New Rubik's cube world record: 3.253 seconds

What do you need to solve a Rubik's cube in 3.253 seconds?

So far, the only solution involves a Samsung Galaxy S4 with ARM processor, Lego Mindstorms EV3 bricks & custom software running on the S4. This all came to fruition at the Big Bang Fair in Birmingham, UK, on 15 Mar 2014.



Earlier video, even shorter, but with better views of some off the hardware:

/ Guiness World Record solve solving Rubix Rubik Rubik's cube record recording recorded time Big Bang Fair in Birmingham UK robot ARM-powered Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone smart phone analyze instruct four robotic hands manipulate manipulations ARM processors power eight LEGO bricks perform motor sequencing control design designed designer designing built and programmed Mike Dobson David Gilday creators Android Speedcuber CubeStormer II custom app developed develop developer development phone's camera capture images each face process processor processing processes solution advanced two-phase algorithm dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 based processor SII optimise optimize optimizations octocore eight-core big.LITTLE processor configuration four Cortex-A15 Cortex-A7 processors human speedcubers' solve times physical manipulation image capture software solution calculation physical solve /

Smog emergency in Paris — vehicle bans implemented — electrics exempt

Credit: Charged EVs

Two thirds of cars on Paris roads are diesel powered. Combined with continued warm, windless weather, air pollution levels have risen to the point where vehicle bans are being implemented. An odds & evens licence plate system is in use, with exemptions for electrics, hybrids, taxis, buses, emergency vehicles & cars with three or more passengers.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090906_half-of-all-cars-banned-from-paris-roads-over-smog-electric-cars-exempt / hazardous levels of pollution license plates pollution levels 80 micrograms of particulates per cubic meter Parisian pollution less polluting than gasoline at the time tax taxes taxed diesel engines latest generation of diesels particulate filters urea injection emissions-scrubbing systems diesel emissions emission gasoline petrol high levels of particulate matter various respiratory diseases higher oxides of nitrogen nitrogen oxide smog voter vote diesel taxes tax of cars car French roads fuel Paris reduce reduction reducing levels pollution gas-guzzling SUV reduce pollution greenhouse gas bus city's city residents resident bus underground services rail railway offering free mass transit ban banned cars car electric vehicle EV road traffic level density increase French capital ban pollution polluting electric vehicles vehicle /

Samsung may be having production difficulties with the Galaxy S5

Credit: Boy Genius Report

Samsung has promised the Galaxy S5 for 11 April 2014. Rumour has it that they are having diffculty producing the 16-megapixel rear-facing camera module & the finger print sensor.

http://bgr.com/2014/03/17/samsung-galaxy-s5-camera/ / Galaxy S5 production Korean publication ETNews manufacture manufacturing cameras device launch April 11th mass production yield yields camera lens module 20% 30% range 16-megapixel camera modules module thin enough fit Galaxy S5′s frame quality lens lenses camera module thin lensslightest flaw considerable optical distortion plastic lens thinner more accurate mold technology Galaxy S5 components Korean publication Daum improve production of the Galaxy S5′s fingerprint scanner third-party manufacturer Circletec production fingerprint scanner 16-megapixel cameras launching Galaxy S5 150 countries April 11th /

Flight 370 mystery: How can a jetliner drop off the radar?

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777
Credit: Shutterstock/Live Science

Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is very puzzling, with no hard evidence at the time of writing. The nearest thing to good news in this matter, is NextGen, a satellite-based aircraft navigation system under development by the FAA. Better tracking, with more accurate navigation in the air & it will get you to the gate faster.

http://www.livescience.com/44012-malaysian-airlines-mystery-radar-tracking.html / mystery missing commercial airliner vanish Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 took off Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur Friday afternoon March 7 U.S. Eastern time Beijing air traffic controllers lost contact plane flying over the Gulf of Thailand just disappeared from the radar Boeing 777 jet carrying 227 passengers 12 crew members Sid McGuirk associate professor air traffic management Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Florida aircraft altitude Air traffic controllers track commercial jets using two types of radar Primary" radar plane's position analyzing signals bounce back aircraft secondary enhanced interrogate requests information from each plane transponder radar facilities range 200 miles 320 kilometers passenger jets transoceanic flights radar map flight crews high-frequency HF radio satellite-based voice communication text-data networks ATCair traffic control exact time position flight level crossing Emily McGee Flight Safety Foundation nonprofit organization Alexandria Va ATC voice text progress reports defined geographic locations time intervals airlines file flight plans airplane crew check in checkpoint alarm raised technologically advanced aircraft commercial jets fly low altitudes radar relies on line-of-sight contact mountains landforms block signals radar stations curvature of the Earth low-flying track continuously transponder disabled terrorists target lands stolen vanished jet black box tracked by radar /

Is the United States an enemy of the Internet?

Reporters Without Borders thinks so. Every year, they publish a list called "Enemies of the Internet". In the latest list, the US joins such champions of freedom as China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Cuba & Iran.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/u-s-branded-enemy-internet/#!z8mna / free press uncensored Internet USA United States countries United Kingdom Russia India 2014 list assessment Reporters Without Borders NSA revelations leaked Edward Snowden country of the First Amendment undermined confidence standards of security surveillance practices decryption activities direct threat investigative journalists sensitive sources confidentiality under pressure secrecy lack of transparency Project Bullrun operation decrypt communications security software firms damaging journalism Web anonymity guaranteed James Risen Barrett Brown Jacob Appelbaum developers Tor journalists U.S. government online surveillance operations Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg President surveillance practices United Kingdom Electronic Great Wall China digital tyranny authorities Uzbekistan full report freedom of expression online /

Amazing monumental public art from Vancouver – Kickstarter (video)

Credit: Moshi/The Gadgeteer

Kickstarter makes amazing things happen by connecting people with an idea to people who want to support it financially. Total recently passed $US1 billion pledged by 5.7 million people. Projects have included plays, books & hardware. I was a backer of the Pebble smart watch. Very happy with it.

To quote Neil Gaiman, it has "... a sort of weird & lovely magic ..."

Speaking of which, have a look at this:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/burrardarts/janet-echelman-in-vancouver?ref=NewsMar0614&utm_campaign=Mar+06&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

More about the Kickstarter billion dollar milestone:

https://www.kickstarter.com/1billion / make monumental public art project happen valuable artwork world renowned world-renowned artist Chris BAF arts non-profit awesome public City of Vancouver excited co-presenter project initiativemonumental public art experience fellow urban dwellers Vancouver Sculpture public art installations world-renowned artist Janet Echelman's biggest public sculpture yet massive aerial sculpture stretched suspended roof Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver Convention Centre celebrated 30th Anniversary TED Conference Vancouver B.C. public art installations awe inspire urban sculptures talent passionate her work borrowing funds support installation costs project photographic postcard prints t-shirts signed limited edition fine art screen prints beautifully crafted etched wood pieces pledges support cover costs world-renowned artist t-shirts design artist /

Life expectancy: Country vs. City

You may have read in these pages, in July 2013, about lower life expectancy in country areas of the United States.

Something similar happens in Australia too:

http://theconversation.com/unravelling-why-geography-is-australias-biggest-silent-killer-23238?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014+CID_3ee2d53f04d8b9b06fcc1d2f5e13ef2f&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Unravelling%20why%20geography%20is%20Australias%20biggest%20silent%20killer / Lesley Barclay
Professor of Rural Health University of Sydney big city dangerous place worry they might get murdered being killed on purpose more likely in town according to new research researcher study rare compared die dying in an accident more likely die unexpectedly countryside United States of America US USA U.S. U.S.A. cars guns firearms fire arms drugs causing majority injury deaths US Dr Sage Myers University of Pennsylvania risk of homicide higher big cities risk unintentional injury death 40 percent higher most rural areas most urban overall rate unintentional injury dwarfs risk homicide rate unintentional injury more than 15 times homicide among the entire population results massive study directed most common causes of injury death motor vehicle crashes leading to 27.61 deaths per 100,000 people in most rural areas and 10.58 per 100,000 in most urban areas risk firearm related firearm-related death difference across rural urban rural-urban spectrum entire population whole age subgroups studied firearm-related deaths found significantly higher rural areas children people 45 years and older people 20 to 44 risk firearm-related death significantly lower rural areas mean streets not so mean risk being run over wrapping your motor around tree telegraph pole mean compared open road country possibility probability likely get shot countryside too accident suicide opposed person most likely to shoot an American is himself more most likely die in a car crash fall accidental poisoning intentionally kill himself awful dangers posed computer equipment fearful engine of death the hot tub Annals of Emergency Medicine National Health Performance Authority life expectancy at birth avoidable deaths death population avoidable deaths death metro areas area regional hubs rural places years of completed education lower incomes income disability smoke drink alcohol risky degrees degree access Internet mobile phones /