Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fires – fire in a replacement phone

Fire in a Jeep Grand Cherokee has been attributed to a Note 7 charging on the dashboard
Credit: Fox News/news.com.au

Fires in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 & the resulting recall have been widely publicised.

But it gets worse:
● a fire has occurred in a replacement phone – ostensibly fixed

● previous fires have occurred exclusively in phones which were charging – which implied that a Note 7 could be rendered safe by turning it off

● in this most recent case, the phone had been powered down shortly before it began smoking

The Verge – Replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone catches fire on Southwest plane
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/5/13175000/samsung-galaxy-note-7-fire-replacement-plane-battery-southwest

If you have a Note 7:
● stop using it now
● place it in a non-flammible area
● power it down
● return it as soon as possible

Here's everything you need to know:
https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-7-return-exchange-faq/

Cnet – Here's why Samsung Note 7 phones are catching fire:
https://www.cnet.com/news/why-is-samsung-galaxy-note-7-exploding-overheating/ / fire Jeep Grand Cherokee Note 7 charging on dashboard Samsung Galaxy Note 7 halt sales Galaxy Note 7 exploding battery retailers stop selling phones Samsung halt sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones prepare replacement devices phones already sold multiple reports exploding batteries Australia's biggest phone retailers stopped selling phone reported problems were being investigated Samsung take about two weeks prepare replacement devices phones already sold high-end gadget launched just weeks ago users have complained battery fault caused phones explode catch fire while being charged 35 cases of problems smartphone concerned customers return the phone outlet where they purchased it JB Hi-Fi Optus Telstra remove phones unclear how many phones been affected telecommunications provider paused sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 investigation by Samsung customers concerns Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handset visit nearest Optus store discuss their options Telstra investigating problem Galaxy Note 7 phones Samsung precaution paused Galaxy Note 7 sales Telstra spokesperson contact existing owners directly issue affecting their phones unclear how many phones have been affected problem nip it in the bud right now analysts expect the Note 7 problems to be resolved quickly ongoing major problems derail Samsung's mobile recovery string of product successes reversed the smartphone leader's declining market share South Korean firm maintain strong sales momentum stiffening competition Apple Inc release its latest iPhone Samsung name exploding battery injury Investors stripped about $7 billion off Samsung Electronics' market value shipment delays Samsung halt sales Galaxy Note 7 exploding battery retailers stop selling phones Samsung halt sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones prepare replacement devices phones already sold multiple reports exploding batteries Australia's biggest phone retailers stopped selling phone reported problems were being investigated Samsung take about two weeks prepare replacement devices phones already sold high-end gadget launched just weeks ago users have complained battery fault caused phones explode catch fire while being charged 35 cases of problems smartphone concerned customers return the phone outlet where they purchased it JB Hi-Fi Optus Telstra remove phones unclear how many phones been affected telecommunications provider paused sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 investigation by Samsung customers concerns Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handset visit nearest Optus store discuss their options Telstra investigating problem Galaxy Note 7 phones Samsung precaution paused Galaxy Note 7 sales Telstra spokesperson contact existing owners directly issue affecting their phones unclear how many phones have been affected problem nip it in the bud right now analysts expect the Note 7 problems to be resolved quickly ongoing major problems derail Samsung's mobile recovery string of product successes reversed the smartphone leader's declining market share South Korean firm maintain strong sales momentum stiffening competition Apple Inc release its latest iPhone Samsung name exploding battery injury Investors stripped about $7 billion off Samsung Electronics' market value shipment delays on Thursday /

Google's Pixel Android phone

Google Pixel & Pixel XL smartphones in Really Blue (limited edition, USA only), Very Silver & Quite Black
Credit: Google/TechCrunch

Google has just unveiled its new Android phone, the Pixel, which it is billing as its first phone.

And the Nexus series of phones? Google always shared billing with the actual manufacturer.

Although manufactured by HTC, there is no mention of their involvement anywhere on the Pixel, only the “G” on the lower back.


Credit: Cnet

Pixel & Pixel XL are almost identical apart from:

● 5 inch screen on the Pixel & 5.5 inch screen on the Pixel XL

● XL has more pixels (1080x1920 vs 1440x2560) & more pixels per inch (441 ppi vs 534 ppi)

● battery – 2770 mAh vs 3450 mAh in the XL

Most outstanding feature is the camera, which Google describes as, “the best smartphone camera ever made,” – which DxOMark has supported by a score of 89 – highest ever awarded to a mobile phone camera. Features include a 12.3-megapixel sensor with large, 1.55 micron pixels, & an f/2.0 lens.

Read what DxOMark had to say at: https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Pixel-smartphone-camera-review-At-the-top

RAM is unspectacular at 4GB. 32GB flash storage is standard, but with no microSD slot, the 128GB option looks like a good choice.

Complete specs at GSMArena:

Google Pixel
http://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel-8346.php

Google Pixel XL
http://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_xl-8345.php


The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/4/13161028/google-phone-announced-pixel-xl-price-release-date-specs

TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/04/google-pixel/

Gizmodo
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/10/google-pixel-australian-hands-on/

LifeHacker
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/10/google-pixel-and-pixel-xl-australian-pricing-specs-and-release-date/ / Pixel phone by Google announced pre-event leaks revelations Google new Pixel Pixel XL smartphones official size and resolution screens 5 inch 1080p display Pixel 5.5 inch Quad HD panel XL two devices built HTC Google takes full credit design explicit phone by Google branding Pixel models latest Snapdragon 821 processor special version Google Android OS operating system support Daydream virtual reality platform Google I/O Pixel name Rick Osterloh hardware chief hardware software designed built Google new Pixel phones Google Assistant Pixel new Google Assistant built in touch and hold home button hot word Assistant Google event demo Assistant photos from a particular time place past plays whatever music play choosing your favorite music app integrates Google Now on Tap functionality bot Google Assistant voice prompts camera experience Pixel Pixel XL rear camera scores 89 DxOMark highest rating ever benchmark most consistent measure good performance indicator sensor's potential new Pixel phones 12.3-megapixel resolution large 1.55-micron pixels f/2.0 aperture Google new camera shortest capture time mobile camera ever gyroscope-based video stabilization stabilisation no optical image stabilization for stills Google best smartphone ever endless cloud storage unlimited cloud storage Google allow free unlimited storage full-resolution images videos shot with Pixel standard Google Photos backup takes off the size limit compression4K video shot with the new phone connectivity and communications Pixel users latest Android updates directly from Google become available Android Google Pixel's battery endurance battery life fast charging 7 hours power 15 minutes charging built in 24-hour live phone support Pixel's software tech support operator Google Duo pre-installed Google’s video chat app mobile virtual reality Pixel first Daydream-compatible phone Google $79 Daydream View headset accommodate Pixel VR use Daydream View tiny motion controller precise controller Daydream View safe storage hardware Pixel phones aluminum big glass window at the back camera, flash fingerprint sensor Pixel Imprint Pixel XL 3,450mAh battery Pixel 2,770mAh battery display AMOLED 4GB RAM USB-C 32GB or 128GB flash storage Bluetooth 4.2 3.5mm headphone jack Google Live Case Nexus devices pricing $649 smaller 5-inch Pixel 32GB storage available pre-order today /

Chevy Bolt electric vehicle – range claims supported by growing number of road tests

Some time ago, Wired achieved 240 miles (386 kilometres) on a single charge (with range to spare) in a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle. Since that time, two other road tests have achieved similar results:



Green Car Reports:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1106077_2017-chevrolet-bolt-ev-first-drive-240-miles-in-an-electric-car / Chevy Bolt electric car electric vehicle EV cell battery charge recharge charger fast charger Supercharger lithium ion LiIon LiFeO4 lithium iron phosphate Tesla 60 kWh kilo Watt hour battery 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car 240 miles single charge lowest range achieved driving four Bolt EVs along the California coast same trip 32 miles remaining car’s display 2017 Chevy Bolt EV electric car 238 mile EPA range rating 119 MPGe combined Bolt EV EPA range rating 238 miles combined real-world use six-hour drive route 235 miles Monterey California south Santa Barbara scenic coastal Route 1 one of the most frustrating routes in the world Chevrolet team member comparatively free slow-moving rented motorhomes gawking tourists half the drive route covered speeds 40 to 60 mph country roads highway toward the end trip keep up with traffic 70 to 75 mph crested 2,000-foot pass over coastal mountains descending sea level our destination air conditioning low counter temperatures more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit miles before final grade Bolt replaced miles-remaining number instrument cluster orange Low Range warning halfway up the grade warning began flash insistently GM passenger it’ll be fine warning comes up based variety factors kicked in on the early side some battery capacity remaining traveling up to 75 mph before starting the steep climb 60-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack motor rated up to 150 kilowatts 200 horsepower relatively light Bolt EV remaining range inescapable physics energy used overcome aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed mix of speeds Bolt EV delivered 4.1 miles per kilowatt-hour 240 miles used 58.7 kwh 97.8 percent total stated pack capacity of 60 kwh less aggressive driver achieved 4.8 mi/kwh 4.5 mi/kwh remaining range price half average Tesla sold today electric car market second-generation Nissan Leaf Tesla Model 3 electric BMW crossover utility compact-sized electric car Volkswagen other vehicles 200 or more miles of range Bolt EV pre-production Bolt EV may not quite correspond final vehicles hit dealer floors before the end of the year Bolt EV’s shape short length tall height boxy bigger car substantially larger Chevy Spark Mitsubishi i-MiEV interior wide remarkably spacious four tall adults can sit easily inside unlike Volt flat floor center position rear real seat seating position perched on a hump Bolt’s interior large crisp displays central touchscreen touch screen fully digital instrument cluster size resolution brightness easier to read information simple speed range remaining energy cluster total energy consumption other data central display thin seats comfortable room in the back full-sized adults normal Drive mode gear selector lever just like automatic transmission idle creep keep foot on the brakes alternative Low range increases regenerative braking considerably smoothly slow the car complete stop without using brakes one-pedal driving Tesla Bolt EV regen Chevy electric cars mimic automatic-transmission driving experience various modes that increase regen one-pedal driving conventional mode Bolt EV genuine one-pedal driving conventional feel idle creep entirely absent in Low hill-hold function mode Sport mode remaps accelerator deliver power more quickly weight 3,580 pounds relatively light 60-kwh battery size 94-cubic-foot interior volume handling and roadholding predictable 200-hp motor more than enough performance keep up with traffic acceleration is good too looks considerably smaller than it actually is tall wagon small minivan interior volume 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV more interior volume than you'd expect superb instrumentation electric-range cars costing twice as much enjoyable performance electric vehicle Bolt EV usual test route recharge speed winter 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV pricing features trim levels options released car on-sale /

After many false starts, EV manufacturers may be about to co-operate on fast charging

Porsche Mission E concept
Credit: Forbes

Tesla has had a long standing offer to allow other manufacturers access to its Supercharger network. Rumours of negotiations have surfaced from time-to-time, but nothing concrete.

Porsche announced its own charger to complement its Mission E electric car some time ago.

Now it has been revealed that:

● Porsche charging technology will be utilised by other companies in the Volkswagen family – no real surprises there

● development has involved other manufacturers
● chargers will be compatible with Tesla vehicles – with an adapter.

https://electrek.co/2016/10/03/porsches-ultra-fast-charging-infrastructure-for-the-mission-e-will-also-work-with-tesla-says-ceo/

This is the most concrete sign to-date of intention from any manufacturer (other than Tesla), to develop & share a fast charging standard. Advantages for manufacturers & the public are obvious. / battery electric vehicle BEV EV Porsche ultra fast-charging infrastructure Mission E work Tesla Porsche development ultra fast-charging infrastructure Volkswagen next generation electric vehicles Porsche Mission E Audi quattro e-tron VW latest vehicle German automaker working with other automakers manufacturers development technology work with Tesla vehicles Porsche 800-volt charging system charge Mission E battery pack to 80% 15 minutes Mission E Volkswagen next-gen EVs Porsche new charging stations ultra fast-charging infrastructure deployed installed work with other automakers facilitate rollout CEO Oliver Blume in contact other manufacturers suppliers build fast-charging network getting details agreed hard clear technical concept work with Teslas with an adapter Tesla has significant lead electric vehicle fast-charging fast charging Tesla Superchargers currently being deployed capacity 145 kW 450V at 335A vehicles can accept up to 120 kW twice the power output other electric cars currently available Porsche system 2x faster two times faster Tesla letting other automakers use its network Mission E other long-range vehicles big battery packs hit the market last year Tesla confirmed talks European automakers allow access Supercharger network Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche recently launched company’s new all-electric brand EQ confirmed talks Porsche charging technology /

Farming on seawater & sunshine

Australia is the driest inhabited continent.¹ Driest state in that dry continent is South Australia.²

Located at the top of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia is the city of Port Augusta. With mean annual rainfall of just 257.1mm & 65.9 mean rain days,³ it would would not normally be considered a good location to farm tomatoes.


Spencer Gulf
Credit: Wikepedia

Sundrop Farm is located near the city of Port Augusta. Tomatoes are grown in greenhouses. Energy is provided by a solar thermal power plant.


Sundrop Farm near Port Augusta, at the top of the Spencer Gulf
Credit: Sundrop farms

In the image above:

● lower left – some of the 23,000 mirrors in the Sundrop solar thermal power plant

● right, centre – central collector, at the top of the 127-metre tower, where light reflected from the mirrors is concentrated

● bottom, centre – biggest thermal energy storage tank in the southern hemisphere

● centre & right – greenhouses

Heat energy captured in the central collector (up to 39 megaWatts) is used to:
● generate electricity for a range of purposes, including pumping water
● distil fresh water from sea water
● heat/cool the greenhouses as necessary

Excess heat energy is stored in the thermal energy storage tank for use at night or on the, relatively rare, rainy days.

Thermal solar turns the principal disadvantage of Port Augusta – lack of rain – into an advantage. Fewer cloudy days means more sunlight for crop growth & the thermal solar power plant.

ABC – Sundrop Farms pioneering solar-powered greenhouse to grow food without fresh water
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-01/sundrop-farms-opens-solar-greenhouse-using-no-fresh-water/7892866

Sundrop Farms web site
http://www.sundropfarms.com/

Sundrop Farms TV
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sundrop+farms
__________

¹ “The Australian continent”, http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-country/the-australian-continent

² “South Australia Facts”, http://www.about-australia.com/south-australia-facts/

³ Port Augusta at the head of the Spencer Gulf has mean annual rainfall of 257.1mm, & 65.9 mean rain days. http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=19066

Contrast this with Sydney on the east coast of Australia, with mean annual rainfall of 1211.9mm, & 143.6 mean rain days. http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=66062

/ Sundrop Farms pioneering solar-powered greenhouse grow food without fresh water groundbreaking greenhouse sunlight seawater grow tomatoes 300 kilometres north Adelaide company Sundrop Farms developing idea pilot plant outskirts Port Augusta building commercial facility 100 times larger project head grower Adrian Simkins first for Port Augusta first in the world 20-hectare futuristic looking facility field more than 23,000 mirrors capture sunlight central receiver 127-metre power tower peak produces 39 megawatts thermal energy electricity heating water water irrigating crops piped from Spencer Gulf converted fresh water fresh-water freshwater thermal desalination unit tomato greenhouses desalinated water first-class perfect water taking salt out no disease very pure enhance nutrition plants require project Philipp Saumweber funding international agricultural projects Dutch civil engineer Reinier Wolterbeek masters degree water management grow vegies vegetables desert think smart solution turning dream commercial reality challenges Sundrop roof blow off greenhouse 45-degree Celsius day lost our entire trial crop lost team members fresh water solar-driven project relies on grid utilities power needs during winter less sunlight storage on site 10 days water heating cooling electricity problem on site rely on the grid commercial facility cost $200 million build private equity firm KKR investing $100 million Sundrop Farms 10-year contract grower secured retailer Coles longest agreement horticulture Coles head fresh produce Brad Gorman security paid volumes grow Port Augusta facility produce at least 15,000 tonnes truss tomatoes year tomatoes supermarket winter gap supply and demand Sundrop fill that gap /

Inside the world's biggest cave

Credit: John Spies/Barcroft Media/The Telegraph

So big, it has its own river, jungle & climate – ceilings 200 metres (656 feet) above, walls 150 metres (492 feet) apart – 5km (3 miles) long – that’s the Hang Son Doong cave in Vietnam. John Spies spent a week inside, & the images above & below are part of the result.


Credit: John Spies/Barcroft Media/The Telegraph

Did you notice the person in the image above? Most of the images have them.

See more at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/earth/10914205/In-pictures-Inside-Hang-Son-Doong-the-worlds-largest-caves-in-Vietnam.html / limestone caves 200m high 150m wide 5km long Hang Son Doong cave in Vietnam so big has its own river jungle climate Australian photographer John Spies 59 spent week photographing natural wonder cave system ceilings towering over 200 metres high cave humbling experience Cave Lodge guesthouse entrance quite small mist cave caused cooler air inside meeting hot air outside rises into surrounding forest visitors must descend 80m down steep wall harnesses ropes huge temperature difference creates moving clouds mist two karst windows cave magically surreal atmosphere inside cave daylight illuminate cave formations dimensions cave incredible camp five nights biggest cave in the world /

Once-in-50-year storm blacks out South Australia – naysayers rush to attack renewables

More than 20 electricity transmission towers destroyed by SA storm
Credit: Debbie Prosser/The Advertiser

On the afternoon of Wednesday 28 September, a once-in-50-year storm, with winds up to 130kph¹ & more than 80,000 lightning strikes,² occurred in South Australia. Direct damage included more than 20 electricity transmission towers². In total, 3 items of critical distribution infrastructure were destroyed. Other items of infrastructure responded to protect themselves, as planned, by shutting down.³

Result for the residents, was a state-wide failure of electricity supply.

Coincidentally, at over 40%, SA is leading the nation in adoption of renewable energy.⁴

Just to be clear – the loss of power in SA was totally unrelated to the source or capacity of generation. Failure occurred because of the loss of critical distribution infrastructure.^5,6,7

Unfortunately, some, mainly on the conservative side of Australian politics, have seen this as an opportunity to attack renewable energy.⁸

The lights go out in SA & Turnbull flicks the switch to peak stupid
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/01/the-lights-go-out-in-sa-and-turnbull-flicks-the-switch-to-peak-stupid

Coalition launches fierce attack against wind & solar after blackout
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/coalition-launches-fierce-attack-against-wind-and-solar-after-blackout-93841
__________

¹ ABC: “SA weather as it happened: Wild winds, flooding continue; thousands without power for second night”, “Intense low pressure system crossed South Australia on Thursday with winds gusting to 130kph”, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-29/south-australia-recovers-from-power-outage-live-blog/7887000

² The Weekend Australian: “SA power outage: Josh Frydenberg answers your questions”, Josh Frydenberg, MP, Minister for the Environment & Energy, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/south-australia-power-outage-why-we-need-energy-security/news-story/68020ed34622d5f7e0254d890b9c53ae

³ ABC: “SA power outage: How did it happen?”, “SA Premier Jay Weatherill confirmed two tornadoes destroyed three elements of critical infrastructure, which led to the power system protecting itself with a shutdown”, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-28/sa-power-outage-explainer/7886090

⁴ Renew Economy: “South Australia wind energy jumps to 43% in July”, http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/south-australia-wind-energy-jumps-to-43-in-july-88992

⁵ The Sydney Morning Herald: “Why South Australia's power blackout could happen here”, “SA’s power outage was not the result of too many solar panels or wind turbines, as suggested by our Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, but rather severe winds & lightning. In particular, several of the major transmission line towers that form the backbone of SA’s power supply were bent over like matchsticks by the extreme winds.”, http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-south-australias-power-blackout-could-happen-here-20160929-grr7rm.html

⁶ Crikey: “South Australia's blackout explained”, https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/09/29/south-australias-blackout-explained/

‘According to [Electranet Network Services executive manager Simon] Emms, South Australia’s energy generation mix was irrelevant. “The cause of it is unrelated to the type of generation we lost & we do have,” he told ABC 891 this morning.’

‘Clean Energy Council policy manager Tom Butler told InDaily there was no evidence that South Australia’s reliance on renewable electricity was a factor in the blackout. He said that all power generation types — even if coal-fired electricity were still being produced in South Australia — would have shut down automatically during a weather event such the one experienced last night.’

‘Australian Conservation Council campaigns director Paul Sinclair concurred. “If South Australia was powered entirely by coal, rather than by 40% clean renewable energy, as it is, this blackout would still have happened,” he said. “In fact, at the time of the outage, wind power was pumping out 1000 megaWatts — it was working.”’

⁷ The Huffington Post Australia: “No, Renewable Energy Didn't Cause South Australia's Blackout”, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/28/no-renewable-energy-didnt-cause-south-australias-blackout/

⁸ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “The bullshit asymmetry”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-bullshit-asymmetry.html

/ wind solar wind turbine solar panel hydro hydoelectricity hydo-electricity hydo electricity storage battery sustainable renewable energy sustainable energy sustainability lights go out SA Prime Minister Turnbull peak stupid PM ridiculed state renewable targets South Australian blackout targets meet his own emissions targets emissions promises Turnbull convince climate deniers climate sceptics political party impact on power prices electricity prices renewables keep the lights on big storm global warming climate energy debate peak stupid Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull campaign use South Australian blackout black out blackout black-out shift to clean energy state renewable energy targets extremely unrealistic all the evidence says state targets exactly what Australia needs meet promises prime minister made Paris last reducing greenhouse gases consistent national policy reach those goals former Prime Minister Tony Abbott abolition of the carbon price winding back federal renewable energy target lengthy debate abolished altogether dried up investment renewable energy consistent credible national policy officials admitted Senate inquiry undertaken no modelling how meet target Turnbull pledged Paris reducing Australia’s emissions 2030 target ratify target Australia’s legal obligation modelling analysis all conclude Liberal Party National Party Coalition current policies introduce significant new policies shift electricity generation away from coal towards renewables more quickly conclude state targets Victoria’s 40% renewables 2025 South Australia 50% by 2025 Queensland 50% by 2030 what he is going to have to try to achieve Climate Change Authority report concluded electricity generation produce zero emissions well before 2050 goal Climate Institute modelling phase out high-carbon generation next 15 to 20 years energy crunch after 2030 cause severe economic disruption Reputex report Coalition current policies reach its own targets state-based renewable energy schemes desperately needs credible consistent national policy reduce emissions power generation government shift generation fossil fuels renewables keep the lights on minimise increase power costs switch intensity-based emissions trading scheme electricity sector Labor party policy win bipartisan support policy Turnbull proposed opposition leader energy market regulator Australian Energy Market Commission operate without significant effect absolute price levels consumers government Direct Action business community current watered-down federal renewable energy target Turnbull energy minister Josh Frydenberg electricity grid better able to cope increasingly frequent bouts of extreme weather convincing climate sceptics impact on power prices renewable energy keep the lights Malcolm Roberts One Nation senator climate denier climate sceptic Galileo movement prime minister promises made Paris shift electricity generation to renewables state targets conservative wing renewable energy left wing plot economic shock ideology government putting ideology before sensible policy planning irresponsible policy vacuum /