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Exciting New Way to Decode Genome

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:10:00 +0000

Decoding the DNA sequence of humans has been a neat idea, but implausible due to the excessive cost required to perform such a task. However, a Stanford engineer has taken a major leap forward by devising a new, cheaper way to decode his own DNA. It takes less than $50,000, making it a possibility for richer citizens to finally find out what secrets lie in their genetic makeup. Not only is this process one-fifth of the previous cost of deconding DNA, it can be done by three engineers in only four weeks.

This engineer has built a machine that splits the DNA into single strands and then splitting them again into smaller fragments, making each segment about 32 units in length. These fragments are then captured in a glass slide and rebuilt in a special process that generates light, which can be captured and recorded to reveal the coding of the DNA. This process is much more efficient that past methods, making it feasible for consumers to decode their DNA for a (relatively) low price.

This privilege of viewing one’s DNA is subject to ethical questions, however. The information may provide valuable insight on a patient’s risk to cancers or diseases, but many may not want to know about their future. What would a person do if he or she finds out that it is impossible to live past the age of 40? Scientists hope that the cost of DNA analysis can be reduced to $1000 in a few years, and soon everyday consumers will have to make this decision.

Fans Flock for the New Iphone

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:01:00 +0000

The iphone has revolutionized smart-phones around the world, becoming wildly popular teenagers and adults alike. Apple, the company that first brought the iphone to the public in 2007, has released a new version of their product called the 3G S.

This new phone comes with several features that customers have been asking for, including the ability to record video using the phone’s 3-megapixel built-in camera. These videos can also be edited on the spot with Apple’s advanced software, allowing users to enhance or crop their videos however they like. The phone also now supports voice control, which is convenient for users who cannot see the screen too well or are simply too lazy to pick up their iphone and find the right button. In order to call a friend, all a user has to do is to say the name of a contact or a phone number, and the iphone takes care of the rest. The song can also be changed easily without the need pull the iphone out of a pocket and wake it up.

Another striking feature of the new product is its built-in digital compass. Not only is this handy for hiking trips through unknown areas, but it also integrates well with the already-popular maps application to make it easier for people to get from point A to point B. Spotlight search is also a new feature, and it allows quick searching of your iphone for anything from contacts to the last page you visited. The greatness of spotlight is that it provides a single, easy-to-get-to place whenever something needs to be looked up.

All these features are great, but what would an iphone be without an improvement to the phone itself? The SMS, or text messaging, service of the phone has been improved so people can text with one another faster than ever thanks to a larger keyboard and even MMS support.

With all these exciting new innovations, it is hard not to want an iphone 3G S for yourself. While the price may be higher than many other smartphones, the technology is unrivaled and a must-have for every consumer.

Intel and Micron Announce Technology for Larger USB Drives

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:11:00 +0000

As the computing industry grows, flash drives have quickly become the most popular way for people to carry data around without the need of lugging around their computers or emailing attachments to themselves. This is especially useful for people who need to transfer files between their work and home computers. Because of the mass usage of USB drives, it is big news that Intel and Micron have developed a new chip that can create more compact USB drives that can hold more memory than before.

This chip uses a new 3-bit-per-cell cell NAND technology produces "the industry’s smallest and most cost-effective 32-gigabit (Gb) chip that is currently available on the market." The NAND is an important piece to the flash drive, and scientists around the world have been trying to shrink this component so their USB drives will be able to support more memory.

As Flash drives start holding more data than ever before, people may soon be able to carry their entire computer’s data to and from work. Computers may no longer need hard drives, as USB may be able to carry all the information that the computer will need. Another possible benefit may be that many programs will soon be able to be installed on the flash drive, allowing the owner to use its features at any computer terminal. This feature has already been implemented in large flash drives, but the space is often limiting and forces many developers to simplify their programs so they can fit in the small amount of memory. This new technology by Intel and Micron, however, changes this limitation and can give way to new flash drives with unheard of amounts of space.

Google Voice Becoming Popular in the United States

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:08:00 +0000

Google has pioneered many innovations in technology, and its new product Google Voice is no different. It is a Voice Over IP service that uses the Internet to transfer signals from one telephone to another, converting analog signals to digital format and allowing for crisp and clear sound for both telephones. While this technology has been around for a while, Google Voice allows users to choose phone numbers for them to use and forwards all calls to this number to their already-existing phones without the need for the complicated process usually involved in number-switching. This allows consumers to have one number for all their calls and even text messages, as well as support for international calls for only $0.01 per minute.

The usage of VoIP provides many useful services, such as integration between phone and internet. Users can receive and send text messages from their computer, as well as the ability to download voicemail and using internet right from your phone. Google Voice also supports many other popular features of phones and VoIP services, including call screening and the ability to block certain numbers. It also allows customization for what phone rings when a call comes in and automated greetings that can be personalized depending on who is on other end of the line.

The best advantage, however, is that it is free! Google has always been a pioneer in free services, and there is no cost to make local calls throughout the nation. While $10 is needed to acquire a special phone number, it is much better than many of the paid services currently on the market and has attracted thousands of users in the United States.

Mozilla Releases New Alpha Version of Firefox

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:04:00 +0000

Mozilla is known for bringing its free web browser, Firefox, to the public as an alternative to the Internet Explorer that is installed on many computers by default. The company has worked hard to fill the shortcomings that Internet Explorer has left behind, resulting in a large fanbase and a 22.7% usage among internet users worldwide. The new number is 3.6, which improves some features and fixes bugs that appeared in the well-known release of version 3.5.

This version of Firefox focuses mainly on performance issues, speeding up the time it takes to do common tasks such as start up or load a webpage. Among the improvements are a faster javascript engine, which enables many websites (particularly those with Web 2.0 elements) to load faster than ever before. The page-rendering speed has also been improved, allowing the page to display faster once it has been interpreted by the javascript and HTML engines. CSS has also seen some added features, giving developers more control over the way their pages will display in Firefox. Web designers can new easily adjust the size of a background and make simple gradients using CSS. There is also a new "compositor" that handles complicated layouts of web pages better and provides great integration with the new CSS features. The version also improves support for more light-weight themes, which are suited for those who enjoy the customization of their web browser but do not have the computer power to handle rich themes.

While it is still in the alpha version, it is worth a try to download and see for yourself what the Mozilla team has been working on.

Social Networking With Music

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Social networking has generally been considered to be like Myspace or Facebook: people write on each other’s walls, form music, tag photos of each other, and broadcast statuses to their friends. However, a new type of social networking has developed in the Internet world, and it is revolved around music.

There are many sites that do this, such as Last.fm, Deezer.com, Imeem.com, etc. These sites still have the functionality for people to set up profiles and communicate with one another, but the element of music is added into the mix. The sites often host large catalogues of songs for users to stream, where they can save playlists or provide feedback on these songs. There are often pages dedicated to popular bands or artists, where users can leave comments describing how much the love (or hate) the band’s newest album. The bands themselves can control their pages, leaving personal feedback to their fans or uploading their newest songs for the audience to listen. This greatly attracts new bands who want to expose their music to a vast audience and gain popularity.

But what would be a social networking site without peer-to-peer interaction? Many sites allow users to help each other in creating playlists or discovering new music on the internet. Their playlists of songs are often viewable and searchable by the public, aimed at giving people who need help forming their own playlists or simply want something to listen to for an hour or two. Many websites also award users who make popular playlists, giving them opportunities at being featured on the front page of the social networking websites.

Another popular feature is the ability for a person to broadcast the current song that they are listening to. This is similar to Facebook’s and Twitter’s status feature, except it shows the current song. This is often more effective than words in describing a person’s mood or it can also be effective in alerting friends in a great new artist that the user has just discovered. If a person is feeling sad, nothing can be more effective than posting a feel-good song to help the person cheer up.

The use of music also allows for great innovation in the networking sites. For example, Deezer.com has created "blind tests," in which users can make quizzes and test other users on their knowledge of music. A 10 second sample is played, and the user has to choose the correct name and artist for the song. Last.fm has auto-recommendation features, which help the user choose a similar song to play next automatically. These innovations signify a great departure from the standard social networking websites.

Social networking has grown from the simple wall posts and expanded into various other fields, such as music. This allows for a new type of interaction and fun between friends, bringing them closer together and helping artists promote their music at the same time. For most people, music has become intertwined in their everyday lives, so it makes sense to incorporate it into social networking sites.