News

Photron, Inc., a global high speed imaging systems and image analysis software manufacturer, introduces the lower cost, high definition (HD), high speed Fastcam SA6 camera. Ideal for automotive, military, broadcast, particle velocimetry (PIV) and digital image correlation (DIC) applications, the new, high speed system is available in both 36-bit color, and the more light-sensitive 12-bit monochrome.

The Fastcam SA6 provides up to 1,500 frames per second (fps) at high definition resolution (1,920 pixels wide x 1,080 high) from the 1,920 x 1,440 native resolution CMOS sensor. By reducing the camera’s resolution, the speed can be increased to a remarkable 75,000 fps with a minimum global electronic shutter time of 2.7 microseconds (available independent of the frame rate selected). Photron provides both C and F lens mounts with the new, large format camera. The Fastcam SA6 is also compatible with the Canon ES/EF series lenses and available with PL and B4 lens mounts.

Three different memory sizes of 8 Gigabytes, 16GB, and 32GB are offered, providing 1080 HD resolution record durations of 1.72, 3.44, and 6.89 seconds, respectively. Dual HD-SDI and a single RS-170 video output on the rear panel enable seamless review/saving of recorded image date immediately after the recording is completed. The camera can be precisely controlled via the award-winning, free Photron Fastcam Viewer (PFV) software, the optional remote control keypad, or through programmable function buttons on the camera’s rear panel.

The camera features superior light sensitivity and low noise operation in part due to micro lenses that are specially designed to focus the maximum available light onto the light-gathering portion of the 10-micron-square thermoelectric-cooled pixel.

For more information or to request a free demonstration of the Fastcam SA6 or other Photron high speed imaging solutions, please contact Photron at 800-585-2129 or [email protected].

Photron USA, Inc. (www.photron.com), founded in 1974, is a world supplier of photo-instrumentation, high speed image processing systems and photo optical technologies for the automotive, industrial, manufacturing, film and television, medical and military markets. Products include standard and custom high resolution, high-speed cameras, software, and systems for R&D, commercial, and defense-related motion image analysis applications.

Google have announced that Instant Pages nstant Pages is on by default in the latest stable version of Chrome. This means that sometimes when you click a Google search result in Chrome, the page will appear to load much faster than before.

In addition the omnibox, Chrome’s combination search box and address bar, has gotten much smarter in the latest release, making it even easier for you to get back to pages you’ve visited before. Just type part of the page’s address or title and look in the dropdown for matching pages from your history.

Read more: http://chrome.blogspot.com/2011/08/instant-pages-on-google-chrome.html

foursquare Pages are now self-serve. Any brand, organization, or publication can now create their own Page, gain followers, share Tips, check in, and reach their fans.

features:
Reach the whole foursquare community with your Tips and check-ins (and push those check-ins to both Facebook Pages and Twitter).

Let entire teams of people manage the same Page. With our new tool, you can make multiple people Page ‘managers,’ so that they can all contribute. It’s perfect for big organizations.

From the web or your mobile phone, you can upload photos to your Tips and check-ins. It’s great for making them really shine for all of your followers.

When your page is complete and you’ve added a few Tips, you’ll be featured in the foursquarePage Gallery.

More info: http://blog.foursquare.com/

Tony Bradley writing on PC World is posting “30 Days With Google+” after just finishing a month working with the iPad.

“Google+ is Google’s latest attempt at social networking. The initial reception of Google+ has been predominantly positive. At face value, it seems to be part Facebook, part Twitter, and all Google.

As I explore Google+ over the next 30 days, though, I will keep in mind that it is a work in progress–and I will remind you as well. So, the goal of 30 Days With Google+ will be to dive into the Google social network, discover the pros and cons, and see what it has to offer, but with the caveat that Google+ is still evolving and those things may all change.

I will take a look at how to join Google+ and get started adding friends and contacts to build a social network. I’ll figure out Circles, and Sparks, and Huddles, and Hangouts (don’t worry–I’ll explain those in more detail in the days to come). I’ll explore privacy issues, integration with other Google services, and with third party sites and services.”

Read more on PC World

Google has announced it has updated it’s search service for iPad and Honeycomb 3.1+ tablet users, by simplifiing “the layout of search results pages and increased the size of page contents like text, buttons and other touch targets to make it faster and easier to browse and interact with search results in portrait or landscape view.

The search button located below the search box provides quick access to specific types of results like Images, Videos, Places, Shopping and more. Just tap to open the search menu and select an option to see results in one category.

This improved search experience is rolling out in the coming days to iPad and Android 3.1+ tablets across 36 languages. ”

Read more: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-google-search-experience-for.html

Lifehacker has published an interesting article “The Best File Management App for Android” written by Whitson Gordon covering ES File Explorer, ASTRO File Manager, OI File Manager and Root Explorer.

The article concludes that ES File Explorer is the pick of the bunch.

ES File Explorer features:
Basic file management functions: copy, paste, cut, move, create, delete, rename, share and send files stored on your SD card or internal memory
Select multiple files
Manage applications (install, uninstall, backup, and more)
Compress, decompress, and encrypt ZIP files, as well as decompress RAR files
View certain files without leaving the manager, like photos, documents, and videos
Thumbnails for application packages and images
Edit text files
Search for files on your SD card or internal memory
Access your home PC’s Samba shared folders via Wi-Fi and even stream media
Built-in FTP client
Access files in your Dropbox, as well as edit documents in your Dropbox
Transfer files over Bluetooth
Built-in task killer
View and edit root-only files

Read more at: http://lifehacker.com/5825578/the-best-file-management-app-for-android

Google has released Gmail v2.3.5 for Android.

The Gmail app: push, sync, conversations, integration, search, and more.
The dedicated Gmail application integrated with Contacts and Android
applications.

* Email pushed automatically to your phone
* Search all your messages
* Access synched messages when off line
* View messages by conversation
* Multiple Gmail accounts
* Stars, labels, and many other features

What’s new in this version:
1. Save bandwidth and battery by only syncing priority mail
2. Use label notifications to mash up filters, labels, and ringtones
3. Remember ‘Show Pictures’ for senders
4. Turn off sticky message actions in landscape or all orientations
5. Better TalkBack support for accessibility
6. Performance improvements

Android Market Download: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.gm

BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm, is from today offering audiences across Europe the first-ever opportunity to delve into a digital mix of classic and contemporary British TV programming with the launch of the new global BBC iPlayer app, available exclusively on iPad www.bbc.com/iplayer/tv.

“Based on the soaring success of the UK’s pioneering BBC iPlayer service, the app combines technical innovation with editorial creativity to transport users to the heart of the BBC and British television and on a journey of discovery, wherever and whenever they want”

This brand-new video on demand subscription service, launching first in Western Europe, will deliver the award-winning programming upon which the BBC’s history and heritage is built, to viewers in 11 markets. For €6.99 a month (or €49.99 for an annual subscription), the app will initially be available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

Subscribers will be able to access a rich selection of captivating English language programmes across eight genres: News Specials & Documentaries; Entertainment; Drama; Comedy; Science & Nature; Family & Kids; Music & Culture and Lifestyle. The app brings together classic comedies such as Fawlty Towers and Only Fools & Horses, thrilling drama series Sherlock, Luther and much loved Pride and Prejudice, recent episodes of the UK’s famous soap EastEnders, global motoring phenomenon Top Gear, the Doctor Who archive and the adorable children’s show Charlie & Lola. Hours of new programming will be added to the service every week, along with imaginatively themed collections curated from the BBC’s extensive archive, including David Attenborough and the story of the Royal Family.

Designed to be intuitive and easy-to-use, a key feature of the app allows subscribers both to stream and to download shows for offline viewing for when they can’t access Wi-Fi connectivity. The stylish and simple interface enables users to build a personal library of shows.

John Smith CEO BBC Worldwide said: “I’m proud that we’re one of the first international broadcasters to give access to our shows in a perfectly packaged app. This launch is an important route to market in our strategy of pursuing multiple platforms for our programmes and brands, taking British programmes to new digital audiences around the world. Today marks a significant next step on a digital journey that has already seen 12m BBC Worldwide apps downloaded across brands as diverse as Lonely Planet and Good Food.”

“Based on the soaring success of the UK’s pioneering BBC iPlayer service, the app combines technical innovation with editorial creativity to transport users to the heart of the BBC and British television and on a journey of discovery, wherever and whenever they want,” said Jana Bennett, BBC Worldwide President of Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer “We have an exciting vision for what this service could become and will develop it based on feedback from within the markets.”

The global BBC iPlayer App is now available to download for free from the App Store in the launch markets on iPad at www.bbc.com/iplayer/tv.

The global version of the BBC iPlayer app launched today marks the start of a pilot phase for the service.

Mozilla has launched a new project called “Boot to Gecko” . The aim of the project is to develop a complete operating system for the open web.

“To that end, we propose a project we’re calling Boot to Gecko (B2G) to pursue the goal of building a complete, standalone operating system for the open web. It’s going to require work in a number of areas.

New web APIs: build prototype APIs for exposing device and OS capabilities to content (Telephony, SMS, Camera, USB, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.)
Privilege model: making sure that these new capabilities are safely exposed to pages and applications
Booting: prototype a low-level substrate for an Android-compatible device
Applications: choose and port or build apps to prove out and prioritize the power of the system”.

Read more: https://wiki.mozilla.org/B2G

After the recent (still ongoing) News International phone hacking scandal, developers have created free tools to help consumers stay away from websites owned by the Murdoch media empire., reports Mike Flacy writing on Digitaltrends

“A couple developers have created free tools to help consumers stay away from websites owned by the Murdoch media empire. A Firefox add-on called MurdochAlert creates a warning when users are loading one of 100+ sites. For instance, if a user lands on Fox News, an alert bar appears to warn the user of the “potential computer security risks of accessing Murdoch-controlled sites”. The add-on comes with a Greasemonkey script for any user that wants to alter the design.

A Chrome extension takes a more stringent approach and completely halts the user from loading a Murdoch property. Called Murdoch Block, the extension displays a warning before allowing the user to choose to load the site. Popular blocked properties include Hulu (31 percent owned by Fox), Fox News, MySpace, Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.”

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/firefox-and-chrome-tools-block-murdoch-owned-websites/

MurdochAlert warns you whenever you visit one of the 100+ Murdoch Family-controlled websites.
Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/MurdochAlert-details/

Murdoch Block: Blocks websites owned and operated by News Corp
Download: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/moepiacmhnmbiilhpojodnaopndhddpg#

Neil Daswani, the CTO of security firm Dasient, says that they have studied around 10,000 Android apps and have found that 800 of them are leaking private user information, according to Dgitizor.com

“The Dasient researchers also found out that 11 of the apps they have examined are sending unwanted SMS messages.”

Read more: http://digitizor.com/2011/07/21/android-malware/

Recent research by Columbia University psychologist Betsy Sparrow suggests the rise of Internet search engines like Google has changed the way our brain remembers information. The research was published July 14 in Science.

“Since the advent of search engines, we are reorganizing the way we remember things,” said Sparrow. “Our brains rely on the Internet for memory in much the same way they rely on the memory of a friend, family member or co-worker. We remember less through knowing information itself than by knowing where the information can be found.”

Sparrow’s research reveals that we forget things we are confident we can find on the Internet. We are more likely to remember things we think are not available online. And we are better able to remember where to find something on the Internet than we are at remembering the information itself. This is believed to be the first research of its kind into the impact of search engines on human memory organization.

Sparrow’s paper in Science is titled, “Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips.” With colleagues Jenny Liu of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Daniel M. Wegner of Harvard University, Sparrow explains that the Internet has become a primary form of what psychologists call transactive memory—recollections that are external to us but that we know when and how to access.

The research was carried out in four studies.

First, participants were asked to answer a series of difficult trivia questions. Then they were immediately tested to see if they had increased difficulty with a basic color naming task, which showed participants words in either blue or red. Their reaction time to search engine-related words, like Google and Yahoo, indicated that, after the difficult trivia questions, participants were thinking of Internet search engines as the way to find information.

Second, the trivia questions were turned into statements. Participants read the statements and were tested for their recall of them when they believed the statements had been saved—meaning accessible to them later as is the case with the Internet—or erased. Participants did not learn the information as well when they believed the information would be accessible, and performed worse on the memory test than participants who believed the information was erased.

Third, the same trivia statements were used to test memory of both the information itself and where the information could be found. Participants again believed that information either would be saved in general, saved in a specific spot, or erased. They recognized the statements which were erased more than the two categories which were saved.

Fourth, participants believed all trivia statements that they typed would be saved into one of five generic folders. When asked to recall the folder names, they did so at greater rates than they recalled the trivia statements themselves. A deeper analysis revealed that people do not necessarily remember where to find certain information when they remember what it was, and that they particularly tend to remember where to find information when they can’t remember the information itself.

According to Sparrow, a greater understanding of how our memory works in a world with search engines has the potential to change teaching and learning in all fields.

“Perhaps those who teach in any context, be they college professors, doctors or business leaders, will become increasingly focused on imparting greater understanding of ideas and ways of thinking, and less focused on memorization,” said Sparrow. “And perhaps those who learn will become less occupied with facts and more engaged in larger questions of understanding.”

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Columbia’s department of psychology.

http://news.columbia.edu/