Vehicle Detector by Setellite system

GPS speed camera locators only alerted drivers to fixed speed traps such as Gatso and Truvelo cameras - until now!
LYNX from Snooper uses state-of-the-art GPS technology to provide you with protection from all types of ‘fixed’ speed cameras. But that’s not all LYNX now uses wireless GPRS technology to provide advanced warning of mobile speed traps as well. Normal speed traps detectors can only alert you to ‘fixed’ speed traps such as Gatso and Truvelo cameras, but LYNX is different.

At the touch of a button any member of the LYNX community can share the location of any type of mobile police speed trap or camera with all other LYNX users. The instant a mobile police speed trap has been spotted all other LYNX users in the area will be notified. In addition LYNX is updated automatically, all new camera positions will be sent to you wirelessly. No downloading via a PC or internet connection necessary!

Fixed or mobile, you’ll never miss a camera.Don’t be the driver that misses out. Get LYNX
THE AURA ADVANTAGE!

THE IMPORTANCE OF VERIFICATION - All databases are not created equal.
Unlike AURA, many other GPS databases rely largely on locations provided by hobbyists who might not be able to tell a speed camera or a red light camera from a traffic flow camera or a surveillance camera. These databases could result in annoying false alerts, which could lead you to start ignoring even legitimate alerts--defeating the point of having a GPS database in the first place.

Other databases are not updated every day, and they also limit how often you can download updates. As a result, devices using these databases are not as up-to-date as they could be and are likely to miss alerts.

In contrast, Snooper has assembled a professional team that devotes every working day to verifying each and every speed camera and high risk zone that goes into the AURA database.

The AURA Live ADVANTAGE - AURA Live with up to the second updates!
Snooper LYNX with GPRS takes this technology a step further. With LYNX the AURA database is delivered to you automatically using GPRS technology. Speed trap positions are sent your device wirelessly wherever you, limiting your chances of missing a camera even further. New camera positions will be sent you literally seconds after they have been added to our database.

In addition if another user see's a mobile speed trap or hazard they can 'share' this information with you instantly at the touch of a button. You will then also be alerted to mobile speed traps such as laser - the first time a GPS speed trap locator has been able to do this!

AURA’s reliability is backed up by Snooper, one of the most respected and trusted satellite navigation and speed camera location manufacturers. Snooper has won dozens of awards for innovation and product performance and has been establised since 1979.

If you’re considering a GPS locator to reduce your risk of an unintended speeding ticket or accident, doesn’t it make sense to go with the product—and the company—that reduces that risk the most?
LYNX will provide personal alerts of the following speed traps and hazards:-

Providing personal alerts of:
Shared mobile Police positions
Gatso Cameras
Truvelo Cameras
Specs Cameras
DS2
Speedcurb
Watchman
Multi Lens Gatso
Accident Blackspots
Mobile Laser Sites
High Risk Zones
New AURA & AURA Live Worldwide speed camera database

As well as the UK and Ireland, the AURA speed trap database now offers Worldwide protection. Included in our system are locations in Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Romania, Russia, North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and is still growing.

Tracking & reporting

Your Snooper LYNX can also operate as portable tracking and reporting device. Your LYNX Air Time contract will provide you with access to a secure, password protected website. Track the position of LYNX at any time, view current as well as historical journey reports as well as other useful information including average speed and daily, weekly and monthly mileage.

LYNX Airtime Contract

To provide you with up to the second, realtime, wireless updates Snooper LYNX requires an airtime contract.

There are 3 easy ways to pay using a credit or direct debit card.

Monthly £9.99 inc vat
Quartely £27.99 inc vat
Annual £99.99 inc vat

Minimum contract 12 months. Airtime contract provides LYNX with real time fixed speed camera alerts and updates. In addition LYNX will allow the user to 'share' mobile speed trap positions with other users and receive mobile positions from other users. Please note that LYNX, like your mobile phone will not operate without an airtime contract.

Snooper LYNX specification
Built-in GPS antenna
Built-in GPRS
No PC required
Wireless speed camera updates anywhere
New AURA & AURA Live Worldwide speed camera database
AURA Live camera share capability
Fully Portable
3hour battery life
Height: 55 mm
Width: 80 mm
Depth: 20mm
LCD Display: 2 .7" Full colour TFT Digital LCD
Up to 10 screen colour combinations
Voice Alerts
Speed Limit Alerts
Earphone socket for motorcycle use
Windscreen or Hardwire mounting options
On-line vehicle tracking and journey reporting system

high accuracy humidity controller ACH606A

ningbo jiangbei junrong electron technology co.,ltd

Product Feature
Intelligent humidity controller for humidifier and dehumidifier, with the characteristics of small size165*72*60mm, high accuracy, stable and reliable performance, convenient Plug your humidifier and dehumidifier into the humidity controller and it will regulate the units output to your preset level. Cheap price. And it alsocan memory records.

All the set parameters will be permanently preserved in the controller, need not set every switching on

JRACH606A with the function of setting upper limit and lower limit relative humidity value and calibrating measurement temperature and humidity value through the button on the controller panel

Application:
Orchid, mushroom, greenhouse indoor farm; Bird swallow pet; Family, hotel, office, library, laboratory and so on.

Technique parameter
1 Operating Voltage: AC220V/50Hz +-10%, AC110V/60Hz +-10%, DC12V +-10% are choice(be narrated when order)
2 consume power:

Product Specifications

Mommy I'm Here Child Locator

Review:

The Mommy I’m Here child locator device is an advanced, stylish, cost effective and easy to use child locating aid. It will give you the added confidence of knowing you have taken the extra step to protect your child in today’s dangerous public environments. It works great at the mall, in stores, airports, sporting events or any other public venue where a child can quickly become lost or abducted.

The Mommy I’m Here child locator comes with long life batteries already installed and is immediately ready for use. The teddy bear shaped receiver is both water resistant and stylish, as it comes in brown and pink colors.

How To Operate
Simply attach the Mommy I’m Here stylish teddy bear receiver to your child’s shoe, using the laces or the Velcro strap (as this is the most convenient and sturdy mounting point). Mounting using the child’s belt is also recommended. Attach the wireless transmitter to your key chain ring or simply place it in your pocket. Switch on the teddy bear receiving unit. You will notice that a red light will illuminate on the teddy bear’s tummy. At this point the transmitter and receiver are communicating with one another and establishing their own proprietary frequency. Push the button on your wireless transmitter once to arm the bear receiver. You will hear a few faint beeps. Now the unit is armed and ready for use. It is just that simple. If your child becomes lost or decides to play hide and seek without asking if you want to play, simply press the button on your transmitter and the little teddy bear will emit a series of 56 decibel beeps, allowing you to track down your child and also draw attention to the situation your child may be facing


Product Reviews
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WorldTracker GPRS Extreme

New! WorldTracker GPRS, the first tracking device with real-time updates every 15 seconds. Direct GPRS data connection gives you the most accurate and reliable tracking data ever! The entire functioning unit is as small as a set of car keys. Tiny, accurate, discreet, and reliable. The next generation of GPS tracking is here.

The WorldTracker GPRS is a self-contained complete hardware and software package small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. When placed with packages, vehicles, or personnel, the WorldTracker GPRS provides detailed reports of routes traveled for quality-control and security purposes. Featuring SiRF star III technology for extra sensitive reception outdoors, indoors and through metal. WAAS enabled receiver providing GPS signal corrections, giving up to five times better position accuracy. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. WorldTracker GPRS provides real-time navigation in urban canyons as well as high sensitivity acquisition needed for indoor use.

WorldTracker GPRS Features:
* Self contained device fits in the palm of your hand.
* No external antennae needed, just plug-&-play.
* Location information is reported using a direct GPRS
data connection.
* Mapping for the entire world using the latest cutting
edge 3D maps from Google and Microsoft.
* Real-time location reports every 15 seconds.
* Geofence feature sends alert if the target moves from
pre-defined area.
* GPS assist function using GSM network, boosting
location sensitivity when GPS signal is temporarily
lost.
* Durable, lightweight, water-resistant housing.
* Enhanced sensitivity for indoor and outdoor reporting.
* Tri-band GSM 850/1800/1900 MHz for worldwide
coverage.
* Can be hooked up to 12 volt DC for permanent
hardwire connection

We have combined our popular WorldTracker GPS Tracking Devices with a brand new optional weatherproof magnetic enclosure. This new pack can provide up to 90 days of unattended use by utilizing dual layers of state-of-the-art Lithium Ion Batteries and a motion sensor, which puts the tracker into hibernation after 5 minutes of inactivity.

One of the most convenient and cost-effective features of the new hibernating case is that it can be left unattended for months. Completely programmable, the battery pack virtually eliminates the need for human monitoring by automatically calling up to five cell phones and sending email alerts when it detects motion.

A mere 5.43 inches long, this new battery pack is about half the size of its conventional counterparts when housed in its waterproof and crush-proof Pelican™ case.

Hibernator Case Features
* Smallest size of any Live GPS Tracker.
* 5.43" x 4.06" x 2.12" (13.8 x 10.3 x 5.4 cm)
* Longest lasting tracker available, up to 90 days of
unattended use
* Crush Proof
* Water Tight
* Dirt Proof
* Motion Detector Board with switch capability.
* 50lb Magnetic Mount.
* Charger Included. 3.7-volt 1.5amp
* Charge time 4 to 6 hours

GE Solar Wireless Color Surveillance Camera

Easy to install, no complicated wiring.

Plug the receiver into your TV or recording device and you are ready to go!

The GE Solar Wireless Color Camera is designed to provide safety, security and convenience for your home or office. The camera will only activate when it detects movement in the adjustable 78 degree viewing area.

The camera can transmit color video and audio up to 150 feet (50 meters).

The camera is water and weather resistant and has motion and heat detection up to 25 feet.

The camera system operates in a temperature range of 15F to 105F. It works on all televisions or recording devices that have an A/V input.

This unit also comes with a remote control that allows you to turn the camera. When the camera is activated by the remote, the camera will remain on based upon the transmission time setting.

The solar panel maintains the re-charging of the battery during the daylight hours. The long life rechargeable battery will last up to two years. The receiver has a light and buzzer for sound and visual indication.

Includes;
1 6volt rechargeable battery
1 9volt alkaline battery
1 A23 remote battery
mono audio cable
video cable
wood screws and anchors.

The camera measures 7 inches x 8 inches x 7 and one-quarter inches.

Item Number: 45208

Will Robots replace live Runway Models?

Fashion and modeling isn't just for paper pursuits. Today modeling is considered as one of the lucrative and thrilling professions. This is a field where educational qualities turn insignificant, while physical and personal qualities gain utmost importance. Youngsters, both male and female are constantly in pursuit of opportunities in this glamorous field. Now along with human beings, robots have entered the arena of catwalks. A new talking and walking female fashion robot which can also smile is to make a debut at a fashion show in Tokyo.

Humanoid Robot:
Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan have come up with a 'cybernetic human' who can be a fashion model. The robot is designed to look like an average Japanese woman, weighing 95 pounds, 62.2 inches tall, with a petite silver and black body, small nose on the fair skinned face and has shoulder length black hair. Sharp eyebrows arch over the slightly oversized eyes. It, rather 'she' has a girlish look, and is currently code named as 'HRP-4C'. Probably, it may get a cute name, when making its fashion debut!

During the demonstration, the robot walked out, and said "Hello" in a feminine voice. It closely resembles a woman in gait and behavior and can also interact with people using speech recognition. Idea of the robot was envisioned in 2006, and took three years of time to materialize. The main purpose of its creation is to utilize in the entertainment industry and in fashion shows.

Robots in the fashion world:

Plans are contemplated to debut the robot in the runway for a catwalk as a fashion model at the Tokyo Fashion Week. Its body parts are made precisely small enough, and with slim legs to give an appearance of a female model. It would be exciting to see a hot looking woman robot marching down on the ramp, and catch the eyes of android fans. The robot accomplished fairly well in posing for the cameras during the trail run. It also performed model actions like smiling appealingly, and luring the audience with its seductive poses, and sulky pouts. Mere enough qualifications for a top model!

But there are still some corrections to be made. It has sensors in its feet, but lacks adequate balance like a human. Its knees are permanently bent. Without face and other coverings, the robot is estimated to have a price tag of $2, 00,000. The complete robot will run up the budget like an expensive hot date whopping up $3 million USD. Designed as a fashion model, the robot commands a hefty price, much similar like her real life counterparts!

Japan is famous for its pioneering robotics industries in the world. Demands for robots are growing in Japan, to do household chores and take care of elderly people. This robot is specially designed for entertaining and not for doing house hold work. Will these robots bid goodbye to the skinny ramp models? Will models become extinct as the new fashion robot takes to catwalks in Japan? Robot aficionados' will have to wait patiently until she shows up on the ramp and show how a three million dollar woman can perform better than live models.

GPS Tracking Services » Anti Theft Fleet Management

Anti-Theft Functions

Use any web-based terminal to locate your car
The moment you realise or suspect that your car is stolen, SMS to the
"G-Track" device to:
Remotely switch off the car engine
Activate your car alarm system
Sound off your horn
Auto Lock your doors

To Track your car:
Send an SMS to find out the last known position of your vehicle
Use any web based terminal and log-in to trace the exact location of your vehicle on a Map

Speed alarm

You can set to receive SMS messages from your Intellitrac each time your vehicle exceeds a predefined speed limit. This is a particularly useful feature when your other family members uses the car.

Zone alarm

With Intellitrac, you can put an electronic fence around your vehicle. If your vehicle moves outside this area, e.g out of Singapore or crosses the causeway, you will immediately receive an SMS message from Intellitrac.

Use any web-based terminal to locate your car

Lego's Brainbusting Mindstorms NXT

This robot construction kit offers endless possibilities for creative play, but it may be just a bit too complicated for adults

The Good: Seemingly endless variety in this box
The Bad: Not for the mechanically challenged. Lots of complexity, all the instructions are visual
The Bottom Line: Five templates are just the beginning for robots that can respond to their environments

Reviews:
In the end, cooler heads didn't prevail. During the warm-up for a panel discussion on robotics in San Francisco Apr. 11, Caleb Chung, the paunchy, animated toymaker behind the '90s hit Furby, was trying to agitate Lego's more staid Soren Lund into a robo-duel. Chung was armed with a prototype of his latest creation: a green, robotic, toy dinosaur called Pleo that can mimic emotions. Lund, the Dane in charge of Lego's robot-building products, resisted, instead preferring to answer attendees' questions about the technology arrayed on the table in front of the pair.

But Chung kept prodding, and Lund kept dodging, until he could presumably take no more. Then he touched a switch on a robotic Lego scorpion, which wheeled forward and began swinging a hammer-like appendage down on Pleo's head. Chung stroked the dino and spoke to it in soothing tones.

Most customers of Lego's latest robot creation kit, Mindstorms NXT, won't use their machines as battling robots. But the über-enthusiasts who inhabit the Mindstorms realm have veered off in other wild directions, using the 519-piece kit to assemble and program robots that can catapult Lego bricks, fill a dog's food bowl, and play Twister (through an add-on light sensor that can detect colors).

Aficionados Helped Design It
Those ideas originally sprang from the minds of Lego aficionados the company recruited to help it design NXT, the Danish toy company's second robot-building kit, which arrived on U.S. shelves in August, 2006. Less ambitious customers can still configure the $250 kit's motors, wheels, gears, and sensors to create bots that carry out programmed routines in response to sounds, light, and touch.

To see what the fuss was about, I chose Mindstorms NXT for the third installment of a series of reviews of robotic devices aimed at consumers (see BusinessWeek.com, 4/18/07, "Hasbro's Fickle Butterscotch," and 5/2/07, "iRobot's Unhousebroken Dirt Dog").

A lot has changed since Lego introduced the first version of Mindstorms in 1998. That product, developed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's famed Media Lab and based on ideas from artificial-intelligence pioneer Seymour Papert, helped bring robotic programming to a mass market. Lego has sold more than 1 million of the original Mindstorms kits.

Kinder, Simpler Kit
But Lund says it took too long for kids to get their robots up and running (this is a toy, after all), and users complained about the arcane programming language. So this time Lego teamed with scientific-equipment maker National Instruments (NATI) to develop a more visual programming environment that runs on PCs and Macs. It also souped up Mindstorms' intelligence "brick"—the plastic box that houses its chips and memory, gets input from the sensors, and sends commands to the motors—to handle more complex tasks (see BusinessWeek, 9/4/06, "Brainier Robots, Brainier Kids?"). And users can attach new sensors to their models that detect changes in light, sound, and pressure. There's even an ultrasonic sensor that tells Mindstorms robots how far they are from obstacles.

Lund says Lego wanted to balance open-ended creation designed to appeal to its sophisticated, adult customers with straightforward templates, so kids 10 and older could quickly build models that worked. Lego plays up the "Quickstart" option that's supposed to let kids build a three-wheeled robot that drives around within a half hour without touching a PC. It took me an hour, but then again, I'm probably not part of Lego's mechanically inclined target market, who bought 200,000 kits in NXT's first five months on sale. by Aaron Ricadela

WI-FI HOTSPOT SOFTWARE

Create your free or paid HotSpot service

HOW TO START YOUR OWN WI-FI HOTSPOT:

To answer this question, we have to explore a few things first. What are the main advantages to operate a HotSpot? Should i give the internet access free for my customers or charge them? See below...

DEVELOPMENT OF WI-FI

Wi-Fi is the fastest growing segment of the internet. The number of those using their own laptops, PDA or Wi-Fi phones is growing dynamically and they need internet access. Now, using the Wi-Fi technology you can gain money, while providing premium service to your guests.

The development and the spread of Wi-Fi technology has started to grow exponentially in the past years. According to a survey conducted in 2006, close to 8 million Wi-Fi users will use the public Wi-Fi Hotspots by the year 2007, generating income of hundreds of millions of dollars. Today, the majority of the laptop producers, like Hewlett Packard, Sony, Dell, Toshiba, Apple and IBM are building the Wi-Fi antenna into the laptop, thus it has become a standard accessory as the 56K modem used to be. You can be part of this technological development with the help of our “INSTANT HOTSPOT” service.

WHY IS IT WORTH TO OPERATE YOUR OWN HOTSPOT?
There are thousand of HOTSPOTS operating around the world and their number raised dynamically and literally hundreds of thousands of businesses can't be wrong. By offering Wi-Fi hotspot services to their customers, they're gaining traffic, recognition, and affluent customers, not to mention keeping up with the competition. The visiting foreigner are specifically looking for HotSpots and the rather choose a place where they can access the internet using their own computers. Reading e-mails has become a daily routine, and the internet is necessary to operate a growing number of other services too (phone calls via the internet using Skype videoconference etc.)

WHAT KIND OF LOCATIONS ARE SUITABLE FOR OPERATING A HOTSPOT?
These type of locations are perfect for setting up a Wi-Fi HotSpot:


Airport, Bar, Beach, Bus station, Cafe, Campground, Convention center, Disco, Downtown area, Gas station, Golf course, Government office, Health club, Hospital, Hotel, Internet cafe, Library, Marina, Residential area, Office building, Office park, Other Park, Private club, Public space / public building, Residence, Rest area ,Restaurant, Rural area, Sports venue, Store / shopping mall, Train station, Truck stop, School / university, Phone booth, Business center, Training Center, Boat / Ferry / Ship, Car Wash, Tourist Attraction, Pub, RV Resort, Hotzone (Metro area, Mesh network)
View all of our clients here


HOTSPOT FOR A FEE OR HOTSPOT FOR FREE?
Many places operate free HotSpot. Such completely open HotSpot can be set up within minutes by using only a broadband internet access and a Wi-Fi router. The free internet service is attractive, but there are several adverse characteristics of this service, such as the number and the time of the access’ can not be limited.

In many places the free internet access has become so popular, that their guests are visiting the coffee shop or the restaurant just for the sake of the free access, thus never actually becoming a customer. More over, the neighbors living in the close surround are overloading the system without ever paying a penny.

A lot of coffee shops and hotels turn to us with this problem. The bandwidth of the access, granted to each customer can not be limited either. Thus if someone uses the free Wi-Fi connection to download vast information, it will make the system unusable for other customers. This is why chains, like Starbucks, McDonald's, Borders, and Barnes & Noble, will probably never offer the service for free. By charging a fee, even a small amount, they ensure that most people are coming for food or books first, and Wi-Fi second, while collecting appropriate monies from people who just want to surf all day.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
Fortunately the risks of operating a HotSpot is very small because of its low costs compared to the opportunities it is providing, such as acquiring new customers or keeping the old ones longer. Whether you will decide to provide free of paid solution you will need a HotSpot management to ensure that only the authorized people can access the wireless internet network.

This is where we step into the picture. With the help of our "INSTANT HOTSPOT " package you can easily create a HotSpot and the special software runs in the Wi-Fi router will automatically give out the accesses.

If you are thinking about creating free internet access for your customers, with the help of our HOTSPOT FREE solution you can offer free internet access while you can ensure that your network will be used only buy those who are authorized.

Should you want to create a HotSpot where customers have to pay a fee for HotSpot access, the system will work automatically. Your customer will pay for the access via the internet by a credit card or a PayPal account, that will provide him access to the internet for a period he has paid for (there is an option to use PrePaid cards too). Check out our HOTSPOT PRO solution for more information.

Durability testing of car seat heaters by Robot system

Occubot
The measuring system provides six measurement dimensions for forces and torques and ensures absolute accuracy. This provides the user with data about the actual forces and torques being exerted on the contact surface between the dummy and the seat. To adapt the overall system to a different seat, it is merely necessary to redefine the Base coordinate system.

Performance features:
Continuous adaptation of the forces and torques (every cycle) according to the degree of wear on the test object
Simple parameterization via special interfaces for endurance testing of all kinds
Ethernet interface to an external data acquisition system for saving all relevant test data required for advanced analysis and test logging (optional)
Many other process-specific features, such as an editor for simple definition of the Base coordinate system, “Search and Hold” function for constant forces, static load compensation, programmable test stops, and processing of multiple test objects, etc

Starting point / Task definition
For car seat heaters, technical perfection is not enough; they must also always satisfy customer requirements, no matter which type of seat the heater is installed in. Therefore the basic materials and system components used for the seat heaters must be tested continuously and optimized in accordance with the test results. Standard qualification testing includes the mechanical durability test series required by the automotive industry.

W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG, based in Odelzhausen near Munich, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of car seat heaters, carries out durability testing using the Occubot VI process. Here a KUKA KR 150 robot verifies whether or not heaters integrated into car seats or seat parts withstand the mechanical stress which they are subjected to during the lifetime of the car. Occubot VI is a flexible, programmable, load- and position-controlled test system with high repeatability. This method, which works with force/torque sensors, reproduces the motions and loads of a human body using dummies, thus replacing a wide range of costly, customized test devices with hydraulic or pneumatic drives. Occubot VI allows realistic simulation, for example, of someone getting into and out of the seat (ingress/egress test), or of strong pulsation or vibration during driving. In addition, there are jounce and squirm, rear fatigue, truck driver and clutch operation tests.

The measuring system provides six measurement dimensions for forces and torques and ensures absolute accuracy. This provides the user with data about the actual forces and torques being exerted on the contact surface between the dummy and the seat. It is possible to compensate for the static forces of the dummy itself in order to prevent them from giving rise to additional dynamic forces. The robot motions are also regularly adjusted in relation to the wear on the test object. And to adapt the overall system to a different seat, it is merely necessary to redefine the Base coordinate system.

System components / Scope of supply
KUKA KR 150 robot
PC-based KUKA KR C2 robot controller, including control panel with Windows interface
Force-torque sensor system
System software, including the application, setup and configuration programs
Various dummies
Robot programming
Commissioning

BMW Hydrogen car should be electric instead

Why are car manufacturers wasting time and energy with hydrogen powered cars when they should be putting their efforts into electic motors? With hydrogen taking more energy to produce than it delivers, why the ridiculous distraction from creating clean electric cars with hundreds fewer parts than combustion engines? Forget about a hydrogen car, you’ll never be driving one.An article from the Toronto Star waxes lyrically about BMW having created a hydrogen car, and how it is environmentally friendly. A number of other articles have also appeared now that BMW has released the new BMW Hydrogen 7, a hydrogen powered card. Other articles in the news right now about it include one from Times Online in the UK and another from The Independent in the UK.

There’s also lots of other news about this launch over at Google News if you want more.

I advise you to read at least one of the news articles listed above on the release of the BMW Hydrogen 7 so you can see how ridiculous the whole thing is. Near the end of the article from the Toronto Star, we read that “Like oil from Alberta’s tar sands, it takes more energy to make hydrogen than you get from it. Only when renewable resources, such as solar, wind and thermal energy, are used to make hydrogen will its true green potential be realized”.

So you’re telling me it takes more energy to produce hydrogen that you get from it? That’s so unbelievable that it’s laughable. Why would you ever bother? Jim Kenzie from the Toronto Star says that when hydrogen is made from renewable resources such as solar, wind and thermal energy, then the true green potential will be realized.

Well, Mr Kenzie, and BMW, how about applying that solar, wind and thermal energy into recharging lithium ion batteries (or better, future batteries) so our cars can run on quiet electric motors instead? Why do we need combustion at all?

The whole world is aware of a movie called ‘Who killed the electric car?’. I haven’t seen this movie yet, but will this week, and have heard a lot of buzz and have read a lot about it. The way in which GM marketed and then killed this car is one of the great tragedies of the 20th century. Had GM continued, many more people would happily be driving electric cars today.

GM has a response to the movie which you should read, but one of their claims is that they have a hydrogen car too. Hey GM, that’s just not good enough, and none of your reasons wash with me, and I suspect they don’t wash with too many other people either.

And lest you think electric cars are a dream or just a waste of time, of course Toyota has had great success with the Prius car, as well as their new Lexus hybrid. I’ve read reports of European and US owners of the Prius modifying their cars so they run mostly on electricity and use less petrol than ever.

Then there’s the amazing Tesla Motors company with their fully electric sports car that can go from 0 to 60 mph in only 4 seconds, and all from lithium ion batteries!

Tesla is being largely funded out of Silicon Valley and counts Elon Musk, founder of PayPal and Sergei Brin, co-founder of Google, among its investors. The car gets 250 miles per charge at a cost of about 1c per mile. The website has all the details, the car has already won several major awards and they have already sold out of their 2007 series!

Let’s get back to hydrogen fuel for a moment. For a hydrogen fuel economy to exist, not only do we need abundant supplies of hydrogen for all, but all of the service stations that currently supply petrol (or gas for US readers) will need upgrading to supply hydrogen. Tankers specifically designed to transport hydrogen need to be built en-masse to transport hydrogen all over the country – indeed, all over the world.

There’s more to this, but basically an entire infrastructure needs to be built to support this. How much will this cost again? Just so we can produce a car with no emissions. Why not go electric, the technology is mature and can easily be advanced further, and it produces no emissions either.

The infrastructure to charge electric cars already exists all over the world - it’s called the power grid. Every home has one, they’re even in service stations. Quick battery charging technology exists and will only get better, making a very quick recharge of your car’s batteries a convenient reality.

In Berlin, where BMW is trialling this project, the Toronto Star article states that: “Berlin currently has two hydrogen filling stations to service a grand total of 16 hydrogen vehicles and a handful of buses”.

So, they’ve outfitted two gas stations for hydrogen compatibility. Just enough to make it look like something’s happening in the alternative energy space. But every fuel station in the world is going to need hydrogen if you want to drive from A to B without running out of fuel.

The article also states that “Every car maker has hydrogen research projects underway. Where BMW deviates from the mainstream is that instead of fuel cells, which convert hydrogen to electrical energy to power motors, it believes the internal combustion engine (ICE) running on hydrogen is the best, or at least quickest, way to a hydrogen-based transportation system”.

Unfortunately, given the fact that electric motors are now easily powering a sports car, and the car and oil industries have already killed the GM electric car, all of these projects are just a whitewash. A distraction.

C’mon BMW and all car companies around the world. Ditch the hydrogen project, and give us electric cars.

The world has been held back for 100 years from this technology, using filthy oil and petrol to power our cars instead. It’s time we moved to the future, and stopped looking for ways to modify old, outdated technology.

Want to know more? Read the original article from the Toronto Star, visit the Tesla Motors web site, and do your own investigation on Google where a search for the term ‘electric cars’ delivers 18.5 million results.
By Staff Writers

A better Pocket PC, or just nicer looking?

Before the iPod, the iPaq was the “i-word” on many people’s lips. It started as a line of Pocket PCs by Compaq, and were known for their stylish design and multimedia capabilities thanks to Windows Media Player. Yet despite their small size, advanced touch screen, large software base and clever computing capabilities, the iPod instead is arguably the world’s most well known new technological gadget, even though digital cameras outsell iPods and mp3 players two-to-one and Pocket PCs have been around for much longer.

Billed as part of the ‘Entertainment’ series, when we played with this unit (and it’s bigger brother with Tom Tom GPS support) at an HP media event earlier this week, we noticed a digital media menu that gave you easy access to audio and video files on the device, although the ‘main menu’ as seen on the image above is still the default screen you’ll usually see. Also, while the menu is nothing like the iPod, it does ‘instantly’ expose the audio and video choices available to you.

It comes with WIndows Mobile 5.0, so runs all of today’s Pocket PC software, and besides an SD slot where you can insert a 2Gb SD card, the rx-4540 model comes with 1Gb of memory built-in as standard, something that should have come to Pocket PC’s some time ago and should even now be enlarged to 4Gb, 8Gb and even bigger sizes!

The rx-4540 can be used vertically, or horizontally as seen above. You can also see a clickable jog-dial in the top right hand corner of the unit above, something that makes navigation a little easier, either when used vertically with your left thumb, or horizontally with your right thumb.

Naturally a stylus in included to operate the touch screen and enter information, although as with all Pocket PCs, you can use your finger instead for certain operations.

Bluetooth is built-in, as is Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, so Internet telephony is possible, although there is no socket for a mobile phone SIM card. With a separately purchased Bluetooth GPS adapter, you can turn the rx-4540 into an in-car GPS map, something that the rx-5000 series already has built-in. We’ll look at the rx-5000 series in an upcoming post.

There’s also no built-in camera or FM radio, but as a handheld Windows Mobile 5.0 powered computer with good inbuilt storage and easy expandability which can double as a portable music and video player, it is in the running to be a good excuse to spend AUD $499 on a brand new gadget.

The question is, will it be enough to tempt you away from the latest iPod, a new digital camera or a mobile-phone equipped Pocket PC device or other mobile phone with digital media capabilities all its own? The new styling is appealing, and while other reviews weren’t that impressed, it’s an important step in making the Pocket PC look more like a cool digital device than a complicated pocket computer.

Our own most recent purchase? A 2nd-gen iPod nano with 8Gb. If we had to choose between the two, despite already having a 1st-gen iPod Nano and a modern mobile phone Pocket PC, the new Nano would appeal to us the most, and that was our purchase choice, not that we were aware of the rx-4540 at the time of nano purchase - it only came out earlier this week, while the iPod nano came out three weeks ago already. The iPod and other digital media players are the major competition to the rx-4540, so it will be interesting to see how popular it is worldwide after the Christmas/holiday season is over and we’re into 2007.

However, that said, if we had to buy a GPS navigation unit, the rx-5000 which we’ll look at later this week (which is a full Pocket PC with inbuilt GPS) is definitely worth considering against dedicated GPS devices. Leave a comment and share your own thoughts on iPods, Pocket PCs and GPS devices!

Honda ASIMO humanoid Robot gets smarter

Haven’t the boffins at Honda seen Battlestar Galactia or Terminator or The Matrix? Don’t they know what happens when you make robots too smart? Apparently not, as Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot has received an update to give the advanced humanoid robot greaterintelligence technology.

ASIMO’s new capabilities include: being able to automatically return to a charging point to recharge its battery; accurately predict the movement of walking humans and decide how best to avoid them; a new system to allow multiple ASIMOs to share and complete tasks between them; and an upgrade to ASIMO’s tray-carrying and cart-pushing abilities.

Honda will begin test operations of two ASIMOs equipped with these newly developed technologies at the second floor lobby of Honda’s Aoyama headquarters in Tokyo until January 31, 2008.

Since introducing an all-new ASIMO in 2005, with more advanced physical and intelligence capabilities, Honda has focused its R&D efforts more on the area of intelligence technologies. The newly developed technologies, which enable ASIMO to operate in an environment with people and other ASIMOs, bring Honda one step closer to the development of a humanoid robot that can be put to practical use in a real world environment requiring coexistence with people.

Honda’s robotics program began in 1986 with the aim of creating a home helper for people with limited physical ability, such as the disabled and the elderly.

Here’s an overview of what the update includes:

New cooperative work function: In situations where more than one ASIMO works together, information regarding the current status of each ASIMO will be shared constantly among the multiple networked ASIMOs in order to share tasks in the most efficient manner.
New function to avoid oncoming people: ASIMO identifies oncoming people through its eye camera and calculates their travelling direction and speed, then predicts the movements of oncoming people to choose the most appropriate path so that it will not block the movement of others. When there is not enough space, ASIMO will step back and yield the right-of-way.
New autonomous battery charging function: A new battery charging station was developed for ASIMO’s autonomous recharging. When the remaining battery level falls below a certain level, ASIMO will automatically identify and walk to the closest available battery charging station and re-charge while standing.
Honda will continue its efforts to further advance intelligence technologies with the goal to develop a robot which can be truly useful in a real world environment where coexistence with people is required.

But what I want to know is what happens when the robots tire of their “coexistence” and their servitude? Honda, you have been warned. You might be creating cool, cute robots, but you may also be threatening the future of the human race.

Telepathic communication has arrived, first voiceless call made

Telepathy in any form has long seemed confined to science fiction books and movies. People with disabilities and problems speaking due accident or other issues seemed condemned to a life of silence, restricted to the written word, typing and TDD terminals. Thanks to a new device, that is all about to change. The first voiceless phone call has now been made.How does it work? The user who wishes to make a voiceless call wears a neckband. The neckband is designed to pick up nerve impulses from the brain to the vocal cords. The neckband wearer basically learns to talk without wound by sending the signals but not moving their lips or making noise. Once they have mastered that, the neckband will pick up the signals and translate them into speech for the listener.

The technology is not perfected by any means, but it is a huge step in the right direction. It has applications not only for the medical sector but for the private sector as well. Think of how blissful it would be if you could sit in a movie without some yob talking on their cell phone three rows back? Once this technology becomes usable, that could happen.

In the prototype, you can still see some serious delays in the relay process. This outlines the fact that the technology still has a long way to go to be commercially viable. Even so, this is a major communication breakthrough along the lines of Bell and Watson making the first telephone call.

Face scans coming to UK airports

Under the guise of easing congestion, UK air travelers can now look forward to having their faces scanned when they travel by air. The biometric facial scan is yet another in a long line of smoke screens designed to make passengers embrace the illusion of safetyduring travel. One benefit to the scan is the eventual elimination of manual passport screening.

The biometric scan is designed to recognize characteristic points of the face or individual contours of the iris of the eye. With an accuracy rate of 40% or less, many are skeptical that the planed roll out this summer will be viable. In addition to questions of accuracy, there remains some issue with passenger control when or if someone is rejected by the unmanned, fully automated system.

For the scans to work, people would have to have opted for a biometric passport. There is currently a voluntary similar system in place for business travelers in the UK that scans the iris of the eye. The technology in use thus far has not sped up travel for business travelers, and officials fear that implementing the technology this close to peak summer travel may make airline bottlenecks that much worse.

Phil Booth of the No2Id Campaign said: “Someone is extremely optimistic. The technology is just not there. The last time I spoke to anyone in the facial recognition field they said the best systems were only operating at about a 40% success rate in a real time situation. I am flabbergasted they consider doing this at a time when there are so many measures making it difficult for passengers.”

Smallest full-featured Linux PC

CompuLab is readying a full-featured Ubuntu Linux PC that draws six Watts and costs $245-to-$400. The Fit-PC2 packs a 1.1GHz or 1.6GHz Atom processor, 160GB hard drive (or SSD), and DVI/HDMI video up to 1920x1080 into a passively cooled case smaller than three CD cases.
Measuring 4 x 4.5 x 1.0 inches, the Fit-PC2 would be dwarfed by a stack of three CD jewel-cases, which would measure about 5.5 x 5 x 1.25. The Fit-PC2 is touted for its innovative, ruggedized die-cast aluminum case. There are no venting holes, but the fanless device is said to be designed so that the case itself dissipates heat.

The Fit-PC2 is quiet, or even noiseless when ordered with the solid-state drive (SSD) option, says the vendor. The nettop is said to be capable of withstanding a high level of shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. As a result, CompuLab is pitching it for a wide range of applications, from ruggedized industrial, automotive, and nautical devices, to applications where silence counts, such as a library PCs, desktop replacements, and point-of-sale (POS) PCs. With its IR receiver, DVI (via HDMI) interface, and 1920x1080 video capabilities, it is even pegged for home theater PCs.

Fit-PC2

The Fit-PC2 is offered in 1.1GHz "Value" and 1.6GHz "Performance" models. Besides the faster chip, the Performance model adds built-in WiFi. Both models offer 1GB DDR2, as well as a microSD slot for expansion. A 2.5-inch (normal laptop-sized) 160GB SATA hard disk drive is standard, with an optional SSD available. A gigabit Ethernet port and six USB ports offer considerable expansion possibilities.

Specifications for the Fit-PC2 Linux Value and Performance models include:
Processor -- Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz (Performance); Intel Atom Z510 1.1GHz (Value); both with Intel US15W SCH

Memory -- 1GB DDR2

Flash expansion – miniSD socket

Display -- supports DVI output up to 1920x1080 via HDMI connector

Storage -- 160GB SATA 2.5-inch HDD; optional SSD

Networking -- gigabit Ethernet port

WiFi -- 802.11b/g (Performance model only)

USB -- 6 USB ports

Audio -- "high definition 2.0" audio; line-out; line-in; mic

Other features -- IR receiver; fanless; aluminum case

Power -- 12V power supply; 6W typical consumption; up to 8W under load; under 1 Watt standby

Operating temperature -- 32 to 113 deg. F (0 to 45 deg. C) with HDD; 32 to 158 deg. F (0 to 70 deg. C) without

Dimensions -- 4 x 4.5 x 1.0 inches (101 x 115 x 27 mm)

Weight -- 13 oz (370 gr) including HDD

Operating system -- Ubuntu Linux 8.04 (Windows XP and diskless, zero-OS versions also available)
Availability

The Fit-PC2 is shipping later this month, says CompuLab. The PC is offered initially in the following configurations:
1.1GHz Z510, no OS, no drive -- $245

1.1GHz Z510, with Ubuntu 8.04 on 2.5-inch 160GB SATA drive -- $300

1.6GHz Z530, with Ubuntu 8.04 on 2.5-inch 160GB SATA drive -- $360

1.6GHz Z530, with Windows XP on 2.5-inch 160GB SATA drive -- $400

Dual channel T.E.N.S.:

This new twin channel T.E.N.S unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) helps to eliminate pain by transmitting to the nerve endings small electrical pulses in a regulated and pre-programmed way, producing endorphins, the body's own pain killers.

This system is used in hospitals and clinics throughout the U.K. as a clinically tested, drug free method of pain relief. This twin channel T.E.N.S. unit is now medically approved for home use and is specially designed to give soothing pain relief for large areas of the body simultaneously. Use it to treat: lower back and shoulders, knees/ankles, hands/wrists, aching joints/muscles associated with rheumatism, lumbago, sports injuries, period pain.

· Dual individual output channels (2 pads per channel) that allow 2 body sites to be stimulated simultaneously. · Single-basic square pulse output waveforms. · 50 levels output intensity · 12 pre-set programs for ease of use (pulse frequency, pulse width, method and massage time are present)

· 2 adjustable programs for personal set up: Pulse rate : adjustable from 2Hz 200Hz Pulse width : adjustable from 30µS - 300µS

Treatment time : adjustable from 00:01 t0 23:59

· Fast adjustment protection: the intensity will stop at level 15 in fast advance mode to avoid user from increasing intensity too rapidly.

· Auto shut off in 4 minutes for no operation in 3 minutes


Item is supplied by Tensor Marketing Ltd. For information regarding delivery, please click here

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Bought this product?

NextBase SDV1102 10.2 inch DVD Player with Freeview TV:

The complete portable multi media solution
In this one incredible multimedia player you can receive Freeview TV, play DVDs / CDs, view photographs/movies & play MP3 music files using the memory card slot and USB port, and listen to digital radio.

Because of its versatility (powered by mains AC (110V and 240V), 12V & 24V DC (adaptors supplied) and battery powered (optional)), it is ideal for the car, caravan, kitchen, bathroom or any other room in your house.

Also included are Nextbase Infra-red single band cordless headphones, and the whole bundle comes with a 2-year guarantee.

Features:


High Resolution 10.2inch 800 x 400 16:9 / 4:3 true colour TFT screen

Crystal clear high definition 10.2 inch 800 x 480 16:9 true colour TFT LCD screen and perfect sound from the built in stereo speakers (3W + 1W)

Built-in top loading DVD/CD player

Built in Digital Freeview TV and analogue TV receivers to ensure that wherever you are you will be able to receive TV (listen to digital radio using the Freeview receiver)

Memory card slot for viewing photographs or video taken on your camera/camcorder (SD, MMC, MS, MS-Pro & MMC Cards)

USB Port and DivX MPEG4 support for playing your favourite DivX movies saved on your external hard disk

With built-in Video/Audio input and output you can connect to a TV for playing DVDs / Freeview TV etc on your TV

Earphone jack, Finished in black rubberized coating

Also VESA (100x100) wall mount compatible so it’s ready to be wall-mounted on any standard VESA wall mount bracket

Supplied with a standard telescopic aerial plus a magnetized mini amplified aerial

Ideal for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, caravan

Nextbase Infra-red single band cordless headphones are included

Picture frame style stand

Tablet design measures: 318 (L) x 200 (W) x 25.4mm (H)

Accessories include: moulded protective case, accessory bag, mains adaptor (100-240V), 12-24V car cigarette lighter power adaptor, 2 TV aerials (booster aerial and telescopic aerial), AV cables, remote control, in-ear headphones + wireless Infra-red headphones)

Optional Extras: Rechargeable Li-ion battery gives 3.5 hours use (minimum) - £49.95; Universal car headrest mount £29.95

For further information call Nextbase on 02920 866 429.

Ion USB Turntables

Save vinyl and tape to your PC and copy to CD with the ION USB turntable.

Save Up To £40 On The RRP

The USB turntables from Ion are a wonderfully simple and inexpensive solution for converting your cherished vinyl collection into digital files.

It takes just a few minutes to set up as does loading of the software onto your computer, using the user-friendly instruction guide. All that is needed to connect the two is the supplied USB cable.

Features:

Downloads 33.3 & 45 RPM records

78 RPM records can be transferred by recording at 33.3 / 45 RPM and using software to restore to original speed

1/8" stereo line input to digitise music from cassettes or other sources (Contemporary Only)

Connect to a stereo (using phono in / out) for use as a normal record player (33.3 & 45 RPM only)

2 Designs; Contemporary & Classic - with hinged lid

A single USB cable (supplied) is all you need to connect the turntable to a computer

Mains powered (adpator included)

Audacity* software included

Compatible with PCs and MACs

Measures 10cm high, 41cm wide, 33cm deep (Classic); 14cm high, 43cm wide, 38cm deep (Contemporary)

*Audacity editing software helps to clean up recordings as well as providing the full range of editing functions including pitch control, selections, dividing, noise removal and labelling.

Includes:
Power Adapter
USB Cable
Cartridge
Styli
Recording Software CD
Quick Start Guide

System requirements:
PC’s: Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP Home, XP Pro, XP MCE, Media Centre or Vista
MACs: OS9 or higher
USB 1.1 port or higher

Please call 01252 353 850 for technical support on this item

You can also buy a dust cover for your turntable for just £12.95 click here

You can also buy an additional stylus for your turntable for just £12.95 click here

Order online below or if you would prefer to order over the telephone or enquire about express delivery, please call 0330 333 6805 and quote GASHOP and DT001 (Contemporary) or DT002 (Classic).

Item is supplied by T2 Direct Limited. For supplier details and information regarding delivery and please click here

Read customer reviews
Bought this product? Write your own review.

Apple shows off iPhone improvements

It might not sound much. But to the 17 million owners of Apple iPhones worldwide – and to 13m owners of their non-phone siblings, the iPod Touch – it's a big thing: the next version of its software, to be released "this summer", will allow them to cut, copy and paste content between pages.

And what better way to demonstrate the most obviously "missing" feature on the iPhone than by booking a flight that would get you Lost? "I'm going to reserve a seat on Oceanic flight 815," said Scott Forstall, the head of Apple's iPhone software development, as he showed off the method by which one can highlight text in an email – double-tapping on a word – and from there choose cut, copy or paste the text.

The joke – that Oceanic 815 is the flight which crashlands on the mysterious island in the TV series Lost – wasn't missed by the audience as Apple previewed the third version of its iPhone operating software, unveiled on Tuesday at its headquarters in Cupertino.

Apple announced that it is radically expanding the facilities that will be available to the thousands of developers and companies writing applications for the iPhone. "What's interesting is that most of those applications [that were] shown would be virtually impossible for developers to create on other platforms," noted Michael Gartenberg, a consumer analyst for the market research company Interpret.

That poses a challenge to smartphone rivals such as Microsoft – whose Windows Mobile has stuttered in functionality compared to the iPhone, despite having larger sales and a longer history – Research in Motion, makers of the BlackBerry, and the handheld maker Palm. All have announced similar plans to Apple's App Store, but whether they can make them successful is a different story.

The event was led by Scott Forstall, the head of iPhone software development, and Greg Joswiak, head of iPhone product marketing. Steve Jobs, the company's chief executive, remains on medical leave: he is not expected back before June.

As well as cut and paste, the next version of the software – which will be free to iPhone owners, but cost iPod Touch owners $9.95 – will let them do system-wide searching, record voice memos, play games or interact wirelessly with nearby iPhone or iPod Touches, subscribe to online calendars, and possibly – depending on the mobile networks' agreement – use their phones as wireless broadband modems.

The new software will also let companies that write applications that run on the iPhone sell content "within" their applications, rather than having to buy it separately from the iPhone App Store, the Apple-controlled online shop. That opens up the possibility of paid-for content such as ebooks, suggested Forstall.

Owners of the 3G iPhone, released last July, will be able to send picture messages – a standard phone function that has been missing previously. Owners of the older version, first sold in June 2007, will not benefit because it does not contain the necessary radio hardware, Apple said.

Other additions include "push" notification, so that instant messaging programs can in effect run in the background and alert the user when a new message arrives.

Apple has also added maps that will enable the device to be used as a satnav, with turn-by-turn navigation - though only companies which have their own licensed mapping direction system (such as satnav makers) will be able to use it.

Not everyone will be satisfied. Video recording has not been enabled via the iPhone's camera; nor have video calls. Apple's executives were evasive too about the possibility of being able to type onto the iPhone's screen via full-sized keyboards connected via the Bluetooth wireless system. That would enable truly mobile working - but it might not be allowed by the new system.

"Apple chose to implement well rather than do a lot," commented Ian Fogg of Jupiter Research about the update. "Right choice in my opinion. If we'd had all this earlier [it] would be less well executed."

Apple said that there have been more than 800 million downloads from the App Store, which has 25,000 free and paid-for applications, and that it had been effective in attracting people to it: 62% of the developers submitting products to be sold there were new to the company's platform.
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Robo-model is a fashion flop

Japanese robot designed for the catwalk is sadly more suited to a career in fitness training

The now underemployed (one presumes) and much-missed 90s pop group, Right Said Fred, pretty much summed up most people's opinion of what being a fashion model entails: "I'm a model, you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk." It is unlikely that models were mollified by singer Richard Fairbrass's qualification that they do more than just turn, but also "shake my little tush on the catwalk."

In fact, developers in Japan (somehow, this story could only come from Japan) have proven that the skills of models cannot easily be replicated. Despite their most strenuous efforts, a new robotic model, whose framework is worth over $200,000 (£140,000), just is not able to match the skills of a real fashion model. It is good enough, however, to work as an exercise instructor.

HRP-4C, a name that will probably not join the ranks of modelling greats alongside Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss, was, like a fashion collection, unveiled yesterday in Japan. Sadly, that's the closest it will probably come to the world of couture. The robot, which has been designed to resemble a Japanese woman, has already been slammed by designers for being too stumpy (a mere 62.2 inches) and dumpy (a nigh-on obese 58kg). But surely physical imperfections are why God created plastic surgery (and extreme dieting)?

The real issues have been behavioural, which might strike some as odd coming from an industry that continues to fete the BlackBerry Bomber, aka Naomi Campbell. For a start, the wannabe model robot dared to talk, saying "Hello, everybody" in what has been described as a "tiny [and] feminine" voice. Whatever. As has commonly been noted, Kate Moss's success owes much to her muteness.

Next, her walk was totally off (there was an issue about her bent knees). And finally, she couldn't even get a good facial expression down pat, looking only "stunned" when asked to express happiness or anger. But was that really an error? As all fans of Zoolander know, only the very, very few are skilled enough to discern the subtle differences between a model's look. From magnum to blue steel may be a short leap - but it is a crucial one.

I say, get HRP-4C on a non-carb diet and those advertising contracts will be hers by June.

Data Robotics Drobo

by Melissa J. Perenson

Jul 20, 2007 - Data Robotics' new Drobo is designed to safeguard your data automatically. The company's innovative approach to data handling distinguishes Drobo from the sea of multidrive external enclosures currently available, and Drobo's ease of use and flexibility make it a great fit for environments that lack a dedicated IT person to decipher the complexities of typical RAID storage options.

The slick design and easy setup of Drobo make this USB appliance a strong choice for expanding your system's storage.

Data Robotics' new Drobo is designed to safeguard your data automatically. The company's innovative approach to data handling distinguishes Drobo from the sea of multidrive external enclosures currently available, and Drobo's ease of use and flexibility make it a great fit for environments that lack a dedicated IT person to decipher the complexities of typical RAID storage options.

Drobo is a direct-attached USB 2.0 storage appliance for PC and Mac that sells for $499. The streamlined, attractive device is a bring-your-own-hard-drive affair: The price includes only the chassis, which has four empty Serial ATA drive bays that can handle drives with capacities of up to 1 terabyte each. This actually adds to Drobo's appeal, since its storage capacity can grow to suit your needs. (See the company's site for a look at how you can mix and match hard-drive capacities.)

Unlike RAID 5-based systems, which often require you to tweak settings, Drobo needs no adjustments: The unit employs its own disk and storage virtualization algorithms to provide automatic data redundancy. The device gives users many of the benefits of RAID 5 without the complexity of such a multidrive setup. With its own operating system, CPU, and memory to power data-handling smarts, the appliance allows you to swap a drive out, even as you continue working on files stored on the system. In contrast, a multidrive RAID 5 system would require you to rebuild the RAID before you could start accessing data again.

Drobo knows where each of block of data is stored on a disk, and its algorithms are more flexible than the RAID standards in wide use today. Together, these factors make it easier for the user to manage the data device as one large "pool" of data, and for Drobo to monitor itself for data corruption and disk failure. Other differences between RAID 5 and Drobo: RAID 5 requires three or more drives, with the available capacity defaulting to the lowest-common-denominator capacity among the drives, while Drobo offers a similar level of redundancy across two to four drives; and RAID 5 uses parity, ignoring available space on a disk, while Drobo's storage virtualization can intelligently make use of free space across any of the unit's drives. One warning: While Drobo offers the data redundancy necessary to protect you against hardware failure, it won't protect against theft or catastrophic disaster. You may still want to keep a second copy of your data elsewhere, as a true backup.

In my hands-on time with Drobo, I found the unit exceptionally friendly and easy to use. When you open the box, a three-step setup poster walks you through the basics: Insert the drives, attach the power cable and USB 2.0 cable, and install the software. The user manual, inspiring in its clarity and its approachable layout, helps explain things nicely.

To get started, I slipped in four test drives of varying sizes: 80GB, 160GB, 400GB, and 500GB. Together the drives yielded 593GB of total available storage, out of the total 1140GB in the device. Adding a drive was simply a matter of pushing it into the available space until it clicked; removing drives was simple, too, thanks to the unit's easy-glide lever.

I then powered up Drobo and attached it to my Windows Vista Professional system, which recognized it as a USB mass-storage device, no host software required. The installation of the Drobo Dashboard software went smoothly, too. This no-frills program identifies which drives are in which bays, provides a capacity chart, offers some utilities, and gives you a way to monitor the device beyond the status lights to the right of each drive. The lights use a simple, color-coded approach to informing you of Drobo's status--or more precisely, of the health of each individual drive inside Drobo. If the status lights are green, your data is safe. If the lights turn orange, Drobo is at 85 percent capacity, and you must replace a drive with a larger one. Red lights indicate that your data is not being automatically protected, and that you should add or replace a drive immediately. Data Robotics says that Drobo interacts with the Self-Monitoring and Analysis Reporting Technology (SMART) capabilities integrated on many hard drives, and that the system will proactively report a drive it senses is failing.

The unit ran cool to the touch, and was quiet, too. Data transfer speeds were middle of the road--not as fast as I'd expect from a USB-attached drive, but passable. Drobo isn't about speed, however. You should choose this device if you want an easy way to put extra storage on your desk--or on that of one of your departments--without the IT resources needed to support a RAID 5 system.



Melissa J. Perenson

Welcome to the Free Technology Dictionary

Talking about technology related fields like the ones covered by the Free Technology Dictionary you cannot avoid meeting “termini technici”. Technical terms are the result of the experts’ need to communicate easily and with precision within their field of expertise.

For the layman it is difficult to understand this specialized language. It is the aim of Free-Technology-Dictionary.org to decipher these technical terminologies for you. At the moment you will find here definitions of technical terms mainly from the area of Energy and Telecommunication.
Enjoy your stay!

If you are looking for additional technical terms you may visit this vast collection of Online Dictionaries.

Technology Dictionary INDEX:

Please select a letter for all terms that start with it:

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Term of the day
Nuclear waste
International Codes

A particular type of radioactive waste that is produced as part of the nuclear fuel cycle (i.e., those activities needed to produce nuclear fission, or splitting of the atom). These include extraction of uranium from ore, concentration of uranium, processing into nuclear fuel, and disposal of byproducts. Radioactive waste is a broader term that includes all waste that contains radioactivity. Residues from water treatment, contaminated equipment from oil drilling, and tailings from the processing of metals such as vanadium and copper also contain radioactivity but are not "nuclear waste" because they are produced outside of the nuclear fuel cycle. NRC generally regulates only those wastes produced in the nuclear fuel cycle (uranium mill tailings, depleted uranium, spent fuel rods, etc.).


A service to the public by The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Popular Terms
Criticality
British thermal unit
Half-life, biological
Loss of coolant accident
Sealed source

Translate technical terms!
A convenient place to have technical terms translated is this Online Translator. There you may translate technical terms into more than 75 language. You can either use the general search box or drill down to your language pair such as English to Spanish. Translate single words, phrases or full texts.


Popular Terms
Criticality
British thermal unit
Half-life, biological
Loss of coolant accident
Sealed source

Solar Street and Area Lighting

HighLight Series

SolarPath consistently develops cutting-edge technologies in solar powered LED illumination technology. The HighLight series, both technologically and conceptually, integrates the latest innovations in a variety of fields including Ultra-Bright LED Enhancement, Sustainability, and Component Orientation which all lead to superior market performance. In their development, the HighLight ML’s go through vigorous performance and environmental testing to guarantee superior performance in solar powered Street, Road, Path, and Area Lighting.


* Grid-Independence: Eliminate wires, trenches, conduit, transformers, switches, and energy costs.

* Increase Safety and Visibility

* Reduce implementation time of Lighting large facilities to a matter of days

* Bring Lighting to Isolated Locations

* Enhance sustainable development

* Contribute to LEED design

Maintenance Free

* Enhanced Brightness Engine for areas of high solar insolation

* Hybrid Engine for areas of low solar insolation

* Total control - Optional activation/deactivation by motion sensors / push-button / computer / wireless receiver and more... Ideal for security applications and northern latitudes



Multipurpose Solar Lighting systems - for every use...

AMD Socket AM3 CPUs Ship--Phenom II 810

Review:

You have to sometimes wonder what's really going on at AMD.

AMD shipped its first 45nm quad core CPU, the Phenom II X4 model 940 Black Edition, along with model 920 in early January. Both were 45nm CPUs whose memory controllers only supported DDR2 memory. Since that original launch, prices have dropped, mostly in response to Intel price drops.

Note that the model 940 black edition clocked at 3.0GHz, while the model 920 ran at 2.8GHz. Each offered 512MB of L2 cache per core and 6MB of shared L3 cache.

So far, so good.

Now AMD is shipping its first socket AM3 CPU. The memory controller in socket AM3 CPUs is capable of supporting DDR3 memory. You would think that AMD would consider the launch of a CPU that finally supports the higher bandwidth of a newer memory type, DDR3, to be important enough to ship a flagship processor.

You would be wrong.

For its first set of socket AM3, DDR3-capable CPUs, AMD is shipping four cut-down Phenom II X4s and a pair of Phenom II X3s. The Phenom X4 model 810 and 805 CPUs only offer 4MB of L3 cache, down from the 6MB supported on the DDR2-only Phenom II X4 model 900 series. On the other hand, the Phenom II X3 model 720 Black Edition and model 710 have a full 6MB of L3 cache, but have one processor core disabled.

Confused yet?

Issues of product mix and confusion aside, it is interesting to see that AMD is finally shipping DDR3 capable AM3 CPUs, which are fully capable of also supporting DDR2. Our first round of benchmarks is only on a DDR2-capable motherboard, alas, because the one DDR3 board we had on hand turned out to be dead on arrival.

So let's see how the Phenom II X4 model 810 performs on a DDR2-capable socket AM2+ board.

The Phenom II X4 Model 810
Let's make one thing clear about all current Phenom II CPUs: The dies are identical. Whether it's the 3.0Ghz, DDR2-only model 940 Black Edition with its 6MB of L2 cache, the model 810, at 2.6GHz, with 4MB of L2 cache, or the Phenom II X3 model 720 Black edition with three cores and 6MB of L2 cache, the dies are the same. Different capabilities are enabled as warranted by yields and market realities. Let's take a look at AMD's entire 45nm product

At this point, the lowest cost, 45nm quad core Phenom II is the 810, at $175, which should be close to the retail price. The highest priced desktop CPU in AMD's line is the $225 Phenom II X4 940. At a die size of 258mm2 and 758M transistors, the margins aren't particularly hefty. But AMD can't really charge more, since the performance of the model 940 is roughly equivalent to Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9550, which can be found in the $275–$285 price range.

That leaves AMD at a serious disadvantage, since Intel offers at least three price and performance models above AMD's best—and those CPUs offer pretty serious margins for Intel.

AMD has been clever in offering the X3 models, which allows them to make use of dies where one core may not pass muster. That enables them to sell CPUs that otherwise might end up on the scrap heap. And now that AMD is getting out of the fab business, their cost structure is improving.

Still, without a true flagship part, AMD is left chasing after markets which Intel has previously ignored, like that for power-efficient CPUs. That window may also be fading, since Intel recently began shipping 65nm quad core CPUs: the Q8200s, Q9400s, and Q9550s.

From the user's perspective, however, that means you can pick up some pretty good bargains. The Phenom II X4 model 810 is priced a bit lower than Intel's Core 2 Quad Q8200, for example. On the other hand, the Q8200 gives up a 270MHz clock rate advantage against the X4 model 810. Given those thoughts, let's examine

The Benchmarks
We ran a number of performance tests that fell into three general categories: synthetic tests, such as 3DMark Vantage; applications-based benchmarks, like SYSmark 2007 or actual application tests; and game benchmarks. We expanded our series of tests, so we could get a good handle on the differences in performance between Intel's current and new generation quad-core CPUs.

Vizio VMM26 Monitor Review

What do gamers want in a PC monitor? At the very least, we want something widescreen (as most modern games are designed for that format), a good size, good color accuracy and gamma curve, and easy connectivity for things like game consoles and stuff.

Vizio's VMM26 monitor is marketed at gamers and promises most of these features. It promises a good contrast ratio (2000:1 dynamic, 1000:1 "typical") and sports DVI and VGA connections for your PC as well as an HDMI port on the back and one on the side for plugging in game consoles like a PS3 or Xbox 360. It has a USB input with two output ports in the back to give you a couple extra USB connections up on your desk.

As we'll show here, a monitor with good features doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot if the color accuracy, contrast, and other image quality concerns don't pass muster. The VMM26 is based on a 26-inch TN (twisted nematic) panel. TN can offer good response times, but usually only offer 6-bit per pixel color and have limited viewing angles. That probably explains some of the issues we encountered with image quality.

How We Test
PC monitors are tested using a rigorous combination of lab tests, synthetic software testing, and subjective viewing of game and DVD content. Game testing primarily involves looking at content with dark scenes and fast motion, while movie viewing focuses on dark level detail and color fidelity.

We perform objective testing of our PC displays using the HDTV test lab for PC Magazine. We have recently updated our colorimeter to a more precise CS-200 chromameter from Konica Minolta. We use it together with the lab PC and software to measure brightness, contrast, color tracking, etc. Our lab PC uses a GeForce 8800 GTS, with test images either generated by ColorVision's ColorFacts Professional 6.0 or DisplayMate.

We also use a synthetic test developed for PC Magazine that moves a small box around the screen at high speed, allowing us to easily see potential ghosting with high speed content.

Subjective testing is done with a variety of PC games and DVD movies. In this case, we used several scenes in Batman Begins, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and Finding Nemo, checking for detail and color accuracy. We played a bit of F.E.A.R. 2, Left 4 Dead, World of Warcraft, and other games to get a feel for how the panel responds in games.

Tech specs and visual tour
Manufacturer specs for monitors are funny things. Sometimes they bear out in testing, sometimes they don't. There are no laws describing standards by which these specs must be measured by the manufacturer, so you don't always get what is claimed. Still, it's a useful starting point to compare what the manufacturers claim their displays can do.

Sprint's Touch Diamond Leaks Out

Revievws

The Wall Street Journal broke the news today about Sprint's version of the HTC Touch Diamond, a Windows Mobile smart phone with a touch screen and a new, 3-D interface.

The Touch Diamond is a small, slab-style smart phone with a 2.8-inch high-res VGA screen, and it puts a cuddly interface of large icons over Windows Mobile's PDA-style home screen. TouchFlo 3D isn't just a home screen, either; HTC and Sprint have written a custom YouTube application, a customized version of the Opera Web browser, and a customized media player to try to make Windows Mobile more palatable to consumers.

The device is designed to showcase Sprint's data services, such as its streaming live Sprint TV, Sprint Radio, downloadable music store, and YouTube over Sprint's high-speed EVDO Rev A network or Wi-Fi. The phone also comes with Sprint Navigation for GPS navigation; Handmark's Pocket Express news, weather, and information app; and all the usual Windows Mobile solutions, including Microsoft Office Mobile and Outlook Mobile. The phone has 4GB of on-board memory, but no memory card slot.

Other on-board technologies include a gyroscope to enable automatic screen rotation, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a largeish 1340-mAh battery.

The Touch Diamond doesn't have a physical keyboard, so it's more of a consumer device than a mobile office.

Along with the popular Samsung Instinct, the Touch Diamond is clearly designed to ride the iPhone wave. But there's danger awaiting this smart phone. As we found in our review of the foreign GSM version of the Touch Diamond, fancy overlays can really drag down Windows Mobile's performance. We'll be taking a close look at the Sprint Touch Diamond to see if Sprint and HTC have managed to deliver a smooth, responsive phone.

Judging from the WSJ review, some of our fears seem to have been realized, but it's tough to tell the real truth considering that the WSJ has never met a Windows Mobile device it likes. Still, we're not encouraged by the pronouncement that it took three seconds to rotate the screen in the Web browser.

The Touch Diamond will be available on Sept. 14 from Sprint for $249.99 with a two-year contract and $100 rebate. We'll have a full review as soon as we can.