Monday, September 30, 2013

MC2 Post 1711 The Android Dryft is On for Tablets



Swype co-founder tackles tablet keyboards 
with Dryft for Android



More than a few Android users have fallen in love with the alternate keyboard Swype as a way to make text input on a touchscreen just a bit easier, and now Swype's co-founder is hoping to revitalize the keyboard yet again — this time, on tablets. "Even though you can swipe on a tablet, it will max out at about 40–45 words a minute," Swype co-founder Randy Marsden tells The Verge. "I can type faster than that. Most people can." Through a separate company, Marsden is now working on a keyboard called Dryft, which — as the name suggests — will drift around the screen if your fingers become slightly misplaced.


From:   http://www.theverge.com


Dryft isn't headed to an app store...


 "The tablets that are shipping right now meet those minimum standards that we have, but as little as earlier this year, the tablets shipping didn’t." He's already begun talking to partners about having the new keyboard come bundled.









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Can the iPhone's New Operating System make you Nauseous?






The iPhone now comes with a new feature commonly 
found in long, bumpy car rides 



From:   http://theweek.com



Do the floating apps on Apple’s iOS 7 leave you feeling dizzy and nauseous?

Well, you’re not alone — hundreds of users are complaining about iOS 7 motion sickness caused by their iPhone and iPad’s buoyant new design.














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MC2 Post 1710 The Bittersweet End of Breaking Bad







From:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk



'Breaking Bad' went out with a bang last night, leaving more than six million devoted fans both elated at its supremely fitting close and devastated that it's over.The drama has been so successful, it created an economic boom for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it was set, while cable channel AMC reportedly charged up to $400,000 for a 30-second advertising spot during the finale.



 




Social media exploded the minute the five-season series ended, with fans describing the tense 75-minute finale as 'tight', 'perfect' and 'effin awesome'.












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Sunday, September 29, 2013

MC2 Post 1709 First Computer Made of Carbon Nanotubes is Unveiled






The first computer built entirely with carbon nanotubes has been unveiled, opening the door to a new generation of digital devices.

"Cedric" is only a basic prototype but could be developed into a machine which is smaller, faster and more efficient than today's silicon models.





Nanotubes have long been touted as the heir to silicon's throne, but building a working computer has proven awkward.

The breakthrough by Stanford University engineers is published in Nature.  Cedric is the most complex carbon-based electronic system yet realised.

So is it fast? Not at all. It might have been in 1955.

The computer operates on just one bit of information, and can only count to 32.






From:  http://www.bb c.co.uk


Cedric's vital statistics

    1 bit processor
    Speed: 1 kHz
    178 transistors
    10-200 nanotubes per transistor
    2 billion carbon atoms
    Turing complete
    Multitasking









Important Point:


"There is no limit to the tasks it can perform, given enough memory".

In computing parlance, Cedric is "Turing complete". 


In principle, it could be used to solve any computational problem.

It runs a basic operating system which allows it to swap back and forth between two tasks - for instance, counting and sorting numbers.

 

And unlike previous carbon-based computers, 
Cedric gets the answer right every time.



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Shanghai Free-Trade Zone Launched




From:  http://www.bbc.co.uk




A free-trade zone in Shanghai, China's economic hub, has been launched as the world's second-biggest economy prepares to test long-awaited economic reforms.  Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng attended the opening ceremony for the zone, which covers 29 sq km (11 sq miles).

Mr Gao said the zone would help "implement a more active opening-up strategy".  Restrictions on foreign investment will be eased inside the area and interest rates will be set by markets.

Among other measures to be trialled inside the zone are allowing China's heavily-regulated currency, the yuan, to be swapped freely for other currencies, China's State Council said on Friday.

Liberal economists both inside and outside China have long feared that China's three-decade-long experiment in opening up its economy has recently stalled, rolled back even, because of powerful vested interests.



Now the country's premier, Li Keqiang, has signalled that he is preparing to experiment with ways to take on those interests by loosening the government's tight grip on foreign investment, the currency market and the banking system.

It has invited comparisons between Mr Li and China's great architect of economic opening, Deng Xiaoping, who also started small before extending his reforms country-wide. But some observers are urging caution because the detailed rules about exactly what will and won't be permitted inside the zone won't be published until later this year.

 

Eighteen sectors, ranging from finance to shipping, 
will have regulations loosened in the zone.

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Read the Post linked below for why this is 'Significant'.

Wingman.
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As for the End of  Heisenberg, here's 
Wired's take on 7 possible 
Mind-Blowing Theories....


( compiled, six weeks ago, mind you. )


Wingman.


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Saturday, September 28, 2013

MC2 Post 1708 Outside the Candy Store --- Looking In





Microsoft Now Accepting iPhones in Addition to 
iPad Trade-In Promotion

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It a move that mimics Nokia's decline tactics: 
Too Little, Too Late.  
  Wingman.
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From:   http://www.slashgear.com



On September 12, Microsoft kicked off an iPad trade-in promotion, allowing Apple customers to swap their tablet for a gift card worth a minimum of $200. Fast-forward two weeks, and Microsoft is now offering the same promotion to iPhone owners, offering a minimum of $200 for those with devices that meet the gently-used trade-in requirement





The promotion is good for those who own an iPhone 4S or an iPhone 5 — earlier versions need not apply, so to speak. If the device is gently used, the owner will receive a minimum $200 gift card in exchange, with the rate possibly being higher, though Microsoft doesn’t go into detail about the various stipulations that could affect the rate. The gift card, obviously, is valid for Microsoft Store purchases.




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For Score Card Runners:
Seeking Alpha MARKET CURRENTS:
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AllThingsD: Ford's Mulally now heads list of Ballmer replacements 


    Sources tell Kara Swisher Ford (F) CEO and Steve Ballmer confidante Alan Mulally

"has vaulted to the forefront" of the list of potential candidates to succeed Ballmer as Microsoft's (MSFT) CEO.



 

    Though Stephen Elop (set to join Microsoft through the Nokia deal) is still

reportedly a top candidate, Swisher's sources claim there has "been a shift in recent weeks toward Mulally," who has shown a knack for corporate turnarounds during his time at Ford and Boeing (but hasn't worked for a tech company).


    Mulally reportedly advised Ballmer on Microsoft's big reorg (I, II).

    Previous: Top Microsoft investors want Mulally, Lawrie on CEO shortlist



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Sony, who recently released new Walkman 'players" with touch screens, is
trying desperately to Get-In-The-GAME.



A camera for your cameraphone: 
Sony Cyber-shot QX10 
and QX100 review


The $499 QX100, and its cheaper sibling, the $249 QX10, 
were made for this moment. 

They’re designed to be companions to your smartphone, offering a huge boost in image quality along with all the sharing and editing features you already use on your phone. They connect to any Android or iOS device — finally, a decent way to take pictures with your iPad — and promise the best of both a point-and-shoot and a cellphone. They look like lenses, and act like cameras.


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Like Microsoft and its Windows 8 phone, 
Sony is looking real hard for a market in mobile, 
and is not ashamed to try Apple premier Prices....

Good Luck.

Wingman.
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From:   http://www.theverge.com






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Friday, September 27, 2013

MC2 Post 1707 China Approves Removal Plans for Video Game Console Ban after 13 Years







From:   http://www.slashgear.com









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Google Research shows off   New Way to 'virtually project' your Smartphone onto  Any Display



'virtually project' your smartphone onto Any Display




Google has long been fascinated by sharing content between screens: the new Chromecast dongle is focused on that functionality, as is older software like Chrome tab sync, the YouTube Leanback remote, and the Chrome to Phone extension. Now there's a new project out of the company's research arm that allows you to "project" any content from your smartphone onto a display. It's called Open Project, and the researchers see the open source framework as a possible future standard for sharing content from mobile phones to displays



From:   http://www.theverge.com








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A $849 64GB iPhone 5s only costs Apple $218 to build



Summary: Also, Apple charges customers $200 
for a storage bump from 16GB to 64GB 
when the actual cost of the extra storage is $20.



From:   http://www.zdnet.com









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Home Automation Device runs Linux on BeagleBone



From:   http://linuxgizmos.com









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Thursday, September 26, 2013

MC2 Post 1706 Samsung Could be Spending ~$13 Billion In Marketing.




In 2013...



From:    http://www.androidheadlines.com




We already know that the biggest reason for Samsung’s success is the fact that they market the crap out of everything. For the past couple of years they were basically the only phone you’d see in ads, besides the iPhone. Of course this year that began to change. As competitors like HTC, LG and Motorola saw their market shares dropping, they decided to start marketing as well. Of course those guys are pretty far behind the 8-ball, and you can only spend what you have. For example, if HTC is only making a million per year, they can’t spend more than that. Since Samsung’s been on top for a few years, they have plenty of money to put into marketing. Not to mention they control their own supply chain. They make processors, displays, RAM and so much more that other OEMs use. For example, Apple’s iPhone is pretty much 100% made by Samsung. 












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Link:

 
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

MC2 Post 1705 Amazon Introduces 7" and 8.9" Kindle Fire HDX




Priced at $229 and $379.


The older Kindle Fire HD Now Starts at $139.



From:   http://www.macrumors.com



With Apple expected to introduce a new line of iPads in the coming months including a thinner, lighter full-sized iPad and an iPad mini with Retina display, Amazon has refreshed its Kindle Fire line, headlined by the redesigned, 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX with a resolution of 1900x1200 at 323 pixels-per-inch (PPI) and the new 8.9 inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet with a resolution of 2560x1600 at 339 PPI.


The standard 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is priced at $229 with 16GB, but Amazon is also offering a $329 version of the model with 4G LTE connectivity. Meanwhile, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX starts at $379 for the 16GB model, but also has an LTE option priced at $479. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX ships on October 18, with the LTE option shipping on November 14. The non-LTE 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX ships on November 7, with the LTE configuration of the model shipping on December 10.











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Samsung TV's BFI film app




Samsung and BFI have teamed up to produce the BFI smart TV app – a portal into the classic content that makes up the film institute's archives.Samsung has been ramping up its Smart TV content for some time now, with everything from house hunting (Smartmove) to music (Ministry of Sound) is catered for, and there are plenty of movie services on the platform.

But the BFI app promises never-before-seen footage, exclusive features and what can only be described as a 
curiosity shop of content.



From:   http://share.inpwrd.com/3rn3



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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

MC2 Post 1704 Chomp chomp Google snaps up $235M of Silicon Valley Office Space


The GooglePlex




Google's planned expansion of the Googleplex, the 
company's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters




From:   http://news.cnet.com









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No Story Is Too Small Potatoes* for MC2:




Burger King Concocts Lower-Calorie 'Satisfries'


In a move destined to shake up the fast-food industry, Burger King Tuesday will unveil a simple but startling french fry innovation: french fries with 30% less fat and 20% fewer calories than BK's current fries. (And 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than McDonald's fries.)

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wingman's challenge:

 * which all time favorite TV 
Series had an episode with the
title "small potatoes"
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From:   http://www.usatoday.com











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Monday, September 23, 2013

MC2 Post 1703 Apple TV 6.0 Update Rolls Out again following Buggy Version





From:   http://www.slashgear.com





Last night, Apple pulled the update, though it was still available for a while for download from Apple’s website, and some users were seeing it appear despite being pulled. Fortunately, it didn’t take Apple long to sort out whatever the problem was, and this evening a new version of the firmware update is rolling out, bringing about the new features.

 


The buggy version of the 6.0 firmware was build number 11A470e, and this latest version showing up to Apple TV owners is build 11A502 — as such, it would seem some big tweaks took place between the two versions. Still, those who haven’t updated can now safely do so, including manually grabbing it from Apple’s website.









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BlackBerry enters agreement for $4.7 billion sale of company 
to consortium led by Fairfax Financial



From:   http://www.engadget.com



For the second time in as many trading days, shares of BlackBerry were halted in advance of some big news from the company. Today's news is no less big. BlackBerry has just announced that it's signed a letter of intent agreement for a sale of the company valued at $4.7 billion to a consortium led by Fairfax Financial (the company's largest shareholder). Pending due diligence that's expected to be completed by November 4th, the deal would see BlackBerry go private, with shareholders each receiving $9 per share in cash.









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Sunday, September 22, 2013

MC2 Post 1702 Breaking Bad’ Marathon to Air on AMC Leading Up to Series Finale



Breaking up is hard to do, especially when bidding adieu
to the addictive yarn that is “Breaking Bad.”




From:   http://variety.com



To help cushion the blow leading up to the Sept. 29 series finale, network AMC will air a five-day marathon of all seasons of the cult-favorite series. Seasons one through four will air from 8 p.m. Sept. 25 to late Sept. 27. Season five will start at 11 p.m. Sept. 28 and run up to the series finale at 9 p.m. 
the following day.




TinyURL:   http://tinyurl.com/ms5w2m9



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'Breaking Bad' finally makes good 
with  Best  Drama Emmy



(Reuters) - Television drama "Breaking Bad" won the top Primetime Emmy award for the first time on Sunday, just as the gritty tale of a chemistry teacher turned meth cook and drug kingpin winds down to widespread acclaim.

Although it won best drama series for its fifth season, AMC's "Breaking Bad" has just one episode left to air next Sunday in its sixth and final season. Its creators credited a changing television world of Netflix binge-watching, with video on demand, online streaming and social media buzz 
for its success Sunday.

"I don't think our show would have even lasted beyond season two if it wasn't for video on demand, and also the Internet component of it where folks get to chat," "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan said backstage. "It really has held us in good stand. It's a bold new era." 





 

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It Could be a 'Bad' Night at the Emmys



(CNN) -- As the clock ticks down toward Sunday night's 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, all signs are pointing toward 
a big evening for "Breaking Bad."

The AMC series is wrapping up its final season with a bang, with high ratings, breathless news coverage and clamorous social media chatter. Its star, Bryan Cranston, appears to be everywhere. He was greeted on the Emmy red carpet 
with frantic calls of "Bryan!"

And the show, which received 13 Emmy nominations this year, is the odds-on favorite to win outstanding drama.

It's even competing against itself. The show's second-to-last episode airs at 9 ET tonight, opposite the second hour 
of the Emmys.



From:   http://www.cnn.com



TinyURL:   http://tinyurl.com/lzjg356


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Thanks for reminding us 'Breaking Bad': TV spinoffs we loved



Who Are You Going To CallSaul Goodman











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Friday, September 20, 2013

MC2 Post 1701 iPhone 5s in Gold First to Sell Out







Apple not taking pre-orders working
great for  "line formation News Bytes."



Starting at 8AM local time here in the United States (that’s local whatever time zone you’re in), the iPhone 5s will be going on sale – and at midnight (this morning) the iPhone 5s in gold was the first to start flying off digital shelves. It’s become readily apparent not only online, where at Apple’s online store you’ll find the gold iPhone 5s kicked back to a general October ship date.



From:   http://www.slashgear.com








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From:   http://www.slashgear.com















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