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Kindle Fire HD

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Amazon has recently shown off their new kindle fire HD which will be available in three different models. There is a 8.9″ model with 4G capabilities, an 8.9″ model with out 4G, and a new 7″ model. The new lineup features faster processors and higher resolution screens. The 8.9″ model has a 1920×1200 HD display and a 1.5Ghz dual core CPU. The 7″ model offers up a max resolution of 1280×800 and a 1.2 GHz dual core CPU.  All models utilize anti-glare technology and dual-band Wi-Fi antennas. Amazon notes that dual-band antennas are not being used in other tablets and that it increases download speed by 40%.

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The Kindle Fire HD will also feature a PowerVR 3D graphics core that promises to keep HD games looking great and running smooth. The 7″ and the 8.9″ Wi-Fi only model will be available with two different storage sizes, 16GB and 32GB. The 8.9″ 4G model will be available in 32GB and 64GB.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 4G owners will be able to get 250MB per month for 12 months for a one time payment of $49.99. This will also include 20GB of Cloud Drive storage. Here is the price line up for Amazon’s new hardware:

Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 4G LTE Wireless 32GB $499 64GB $599.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ Wi-Fi only 16GB $299 32GB $369.
Kindle Fire HD 7″ 16GB $199 32GB $249.

I think that overall this is a really nice tablet but what really makes this stand out from the crowd is the Amazon brand it self. Amazon is a brand that people trust and with the added benefits of an Amazon Prime membership, going with Kindle seems smart. It is also important to note that Amazon remains very dedicated to the Kindle as it is really Amazons primary focus and hardware counter part of it’s successful online business.

Here is the Amazon press conference about the new product line up from Amazon.

Hints That Steam May Soon Be On Linux

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Earlier today, PCGamesN was looking around in the Steam Content Description Record Database and found an entry for a Linux based beta of the Steam client. Entries in this database usually become live projects shortly after being posted. This is creating a lot of buzz in the gaming community and would be a big step forward for Linux gaming.Tux from Linux

This would be pretty amazing and it gets me thinking about Linux, and I have to say that I personally use Linux from time to time but it is not my preferred OS. I have a pretty good understanding of the environment and can manipulate pretty much anything I want or need to. I have used Kdevelop to write applications have spent hours tweaking things and playing around but I can’t seem to move completely over to a Linux based OS no matter what distro I try out.

There it is, the problem is exactly what I just mentioned, I personally believe that there needs to be a greater unification of Linux distributions in order to really streamline and push the platform into the main stream . I am by no means saying that we should just demolish all the current flavors of Linux, just offer one version that’s massively supported and I think it will improve the Linux environment in it’s entirety. The bottom line is greater Linux support needs to happen, we need another strong competitor in the OS market and I think it’s time to push Linux harder than we ever have before.

With touch support and solid performance numbers, there is really no reason why Linux can’t have a greater presence in today’s mobile and gaming world. Android has been very successful and it’s a Linux based OS. In a world where Apple seems unshakable, Android is a pretty good measurement  of success and shows the possibilities of Linux. Video game developers have done some testing on Linux and have actually found that there are some pretty strong performance gains when running on Linux based machines. Even hardcore Linux users must admit that having more support would be nice and that no matter what happens on the front lines, there could always be a smaller niche distro that they could stick to if they don’t like the direction of the newly unified OS.

I have to stop and ask myself there are any possible negative impacts that could arise from an unification effort and mainly I see issues with an open platform becoming less open and seeing what makes Linux unique start to become a bit watered down. With any rise in popularity you can also see a rise in malware to go with it, as malware developers target operating systems that are likely to affect a larger audience.

Either way I am excited to see where this goes and will be keeping an eye on this projects progress.

The official entry in the Content Record Database can be found here.

 

Earthquake Tech

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Earthquake cracked ground floorThe latest earthquake ‘swarm’ in Southern California was comprised of more than 400 minor earthquakes in just a few days.  It leaves most of us to wonder if it is a sign of a larger earthquake to come. So who or what is keeping an eye on things for us? How far have we come in detecting and predicting earthquakes?

We have come along way in seismic research over the years and scientists and engineers at the California Institute of Technology, USGS Pasadena, UC Berkeley, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and the University of Southern California have been hard at work on a Earthquake early warning system (EEW). This early warning system works by detecting the first bit of energy that radiates from a particular earthquake, known as P-wave energy. This P-wave energy is used to pinpoint the location and magnitude of the earthquake.

In demonstrations of the system, software sounds an alarm and then shows the center of the earthquake. Then a simulated wave of energy is displayed, indicated by a circle increasing in size to show where the energy is as it travels away from the epicenter. The software also displays the magnitude and indicates when shaking should end. This EEW system is still a prototype and would need greater funding in order to to be more accurate and reliable for use in California and the Pacific Coast. You can see this software demonstration in action at the bottom of this page.

You could use the information gathered by these systems to try to decipher patterns in the Earth’s seismic activity to determine where more earthquakes will occur but this system is mainly built around earthquakes that have already occurred. What scientists would really like to achieve is the abbillity to accurately predict seismic activity before it happens.

A publication in the Journal of Zoology indicated that the common toad known as (Bufo bufo), was able to predict seismic activity many days in advance of a an actual earthquake. The toads will abandon their breeding site before an earthquake occurs. Researchers believe that the toads are able to detect some subtle changes in their surrounding environment shortly before an earthquake occurs.

Some research has gone into detecting some of these changes including air ionization, magnetic pulsations, and infrared radiation emitted near the earthquake location, but it is difficult to gain accurate information from these potential warning signs as there are many factors involved that disrupt and interfere with readings.

Currently, scientists use educated guesses based on the history and current seismic activity of specific regions along with the general movement of tectonic plates. These predictions are not very precise and usually get compiled into probability percentages. It’s not to say we haven’t become better at predicting them, it’s just that we can do a lot better.

What is important to take away from this is that at this time we can not accurately predict earthquakes, so it is important to prepare for them. You should always keep an emergency kit in your home. Place your kit in a well known location thats easy to get to. Your emergency kit should contain food,water, first aid supplies, flashlights, a radio and spare batteries. These supplies should be able to sustain you and your family members for at least 72 hours.

Make sure shelves are secured and always place heavy objects on lower shelves. Do not place heavy objects like large mirrors above your bed or places people will sit. Remember that it’s not the earthquake itself as much as it is the objects around you that are a dangerous when an earthquake occurs.

Useful websites with more information on this subject:

For more information on what to do before, during and after an earthquake please visit the FEMA website here.

You also get the latest updates on seismic activity through the USGS website here.

Apps you can download to track seismic activity:

If you’re looking for good mobile app that will notify you of seismic activity you can download “EarthQuake Alert!” for Android. Information about this app can be found here.

For iOS devices you can try Earthquake! The description can be found here.

 

 

The Inspirational Fun of DIY Electronics

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From making your own radio to creating your new robot best friend, do it yourself electronics are just plain fun. Sensors, capacitors, diodes, motors,L.E.Ds, and many other components can all be tied together using either a breadboard or a piece of wood and some screws, all to create something awesome with your own two hands. DIY electronics not only can be rewarding and fun but can also get your mind thinking in a “engineering mode”.  When you gain a deeper understanding of how electronics are put together, you can begin to imagine putting something together that maybe someone else hasn’t.DIY electronics on breadboard

There are a few different ways that you can begin building electronics but if you are just starting out you may want to pick up a hobby or project kit. You can purchase labs with snap circuits or you can jump right into it and grab a breadboard and look up some schematics. Electronic kits are available from many different vendors online and a simple google search will most likely get you where you need to be. Radio Shack of course still offers many kits online as well as in store.

Robot kits are one of my favorite ways to build.  From solar powered grasshoppers to robotic mini-tanks, your options seem endless. Many robot kits will even allow you to use programming language to set up how your robot functions.

DIY electronics are also a great way to challenge the minds of your children. I remember my father bringing home one of these kits when I was just a kid and I spent many summers working on all of the projects in the book. When I finally reached the last page of the particular project I was working on and flipped the switch, it was awesome to see it all come together. It was such a great feeling to know that I put it together myself and it works!

If you get really good you may even be able to repair some of your stuff. Remote stop working? Television on the fritz? Maybe even repair that old iPod you have laying around. Heck, knowing what you’re doing can save you money in repairs. Just remember that opening up and attempting to repair home electronics usually voids the warranty, so only do this if you are really sure of what you are doing or if you don’t care about what you’re trying to fix. As always be sure to practice safety when working with electronics and use common sense. Always make sure that the power source is disconnected before beginning any work.

Tools play an important role in working with electronics and you should look into buying an electronics tool kit that usually includes things like the following.

  • 5 pc file set
  • PLCC extractor
  • 3 pc soldering aid set
  • 6″ tweezer
  • Brush
  • 6 pc precision screwdrivers
  • Screwdriver handle w/drivers bits
  • IC extractor
  • Mini-flashlight
  • Utility knife
  • Anti-static strap
  • Soldering iron
  • 7-in-1 tool
  • Mini-hammer set
  • 3 pc soft screwdrivers
  • 7 pc folding hex key set
  • 3 prong holder tool
  • 5″ cutters
  • 6″ adjustable wrench
  • 5″ long-nosed pliers
  • 8″lineman’s pliers
  • 4.5″ flat-nosed pliers
  • 4.5″ bent-nosed pliers
  • De soldering pump
  • Solder core
  • Heat sink

If you are interested in picking up this hobby or if you already enjoy this hobby but you are looking for resources, you can find some great tutorials,projects,vidoes, and an online store for electronics here.

 

Magic: The Gathering

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I spent many years of my childhood collecting, trading and playing card games but one that sticks out the most for me is Magic: The Gathering. I remember it like it was yesterday, waiting to for the latest issue of InQuest magazine to arrive as I worked on perfecting my deck. I would read each issue at least twice and it was always close by just in case I needed it. Many hours spent playing with friends, perfecting strategies, and honing my skills.

If you have never played Magic: The Gathering and your a fan of games like this, then you should definitely check it out.Magic artwork

In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), you (the player) are a planeswalker, which is a powerful wizard who  fights other planeswalkers for glory. You fight your battles by using spells and summoning creatures.

In order to cast these spells and summon these creatures to destroy your opponent, you need to gather mana. Mana is generated through the use of Land cards. There are 5 types of  magic used in the game, White: The Color of Justice, Blue: The Color of Wisdom, Black: The Color of Ambition, Red: The Color of Chaos, and Green The Color of Nature. The type of magic you choose to play will determine the type of land you use to gain mana.

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The popular card game is still very much alive today and is played both for fun and for competition. Although nothing beats the card game it self, one of my favorite ways to play is on the computer.

The latest version is Magic: The Gathering Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013. The game offers a solid tutorial that should help you get going if you’re not familiar with the game play. This edition will feature ten new decks, a new multiplayer mode named “Planechase”, and new puzzle challenges. The game contains some really nice artwork and the UI flows well. Backgrounds are made up of rich 3D environments,  and the game also features narrated storyline.

Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is available for iPad, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC users can download the game on Steam for  $9.99 and the Special Edition is available for $19.99. More details on Magic: The Gathering the card game and the video game version  are available on the official site here.