Sunday, December 29, 2013

Author Neil Gaiman Defends Children’s Literature From Adult ‘Snobbery’

52-year-old British author Neil Gaiman has spoken out against ‘snobbish’ adult judgements being placed upon children’s literature.


The author, who delivered the second annual Reading Agency lecture in central London this week, chose to use this time, at least in part, to speak out against what he feels is a damaging trend in modern literary criticism.


“I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad book for children,” began the author, addressing a crowd that included many leading figures from the arts and entertainment world, as well as several representatives from educational institutions.


“Every now and again it becomes fashionable among some adults to point at a subset of children’s books, a genre, perhaps, or an author, and to declare them bad books, books that children should be stopped from reading,”


“I’ve seen it happen over and over; Enid Blyton was declared a bad author, so was (‘Goosebumps’ author) RL Stine, so were dozens of others. Comics have been decried as fostering illiteracy”.


“It’s tosh, it’s snobbery and it’s foolishness”, he continued.


Mr Gaiman, who’s works include children’s books (Odd & The Frost Giants), comic books (Sandman, 1602) and prize winning novels (The Graveyard Book, Coraline, American Gods), has seen his works adapted into popular films (Stardust, Coraline), and has written for several TV shows (Babylon 5, Dr. Who, Neverwhere). He is generally considered to be one of the most prolific and celebrated authors of his generation, so it is likely that his criticisms will carry some weight.


Gaiman continued, saying that, “There are no bad authors for children, that children like and want to read and seek out, because every child is different. They can find the stories they need to, and they bring themselves to stories”.


“A hackneyed, worn-out idea isn’t hackneyed and worn out to them. This is the first time the child has encountered it. Do not discourage children from reading because you feel they are reading the wrong thing. Fiction you do not like is the gateway drug to other books you may prefer. And not everyone has the same taste as you.


He continued with a warning to parents, teachers and even older siblings, when he said that,


“Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child’s love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like, the 21st Century equivalents of Victorian ‘improving’ literature. You’ll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and worse, unpleasant.”


Gaiman’s own book, ‘Neverwhere’ was recently removed from a High School reading list in New Mexico after a parent complained that it was inappropriate.


Gaiman’s response to this was wry and well-considered, as he told a BBC reporter, “I tend to take books of mine being challenged and occasionally being banned – and very occasionally being burned – as a kind of badge of honour. You know you are doing something right.”


Mr. Gaiman’s concerns were echoed by a number of the lecture’s attendees.


 


SOURCES:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24521225



Author Neil Gaiman Defends Children’s Literature From Adult ‘Snobbery’

Friday, December 27, 2013

Will we need the computer mouse in the future

In the era of touch-screens, styluses and those weird little Nokia plectrum dealies (what is up with those exactly?) we have to ask questions about the future of the humble mouse. Is he now considered vermin? Do we cast him aside, banishing him to the world of grammar phones, 8-track tapes and pet rocks?


 


The other night, I watched Star Trek IV (yeah, the one with the whales) and apart from the fact that it had aged considerably better than the vast majority of mid 80’s movies, I noticed one thing in particular. Mr. Scott, when faced with a 20th Century computer, had no idea what a mouse was. At first, he considers it to be some sort of audio device and talks into it.  Have we always considered the mouse a means to an end? A necessary device that will be outmoded by progress? Considering this, I thought about more science fiction (increasingly where we draw our designs for contemporary technology from) and realized that appearances by any sort of hand-held computer interfaces were limited almost exclusively to communications devices and those wrist-things (even then they talked into them more than they pushed buttons) So, are the little mouse’s days numbered?


 


Laptops tend to use those funny little black pads (though many people attach mice to them for convenience) and whilst I doubt this idea will spread to PC, the current crop of hi-tech gadgets and gizmos are effectively cutting out our ‘mousefied middle men’ and moving steadily into the realm of touch screens and direct Human contact. How long before voice recognition? I can’t say, but I am excited about the idea of a holodeck.


 


The thing is; the keyboard and mouse pretty much have to be separate from the computer unit itself. Even if I had a touch screen computer, I can’t imagine sitting here and writing this article by tapping on the glass. If the computer were upright and touch-operated (not unlike those in the movie Avatar) it would still not allow me to type words for any length of time (and voice recording would be no substitute for typing anyway). So we’ve surmised that the keyboard has got to stay. What would happen if we had a touch screen and a keyboard but no mouse? Would civilisation decline? Actually, I doubt it, but I do think it would be inconvenient and take a lot of getting used to.


 


So is the computer mouse a dead technology? Not as far as I can see. But are the tides of progress threatening to wash over its shores? Quite possibly, however, this would involve a fairly drastic re-design of the home computer set up and such a venture always carries risks, so I think its safe the say the mouse is safe for a few years yet. Now when are they going to get around to that holodeck? 



Will we need the computer mouse in the future

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Bit Torrent Site Gets Axed, Owner Forced to Pay £68m to MPAA

Bit Torrent website IsoHunt.com, a popular website that specializes in downloadable content, is being shut down following a court settlement.


 


The site, which was founded in 2003, was extremely popular with users. Some 7.4 million viewers had visited the site within three years of it going live. At its peak, Isohunt received an average of 40 million searches a month.


 


In response to the California court’s ruling, IsoHunt’s founder Gary Fung wrote on his blog that “its sad to see my baby go”.


 


The problems began when a group of major corporations, including Disney, Paramount and 20th Century Fox, accused the site of copyright infringement. A large portion of IsoHunt’s Torrent files contained copyrighted material, such as movies, TV shows and music albums.


 


The court case has taken more than 7 years to reach its conclusion, but a decision has finally been made.


 


Mr Fung has been ordered to pay $110m (£68m) to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), but since neither he, nor his company has access to funds of this kind, it is estimated that the MPAA will only receive $2-$4m from Fung.


 


It should be noted, however, that IsoHunt did not actually upload any pirated material. According to Mr. Fung, the IsoHunt users were ultimately responsible for what they made available for download, as opposed to the site itself, which merely served as a directory for available content.


 


Nevertheless, MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd was pleased with the Court’s decision, saying, “The successful outcome of this landmark lawsuit will also will help preserve jobs and protect the tens of thousands of businesses in the creative industries, whose hard work and investments are exploited by sites like IsoHunt.”


 


Fung has argued elsewhere that, if the entertainment industry was to fully embrace digital media (for example by lowering prices and offering simultaneous digital releases), it could easily render sites like his obsolete. 


 


The website www.piracydata.org, which is run by a team of researchers from Virginia, US, has suggested that, of the top 10 most pirated movies of the week, half were unavailable for legal download and none were available for streaming, making piracy the only option for viewers wishing to watch these films over the Internet.


 


But how damaging is online piracy to Hollywood’s profit margins? The 2008 James Cameron movie ‘Avatar’, for example, has been listed as ‘the most pirated film of all time’, after being downloaded something like 21million times worldwide. However, the movie still garnered $600m in DVD sales in the US alone, which is not taking rentals into account (which garnered a further $57m, again, just in the US). This indicates that a considerable number of people are downloading the movie as well as buying the DVD/Blu Ray release.


 


Not everyone in the film and television industries is opposed to piracy either. Musician, actor and spoken word performer Henry Rollins has repeatedly stated that he’d “rather be heard than paid” and Vince Gilligan, creator of the popular US TV show ‘Breaking Bad’ has said that piracy helped his show to be successful, by increasing “brand awareness” of his product.


 


In a Q&A session on Reddit, Gary Fung said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have remained faithful. 10.5 years of IsoHunt has been a long journey by any business definition and forever in Internet start-up time”.


Regardless of the debates, the Isohunt site will likely be completely shut down by the time you read this.


  


SOURCES


 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17812247


 


http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/avatar-the-most-pirated-movie-ever-1034312


 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24580130


 


http://pctechmag.com/2013/10/breaking-bad-creator-says-piracy-helped-the-show-as-piracy-site-isohunt-is-to-shut-down/



Bit Torrent Site Gets Axed, Owner Forced to Pay £68m to MPAA

Monday, December 23, 2013

Iceman’s Living Relatives Discovered

A team of Austrian scientists has identified living relatives of Oetzi the Iceman, the 5,300-year-old body discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991.


The research highlights 19 Tyrolean men, all of whom bear distinct genetic similarities to samples taken from the body of Oetzi (so named because he was discovered in the valley of Oetz).


It is thought that the same genetic mutation that was found in Oetzi’s ancient DNA will also be discovered in the nearby Swiss region of Engadine.


The men have not been informed about their famous heritage and their connection to the Iceman is known only from analysis of their blood after donation. Women were not included in this particular study, as a different procedure would be required to match their samples to Oetzi’s.


The Austrian team has announced that it will be working with Swiss and Italian partners in order to further their research.


Since hikers discovered the body in 1991, Oetzi has been a source of constant fascination to historians, geneticists, archaeologists and interested media outlets. A high level of research has uncovered how Oetzi died, what his last meal consisted of and even what his face might very well have looked like (he had brown eyes). In addition, the Iceman’s entire genome was mapped and published last February.


In life, Oetzi stood at about 5ft 2in, lived to be approximately 46 years old and suffered from (amongst other things) arthritis and a whipworm infestation.


However, the discovery of living relatives to the 5,300-year-old corpse definitely represents a milestone in a case that has been called ‘the world’s oldest murder mystery’ by some.


Since Oetzi’s discovery in 1991, debates have raged about the Iceman’s final moments, there has even been some speculation that he was buried, but why and by whom remains a mystery.


In addition, a court case raged for years between the body’s discoverers and the local authorities, regarding a 25% finders fee that the authorities declined to pay in full. The court case was eventually settled in 2008.


The Iceman has made news in other areas as well; seven people involved in the discovery of Oetzi have died under allegedly ‘mysterious’ circumstances, leading some to speculate as to the existence of a curse.


Last year, Oetzi made the news yet again, as Italian scientists determined that there were red blood cells around Oetzi’s wounds. This was remarkable news as previously no blood was found within the body. These findings made Oetzi’s blood the oldest in the world, but, amazingly, his bloodline continues to this day.


 


SOURCES:


 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17909396


 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17909396


 


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7643286.stm



Iceman’s Living Relatives Discovered

Friday, December 20, 2013

BREAKING NEWS ‘New’ Species of Mammal Discovered in South America

American Scientists from the Smithsonian Institute of Washington DC have discovered a new type of carnivorous mammal previously unknown to Western science.


The creature, known as the olinguito, is the first such animal to be discovered on the American continent in 35 years.


Zoologist Dr. Kristofer Helgen, who works as the curator of mammals in Washington DC’s National Museum of Natural History, discovered some stored remains in a Chicago museum and was reportedly ‘stopped in his tracks’ upon seeing them.


Following further examination, Helgen says that, “The skins were a rich red colour and when I looked at the skulls I didn’t recognize the anatomy. It was different to any similar animal I’d seen, and right away I thought it could be a species new to science.”


DNA testing eventually proved that, whilst the 35-cm long olinguito is a type of olingo (a relative of raccoons), it is definitely a distinct species in its own right. However, not content with simply describing the species from the remains, the real challenge for Helgen was to attempt to observe this new mammal in the wild.


Using educated guesswork and clues obtained from the specimen drawer, Dr. Helgen and his team were able to theorize a possible habitat for the olinguito. Their ideas proved to be correct and the animal has since been established as inhabiting a number of protected areas from Central Columbia to Western Ecuador.


This is not the first time that Dr. Helgen has identified new species by examining museum remains. In fact, throughout his distinguished career, he has discovered around 100 new species of animals. As an example, Helgen’s work has demonstrated that the hog badger, presumed simply to be a single, widespread species, was in fact three different species, albeit with similar attributes.


Historical records show that Washington National Zoo actually had an olinguito specimen in the 1960’s, but it was never identified as such. The animal was exhibited as an olinga, but its keepers were puzzled when it failed to breed. Sadly, the captive olinguito died without ever being correctly identified.


It should also be noted that just because an animal is considered ‘new’ to Western science, the term rarely denotes a species completely unknown to Humankind. People native to the areas inhabited by these animals are usually well aware of its presence and indispensable in locating individuals for observation and study by Western researchers. 


A host of other new species have already been discovered this year, including the Cambodian tailorbird, a new type of hero shrew, a reef fish from the Caribbean, a beautifully patterned bat from the Sudan and two new spider species (including a grey and black tarantula the size of an open palm).


To Dr. Helgen, this is hardly surprising, “Conventional wisdom would have it that we know all the mammals of the world. In fact, we know so little. Unique species, profoundly different from anything ever discovered, are out there waiting to be found.” He says.


 


 


SOURCES


 


http://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/explorers/bios/helgen-kristofer/


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23701151


http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/23716967


http://blog.getaway.co.za/travel-news/new-species-discovered-2013/



BREAKING NEWS ‘New’ Species of Mammal Discovered in South America

Monday, December 16, 2013

When NASCAR needed a faster, more efficient communications system, they turned to Motorola.

The Talladega Superspeedway covers 3,000 acres, and is a Super Bowl®-sized NASCAR event that attracts 150,000 on-site spectators and millions more watching at home.


NASCAR manages over 1,200 races every year on 200 race tracks in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and each location poses its own challenges in terms of radio traffic and interference. These challenges are magnified when systems must be deployed quickly, every week, over a wide geographic area. Pit crews, drivers, officials, and all other members of the internal and external organization must have a communications system that supports flawless connections, every time. When seconds count, there is no room for missed or delayed communications; speed and voice clarity are everything. NASCAR recently realized that their older system was just not keeping up, and there’s no doubt that providing secure and reliable communications for an event like this can seem overwhelming. Each NASCAR event involves up to 40,000 people, with approximately 80 officials presiding over two races, each with 43 cars, and each with teams of up to 30 people. In addition to NASCAR drivers, maintenance personnel, and pit crews, each race requires spotters, timing and scoring groups, as well as fire and rescue units. Also working on-site are emergency personnel, food vendors, ticketing and parking attendants, television and radio crews, and public relations representatives. Because NASCAR stages many regional events, several outside organizations need to be integrated into the communications loop. The sheer number of radios and talk groups that have to be moved and set up very quickly is enough to tax any radio system, and NASCAR’s old system was clearly over-taxed. NASCAR examined all options during a six-month intensive study. Digital radio seemed to be the best route to achieving the key requirements surfaced in this study, which included NASCAR’s need to:


• Coordinate large numbers of radios


• Ensure absolute audio clarity


• Maintain consistent, reliable communications


• Have a radio that was durable enough to withstand a rough environment


After assessing all the options, NASCAR determined that Motorola’s MOTOTRBO professional digital two-way radio was the right system for their needs.MOTOTRBO digital radio precisely met each of


NASCAR’s four requirements.


To coordinate large numbers of radios, the MOTOTRBO system is engineered to maximize use of the radio spectrum. The power of MOTOTRBO is leveraged by NASCAR to bring together multiple talk groups who work all over the property and need to be in full communication at all times. MOTOTRBO is also used to connect spotters, emergency medical technicians, crews in the garage and pit areas, as well as security and all other service and support personnel required to help each race run smoothly.


MOTOTRBO’s ability to work in either digital or analog mode makes it possible to seamlessly integrate older radio systems that may not yet have migrated to digital. To ensure absolute audio clarity, MOTOTRBO’s noise-canceling technology enables headsets for racing officials to perform at higher levels. Added to inherently clearer digital communications, the noise-canceling capabilities of MOTOTRBO technology supports sharp and clean communications in even the harshest environments. If MOTOTRBO users can communicate clearly at a noisy racetrack, it’s easy to see how well these digital two-way radios would perform in most workplace environments. “ We have to make sure we’re communicating quickly and concisely. Through MOTOTRBO, we’re able to do our jobs a whole lot better


than we have in the past.”


To maintain consistent, reliable communications, MOTOTRBO’s digital technology makes possible  extended battery life so that all users can easily connect throughout an 8-to-12-hour workday and then keep communicating, even when races run longer than scheduled. The MOTOTRBO system is


also less susceptible to static and interference, and when second-by-second communication is demanded, digital provides the proven reliability NASCAR needs. Durability is ensured with MOTOTRBO radios that deliver the highest quality of communications, even in harsh environments where they’re frequently dropped and exposed to dust, rain, grease, oil, and solvents. MOTOTRBO is designed to meet U.S. Military Standards C, D, E, and F, as well as IP57 for submersibility in water. When properly equipped with a Motorola FM-approved battery, MOTOTRBO radios have been certified by FM Approvals in accordance with Canada and U.S. codes to be intrinsically safe.


Source – http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Product%20Lines/MOTOTrbo/_Documents/Case_Studies/Static_Files/Events_Nascar_car_racing.pdf



When NASCAR needed a faster, more efficient communications system, they turned to Motorola.

Why so many of us buy xbox games

The aim of this site is to keep you updated on the latest releases, innovations and general news from the black-and-green neon world of the Xbox.


 


Here at best xbox game, we love the damn things. Can’t get enough of them, in fact. But the console itself is nothing without the rocket fuel that takes your imagination into the stratosphere with each new adventure. By which, of course, we mean the games.


 


Without great games, a console is nothing at all. Less than nothing. At best xbox game, we really feel that the Xbox has the best game library ever assembled, a roster of undeniably brilliant stories, characters and experiences. best xbox game aims to grow up to be the definitive Xbox site. With your support, we just might.


 


We like Playstation, we like Wii but that’s as far as it goes here at best xbox game. If you want the advice of our ‘X-perts’ regarding the best and brightest this console has to offer, all you have to do is stay on best xbox game and have a look around. We just might have what you’re looking for, the missing piece of the existential puzzle on your life. Then again, we may have overshot ourselves on that last part. Whatever.


 


best xbox game is committed to providing the ultimate guide to the ultimate games for the ultimate console. So there. 



Why so many of us buy xbox games

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Will I be Able to Hear Bone Conduction Headphones Even if I Wear Earplugs?

Because bone conduction bypasses the ear entirely and directly stimulates the ossicles (which is the scientific name for the tiny bones that reside in your inner ear, as well as the rationale behind comic book hero Daredevil’s athletic prowess), it is entirely possible to stick your ear plugs in and still listen to your ‘Bonephones’.


 


In some respects, it’s actually preferable. Y’see Nick, using headphones is fine and dandy, until you have to turn the volume all the way up in order to drown out noisy children, busy traffic and/or people shouting into their phones all around you. After that, if you increase the volume to too great a degree, you can expose your ears to sounds that can actually permanently damage your hearing.


 


Bone conduction, however, carries much less of a risk, because it does not effect the parts of the ear most at risk from loud noises.


 


Hearing is a process that actually has several stages. At first, your ear picks up sound waves, the sound waves pass into your middle ear (specifically, your auditory canal) before hitting the eardrum. The eardrum then vibrates, passing the sound down to the aforementioned ossicles (‘aforementioned ossicles’ is a lovely phrase, don’t you think?) From there, the ossicles transmit the sound to the cochlea, which is a fluid-filled structure that encodes the sound information in order for our brain to decode it (this is not unlike the way a wireless mouse works, actually).


 


Yup, the inner ear is a wacky world.


 


Essentially, bone conduction technology rattles the ossicles in the same way that they’d rattle in your inner ear, it just, to turn a phrase my father is particularly fond of ‘cuts out the middle man’. It really is an interesting invention.


 


So, as you see, there is no way a pair of earplugs pose any problem at all to your enjoying music or audio content on your Bonephones. I hope this helps. You’ll likely find this method especially useful if you happen to find yourself on a long plane journey and seated next to a disgruntled infant.


 


I’m actually fairly certain that bone conduction technology was invented during a similar scenario. 



Will I be Able to Hear Bone Conduction Headphones Even if I Wear Earplugs?

Friday, December 13, 2013

Pioneering Rock Musician Lou Reed Dies at 71

Rock n Roll poet Lou Reed, a founding member and principal songwriter of the massively influential band ‘The Velvet Underground’ – as well as a globally recognized recording artist in his own right, has died of liver failure, he was 71 years old.


Reed’s songs were groundbreaking in that they openly discussed issues like outsider sexuality and hard drug use and then married these lyrics to alternative, sometimes avant-garde music.


Reed was a recording artist in every sense of the word. Throughout his life and career, his work was challenging, powerful and often divisive. However, he was also no stranger to a catchy, crowd-pleasing pop chorus, as famous hits like ‘Perfect Day’, Satellite of Love’ and ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ will attest. Lou Reed’s work was the ultimate meeting point between the urban culture of the New York City streets and the highbrow insouciance of the uptown art galleries.


Supremely influential to the development of Pop, Glam, Indie, Punk and lots more besides, Reed was considered to be a godfather of alternative sounds.


Lou Reed was born in Brooklyn in 1942, when World War 2 was still raging around the world. He studied at Syracuse University and, around this time, became a disciple of the poet Delmore Schwartz. Upon graduation, he worked for Pickwick records as a songwriter, generating at least one minor hit. Eventually, he met Welsh violinist John Cale and, together with drummer Maureen Tucker and guitarist Sterling Morrison, formed The Velvet Underground.


The Velvet Underground were an instant hit on the New York music scene, so much so that pop artist Andy Warhol became a fan and incorporated them into his various projects. Warhol would eventually be credited as the producer of the band’s 1967 debut album, for which he also provided the artwork. The band were white hot creatively for three years, until their last album ‘Loaded’ was released in 1970.


Commercially, however, the Velvet Underground were completely ignored at the time. It was only later that they would be considered by a new generation of musicians as a seminal, trailblazing band.


Reed’s first solo album (where he was backed by the progressive rock band ‘Yes’) wasn’t a hit, but his glam-inflexed, David Bowie produced follow up, ‘Transformer’ became a worldwide smash and yielded several enduring pop classics.


For the rest of the decade, Reed refused to be pigeon holed as simply a ‘Rock’ or ‘Pop’ performer, instead producing albums like the tragic, story-based ‘Berlin’ or the savagely experimental ‘Metal Machine Music’. ‘Coney Island Baby’ was perhaps his most accessible record after ‘Transformer’, it was a hard-edged song-set that featured a collection of radio friendly alternative rock tunes and it was well received by the majority of fans.


Over the decades, Reed’s rebellious music continued to divide and delight in equal measure. Albums that had some fans and critics cheering had others scratching their heads. He was wholly capable of being supremely heartfelt and candid one minute and yet totally aloof and incomprehensible the next. He was, however, never less than 100% true to his incomparable artistic spirit.


In the 2000’s, Reed became a devoted practitioner of Tai Chi; he based an album on the works of Edgar Allen Poe and he worked as a photographer (which had been a side passion of his for many years). He also became even more heavily involved in social and environmental activism. His most recent record was released in 2011; it was produced in collaboration with Thrash Metal giants ‘Metallica’.


To say that Lou Reed made a huge impact on popular music would be an absolute understatement; to say that Lou Reed is one of the founding fathers of alternative music/culture would be doing the man something of a disservice. In truth, Lou Reed wrote the book on Rock n Roll, before summarily burning it and doing whatever he felt like doing, whenever he felt like doing it. He will be missed.



Pioneering Rock Musician Lou Reed Dies at 71

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What could be the best LG 42 inch LED TV on the market at the moment

If you believe long and hard about it, you have maybe owned a piece of LG electronic gear at some point in your life. The corporation has been supplying class products since 1947, beginning with chemicals and plastics and going from there. LG in reality make rather a lot of things, but the South Korean firm is perhaps best known for its electronics products.


 


The latest LG 42 ” LED Television is to be one of those most noticeable of that aforementioned LG products in the coming months. New for 2013, this innovative all-singing, all-dancing smart TV is, to state it mildly, utterly gob-smacking.


 


Having a MASSIVE 42-Inch Full HD 1080P widescreen (that also allows for Cinema 3D), you realize that you’ll be looking at one of the clearest, most dazzlingly stunning displays on the market today.


 


In addition of that, this TV has, well, all the added extras. Downloadable apps, built-in Freeview and an all-inclusive WiFi only add to the fun. So when you hook this bad boy up to your Blu Ray player and your surround sound speaker system, you will be considering a cinema quality experience in the comfort of your apartment.


 


In truth, having a Television this good, you may preferably be getting at an experience so immersive that it in reality bests the cinema for ambience. As for gaming? Forget about it (and I mean that in the good way), your games will never have looked so cool. The sounds and images won’t ever of been sharper or better defined.


 


As for this Internet, you might be able to make use of the WiFi connection that’s at the least as good as your android tablet/Smart phone, if not even better. Brilliant apps like ‘LoveFilm’ ‘Facebook’ and ‘Youtube’ will bring the best of that World wide web away from titchy devices or isolated desktop pcs and into the front room for all to share and enjoy.


 


What we’re looking at right now, without exaggeration, is one of those best Televisions in the world today. Crisp picture, wonderful sound output and many more choices than it is possible to shake a Television Guide at. You really can’t go wrong.


 


Today’s movies, games and also TV are being made for systems like this. High definition cameras are used to fully take advantage of formats like 3D, HD and Widescreen. In case you really want to get the most out of your Blu-ray library, you then owe it to yourself to upgrade to the new LG 42 inch LED Television.



What could be the best LG 42 inch LED TV on the market at the moment

Friday, November 15, 2013

Tech We’d Like to See: Cities on the Moon

What it is:


Placing a city (or several) on the moon has long been a dream of science fiction writers, futurists and ambitious scientists. Recently however, renewed public interest in space exploration, together with a growing realization that the world is becoming dangerously overpopulated, has lead some scientists, artists and zealous would-be lunar colonists to start taking this ages-old dream extremely seriously. 


Why we want it:


Because it could potentially be one of the only non-genocidal solutions to the eventual overpopulation of planet earth. Also, who wouldn’t want to sit on the moon and watch the Earth rise?


When can we expect it?


A couple of years ago, a group called Moon Capital launched a high profile competition, allowing scientists, architects and aspiring artists the chance to create scientifically plausible scenes of moon colonisation (in the style made famous by super-artist Chesley Bonestell).


The competition had (hypothetical) moon colonisation taking place in the year 2068. This estimate was good enough for the entrants of the competition, so it’ll be good enough for us, too. Hopefully, then, you’ll get your lunar colony in about 55 years time (just under a hundred years after Neil Armstrong took that one small step….)


Of course, the problems posed by such a feat of engineering are many-fold. For starters, the moon is some 380,000 km away from us at any given time, (which is quite a trip for a moving van, even taking speed cameras out of the equation), then there’s the difficulty of actually building a working city in such a hostile environment…


We’ve built space stations, of course, so we know we can construct things in space, but they aren’t exactly desirable places to live. Also, we can get people to the moon and back (we’ve been at it since the 60’s, no matter what the conspiracy nuts tell you), but the trip is still intensely dangerous and requires a great deal of training and preparation.


Finally, we come to the complete lack of breathable atmosphere on the moon; this would require scientists to create some sort of artificial environment (or else speed up development of terraforming methods, but that’s a story for another time).


Oh yeah, there’s no food either, not unless you like your Selenite steaks rare.


Yes, the idea of colonising the moon poses a number of mind-boggling obstacles, but if there’s one thing that we as a species excel at, its overcoming obstacles.


So, while it may seem far-fetched to imagine something like this actually happening, consider this; the first powered flight took place in 1903 and just 66 years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were hanging out on the moon. Think on that for a second.


Cool Factor: 5/5


Cities on the moon? Now that’s cool. 



Tech We’d Like to See: Cities on the Moon

Sunday, November 10, 2013

‘Jewel Encrusted Skeleton ‘Saints’ Make Headlines Around the World’

Paul Koudounaris, who is also identified by his nickname ‘Indiana Bones’ is an novelist, photographer and leading specialist on bone-decorated places and ossuarys. Earlier this year, Koudounaris released a hardback that includes high definition imagery of that 400-year-old ‘catacomb saints’ of Rome, a group of corpses that was meticulously adorned with charms and finery ahead of being offered as the ruins of saints to congregations across Europe.


Throughout the Protestant Overhaul of that 16th Century, Catholic churches were routinely stripped of these relics, cryptogram and finery. So as to defy this, The Vatican had ancient skeletons removed out of the Catacombs of Rome and lavishly decorated as a remnants of recognized saints.


Though regularly forgotten until Koudounaris published his book, the catacomb saints continue to fascinate concerned parties; they can still encourage religious zeal. In 1977, the town of Ruttenbach in Bavaria worked hard to raise enough funds to purchase back 2 of the primary saints from undisclosed collectors, the ornamental skeletons had initially been auctioned off in 1803.


The book, that Koudounaris has surreptitiously titled ‘Heavenly Bodies’ sees its author attempt to find and photograph each of the surviving catacomb saints.


In his heyday (a period that lasted over 200 years before finally coming to a close within the 19th century), the saints travelled far and wide, being transported at vast expense by the Church. They were venerated as things of devotion, or conduits for prayer.


Although the saints could appear unusual to contemporary eyes (one Telegraph reporter described these as ‘ghastly’), it’s crucial that you understand that those who prayed at the feet of the gilded cadavers were considerably closer to demise than their contemporary counterparts. In the wake of The Black Death (which recurred repeatedly right through Europe from the 14th to the 17th Centuries), art, literature and also worship had moved to embrace such ghoulish, macabre imagery.


The remains were regularly decked out by nuns and sometimes located in different natural poses, before being secured in glass cabinets. Some of the thorough decoration took as long as 5 years to finish, with jewellery and costumes being acutely impressive.


Koudounaris’ book, ‘Heavenly Bodies’ is available now.  



‘Jewel Encrusted Skeleton ‘Saints’ Make Headlines Around the World’

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Is after death actual fictional

A brand new scientific analysis has suggested that dying rats experience an strange surge of intense brain motion throughout their last moments of life. This enlarged brain use could be in line with (and thusly describe) Human accounts of near or after death experiences, as reported by some people around the world.


 


Roughly a 5th of all folks who have survived a cardiac arrest have reported having an ‘After Death Experience’ or ADE.  This is sort of an alarming stat, principally as ADE tends to have a very profound effect on the life of the survivor. Having an ADE is seen by many as indisputable evidence of an life after death or perhaps a continuance of the person’s soul after death.


 


In the same way, a ‘Near Death Experience’ (or NDE) is considered to be similar to the ADE, but clearly occurs while the patient remains to be technically living. Many people who encounter NDE’s report a floating sensation or ‘From Body Experience’ (OBE), also as encounters with angels, deceased family and cherished ones. Both NDE and ADE survivors often explain traversing an extended tunnel towards an extreme light.


 


Negotiations of life after death seems in early scriptures, archaeological sites and many subsequent works of philosophy and also have fascinated (and frightened) Human beings, regardless of creed, race or culture, since time immemorial.


 


After recovering from surgery in 1979, Jazmyne Cidavia-DeRepentigny of Hull, Georgia, USA, reported a stereotypical NDE account that was eventually published in the book ‘Beyond The Light’ by P.M.H Atwater in 1994. Like many individuals, Jazmyne recounts details of her surgery that may be very difficult to obtain were she lying.


 


Jazmyne says that “I was floating over my body.  I could see and listen to all that was being said and done.  I left the area for a minute after which returned to where my body lay.  I knew why I died.  It was because I could not breathe.  There was a tube along my throat and the medical staff didn’t have an oxygen mask on my nose.  I had also been provided excessive sedative”.


 


She went to describe her attempts to get rid of the tube from her throat in a considerably disturbing account.


 


Prior to the aforementioned study, it is accepted fact that brain activity ceases once the heart stops. This has now been demonstrated as being untrue, at the least so far as rats are concerned. It’s also the strongest presumption to date concerning the causes of ADEs, OBEs and NDEs.


 


One of those scientists responsible for these results, Dr. George Mashour of the University of Ann Arbour, Michigan, USA said that the team was “astonished with the high degrees of motion” within the rodents. “In truth, at near-death many recognized electric signatures of consciousness exceeded levels found within the waking state, suggesting that the brain is capable of well-organized electric activity throughout the early phase of clinical death.” He said.


 


The team’s lead scientist, Dr. Jimo Borjigin added that “This research paper tells us that decrease of oxygen or both oxygen and glucose throughout cardiac arrest can stimulate human brain activity that is characteristic of conscious processing,”


 


However, Dr. Martin Coath from the University of Plymouth, UK was a little critical of the team’s findings.


 


Dr. Coath said, because the rats were anaesthetized, the findings better demonstrated the unconscious brain’s reaction to the life-threatening deficit of blood flow and oxygen. He also said that the study hadn’t necessarily showed that any ‘heightened conscious processing’ had actually taken place, suggesting that the wording of that conclusion was “a bit of a stretch”. He commented that, while the consequences were “genuinely interesting” they were as well “hardly amazing”.


 


The results of this study will no doubt be of great notice to numerous within the scientific community, as well as religious groups, those engrossed in the paranormal and those who have experienced an ADE or NDE.


  


SOURCES:


 


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/paranormal-death-experiences-explained-204403437.html#7mbMENa


 


http://www.iands.org/nde-stories/17-nde-accounts-from-beyond-the-light.html



Is after death actual fictional

Extraterrestrial Life Discovered...Maybe

A team of Uk scientists believe that they have revealed organisms in earth’s atmosphere that originally come from space.


 


As hard as that may be to judge, Professor Milton Wainwright, the team’s leader, insists that this is unquestionably the instance.


 


The team, out of the University of Sheffield, exposed the little organisms (misleadingly referred to as ‘bugs’ by a great deal of overeager journalists) living on a research balloon that was sent 16.7 miles into our environment throughout last month’s Perseids meteor shower.


 


In keeping with Professor Wainwright, the minuscule creatures could not have been carried into the stratosphere on the balloon. He said, “Most people will presume that those biological particles must have just drifted up to the stratosphere from Earth, but it is normally accepted a particle of the volume found can’t be lifted from Earth to heights of, for example, 27km. Really the only known exception is by a violent volcanic eruption, none of which occurred within three years of their sampling trip.”


 


Wainwright maintains that the only salient conclusion is that organisms originated from space. He went on to mention that “life is not restricted to the planet but it almost definitely did not originally come here”


 


However, not everyone seems to be so convinced. Dr. Seth Shostak, senior astronomer with the SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) project said, “I’m very skeptical. This claim may be made beforehand, and dismissed as terrestrial contamination.” The team responds to this by saying that they were thorough when they prepared the hot-air balloon before the experiments started.


 


Yet, they do acknowledge that there might be an unknown reason for those organisms to reach such altitudes. It must also be renowned that microbal organisms discovered within the 1980’s and 1990’s and called ‘extremophiles’ shocked the scientific community by living in environments that would instantaneously kill the bulk of life on earth.


 


These creatures have always been observed living deep under Glacial ice or 1900 feet below the sea floor. In March of this year, Ronnie Glud, a biogeochemist at the Southern Danish Uni in Odense, Denmark was quoted as saying “Inside the most isolated, harsh areas, you are able to actually have higher motion than their surroundings,” which “Yow will discover microbes in all places – they’re exceptionally adaptable to circumstances, and survive where they are,” so it seems more plausible that any the team is in error, or that this is solely one more case of microscopic life showing up in an unusual place.


 


In addition, it is not the 1st time this unique team has come under fire for making such claims, either. Back in January of this year, astrobiologist Dr. Chandra Wickramasinghe reported that ‘fossils’ found from a Sri Lankan meteorite were evidence of extraterrestrial life, an assertion that is commonly criticized by the scientific community.


 


Other scientists have complained that there basically is not enough indication to make this type of claim, as a theory this important would need a sizable body of proof to prove its authority.


 


What that says to the reporter is that microorganisms can exist pretty much anyplace and that it simply is not good science to jump to wild conclusions like aliens when a more plausible solution is most certainly present. Science shouldn’t be subject to such wild leaps of elaborate. Imagination is a great aid to science, but it really is not a science in and of itself. Unfortunately, Dr. Wainwright and his team seem to be seeing what they need to see.


  


SOURCES:


 


http://www.livescience.com/27954-microbes-mariana-trench.html


http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/09/22/news/entertainment/have-we-found-alien-life/


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/alien-bugs-discovered-earths-atmosphere-152253962.html#13B0NDB



Extraterrestrial Life Discovered...Maybe

Saturday, October 26, 2013

’Earth-Like’ Asteroid Devoured by Dead Star

The Hubble Space Telescope has recorded an intriguing event some 150 light-years from Earth.


A large asteroid was pulled into the White Dwarf star (named ‘GD 61’ by astronomers) and utterly destroyed. This is not an unusual event, as even dead stars still exhibit a very high level of gravity. However, scientists are interested because the chemical signatures left in the star’s atmosphere indicate the presence of water and a rocky surface, both considered to be key building blocks for the creation of life on our planet.


Until this event was observed, water and a rocky surface had never been found together on an object outside our solar system.


The asteroid consisted of the elements magnesium, silicon, iron and oxygen, all of which are usually found in rock minerals, but scientists believe that the abundance of oxygen indicated the heavy presence of H20.


The object was at least 90KM across and as much as 26% of that is thought to have been water. Earth is considered to be just 0.02% water.


This discovery is important because it gives scientists a vindicating glimpse of how inhabitable environments may have been formed, receiving key components (such as water) from outside sources such as meteorites.


It is thought that water first arrived on our planet by similar means and that other planets in the GD 61 system would once have received water this way as well. According to BBC News, scientists consider the presence of rocky planets in the GD system to have been “very likely”.


Scientists have observed over 1,000 planets outside our solar system, but none is thought to contain water.


Closer to home, some planets and heavenly bodies are thought to contain water. Mars is considered by many to once have had liquid water, but if this is still the case, it is a greatly reduced amount.


Elsewhere, Jupiter’s moon Europa raises a tantalizing prospect that there are oceans under its icy surface. This has led to some convincing research into the possible presence of ocean currents there. However, Europa is not alone, its fellow moons Callisto and Ganymede have also been suggested as candidates for liquid water.


In addition, Rhea (moon of Saturn), Titania (moon or Uranus), Oberon (also orbiting Uranus), Triton (moon of Neptune), Pluto (dwarf planet), Eris (dwarf planet), Sedna (possible dwarf planet) and Orcus (another possible dwarf planet) are all speculated to have oceans, some of which may be in contact with the rocky core of the respective body, which would hypothetically result in a steady stream of minerals and salts into the water – an important factor in creating life.


Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers, which is seen as proof of the presence of water or at least water vapours. It has even been theorized by some that Neptune contains oceans of liquid diamond.


The heavy presence of water on this asteroid is a vital clue for scientists and their understanding, not only of the cosmos, but also of how our home planet came into being.


 


SOURCES


 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24491845



’Earth-Like’ Asteroid Devoured by Dead Star

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Stallone To Play ‘Rocky’ Once more

Rumours abound that Sylvester Stallone is going to be playing the character of ‘Rocky Balboa’ once again, in a brand new movie set inside the ‘Rocky’ world.


The incredibly popular character Rocky Balboa formerly appeared in the Oscar-winning 1976 movie ‘Rocky’ and is the central hero in no less than six films to date.


MGM films have basically offered the brand new project, at present identified only as ‘Creed’ to director Ryan Coogler.


The future movie is actually a spin-off as opposed to a direct sequel.


Michael B. Jordan, star of this year’s ‘Fruitville Station’ and also HBO TV drama ‘The Wire’, will play the grandson of recurring series character Apollo Creed. The planned story would call for young Creed to enter the world of boxing, with Stallone’s Balboa playing the function of his mentor.


Director Ryan Coogler, who worked with Jordan on the aforementioned ‘Fruitville Station’ film, is said to be enthusiastic about the concept and is hoping to co-write the screenplay.


Apollo Creed, as portrayed by Carl Weathers, was originally presented as Rocky’s adversary. In the initial role, Creed (who was reportedly similar to a combination of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Joe Louis) was the World Heavyweight Boxing Champ as well as a savvy entrepreneur. When faced with a deficiency of proper opponents, Creed decided to put his championship on the line against a neighborhood, unknown fighter.


The initial film mainly centred around the elected fighter Rocky Balboa as he trained for the biggest fight of his life. In the later movies, Apollo Creed became a adviser and a close pal to Rocky.


Weathers played Creed in each ‘Rocky’ film until ‘Rocky IV’, where the character was killed during a match with Russian boxer Ivan Drago (portrayed by Dolph Lundgren).


In spite of the character’s downfall, he’s significantly mentioned in both follow-up films and remains very popular with fans of this series.


The final film in the original Rocky series, ‘Rocky Balboa’ was released in 2006 to strong critical and commercial reception. In 2010, Sylvester Stallone was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum for his creation and portrayal of Rocky, as well as the many tributes he has paid to boxers and also the sport of boxing in his career.


SOURCES:


http://www.sylvesterstallone.com/stallone-inducted-into-boxing-hall-of-fame/


http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/stallone-to-play-rocky-again-in-spin-off-creed-053257511.html



Stallone To Play ‘Rocky’ Once more

Sony 42-Inches of pure brilliance

Similar to lots of people reading this, I take pleasure in the celebration of Christmas a great deal.


 


Though I am not religious (in truth, I’ve frequently described myself like the ‘spiritually inclined’ atheist – even if I have taken to observing all 8 Pagan Sabbats over the course of this year), I still view Christmas as the joyous time being spent with family, friends and people you think as belonging to the closest ring of the ‘inner circle’.


 


My relatives is one with many enduring Christmas traditions, plenty of that will obviously be passed on to my family (should my girlfriend and I ever choose to have any). We bring out similarly decorations year after year (a few of which have always been in the family for over a 100 years).


 


On Christmas Eve, my Mum will still read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ by Clement C. Moore to my brother and myself (and latterly my girlfriend too), although we are now in our twenties. Until lately, we would move out into the streets and chime the ‘sleigh bells’ for our neighbours’ kids to hear from their window (as their mother and father did for my brother and I when we were kids).


 


Maybe our best family tradition, yet, is the ritual viewing of a Frank Capra Christmas tradition ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. The flick stars Jimmy Stewart as the perennial ‘nice guy fallen on misfortune’ George Bailey, Donna Reed as his wife Mary, Henry Travers as Clarence, George’s guardian angel and of course, Lionel Barrymore as a truly dastardly ‘Old Man Potter’.


 


No matter what else goes on (or how confused Christmas Eve might be, especially now that travel may be a factor in our coming together), we ALWAYS find time to stream that particular film on that individual evening.


 


When George runs gleefully through the streets of Bedford Falls shouting “Merry Christmas you wonderful old building and loan!” My Father is welling up, by the point George’s brother Harry declares him being “the richest man in town”, I’m right there with him. There’s just a certain, sparkling, honest-to-goodness enchartment to it, the script is wonderful , the direction is miles ahead of its time and the performances, well, (to quote Bernard Black of ‘Black Books’ fame) “Ah, they’d soften your face”.


 


Why am I revealing you this?


 


Well, seeing as there’s no way to enhance upon the film itself, the experience would almost certainly only be bettered if we have a Sony 42-Inch TV. With a jaw dropping ‘X-Reality’ picture, a wireless smartphone link-up element and lots more besides, this brand new 2013 smart tv is a doozy. It could lack some of the more compulsive features of Sony’s other smart TVs, but, after considering the display and glossy, ultramodern design of this Smart tv, it hardly seems to matter.


 


With the brand new Blu Ray edition of ‘It is a Wonderful Life’, a shiny Sony 42-Inch TV with a good speaker, you will never be happier to see an angel getting his wings.  



Sony 42-Inches of pure brilliance

Monday, October 21, 2013

Xbox One unboxing – headset included with all versions

Editorial – this year will be a huge year for the console industry. The new generations of Xbox and Playstation, are due for being released inside weeks of each other. Both are vying for our consideration and hard-earned money, unlike the past generation, Sony with the Playstation 4 have put a less expensive price together compared to that xbox one, which surprised everybody at E3 this year. But recent news announced by Microsoft proves that the xbox one contains kinect plus a headset, proving that xbox ones added cost is actually for additional extras.


 


The standard and Day One editions of the Xbox One console will both include a headset, despite Microsoft suggesting that Kinect would be used instead.


As U-turns go it’s one of Microsoft’s more minor in recent months, but Xbox Live director of programming Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hryb has confirmed that all Xbox One consoles will be sold with a headset.


The unboxing video below is for the limited edition ‘Day One’ boxed set, although the only difference is an exclusive Achievement and a specially embossed controller.


That means the other contents of the box will also be included in the ordinary edition, namely a 4K compatible HDMI cable and the controversial Kinect sensor.


Initially Microsoft said that the Xbox One wouldn’t come with a headset, despite the console using a new audio connector port that means existing headsets need an adaptor to work.


The idea was that you were going to have to pay for that separately or just use Kinect’s microphone to speak to people. Microsoft then reversed its decision, then pretended it hadn’t reversed its decision, and has now admitted that actually, yes: it does come with a headset.


http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/08/xbox-one-unboxing-headset-included-with-all-versions-3917117/



Xbox One unboxing – headset included with all versions

Friday, October 18, 2013

Playstation 3: Is The Latest Batch The Best?

Where do the latest ps3 games sit on the Pantheon of the PS3? Let’s have a look-see.


 


cheked my Facebook and caught a status update from my friend.


“Well, with a little trepidation I’ve finally done it” the update read “I’ve bought my own detached house. It has all appliances I could need and a beautiful thatched roof”


I was surprised and impressed by this news, Bob is only a little older than me. I was shocked that he was enjoying so much success. I was pleased for him. Bob and I were at college together. I enjoyed it.  He moved away and I only met him a few years later, whilst we were on the same train. We still had a lot in common. I went to offer my congratulations until I realized I’d been had by two words. Dork.


 


Bob is not alone, loads of people had great fun last year with PS3 games. Around half my mates had their social lives decimated by Skyrim. Great. Each. Saw him.


 


Fell prey to. is extremely unlikely to work if they make the title any shorter. Might annoy F1 fans who get confused and buy it by mistake. It is the sequel to…Don’t make me tell you!, with updated squad lists and slightly better graphics. It sold well, but I can’t say it’s hugely better than FIFA11.


 


Another one that did well towards the end of last year. I think you play it in groups of three. I hate Dragonball Z. Sit through earlier episode or showing you what’s to come in the next episode. Apart from that, our lead characters do nothing but get angrier. Extremely pissed off) hero gets really mad, glows yellow and kills him. The end. Installments. What’s that? Oh, the game? {I have no idea, I got sidetracked|Distracted|Taken off on a tangent…Madder.


 


Overview



Playstation 3: Is The Latest Batch The Best?

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

“Pee As You Go?” - Pee Can Recharge Cellphones, Seemingly

Scientists working at the University West of England (UWE) in Bristol, UK, have discovered one way to recharge a mobile phone with Human pee.


The team have been capable of recharge a Samsung smart phone by placing the fluid through a surge of microbial fuel cells. With this process, enough power has been produced to send text messages, browse the Internet and also make a short telephone call.


Based on the scientists responsible, the next stage is to completely charge the device with urine…Seemingly cleaning their hands straight afterwards.


Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos has worked for ages with microbial energy cells; he’s considered a guru in harnessing power from abnormal options. The potential purposes of his work are very appealing from an environmental point of view.


Dr. Ieropoulos said, “We are very excited as this is a world first, no-one has harnessed energy from urine to try this so it is an interesting finding. Using the final waste product as a supply of energy to produce electrical power is almost as eco as it gets.” Eco-friendly tech is, apparently, the good doctor’s main area of interest.


The microbial cells work as an energy converter, they take the organic substance straight into electricity, via the metabolism of live microbes. The electrical power is the by-product of a microorganism’s natural life cycle, meaning that as they ‘eat’ the urine, they generate power the energy that powers the mobile. Now that is what we call ‘pee as you go’.


Toilet humour aside, the team have engineered a world first, as nothing as large as the mobile battery has ever been charged using this process before.


There are, at present, no plans to market this tech on a large scale, but maybe someday we could be signing a ‘P’ mobile agreement, the trick, as they are saying, shall be pissistance.


PS – I’m apologetic about this one. The work and its implications are instead astonishing. All credit to the UWE team. However, I constantly wanted to do one to those ‘And Finally’ type tales and now I finally get to. Please forgive me, one and all.


SOURCES:


 


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/urine-could-charge-mobile-phones-152225132.html



“Pee As You Go?” - Pee Can Recharge Cellphones, Seemingly

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Can I move photos from my camera to my Amazon kindle fire a PC

The quick answer is no, you possibly can’t. I’m sad, but that is just the way it is.


On the other hand, all hope isn’t lost in spite of this dreadful news. There are two main avenues you can still go down.


The very first is to simply message the photos to yourself and download them to your Kindle. This process works fine if you only need several holiday snaps or pictures of your little nephew’s birthday or what, but its not much use for a great deal of photos.


The 2nd technique is little more refined. With a hard disk, you can transfer pictures relatively easily from one device to the other, this may help you transfer a better quantity of photos and will likely take much less time.


The most suitable choice, Experts say, is probably the second, especially when you hunt down the “eye-Fi” SD card, compatible with most recent cameras (although, as always, it’s certainly best to double check). Sime, of The Digital Photography Educate website, was obviously impressed. In the review, he said,


“With the Eye-Fi X2 card, I could upload full res photos from my NEX 5  to my iPhone and then do what I wanted with them [Instagram / Facebook / Flickr etc] when you’re using the X2 card, you can connect the camera directly to your iPhone / iPad without having to use a Wifi router etc… You can also use the Eye-Fi app on your phone [iPhone and Android] to upload your images to your computer / Flickr etc. Yep – works, works well”.


He then gave an individual account of the Eye-Fi’s usefulness, which I have re-printed below.


“My wife and I went to the zoo with our almost-three year old a couple of weeks back and I had a look through her images afterwards, realising that there were images from her camera dating back to… well, when I gave her the camera! She’s currently using a 32GB SDHC card in there, and just leaves everything on the card! When I asked if she had copied any on to her computer, I was told “That’s too hard / I don’t have time / Where’s the cable” (Yes, a combo of the three, I didn’t press for details…;) So – I cunningly swapped out the existing card for the Eye-Fi card, loaded the app on her Macbook and added it to start when her computer starts, but to hide in the background (This is an option in the application) so basically, the camera connects to her laptop whenever it can and copies the photographs across – they are there, ready to use. Guess who won ‘awesome technical husband of the week award?’ (Obviously a lot of you are tech savvy, but well… )”


In no way let it be said that I disregard a question of yours without making a proposal of my own.


You’ll permit me a brief tangent, there is the line in a single of the beloved books of my teen years ‘Have Nice Day: A Tale of Blood & Sweatsocks’ by Mick Foley (which is the immense book about life generally, even when you are not a wrestling fan) where Mick says, “I had always felt that it was not good enough to shoot something down – It was best to have a answer”. Take that and work with it, reprobates.



Can I move photos from my camera to my Amazon kindle fire a PC

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ringing within the ears, it may be the first signs of tinnitus

In recent times, when I was at my younger brother’s birthday celebration, my Dad made a allusion to having tinnitus (fundamentally an occasional-level ringing in the ears) and I told him that I’d made a gag about tinnitus in a recent post (for those concerned, the funny story was that it made things sound ‘a little tinny’ – Not amongst my better japes, I confess, but whatever…). He looked at me like I’d just farted in church while I hastily changed the topic.


So, if you’re struggling with hearing damage or tinnitus, what is it possible to do about it?


The truth is hearing problems are mainly attributable to damage to the inner ear. One way this can happen is due to constant attack of noises over 110 decibels. According to new information, the noise wears away the myelin sheath, which is the coating that protects the nerve cells of your inner ear.


The good news is, yet, that the myelin sheath will, generally, repair itself, so all you need to do is TURN THE VOLUME DOWN or just leave your iPod at home for a few days and you need to start seeing improvements.


Now and then, however, damage to the inner ear is so large that your body merely won’t be able to fix itself. In this case, you will need to train yourself to accommodate your newfound incapacity. It’s a process that may cause serious depression and anxiety if not adequately confronted and dealt with.


The Beaumont Health Scheme gives some useful tips for managing hearing loss on their website. As outlined by them, hearing loss could be combated when you follow these 3 steps:


1. Be an advocate for yourself. Others cannot guess what you need. By hiding a hearing loss you will miss conversation and may respond inappropriately and cause further miscommunication. Tell others if you are having difficulty understanding. If you don’t understand what someone has said ask him or her to rephrase the message, not just repeat it.  Often this will help improve your understanding.


2. Educate others regarding hearing loss. Many do not understand why you can hear that they are talking but cannot understand what you are saying. They also don’t know what they can do to help.  Ask others to talk more slowly and clearly and not to obstruct their mouths.


3. Manipulate your environment to your advantage.  Hearing clearly when there is background noise is probably the biggest challenge for people with hearing loss. When you can, choose quiet listening environments. In a restaurant, request to be seated in a quiet area away from the door and the kitchen. Partitions and low ceilings may be helpful to reduce noise. Also carpet and upholstery may help to reduce echo, which may help you to understand speech more clearly. Good lighting may also be helpful so that you can see the speaker’s face and gestures.


Another general (and fixable) problem is a development of earwax. Which is straightforward enough to resolve via regular use of a cotton bud. If that does not work, it is always possible to have your ears syringed, which is really a totally disgusting (but genuinely effective) technique for clearing out one’s ears. 


Your hearing will degrade as you grow old (like most things you hold dear I am afraid, up to and featuring: your metabolism, sexual potency, muscle tone, skin, charisma and hair colour). Yup. Sucks getting old.


In conclusion, if you are facing serious hearing problems, try to reduce any future harm. As it says on WikiHow:


“Although you can’t reverse the hearing loss you’ve already suffered, you can take steps to keep it from getting worse. Reduce your exposure to loud, sustained noises[. If noisiness like this is part of your job (say you’re a construction worker or employed at a concert venue), consider wearing specialty ear plugs or changing jobs. If you wear earbuds or headphones to listen to music, keep the volume low or moderate. Try to reduce your exposure to high volumes overall, and you’ll reduce future hearing loss”.


It’s also highly recommended to find a doctor. I’m not a doctor. I’m a contract writer with access to Google. If you think that anything mentioned within the above post affects you, then please make an appointment with the local Doctor.  



Ringing within the ears, it may be the first signs of tinnitus

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Icom Launch New Training Aids for VHF/SRC Radio Instructors

Editorial - {Many People|Many of us|Lots of people|Many individuals|Some people} {wouldn’t|would not} know {much|a lot} about DSC {technology|tech}, {but {it’s|it is}|nevertheless {it’s|it is}} a safety system built into {2 way|two way} radios, {primarily|mainly} in marine and sea {communications|comms|equipment}, {because|as} of the increase in use of smaller and {individual|personal} boats on the {water|rivers}. {As an|As a} island this {technology|tech} is {becoming|getting} {more and more|increasingly more|ever more} {popular|well-liked|accepted}, the {technology|tech} is linked {to the|to your} boat {in case|just in case} of an {emergency|disaster|tragedy}, more {details|facts|information} {can be found|is found|is available} from this icom uk {article|post|blog}..


 


DSC technology is becoming more widely used today and it is important for potential users to see how it works and to be trained in its use. To this end, Icom UK have now added their latest range of VHF/DSC radios to their VHF/SRC training simulator range. The models now available for instructors to purchase include the IC-M423 Fixed Mount VHF/DSC Transceiver and for the first time from Icom, a Handheld VHF/DSC in the form of the IC-M91D. Both training simulators provide a real ‘hands on’ experience of both voice and DSC message sending and receiving, in the classroom without causing interference. Both models share a new easy to use interface which is easy to learn, meaning that trainees will be able to understand the basics of two way radio quickly. Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd, said, ’When choosing the Icom IC-M423 VHF/SRC training simulator, the instructor will receive two fully modified radios that will communicate via the cabling so that it is unlikely to cause any interference to other users nearby . This enables the trainee to send ‘live’ distress and voice calls without alerting any other radios. Both units come with an interconnecting cable up to 20 metres in length, which is ideal for any training environment. The IC-M91D is supplied with an adapter and a cable to allow it to communicate with the fixed sets.’ To help trainees further understand the need for DSC, Icom has a new microsite dedicated to Handheld DSC radio. The new website sheds light on this relatively new marine technology. It explains what DSC Handheld VHF radios are, where they can be used and why boat owners need one. It also answers several questions about the ownership and registration of DSC handheld radio in an informative FAQ section. To go to this new site, click on www.dschandheld.com. The microsite will provide a handy resource for both instructors and students alike. Ian, said, ‘Customer reaction has been incredibly positive to our recently launched IC-M91D Buoyant VHF/DSC Handheld with GPS. However we have had lots of questions regarding where and how they can be used. So we decided to put all our information on an informative microsite.’ Icom Marketing: marketing@icomuk.co.uk


02/11/2012


 


Source - http://www.icomuk.co.uk/categoryRender.asp?r=rssFeed&categoryID=3508&cCID=17736



Icom Launch New Training Aids for VHF/SRC Radio Instructors

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Connect, Update and stay in the know on Facebook, Twitter and Google plus whilst watching programmes on your Smart TV

As its launch in 2004, ‘Facebook’ has made it as an giant success story, albeit not one without controversy. Plenty of controversy. But I am not here to discuss that. I am here to let you know a bit about social networking and why it is a great addition to any Smart TV.


In some ways coming out through the now elapsed ‘Myspace’ and also the excess of imitators it left in its wake, Facebook emerged as champion of the social networks, (until the next one comes along, that is). Facebook has conquered the Internet with a smart exploitation of those three ever-reliable principles: 


1)         Folks love gossiping about other people, especially incognito.


2)         Individuals are inordinately fond of and poking their noses into the lives of other people.


3)         People’s unquenchable self importance, which, when fuelled by Facebook, is egotism on steroids.


Facebook is a remarkable tool and one that has easily tailored itself to mobile phones, portable tablets and now, even Television. Ultimately, Myspace was the cumbersome Neanderthal, who, even though being better, smarter and more powerful than Homo Sapiens, succumbed to the retreating ice age rather swiftly, failing to adapt to the world he could no longer comprehend. Facebook, conversely, was the eventual Cro Magnon victor, shaking in the cave during Neanderthal’s time, he emerged on the warm plains of that modern-day and, either directly or indirectly, eliminated his rival before moving within the shifting technology and times, the point he might sit at his desk and update his status numerous times a day.


‘Twitter’ is a very limited site that acts sort of a miniature Facebook. Users have a couple of words to publicize their dealings, thoughts and/or feelings to a world that typically doesn’t care unless its concerned that it is being cheated on. However, while celebrated people on Facebook tend to not update their own pages, on Twitter the user can follow (and often commune with) the behavior of Hollywood luminaries, celebrities, sports stars and other notable people, who are often surprisingly honest about their day by day lives.


Facebook and Twitter are the two big ones, but there’s others, more than I can add up that follow a similar simple model but specialize in a different area (LinkedIn, for example, deals with business relationships a lot more than personal ones). Many websites co-exist with Facebook nowadays, feeding off their scraps like remoras on the back of the Tiger Shark. With nearly all online content, there is even an option to ‘Like’ it, thus adding it to your Facebook page (if you look closely at this page, you’ll almost definitely find one, which serves to highlight just how all-encompassing Facebook’s presence is.


Smart TV, recognising the ubiquity of such sites plus the emphasis that modern online business places on this ubiquity, has Facebook, Twitter (and other social network sites) readily available for download. Which means you can have full (or nearly full) access to your Facebook account and update it without maybe going to a computer. Last night, I had to update my own Facebook to state that I was watching, for what needs to be the hundredth time, the movie ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ I could have easily done it during a tea break in the movie itself rather than aiming to do it after which eventually forgetting, as I actually did.


If you’re wondering how people are doing and you want up-to-the-minute advice, Facebook is usually the place to go. Facebook the site is free to use, could be the Smart TV app at time of writing and is an excellent communication tool, particularly for people you don’t actually know that well. Nowadays, people change their mobile numbers every 0.3 of a second, so Facebook remains one reliable way to ensure you can always keep in touch.  I like to think of it like a really poorly written newspaper, where the headlines are a little bit sunnier, a lot less biased and involve people I actually give a damn about.  



Connect, Update and stay in the know on Facebook, Twitter and Google plus whilst watching programmes on your Smart TV

Monday, September 23, 2013

If you use the new Motorola DP2400 2 way radios at work, then you need to look at these earpieces

Well, dear readers, here it really is, the final of the 5-part series on radio earpieces.


We’ve thrown wholly random pop-culture sources at you (everything from ‘Wacky Races’ to 007 himself) and we’ve (hopefully) had a few laughs amongst all the dry details and data. If you’ve read all of these items thus far, then cheers, we appreciate your time.


Okay, so the final point on our list is the Dp2400 earpiece, which could the most costly earpiece we have viewed thus far, albeit by only £2. The DP2400 earpiece, then, (for all those amongst you who haven’t been keeping count) could be purchased from Earpieceonline for £29.75.


For your hard-earned cash, you have a 6-month malfunction guarantee (always a wanted and appreciated feature), as well as the outstanding little device, all things considered.


The Dp 2400 earpiece features extra-long Kevlar strengthened cabling (although it is improbable the wires will stop a bullet, we are just telling you that immediately), also as the rotating sprung lapel clip, which is a genuine improvement on the more stationary design (although you probably can’t escape that Sumo suit just yet) and a very good seperate microphone.


The sound quality is incredibly, good and the earpiece itself is generally robust and tough. With this earpiece, you’ll be able to hear any direction clearly and cleanly.


The Dp 2400 earpiece also includes a multipin plug, however the plug is only intended to fit the Motorola DP2400 and Dp 2600 series. It will not work on the DP3400 or DP4800 series, which strictly limits its appeal in this market, because it renders the Motorola dp2400 earpiece less versatile than other, cheaper models on the list.


Generally, this is a very good earpiece certainly. Performance wise, however, there is not a great deal to choose from between any of the earpieces featured on the list, all of them are superiority products and not any will let you down.


The DP2400 earpiece is the genuine, trustworthy product that does a fantastic job and doesn’t hurt your bank account. What more will you be able to ask for?


…Thus our series ends. However, we hope that you’ve found this series enlightening and useful to you. With all the importance we place on two way radios (across the assorted outposts of the little multimedia empire), it seemed overdue that we focussed a bit on the peripherals. Glad you can join us. For further information on the DP2400 earpiece visit earpiece online



If you use the new Motorola DP2400 2 way radios at work, then you need to look at these earpieces

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Apple Announces iPhone 5s-The Most Forward-Thinking Smartphone in the World

Editorial – So many of the rumours and speculation is correct, apple have announced the latest version of their iphone, the apple iphone 5s. With fingerprint sensor (Touch ID), an improved camera and a faster A7 chip, with an announcment of iOS 7 coming later on in the month, have apple unvieled to us a radical new smart phone or have they just updated the apple iphone 5?


 


Apple® today announced iPhone® 5s, the most forward-thinking iPhone yet, featuring an all-new A7 chip, making iPhone 5s the world’s first smartphone with 64-bit desktop-class architecture for blazing fast performance in the palm of your hand. iPhone 5s redefines the best smartphone experience in the world with amazing new features all packed into a remarkable thin and light design, including an all-new 8 megapixel iSight® camera with True Tone flash and introducing Touch ID™, an innovative way to simply and securely unlock your phone with just the touch of a finger. iPhone 5s comes with iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, engineered for 64-bit technology and featuring hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop®, enhanced Photos, Safari®, Siri® and iTunes Radio℠.


“iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand”


“iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 5s sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people, like Touch ID, a simple and secure way to unlock your phone with just a touch of your finger.”


The all-new A7 chip in iPhone 5s brings 64-bit desktop-class architecture to a smartphone for the first time. With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5s is faster and better than ever, from launching apps and editing photos to playing graphic-intensive games-all while delivering great battery life. Apple also engineered iOS 7 and all the built-in apps to maximize the performance of the A7 chip. iPhone 5s is the best mobile gaming device with access to hundreds of thousands of games from the App Store℠, the A7 chip’s 64-bit architecture and support for OpenGL ES version 3.0. iPhone 5s delivers incredibly rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on Macs, PCs and gaming consoles.


Every iPhone 5s includes the new M7 motion coprocessor that gathers data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7 for improved power efficiency. Developers can also access new CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M7, so they can create even better fitness and activity apps that go well beyond what other mobile devices offer. The M7 motion coprocessor continuously measures your motion data, even when the device is asleep, and saves battery life for pedometer or other fitness apps that use the accelerometer all day.


iPhone 5s introduces Touch ID, an innovative way to simply and securely unlock your iPhone with just the touch of a finger. Built into the home button, Touch ID uses a laser cut sapphire crystal, together with the capacitive touch sensor, to take a high-resolution image of your fingerprint and intelligently analyze it to provide accurate readings from any angle. Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life. All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s; it’s never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud®. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store®, App Store or iBooks Store℠.


iPhone 5s makes it even easier to take great photos with the world’s most popular camera. The all-new 8 megapixel iSight camera features a larger f/2.2 aperture and a new, larger sensor with 1.5μ pixels for better sensitivity and low-light performance, resulting in better pictures. These improvements, along with the Apple-designed image signal processor in the A7 chip and the new Camera app in iOS 7, provide up to two-times faster auto-focus, faster photo capture, automatic image and video stabilization, and better dynamic range. iPhone 5s introduces the new True Tone flash-the world’s first for any camera-that variably adjusts color and intensity for over 1,000 combinations, so photos taken with a flash appear more natural. iPhone 5s also includes a new Burst Mode, Slo-Mo video with 120 fps, a new FaceTime® HD camera for better low-light performance and audio-only FaceTime calls with iOS 7.


iPhone 5s features a remarkable thin and light, precision-crafted design that customers around the world love, including an anodized aluminum body with diamond cut chamfered edges, a stunning 4-inch Retina® display and glass inlays. iPhone 5s is available in three gorgeous metallic finishes including gold, silver and space gray. To complement iPhone 5s, Apple designed premium leather cases in six rich colors-beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED)-with soft, color-matched microfiber lining.


iPhone 5s makes it even easier to connect to high-speed networks with support for up to 13 LTE¹ wireless bands, more than any other smartphone in the world. With download speeds up to 100 Mbps², you can browse, download and stream content even faster. iPhone 5s includes dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support for up to 150 Mbps² and Bluetooth 4.0. iPhone 5s delivers an amazing 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks, up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi and LTE networks and up to 8 hours on 3G networks, and up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.³


iPhone 5s comes with iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, engineered to support the A7 chip’s 64-bit architecture, the new iSight camera and Touch ID fingerprint sensor. iOS 7 features a stunning new user interface, completely redesigned with an elegant color palette, distinct, functional layers and subtle motion that make it feel more alive. iOS 7 has hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop, enhanced Photos, Safari, Siri and introduces iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service based on the music you listen to on iTunes®.⁴


iPhone 5s customers have access to the revolutionary App Store, which offers more than 900,000 apps to iPhone, iPad® and iPod touch® users in 155 countries around the world. More than 50 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store to date, offering customers an incredible range of apps in 23 categories, including newspapers and magazines in Newsstand, games and entertainment, business, news, sports, health and fitness and travel.


Designed specifically for iOS, iPhoto®, iMovie®, Pages®, Numbers® and Keynote® are among the most popular apps in the App Store and are now available as free downloads with the purchase of iPhone 5s. iPhoto and iMovie enable you to do more than you ever thought possible with your photos and movies, and with Pages, Numbers and Keynote you can create, edit and share stunning documents, spreadsheets and presentations on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.


Pricing & Availability


iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.⁵ iPhone 5s will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 5s cases will be available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for a suggested retail price of $39 (US) through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. iPhone 5s will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free.⁵ iOS 7 will be available as a free software update starting on Wednesday, September 18 for iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and iPod touch (fifth generation). Some features may not be available on all products.



Apple Announces iPhone 5s-The Most Forward-Thinking Smartphone in the World

Monday, September 9, 2013

Find out why you have to be purchasing GTA V on release day

That’s right people, folkettes and folking mother folkers, ‘GTA V’ is coming soon!


 


Intended to become Rockstar’s biggest ‘open world’ title up to now, we are able to require this naughty misadventure to become HUGE. If you happen to took the extensive artificial worlds of Grand theft auto IV, GTA: San Andreas and Red Dead Redemption and slapped them all as one, end to end, you could fit them all inside the boundaries of GTA V’s painstakingly built digital stage and you’d still have space to spare. That is not just us talking either, that is an official statement. Get this, even the sea floor can be fully mapped and explored.


 


There are three characters and you’ll have the capacity to swap between them freely in order to discover different aspects of the story from changeable angles. When you decide which player to ‘be’ next, the camera zooms out, (Google Earth style) and deposits you within the current location of the selected avatar. Surprising.


 


Do not worry though, there’s much more than pretty, destroyable scenery and numerous narratives to maintain the more ferocious characters at bay. Everything of GTA V is chock filled with autos, weapons and opportunities to inflict misery upon unsuspecting civilians, if that transpires to be your bag, anyhow. If you aren’t #in the# mood for chainsawing gullible people to death (and if not, why don’t you?) you are able to simply ‘flip them off’ and try a variety of various pre-programmed responses that are character (and area) dependent.


 


Besides that, the gameplay system has had an entire overhaul and GTA 5 “evolves almost all mechanic” reported by ‘Game Informer’s Matt Bertz. The fight system is re-jigged and the aiming and shooting controls have been totally re-designed.


 


In general though, the general feel and also the tone of the game won’t be experiencing any important changes. You will not be driving around delivering flowers or going to church on Sunday. You’ll be stealing cars and killing people.


A lot of people. Probably in a very variety of nasty ways.


 


In the event you followed the series so far, then believe us, you’ll wish to be here for the next episode.


 


On this respect, Grand theft auto 5 is about what Grand theft auto has always been about, absolute and utter bloodshed. It’s a gangster film that stars you; enslaving, stunning plus much more complex than ever before…


 


This game is released on the 19th of september, for further information click here



Find out why you have to be purchasing GTA V on release day