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Found under: Google, Nexus One, Android, WiFi, Broadcom,

After we found out that Google isnt working on those strange 3G issues its beloved smartphone keeps having we now hear a more interesting story according to which a future firmware update Android 2.2 aka Android Froyo will bring 802.11n connectivity to the Google Nexus One. Yes thats right it looks like the Google Nexus One can do WiFi n after all and it only needs some new drivers to have it enabled. Broadcom and Google have apparently been working on such drivers which will be

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I like to capture these two articles (at the same place) for the record.

Buffett Rented Good Name to Goldman Too Cheap: Alice Schroeder (Bloomberg) [HT Alice]

Warren Buffett Has ‘Great Confidence’ in Goldman Sachs Says Berkshire Director (CNBC Warren Buffett Watch)

Filed under: Business, investment, united states, Video, Warren Buffett, YouTube

Found under: HTC, Lenovo, Palm, ,

You might recall how we told you a little while ago that Palm might be purchased by HTC. Well it looks like thats not the case anymore. HTC has decided not to bid for this problematic company although some of us really hoped to see HTC-made webOS-based smartphones soons. According to Reuters the company has decided against the idea as there just werent enough synergies to take the deal forward. Furthermore Palms CEO Jon Rubinstein said that his company has what it takes to stay t

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Le Couvent des Minimes, located in the heart of Haute Provence, is a unique sun-drenched convent with an ancestral tradition of love and passion for aromatic plants and natural ingredients. Le Couvent des Minimes product recipes follow the traditions of the Sisters of the Convent, as these ingredients are carefully blended to create effective skincare products. Based on this Provencal tradition, Formula 112 blends almond, apricot, and grape seed oils with sweet sugar for a delightful experience. Enriched with Shea Butter, it leaves the skin soft to the touch and deliciously scented.

View Bath & Body Works Le Couvent Des Minimes Formula No. 112 Honey & Shea Extra Gentle Sugar Scrub, 14.1 oz (400 g) details

Eco Factor: Concept charging station powered by renewable solar energy.

Of all portable electronic gadgets that are out there on the market, cellphones seem to attract one and all. Smartphones also bundle various systems into one device that makes the offer even more lucrative. However, the rising concerns about energy and e-waste, have made industrial designers think about concepts that are green or make cellphones greener in one way or the other.

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Eco Factor: Hybrid moped powered by compressed air.

Seniors at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Michigan Technological University have developed a hybrid moped that is powered by compressed air and human energy. The moped was exhibited at Tech’s Undergraduate Expo.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission efficient vehicle powered by electricity.

Silicon Valley startup OptaMotive is building the E. Rex for the Progressive Automotive X Prize, which is being claimed to be three time more efficient that a Toyota Prius. The E. Rex has a top speed of 144mph and offers a range of about 100 miles.

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Eco Factor: Concept bus handles designed to generate renewable electricity.

More+ Bus Handle is the brainchild of industrial designer Junjie Zhang, who believes that while swinging from the bus poles on those hangers, you can do much more than simply pushing the person in front of you for more space. The concept relies on the use of piezoelectric ceramics that generate renewable electricity.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicle powered by electricity.

The Pandur by industrial designer Popescu Lucian is a zero-emission concept electric vehicle that is equipped with electric motors on its rear set of wheels and a battery pack mounted near the front wheels. The vehicle features a metallic frame that is strengthened by a band of durable plastic that acts as a chair too and sustains the three wheels.

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At the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, Honda surprised the automotive world with a new concept for its LI NIAN brand, Guangqi Honda’s proprietary automobile brand (previously known as Guangzhou Honda).

“The mass-production model of this concept car will be introduced at the Guangzhou Motor Show, scheduled at the end of this year,” Honda said.

No additional details on the Honda LI NIAN Everus Concept were revealed. We’re not sure if this hints at the next-generation design of Honda sedans but it looks like Honda took some design hints from its Acura department. We’ll update you on the details as we get them.

Honda LI NIAN Everus Concept:

– By: Omar Rana

One of the things that other systems, like Boxee, have going for them is app support. The ability to integrate apps into an existing system and expand it’s capabilities is something that more and more devices are adding and the PS3 is now no exception.

MLB.tv is now available on the PS3 in quite an impressive way. According to PLAYSTATION.BLOG, the app supports the following:

MLB Scoreboard – See a schedule of today’s games (and set options to control whether or not you see the scores)

Home and Away Feeds – Choose to watch either the home or away broadcast feed

HD quality video and DVR functionality – watch a live game in HD (with Live Game DVR functionality that lets you pause and rewind live games of fast-forward back to live game action)

Season Archive – Want to re-live a great moment? Go back and watch games you’ve missed from earlier in the season.

Scrollable Linescore – Go directly to any half-inning to watch only that portion of the game.

Favorite Teams/Calendar Schedule – Scroll through the entire 2010 Major League Baseball schedule in calendar format or designate your favorite team(s) to see the schedule for that team.

To see it in action, check out the video here:

Talk about a feature list. What effectively makes me say “Like zoinks Scoob!” is the integration of DVR functionality. It’s now starting to approach the utopian IPTV future of a la carte services I have always dreamed of…ok well it’s a start.

Given the PS3’s growing install base, let’s hope more and more content providers make the leap to the PS3.

Chevy Looks Ready to Expand Volt Lineup
Canadian Auto Press

It’s taken Toyota a dozen plus years before mere rumblings of an expanded Prius “range” started hitting the news, but Chevrolet appears ready to capitalize on its Volt nameplate before the first car hits the road.

The sedan is forthcoming as a 2011 model, but Chevy shows that it doesn’t want to stop there.  Revealed in Beijing, the five-door Volt MPV5 concept rides on the same Voltec architecture as the four-door Volt.

The Volt MPV5 concept is just that, a concept, but the fact that Chevrolet is showing it verifies that it has plans to expand on the a name that’s almost become as well known as Prius.  The Voltec architecture, however, is far more advanced than the Prius, being an extended range EV that sources drive power from electric motors and uses a small gasoline engine as a generator to restore battery power; the Prius, like other hybrids, uses electric motors to support a conventional internal combustion engine.

The Volt MPV5’s powertrain is the same as the Volt sedan, rated at 150 horsepower and powered by a 16 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.  The Volt MPV5 should be capable of similar performance as the four-door model, but greater drag from its increased frontal area means its electric range is reduced to 51 km (32 miles) from the Volt sedan’s 64 km (40 miles).

It doesn’t take an eye for detail to see the similarities between the Volt sedan and MPV5, the new crossover sporting the same grille design, basically the same headlamp cluster shape, like taillights, while the overall body style mimics the upcoming Orlando crossover.

Inside, the MPV5’s dash and instrument cluster looks near identical to the Volt sedan, and doesn’t seat any more people either.  The new crossover would likely be more comfortable thanks to its upright stature, mind you, and as far as cargo space is concerned, the concept is much more accommodating than the real thing at 864 litres (30.5 cubic feet) compared to 301 litres (10.6 cu ft) for the sedan.

So, will this concept become the real thing?  A production Volt MPV5 is more than likely for myriad reasons, the first being almost certain success.  Another bonus is reduced CAFE ratings for GM’s light truck lineup on the whole.

China may be the locale of introduction, but the stylish crossover would likely be sold in North America as well due to strong name recognition and our penchant for all things hybrid-electric.

Could a two-door coupe like the original Volt concept be next?

by Julian Ku

In many ways, it is more important to note the continuity between Obama and Bush administration policies than to dwell on their differences. Given the political antecedents of the two administrations, the areas where they have adopted the same policy is a sure-fire sign that there is broad consensus in the U.S. on a policy.  I think we are getting close to such a consensus with respect to U.S. policy toward the ICC.  Here are the likely areas of the emerging U.S. consensus (after the jump):

1) The U.S. will not join, nor does it have any plans in the near future to join, the ICC.

2) The U.S. will seek to remain engaged in the ICC as an observer, and will no longer seek to obstruct or oppose ICC investigations and other works.  Indeed, it will cooperate with the ICC (as in Sudan) in certain cases.

3) The U.S. will oppose — strongly oppose — the current definition of “aggression” that may be adopted by the ICC at its Kampala review conference as well as the addition of “aggression” (however defined) to the jurisdiction of the ICC.

This last point is still up in the air since Kampala is not until next week. But it is a safe bet that the U.S. will follow this policy, as laid out in a persuasive and compelling report offering guidance on U.S. policy toward the upcoming International Criminal Court review conference in Kampala, Uganda.  Authored by Vijay Padmanabhan, a visiting lawprof at Cardozo and a former senior lawyer at the State Department Legal Advisor’s office, the report is probably a fair reflection of the views of the State Department on the ICC during the second George W. Bush term.  The directors of the report were both high-level Bush State Department officials: John Bellinger (Legal Adviser 2004-2008) and Matthew Waxman (former Deputy Director for Policy Planning).

Yeah, we (probably) have consensus!  Sure, not everyone is going to be happy. I myself am doubtful that the level of cooperation with the ICC recommended in the report will get the U.S. anywhere, but I do agree that rigid opposition has not been particularly effective either.  So I can live with the consensus, and with the policy of using the ICC sometimes, ignoring it when we need to (see, e.g., our recent policy toward Sudan), and trying to nudge it from the outside whenever possible.  So I wish the best of luck to the U.S. Kampala delegation.  They should feel good that there is a lot of consensus back home behind them!

Check out this wonderful TorStar piece “How K’naan’s ‘Wavin’ Flag’ became anthem for the world“. Here is The Young Artists for Haiti version of K’naan‘s “Wavin’ Flag” that was released March 12, 2010.

P.S. See my previous blog entry about K’naan (with link to song Wavin’ Flag and Q interview).

****

The TorStar report claims this next one is the FIFA version, but the video info said it is not. Well, it is a good version.

The Coca-Cola version.

Filed under: Canada, Music, people, politics, Video, World, World Affairs, YouTube

We have been very fortunate to have two great theme designers offer to make us themes for our Birthday. This one is by MMMOOO, and it’s very nice yet simple. It uses our blackground wallpaper and our colors as well. It’s a great way to show your love for BlackBerry Sync! Let’s take a look…

Both Built By Request and MMMOOO created our first themes, and also it’s their first site theme as well so it’s a special event for all of us.  It installs quickly and easily. Notice that the front screen has the BlackBerry Sync classic name, then our motto: BlackBerry News You Can Sync With … and www.BlackBerrySync.com. On the top red design in the right you see the battery indicator, the time, date, and signal strength. Below tht sits the alarm and the GPS. And then the sound/profile icon. The bottom row customizable with six icons. The icons are all the classic icons which makes it easy to distinguish what they are. The row of icons are dark red over the red pattern, and grey background over the white, and when you scroll over the icon it turns red.

If you click the menu button you see the top bar is bright red. The battery indicator, alarm, and GPS are in the top left, time and date in the center, and signal strength to the right. Icons are white with a grey background but turn bright red when scrolled over. Clicking on messages, options, etc, you can see the white background followed by the scrolling making the message or option turn brick red. The menu turns a light grey/pink and red text, but when you scroll over, it’s the brick red color and the text turns white.

The calling screen is a red that fades as it goes down, The theme is nice, simple, light on the battery and memory. It’s great for the person who likes a wonderful theme that’s simple and colorful. It’s a perfect mascot to the site, and shows our simply stated side. Try the theme out and show your BlackBerry Sync Pride! And don’t forget to thank MMMOOO as well for this great masterpiece of art. I love the link to MMMOOO’s themes and one for BlackBerrySync as well.

The pros are that the theme is available for most BlackBerry devices, and it’s so colorful and easy on the eyes. This theme is definitely a great theme you’ll want to keep just because it’s so nice and simple. Great for everyday use and easy to navigate. Thanks so much MMMOOO! Please remember to share thanks and love with MMMOOO.

I’ll post the links to the ota files.

Pearl 81xx 4.5 OTA

Pearl 82xx 4.6 OTA

Curve 83xx 4.5 OTA

Curve 8330 4.5 OTA

Curve 8330 5.0 OTA

Curve 8350 4.61 OTA

BlackBerry 8500 5.0 OTA

BlackBerry 8500 4.61 OTA

Curve 8900 4.61 OTA

Curve 8900 5.0 OTA

Bold 9000 4.6 OTA

Bold 9000 5.0 OTA

BlackBerry 9500 4.7 OTA

BlackBerry 9500 5.0 OTA

Tour 9600 4.71 OTA

Tour 9600 5.0 OTA

Bold 9700 5.0 OTA

You’re reading a story which originated at BlackBerrySync.com, Where you find BlackBerry News You Can Sync With…

This story is sponsored by the new BlackBerry Sync Mobile App Store. Grab your free copy today at www.GetAppStore.com from your BlackBerry.

BlackBerry Sync Birthday Gift: The Exclusive BlackBerry Sync Theme By MMMOOO!

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In a late move announced Friday night, President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for Connecticut – making the state eligible for federal relief aid.

The aid is available for damage from the harsh storms that led to severe flooding in various regions of the state starting on March 12. Certain areas of southeastern Connecticut were heavily damaged, particularly along rivers and flood-prone areas. The three counties that were damaged the most – and declared eligible for aid – were New London, Middlesex and Fairfield.

“This is the beginning of critical and welcome news for Connecticut,” Governor M. Jodi Rell said in a statement Friday night. “Our state and local governments have been pushed to the limit – and in many cases beyond – by the task of responding to storms that caused extraordinary damage across the state.”

Rell thanked Obama and the state’s Congressional delegation for helping in obtaining the declaration.

Separately, Rell’s request for individual relief – which would be available to homeowners and renters who suffered from the storms – is still awaiting approval by the Obama administration.

When SOCOM 4 was first announced at last years GDC, a lot of skeptics and fans alike ponder to the fact that the game will support the upcoming PlayStation Move motion controller. But no worries folks, Zipper