Category: News

Facebook released an upgrade of its excellent iPhone app today and there were two very big changes. Push notifications will now notify you whenever people send you messages, tag you in a photo or comment on your messages – whether you’re looking at your phone at the time or not. That is going to change the Facebook user experience dramatically, increasing sychronous conversation and engagement on the site.

More importantly, Facebook added the ability to sync your phone’s local contacts with your Facebook contacts list. Remember when Facebook kicked blogger Robert Scoble off of the site for exporting his contacts’ emails in bulk? The company said it was important that users maintain control over their contact info. Apparently it doesn’t feel that way about phone numbers any more.

Update: Facebook has contacted us and said that the app in fact does not export the phone numbers found on Facebook profiles to the iPhone. It is only exporting profile photos and links to Facebook profiles, associating those with phone numbers you already have on your phone. I was confused when writing about the new sync feature and wrote this post under the mistaken belief that Facebook contacts and the attached phone numbers were being exported. That would have been interesting, but that’s not in fact what’s happening. I apologize for getting the story wrong.

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The syncing feature is very useful and sends to your iPhone peoples’ profile photos, phone numbers when available and a link to load a contact’s profile in the Facebook app. It does not export email addresses though, oddly enough. Emails have been obscured as an image to prevent machine export from Facebook, but phone numbers haven’t. Now that Facebook itself exports the numbers, anyone could take them off of a phone and do anything with them.

This Summer when the slick new Facebook iPhone app was launched, developer Joe Hewitt told us that Facebook to iPhone contact syncing was coming – but said it was “a Terms of Service thing more than a technical thing.” Hewitt has since stopped working on the app due to frustration with Apple. But what happened to the Terms of Service objections?

The funniest part? When you’re doing the bulk export to sync, the Facebook app requires that you agree to the following text: “if you enable this feature, contacts from your device will be sent to Facebook and your friends’ names, phots, and other info from Facebook will be added to your iPhone adress book. Please make sure your friends are comfortable with any use you make of their information.” (Emphasis added.)

Ha! Is that all it takes to make export of Facebook users’ info ok? Well let’s apply this to some other forms of data while we’re at it, shall we?

A number of theories could explain what’s going on:
1. Facebook has changed its mind about user data privacy and control. The company is certainly pushing users towards being more open than ever before.
2. Facebook was never really serious about privacy, the ban against exporting friends’ information was just a matter of corporate control and privacy was a ruse to justify it.
3. Something else is happening that we don’t know about yet. We’ve contacted Facebook for a response, we’ll update this post if we get one.

That said – this is a really convenient feature. It’s very handy to take a quick gander at someone’s Facebook Wall before calling them on the phone. The ability to do that is going to make Facebook much more important in my every day life. In other words, you should add me as a friend on Facebook so I can put you in my iPhone. (You should also become a fan of ReadWriteWeb on Facebook, while you’re at it.)

Like it or not, honest or not, this is going to make Facebook much more useful for those of us who operate in the public sphere. Even most of us though, and certainly the bulk of the hundreds of millions of people who signed up for Facebook-the-private-social-network, do have some use for a degree of privacy. Each time another bit of that is taken away, it makes you wonder how long the rest of it will last for.

Next: What’s coming next to the Facebook iPhone app? This Summer developer Joe Hewitt named 3 things that were coming soon and this update includes 2 of them. What’s still on the list? Read on to find out.

Discuss

Casio is bringing their highspeed burst shooting technology to compact and very consumer friendly cameras. These cameras will make sure you never miss a shot, and they are also able to record slow motion videos. Dynamic Photo technology is also being crammed into some these cameras, so that you’ll be able to combine moving images with the other moving images. For the Exilim EX-H100 model (picture above), we’re talking High-speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps and an Ultra-high speed burst shooting at a speed of 40 shots per second, along with a Wide-angle 24 mm 10X optical zoom lens in a compact body and a 10MP CMOS sensor.

The following three new models sporting the Dynamic Photo technology.

EX-H15
This 14.1 effective megapixel model packs a wide-angle 24 mm 10X optical zoom lens and a 3.0-inch Super Clear LCD screen with a high resolution of approximately 460,000 pixels into a compact body. The camera is also loaded with advanced standard features including CCD-shift image stabilization, long 1,000-shot* battery life on a single full charge, and the high-resolution HD Movie function.

EX-Z2000
This 14.1 effective megapixel model comes with a wide-angle 26 mm 5X optical zoom and a 3.0-inch Super Clear LCD screen with a high resolution of approximately 460,000 pixels in a compact, thin body. The camera comes with CCD-shift image stabilization and HD Movie function, as well as a long-life battery, making it possible to take 580 shots* on a single full charge. With this model, Casio has also realized a fresh new digital camera design, creating an innovative form finished in natural curves. The EX-Z2000 comes in several color including black, pink, silver, red and violet.

EX-Z550
This camera features a wide-angle 26 mm 4X optical zoom lens and a clear 2.7-inch LCD screen. A 14.1 effective megapixel model, it is equipped with CCD-shift image stabilization and HD Movie function. the EX-Z550 is available in blue, black, pink, red and silver.

Let’s start with the good news: In 2009 cleantech became the dominant category in venture capital investing, attracting$5.6 billion in new investments worldwide. That’s more than IT or biotechnology, which until recently attracted the majority of VC investments. So says a report released today by the Cleantech Group and Deloitte.

Dallas Kachan, managing director of the Cleantech Group, tells the New York Times’ Green Inc.:

Clean-tech went from a niche category to become the dominant category in venture capital investing.

Now the for the bad news. The $5.6 billion that flowed into renewable energy startups last year, actually represented a 33 percent drop from the $8.5 billion invested in 2008. Investments in cleantech have retreated to 2003 levels, according to the Cleantech Group /Deloitte report — see table below.

The investment drop can largely be blamed on the global financial crisis and the dearth of funding that ensued.

The Cleantech Group and Deloitte report has tracked 557 cleantech investments in 2009 from 567 deals in 2008, and 488 in 2007.

In cleantech, the solar sector got a majority of the early stage funding, securing $1.2 billion. Solyndra, the California maker of thin-film photovoltaic cells, raised $198 million last year, the largest amount of venture cash raised. It also secured a $535 million Department of Energy loan guarantee to build a solar panel plant. Some $1 billion went to startups that develop energy efficiency technology.

Venture capitalists invested $331 million in China last year — a modest amount compared to the $3.5 billion invested in North America, which is a 42 percent drop compared to a year ago.

The Ford F-Series pickup has been the best selling pickup and the best-selling vehicle for as long as we can remember (way, and we mean way before even egmCarTech was established).

Ford announced today that its F-Series has been the best-selling truck for 33 straight years, outselling its closest competitor by more than 97,000 units. Not only that, but the F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for the past 28 years.

“When it comes to trucks, only one stat matters – how customers vote with their wallets,” said Doug Scott, truck group marketing manager. “And the results are clear – the capability, productivity, technology and value of Ford F-Series is unmatched.”

Ford F-Series sales totaled 413,625 in 2009.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Press Release:

FORD F-SERIES DOES IT AGAIN: BEST-SELLING TRUCK FOR 33 STRAIGHT YEARS; BEST-SELLING VEHICLE FOR 28 YEARS

* Ford’s F-Series is America’s best-selling truck for 33 straight years, outselling its nearest rival by 97,000 units, largest margin in three years
* December sales for F-Series were 48,209, a 16 percent increase over last year and the best sales month since March 2008

Dearborn, Mich., Jan. 6, 2010 – For the 33rd year in a row, Ford’s award-winning F-Series is America’s best-selling truck with 2009 sales of 413,625. F-series outsold its nearest truck rival by more than 97,000 units, the largest margin in three years.

In addition, for the 28th consecutive year, F-Series is once again America’s best-selling vehicle of any type – car, crossover, SUV, truck or van.

F-Series sales for 2009 totaled 413,625, which increased its segment share by 4 percentage-points. December sales for F-Series were 48,209, a 16 percent increase over December 2009 and the best sales month since March 2008.

The F-150 was redesigned inside and out for 2009 and set a new benchmark for full size pickups with new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis that delivers more class-leading towing and hauling capability and unsurpassed fuel economy.

During the past six years, the “core trucker” – those who use their truck’s towing and hauling capability for work and play – has jumped to 40 percent from 30 percent of the light-duty full-size pickup market. In the commercial/fleet portion of this core trucker sub-segment, Ford F-Series continues to dominate. The F-150 has 44 percent of the light duty commercial/fleet market; and Super Duty is stronger still with over 56 percent of heavy duty commercial/fleet market.

New to F-Series for 2010 is the F-150 Harley-Davidson and the off-road F-150 SVT Raptor, winner of the 2009 Truck of Texas.

F-Series also offers the industry-first Ford Work Solutions, an innovative suite of options including an in-dash computer with Internet access, Tool Link to track tools, Crew Chief technology to dispatch workers and reduce vehicle operating costs and Cable Lock to improve security of tools and equipment.

When the 2011 F-Series Super Duty hits dealership showrooms this spring, it will feature an all-new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbocharged V-8 diesel engine.

The top-selling Ford truck dealerships in the country are located in Texas, Nebraska and Missouri. Among them: Woodhouse Ford, Blair, Nebraska; Philpott Ford, Port Neches, Texas; Planet Ford, Spring, Texas; Midway Ford Truck Center, Kansas City, Missouri.; Five Star Ford, North Richland Hills, Texas; Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford, Carrollton, Texas.

– By: Omar Rana

Suzuki es bien conocido por ser bastante efectista cuando llega la hora de presentar un concepto. Ya ocurrió con el Suzuki Kizashi, que finalmente resultó ser una berlina bastante normalita para lo que se veía en los bocetos preliminares, muy futuristas.

Esta vez, la marca japonesa muestra un concepto un poco más mundano, destinado a ser coche laboratorio para las aspiraciones futuras de Suzuki. Su producción o no, dependerá del apoyo del público del salón de la Auto Expo.

El diseño del R3 Concept fue definido por Suzuki como “deportivo, moderno y compacto”. Hace hincapié en la capacidad interior (con llamativas puertas suicidas), sin dejar de ser un coche de tamaño más bien pequeño, como es la última tendencia en los vehículos presentados en Nueva Delhi (¿una tendencia que se extenderá a los demás salones?).

Al mismo tiempo, Suzuki dió a conocer algunos puntos importantes dentro de su plan de negocios con respecto a Asia. Entre lo más rescatable, primeramente, el foco principal de la compañía será el segmento de coches pequeños, sin dejar de explorar otros segmentos. El Suzuki Kizashi llegará a la India durante este año, mientras que la compañía explorará la posibilidad de comercializar también un híbrido.

Sobre el R3 Concept no he podido extenderme demasiado, ya que los datos técnicos son escasos, pero Suzuki ha difundido una galería de fotos que ofrecemos a continuación.

Suzuki R3 MPV Concept

Vía: Indian Auto Blog

Filed under: Software, Open Source

There are many options for running Windows programs on the Mac. Boot Camp, for instance, is included with OS X for installing Windows on a separate partition. Parallels, VMware, and Sun offer virtualization software that let you run your Windows programs without logging out of OS X. And then there’s Wine.

TUAWHow to run Windows apps for free with Wine on OS X originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You don’t really know if your templates and CSS are well factored until you try to make changes.

Most cervical cancer deaths are preventable

In recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, is urging women over the age of 21 to be screened regularly for cervical cancer.

“Almost every cervical cancer death is preventable through early detection, treatment and follow-up.

Families and friends don’t have to lose loved ones to cervical cancer and women don’t have to suffer if they take care of themselves and routinely get screened for cervical cancer,” Dr. Arnold said.

According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, about 10,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 3,700 women die each year from this disease.

The latest data for Illinois shows in 2006, 572 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer.

That same year, 173 women died of cervical cancer.  In 2010, it is estimated that 610 women in Illinois will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 180 women will die.

“Increasing awareness of cervical cancer and preventive steps women can take is extremely important.  Regular exercise, a healthy diet and routine screenings are proactive efforts women can take that may reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Avoiding risk factors for cancer, like smoking, may also help reduce the chances of developing cancer.

However, there are other factors, such as genetics, that cannot be avoided.

Women need to educate themselves about cervical cancer and what they can do to stay healthy,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Women’s Health Deputy Director Shannon Lightner.

When a plastic surgeon performs a lower eyelid lift, patients are offered a gentle intravenous sedation from their anesthetist. This procedure can, however, be comfortably performed with only the use of local anesthetic. For any patient who has prominent fat bags under their lower eyelids and only a small amount of excess muscle or skin, the eyelid surgery can be performed with zero external sutures. Instead, the plastic surgeon can place an incision on the inner side of the lower eyelid and any extra fat can be carefully removed. There are no sutures required for this approach, and patients are asked to use a topical eye drop for a week after to aid in the healing process.

Filed under: Concept Cars, India

If you’re not already familiar with DC Designs, let’s refresh your memory. Founded by Dilip Chhabria, the Indian designer has been responsible for such autotrocities as the Amrierod and Cayenne Coupe, along with tuned versions of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Tata Nano. Pleased with what he’s done for other people’s vehicles, Chhabria has turned his efforts towards developing two new vehicles, both of which debuted this week at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Without any hard details on what’s underneath each concept, there’s not much to say aside from analyzing the designs. Despite it’s name, the Ying Yang struck us as a stylish amalgamation of the en vogue box aesthetic and a traditional minivan, while the Imperator is far too similar to the Lexus 2054 shown in the movie adaption of Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report — right down to the plummeting windows and red hue. Decidedly less swoopy than it’s silver screen inspiration, the four-seat Imperator is festooned with all the show car baubles you’d expect, including 24-inch wheels and gullwing doors, the latter of which are held up by massive hydraulic tubes that prove opening the concept’s doors was an afterthought. You can check out both concepts in the gallery below thanks to Indianautosblog.com.

Auto Expo 2010: DC Designs Imperator and Ying Yang shock and amuse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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