Saturday, 7 May 2016

Canon’s new video camera can see in the dark



Canon ME20F-SH
Credit: Canon

See in the dark? Not quite, but ISO 4,560,000 gives Canon’s ME20F-SH enough sensitivity to take video by starlight or the light from a single fire-fly.



Looks like a development of the sensor used to shoot the video above, has finally made its way into production.


Sensor in Canon’s ME20F-SH is around the size of a full-frame 35 mm sensor, but because the pixel count is smaller, each individual pixel is over 7.5 times larger & so able to gather much more light
Credit: vidmuze.com

http://www.wired.com/2016/04/canon-me20f-sh-2/

http://www.vidmuze.com/how-the-canon-me20f-sh-sees-in-the-dark/
/ ISO 409,600 sensitivity see in the dark Canon’s latest high-end video camera ME20F-SH shoot a scene close to pitch black record full-res HD video camera 4,560,000 ISO light a portrait light emitted by a single firefly Canon camera’s remarkable low-light capabilities sensor’s 19-micron pixels 19-micron pixel 19 micron pixel HUGE two and four times the size pixels most other cameras more water light size of the pixels Canon full-frame sensor 1080p image shoot in 4K gets downsized to 1080p higher-res option ME20F-SH costs $20,000 for just the body no internal recorder viewfinder battery mount dope metal box new sensor Canon’s releasing kit heavy price tag pick and choose various components low-light camera Sony A7S II shot some head-to-head footage capturing the same scene same light well-built well built ME20F-SH entire body is all metal incredibly sturdy built-in neutral density filters infrared cut filter 2x and 4x teleconverter cine-style lock mount for lenses two HD-SDI ports great images in daylight serious filmmaking weighs only 2.4 pounds bit larger 4-inch cube sleek and light cube design various mounting points MOVI drone shape and space camera film northern lights bioluminescent creatures underwater dimly lit tunnels cities forests dark side of the moon ME20F-SH /

Thursday, 5 May 2016

Is it true that smoking causes wrinkles?



Credit: WebMD

Does anyone actually believe that the skin is exempt from the damage that smoking causes to every other part of the body?

In the LifeHacker article below, some mention is made of e-cigarettes – implication being that they represent a way to avoid the damage to the skin caused by smoking. Point to note – it is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes skin damage (see the Mayo Clinic article below). Thus, while e-cigarettes are probably less of a threat to health than tobacco cigarettes, & may be of use in quitting, they are not a way to avoid damage to the skin.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/04/ask-lh-will-smoking-really-ruin-my-good-looks/?utm_source=Lifehacker+Australia&utm_campaign=f25a95fced-lifehacker_2016_05_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9fc709844c-f25a95fced-278953185

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/expert-answers/smoking/faq-20058153
/ smoker smoking hot cigarettes age you prematurely will smoking really ruin my good looks whiten teeth professionally problem smoking is bad for me quit friends most of them are smokers socially easy inexpensive way to quit Miss Marlboro smoking stupid filthy expensive dangerous habit everyone around you at risk allow smoking enclosed public spaces federal law health of hospitality workers patrons convenience of smokers it’s good that you want to quit smoking is a self-destructive waste of money benefit social tough anti-smoking legislation improving your overall health reducing the risk of cancer giving up smoking definitely help to maintain your good looks recent study compared appearance 79 identical twins did and didn’t smoke graded for wrinkles Lemperle Assessment Scale twins’ environmental aging factors controlled Mann-Whitney test sunscreen use alcohol intake perceived work stress smoking twins looked significantly older identical genetic makeup smoking twins compared nonsmoking counterparts worse scores upper eyelid skin redundancy lower lid bags malar bags nasolabial folds upper lip wrinkles lower lip vermillion wrinkles jowls lower lid hyperpigmentation in the smoking group statistical significance transverse forehead wrinkles glabellar wrinkles crow’s feet lower lip lines accentuated by puckering statistically significant differences in scores greater 5 years’ difference in smoking duration twins who had smoked longer had worse scores lower lid bags malar bags lower lip vermillion wrinkles smoking affects middle lower thirds of the face cause noticeable differences in facial ageing make you look old before your time beauty youthfulness smoking hot extra wrinkles around the eyes look younger health to consider tobacco smoke toxic chemicals carbon monoxide cyanide carcinogens smoking one of the leading causes of preventable death globally female smokers lose an average 14.5 years total life expectancy non-smokers lung throat mouth cancer linked to heart attacks strokes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease emphysema fatal diseases quitting is a smart choice cold turkey required discipline willpower cut down in a consistent limited way bad habits reduce the habit reduce the variability in the habit effort toward self-control decrease in bad habits over time limiting cigarettes electronic cigarettes e-cigarettes helping people quit safe lungs tobacco smoke apps help quit smoking Quitbuddy Australian National Preventive Health Agency set goals highlight danger times read messages of encouragement friends and family hypnotherapist quitting tips /

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Samsung T3 Portable SSD (video) – update



Samsung T3 Portable SSD with a smartphone. Note USB-C socket.
Credit: Photography Life

You may have read about the Samsung T1 Portable SSD on these pages some time ago. My final advice was to wait for the USB-C version – which has appeared in the form of the Samsung T3 Portable SSD – now including a 2 TB version.



https://photographylife.com/samsung-portable-ssd-t3-announcement

http://www.legitreviews.com/samsung-portable-ssd-t3-2tb-review_179214

http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-portable-ssd-t3-review
/ fast small cheap pick two technology products portable hard drives Samsung’s new portable SSD solid state drive T1 faster fastest mechanical hard drive USB flash drive smaller portable hard cheap expensive Samsung T1 portable hard drive extended credit card shape portable mechanical hard drive laptop-grade solid state drive smaller than credit card smaller than the Seagate Seven engineering marvel Samsung T1 850 Evo solid state drives 850 Pro first portable SSD market Sandisk Extreme PRO USB 3.0 traditional USB thumb drive T1 USB 3.0 flash drive blistering fast speeds 625MBps maximum SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard reach speeds 450MBps read write Samsung real world testing 250GB 500GB 1TB capacities a dollar per gigabyte for 250GB 500GB 1TB Samsung 5-inch microUSB 3.0 to USB 3.0 cable T1’s packaging three-year limited warranty expected service life laptop desktop PC setup software out of the box partition first boot up the T1 format for either Windows or Mac OS X fast flash drive Sandisk Extreme PRO Lexar Jumpdrive P10 benchmark benchmarked Samsung’s TurboWrite software firmware layer initially safe file transfers fastest flash segments distributing data single layer T1’s flash memory maximum speed moves files buffer slower larger capacity memory segments background real world test Samsung Portable SSD T1 average write speed read speed Samsung T1 Portable SSD encryption Windows Mac OS X PC initial software setup AES 256-bit encryption encryption strong your password your password security procedures secure portable hard drive most important files T1’s design dimensions smoothly rounded shape super small storage plug it into your PC included short-length microUSB 3.0 cable T1 Samsung SSD support Samsung’s Magician management software doesn’t support the RAPID performance-boosting mode Magician 850 Pro 850 Evo RAPID caches data system RAM transferring it back and forth improving small medium-size transfers portable drive USB 3.0 interface TRIM isn’t supported Windows Mac OS X not issuing TRIM commands USB 3.0 interface Samsung developing brute-force workaround SSD’s drive performance taper off as it gets full garbage collection a tiny bit slower over time T1 portable Windows boot drive password software T1 SSD Windows PC Mac log in unlock your hard drive encrypt your data external mass storage device hanging off a router password feature Samsung T1 solid state drive drives more expensive per gigabyte comparable performance USB thumb drive storage lowest cost-per-gigabyte flash drive solid state drive small enough as fast as the best SSDs initial price tiny USB storage drive ridiculously fast transfer speeds Samsung Portable SSD T1 /

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Yecup 365 – keeps your drink hot or cold – all day



Yecup 365 – glowing logo shows one hot, one cold
Credit: Yecup Technologies/jurnalul.ro

Yecup 365 is double-walled, but it doesn't just slow heat ingress or egress – it actively heats or cools the contents. Energy for heating/cooling is provided by a 10,000 mAh battery, which can also recharge your smartphone.

Charging of the cup is by USB port or wirelessly.

https://www.gizmag.com/yecup-365-heat-cool-mug/42563/

IndieGoGo campaign
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/yecup-365-your-all-season-smart-mug#/
/ Yecup 365 travel mug brings drinks preferred temp hot or cold Ember mug designed hot and cold beverages Yecup 365 Armenian company Yecup Technologies your drink just the right temperature for hours heats your coffee tea lukewarm piping hot cools water Gatorade room temperature comfortably chilled beverage service charge smartphone tablet Yecup 365 production new IQ standards smart travel mug Yecup active heating and cooling mugs designed hot beverages company mug can heat beverages 158° F 70° C cool to 50° F 10° C water 212° F 100° C boiling point boiling terminology drink boiling coffee tea versatile temperature range your drinking enjoyment Yecup double-layer stainless steel mug connects smartphone via Bluetooth Yecup app adjust temperature your beverage swipe dial thermoelectric temperature regulation system desired temperature cup alerts you glowing logo smartphone notification temperature enjoy leisure smartphone drinking a beverage Yecup 365 includes built-in heat and cool buttons illuminated indicator drink hot or cold battery is charging heating and cooling features 30 minutes cup of coffee room temperature beverage cooling quicker cooling your spring water cold coffee microwave running mug from a 12 volt car outlet double speed heating and cooling on-the-go heating and cooling travel mug Yecup 365 10,000 mAh battery pack charge smartphones tablets USB port wireless charging capability AC adapter 2.5 hours fit into a vehicle cupholder Yecup 365 straight cylinder 3 inches 7 cm diameter 8.7 inches 22 cm tall weighs 12.3 oz 350 g empty app iOS Android Apple Watch app Indiegogo campaign raise funding into production 12-oz 354-ml 14-oz 414-ml mug wireless charging dock development plan /

Monday, 2 May 2016

BYD – world’s biggest EV manufacturer coming to Australia



BYD E6 in service as a taxi in Shenzhen, China
Credit: QuatroRodas – msalx.quatrorodas.abril.com.br

Initial offering in this country will be their only right-hand-drive product, the E6. Battery is 75 kWh giving a range of 300 km. Price is likely to be around $80,000.

BYD produces the E6 in several 2 & 4 wheel drive variants with power between 75 kW (101 hp) & 200 kW (269 hp). It is unclear which version or versions will be coming to Australia.

Fast charging capability accepts 80% charge in 15 minutes.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/chinese-50646

http://www.caradvice.com.au/434689/byd-e6-electric-vehicle-now-available-in-australia-more-models-coming/

Technical information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BYD_e6
/ BYD China Chinese company world’s biggest maker of electric vehicle releasing first EV in Australia BYD E6 electric vehicle charge hire-car taxi fleets EVs private buyers E6 high-riding all electric people mover battery pack 75kWh range 300kms purchase price $80,000 EV sales Australia slow Tesla Model S top selling pure EV model in Australia E6 distributed Australia transport logistics group Carbridge CEO Luke Todd Australian market BYD vehicle safety testing Australasian New Car Assessment Program ANCAP BYD sold EV Chinese electric vehicle EV reduce pollution BYD global market competitor Tesla market electric cars buses different markets cheaper models right hand drive /

Sunday, 1 May 2016

Every new house built in Quebec to have mandatory 240V electric vehicle charging station



Credit: plugincars.com

One of the advantages of an electric vehicle (EV) is the ubiquity of electricity for charging – most notably at home.

Standard household supply throughout North America is 110-120 Volts. While an EV can be charged at such voltages, it is very slow. With this in mind, the government of Quebec is planning to require installation of 240 Volt, 30 Amp EV chargers in all new homes & rental properties.

At first sight some may see this as a significant imposition. However, 240 Volt facilities are already a common domestic fitting, most notably for powering clothes driers.

http://www.cantechletter.com/2016/04/every-new-house-built-quebec-mandatory-240v-electric-vehicle-charging-station/
/ overall environmental strategy Quebec government make installation 240 volt electric vehicle charging stations all newly built homes mandatory add $400 average cost newly built single family homes duplexes condos Transportation Minister Jacques Daoust impact study new rules published Régie du bâtiment du Québec government price 240 Volt charging station installation costs before taxes upgrade electrical panel run underground cables home owners purchased new electric vehicle plug-in hybrid government rebate towards purchase installation 240-volt home charging station cost of electricity for a full charge charged each night owners of rental buildings required to install charging stations for renters new buildings also for buildings already constructed Daoust electrical outlets for clothing dryers 30 Ampere outlet /

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Preventing bird strike



Credit: Google user content

Bird strike at airports is both dangerous & expensive. Around $1 billion in damages annually in USA, & more than 250 deaths since 1988.

Propane cannons, recorded predator calls, & packs of dogs have been used to drive birds away. Although these measures are initially successful, birds soon habituate.

What does work is netting, shooting & poisoning. These solutions have the disadvantage of being expensive &/or dangerous &/or illegal &/or unpopular with some members of the public.

Fortunately, there may be another way. You may have noticed birds in a flock constantly calling to one another. There is evidence that sounds which interfere with this chatter can be used to drive birds away.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2016/04/18/acoustic-scarecrows-a-safe-humane-way-to-reduce-bird-strikes/#5fae4c093fbf
/ build airports resting refueling stopovers migrating birds conflicts Bird Strike Committee USA $1 billion damages annually American civil military aircraft wildlife bird strikes deaths 250 people 1988 scarecrows reduce the chances bird strike bird-strike airport operations managers convince birds to leave airports pesticides pyrotechnics firearms falconry recordings bird distress calls evidence primitive methods don’t work for very long propane cannons habituate broadcast predator calls ignore them packs angry dogs Mark Hinders professor of applied science College of William & Mary co-author paper recently published journal Ecological Applications exclude birds nets guns poison Professor Hinders expensive bad manners exclusion methods illegal suitable migratory resting refueling sites exhausting work migratory bird species ancient stopovers larger birds ducks geese swans arrive every year on schedule stopovers paved over full of people cars aircraft Professor Hinders John Swaddle professor of biology College of William & Mary collaborate project develop effective non-lethal bird deterrent professors knowledge natural history traits shared amongst birds rare exceptions birds highly aural vocal songbirds sing attract a potential mate claim a territory social forming flocks flocks of birds chatter amongst themselves feeding call out to their companions warnings danger birds sensitive to some noises particular sound frequencies disturbed noises certain frequencies produced by traffic machinery aviary studies common European starlings Sturnus vulgaris Professor Hinders Professor Swaddle design an apparatus short-circuits avian conversations device Sonic Net conventional directional parametric speakers produce a narrow beam of colored noise white noise steady stream of all or almost all auditory frequencies same energy level white noise colored noise more energy concentrated either high or low end of the sound spectrum pink noise stronger bass pitch and loudness fluctuations rumbles like a train coloured noise colored noise is annoying noise interferes with normal bird chatter it’s like the cocktail party problem pink noise deter birds
/