Author: Dr. Bill

You know I am a HUGE Star Trek fan! So, this is right down my alley! Tractor Beams! Awesome!

NASA Studying Ways to Make ‘Tractor Beams’ a Reality

“Tractor beams — the ability to trap and move objects using laser light — are the stuff of science fiction, but a team of NASA scientists has won funding to study the concept for remotely capturing planetary or atmospheric particles and delivering them to a robotic rover or orbiting spacecraft for analysis.

The NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) has awarded Principal Investigator Paul Stysley and team members Demetrios Poulios and Barry Coyle at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., $100,000 to study three experimental methods for corralling particles and transporting them via laser light to an instrument — akin to a vacuum using suction to collect and transport dirt to a canister or bag. Once delivered, an instrument would then characterize their composition.

‘Though a mainstay in science fiction, and Star Trek in particular, laser-based trapping isn’t fanciful or beyond current technological know-how,’ Stysley said. The team has identified three different approaches for transporting particles, as well as single molecules, viruses, ribonucleic acid, and fully functioning cells, using the power of light.

‘The original thought was that we could use tractor beams for cleaning up orbital debris,’ Stysley said. ‘But to pull something that huge would be almost impossible — at least now. That’s when it bubbled up that perhaps we could use the same approach for sample collection.’

With the Phase-1 funding from OCT’s recently reestablished NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program designed to spur the development of “revolutionary” space technologies, the team will study the state of the technology to determine which of the three techniques would apply best to sample collection. OCT received hundreds of proposals, ultimately selecting only 30 for initial funding.”

I like Tech News. I reckon you know that from watching “Dr. Bill – The Computer Curmudgeon!” The more tech news outlets, the better, as far as I am concerned! So, this site is quite interesting to me… and I like what I see!

The Verge – Tech News and Reviews Site

“We couldn’t be more pleased to share what we’ve been cranking away on for the last several months.

Although much of the editorial team here has been publishing content and covering events on This Is My Next, our true work has been preparing The Verge for this moment.

We’re focused on bringing you — our extremely savvy and frankly very handsome readers — the best and most comprehensive coverage of the consumer technology world. Not just the nuts and bolts, 24-hour news cycle stuff, but more in-depth coverage, bigger stories, and content that goes further.

We’re going to do that on a new product that we’re really psyched about. A site that’s not just a stagnant, fixed entity, but an evolving, growing piece of technology. We think of The Verge (and its underlying CMS) as something akin to an app. A piece of software that is being constantly developed and updated. Today we’re launching with The Verge 1.0, but 1.1 and 1.2 are just around the corner.

We’re launching with awesome tools like StoryStreams, which help us tell a narrative in a way which no one else can. It’s a technology developed in-house that allows us to stitch together disparate parts of a story in a logical timeline, and it’s incredible for reporting news.

We’re launching with design-focused, beautiful reviews and features (you can see some examples here and here). We’re launching with a robust product database with thousands of entries (and counting) and fantastic comparison tools (here, for example). We’re launching with a fast, smart community commenting and forum system, one that ties directly into the rest of our site and lets reader voices be heard in a meaningful way.”

[Cross posted from Hand Held Hack]
Ubuntu will become “touch friendly” with uTouch technology!

Ubuntu to hit smartphones, but not until 2014

“At the Ubuntu Developer Summit today, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth announced the company is planning on porting its popular Linux variant Ubuntu to the already crowded mobile OS market, destined for smartphones, tablets and TVs. This move has reportedly been in the works for two years, and won’t bear fruit until 2014, though the Unity UI has been remarkably mobile-friendly since last year, as shown above. Of course, it’s not easy going as a new mobile Linux in an Android-dominated market, but Ubuntu’s planning some interesting features, like shipping different versions of the OS to each device, but the ability to switch between them at will, allowing users to make their tablet handle like a computer when and if they want. We’ll see if novel ideas like this allow the new mobile version to succeed where predecessors like 2008’s Ubuntu Mobile Internet Device Edition and the unreleased Kubuntu Mobile have failed.

Individual users will be able to download and install the software, but Canonical does plan to team up with OEMs in order to get the OS built into products, so balancing between a consumer’s desire for freedom and a manufacturer’s and carrier’s desire for customization may prove to be tricky, and it’s tripped up others in the past.”

Invites to the press have been sent, so an announcement is coming… we assume it will be a new Nook!

New Nook? Barnes & Noble Sends Out Invites for Nov. 7 Event

Barnes & Noble on Monday sent out invitations for a November 7 event that will likely include the introduction of a revamped Nook device.

‘Please join us for a very special announcement,’ the invite reads, below an image of the Nook logo.
The event will take place in New York next Monday, and will kick off at 10am. PCMag will be there, so stay tuned for all the details.

The invite comes several days after The Digital Reader blog posted a story that said Barnes & Noble was readying its store for a November 7 announcement that would likely include a revamped Nook Color.
One individual, who works in a Barnes & Noble store, told The Digital Reader that they have replaced a customer service counter with a huge Nook boutique. ‘Our manager told us, this space was not designed to house just 2 nooks. He was being candid, he said, November 7th there will be a major announcement from the company. he concluded saying it was exciting times. Obviously something is coming,’ the source said.

Last month, The Digital Reader said that B&N was prepping a $349 tablet, which would possibly be known as the Acclaim. The Nook Smart Touch e-reader would still be offered at $139 while the Nook Color would remain at $249. Specs were not provided.

The event comes about a week before Amazon is set to debut its $199 Kindle Fire tablet on November 15. Pre-orders for that device started on September 28, and Amazon said recently that it has ramped up production on the Fire due to demand.

Barnes & Noble last updated its Nook e-reader in May, unveiling a device that was 35 percent lighter and 15 percent thinner than the first Nook. The company also touted an improved battery life and 80 percent less flashing on the 6-inch touch screen when flipping pages.”

Go for it! I would PERSONALLY appreciate it! Thank you, thank you!

https://vimeo.com/channels/drbill

“Join Dr. Bill as he examines the wild and wacky world of the web, computers, and all things geeky on his very own IPTV Video Netcast! Hot tech tips, tech news, Geek Software of the Week, and Geek Culture are examined… with plenty of good humor as well!”

You will enjoy the geekiness!

“Professional” Video Channels on YouTube? Apparently so.

YouTube Getting More Than 100 New Channels

“Google is launching more than 100 new YouTube channels with exclusive video content commissioned from media companies and celebrities.

Providers with their own channels will include Thomson Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, comedy magazine The Onion, Jay-Z, Ashton Kutcher, Deepak Chopra, Shaquille O’Neal (who will have a comedy channel), and Madonna (with a dance channel).

Sources familiar with the deal say that Google paid advances of more than $100 million to get this content. The artists will be able to earn it back through ad monetization over time. The model is similar to how record labels pay advances to artists, but in this case Google will be exercising no control over the creation or production of the content. It’s simply seeding the market.”

A full list of the partners is below:
Electus Channel – Pop Culture (name TBD)
PMC PMC Entertainment News
WWE WWE
Young Hollywood Young Hollywood Network
DanceOn DanceOn (Madonna)
Fine Brothers Films MyMusic
Everyday Health, Inc. Everyday Health TV
TakePart™ TakePart™ TV
Digital Broadcasting Group (DBG) Spaces
Uncommon Content Partners The Conversation Channel
Demand Media eHow Home
SB Nation SB Nation
Magical Elves and InStyle magazine Little Black Dress
Hearst Magazines Channel – Fashion & Beauty Channel (name TBD)
Emil Rensing International Channel – Auto (name TBD)
My Damn Channel My Damn Channel: Live
Uncommon Content Partners Taste & Access
Red Bull Media House North America Red Bull
Machinima Machinima
Katalyst Thrash Lab (Ashton Kutcher)
Steve Spangler Science The Spangler Effect
New Nation Networks New Nation Networks
Smart Girls at the Party Smart Girls at the Party (Amy Poehler)
Bedrocket Media Ventures and Full Picture Productions Look TV
BermanBraun theLOGE
The Young Turks Town Square
BermanBraun & Rodale Inc. Vigor
Electus NuevOn – Latin Channel (Sofia Vergara)
Clevver Media ClevverStyle
ModernMom.com ModernMom Channel
Brady Haran DeepSkyVideos
IconicTV 123UnoDosTres
The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal
Pharrell Williams i am OTHER
SoulPancake Productions SoulPancake (Rainn Wilson)
Chopra Media/Generate The Chopra Well (Deepak Chopra)
Clevver Media ClevverNews
The Bowery Presents The Bowery Presents
Clevver Media ClevverTeVe
Seedwell American Hipster
Hearst Magazines Car and Driver Television
Alchemy Networks Alchemy Networks
CafeMom CafeMom Studios
Bedrocket Media Ventures Channel – Comedy (name TBD)
Demand Media LIVESTRONG
Bedrocket Media Ventures Channel – Action Sports (name TBD)
FremantleMedia Channel – Pets & Animal (name TBD)
Big Frame BAM
IconicTV myISH
Electus Channel – Food (name TBD)
Soccer United Marketing & Bedrocket KickTV
Lionsgate Lionsgate Fitness Channel
East of Center Productions LLC YOMYOMF
EQAL u look haute!
Philip Defranco Sourcefed
Meredith Corporation and Meredith Video Studios Digs
Vlogbrothers CrashCourse
Walter Latham Digital Walter Latham’s “Kings of Comedy”
Tony Hawk’s production company, 900 Films, Inc. RIDE Channel
JON M. CHU Channel – Dance (name TBD)
Vuguru & POW! Entertainment Stan Lee’s World of Heroes
FAWN by Michelle Phan Fawn
DECA KinCommunity
Source Interlink Media Motor Trend
The Nerdist Channel The Nerdist Channel
Comedy Shaq Network The Comedy Shaq Network (Shaquille O’Neal)
Demand Media eHow Pets & Animals
Brady Haran numberphile
Cooking Up a Story Food Farmer Earth
Bleacher Report Bleacher Report
TED Conferences TEDEducation
Intelligent Television Intelligent Channel
Pitchfork Pitchfork TV
Vlogbrothers SciShow
EYEBOOGIE POP SPOT
Roadside Entertainment/BAC The NOC
Alli Sports Alli Sports
The Onion Onion Broadcasting Company
VICE VICE
Smosh/Alloy Digital Smosh Animation (name TBD)
VICE Noisey
Knights of Good Productions Geek & Sundry
Mondo Media New Animators
BermanBraun & Rodale Inc. Taste
Varsity Pictures Awesomeness
Black Box TV Black Box TV (Anthony Zuicker, founder of CSI)
IGN Entertainment / Shine Group START
@radical.media Channel – Education (name TBD)
Frederator Networks Channel Frederator’s Cartoon Hangover
monotransistor werevertumorro
Thomson Reuters Reuters.com
Slate Slate News Channel
Maker Studios The Maker Music Network
Maker Studios The Moms’ View
Maker Studios Tutele
Noisey VICE
Iconic Life and Times (Jay-Z)

Apparently so. But we are talking only a very, very small difference. Less than the weight of a virus!

Kindle makes for heavy reading

“One of the original selling points of Amazon’s Kindle was that the device weighed no more than the average paperback. In the brave new world of the e-reader, bibliophiles could load their gadgets with the complete works of Proust, Tolstoy and Dickens without fear of spraining their wrists on their way to work.

So imagine the consternation among gadget fans when it emerged this week that the Kindle actually weighs more when it is fully loaded with books.

John Kubiatowicz, a computer scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, tackled this vital question for the New York Times. He explained that e-readers store data by trapping electrons, and while the number of electrons in the gadget’s memory does not change, it takes more energy to hold them in place than to leave them roaming free. How much more energy? Around a billionth of a microjoule for each bit of data stored.

Working from Einstein’s famous equation, which states that energy and mass are equivalent, Kubiatowicz worked out how much the weight of a Kindle might change as the books built up. He compared an empty four-gigabyte Kindle with a full one, in which half the electrons were trapped, requiring an extra 17 microjoules of energy.

Popped into Einstein’s formula, this gives an answer of around one attogram, meaning the weight of a full Kindle was a billionth of a billionth of a gram more than a factory-fresh one. Which isn’t so bad, considering that 10,000 books – a fraction a Kindle can hold – might weigh five tonnes. An attogram, very roughly, is one tenth the weight of a small virus.”