30.9.11

Facebook is Watching YOU, Even when you're NOT logged in

Do you know that as a member of Facebook social networking, it has been watching you the whole time? Facebook has admitted that it monitors every single web page its members visit – even when they have logged out.

In its latest privacy blunder, the social networking site was forced to confirm that it constantly tracks its 750million users, even when they are using other sites. Most would assume that Facebook stops monitoring them after they leave, but technology bloggers have discovered this is not the case.

In fact, data is regularly sent back to the social network’s servers – helping Facebook make billions of pounds each year from advertising, as such information is highly valuable.

The website’s practices were exposed by Australian technology blogger Nik Cubrilovic and have provoked a furious response across the internet. Mr Cubrilovic found that when you sign up to Facebook it automatically puts files known as ‘cookies’ on your computer which monitor your browsing history.

Some cookies remain on your computer after you log out, and report back when you visit a site connected to Facebook. This covers millions of websites and refers to anything with a Facebook ‘like’ or ‘recommend’ button on it.

This covers millions of websites worldwide and refers to anything with a Facebook ‘like’ or ‘recommend’ button on it. The data that is sent back is the IP address, or unique identifier of your computer, and a log of what you have been viewing.

Mr Cubrilovic wrote: ‘Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit.

‘The only solution is to delete every Facebook cookie in your browser, or to use a separate (web) browser for Facebook interactions.

‘This is not what ‘logout’ is supposed to mean’.

The admission is the latest in a series of privacy blunders from Facebook, which has a record of only correcting such matters when they are brought to light by other people.

Earlier this year it stopped gathering browser data from users who had never even been to Facebook.com after it was exposed by a Dutch researcher. The site was forced into a partial climbdown over changes to privacy settings which many claimed made too much public.

28.9.11

World's Cheapest Car Covered In Gold

Gold covered Nano micro-carIn an effort to spur flagging sales of its Nano micro-car, Indian automaker Tata has decided to take a jewel-encrusted version of the $3,000 two-door People’s Car worth $4.6 million — yes, buy just one for the price of 1,533 Nanos — and trot it around a country where a third of the world’s poor live on about 50 cents a day. By way of explanation, Tata chairman Bhaskar Bhatt said, “It’s only meant to travel around to showcase the Indian karigar’s (craftsmen’s) expertise.”

This particular Nano, commonly referred to as the world’s cheapest car, certainly does that. Artisans associated with the company’s chain of GoldPlus jewelry stores lavished the automobile with 194 pounds of hard-crafted 22-karat gold, 33 pounds of silver and 10,000 precious and semi-precious stones. The end result is a blinding chariot out of modern Bollywood, an automotive paean to some of India’s most iconic designs, colors and inherent beauty.

The micro bling machine was fittingly unveiled in a theater in Mumbai, and will go on a six-month tour of towns where Tata has manufacturing plants. The GoldPlus Nano is dazzling to the point of distraction, which is perhaps some of the point. Originally launched in 2008 with a 100,000-customer waiting list, the Nano has been plagued by Ford Pinto-like incidents of spontaneous combustion, the result of which were electrical system and exhaust safety upgrades for 70,000 owners. Sales have flagged markedly since that launch; August saw 1,200 sales, an 88 percent drop from 10,000 in April. Some analysts argue that the reason for the Nano’s sales decline may have less to do with safety issues and more to do with Indian consumers not taking well to the notion of owning the world’s least expensive vehicle.

17.9.11

Energy consumption and investment

energyThe story of energy for mankind began when fire was discovered for the first time in the ancient world. Since then human started to consume energy and it was taken from renewable energy resources such as sun, wind and water power. Together with the development in industrial sectors, demands for energy have increased significantly, human started to explore and began massive exploration and production of energy. The advancement of technology human owned at that time has a major contribution in the exploration of energy resources, and that was the time when energy consumption had accelerated rapidly.

Human has developed technology that turns heat to energy based on fossil fuels. It has become one huge business. The acceleration of this type of investment is unstoppable, solar energy investments are among the most explored investments in energy industry. The exploitation of coal deposits to oil and natural gas fields on a global scale has become unstoppable. The next era of energy resource begins not very long after the fossil-based era, the major transition takes place when human invented nuclear-based energy, but since the production cost and the security are another issue, production of nuclear energy hasn’t as fast as fossil-based energy.

World population has increased; new plants were being built and operated. This all needs more and more energy to run, in the 19th century alone world population has increased by 3 times and that was the time when the essential change of energy consumption took place. World data for energy consumption shows that today fossil-based fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are the primary contributors of total energy supply, and this one fact alone has shown why Investing in natural gas, oil and coal become extremely significant.

Since the energy sources will not last forever, it left each of us a global issue. We have to ask ourselves on how we use energy, that’s our homework. While for investors and inventors out there, it will be a great challenge for them to create some energy forms that will last forever and can be consumed without polluting the environment.

13.9.11

Kate Winslet As Elizabeth Tailor in 'V' Magazine

Kate WinsletKate Winslet is paying tribute to Elizabeth Taylor in the pages of "V" magazine by dressing up as the late, legendary actress. Winslet being Winslet being Taylor, the photo gallery is totally stunning.

"There was a real fearlessness in her," Winslet tells the high-fashion magazine. "Which in old Hollywood perhaps didn't feel quite as prevalent. Now, actors and actresses can bend the rules a lot. Back then, there did seem to be a rule book, and there was some expectation in terms of how glamorous women should look. There's a sort of coolness and aloofness to the way [Taylor] would look in posed photographs."

Winslet adds: "In candid snapshots she was really quite soft, and she would really screw up her face. I do that as well."

The series of images, photographed by Mario Testino, show Winslet wearing an assortment of Taylor-esque turbans, head scarves, animal prints and -- it wouldn't be a Liz homage without them -- diamonds. Lots of diamonds. Winslet's eyes, though not strikingly violet, appear as large and magnetic as Taylor's famous peepers.

8.9.11

Wow ... Smartphone Goes 3D

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc SA mobile smartphone which will be able to take 3D, panoramic photos is expected to go on sale next month. Pictures taken on Sony Ericsson's new, top-of-the-range Xperia Arc S can be viewed on any compatible television set.

The phone, however, will display them only in two dimensions. Nor will it be able to produce 3D video output.

The camera works by taking several simultaneous images and 'stitching' them together. The phone, which runs Google's Android operating system, has a 4.2" screen and the camera definition is 8.1 megapixels, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Any 3D images are viewed by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output. Sony Ericsson said the Arc S's 1.4GHz processor means it will start up 25 per cent faster than its predecessor, the Arc.

It also doubles as a remote control for Sony Bravia televisions, and features Sony’s Music and Video Unlimited media stores. Most of the Arc S's other updates are software-based. It comes with Android 2.3 installed, which enables faster web-browsing.

The company said the Arc S will come in five colours - white, blue, silver, black and pink. The device was unveiled at the IFA technology fair in Berlin.

The show also featured what Toshiba claims is the first glasses-free 3D television, although the model, the 55ZL2, has had mixed reviews. Korean manufacturer LG demonstrated a glasses-free 3D computer monitor.

4.9.11

iPhone 5: Everything We Know so Far

iPhoneRumors about the iPhone 5 started flying nearly as soon as the iPhone 4 landed on the shelves last year.

So far, many sources have strongly suggested that Apple's newest smartphone may be right around the corner.

Releasing in October
The Wall Street Journal confirmed the new iPhone model is coming in October, although we don't know yet if the new phone will be called iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, or something else entirely. It's been well over a year since the iPhone 4 became available in June 2010, and we've had white iPhones and Verizon iPhones since then. The iPhone 3GS had been released in June 2009 and Apple tends to release its iconic smartphone on a yearly cycle.

Wireless syncing, wireless charging
We know for certain that the new iPhone using iOS 5 will sync with your computer wirelessly, since Apple made a big deal of this capability at its developer's conference in June. The iPhone may also support wireless charging. The soon to be extinct HP TouchPad had this capability, so it makes sense that Apple might be exploring the technology to improve the iPhone experience, cutting away the last cords that force you to tie your phone to your computer. That seems like an experience that Apple would want to pioneer.

Better camera
The Wall Street Journal also reported the new iPhone camera sports 8 megapixels, which is a significant boost over the iPhone 4's 5 mexapixel sensor. This information seems to confirm similar, earlier rumors from Bloomberg. If we're really lucky, we might finally see an improved camera flash. Remember that the iPhone 4 was released over a year ago; newer smartphones have cameras that simply blow away the iPhone 4's offering, at least on paper. It's time for Apple to get back on top of the heap with an update.

4" screen or smaller
The size of the iPhone 5's touchscreen has been a hotbed of rumor. While many original rumors said the screen would be larger than 4", new panel suppliers indicate that the iPhone 5 screen will actually be smaller than 4". Previous rumors were based on market expectations, not any actual supply chain leaks. The newest leaks say the screen could be as small as 3.5' which is the same size as the iPhone 4 screen.

iCloud inside
One of the most exciting bits about the iPhone 5 will be its operating system and iCloud. The free service will automatically sync your pictures, music, and other data instantly between your computer and your iPhone. Using iTunes Match, you will even be able to upgrade your existing music to one of Apple's lossless, higher-quality music files. iCloud is integrated with personal computers, cloud computing, and mobile information. When you take pictures or buy content on your phone, you will be able to access all of it on your computer through iCloud.

Faster, beefier processor
It isn't a surprise to hear that the iPhone 5 will have a better processor than the iPhone 4, since every major iteration of the phone has enjoyed this kind of upgrade under the hood. The A5 processor already struts itself inside the iPad 2. Including that same processor on the iPhone 5 would give the smartphone considerable power, catching it up to the capability of the iPad itself.

Integrated earthquake warning
The Japanese version of iPhone 5 will warns its users of impending earthquakes. A simple pop-up notification will appear whenever Japan's monitoring facilities detect an impending threat, providing iPhone 5 users much needed time to get to safety and prepare for disaster. There's been no word about whether such a warning will also exist in the U.S., but that might be a concern after the recent, rare earthquake in Virginia.

iPhone available on Sprint and T-Mobile
While Verizon and AT&T both boast their own iteration of the iPhone, Apple's smartphone hasn't migrated to the remaining two carriers yet. The Wall Street Journal expects the new iPhone 5 to include Sprint among its available carriers, while other reports indicate the iPhone may land on T-Mobile. At the same time, new information suggests that the new iPhone will be a "world phone," capable of supporting multiple types of mobile networks, which would make it an attractive option for frequent travellers.

A new friend: iPhone nano
At the same time we're hearing about a bigger, more powerful iPhone 5, rumors about a smaller, cheaper iPhone also keep coming up. The lighter, more budget-minded (and purely theoretical) iPhone has been dubbed the the iPhone nano among tech blogs. This potentially petite iPhone would be aimed at more casual smartphone owners who want to use the Apple product but aren't necessarily comfortable with the iPhone's traditionally high price point. With 8 GB of storage, the iPhone nano would rely on iCloud and the internet to access a lot of its content.

Of course, none of this speculation is official fact until you've heard the words uttered from Apple itself. That being said, these rumors have all been repeated by enough independent sources that a few of them are bound to pan out — we can only wait and see.