Liquid cooling for Samsung Galaxy S7?

Credit: Fujitsu/Android Police

Liquid cooled phones are not a completely new idea, but the rumour mill is suggesting it for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S7.

Other rumours include:

•      Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip for improved performance – which may explain the liquid cooling references – its predecessor, the Snapdragon 810, had heat problems

•      unchanged 5.1in 2,560x1,440 Super AMOLED screen

•      major camera upgrade

•      microSD card slot – missing from the S6

•      even tougher display glass

•      Android Marshmallow

•      announcement at MWC (22-25 February 2016)

/ Samsung Galaxy S7 release date specifications specs price rumours same design Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 heat could cause problems round up roundup latest rumours Galaxy S7 released release early 2016 Samsung Galaxy S6 Galaxy S5 Samsung completely change materials revamped design more modern look feel upcoming Galaxy S7 very similar design more substantial changes under the hood improvements picture quality performance boost performance Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 chip internal heat pipe suppliers new handset apparent overheating problems Snapdragon 810 heat pipes heat dissipation launch dates yearly release schedules launch the Galaxy S7 S7 Edge CES show Las Vegas performance design newer stronger glass panel glass cover Turtle Glass Corning Gorilla Glass top-end smartphones magnesium-based alloy chassis better heat dissipation lighter phone durability aluminium build quality stronger type of glass display 5.1in 2,560x1,440 Super AMOLED screen next-generation galaxy 4K 3,840x2,160 resolution draw more power affect battery life photos and video press-sensitive displays Apple's 3D Touch panels Synaptics' ClearForce technology force-sensitive touch interface processor chipset /

When molten lava meets water

When water meets lava at over 2,050 degrees Farenheit (1,121 Celcius), the water flashes to steam with spectacular & potentially dangerous consequences. Scientists are investigating:



In nature, something similar happens. In Hawaii, lava from the Kilauea volcano reaches the Pacific Ocean after a seven mile (11 km) journey.

/ lava larva magma volcano lava reaches Pacific Ocean Kamokuna seven mile journey Pu'u O'o vent Kilauea Volcano geology geologist flash boil steam superheated steam explosion volcano volcanic nature Hawaii lava Kilauea volcano ocean geology geologist igneous rock basalt /

Smartrope counts your jumps

LEDs embedded in the rope display the jump count in the air in front of you. Rechargable, with a Bluetooth linked app on your smartphone. A choice of different length ropes accommodates users from 4’6″ (137 cm) to 6’7″ (201cm).

Two sets of ball bearings in the handles make swinging the rope silky-smooth.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2015/12/04/smart-rope-makes-jumping-rope-fun-again/#more-190266

Manufacturere’s web site:
http://tangramfactory.com/home/htm/pc_eng.htm / Tangram jumping rope jump rope skip skipping fun again Smart Rope makes Smart Rope so awesome 23 embedded LEDs rope display in mid-air number of jumps future software updates select modes app allow rope display calories burned interval training data magnetic sensors accurately detects completion each revolution rope handles contain two sets ball bearings ensure rope swings smoothly two hours of charging micro-USB cable 36 hours of active use over a month’s of daily hour-long workouts handles chrome gold black colors colours add soft grips silicone five colors blue green pink orange neutral Smart Rope used independently without being connected device blutooth connection device smartphone smart phone Bluetooth ready works with Smart Gym app iOS Android devices app provides number jumps completed calories burned does not sense heart rate calories burned approximate exercise duration show your data week month year rope not adjustable five lengths available accommodate users Smart Rope available Tangram $89.99 pouch exercise cardio /

Metadata retention – what is it & is it important?

Around the world, governments are planning, or have already begun, collecting data about their citizens’ use of mobile communications & the Internet. In most cases, they do not plan to capture the content of phone calls, emails or web pages: merely metadata. E.g. calls who, where from, who sends emails to whom, addresses of web pages visited. This metadata will be available to authorities without a warrant.

“It’s only metadata,” is commonly heard.

This raises two questions:

1.    If metadata is of no importance, why do authorities wish to collect it?

2.    Just what information can be gleaned from metadata?

In Australia, metadata collection & retention for two years, became compulsory on 13 October 2015. An employee of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) acquired a copy of his metadata from his mobile carrier & made it available to the public to see what they could find out about him. This is what they found:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-16/metadata-retention-privacy-phone-will-ockenden/6694152

What is metadata, & is it important?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-17/metadata-data-retention-what-is-it/6324962 / your phone tracks your every move digital age how much of your life is actually private ABC reporter Will Ockenden access metadata data looks like many of our actions leave behind electronic footprint collects data critical questions modern society Australia's new data retention laws phone internet companies save information two years every time you call someone where you call them from which cell tower your phone pings connects internet what data might reveal ABC reporter Will Ockenden surveillance selfie access metadata individual Australian's metadata tracking device critics Australia's data retention law mass surveillance metadata track where people go Attorney-General Department map shows every time phone communicated cell mobile tower outgoing call text message internet connection markers locations cell towers phone contacted direction of travel route time of connections daily routine mandatory data retention Federal Government security agencies nothing to worry about metadata content of communications Prime Minister Tony Abbott data system generates metadata dataset contained year outgoing call SMS records six months data sessions records kept phone connected internet cellular mobile network simple data request 13,000 individual records 1,500 outgoing phone calls SMS 11,200 records data sessions time date phone connected mobile network cell tower connected to smartphone Will carrying tracking device logged roughly where he was every 20 minutes Government departments police security agencies all the data more without the need for a warrant pattern recognition follow daily movements collate visualise data patterns heatmaps phone communicated different cell towers patterns ping pings journeys filter heatmaps patterns emerge time slices intimate portrait aspects life tools explore metadata conclusions where you live how gets to and from work when he leaves town where he goes social network metadata show information about an individual connections to other people organisations major main most important top 10 contacts people communicates with most often contact how and when communicated with them preserve their privacy relationships concealed contacts' identities patterns data showed scarily accurate provided analysis metadata many insights about life revealed data dataset mobile cell provider Telstra who he called texted dataset phone numbers how long each phone call lasted time of the communication location of the cell tower contacted outgoing calls were initiated location cell tower contacted SMS Internet connections data kept by telcos Internet providers data retention laws not included in the dataset details of incoming phone calls time date size recipients emails sent ISP's email service webmail services Gmail Yahoo Hotmail file type size attachments sent received emails using ISP's email service internet usage how much bandwidth internet service provides /

Which is Nerdier: Star Wars or Star Trek?

It’s a vexed question which exercises serious minds everywhere. For a definitive answer, CollegeHumor gathered together two of the most central figures for a debate:



More at: www.collegehumor.com / Star Trek Star Wars Luke Skywalker Dart Vader Obi-Wan Kenobi Ben Kenobi fictional character Star Wars universe played by Alec Guinness Ewan McGregor Wookiee Wookie Star Wars Wookieepedia Chewbacca Chewie Death Star C-3P0 Padme Amidala Qui-Gon Jinn Liam Neeson Anakin Anakin Skywalker Lando Calrissian Jawa Jabba The Hutt Princess Leia Organa Carrie Frances Fisher Stormtrooper Yoda R2-D2 Han Solo Harrison Ford Jedi Captain James Tiberius Kirk Jim Commander Data Captain Jean-Luc Picard Enterprise Mr Spock George Takei Mr Sulu Hikaru Sulu Leonard McCoy Montgomery Scott Scotty Nyota Uhura Pavel Chekov Number One William Riker Deanna Troi Beverly Crusher Geordi La Forge Worf Klingon Tasha Yar Wesley Crusher Guinan Whoopi Goldberg /

Morning glory – extraordinary clouds

Morning glory
Credit: http://viralcamera.com/



Satellite image
Credit: http://viralcamera.com/

"A Morning Glory cloud is a roll cloud, or arcus cloud, that can be up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) long, 1 to 2 kilometres (0.62 to 1.24 miles) high, often only 100 to 200 metres (330 to 660 feet) above the ground. The cloud often travels at the rate of 10 to 20 metres per second. Sometimes there is only one cloud, sometimes there are up to ten consecutive roll clouds." – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Glory_cloud

Morning Glory clouds have been observed irregularly in a number of places, including central United States, English Channel, Munich, Berlin, eastern Russia, & on one occasion 35km (22 miles) North of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Those which appear over the southern part of Carpentaria Gulf from from late September to early November are the only ones which appear with any degree of predictability.



Because of the lift generated at the front face of a morning glory cloud, it is popular with glider (sail plane) & hang glider pilots.

/ Morning Glory cloud rare meteorological phenomenon low-level atmospheric solitary wave associated cloud occasionally observed different locations around the world wave often occurs amplitude-ordered series of waves bands of roll clouds southern part Gulf of Carpentaria Northern Australia only known location predicted observed more or less regular basis configuration land sea Morning Glory clouds observed Burketown late September to early November town attracts glider pilots riding phenomenon well formed spectacular clouds Burketown ragged unspectacular cloud lines start to break up only stay well formed over water aircraft significantly better chance sighting the cloud Morning Glory cloud roll cloud arcus cloud up to 1,000 kilometres 620 miles long 1 to 2 kilometres 0.62 to 1.24 miles high often only 100 to 200 metres 330 to 660 feet above ground cloud often travels at rate 10 to 20 metres per second only one cloud sometimes up to ten consecutive roll clouds three distinct types of Morning Glory clouds have been identified Morning Glory often accompanied by sudden wind squalls intense low-level wind shear rapid increase vertical displacement of air parcels sharp pressure jump at the surface cloud continuously formed leading edge eroded trailing edge showers or thunderstorms may develop in its wake front of the cloud strong vertical motion transports air up through the cloud creates rolling appearance air middle and rear cloud becomes turbulent sinks cloud quickly dissipates over land air is drier cloud described solitary wave soliton undular bore wave single crest moves without changing speed or shape world's biggest wave wave may occur without appearance of any clouds exploration unusual cloud formations since ancient times local Garrawa Aboriginal people kangólgi Royal Australian Air Force RAAF pilots first reported phenomenon 1942 Morning Glory cloud Gulf of Carpentaria studied scientists early 1970s mathematical models complex movements air masses in the region Morning Glory cloud not clearly understood rarity rare little significance rainfall or climate complexity atmospheric phenomenon research main causes most Morning Glory occurrences mesoscale circulations sea breezes develop peninsula Cape York Peninsular Gulf of Carpentaria Morning Glories usually associated frontal systems crossing central Australia high pressure northern Australia Morning Glory likely to occur humidity is high provides moisture for cloud form strong sea breezes blown the preceding day conditions that cause the Morning Glory cloud to form in the Gulf of Carpentaria /

BlackBerry says no to Pakistani backdoor demand

BlackBerry Passport smartphone
Credit: Selfridges

Governments around the world want unfettered access to your data. In Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority made such a demand on BlackBerry Enterprise Services, with a deadline of 30 November. To their credit, Blackberry said, “No,” & are closing up shop in Pakistan, despite an extension to 30 December.
http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/11/blackberry-says-no-to-pakistani-backdoor-gambit/

Other companies with the same responsibilities to their customers have been making moves in this direction too:
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/search?q=Apple+tells+judge

It remains to be seen if any of these companies would have the same attachment to their convictions if the market had a bigger impact on their bottom line – say European Union or USA. / government ordered shutdown enterprise service BlackBerry total access response demand backdoor access enterprise messaging products BlackBerry completely pulling out Pakistan market announcement ban providing BlackBerry Enterprise Services over mobile networks Pakistan due take effect today Pakistan Telecommunications Authority ban BlackBerry Enterprise Services BES issued become 30 November security reasons ban Privacy International report warned Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence ISI agency gain network surveillance capabilities USA NSA National Security Agency government order 30 December 30 BlackBerry COO Marty Beard exit Pakistani market completely meet government demands unfettered access message traffic regret leaving important market valued customers Pakistan forfeiting commitment protect our users’ privacy compromise Pakistani government demanded monitor all BlackBerry Enterprise Service traffic BES e-mail and BES BBM message prompting ban we do not support back doors granting open access to our customers’ information completely shutter operations in Pakistan /