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Photo: Danny Sullivan

With all the rumors flying around, it’s practically a given that Froyo, the next version of Android, will be launched today at Google I/O. We have a bit more indication that this is the case, as well as news that points to a launch of the next version after that, Gingerbread, later this year.

Adding to the indications (e.g. here and here) that we’ll hear a lot more about Froyo today is the fact that pieces of new code are being dropped into the Android Open Source Project, a fact noticed by Cyanogen and not-quite-confirmed by Google’s Dan Morrill.

As to the timing of Gingerbread’s release, the folks at EuroDroid found a clue in the documentation of WebM, the open media format Google announced yesterday. The WebM FAQ notes that “WebM support in Android is expected in the Gingerbread release (currently planned for Q4, 2010).”

So we learn two things there: Gingerbread is planned for later this year, and it will include support for playing WebM media.

As to version numbers, we’ve heard that Froyo will be 2.2, but it could well be 2.5, making Gingerbread anything from 2.3 to 3.0.

Might We Suggest…

• Froyo and Gingerbread Aim to End Android Platform Fragmentation
  

  Engadget is reporting today that the Google is looking to tackle the growing problem of Android fragmentation head on with the next two installments of Android: Froyo and Gingerbread. You know, th…

IPS is pleased to announce that from the 1st of June 2010, Sanjay Suri will assume the post of Editor in Chief and Diana Cariboni will be the associate Editor in Chief. This decision has come following a six-month transition period, successfully carried out by Suri and Cariboni, with a valuable contribution from Pablo Piacentini, one of the founders of IPS, and the current Director of the IPS Columnist Service.

These last six months, Suri and Cariboni have worked with their colleagues to strengthen the daily editorial quality of IPS copy, initiate a new series of multi-authored global stories and increase the flow of translations between our main languages. Among major events covered in this period, Cariboni led the team that reported from the Copenhagen climate change negotiations and Suri led the team that produced TerraViva at the Beijing + 15 celebrations in New York.

In his announcement IPS Director General Mario Lubetkin noted that Suri and Cariboni are skilled and energetic professionals with all the characteristics to lead the IPS news agency, which is at the heart of our organisation, and was delighted to make these new appointments.

We wish both of them the best of luck with this new challenge, and we know that they will be able to count on the support of all their colleagues at IPS.

Yesterday we brought the good news to Hero owners that Sprint was pushing out the Android 2.1 firmware update—but before you press yes on that update, make sure you back up all your data. More »










HTC Hero – Sprint – Android – Android 2.1 – Hero

Didier Drogba continues to affirm Chelsea’s confidence in his abilities with strong performances in his games.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard celebrate (Photo: Tom Jenkins)

His goal (his 37th this season) in the Chelsea – Portsmouth match-up during the English F.A. final led to Chelsea clinching the championship.

In totally unrelated news (although the female fans will love it), Drogba was spotted at the Cannes Film Festival in an Ozwald Boateng ensemble with Naomi Campbell on his arm.

2011 Ford Flex Titanium

We recently heard reports on how FoMoCo is still dedicated to the Flex crossover even with the arrival of the next-generation three-row Ford Explorer on the way. Well, to show its dedication and commitment Ford has quality launched the new 2011 For Flex lineup, which now consists of a new trim-level called “Titanium.”

Click here to get prices on the 2011 Ford Flex.

The 2011 Flex Titanium gets most of its packaging content from the Limited model but also adds:

• Charcoal Black leather-trimmed 1st- and 2nd-row seats with Grey Alcantara Suede inserts.
• Perforated leather steering wheel insert with painted Alloy Metallic accents, cruise and audio controls.
• Circle Check appliqué on IP and door inserts.
• Illuminated scuff plates with stainless steel accents.
• Unique blackout treatment for headlamps and tail lamps.
• Fog lamps with black bezel.
• 3-Bar unique black chrome finish grille.
• Black painted skull caps on mirrors.
• Black painted roof.
• Black chrome appliqué on liftgate.
• 20-inch Polished Aluminum Wheels with P255/45R20 A/S BSW tires.

Prices for the 2011 Ford Flex Titanium start at $40,340 when mated to a 3.5L V6 Duratec FWD and $42,190 if you go for AWD. The 2011 Ford Flex Titanium 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (only available with AWD) starts at $45,185. With every single option offered by Ford, the Ford Flex Titanium 3.5L EcoBoost V6 AWD can carry a price tag of $54,152… ouch.

– By: Omar Rana

At an event this evening, Brazil’s Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles and GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt will share the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce’s Person of the Year Award, which each year honors one Brazilian and one American leader for helping to forge closer ties between the two nations. For the occasion, we asked Joao Geraldo Ferreira, GE CEO of Brazil, to write a guest post on GE’s latest work in the country.

Joao Geraldo Ferreira

GE has been an industrial partner in Brazil for 90 years, playing an increasingly crucial role in helping propel the country’s economic, infrastructure, and energy growth. We’ve been excited to watch GE Brazil grow at an average rate of 12 percent for the last five years, and the opportunities are expanding by the minute. And now Brazil will be host to GE’s fifth Global Research Center, which will offer local research and development services for our major Brazilian industry partners, including Petrobras, the fourth largest energy company in the world; Embraer, the main jet engine manufacturer in Brazil; VALE, the country’s largest mining company and the second largest mining company in the world; and countless other partners throughout Latin America. Locating our next Global Research Center in Brazil is not only about creating jobs and bringing more investments into Brazil. It’s a major part of our “company to country” initiative.

GE is making global efforts to provide more local decision-making, products, and investment opportunities within the countries it serves, and Brazil is a prime example. Later this year, we’ll be opening our first healthcare plant in South America in the city of Contagem, Minas Gerais, where we already have lighting and transportation plants. The plant will initially produce X-ray and mammography equipment, working first to address local demands, then Central and South American needs, and also further export needs as demand and supply capabilities grow.

On the right track: In an op-ed published today in Valor Economico, the main business paper in Brazil, Jeff Immelt said, “I am very optimistic about the partnerships that the U.S. and Brazil are building as Brazil assumes its place on the global stage.” GE’s presence in Brazil stretches back to 1919 — and it was GE that helped light Brazil’s famous “Christ the Redeemer” statute in the 1930s. Pictured above is the GE Transportation plant in Contagem.

Believe it or not, we’re also gearing up for the 2016 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro. We hope to bring our expertise to the Games in a highly localized way. We were sponsors of the Olympic Games in Beijing two years ago and are sponsoring the Games in London in 2012. While we’ll certainly bring our experience from those two partnerships to bear in Brazil, we hope to develop a partnership in Rio de Janeiro that is inherently Brazilian. Our idea is to create a “Sustainable City,” where we work with government here on the state and federal levels to provide clean technology solutions for energy, water, and healthcare. We’re already meeting with government officials in Rio on a weekly basis to talk about how we can bring sustainable solutions to the Olympics and leave a legacy for the city when the Games are over.

Brazil is one of the countries (Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, for example, are others) where we are pursuing this “company to country” approach. GE may be a global company with global reach, but we also want to be local for the local people. Brazil, which accounts for some 40 percent of our Latin American revenue, is going to be a major proving ground for that initiative.

* Read more stories about Brazil on GE Reports
* Read more Global Research stories on GE Reports
* Read an English version of Jeff Immelt’s op-ed in Valor Economico

The first reviews of the Sprint EVO 4G are appearing on the web, and I haven’t seen any surprises to knock it off my want list. Sprint and HTC have joined to bring what is undoubtedly the most powerful Android phone, make that smartphone, ever produced. The reviews do a good job showing how smooth and fast the performance is on the EVO. Reviewers also seemed impressed with the 4G performance when coverage was available, although 4G connectivity hits the battery hard.

This battery drainage on 4G is what I expected; the Sprint Overdrive modem I use is rated for 3 hours of 4G connectivity and the EVO 4G is working the same way. It’s a given the battery must be hit hard using 4G. Hopefully Sprint and HTC can tweak this battery usage somewhat over time.

The most thorough review I’ve seen of the EVO 4G is by Chris Ziegler of engadget. His video review shows every aspect of the phone’s operation, and he seems impressed with the EVO so far. Other reviews of interest are Sascha Segan’s of PC Magazine and Walt Mossberg’s of the WSJ.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): To Win In the Mobile Market, Focus On Consumers

John Shepherd-Barron, creator of the first automated teller machine (ATM), died at tage 84 in Raigmore Hospital, Scotland. He was credited for the design of a machine that used special checks matched with a personal identification number to withdraw cash. Comedy actor Reg Varney was the first person to use the machine in 1967, also made it first in UK. He studied at the University of Edinburg and University of Cambridge and later on worked as a managing director of Dela Rue Instruments. Barron was honored in the New Year’s Honours List in 2005. Puggal notes there are around 2 million teller machines worldwide.

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2. Unhealthy Habits Can Take Off 12 Years
3. Philippines’ Sends Green Light for Automation

The stories by Liu Zhi Yi—the undercover reporter inside Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen—were depressing. These photos make them even sadder. Gloomy atmosphere, people fighting, and long lines of unemployed trying to get into the 400,000-people factory. More »










Foxconn – Shenzhen – China – Suicide – Asia

The Greek debt crisis is, ultimately, a story about the European Union and the euro that binds its member states in a straitjacket of currency and monetary policy. But what if the euro doesn’t last the year? What if it doesn’t last the summer?

Reuters blogger Felix Salmon plays Nostradamus on BBC Radio 4, narrating the fateful end of the euro — from the future date of August 2010 — over a soundtrack of war drums, wolf howls, thunder cracks and women screaming (the future of Europe sounds a lot like Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

In short, the (hyperbolic, but instructive nonetheless) vision goes like so: Germany tries to stop the contagion of Greek debt with a $500 billion bailout fund, the people reject it, and Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and ultimately France decide to go it alone on a new currency — the Neuro. The amounts to default — massive default. The Neuro initially trades around 75 Euro cents, and Europe returns to a system of multiple floating currencies.

The radio segment ends there, but future prescient installments might highlight the impact of massive default on the continent. The F-PIGS zone would be subject to massive bank runs as depositors freaked about their checking accounts facing 25% devaluation. The defaults would ricochet throughout the European banking system. Much of the defaulted loans are held by other European banks, which means when one country’s government defaults, another country’s banking system totters, requiring its government to spend itself deeper into deficit to save its financial system. In the long run, multiple currencies might make sense for Europe. In the short run, the continent would be lucky to experience only a short double-dip recession.

European Union – Greece – Member State of the European Union – Government – Multilateral

Those who want to Enroll at UC-Berkeley need more than just transcripts and SAT scores when applying. Applicants will go through cotton swab and 2 bar code stickers. Those who would like to take an DNA test will be given the option to do so. The DNA test will be tested for three genes, its results will reveal how strong one students ability is to resist alcohol and metabolize folic lactose and acid.

All the information will be kept in a secret database. It is for their own good so one can change lifestyle and diets. In previous enrollments, students have been asked to read journals and books about lifestyle and behaviour.

“This type of experience is one of the true, unique values of a Berkeley education. We don’t just give you books to read. We involve you in cutting edge issues in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. You won’t see this anywhere else in higher education.” Said Mark Schlissel, Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences.

Questions arise as Universities nowadays require more and more from their students. Not everyone would like your personal DNA to be put in a database, even though they say its kept confidential. Who knows if those DNA data will be used in future testing.

Related posts:

1. University of California Berkeley Requires SAT Scores plus DNA Test
2. AP US History Practice Test!
3. iPad News: Apple Adds 30,000 Free Books, Paid Titles For $9.99

Scientists at Harvard University analyzed several studies involving more than one million people and found that eating just 50 grams of processed meat a day can increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

By contrast, no processed meats such as steaks, lamb and pork, has less risk of producing any evil in the heart, although both forms of meat have a similar content of fat, say researchers in the journal Circulation.

According to scientists, as both products have similar amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat, the difference could be in the salt and preservatives that are added to processed meat.

Processed products include any meat preserved with smoke, salted, such as bacon, sausages, salami, ham and other meats.

It is known that salt increases blood pressure for some people and this is a key risk factor for coronary heart disease.

In animal studies have found that the nitrates are used as preservatives may promote atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in arteries) and reduce glucose tolerance, which lead to heart problems and diabetes.

Team of the School of Public Health at Harvard University who analyzed 20 studies conducted in 10 countries, determined that each portion of 50 grams of processed meat a day was associated with an increase of 42% in the odds of developing coronary disease, and a 19% increase in risk of diabetes.

“Although this type of long-term observational studies can not prove cause and effect, all studies took into account other risk factors,” says Dr. Dr. Renata Micha, who led the study.

“Also, lifestyle factors associated with the consumption of unprocessed and processed meat were similar, but only processed meats showed a link with a high risk,” he added. (BBC)

Related posts:

1. Unprocessed Meat Better Than Processed Meat
2. Consumption of processed meats may affect health
3. Viagra can cause hearing problems

Mais um recall está sendo realizado pela Toyota, dessa vez com o Lexus onde 11.500 veículos estão sendo convocados para uma manutenção, devido a problemas no controle do sistema de direção. A versão convocada do Lexus é a LS, que é vendida no Japão, EUA, China e Europa.

A Toyota declara para a agência EFE, que a maioria dos carros afetados estão concentrados no Japão, e que o recall será realizado em 4.500 unidades. Em outros países, serão um total de 7.000 unidades que realizarão o recall.

Segundo a montadora, os veículos convocados não possuem a função de controle de direção, que se chama VGRS e que ajusta a resposta do carro ao movimento do volante. Os modelos que foram afetados são: LS 460, LS 460L, LS600h e LS600hL.

Via | Quatro Rodas

Just 17,500mph. No safety belt required. Peppers, string beans, and grapes required. In the image, ISS commander Oleg Kotov and NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson. More »










International Space Station – NASA – Space – Technology – Oleg Kotov

Finally, the big day has arrived. Apple has approved the GigaOM iPhone app — it’s now available via the iTunes store for download. It goes without saying that we’re pretty stoked to be launching this app, which essentially offers a unified experience of all our various properties — from our blogs to our paid subscription service to our events to our real-time Twitter feed. One brand, one app…download it now from the iTunes store. It works both on the iPhone and the iPod touch.

Many of our readers are already using the iPhone and Android browsers to read what we write, and those numbers keep going up. So it made perfect sense for us to build an app for the iPhone. Importantly, we decided against building an offering that merely mimics the experience of our websites.

Mobile and the web are two distinct experiences — from the screens to the way we interact with content, the engagement is entirely different. We started with a blank sheet and an idea with which to engage our readers. But that wasn’t all. In order to set guidelines for our app, I turned to the fantastically brilliant mobile guru Tomi T. Ahonen (author of the Communities Dominate Brands blog) and looked at the eight unique characteristics of mobile he lists. They are:

1. Mobile is personal
2. Mobile is permanently carried
3. Mobile is always on
4. Mobile has a built-in payment channel
5. Mobile is available at the point of creative impulse
6. Mobile is most accurate at measuring its audience
7. Only mobile can capture the social context of consumption
8. Only mobile can offer augmented reality

OK so we’re missing the augmented reality features, but you get the point. Based on those abilities, here are the features in our app:

• Real-time stream of posts 24/7 from across the GigaOM network of seven leading websites, with full user-commenting capabilities
• Access to the GigaOM Pro research service, including its more than 100 research reports, PDF downloads and the ability to sign up for the service within the app itself
• Ability to share posts and stories via Twitter, Facebook and email
• Video posts and live-stream video from GigaOM conferences and events
• Detailed conference and event information including speaker line-ups, schedules and the ability to purchase event tickets
• Twitter feeds from across the team of GigaOM writers within the GigaOM Pulse feature
• Saved articles folder for future viewing of selected items
• Direct communication channel with our team of writers

So download it and give it whirl — I hope you’ll give us loads of feedback so we can make it even better!

Finally, this app never would have been possible without the tireless efforts of three of our team members: our tech Jedi, Chancey Mathews; our director of product, Dan Burke; and our SVP of product & marketing, Dan Silmore. We worked with our friends at Atimi to develop this app and are very grateful for their efforts. Please, if you can, put your hands together and applaud the team that turned my wild idea into an app.

Now I can finally say: Want GigaOM on the iPhone? Yup, there’s an app for that.

Google Wave is now open to everyone. Any user with a Google account can log into the service, create a new Wave or participate in an existing one. But that’s only half of the news at Google I/O 2010. Google is also introducing Wave for Google Apps. Administrators will now be able to turn on the service for their companies and the tool shou… (read more)

Filed under: Motorsports

If you’ve been following this year’s Formula One World Championship and wonder how the backmarkers – mostly the new teams that joined the grid for 2010 – have been allowed to compete given their lagging performance, know that the FIA is on top of things.

According to emerging reports from the F1 paddock, FIA president Jean Todt is considering re-instituting a threshold in qualifying for each grand prix. Known colloquially as the 107% Rule, the measure demands that, in order for any driver to qualify for a grand prix, his or her qualification time has to be within 107% of the time set by the polesitter. The rule was last enforced in 2002, after which it was taken off the books. But in Todt’s eyes, it’s about time to bring it back.

Since implementing the regulation mid-season would require unanimous approval of all the teams – including those newcomers who’d be most effected by it – the FIA president (and former Ferrari chief) is looking towards bringing it back for next season, which would only require ratification by 70% of the teams. The sport’s commercial director Bernie Ecclestone reportedly supports the idea, but recommends changing the threshold to 105%. For his part, Todt says the measure is not intended to hurt the new teams, but rather force them to get with the program if they wish to compete and not merely fill the grid.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Fred DuFour/AFP/Getty]

FIA considers re-instituting 107% qualification threshold to keep out the riffraff originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week we’ve highlighted WaveSecure Mobile Security as App of the Week for its awesomeness in finding a lost or stolen phone plus backup capabilities. We recently found 6 useful nuggets on Wavesecure’s blog that will allow you to maximize the app’s features. Let’s get started:

1. Find your misplaced phone without a PC. Not only can you locate your lost/stolen phone on their website, but you can text it to sound the alarm or do other things like lock, customize screen, locate and even wipe the phone by SMS text from another phone using the following commands:

2. Automatically backup your data. Schedule backups and forget about it. The app backups up incremental data like contacts and text messages. Plus backups can be done automatically while charging (feature not available for Android 1.5).

3. Migrate your data to a new phone. One pain in upgrading to new phones is the restoration of contacts, text message, etc. Migration to new devices and even cross platform devices can be done as WaveSecure is on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile.

4. Locate your phone the battery-friendly way. Android phones are notorious for draining batteries. You can control how often the app tracks the phone to conserve some battery power.

5. Find out who the thief is calling. Say your Droid-baby gets stolen, and the thief swaps the SIM card… no worries, WaveSecure tracks call and text message logs so you get the thief’s number as well as who they have been calling/texting to track down the phone.

6. Root Your Android Phone, Make WaveSecure Invulnerable. “Rooting” your Android may be a little challenging – but it’s worth the effort! Root version not only makes WaveSecure hard-reset proof, it also enables GPS tracking even if it’s set to be off! NerdGirl has been answering a lot of user inquiries about Rooting in her Ask NerdGirl column, to learn more head on over!

If you haven’t picked up the app, now you can get it at 20% off the annual $19.90 charge by liking them on Facebook or following on Twitter.

Hopefully these juicy tips will help you maximize your Android phone. Tell us if you knew about these tips or even your lost/stolen stories using apps like these in the comments below!