hub less mess fold bike extra hinges built into the frame very short wheelbase maneuverable 29 inch wheels jockey front and back wheels 2-wheel-drive increased traction more comfortable ride increased stability better visibility industrial partners potential customers price materials accessories /