The Nike+ GPS(GPS Devices) app tracks your speed and distance, maps your runs, and permits your buddies on facebook and twitter to view your progress. It costs $1.99 on itunes and just got a fun new update; it is possible to now play tag with other runners. You challenge a person with time or distance nearby. Whoever runs the shortest distance or runs the least amount of time could be "it."
The Inside Nike Running YouTube channel put up a creepy video to announce the new update. A masculine, movie-commercial voice tells us that, "It can arise at any minute. It knows who you might be. It knows where you might be. It defines you. No one wants to be it. So don't be it. Run."
The video then demonstrates how with the updated app, once they're "tagged" runners will leave their girlfriend/dog/job behind to participate inside the game.
The app is meant to encourage runners to motivate every other, or face the terrible, socially-crippling disappointment of being "it." And encourage people to acquire the app naturally. After all, $1.99 is really a steal in case you paid $85 for Nike running shoes. In case you can get past the video it must be all fun and games.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Will Windows Phone 7 apps smile for the camera?
One of my favorite features in Apple's iOS is the quietly-hidden capability to take screenshots. Back when I was performing deep dives on iPhone apps for stories, the feature was just there, and it worked. Outside of CNET, it let me do things like grab photos from web sites (prior to that feature was officially added), and put together fast step-by-step how-to guides for buddies and family, turning the device into less of a consumptive tool, and into some thing that would aid me get work carried out without a pc.
But in the past couple of months of me putting Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 via its paces as a primary device, I've been missing the feature dearly. So naturally, I asked Microsoft if it was on the short list of features to be added later on down the line.
The short answer? No.
"I have by no means sat in a user group--and I sit in plenty of user groups, plenty of retail groups--I've by no means heard an end user go 'why can't I take a screenshot of that?'" Aaron Woodman, director of Microsoft's mobile communications company, told CNET in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show last week.
Well ahead of a screenshot tool can be a laundry list of features Microsoft plans to add, which includes the ones competitors have already put out, which Woodman referred to as "gaps."
"One of the reasons that personally pulled me over to the Windows Phone space was that there's lots of choices to make," Woodman said. "It's not like we didn't know copy and paste was a feature that people could potentially want, it's a question of how crucial it's to the user experience. When can you get to it?"
According to Woodman, it is also not constantly the users who support Microsoft decide which features must be fast-tracked. "We do a great deal of things for reporters," Woodman said. "I would argue things like the Mac connector software--the software that lets you take your Windows Phone and connect it to an Apple PC of some form, and essentially pull over music from iTunes and photos and that type of stuff--it wasn't built because we thought there was a considerable marketplace chance for Mac loyalists out there who were dying to acquire a Windows Phone. It was built due to the fact reporters would show up with Macs," Woodman said.
The other half of the equation, Woodman explained, is that developers who wanted to take screenshots of their applications have had the means since the introduction of the Windows Phone 7 SDK. "There's a ton of ways to do it in within the emulator, so application developers have no dilemma with that," Woodman said.
If you are thinking to yourself, "this is a niche feature," look no further than Damn You, Auto Correct, a internet site that popped up back in October of last year and is now up to a lot more than 1,300 posts containing unintentionally humorous instances of the iPhone's autocorrect feature gone wrong, snapped and sent in by users.
Nevertheless, something that would let you snap photos of text conversations is one thing. Where Woodman said some problems could arise is with capturing specific kinds of content if there's copy-protection involved.
"The reality is, we have a DRM requirement for our marketplace, which makes things like HDMI and those kinds of things out, additional challenging," Woodman said. "We've made a option to have a more protected set of content on the phone and available to customers, so we do have restrictions within that," he said.
What that would mean for such a feature is that you wouldn't have the ability to snap a shot of what you had been doing if there was a copy protection layer in location. This is comparable to what Apple does with the built-in screen grab software in Mac OS X when movies are playing inside the DVD player application.
Woodman said the feature could wind up in a future create of the OS software though. "Not that we couldn't technically do it. I mean, at the end of the day it is software," he said. "We could surely select to do screenshot capabilities if you're not in these three experiences."
Windows Phone 7's 1st software update since its launch late last year is just around the corner. Besides the addition of copy and paste, you can find out far more about what type of benefits it'll bring to things like application load times as well as the Marketplace search tool in our other chat with Woodman from last week.
But in the past couple of months of me putting Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 via its paces as a primary device, I've been missing the feature dearly. So naturally, I asked Microsoft if it was on the short list of features to be added later on down the line.
The short answer? No.
"I have by no means sat in a user group--and I sit in plenty of user groups, plenty of retail groups--I've by no means heard an end user go 'why can't I take a screenshot of that?'" Aaron Woodman, director of Microsoft's mobile communications company, told CNET in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show last week.
Well ahead of a screenshot tool can be a laundry list of features Microsoft plans to add, which includes the ones competitors have already put out, which Woodman referred to as "gaps."
"One of the reasons that personally pulled me over to the Windows Phone space was that there's lots of choices to make," Woodman said. "It's not like we didn't know copy and paste was a feature that people could potentially want, it's a question of how crucial it's to the user experience. When can you get to it?"
According to Woodman, it is also not constantly the users who support Microsoft decide which features must be fast-tracked. "We do a great deal of things for reporters," Woodman said. "I would argue things like the Mac connector software--the software that lets you take your Windows Phone and connect it to an Apple PC of some form, and essentially pull over music from iTunes and photos and that type of stuff--it wasn't built because we thought there was a considerable marketplace chance for Mac loyalists out there who were dying to acquire a Windows Phone. It was built due to the fact reporters would show up with Macs," Woodman said.
The other half of the equation, Woodman explained, is that developers who wanted to take screenshots of their applications have had the means since the introduction of the Windows Phone 7 SDK. "There's a ton of ways to do it in within the emulator, so application developers have no dilemma with that," Woodman said.
If you are thinking to yourself, "this is a niche feature," look no further than Damn You, Auto Correct, a internet site that popped up back in October of last year and is now up to a lot more than 1,300 posts containing unintentionally humorous instances of the iPhone's autocorrect feature gone wrong, snapped and sent in by users.
Nevertheless, something that would let you snap photos of text conversations is one thing. Where Woodman said some problems could arise is with capturing specific kinds of content if there's copy-protection involved.
"The reality is, we have a DRM requirement for our marketplace, which makes things like HDMI and those kinds of things out, additional challenging," Woodman said. "We've made a option to have a more protected set of content on the phone and available to customers, so we do have restrictions within that," he said.
What that would mean for such a feature is that you wouldn't have the ability to snap a shot of what you had been doing if there was a copy protection layer in location. This is comparable to what Apple does with the built-in screen grab software in Mac OS X when movies are playing inside the DVD player application.
Woodman said the feature could wind up in a future create of the OS software though. "Not that we couldn't technically do it. I mean, at the end of the day it is software," he said. "We could surely select to do screenshot capabilities if you're not in these three experiences."
Windows Phone 7's 1st software update since its launch late last year is just around the corner. Besides the addition of copy and paste, you can find out far more about what type of benefits it'll bring to things like application load times as well as the Marketplace search tool in our other chat with Woodman from last week.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Mac App Stone now live with over 1000 apps
The Mac App Retailer has as a final point gone dwell nowadays. The store brings over a 1000 applications, both compensated as well as absolutely free straight onto your Mac. To obtain the Mac App Retailer, you'll have to make use of the Program Update function on your Mac and then upgrade your Snow Leopard to v10.six.6, which will set up the App Keep app.
The new App Retailer brings several applications, like Apple s very own for example iLife 11, iWork eleven and Aperture three amongst other folks. Then there are actually also others which include Flight Handle HD, Pixelmator and Points you could obtain. You could pick from equally paid at the same time as free apps. The variety of excellent apps could be bit restricted as of now but will of course expand in the coming days.
We are at this time installing the update on our MacBooks and can undoubtedly let you know extra about it after we consider it out. Preserve reading Techtree for additional information on the Mac App Keep.
We are at this time installing the update on our MacBooks and can undoubtedly let you know extra about it after we consider it out. Preserve reading Techtree for additional information on the Mac App Keep.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Turn off Bluetooth to save iPhone 4 battery
If you're wondering why the supposedly substantially longer-lasting battery life of you shiny new iPhone 4 just is not as great as you thought it would be, check your Bluetooth utilization prior to you condemn your phone.
The battery for the iPhone 4 is considerably larger than those on previous models, and is advertised to work for a lot longer, in both talk/ use time and standby than on older iPhones. When you may well have gotten your new iPhone (and especially some new accessories) and come across that your battery life is just not living up to your expectations, you'll discover a couple of issues that you should take a look at initial. These consist of your Bluetooth utilization, use of GPS systems, push notifications, WiFi settings, and display settings.
Let's just speak about Bluetooth utilization for now. In case you may possibly have introduced your system to any Bluetooth gadgets, and in case you may well have Bluetooth turned on in settings, your iPhone will likely be making use of energy checking to see if those gadgets are readily offered every and every single few seconds. Inside the event you're not making use of the defined devices, you are incredibly significantly a lot better off, battery-wise, to turn Bluetooth off. That also means that you'll be ahead to turn Bluetooth processing off as soon as you stop utilizing a Bluetooth device.
To turn off Bluetooth entirely, tap on the "Settings" icon, then on "General" on the Settings display. Part way down the General page, you will see the "Bluetooth" entry. To the proper, it says regardless of whether Bluetooth is On or Off. If it is On, tap about the word "Bluetooth" and then once around the On / Off slider 0n the resulting display. Which will flip Bluetooth completely off. When you as soon as again need to use a bluetooth gadget, just reverse that process to turn Bluetooth back on.
The battery for the iPhone 4 is considerably larger than those on previous models, and is advertised to work for a lot longer, in both talk/ use time and standby than on older iPhones. When you may well have gotten your new iPhone (and especially some new accessories) and come across that your battery life is just not living up to your expectations, you'll discover a couple of issues that you should take a look at initial. These consist of your Bluetooth utilization, use of GPS systems, push notifications, WiFi settings, and display settings.
Let's just speak about Bluetooth utilization for now. In case you may possibly have introduced your system to any Bluetooth gadgets, and in case you may well have Bluetooth turned on in settings, your iPhone will likely be making use of energy checking to see if those gadgets are readily offered every and every single few seconds. Inside the event you're not making use of the defined devices, you are incredibly significantly a lot better off, battery-wise, to turn Bluetooth off. That also means that you'll be ahead to turn Bluetooth processing off as soon as you stop utilizing a Bluetooth device.
To turn off Bluetooth entirely, tap on the "Settings" icon, then on "General" on the Settings display. Part way down the General page, you will see the "Bluetooth" entry. To the proper, it says regardless of whether Bluetooth is On or Off. If it is On, tap about the word "Bluetooth" and then once around the On / Off slider 0n the resulting display. Which will flip Bluetooth completely off. When you as soon as again need to use a bluetooth gadget, just reverse that process to turn Bluetooth back on.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Apple Launches the New 11 and 13 Inch Macbook Air in India
Apple's officially launched the new Macbook Air in its 11 and 13 inch versions. The personal computer was unveiled at final month's Back again For the Mac event. The 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air will likely be accessible by means of the Apple Authorized Resellers in India. The 1.4-GHz 11-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 64GB of flash storage begins at a value of Rs. 60,900 which has a 128GB product for Rs. 72,900. The 1.86 GHz 13-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage begins at a value of Rs. 79,900 which has a 256GB product will promote for Rs. 98,900. Configure-to-order alternatives and accessories contain more rapidly processors, 4GB of memory, MacBook Air SuperDrive plus a USB Ethernet Adapter.
This can be the Macbook Air that is touted to be an pricey netbook. It is also the laptop you don't need to take out of your bag when becoming security screened in the airport. Whilst it is totally logical why Apple would launch the Macbook Air in India way sooner than other cool objects, say the iPad or iPhone 4, it is undoubtedly not cool.
This can be the Macbook Air that is touted to be an pricey netbook. It is also the laptop you don't need to take out of your bag when becoming security screened in the airport. Whilst it is totally logical why Apple would launch the Macbook Air in India way sooner than other cool objects, say the iPad or iPhone 4, it is undoubtedly not cool.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
New High-Powered Organic Batteries
Chemists from the University of Texas developed new organic batteries that offer lightweight energy storage. Unlike similar developments, their new battery does not rely on toxic heavy metals, making it a potential ecologic replacement for current batteries. The new study, conducted by Christopher Bielawski and Jonathan Sessler, tries to improve the way electrons move back and forth between two molecules, since this event creates electricity. Moreover, it may be a necessary step toward making artificial photosynthesis, where fuel might be generated directly from the sun, a lot as plants do.
According to previous studies, the exchange of electrons between molecules frequently form new compounds. In some cases, the electron transfer procedure creates one molecule with a positive charge and one molecule with a negative charge. Molecules with opposite charges are attracted to each other and can combine to form something new.
In this latest study, published in Science, the chemists produced two molecules that could meet and exchange electrons ¡§C but not unite to form a new compound. "These molecules were effectively spring-loaded to push apart following interacting with each other," explained Bielawski. "After electron transfer occurs, two positively charged molecules are formed which are repelled by each other, a lot like magnets held in a certain way will repel each other. We also installed a chemical switch that allowed the electron transfer procedure to proceed in the opposite direction."
The new system gives the capability to produce efficient organic battery. By understanding the electron transfer processes in these molecules, the group could design organic materials for storing electrical energy that could then be retrieved for later use. While similar plans were made in the past, other researchers lacked the capability to manipulate electron flow. "This is the first time that the forward and backward switching of electron flow has been accomplished via a switching procedure at the molecular scale," said Sessler.
The paper defines organic batteries by likening it to regular batteries; nevertheless, rather than heavy metals, organic materials are used. They are lightweight, can be molded into any shape, have the potential to store much more energy than conventional batteries, and are safer and cheaper to produce. Thanks to the development with the molecular switch, the group can ensure the electron movement will produce electricity. "I am excited about the prospect of coupling this kind of electron transfer 'molecular switch' with light harvesting to go following what may be an improved artificial photosynthetic device," says Sessler. "Realizing this dream would represent a big step forward for science."
Aside from improving battery technologies, the research may help develop technologies that mimics plants' capability to harvest light and convert it to energy. With such a technologies, fuel might be produced directly from the sun, rather than through a plant mediator, such as corn.
The most exciting application with the new development, nevertheless, is making smaller, lighter, and much more efficient batteries. "I would love it if my iPhone was thinner and lighter, and the battery lasted a month or even a week rather than a day," says Bielawski. "With an organic battery, it might be possible. We are now starting to get a handle on the fundamental chemistry needed to make this dream a commercial reality."
The group collaborated with a number of scientists from multiple institutions, but they wish to specially credit graduate student Jung Su Park, for his detailed work growing crystals with the two molecules. Their next step is to demonstrate these processes can occur in a condensed phase, like in a film, rather than in solution.
According to previous studies, the exchange of electrons between molecules frequently form new compounds. In some cases, the electron transfer procedure creates one molecule with a positive charge and one molecule with a negative charge. Molecules with opposite charges are attracted to each other and can combine to form something new.
In this latest study, published in Science, the chemists produced two molecules that could meet and exchange electrons ¡§C but not unite to form a new compound. "These molecules were effectively spring-loaded to push apart following interacting with each other," explained Bielawski. "After electron transfer occurs, two positively charged molecules are formed which are repelled by each other, a lot like magnets held in a certain way will repel each other. We also installed a chemical switch that allowed the electron transfer procedure to proceed in the opposite direction."
The new system gives the capability to produce efficient organic battery. By understanding the electron transfer processes in these molecules, the group could design organic materials for storing electrical energy that could then be retrieved for later use. While similar plans were made in the past, other researchers lacked the capability to manipulate electron flow. "This is the first time that the forward and backward switching of electron flow has been accomplished via a switching procedure at the molecular scale," said Sessler.
The paper defines organic batteries by likening it to regular batteries; nevertheless, rather than heavy metals, organic materials are used. They are lightweight, can be molded into any shape, have the potential to store much more energy than conventional batteries, and are safer and cheaper to produce. Thanks to the development with the molecular switch, the group can ensure the electron movement will produce electricity. "I am excited about the prospect of coupling this kind of electron transfer 'molecular switch' with light harvesting to go following what may be an improved artificial photosynthetic device," says Sessler. "Realizing this dream would represent a big step forward for science."
Aside from improving battery technologies, the research may help develop technologies that mimics plants' capability to harvest light and convert it to energy. With such a technologies, fuel might be produced directly from the sun, rather than through a plant mediator, such as corn.
The most exciting application with the new development, nevertheless, is making smaller, lighter, and much more efficient batteries. "I would love it if my iPhone was thinner and lighter, and the battery lasted a month or even a week rather than a day," says Bielawski. "With an organic battery, it might be possible. We are now starting to get a handle on the fundamental chemistry needed to make this dream a commercial reality."
The group collaborated with a number of scientists from multiple institutions, but they wish to specially credit graduate student Jung Su Park, for his detailed work growing crystals with the two molecules. Their next step is to demonstrate these processes can occur in a condensed phase, like in a film, rather than in solution.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Li-ion batteries in electric cars greener than believed
For the initial time, researchers at Empa have made a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) or ecobalance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, in specific the chemically improved (i.e. much more environmentally friendly) version on the ones most frequently used in electrical vehicles.
The investigation shows that if the energy utilized to charge the battery isn't derived from purely hydroelectric sources, then it is primarily the operation in the electric vehicle, which has an environmental impact, exactly as is the case with conventionally fuelled automobiles.
The size with the environmental footprint depends on which sources of power are employed to "fuel" the e-mobile.
About the other hand, the Li-ion battery itself has a limited impact on the LCA in the electric powered vehicle.
This is contrary to initial expectations that the manufacture of the batteries could negate the advantages in the electric powered drive.
Battery powered electric powered cars are usually promoted as the ideal solution on the challenges of future mobility, since they produce no exhaust gases in operation.
Li-ion batteries have established themselves over competing lead-acid and nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) types due to the fact they are lighter and can store additional energy.
Li-ion batteries are also basically maintenance-free, display no memory effect (loss of capacity when repeatedly charged after partial discharge), have a low self-discharge rate and are regarded as safe and long-lived.
Researchers at Empa's "Technology and Society Laboratory" decided to come across out if they are also environmentally friendly for sure.
They calculated the ecological footprints of electric powered cars fitted with Li-ion batteries, taking into account all achievable relevant factors, from those associated with the production of individual parts all the way via towards scrapping on the vehicle as well as the disposal of the remains, including the operation with the vehicle throughout its lifetime.
The analyze shows that the electric powered car's Li-ion battery drive is actually only a moderate environmental burden.
At most only 15 per cent with the total burden could be ascribed on the battery (such as its manufacture, maintenance and disposal). Half of this figure, that's about 7.5 per cent with the total environmental burden, occurs during the refining and manufacture in the battery's raw materials, copper and aluminium.
The production in the lithium, from the other hand, is responsible for only 2.3 per cent in the total.
"Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries aren't as poor as previously assumed," said Dominic Notter, coauthor with the analyze.
The Empa team concluded that a petrol-engined auto need to consume between three and four litres per 100 kilometers (or about 70 mpg) in order to be as environmentally friendly as the e-car studied, powered with Li-ion batteries and charged with a typical European electricity mix.
The study has just been published within the scientific journal "Environmental Science and Technology".
The investigation shows that if the energy utilized to charge the battery isn't derived from purely hydroelectric sources, then it is primarily the operation in the electric vehicle, which has an environmental impact, exactly as is the case with conventionally fuelled automobiles.
The size with the environmental footprint depends on which sources of power are employed to "fuel" the e-mobile.
About the other hand, the Li-ion battery itself has a limited impact on the LCA in the electric powered vehicle.
This is contrary to initial expectations that the manufacture of the batteries could negate the advantages in the electric powered drive.
Battery powered electric powered cars are usually promoted as the ideal solution on the challenges of future mobility, since they produce no exhaust gases in operation.
Li-ion batteries have established themselves over competing lead-acid and nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) types due to the fact they are lighter and can store additional energy.
Li-ion batteries are also basically maintenance-free, display no memory effect (loss of capacity when repeatedly charged after partial discharge), have a low self-discharge rate and are regarded as safe and long-lived.
Researchers at Empa's "Technology and Society Laboratory" decided to come across out if they are also environmentally friendly for sure.
They calculated the ecological footprints of electric powered cars fitted with Li-ion batteries, taking into account all achievable relevant factors, from those associated with the production of individual parts all the way via towards scrapping on the vehicle as well as the disposal of the remains, including the operation with the vehicle throughout its lifetime.
The analyze shows that the electric powered car's Li-ion battery drive is actually only a moderate environmental burden.
At most only 15 per cent with the total burden could be ascribed on the battery (such as its manufacture, maintenance and disposal). Half of this figure, that's about 7.5 per cent with the total environmental burden, occurs during the refining and manufacture in the battery's raw materials, copper and aluminium.
The production in the lithium, from the other hand, is responsible for only 2.3 per cent in the total.
"Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries aren't as poor as previously assumed," said Dominic Notter, coauthor with the analyze.
The Empa team concluded that a petrol-engined auto need to consume between three and four litres per 100 kilometers (or about 70 mpg) in order to be as environmentally friendly as the e-car studied, powered with Li-ion batteries and charged with a typical European electricity mix.
The study has just been published within the scientific journal "Environmental Science and Technology".
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