Windows 7

Windows 7 is the newest version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs and media center PCs.^[3] Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009,^[4] and general retail availability on October 22, 2009,^[5] less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time.

Unlike its predecessor, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.^[6] Presentations given by Microsoft in 2008 focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup,^[7] and performance improvements. Some applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, are not included in Windows 7;^[8][9] some are instead offered separately as part of the free Windows Live Essentials suite.^[10]

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P.S- happy halloween</sup>

Sigma f/2.8 24-70mm IF EX DG HSM

Sigma’s F2.8/24-70mm IF EX DG HSM lens offers first rate image quality in a lightweight and affordable body. Designed for use with full frame and APS-C sensor digital SLRs, as well as 35mm film cameras, this fixed aperture zoom exhibits consistently high detail resolution at all focal lengths and performs well right across the image frame – essential in a full frame lens. The Hypersonic Motor (HSM) boosts the camera’s own autofocusing system, to ensure fast reactions and that subjects are focused and tracked quickly, while high refractive index glasses in three elements allow a compact design and well controlled chromatic aberrations, even at the corners of the frame. Covering an extremely useful range of focal lengths, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM is an excellent lens for the professional and high end amateur alike.

EISA - European Imaging and Sound Association

As a member of the EX series of lenses this 3rd generation Sigma lens is designed with the highest level of optical technology and augments its predecessor with the addition of the Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) ensuring a quiet, high speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. Housed in compact construction, the Sigma 24-70mm is a large aperture standard zoom lens ideal for all general photography including portraiture and landscapes. Physically, the shortest lens in the category, its overall length is 3.7 inches/94.7mm. With excellent optics, this could be the foremost performing lens in the category with stunning speed, clarity and color. Intricate lens construction includes Super Multi Layer Coating reducing flare and ghosting; the combination of ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) and two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and three Aspherical lenses provide excellent correction of all types of aberrations. Superior optical performance is ensured throughout the entire zoom range with the minimum focusing distance being 15in/38cm and maximum magnification ratio being 1:5.3. The rounded 9 blade diaphragm gives a natural look to backgrounds and foregrounds. Mark Amir, Sigma’s General Manager, says, "This new 24-70mm lens demonstrates Sigma’s commitment to producing lenses that offer the elusive combination of exceptional quality and high value and adds to the already wide range of critical lens selection."

FOTO TESTE

Confrérie Horlogère La Clef du Temps Tourbillon

The La Clef du Temps watch actually allows the user to control the pace of time by modulating the speed of every passing hour through the crown at 9 o’clock. Aside from featuring technical triumph, it returns luxury timekeeping more importantly to all range of users. These 24 watches of different time zones of the world surely stand a chance to be a great collector’s choice. The weird symbols of the watches can be revealed by close examination and no matter how long you misrepresent time on your watch, you can return to the standard time anytime by simply movingthe crown at 9 o’clock. These watches would be quite expensive, only a prototype of such a watch fetched the 2nd highest price in a recent watch auction at $410,000.

From the website:
LIMITED EDITION OF 24 PIECES
An exceptional mechanism created by Mathias Buttet – founder of Confrérie Horlogère – for the Only Watch 09 auction: an event that takes place every two years and is aimed at raising funds to help children affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Touched by the devastating effects of this disease, Mathias Buttet has developed a Vertical tourbillon watch which features a hand-wound mechanical movement able to make the time last longer for those who don’t have much of it. Moreover, the prototype developed has been enriched with a further function allowing users to shorten the time if they so wish.

Electric Pencil

 

Electric Pencil (also known as The Electric Pencil) was the first word processor written for a microcomputer. The original version was created by Michael Shrayer and released for the MITS Altair in December 1976. The TRS-80 version was released almost two years later and it dominated the market until the introduction of Scripsit.

Electric Pencil was one of only five pieces of software inducted into the 80 Micro Hall of Fame in 1983, with the panel stating that Electric Pencil “demonstrated conclusively that a TRS-80 could be used for serious word processing, and was the model for later word processors.”

Origins

Michael Shrayer purchased an MITS Altair computer kit after seeing the January 1975 issue of the Popular Electronics. He later expanded his Altair with a paper punch, video display, and keyboard and he began writing machine language programs.

What became known as Electric Pencil started when Shrayer made some improvements to an editor assembler package called Software Package 1 or SP-1. He named his improved version Extended Software Package 1 or ESP-1. Shrayer decided he didn’t want to use a typewriter to write the documentation for ESP-1 but to use his Altair instead. There were no suitable programs available, so he decided to write his own. As he stated in an 1984 article in Creative Computing:

I developed the original Electric Pencil to document something called ESP-1. At that time, I didn’t even know that a product like Pencil was called a word processor. In fact, Electric Pencil was the first word processor ever written for a microcomputer. I used Pencil to document ESP-1 and then itself.

The new Electric Pencil program was unlike anything else available, and there was great demand for the program. Shrayer began selling it through his company, Michael Shrayer Software, Inc. Peoples wanted versions for computers other than the Altair, and 78 different versions were created for different computers and operating systems by 1980.

The popularity of Electric Pencil made it an early target for software pirates. By one estimate, ten copies were pirated for every legitimate copy sold.

Electric Pencil for the TRS-80

Electric Pencil title screen

Electric Pencil was adapted in 1978 to the TRS-80 Model I by Small System Software. The price was $150.00 for the disk version and $99.95 for the cassette version (with both Level I and Level II versions on the same tape). It was enormously successful, becoming the dominant TRS-80 word processor.

The Electric Pencil advertisements promised a number of features:

Write text, delete, insert, or move words, lines, paragraphs, save text on tape (or disk), then print formatted copy with our TRS232 or Centronics printer (RS-232C with disk version). Right justification, page titling and numbering, transparent cursor and repeating keyboard. Upper case only, or lower case with modification.

 MANUAL

Kodak OLED Wireless Frame

Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) has introduced the world’s first consumer-available wireless picture frame featuring innovative Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, a Kodak invention that produces exceptionally sharp and vivid image quality. OLED technology generates greater color depth and saturation than other displays, on panels that are substantially thinner, resulting in a sleek, low-profile design.

The new KODAK OLED Wireless Frame features built-in Wi-Fi technology that enables the display of pictures as well as access to videos and music stored on a PC elsewhere in the home. The wireless feature also enables connectivity to online photo and video sharing sites and Internet content portals for news, weather, sports and more.

At the heart of the new KODAK OLED Wireless Frame is an ultra-thin, 7.6-inch diagonal digital panel that produces stunning image detail regardless of viewing angle. The viewing experience is further enhanced by Kodak Perfect Touch Technology, which automatically processes images to improve exposure, brightness and color, and KODAK Image Science, which optimizes image quality for display on OLED panels.

The KODAK OLED Wireless Frame requires no backlighting, and incorporates an ambient light sensor that optimizes the viewing experience by adjusting display brightness based on the surrounding light. Kodak has also designed a premium audio system into the frame, providing outstanding sound reproduction for videos, digital music and online content.

Benefits delivered by the KODAK OLED Wireless Frame:

* Enjoy spectacularly crisp images and videos on a 7.6-inch diagonal OLED screen, with 180° viewing angle.

* Experience extraordinary color, rich details and vivid image depth from the high-contrast luminous display (white to black ratio = >30,000:1).

* Achieve high-quality, lifelike video playback with sharp, seamless motion.

* Upload images and videos to the frame from digital cameras, memory cards, USB drives, or wirelessly from personal computers and the Internet via built-in Wi-Fi capability.

* Transfer pictures from a PC to a KODAK OLED Wireless Frame effortlessly with the new KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Display Software. In addition to organizing and editing pictures, this software makes it easy to move favorite pictures, slideshows, videos and music wirelessly from a computer directly to the frame. Digital Display Software also enables access to exciting Internet content available at KODAK Gallery and Kodak partners Flickr and FrameChannel.

* Store up to 10,000 images on the frame’s 2 GB of built-in internal memory (actual storage capacity will vary based on image content).

* Enjoy pictures and videos from many sources with built-in memory card reader and USB port.

* Wide screen display with 16:9 aspect ratio and 800x480 resolution.

About Kodak

As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.
To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com/, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, PluggedIn.kodak.com, and GrowYourBiz.kodak.com.

Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX

Henley Designs has announced the launch of the new Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX turntable, with a swathe of new technologies aimed to squeeze the most out of its performance. The turntable and arm are mounted on a sub-chassis machined from Corian substrate, which in turn floats above a transparent acrylic plinth on three magnetic suspension points, which mean the system can be levitated indefinitely for ultimately smooth performance. The record platter is made from a non-resonant sandwich of materials and rotates on an inverted ceramic bearing, and is driven about its circumference by a belt from a quiet running AC motor with two pulleys, driving easy speed adjustment between 33 and 45 rpm. The 6 PerspeX also features Pro-Ject's new 9cc Evolution tonearm, formed form a single piece of carbon fibre for rigidity and integrity.

Attention to detail is clearly paramount, reflected not unreasonably with the £1,000 price point.

henleydesigns.co.uk

Visually, the 6 PerspeX turntable is one of Pro-Ject’s happiest creations, its elegant design featuring an eye-catching slab of clear acrylic for the plinth and a thick MDF platter finished off in a matt black plastic. Floating above the plinth is a composite subchassis, supported under its substantial bearing housing by a sorbothane block and at a further three peripheral points by a series of opposing magnets. The matching tonearm is a luxury version of Pro-Ject’s carbon fibre arm called the 9cc Evolution. It’s possible to ‘tune’ the sound of the 6 PerspeX by using the supplied record clamp, which brings some added focus to midrange detail while tightening-up the bass register. Without the clamp, its music sounds slightly softer and lighter but also freer and arguably more natural. It looks fabulous and sounds very impressive indeed – a natural EISA winner.

Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer

Guaranteed to keep your wipes moist, the Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer is the only wipe warmer that will not brown and dry out wipes. With the Ever-Fresh System, it keeps wipes moist the freshest they can be to soothe your Baby's delicate skin. The Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer's Ever-Fresh System keeps your wipes fresh so it won't irritate the delicate skin of your little ones. This Patent Pending System works three ways, moisture retention, non-browning, and anti-microbial.

With this amazing wipe warmer, your wipes stay fresh and germ-free with an anti-microbial moisture retention barrier and keeps away from discoloring your baby wipes. And, it's so easy to use, simply lift the lid dual wipe style lid and drop in a stack of your favorite wipes. This warmer works with cloth wipes and disposable wipes. Great for keeping your cloth wipes moist and warm, it has a unique low-voltage heating system which maintains safe temperature. Holds up to 80 to 100 wipes, this Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer includes power indicator and AC adapter.

Eletrolux Flatshare Modular Fridge

Nearly all refrigerators are designed for single-family households. Ask someone who has lived in a group house or shared living situation and you’ll get a story of woe about a time that someone was looking forward to enjoying a lunch of leftovers only to go to the fridge and find their meal usurped by a roommate. (Curiously, the speaker is always the victim in these stories, never the perpetrator).

To the rescue comes the Electrolux Flatshare Fridge, the refrigerator designed for shared living situations.

Flatshare Fridge—or, more accurately, the Flatshare Fridges—is comprised of self-contained modules that operate like a mini-fridge when placed atop the base module. Each module has it’s own temperature control. Need more refrigerator space? Is another housemate moving in? Simply add another module to the stack.

What’s especially cool is that the module exteriors are highly personalizeable. Add a skin to give your module a distinctive pattern. Attach an optional extra like a bottle opener. (See a photographic example, below). Or get a chalkboard for your module onto which you can write your name . . . or a shopping list . . . or a warning to would-be food thieves.

The Flatshare was conceived and built by Stefan Buchberger, a student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, for the 2008 Electrolux Design Lab competition (which is subsequently won). No word on when (or if) Electrolux plans to market this refrigerator or whether the final version will have some sort of lock-and-key system. Roommates everywhere are hoping it will be soon.

Mercedes-Benz James Cook

Mercedes-Benz James Cook Voted Camper Van Of The Year 2006

In a recent poll conducted by "promobil" magazine, the Mercedes-Benz James Cook was voted "Camper Van of the Year 2006" by the publication's readers.

Edging out 282 competitors, the James Cook took top honors in both the best camper van over EUR 40,000 and the overall categories, earning 56% of the approximately 20,000 votes tallied. Since its inception in 1995, the James Cook has been honored with the award twelve consecutive times.

Other Mercedes models who made promobil's camper van "best of" list included the Mercedes Sprinter-based La Strada Regent and the Mercedes Marco Polo, both of which earned the third spot in their respective categories.

For more info on the Camper Van of the Year polls, you can find the full details in the press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


James Cook: the undisputed No. 1

• Winner in its category twelve times in a row
  
  
• Record number of votes from a field of 282 camper vans
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz camper vans scoop other podium places

Stuttgart, Apr 06, 2006
The 2006 polls got off to a flying start for the Mercedes-Benz recreational vehicles. The James Cook camper van came away with an absolute majority in its category as part of the readers’ poll for the Camper Van of the Year 2006 organised by “promobil” magazine: bagging exactly 56 percent of the votes, the tried-and-trusted classic camper van is the undisputed No. 1 in the camper van over EUR 40,000 category. At the same time the James Cook comfortably notched up the best individual result of all the 282 camper vans in the poll that attracted 20,000 readers. And to top it all, the James Cook improved on the impressive 54.8 percent of votes it received last year. The timeless classic is accustomed to success: since its premiere in 1995 the James Cook has now consistently scooped top spot in 12 consecutive polls, continuing the winning streak of the previous model.

A handful of other top slots

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter once again proved its remarkable position as the basic platform for top-end camper vans, accounting for 11 out of the 18 camper vans registered in the same class as the James Cook. The third place awarded to the Sprinter-based La Strada Regent is also testimony to this magnificent achievement.

Further podium places add to the honours lavished on the Mercedes-Benz camper vans. Readers awarded third place to the compact Mercedes Benz Marco Polo in the camper van up to EUR 40,000 category. Runner-up and third place in the integrated camper van over EUR 100,000 category went to the Hymermobil S Class and the Carthago Opus, two luxury-class camper vans based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter aimed at high-end recreational vehicle owners.

For more Mercedes-Benz news and information, visit  
www.eMercedesBenz.com.

Copyright © DaimlerChrysler AG

Volcano Vaporizer

The Volcano Vaporizer is a vaporizer machine consisting of a conical heater base with controls for manipulating the airflow and temperature. It is used for aromatherapy, smokeless ingestion of cannabis^[1][2] or other herbs, and culinary preparation. The air collection system consists of a heatproof bag, a set of valves to control dispersal, and a chamber in which the material is heated. The vegetable matter or essential oil is heated by a variable temperature, pressurized hot air convection stream, and the resultant vapors are collected in the heatproof bag. Once the bag has inflated, the user removes it from the heater base and inhales or otherwise disperses the vapors using a set of valves.

Uses

Aromatherapy

The Volcano Vaporizer is used to apply heat to release aromatic compounds from herbs and spices, plant extracts, and essential oils for aromatherapy. It is useful to release delicate aromas that may be destroyed by excessive temperature or difficult to release because of their chemical property.

Medical

Clinical evaluations of the Volcano Vaporizer have been carried out, primarily under the rubric of medical cannabis. Research undertaken by the University of California, San Francisco in November 2007, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, compared the levels of the bioactive cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the harmful constituents produced by smoked (burned) cannabis to the vapor produced by the Volcano Vaporizer. The study examined blood concentration of carbon monoxide as a harmful-products marker, and found there was limited exposure to harmful combustion products using the vaporizing device.^[3]
A 2004 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics found that compared to marijuana smoke, vapor from the Volcano Vaporizer contained higher levels of therapeutic THC and dramatically lower concentrations of toxic compounds.^[4]
And another study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in May 2008 investigated the feasibility of intrapulmonary THC administration using a Volcano Vaporizer. This study found that consistent, reproducible THC extraction and delivery is possible with the Volcano Vaporizer, suggesting that the vaporizing device was a suitable method for the administration of THC.^[5]
In June 2006, a study conducted at Leiden University in the Netherlands was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. The study evaluated the performance of the Volcano Vaporizer for reproducible delivery of THC by using pure molecular preparations. The results demonstrated that the Volcano Vaporizer was a competent delivery system for THC. The final analysis of indicated active cannabis compounds were readily liberated by the vaporization device.^[6]

Popular

The Volcano Vaporizer is used for the consumption of cannabis.^[2] The primary advantage is that cannabinoids can be released without the toxic byproducts of combustion, thereby allowing the ingestion of cannabinoids while reducing the damaging health effects of smoking.

Culinary

The Volcano Vaporizer is used by chefs including Grant Achatz at the Alinea restaurant in Chicago and Ferran Adrià at El Bulli in Spain as a method of applying controlled heat to foods, herbs and spices to release flavors that are otherwise difficult to titrate or apply, or that might be spoiled by overheating during cooking. The technique is useful for the practice of the modern cooking technique referred to as molecular gastronomy.

Production

The Volcano Vaporizer is manufactured by Storz & Bickel, a company specialized in vaporization technology. The Company is based in Tuttlingen, Germany.

Awards

The Volcano Vaporizer received the 2003 Dr. Rudolf Eberle Prize for outstanding technical design and innovation.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

The Hydroponic Plant System

The Hydroponic Plant System is an innovative concept that offers the user a comprehensive gardening facility by implementing efficient and functional technology. It is actually two twisting metal tubes starting from the floor to the roof of the room, where plants can be placed in different arrangements, allowing maximum convenience for taking care of them by reaching them all at once easily. Moreover, this innovative plant arrangement will provide better options to accumulate lights for the plant, which is very much important for their existence.

Text from Rafael :

Problem
To develop a plant system, for a circular house, based on the silver generation theme, that would bring a comfortable time for the couple together during cooking, with a healthy life concept behind.

Concept
A product that can help them at the kitchen, integrate the environment (kitchen at the middle of the circular house), providing a healthy life style with organic foods, making the cooking moment easy, simple and fun. A hydroponic indoor system witch the aim is to rescue the pleasure of growing and prepare our own food without working hard or spend so much time, exploring the shape of the DNA molecule, the grow of a new life. The product is made simple, two vertical metal tubes where the germinated seeds of the plants are placed into some small holes around the tubes. A net hold it till it starts to grow.There also a light system, with a mobile light focus that can be programed along the path where it moves, providing the right time of light for certain plant. The hydroponic process is based on the NFT hydroponic system, a active process where a solution with nutrients its bombed from a deposit to the culture channel. Part of the root of the plant its getting a constant water flux, while the other part is in direct contact with the humid air.

Justification
Sören and his wife have not so much time together, so when they are able to have a meal at home, his wife likes to prepare it herself, with calm and love. This rare moments that the couple have together are the main point that this project explores.

Materials and Fabrication Process
3 Metal tubes; 2 running from top to bottom of the kitchen, 1 that works like a path for the light. The tubes have a shape conformation, till it reaches the shape of the DNA. They have small connexions outside the house that makes the water flux works in a cycle, with a bomb to provide this. A small programed engine makes the movement of the light along the third tube, right on the middle of the structure.

This project was based on a briefing of the International Design Award (IDA2009).

Designer : Rafael Fernando and Débora Nogueira

The Hourglass coffee brewer

 If you like your coffee hot, strong, and fast, then the Hourglass coffee maker is not for you. Another topsy-turvy coffee brewer, the Hourglass uses cold water to reduce acid and improve the taste of your coffee. The catch? It takes 12 to 24 hours to brew your cup of joe.

The Hourglass is “powered by cold water and time” says the manufacturer. Instead of hot water flowing through coffee grounds for a few minutes, the Hourglass uses cold water and steeps the coffee overnight. The result is a concentrated coffee extract that you mix with hot water (or cold water for iced coffee). The manufacturer claims their coffee maker produces an extract that is 69.6% less acidic than hot-brewed coffee, and claims that the reduced acid gives the coffee a smoother, less bitter taste.

Like an AeroPress, the Hourglass doesn’t use electricity. To brew with the Hourglass, you combine 2 1/4 cups of coarsely ground coffee beans with 3 1/2 cups of water in the brewing chamber. The coffee brews by infusing with the water for at least 12 hours. For stronger coffee, let the grounds steep for 24 or even 48 hours. When the infusion process is complete, flip the brewer over and the extract drains through a reusable stainless steel filter and into the extract chamber. Each batch yields about 16 oz of coffee extract. According to the manufacturer, the same beans can be reused for a second brew cycle with no loss of flavor.

The extract is not simply espresso, but a concentrated coffee essence. To serve, mix some extract with hot water for traditional coffee or cold water for iced coffee. The extract can be kept in the included “Bean Kanteen” carafe and stored in a refrigerator for up to two weeks.

The Hourglass coffee maker is available now for USD$69.95.

Watch this VIDEO

The Dyson Air Multiplier

And you thought fans were boring. This new table fan by Dyson features a bladeless design that seems to be a first in the “things that blow stuff industry.” I’m quite impressed.

A large ring channels the air through a very thin slit and over a specially designed surface. The result is a jet of cool air. There are three controls – on/off, speed, and oscillation – and it can bend up and down for more precise targeting.

Here’s what Dyson says about it:

How it works: inducement and entrainment
Air is drawn into the base of the machine. The air is forced up into the loop amplifier and accelerated through the 1.3mm annular aperture, creating a jet of air that hugs the airfoil- shaped ramp. While exiting the loop amplifier, the jet pulls air from behind the fan into the airflow (inducement). At the same time, the surrounding air from the front and sides of the machine are forced into the air stream (entrainment), amplifying it 15 times. The result is a constant uninterrupted flow of cooling air.

Generally this is just a fan, but it’s well-designed and very cool so it’s worth a second look. No price right now but it’s interesting that they decided to launch right now. Presumably people would already have bought their fans if they launched in the Spring? Or do they know something about global warming that we don’t…

Now for the bad news: this fan costs $299 for the 10-inch model and $329 for the 12-inch. It will be available from a number of higher end shops and you can read more about it at Dyson.com. I guess you have to pay a price for blowing air the classy way.

 Watch this VIDEO

Bit & Byte

BIT

In computing and telecommunications a bit is a basic unit of information storage and communication (a contraction of "binary digit"). It is the maximum amount of information that can be stored by a device or other physical system that can normally exist in only two distinct states. These states are often interpreted (especially in the storage of numerical data) as the binary digits 0 and 1. They may be interpreted also as logical values, either "true" or "false"; or two settings of a flag or switch, either "on" or "off".

In information theory, "one bit" is typically defined as the uncertainty of a binary random variable that is 0 or 1 with equal probability,^[1] or the information that is gained when the value of such a variable becomes known.^[2]

BYTE

A byte (pronounced /ˈbaɪt/) is a unit of information storage representing the smallest addressable element for a given computer architecture. It often designates a sequence of bits (binary digits) whose length is determined by the architecture. However, the use of a byte to mean eight bits has become ubiquitous.

Prefixes for bit and byte multiples
Decimal Value SI 1000 k kilo 10002 M mega 10003 G giga 10004 T tera 10005 P peta 10006 E exa 10007 Z zetta 10008 Y yotta	Binary Value IEC JEDEC 1024 Ki kibi K kilo 10242 Mi mebi M mega 10243 Gi gibi G giga 10244 Ti tebi 10245 Pi pebi 10246 Ei exbi 10247 Zi zebi 10248 Yi yobi

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Eigenharp Alpha

professional level instrument which allows the musician to play and improvise using a limitless range of sounds with virtuoso skill. The unique design of the keys makes this the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made. The Alpha can play and record loops, change scale and key, transpose, alter tempo, program beats, create arrangements, switch and layer multiple sounds, all while the musician is performing live on stage.

Available in a variety of finishes, it has 120 highly sensitive keys, 12 percussion keys, 2 strip controllers, a breath pipe and numerous pedal inputs. This gives almost endless possibilities for flexible keyboard layouts, fast instrument switching and expressive musical control. The comprehensive software system provides a wealth of musical performance features, including playback of its own native instruments, many common software plugins, soundfonts or midi instruments.

You can get more info @ www.eigenlabs.com/ , take a look at this videos also.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj Digital Camera with Mini Projector [Innovation] 

The just-announced Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digicam / pico projector has been blowin' up the Interwebs this morning, and we have the video to prove it. First of all, there is a hands-on provided by What Digital Camera over in the UK, and aside from the projector they've uncovered a pretty straight forward digital shooter: 12 megapixel, 5x optical zoom, pretty standard dimensions, and a 2.7-inch LCD. However, the projector itself seems to do the job quite admirably. Sure, it's not an extensive demo, but the image looks clear and crisp. The reviewer deems it "a very, very clever party trick." And if the straight ahead tech demo doesn't get you in the mood to snap pictures and project them onto something, advertisers have offered us two visions of the future: take your pick from a spirited get together choc full o' photogenic American actors, or a somewhat subdued, more elegant affair in the presence of photogenic French actors. All that fun (and more) is to be had after the break.

A new breed of digital camera which brings mini projector to personal digital cameras. The inbuilt mini projector can project images and videos upto 40" in size. It also comes with a projector stand and a remote to control the projector operation.

Features of Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj:

• 12.1 Megapixel Resolution
• Personal theatre on the go with inbuilt projector
• 5x Wide Angle Zoom-NIKKOR Lens
• ISO range from 64-6400
• 2.7-inch Wide Angle LCD display
• 5-way VR Image Stabilization System
• Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode
• Nikon’s Smart Portrait System and movie mode

The camera will retail for $429.95 when it launches in September 2009.

Watch the VIDEO

Giant’s Hybrid Bicycle

From the press release:

“Advanced Technology That’s Simple to Use
Fusing human energy with the power of an electric motor is the essence of Giant’s Hybrid bicycles. What makes their function so unique is that Giant’s Hybrid bicycles engage the rider through a host of hidden technological features that work in unison with the body’s power output. The more human pedal power put in, the more supplemental electric power in response from the bicycle, all while being as simple to use as turning on a switch and pedaling.
There are several key technical elements to Giant’s Hybrid Cycling Technology, yet the advanced EnergyPak lithium ion battery technology and intelligence in Giant’s proprietary PedalPlus power sensor and I² driver technology are two crucial technological highlights that enable the unique Hybrid ride and offer a drastically increased range of use. At the heart of Giant’s Hybrid bicycles, rider input is read in real time through a highly receptive PedalPlus power sensor in the bicycle drivetrain that senses rider pedaling input and then interacts with the I² driver that intelligently and instantly reads pedaling motion, creating a smooth power transmission message to the SyncDrive motor in the front wheel.
Giant’s EnergyPak lithium ion batteries are lighter, smaller and provide more power and convenience than traditional batteries found in powered bicycles, ultimately creating a lighter, better performing, more agile feeling and drastically more stylish bicycle. EnergyPak lithium ion batteries also offer far greater range, allowing Hybrid bicycles to travel approximately 70 miles versus less than 20 miles utilizing previous battery power sources. The included SmartCharger charges the EnergyPak batteries in approximately four hours – half the time of older generation batteries. Riders utilize the RideControl command center, a handlebar interface that offers three power settings that enable a rider to travel farther or faster at their own command.

Quality, Dependability and Availability
Hybrid bicycle quality is second to none as every bicycle is made by Giant, the top producer of quality bicycles, in a dedicated Hybrid-only manufacturing facility. Consumers can depend on unparalleled service and support as every Giant Bicycle dealer will be a local resource for Hybrid consumers. For 2009, Hybrid Cycling Technology bicycle models include the Twist Freedom DX and Twist Freedom DX W for women, each available for $2,000 at authorized Giant Bicycle retail locations.”

In addition, our contact at Dispatch indicates that “[This] bike is a HUGE deal for Giant and will be for years to come as the company has a stand-alone factory ONLY making these bicycles…consumers can rest assured that it’s gone through arguably the most strict quality control process in the world and it’s backed by a global support team.”

Sinclair Spectrum +2

The Sinclair Spectrum +2 was the first Sinclair computer made by Amstrad after they bought the rights of the Sinclair computers products. Thus, it is not suprising that the Spectrum +2 is very similar in shape and functionality to the Amstrad CPC-464. It was a kind of mix between the Spectrum 128 and the CPC-464 !

Even though it used several features of the CPC-464, such as the built-in tape recorder and a good full-stroke keyboard (at last!), it is above all an improved Spectrum 128. Thus, the sound chip used is still the well-known Yamaha AY-3-8912 which is the sound chip of the MSX computers, Oric computers,Atari ST series) and many other computers of the 80’s. It was the most popular sound chip at the time.

As on the Spectrum 128, two BASIC versions were implemented : the 48k BASIC to remain compatible with the original Sinclair Spectrum, and the 128k BASIC which was already introduced with the Spectrum 128. There was still a calculator mode in the start-menu but the « Tape tester » option of the 128 had been removed since the tape-recorder was built-in.
As with the other 128k models, and due to the limitations of the Z80 CPU which can only address 65536 bytes, the 128kb RAM was not directly usable (unless with bank-switching routines), but could be used as a RAM disk.

There were several models of the Spectrum +2 : the Spectrum +2 (grey case) which had a motherboard nearly identical to that of the 128, and the Spectrum +2A and +2B (black case) which were simply Spectrum +3 computers with a tape-recorder instead of the disk drive. It means that their motherboards were quite similar to that of the +3. The difference between the +2A and +2B was mainly due to a move in production from Hong Kong to Taiwan.
Note that the first ROMs developed by Amstrad for the +2 model caused compatibility problems with the old Spectrum software, so they changed a few things in later ROMs.


When Amstrad conceived the +2A/B and the +3 they redesigned the motherboard and made some internal changes on the bus. They also removed the keypad scanning routines of the Spectrum 128 and +2 (remember the keypad sold with the Spanish Spectrum 128k ?).

Source: www.old-computers.com

Pratical Straw Bale Building

It is a book rather extensive than descriptive. It is intended as a practical guide but turns out to be just an introduction to technical and planning necessary to build a house using straw bales.

 

 

 

E-book: Practical Straw Bale Building by Murray Hollis

Samsung Blue Earth

Samsung Blue Earth cell phone is made from recycled plastic.

Blue Earth is the first solar powered full touch screen cell phone which beautifully designed by Samsung. By charging with the solar panel located on the back of the phone, users can generate enough electronic power to call anytime anywhere. This cell phone is made from recycled plastic called PCM, which is extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. Samsung Blue Earth mobile phone and the charger are free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate.

JK Shin (Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics) says: “Samsung’s ‘The Blue Earth Dream’ demonstrates our small but meaningful commitments for the future and our environment. We are committed to achieving the highest eco-status with our customers and by providing the best eco-products and promoting eco-activities.”

Source: Samsung