New In The News

I love anything Nano (except the ipod =P). Here is some amazing Nano-Art I’ve come across online. Take a long look and admire their beauty.

   

The wires are made of a material called silicon carbide, and researchers hope to use these wires to develop the next generation of electronic devices.

 

The flowers were made and photographed by Ghim Wei Ho, a graduate student at the Nanoscale Center at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

 

 Failed oxidation of a piece of silicon, which went south because not enough chromium was used

 

This image of a nanowire octapus, by Zhengwei Pan

“T4 Bacteriophage” is a virus-like robot in the living body. Made of carbon, it was fabricated by FIB-CVD on a Si surface and is about ten times as large as the real virus
Magnification: 25,000X by Reo Kometani & Shinji Matsui

Educators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have used rapid prototyping to create plaster models of nanostructures.

 

Ruptured blood vessel by Anne Weston

Red Blood Cells by Annie Cavanagh

 

Breast Cancer Cells by Annie Cavanagh

And lastly, my favourite…. 

Nano-explosions by Fanny Beron

 

This may perhaps change the way we use any objects ever again, allowing us the embed circuitry into the tinyiest of places. Check out the article below!

The stretchy circuits could be used to build advanced brain implants, health monitors or smart clothing.

The complex devices consist of concertina-like folds of ultra-thin silicon bonded to sheets of rubber.

Writing in the journal Science, the US researchers say the chip’s performance is similar to conventional electronics.

“Silicon microelectronics has been a spectacularly successful technology that has touched virtually every part of our lives,” said Professor John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of the authors of the paper.

But, he said, the rigid and fragile nature of silicon made it very unattractive for many applications, such as biomedical implants.

“In many cases you’d like to integrate electronics conformably in a variety of ways in the human body - but the human body does not have the shape of a silicon wafer.”

Read the rest of this article on BBC Technology

Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.

source: Google 

Asustek Computer has announced its Splendid HD1 video enhancement card, which is able to increase picture quality for HD content to deliver sharper, more vividly colored visual outputs. It can also enhance lower-resolution inputs by recovering image clarity when viewing legacy content for viewing on LCD TV or monitors as well as provide true HDMI with audio and HDCP.

The Splendid HD1 is able to automatically select the best possible display modes to deliver exceptional quality visuals in photos, video and games, according to Asustek.

source: DigiTimes

Microsoft Corp. will release Windows XP Service Pack 3 during the second half of April, according to a report from a Web site that has correctly predicted recent Windows ship dates.TechARP.com, a Malaysian Web site that nailed Vista SP1’s release-to-manufacturing (RTM) date last month as well as its release to Windows Update last week, said that Microsoft will wrap up work on XP’s third and final service pack next month. The site pegged RTM for Windows XP SP3 as “second half of April 2008″ for seven languages, with a follow-on RTM of the remaining supported languages “approximately 21 days” later.

By TechARP’s account, Microsoft will first finish work on the Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish versions of the service pack.

Microsoft declined comment, other than to repeat an earlier statement about the service pack’s timing. “We are targeting 1H [first half] 2008 for the release of XP SP3 RTM, though our timing will always be based on customer feedback as a first priority,” a spokeswoman said in an e-mail.

The last time Microsoft made a public move with Windows XP SP3 was a little over a month ago, when it posted a second release candidate to Windows Update.

About two weeks ago, however, XP SP3 caused a minor stir when what was purportedly the newest build leaked to the Internet and hit BitTorrent search sites such as The Pirate Bay. Although Microsoft initially refused comment, last week it acknowledged that the build — designated 5503 — was real and had been released to a portion of the invitation-only beta test group.

It also warned users away from any download. “This build was not intended for public release and anyone who has that build and is not part of the private beta is working with bits that Microsoft can’t verify,” a company spokeswoman said in an e-mail last week. “It’s possible the bits may have been modified with malware or other bad code that Microsoft hasn’t tested.”

Multiple versions of XP SP3 build 5503, including English- and Russian-language editions, are available via BitTorrent.

Once SP3 ships, the next major milestones for Windows XP are June 30, when the popular operating system is slated to fall off the reseller and retail availability list, and Jan. 31, 2009, when it will be taken out of all distribution channels, including system builders.

source: Computer World

Microsoft Corp. is offering free support to any Windows Vista user experiencing problems with installing Service Pack 1 (SP1), according to a company spokesman.”[Anyone] needing technical support regarding your installation of Windows Vista SP1, please go to the following URL and choose the bottom option that says, ‘Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (All Languages),’” said Brandon LeBlanc, a Microsoft employee who posted several comments to the company’s Vista blog. The link LeBlanc pointed users to led to a Vista SP1-specific support site.

“You have a variety of options you can choose for support, all of which will not cost you any support fee,” said LeBlanc. “I repeat: Support for SP1 will not cost you anything.”

“That’s a good move on their part,” said Michael Cherry, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft.

The SP1 site offers support via e-mail, online chat and telephone, and it lists hours of operation for the last two options. Free phone support, for instance, is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time on weekdays and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time on weekends. The free support will be available for one year, and it covers installation and compatibility issues.

Normally, Microsoft offers no-cost support only to users who bought Windows at retail. Users who obtained the operating system already installed on a PC are referred to the computer manufacturer or reseller; the company’s for-fee support runs $59 per request unless the user or business has a prepaid support plan with Microsoft.

That policy, as well as the wording of the Vista SP1 support site as late as last Friday, confused one user commenting on the same thread. “You cannot get free support from [Microsoft] if Vista came preloaded on your HP. At least, that is what the Web site indicates,” said “romroyer.”

LeBlanc quickly replied. “You are incorrect. We are offering free-of-charge support to anyone who is having issues installing Windows Vista SP1 — even folks like ‘pat’ [an earlier commenter on the thread] who may be using a [reseller] copy of Windows Vista that came with their HP laptop,” he said. “Again, anyone can get free support for installation issues of SP1.”

By Sunday, Microsoft had modified the Vista SP1 support site and removed references directing users to contact their resellers if they had acquired Vista on new computers. The site’s wording had been altered to read: “No charge: Unlimited support requests.”

That’s Microsoft’s standard support policy for service packs, a spokeswoman said in an e-mail. “The no-fee support is actually part of our Windows Service Pack policy, not something specific to Windows Vista SP1,” she wrote.

Microsoft, however, has done little to broadcast news of the free SP1 support. The home page for the Windows Vista Solution Center, the operating system’s help and support starting point, makes no mention of it, nor does Microsoft’s main Windows Vista SP1 site.

source: Computer World

Google gave U.S. regulators a proposal Monday seeking permission to use the airwaves between television broadcast channels for mobile broadband services.In comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Google said it would propose an enhanced system to prevent wireless devices operating in the so-called “white space” between channels from interfering with adjacent channels and wireless microphones.

Google said the enhancements “will eliminate any remaining legitimate concerns about the merits of using the white space for unlicensed personal/portable devices.”

The FCC is currently testing equipment to see if it can make use of the spectrum between channels without interfering with television broadcasts.

The filing came less than two weeks after Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, urged the commission to free up the spectrum so it could be used to expand access to wireless broadband services using Wi-Fi technology.

Google and Microsoft are part of a coalition of technology companies that has been lobbying the commission to allow unlicensed use of the airwaves between television channels. The group, called the White Space Coalition, also includes Dell, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and the North American unit of Philips Electronics.

Together, the companies want access to a new group of users, which would expand their market.

But U.S. broadcasters and makers of wireless microphones oppose the idea, fearing that devices would cause interference if used on adjacent airwaves.

A proposal being studied by the FCC would create two classes of users for the airwaves: one for low-power, portable devices for personal use, and a second for commercial operations.

The proposal would require that the devices include technology to identify unused frequencies and avoid interference.

“Google is a strong believer in the potential of this spectrum to bring Internet access to more Americans,” Rick Whitt, counsel for the company, said Monday.

source: Herald Tribune

“Drive” is what we call the new and beautiful car navigation feature. It looks great and is easy to use while driving: change “views” by clicking left or right, select functions from a “grid” menu. The Drive interface is transparent black and the turning arrows dynamically show the exact angle of the turn. Check out driving time and average speed for your journey and plan multiple stopover routes.

I’m very excited about a new feature that we call “Walk”. It lets you find your way in the city when you are on foot. It is easy to use and discreet (no voice instructions). Small “breadcrumbs” are shown where you have been walking so you easily see what direction to take. “Walk” is included in the navigation license for car navigation but can also be purchased separately. If you have already purchased car navigation with older Maps version, you will now get “Walk” free of charge!

The beta offers satellite maps in 200 cities worldwide. Satellite maps can be turned on when browsing the map and also in “Walk”. The satellite maps are downloaded over the air and are saved automatically. Next time you start Maps the satellite maps will be there, no need to download them again.

The search is much, much improved. It is now as simple as typing part of street names or a place in a search box. Search results are listed by category (addresses, cities, restaurants etc.)

Places are personal. You are now able to save places as favorites, create collections (folders for places) and even save your routes.

What else? Better 3D mode and overall faster, better, and more beautiful

Upgrading to Maps 2.0 Beta is easy. You can continue using your old maps and licenses. It is also possible to upgrade your map data using the new Map Loader (also provided from beta labs). You need to run the Maps beta once first in the phone before connecting to PC.

Grab Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta while it is hot and let us know what you think about it!

Note that since this is a beta, some less important functions may be ‘limited’. We are still working on the traffic feature for car navigation. We’ll keep you posted when that gets available too.

Tip 1: Shortcut keys in the map

• Use * and # keys to zoom in and out in the map
• Use to 0 key to go to “My position”
• Use the 1 key to change map modes (2D, 3D, Satellite, Hybrid)

Tip 2: Shortcut keys in Drive mode

• The “grid” (options menu) layout imitates the keyboard. Items in the grid are also accessible directly through the keyboard.
• The same shortcuts are also available in Walk

source: Nokia Beta Labs

About DealExtreme:

“DealExtreme.com is the next generation of online shopping center. Here, you get a large selection of gadgets at very attractive prices. While quality issues are generally tied to low prices in the industry, we hand test most of our shipments unit-by-unit to ensure your satisfaction. New products are selected with reliability considerations and your expectations in mind.”

it’s a really cool website, you can find great gadgets with great prices plus free shipping, although the shipping takes 12-17 days to deliver but it’s free, it ships from Hong Kong, they use paypal so it’s secure shopping.

Hovo 

Steven Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, is hoping to expand the iPhone’s appeal by luring software developers to create programs for it.

John Doerr, the venture capitalist, is adding an incentive: his firm is putting up $100 million to invest in the work of those programmers.

At an event Thursday at Apple headquarters, Jobs announced a low-cost software development kit that outside programmers can use to create programs for the iPhone, much as they now write the vast majority of the programs created for the Macintosh. Until now, iPhones have officially been able to run only the limited assortment of applications that Apple includes. (Some buyers have modified the phones to add unauthorized software.)

“We’re very excited about this,” said Jobs, who also announced that the company was adding features to make the iPhone more appealing to business users. “We think a lot of people, after understanding where we are going, are going to want to become an iPhone developer.”

Sharing the stage with Jobs, Doerr announced that his firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, had established a $100 million venture capital fund for iPhone entrepreneurs. Called the iFund, it is the largest fund the company has created for a specific technology.

“The potential for iPhone is huge,” Doerr said.

Matt Murphy, the Kleiner partner overseeing the fund, said he expected the fund to last two to three years, after which the company might decide to add more capital.

Jobs said Apple would offer a developer kit for $99 that would allow programmers to create everything from games to business programs. On Thursday, Sega and AOL demonstrated applications they created for the iPhone using the kit.

The programs that are created will then be available to iPhone users exclusively through a new service on all iPhones called the Apps Store, an aspect of the plan that may discourage some developers. Apple will keep 30 percent of the sale price.

Jobs said that Apple would offer only those programs that it approves, rejecting pornography, for example, and programs that might not provide adequate security for users.

He argued that developers would benefit from Apple’s being the sole distributor because only Apple could give third-party programs such wide exposure to customers. All iPhone users will be able to browse the available programs directly from their devices. Customers will also benefit, he said, from Apple’s weeding out of malicious programs.

“We can track the developers and we can tell their parents,” Jobs said, joking about the demographic profile of many Apple entrepreneurs.

In an attempt to lure corporate customers, Apple executives also announced that the iPhone would be able to work directly with Microsoft’s Exchange software, allowing it to interact closely with corporate networks and e-mail systems in much the way that BlackBerry devices do. Apple said Genentech and Nike were among the companies that were already taking advantage of this feature.

The new business abilities will be added to the iPhone in June and will come to existing owners in a free upgrade. The software will include extensive security features, like the ability to lock and erase the system remotely in the event of loss or theft.

“The majority of the objections IT managers have had about the iPhone have been addressed today,” said Van Baker, an analyst with Gartner Inc., referring to corporate information technology managers. “It’s a very valid and robust device, and for that reason it’s a viable platform for the enterprise in competition with the BlackBerry and others.”

But attracting a huge following among corporations is something Apple has not been able to achieve with the Macintosh, and it remains to be seen whether the iPhone will take sales from the BlackBerry, the popular business communicator sold by Research in Motion of Waterloo, Ontario.

“It’s a better device and platform that does more things than the BlackBerry,” Murphy said. If people have been questioning whether the iPhone is a business tool, the integration with Exchange “takes the issue off the table,” he said.

The iPhone is already the second most popular smartphone after the BlackBerry, with a 28 percent share of the market, but its inability to communicate with corporate computer systems running Microsoft Exchange has hindered its growth in that market.

source: International Herald Tribune