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Microsoft, Apple & Twitter News June 27, 2011

June 27, 2011

It’s been a busy day in tech and communications news – so far these are a few of the stories worth knowing about:

Microsoft needs to get larger? Scott Rothbort at TheStreet gives us eight companies Microsoft should buy – and you know what, some of these make great sense such as Adobe & Netflix but in reading the article, I wonder if Yahoo! makes sense anymore.

Posted in Apple, Broadband, Cloud Computing, Consumer Electronics, Financial, Gadget, Google, IP Communications, Microsoft, Science, Social Networking, TMCnet, Technology, Verizon, VoIP, Wireless

Why We Love Calorie-Rich Foods We Can' Even Taste

June 24, 2011

I realize most of you come to my blog for tech and communications news but I have a passion for many other things such as cars, science, nutrition, excercise and more. So occasionally I share some news which may not generally belong in my tech blog. But only when its really worth it.

This article from Wired about why the body likes the taste of protein discusses how scientists have been able to prove via mutated mice that your body not only responds to taste via your tongue's sensations but also via your digestive system which rewards the body when it eats foods which have a dense caloric profile.

In other words, mice have been shown to prefer water with certain protein in it as well as sugar - even though they can't actually taste either.

One of the commenters, pjs_boston had something interesting to add as well:

It is not surprising that rats prefer sugar water to unsweetened water, even when they can't taste sweet. After all, eating sugar in that absence other food compounds results in rapid absorption of the sugar and a corresponding sugar high.

Posted in Science

How Sea Water Cools Google's Data Center

May 25, 2011

Google recently released a new video showing some of the details regarding how they turned an old paper mill into a data center and are utilizing a seawater tunnel which was already in existence to pump water into heat exchangers to cool the servers. The warmed water is subsequently mixed with fresh seawater to cool it down before returning it to the ocean.

A polished video of how Google is using sea water to cool their data center

There is no word on how much money this method of cooling will save Google since one would imagine there is significant electricity being utilized to pump water through the large building. Moreover, it is unclear if this new cooling method in Finland can be replicated in other areas where oceanfront property could be more expensive.

But if the price of oil and electricity continues to increase significantly, the higher cost of oceanfront property may be offset by savings in air conditioning usage.

An early look at the facility before the cooling system was completed

Perhaps the greatest irony of the story is the fact the building was once a paper mill. Paper as we know is in less demand as a result of the Internet.

Posted in Facebook, Financial, Google, Science, Technology

Which Kills More Jobs - The iPad or US Politicians?

April 18, 2011

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. recently went on a rant discussing how the iPad is produced in China and is responsible for killing jobs and is responsible for Borders going bankrupt. He continued to rail against universities who have adopted the iPad instead of text books. He went on to wonder what happens to publishing company and librarian jobs in such an environment.

The question on our minds must be why is the iPad the focus of his concern and not the digital camera which caused Kodak to go into a tailspin and local photo shops around the country to close down? Why not target IBM for inventing the mainframe and making it possible to use vacuum tubes and later microprocessors instead of humans using pencil and paper.

Posted in Apple, Broadband, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Political, Science, Technology, Wireless

Facebook Opencompute.org Disrupts Data Center Market

April 8, 2011

And just like that, the vanity server gets decapitated

Google continues to suck the life out of profits in industry after industry for the benefit of consumers. For example, sure Garmin is worth $7B but it was once worth $25B! Why? In-part because you can now get free turn-by-turn GPS of excellent quality with your Android phone.

Posted in Facebook, Google, Green, Science, Smart Grid, Social Networking, Technology, Twitter

Now the US Has a Robotic Hummingbird

February 19, 2011

TMCnet's Chris DiMarco reports that DARPA funded a robotic spy nano-hummingbird weighing 19 grams or 0.67 ounces. With a wing span of 5.6 inches the "bird" which has an integrated CMOS video camera and transmitter has recently increased its flying range to five-eleven minutes. This is tremendous progress as it flew only 20 seconds two years ago. It has been in development for five years in-total.

I can't help thinking this device is part of a military future with Terminator-like flying-objects but unless the range can get better and you can stick something that explodes on it - perhaps its destined - for the moment, to end up next to the RC helicopter in the toy chest of your kid's room.

This video explains how this technology could find its way into larger UAVs in the future.

Posted in Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Science, Security, Technology, Video, Wireless

Electronic Warfare is the Future. Are You Ready?

February 14, 2011

Stuxnet is Victory at Entebbe 2.0

The Stuxnet worm alleged to be the work of Israel and the US was designed to target and disable Iranian centrifuges by increasing their speeds to dangerous levels while reporting to operators that all was well. The latest report from the New York Times shows this worm has also hit five industrial sites in the land of Ahmadinejad.

It’s no secret most of the world does not want Iran to get nuclear weapons and the best weapon being used to deter the country’s nuclear program was sanctions and if they are working it would be tough to know it as the country are prospering greatly as the price of oil is much higher than what Iran has budgeted.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Apple, Blackberry, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Facebook, Financial, Gadget, Google, Green, HD Voice, IP Communications, IPTV, M2M, Merger/Acquisition, Microsoft, Nortel, Open Source, Optical, Political, SIP, SaaS, Satellite, Science, Search, Security, Skype, Smart Ecosystem, Smart Grid, Social Networking, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, Virtual Worlds, VoIP, Vonage, WiMAX, Wireless, Yahoo

ITEXPO Hashtag is #ITEXPO, Receptions and More

January 23, 2011

Good evening readers,

Just a note to let you know the hashtag for ITEXPO on Twitter will simply be #ITEXPO. You will see enhanced levels of twitter messaging at the show (Twitter stream at keynotes for example) allowing the ITEXPO and related technology and communications communities to stay connected.

A good way to keep track of news from the show is to set up a column with search terms ITEXPO and/or #ITEXPO in programs such as Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and/or your mobile Twitter app.

The show officially begins in nine days and here are some links you may find useful:

Agenda / Show Guide
Onsite Giveaways
ITEXPO Registration
Dates & Times
Hotel & Travel
Free Workshops
Exhibitor List
Keynotes (Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin Recently Added)
Collocated Events

Speaker List
ITEXPO Floor Map
All Conference Party Feb 3rd at Mangos

In addition, I just turned on my out of office message (yes I'm early but I can't wait) to alert others to my participation. This is part of what I wrote if you want to utilize something similar.

----

Thank you for your message... Please be advised I will be out of the office Feb 2-4, 2011 attending TMC's ITEXPO in Miami.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, FCC, Facebook, Fax, Gadget, HD Voice, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, M2M, Microsoft, Nortel, SIP, SaaS, Science, Search, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMC Team, TMCnet, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, WiMAX, Wireless

ITEXPO West 2010 Show Guide Available

October 1, 2010

The ITEXPO West 2010 Show Guide is here and if you are flying to the show - you may want to download it to your Kindle/laptop/iPad/netbook/smartphone or print it. I am on the plane now and we have the equivalent of a 300 baud modem's worth of bandwidth so I can't download it but as I recall it is over 100 pages and gives you a solid overview of the dozen conferences taking place next week.

In addition it shows you the exhibit hall with over 200 exhibitors and which sections correspond to which technology.

I have this dream that I will have enough time to go through the directory and point to some of the interesting highlights in a blog post.

We'll see how that works out.

Here is the PDF and it is fairly compressed down to 5 Megs as I recall - we may be getting a higher res one soon as well in case you have the bandwidth.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Conference, Conferencing, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Facebook, Fax, Financial, Gadget, Google, HD Voice, IMS, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, M2M, Merger/Acquisition, Microsoft, Nortel, Open Source, Optical, SIP, SaaS, Satellite, Science, Security, Skype, Smart Ecosystem, Smart Grid, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMC Team, TMC Video, TMCnet, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Vonage, WiMAX, Wireless, Yahoo

Acetaminophen Kills Snakes - Who Knew?

October 1, 2010

As a reptile fan I was surprised I didn't know this fact which could be very useful the next time you play Trivial Pursuit - Geek Edition. In turns out acetaminophen kills snakes and moreover the U.S. Department of Agriculture is bombing the island of Guam with drugged frozen mice to rid the island of brown tree snakes which are venomous and grow quite large - ten feet long in fact.

You realize this means there is a person somewhere whose job it is to feed Tylenol to mice?

Turns out the mice will be outfitted with wings and streamers - in an effort to get them caught in tree branches so the snakes will quickly dine on them and die.

No word yet from PETA on all of this but expect them to have Pam Anderson covered in frozen mouse fur in an upcoming issue of your favorite magazine in protest.

Posted in Personal, Science

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