Zeeland based company Gentex has announced that its interior auto-dimming rearview mirror with Rear Camera Display (RCD), installed on the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa has been named as one of the top-six new technologies at the 2010 Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC).
Gentex is the automotive industry’s biggest producer of automatic dimming rearview mirrors and video recording active safety systems.
Besides its normal electrochromic function, t… (read more)
drhawass.com (Zahi Hawass)
Last Thursday, I went to Alexandria in order to remove an important artifact from the water of the harbor. This was the tower of the pylon, likely from the Ptolemaic temple of Isis in the area known as Chatby.I had been convinced since 2002 that we should not take any major artifacts out of the water, but rather leave them there to be placed in the Underwater Museum we are planning. Also, it is difficult to remove these large pieces from the water, and it takes a lot of work and care to remove the salt from artifacts. But recently I was convinced to raise this piece by the head of the Greek mission, Dr. Harry Tzalas, who directed underwater excavations in the area in 1998. His team discovered 400 ancient artifacts and architectural elements. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Abu Saadat, an Egyptian diver who surveyed Chabty in 1960. He was not an archaeologist, so he was not able to recognize many artifacts, but his survey work contributed to the archaeology of the area.
The Greek expedition was able to recognize the artifacts, and they worked in cooperation with the Department of Underwater Antiquities of Alexandria at the coastal area of Chatby. The two most important of the 400 the Greek mission found are the 9-ton pylon tower, and the 15-ton threshold of a door. Both are made of granite and are of great historical importance in reconstructing the great city of ancient Alexandria. Ancient authors such as Plutarch and Strabo write about Cleopatra’s palace being located in this area, with her mausoleum and a temple of Isis right next to it. It seems likely that this pylon tower was for that temple of Isis, since it was the only temple in the area, and the threshold, which was found very near to it, could be for the door of Cleopatra’s tomb.
Renault seems to have found a new team manager for its Formula One operations. The French manufacturer will reportedly name Eric Boullier as new head of the Enstone organization, none other than the former team boss of GP2 Series outfit DAMS.
Needless to say, Boullier is connected with the team’s new majority stake owner Gerard Lopez. Following his role within the French team, he became director of the sports management firm Gravity. As most of you may have guessed by now, Gravity… (read more)
Nice scoop by MacRumors, which reportedly retrieved historical evidence that Apple has acquired the domain name islate.com back in 2007. Apparently, the Cupertino company registered the domain through brand protection firm Mark Monitor to conceal the fact that the domain name is theirs, as usual, but was briefly listed as the owner at some point in the past nonetheless.
If correct, that means we can add a rumor to a rumor: that the unconfirmed, unannounced but most definitely coming (maybe) Apple tablet device will be named iSlate. That would be in line with earlier connections of the ’slate’ term to the illusive tablet computer, based on New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller calling it something to that effect in a speech.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Other iSlate Domain Names
There’s a lot of islate-related domain names with different TLDs that Apple most definitely does not own (islate.org, islate.net, islate.be, islate.nl, islate.es, and so on) but I did find a couple of interesting things trolling whois servers.
A search for islate.co.uk lists Mark Monitor as the owner, just like islate.com. This could be meaningless, but we know for sure Apple works with Mark Monitor for other domain names and the United Kingdom is a key market for the company. Registration date: 17 November 2006.
Unfortunately, the whois server for German TLDs (whois.denic.de) is currently down, so I can’t look up who secured islate.de at this point.
But look up who the owner of islate.fr (country TLD for France, a third key country for Apple in Europe) is: a Paris-based IP property attorney firm called Wilson & Berthelot. Guess who the technical contact for the domain name registration is? Mark Monitor. And doesn’t Apple work with law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in the States?
Coincidence, or not?
Other related domain names that were secured through Mark Monitor: islate.info and islate.biz, both of which were registered on the same date as islate.co.uk: 17 November 2006.
The plot thickens.
The ISLATE Trademark (United States)
On November 21, 2006 a company called Slate Computing (registered in Delaware) filed for a US word mark for ‘ISLATE’. Notably, that was right around the time at least three islate-related domain names were registered.
You won’t find any information about any company called Slate Computing online, although according to the filing these are the goods and services they offer:
Computers; computer software, namely, database management software, electronic mail and messaging software, Internet browser software, paging software, database synchronization software, software for accessing, browsing and searching online databases, software for creating spreadsheets, tables, graphs and charts, software for organizing and analyzing data, software for word processing, software for creation and display of presentations including text and graphics, software used for image editing, image processing, image acquisition, image file management, image viewing, image sharing, and the creation of documents incorporating images, software for use in developing websites, software to help users create, edit, organize, search, transfer, publish and subscribe to weblogs, blogs, podcasts, web broadcasts and news and information feeds on global and/or local computer and telecommunications networks, software for use in authoring, downloading, transmitting, receiving, editing, extracting, encoding, decoding, playing, storing and organizing audio, video and still images, software for authoring digital content, software for personal information management, software for DVD authoring, software for the electronic storage and retrieval of electronic calendar files, software with clock and alarm clock functionality, telephony management software, character recognition software, application development tool software for personal and handheld computers, software for the redirection of messages, Internet e-mail, and/or other data to one or more electronic handheld devices from a data store on or associated with a personal computer or a server, and software for the synchronization of data between a remote station or device and a fixed or remote station or device; computer operating system software; computer utility software; computer peripherals. notebook computers; laptop computers; tablet computers; computer servers; handheld computers; mobile computers; hard drives; audio speakers; speakers for computers; radios; cameras; video cameras; telephones; mobile telephones; personal digital assistants; electronic personal organizers; electronic notepads; blank magnetic data carriers; computer gaming machines; microprocessors; memory boards; computer monitors; keyboards; computer input devices, namely, touch screens, styluses, mice, trackballs and shuttle dials; computer cables; modems; printers; computer accessories, namely, computer battery chargers, battery packs, docking stations, adaptors, computer wired and wireless remote controls, audio headphones and earphones, and replacement parts for all the aforesaid goods.
That’s quite a list for a company that doesn’t even have its own website, but it matches exactly what Apple’s business is all about. Is Slate Computing just a shell company created by Apple, or is someone trying to play a number on them? More on that later.
Either way, the USPTO record shows that an opposition was filed on June 10, 2008.
In case you’re interested, the domain name slatecomputing.com is owned by a company called “Cayman Ninety Business” – with an office address on the Cayman Islands – which according to Domain Tools owns over 11,000 other domain names (all the marks of a savvy domainer and/or cybersquatter at play).
The ISLATE Trademark (Europe)
I did a search for ‘islate’ on OHIM, and founded out that same Slate Computing has filed for a trademark for the term in the European Union as well. It was filed in 21 November 2006, on the same day the filing for the ISLATE word mark was registered in the US.
Listed as legal representative on the form: UK-based Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, the same law firm Apple worked with for securing the EU-wide trademark for the term ‘Macbook’, for one.
Then I noticed something else on the record for the European ISLATE trademark: the priority country that was registered is Trinidad & Tobago. Why that matters? Because Apple has a history of listing Trinidad & Tobago as the priority country for European trademarks – just look up ‘iphone’ on OHIM and you’ll see I’m right.
Conclusion
Here’s what I think happened, based on the evidence presented above: Apple decided on the name iSlate for a new product it was working on, whether it will ultimately turn out to be for their new tablet computer or not, in November 2006. That same month, they moved to file for a trademark for the name in the United States and Europe under disguise, setting up and using Slate Computing LLC as a shell company, and securing a couple of available domain names through Mark Monitor (islate.co.uk, islate.biz and islate.info).
Then, they acquired the domain name islate.com from whoever owned it at that point. MacRumors reports that the domain name was under ownership of a company called Data Docket, Inc back in 2006, and a search for that company turns up this interesting article on that company. They’re either a shell company for Google (unlikely), or professional domainers/cybersquatters.
Either way, Apple reportedly got a hold of the domain name early 2007, right about the time they also secured islate.fr, supposedly.
The evidence is overwhelming: if there’s going to be a new tablet from Apple coming out next month, chances are that it’ll be christened iSlate.
Feel free to start lauding or ranting on the chosen name.
(Original image: MacRumors)
Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
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Judging by the comparative explosion of robo vacuum releases this month, you might think 2010 is all set to be the year of the automated floor sanitizer. Augmenting that impression is ASUS, who has now made its heavyweight presence known with the newly announced ECleaner, to be released under the AGAiT brand. This new bot comes with a UV light for disinfection, a fragrance slot, the usual photo sensor to prevent it from falling off a cliff, and naturally a remote control for the hands-on househusband. The biggest attraction though — beyond that killer paintjob — is likely to be the $150 price tag, which significantly undercuts most of what’s out on the market right now. Video of the little spherical hipster lies after the break.
Continue reading ASUS ECleaner is ready to rumble with the Roomba
ASUS ECleaner is ready to rumble with the Roomba originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In the night before Christmas, you left your gadget wish-list. Now it’s time to see what tech toys you actually unwrapped! Who got a new RAZR? How about an Apple IIe or TRS-80? Maybe a 32 MB Compact Flash card?!?
I’m kidding… I’m sure that bunches of you got some nice tech that will keep you happy this holiday season. As for me, I’m just happy to spend a quiet day with the family… and play Wii or Xbox 360 while we stream holiday music through the AppleTV and live-stream our video gaming session on the web. OK, maybe I’m not totally unplugging this season after all. Happy holidays! 
Around this time every year, synapses begin firing in brains telling people to send out holiday greeting cards. The synapse in my brain that controls card sending behavior doesn’t work properly. It rarely fires at all, but when it does, it doesn’t tell me to send holiday greeting cards. My synapse
fires and tells me to send… shoelaces. If you ever get a pair of shoelaces in the mail from me, that is my way of saying “Happy Holidays.”
I spent a lot of time searching for the perfect photo for my blog to wish everyone a beautiful, joyous, holiday season. I kept finding gorgeous photos of Christmas trees. There were lots of photos with Santa, ornaments, candles, and poinsettias. I wanted my photo to be perfect for everyone, no matter what holiday traditions they celebrated.
I found so many photos, but not the perfect one. The more I looked for the perfect photo, the more confused I became. Finally, the “perfect blog photo” synapse fired in my brain and selected a photo. As usual, my synapses fired in a faulty manner. My brain selected this photo of brussel sprouts as the perfect blog photo to wish everyone “Happy Holidays.”
Forgive me. Most of you probably don’t even like brussel sprouts. Actually, I am not that fond of them myself, but for whatever reason my brain decided the lowly, and mostly disliked, brussel sprout is my symbol of holiday joy this season!
The GovGab bloggers and the Federal Citizen Information Center staff wish all of you the best this holiday season. May the joy of the season fill your heart… and may my blog photo inspire you to try brussel sprouts at your holiday dinner!
The Hines HVR (Vertical Rotating) Balancer can be used for both single and two plane balancing. The configuration is suited for quick top loading of shaftless, flat parts. The unique suspension makes balancing fast and easy with superior separation of pure force and couple unbalance.
Hines Industries is a world leader in balancing equipment design innovation and manufacturing process improvement. Our balancing equipment can be found around the globe at major industrial manufacturers and in the machine shops of high performance racing greats. Hines offers leading edge vertical and horizontal, static and dynamic, balancing machines with multi-plane correction, and manual to assembly line-ready balancing processes. New, refurbished, and used balancing equipment is available. Services include manufacturing improvement analysis, balancing services, training, and machine calibration and repair.
The new series of star-delta starters M3P…70 are used to start electrical motors with 7.5 to 30kW power ratings at 400VAC and 16 to 60A currents at 440VAC.
They are housed in plastic enclosures with IP65 protection degree.
The starter can be equipped with additional components , both electromechanical (e.g. disconnect switch) and electronic (e.g. current monitoring relay) thanks to the enclosure size.
The thermal overload relay needs to be purchased separately and selected based on the motor rating to be started.
The wide cover surface and depth allow the customer to install push buttons, measuring instruments and switch disconnectors.
In addition to the M3P…70 type starters in insulated enclosure, LOVATO Electric has star-delta starters available up to 375kW at 400VAC in open-type version.
It’s that time of year again and between Christmas and New Year’s we’ll cutting down on the posting (yes, we do have lives too).
Happy Holidays from Just A Guy Thing and have yourself a merry hip-hop Christmas y’all:
Related posts:
Heritage Key (Sean Williams)
An older story, but I managed to miss it somehow.
The tomb of Tutankhamun is one of the world’s most famous ancient spots. Yet spots are precisely what are causing the decay of its beautiful wall paintings. The US-based Getty Conservation Institute have been drafted in to help mend the murals, but have been finding it an uphill struggle in the face of fierce desert weather and the onslaught of eager tourists.Dr Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s antiquities chief, has long bemoaned the damage tourists are doing to tombs at the Valley of the Kings; the necropolis of ancient Thebes near modern Luxor. Dr Hawass has even mooted the idea of a replica Tut’s tomb to cater for a burgeoning demand for the boy-king. Whether tourists will be satisfied without a trip to the real thing is debatable to say the least (have you say here).
And our composite picture (below), combining an original snap from Harry Burton and a recent shot by Sandro Vannini, clearly shows the brown spots have been in the tomb since Carter and Carnarvon first burst in over 80 years ago. So how much of its deterioration is due to tourism? Getty spokesperson Melissa Abraham tells us: “(The brown spots) have indeed been there since the tomb was discovered, and have never properly been analyzed, so that will be part of the GCI’s task. The visitor impact on the site is a separate issue that also will be looked at.”
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are spending the Christmas days in the Maldives. Check out a few pictures of the couple arriving at the island in the Indian Ocean.
Parece que en EEUU, el sistema regenerativo de energía con el que cuenta el Toyota Prius, está muy lejos de ser realmente eficiente. Un informe reciente indica que ya hay demasiadas quejas en contra de la marca, por los sustos que han pasado algunos conductores al no responder de inmediato (o hacerlo en exceso) el sistema de frenos.
Bajo ciertas condiciones, el Prius no frena normalmente ante una parada de rutina como en un semáforo o con tráfico; hay casos en que necesita mucha fuerza del pedal de freno para que lo haga. Por el contrario, puede suceder que a la próxima vez que se aplican los frenos, el Prius frene casi bloqueando las ruedas, casi sin ejercer mucha presión en el pedal. El culpable, parece que sería la regeneración de energía de los frenos, que tendería a fallar, después de que el coche ha pasado un bache o algún obstáculo del camino.
Evidentemente, nunca se puede saber si frenará o no el coche. Los dueños inconformes ya se han quejado a la agencia nacional de seguridad en carreteras (NHTSA), quiénes están investigando el problema para elaborar o no, un llamado masivo a revisión. Toyota acepta “algunos problemas” pero parece que está en la misma situación de estudio del caso.
¿Imaginan conducir un coche que frena literalmente cuando se le da la gana? La marca japonesa cierra un año que no recordará con mucho cariño en lo que toca a la seguridad y a los llamados a revisión .
Vía | The Detroit Bureau
On this special day…
I would like to give thanks to all my readers.
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Video.
Television interview with Marina Escolana, in Catalan. If you speak Spanish you’ll probably be able to get to grips with it.
Ha estat directora adjunta de l’expedició arqueològica de l’Egypt Exploration Society a l’antiga ciutat egípcia de Sais i acaba d’aconseguir una beca Fullbright per aprendre demòtic, és a dir, l’última etapa de l’idioma egipci. Només hi ha una dotzena de persones al món que en saben.
drhawass.com (Zahi Hawass)
With video.
This past year we found a new tomb in Saqqara, in the Gisr el-Mudir area. I was there when we opened a sealed limestone sarcophagus. Before the event, I could not sleep because I could not stop thinking about the excitement of that moment. When I arrived, I came down about 11 meters underground, where we began to open the sarcophagus, which had not been touched in 2600 years.If there was to be a mummy inside the coffin, they would have to be rich, because the limestone of the sarcophagus was very high quality, which means it would have been very expensive. To remove the lid, which is very heavy, many people had to work together to shift it.
When you open something like this it is very exciting, You never know what amazing secrets are hidden inside. The only way to truly understand the feeling is to experience it for yourself.
The mummy inside the coffin was kept safe, it is beautifully preserved. We plan to examine it using the CT scan machine to see inside, because most mummies of this period contained many amulets on the body inside the wrappings.
Heritage Key (Malcolm Jack)
Nothing keeps Dr Zahi Hawass awake at night quite like the prospect of being the first person to lay eyes on a millennia-dead Egyptian mummy. “I could not sleep with thinking about it all the time,” he reveals at the start of Heritage Key’s latest fantastic video by Nico Piazza, documenting the opening of an intact tomb at Saqqara. “Thinking about the moment that I will come down,” he continues, “about 11 metres, and begin to open a sealed sarcophagus that no one ever touched since 2,600 years ago.”The camera pans across creepy piles of heavily decayed human bones lying in corners – the latest intact tomb located at the massive necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital Memphis, located 40 kilometres south of Cairo, is evidently one rich in human remains. The unidentified body found lying inside a giant limestone sarcophagus is the prize of them all.
It’s not impossible to find a camera with integrated WiFi out there, but your choices are unquestionably limited. Thankfully for those in the market for such a device, it seems as if Samsung is gearing up to release quite the formidable opponent. Without so much as an official press release, the CL80 has emerged on the outfit’s website packing a 14 megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization, a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen (capacitive with haptic feedback), a 720p movie mode (H.264), microSD expansion slot (groan…), USB 2.0 connectivity and an above-average 7x optical zoom. The Instant Upload feature enables users to upload their shots to Facebook, Flickr, Photobox or Picasa, and for those who prefer to capture motion clips, it’ll also shoot your videos to YouTube when a hotspot is found. Nary a word has been spoken regarding price or release, but we’re going out on a limb here and surmising that much more information will be revealed at CES.
Continue reading Samsung’s 14MP CL80 packs integrated WiFi, 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen
Samsung’s 14MP CL80 packs integrated WiFi, 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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I am a T2 for 5+ years. Just started pumping about 2 months ago with Novolog on a MM722 w/CGMS. My Endo wants me to keep taking 2000mg of Metformin daily while dropping all other diabetes related meds (Levemir, Glimepiride and Actos).
I understand everyone’s situation is different. I like to hear from others on their use of Metformin and a pump.
Thanks,
aggie168
