Apple on Tuesday announced an invitation-only special event featuring iPhone on Oct. 4, 2011.
With a simple headline reading "Let's talk iPhone," the invitation said that there will be an "executive presentation at 10 a.m.." This could be the first big product introduction by the newly installed Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook after he took over the reins of Apple from Steve Jobs in August.
The event, which will be held at Apple campus in Cupertino, California, has long been reported to be the introduction of iPhone 5, the next generation iPhone.
According to U.S. media reports, the iPhone 5 is expected to have revamped hardware design with a larger screen, a higher resolution camera and a faster dual-core A5 chip on which the iPad 2 runs. Apple is also reported to release a low-cost and contract- free iPhone model bundled with its cloud computing service iCloud.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Fijians hold rally for raising awarness on climate change
Fijians held rallies on Saturday to mark the global day of action in raising awarness on climate change, under the theme this year of "A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels"..
The marchers took to the streets on bikes, skates, skateboards, or just foot to show their support for the theme.
The "Moving Planet Fiji"event in the capital saw a march take place from Suva Point to Suva Grammar School and back again before speeches and activities will be held at Suva Point.
The organizor was delighted to express that the reigning, 2011 Hibiscus (national traditional culture festival in Fiji) Queen, Alisi Rabukawaqa had also come on board to show her support for our home and our planet, which is threatened by the climate crisis.
Rabukawaqa with the Moving Planet Pacific Coordinator Ewan Cameron were guest speakers of the action day.
"We are also calling on all walkers, runners, cyclists, paddlers and any other non fossil fuel powered movers to join us and become part of a global voice and to tackle climate change," Rabukawaqa said.
Cameron said while it is a new initiative, they are looking at raising awareness on how small countries like Fiji need to speak out.
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis and Sept. 24 is a single day to move away from fossil fuels.
Lai Koto, a participant, told Xinhua, said it was relevant that Fiji was part of this considering that the effects of climate change was directly felt in the Pacific.
"Fiji being the hub of the Pacific should be a part of this global campaign. We should teach the younger generation to resort to the way of life our ancestors were known for," she said, adding "they preserved not only our culture, our marine life, forests and our resources."
"Moving Planet Fiji" said: "For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end: it's time to get moving on the climate crisis."
The marchers took to the streets on bikes, skates, skateboards, or just foot to show their support for the theme.
The "Moving Planet Fiji"event in the capital saw a march take place from Suva Point to Suva Grammar School and back again before speeches and activities will be held at Suva Point.
The organizor was delighted to express that the reigning, 2011 Hibiscus (national traditional culture festival in Fiji) Queen, Alisi Rabukawaqa had also come on board to show her support for our home and our planet, which is threatened by the climate crisis.
Rabukawaqa with the Moving Planet Pacific Coordinator Ewan Cameron were guest speakers of the action day.
"We are also calling on all walkers, runners, cyclists, paddlers and any other non fossil fuel powered movers to join us and become part of a global voice and to tackle climate change," Rabukawaqa said.
Cameron said while it is a new initiative, they are looking at raising awareness on how small countries like Fiji need to speak out.
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis and Sept. 24 is a single day to move away from fossil fuels.
Lai Koto, a participant, told Xinhua, said it was relevant that Fiji was part of this considering that the effects of climate change was directly felt in the Pacific.
"Fiji being the hub of the Pacific should be a part of this global campaign. We should teach the younger generation to resort to the way of life our ancestors were known for," she said, adding "they preserved not only our culture, our marine life, forests and our resources."
"Moving Planet Fiji" said: "For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end: it's time to get moving on the climate crisis."
China to launch eight Antarctic, Arctic research expeditions in five years
China plans to launch five Antarctic research expeditions and another three to the Arctic from 2011 to 2015, said an official with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA) on Sunday.
China will launch the 28th Antarctic research expedition in early November and the fifth to the Arctic in early July 2012, said Qu Tanzhou, director of the CAA, at the annual seminar on China's polar region expedition and research in Shanghai.
In the 2011-2015 period, Chinese researchers will focus on monitoring the weather and environment changes in the polar regions, Qu said.
Qu said climate change in the polar region, particularly that in the Arctic, will inevitably influence China, and the research would benefit the nation's adaptation to climate change.
China plans to build a new icebreaker before 2015, which will form an Arctic-Antarctic maritime research team with Xuelong ("Snow Dragon"), an icebreaker that operated in Antarctica, said Qin Weijia, head of the CAA's committee of the Communist Party of China.
Qin said the plan to build the new icebreaker has already been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic planner.
China will have two icebreakers concurrently operating at both the north and south poles, Qin said.
China will launch the 28th Antarctic research expedition in early November and the fifth to the Arctic in early July 2012, said Qu Tanzhou, director of the CAA, at the annual seminar on China's polar region expedition and research in Shanghai.
In the 2011-2015 period, Chinese researchers will focus on monitoring the weather and environment changes in the polar regions, Qu said.
Qu said climate change in the polar region, particularly that in the Arctic, will inevitably influence China, and the research would benefit the nation's adaptation to climate change.
China plans to build a new icebreaker before 2015, which will form an Arctic-Antarctic maritime research team with Xuelong ("Snow Dragon"), an icebreaker that operated in Antarctica, said Qin Weijia, head of the CAA's committee of the Communist Party of China.
Qin said the plan to build the new icebreaker has already been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic planner.
China will have two icebreakers concurrently operating at both the north and south poles, Qin said.
Samsung launches first 4G smartphones in S. Korea
Samsung Electronics, the world's second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones, launched its first smartphones based on fourth-generation (4G) communication technology in a bid to meet growing demand for high-speed wireless services.
Galaxy S2 LTE and Galaxy S2 HD LTE compatible with long- term evolution (LTE) technology were rolled out at a media event held in central Seoul on Monday. The two new smartphones support LTE with data transmission five times faster than the existing third-generation (3G) mobile phones, featuring functions offered by Galaxy S2 smartphones, the company said.
The Galaxy S2 LTE is equipped with an Android 2.3, or the latest version of the Android platform, a 4.5-inch wide Super AMOLED display and a 1.5 gigahertz dual core processor, while the Galaxy S2 HD LTE is featuring a 4.65-inch high-definition (HD) AMOLED display with 110 percent natural color reproduction and 180- degree viewing angle.
"The 4G LTE technology became the base for enjoying high-speed and high-resolution wireless services. The new products will meet rising demand for such services in an environment where global wireless operators are transitioning to 4G networks," Shin Jong-kyun, president and head of Samsung's mobile communications business, told reporters.
Shin forecast sales of the new LTE smartphones would approach the ones of the existing Galaxy S series, adding that it may take time to reach the goal as the LTE networks have yet to be covered nationwide.
Global sales of the Galaxy S2 smartphones reached more than 10 million units since its debut in April, according Samsung. The nation's top wireless carrier SK Telecom plans to offer LTE service nationwide by 2013, with the country's No. 3 mobile operator LG Uplus aiming to cover the service across the country next year.
Galaxy S2 LTE and Galaxy S2 HD LTE compatible with long- term evolution (LTE) technology were rolled out at a media event held in central Seoul on Monday. The two new smartphones support LTE with data transmission five times faster than the existing third-generation (3G) mobile phones, featuring functions offered by Galaxy S2 smartphones, the company said.
The Galaxy S2 LTE is equipped with an Android 2.3, or the latest version of the Android platform, a 4.5-inch wide Super AMOLED display and a 1.5 gigahertz dual core processor, while the Galaxy S2 HD LTE is featuring a 4.65-inch high-definition (HD) AMOLED display with 110 percent natural color reproduction and 180- degree viewing angle.
"The 4G LTE technology became the base for enjoying high-speed and high-resolution wireless services. The new products will meet rising demand for such services in an environment where global wireless operators are transitioning to 4G networks," Shin Jong-kyun, president and head of Samsung's mobile communications business, told reporters.
Shin forecast sales of the new LTE smartphones would approach the ones of the existing Galaxy S series, adding that it may take time to reach the goal as the LTE networks have yet to be covered nationwide.
Global sales of the Galaxy S2 smartphones reached more than 10 million units since its debut in April, according Samsung. The nation's top wireless carrier SK Telecom plans to offer LTE service nationwide by 2013, with the country's No. 3 mobile operator LG Uplus aiming to cover the service across the country next year.
China prepares to launch first space lab module between Sept. 29, 30
Engineers are conducting the final preparations before launching China's first space laboratory module at the end of this week at a launch center in northwest China.
The unmanned Tiangong-1 module was originally scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit between Sept. 27 and 30. However, a weather forecast showing the arrival of a cold air mass at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center forced the launch to be rescheduled for Sept. 29 or 30, depending on weather and other factors.
"This is a significant test. We've never done such a thing before," said Lu Jinrong, the launch center's chief engineer.
A full ground simulation was conducted on Sunday afternoon to ensure that the module and its Long March 2F carrier rocket are prepared for the actual launch.
Cui Jijun, commander-in-chief of the launch site system and director of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, told Xinhua that they developed a new target spacecraft for the mission and made more than 170 technical improvements to the Long March 2F, China's manned orbital carrier rocket.
Engineers have also made more than 100 updates at the launch site in order to make it compatible with the Tiangong-1, Cui added.
The module will conduct docking experiments after entering orbit, which is the first step in China's space station program.
Cui said the launch site has an updated computer center and command monitoring system and increased ability to adapt to changes in mission conditions, as well as the resources to handle both the launch and command duties. An integrated simulation training system for space launching has also been developed for the docking mission.
The mission comes just one month after the Long March 2C rocket malfunctioned and failed to send an experimental satellite into orbit. The Tiangong-1 mission was subsequently rescheduled in order to allow engineers to sort out any problems that might occur during the launch.
Cui said that engineers conducted a two-month comprehensive technical check on equipment at the launch site from March to May. The safety and reliability of all the instruments have been significantly improved.
"[The launch site] has the full conditions to conduct the Tiangong-1 mission," said Cui.
The Tiangong-1 will remain in orbit for two years. During its mission, it will dock with China's Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecrafts.
Unmanned docking procedures will be an essential step toward China achieving its goal of establishing a manned space station around 2020.
The unmanned Tiangong-1 module was originally scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit between Sept. 27 and 30. However, a weather forecast showing the arrival of a cold air mass at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center forced the launch to be rescheduled for Sept. 29 or 30, depending on weather and other factors.
"This is a significant test. We've never done such a thing before," said Lu Jinrong, the launch center's chief engineer.
A full ground simulation was conducted on Sunday afternoon to ensure that the module and its Long March 2F carrier rocket are prepared for the actual launch.
Cui Jijun, commander-in-chief of the launch site system and director of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, told Xinhua that they developed a new target spacecraft for the mission and made more than 170 technical improvements to the Long March 2F, China's manned orbital carrier rocket.
Engineers have also made more than 100 updates at the launch site in order to make it compatible with the Tiangong-1, Cui added.
The module will conduct docking experiments after entering orbit, which is the first step in China's space station program.
Cui said the launch site has an updated computer center and command monitoring system and increased ability to adapt to changes in mission conditions, as well as the resources to handle both the launch and command duties. An integrated simulation training system for space launching has also been developed for the docking mission.
The mission comes just one month after the Long March 2C rocket malfunctioned and failed to send an experimental satellite into orbit. The Tiangong-1 mission was subsequently rescheduled in order to allow engineers to sort out any problems that might occur during the launch.
Cui said that engineers conducted a two-month comprehensive technical check on equipment at the launch site from March to May. The safety and reliability of all the instruments have been significantly improved.
"[The launch site] has the full conditions to conduct the Tiangong-1 mission," said Cui.
The Tiangong-1 will remain in orbit for two years. During its mission, it will dock with China's Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecrafts.
Unmanned docking procedures will be an essential step toward China achieving its goal of establishing a manned space station around 2020.
Nobel laureates skeptical about faster-than-light neutrino experiment
Nobel laureates on Monday cast doubt on a European experiment that purportedly demonstrated the ability of neutrinos to move faster than the speed of light.
They made the remarks in Beijing prior to a forum for Nobel laureates.
"I'm willing to bet money that it's not correct," said Professor George Smoot III, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics and a professor at University of California, Berkeley, referring to an experiment result claiming that particles apparently travel faster than light.
The experiment reported an anomaly in the flight time of neutrinos, or electrically neutral subatomic particles, from the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland to a laboratory located 730 kilometers away in Italy.
Particles were clocked transmitting at a speed of 300,006 kilometers per second, about 60 nanoseconds faster than the speed of light.
Smoot said that the claims "did not make sense" and should be verified by other scientists first.
"There are many distortions in physics. You have to have a very high standard to see if something is truly correct," he said.
The unverified findings were published on Sept. 22 in the scientific journal Nature. European researchers working in a team called OPERA (Oscillation Project with Emulsion-Racking Apparatus) projected masses of neutrinos from CERN and then collected the particles using a massive detector in Gran Sasso, south of Rome.
Other scientists, as well as the OPERA team themselves, have voiced doubts regarding the experiment's results.
The findings, CERN claims, could pose far-reaching potential consequences once verified.
If correct, the results would bring Einstein's theory of special relativity into question. Under this theory, a physical object cannot travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
"If really it is right, we have to rethink everything we know," said Chris Llewellyn Smith, former director of CERN.
Smith claimed the unprecedented discovery was too exceptional to find proof.
"If somebody makes a very exceptional claim, then very exceptional proof would need to come from another experiment, saying the same thing. But we don't have the other thing," Smith said.
Carlos Rubbia, a Nobel Laureate who won the prize for physics in 1984, is in charge of a team of more than 100 scientists at CERN.
"What it is pretending to find, in my view, is unbelievably surprising," Rubbia said.
"Frankly, I have the feeling that this is still a very experimental consideration," Rubbia said.
He also believes that revealing the findings to the public was a mistake as it remained an experimental process and no conclusion could be drawn without the results of another experiment.
Despite the possibility of verification, Einstein's special theory of relativity will remain valid.
"I will be very, very surprised that, at last, Einstein will not be the winner," Rubbia said.
To achieve a breakthrough, Rubbia has urged for more joint cooperation on verifying the test results. International cooperation on this issue "is a must."
"It requires coordination from all nations," said Rubbia.
The 2011 Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum will be held from Sept. 28 to 30 under a theme of "innovation and development."
They made the remarks in Beijing prior to a forum for Nobel laureates.
"I'm willing to bet money that it's not correct," said Professor George Smoot III, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics and a professor at University of California, Berkeley, referring to an experiment result claiming that particles apparently travel faster than light.
The experiment reported an anomaly in the flight time of neutrinos, or electrically neutral subatomic particles, from the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland to a laboratory located 730 kilometers away in Italy.
Particles were clocked transmitting at a speed of 300,006 kilometers per second, about 60 nanoseconds faster than the speed of light.
Smoot said that the claims "did not make sense" and should be verified by other scientists first.
"There are many distortions in physics. You have to have a very high standard to see if something is truly correct," he said.
The unverified findings were published on Sept. 22 in the scientific journal Nature. European researchers working in a team called OPERA (Oscillation Project with Emulsion-Racking Apparatus) projected masses of neutrinos from CERN and then collected the particles using a massive detector in Gran Sasso, south of Rome.
Other scientists, as well as the OPERA team themselves, have voiced doubts regarding the experiment's results.
The findings, CERN claims, could pose far-reaching potential consequences once verified.
If correct, the results would bring Einstein's theory of special relativity into question. Under this theory, a physical object cannot travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
"If really it is right, we have to rethink everything we know," said Chris Llewellyn Smith, former director of CERN.
Smith claimed the unprecedented discovery was too exceptional to find proof.
"If somebody makes a very exceptional claim, then very exceptional proof would need to come from another experiment, saying the same thing. But we don't have the other thing," Smith said.
Carlos Rubbia, a Nobel Laureate who won the prize for physics in 1984, is in charge of a team of more than 100 scientists at CERN.
"What it is pretending to find, in my view, is unbelievably surprising," Rubbia said.
"Frankly, I have the feeling that this is still a very experimental consideration," Rubbia said.
He also believes that revealing the findings to the public was a mistake as it remained an experimental process and no conclusion could be drawn without the results of another experiment.
Despite the possibility of verification, Einstein's special theory of relativity will remain valid.
"I will be very, very surprised that, at last, Einstein will not be the winner," Rubbia said.
To achieve a breakthrough, Rubbia has urged for more joint cooperation on verifying the test results. International cooperation on this issue "is a must."
"It requires coordination from all nations," said Rubbia.
The 2011 Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum will be held from Sept. 28 to 30 under a theme of "innovation and development."
NASA studies astronauts' vision decrease problem
NASA has launched a study on why the astronauts' vision decrease after long-term space missions, according to media reports Tuesday.
NASA said 30 percent of about 300 astronauts, who have working time in space ranging form 2 weeks to 6 months, have reported a gradual blurring of eyesight.
Doctors believe the disorder was caused by increased spinal fluid pressure on the head and eyes due to microgravity in space.
NASA worried that future explorers could go blind by the end of long missions, such a multi-year trip to Mars.
"We are certainly treating this with a great deal of respect," said Rich Williams, NASA's chief health and medical officer.
The special eyeglasses have been put on to help those affected astronauts on the space station, according to NASA.
But to reveal the exact mechanism of the disorder still needs further study, NASA said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)