This image resizing and manipulation demonstration is sort of jaw dropping, particularly as the video goes on. The related paper, written by Dr. Ariel Shamir and Dr. Shai Avidan is available here.
It has 10,240 CPUs, 20TB of RAM, 280TB of disk storage and runs on SUSE Linux. It can compute at 62.63 teraflops, with a peak performance of 94.21 teraflops, making it the most powerful computer in Europe. [Navel of Narcissus]
Designers Emanuele Patton & Michele Menescardi dreamed up these delectable dozen-sided baubles, where the idea is you can place these non-directional speakers wherever you want, and you won't be able to tell where the sound is coming from.
We're not sure how this will affect what audiophiles like to call the "soundstage," but if these babies sound anywhere near as good as they look, they'll probably kick some serious ass. If JVC or whoever else actually decides to build them, that is. [Yanko Design] http://www.yankodesign.com/index.php/2007/08/27/360-degree-speaker/
The agreement centers on Digital Transmission Copy Protection over IP technology (DTCP-IP), which is meant to protect content that comes over digital cable and is then pushed around over in-home IP networks.
The approval permits CableLabs licensees under DFAST, CHILA, and DCAS to protect pay-per-view and video-on-demand transmissions against unauthorized copying and unauthorized Internet retransmission, while assuring consumers’ ability to record broadcast and subscription programming, in digital formats, for personal use.
DTCP is the creation of DTLA, also known as “5C,” after the five companies that got together in 1998 and proposed the standard. Hitachi, Intel (INTC), Matsushita (MC), Sony (SNE) and Toshiba came to together to jointly develop the DTCP technology for the protection of audiovisual and audio content against unauthorized interception or retransmission in the digital home environment. (More on their Wikipedia page.)
All the parties involved are spinning it like this is a great thing for the consumer, but whenever incumbents and Hollywood are involved in something, there is a good chance the consumer is getting shafted. If you have any additional insights, please let us know via the comments section. Of course, you can always email us.
CommonAngels is composed of 70 private investors and several dozen limited partners in two co-investment funds. This group is fairly unique in that they have a small permanent staff of three people who manage the group, taking care of the putting the breakfasts together, managing the deal-flow, due diligence, board memberships, and so on.
This group is self selected. To join, you need to fulfill certain criteria and go through an approval process. Since its inception in 1998, CommonAngels has funded 33 companies with over $37 million from CommonAngels and over $100 million from co-investors. Rounds are typically in the half to one million dollar range, but can go higher.
They take a very hands on approach to the funding process, and will only fund companies in their areas of expertise. Entrepreneurs present their plans at these breakfasts where the group asks questions and critique the plan.
If a company was funded by CommonAngels and needs bridge or continuation funding, they can present again and the board member will take part in the presentation. If there is interest in funding the company, the group puts together a due diligence committee to dig deeper into the company and the plan. If the company is funded, the group is present on the board.
What is interesting here is that this group is very hands on and involves itself very intimately in the company and its development, rather than just “throwing money over the wall.”
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