Alien abduction lamp – I want to believe

Credit: Funky Company/The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/10/07/the-alien-abduction-lamp-i-want-to-believe/ / lamp lamps Alien Abduction Lamp Daisy Clara-belle Clarabelle Bossie cow abducted tractor tractor-beam wielding aliens aboard flying saucer LED lights high-quality Perspex beam space ship stainless steel black-pearl finish glow in the dark glow-in-the-dark aliens alien antenna toggle power switch toggles lights off on sets pulse mode lamp comes real fake grass cow additional cows purchase purchased separately itself is about $94.00 Funky Company located Australia ship to other countries including USA US offer power adaptors your location little green men LGM /

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

Credit: Boy Genius Report

Great new phone:

http://www.cnet.com/au/products/samsung-galaxy-note-3/

But, it appears to be cheating on benchmarks:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/galaxy-note-3s-benchmarking-adjustments-inflate-scores-by-up-to-20/ / Android noticed odd thing while testing Samsung Galaxy Note 3 scores really really well benchmark tests quick comparison scores similarly-specced similarly specced specification LG G2 something fishy going on Samsung's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 blows the doors off LG's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 Snapdragon different sleuthing Samsung artificially boosting US Note 3's benchmark scores special high-power high power CPU mode kicks when device runs large number popular benchmarking apps Samsung international Galaxy S 4's S4 GPU boost US device disable special CPU mode Samsung's benchmark optimizations scores smoking gun CPU idle speeds system monitor app picture shows how differently the CPU treats a benchmarking app different differently normal app normally Note 3 idling three four cores shut off conserve power battery remaining core drops down low power low-power 300MHz mode load up popular CPU benchmarking app Note 3 CPU locks into 2.3GHz mode fastest speed possible cores ever shut off idle idling affect benchmark scores benchmarks measure performance device Geekbench disassembling benchmarking app package name assemble assembling re-assembling reassembling Android Samsung Galaxy Note 3 OS operating system performance screen size phablet recent flagship devices device feature positively gorgeous displays display plastic hardware typically feels cheap flimsy hype launch rack huge sales numbers BGR boy genius report feature spam features feature focus focusing truly innovative useful hero features offering services lock customers ecosystem new Galaxy Note 3 Samsung gimmick gimmicky features approach /

Intelligent Glasses quickly translate foreign languages in real time

Credit: NTT Docomo/DVICE

http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-1/intelligent-glasses-quickly-translate-foreign-languages-real-time / ordering a meal non English non-English speaking country restaurant illustrations pictures pointing point nod picture read road sign posted notice unfamiliar text overseas over seas sea abroad invention creation NTT Docomo's Docomo Intelligent Glasses pair wearable spectacles translate foreign text native tongue read feature Google Glass needs demonstrated Japan Japanese Japan's CEATEC consumer electronics show Intelligent Glasses translate Japanese Korean Chinese English in real time swathe swath text place placed in front glasses character recognition technology projected image translated text layer layered over original foreign text translation processing time over five seconds prototype alpha beta software app application intelligent glasses manipulate virtual images wearer wearer's field of vision blank flat surface use using ring track tracks hand movements movement glasses wear wearer interact projected image turns surface into touchscreen touch tags see facial recognition feature summon recall personal details viewing range information name job title other personal details pulled up data retrieved retrieve retrieval smartphone's smartphones smartphone remote server develop development developing developers release date 2020 coincide with Tokyo Olympics improvements improve improvement size weight battery life endurance NTT Docomo's goals goal objective intention company glasses result results increase tourist tourism /

Spectacular simplicity of "Gravity"

Credit: Alfonso Cuaron/ Gravity/ The Atlantic

"... special effects that are at once so novel, so technologically ahead-of-the-curve, and so essential to the underlying narrative ..."

Have to see this!

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/10/the-spectacular-simplicity-of-em-gravity-em/280245/ / review movie film motion picture watch view film gravity spatial geometry Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron Children of Men 2006 fascinating experiment hybrid filmmaking awesome display cutting edge cutting-edge special effects compact character drama shot plays play deep space deep-space variation Sherif Ali iconic entrance Lawrence of Arabia supernal slice blue white blue-white Planet Earth space shuttle Sandra Bullock George Clooney Dr. Ryan Stone medical engineer rookie astronaut Matt Kowalski yarn spinning yarn-spinning space veteran final mission routine spacewalk tinker Hubble Telescope figure prominently detonation explosion Russian satellite chain reaction collision collisions massive debris field hurtling toward inadvertent projectiles primary antagonist more elegant title Flying Space Junk opening sequence stunning display pure cinema disengage cargo bay bay's arm pinwheel pinwheels helplessly around shuttle tsunami orbital flotsam twirls axis she's freed arm hurled silent void itself reveal details intermittent success find their way to safety shuttle neighboring space station any port in a storm back to Earth journey home physical spiritual convey visual spectacle spectacularity mathematical equations featuring vectors vector force acceleration customary prose unfolding series terrifying object lessons Newtonian physics spatial geometry cinematography collaboration collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki, alternates between harrowing sublime vertigo vertiginous sequences settle unexpectedly intimate closeups featuring special effects novel, technologically ahead of the curve ahead-of-the-curve essential underlying narrative an argument for 3D demands seen theater largest screen available the silence visual extravagance cast essentially consists Ed Harris voice of Mission Control succinct Peter Jackson story propelled simplest most universal human motivations motivation quest survival uncaring cosmos contribution contribute contributes arguably best work of her career coast limitless charm coasting principal reality life in space disappoint disappointment screenplay Jonas movie's magisterial visuals writing often pinched conventional overwrought unnecessary backstory clumsily executed hinge plot dialogue hoary cliché cliche narrative missteps disappointing easy to correct conversation avoid avoided moments clunky immersion movie theater rather Earth space walk silence air supply flaw genuine wonders big ones dazzlingly unforgettably right /

Tesla battery fire — does it mean electric cars are unsafe?

Credit: AJ Gill/ YouTube/ ABC News

Check the video

http://youtu.be/q0kjI08n4fg

Are electric vehicles (EVs) unsafe?

News flash people: all cars are unsafe — driving/riding in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous thing most people do on a regular basis. Very few people reading this have not either been in a motor accident where they were injured, or know someone who has (broken bones, bruises from seat belt in my case).

Do electric cars represent a fire risk?

News flash: all cars represent a fire risk. You can't put 10 gallons of petrol (gasoline) in a vehicle without creating a fire risk.

Do EVs represent a larger fire risk than internal combustion engine (ICE) cars?

News flash: ICE cars catch fire regularly. Over 500 per day on average in USA alone in 2011.

187,000 ICE vehicle fires in the United States in that year represent one fire for every 1,738 ICE. With almost 20,000 Teslas on the road, this fire makes one out of almost 20,000 in the past 12 months. If we include other brands of EV, the stats look even better.

Based on the record to-date, I'll take the electric.

Why don't we hear about all those ICE vehicle fires? Because they are so common. They're not worth reporting. On the other hand, one electric vehicle fire & the news media is abuzz.

Some have expressed concern that the fire wasn't extinguished by water. Hint: don't try water on a petrol or diesel fire either.

Elon Musk defends Model S fire safety

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/10/05/elon-musk-responds-to-tesla-s-fire-news-says-it-would-have-been-worse-in-a-regular-car/

Wired — Please calm the hell down

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/tesla-model-s-fire/

Nothing new to see here

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/model-s-fire/ / electric vehicle EV battery cell cells LiIon lithium ion charge recharge range petrol diesel petrochemical hydrocarbon fossil fuel BEV petrol gas gasolene gasoline energy density petroleum oil CEO electric car company Tesla battery Model S caught fire impaled metal object pierced penetrated Elon Musk more detail blog post fire Internet sensation unsettled Tesla investors defended the car's battery technology blog post more common conventional gas powered vehicles vehicle consumers concerned about fire risk zero doubt safer power car battery large tank highly flammable liquid curved metal component cause causing Tesla catch fire shape punch punching 3 inch hole armor plate protect protects car's bottom underside company said car properly contained blaze driver able exit highway Seattle suburb Kent flames engulfed front vehicle 194,000 vehicle fires U.S. each year, vast majority cars trucks gasoline diesel engines. Electric vehicles firefighters extinguish fire flames reignited dry chemical extinguisher Tesla shares fell sharply shares recovered loss 5.2 percent still up 400 percent /

Playing violent video games changes both the structure & behaviour of the brain

Latest research presented to a conference in Sydney, Australia, on Friday 04 October, shows that exposure to violent video games has the following effects:

• Limits size of the pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain which controls impulsive behaviour & rationality.

• Reduces activity in the pre-frontal cortex.

• Reduces sensitivity to violence.

These effects are both short & long term.

See a transcript of the radio programme, or stream or download at:

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3862722.htm / program radio behavior playing violent video games could change your brain mind Elizabeth Jackson reported story listen MP3 story WMA version MP3 download violent video games make cause causing making changes size player players player's players' brains brain mind speaking conference Sydney Dr. Doctor Wayne Warburton psychologist Macquarie University numerous studies show cumulative exposure violence limits growth pre-frontal cortex part brain controls impulsive behaviour Elizabeth Jackson brain images show changes short long term reduced activity pre-frontal lobes brain inhibit behaviours behaviour think through consequences plan things rational thought reduced reduce capacity respond diminished capacity respond rationally desensitise desensitisation decensitised desensitize decensitizeation decensitized violence short term long term MRI FMRI magnetic resonance imaging machine expose violent media emotion centre centres center centers brain limbic system diminished responding response responce less emotional response exposure media violence less exposure media violence EEG exposure expose violent exposure response strong emotional responses desensitised active suppression emotion centres literal starving blood turned off emotional content Elizabeth Jackson long short term cumulative effects long term affects violence in the real world loss of empathy decreases density frontal cortex affect neural migration psychologist Macquarie University /

Samsung Galaxy S5 — 64 bit processor & optical zoom

Credit: Samsung/ Gotto Be Mobile

Mmm, 64 bit processor & optical zoom — sounds good. On the other hand, the optics & sensor are unlikely to equal a Sony QX10 "smart lens" to add to my existing smart phone. And the QX10 will be a lot cheaper, more flexible, & available now, if less convenient.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/09/12/samsung-galaxy-s5-feature-confirmed/ / Samsung Galaxy S5 launch date months away already spilling the beans next Galaxy devices next Galaxy smartphones smart phone phones smartphone include Galaxy S5 64 bit 64-bit processing processor iPhone 5S Apple device perk perks camera fingerprint reader new A7 processor micro processor processing chip applications written display higher performance games gaming gamer gamers processing power assume Samsung’s mobile business chief Shin Jong-kyun Samsung Galaxy S5 feature confirmed rumors device powerful camera optical zoom March launch date rumor rumour rumours rumor Galaxy S5 2014 release Samsung Galaxy Note 3 iPhone 5S HTC One max HTC One company company’s flagship Galaxy S /