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2011-03-31

4 Tips to Increase Rechargeable Battery Life

Without proper care, your batteries won’t keep a charge as well as they used to. From your cell phone to your digital camera, here are a few things you can do to reduce battery burnout.
If you own a iPhone, laptop battery, digital camera battery, or almost any rechargeable device, it probably runs on a lithium ion CANON BP-511 battery . They pack a ton of power into a small space and do a great job of holding on to that power when not in use. But without proper care, your battery won’t keep its charge as well as it used to.
That’s perfectly normal. The capacity of all lithium ion KONICA DR-LB1 battery declines over time. When maintained properly, an iPhone 4 battery will keep 80 percent of its original capacity after 400 full charge-and-discharge cycles. But there are things you can do improve the lifespan of your battery…

1. Stop running it down

First, stop running it all the way down. In fact, try not to drop below 20 percent. Think of your nikon en-el14 battery like a muscle. Working out at a gym for 20 minutes a day will get you into shape, but doing it for 20 hours a day isn’t something you can keep up for very long.

2. Use it or lose it

But you also shouldn’t leave your CANON DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS battery fully charged all the time. Like a muscle, your battery will atrophy if you never use it. So unplug it every once in a while and try to run it down by at least 10 percent.
Some manufacturers may also recommend that you fully charge your NIKON EN-EL15 battery, then completely drain it once a month. This is typically done to recalibrate the device’s internal counter, which is used when estimating how much power you have left. But don’t do it more often than necessary.
3. Remember: heat = death
Stay away from heat. Heat is the natural enemy of lithium ion CANON EOS 5D battery. Even at room temperature, one year of use can permanently reduce your battery’s capacity by as much as 20 percent – and something like a laptop will run much warmer than room temperature.
If you’re going to put a laptop through a period of heavy use, a good suggestion is to plug it in and remove the PANASONIC camera battery, storing it separately from your laptop in a cooler location.
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You may also want to invest in an inexpensive cooling pad. It’ll put an extra fan or two underneath your laptop to suck excess heat way. Here’s a listing of cooling pads available at Amazon.
If you use a case with your iPhone, iPad, or other device, make sure that it’s breathable. Long periods of use, especially never-ending cell calls, can generate a lot of extra heat. While a thick, airtight case may offer protection from the elements, it’ll come at the cost of CANON EOS-300D battery life.
For iPhone users, Apple has posted a list of tips to optimize your battery life with some great suggestions for any phone – like keeping it out of the sun or a hot car – as well as some specific to iPhones: Read those tips here.
RIM has done the same for BlackBerry users, recommending, among other things, that you charge your BlackBerry as much as possible. These tips should help maximize your battery’s short- and long-term life, no matter what phone you use.

4. Think long-term storage

If you’ve got an extra CASIO NP-20 battery that you rarely use, or have decided to run your laptop off its charger and store your battery somewhere else until needed, many manufacturers recommend keeping it in a refrigerator with a 50-percent charge.
The refrigerator is a nice, cool place – ideal for longer-term CANON NP-E3 battery storage. But don’t put it in the freezer. Anything below freezing is too cold and will hasten your battery’s demise.
No battery will last forever, and all will eventually have to be replaced. But with proper care, your battery should be able to enjoy a long, healthy life.
next blog: Embrace the Camera

2011-03-28

Embrace the Camera


We're missing Daddy around here.(CASIO NP-20 battery)  Sure, he takes out the trash and walks the dog (even on cold and rainy nights) and empties the dishwasher...but he's also my very best friend.  And I miss him when he's gone.  And he's also the boys' biggest hero here on earth.  And they miss him when he's gone.
I know lots of people who's husbands are away for a LONG time.  Corey's just gone for the week.  My heart swells with gratefulness for that man.  And breaks for those who are separated for so long.  Prayers for you families who are missing your men!  (KODAK KLIC-7002 battery)

Here's our email hello to Daddy yesterday...
 

3 comments...add one!:


Natalie said...

aw. such a sweet post! my hubby is also gone (for chaplain school)…i will be praying for you this week.PANASONIC CGR-D110 battery hope that all is well! Thursday, 10 March, 2011
The Samson Family said...

aww..so sweet! glad to hear you and Elizabeth could encourage each other with a night-time-routine-playdate, such a great idea :):) (FUJIFILM NP-60 Battery)Friday, 11 March, 2011 
~Rosanne said...

I know the feeling, my husband is on a 10 day mission trip to Panama.(SONY NP-BG1 battery)
Leaning on the everlasting arms this week. Sunday, 13 March, 2011
next blog: Portability, popping colors and bed bug preventatives top trends in travel goods

2011-03-24

Portability, popping colors and bed bug preventatives top trends in travel goods

Forty years ago, wheeled luggage - invented by Briggs & Riley - was the newest thing. A couple years ago, checkpoint-friendly luggage was all the rage. It still is, but the emphasis now is on ultra-light, multi-functioning luggage on four-wheel systems and, in many cases, with sleek hard sides, built for durability. ( HP Pavilion DV1000 battery )Other biggies in the travel goods realm right now: Any product that keeps bed bugs at bay, and color, color and more color.
Thousands of travel goods items debuted at the recent Travel Goods Show in Chicago; in fact, some 40,000 products from 2,000 different lines were unveiled by 215 exhibitors representing over 300 brands.
"Function and versatility are the big trends, although they're always part of the travel goods picture," says Michele Marini Pittenger, president of the Travel Goods Association.( Dell Inspiron 1501 AC Adapter) "Manufacturers continue to design and deliver products that make travel more convenient, comfortable, colorful, safe and secure."(Dell Inspiron 1545 AC Adapter )
LUGGAGE-LITE
The scope of choice in lightweight luggage built for smooth maneuverability continues to expand, with hard-sides and four-wheel systems emerging as scene stealers: Antler's Liquis 4-Wheel Roller Case ($399) sports a virgin polycarbonate A-Plus shell for a slick, tough-stuff persona at a svelte 8.4 lbs; the very smart Intus business case with integrated handle scale from the Sirus Collection (starting at $130) by Heys USA, shows off light weight in a flexible and impact-absorbing hard-shell, not to mention intuitive technology to eliminate baggage fees; and Delsey's Helium Breeze 3.0 Carry-On Trolley with EZ Glide 4-Wheel Spinner System ($149.99), a soft-side with fiberglass frame, is light on the scales but heavy on durability.( acer aspire 7535 battery)
In soft-sides and stars in their own right: Ricardo Beverly Hills' Expandable WheelAboard carry-on ($240) from its Superlight Sausalito Collection, its sleek 7.1-pound frame atop four-wheel Glide-LiteTM system reflecting the new norm of the 20-inch case; International Traveller, already known for having the "World's Lightest Collection" lightens things up even more with the introduction of IT-0-1 2nd Generation 4-Wheel, now the "world's lightest spinner" and with retails ranging from $123 to $160; and American Flyer's McCool E2 (Extreme Exploration) bags, backpacks and messengers ($70-$450), channeling James Bond in its rugged ready-for-any-adventure-regardless-of-potential-peril aesthetic.( acer aspire 8930 battery )
COLORS RULE; BLACK DROOLS
Like a gust of spring, color burst across luggage and small leather goods collections, mirroring a welcome optimism in the resurgence of travel. Heys USA talks the talk in personifying its "art of modern luggage" motto through its artist collections featuring the striking pop art of Romero Britto and urban-edged flamboyance of Charles Fazzino, veritable explosions of primaries and pastels and in patterns surging with graphics, florals and cityscapes. ( acer aspire 5730 battery)The four-piece sets, absolute showstoppers in hard-shell and atop four-wheel systems, retail for $1,200 (Britto Garden) and $1,060 (Fazzino).
Also flying their color verve: Italian manufacturer Roncato's UNO Collection ($569-$625), its stunning graphic designs, including Rosso Murales, Nero Rosa and Viola Fiori, capturing the imagination in sleek polycarbonate trolleys and upright cases simply made for bold escapades; Lulu Castagnette by Murval Paris, lustrous in polycarbonate, its Flamenco set, with 22-inch spinner, (sony pcga-bp71 battery )carry-on and beauty case ($269), all sass in a pastel color palette, and Pink Lulu Bear ($289/three-piece set) irresistible in hot pink, orange, red, silver and white; and Olympia, which unleashed the rainbow on its new collections, including Blossom ($399/set), a bouquet of aqua blue, lavender, orange and yellow in polycarbonate on dual spinner wheels.(fujitsu lifebook c2000 battery)
Special kudos to designer Christina DePonte at 24/7 International for her arresting homage to Oleg Cassini in the Wedding Collections, "Bouquet" ($120-$280) and "Tie the Knot" ($200/set), each a classic expression of the "Camelot" look synonymous with First Lady Jackie Kennedy for whom Cassini designed. Encompassing five pieces, "Bouquet" features woven fabric evocative of lace-accented bridal gowns and accented with patent black trim and silver hardware, an elegant "something new" for brides.
In small leather goods, LODIS rolled out collections of clutches, cross-body bags, wallets and wristlets, at once demurely feminine and boldly dramatic: Audrey ($42-$94) in royal and citron; Celestial ($52-$145) in abstract Italian leather and in patterns suggestive of Impressionistic schemes; and Posey ($38-$84), dazzling in guava, lime and sky florals. Belarno performed a color mash-up with its ladies' wallets, clutches and cross-body bags ($55-$155), achieving spot-on panache in hot combos of red, brown, purple, green, blue and black.(dell xps m1210 battery )
"The color explosion began about three to four years ago in the U.S.," says K.U. Chung, sales manager at Belarno. "It is hotter and hotter."
WAGING WAR ON BED BUGS
Several companies had a lock on the gross-out factor, but travelers can rejoice that there may be if not a wiping out of at least a preventative for bringing bed bugs home from travels. RMB Group's Rest Easy ($6.99-$7.99/2-ounce two-pack) is an all-natural spray made from cinnamon, lemongrass, clove and mint essential oils that is both people-safe and earth-friendly and can be sprayed around the hotel room on arrival and on your luggage bed bugs' ticket out. ( dell vostro 1400 battery )Its reusable bed bug bags ($7.99/six) offer even more protection.
"By placing and locking your clothing in these bags before your trip and not putting them in the hotel dresser you avoid one of the simplest means of transferring the pest to your home," says Brian Nachsin of the RMB Group. "Most importantly, all of your worn clothing should be packed into these travel bags as a way of quarantining it.( hp pavilion dv6000 ac adapter )
"The bags can be used anywhere you feel there might be a threat of bed bugs which, based on the news the last couple of years, is just about everywhere we work and play."
Also rolling out preventative bed bug sprays: the patented Stop Bugging Me ($7.99/3-ounce travel size), enough naturally derived spray to treat two queen-size mattresses; and Bed Bug Patrol, which offers Bed Bug Travel & Luggage Spray ($11.85), chemical-free and non-toxic Bed Bug Traps ($19.95/8-pack) and Premium Bed Bug Luggage Protection Covers ($24) that are impermeable to the little buggers.(ibm thinkpad x40 battery)
WHAT'S NEXT?
With some innovations, the future is indeed now.
Getting attention are accessories that incorporate RFID technology to protect personal information stored in the RFID chip on passports and credit cards name, billing ZIP, credit card number/expiration date and other personal data, such as: Pacsafe's RFIDsafe 50 RFID Passport Protector ($14.99); the Shielded SPIbelt ($29.95) the secure and expandable small personal item pouch; Royce Leather Gifts' wallets and passport covers, offered in different styles and colors and ranging in price from $30 to $52; and the drool-inducing, industrial-grade stainless steel men's wallets and women's wallets, clutches and mini messengers from Stewart/Stand, from $59.50 to $700, but these sleek beauties are worth every piece of silver you lay down for one.(dell inspiron 1525 battery )
In luggage, saving space spurred design innovation. Max Mirani's Crush ($395/$22 inches) impressed by doing just that to fit inside a dresser drawer. Its Move ($495) showed off stylish dexterity by doubling as a mobile closet; when you reach your destination, hang, unzip and voila! a "closet" with shoes, shirt, accessories neatly unfolds.(dell latitude d630 battery) Balanzza's TRUCO ($199), the industry's first modular carry-on, reshapes itself to fit allotted space via a click-on system. And Lipault earns high marks for pliability with its Foldable 0% cases ($180-$225) constructed of twill nylon that collapses down to fit inside a space-conserving pouch in colors shouting "Wake-up!"(apple powerbook g3 battery )
TECH-READY EVERYDAY
Two words: iPad case. With ever-increasing emphasis on portability, scads of manufacturers are giving perpetually plugged-in types excellent options for holding and toting iPads, tablets and eReaders, further blurring the lines between travel goods and everyday essentials.(dell 6y270 battery)
"There appears to be no end to the innovation as manufacturers continue to create products specifically designed to make travel less stressful and a lot more fun," says Pittenger, president of the Travel Goods Association.
Upping the fun factor: The graphically dynamic e-Book Wraps ($30) and iPad Wraps ($50) from Hadaki by Kalencom; Piel's exquisitely designed iPad Flip Case ($97) with leather border and openings for plugging in external devices or adapters, which opens to reveal multiple pockets for business cards or papers and transforms into a horizontal or vertical stand for hands-free viewing; Kiva Designs' Microtech Shoulder Bag ($39.95) in graphite, surf and glorious sunfire orange, whose main compartment has a padded pocket sized to fit tablets; and Clava, whose Carina iPad Cover ($67.50) embodies the company's design philosophy of modern simplicity.(dell xps m1530 battery )
"At the very core of the entire collection, are the clean minimalist lines infused to high function," says Clava designer Mia Hur. "Clean lines, reinforced exterior for protection, with a flap that can be used as a kick stand, pulled all the way back and snapped into place for reading, emailing or browsing."(sony vgp-bps9 battery )
Briggs & Riley debuted the compact and lightweight Slide Tech Bag ($129) for iPad, eReader and other electronic devices, designed for on-the-go professionals demanding 24/7 connectivity; Sumdex presented a solution for chronic multi-taskers with its lightweight and portable SpinWork Quick Stand ($49.99), a durable hard plastic case designed to hold an iPad that literally spins for portrait, landscape or any other angle needed, and hangs for hands-free viewing. It fits neatly into the company's classically-styled North-South Business Brief ($129.99), which has a combination computer cradle for a MacBook Pro or the SpinWork and separate section for tablet.(hp pavilion dv4000 battery )
"With smart phones and iPads managing our lives, I almost feel that our travel revolves around our technology," says Chelsea Gosset, creative director at ful, whose Pivot ($40) think enhanced sleeve with greater flexibility for viewing and using tablets tucks neatly into the company's Joint Venture MacBook Messenger with Detachable iPad Case ($69.99).(hp f2024b battery)
LO & Sons, new to the luggage landscape, hit full stride with its T.T. (travel tote, $260) and O.G. (overnight and gym, $295) bags. The bags have padded compartments for both a tablet and a laptop, yet maintain a slim silhouette. More importantly, they are lightweight a design element that was key for company founder Helen Lo, who suffers from a bad back. Even loaded with electronics, travel essentials and personal accessories, the leather accented bags are very heft-manageable because they are made from PVC-free water-resistant nylon with patent-pending internal support strap system.(dell inspiron 1420 battery)
In teched-up bags, Powerbag's Business Class Pack ($179.99) a high-end checkpoint-friendly laptop backpack with a built-in 6000mAh battery for recharging portable electronics was a winner; in fact, it was awarded third place in the Travel Goods Association's Product Innovation Award. The bag, from RFA Brands, features a full-size USB socket, micro- and mini-USB plugs and a 30-pin Apple connector, and carries enough juice to charge a typical cell phone battery four times over.(compaq presario r4000 battery )
And, for those times and travels when you're off the grid, GOAL ZERO offers a solution with its portable solar technology, the Guide 10 Adventure Kit ($139.95/without rechargeable AA batteries; $159.95/with the batteries). Foldable and weather-resistant, it fits in your pocket and functions as a power pack and a battery charger. It solar-charges cell phones in one to two hours, charges AA/AAA batteries in three to five sun hours, and has a built-in LED flashlight that runs nine-plus days per charge.(hp f4098a battery)
(EDITORS: END OPTIONAL TRIM)
COMFORT BABIES
Nemo, Curious George and Buzz Lightyear were among beloved characters appealing to pint-sized travelers in pillows, blankets and lovies sometimes all three together as kids' comfort items took front and center with many exhibitors at the 2011 Travel Goods Show.(sony vgp-bps2 battery)
Lewis & Clark dry-docked Nemo for its line of Li'l Lewis Explorers travel neck pillows. Cabeau put the warm-and-fuzzy in its Travel Blankid ($29.99), a super soft plush animal that transforms into a blanket, travel pillow and backpack, and recognized during the Travel Goods Show with the Buzz Award for creating just that.(dell vostro 1700 battery )
Zoobies' Storytime Pals added literature's most famous monkey to its award-winning lineup with Curious George ($35), now a plush toy, pillow and fleece blanket all-in-one and accompanied by a storybook.
"Even though a Zoobie wasn't directly created with travel in mind, we have found that it is a perfect travel companion," says Zoobies' Sam Allen. "There is a strong trend in the travel goods industry for increasingly convenient products. So many parents and grandparents have told me that a Zoobie took so much hassle out of their travels."(fujitsu lifebook c2330 battery)
With its nesting Cuties and Pals travel duo ($89.99), TrendyKid also gave a nod to making parents' lives easier by pairing a sturdy hard-shell 20-inch wheelie and a 13-inch backpack together. Vacations, daytrips, overnights either or both pieces are up to the job of making it fun and helping kids stay organized.(dell inspiron 6400 ac adapter)
The kid appeal of Trunki ($39.99) by Melissa & Doug is off the charts with these brightly colored ride-on/pull-along lightweight suitcases that were introduced a few years ago. Enhancing the cases are new Saddlebags ($14.99) that kids can drape over their Trunki for additional padding or carry as a shoulder pack. In either case, the saddlebags allow kids to tote more of their must-haves art supplies, picture books, snacks, mad money along on their adventures.(aspire 6930-6809 battery)
And speaking of adventure, Filmdom's most famous Space Ranger, Buzz Lightyear, shines on in Disney by Heys' Fiber Optic Rolling Duffels ($110), along with the whole "Toy Story" gang. Other Disney favorites also are featured on these cases flashing with lights.( acer aspire 3000 battery )

 

2011-03-21

US, Allies Press Libya Attacks

Western forces launched a second round of missile strikes on forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi Sunday in an effort to drive back their offensive against rebel-held cities.(Dell Inspiron 1525 Battery)

The U.S. military says the bombardment of Tomahawk cruise missiles and air strikes has significantly degraded Gadhafi's air defenses.

The U.S. has been carrying out the attacks with Britain, France and other allies to enforce a U.N.-authorized no-fly zone.  The no-fly zone is aimed at protecting Libyan civilians from attacks by pro-Gadhafi forces trying to crush a month-long uprising against his 42-year rule.(Dell Inspiron 6000 Battery)

U.S. officials say the Libyan leader himself is not a target, although an administrative building in Gadhafi's residential compound in the capital, Tripoli, was reported damaged in a missile attack late Sunday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Washington expects to turn control of the mission in Libya over to a coalition - probably headed by the French and British or NATO - within days.(HP PAVILION dv6000 Battery)

Gates said the U.S. will be a member of the coalition, but will not have "the preeminent role."  He made the comments to reporters traveling with him to Russia, which is opposed to the international military strikes.

U.S. President Barack Obama will take questions from reporters Monday for the first time since the allied assault began, during a joint press conference in Chile.(acer aspire 5920g battery )

Gadhafi has denounced the international military action as colonial crusader aggression and vowed to defeat foreign forces.  He said his government has opened arms depots to Libyans to enable them to fight.

Heavy anti-aircraft fire erupted in Tripoli Sunday night. (ibm thinkpad r40 battery)

In addition to targeting anti-aircraft sites, allied warplanes also targeted Libyan ground forces, destroying dozens of tanks near the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Libyan state television said the airstrikes and missiles have killed at least 64 people, including children, and wounded about 150.  But the top U.S. military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, said he has seen no evidence of civilian casualties from the operation.(hp pavilion dv1000 battery)

The U.S. military said Sunday that Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Qatar have joined the coalition against Gadhafi.  Qatar is the first Arab nation to do so.

Obama called King Abdullah of Jordan to emphasize the importance of a broad international effort in the Libyan campaign.(sony vgp-bps5 battery)

The air and missile strikes represent the biggest international military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The U.N. Security Council passed the resolution Thursday authorizing the no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.(toshiba pa3331u-1brs battery)
next blog: GM's Shreveport plant halts production

2011-03-18

GM's Shreveport plant halts production

The aftershocks of Japan's 8.9 magnitude earthquake are finally starting to be felt right here in Shreveport.( Dell inspiron 1501 ac adapter)

As a result of a parts shortage caused by the earthquake, General Motors has decided to shut down production at the Shreveport GM plant, which is scheduled to shut down permanently by June 2012.
The plant manufactures two midsize pickups, the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado.(dell inspiron 1525 battery) It used to also produce the Hummer H3 and H3T.
GM spokeswoman Donna McLallen said the shutdown is not a permanent one.
"We hope to be back up as soon as possible," she said. "We are going to monitor the situation constantly, but there is no way to speculate how long this shutdown will last."(Acer aspire 3000 battery )
The local plant's union leadership wouldn't even speculate as to how long the plant may be shut down.
"I've got no idea," said UAW Local 2166 president Doug Ebey. "I don't even think GM knows. They may find parts tomorrow for all I know. There's no way of knowing."
During the shutdown, hourly employees will receive about 95 percent of their take-home pay.
This shutdown is the latest in a series of bad news for the local plant.(sony pcga-bp2nx battery ) The plant now employs less than 1,000 workers, when it once boasted an employment of more than 3,000 at its peak.
"We're surviving, hoping for some positive news," Ebey said. "This is the most resilient workforce I've ever seen. I believe the strongest in all of GM, especially having to weather the storm they have gone through over the last few years."(compaq evo n400c battery )
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next blog: Wildcat Discovery Technologies Discloses Fundamental Advances in Rechargeable Battery Materials Technology

2011-03-15

Wildcat Discovery Technologies Discloses Fundamental Advances in Rechargeable Battery Materials Technology

Newly developed 5-volt electrolyte, cathode material boost battery performance 25-65 percent in cars, electronics, other applications
SAN DIEGO--Fundamental advances in rechargeable battery technology disclosed today by Wildcat Discovery Technologies could result in battery performance improvements of 25 to 65 percent or more in electric cars, portable electronics, military, medical devices, and other demanding applications. “This is a breakthrough discovery by our development team, which can lead to batteries capable of storing much more energy than current materials allow”( dell inspiron 5150  battery)
Wildcat has developed a pair of new materials that set new standards for the rechargeable battery industry, by providing unprecedented energy density of more than 675 Wh/kg while operating in full cells at 5 volts – levels beyond today’s industry standards.
Wildcat’s EM1, a novel 5V electrolyte formulation, and CM1, a new high voltage cathode material, have been shown to deliver a 25 percent improvement in gravimetric energy density, and a 61 percent improvement in volumetric energy density in the electrode, compared with existing state-of-the-art battery materials with comparable attributes. (dell inspiron 6400 battery)Thus far, batteries made with EM1 and CM1 have expected power and safety performance comparable to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), while also handling more than 100 charge/discharge cycles in full-cell testing.
“This is a breakthrough discovery by our development team, which can lead to batteries capable of storing much more energy than current materials allow,” said Wildcat CEO Mark Gresser. “When batteries hold more energy, it creates new options for design engineers - electric cars can go farther, tablets, laptops and smartphones can be smaller with no loss of runtime, soldier packs can be lighter, and implanted medical devices can last longer before the need for replacement surgery.(Dell inspiron 9400 battery ) And while our initial tests have shown a 61 percent improvement in energy density, this is just the beginning – because the EM1 electrolyte is stable at 5-volt operation, it opens the door to development of a new world of cathode materials that should bring even greater advances.”
Gresser added that the new materials are fully compatible with industry-standard anode materials.
The EM1 electrolyte’s high-voltage capability is of special interest for the automotive sector, where cell development has been restricted by the inability of existing electrolyte formulas to cycle at high voltages. Current EV systems based on low voltage cells require complex and expensive pack designs and battery management systems.(Dell inspiron 6000 battery ) EM1 enables high voltage systems which are expected to reduce required cell quantities 30-40% vs. competing materials like LFP and NMC. Fewer cells and simpler pack designs translate into substantially lower costs for auto makers.
The materials were developed using Wildcat’s proprietary high-throughput synthesis and screening platforms, which enable rapid discovery and development of advanced materials. For the CM1 cathode material alone, Wildcat’s R&D team synthesized and evaluated more than 3000 materials in just eight months; this research may have taken years using conventional methods. (Dell latitude e6400 battery )
Wildcat is actively seeking licensees and partners for further development and commercialization of EM1 and CM1 and successor materials. Sample quantities of up to 1 kilogram will be available as of April, 2011.
About Wildcat Discovery Technologies
Wildcat Discovery Technologies is engaged in the discovery and development of specialty materials for clean tech energy applications; including materials for batteries, gas separation, catalysis and advanced structural materials. Wildcat has developed proprietary high throughput synthesis and testing workflows for the rapid exploration of new inorganic materials. This technology enables Wildcat scientists to synthesize and evaluate thousands of materials in the time it takes most labs to evaluate only a handful.(Dell inspiron 1525 battery )
next blog: Carlos Slim ranks as world's richest person for second year

2011-03-10

Carlos Slim ranks as world's richest person for second year

(Reuters) - At an age when most people enjoy retirement, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim grew his personal fortune by some $20 billion in one year through gains in his telecommunications and mining businesses.(Fujifilm NP-60 Battery)
The value of the 71-year-old's companies as measured by Forbes, around $74 billion, is nearly twice the projected 2011 gross domestic product of Lebanon, from where Slim's father fled to Mexico in 1902 to escape Ottoman rule.(Sony NP-FT1 Battery)
Slim, who tops the list of Forbes' richest people for the second year in a row, increased the gap between his nearest rivals Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, both of whom have vowed to give up much of their money to charity.
Though Slim has also channeled billions of dollars into philanthropic causes, he has kept a tighter rein on his fortune, most of which is controlled by his family.(SONY NP-FM50 Battery)Businessmen do more good by creating jobs and wealth via investment "not by being Santa Claus," Slim likes to say.
"One should not seek exposure or applause for the things one does, but simply do them well for one's own sense of accomplishment," he once said about his social work.
The biggest boost to Slim's wealth in 2010 came when he realized big savings and wrongfooted competitors by carrying out a $21 billion tie-up between his telecom companies to create a sectoral conglomerate under America Movil.(Nikon EN-EL15 Battery)
Cash continued to flood in after Slim made an aggressive bet on the price of raw materials through mining investments within his Grupo Carso holding.
While business success dominates media coverage of Slim, his predecessors at the top of the list have made headlines in recent years as celebrated philanthropists.
Microsoft co-founder Gates has given away more than a third of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. (Nikon EN-EL3E Battery)Buffett said in 2006 he planned to give up around 85 percent of his wealth to charitable causes.
Slim has two major foundations worth around $10 billion in total, according to his spokesman Arturo Elias Ayub.
Much of Slim's charitable work is overseen by his three daughters. Management of his most important companies has passed to his three sons, nephews and sons-in-law.
NOT SLOWING UP
From a savvy kid who bought his first government savings bond at age 11 to becoming the world's richest man, Slim is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Latin America. But it has not all been smooth sailing.
No stranger to controversy at home, where detractors accuse him of using political connections to kick-start his rise two decades ago, Slim is now embroiled in a competition row over his dominant position in the telecommunications industry.(Nikon EN-EL3 Battery)
next blog: More powerful than iPhone: It’s the Atrix

2011-03-05

More powerful than iPhone: It’s the Atrix

I’m watching a YouTube video as I type this, with an occasional glance at my Facebook page for the latest updates. I just squeezed in a quick phone call to my wife.
Photos

Just a typical day at the office, except I’m doing all of this on one of the most anticipated smartphones to be released this year. It’s the Atrix 4G, just lent to me by Motorola Mobility Inc.(NIKON camera battery)
I will hate to give it back.
New tech gadgets debut at 2011 CESThe Atrix, which runs Google Inc.’s popular Android operating system, is surely the most muscular multitasking platform that ever fit into a shirt pocket. Attach it to the optional docking station, with its keyboard and 11.6-inch screen, and the Atrix 4G becomes a capable, light-duty computer that also makes phone calls.(KONICA camera battery)
Remember the netbook craze of a couple years back? Well, here we go again, only this time it has speed dial.
Only AT&T Inc. will sell the Atrix 4G in the United States, a nice consolation for having to share its formerly exclusive Apple iPhone franchise with Verizon Wireless. The Atrix is priced the same as the iPhone 4 — $199.99 with a two-year service contract — and AT&T says it will start selling it sometime before March 6.
It is a far more powerful phone than Apple’s iPhone 4. The Atrix features a dual-core processor chip. In effect, you get two processors in one, just the thing for running lots of apps simultaneously. It also has a full gigabyte of memory for running programs,(SANYO camera battery) on top of 16 gigs for storing documents, music, photos, and videos. And you can shove in 32 gigs more.
The Atrix calls itself a 4G device, meaning it is compatible with the latest upgrade to AT&T’s current 3G data network. The new service is supposed to haul data much faster than the 1.5 million bits per second you would expect from 3G. But here at the Globe, 3G speed was exactly what I got.
12 things to know about the iPhone on VerizonThe Atrix also has an on-off button that can read your fingerprint, ensuring that only you can use the phone. (CANON battery )Pretty flashy, but in most respects, the Atrix is a typical high-end Android.
So what is the reason for all the buzz? I’m typing on it right now: the docking station, a 2.4-pound device that resembles an unusually thin laptop. It is so sleek because it has just a video screen, keyboard, and battery. There’s no processor or memory — that stuff is in the Atrix phone, the brains of this outfit.
Snap the phone into the slot behind the docking station screen, and you have a slick little portable computer. Motorola will charge $499.99 for the Atrix and its laptop dock, (JVC camera battery)a promotional price the company may raise.
When the phone is plugged in, its screen appears in a “mobile view’’ window. All your Android apps are easily controlled with keyboard and mouse. Dial a phone call, and the Atrix runs in speakerphone mode. You can also use a Bluetooth headset for privacy.
The rest of the screen’s real estate is given over to the webtop, a custom user interface developed by Motorola. There is a Firefox browser to run all sorts of Web-based applications. For example, I’m using the word processor in Google Docs to write this. Performance is a little sluggish at times but sufficient for most everyday tasks.(KODAK camera battery)
Motorola has done a good job of melding Android and the webtop. For instance, when I phoned my wife, the sound from the YouTube video was automatically muted, then resumed when I hung up. But just as the Apple iPad lacked apps that showed off its full power at first, Motorola has not given the Atrix enough to do. A company executive said they hope users will mainly use Web-based software, but they do plan to introduce webtop apps.
The laptop dock has some annoying quirks. The keyboard is a little cramped, and because the phone is placed right behind the screen, I could not tilt the screen back as far as I’d like.(CANON CHARGER) It is also hard to tell when the laptop dock’s battery is running dry; it died on me unexpectedly, giving me a nasty scare.(CASIO CHARGER)
On the whole, the Atrix 4G is as irresistible as I’d hoped, the smartest new device so far this year.
next blog: Apple’s new proprietary processor for the iPad 2, the A5, could ratchet up the microprocessor competition partially kicked off by its A4 chip.

2011-03-04

Apple’s new proprietary processor for the iPad 2, the A5, could ratchet up the microprocessor competition partially kicked off by its A4 chip.

Apple’s new proprietary processor for the iPad 2, the A5, could ratchet up the microprocessor competition partially kicked off by its A4 chip.(Dell inspiron 1521 battery)
That’s the estimation of one analyst firm, IHS iSuppli, which is suggesting that the new chip will certainly help the iPad 2 match the competitive threat offered by Motorola’s 10.1-inch Xoom tablet, which comes equipped with a dual-core processor. 
“In the new design paradigm of smartphones and tablets, computing efficiency trumps raw computing power,” Wayne Lam, a senior analyst at IHS iSuppli, wrote in a March 2 research note. “Designs like the iPad demand highly integrated microprocessors that emphasize graphics performance, lower power consumption and small space usage.”(toshiba satellite a105-s101 battery)
Apple claims the A5 will offer radically faster performance than the A4, present in not only the iPad, but also the iPhone 4, Apple TV and iPod Touch.
Other analysts seemed pleased with the iPad 2’s rollout. “Given the increased competition in the tablet market and the growing importance of the iPad to Apple’s future growth prospects, yesterday was a crucial product launch event for Apple,” Brian White, an analyst with Ticonderoga Securities, wrote in a March 3 research note,(TOSHIBA pa3285u-1brs battery) “and the day could not have gone better, in our view.”
White cited the iPad 2’s quick rollout schedule—the tablet is slated to hit store shelves March 11—and upgraded features as chief reasons for why he believes the iPad 2 will build on its predecessor’s momentum. The appearance of Apple CEO Steve Jobs was rated a big thumbs-up.
“In light of growing market concerns surrounding Steve Jobs’ health, his presence at the launch and animated delivery of the iPad 2 were a pleasant surprise,” he wrote.(sony vgp-bps9 battery)
Apple formally announced the iPad 2 in a March 2 event in San Francisco, ending months of speculation over how the company would advance its popular tablet franchise. Jobs stepped onstage, breaking his own self-imposed hiatus from Apple for undisclosed health reasons, in order to introduce his company’s great touch-screen hope to the world. “I didn’t want to miss it,” he told the audience.
In addition to a dual-core processor, the 9.7-inch iPad 2 includes a built-in gyroscope, front- and rear-facing cameras and a thinner body. (Dell xps m1330 battery )Apple intends to sell this latest iteration at the same price-points as the original iPad.
In keeping with his combative stance toward other competitors in the tablet space, Jobs took some swipes at the Motorola Xoom, which retails for $799. Citing the prices for the various models of the iPad 2, he said: “Five of these six models are less expensive than $799. (Dell inspiron 1545 ac adapter)We only have one model that’s more expensive than $799.”
Ultimately, however, Apple seems to be betting that the iPad 2’s increased speed and tweaked software will give it the proverbial leg up in the fight against Android-based tablets. Google Android 3.0, codenamed Honeycomb, has been optimized for the tablet form-factor.