Nook Color is announced - preorder now, ships November 17th

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Nook Color is basically a WiFi only Android tablet built for e-reading.  What exciting is that its fairly aggressively priced, has a nice IPS display (hopefully iPad quality), most likely hackable, has a microSD slot, and runs Android.

From the demonstration video, it looks to be a little slower than I'd like in response time.  Also the battery life takes a hit (reported 8 hours).

I would be all over this if they included 3G/4G - but it's doubtful at this point without a monthly fee or more advertising.

For now, personally I'll stick with my Kindle and my iPad till 3G is out.

iPhone 4 stolen

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image1198860362.jpgWas ripped from box, most likely by an associate of UPS / UPS store.  It was stolen before it arrived at my house.

Opened box and someone cut the iphone 4 box open and took the iPhone and all accessories but left the rest of the torn box.


Serial number: 82034N51A4T
IMEI: 011951000392903
iPhone 4 32GB


[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Coffee Shops taking out WiFi

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This comes as no big surprise to us WiFi users when we visit our regular coffee shops.  LA times reports that many coffee shops are taking free Wi-Fi off the menu to stimulate their sales.  

Sadly where I'm at there is a major lack in coffee shops that aren't Starbucks.  The good ones I knew of were in the SF bay area where they served good coffee and really good food in many cases.  

Speaking of Starbucks, since they've opened up free WiFi for everyone I've noticed a considerable decrease in the amount of bandwidth available to us regulars that used to enjoy decent T1 speeds.  So... I no longer go there and rely on their bandwidth - I actually use AT&T's 3G network a lot lately.

I see where the coffee shops are coming from, but those are definitely the ones that are losing my type of business.  

We'll see how this all plays out in the end.  It may be that some enterprising individual will have to create a nice chain of cybercafes that serve good finger foods.

12 hour blackout in Los Angeles area - cause? Trees.

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Yes you read that right.  Our power grid was brought down by trees.  The trees came in contact with the power lines and somehow shorted the system.  I knew this was coming when a few days ago I posted about how power outages are going to occur more frequently and to protect your equipment!

Well, my equipment was protected - it wasn't until the beeping started from my UPS systems that I realized there was an outage.  I would have kept some of my systems running the entire duration of the blackout (phone and internet service) except for the fact that I can't stand the annoying beep!

Next goal is to find a UPS system that's affordable with a beep that can be disabled with a switch or software configured.

 

Digital Millenium Copyrights Act Updated! Yes its legal to hack, circumvent, jailbreak etc *

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I just posted about this as it related to the iPhone and Apple calling jailbreaking "unlawful."

There are some restrictions of course.  

*allow the unlocking of mobile phones to change carriers.
*allow the cracking of video game digital rights management controls to probe security flaws.
*allow the breaking of DVD encryption by professors, students and documentary makers so the clips can be used for education and commentary.
*allow the blind to circumvent locks on e-books to enable read-aloud features.
*allow the bypassing of broken or irreplaceable dongles.

Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/#ixzz0vTCjuKm7

Panasonic releasing 3D camera lens for micro 4/3s!

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All I can say is wow!  This was totally unexpected and way cool!  I can't wait to try it out.  

"PANASONIC ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD'S FIRST* INTERCHANGEABLE 3D LENS FOR LUMIX G MICRO SYSTEM** 

SECAUCUS, NJ (July 27, 2010) – Continuing its record of 3D technology leadership, Panasonic today announced the development of the world's first* digital interchangeable twin-lens, making it possible to shoot 3D with an interchangeable lens system camera. As a new member of Panasonic's powerful lineup of interchangeable lenses as part of the LUMIX G Micro System**, the twin-lens will allow high-quality shooting in 3D. Panasonic plans to release this new lens for sale before the end of the year. 

"This year will be remembered as the 'First Year of 3D Era' and Panasonic has already taken the lead by launching 3D-capable VIERA™ televisions and Blu-ray™ 3D Disc Players," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "With Panasonic's development of a twin-lens capable of 3D shooting, the company is providing consumers with a way to capture their own 3D content, which they can then enjoy watching in the comforts of their own home. Panasonic is dedicated to evolving the 3D ecosystem, letting consumers create and display lifelike 3D images in their homes." 

Currently, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera is possible only by using panorama systems or by combining two lenses and two CCDs. However, these systems are not ideal and have difficulty capturing moving objects. Panasonic's new 3D lens for the LUMIX G Micro System features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system. Thanks to Panasonic's advanced technologies in optical technology, image processing systems, and lens barrel design, the 3D lens will be compact in size. 

This new compact 3D-capable interchangeable lens will be easy to handle and allow instant 3D shooting, without distortion or time lag between left and right images – even when shooting moving objects."

Marijuana key to California's bankrupt economy?

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There's been a lot of news lately about legalizing marijuana again, and how that will help bring in the money we are lacking.  Several years ago who would have guessed that the 7th largest economy in the world would have to resort to this?  It certainly reminds me about the prohibition days we all studied about in high school.

Calfornia is split on the decision according to these poll results.

Does anybody else think the ethnic breakdown of the results surprising?