Formula E, season 2, round 1, today — Beijing

Beijing, China
Round 1 - Saturday 24 October 2015
Practice 1 - 08:15-09:00 Beijing local time
Practice 2 - 10:30-11:00
Qualifying - 12:00-13:00
Race - 16:00

Circuit guide:
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/calendar/2015-beijing/beijing-circuit.aspx

Season 2 technical developments:
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/formula-e-season-two-technical.html

FIA, Formula E web site:
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en.aspx / Formula E all electric racing series fourth 1st race Beijing, China ePrix stadium races F1 FIA electricity sport electric vehicles EV terrific acceleration pass passing possible tracks with tight corners technology range race organizers 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 lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge range battery management system BMS /

How to backup SMS messages on your Android phone

Credit: Jan Berkel/App Brain

Why backup your SMS messages? For the same reason you should backup everything: computer data, including SMS, can & does become lost by any number of means, including: finger trouble, new phone, hardware failure.

SMS Backup+ backs up every SMS sent or received on your Android phone to the Gmail account you specify. All SMS messages are saved in a folder named, appropriately enough, “SMS”.

Other benefits:
1. phone calls logged
2. attached images backed up
3. backed up SMSs become searchable, using all of the tools available in Gmail

SMS Backup+ has been backing up my SMSs since 26 May 2013, judging from the dates on the backups in Gmail.

Contrary to information in the How-To Geek article linked below, SMS Backup+ developed by Jan Berkel, is available as I write this. Options to separately manage MMS messages are not available in the current version.

SMS Backup by Christoph Studer can also be found on Google Play.

Keep in mind that emails (including backups created by SMS Backup+) count toward your 15GB of free storage in your Google account.

SMS Backup+ by Jan Berkel – video tutorial at the top of the page
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync

SMS Backup by Christoph Studer
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.studer.smssync

How-To Geek tutorial
http://www.howtogeek.com/112852/how-to-backup-your-text-messages-to-your-gmail-account/ / back up backup backing your text messages SMS Android phone Gmail account no reason not to back them up search-friendly process your Gmail account SMS vault lose your text messages switching phones fumble fingers drop your messages digital reaper accidently delete massive SMS thread delete a single message send backing up your SMS Gmail account simple tutorial three things Android phone free copy SMS Backup SMS Backup+ changed link Gmail account advanced settings SMS Backup+ reconfigure work any IMAP-enabled email server designed Gmail Gmail’s search threading starring functionality SMS Backup+ IMAP access Gmail account Gmail account application check the status login log in your Gmail account navigate Settings Forwarding and POP/IMAP Check Enable IMAP click Save Changes configuration your Gmail account Gmail account IMAP toggled on install SMS Backup+ Google Play Store download app application installed configuring config configuration configure launch application first screen connection your Gmail account tap Connect default browser your Android phone launch prompted prompt login log in Gmail account backing up your messages authorize SMS Backup+ your Google account click Grant Access begin a backup immediately skip initial backup click Backup Skip messages on your phone flagged already backed up ignored backup process will start minute half hour to complete a message per second process is finished Gmail account check progress login log in Gmail account web browser new label sidebar SMS SMS Backup+ automatically backs up SMS messages MMS messages pictures backup up to Gmail advanced options advanced SMS Backup+ configuration tutorial turn on automatic backup manual backup forget main screen tap Auto backup Auto backup settings configure frequency default configuration frequency of backups only backup one Wi-Fi mobile data quota set up automatic backup main screen Advanced settings settings backing restoring notifications backup settings toggle MMS backup save on data consumption creating whitelist contacts backed up every single message backed up Restore settings Gmail-centric trick SMS Backup+ stores messages Gmail creates a thread each contact SMS Backup+ restore contacts starred threads quickly select conversations important enough restore star system in Gmail all your text messages including multimedia attachments backed up within Gmail easily search restore handset /

Apple's Magic Mouse 2 – design abomination?

Charging Apple’s Magic Mouse 2
Credit: Macworld

So, when the built in battery goes flat, you – wait until it’s charged. Other rechargeable mouses have the charging socket at the front so they can continue to be used while charging.

Not the problem it may appear to be – the Magic Mouse 2 is a fast charge device & can accept enough charge for 9 hours use in around 2 minutes. Charge overnight for around 2-3 months of use. Plus it gives a warning approximately 1 week before it goes flat.

betanews – “Apple's Magic Mouse 2 is a design abomination”
http://betanews.com/2015/10/18/apples-magic-mouse-2-is-a-design-abomination/

Macworld – “Apple Magic Mouse 2 review: Mouse unable to conjure up any innovation”
http://www.macworld.com/article/2994798/input-devices/apple-magic-mouse-2-review-mouse-unable-to-conjure-up-any-innovation.html / Apple company synonymous good design thoughtful design Magic Mouse 2 unbelievably wrong defies belief absurdity name Magic Mouse 2 wireless mouse wireless mice power rechargeable battery plug Lightning cable juice up peripheral Apple gets it wrong charging port underside mouse bottom Magic Mouse 2 charges up connect a charging cable base mouse rendered completely useless runs out of power rechargeable mice get around problem charging port front mouse mouse corded mouse charges Apple Magic Mouse 2 dies middle something wait charge again connect another mouse absurdly stupid mouse base-mounted charging port new Magic Mouse 2 original Magic Mouse new built-in battery Magic Mouse 2 ditch current mouse original Magic Mouse exterior design Magic Mouse 2 white plastic sliver aluminum case no visible buttons scroll wheel Magic Mouse 2 built-in rechargeable lithium-ion LiIon battery removable battery cover Lightning port recharge battery charging port bottom of the mouse Magic Mouse 2 plugged in design decision Magic Trackpad 2 Magic Keyboard fast-charging devices mouse nine hours battery life about two minutes charge last a typical working day charging port bottom mouse problem fully charged battery last month more Apple changed plastic rails bottom mouse lighter weight smoother faster feel move Magic Mouse 2 vast improvement predecessor rough grinding feel extremely low profile palm Magic Mouse 2 two buttons power users right left buttons click button top mouse presses down audible click sound Multi-Touch Magic Mouse 2 Multi-Touch scrolling forward or back iPhoto or Safari zooming gestures Multi-Touch mouse OS X El Capitan Bluetooth Yosemite Mac Force Touch El Capitan MacBook Pro models MacBook Force Touch trackpad MacBook Air Force Touch trackpad upgrade force touch sensors new device input devices personal computer personal ergonomics Logitech Performance MX /

3D printed pills

3D printing has received a lot of publicity for such purposes as prototyping, small scale manufacturing, prostheses¹ & even clothing.

Now add production of pharmaceuticals to the list.

How to 3D-print a pill:


Dissolves faster:


http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/10/11/were-all-about-to-start-taking-3d-printed-drugs/

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2015/10/19/first-3d-printed-fda-approved-medication/
__________

¹ “What is the plural of prosthesis?”,
http://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-plural-of/prosthesis.html / 3D printing originally quickly producing cost-effective inexpensive cheap affordable prototypes manufacturing industry researchers amazing healthcare biological applications 3D printing technology custom prosthetics living tissue 3D printing versatile means cost effective individualized care patients game-changing technology giant leap forward pharmaceutical industry Aprecia pharmaceuticals U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA approved SPRITAM drug treatment epilepsy claims SPRITAM first drug ever approved FDA manufactured using 3-D printing technologies technology Aprecia Pharmaceuticals announced epilepsy drug SPRITAM FDA manufactured 3-D printing technologies combining 3D printing technology highly-prescribed epilepsy treatment SPRITAM designed fill need patients struggle with current medication experience Don Wetherhold Aprecia CEO central nervous system products Aprecia commitment transform patients experience taking medication SPRITAM available first quarter 2016 customized for high dosage treatments developed Aprecia’s ZipDose technology originally developed Massachusetts Institute of Technology new type of tablet made by 3D printing layers powdered drug binding layers powder together blowing away excess powder advantage process drug’s unique structure dissolve considerably faster average pill capability provides relief seizure sufferers prescription prescribed large hard-to-swallow pills 3D printing medications doctors medicine prescribing delivers exact dose intended each pill will be completely uniform tailored individual patient capability distribution options printing personalized medicine at home /

Clean up your photographs with Photo Noise Reducer for Android

Photos on your Android phone full of noise?

There’s an app for that: Photo Noise Reducer – & it’s free, “for a limited time”.

http://betanews.com/2015/10/19/clean-up-your-pictures-with-photo-noise-reducer-for-android/

Get it on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.systweak.noisereducer

You might also like: Fix Photo Blur
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rawzor.fixphotoblur / modern smartphones good excellent great cameras generally deliver good results can’t change laws of physics photographic basics not enough light insufficient low light your pictures ruined by noise Photo Noise Reducer Pro free-for-personal-use Android app denoise smooth clean up your images app works with images in your gallery use Camera function take a pictures denoise viewing source image tap tapping Light Medium apply applies preset smoothing level choose Custom use slider select intensity you need separate slider applies apply smoothing filter clean up any remaining issues zoom in important area quickly switch between original denoised images compare results your source material presets deliver more smoothing expect Light Custom option generally worked well current Google Play rating 4.5 stars smoothing noise reduction interesting side effect drastically cutting size image files quality Photo Noise Reducer Pro available now Android free for a limited time /

Driving (or kind of not driving) a Tesla Model S with Autopilot (update)

Autopilot 1.01 coming soon: curve speed adaption, controller smoothness, better lane holding on poor roads, improved fleet learning!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 23, 2015

Tesla’s self driving Model S is a work in progress, which is working its way toward autonomy. Version 7.0 of its Autopilot system provides radar-guided cruise control, (also capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop if necessary), line guidance (keeps the vehicle in a lane), turn-signal initiated lane switching, & automatic parallel parking. Tesla is just a little different in that, unlike other systems it doesn’t require the driver to control the throttle & brakes when parallel parking.

Any Model S sold since October 2014 has the sensors & associated hardware to take advantage of the features of the 7.0 update.

Although the system is designed for highway use, Ars Technica tested it in New York City, but none-the-less thought it performed, “pretty well”.



Much longer video of multi-lane & country road driving showing Autopilot in a range of different situations:


http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/10/driving-or-kind-of-not-driving-a-tesla-model-s-with-autopilot/ / driving in New York City traffic bored extremely stressed out I wasn't doing much driving Tesla Model S Tesla pushing out Version 7.0 update OS operating system Model S assistive driving features Tesla Autopilot Ars recently test the new system Tesla's computer on wheels busy New York City traffic Tesla's Autopilot update handle radar-guided cruise control bring the car to a complete stop line guidance steer keep car in a lane turn-signal initiated automated lane switching changing automatic parallel parking autonomous semi-autonomous driving Autopilot suite of sensors embedded in car camera on top windshield forward-looking radar grill GPS sensor ultrasonic acoustic location sensors front rear car ultrasonic sensors car detect immediately around 360 degrees radar look farther into the distance see in front of the car combo turn signal wiper second control stalk left side assistive driving features detecting everything well enough Autopilot work steering wheel icon appear driver's display icon pulling assistive driving stick toward you twice engage Autopilot system geared highway driving New York City driving stress test system performed pretty well majority driving tasks short period of time time to get comfortable with it trust always ready to take control Tesla's system camera read street signs speed limit speed cruise speed up or slow down tapping up or down assisted driving stalk twist end of the stick set follow and braking distance Tesla's assistive driving features customizable your preferences Autopilot adaptive cruise control lane keeping seen other cars before automated driving revolution Model S level 2 automated vehicle can't navigate stop for pedestrians traffic lights stop signs 360 degree sensing feature Tesla's cars learn from each other Internet connection /

Natural gas looking for a boost from carbon tax

Credit: www.examiner.com

At the World Gas Conference in Paris earlier this year (1-5 June), six major oil & gas companies (BP, Shell, Total, BG Group, Eni S.p.A. & Statoil) called for a price on carbon emissions.

Why would oil & gas companies propose a tax which would increase the price of their product?

Gas releases less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal for each unit of heat energy produced. A relatively low price for CO2 emissions would give gas a price advantage over coal.

http://www.nature.com/news/natural-gas-stands-to-get-a-boost-from-carbon-tax-1.17705

http://www.statoil.com/en/NewsAndMedia/News/2015/Pages/01Jun_carbon.aspx/ major European oil and gas companies BP Shell Total call price carbon emissions World Gas Conference Paris carbon tax limit global warming shift away from coal high-carbon fossil fuels renewable energy boost demand natural gas cleanest-burning fossil fuel carbon price positive development Mark Lewis energy analyst Paris-based investment firm Kepler Cheuvreux effect global greenhouse gas emissions gas price price shadow price emissions evaluate profitability proposed oil gas projects pay tax carbon dioxide CO2 emissions refining executive French oil giant Total price €35 US$39 per tonne worldwide levy attractive petroleum companies price primarily gas more competitive than coal power generation global temperatures 2 °C two degrees Celsius pre-industrial levels official goal United Nations climate negotiators carbon price high enough drive fossil-fuel emissions almost nothing second half 21st twenty-first century International Energy Agency IEA price on carbon ramp up quickly US$20 $20US $US20 tonne 2020 $100 tonne 2030 $140 2040 stimulate development carbon capture and storage CCS technology removes CO2 emissions factories power plants sequesters deep underground 2°C two degrees Celsius two Celsius degrees goal IEA director Nobuo Tanaka conference CCS capture all coal emissions half gas emissions produced power sector 2050 IEA CCS costs $50–80 per tonne CO2 carbon tax offset that cost unacceptable to petroleum companies lower carbon prices effect energy markets non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists United States moderate carbon price $12 per tonne CO2 rising 10% per year boost renewables push out coal costs renewable energy resources wind solar falling dramatically resources would also get a big boost modest price on carbon Rachel Cleetus senior economist Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge Massachusetts carbon price natural-gas use policies mandate use renewable energy improve energy efficiency cuts in emissions petroleum industry gas renewable energy reduce carbon emissions natural-gas power plants turned on and off quickly coal plants gas could power disruptions solar wind cloudy calm days advent batteries Christopher Delbrück chief executive E.ON Global Commodities Düsseldorf Germany trading arm of power company E.ON. batteries using stored energy renewable electricity customers cloudless windless periods Tesla Motors Palo Alto California reduced-cost battery systems homes industry
Michael Stoppard analysis firm IHS Energy improved batteries battery technology /