Tiny Electronic Storage
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 13, 2012 · 
·
IBM researchers have been able to store and retrieve digital 1s and 0s from an array of 12 atoms. The accomplishment was reported Thursday in the Journal of Science.
The significance of the finding points to developments in a new class of nanomaterials. The next generation of memory chips and disc drives will likely do more than those currently in use, but also will use less power.
Prior to this result, advanced magnetic storage required at least one million atoms to store a digital 1 or 0. This breakthrough could result in a major race among researchers and laboratories in developing smaller and smaller memory storage media.
According to IBM, this accomplishment is possible because the atoms used are antiferromagnetic. This is rare in that each of the atoms in the cluster of 12 has an opposed magnetic orientation.
For additional information and coverage, see this New York Times story.
New 5G WiFi Chips
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, January 9, 2012 · ·
Broadcom is now offering a new line of 5G WiFi computer chips for use in consumer electronics. The primary advantage will be the ability to deliver wireless video and data at speeds that will be three times faster than Internet connections sent through the current generation of WiFi chips.
Based on IEEE 802.11ac, a standard which is still under development, Broadcom’s 5G WiFi is a major evolutionary step from existing 802.11a/b/g/n networks. Consumers will notice an immediate quickness from use of the 802.11ac standard chips which may be used in routers and set-top-boxes.
The Wi-Fi Alliance does not expect to begin certifying products based upon this new standard before the fourth quarter of 2012. However, devices might start hitting stores by mid-year, which presumably would be upgradable to the final standard.
Who Knew an iPhone Would Do That?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, January 9, 2012 · ·
The next time you leave the house, don’t forget your iPhone. It just may save your life!
Now, I’m not talking about how you can call for help, although you can. I’m not even making reference to the GPS features, although that would come in handy too. Christopher Tkacik of Maryland was able to use his iPhone to help a rescue crew on New Year’s Eve after he and his dog became lost.
Naturally, we would assume that Tkacik used the phone to call for help once he realized that he and Boo were lost in the woods northwest of Frederick, Md. He did.
He tried to give the police his coordinates, but the reading on his GPS was incorrect. Read more
My Lowes
Posted by Josh Seidemann on Friday, September 9, 2011 · ·
Responding to Home Depot’s provision of Motorola handheld devices to employees, Lowes is set to issue 42,000 Apple iPhones to its retail staff. Bloomberg news reports the provision of about 25 iPhones per store will supplement the introduction of “MyLowes,” an online tool that will enable customers to access everything from user’s manuals to paint formulas. According to reports, Lowes also plans to add WiFi to in-store locations in order to enable customers to use their smartphones.
The handheld battles are not limited to home improvement stores: Read more
Work on Long-Term ATSC Advancements Set to Begin
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, September 9, 2011 · ·
The Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc. (ATSC) announced this week that it has put together a new technical group that will focus on the next generation of broadcasting standards.
Referred to as ATSC 3.0, the new standard would prove significant in the broadcasting industry, essentially changing the current 20-year old standard. ATSC 3.0 could revolutionize broadcast television, requiring substantial investments from broadcasters. ATSC 3.0 is not compatible with ATSC in its current standard, or with ATSC 2.0 which is scheduled for completion next year
ATSC President Mark Richer quoted in a September 7 Broadcasting & Cable article said, “If we want to make sure that broadcasters have the technology they need for their businesses in the future, we have to start work now.” Richer also stated that the ATSC 3.0 standard would be interoperable, flexible and easily scalable. The new technical group will work with other international organizations on the development.
65% of Online U.S. Adults are Using Social Networks
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, September 2, 2011 · ·
For the first time, half of all adults in the United States report that they have visited a social networking site at least once in their life, according to a survey report released August 26 by the Pew Research Center. In comparison, just six years ago when Pew first conducted a similar survey, only 5% of all adults said they used social sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace.
The Pew survey found that among adults who are online, the rates of participation were higher: 65%, according to the most recent survey, up slightly from 61% last year.
The dramatic increase in social networking is a sign of how important these tools are to our everyday lives, and how technology is transforming the ways in which people communicate. Read more
Options for Clearwire?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, August 22, 2011 · ·
According to a Bloomberg report, nearly all the parties with a financial interest in Clearwire are discussing just what to do with the wireless broadband provider. Sprint is the majority investor, with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Cablevision Systems and Bright House owning minority shares of the venture.
The Bloomberg report indicates that without a funding infusion, Clearwire will be out of money at the end of 2012. Clearwire has announced a plan to role out 4G LTE technology as an overlay of its existing mobile WiMax network. Read more