Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

SmartQ 5 MID gets unboxed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/smartq-5-mid-gets-unboxed/

We've already seen the SmartQ 5 MID out in the wild, and even sporting Ubuntu, but those sitting on pins and needles for the inevitable unboxing can now finally rest easy, as Kam Leung has stepped up and done the honors. From the looks of it, however, there's nothing but the bare minimum included with the 4.3-inch MID / PMP although, judging from the pics, SmartQ may have been wise to at least include a dust cloth. Hit up the link below for the full show, and then start figuring out the best way to import one of these if you're sold on it, as there's still no word of an official release 'round here.

Filed under: Handhelds

SmartQ 5 MID gets unboxed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CradlePoint bringing WiMAX to existing fleet of portable routers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/cradlepoint-bringing-wimax-to-existing-fleet-of-portable-routers/

While Clearwire's Clear Spot (which is really just a refashioned PHS-300) will handle WiMAX right out of the box, those who own one of CradlePoint's existing portable routers are flat out of luck... or are they? Said company has just announced that starting today, shipments of its business-class routers -- including the MBR800, MBR1000, and MBR1100 line of mobile broadband routers, CTR500 mobile broadband travel router, and CBA250 cellular broadband adapter -- will have WiMAX compatibility built in. Furthermore, a forthcoming (April 6th) firmware update will enable existing CradlePoint products to accept select WiMAX devices, and yes, it'll be made available for no charge at all. Talk about throwing a bone to your loyal customers.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

CradlePoint bringing WiMAX to existing fleet of portable routers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Primitive Word Counter Analyzes Word and Phrase Frequency [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/fKoG_j6IeHc/primitive-word-counter-analyzes-word-and-phrase-frequency

You can check the number of words in just about any word processing program, but what about the distribution of those words?

Primitive Word Counter analyzes text from your clipboard or file and returns the frequency of words and phrases in the text. You can set a minimum word length and have it ignore numbers to trim down the volume of replies it returns. Primitive Word Counter automatically scrubs out punctuation and control characters from the text, if you need to count those take a look at previously reviewed WordCount, which allows you to toggle the counting of non-word elements in your text. Primitive Word Counter is freeware, Windows only.

Primitive Word Counter [Primitive Zone]

ok, I admit it, advertising still works - http://ping.fm/V7usL - just kidding ... :-)

Aqua, Hydra or Simply Water; It Needs To Be Clean

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/ns6onILYBFo/

I don't think I need to highlight the importance of clean drinking water to you elite crowd, but it is a major issue in many developing countries and war-torn zones. When designer Martin Bolton conducted a survey of the potable water that most rural houses in South Africa used, he was appalled at the quality and decided to do something about it. He devised an ingenious Potpaz Ceramic Filter system that is aimed at being a low cost water treatment device optimally suited to South African rural conditions.

Trying to keep the authenticity of the explanation of its working, here is what Martin has to say about the filter's working:

Operation of the filter unit

The ceramic filter element is filled with water to be filtered, the water then saturates the ceramic filter element and slowly filters through the pores at a rate of between 1.5 to 2.5 liters per hour, provided the filter is kept full (as stated on the leaflet received from the existing filter element manufacturers). The filter needs the weight of the unfiltered water in the element to create sufficient pressure to push the water through the pores. The water filtering through the filter element drips into the receptacle where it is stored, ready for consumption. Users' tap water from the plastic spigot attached through the receptacle wall. The covering lid prevents insects and dust from getting into contact with the filter element.

It has been shown that the filter element is able to improve the health related microbial quality of the water by means of the action of filtration. Effectiveness of the filter element, with regards to disinfection, can be increased with the application of colloidal silver to the filter element.
Colloidal silver is an effective antibacterial water treating agent in the form of tiny silver particles suspended in liquid. It is a disinfectant that prevents bacterial growth in the ceramic filter and assists in inactivating the bacteria in the filter. It is applied to the Potpaz filter in the form of a painted-on solution, or by dipping (after the firing process) thereby allowing the solution to soak into the porous ceramic filter where it remains. A study indicates that after 15 years in operation, the colloidal silver is still effective in the ceramic filter. The only routine maintenance of the filter components is as follows: The filter element needs to be scrubbed and rinsed once the flow-rate decreases considerably (possible once a month), and the inside of the receptacle needs to be cleaned with soap and water once a month.

Designer: Martin Bolton