Simple Phones Can Now Run Smartphone Apps

According to VascoDe CEO 83 percent of mobiles in the world are simple and do not connect to the internet which means that almost four billion people in the world cannot check their email whenever they wish to do so but now Customers will be able to use apps available until now only for Smartphone users on their simple phones.

For the same, a method has been developed by an Israeli company where old or outdated phones can run apps available only for smartphones.

The name of the Israeli company is VascoDe company. The system developed by the VascoDe company allows users to obtain apps with the firm’s cloud-based system that requires no downloads and uses the text-based Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), similar to the Short Message Service (SMS).

Customers will be able to use many apps available until now for smartphone users only. However, the only difference is that they will see the apps in black and white.

According to technology and health website, Israel21c, the USSD system does not allow access to the Internet, instead it uses the API (Application Programming Interfaces) from pages like Facebook, Gmail, and the like.

VascoDe CEO Doron Mottes said the difference between being able to check emails and respond to them, can make a whole difference in a world so hung up on the internet, because it can give you the possibility to respond to job offers.

VascoDe’s main markets are developing countries like Brazil, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, where most of the population cannot afford internet connection or a computer.

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Apps, Tech-News

Waka Waka Power Solar Lamp And Device Charger

The WakaWaka Power is a personal solar charger and a lamp. Solar energy has really become ubiquitous these days and we see the technology incorporated into our everyday lives. solar panels are a common sight and even personal chargers like the WakaWaka Power are also available in considerable numbers. WakaWaka is Swahili and is translated roughly to “Shine Bright”.

The Waka Waka lamp is a solar-powered LED light designed for use both in first-world campsites and third-world homes. Towards the end of the year, the Waka Waka Foundation followed up on the lamp’s success with a similar product, known as Waka Waka Power. It not only provides light, but can also be used to charge up your electronic gadgets.

The idea behind Waka Waka Power is simple i.e. put it in the sunlight, and it automatically starts charging up its 2,200 mAH LiPo battery. The WakaWaka Power device has a total of 5 LEDs on the case, 1 of which flashes to indicate that the unit is charging and the other 4 indicate how charged the battery is- single flashes indicate a slow charge, two flashes indicate a normal charge, and three mean that it’s charging fast.

After eight hours in full direct sun, it should achieve a full charge. You can check how much power it got by holding down its power button, which will cause a group of one to four other top-located lights to illuminate – depending on how many light up, a battery status of 25, 50, 75 or 100 percent is indicated.

The Waka Waka Power can also be charged from computer’s USB port in four hours and then charge a phone or other device via the Waka Waka’s USB port.

The lamp itself is a super bright LED and has variable brightness setting. This handy source of illumination can continue up to a 100 hours (on a certain setting) and again would be especially indispensable when outdoors. Other features include an ‘Auto energy saving mode’ and SOS emergency signaling.

Talking about the specifications technically, the battery is a 2200mAh LiPo and the solar cell has an efficiency of 22%. The LEDs are 0.5W Seoul Semicon with a 120 lumen/watt rating and can output 7 lux ambient light and 30 lux taslight. It’s an ideal solution for vacations, trips or just solid backup.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS:

• Pocket-sized smartphone charger with efficient solar panel and LED light
• Charges most smartphones and tablets via USB, solar, or AC
• Choose from 5 different light modes, including SOS beacon
• Durable, water-resistant construction; lightweight at only 7 ounces
• Measures 4.8 by 4 by 0.8 inches

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Gadgets, Tech-News

New Fibre Optic Tech Can Boost Internet Bandwidth

A new fiber optic technology could increase Internet bandwidth capacity by sending data along light beams that twist like a tornado rather than move in a straight line,easing internet congestion and video streaming, scientists say.

The discovery comes as Internet data traffic is reaching its limit amid mounting demand for bandwidth by users of smartphones and Internet-enabled devices, creating problems for network providers.

The new technology uses optical vortices, which are like donut-shaped laser light beams. Also known as orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, they were thought to be unstable in fibre until until Boston University Engineering Professor Siddharth Ramachandran recently designed an optical fibre that can propagate them.

In the paper in journal Science, he and Alan Willner of University of Southern California, demonstrated the stability of the beams in optical fibre and also their potential to boost Internet bandwidth.

"Our discovery, of design classes in which they are stable, has profound implications for a variety of scientific and technological fields," said Ramachandran.

"Including the use of such beams for enhancing data capacity in fibers."

Traditionally, bandwidth has been enhanced by increasing the number of colours, or wavelengths of data-carrying laser signals - essentially streams of 1s and 0s - sent down on an optical fibre, where the signals are processed according to colour.

An emerging strategy to boost bandwidth is to send the light through a fibre along distinctive paths, or modes, each carrying a cache of data from one end of the fibre to the other.

Unlike the colours, however, data streams of 1s and 0s from different modes mix together; determining which data stream came from which source requires computationally intensive and energy-hungry digital signal processing algorithms.

Prof. Ramachandran’s and Willner’s approach combines strategies, packing several colours into each mode, and using multiple modes.

Researchers showed it was possible to send a huge amount of data through a one-kilometre fiber, as much as 1.6 terabits per second, or the equivalent of transmitting eight Blu-Ray DVDs every second.

Other collaborators on the project were OFS-Fitel, a fiber optics company in Denmark, and Tel Aviv University.

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Tech-News

Facebook Will Stop Ads With Offensive Content

Facebook to remove ads from controversial pages after major companies boycott site

The social networking company will apply new measures from Monday, July 1, following pressure from advertisersFacebook Inc said it would no longer allow ads to appear on pages with sexual or violent content, as the online social network moves to appease marketers being associated with objectionable material  by launching a new system that will create a blacklist of pages and groups even if it previously passed its community standards.

The moves come a month after several businesses such as such as Nissan, Nationwide and BSkyB pulled their ads from Facebook amid reports of pages on Facebook that promoted violence against women.Sky's ad for an M&S voucher promotion was placed on a Facebook page called "cute and gay boys", according to BBC News.Facebook said at the time that it needed to improve its system for flagging and removing content that violated its community standards, which forbid users from posting content about hate-speech, threats and pornography, among other things.

Ads account for roughly 85 per cent of revenue at Facebook, the world's largest social network with 1.1 billion users. Facebook said the changes would not have a meaningful impact on its business.On Friday, Facebook said it also needed to do more to prevent situations in which ads are displayed alongside material that may not run afoul of its community standards but are deemed controversial nonetheless.Facebook said that the laborious manual review will be completed by the end of next week, and a greatly expanded restricted list of pages and groups where ads are blocked will be created."We know that marketers work hard to promote their brands, and we take their objectives seriously," the company said. "While we already have rigorous review and removal policies for content against our terms, we recognise we need to do more to prevent situations where ads are displayed alongside controversial Pages and Groups."

Pages and groups that reference violence will also be off limits to ads, the company said. A Facebook spokeswoman noted that the policy would not apply to the pages of news organisations on Facebook.Facebook said the process of flagging objectionable pages and removing ads would initially be done manually, but that the company will build an automated system to do the job in the coming weeks.

Read More »

Add Comment

RC News

Fujifilm Reveals 16.3 MP X-M1: A Compact And Lightweight Premium Interchangeable-Lens Camera

FUJIFILM Corporation has announced the forthcoming release of the X-M1,the third premium interchangeable-lens camera from the company. Compact and lightweight,sports the same 16.3 megapixel sensor found in the X-Pro1 and X-E1, as well as up to ISO25600 sensitivity, built-in Wi-Fi technology and an LCD display that tilts vertically. The company has also placed all of the camera's key buttons and dials on the right side for one-handed operation.The camera is equipped with two Command Dials, allowing users to adjust the aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation quickly with their thumb. Individual buttons are also provided to access frequently-used functions such as White Balance, Burst Mode and Macro, so that you don’t have to go to the menu screen for each change of setting, enabling an intuitive and quick operation.he FUJIFILM X-M1 is equipped with a large and same APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor as the X-Pro1  with sensor’s unique colour filter array that minimises moiré and chromatic aberration. The sensor works with the EXR Processor II imaging engine to offer continuous shooting of 5.6 frames per second (fps) for a burst of 30 frames in JPEG format or 10 frames in RAW/RAW+JPEG, or 3 fps for 50 frames in JPEG.The X-M1 weighs just 330 grams(*3) despite incorporating a large APS-C CMOS sensor, a tiltable high-definition LCD monitor, a built-in flash, Wireless image transfer and a hot shoe.

AVAILABLE COLORS:
The X-M1 will be available in three colors: Black, Silver and Brown.

The 3-inch high-definition LCD screen tilts up and down, facilitating ground level shots of flowers and pets as well as high up shots over a crowd of people. It is also suited to tripod-mounted video shooting to broaden your shooting style.

IT INCLUDES:

• FUJIFILM’s Super Intelligent Flash technology which regulates flash intensity according to the scene
• Wireless image transfer allowing you to instantly transfer high quality images to a mobile device or computer
• popular special effects in-camera
• Full HD video recording
• X-M1 accessories- Leather Case,Hand Grip,Clip-on Flash

FUJIFILM X-M1 KEY FEATURES:

• 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor (same sensor as X-Pro1/X-E1)
• Hi-speed EXR Processor II
• Start-up time of 0.5 secs (*1), shutter lag of 0.05 secs and a maximum burst speed of 5.6 fps(max. 30 frames*2)
• Compact and lightweight body (half the size of an SLR)
• Tiltable 3-inch LCD (920K dot high definition)
• Built in flash with FUJIFILM’s Super Intelligent Flash technology
• ISO200-6400 in 1/3 step increments (and extended range of ISO100, ISO 12800 to 25600 at reduced resolution)
• Full HD Video recording at 30fps
• 49 point AF
• Art filters: 8 Advanced Filters plus 5 Film Simulation modes
• In-camera RAW processing
• Q button for list view of frequently-used menus and smooth configuration
• Hot shoe
• Wireless image transfer to smart phones and tablet PCs via FUJIFILM Camera app
• Cool retro design, available in three colors: Black, Silver and Brown

LOOK OF FUJIFILM X-M1:

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Cameras, Gadgets

Power Generation Through Walking With Energy Floors

A London-based startup company, produced floor tiles that convert kinetic energy from footsteps into renewable electricity means convert footsteps into electricity.

“The Pavegen technology offers the first tangible way for people to engage with renewable energy generation,” Pavegen 

Power generating tiles are a growing trend across the world. Pavegen is currently working with the German technology company Siemens to install the tiles in a square in Australia to power the lights there. There are also plans for power generating tiles in Lodon train stations in schools where it can be used to power the lights.

The tiles are 45-by-60 centimeters and glow a bright green when they are stepped on. They are made of recycled rubber and other recycled materials and were designed to be retrofitted in place of existing flooring systems.As a person steps on an Energy Floor tile, the tile flexes about 10 mm. That movement is converted into electricity -  15 Watts on average, and up to 25 Watts peak  depending on a person’s weight. The tiles are modular; connect 40 tiles together and the network can generate up to 1 kW. 

WORKING:

The Sustainable Dance Floor modules flex slightly when stepped on which creates a movement that can be transformed into electric power by a small internal generator. Each module by the size of 75x75x20 cm can produce up to 35 watt of sustained output. Between 5-20 Watt per person.

PLACES WHERE ENERGY FLOORS WOULD BE USED:

• dancing floors
• in front of the stages
• railroad platforms
•  high-traffic walkways
• movement of cars
• movement of trains
• foothpaths

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Tech-News

Chemists Work To Desalinate One Nanoliter Of Ocean Water at a time For Drinking

A prototype "water chip" developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with a startup company.

As we know our planet Earth has most of its part covered with water but that water is not fit for drinking because it is present in oceans in the form of saline water. chemists have found a way to desalinate it make this water pure for drinking.Chemists at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Marburg in Germany have introduced a new method for the desalination of seawater by creating a small electrical field that removes salts from seawater and consumes less energy and is dramatically simpler than conventional techniques. The new method requires so little energy that it can run on a store-bought battery.The process eludes the problems confronting current desalination methods by eliminating the need for a membrane and by separating salt from water at a microscale.

A photo of water being poured onto a computer memory chip

The technique is called electrochemically mediated seawater desalination, was described last week in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The research team was led by Richard Crooks of The University of Texas at Austin and Ulrich Tallarek of the University of Marburg. It’s patent-pending and is in commercial development by startup company Okeanos Technologies.

“The availability of water for drinking and crop irrigation is one of the most basic requirements for maintaining and improving human health,” said Crooks, the Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry in the College of Natural Sciences. “Seawater desalination is one way to address this need, but most current methods for desalinating water rely on expensive and easily contaminated membranes. The membrane-free method we’ve developed still needs to be refined and scaled up, but if we can succeed at that, then one day it might be possible to provide fresh water on a massive scale using a simple, even portable, system.”This new method holds particular promise for the water-stressed areas in which about a third of the planet’s inhabitants live. Many of these regions have access to abundant seawater but not to the energy infrastructure or money necessary to desalt water using conventional technology. As a result, millions of deaths per year in these regions are attributed to water-related causes.“People are dying because of a lack of freshwater,” said Tony Frudakis, founder and CEO of Okeanos Technologies. “And they’ll continue to do so until there is some kind of breakthrough, and that is what we are hoping our technology will represent.”To achieve desalination, the researchers apply a small voltage (3.0 volts) to a plastic chip filled with seawater. The chip contains a microchannel with two branches. At the junction of the channel an embedded electrode neutralizes some of the chloride ions in seawater to create an “ion depletion zone” that increases the local electric field compared with the rest of the channel. This change in the electric field is sufficient to redirect salts into one branch, allowing desalinated water to pass through the other branch.

The left panel shows the salt (which is tagged with a fluorescent tracer) flowing upward after a voltage is applied by an electrode (the dark rectangle) jutting into the channel at just the point where it branches. In the right panel no voltage is being applied.

“The neutralization reaction occurring at the electrode is key to removing the salts in seawater,” said Kyle Knust, a graduate student in Crooks’ lab and first author on the paper.Like a troll at the foot of the bridge, the ion depletion zone prevents salt from passing through, resulting in the production of freshwater.Thus far Crooks and his colleagues have achieved 25 percent desalination. Although drinking water requires 99 percent desalination, they are confident that goal can be achieved.“This was a proof of principle,” said Knust. “We’ve made comparable performance improvements while developing other applications based on the formation of an ion depletion zone. That suggests that 99 percent desalination is not beyond our reach.”The other major challenge is to scale up the process. Right now the microchannels, about the size of a human hair, produce about 40 nanoliters of desalted water per minute. To make this technique practical for individual or communal use, a device would have to produce liters of water per day. The authors are confident that this can be achieved as well.If these engineering challenges are surmounted, they foresee a future in which the technology is deployed at different scales to meet different needs.“You could build a disaster relief array or a municipal-scale unit,” said Frudakis. “Okeanos has even contemplated building a small system that would look like a Coke machine and would operate in a standalone fashion to produce enough water for a small village.”The fundamental scientific breakthroughs that led to this advance were primarily supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences in the U.S. Department of Energy. Okeanos Technologies is funded by venture capital and grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The intellectual property is owned by The University of Texas at Austin through the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). In the event of eventual profits, patent holders, including Crooks and Knust, will be paid according to the OTC’s standard licensing agreement. Okeanos Technologies is also currently supporting Knust’s stipend and tuition via a gift to UT. 

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Tech-News

Nasa Testing Mars Rover Prototype In Peru

Nasa scientists said they were testing a prototype of a robot, the US space agency hopes to send to Mars in 2020 in Chile's Atacama desert.

Nasa hopes to use this kind of rover to explore life-friendly sites found by Curiosity, the rover already searching for signs of life on Mars. It has been there since last August.

The researchers say the desert, the driest spot on Earth, mimics the conditions of the Red Planet, and the agency has used it in the past to test space-bound equipment.

The robot, controlled remotely from the US, will continue testing through Sunday.

The solar-powered 771-kilogram machine is equipped with cameras and a drill able to dig up to a meter (three feet) deep.

It is testing its sensors, its cameras, its ability to store energy, as it searches for evidence of microbial life in the desert.

Read More »

Add Comment

RC News

Jaguar releases C-X75 : 850-hp,hybrid supercar struts its speed

Jaguar engineers combined a 1.6-liter turbo supercharged four-cylinder engine (that delivers 502 horsepower) with two electric motors (390 horsepower) for a total output that exceeds 850 horsepower.

After several years of tinkering, Jaguar once again chats up the jaw-dropping C-X75 hybrid supercar.

When the car's at a complete standstill, racers cranking the C-X75's seven-speed manual transmission can achieve 0-100 mph in less than six seconds. If that's not fast enough for you, the theoretical top speed of 220 mph should set you straight, or at least put you in the next county quite quickly. The C-X75's carbon composite chassis undoubtedly assists in creating a very light footprint.

In recent years, the trend in supercars has been driving towards efficiency—lighter weight, smaller engines, and, as is crucially important in tax-heavy Europe, lower CO2 emissions. A spec sheet notes that the C-X75 outputs CO2 emissions at a less-than-Prius rate of 89 grams per kilometer,which would put it in the lowest emissions class in the UK, but the company doesn't specify under what conditions. When running strictly in electric mode, the C-X75 can travel about 37 miles while outputting zero emissions which means—if you've got a light foot—you could putter around town in one of the world's fastest cars without using a drop of gas.

This car is lovely, and its carbon chassis, gorgeous suspension, and active aerodynamics all combine for a mouth-watering package.

A LOOK OF JAGUAR C-X75:

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Automotives, Cars

An iPhone Into A Stereoscopic 3D Camera: By Poppy

Poppy is the first device in the world that turns an iPhone into a 3D camera capable of capturing, viewing and sharing full-motion, full-color video and stills in 3D. It is Created by Joe Heitzberg (co-founder of Snapvine) and Ethan Lowry (co-founder of Urbanspoon).

There are several apps that can alter an exising images and convert it into 3D images with an iPhone but With the Poppy, you'll be able to shoot your own 3D images and video instantly with just your iPhone. According to the developers, the stereoscopic images produced with a Poppy and an iPhone's HD camera lend a true sense of immersion to your typical snapshots. Poppy lets you capture and share the world the way you really experience it: in three dimensions.

WORKING:

Poppy works with iPhone 4, 4S, iPhone 5 and the fifth generation iPod Touch.  You put your phone in and Poppy’s mirrors capture two stereographic images using your iPhone’s single camera. 

When you look in the viewfinder, Poppy’s lenses combine the two video streams into a single, crisp, 3D video. It’s beautiful, and really hard to describe or show in two dimensions.

It doesn't need batteries and there are no electronics. It's just optics and your iPhone's camera and screen, so we can keep the price low without sacrificing quality.

For example, HTC came out with the Evo 3D smartphone several years ago, which had dual cameras for capturing 3-D photos and videos.

POPPY 3D SAMPLE VIDEO:

THE iPHONE APP:

Since Poppy works by recording two stereographic images in your iPhone's single camera, any camera or video app you already use -- like Camera Plus or Vine -- will work with Poppy. Just put the iPhone in Poppy when you take the picture, and view the content with Poppy to see it in 3D.

However, to make things easier,  a dedicated iOS app Is going to be created for Poppy. It will feature:

• Capturing 3D videos and 3D still images
• Saving photos and videos to your iPhone's photo album
• Uploading videos to YouTube
• Browsing your own 3D content as well as 3D videos on YouTube
• Easy controls and navigation for when your phone is in Poppy

The Poppy  reached its Kickstarter goal of US$40,000 in less than a day, so it may soon become the first device that takes 3D images with an iPhone camera. Right now, anyone who contributes $49 or more to the Kickstarter can receive a Poppy of their very own when they ship in December of this year.

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Apple, Apps, Cameras, Tech-News

Sony Xperia M Gets Priced In The UK And Germany

Sony has announced two new members in its Xperia family in the form of Xperia M and Xperia M dual. Both these smartphones pack in similar specifications, with the Xperia M dual being a dual-SIM smartphone.

Sony Xperia M and Xperia M dual support a 4.0-inch TFT display of FWVGA resolution. The smartphones pack in 1GHz dual-core processor along with Adreno 305 graphics. They come with with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage of which 2.8GB is user-accessible. The storage can be further expanded by up to 32GB via microSD card.

For camera, there is a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and a 0.3-megapixel front snapper. Both these smartphones have a 1,750mAh battery and the connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G with HSPA, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. As these smartphones have NFC connectivity and dedicated sharing apps, Sony is pegging Xperia M and Xperia M dual to be phones with "magical one-touch functions".

Sony Xperia M run on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) while the Xperia M dual will offer Android 4.2 out of the box. Sony has shared that both Xperia M and Xperia M dual will start retailing from the third quarter of 2013.

DIFFERENT AVAILABLE COLORS:

The Sony Xperia M will be available in four color options - Black, White, Purple and Lime. While Xperia M dual will be available in Black, White and Purple colors.

Sony Xperia M and Xperia M dual key specifications:

• 4-inch display with FWVGA resolution
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD
• 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus
• VGA front-facing camera
• Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) only for Xperia M dual
• Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, aGPS, NFC
• 1,750mAh
• Android 4.1 for Xperia M, Android 4.2 for Xperia M dual

Sony Xperia M detailed specifications:

General  

• Processor   1GHz  dual-core
• OS          Android 4.1
• RAM 1GB

Storage  

• Internal Storage 4GB
• Expandable storage microSD
• Expandable storage   up to (GB) 32

Display  

• Size (inches) 4
• Resolution          480x854 pixels

Camera  

• Rear camera 5-megapixel
• Flash          Yes
• Front camera 0.3 megapixel

Communication  

• Number of SIMs 1
• GSM/ CDMA         GSM
• 3G                         Yes

Connectivity  

• Wi-Fi Yes
• GPS          Yes
• Bluetooth Yes, v 4.0
• NFC Yes
• USB          Yes
• Infrared No
• HDMI No

Battery  

• Battery capacity 1750 mAh
• Removable           Yes

The Sony Xperia M has had its price revealed in the UK and Germany.

The single SIM variant of the handset is available for preorder in Germany from Cyberport.de for €239, while the dual-SIM version is listed at notebooksbilliger.de for €299. The difference seems a bit too big so we assume the latter price is slightly off, though.

In the UK, Handtec has the single-SIM model for £227.99, but it is currently listed as out of stock. Meanwhile, Carphone Warehouse has the M pegged for an August 2013, which coincides with the Q3 launch frame given by Sony on announcement.

LOOK OF SONY XPERIA M:

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Mobiles, News

Nasa Telescope To Investigate Long-Standing Solar Mystery

In the NASA handout image, the bright light of a solar flare on the left side of the sun and an eruption of solar material shooting through the sun's atmosphere, called a prominence eruption, are seen.

A small Nasa telescope was launched into orbit on a mission to determine how the sun heats its atmosphere to millions of degrees, sending off rivers of particles that define the boundaries of the solar system

The study is not only related with academics as solar activity directly impacts Earth’s climate and the space environment beyond the planet’s atmosphere. Solar storms can knock out power grids, disrupt radio signals and interfere with communications, navigation and other satellites in orbit.

Physicist Alan Title, with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California, which designed and built the telescope said that “We live in a very complex society and the sun has a role to play in it” .

Scientists have been trying to unriddle the mechanisms that drive the sun for decades but one fundamental mystery continues: How it manages to release energy from its relatively cool, 5 500 degree Celsius surface into an atmosphere that can reach up to 5 million degrees Fahrenheit (2,8 million Celsius).

At its core, the sun is essentially a giant fusion engine that melds hydrogen atoms into helium. As expected, temperatures cool as energy travels outward through the layers. But then in the lower atmosphere, known as the chromosphere, temperatures heat up again.

Pictures and data relayed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, telescope may finally provide some answers about how that happens.

The 1.2-meter long, 204-kg observatory will be watching the sun from a vantage point about 643 km above Earth. It is designed to capture detailed images of light moving from the sun’s surface, known as the photosphere, into the chromosphere. Temperatures peak in the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.

All that energy fuels a continuous release of charged particles from the sun into what is known as the solar wind, a pressure bubble that fills and defines the boundaries of the solar system.

“Every time we look at the sun in more detail, it opens up a new window for us,” said Jeffrey Newmark, IRIS program scientist at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The telescope was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Corp Pegasus rocket at 10:27 p.m. EDT Thursday (04:27 SA time Friday). Pegasus is an air-launched system that is carried aloft by a modified L-1011 aircraft that took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California about 57 minutes before launch.

The rocket was released from beneath the belly of the plane at an altitude of about 11 900 meters before it ignited to carry the telescope into orbit.

IRIS, which cost about $145 million including the launch service, is designed to last for two years.

VIDEO RELATED TO IT:

Read More »

Add Comment

RC News

HTC 8XT and Samsung Ativ S Neo - Sprint's First Windows8 Phones

Windows Phone 8 is finally coming to Sprint. Sprint announced their first two WP8 phones today, the Samsung ATIV S Neo and the HTC 8XT. Both will be releasing LTE devices running the latest version of Windows Phone sometime this summer, though specific release dates have yet to be announced. Sprint customers will be having two choices this summer with two new Windows Phone 8 devices launching from HTC and Samsung.

Sprint (NYSE: S) and Microsoft Corp. today outlined plans to launch the first two Windows Phone 8 smartphones to offer Truly UnlimitedSM Sprint 4G LTE this summer – HTC® 8XT and Samsung ATIV S™ Neo. Customers will appreciate access to the advanced features and capabilities of these devices with the benefit of unlimited 4G LTE (available in select markets) data, text and calling to any mobile with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.

“We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today. Our customers will appreciate being able to use them all day, every day without worrying about overages or data caps.”

HTC 8XT:

HTC's Windows Phone 8X device is a well-designed device that has great pocket appeal. HTC took much of that same design philosophy and applied it to the new 8XT, along with the fabulous BoomSound front facing stereo speakers we see in the HTC One.

The $99 HTC 8XT BoomSound system includes Beats Audio and a dedicated amplifier for top notch sound. An 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.6 megapixel front facing camera are included. The 8XT is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.4GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD card slot, and 4.3 inch display.

Samsung ATIV S Neo:

Samsung hasn't been a very active Windows Phone participant, but does have decent offerings with Windows Phone devices modeled after its successful Android models. The ATIV S Neo will have a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, microSD card slot, 4.8 inch display, 8 megapixel rear camera, and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera.

The ATIV S Neo will also include several Samsung utilities, such as ATIV Beam, Now, Beauty Shot, Manga Camera, Photo Editor, and more. The ATIV S Neo will be priced at $149.99.

With Nokia leading the Windows Phone market by a huge margin and now having flagship devices on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (soon), I imagine we may hear about a Nokia device for Sprint later as well. These two devices are mid-range Windows Phone 8 devices so a flagship has yet to be revealed for Sprint.

“We are excited to be bringing the most personal smartphone experience to Sprint customers this summer,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division. “With compelling hardware from HTC and Samsung, coupled with unlimited 4G LTE from Sprint, these Windows Phones will offer the complete package.”

Read More »

Add Comment

RC Gadgets, Mobiles