Smart Phones and Other Technology

[fyrOM]

Mozilla Firefox 5 out in June

http://www.idividi.com.mk/Futurama/InternetIT/676860/index.html

Mozilla with the latest release version of Firefox moved to a new rhythm of release of the browser. In this way Mozilla should new versions of its browser to issue a substantially faster than ever. Already this year (according to current roudmap) light of day you saw Firefox 5,6 and 7.

All versions in development go through three basic steps

Issuance of Firefox will now pass through three main channels (mozilla-central, mozilla-aurora and Mozilla-beta), and each of the three steps take about six weeks. At this rate the Firefox beta 5, it can be expected in mid-May and the release of the full version is now announced on 21 June. Accordingly, Firefox 6 should appear in late August, the Firefox and 7 to the end of the year.

Is there a browser war going on - why so many version releases so quickly - and why? Are they trying to reach one browser over all platforms?

[fyrOM]

Motorola Atrix indicate the end of the iPad?

http://www.idividi.com.mk/Futurama/InternetIT/674984/index.html

Mobile phone Motorola Atrix, which can connect to other devices and to turn the laptop may finally be a real competitor iPad and end its domination of the market, writes Daily Mail.



Motorola Atrix impressed experts gadgets after it was introduced earlier this year. Experts have dubbed "the killer of laptops.

This smart phone can be turned into a fully functional laptop coupled with screen and keyboard. Both components should be purchased separately.

Magazine dedicated to technology, called T3, recognition for best gadgets assign exactly the Motorola device instead of iPad.



- The award went to Motorola Atrix as introduce major changes in the market. iPad-enabled Apple's is more evolution than revolution. Atrix can really change our thinking about mobile. He is extremely powerful and multifunctional, showed us that mobile phones can offer even more useful innovations and uses. This becomes truly mobile laptop when I took the screen and keyboard. No one now knows whether Apple has aces up his sleeve. Atrix is now at an advantage because they show something new. Also, this is a warning that Apple as mobile Atrix, which uses the operating system Android, there is a growing market share, "said Luke Peters, editor of the magazine T3.



Wow! I might have to by a smart-phone after-all.

[fyrOM]

Samsung introduced the world's thinnest computer

http://www.idividi.com.mk/Futurama/InternetIT/674316/index.html

Samsung introduced two new tablets of range Galaxy Tab, in response to popular tablet PC to Apple, iPad second



The new Samsung models are distinguished by the diagonal of the screen, which is 8.9 and 1.10 inches, but one thing is common - obesity, which is only 8.6 mm, which means it is 0.2 mm thinner than iPad 2 and 4 , 3 mm thinner than Motorola Xoom.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 595 grams is heavy, and his positen "brother" - Galaxy Tab 8.9 weighs 170 grams.

Both models run on Android Honeycomb platform and Samsung TouchWiz interface offers advanced navigation. Both devices operate with a Dual Core processor 1GHz, have two three-megapixel camera on the back side and a two megapixel on the front.

Spoiled for choice. But can it make a coffee?

[George S.]

Yo mentione can it make cofee who knows zap & it will make cofee.With the way technology is moving who knows.?

[DirtyCodingHabitz]

Mozilla Firefox 5 out in June

http://www.idividi.com.mk/Futurama/InternetIT/676860/index.html

Mozilla with the latest release version of Firefox moved to a new rhythm of release of the browser. In this way Mozilla should new versions of its browser to issue a substantially faster than ever. Already this year (according to current roudmap) light of day you saw Firefox 5,6 and 7.

All versions in development go through three basic steps

Issuance of Firefox will now pass through three main channels (mozilla-central, mozilla-aurora and Mozilla-beta), and each of the three steps take about six weeks. At this rate the Firefox beta 5, it can be expected in mid-May and the release of the full version is now announced on 21 June. Accordingly, Firefox 6 should appear in late August, the Firefox and 7 to the end of the year.

Is there a browser war going on - why so many version releases so quickly - and why? Are they trying to reach one browser over all platforms?

This is a joke because Firefox has never done this before.

[fyrOM]

Researchers find superbug gene in New Delhi water

http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/Life_style/676579/index.html

London, 11 April 2011 (MIA) - A gene that can turn many types of bacteria into deadly superbugs was found in about a quarter of water samples taken from drinking supplies and puddles on the streets of New Delhi, according to a new study.

Experts say it's the latest proof that the new drug-resistance gene, known as NDM-1, named for New Delhi, is widely circulating in the environment — and could potentially spread to the rest of the world.

Bacteria armed with this gene can only be treated with a couple of highly toxic and expensive antibiotics. Since it was first identified in 2008, it has popped up in a number of countries, including the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and Sweden.

Most of those infections were in people who had recently traveled to or had medical procedures in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

"This is not a problem that is looming in the future ... there are people dying today from infections that can't be treated," said David Heymann, chairman of Britain's Health Protection Agency. He was not linked to the research.

Last fall, British scientists analyzed more than 200 water samples from central New Delhi, including public tap water and water that collected in the streets. They found the superbug gene in two of the drinking water samples and 51 of the street samples. Researchers found the gene in 11 different types of bacteria, including those that cause dysentery and cholera.

As a comparison, the scientists also took 70 water samples from a water treatment center in Cardiff, Britain. No superbug genes were found in any of those. The research was paid for by the European Union and was published online Thursday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Mark Toleman, a senior research fellow at Cardiff University and one of the study authors, said the superbug gene was being spread through New Delhi's water supply, but that experts didn't know how many people were being sickened by it. He guessed about a half million people in New Delhi are now carrying the superbug gene naturally in their gut bacteria.

Indian officials called the study "unsupported" and denied the gene was a public health threat. They cited a random sample of nearly 2,000 women in a New Delhi hospital which they said showed no sign of it.

"We know that such bacteria with genes are in the atmosphere everywhere," said V.M. Katoch, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "This is a waste of time," he said. "The study is creating a scare that India is a dangerous country to visit. We are condemning it."

Since the superbug gene was found in the U.K. last year, British officials say there have been about 70 cases of it in the U.K. including a small hospital cluster.

"We have a vested interest in sorting out sanitation problems in India," Toleman said, adding the West should invest more money in clean water projects in Asia. "Otherwise (superbugs) could filter out from Asia and will spread through the world."

Other experts weren't sure how prevalent the NDM-1 gene would become but were preparing for the worst.

"It's like asking in the 1980s if a few HIV cases should be a big worry," said Guenael Rodier, director of communicable diseases at the World Health Organization's office in Copenhagen. "The fact that (NDM-1) has emerged is worrisome, but forecasting what it will do is very difficult."

He explained that was because resistant strains sometimes mysteriously disappear.

In an accompanying commentary, microbiologist Mohd Shahid of India's Aligarh Muslim University wrote that more studies are needed in India to assess how threatening the superbug problem is.

"The potential for wider international spread ... is real and should not be ignored," he wrote.

Wasn't pestilence one of the bad things in 'end days'?

[DirtyCodingHabitz]

You gotta love profit, superbugs don't just pop up out of nowhere .

[fyrOM]

This is Windows Phone Next -- developers take notes (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/this-is-windows-phone-next-developers-take-notes-video/

By Myriam Joire posted Apr 13th 2011 10:16PM
Hands-On

Microsoft delivered a big batch of mobile happiness at its annual MIX developers' conference this morn, promising a host of major features including multitasking, background audio, push notifications and raw sensor data (not to mention over 1500 new APIs) in the next version of Windows Phone. Of course, it's one thing to tell you how pumped attending developers might be to bite into a nice juicy mango next month and another to see for yourself, so feast your eyes on the best of Windows Phone Next in the video above. Not bad, eh?

I might have to drag myself into the touch-phone world - I just have to find a reason why? The cool factor, perhaps.

[Voltron]

Touch phones arent bad. I have a HTC Desire Android, its kind of buggy in comparison to the Iphone. Id like to see how a Windows phone is in comparison.

I dont think there is a way to avoid touchphones nowadays. Almost every phone that comes out is like this.

[fyrOM]

Gas-powered cars that get 40 mpg
For non-electric, non-hybrid cars, 40 is the new 30 (mpg).

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/gas-powered-cars-that-get-40-mpg.html

I started reading the above article for 'what's new' in cars but came accross something different.

For a long time I have been saying that Australians get ripped-off for everything, and here's some proof from the above article!

2011 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan, 40/29 highway/city mpg (6-speed automatic transmission), $16,290: Ford commercials may boast about the Fiesta's 40 mpg, but you'll only see that kind of savings if you spring for the optional automatic transmission ($1,095), which uses an extra gear ratio to eke another 3 mpg out of the manual version's 37 mpg highway figure. This compact sedan is a bit short on cargo room, but offers quality interior appointments along with its impressive mileage. A list of high-tech options is available, but remember that the more weight you add, the worse the fuel economy.

2011 Ford Fiesta SE hatchback, 40/29, $17,300: For anyone thinking about stowing a bike or other athletic gear into the rear of your Fiesta, the hatchback is the way to go. What you give up in terms of the formal stance of a sedan you gain with regard to overall versatility.

One can see the "SE" model is quoted. Ford's range in the USA is S, SE, SEL, SES.

Ford's range in Australia is CL, LX, ZETEC.

How sneaky of Ford to give the same model different labels in different markets. I guess one could reasonably conclude the LX is the equivalent to the SE (both being second from the bottom).

According to CarSales.com.au the LX Auto in Australia is AUD$20990 Plus on-road costs (Taxes, charges,ect) which could be about $2000-00, so we have in Australia the Ford Fiesta LX Auto for about AUD$22990-00.

According to the article the MSRP (sticker price) for a Ford Fiesta SE Auto is USD$17300-00. Maybe our USA friends can confirm for us does the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price ie AKA Sticker Price) includes dealer delivery and taxes, registration and any other charges - NOT counting insurance or are these charges extra to the MSRP?

Thus...
in Aust.
estimated inc. price AUD$22990-00 - USD$17300-00 = $5690-00 cheaper in the USA
or
base price AUD$20990 - $USD 17300-00 = $3690-00 cheaper in USA.

Another example from the article is
2011 Hyundai Elantra Sedan for MSRP USD$14830-00
Even if we have to add on-road costs it would still be about $16830-00

This is the next model and the Aust. CarSales.com.au only had the previous model with advertisement claims, "heavily discounted run-out price" of AUS$19990-00. The new model would definitely be more.

So again we have a price difference of about over $3000-00 and probably more like $5000-00 on the new model.

I think the distance by ship from South Korea to Australia would be at least the same or less than the West coast of the USA so why are Australians paying $3000-00 to $4000-00 or even $5000-00 on a basic aprox $20000-00 car or about 15% to 20% more for exactly the same car???

[Phoenix]

Gas-powered cars that get 40 mpg
For non-electric, non-hybrid cars, 40 is the new 30 (mpg).

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/gas-powered-cars-that-get-40-mpg.html

I started reading the above article for 'what's new' in cars but came accross something different.

For a long time I have been saying that Australians get ripped-off for everything, and here's some proof from the above article!



One can see the "SE" model is quoted. Ford's range in the USA is S, SE, SEL, SES.

Ford's range in Australia is CL, LX, ZETEC.

How sneaky of Ford to give the same model different labels in different markets. I guess one could reasonably conclude the LX is the equivalent to the SE (both being second from the bottom).

According to CarSales.com.au the LX Auto in Australia is AUD$20990 Plus on-road costs (Taxes, charges,ect) which could be about $2000-00, so we have in Australia the Ford Fiesta LX Auto for about AUD$22990-00.

According to the article the MSRP (sticker price) for a Ford Fiesta SE Auto is USD$17300-00. Maybe our USA friends can confirm for us does the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price ie AKA Sticker Price) includes dealer delivery and taxes, registration and any other charges - NOT counting insurance or are these charges extra to the MSRP?

Thus...
in Aust.
estimated inc. price AUD$22990-00 - USD$17300-00 = $5690-00 cheaper in the USA
or
base price AUD$20990 - $USD 17300-00 = $3690-00 cheaper in USA.

Another example from the article is
2011 Hyundai Elantra Sedan for MSRP USD$14830-00
Even if we have to add on-road costs it would still be about $16830-00

This is the next model and the Aust. CarSales.com.au only had the previous model with advertisement claims, "heavily discounted run-out price" of AUS$19990-00. The new model would definitely be more.

So again we have a price difference of about over $3000-00 and probably more like $5000-00 on the new model.

I think the distance by ship from South Korea to Australia would be at least the same or less than the West coast of the USA so why are Australians paying $3000-00 to $4000-00 or even $5000-00 on a basic aprox $20000-00 car or about 15% to 20% more for exactly the same car???

I think your answer has something to do with the usual 'supply and demand' dynamic which influences pricing...the US market is approximately 12 million units annually divided fairly equally between cars and light trucks, the Australian market is generally less than 1 million units.

Larger markets have greater economies of scale and greater competition, which inturn equates to better deals for consumers.

[George S.]

has anyone seen the new chinese cars.THey come in bits & pieces & get assembled with alen key.Lately i heard there's 8 speed automatics coming out.I wonder what mileage they would give

[Phoenix]

has anyone seen the new chinese cars.THey come in bits & pieces & get assembled with alen key...

That's the new 2011 model IKEA car you're thinking about george...

[George S.]

i thought i may get one where you just do it with the alen key but don't know how much they are.

[fyrOM]

I think your answer has something to do with the usual 'supply and demand' dynamic which influences pricing...the US market is approximately 12 million units annually divided fairly equally between cars and light trucks, the Australian market is generally less than 1 million units.

Larger markets have greater economies of scale and greater competition, which inturn equates to better deals for consumers.

Economies of scale come into effect on production costs, transport costs, and distribution costs.

The Australian market is Not the only one Manufacturers need to build a different product for ie steering-wheel on the right for driving on the left side of the road - UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, NZ ect - so there is a sizable demand to balance production costs.

Shipping is a consideration if you are not filling the ship - unlikely considering the above examples are 'on-the-way' - but also distance is a consideration and I think Australia is closer to South Korea than the USA.

With Sydney and Melbourne making up about half of Australia's population - one would reasonably guess therefor half the sales - very little would be different from basic distribution costs, far less than the USA who would receive Asian goods from LA and then distribute over the breath of the country which is not quite as wide as Australia, but non-the-less by Far more significant than our concentrated Syd/Melb market.

In any of the 3 main categories (without knowing exact figures) we can reasonably conclude should be less than the USA but even if we got it a bit wrong it would not be as significant to warrant a 20% - 25% increase!

Taxes is another consideration, and we do know that the Australian government is protecting the local car industry, which may look like explaining part of the price difference but even this is quashed when we remember the much heralded Monnaro muscle car was built in Australia with the USA steering-wheel, re-badged for the USA market, shipped from Melbourne to LA and the AUD was USD0.65-0.75c (as apposed to today's AUD$1.00=USD$1.04 approx - which alone should have had a severe impact on the price), and STILL the car was being sold cheaper in the USA than in Australia where it was built, much to the surprise of many people.

The only logical conclusion is Australians are being ripped-off!!!

By the way, You (or your family) wouldn't own a car dealership or work in one?? would they?