Buzz Out Loud 826: Introducing the Jabra Weimaraner

That's the dog-sized Bluetooth headset you can buy to go with today's real news item, the new BlackBerry Storm: announced but not released. Until it comes out, though, it's basking in the warm glow of the "meeting and maybe exceeding expectations" judgments coming from the media. In sum, it sounds cool. And Google decides it's high time they made some money on that whole YouTube thing.

EPISODE 826

BlackBerry Storm 9500 hands-on
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/08/blackberry-storm-9500-hands-on/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10059498-1.html

YouTube adds affiliate links to its videos; Amazon and iTunes downloads
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-youtube-adds-affiliate-links-to-its-videos-amazon-and-itunes-downloads/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2332080,00.asp

Google launches AdSense for games
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10060732-52.html

CEA: Economy down, TV sales up
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10060659-1.html

Yahoo-AOL: An integration nightmare on deck
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10347

Data mining doesn’t work
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10059987-38.html

Dutch to MBTA: Sorry CharlieCard. Your crypto is crap-o
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081008-charlie-and-the-broken-rfid-mass-transit-authentication-system.html

Mobile tracking reveals spending
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7651304.stm

Steve Jobs patents “The Dock”
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/08/1224224

DMCA exemption time
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/07/2114243

VOICE MAIL
Keith: Ninja Air

E-MAIL

Tom broke my spirit
I was listening to episode 825 driving into work at IBM’s advanced semiconductor design and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y., [http://www-03.ibm.com/technology/] and reflecting on the cool stuff we’ve been working on in the last year or two. The PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii chips, High K metal gate [http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/04/15/2027239], airgap [http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199203911], high end chips for IBM servers, etc.

Then at 1:30 into the episode I hear Tom tell me that Intel is the only chip design/manufacturer of note left now that AMD is out of the fab business. Ouch!

Brian the sad engi-nerd, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Thin-film solar cells + Origami = compact energy solution?

I’ve been hearing/reading more about thin-film solar cells and I think it’s great stuff--check out a couple articles:
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/10/thin-film-solar.html
http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2008/10/07/07gigaom-konarka-turns-on-1gw-thin-film-solar-printing-pre-11260.html

But then, I thought about this really interesting video about using origami for engineering/packaging efforts:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/robert_lang_folds_way_new_origami.html

So…put them together and you’ve probably got a way to have a back packable solar cell that might cover a 10 person tent! Or a sail, umbrella, etc.

—–
Other misc questions I have on solar energy:
My big question about solar is the amount of energy used to create the cells, materials needed (and their cost to obtain), and how long these solar cells will last. Can solar cells be reused/recycled? Can they be biodegradable? Is Solar thermal (think Sterling engine) the better way to harness the solar energy? What about UV light energy--any way to convert that?
—–

thoughts?

Best,
Shalin

JaMoTo,

For the sake of some privacy, please don’t use my name or e-mail address…just call me a “Comm-dude at Air Force Space Command.”

Want some cool news about Cyber…see 2/3 way down in msg below. While the AF is not standing up a separate Major Command, we are standing up an organization known as a Numbered Air Force for Cyber — wooohooo.

AF leaders met last week (for CORONA) and decided to establish a Numbered Air Force for cyber operations within Air Force Space Command and discussed how the Air Force will continue to develop capabilities in this new domain and train personnel to execute this new mission. This will be 24th AF.

“The conduct of cyber operations is a complex issue, as DoD and other interagency partners have substantial equity in the cyber arena,” said Mr. Donley. “We will continue to do our part to increase Air Force cyber capabilities and institutionalize our cyber mission.”

Locations for the new nuclear command and cyber NAF were not addressed and require further deliberation.

Other key AF issues discussed include an update on the status of joint basing initiatives, the development of a common Logistics Standardization Evaluation Program, and review of the concept of integrating the networks used to repair the Air Force’s weapon systems.

AFSPC Communications and Information

Howdy Y'all,

Just while you're all bust ranting about how great it is that all products going forward will need to have removable batteries, (while is great I know) but what about things like Bluetooth headsets, those disposable electric toothbrushes (http://www.oralb.com/us/products/manual/pulsar/)

I know this might seems like silliness, but I'm still holding out for the Bluetooth earbuds aren't the same size as a small dog.

Dave The Software Developer
Ireland
Sean