IsraGood

Another reason why broadband geeks will love Israel

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:44:50 -0500

Another reason why broadband geeks will love Israel:

With cable and DSL becoming the “norm” for broadband, it looks like Israel is planning on “kicking it up a notch” by using fiber to the home.

The technology is known as “fiber to the home,” or FTTH. Using fiber optic lines, it can provide connection speeds of 100 megabits to a blazing 1 gigabit per second. Today, the typical broadband user in the developed world connects at five to 10 megabits using older cable and DSL connections.

Oliver Johnson, chief executive of British research firm Point Topic, said FTTH technology is the “gold standard” of the next generation of broadband service. Although cable and DSL lines can be upgraded to higher speeds, FTTH has smoother transmission of data and a much higher upside in terms of speed, he said.

“It’s easier to go higher. It’s future-proofed,” he said. (The Australian)

This could help Israel remain as the “Silicon Valley” of the Middle East. Israel is planning on having this rolled out to most of the population in under a decade, which should position them just ahead of where South Korea is right now (the latter who has hooked up 50% of their population with FTTH).

Via Engadget

BioProtect (from Israel) has developed an innovated way to...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:09:47 -0500

BioProtect (from Israel) has developed an innovated way to protect vital organs and tissues of patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Now the Israeli company BioProtect has come up with a unique biodegradable “balloon” that physically separates cancerous and healthy tissues during radiation therapy for prostate cancer. […]

In a multi-center, international study involving 26 prostate cancer patients, ProSpace was shown to significantly reduce the radiation reaching the rectal wall and consequent associated complications. It therefore allows for radiation at high doses without ill effects, meaning more efficient treatments with fewer treatment sessions at lower cost.

Made from biodegradable polymers, which have a proven safety record, the ProSpace device is filled with saline and implanted using the minimally invasive, well-established technique of transperineal insertion commonly used at outpatient centers.

The balloon remains inflated throughout the radiation therapy treatment. It then dissolves and reabsorbs into the body within three to six months, eliminating the need for removal. Patients involved in the trial reported that they felt no discomfort or pain from the implanted balloon, aside from mild and temporary discomfort at the access area at the perineum. (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

BioProtect is already marketing themselves in Europe (with a few clinical trials in the US) and could help doctors treat deadly cancers without harming nearby tissues.

Image: Screenshot from BioProtect video section. Note: I would have included the videos, but I’ll wait until they upload it upon Vimeo or YouTube.

Israel and China: Best Friends Forever!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:08:12 -0500

Israel and China: Best Friends Forever!:

Israel and China are celebrating the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

Now it appears as if they plan on expanding their relationship even further.

Israeli innovation positions it as the natural partner for China. Less than 10% of China’s land is arable and China is suffering from ever more severe droughts. China has done wonders in three decades of reforms that have lifted millions out of poverty and transformed the country into a manufacturing powerhouse and the world’s second-largest economy. Yet the same reforms have put immense pressure on natural resources. Rapid industrialization led to severe air pollution and millions of people have no access to clean water.

Israel, the “start-up nation,” and China, the world’s factory, can work together to build desalination plants, help ensure water supply for farmers, harness the power of the sun and clean the air, among other areas of cooperation. (Jerusalem Post)

Believe it or not China was a haven for Jews throughout the centuries and is one of the few places on Earth where they were not persecuted by the native people. Read the whole article.

Israel recruiting hackers for IDF?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:40:16 -0500

Israel recruiting hackers for IDF?:

What’s interesting is the age about these hackers.

Last month, the army recruited close to 300 young computer experts, many of them without college or even high-school degrees.

“These are some of the top experts in their field,” a senior officer said.

The new soldiers will serve in Military Intelligence as well as in the C4I Directorate, the two military branches responsible for cyber-warfare in the IDF.

C4I stands for command, control, communications, computers, and (military) intelligence. (Jerusalem Post)

Hopefully they will be used to protect various Israeli sites that have suffered attacks from hackers. Regardless of your views, this would be a pretty cool job (as you would always be provided with the latest technology).

Turkey selecting Jewish singer for Eurovision? Sweet! The...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:48:13 -0500

Turkey selecting Jewish singer for Eurovision? Sweet!

The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) on Monday chose young singer Can Bonomo as the country’s representative in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in May in Baku, Azerbaijan.

What many people do not know is that Bonomo comes from a Jewish family, making his selection somewhat surprising in light of the tense relations between Turkey and Israel. (Ynet News)

Despite the frosty political relations between the two nations, it’s good to read about incidents like these as it keeps hope alive that Turkey and Israel are not destined to become enemies in the not so distant future.

Note: Video is in Turkish (I think)

Apple admits assimilation of Anobit...for $390 million?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:34:18 -0500

Apple admits assimilation of Anobit...for $390 million? :

Apple comes clean with their latest acquisition. I wonder if they’ll use Anobit’s expertise for the upcoming iPhone 5? (which I suspect will be named iPhone 4G).

Apple Inc. (AAPL) acquired Anobit Technologies Ltd. for about $390 million, paying below the price sought by the Israeli maker of a flash-memory drive part for the iPhone, people familiar with the purchase said.

Negotiations continued for more than two weeks after Israel’s Calcalist newspaper reported Dec. 20 that Apple bought Herzliya-based Anobit for as much as $500 million. Apple finally signed the agreement Jan. 6 to buy the Israeli company, according to two Anobit shareholders, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Apple didn’t want details disclosed. (Bloomberg)

I wonder if the acquisition will lead to an official Apple store in Israel? Hmm…

Israel to send delegation to assist South Sudan

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:51:31 -0500

Israel to send delegation to assist South Sudan:

South Sudan is one of the few countries that recognizes Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel. Glad to see Israel reaching out to them (and vice versa).

Confirmed: Apple buys Israel's Anobit

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:21:12 -0500

Confirmed: Apple buys Israel's Anobit:

Apple paid over $350 million USD for Anobit, who already makes flash controllers for iPhones and iPads. I wonder if they were purchased to keep them out of the hands of Apple’s hated frenemy? (i.e. Google)

Apple courting an Israeli company?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:32:16 -0500

Apple courting an Israeli company?:

This would be a smart move for Apple!

The Calcalist financial daily said Apple is in advanced negotiations to buy Anobit for $400 million to $500 million.
Anobit has developed a chip that enhances flash drive performance through signal processing. The chip is already incorporated in Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad and the MacBook Air. (Reuters)

Doing so would allow Apple to help bring development “in house.” (hat tip: GigaOM)

Touching story of holocaust survivor reuniting with the Catholic...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:16:00 -0500

Touching story of holocaust survivor reuniting with the Catholic family that saved her. Via The Blaze:

An 83-year-old Holocaust survivor reunited last week with the Catholic family that rescued her and her family, hiding them from the Nazis in Lithuania.

The Thanksgiving reunion was 66 years in the making, but Mary Katz Erlich, now a grandmother of nine, had no trouble recognizing 81-year-old Aurimas Ruzgys or his 83-year-old sister Egle when she met them at the airport.

Boycott Israel effort leads to 750% increase in sales –thanks to Glenn Beck

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:03:40 -0500

Boycott Israel effort leads to 750% increase in sales –thanks to Glenn Beck:

Apparently Glenn Beck’s radio is a force for good! More news from The Blaze!

US patent for D Medical insulin pump component (Globes)

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:52:15 -0500

US patent for D Medical insulin pump component (Globes):

Some awesome diabetes tech from Israel. via Globes:

D Medical Industries Ltd. DMED; TASE: DMED) has obtained a US patent for a component of its insulin pump. The patent, entitled “Devices for Continuous Measurement of Glucose in Body Fluid,” protects innovative technology that allows for the combination of a minimally invasive continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump on the same patch.
The technology enables the use of a single access point to both accurately test for blood glucose levels and deliver insulin.

Sweet video highlighting the “real Israel” (not the...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:37:59 -0500

Sweet video highlighting the “real Israel” (not the war, religion and occasional falafel that you see on TV). Hat tip: Aliyah: Step-by-Step

Helping Holocaust kids find their families. (via Help find 1,100...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:53:51 -0500

Helping Holocaust kids find their families. (via Help find 1,100 Holocaust kids - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews)

Better Place raises $200m - Globes

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:51:47 -0500

Better Place raises $200m - Globes:

If there is one Israeli company that can bring about the electric car revolution, it’s Project Better Place. Unfortunately it may stay localized in Israel (and a few places in Europe) as gas guzzling cars are still far cheaper.

Google to set up Israeli incubator in 2012

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:10:25 -0500

Google to set up Israeli incubator in 2012:

This will definitely benefit the Israeli economy! (Globes)

Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) plans to open an incubator in Israel in August 2012. Google Israel R&D Center director Prof. Yossi Matias made the announcement at Google Israel’s annual developers conference today.
The incubator will begin operations when Google Israel enters its new offices in the Electra Tower in Tel Aviv. The company will occupy several floors of the building, one of which will be for the incubator.

Google Israel to present 5 Android apps

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:44:54 -0500

Google Israel to present 5 Android apps:

I think these two apps will be the most innovative (via Globes)

Paradroid can parachute an Android handset and guide it by GPS to a designated landing zone. Although designed for fun, its two designers say that the Paradroid can be used to parachute medicine in Africa or supplies to disaster areas.
A glove equipped with special sensors that attached to an Android device, which can translate sign language into text. A version for translating sign language into speech is under development.

Dead Sea dipping may help treat diabetes -Ynet News

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:34:26 -0500

Dead Sea dipping may help treat diabetes -Ynet News:

I never knew that stinky body of water (yes, it does stink!) had those healing properties in it. On a side note it does wonders for the skin (if you can withstand the slight burning sensation. And yes, it’s worth it).

Using Algae to insert Omega 3 into food and candy? I wonder if...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:14:36 -0400

Using Algae to insert Omega 3 into food and candy? I wonder if they will eventually add it to cereal for kids as well? (via Omega 3 supplement from algae)

New Israeli VC seeks portfolio companies in smart agrotech

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:11:24 -0400

New Israeli VC seeks portfolio companies in smart agrotech:

Efficient farming for the win! :-)