Facts and News

Google confirms it's shutting down Google+ Local for iOS

2013-07-26T21:43:00.001-07:00

Google+ Local for iOS shutting down

Google is shutting down the Google+ Local places and discovery app for iOS devices and will be transitioning its features over to its Maps app, the company said Friday.

Google+ Local

Google+ Local was an iOS-based app that offered several discovery services such as place recommendations based on the user’s friends and location, and also Zagat summaries and business reviews.

As of Aug. 7, it will close as a stand-alone product, although its features will be incorporated into Google’s Maps app for iOS, a spokeswoman said.

The app already appears to have been pulled from Apple’s App Store—searching for it returns a message saying it is currently not available in the U.S. store.

Google+ Local joins a range of other products and services recently closed by Google. The company officially announced Friday that it was also pulling the plug on its Shopper app for Android- and iOS-based devices, effective August 30, in an effort to focus instead on its search service and Google Shopping site. Shopper was an app that let people find information on products by scanning them or through voice and text search.

The company’s longstanding Google Reader service for RSS feeds met its demise earlier this month.

Google did not provide additional information about why Google+ Local was killed off. But it is clear that in recent months the company has focused on enhancing both its Maps product and Google+ social network, while at the same time streamlining other services through product closures.

Google Maps for IOS

On Android and iOS, Maps received a range of new features earlier this month including improved search, navigation and interface design. The company concurrently announced that Google Latitude and check-ins would be killed off as part of the update and incorporated over to the Google+ social network.

Even bigger changes to Maps were unveiled at the company’s I/O developers conference in May. Those enhancements included the ability for users to add personalized landmarks as long as they are logged into the service.

Meanwhile, Google faces mounting pressure to demonstrate value to users with its Google+ social network as it competes against Facebook and Twitter. A range of features for that product were also rolled out in May, such as a redesigned social stream, automatic hash tagging and photo-sharing enhancements.

Google+ Local launched in 2011. There was an Android version too, but it linked only to the old version of Google’s Maps app. When Maps for Android was updated earlier this month, Google+ Local’s functionality was integrated into that product.

Why Internet Explorer 11 is the right browser for business

2013-07-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

Internet Explorer 11

Today, Microsoft released a Developer Preview version of IE 11 for Windows 7. Newer doesn’t always equal better, but IE 11 has some power under the hood that business users will benefit from.

To some extent, a browser is a browser.

Internet Explorer 11

They all render and display content from the Web. However, since IE 8 Microsoft has invested significant effort and resources to push the envelope and expand the browser's capabilities. In a world where business is increasingly done online and in the cloud, it makes sense to have a browser that can deliver rich content and interactivity.

The Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7 is very similar in scope and function to its Windows 8.1 sibling. Microsoft has tweaked performance, improved support for emerging Web standards, and expanded the ability to deliver an immersive experience from within the browser.

In IE 11, JavaScript runs 50 percent faster than in Chrome. It has improved support for HTML 5 features like drag and drop that will allow cloud-based tools like Microsoft’s SkyDrive and Office Web Apps to work more intuitively. IE 11 also supports WebGL for delivering smooth, 3D graphics over the Web.

A blog post from Microsoft explains some of the benefits of IE 11: “IE11 is the first browser to natively decode JPG images in real-time on the GPU, so pages load faster and use less memory, reducing power consumption and improving battery life. IE11 is also the first browser to render text on the GPU. Text and images are the heart of the Web, and accelerated text and JPG performance impacts nearly every page you see.”

More and more business is done through a Web browser.

Internet Explorer

The fact is, for many business users and consumers, the Web browser is by far the single most-used application on the PC.

As I said at the beginning, a browser is a browser in most scenarios. Some support protocols or formats that others don’t, but as long as you’re using the latest version of each they’re all very similar.

There’s always one that can claim to be the fastest, but we’re generally talking a millisecond here or there, and that torch is frequently passed among the major browsers.

There’s a new Web, though—Web 3.0. Web 1.0 was about simply displaying static HTML pages. Web 2.0 introduced interactivity, user-generated content, and Web applications. Now, we’re entering the Web 3.0 phase, the “intelligent Web” era of ubiquitous connectivity, data mining, and artificial intelligence.

The new Web requires new Web tools, and new Web tools need a browser capable of rendering and displaying the content. Microsoft is leading the way with Internet Explorer. You can check out Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 by downloading and installing the Developer Preview.

Kate Middleton Baby Born: Duchess Of Cambridge Gives Birth to baby boy!

2013-07-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Kate Middleton and Prince William Welcome Baby Boy

Kate Middleton's baby is finally here! Buckingham Palace confirms that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, the first child for her and Prince William.

An easel stands in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London carrying an official document to announce the birth of a baby boy at 4:24 p.m. to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital.

Kate was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on the morning of July 22. She and Prince William arrived via car through a secret side entrance.

Ed Perkins of Kensington Palace hands over the official birth notice outside the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital after the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first chid. The driver was waiting to take the notice to Buckingham Palace.

The birth comes after an anxious waiting period. Beginning in early July, press and fans camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital waiting for the duchess to arrive on her speculative due date... only to be left waiting for days more.

Kate Middleton and Prince William stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed a healthy baby boy Monday at 4:24 p.m. London time, Buckingham Palace announced.

The Duchess of Cambridge went into labor early Monday morning.

The baby, weighing in at a robust 8 pounds and 6 ounces, is third in line to the British throne, behind his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his joyful dad.

The new royal grandfather was in unusually high spirits.


Britain's Queen Elizabeth returns in a car to Buckingham Palace in London on Monday.

“Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine, and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy,” Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, said in a statement.

The infant’s formal title is His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge. As for his name, it will be revealed “in due course,” the family statement said.

That might be a while — William’s name was not announced for a week.

The baby is likely to grow up to be the 43rd monarch of England in a line going back to 1066.

Watch Now! - New trailer for 'The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire' unveiled yesterday

2013-07-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Brand new feature length trailer unveiled at Comic-Con!

The wait is over!

A new trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was officially released at Comic-Con Saturday.

Hunger Games 2 Official Theatrical Trailer

Jennifer Lawrence for Hunger Games

Lionsgate is on a (promotional) roll this week. The entertainment company first whipped out its series of Quarter Quell wetsuit posters for Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Then, Saturday afternoon, it premiered the movie's latest trailer at San Diego Comic-Con and it includes the kiss between Jennifer Lawrence's character Katniss and Liam Hemsworth's character Gale.

The sequel, directed by Francis Lawrence, appears to stay true to the books showing the rebellion in Panem and Katniss and Josh Hutcherson's character Peta's fear of returning to the arena for an unexpected second go at the Hunger Games.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) return for the second installment of the Hunger Games saga as competitors for the Quarter Quell — a deadly, quarter-century celebration version of the Games. The age limit (12 to 18) is not enacted in this showdown, but one male and one female from each of the 12 districts will still compete in a gruesome, televised contest against victors from other districts in the 75th Hunger Games, a.k.a. the third Quarter Quell.

Josh Hutcherson in Hunger games 2

The first teaser trailer, which was released in April, gave fans and viewers context for the rebellion Katniss unintentionally incited in Panem, the fictitious nation in which the games take place, with her victory in the previous film. The second trailer (above) shows the first footage of stars Jena Malone, who plays Johanna Mason (a District 7 victor), and Sam Claflin, who plays Finnick Odair (a District 4 victor); it also gives the first glimpse of the Quarter Quell's arena.

Joining Lawrence and Hutcherson are Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland, who round out the cast; Francis Lawrence directed the film.Catching Fire is slated to hit theaters Nov. 22.

Superman to battle Batman in Man of Steel sequel

2013-07-21T04:10:00.000-07:00

Superman and Batman will face off in 2015

At Comic-Con, Warner Bros. announced two superheroes will team up on the big screen.

Bale and Cavil portraying Batman and Superman

"Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder took the stage for a surprise announcement at the tail end of the joint Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures preview panel.

"There's been a lot of speculation about what we're doing," he said, after thanking fans for their support. "It is official that we are going to make another Superman movie."

DC Comics

While both Superman and Batman are superheros in the DC universe, they have been portrayed as nemeses in DC's "Dark Knight" comics, from which Christopher Nolan adapted his "Dark Knight" Batman franchise.

Nolan will serve as executive producer to the sequel, Warner Bros. said.

The studio is banking on the success of other recent films that have paired up heroes from the comic book universe, such as Disney's (DIS.N) Marvel superhero ensemble "The Avengers" in 2012, which made $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.

Nolan's 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises,"starring Christian Bale as Batman, has made more than $1 billion at the global box office.

"Superman" has not always seen a success at the box office and 2006's sequel starring Brandon Routh did not perform up to industry expectations.

Zach Snyder in a press meet

The movie will be titled Superman & Batman according to The Los Angeles Times; Snyder will direct the film, slated for 2015; and—according to The Hollywood Reporter—Henry Cavill will reprise the role of Clark Kent/Superman, but it’s unclear who will play Batman. Bale has previously shot down rumors that he would play the masked hero again. Man of Steel screenwriter David S. Goyer will pen the script.

Greg Silverman, president of creative development at Warner Bros., said the studio could not think of any director better suited to bringing Superman and Batman together.

"Zach Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he's a fan first and he utterly gets this genre," he said in a statement.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), showcased a number of upcoming films on Saturday at Comic-Con, including "Seventh Son," "300: Rise of an Empire," "Godzilla" and "The Lego Movie," which will bring together Superman and Batman in animated Lego form.

Simbu and Hansika Confirm their relationship on Twitter.

2013-07-21T02:18:00.001-07:00

Hansika, Simbu in relationship. The Couple confirm on twitter.

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship.

Vaalu Poster

Hansika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Hansika confirmation tweet on her official twitter page

"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing

STR confirmation tweet on his official twitter page

STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.

Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".

Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.

While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu.

Dhanush sweeps both Best Actor and Best Singer in " Film Fare Awards" 2012

2013-07-20T13:46:00.001-07:00

Dhanush wins Best actor and Best singer awards at 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South) - 2012

Dhanush won the prestigious Filmfare awards for the year 2012 in both Best actor and Best singer category for his lead role in the movie "3" and for his global super hit song "why this kolaveridi?" from the same movie.

Actor Dhanush with his double trophy of Filmfare awards for yerar 2012

The movie which has been actually directed none other than by his wife Aishwarya Dhanush herself. Who is also the daughter of Super Star Rajnikanth.

The delighted actor has tweeted in his official Twitter page lately saying that,

"Won best singer and actor filmfare.thank you guys.for all the love and support.god is kind. I thank my parents and bro who taught me d art"

Tweet on his official Twitter page

Dhanush with AR Rahman

He also won the National Film Award for Best Actor and also the Filmfare Award in the same category for the movie Aadukalam in 2011.

In the same year, he received international attention with his popular song "Why this Kolaveri Di". The song was a huge hit all over the globe.

With his wife Aishwarya in Filmfare awards function

Google is bringing app that lets u you access other computers over the Internet, for Android

2013-07-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

Google Is Bringing Chrome Remote Desktop App To Android

An anonymous reader writes Google is building a Chrome remote desktop app, which lets you access other computers or another user access your computer over the Internet, for Android.

Snap shot of Chrome remote desktop

The new addition, called Chromoting, will likely be pushed as a mobile version of the existing Chrome Remote Desktop offering.

For those who don't know, the original Chrome Remote Desktop is an extension for Google's browser. It was first released as a beta in October 2011 and could be used to control another one of your own computers as well as a friend's or family member's (usually to help with IT issues).

Developer François Beaufort pointed out an interesting snippet of text in a commit to the Chromium code base that mentions “[adding] the beginnings of a Chromoting Android app.” While this certainly sounds cool, it doesn’t do a whole lot at the moment. From the description in the repo:

Currently, this has only the following capabilities:

Authenticate using a Google account on the phone

Query and display the host list from the Chromoting directory server

Connect to and communicate with the host service over XMPP/ICE

Establish peer-to-peer channels for communicating with the host service
Notable missing features are:

Display the host’s desktop

Handle any kind of input

That’s developer-speak for “right now it doesn’t do anything.” Even so, the groundwork is being put in place for what could be both very useful to certain people and just plain cool.

If you want to take a look at what this could end up being like, there is no shortage of remote desktop apps available in the Google Play Store.

There is also the Chrome Remote Desktop for (your guessed it) Google Chrome, which could give a hint as to how this “Chromoting” app could work.

The Real Schindler's List Auctioned On eBay! for starting bid of $3 million

2013-07-20T04:50:00.001-07:00

Original Schindler's List to be sold on eBay for $3 million ...

Schindler's List became a household name in 1993 when Steven Spielberg directed the Academy Award-winning classic movie of the same name.

The German businessman became a Nazi and operated enamel factories in Poland, producing pots and pans using forced Jewish laborers during World War II.

In order to save 1,200 prisoners, Schindler opened an armaments factory in Brunnlitz, present-day Czech Republic, to convince his superiors Jews were vital to the work production.

The transfer of these workers was drawn up on multiple lists, collectively known as "Schindler's List," according to Steven Luckert, curator of permanent exhibitions at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Schindler's List Auctioned On eBay

14-page list that saved the lives of some 1,200 people who worked in his German factory during World War II is now for sale on eBay! Proving that for the right amount of money, you can buy pretty much ANYTHING!

So what's the asking price on this history changing document?

The bidding starts at $3 MILLION!!!

Included with your purchase comes a signed affidavit from Itzhak Stern's nephew. Stern, played by Ben Kingsley in the Steven Spielberg Oscar-winning film, was the man responsible for typing out the names who would be spared from Nazi concentration camps.

Bidding will end 10 days from its open, on July 28.

The major significance of this list "goes beyond the inaccuracies" depicted to a certain degree in novels and movies about Schindler, such as the belief that there is only one list, according to Peter Black, senior historian at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Owner's Description

Buyers who want this historic artifact must be serious, according to the listing. "There will be no returns or exchanges, but item is covered by eBay Buyer Protection,” and a $10,000 deposit will be due up front.

“It is extremely rare that a document of this historical significance is put on the market,” Zimet told the Post.

The scanned copy of the original list containing names of 801 men posted by the owner on ebay.

Chips thrown at Rihanna: Manchester

2013-07-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

Rihanna Fans Cause A Salty Riot For Tardy Concert! Rih Pelted With Food Upon Taking The Stage!

RiRi's navy was NONE too pleased when she showed up an hour late for her Manchester Arena concert on Tuesday night as part of her Diamonds World Tour.

Rihanna sits courtside at miami game

In fact, the crowd was SO pissed that they punished the tardy beauty by launching chips at her face when she finally showed up!

Too bad gurlfriend did have an umbrella to help dodge the tasty treats! HA!

But of course, the queen of the bad girls fired back.
Ri interrupted the show to shout:

"I knew you all were going to be crazy, but f**k. This is next level! There's some good crazy and there is some bad crazy, but when you throw that shit up here? That's an epic fail…I swear to god. Cut that sh*t out! Really, chips? Chips though? That's that important?"

No worries though! After RiRi scorched the crowd with some 'tude, they found love once again!

Rihanna Chips Thrown At Her In Manchester

We bet this'll be the last time the rebel disrespects her people because even when you're as babelicious as Rihanna, crumbs in a 'do are NEVER a good look! LOLz!

Three-tier security for Ramanathaswamy temple: Police to tie up with Coastal Security Group, Coast Guard, Navy

2013-07-18T11:04:00.003-07:00

Rameshwaram: Ramanathaswamy temple get three tier security

The district police, Tamil Nadu Commando Force and temple authorities have worked out a three-tier high-security arrangement for Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in the island of Rameswaram, roping in the Coastal Security Group, Indian Coast Guard and Naval detachment.

An aerial view of Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram

A commando force team conducted a security survey in the temple this week in the wake of the recent serial blasts in Bodh Gaya. It has been decided to enhance the existing security and make it fool proof to prevent any terror attack.

District Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan, held discussions with the commando force team and temple authorities.

He said that for the first time, the police would tie up with the Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group, the Coast Guard and Naval detachment for patrolling and preventing intrusion from sea.

Intelligence reports

The decision to enhance security followed intelligence reports that the temple, famous for its long corridors and historic background could be a target for terrorists, Mr. Mylvahanan said.

Floodlights would light up the four car streets around the temple and watch towers with camera facilities erected at the four corners of the streets.

The long corridor of Rameshwaram temple

“We plan to ensure strict access control, introduce two check-posts, including Pamban, and focus on peripheral points,” he said, adding that a company of Tamil Nadu Special Police would be deployed exclusively for temple security.

Devotees would be barred from carrying cameras, mobile phones and handbags into the temple. The Temple’s Karunai Illam (home for orphan students) near the temple police station would be converted into a cloak room with lock facilities for devotees to leave their belongings before entering the temple .

The students would be moved to a new building on the school premises. As many as 54 unauthorised lodges around the temple would be closed, Mr. Mylvahanan said. Other lodges functioning with permits would be brought under the scanner.

Temple authorities have been asked to provide two emergency exit points inside the temple. As many as 16 CCTV cameras have been installed inside the temple and there are plans to install 15 more, Mr. Mylvahanan said.

Sony see through X -ray cameras: A demo video explaining how to see through clothes with it has 35 million hits on youtube.

2013-07-18T10:34:00.003-07:00

Sony see through X -ray cameras "sold on internet" : Can See Through People's Clothes

How to see through clothing?

Sony: With my Camcorders That Could See Through People's Clothes.

Own a Sony Handycam video camera with infrared technology? If you do, you too can see through certain objects - mainly clothes.

In 1998 ,Sony Accidentally Sold 700,000 Camcorders That Could See Through People's Clothes.

And the demo video has even 35 million hits on youtube.

A demo video explaining how to see through clothes on youtube.

Under some lighting conditions and with the use of a particular type of camera filter, the infrared technology - designed for use at night - can see the warm bodies under clothing by detecting heat. But the trick works only in the daytime.

As news of the video camera's unique feature has spread, shoppers have headed to electronics and camera stores to buy the Sony camcorders equipped with NightShot.

After Sony Consumer Electronics' acknowledgment that its new "NightShot"-equipped Handycams can reveal what's under people's clothing, retailers around the country have been deluged with calls from consumers trying to snap up the camcorders before their "disabled" replacements begin arriving on store shelves later this month.

"Today, at least once every half hour I've been receiving a call," said Jesse Roggio, a video salesman at Camera Sound in Philadelphia. Roggio said demand for the cameras has been "at least 100 percent more than usual," leading Camera Sound to raise the prices of all the models.

"It's all about supply and demand, and the demand is incredible," said Roggio, noting that many people have ordered without asking how much the camcorder costs. "We had too many in stock before this started, and now we're running low. So we're happy."

Six of Sony's 10 available consumer camcorder models are equipped with the technology, from the TR-940, which retails for as little as US$650, to the $1,400 TRV-99.

See through camcorder Sony CCD-TRV99 auctioned on internet

Sony will replace or exchange camcorders for any customers who do not want the see-through feature, said Neiman.

Philadelphia privacy advocate John Featherman, editor of the Privacy Times newsletter, said people should not be surprised by the camcorder's capability.

``We live in a society in which technology moves faster than our ability to understand its ramifications and consequences,'' he said.

From now on, Sony will have to take extra precautions before it introduces a new camcorder, testing it for unexpected uses, said Bruce Kasrel, a senior analyst at Forrester Research.

``Now that the cat's out of the bag, Sony's going to have to hope and pray that no more nefarious uses will be found,'' he said.

Within a week, Kasrel expects there will be Internet sites that detail how to get the best see-through results with the camcorder.

But Kasrel said the Internet is only the beginning of what will become a black market for the thousands of camcorders with the technology.

``They're going to be collector's items. I'm sure, if I had one of these right now, I'd probably sell it,'' he said.

The Zero Gravity Coffee Cup

2013-07-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

The strange behavior of coffee in microgravity

High above our planet in the realm of satellites and space stations, the familiar rules of Earth do not apply.

The midday sky is as black as night. There is no up and no down. Dropped objects do not fall, and hot air does not rise. Of all the strange things that happen up there, however, it is possible that the strangest happens to coffee.

Physics professor Mark Weislogel of Portland State University has given a lot of thought to coffee (and other fluids) in space, and he describes what happens:

"For starters," he says, "it would be a chore just getting the coffee into the cup. Absent the pull of gravity, pouring liquids can be very tricky."

"But, for the sake of argument, let's suppose you are on the space station and you have a cup of coffee in your hand." The most natural thing would be to tip the cup toward your lips, but when you do....

"The coffee would be very hard to control," he continues. "In fact, it probably wouldn't [come out of the cup]. You'd have to shake the cup toward your face and hope that some of the hot liquid breaks loose and floats toward your mouth."

On the bright side, you will probably be wide awake by the time the cup is empty.

Coffee is not the only liquid that misbehaves in space. Cryogenic fuels, thermal coolants, potable water and urine do it, too.

The behavior of fluids is one of the most un-intuitive things in all of space flight.

This poses an extreme challenge for engineers designing spacecraft systems that use fluids. "Our intuition is all wrong," laments Weislogel. "When it comes to guessing what fluids will do in new systems, we are often in the dark."

To develop a better understanding of fluids in microgravity, Weislogel and colleagues are conducting the Capillary Flow Experiment onboard the International Space Station. For instance, one of the devices in their experiment suite looks at "interior corners." If two solid surfaces meet at a narrow-enough angle, fluids in microgravity naturally flow along the join-no pumping required.

This capillary effect could be used to guide all kinds of fluids through spacecraft, from cryogenic fuel to recycled waste water. The phenomenon is difficult to study on Earth, where it is damped by gravity, yet on the space station large scale corner flows are easy to create and observe.

Weislogel and colleagues have already been granted three patents for devices invented as a result of their work. One is for a microgravity condensing heat exchanger. Another describes a device that separates and controls multiphase fluids. The third patent is for--you guessed it-- a low-gravity coffee cup.

A new ScienceCast video describes the strange behavior of coffee in microgravity.

Astronaut Don Pettit, who worked with the Capillary Flow Experiment during his time on board the ISS, helped invent the cup, and he shares the patent along with Weisogel and two mathematicians, Paul Concus and Robert Finns, who performed the first theoretical analysis of the phenomenon.

Basically, one side of the cup has a sharp interior corner. In the microgravity environment of the space station, capillary forces send fluid flowing along the channel right into the lips of the drinker.

"As you sip, more fluid keeps coming, and you can enjoy your coffee in a weightless environment-- clear down to the last drop," says Pettit. "This may well be what future space colonists use when they want to have a celebration." Indeed, the patent application specifically mentions "toasting" as one of the uses of the device.

It's easy to imagine what they might be toasting: toilets and air conditioners and fuel tanks and recycling systems, working better thanks to capillary flow experiments on the ISS.

Power cell phone with your pee: Turn urine into electricity.

2013-07-18T07:56:00.001-07:00

Pee the Power

Scientists in the United Kingdom are claiming they have discovered a way to charge mobile phones using human urine.

The Bristol-based boffins have been able to charge a Samsung phone by putting urine through a cascade of microbial fuel cells.

Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulus at Bristol Robotics Laboratory

Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulus of the the Bristol Robotics Lab explains how mircrobial fuel cells, pictured at right, turn urine into electricity.

Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos

The research team has developed microbial fuel cells that consume carbohydrates, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other compounds that would otherwise go down the drain. If you can get past the gross-out factor, the benefits to places in the developing world and elsewhere that lack reliable (or affordable) sources of electricity are obvious.

The project reminds me of another one showcased at Maker Faire Africa last year: a urine-powered generator.

A Urine Powered Generator

Possibly one of the more unexpected products at Maker Faire Africa this year in Lagos is a urine powered generator, created by four girls. The girls are Duro-Aina Adebola (14), Akindele Abiola (14), Faleke Oluwatoyin (14) and Bello Eniola (15).where they claimed 1 Liter of urine gives 6 hours of electricity.

There’s an added benefit of the microbial fuel cell technology, too. According to researchers, passing the urine through the fuel cells “cleans” it so it can be safely discharged into the environment, eliminating the need for wastewater treatment. Maybe sewage plants could double as power plants. Pee pee becomes a win-win.

If the output of the fuel cells could be expanded, what applications can you imagine for this technology?

Legendry lyricist "VAALI" passes away

2013-07-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

Vaali famous Tamil poet and lyricist, dies

Lyricist Vaali, who secured a place on a par with Kannadasan at a time the latter strode like a colossus in the Tamil film music world wrote more than 10,000 Tamil songs in a career spanning over six decades, died in Chennai on Thursday evening .

Vaali, who dominated the film world for over five decades and wrote songs for many a protagonist played by actors from MGR to Dhanush, was not well for quite some time. He was in hospital for over a month. He was 82 and is survived by his son.

His songs were packed with brilliant lines and imagery and there were times when Tamil film music buffs were at their wits' end to discern whether a particular song was written by Kannadasan or Vaali.

On the one hand, he wrote songs like Madhavi Ponmayilal, Ammavendrazhaikatha uyirillaye, Naanaga naan illai and Janani janani that transported the listener to a different plane, on the other he entertained the masses with low-brow songs such as chikkupukku chikkupukku railay, mukkala muqabla and singari sarakku nalla sarakku.

As professional rivals Kannadasan and Vaali had joined issue with each other on public platforms. But in private life they were close friends and spent many an evening together.

Overwhelmed by his the brilliant imagery of the lines in the song Pakkathu Veetu Paruva Matchan in the film Karpagam, Kannadasan declared in a public meeting that Vaali would be his heir-apparent. It was in this function in 1963, Viswanathan and Ramamurthy were given the title Mellisai Mannargal.

Though he had written songs for MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and present day heroes, he could easily be described a “poet laureate” of former Chief Minister MGR.

If MGR made films with political message that would stand by him in good stead in the days to come, Vaali’s lines reinforced his ideas.

Naan Aanai Ittal (enga veetu pillai), moondrezhuthil yen moochirukkum (Theiva Thai), kan pona pokkiley kaal pogalama (Panam Padaithavan), Puthiya vaanam, puthiya boomi (Anbe Vaa), Thambi Naan Piranthen Kanchiyilay Netru, and tharaimel pirakka vaithan (Padakoti) galvanised the masses.

Born S. Rangarajan in Thiruparaithurai near Tiruchi in 1931, he assumed the pen name Vaali, as he was an ardent fan of famed artist Mali working with Ananda Vikatan, now a Tamil weekly. Vaali was also a student of the Government College of Arts in Chennai. Vaali was also known as Vaaliba Kavignar (youthful lyricist)

A theatre enthusiast, he had directed many plays in Tiruchi and Srirangam and worked for the All India Radio (AIR) as a part-time employee, before making a foray into the film world as lyricist.

In his memoir he recalled that two youngsters would regularly visit his drama rehearsals and he wanted one of them to take a role of woman in his plays. The youth who rejected the offer later became Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt. The other person was Sivaji Ganesan.

He landed in Chennai in search of opportunities in the film world and spent his days smoking cigarettes and drinking water as he had little money to buy food. He was staying in a lodge, with Nagesh, later to become a master comedian, in the next room.

The break came in 1958 and he wrote his first song for the film Azhagarmalai Kallan. The first film he wrote for MGR was Nallavan Vaazhvaan and the dialogues were penned by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

But Ithayathil Nee starring Gemini Ganesan gave him the much needed popularity. MGR starrer Padakotti took him to new heights as a lyricist. Subsequently he wrote almost all films of MGR and shared a fantastic relationship with M.S. Viswanathan.

“I was writing lines for my livelihood. I started paying tax only after joining hands with MSV,” he had said in his memoir.

Vaali also wrote some of the fine songs for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.

His devotional song Karpanai entralum Karchilai entralum on Lord Muruga continues to move generations of devout listeners. “Koovi azhaithal kural koduppan”, set to the raaga valaji has become an immortal Tamil krithi rendered in classical music concerts.

While he was a believer, he benefited immensely from his association with the leaders of the Dravidian Movement including three former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai, MGR and M. Karunanidhi.

A prolific writer, he had penned the biographies of Rama (Avathara Purushan), Krishna (Krishna Vijayam) and Ramanuja (Ramanuja Kaviyam) in verse form. Pandavar Bhoomi is Mahabharatha in modern verse. His latest work was the biography of Srimad Azhagiyasingar, the 45th Jeer of the Ahobila Mutt.

Queen Elizabeth II Hopes Royal Baby Arrives Soon

2013-07-17T09:12:00.004-07:00

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of Kate Middleton and Prince William's baby? Well, so is Queen Elizabeth II.

During a visit to Cumbria in northwest England on Wednesday, the queen was asked by a young schoolgirl at a public event, "Do you want Kate's baby to be a boy or a girl?"

"I don't think I mind," the monarch replied, generating laughter from the crowd. "I would very much like it to arrive because I'm going on holiday."

The queen is expected to begin her summer vacation in Scotland next week.

Monday, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, told well-wishers at a children's hospital that the family expects the Duchess of Cambridge to give birth "by the end of the week."

"We are all just waiting by the telephone," she said. "We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here."

And just yesterday, when a woman carrying a three-week-old baby greeted Prince Charles during his visit to the seaside town of Bude and said, "You have got one of these coming soon," he replied, "Hopefully."

Meanwhile Margaret Rhodes, the 88-year-old first cousin and close confidant of Queen Elizabeth II, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an interview that she was "not terribly" excited about the impending birth when asked about the thrill of seeing a new heir to the throne.

"Everybody has babies and it's lovely. But I don't get wildly excited about it," Rhodes answered with a laugh during the sit-down at her cottage at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

Tiny Bluetooth Remote Shutter: For Smartphone Cameras

2013-07-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

Muku Labs' Shuttr Is A Tiny Bluetooth Remote Shutter Release For Smartphone Cameras

Smartphone selfies come in a very limited variety of flavors: the arms-length shots that make your head look distended and blurry mirror pics. There are several self-timer apps out there, but it’s still difficult to snap natural-looking self-portraits or spontaneous group photos, especially if you are also trying to wrangle small children and pets. Now on Kickstarter, Shuttr is a tiny Bluetooth remote shutter release for iOS and Android devices created by Hong Kong-based Muku Labs to give smartphone photographers more control. It’s already met its funding goal, but the remote control, which starts shipping in fall, is still available for pledges starting from $29.

Shuttr was created by Hong Kong engineer Kevin Leung. When Leung was a small child, his family couldn’t afford a camera and as a result he has no family photos taken before he was a toddler. Leung’s mother died when he was a teenager, which makes him even more determined to capture as many snapshots of his wife and young daughter as possible.

Leung was frustrated when he couldn’t find a smartphone remote shutter release that he liked. Talking to his friends made him realize that there were plenty of other people who want to take better group shots and selfies.

“I quit my job to build the remote shutter that I believed was missing in the market,” Leung told me by email. The Oxford MBA graduate teamed up with electronic engineer Sea Zheng, industrial designer Boge Chen, production engineer Tom Zhao and logistic expert Scott Moore, and spent a year developing Muku Shuttr.

At 6-mm thickness, Shuttr is small enough to hide in your hand while posing for photos and can be stored on a keychain. The remote’s range is around 30 feet and no line of sight is needed, which means you can use Shuttr while it’s in your pocket.

Shuttr differentiates itself from competing products by manufacturers such as Belkin and Satechi in several ways. It’s smaller, less expensive and usually doesn’t need an app to pair with smartphones (though a Shuttr app is available for older versions of iOS or certain Android devices such as the new HTC One). The remote control is compatible with all iOS devices, Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4, Note 2 and Tab 10.1, LG Nexus 4 and many other Android 4.1+ devices with Bluetooth 3.0+. It also works with iOS apps Camera+ and 645 Pro so you can bypass the iPhone’s built-in camera.

“We did a lot of trial and error in testing almost all Bluetooth chipsets available to find the most compatible one, and fine-tune those firmware to maximize the compatibility and stability,” says Leung. “Shuttr is so rigorously tested in our approved modes we are confident that we can launch.”

Shuttr is the first product developed by Muku Labs, which Leung says will continue to create items that enhance the process of taking smartphone photos. The team is currently planning a line of snap-on lenses.

“We know that there are already lots of them in the market,” says Leung. “But we know that we can beat them by quality.”

Images of Mars from "Curiosity" : Heading for Mount Sharp

2013-07-17T05:50:00.003-07:00

Curiosity Heading for Mount Sharp

The latest pictures of Curiosity the a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission (MSL) was revealed four days ago. Curiosity was launched from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST aboard the MSL spacecraft.

The lower slopes of Mount Sharp appear at the top of this image taken by the right Navigation Camera (Navcam) of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity at the end of a drive of about 135 feet (41 meters) during the 329th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (July 9, 2013). That was the third drive by Curiosity since finishing observations at the mission's final science target in the "Glenelg" area east of the rover's landing site. The planned entry point to the lower layers of Mount Sharp, the mission's next major destination, lies about 5 miles (8 kilometers) to the southwest. The turret of tools at the end of Curiosity's robotic arm is in the foreground, with the rover's rock-sampling drill in the lower left corner of the image.

The Art of Rock Balancing by Michael Grab: Michael Grab The real " R O C K " star

2013-07-17T05:06:00.000-07:00

The Art of Rock Balancing by Michael Grab

Land artist Michael Grab creates astonishing towers and orbs of balanced rocks using little more than patience and an astonishing sense of balance. Grab says the art of stone balancing has been practiced by various cultures around the world for centuries and that he personally finds the process of balancing to be therapeutic and meditative.On his site gravityglue.com, he explains:

BALANCING ROCKS

As far as i know, many cultures from across the globe have practiced the art of balancing rocks for several centuries, if not longer. Rocks are among the oldest of primitive tools. In balance, their purposes range from marking human presence to giving thanks to meditative nature art

WHY…?

Over the past few years of practicing rock balance, simple curiosity has evolved into therapeutic ritual, ultimately nurturing meditative presence, mental well-being, and artistry of design. Alongside the art, setting rocks into balance has also become a way of showing appreciation, offering thanksgiving, and inducing meditation. Through manipulation of gravitational threads, the ancient stones become a poetic dance of form and energy, birth and death, perfection and imperfection. they become a reflection of ourselves in a way; precariously sturdy, mysterious and fragile. The ephemeral nature of the balance often encourages contemplations of non-attachment, beauty, and even death. one of the most lovely experiences in practicing rock balance is the unspoken dialogue between the rocks, the surrounding environment and my own creative flow. It is a remarkably sensual experience to feel for balance points and realize them… The positive reactions from people and community often inspire me to continue balancing in public areas. The effect it has tends to be spiritual in nature. For most people, seeing rocks precariously balanced is completely out of the ordinary. the eyes will often argue with the mind over how such a structure can remain in equilibrium.

“There would be no chance at all of getting to know death if it happened only once. But fortunately, life is nothing but a continuing dance of birth and death, a dance of change. Every time I hear the rush of a mountain stream, or the waves crashing on the shore, or my own heartbeat, I hear the sound of impermanence. These changes, these small deaths, are our living links with death. They are death’s pulses, death’s heartbeat, prompting us to let go of all the things we cling to.” - Sogyal Rinpoche

HOW TO…?

The most fundamental element of balancing in a physical sense is finding some kind of “tripod” for the rock to stand on. Every rock is covered in a variety of tiny to large indentations that can act as a tripod for the rock to stand upright, or in most orientations you can think of with other rocks. By paying close attention to the feeling of the rocks, you will start to feel even the smallest clicks as the notches of the rocks in contact are moving over one another. In the finer point balances, these clicks can be felt on a scale smaller than millimeters. Some point balances will give the illusion of weightlessness as the rocks look to be barely touching. Parallel to the physical element of finding tripods, the most fundamental non-physical element is harder to explain through words. In a nutshell, i am referring to meditation, or finding a zero point or silence within yourself. Some balances can apply significant pressure on your mind and your patience. The challenge is overcoming any doubt that may arise.

“Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try” - Yoda

Achieving a challenging balance requires contemplation of both mental and physical elements simultaneously. You must “get to know” the rocks you are working with. Some rock characters will coordinate better with other characters of rocks and vice versa back and forth right, left, up, or down. The trick I’ve found is to play and experiment. If you keep at it, a balance will be inevitable if you make yourself present in that moment of balance. The closer you get to achieving balance, the more weightless the rock seems to feel, since the majority of the work is applied upward on the rock you are trying to balance. Another tip I would suggest is try balancing larger rocks. using larger rocks only magnifies the feeling of the “clicks”. Also, more weight will usually have more stability in wind or other erosive forces.

A Blue Planet Nothing Like Our Own

2013-07-17T03:25:00.001-07:00

A Blue Planet Nothing Like Our Own

Rayleigh scattering is what happens when light is scattered by particles considerably smaller than the light’s wavelength. Although it can happen in solids and liquids, it’s most obvious when it occurs in our sky, causing its blue color. We’re seeing the short blue wavelengths of sunlight scattered by oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, while red wavelengths are absorbed more strongly, hence less scattering. When you leave the atmosphere and go into space, the Earth appears blue because the oceans absorb red and green wavelengths more than blue ones, and thus we can see the reflected blue color of our sky.

But colors from within the atmosphere or beyond it depend on local conditions. The reddish sky shown by the Viking landers in 1977 was the result of iron-rich dust thrown up by the dust storms that are endemic to the planet. We can assume that the color of other planets as seen from space — think Jupiter or Venus — is the result of particles within their atmospheres. What we can’t assume is that any planet that looks blue from a distance is going to be a clement world like the Earth. That case is made emphatically by the much studied ‘hot Jupiter’ HD 189733b, a transiting planet that has become a laboratory for the study of exoplanet atmospheres.

We’re dealing with an exotic world, one that orbits its star at just one-thirtieth of the Sun/Earth distance, with an atmosphere reaching temperatures well above 1000 degrees Celsius and the subject of frequent battering by stellar flares. Radiation from the parent star is thought to be 20 times more powerful than that from our Sun, with an X-ray dose 3 million times higher than Earth receives. Because it is a transiting world, HD 189733b’s atmosphere can be studied as it leaves its signature on the primary star’s light during passage in front of and then behind the star.

The new work, led by Frédéric Pont (University of Exeter) now tells us that this savage world some 63 light years away would appear, if actually seen by human eyes, a deep azure blue. The measurements were made with the Hubble Space Telescope’s Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), which the team used to monitor how the planet’s light changed during its orbit. Tom Evans (Oxford University) is first author of the paper on this work:

“We saw the brightness of the whole system drop in the blue part of the spectrum when the planet passed behind its star. From this, we can gather that the planet is blue, because the signal remained constant at the other colours we measured.”

The study proceeded by examining the secondary eclipse, when the planet passed behind the star. Here’s a bit on the methodology from the paper:

… we measured the reﬂection signal by monitoring the change in brightness of the star-planet system that occurred during secondary eclipse. Unlike the primary transit, which allows us to probe the daynight terminator region of the atmosphere, the secondary eclipse signal is directly related to the brightness of the dayside hemisphere. Although secondary eclipses have been measured previously for HD 189733b at infrared wavelengths…, our new observation constitutes the ﬁrst measured for HD 189733b at short wavelengths, where thermal emission from the planet is negligible. Any detected light is therefore entirely due to scattering by the atmosphere.

Image: This plot compares the colours of Solar System planets to the colour of the hot Jupiter HD 189733b. With the exception of Mars, the colours are primarily determined by the chemistry of the planets’ atmospheres. Earth’s blue atmosphere plus the blue tint of the oceans dominate our world’s hue. HD 189733b’s deep blue colour is produced by silicate droplets, which scatter blue light in the scorching atmosphere. Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI/AURA).

The paper calls the color “…a deep, dark blue, quite distinct from the atmosphere colors seen in our solar system.” The blue may well be the result of silicate particles in the atmosphere, which scatter blue light. It’s also consistent with Pont and team’s earlier work on HD 189733b, which revealed the presence of high haze in the atmosphere and suggested red ‘sunset’ colors as the hue of HD 189733b’s sky. Sodium has previously been identified in the atmosphere and, because sodium absorbs red light and dust scatters red, this is an atmosphere that, according to this ESO news release, will redden light shining through it but turn reflected light blue.

As conducted by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, secondary eclipse observations are obviously a powerful tool. And in this case, HD 189733b once again proves a reliable touchstone on what can be accomplished to analyze the atmospheres of planets we cannot actually image. The paper is Evans et al., “The Deep Blue Color of HD189733b: Albedo Measurements with Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph at Visible Wavelengths,”

Apple launch long-awaited Logic update, Logic Pro X

2013-07-17T02:36:00.002-07:00

Following two years of rumour and speculation, Apple have finally released the latest version of their ubiquitous Logic Pro DAW software.

Logic Pro X arrived yesterday with a stash of new – if fairly cosmetic – features. The interface has been redesigned, with a cosier aesthetic, simpler controls and improved visual snap guides and help functions. Improved drum functions are at the heart of the upgrade: a “virtual session player” called Drummer is now part of the set-up, and an enhanced Drum Kit Designer has also been included.

Mixer and Score functions have been improved, and exporting has also been made easier, with users now able to bounce tracks direct to their Sound cloud account. A new track format, the ‘Track Stack’, has been introduced, which allows users to consolidate multiple related tracks into a single track. An ‘Arrangement Track’ feature makes divvying tracks up into verse, chorus, etc. more simple, and the ‘Flex Pitch’ function allows users to meticulously fine-tune the pitch of any given audio sample. Rather niftily, the software can also now be operated from across the room using an iPad.

As is to be expected, new keyboard, synth, bass and pedal box functions have been added, as have nine new MIDI plug-ins. Head here for a full rundown of the new features. The software retails at £139.99.

Want to get rich ??? ! ! !

2013-07-17T01:30:00.002-07:00

Revelations of US spooks monitoring the internet have freaked out consumers so much that privacy protection software will be The Next Big Thing.

That's according to antivirus firm AVG, which reckons the market for products that safeguard online freedoms will be huge.

Siobhan MacDermott, chief policy officer at the company, said AVG was preparing for a future in which privacy software is a big part of its business alongside its malware-busting tools. The security expert was astonished by the reaction to the scandal of the web-snooping NSA PRISM project, which left consumers feeling "violated".

She predicted a world in which consumers were obsessed with protecting their own digital communications from prying eyes, as well as making sure their kids aren't press-ganged into handing over reams of sensitive data to fraudsters and other undesirables.

MacDermott has been in discussions with five major banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, about how best to tackle this emerging market. She asked them to estimate the size of the burgeoning privacy sector - and they had no idea.

"I asked them to size up the privacy market and all five told me that although they knew it was huge, they couldn't yet give me a proper estimate of its size," MacDermott said. "They were super-excited though, because there are a lot of new companies popping up in this space.

"My argument is that privacy will soon rival cyber-security in terms of market share. It's about device control and protecting the online experience. It's a nascent industry, so we're still in the awareness phase and initial products phase. It's going to be a big industry."

Earlier this year, AVG bought a firm called Privacy Choice, which offers a simple way to manage the privacy settings of software on their computer.

And Microsoft started bundling anti-malware software called Defender within Windows 8, causing some consternation among security firms, who stood to lose business.

MacDermott isn't too worried that this will kill off her firm's security division.

"Anti virus isn't going to go away," she continued. "Privacy will definitely grow faster, as its a nascent market versus a mature one, but security is in our DNA. Privacy will just be another layer on top of that."

There would have to be international discussions on protecting citizens' online privacy soon, MacDermott predicted, due to the differences in opinion between leaders in Europe, America and beyond.

"There is no common ground between Europe and America on issues like government surveillance," she said.

"In Europe, people remember a time when you could be killed for having the wrong political beliefs or religion. The people who run Facebook and other big social media companies don't have that baggage, so privacy can be something of an abstract concept to them in a way it isn't in Germany, for instance, with memories of the Stazi and Nazis."

Pirate Bay co-founder Peter Sunde recently persuaded punters to donate at least $110,000 to start up an encrypted chat service called Heml.is, which will supposedly have tough encryption to keep spooks from snooping on one's electronic nattering. He joined a growing number of firms looking to create the ultimate secure communications platform.

Sunde said: "We've decided to build a messaging platform where no one can spy on you, not even us."

However, all the best encryption in the world may not be enough to totally keep the spooks at bay. Documents released by Edward Snowden show that the NSA's creepy PRISM programme is more likely to store communications for a rainy day if they are encrypted.

Facts and News

2012-12-30T03:13:00.001-08:00

Welcome this is facts and news

Facts and News

Google confirms it's shutting down Google+ Local for iOS

Google+ Local for iOS shutting down

Why Internet Explorer 11 is the right browser for business

Internet Explorer 11

Kate Middleton Baby Born: Duchess Of Cambridge Gives Birth to baby boy!

Kate Middleton and Prince William Welcome Baby Boy

Kate Middleton and Prince William stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15.

The Duchess of Cambridge went into labor early Monday morning.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth returns in a car to Buckingham Palace in London on Monday.

Watch Now! - New trailer for 'The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire' unveiled yesterday

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Brand new feature length trailer unveiled at Comic-Con!

Superman to battle Batman in Man of Steel sequel

Superman and Batman will face off in 2015

Simbu and Hansika Confirm their relationship on Twitter.

Hansika, Simbu in relationship. The Couple confirm on twitter.

Dhanush sweeps both Best Actor and Best Singer in " Film Fare Awards" 2012

Dhanush wins Best actor and Best singer awards at 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South) - 2012

Dhanush won the prestigious Filmfare awards for the year 2012 in both Best actor and Best singer category for his lead role in the movie "3" and for his global super hit song "why this kolaveridi?" from the same movie.

The movie which has been actually directed none other than by his wife Aishwarya Dhanush herself. Who is also the daughter of Super Star Rajnikanth.

Google is bringing app that lets u you access other computers over the Internet, for Android

Google Is Bringing Chrome Remote Desktop App To Android

The Real Schindler's List Auctioned On eBay! for starting bid of $3 million

Original Schindler's List to be sold on eBay for $3 million ...

The scanned copy of the original list containing names of 801 men posted by the owner on ebay.

Chips thrown at Rihanna: Manchester

Rihanna Fans Cause A Salty Riot For Tardy Concert! Rih Pelted With Food Upon Taking The Stage!

Three-tier security for Ramanathaswamy temple: Police to tie up with Coastal Security Group, Coast Guard, Navy

Rameshwaram: Ramanathaswamy temple get three tier security

Sony see through X -ray cameras: A demo video explaining how to see through clothes with it has 35 million hits on youtube.

In 1998 ,Sony Accidentally Sold 700,000 Camcorders That Could See Through People's Clothes.

And the demo video has even 35 million hits on youtube.

The Zero Gravity Coffee Cup

The strange behavior of coffee in microgravity

Power cell phone with your pee: Turn urine into electricity.

Pee the Power

A Urine Powered Generator

Legendry lyricist "VAALI" passes away

Vaali famous Tamil poet and lyricist, dies

Queen Elizabeth II Hopes Royal Baby Arrives Soon

Tiny Bluetooth Remote Shutter: For Smartphone Cameras

Muku Labs' Shuttr Is A Tiny Bluetooth Remote Shutter Release For Smartphone Cameras

Images of Mars from "Curiosity" : Heading for Mount Sharp

Curiosity Heading for Mount Sharp

The Art of Rock Balancing by Michael Grab: Michael Grab The real " R O C K " star

The Art of Rock Balancing by Michael Grab

BALANCING ROCKS

WHY…?

HOW TO…?

A Blue Planet Nothing Like Our Own

Apple launch long-awaited Logic update, Logic Pro X

Want to get rich ??? ! ! !

Revelations of US spooks monitoring the internet have freaked out consumers so much that privacy protection software will be The Next Big Thing.

That's according to antivirus firm AVG, which reckons the market for products that safeguard online freedoms will be huge.

She predicted a world in which consumers were obsessed with protecting their own digital communications from prying eyes, as well as making sure their kids aren't press-ganged into handing over reams of sensitive data to fraudsters and other undesirables.

MacDermott has been in discussions with five major banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, about how best to tackle this emerging market. She asked them to estimate the size of the burgeoning privacy sector - and they had no idea.

"I asked them to size up the privacy market and all five told me that although they knew it was huge, they couldn't yet give me a proper estimate of its size," MacDermott said. "They were super-excited though, because there are a lot of new companies popping up in this space.

"My argument is that privacy will soon rival cyber-security in terms of market share. It's about device control and protecting the online experience. It's a nascent industry, so we're still in the awareness phase and initial products phase. It's going to be a big industry."

Earlier this year, AVG bought a firm called Privacy Choice, which offers a simple way to manage the privacy settings of software on their computer.

And Microsoft started bundling anti-malware software called Defender within Windows 8, causing some consternation among security firms, who stood to lose business.

MacDermott isn't too worried that this will kill off her firm's security division.

"Anti virus isn't going to go away," she continued. "Privacy will definitely grow faster, as its a nascent market versus a mature one, but security is in our DNA. Privacy will just be another layer on top of that."

There would have to be international discussions on protecting citizens' online privacy soon, MacDermott predicted, due to the differences in opinion between leaders in Europe, America and beyond.

"There is no common ground between Europe and America on issues like government surveillance," she said.

Sunde said: "We've decided to build a messaging platform where no one can spy on you, not even us."

However, all the best encryption in the world may not be enough to totally keep the spooks at bay. Documents released by Edward Snowden show that the NSA's creepy PRISM programme is more likely to store communications for a rainy day if they are encrypted.

Facts and News