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  • Android Central Podcast Episode 9

    Top o’ the news – The Great Dell Leak of 2010

    Hardware news

    Software news

    Google news

    Forums/Contests

    Want to be on the podcast?

    Sure, you can just listen to the AndroidCentral Podcast. (And you should.) But it’s much more fun to be a part of it. And there are several ways you can do so.

    • E-mail us: Have a question and want us to answer it on-air? E-mail us here.
    • Voicemail: We love actually hearing from you. You can leave us a voicemail toll-free at (888) 468-6158 Ext. 222.
    • The intro: Want to introduce the podcast? Leave us your name, what Android phone you’re using, and where you’re from. You can do so in a voicemail, or record it at home and e-mail it to us. Here’s an example: "Hi. My name’s Phil Nickinson. I use the Motorola Droid. Now get ready for the AndroidCentral Podcast."

    You can also find us on Twitter: @androidcentral | @philnickinson | @tcpj_mickey | AndroidCentral staff list.

    Credits

    The AndroidCentral Podcast is sponsored by the AndroidCentral Store. And thanks to these great artists for providing their music under the Creative Commons license:

  • QUOTE: I asked him if he would come up with a few

    I asked him if he would come up with a few options. And he said, “No. I will solve your problem for you. And you will pay me. And you don’t have to use the solution. If you want options, go talk to other people. But I’ll solve your problem for you the best way I know how. And you use it or not. That’s up to you. You’re the client. But you pay me.” And there was a clarity about the relationship that was refreshing.

    Steve Jobs on working with designer Paul Rand on the NeXT logo

  • The Tax We Cannot See

    One of the principle conservative objections to a value-added tax is that it is “invisible” to consumers. In other words, we would go about our daily consumer lives, shopping and swiping our debit cards, without knowing that somewhere, deep inside the price tags, lives a phantom tax on various stages of the production cycle. They worry that it is harder to conjure emotional opposition to taxes you can’t see. That will make it easier for the government to raise revenue, which makes it easier for the government to finance its growth.

    Bruce Bartlett has a nice rejoinder to this invisible tax/money machine argument:

    The VAT is a money machine. This is probably the biggest
    problem most conservatives have with the VAT … To keep taxes low, they believe we should raise them in the most
    painful and burdensome manner possible.

    In response, I would make three points. First, we will only enact a
    VAT if we really, really need a lot of new revenue; i.e., a money
    machine.
    If by some miracle Congress enacts massive spending cuts that
    significantly reduce benefits for the largest, most politically
    powerful and fastest-growing voting bloc in the country–the
    elderly–thus preventing the need for higher taxes to avoid a financial
    crisis, then there is no need to consider a VAT. But that’s not going
    to happen except in a libertarian fantasy world.

    Second, it’s not true that VATs always rise once implemented. Of the
    29 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
    with a VAT–the U.S. is the only country without one–four have never
    increased their VAT rates and seven others have reduced theirs over
    time. The average VAT rate in the OECD is actually lower today than it
    was in 1984: 17.61% today vs. 17.79% then.

    Third, it is critical to differentiate between those countries
    enacting VATs before the great inflation of the 1970s and those not
    initiating one until after. The first group did raise their VAT rates a
    lot by piggybacking on inflation. But in the era of relative price
    stability since the 1980s, there is little evidence that the VAT is a
    money machine. In the 17 countries enacting VATs since 1977 the average
    rate increase is less than a percentage point.





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  • Nook Update 1.3 Brings Apps, A Web Browser and Faster Page Turns [EReaders]

    If you’ve not received it yet, don’t worry—it’s speeding its way through the air, available as an update over Wi-Fi, with delicious promises of apps, games and a web browser amongst other little gifts. More »







  • Hubble’s 20th Birthday Pic: “Eagle Nebula on Steroids” | 80beats

    Hubble20

    Happy birthday, old friend.

    Tomorrow marks 20 years since the space shuttle Discovery carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. And to mark the occasion, NASA released the latest in a long line of incredibly gorgeous images of nebulae and star birth. This is the Carina nebula, which the telescope first shot in 2007. “We wanted to have an image that will be at least as spectacular as the iconic ‘pillars of creation,’ says Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, referring to a widely reproduced 1995 Hubble image of the Eagle Nebula. “This particular image can arguably be called ‘Eagle Nebula on steroids’” [Science News]. This sweeping view comes thanks to the Wide Field Camera 3, installed during a Hubble upgrade last summer.

    There’s plenty more Hubble love to go around. DISCOVER blogger Phil Plait promises a few surprises in his “Ten Things You Don’t Know About Hubble.” And if you’ve already seen the Eagle Nebula more times than you can count, check out our gallery of the most underrated Hubble images.

    Related Content:
    DISCOVER: Happy Birthday, Hubble: The Telescope’s Most Underrated Images
    Bad Astronomy: Ten Things You Don’t Know About Hubble
    80beats: Prepare To Be Amazed: First Images from the Repaired Hubble Are Stunning
    80beats: Hubble Spies Galaxies That Formed Just After the Big Bang

    Image: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)


  • Opera Mini 5 #1 In Apple’s App Store

    Found under: Apple, iPhone, Opera, Mini, App Store, Smartphones, Browser,

    Since Apple approved the Opera Mini 5 browser recently it didnt take any time at all to become the number one downloaded application in the App Store for me this came as no surprise because for years iPhone users were yearning for a change in what browser they could use instead of mobile Safari and here comes Opera to save the day.Opera Mini 5 is the newest version of the Opera Mini browser it was approved by Apple mainly because it uses a proxy server and compression technology to

    Read More

    Read more in mobile format

  • Salão de Pequim 2010: Ford apresenta novo Edge com motor EcoBoost


    Entre vários lançamentos do Salão de Pequim, a Ford apresentou para o mercado chinês, o novo Edge, o utilitário esportivo com a nova tecnologia de motor EcoBoost, já usada em modelos do Ford Mondeo.

    Segundo a montadora, o motor EcoBooster 2.0 vai ser introduzido no mercado chinês no final de 2010, e será o primeiro motor ecológico na China. Segundo declaração da Ford: “O motor 2.0 EcoBoosté o primeiro motor da linha EcoBoost para para ir ao mercado global”. Esse motor utiliza uma injeção direta de combustível e turbocompressor para economia do combustível.

    Outros anúncios serão feitos pela Ford no decorrer do evento, que investiu auto este ano com o maior estande da China, tendo 17 estações interativas. Aguardem maiores informações.

    Via | Inside Line


  • Here Are Your iPad Etching Contest Winners [Ipads]

    At long last! Sorry for the delay guys, but here are your winners for the Beautiful and Embarrassing iPad Etching contest, sponsored by our friends at Epilog and Adafruit. More »







  • New Product Focus The Blow Thru Sieve™

    New Product Focus
    The Blow Thru Sieve™ – Positive pressure safety screening and check-screening to improve your product quality

    Incoming ingredients – Check-screening incoming ingredients during tanker unloading ensures your downstream process is free from contamination
    In process – The Blow Thru Sieve™ can also be used to screen materials while they are pneumatically conveyed at any point throughout your production process
    Before dispatch – Screening your final product before dispatch ensures your customers receive contamination free products, safeguarding your reputation

  • Bulk Bag and Manual Dump Weigh Batch System

    A combination Bulk Bag and Manual Dump Batching System weighs bulk materials that are discharged from bulk bags and/or manually dumped from sacks, boxes and other containers, and empties the batch into mobile storage bins.

    The hygienic system consists of a bulk bag unloading frame, two hoppers, and two flexible screw conveyors that feed a central gain-in-weight hopper under automated control.

    A programmable controller with manual start button activates either of the flexible screw conveyors to load the first ingredient into the central weigh hopper at maximum feed rate. Load cells supporting the hopper transmit weight gain information to the controller, which steps-down the feed rate to trickle prior to reaching the target weight. In the same manner, the controller starts and stops the second conveyor to load the second ingredient into the weigh hopper, and then activates the hopper’s slide gate valve to discharge the batch into mobile storage bins.

    The unloader features a Spout-Lock™ clamp ring that forms a high-integrity seal between the clean side of the bag spout and the clean side of the equipment. To promote total evacuation of material, a Tele-Tube™ telescoping tube maintains constant downward pressure on the clamp ring and bag spout, elongating the bag as it empties, while Flow-Flexer™ bag activators raise and lower bottom edges of the bag into a steep “V” shape, directing material into the bag outlet spout.

    Immediately above the clamp ring is a Power-Cincher™ flow control valve employing a series of curved, articulated rods that cinch the bag spout concentrically, allowing dust-free retying and removal of partially-empty bags.

    A removable bag-lifting frame with bag strap hooks and fork tubes allows loading of the lifting frame with bag intact, onto a cradle at the top of the unloader frame posts.

    The flexible screw conveyors are said to handle a variety of free- and non-free-flowing bulk materials including products that pack, cake, smear or easily degrade, with no separation of blended products.

    Material contact surfaces of the system are of stainless steel finished to hygienic standards, with the exception of the polymer conveyor tubes which are removable for rapid, thorough wash down.

    The floor hopper is available with a containment hood including integral dust collection for clean, safe handling of dusty materials.

  • Ruhrpumpen Enters Renewable Energy Market with Pumps for ANDASOL III

    Witten, April 16, 2010 – Ruhrpumpen, an innovative and efficient pump technology company, marks their entry into the renewable energy market with pumps for solar power technology.

    According to the United States Energy Information Administration, of the total energy consumption in 2006 (excluding hydroelectric) worldwide, 1% was produced by renewable energy sources, with less than 0.02% from solar power. Even so, renewables are the fastest growing source of world energy today, with consumption increasing by 3.0% annually. The solar thermal power industry is also experiencing growth. With 1.2 GW under construction as of April 2009, and another 13.9 GW announced globally through 2014, there is huge potential.

    ANDASOL III (developed by MAN Solar Millennium) is a solar thermal power plant in Spain that will deliver electricity to 200,000 homes by 2011, and Ruhrpumpen has been selected to provide the pumps for the solar field.

    These pumps are the heart of the solar power plant. A heat transfer medium (synthetic oil in a closed circuit) is pumped to the solar collectors where it is heated (up to 400 C). The transfer medium is then pumped through a series of heat exchangers to produce steam, which is converted to clean electrical energy in a conventional steam turbine generator.

    The ANDASOL III power plant can also store energy in the form of molten salt, also heated by the transfer medium. Molten salt stores thermal energy that can be used to produce steam when the sun is not shining, or on overcast days. Two liquid salt storage tanks, along with the sheer magnitude of the solar field, will allow the power plant to operate 24 hours a day, making it more profitable.

    For this application, Ruhrpumpen selected an API between bearing, single–stage, horizontal double-suction pump. Chrome steel was selected for the casing and impeller due to temperature and pressure requirements. The pumps will be equipped with bearings, cooling systems, seals, gauges, and lubrication systems, and will be driven by electric motors and variable frequency drives.

    For more information about the Ruhrpumpen pumps, you may submit your question online; send an e-mail to [email protected], or visit www.ruhrpumpen.com.

  • 3M Revolutionizes Multi-touch Interactivity with 10-Finger Touch

    3M today unveiled the 3M Display M2256PW, a 22-inch high-definition, multi-touch LCD display which demonstrates 3M’s commitment to push the boundaries of traditional touch technology. Based on 3M Projected Capacitive Technology, the M2256PW display is designed for professional and prosumer (professional consumer) applications that need up to 10-finger touch input or multiuser interactivity with very fast response time. While most multi-touch technologies support two-finger touch and gestures, 3M’s multi-touch technology supports 10-finger touch input and advanced gesture capability.

    Introduced in June 2009 at SID Display Week as the 19-inch 3M Multi-touch Developer Kit, this revolutionary technology offered software developers for the first time a “full multi-touch” hardware platform. “Over the past six months software developers from around the world have been working with the 3M multi-touch platform to develop exciting concepts for multi-touch applications”, says Chris Tsourides, Business Unit Manager, 3M Touch Systems.

    Utilizing this new technology, software developers are able to revolutionize the way users interact with all types of information and to expand traditional touch interaction to include multiple users and increase collaboration. “Consumers and prosumers have come to expect multi-touch functionality in their everyday electronic devices”, Tsourides says. “The release of the M2256PW display provides a technological leap in multi-touch interactivity, surpassing traditional two-finger multi-touch by providing full, 10-finger multi-touch capability.”

    The 3M Display M2256PW features a high-definition 1680 x 1050 LCD screen, DVI and VGA video input, audio input, USB and RS232 (serial) dual-mode communication protocol and durable, anti-glare front surface. Applications taking advantage of this high level of interactivity include computer aided design, digital signage, computer gaming, security monitoring systems, education and training, and teleconferencing. The M2256PW display is “compatible with Windows 7” so no third party touch drivers are required. For Linux and Windows XP/Vista/7 operating systems, 3M plans to offer a multi-touch driver and software utility, and will offer communication protocol documents for customers who wish to develop their own drivers. Additional information is available at www.3m.com/multitouch.

    3M Touch Systems provides innovative touchscreen technology products to customers worldwide under the “MicroTouch” brand. Popular single touch, gesture touch and multitouch applications include casino gaming, retail point of sale, foodservice, hospitality, self-service, industrial, healthcare and interactive digital signage. For more information about 3M MicroTouch products, visit www.3M.com/touch01. For an overview of popular touch technologies and terminology, visit www.touchtopics.com.

    About 3M Touch Systems, Inc.
    3M Touch Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M, operates globally and reports through 3M Electro and Communications Business, headquartered in Austin, TX. For more information, visit www.3M.com/touch.

    About 3M
    A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $25 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com.

    3M and MicroTouch are trademarks of the 3M Company.
    Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
    Display screen application provided by SpaceClaim Corporation.

  • Combined Air handling unit

    Patent: the patent (No. 6229383.0, 96311945.1and 96229385.7) are used for this type of AHU to guarantee the quality

    Capacity: Can select air volume from 4,000 to 160,000 stere per hour

    Function section: Air supply, cooling, heating, humidify, dehumidify, air purify and silencing

    Purpose: Used in various fields such as micro-electronic, chemical plants, precision equipments, food industry, scientific research office building

    Custom specifications welcome

    Suzhou Foundation HVAC Equipment Co.,LTD is a manufacturer and whose main products are fan coil units(fcu),air diffuser ,air handling unit(AHU),air damper,thermostatCheating coil and other air conditioner parts.
    Our company suzhou Foundation is a professional manufacturer to produce air conditioner parts, such as vertical type fan coil unit,horizontal concealed type fan coil units, cassette fan coil unit,opposed blade air dampers,air diffuser etc. have exported to more than 70 countries.
    In the last 23 years ,we persisted to research new products and new technic. We seek and hope to innovate products at clients’ view . Foundation’s service idea is which clients is the most important. Welcome clients from overseas to purchase HVAC products .

  • 100 % leak testing – WITT at IFFA 2010

    100% quality control – MAP inline leak testing

    The Leak-Master® Mapmax from Witt-Gasetechnik allows CO2 based non-destructive detection of even the smallest of leaks of MAP packages – fully integrated into the packaging process.

    With 15 cycles per minute the Mapmax is the fastest system of its type and makes it possible to carry out automatic quality control of the entire production line.
    During testing, the device generates a vacuum in the measuring chamber. If there is a leak, the protective gas will leak from the packaging. If the sensor is triggered, one of the packages must have a leak. An alarm is then sounded and the nonconforming goods are automatically sorted out via a pusher.
    The solution works with two synchronised conveyor belts. In addition to outer packages and E2 boxes the Mapmax can also test individual packaging, for example an entire batch from a thermoform or tray sealing machine.

    At IFFA 2010 WITT presents the Mapmax and other leak testing systems. Daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit us in hall 4.0 booth C27.

  • Auger Dosing Weigher HS.S1A

    Fill accuracy is very often problematic by volumetric dosing of larger doses of dusty powders. This is caused mainly by variation of powder density of dosed products. This problem is substantially reduced by our new auger dosing weigher HS.S1A , which combines the proven principles of both volumetric and weigh dosing. The proven auger filler DOS 2A/B, is mounted in a special frame on a tensometer sensing element, which is the basis of the new Auger Dosing Weigher.

    This combination system operates so that the doser is filled by product is initially weighted and after that the weigher starts to fill the bags or another package by standard dosing auger. The difference between initial and actual weight of doser is continuously followed-up during this operation. As soon as the requested dose is reached, the auger stops and the hopper of the doser is filled again by product and the doser is again weighed.

    Auger dosing weigher HS.S1A can be used for dosing into all our types of vertical packaging machines.

    Company Profile

    The VELTEKO s. r. o. Company was founded in 1991 and is involved in providing “state-of-the-art” packaging lines, mainly for the food industry. Since 1996 VELTEKO has worked to ISO 9001 certified management system and employs 70 staff , one quarter being development engineers. The company owns VELTEKO POLSKA and VELTEKO RUS, subsidiaries founded to increase sales in these markets. In 2005 a large part of the Company was transferred to the newly established subsidiary VELTEKO CZ.

  • SERIES 37: Rubber institutional wheels, polyamide centre with threadguards

    Applications
    The series is used for home and institutional applications, with light and standard carrying capacity.
    Typical usage: office furniture, food charts, electro-medical equipments.

    Technical features
    LOAD CAPACITY: 35-80 daN
    WHEEL TREAD: non-marking rubber tread
    CENTRE: polyamide centre with threadguards
    BRACKETS: zinc-plated brackets

    Usage conditions
    Suitable for humid environments, with medium-harsh chemicals; not suitable for applications where organic solvents, chlorinated substances, hydrocarbons and mineral oils are present.

  • NEW: Micro-Flex, 2.00 mm crimp system for FPC for Military and Aerospace

    With more and more printed ink and flex pcb circuits being used in Mil/Aero applications, Nicomatic now offers Micro-Flex. Thanks to our years of manufacturing both crimp connectors and CMM micro-connectors, Nicomatic launches an innovative new connector system as well as a flex harness solution aimed at card-to-flex connections.

    This new “two in one technology” ensures a high mechanical link and electrical continuity between 2mm pitch CMM and flat conductor Crimpflex® technology. One of the major advantages is a small 2mm pitch that allows the reduction of space, but there is also a lower weight feature that enables the replacement of discrete wires and bulky cables still very present in avionics equipment. Nicomatic is able to reduce up to 30% weight through a solution that is thinner and lighter than a traditional cable.

    Available in single or double row – up to 60 contacts and with latching or stainless steel locking hardware ensuring secure connection under high vibration environments (passes Mil 55302 for vibration).

    Adaptations allow high temperature requirements to 185°C and up to 260°C with Polyimide insulation. The Microflex technology is a cost effective solution compared to other cable technologies and connection systems and offers reliability required for MIL/Aero vibration applications. Moreover, the assembly process is superior in terms of crimping and insertion speed.

    Compared to crimping one by one of round cables, the crimping process that Nicomatic has developed is simultaneous for multiple contacts. The flat cable is crimped in one single operation and then the housing is assembled separately in one operation. What we usually see on the market is a contact-by-contact insertion into the housing, which is a much slower process.

  • New LIS Butterfly Valve Now Available

    We have expanded our line of butterfly valves with the introduction of the the Type 57LIS, which provides for easy direct replacement of metallic butterfly valves and conforms to ISO-5752 short face-to-face dimensions.

    The Type 57LIS butterfly valve is an industrial quality thermoplastic valve that directly replaces metallic butterfly valves, without any modification to the existing piping system, in applications where metal valves constantly corrode. The face-to-face dimensions of the Type 57LIS (the distance between the two existing flanges), are the same as those of the metal valves that the Type 57LIS replaces.

    Features and Benefits

    Standard model (3″ – 8″) has PVC body and PP disc for better chemical resistance at temperatures higher than can be achieved with PVC.
    Our 316 stainless steel shaft has full engagement over the entire length of the disc and is a non-wetted part, totally isolated from the media.
    Only solid and abrasion-resistant plastic disc and elastomeric liner are wetted parts.
    ISO bolt circle on top flange – no body or stem modifications required for accessories.

    Materials

    Sizes: Lever: 3″ – 8″
    Gear: 3″ – 8″
    Models: Wafer or Lug style
    Operators: Lever and gear
    Body: PVC
    Discs: PVC, PP and PVDF
    Seats: EPDM, FKM and Nitrile®
    Seals: EPDM, FKM and Nitrile®
    Stems: 316 stainless steel, titanium, Hastelloy C®‡

    Available Actuators

    Series 79 Pneumatic
    Series 92 & 94 Electric
    Series 83 Electromni

    Options

    Pneumatically and electrically actuated with accessories
    Alternate discs:
    (I) PVC : 3″ – 8″
    (III) PVDF : 3″ – 8″
    Gear operators for 3″ – 8″
    Stems in 304 stainless steel, titanium,
    Hastelloy C® etc.
    2″ square nut on stem
    2″ square nut on gear operator
    Stem extensions (single stem and two-piece stem)
    Locking devices (gear type – standard on lever)
    Chain operators
    Manual limit switch
    Tandem arrangements (patented by A/A, Inc.)

    Typical Applications

    Chemical Processing
    Water & Wastewater
    Landfills
    Irrigation
    Food Processing
    Mining

  • MCK28335 Motor Control Kits with Optimized DSP Source Code

    The Technosoft MCK28335 kits with source code and MATLAB libraries are complete motion control development and evaluation packages based on the TI floating-point digital signal controller: TMS320F28335. With this embedded floating-point processor, you will significantly save development time and effort: specific issues related to fixed-point processors (as saturation, overflow, scaling of parameters and variables) are no longer a problem now.

    MCK28335 Kits C Pro-MS(BL or IM) represent the most advanced development platforms in digital motor control field. They are plug-and-play systems, with complete C language source code, including a MATLAB motion library and Simulink models for the PMSM position and speed control. They also include complete DSP source code (not generated from MATLAB) optimized for real-time execution of PMSM and BLDC speed control. A powerful development software platform based on RS232 serial communication complements the hardware (controller board, 3-phase inverter module and brushless or induction motor).

    Both BL (brushless) and IM (induction) kit versions are self-contained, so designers can start their project evaluation and development immediately. They will discover how easy it is to control a brushless motor in trapezoidal or sinusoidal mode, or an induction motor in vector control or V/f mode. For experienced designers, these kits are an impressive and very efficient starting point for any advanced motion control application. Starting from the MATLAB-Simulink model, you can adapt the control model, simulate the system, then automatically generate the C code for your schematics. This code can be tested on DSP, and simulation results can then be compared with the real control results.

    The Technosoft MCK28335 professional kits with source code and MATLAB libraries are perfectly suited solutions for the quick development, testing and validation of any brushless or induction motor control application. Designers will save important resources by using this development procedure. Replacing a hardware (motor, inverter, sensors) or software (control blocks) component is easily feasible here. This approach offers a major advantage: it always starts from a functional, complete system, and makes it much easier to detect the effect of the change in the application architecture.

  • Video: Ferrari 599XX laps Nurburgring in 6:58.16, breaks 7-min barrier

    Ferrari 599XX laps Nurburgring in 6:58.16

    The Ferrari 599XX, which provides the basis for the new Ferrari 599 GTO, became the first ever production-derived sports car to break the 7-minute barrier on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, lapping the famous track in 6:58.16.

    Make the jump for the video and the high-res image gallery.

    Refresher: Power for the Ferrari 599XX comes from a 6.0L V12 engine making 700-hp with a maximum torque of 479 lb-ft. Ferrari also added a new F1 inspired gearbox that transfers power to the wheels
    with gear change time cut down to 60 ms.

    Ferrari 599XX laps Nurburgring in 6:58.16:

    Inside: Ferrari 599XX Sets Nurburgring Record at 6:58.16:

    Ferrari 599XX Nurburgring Record Promotional Video:

    Ferrari 599XX laps Nurburgring in 6:58.16:

    – By: Omar Rana