Category: Noteworthy

  • New 2015 Regulations Regarding Lithium Electronics

    New 2015 Regulations Regarding Lithium Electronics

    Starting just a few years back, as the number of consumer electronics with high energy density lithium batteries began to skyrocket, a serious and growing concern regarding spontaneous combustion causing fires on airplanes became a priority in regards to making new regulations.

    The question of whether it’s actually dangerous or not, is a moot point, as we have no control what the IATA/ICAO committees decide.

    The noose has slowly tightened and it will be tightening even further as of January 1st, 2015, when IATO/ICAO regulations mandate that lithium metal batteries will be prohibited from being shipped loosely (eg, not in the product they power).

    From the official DHL website:

    Following an IATA/ICAO decision to ban loose Lithium Metal batteries on passenger aircraft as from January 2015, DHL Express is likewise unable to accept these batteries on its network. The IATA /ICAO regulation applies to loosely packed Lithium Metal batteries adhering to Section II, PI-968 while Lithium Metal batteries packed with equipment (PI-969) or contained in equipment (PI-970) are acceptable for transport as before. There is no change to the regulations for Lithium Ion batteries.

    The keywords for those of us interested in receiving extra batteries for our China mobiles is “metal” and “ion”. Currently, the batteries in our China mobiles are lithium-ion, which means that this new mandate should not effect our receiving extra batteries.

    Note, I said “should not”. Already in many parts of Thailand, they are refusing to ship lithium-ion electronics with the battery inside the unit, let alone the lithium-ion battery loose. lithium-ion-battery

    This is likely due to their misinterpretation of current mandates, or an executive decision by EMS fueled by the need for a cut-and-dry standard for employees to follow. In other words, “if it’s got a battery in it, it can’t be shipped” is a much easier to follow standard, than making sure employees are trained to check battery type and to make sure shippable lithium battery electronics are packaged and labeled correctly.

    Recently I was prohibited from sending a phone back to China at Thai post, but when going up the street to FedEx, it was no problem.

    It seems for 2015 we will still be able to receive our mobiles and extra batteries (at least by courier, EMS/standard post may be another problem all together), but things are getting tougher year by year and there may come a time when buying locally is our only option.

    I don’t see a complete ban happening, as the mail-order electronics business is just too huge to shut down entirely, but I wouldn’t put a complete ban out of the realm of possibility. Let’s hope this doesn’t come to pass.

  • DARPA Bridging the Terahertz Gap

    DARPA Bridging the Terahertz Gap

    THz

     

     

    In 2012, the Guinness World Record for the fastest circuit was awarded to the 850 GHz Vacuum Amplifier. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have taken things a step further and have replaced the world record with a 1.012 THz solid-state amplifier IC.

    (more…)

  • Eta Devices Gearing Up To Prolong Your Phone’s Battery

    Eta Devices Gearing Up To Prolong Your Phone’s Battery

    Eta Devices, a fresh chipset manufacturer, is aiming to solve the high battery-drain problems of smartphones and save the environment while they’re at it.

    Eta2

    (more…)

  • Torment: Tides of Numenera Review, inXile Entertainment Raises $4.7 Million

    Torment: Tides of Numenera Review, inXile Entertainment Raises $4.7 Million

    inXile Entertainment who rebooted Bard’s Tale and Wasteland is now working on a new Torment reboot.

    A bit of game legend history

    For those of you born after 1990, let me bring you up to speed. The first Torment game, Planescape: Torment, was released in 1999 and is built on BioWare’s Infinity Engine. Infinity Engine is the engine which games such as Baldur’s Gate and the Icewind Dale series are built on. The engine uses a three quarters perspective with pre-rendered 2D backgrounds.111273-icewind-dale-ii-windows-screenshot-civilized-place-in-far (more…)

  • 72 Moments In This Millenium That Will Define Us

    72 Moments In This Millenium That Will Define Us

    How will we be remembered? Here are 72 of the most memorable moments of our millennium so far.

     Markiyan Matsekh plays piano for police during the Ukranian revoloution. [2014] Source: Markiyan Matsekh
    Markiyan Matsekh plays piano for police during the Ukranian revoloution. [2014] Source: Markiyan Matsekh
     Afghan women turn out to vote in the first democratic transfer of power the country has ever seen. [2014] Source: Anja Niedringhaus
    Afghan women turn out to vote in the first democratic transfer of power the country has ever seen. [2014] Source: Anja Niedringhaus
     Kiev's Independence Square before and after the revolution [2014] Source: reddit.com
    Kiev’s Independence Square before and after the revolution [2014] Source: reddit.com
     Lesleigh Coyer, 25, of Saginaw, Michigan, lies down in front of the grave of her brother, Ryan, who served with the U.S. Army in both Iraq and Afghanistan [2013] Source: Reuters
    Lesleigh Coyer, 25, of Saginaw, Michigan, lies down in front of the grave of her brother, Ryan, who served with the U.S. Army in both Iraq and Afghanistan [2013] Source: Reuters
     The world says goodbye to Nelson Mandela [2013] Source: Peter Dejong
    The world says goodbye to Nelson Mandela [2013] Source: Peter Dejong
     A woman is peper-sprayed at Turkey's Gezi Park protest. [2013] Source: Reuters
    A woman is peper-sprayed at Turkey’s Gezi Park protest. [2013] Source: Reuters
     Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, a man scarred by a genetic disease. This was one of many progressive acts that the new leader of the Church made. [2013] Source: EPA
    Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, a man scarred by a genetic disease. This was one of many progressive acts that the new leader of the Church made. [2013] Source: EPA
     Carlos Arredondo helps Jeff Bauman after the Boston Marathon bombings. The two are now best friends. [2013] Source: AP
    Carlos Arredondo helps Jeff Bauman after the Boston Marathon bombings. The two are now best friends. [2013] Source: AP
     San Francisco comes together to help batkid save the city - and to grant the wish of an ill child. [2013] Source: Raphael Kluzniok
    San Francisco comes together to help batkid save the city – and to grant the wish of an ill child. [2013] Source: Raphael Kluzniok
     A child runs to safety as armed police hunt gunmen who went on a shooting spree at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. [2013] Source: Reuters
    A child runs to safety as armed police hunt gunmen who went on a shooting spree at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. [2013] Source: Reuters
     Boston replied with their own message. [2013]
    Boston replied with their own message. [2013]
     The anti-government Syrian town of Kafr Anbel sends a message to Boston after the marathon bombing. [2013]
    The anti-government Syrian town of Kafr Anbel sends a message to Boston after the marathon bombing. [2013]
     Dzhokar Tsarnaev, one of the brothers behind the Boston Marathon bombing, on the boat where he was eventually caught, with sniper lasers on his forehead. [2013] Source: Unknown Photographer
    Dzhokar Tsarnaev, one of the brothers behind the Boston Marathon bombing, on the boat where he was eventually caught, with sniper lasers on his forehead. [2013] Source: Unknown Photographer
     Pakistani Muslims form a human chain to protect Christians during Mass [2013] Source: The Express Tribune
    Pakistani Muslims form a human chain to protect Christians during Mass [2013] Source: The Express Tribune
     Greg Cook hugs his dog Coco after finding her inside his destroyed home in Alabama following the Tornado. [2012] Source: The Decatur Daily
    Greg Cook hugs his dog Coco after finding her inside his destroyed home in Alabama following the Tornado. [2012] Source: The Decatur Daily
     A mother comforts her daughter after the Sandy Hook shootings [2012] Source: Reuters
    A mother comforts her daughter after the Sandy Hook shootings [2012] Source: Reuters
     Three young women from the New York Fashion Week pose next to a homeless man. [2012] Source: Spiegel
    Three young women from the New York Fashion Week pose next to a homeless man. [2012] Source: Spiegel
     The Middle East sees snow for the first time in over 100 years [2012]
    The Middle East sees snow for the first time in over 100 years [2012]
     Meghan Vogel, a high school runner, helps her exhausted rival cross the finish line. [2012] Source: AP
    Meghan Vogel, a high school runner, helps her exhausted rival cross the finish line. [2012] Source: AP
     The US rover, Curiosity, takes a selfie on Mars [2012] Source: NASA
    The US rover, Curiosity, takes a selfie on Mars [2012] Source: NASA
     A 4-month-old baby girl is rescued from the rubble four days after the Japanese tsunami. [2011] Source: Reuters
    A 4-month-old baby girl is rescued from the rubble four days after the Japanese tsunami. [2011] Source: Reuters
     Capt. Michael Potoczniak marries his partner Todd Saunders, in a ceremony in San Francisco. [2011] Source: AP
    Capt. Michael Potoczniak marries his partner Todd Saunders, in a ceremony in San Francisco. [2011] Source: AP
     Norwegian citizens hold a flower march after terrorist attacks by Anders Breivik killed 77. [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
    Norwegian citizens hold a flower march after terrorist attacks by Anders Breivik killed 77. [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
     New York firefighters, many of whom lost friends in the 9/11 attacks, learn of Osama bin Laden's death [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
    New York firefighters, many of whom lost friends in the 9/11 attacks, learn of Osama bin Laden’s death [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
     Barack Obama and Government staff watch as commandos conduct a raid, which ends with the killing of Osama bin Laden [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
    Barack Obama and Government staff watch as commandos conduct a raid, which ends with the killing of Osama bin Laden [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
     A police officer pepper-sprays Occupy protesters at the University of California [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
    A police officer pepper-sprays Occupy protesters at the University of California [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
     An Egyptian woman kisses a policeman, who had refused to fire on protestors, during the revolution against the Mubarak Government [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
    An Egyptian woman kisses a policeman, who had refused to fire on protestors, during the revolution against the Mubarak Government [2011] Source: Unknown Photographer
     A dog soaks in an adoring crowd in Mexico by following the Pope [2011] Source: Yuri Cortez
    A dog soaks in an adoring crowd in Mexico by following the Pope [2011] Source: Yuri Cortez
     Robert Peraza, who lost his son, mourns 10 years after the 9/11 terror attacks [2011] Source: New York Post
    Robert Peraza, who lost his son, mourns 10 years after the 9/11 terror attacks [2011] Source: New York Post
     Christians protect Muslims in prayer at Tahrir Square during the Egyptian Revolution [2011] Source: Nevin Zaki
    Christians protect Muslims in prayer at Tahrir Square during the Egyptian Revolution [2011] Source: Nevin Zaki
     Live images of the Chilean miners trapped in a mine for 21 days. [2010] Source: Unkown Photographer
    Live images of the Chilean miners trapped in a mine for 21 days. [2010] Source: Unkown Photographer
     Smoke billows from a controlled burn of spilled oil off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico coast line. [2010]
    Smoke billows from a controlled burn of spilled oil off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico coast line. [2010]
     Tracy Caldwell looks down on Earth from the International Space Station [2010] Source: NASA
    Tracy Caldwell looks down on Earth from the International Space Station [2010] Source: NASA
     Elite runner Jaqueline Kiplimo helps a disabled Chinese athlete drink during the 2010 Zheng-Kai marathon. She stayed with him for several miles, costing her the 1st place finish and the $10000 prize. [2010]
    Elite runner Jaqueline Kiplimo helps a disabled Chinese athlete drink during the 2010 Zheng-Kai marathon. She stayed with him for several miles, costing her the 1st place finish and the $10000 prize. [2010]
     Kiki, age 7, is pulled from the ruins left by the Haiti earthquake and into the arms of his mother. [2010] Source: Polaris / eyevine
    Kiki, age 7, is pulled from the ruins left by the Haiti earthquake and into the arms of his mother. [2010] Source: Polaris / eyevine
     A fireman rescues a koala during Australian bushfires. [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
    A fireman rescues a koala during Australian bushfires. [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
     Vladimir Putin shirtless while vacationing and hunting in Siberia. The now Russian President is a judo black belt. [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
    Vladimir Putin shirtless while vacationing and hunting in Siberia. The now Russian President is a judo black belt. [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
     US Airways Flight 1549 floats on the Hudson river after crash landing, miraculously, everyone survived [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
    US Airways Flight 1549 floats on the Hudson river after crash landing, miraculously, everyone survived [2009] Source: Unknown Photographer
     Four of the last seven Northern White Rhinos in the world are airlifted from a zoo in the Czech Republic to a park in Africa in an attempt to save their entire species. [2009] Source: National Geographic
    Four of the last seven Northern White Rhinos in the world are airlifted from a zoo in the Czech Republic to a park in Africa in an attempt to save their entire species. [2009] Source: National Geographic
     Hhaing The Yu, 29, holds his face in his hand as rain falls on the decimated remains of his home after a cyclone stroke Myanmar’s capital of Yangon. [2008] Source: Brian Sokol
    Hhaing The Yu, 29, holds his face in his hand as rain falls on the decimated remains of his home after a cyclone stroke Myanmar’s capital of Yangon. [2008] Source: Brian Sokol

     Barack Obama wins the 2008 election, becoming the first African American President.
    Barack Obama wins the 2008 election, becoming the first African American President.

     Wall Street on the midst of the Global Financial Crisis [2008]
    Wall Street on the midst of the Global Financial Crisis [2008]
     Michael Phelps celebrates after winning his 14th gold medal, setting the all-time record for most Olympic gold medals. [2008]
    Michael Phelps celebrates after winning his 14th gold medal, setting the all-time record for most Olympic gold medals. [2008]
     An indigenous woman holds her child while trying to resist the advance of Amazonas state policemen in Manaus who have been sent to evict natives. [2008] Source: Luiz Vasconcelos
    An indigenous woman holds her child while trying to resist the advance of Amazonas state policemen in Manaus who have been sent to evict natives. [2008] Source: Luiz Vasconcelos
    Thousands gather to mourn after the Virginia Tech shooting [2007]
    Thousands gather to mourn after the Virginia Tech shooting [2007]
    Terri Gurrola is reunited with her daughter after serving in Iraq for 7 months. [2007] Source: BuzzFeed
    Terri Gurrola is reunited with her daughter after serving in Iraq for 7 months. [2007] Source: BuzzFeed
    The Tribute in Lights shines on the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York. [2006] Source: The Atlantic
    The Tribute in Lights shines on the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York. [2006] Source: The Atlantic
    The Cassini spacecraft takes a picture of Saturn from deep space. The tiny speck of light circled in red is Earth. [2006] Source: NASA
    The Cassini spacecraft takes a picture of Saturn from deep space. The tiny speck of light circled in red is Earth. [2006] Source: NASA
    Tanisha Blevin, 5, holds the hand of fellow Hurricane Katrina victim Nita LaGarde, 105, as they are evacuated from the convention center in New Orleans. [2005] Source: Eric Gay
    Tanisha Blevin, 5, holds the hand of fellow Hurricane Katrina victim Nita LaGarde, 105, as they are evacuated from the convention center in New Orleans. [2005] Source: Eric Gay
    Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. who lost a hand, leg, and eye while defusing a bomb in Iraq. [2005] Source: Dallas Morning News
    Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. who lost a hand, leg, and eye while defusing a bomb in Iraq. [2005] Source: Dallas Morning News
    Kevin Berthia is talked out of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge by police officers. He has since become an advocate for suicide prevention and has started a family. [2005] Source: John Storey / San Francisco Chronicle
    Kevin Berthia is talked out of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge by police officers. He has since become an advocate for suicide prevention and has started a family. [2005] Source: John Storey / San Francisco Chronicle
    Isabelle Dinoire after receiving the world's first partial face transplant [2005] Source: AP
    Isabelle Dinoire after receiving the world’s first partial face transplant [2005] Source: AP
    Mother and child at an an emergency feeding centre in in Tahoua, Niger. [2005] Source: Finbarr O'Reilly
    Mother and child at an an emergency feeding centre in in Tahoua, Niger. [2005] Source: Finbarr O’Reilly
    The Christian world mourns the passing of Pope John Paul II [2005] Source: Unknown Photographer
    The Christian world mourns the passing of Pope John Paul II [2005] Source: Unknown Photographer
    A Russian police officer carries a released baby from the school seized by heavily armed masked men and women in the town of Beslan. [2004] Source: Victor Korotayev
    A Russian police officer carries a released baby from the school seized by heavily armed masked men and women in the town of Beslan. [2004] Source: Victor Korotayev
    The Hubble Telescope takes a picture of what the universe looked like 13 billion years ago [2004] Source: NASA
    The Hubble Telescope takes a picture of what the universe looked like 13 billion years ago [2004] Source: NASA

    Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moscovitz in 2004, after they had just lauched FaceBook. Source: Daily Finance
    Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moscovitz in 2004, after they had just lauched FaceBook. Source: Daily Finance
    A Ukrainian woman places carnations into shields of anti-riot policemen standing outside the presidential office in Kiev. Ukraine, during the 2004 Orange Revolution. [2004] Source: Vasily Fedosenko
    A Ukrainian woman places carnations into shields of anti-riot policemen standing outside the presidential office in Kiev. Ukraine, during the 2004 Orange Revolution. [2004] Source: Vasily Fedosenko
    The first waves of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which killed over 200,000 people, hit the shore. Source: Unknown Photographer
    The first waves of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which killed over 200,000 people, hit the shore. Source: Unknown Photographer

    The Columbia Space Shuttle breaks apart during re entry [2003] Source: Unknown Photographer
    The Columbia Space Shuttle breaks apart during re entry [2003] Source: Unknown Photographer
    President Bush addresses sailors in the famous "Mission Accomplished" speech, declaring the end of major combat in Iraq. [2003] Source: Unknown Photographer
    President Bush addresses sailors in the famous “Mission Accomplished” speech, declaring the end of major combat in Iraq. [2003] Source: Unknown Photographer
    U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds a child after she was separated from her family during a firefight [2003] Source: Damir Sagolj
    U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds a child after she was separated from her family during a firefight [2003] Source: Damir Sagolj
    U.S. Marine Kirk Dalrymple watches as a statue of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein falls in central Baghdad. [2003] Source: Reuters
    U.S. Marine Kirk Dalrymple watches as a statue of Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein falls in central Baghdad. [2003] Source: Reuters
    New York City is plunged into darkness after a power failure [2003]
    New York City is plunged into darkness after a power failure [2003]
    Ballerinas practice with medical masks during the SARS outbreak. [2003]
    Ballerinas practice with medical masks during the SARS outbreak. [2003]
    People gather water from a huge well in the village of Natwarghad in the western Indian state of Gujarat. More than 1 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. [2003] Source: Amit Dave
    People gather water from a huge well in the village of Natwarghad in the western Indian state of Gujarat. More than 1 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. [2003] Source: Amit Dave
    A young Afghan woman shows her face in public for the first time after 5 years of Taliban Sharia law. [2001] Source: Reuters
    A young Afghan woman shows her face in public for the first time after 5 years of Taliban Sharia law. [2001] Source: Reuters
    Archaeologists discover some of the oldest artworks known to man in Dordogne, France - over 12,000 years old. [2001]
    Archaeologists discover some of the oldest artworks known to man in Dordogne, France – over 12,000 years old. [2001]
    Firefighters raise the American flag on the ruins on the World Trade Centers [2001] Source: Thomas Franklin
    Firefighters raise the American flag on the ruins on the World Trade Centers [2001] Source: Thomas Franklin
     President Bush's reaction to news of a second plane striking the Twin Towers. He was reading to children at a Florida elementary school. [2001] Source: LIFE
    President Bush’s reaction to news of a second plane striking the Twin Towers. He was reading to children at a Florida elementary school. [2001] Source: LIFE
    Zanjeer the bomb dog is laid to rest with full military honours for saving thousands of lives. [2000] Source: Pune Mirror
    Zanjeer the bomb dog is laid to rest with full military honours for saving thousands of lives. [2000] Source: Pune Mirror
     The world welcomes in the new millennium. [2000] - Source: Wikimedia
    The world welcomes in the new millennium. [2000] – Source: Wikimedia
    How will we be remembered? Here are 72 of the most memorable moments of our millennium so far.

  • Action-Cam Battle: GoPro Hero 4 Review Specs, Contour Review Specs, and Polaroid Cube Review Specs

    Action-Cam Battle: GoPro Hero 4 Review Specs, Contour Review Specs, and Polaroid Cube Review Specs

    A battle of action cameras is heating up. GoPro is about to release a few new models, HTC is rumored to be sneaking in to the arena with a 16MP sensor cam, and two camera companies that took a fall are making a comeback with action cams.

    Those in the market for an action cam might be considering GoPro Hero vs Contour vs Polaroid Cube, so lets have a look.

    (more…)

  • Clone iNew V8 On The Market – Is My SoC/CPU Fake?

    Clone iNew V8 On The Market – Is My SoC/CPU Fake?

    Unfortunately in the China phone market there are quite a few fakes. Often phones that have MT6572 SoC will be cleverly disguised to look like MT6582 or MT6592. Recently there has been a clone iNew V8 put out on the market that goes by “Alps V8Y”. The phone is MT6582 1GB RAM/8GB ROM. (more…)

  • Biggest Camera Sensor in a Mobile in the World – Panasonic DMC-CM1 Review Specifications

    Biggest Camera Sensor in a Mobile in the World – Panasonic DMC-CM1 Review Specifications

    Panasonic recently announced their LX100, a camera made to go head to head with Sony’s RX100. I think it would have been smarter to release a 1″ sensor camera that size-wise would match the Sony RX100, but Panasonic hasn’t completely forgone pocketable — Check out the Panasonic CM1, an Android phone with a 1″ sensor, which easily gives it the biggest sensor in a smartphone in the world. (more…)

  • Panasonic LX100 Review Specifications – Ground Breaking Compact Micro 4/3-inch

    Panasonic LX100 Review Specifications – Ground Breaking Compact Micro 4/3-inch

    Quality aside, there is something special about holding a standalone camera in your hands to take pictures as opposed to a smartphone. The buttons, rings and dials are damn fun to play with. (more…)

  • KitKat 4.4.2 for China Phones Has Arrived

    There was a lot of complaining a couple of months back about KitKat not arriving to China brand phones. Many accused them of being ‘behind the times’ (more…)

  • Google’s Camera App & KitKat On The iNew V8

    Google’s Camera App & KitKat On The iNew V8

    Just this month Google released their Google Camera on the play store. The good news is that we will no longer have to wait for OS changes to get the upgrades and changes Google implements. The bad news is that it is for KitKat devices only. (more…)