With furnishings that run the gamut from edgy to elegant, ethnic to otherworldly, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair is a favorite of serious design lovers.
Highlights at this year’s fair, which was held last week in New York:
• Luminous lighting. Several booths showed sculptural lighting that resembled clouds, puffs of smoke, or some evocation of a heavenly bird’s nest. Vancouver-based Molo created LED-lit, honeycombed, polyethylene pendants in various sizes that could be clustered and even dimmed to create a stormy atmosphere. Interesting fibers were spun into cotton-candy-like fixtures at Hive.
At DCS Corp, washi paper formed a table lamp complete with a “downpour” made of thin brass rods. At Aqua Creations, there were single and multiple pleated silk disks that created lit mobiles resembling an extraterrestrial midnight garden, or a flotilla of sea urchins. All were an inspirational take on an ethereal shape that worked perfectly for lighting.
• Cardboard’s cachet. The lowly cardboard box has become the darling of eco-mindful designers looking for an intriguing new material. At Graypants, corrugated paper formed bulbous, textural pendent lampshades. At Molo, stiff unbleached Kraft paper was fanned into sturdy stools and loungers. The honeycomb layers of cardboard really amp up the textural element of these pieces. Most were left in their caramel color, which gave the furnishings a nice “patina.”
Graypants put Edison bulbs in their fixtures, which made them glow warmly; several other designers used the bulbs as well. Edisons are reproductions of early light bulbs; their carbon or tungsten filaments emit a pleasing, low-watt glow.
• Wood laminates. Plywood was everywhere at this year’s show. Designers like its versatility, so there were lots of interesting plywood chairs, tables and bookshelves.
Brooklyn designer April Hannah’s collection of treehouse-inspired kids’ furniture included an eco-friendly, maple- or walnut-veneer play table and chairs. Philadelphia University’s Industrial Design students used bamboo plywood to craft an array of furnishings with architectural flair.
Laurie Beckerman’s Ionic Bench for Voos Furniture was a curvy swoop of Baltic birch plywood. Wisconsin-based Drift Studio printed subway maps and other graphic motifs on plywood panels that were bolted together into versatile cubes; modular storage was another trend seen throughout the show.
• Industrial chic. The chic edginess of industrial style continues to find favor with designers. In some hands, such as Chicago studio akmd, it had a mid-century vibe. They carved faux casters out of oak, oversized them, and put them on the legs of a dining table and beautifully dovetailed compartmental storage pieces.
At Barcelona-based Arxe, the materials were work-worn and weather-beaten, yet fabricated into tables and countertops that gave them a sophisticated second life. Arxe also showed refurbished military, workshop and studio light fixtures, and wonderfully patinated vintage metal stools and chairs. Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek did clever wallpaper printed with planks of scrap wood.
• Geometry class. Wood, laminate, and metal triangles and polyhedrons were used to create interesting seating and case goods, including a winning chair prototype designed by Rochester Institute of Technology student Dan Fritz as part of the School of Design’s Metaproject with Wilsonart. Tom Dixon wowed the crowd with his futuristic, hive-like Etch light fixtures formed out of brass screens.
As always, the juxtapositions at the fair made it so worthwhile: Kid-centric wall coverings printed with space-age toys or Japanese dolls were on one side of the aisle, while moody papers depicting fog-filled woods or time-ravaged gardens were on the other. Luminous mother-of-pearl bath fixtures shared acreage with pieces made out of tires or toilet plungers. Innovation is in the eye of the creative.
2011年5月29日 星期日
Looking at atoms is actually nothing new
In a basement below the University of Victoria, workers are putting the finishing touches on a $1.2 million “dead” room. Thick panels block out electromagnetic waves. Large fabric “socks” cover the room’s air-conditioning vents to block even the slightest draft. The room even stands on its foundation to shield it from infinitesimal vibrations elsewhere in the building.
It is in this room that scientists are preparing to install the most powerful microscope in human history. Known as the Scanning Transmission Electron Holography Microscope (STEHM), when it is operational it will be capable of zooming in to magnifications of about 40 trillionths of a meter — 2.5 million times smaller than the width of a sheet of paper.
The microscope is so sensitive that its accuracy could be affected by little more than a passing cloud. Its specimens will be so small that researchers will need a conventional electron microscope just to prepare them. But it is well worth the trouble. Once the machine is up and running, it will give researchers an unprecedented look into the subatomic universe.
Little is known about the characteristics of the subatomic world. Scientists have some knowledge of how waves and atoms behave in environments of only a few trillionths of a meter, but nobody has seen it firsthand. Using the STEHM, scientists can begin making detailed measurements of previously unknown sub-atomic characteristics. Those measurements, in turn, will be a valuable roadmap in designing nanotechnology.
The machine is the brainchild of long-time microscopy researcher Rodney Herring. About 10 years ago, while working as a microgravity scientist at the Canadian Space Agency, Mr. Herring hit upon the idea of assembling a world-class microscope by marrying together two microscopy technologies being developed in Japan and Germany. Numerous failed grant applications later, in 2007 he finally secured $4-million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and another $4 million from the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. Now, as the director of UVic’s newly-minted Advanced Microscopy Lab, he is laying the ground work for the STEHM.
Although the race to build ever-more-powerful microscopes isn’t as testosterone fuelled as, say, breaking the land-speed record, it is still a point of competition among scientists. “There is a real race, always, in science and technology,” says Mr. Herring.
Located at the end of a concrete stairwell, the Advanced Microscopy Lab is eerily insulated from the rest of the campus. Due to the sensitivity of their equipment, advanced microscopy researchers spend much of their career underground. Lab manager Elaine Humphrey spent years at an electron microscopy lab at the University of British Columbia and describes having been oblivious to rain, windstorms and even earthquakes. Of course, it’s important to make sure your microscopy lab has full-spectrum lights. “In the winter, we go to work in the dark and then we go home in the dark — these keep us sane,” she says.
The STEHM is currently in Germany being fitted with its last set of correctors. After making its way across the Atlantic and through the Panama Canal, it will be un-crated, gingerly lowered into the Advanced Microscopy Lab through a hole in the ceiling and manoeuvred into place using a ceiling-mounted crane. The microscope itself essentially resembles a massive metal cylinder encased in wires. Researchers will mount a small stepladder and insert their specimen through a tiny airlock. Then, they’ll seal the room with a pair of heavy doors and operate the microscope remotely from an adjoining room.
The whole process has a certain science fiction quality to it. When she was based in Vancouver, Ms. Humphrey says she often got calls from film producers looking for futuristic-looking microscopy equipment to decorate a movie set.
Some of the STEHM’s features do indeed seem pulled from the pages of a fantasy novel. It is the world’s first microscope to be fitted with an “electron vortex beam,” a beam of electrons that functions like a pair of atomic tweezers, allowing researchers to manoeuvre individual atoms in a specimen. “It will be like having hands down there – it’s the newest, hottest thing,” says Mr. Herring.
Conventional light microscopes — such as those used in a high school science class — are unable to get even close to the magnifications reachers by electron microscopes like the STEHM. Light waves are much too big and clunky to focus in on the atomic level. Electron microscopes get around this by replacing light waves with beams of electrons. The STEHM will use a high-powered electron gun to fire electrons through a specimen and then buil an image based on the electrons that pass through that specimen. It’s similar to shining a light through a photographic slide.
Currently, the title for world’s most powerful electron microscope belongs to a machine housed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Operational since 2008, the $25-million Berkeley microscope has published stunningly clear images of gold and carbon atoms arranged in neat, honeycomb structures.
Looking at atoms is actually nothing new. In 1970, Albert Crewe, a physicist at the University of Chicago, used a redesigned electron microscope to capture history’s first images of individual atoms. The problem was; the pictures were blurry. Once you zoomed in to the atomic level, miniscule aberrations in the structure and direction of the electron beam begin causing distortions in the image. It was akin to having a world-class telescope, but not having the right eyeglass prescription. “There were 30 years where things didn’t change much,” says Mr. Herring. Then, around the year 2000, microscope manufacturers broke the deadlock by introducing “correctors” that could fine-tune the characteristics of an electron beam. Correctors are now standard on the world’s top microscopes, but what makes the UVic machine so powerful is that it features two new types of this technology.
It is in this room that scientists are preparing to install the most powerful microscope in human history. Known as the Scanning Transmission Electron Holography Microscope (STEHM), when it is operational it will be capable of zooming in to magnifications of about 40 trillionths of a meter — 2.5 million times smaller than the width of a sheet of paper.
The microscope is so sensitive that its accuracy could be affected by little more than a passing cloud. Its specimens will be so small that researchers will need a conventional electron microscope just to prepare them. But it is well worth the trouble. Once the machine is up and running, it will give researchers an unprecedented look into the subatomic universe.
Little is known about the characteristics of the subatomic world. Scientists have some knowledge of how waves and atoms behave in environments of only a few trillionths of a meter, but nobody has seen it firsthand. Using the STEHM, scientists can begin making detailed measurements of previously unknown sub-atomic characteristics. Those measurements, in turn, will be a valuable roadmap in designing nanotechnology.
The machine is the brainchild of long-time microscopy researcher Rodney Herring. About 10 years ago, while working as a microgravity scientist at the Canadian Space Agency, Mr. Herring hit upon the idea of assembling a world-class microscope by marrying together two microscopy technologies being developed in Japan and Germany. Numerous failed grant applications later, in 2007 he finally secured $4-million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and another $4 million from the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. Now, as the director of UVic’s newly-minted Advanced Microscopy Lab, he is laying the ground work for the STEHM.
Although the race to build ever-more-powerful microscopes isn’t as testosterone fuelled as, say, breaking the land-speed record, it is still a point of competition among scientists. “There is a real race, always, in science and technology,” says Mr. Herring.
Located at the end of a concrete stairwell, the Advanced Microscopy Lab is eerily insulated from the rest of the campus. Due to the sensitivity of their equipment, advanced microscopy researchers spend much of their career underground. Lab manager Elaine Humphrey spent years at an electron microscopy lab at the University of British Columbia and describes having been oblivious to rain, windstorms and even earthquakes. Of course, it’s important to make sure your microscopy lab has full-spectrum lights. “In the winter, we go to work in the dark and then we go home in the dark — these keep us sane,” she says.
The STEHM is currently in Germany being fitted with its last set of correctors. After making its way across the Atlantic and through the Panama Canal, it will be un-crated, gingerly lowered into the Advanced Microscopy Lab through a hole in the ceiling and manoeuvred into place using a ceiling-mounted crane. The microscope itself essentially resembles a massive metal cylinder encased in wires. Researchers will mount a small stepladder and insert their specimen through a tiny airlock. Then, they’ll seal the room with a pair of heavy doors and operate the microscope remotely from an adjoining room.
The whole process has a certain science fiction quality to it. When she was based in Vancouver, Ms. Humphrey says she often got calls from film producers looking for futuristic-looking microscopy equipment to decorate a movie set.
Some of the STEHM’s features do indeed seem pulled from the pages of a fantasy novel. It is the world’s first microscope to be fitted with an “electron vortex beam,” a beam of electrons that functions like a pair of atomic tweezers, allowing researchers to manoeuvre individual atoms in a specimen. “It will be like having hands down there – it’s the newest, hottest thing,” says Mr. Herring.
Conventional light microscopes — such as those used in a high school science class — are unable to get even close to the magnifications reachers by electron microscopes like the STEHM. Light waves are much too big and clunky to focus in on the atomic level. Electron microscopes get around this by replacing light waves with beams of electrons. The STEHM will use a high-powered electron gun to fire electrons through a specimen and then buil an image based on the electrons that pass through that specimen. It’s similar to shining a light through a photographic slide.
Currently, the title for world’s most powerful electron microscope belongs to a machine housed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Operational since 2008, the $25-million Berkeley microscope has published stunningly clear images of gold and carbon atoms arranged in neat, honeycomb structures.
Looking at atoms is actually nothing new. In 1970, Albert Crewe, a physicist at the University of Chicago, used a redesigned electron microscope to capture history’s first images of individual atoms. The problem was; the pictures were blurry. Once you zoomed in to the atomic level, miniscule aberrations in the structure and direction of the electron beam begin causing distortions in the image. It was akin to having a world-class telescope, but not having the right eyeglass prescription. “There were 30 years where things didn’t change much,” says Mr. Herring. Then, around the year 2000, microscope manufacturers broke the deadlock by introducing “correctors” that could fine-tune the characteristics of an electron beam. Correctors are now standard on the world’s top microscopes, but what makes the UVic machine so powerful is that it features two new types of this technology.
2011年5月25日 星期三
Scientists design 3D thin-film silicon solar-cells with better efficiency potential
Researchers from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and experts from the Swiss-based group Oerlikon Solar Lab targeted the development of a long-term option for high-yield but low-cost industrial production of solar panels from raw materials. According to the team, these can be found in amorphous silicon solar cells and microcrystalline silicon tandem cells. The upshot is energy that is much more efficient.
However, Milan Vanecek, who led the photovoltaic group at the Institute of Physics in Prague, pointed out a weakness of these cells: the stable panel efficiency is not nearly as high as the efficiency generated by crystalline wafer-based silicon, the item du jour.
'To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable, they're required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn't sufficient,' explains Dr Vanecek. 'They're basically planar devices. Amorphous silicon has a thickness of 200 to 300 nanometres, while microcrystalline silicon is thicker than 1 micrometre.'
This sophisticated design, however, is centred on optically thick cells that are 'strongly absorbing', and the distance between the electrodes is steady.
'Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid crystal displays,' the Czech researcher says. 'We just added a new nanostructured substrate for the deposition of the solar cell.'
The researchers explain that the nanostructured substrate encompasses zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocolumns or a honeycomb array of microholes or nanoholes etched into the transparent conductive oxide layer. The team calls the latter design 'Swiss cheese'.
'This latter approach proved successful for solar cell deposition,' Dr Vanecek points out. 'The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar cell industrial production. And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels (12% to 16%), could boost its industrial-scale production.'
The team said that they will continue their work to optimise and raise efficiency even further.
However, Milan Vanecek, who led the photovoltaic group at the Institute of Physics in Prague, pointed out a weakness of these cells: the stable panel efficiency is not nearly as high as the efficiency generated by crystalline wafer-based silicon, the item du jour.
'To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable, they're required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn't sufficient,' explains Dr Vanecek. 'They're basically planar devices. Amorphous silicon has a thickness of 200 to 300 nanometres, while microcrystalline silicon is thicker than 1 micrometre.'
This sophisticated design, however, is centred on optically thick cells that are 'strongly absorbing', and the distance between the electrodes is steady.
'Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid crystal displays,' the Czech researcher says. 'We just added a new nanostructured substrate for the deposition of the solar cell.'
The researchers explain that the nanostructured substrate encompasses zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocolumns or a honeycomb array of microholes or nanoholes etched into the transparent conductive oxide layer. The team calls the latter design 'Swiss cheese'.
'This latter approach proved successful for solar cell deposition,' Dr Vanecek points out. 'The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar cell industrial production. And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels (12% to 16%), could boost its industrial-scale production.'
The team said that they will continue their work to optimise and raise efficiency even further.
"Everything I was looking for (but pricey)"
Cons: $500, without the stylus, is a bit steep. If that's a major factor for you, just wait - the price'll go down.
Summary: I've been waiting and waiting for a great 7" tablet - and the Flyer fits the bill, in my opinion. I've only had it since the weekend but I'm IN LOVE!
Why I didn't by the Blackberry Playbook: no apps, no built-in calendar or email functionality. Why I didn't buy the Galaxy Tab: weaker specs than the Flyer (memory, processor speed) and very unlikely to be upgraded to Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich. Donald Bell is just not sold on the 7" form factor and can't forgive a device for its diminutive size, yet 7" is precisely the sweet spot for someone who will be using a tablet for e-reading, the occasional web-surfing, emailing and calendar..er...referencing.
10" is not portable, not comfortable for reading. So if you're in the market for a 7" tablet, you're probably not in the market for a 10" tablet. Compared to all the 7" tablets out there, the HTC is clearly (for now!) your best option. One more thing: Honeycomb is still a work in progress, and HTC didn't want to hold off on getting a tablet into the market just so it could have Honeycomb; for now, an optimized Sense UI over Android 2.3.3 provides an elegant, streamlined experience - plus I've started to see a lot of apps optimized for the 7" tablet experience (Nook, NYTimes) - regardless of which Android operating system is running. So not having Honeycomb is really, really, not a con, as far as I'm concerned. Well done, HTC.
Summary: I've been waiting and waiting for a great 7" tablet - and the Flyer fits the bill, in my opinion. I've only had it since the weekend but I'm IN LOVE!
Why I didn't by the Blackberry Playbook: no apps, no built-in calendar or email functionality. Why I didn't buy the Galaxy Tab: weaker specs than the Flyer (memory, processor speed) and very unlikely to be upgraded to Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich. Donald Bell is just not sold on the 7" form factor and can't forgive a device for its diminutive size, yet 7" is precisely the sweet spot for someone who will be using a tablet for e-reading, the occasional web-surfing, emailing and calendar..er...referencing.
10" is not portable, not comfortable for reading. So if you're in the market for a 7" tablet, you're probably not in the market for a 10" tablet. Compared to all the 7" tablets out there, the HTC is clearly (for now!) your best option. One more thing: Honeycomb is still a work in progress, and HTC didn't want to hold off on getting a tablet into the market just so it could have Honeycomb; for now, an optimized Sense UI over Android 2.3.3 provides an elegant, streamlined experience - plus I've started to see a lot of apps optimized for the 7" tablet experience (Nook, NYTimes) - regardless of which Android operating system is running. So not having Honeycomb is really, really, not a con, as far as I'm concerned. Well done, HTC.
2011年5月22日 星期日
Fifth Generation Aircraft and Disruptive Change
U.S. air power is at a crucial turning point. In a stringent budgetary environment and with a demand to shape a post-Afghan military, the crucial requirement is to invest in the future not the past. President Obama is calling for a Sputnik moment in the investment in future technologies. There is little reason to exclude the Department of Defense from such an effort.
Yet this is exactly what is happening. After cancelling the F-22 without ever understanding what the F-22 brings to the joint warfighter, the Administration is slowing its investment in the F-35 and investing in legacy aircraft. Amazingly, policy makers have not taken on what the Indians grasped: why buy 40 year old airframes?
But is not just about airframes or stuffing as much as you can in legacy aircraft. The new aircraft represent a sea change with significant savings in terms of fleet costs and overall capability at the same time. The sustainability of the new aircraft are in a world significantly different from legacy aircraft. Digital maintenance is part of the revolution in sustainability.
The cost of maintaining 4th generation aircraft is an oft-overlooked aspect of looking at cost of keeping the old and introducing the new. Here are some comments from a blog by an F-22 maintainer who sounds like the Maytag repairman.
The sustainability revolution enables a significant increase in the sortie generation rates for the new combat aircraft. And in addition to this core capability, there is a significant transition in combat approaches facilitated by the new aircraft.
The aircraft can shape disruptive change by enabling distributed operations. The shift is from linear to simultaneous operations; it is a shift from fighters needing reach back to large aircraft command and control and ISR platforms to 360 dominance by deployed decision makers operating not in a network but a honeycomb.
Fifth generation aircraft both generate disruptive change and live off of disruptive change. Taking a fleet approach, rather than simply focusing on the platforms themselves highlights their potential for disruptive change. Properly connected or interoperable with one another, the new aircraft can work together to operate like a marauding motorcycle gang in an adversary’s battlespace.
Rather than operating as a linear force, the marauding motorcycle gang creates chaos within the OODA (observe, orient, decide, and act) loop of the adversary. And by having an onboard combat systems enterprise able to respond in real time to the impacts, which the aircraft are creating in the battlespace, they can respond to the fractual consequences of the battle itself. Rather than going in with a pre-set battle plan, the new aircraft can work together to disrupt, destroy, and defeat adversary forces within the battlespace. It is about on the fly (literally) combat system processing power which enables the pilots to act like members of a marauding motorcycle gang.
For the United States to have an effective military role in the new setting of regional networking, a key requirement will be effective and assured combined command, control, and communications, linked by advanced computing capabilities to global, regional, and local intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance assets (C4ISR). The services will need to ensure that there is broad synergy among U.S. global forces fully exploiting new military technologies and the more modest capabilities of regional allies and partners. Indeed, C4ISR is evolving to become C4ISR D, whereby the purpose of C4ISR is to shape effective combined and Joint decision-making.
A key element of this new capability is the F-35 which functions as a flying combat system able to operate across the spectrum of warfare. It is the first plane, which can manage 360 space and has the combat system to manage that space. Deployed as a force, it enables distributed air operations, an approach crucial to the survival of our pilots in the period ahead.
Yet this is exactly what is happening. After cancelling the F-22 without ever understanding what the F-22 brings to the joint warfighter, the Administration is slowing its investment in the F-35 and investing in legacy aircraft. Amazingly, policy makers have not taken on what the Indians grasped: why buy 40 year old airframes?
But is not just about airframes or stuffing as much as you can in legacy aircraft. The new aircraft represent a sea change with significant savings in terms of fleet costs and overall capability at the same time. The sustainability of the new aircraft are in a world significantly different from legacy aircraft. Digital maintenance is part of the revolution in sustainability.
The cost of maintaining 4th generation aircraft is an oft-overlooked aspect of looking at cost of keeping the old and introducing the new. Here are some comments from a blog by an F-22 maintainer who sounds like the Maytag repairman.
The sustainability revolution enables a significant increase in the sortie generation rates for the new combat aircraft. And in addition to this core capability, there is a significant transition in combat approaches facilitated by the new aircraft.
The aircraft can shape disruptive change by enabling distributed operations. The shift is from linear to simultaneous operations; it is a shift from fighters needing reach back to large aircraft command and control and ISR platforms to 360 dominance by deployed decision makers operating not in a network but a honeycomb.
Fifth generation aircraft both generate disruptive change and live off of disruptive change. Taking a fleet approach, rather than simply focusing on the platforms themselves highlights their potential for disruptive change. Properly connected or interoperable with one another, the new aircraft can work together to operate like a marauding motorcycle gang in an adversary’s battlespace.
Rather than operating as a linear force, the marauding motorcycle gang creates chaos within the OODA (observe, orient, decide, and act) loop of the adversary. And by having an onboard combat systems enterprise able to respond in real time to the impacts, which the aircraft are creating in the battlespace, they can respond to the fractual consequences of the battle itself. Rather than going in with a pre-set battle plan, the new aircraft can work together to disrupt, destroy, and defeat adversary forces within the battlespace. It is about on the fly (literally) combat system processing power which enables the pilots to act like members of a marauding motorcycle gang.
For the United States to have an effective military role in the new setting of regional networking, a key requirement will be effective and assured combined command, control, and communications, linked by advanced computing capabilities to global, regional, and local intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance assets (C4ISR). The services will need to ensure that there is broad synergy among U.S. global forces fully exploiting new military technologies and the more modest capabilities of regional allies and partners. Indeed, C4ISR is evolving to become C4ISR D, whereby the purpose of C4ISR is to shape effective combined and Joint decision-making.
A key element of this new capability is the F-35 which functions as a flying combat system able to operate across the spectrum of warfare. It is the first plane, which can manage 360 space and has the combat system to manage that space. Deployed as a force, it enables distributed air operations, an approach crucial to the survival of our pilots in the period ahead.
Galaxy Tab 10.1: Und so beginnt es...
Samsung's "Honeycomb" Tablet shows with great hardware, such as Android could once again roll up the market - Small number of optimized apps as the major deficiency
While the world is now much more Android smartphones sold as with IOS, the situation looks at the tablet market is still very different: Here Apple iPad dominated in terms of sales figures so far largely without restriction. But as Google just wants the competition while the - compared to smartphones - still relatively young and "small", but do not leave fast growing market of course. So you have because in the past year significant resources to the creation of a specially fitted Tablets oriented version of its own operating system. An effort at the beginning of February in the release of Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" culminated.
Casserole
Immediately followed the announcements of many manufacturers to move towards the "Honeycomb" based tablets, including South Korea's Samsung Group. A move that may surprise you in this particular case was hardly, but Samsung has already forged ahead in 2010 with the Galaxy Tab in this market - and could get here quite a hollow victory. Its successor - the Galaxy Tab 10.1 - then they showed for the first time in mid-February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and announced the publication of the same full-bodied for March.
But then everything else: Apple introduced the iPad2 before and at Samsung was suddenly public debate about why the Galaxy Tab 1.10, further adjustments need to be really competitive. Said - done is called: Back to the virtual drawing board. A few weeks later, it is now but actually so far: In June, the Galaxy starts Tab 10.1, slightly lighter, feature a slightly thinner and with a stronger battery than originally planned.
Special Edition
The web standard is under the Google I / O is a special edition of the Galaxy Tab 1.10 get hold of, to which the following test applies. The special about this issue especially the back of the unit, which was decorated for hardcore Android-nerds with small robots. This too is unlocked distributed to the device developers already innately perfect, the system software can thus with a few simple steps to customize what is according to experience in the production equipment rather not be the case. The hardware, however, according to the manufacturer of those who will come in a few weeks in the trade, ident
Warning: Warning!
First, however, even a big fat disclaimer: The following essay is well aware characterized as "preliminary" test. How Samsung assures the web standards, the software should be before the market launch that is still updated on the recently presented Android 3.1 - it may also coincide with a custom TouchWiz interface. On the Google-I/O-Edition is still the version 3.0.1 installed. In this respect, this difference in thinking along your comments on any software problems forever. Once we get final devices and their firmware in the hand, the test is being updated.
And one more note before we start really: The original version of the Galaxy presented in Barcelona Tab 10.1 circulates also commercially, but now under the name "Galaxy Tab 10.1v. Given the meantime, better resources, so be taken to ensure that you do not inadvertently to the older model does.
Impressive
The test begins with a first impression - and had once a consistently positive: The Galaxy has a 10.1 Tab processed not only good, it is also remarkably flat, and become comparatively easy. Especially anyone who has a Motorola Xoom has held in his hands, will find here a striking difference. With a non-live weight of 595 grams, it is also exactly 6 grams lighter than the current competitor from Apple. Even in matters of thickness at offering you the already extremely slim iPad 2 (8.6 vs. 8.8 mm.) Slightly, by Xoom or EeePad Transformer (both: 13mm) it is already far away.
Mirror, mirror on the wall ...
The touch screen of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a diagonal of 10.1 inches - which then would be the origin of the model name cleared. The screen is thus a gauge larger than the iPad 2 (9.7 inches) and also offer a 1280x800 pixels (vs. 1024x768) a higher resolution. And one can also hold fast: The built by Samsung display is superb, the colors are now in direct comparison to the Motorola Xoom much alive. Also at the brightness, there is nothing wrong, less positive, however falls by the test procedure prescribed transition from the fresh air: In the summer outdoor usability of the tablet should not you rather put all too much hope, as the display of the Galaxy Table 1.10 reflects massive.
This is of course also for virtually all other tablets, so far one more time, a general reality check apart from the rest of the narrative thread: Who wants to read e-books in particular, is still better off with a specialized reading device like Amazon's Kindle. These have mainly during daylight hours and are a much better readability even in direct sunlight is not nearly as hot as tablets.
Data
Continue with the figures of the Galaxy Tab 10.1: Inside a clocked at 1 GHz CPU Tegra2 werkt from Nvidia, as seen with virtually all other current - is Android Tablets are used - or announced. The graphics unit is built by specializing in such tasks manufacturer should also provide the necessary gaming performance. The main memory is 1 GByte also interpreted quite generously. The test could also be because no constraints on this issue - as it is less strong in Android-equipped smartphones in the past every now and then in the form of "hangers" were making themselves felt - are detected.
As the use of internal camera at a tablet was not necessarily represent the main area of application, this is mentioned only briefly: On the back is a model with 3.2 megapixels plus flash LED, the originally announced eight megapixels are probably the slimmer dimensions fell victim. But it does make quite a decent picture, even on the video recording at 720p resolution, there is little stay. In addition to the front, a second camera with 2 megapixels is installed, which is mainly used for video telephony via Google Talk.
Duration
The battery is rated good with 7000 mAh charge, has endured the test because even with regular use of two to three days. In the continuous viewing of videos to the Samsung Galaxy Tab - hold around 10 hours, even for long trips so often enough - depending on the brightness setting.
The test device has 32 GB of internal storage space for their own applications and data in commerce, there is then also a - less expensive - model with 16 gigabytes are available. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available in expenditure and UMTS support, a choice that makes in other ways as a key difference is the MicroSD card slot is only when the 3G models, the pure wireless versions can to expand the storage space that is not subsequently.
Other external features of the Galaxy Table 10.1: includes left and right side speakers, sound-wonder you should expect from this course not. In that respect, of course, also missing a headphone plug is not on the side are still the on / off switch and the buttons for volume control.
PDMI instead of USB
When connecting to other devices, Samsung is treading once more - largely - its own way: instead of a micro-USB connector, here is a PDMI interface, not necessarily good news for those who already carry around half a cable box with it. But this interface can also do more than a vile micro-USB connector. In the future, such as Samsung to offer a video-out adapter or a desk stand.
While the world is now much more Android smartphones sold as with IOS, the situation looks at the tablet market is still very different: Here Apple iPad dominated in terms of sales figures so far largely without restriction. But as Google just wants the competition while the - compared to smartphones - still relatively young and "small", but do not leave fast growing market of course. So you have because in the past year significant resources to the creation of a specially fitted Tablets oriented version of its own operating system. An effort at the beginning of February in the release of Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" culminated.
Casserole
Immediately followed the announcements of many manufacturers to move towards the "Honeycomb" based tablets, including South Korea's Samsung Group. A move that may surprise you in this particular case was hardly, but Samsung has already forged ahead in 2010 with the Galaxy Tab in this market - and could get here quite a hollow victory. Its successor - the Galaxy Tab 10.1 - then they showed for the first time in mid-February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and announced the publication of the same full-bodied for March.
But then everything else: Apple introduced the iPad2 before and at Samsung was suddenly public debate about why the Galaxy Tab 1.10, further adjustments need to be really competitive. Said - done is called: Back to the virtual drawing board. A few weeks later, it is now but actually so far: In June, the Galaxy starts Tab 10.1, slightly lighter, feature a slightly thinner and with a stronger battery than originally planned.
Special Edition
The web standard is under the Google I / O is a special edition of the Galaxy Tab 1.10 get hold of, to which the following test applies. The special about this issue especially the back of the unit, which was decorated for hardcore Android-nerds with small robots. This too is unlocked distributed to the device developers already innately perfect, the system software can thus with a few simple steps to customize what is according to experience in the production equipment rather not be the case. The hardware, however, according to the manufacturer of those who will come in a few weeks in the trade, ident
Warning: Warning!
First, however, even a big fat disclaimer: The following essay is well aware characterized as "preliminary" test. How Samsung assures the web standards, the software should be before the market launch that is still updated on the recently presented Android 3.1 - it may also coincide with a custom TouchWiz interface. On the Google-I/O-Edition is still the version 3.0.1 installed. In this respect, this difference in thinking along your comments on any software problems forever. Once we get final devices and their firmware in the hand, the test is being updated.
And one more note before we start really: The original version of the Galaxy presented in Barcelona Tab 10.1 circulates also commercially, but now under the name "Galaxy Tab 10.1v. Given the meantime, better resources, so be taken to ensure that you do not inadvertently to the older model does.
Impressive
The test begins with a first impression - and had once a consistently positive: The Galaxy has a 10.1 Tab processed not only good, it is also remarkably flat, and become comparatively easy. Especially anyone who has a Motorola Xoom has held in his hands, will find here a striking difference. With a non-live weight of 595 grams, it is also exactly 6 grams lighter than the current competitor from Apple. Even in matters of thickness at offering you the already extremely slim iPad 2 (8.6 vs. 8.8 mm.) Slightly, by Xoom or EeePad Transformer (both: 13mm) it is already far away.
Mirror, mirror on the wall ...
The touch screen of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a diagonal of 10.1 inches - which then would be the origin of the model name cleared. The screen is thus a gauge larger than the iPad 2 (9.7 inches) and also offer a 1280x800 pixels (vs. 1024x768) a higher resolution. And one can also hold fast: The built by Samsung display is superb, the colors are now in direct comparison to the Motorola Xoom much alive. Also at the brightness, there is nothing wrong, less positive, however falls by the test procedure prescribed transition from the fresh air: In the summer outdoor usability of the tablet should not you rather put all too much hope, as the display of the Galaxy Table 1.10 reflects massive.
This is of course also for virtually all other tablets, so far one more time, a general reality check apart from the rest of the narrative thread: Who wants to read e-books in particular, is still better off with a specialized reading device like Amazon's Kindle. These have mainly during daylight hours and are a much better readability even in direct sunlight is not nearly as hot as tablets.
Data
Continue with the figures of the Galaxy Tab 10.1: Inside a clocked at 1 GHz CPU Tegra2 werkt from Nvidia, as seen with virtually all other current - is Android Tablets are used - or announced. The graphics unit is built by specializing in such tasks manufacturer should also provide the necessary gaming performance. The main memory is 1 GByte also interpreted quite generously. The test could also be because no constraints on this issue - as it is less strong in Android-equipped smartphones in the past every now and then in the form of "hangers" were making themselves felt - are detected.
As the use of internal camera at a tablet was not necessarily represent the main area of application, this is mentioned only briefly: On the back is a model with 3.2 megapixels plus flash LED, the originally announced eight megapixels are probably the slimmer dimensions fell victim. But it does make quite a decent picture, even on the video recording at 720p resolution, there is little stay. In addition to the front, a second camera with 2 megapixels is installed, which is mainly used for video telephony via Google Talk.
Duration
The battery is rated good with 7000 mAh charge, has endured the test because even with regular use of two to three days. In the continuous viewing of videos to the Samsung Galaxy Tab - hold around 10 hours, even for long trips so often enough - depending on the brightness setting.
The test device has 32 GB of internal storage space for their own applications and data in commerce, there is then also a - less expensive - model with 16 gigabytes are available. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available in expenditure and UMTS support, a choice that makes in other ways as a key difference is the MicroSD card slot is only when the 3G models, the pure wireless versions can to expand the storage space that is not subsequently.
Other external features of the Galaxy Table 10.1: includes left and right side speakers, sound-wonder you should expect from this course not. In that respect, of course, also missing a headphone plug is not on the side are still the on / off switch and the buttons for volume control.
PDMI instead of USB
When connecting to other devices, Samsung is treading once more - largely - its own way: instead of a micro-USB connector, here is a PDMI interface, not necessarily good news for those who already carry around half a cable box with it. But this interface can also do more than a vile micro-USB connector. In the future, such as Samsung to offer a video-out adapter or a desk stand.
2011年5月18日 星期三
Eel Featured in Perth 'Reef' Series
In 2010 Perth Mint in Australia issued the last coin in its highly desirable “Reef” fish series of five coins depicting a tessalate moray eel (Gymnothorax favagineus) in full color. In this article I want to tell you about moray eels in general and what little specific information exists about the tessalate moray eel. The five animals in the series (all 50 cents denomination) are the lionfish (KM-1100), leafy sea dragon (KM-1101), clownfish (KM-1328), big belly seahorse (KM-1329) and the above eel. An article on the lionfish was published in World Coin News in 2009 (Vol. 36, No. 6) before the Australian coin was issued, so I will not write about this species again. Upcoming articles will include the leafy sea dragon and big belly seahorse.
Moray Eels
The moray eel family contains 15 genera and about 200 species. They dwell mostly in tropical coral reefs, and at least one species lives in fresh water in Australia. Some live in temperate waters. The California moray lives in temperate waters. The largest moray in terms of body mass is the giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) that is up to 10 feet long and weighs up to 80 pounds. The longest one is the slender giant moray (Strophidon sathete) that can reach 13 feet. The smallest moray may be the Synder’s moray (Anarchias leucurus) that is about 4.5 inches long. All three species occur in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Moray’s dorsal fin begins just back of the head and continues around the tail. They lack pelvic and pectoral fins. Most have quite sharp teeth, even some canines, but a few have flat teeth for crushing shellfish. A large moray can give one an ugly bite. Morays possess a peculiar second set of jaws, also with teeth, called “pharyngeal jaws” that are located in their throat. When an eel grabs prey, these jaws move forward in the mouth cavity, grab the prey and move it down the throat and into the digestive tract. They are the only animals that have this feature.
The gill-openings are small circular-shaped, and in order to respire correctly the mouth must remain open at all times. This is the reason why most photographs show the mouth open. It is not a threat behavior.
Several species are harvested for food, but some species cause ciguatera poisoning, a food-borne illness. It is caused by small single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates that adhere to corals, seaweed and algae in subtropical and tropical waters and that contain toxins. Plant-eating fish consume these and are in turn consumed by carnivorous fish such as morays, barracuda (not the Pacific species), groupers and others. Thus, the toxins move up the food chain, becoming more concentrated. There is no cure for this illness in humans, and it may last 20 years.
People dwelling in southern California, my home, are familiar with “red tides,” which occur when reproducing dinoflagellates increase their numbers to almost unbelievable quantities and turn the ocean a red color. These are dangerous times for many marine animals, and citizens are advised not to eat oysters or clams. So, it is better not to eat morays, in my opinion.
The Moray lives in holes in the sand and among rocks. Its body is covered by a very thick, slimy mucous. It is interesting that this coating also helps to support the walls of holes where they dwell. It picks up sand grains in the mucous, and many are rubbed off onto the walls of its hole, providing a cement-effect. They usually remain hidden in daytime and hunt at night.
Moray Eels
The moray eel family contains 15 genera and about 200 species. They dwell mostly in tropical coral reefs, and at least one species lives in fresh water in Australia. Some live in temperate waters. The California moray lives in temperate waters. The largest moray in terms of body mass is the giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) that is up to 10 feet long and weighs up to 80 pounds. The longest one is the slender giant moray (Strophidon sathete) that can reach 13 feet. The smallest moray may be the Synder’s moray (Anarchias leucurus) that is about 4.5 inches long. All three species occur in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Moray’s dorsal fin begins just back of the head and continues around the tail. They lack pelvic and pectoral fins. Most have quite sharp teeth, even some canines, but a few have flat teeth for crushing shellfish. A large moray can give one an ugly bite. Morays possess a peculiar second set of jaws, also with teeth, called “pharyngeal jaws” that are located in their throat. When an eel grabs prey, these jaws move forward in the mouth cavity, grab the prey and move it down the throat and into the digestive tract. They are the only animals that have this feature.
The gill-openings are small circular-shaped, and in order to respire correctly the mouth must remain open at all times. This is the reason why most photographs show the mouth open. It is not a threat behavior.
Several species are harvested for food, but some species cause ciguatera poisoning, a food-borne illness. It is caused by small single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates that adhere to corals, seaweed and algae in subtropical and tropical waters and that contain toxins. Plant-eating fish consume these and are in turn consumed by carnivorous fish such as morays, barracuda (not the Pacific species), groupers and others. Thus, the toxins move up the food chain, becoming more concentrated. There is no cure for this illness in humans, and it may last 20 years.
People dwelling in southern California, my home, are familiar with “red tides,” which occur when reproducing dinoflagellates increase their numbers to almost unbelievable quantities and turn the ocean a red color. These are dangerous times for many marine animals, and citizens are advised not to eat oysters or clams. So, it is better not to eat morays, in my opinion.
The Moray lives in holes in the sand and among rocks. Its body is covered by a very thick, slimy mucous. It is interesting that this coating also helps to support the walls of holes where they dwell. It picks up sand grains in the mucous, and many are rubbed off onto the walls of its hole, providing a cement-effect. They usually remain hidden in daytime and hunt at night.
Samsung unveils world’s thinnest mobile tablets
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of tablets, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world’s thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6millimeters. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung’s own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.
“The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung’s constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. “By combining Samsung’s innovations in design and display without exciting new user experience, we’ve created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market.”
Thinner & Lighter
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595grams and 8.9 weighs 470grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs’ ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super-Fast
The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download and upload speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customised User Experience “Samsung TouchWiz UX”
Samsung’s TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favourite Web sites and social network feeds. In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. The Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung’s Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Adobe Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung's enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move. Corporate customers looking for mobile device management, remote access, unified communications and security features are ensured enterprise-level support via these solutions.
GALAXY Tab 10.1
GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Adobe Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.
GALAXY Tab 8.9
At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today’s mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.
“The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung’s constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. “By combining Samsung’s innovations in design and display without exciting new user experience, we’ve created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market.”
Thinner & Lighter
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595grams and 8.9 weighs 470grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs’ ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super-Fast
The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download and upload speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customised User Experience “Samsung TouchWiz UX”
Samsung’s TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favourite Web sites and social network feeds. In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. The Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung’s Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Adobe Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung's enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move. Corporate customers looking for mobile device management, remote access, unified communications and security features are ensured enterprise-level support via these solutions.
GALAXY Tab 10.1
GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Adobe Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.
GALAXY Tab 8.9
At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today’s mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.
CNET to the Rescue: We are done with PCs (and Macs)
Unfortunately, according to Donald Bell, it's every man and woman for themselves. For phones, users are at the mercy of the carriers to issue an over-the-air update. Users could possibly root their devices in order to manually force an update (or more specifically, a ROM based on 2.3.4).
In the meantime, disable auto-syncing for apps, and try not to connect to unknown Wi-Fi hot spots.
Users of tablets running an OS prior to 2.3.4 can bug the manufacturer to push out an over-the-air update, but there's no (easy) way to force an update manually, especially since so many tablets prior to Honeycomb require extensive tooling of the code in order to run on the larger hardware Android wasn't designed for. The most high-profile among these tablets would include the Galaxy Tab, B&N Nook Color, and Dell Streak 5&7. The Tab is apparently getting the update later this month. The Streaks are running 2.2.2 and I haven't heard any word on an update. The Nook Color just received the 2.2 update, so a fast update to 2.3 seems unlikely.
No! But that is a good idea...shows you're about to stream should list the amount of data in said stream. It can vary widely depending on video definition and effectiveness of the compression and codec. There's no way to gauge for sure without knowing the details.
Brian: At home, no. We need something like in the mobile space where carriers will warn you via SMS that you are approaching your cap.
Rafe: I'd recommend a car charger if that would work for you. Solar chargers can be slow or expensive. But yes, they do exist. Treehugger did a comparison in 2008. The products mentioned may be out of date but it points you to major manufacturers. I'd be most interested in the Brunton line of Solaris products, from $166 to $1300, depending on number of panels and output. The $1,320 Solaris 62 specs: Max output: 62 Watts (12v / 3100 mA)
In the meantime, disable auto-syncing for apps, and try not to connect to unknown Wi-Fi hot spots.
Users of tablets running an OS prior to 2.3.4 can bug the manufacturer to push out an over-the-air update, but there's no (easy) way to force an update manually, especially since so many tablets prior to Honeycomb require extensive tooling of the code in order to run on the larger hardware Android wasn't designed for. The most high-profile among these tablets would include the Galaxy Tab, B&N Nook Color, and Dell Streak 5&7. The Tab is apparently getting the update later this month. The Streaks are running 2.2.2 and I haven't heard any word on an update. The Nook Color just received the 2.2 update, so a fast update to 2.3 seems unlikely.
No! But that is a good idea...shows you're about to stream should list the amount of data in said stream. It can vary widely depending on video definition and effectiveness of the compression and codec. There's no way to gauge for sure without knowing the details.
Brian: At home, no. We need something like in the mobile space where carriers will warn you via SMS that you are approaching your cap.
Rafe: I'd recommend a car charger if that would work for you. Solar chargers can be slow or expensive. But yes, they do exist. Treehugger did a comparison in 2008. The products mentioned may be out of date but it points you to major manufacturers. I'd be most interested in the Brunton line of Solaris products, from $166 to $1300, depending on number of panels and output. The $1,320 Solaris 62 specs: Max output: 62 Watts (12v / 3100 mA)
2011年5月15日 星期日
Adobe releases Flash Player 10.3 for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Flash Player 10.3 introduces the following new features (for more information, check the full Adobe Flash Player 10.3 Release Notes):
* Media Measurement: developers can implement video usage analytics for websites with as little as two lines of code. Analytics solution providers can use a set of new open APIs to easily implement consistent video analytics irrespective of implementation or delivery protocol. Media Measurement for Flash allows companies to get real-time, aggregated reporting of how their video content is distributed, what the audience reach is, and how much video is played.
* Acoustic Echo Cancellation: developers can create real-time online collaboration experiences with high-quality audio, telephony, in-game voice chat, and group conferencing applications for desktop PCs. Developers can take advantage of acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, voice activity detection, and automatic compensation for various microphone input levels. End users will be able to experience higher quality audio facilitating smoother conversation flow, without using a headset.
* Integration with browser privacy controls for managing local storage: users now have a simpler way to clear local storage from the browser settings interface since it is integrated with the browser's privacy settings in Mozilla Firefox 4, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and higher, Google Chrome 11 (available in Chrome Dev Channel), and a future release of Apple Safari.
* Native Control Panel: users get streamlined controls for managing their Flash Player privacy, security, and storage settings. Windows, Mac, and Linux users can access the Flash Player Settings Manager directly from the Control Panels or System Preferences on their computers.
* Auto-Update notification for Mac OS: automatic notification of software updates on Mac OS is supported, making it easier for Mac users to stay current with new capabilities in the latest version of Flash Player.
For the first time ever, Adobe has simultaneously released the same new version of Flash Player for Android. More specifically, 10.3.185.21 is available for Android 2.2 and above: Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo), Android 2.3 (codenamed Gingerbread), and Android 3.0 (codenamed Honeycomb). Adobe does not mention anything in regards to Android 3.1 (also codenamed Honeycomb), which was just released earlier this week. Here's what's specifically new in version 10.3 for Android:
* Security enhancements described in Security Bulletin APSB11-12.
* Enabled NEON optimizations for OMAP4 (Cortex A-9) based devices.
* Corrected an issue on the Samsung Galaxy S where H.264 video at resolutions of 720p and below was not displayed.
* Android Apps using Browser Plug-ins like Flash Player in WebView no longer need to set android:hardwareAcceleration to True in their AndroidMainfest.xml for plug-in output to be rendered. This was previously an issue on Android 3.0+ only.
* Fixed a crash on the HTC EVO that some users encountered with specific video.
* Fixed an issue that caused video frames to stop rendering on long streaming videos (> 1 hour) on some Motorola devices.
In addition to the availability of Flash Player 10.3 on the Android Market, the new version will of course come pre-installed on many upcoming tablets and smartphones or delivered as an OTA update to existing devices in market. Adobe has posted a list of certified devices for the update if you want to check if yours is on the list.
Flash Player is currently available in the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
* Media Measurement: developers can implement video usage analytics for websites with as little as two lines of code. Analytics solution providers can use a set of new open APIs to easily implement consistent video analytics irrespective of implementation or delivery protocol. Media Measurement for Flash allows companies to get real-time, aggregated reporting of how their video content is distributed, what the audience reach is, and how much video is played.
* Acoustic Echo Cancellation: developers can create real-time online collaboration experiences with high-quality audio, telephony, in-game voice chat, and group conferencing applications for desktop PCs. Developers can take advantage of acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, voice activity detection, and automatic compensation for various microphone input levels. End users will be able to experience higher quality audio facilitating smoother conversation flow, without using a headset.
* Integration with browser privacy controls for managing local storage: users now have a simpler way to clear local storage from the browser settings interface since it is integrated with the browser's privacy settings in Mozilla Firefox 4, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and higher, Google Chrome 11 (available in Chrome Dev Channel), and a future release of Apple Safari.
* Native Control Panel: users get streamlined controls for managing their Flash Player privacy, security, and storage settings. Windows, Mac, and Linux users can access the Flash Player Settings Manager directly from the Control Panels or System Preferences on their computers.
* Auto-Update notification for Mac OS: automatic notification of software updates on Mac OS is supported, making it easier for Mac users to stay current with new capabilities in the latest version of Flash Player.
For the first time ever, Adobe has simultaneously released the same new version of Flash Player for Android. More specifically, 10.3.185.21 is available for Android 2.2 and above: Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo), Android 2.3 (codenamed Gingerbread), and Android 3.0 (codenamed Honeycomb). Adobe does not mention anything in regards to Android 3.1 (also codenamed Honeycomb), which was just released earlier this week. Here's what's specifically new in version 10.3 for Android:
* Security enhancements described in Security Bulletin APSB11-12.
* Enabled NEON optimizations for OMAP4 (Cortex A-9) based devices.
* Corrected an issue on the Samsung Galaxy S where H.264 video at resolutions of 720p and below was not displayed.
* Android Apps using Browser Plug-ins like Flash Player in WebView no longer need to set android:hardwareAcceleration to True in their AndroidMainfest.xml for plug-in output to be rendered. This was previously an issue on Android 3.0+ only.
* Fixed a crash on the HTC EVO that some users encountered with specific video.
* Fixed an issue that caused video frames to stop rendering on long streaming videos (> 1 hour) on some Motorola devices.
In addition to the availability of Flash Player 10.3 on the Android Market, the new version will of course come pre-installed on many upcoming tablets and smartphones or delivered as an OTA update to existing devices in market. Adobe has posted a list of certified devices for the update if you want to check if yours is on the list.
Flash Player is currently available in the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Google Gives Away Tons of Goodies, Tries to Buys Love
Google gave away tablets and smartphones at its I/O conference to help drive developer interest in Android.
Every one of the 5,000 developers attending the yearly event received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet a month before the devices go on sale, an exciting gift even by the standards of the annual conference famous for the quality swag disbursed by the search giant.
But that wasn't all: attendees of a game developer panel at the conference also received the Xperia Play, Sony's "PlayStation phone" with a slide-out game controller. One can only imagine the squeals of delight.
A bit less exciting but more geek-tastic was the Android Open Accessory Development Kit that some attendees received. Based on the Arduino chipset, a kind of all-purpose tech tinkerer's prototyping tool, the kit makes it easier to create Android accessories.
Google's Christmas-in-May act buys more than good vibes: it's a shrewd way to get developers interested in making apps and gadgets for the latest and greatest Android devices.
While Android phones have stormed the market -- it's now the number one smartphone platform in the U.S. -- Android tablets have been slower to catch on. Getting developers rolling on the Honeycomb-powered Samsung tablet could help nudge adoption.
Sony may be footing the bill for the Xperia Play giveaway to ensure that game makers include support for its special controls. Without wider developer support, only Sony titles will be compatible, leaving buyers wondering why they sacrificed a slide-out keyboard for a couple of directional controllers and buttons.
Every one of the 5,000 developers attending the yearly event received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet a month before the devices go on sale, an exciting gift even by the standards of the annual conference famous for the quality swag disbursed by the search giant.
But that wasn't all: attendees of a game developer panel at the conference also received the Xperia Play, Sony's "PlayStation phone" with a slide-out game controller. One can only imagine the squeals of delight.
A bit less exciting but more geek-tastic was the Android Open Accessory Development Kit that some attendees received. Based on the Arduino chipset, a kind of all-purpose tech tinkerer's prototyping tool, the kit makes it easier to create Android accessories.
Google's Christmas-in-May act buys more than good vibes: it's a shrewd way to get developers interested in making apps and gadgets for the latest and greatest Android devices.
While Android phones have stormed the market -- it's now the number one smartphone platform in the U.S. -- Android tablets have been slower to catch on. Getting developers rolling on the Honeycomb-powered Samsung tablet could help nudge adoption.
Sony may be footing the bill for the Xperia Play giveaway to ensure that game makers include support for its special controls. Without wider developer support, only Sony titles will be compatible, leaving buyers wondering why they sacrificed a slide-out keyboard for a couple of directional controllers and buttons.
2011年5月10日 星期二
Microsoft lands Skype; plus: Your music, Google's cloud
Microsoft -- the Redmond, Wash., software megabehemoth -- today announced its biggest acquisition ever: It intends to buy Skype -- the Internet telephone service once owned by eBay (EBAY) -- for $8.5 billion.
"Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement announcing the deal. "Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."
Microsoft intends to maintain Skype as an independent business unit, with Skype CEO Tony Bates becoming president of the new Microsoft Skype Division. "Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate," Bates said.
The acquisition returns Skype -- founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friss based on peer-to-peer technology created for their Kazaa music downloading service -- to ownership by a corporate tech giant. San Jose online auction powerhouse eBay, you might recall, bought Skype in 2005 for $3.1 billion; eBay later said that it paid too much in that deal.
By 2009, though, eBay sold a controlling stake in Skype -- in a deal worth about $2 billion -- to investors including two Silicon Valley venture capital firms, Silver Lake Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, as well as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
"Today, I tip my hat to an old rival, Microsoft," Andreessen Horowitz partner Ben Horowitz wrote on his blog. "By acquiring Skype, Microsoft becomes a much stronger player in mobile and the clear market leader in Internet voice and video communications. More importantly, Microsoft gets a team, ably lead by the exceptional Tony Bates, that can compete with anyone."
On the GigaOm blog, Om Malik suggested the deal could be good for Palo Alto social networking powerhouse Facebook. "With Microsoft," Malik wrote, Facebook "gets the best of both worlds: It gets access to Skype assets (Microsoft is an investor in Facebook) and it gets to keep Skype away from Google."
Microsoft stock, by the way, finished regular trading today at $25.67, down 16 cents, or 0.6 percent, from Monday's closing price. Meanwhile,
"Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement announcing the deal. "Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."
Microsoft intends to maintain Skype as an independent business unit, with Skype CEO Tony Bates becoming president of the new Microsoft Skype Division. "Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate," Bates said.
The acquisition returns Skype -- founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friss based on peer-to-peer technology created for their Kazaa music downloading service -- to ownership by a corporate tech giant. San Jose online auction powerhouse eBay, you might recall, bought Skype in 2005 for $3.1 billion; eBay later said that it paid too much in that deal.
By 2009, though, eBay sold a controlling stake in Skype -- in a deal worth about $2 billion -- to investors including two Silicon Valley venture capital firms, Silver Lake Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, as well as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
"Today, I tip my hat to an old rival, Microsoft," Andreessen Horowitz partner Ben Horowitz wrote on his blog. "By acquiring Skype, Microsoft becomes a much stronger player in mobile and the clear market leader in Internet voice and video communications. More importantly, Microsoft gets a team, ably lead by the exceptional Tony Bates, that can compete with anyone."
On the GigaOm blog, Om Malik suggested the deal could be good for Palo Alto social networking powerhouse Facebook. "With Microsoft," Malik wrote, Facebook "gets the best of both worlds: It gets access to Skype assets (Microsoft is an investor in Facebook) and it gets to keep Skype away from Google."
Microsoft stock, by the way, finished regular trading today at $25.67, down 16 cents, or 0.6 percent, from Monday's closing price. Meanwhile,
Honeycomb design could enhance thin-film solar cells
A new honeycomb design for thin-film solar cells could reduce the amount of silicon needed to produce them and boost efficiency.
The design uses a 3D nanostructure to improve the absorption of light into solar cells made from special forms of silicon known as amorphous and microcrystalline, which can be produced in high yields for low costs.
Previously, these types of thin-film solar cells have been less efficient than the dominant types, which use crystalline wafer-based silicon.
A team from Swiss firm Oerlikon Solar and the Institute of Physics’ photovoltaic group at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic conducted the research.
‘To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable, they’re required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn’t sufficient,’ said Milan Vanecek, head of the photovoltaic group.
The team’s new design focuses on optically thick cells that are strongly absorbing, while the distance between the electrodes remains very tight.
Honeycomb solar cell
The cells are created by depositing the silicon on a nanostructured substrate of zinc oxide nanocolumns, or on a honeycomb array of micro- or nano-holes etched into a transparent conductive oxide layer.
‘Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid-crystal displays,’ said Vanecek.
‘The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar-cell industrial production.
‘And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels [12 to 16 per cent], could boost its industrial-scale production.’
The design uses a 3D nanostructure to improve the absorption of light into solar cells made from special forms of silicon known as amorphous and microcrystalline, which can be produced in high yields for low costs.
Previously, these types of thin-film solar cells have been less efficient than the dominant types, which use crystalline wafer-based silicon.
A team from Swiss firm Oerlikon Solar and the Institute of Physics’ photovoltaic group at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic conducted the research.
‘To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable, they’re required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn’t sufficient,’ said Milan Vanecek, head of the photovoltaic group.
The team’s new design focuses on optically thick cells that are strongly absorbing, while the distance between the electrodes remains very tight.
Honeycomb solar cell
The cells are created by depositing the silicon on a nanostructured substrate of zinc oxide nanocolumns, or on a honeycomb array of micro- or nano-holes etched into a transparent conductive oxide layer.
‘Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid-crystal displays,’ said Vanecek.
‘The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar-cell industrial production.
‘And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels [12 to 16 per cent], could boost its industrial-scale production.’
2011年5月8日 星期日
Is an Amazon tablet close to launch?
Hold on to your restraining bolts Android fans, because Amazon's one-panel tablet may be heading your way in the second half of 2011, according to online rumors. The purported device is reportedly being made by Taiwanese manufacturer Qanta and will have an LCD screen made by E Ink Holding, the company behind the Kindle's display. Amazon may have high hopes for the new tablet and monthly orders for the device could go as high as 700,000 or 800,000 at peak season, according to DigiTimes.
Talk of an Android tablet has been gaining steam ever since the online retailer launched its Appstore for Android in March. Few rumors have surfaced discussing the specifications of the rumored tablet such as its screen size or storage capacity or what type of processor it would have. Most people expect Amazon to use Android as the tablet's operating system since the company has invested in its new app store. But it's not clear whether Amazon would use Honeycomb or the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich.
Beyond the specs, one thing that most critics agree with is that an Amazon tablet would have deep integration with Amazon's digital retail business. This would make it a worthy challenger to Apple's iPad 2 and the iTunes universe. Just like Apple, Amazon can provide its tablet users with a large music store, a wide selection of movie and television rentals and purchases, a curated app store, and a killer selection of e-books through the Kindle Store.
There are also rumors that Amazon may forego the native Android look for a highly customized experience similar to Barnes & Noble's color Nook, according to gdgt. That may mean Amazon's tablet won't have native Google apps such as Gmail or Google Voice, as accessing those apps requires a business deal with the search giant. That would be a shame since productivity apps from Google would complement Amazon's digital retail offerings.
Of course, the big question with an Amazon tablet is how that would affect the company's e-reader business with the Kindle. DigiTimes says that while the e-reader does well in North America and Europe it is not a popular device in the rest of the world. That may lead Amazon to cut the price of the Kindle even further, DigiTimes says. Recently, Amazon unveiled an ad-sponsored Kindle that sells for $114, which is $25 cheaper than the $139 Kindle.
It's also worth remembering that a US launch doesn't necessarily mean an international launch would follow any time soon - it took the Kindle nearly two years to make it out of the US.
Amazon's isn't the only hotly rumored tablet expected to appear in the coming months. Lenovo may also be hard at work on a new Android-based ThinkPad tablet.
Talk of an Android tablet has been gaining steam ever since the online retailer launched its Appstore for Android in March. Few rumors have surfaced discussing the specifications of the rumored tablet such as its screen size or storage capacity or what type of processor it would have. Most people expect Amazon to use Android as the tablet's operating system since the company has invested in its new app store. But it's not clear whether Amazon would use Honeycomb or the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich.
Beyond the specs, one thing that most critics agree with is that an Amazon tablet would have deep integration with Amazon's digital retail business. This would make it a worthy challenger to Apple's iPad 2 and the iTunes universe. Just like Apple, Amazon can provide its tablet users with a large music store, a wide selection of movie and television rentals and purchases, a curated app store, and a killer selection of e-books through the Kindle Store.
There are also rumors that Amazon may forego the native Android look for a highly customized experience similar to Barnes & Noble's color Nook, according to gdgt. That may mean Amazon's tablet won't have native Google apps such as Gmail or Google Voice, as accessing those apps requires a business deal with the search giant. That would be a shame since productivity apps from Google would complement Amazon's digital retail offerings.
Of course, the big question with an Amazon tablet is how that would affect the company's e-reader business with the Kindle. DigiTimes says that while the e-reader does well in North America and Europe it is not a popular device in the rest of the world. That may lead Amazon to cut the price of the Kindle even further, DigiTimes says. Recently, Amazon unveiled an ad-sponsored Kindle that sells for $114, which is $25 cheaper than the $139 Kindle.
It's also worth remembering that a US launch doesn't necessarily mean an international launch would follow any time soon - it took the Kindle nearly two years to make it out of the US.
Amazon's isn't the only hotly rumored tablet expected to appear in the coming months. Lenovo may also be hard at work on a new Android-based ThinkPad tablet.
“Swiss cheese” Design Enables Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells Higher Efficiencies
A bold new design for thin film solar cells that requires significantly less silicon – and may boost their efficiency – is the result of an industry/academia collaboration between Oerlikon Solar in Switzerland and the Institute of Physics' photovoltaic group at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
One long-term option for low-cost, high-yield industrial production of solar panels from abundant raw materials can be found in amorphous silicon solar cells and microcrystalline silicon tandem cells (a.k.a. Micromorph)—providing an energy payback within a year.
A drawback to these cells, however, is that the stable panel efficiency is less than the efficiency of presently dominate crystalline wafer-based silicon, explains Milan Vanecek, who heads the photovoltaic group at the Institute of Physics in Prague.
"To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable they're required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn't sufficient," he notes. "They're basically planar devices. Amorphous silicon has a thickness of 200 to 300 nanometers, while microcrystalline silicon is thicker than 1 micrometer."
The team's new design focuses on optically thick cells that are strongly absorbing, while the distance between the electrodes remains very tight. They describe their design in the American Institute of Physics' journal Applied Physics Letters.
"Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid crystal displays. We just added a new nanostructured substrate for the deposition of the solar cell," Vanecek says.
This nanostructured substrate consists of an array of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocolumns or, alternatively, from a "Swiss cheese" honeycomb array of micro-holes or nano-holes etched into the transparent conductive oxide layer (ZnO) (See Figure).
"This latter approach proved successful for solar cell deposition," Vanecek elaborates. "The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar cell industrial production. And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels (12 to 16 percent), could boost its industrial-scale production." The next step is a further optimization to continue improving efficiency.
One long-term option for low-cost, high-yield industrial production of solar panels from abundant raw materials can be found in amorphous silicon solar cells and microcrystalline silicon tandem cells (a.k.a. Micromorph)—providing an energy payback within a year.
A drawback to these cells, however, is that the stable panel efficiency is less than the efficiency of presently dominate crystalline wafer-based silicon, explains Milan Vanecek, who heads the photovoltaic group at the Institute of Physics in Prague.
"To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable they're required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn't sufficient," he notes. "They're basically planar devices. Amorphous silicon has a thickness of 200 to 300 nanometers, while microcrystalline silicon is thicker than 1 micrometer."
The team's new design focuses on optically thick cells that are strongly absorbing, while the distance between the electrodes remains very tight. They describe their design in the American Institute of Physics' journal Applied Physics Letters.
"Our new 3D design of solar cells relies on the mature, robust absorber deposition technology of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, which is a technology already used for amorphous silicon-based electronics produced for liquid crystal displays. We just added a new nanostructured substrate for the deposition of the solar cell," Vanecek says.
This nanostructured substrate consists of an array of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocolumns or, alternatively, from a "Swiss cheese" honeycomb array of micro-holes or nano-holes etched into the transparent conductive oxide layer (ZnO) (See Figure).
"This latter approach proved successful for solar cell deposition," Vanecek elaborates. "The potential of these efficiencies is estimated within the range of present multicrystalline wafer solar cells, which dominate solar cell industrial production. And the significantly lower cost of Micromorph panels, with the same panel efficiency as multicrystalline silicon panels (12 to 16 percent), could boost its industrial-scale production." The next step is a further optimization to continue improving efficiency.
2011年5月5日 星期四
Amazon Android Tablet mass production started, available later this year
Rumors related to Amazon Tablet has been going around for some time now but finally some clear information has come across. Tech blog Digitimes reported that Taiwan-based Quanta Computer has received order from Amazon for the mass production of Amazon Tablets of around 700,000 and 800,000 units per month during the peak season.
The source revealed that the company plan to ship finished tablets by the second quarter of 2011, so maximum chances are that consumers will be getting their hands on this new tablet by Christmas. It is also reported that one of the key suppliers for the Amazon Kindle – E-Ink Holdings (EIH), is also going to contribute in the production of these tablet by providing the company with touch panels and fringe field switching (FFS) technology.
At the moment, there are no words on its pricing or specs and even there is not a leaked picture, which can at least give any idea of what the device going to look like. Anyhow assuming that it would be an Android tablet chances are that it would be coming with some of the company’s own services like Amazon Appstore, Cloud Drive digital music locker service and the Amazon’s digital music store.
The source revealed that the company plan to ship finished tablets by the second quarter of 2011, so maximum chances are that consumers will be getting their hands on this new tablet by Christmas. It is also reported that one of the key suppliers for the Amazon Kindle – E-Ink Holdings (EIH), is also going to contribute in the production of these tablet by providing the company with touch panels and fringe field switching (FFS) technology.
At the moment, there are no words on its pricing or specs and even there is not a leaked picture, which can at least give any idea of what the device going to look like. Anyhow assuming that it would be an Android tablet chances are that it would be coming with some of the company’s own services like Amazon Appstore, Cloud Drive digital music locker service and the Amazon’s digital music store.
Acer Iconia Tab A500
When the Android smartphone OS matured, the market was flooded with a whole load of new mobiles. Now, with the arrival of Android Honeycomb, Google's specially designed tablet OS, the same thing seems to be happening with touchscreen tablets. So after months of iPad domination and a few major releases from the likes of Samsung and Archos, around 10 new Android 3.0 tablets are due to be released before summer 2011. Among this latest batch of contenders is the Acer Iconia Tab A500.
Like the Motorola Xoom, the Asus EeePad Transformer, the LG Optimus Pad, Toshiba's upcoming AT300 and the Hannspree SN10T3, Acer's Iconia Tab A500 has a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, a 1 Ghz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, a micro-USB port, a microSD slot, a micro-HDMI out and two photo/video cameras, with a 5-Megapixel camera with LED flash on the back and a 2-Megapixel camera on the front.
On top of that, Acer has added a USB 2.0 Host port for hooking up a USB flash drive or external hard drive, and the lower edge of the tablet's casing is home to a proprietary connector, which could be used to connect the tablet to the upcoming line of docks and stands Acer plans to release.
The tablet has a 32 GB internal memory, Wi-Fi connectivity, and is likely to sell for between £450 and £500. A 3G version is slated for release in June.
Design & Handling
We might as well admit that we weren't expecting such a high-quality build and finish on an Acer product. Our preconceived ideas were soon smashed to smithereens by the A500 though, as we were suitably impressed by its very high-quality plastic frame and mock brushed aluminium casing. The edges of the tablet are finished in glossy black plastic and are also home to the device's various connections.
Like the Motorola Xoom, the Asus EeePad Transformer, the LG Optimus Pad, Toshiba's upcoming AT300 and the Hannspree SN10T3, Acer's Iconia Tab A500 has a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, a 1 Ghz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, a micro-USB port, a microSD slot, a micro-HDMI out and two photo/video cameras, with a 5-Megapixel camera with LED flash on the back and a 2-Megapixel camera on the front.
On top of that, Acer has added a USB 2.0 Host port for hooking up a USB flash drive or external hard drive, and the lower edge of the tablet's casing is home to a proprietary connector, which could be used to connect the tablet to the upcoming line of docks and stands Acer plans to release.
The tablet has a 32 GB internal memory, Wi-Fi connectivity, and is likely to sell for between £450 and £500. A 3G version is slated for release in June.
Design & Handling
We might as well admit that we weren't expecting such a high-quality build and finish on an Acer product. Our preconceived ideas were soon smashed to smithereens by the A500 though, as we were suitably impressed by its very high-quality plastic frame and mock brushed aluminium casing. The edges of the tablet are finished in glossy black plastic and are also home to the device's various connections.
Geami Sustainable Packaging Materials Added to Esteemed Material ConneXion Library
Packaging designers will now find Geami sustainable packaging materials featured at Material ConneXion, an ever-growing Materials Library featuring 5,000 materials designed to fulfill the design needs of packaging professionals worldwide. For brands like Adidas and Whole Foods, Material ConneXion is the go-to resource when designing the next generation of products and sustainable packaging.
A Certificate of Excellence in Material Development was awarded to Geami by an international panel of material experts based on their assessment of the company's biodegradable packaging materials. As a result, Geami products will take their place in the Materials Library as a paper-based sustainable packaging alternative to plastic materials such as bubble packaging.
“We are honored that our biodegradable packaging materials have been approved for inclusion in this esteemed library,” says Marcelo Passos, Vice President of Geami. “This will introduce our product line to a larger audience of designers seeking sustainable packaging solutions," added Passos.
Using Geami's patented process, ordinary Kraft paper is converted into a honeycomb web of angled cells that when expanded and combined with an interleave paper, increases the loft of the original Kraft paper by 750 percent. The resulting biodegradable packaging materials provide impact deflection and shock absorption better than foams, bubble packaging and air pillows of equal volume. Additionally the company's sustainable packaging materials provide environmental benefits not found in plastic protective packaging such as the use of renewable raw materials and recyclability.
"Our products are designed as a sustainable packaging alternative for protecting a wide range of products during the shipping process. Inclusion in the library opens the door to new markets and customers," explains Passos.
A Certificate of Excellence in Material Development was awarded to Geami by an international panel of material experts based on their assessment of the company's biodegradable packaging materials. As a result, Geami products will take their place in the Materials Library as a paper-based sustainable packaging alternative to plastic materials such as bubble packaging.
“We are honored that our biodegradable packaging materials have been approved for inclusion in this esteemed library,” says Marcelo Passos, Vice President of Geami. “This will introduce our product line to a larger audience of designers seeking sustainable packaging solutions," added Passos.
Using Geami's patented process, ordinary Kraft paper is converted into a honeycomb web of angled cells that when expanded and combined with an interleave paper, increases the loft of the original Kraft paper by 750 percent. The resulting biodegradable packaging materials provide impact deflection and shock absorption better than foams, bubble packaging and air pillows of equal volume. Additionally the company's sustainable packaging materials provide environmental benefits not found in plastic protective packaging such as the use of renewable raw materials and recyclability.
"Our products are designed as a sustainable packaging alternative for protecting a wide range of products during the shipping process. Inclusion in the library opens the door to new markets and customers," explains Passos.
2011年5月2日 星期一
Music and Technology Take Center Stage as LG Mobile Phones and House of Blues Entertainment Come Together to Create 'LG Ones to Watch'
LG Ones to Watch will highlight a total of twelve fresh, new artists who will perform at a variety of well-known venues throughout the U.S. At each concert, consumers will receive exclusive codes giving them access to LG's Text-2-Win promotion, where concert attendees will have the chance to instantly win exciting prizes including artist merchandise and possible seat upgrades. During the live shows, LG Ones to Watch concert-goers will receive exclusive hands-on demonstrations of LG's most cutting-edge and entertaining wireless devices. Fans are also encouraged to visit the LG Ones to Watch micro site where they can enter to win LG's VIP Flyaway consumer sweepstakes for the chance to attend (and receive the VIP treatment) at an upcoming Ones to Watch concert. The VIP Flyaway prize includes flight, hotel and spending money.
"Through the Ones to Watch concert series LG is able to connect with consumers in a fun and engaging environment, providing the perfect platform to showcase some of our most entertaining devices to date," said Carl Brown, Director of Trade Marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "LG looks forward to lighting up the music scene with exclusive hands-on demonstrations of our latest Android-powered devices including the T-Mobile® G2x(TM) with Google(TM) by LG, T-Mobile® G-slate(TM) With Google(TM) by LG and the LG Revolution."
"This is a partnership that will be beneficial to our artists and fans," Benjamin Weeden, of House of Blues Entertainment, said. "The combination of exciting new music talent and the cutting-edge technology of LG is a great way to enhance the concert experience. We are pleased to be working with them."
Taking the concert experience to the next level, LG Ones to Watch provides all the tools consumers need to stay in-the-know about the latest music and technology trends. At participating LG Ones to Watch shows, concert attendees will have the opportunity to receive exclusive discounts when purchasing featured LG devices at local retail stores.
Ones to Watch Artists
Potential LG Ones to Watch artists range across all musical genres including hip hop, R&B, pop, rock, and rap. Artists such as The Dirty Heads, The Maine, Augustana, Neon Trees, Panic! At The Disco, Owl City, 100 Monkeys and Motion City Soundtrack will take the stage to showcase their musical skills and provide attendees with unique and engaging concert experiences.(1) Consumers will receive exclusive materials at the end of each concert which will allow them to stay in the know about upcoming concerts and LG products as well as register for additional sweepstakes opportunities.
Ones to Watch Concert Venues
LG Ones to Watch concerts will be featured at top House of Blues Entertainment clubs and theaters including exciting venues such as House of Blues, The Fillmore, and The Hollywood Palladium. Each venue will provide consumers with a small, intimate setting which will allow one-on-one engagements and immersion into the musical performance without the crowded feel of an arena or amphitheater. By hosting LG Ones to Watch concerts in major cities such as New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Atlanta, LG and House of Blues Entertainment will present consumers across the U.S. with the opportunity to participate in discovering the next big name in music.
"Through the Ones to Watch concert series LG is able to connect with consumers in a fun and engaging environment, providing the perfect platform to showcase some of our most entertaining devices to date," said Carl Brown, Director of Trade Marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "LG looks forward to lighting up the music scene with exclusive hands-on demonstrations of our latest Android-powered devices including the T-Mobile® G2x(TM) with Google(TM) by LG, T-Mobile® G-slate(TM) With Google(TM) by LG and the LG Revolution."
"This is a partnership that will be beneficial to our artists and fans," Benjamin Weeden, of House of Blues Entertainment, said. "The combination of exciting new music talent and the cutting-edge technology of LG is a great way to enhance the concert experience. We are pleased to be working with them."
Taking the concert experience to the next level, LG Ones to Watch provides all the tools consumers need to stay in-the-know about the latest music and technology trends. At participating LG Ones to Watch shows, concert attendees will have the opportunity to receive exclusive discounts when purchasing featured LG devices at local retail stores.
Ones to Watch Artists
Potential LG Ones to Watch artists range across all musical genres including hip hop, R&B, pop, rock, and rap. Artists such as The Dirty Heads, The Maine, Augustana, Neon Trees, Panic! At The Disco, Owl City, 100 Monkeys and Motion City Soundtrack will take the stage to showcase their musical skills and provide attendees with unique and engaging concert experiences.(1) Consumers will receive exclusive materials at the end of each concert which will allow them to stay in the know about upcoming concerts and LG products as well as register for additional sweepstakes opportunities.
Ones to Watch Concert Venues
LG Ones to Watch concerts will be featured at top House of Blues Entertainment clubs and theaters including exciting venues such as House of Blues, The Fillmore, and The Hollywood Palladium. Each venue will provide consumers with a small, intimate setting which will allow one-on-one engagements and immersion into the musical performance without the crowded feel of an arena or amphitheater. By hosting LG Ones to Watch concerts in major cities such as New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Atlanta, LG and House of Blues Entertainment will present consumers across the U.S. with the opportunity to participate in discovering the next big name in music.
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