xkcd: Prometheus

Credit: xkcd

http://xkcd.com/1228/ / comic strip humour humor mathematics comic strip comics fire god gods stolen steal /

25 Samsung Galaxy S4 hidden features (video)

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/05/24/25-samsung-galaxy-s4-hidden-features/ / Android unlock full potential device smart phone smartphone cell mobile features deep menu menus settings that power experienced users guide get more buy buying accessories apps secret button combination menu toggles toggle favorite root install custom ROM access functions function access other features features all versions device small differences functionality access two finger pull notification toggles quickly change settings one finger pull down notification center swipe side to side quickly edit notification toggles turn on easy mode launch Google Now fast your home work favorite sports teams pick up travel plans remind you automatically customize fast access to common settings Multi Window mode cool feature Multi-View run two apps on screen multitask productivity paired keyboard Bluetooth carrier carriers check alerts touch screen touching notifications motions and gestures air gesture quick glance icon icons Notification bar missed calls new text messages SMs battery Life current time speed up the home button double tap launch S-Voice /

Why iOS 7's design is bold but flawed

Credit: Apple/ Macworld Australia

http://www.macworld.com.au/blogs/why-ios-7s-design-is-bold-but-flawed-100780/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All+you+need+to+know+about+Safari+tax+on+Mac+portable+batteries+and+much+much+more&utm_content=All+you+need+to+know+about+Safari+tax+on+Mac+portable+batteries+and+much+much+more+CID_772a365043ce27ab9f3eb60f953c8294&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Christa%20Mrgan%20explains#.UdlLZMsayK2 / middle school middle-school girls UI user interface patterns reading Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines week-long summer camp iOS development changes platform iOS 6 iOS 7 beta answer fuller explanation analysis faux 3D to real 2.5D D dimensions dimension emphasising user user’s content ornamentation users user top priority application app software human interface principles rich photorealistic details analogue metaphors intuition intuit how to use access content accomplish their task quickly and easily as possible visual cues helped us understand how to interact brand new brand-new type device cumbersome stale accustomed using these devices subsequent stripping away artifice ornamentation interface patterns merely removed unnecessary distraction 3D 3 dimensions faux-3D skin, iOS depth and motion artificial 3D image techniques deep shadows strong highlights gloss relying on spry animation parallax effects flat planes convey sensation of depth developer Manton Reece compared multiplane camera technology animation studiotwo-and-a-half-D 2.5D AfterEffects backgrounds images different planes z-axis animate virtual camera move through and around them planes look fully three-dimensional parallax depth-of-field effects compelling lifelike than moving image enhance sensation of depth tilting tilt phone hints subtly elements exist relation each other background interface home screen folder app feels effect is delightful static screenshots elements in a frozen state beauty new direction depth motion valid concerns design subjective problems Helvetica Ultralight system font mistake vision typography expert Erik Spiekermann completely unreadable increase by default Jony Ive’s Ive icon grid glyphs look harmoniously balanced Panic designer Neven Mrgan emphasis differentiation between choices Action sheets button borders bolder text UI user interface major overhaul OS operating system reinvention /

Bone marrow stem-cell therapy appears to have eradicated HIV in two patients

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-04/stem-cell-therapy-wipes-out-hiv-in-two-patients/4798396 / American doctors doctor patient two patients HIV-free HIV free bone marrow stem cell transplants transplant treat cancer treated Boston long-term drug therapy control HIV stem-cell developing lymphoma type of blood cancer Timothy Henrich Harvard Medical School doctors been unable find evidence HIV infection men since transplants doctor Dr Henrich made the announcement international AIDS Society conference Kuala Lumpur too early virus has disappeared from their bodies altogether one patient now been off antiretroviral drug treatment 15 weeks seven weeks stop terminate cease Human Immunodeficiency Virus target targets immune cells immune system weakening cause causing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS people increased risk other infections and cancers emerged in the early 1980s initially known as the gay plague once regarded as a death sentence antiviral medicines normal life span developing countries millions of people do not have access to these medicines more than 1,000 new infections diagnosed in Australia each year research, which funded the study hopes cure for the virus infect infection infects stem cell stem-cell therapy disease Timothy Ray Brown the Berlin patient first person cured of HIV after receiving a bone marrow transplant for leukaemia in 2007 donor rare genetic mutation known as CCR5 delta 32 virtually resistant to patients test positive Australian scientists said optimistic discovered millions more people to get access to crucial antiretroviral drugs lower daily dose effective far cheaper dose current dosage /

Flash drives: bigger, faster, cuter

Bigger: Kingston 1-terabyte


Credit: Kingston/ Slashgear

1 terabyte, USB 3.0, but the price tag! :(

http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/other-devices/kingston-debuts-1-terabyte-usb-3-0-flash-drive-with-matching-price-tag-1124153

Faster: Intel "world's fastest flash drive"


Credit: Intel/ PC World

Thunderbolt ... 10Gbps!

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2040903/intel-shows-worlds-fastest-thumb-drive.html

Cuter: Sandisk Cruzer Orbit


Credit: SanDisk/ Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/nothing-in-your-pocket-will-damage-this-spinning-flash-485851531 / USB 3 2 Thunderbolt 2.0 thumb key portable terabyte terabytes megabyte megabytes TB GB terabytes terabytes /

Aspirin & cancer

Aspirin is something of a wonder drug. As well as controlling a headache, it has a place in treatment of inflammation, arthritis, stroke & heart disease.

Now, there is evidence to suggest a place in prevention, & possibly treatment, of cancer.

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) has an interview in transcript & podcast forms:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/aspirin-and-cancer/4023844#transcript

National Cancer Institute (USA)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/prevention/aspirin-cancer-prevention/Page1

Cancer Council Australia

http://www.cancer.org.au/news/blog/prevention/does-an-aspirin-a-day-keep-cancer-away.html / invented Germany 1897 aspirin treatment treat range medical ailments simple headache inflammation cardiovascular benefits widely discussed news reports highlighted studies prevent some cancers particularly bowel cancer reducing cancer risk aspirin’s credential important consider evidence link between aspirin cancer found results seven trials 23,000 people randomly allocated low dose aspirin prevent strokes heart attacks monitored cancer outcomes studies showed link between aspirin 34% reduction deaths all cancers 54% reduction gastrointestinal cancer benefits terms of oesophageal lung pancreatic prostate cancers participants taking aspirin least five years see benefits low doses aspirin 75mg work higher doses taken each day low dose reduction cardiovascular deaths side effects of aspirin bleeding bowel brain study studies followed up over 20 years shown after taking aspirin seven and a half years 31% decrease all cancers 59% decrease bowel cancer results questioned cardiovascular disease recent study performed assess cancer risk group people carrying hereditary bowel cancer Lynch Syndrome high risk developing bowel other cancers sample group two 300mg aspirin tablets daily for at least two years study showed 59% decrease incidence bowel cancer patients taken aspirin incidence other cancers reduced underway examine optimal dose reduce cancer risk recommend daily reduce your cancer risk results impressive people at high risk bowel cancer talk to their doctor daily dose low moderate cancer risk effective aspirin how much how realize realise any cancer benefit daily low dose low-dose aspirin sufficient risk major bleeding uncommon life-threatening life threatening recommend anyone using daily aspirin without consulting their doctor evidence growing new information replace major lifestyle cancer prevention messages stop stopping smoking smoke control controlling weight including diet exercise limit limiting alcohol adopt sunscreen sun screen adopting sun protection measures summer best ways of reducing your cancer risk reduce our cancer risk /

First aircraft to taxi on electric power

Credit: Honeywell/ Safran/ Airbus/ Green Car Reports

Development continues on electric propulsion for commercial aircraft. In the meantime, electric drive for taxiing works right now.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084874_first-aircraft-to-taxi-on-electric-power-paris-air-show-premiere / low hanging low-hanging fruit aviation industry Electric Green Taxiing System EGTS Paris air show concept Aviation Week simple aircraft taxi runway power jet turbine engines electric motors mounted main landing gear power drive transmission benefits advantages Reduction fuel use taxiing small proportion fraction aircraft's aircraft plane fuel average flight gallon tug push move under its own power Auxiliary Power Unit save saving time money brake wear lower system braking regenerative benefits electric cars vehicle EV foreign object damage engines engine carbon dioxide co2 nitrogen oxide emissions reduced estimated 75 50 percent % carbon tax liabilities European airports system developed research researched Honeywell Safran tested Airbus A320 mid-haul short-haul mid short haul markets market savings save operators $200,000 per year per aircraft fuel costs companies develop development developing similar systems WheelTug electric taxiing handled nosewheel rather main gear systems testing stage 50 operators already interested first flight with electric taxiing /