TECHNOLOGY : Getac announces flagship X500 rugged notebook

Getac's range of rugged notebook computers continues to grow with the release of the company's new flagship X500. Aimed at Getac's core military customers, the X500 is designed to withstand the most extreme working conditions. With Intel Core i5-520M (2.4GHz) and Core i7-620M (2.66GHz) processor options, 2GB of RAM and the option of a NVIDIA GeForce GT330M MXM GPU with 512MB of VRAM, the X500 is also the most powerful ultra-rugged PC in the company's 22-year history.

The X500 sports a 15.6-inch 1366 x 769 QuadraClear sunlight-readable LED display with 1,000 cd/m2 of brightness. The display is also multi-touch capable and pressure sensitive, so it can be register touch input from just about anything, including gloved fingers. There's also a glide touchpad with scrollbar and full-sized, waterproof and backlit QWERTY keyboard of the mechanical membrane variety - a waterproof, backlit rubber keyboard is also available as an option.

Coming with Windows 7 the X500 can receive a performance lift on processor-intensive applications with the 2.66GHz i7 CPU able to be boosted to 3.33GHz thanks to Intel's Turbo Boost technology, while RAM can be upped from 2 to 8GB. The X500 comes with a 320GB HDD as standard, with an optional 160GB SSD also available. The multimedia bay can be filled with an optional Super multi-DVD, a second battery or a second HDD or SSD to operate as a RAID system.

In its standard configuration the X500 boasts a range of I/O ports, including three USB 2.0 ports, one USB/eSATA combo port, two RS-232 serial ports, two PCMCIA ports, an ExpressCard, SmartCard, dual RJ-45 ports, HDMI and VGA outputs. Custom options include the addition of USB 3.0 ports, fiber optic connections, RS-485 or a high-powered Wi-Fi booster.

Military-certified for extreme conditions, the X500 is MIL-STD-810G certified for ruggedness and shock protection, MIL-STD-2169B certified for High Altitude Magnetic Pulse (HEMP), boasts an IP65 rating for protection from water and dust, and has UL1604 certification to ensure it can be safely operated in the presence of potentially flammable or explosive materials. The X500 is also NightVision-ready for working under the cover of darkness using night vision goggles, and is EPEAT gold certified.

The X500 measures 16.1 x 11.41 x 2.56-inches (410 x 290 x 65 mm) and weighs 11.68 lbs (5.3 kg) in its standard configuration. It will be available from Getac from July 6 with prices ranging from US$4,999 to $6,599, depending on configuration.

TECHNOLOGY : Panasonic's Toughbook H1 Field - the 'world's most rugged handheld tablet computer'

Panasonic has announced a new field-ready addition to its Toughbook range, the Toughbook H1 Field tablet computer. Built with highly mobile professionals in mind, the new weatherproof and shockproof model benefits from a dual battery setup that should help ensure power is always available, a sunlight-visible touchscreen interface, reinforced solid state storage and a molded hand grip for extra comfort.

As with other models in the Panasonic Toughbook family, the H1 Field is weatherproof (to IP65 standards) and is built to survive being dropped from a height of six feet to MIL-STD-810G standards. Claimed to be "the world’s most rugged handheld tablet computer", a magnesium alloy chassis holds a bright (500 nit or candela per square meter) 10.4in XGA dual-touch tablet display that "includes a circular polarizer, plus anti-glare and anti-reflective screen treatments, making it easily viewable in direct sunlight." Working in extreme temperatures shouldn't prove problematic either thanks to the H1 Field's wide operating temperature range of -20C - 60C (-4F - 140F).

Running on Windows 7 (XP available on request) and powered by a Intel's 1.86GHz Z540 Atom processor, the H1 Field also benefits from potentially perpetual power thanks to a twin hotswap battery setup. When the battery in the left compartment is removed for charging after providing its claimed six hours usage, a second one in the right compartment provides the unit's power. When that's ready for charging, popping a battery back in the left side should provide the field sales operative, supervisor, inspector, maintenance worker or first responder at which the unit is aimed with an uninterrupted power supply.

Each tablet comes with 2Gb RAM and a 65Gb reinforced flex-connect solid state drive along with a host of optional extras, including SmartCard, RFID and barcode readers, a 2MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash, GPS and fingerprint reader. Wireless options on offer include Qualcomm’s anywhere, anywhen Gobi2000 mobile broadband technology (EV-DO and HSPA) which will initially be certified on the Sprint and Verizon wireless networks (with other carriers on the way), Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

Panasonic has taken care to ensure that the its new 3.14lbs, 10.4 x 10.6 x 1.3 - 2.3 inch unit is both portable and comfortable to use, being without hotspot areas, being well-balanced and having a molded hand strap as well as an integrated carrying handle.

Price estimated at US$3,379. More information is available via the Toughbook website.

TECHNOLOGY :FishEyes rod and reel shows you the fish before you catch them

When you cast a fishing lure out into the water and it goes beneath the surface, it enters a dark, mysterious world that you can only imagine. Perhaps that's overstating things a bit, but the fact is, you can't see where it is or what's around it. A fish finder can provide you with some basic information (if you're in a boat) but it doesn't actually show you what it looks like down there. That's where the FishEyes Rod and Reel with Underwater Video Camera comes in. Its built-in color LCD screen provides you with a live image of your lure, and any fish that happen to be near it.

Instead of traditional fishing line, FishEyes has 20 feet (6 meters) of combined analog video and power cable. This cable runs from the reel-mounted monitor to a small waterproof video camera, that is equipped with an LED light that can be remotely switched on or off. While it might be fun just to lower that camera into the water and watch its underwater adventure on the monitor, users can also add a fishing lure or an included bait basket on a short length of fishing line beneath it. They can then try to entice fish that they see near the lure, or not bother staying in areas where there are no fish.

Needless to say, this setup appears to be intended more for jigging off of docks or stationary boats, than for casting way out across the water or trolling - if the camera were to get dragged into an object on the bottom and snagged, the user would either have to write it off, or be willing to do a bit of diving. Inadvertently catching a fish that's big enough to snap the line might also be a risk, although presumably the fishing line holding the lure would give way before the cable holding the camera.

Regardless of how practical FishEyes might or might not be for all fishing scenarios, it looks like it would at least be useful for checking if fish were in the area, or just for taking a peek at your local aquatic environment. It sells for US$79.99.

TECHNOLOGY : Asociación RUVID-one hand handling

Your driving instructor probably told you to always keep two hands on the wheel, and your feet ready at the pedals. For people lacking the use of one or more upper or lower limbs, however, this isn't always possible. Such people shouldn't be precluded from driving, but they shouldn't have to worry about not being able to fully control their car, either. While there are some solutions that can be applied to existing steering wheels and pedals, a group of Spanish researchers have come up with something else - a single device that allows drivers to steer, accelerate, change gears and brake with one hand.

The prototype was created by Asociación RUVID, a consortium of five Spanish research institutes and companies.

Because many of its users might have reduced strength in the hand operating the device, it is completely electronically controlled - no mechanics are involved. Because drivers are used to the haptic feedback provided naturally by a mechanical steering wheel, however, motors have been added to the device to simulate those sensations.

The ease with which the device is operated can also be adjusted, to meet the limitations of individual users.

One of the RUVID members, the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia, recently presented the prototype at the 13th EAEC European Automotive Congress, in Spain.

PERUBAHAN TARIF ELEKTRIK MALAYSIA ( 1Jun2011 )

Perdana menteri mengumumkan struktur tarif baru elektrik yang akan diguna pakai oleh semua pengguna domestik, komersial dan industri di Semenanjung.

Berkuatkuasa 1 Julai, pengguna bawah 200 kwj (kilowat-jam) setiap bulan dengan anggaran bil elektrik kurang RM43.60 akan membayar kadar seperti sekarang selagi mereka kekal jumlah penggunaan.

Kumpulan pengguna ini terdiri 59 peratus isi rumah di Semenanjung.

Manakala mereka yang menggunakan lebih daripada 200 kilo, perlu membayar tambahan hampir 20 peratus lagi (lihat jadual).

Bercakap dalam satu sidang , Abdullah berkata, bagi jumlah penggunaan antara 0 hingga 400 kwj sebulan (kediaman) - kadar tarif bagi 200 kwj pertama sebulan ialah 21.8 sen satu kwj; 201 hingga 400 kwj berikutnya 34.5 sen satu kwj. Caj minimum bulanan RM3.

Bagi jumlah penggunaan lebih 400 kwj sebulan (kediaman), kadar tarif bagi 50 kwj pertama ialah 30 sen satu kwj; 501-600 kwj berikutnya 39 sen satu kwj; 601 -700 (40 sen), 701-800 (41 sen), 801-900 (43 sen) dan 901 kwj ke atas (46 sen). Caj minimum sebulan RM3.

Manakala pengguna komersial dan industri pula akan mengalami peningkatan tarif sebanyak 26 peratus. [Tarif lengkap di laman web Pejabat Perdana Menteri]

Bagaimanapun, pertimbangan dibuat kepada peruncit, pekedai dan pengusaha restoran kecil serta pengguna industri seperti perusahaan kampung yang penggunaannya tidak melebihi 200 kwj setiap bulan. Kenaikannya adalah 18 peratus.

Bagi kategori-kategori lain:

Tarif B (tarif perdagangan voltan rendah) bagi jumlah penggunaan keseluruhan di antara 0 hingga 200 kwj sebulan, bagi semua kwj 38 sen. Caj minimum bulanan RM7.20.

Bagi penggunaan keseluruhan melebihi 200 kwj sebulan, 40.8 sen. Caj minimum sebulan RM7.20.

Tarif C1 - tarif perdagangan am, voltan sederhana, bagi setiap kilowat kehendak maksimum sebulan RM24.8. Bagi semua kwj 29.6 sen. Caj minimum bulanan RM600.

Tarif C2 - tarif perdagangan puncak/luar puncak voltan sederhana, bagi setiap kilowat kehendak maksimum sebulan dalam tempoh puncak RM36.60.

Bagi semua kwj dalam tempoh puncak 29.6 sen. Bagi semua kwj dalam tempoh luar puncak 18.2 sen. Caj minimum bulanan RM600.

Tarif D - tarif perindustrian voltan rendah - bagi jumlah penggunaan keseluruhan di antara 0 hingga 200 kwj sebulan, bagi semua kwj 34.2 sen.

Caj minimum bulanan RM7.20. Bagi jumlah penggunaan keseluruhan melebihi 200 kwj sebulan, 36.6 sen. Caj minimum bulnan RM7.20.

Tarif Ds - Tarif perindustrian khas - (untuk pengguna yang layak sahaja) 34.4 sen per kwj. Caj minumum RM7.20

Tarif E1 - tarif prindusrian am voltan sederhana bagi setiap kilowatt kehendak maksimum sebulan RM24.6 satu kilowatt bagi semua kwj 28 sen per kwj. Caj minimum bulanan RM600.

Tarif E1s - tarif perindustrian khas (untuk pengguna yang layak sahaja) bagi setiap kilowat kehendak maksimum sebulan RM19.1. Bagi semua kwj 27.2 sen. Caj minimum bulanan RM600.

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BodyGuard stun-device to help mere mortal crime fighters

Crime fighters may soon be adding another tool to their arsenal - one that is literally designed to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers. With an integrated taser, video camera and protective forearm armor, the BodyGuard is a stun device that wouldn't be out of place on the forearm of a certain caped crusader in Gotham City. BodyGuard has already been used in Mock Prison Riots in West Virginia and is headed to real world city streets with testing and evaluation of the device due to commence in Los Angeles later this year.

Prompted by a number of cougar attacks on one of his favorite hiking trails in Orange County, Dave Brown set about developing a device to protect himself from animal attacks that could be worn while riding a bike. He hit upon the idea of a hands-free stun device and quickly recognized the potential for such a non-lethal device in the area of law enforcement.

The result is the BodyGuard, which houses its various components under a high-impact plastic shell attached to a forearm sleeve and glove. The current BodyGuard 9X1-HD01 prototype features two taser spikes mounted near the wrist that are designed primarily to act as a deterrent by sparking loudly and sending an arc of electricity between them to intimidate suspects. The spikes are activated by pulling a safety pin and pressing a button embedded into the palm of the BodyGuard glove.

An LED flashlight and a green laser target that lets the suspect know they are being recorded by the BodyGuard's 720p HD video camera are also designed to help keep any confrontations from escalating. But if things do get out of hand, the wearer can deliver a non-lethal jolt of electricity to temporarily incapacitate the suspect by touching them with the wrist-mounted electrodes.

Brown has also designed the BodyGuard to be modular to allow for the addition of a other equipment, such as GPS, radio communications, live video transmitter/receiver, biometric readers, automated license plate readers, chemical sensors, or a heart rate monitor to send out an alert for an officer in distress.

The device might share its name with a well-known movie, but the links to star Kevin Costner don't end there. Through his background as a motion picture operator, Brown has been able to enlist the support of Costner, who he counts as a friend and is one of the backers of Brown's company, ArmStar.

While the first pre-production run of BodyGuards are set to undergo evaluation with the Los Angeles sheriff's department later this year, Brown says the device has also attracted the attention of the Department of Defense, which is looking at how the BodyGuard could be used by soldiers in the field. Brown might also want to consider the burgeoning real-life superhero market.

The first million dollar laptop

March UK-based bespoke luxury goods creator Luvaglio has created the first million dollar laptop. That’s what the first of their luxury laptops will sell for. Full details of the laptop have not been released at this point, but it is known that it incorporates a 17" widescreen LED lit screen with a specially designed anti-reflective glare coating for clear and brighter image, 128GB of Solid State Disk space and a slot loading Blue-Ray drive. There is an integrated screen cleaning device and a very rare coloured diamond piece of jewellery that doubles up as the power button when placed into the laptop and also acts as security identification. Images here, video here.

Luvaglio CEO Rohan Sinclair Luvaglio told Gizmag earlier today: “Unlike many of the highly priced products being released, we took our time to develop something out of the ordinary with real attention to detail. “

“I didn't want us to simply re-house a laptop into a diamond studded casing, or diamond encrust the entire thing simply to make it expensive. We've put thought in from the keyboard down to the power charger. There is an integrated screen cleaning device and a very rare coloured diamond piece of jewellery that doubles up as the power button when placed into the laptop and also acts as security identification. We have used diamonds elsewhere but have given them purpose.”

According to Luvaglio, “the brand is committed to re-defining luxury in a few sectors, technology being one of them.

“Many claim to produce luxury goods but we believe that the true element of luxury is having something that says "YOU", that money can't buy.

“At present and from our previous luxury work, our initial clients will be chosen from this selection as we have already established trust.

“The range to be released shortly would allow the owner to become the creator and visit our showroom at two or three well known upmarket stores we are in discussion with, whereby our selection of materials, finishes and accessories will be available to view and a choice selected.

“The choice will be based on our selection but of course other colours and finishes can be done on request. We have access to diamonds that are simply rare and near impossible to get hold of, so are able to offer a very embodied choice.

“The presentation boxes are of course supplied and finished in the choice that is selected by the client. Exact figures I am unable to provide at present due to negotiations but will certainly be more obtainable then our master piece.”

The first such masterpiece will sell for more than US$1,000,000.

The new ultra-thin, UX Series ultra-portable from ASUS

Intel has named the new UX Series notebooks from ASUS as amongst the first to be included in a new "Ultrabook" category. Launched at Computex 2011, the new high performance, ultra-thin UX21 and UX31 ultraportables will be powered by Intel's second generation Core processors and feature SanDisk's latest solid state storage technology.

Intel says that members of its new Ultrabook class of notebooks will all be less than 20mm (0.8-inch) thick and the new UX Series from ASUS will be amongst the first to hit the shelves. There will be two models available - the UX21 with an 11.6-inch display and the UX31 with a 13.3-inch display - and both will have the same slim profile as the MacBook Air (17mm/0.67-inches at its thickest point, tapering to just 3mm/0.11-inches at its front edge).

There will be standard voltage Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor options and SanDisk has revealed that specially optimized versions of its new U100 SATA III SSD will provide storage for the new ultraportables. The U100 benefits from up to 450 megabytes per second sequential read and up to 340 megabytes per second sequential write speeds and comes in capacities ranging from 8GB to 256GB, although the exact storage options for the UX Series notebooks have not been announced.

Information on available system memory, screen resolution, wireless capabilities and battery life is also lacking, but ASUS has confirmed that the new laptops will feature the company's "Instant On" technology, which is said to resume notebook functionality from sleep in less than two seconds and retains settings and data in hibernation for up to a week. There will also be a couple of USB ports, one of which is USB 3.0, an oversized keyboard with metallic chiclet-style keys and large glass trackpad.

Each model is housed in an aluminum alloy outer shell with a stunning spun metallic finish and will join the Padfone for a Q4 release. Pricing information is not available at this time.

Kogan Agora - world’s first Chromium OS laptop

Australian manufacturer Kogan says it will ship the world's first notebook running on the open source Chromium OS from June 7. The release date for the 11.6'' Agora Chromium Laptop means that Kogan has pipped Samsung and Acer, whose Google-sanctioned Chromebooks are due out in a week.

Not exactly a high-end machine in terms of specs (though the lack of power-consuming Windows will help), the 11.6'' Kogan Agora laptop features a 1.3GHz Celeron M ULV (ultra-low voltage) CPU and 1GB of DDR2 RAM in the basic version, upgradeable to 4GB. An Intel GS40 chipset (GMA 4500MHD) with 256MB of shared memory is responsible for graphics and that should be enough to stream 720p and 1080p videos. There's also 30GB SSD storage, 3 USB ports, 1 HDMI port, a memory card reader and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.

Wireless connectivity is achieved via 802.11 B/G/N Wi-Fi, while battery life is a little disappointing - estimated at 3.5 hours (4 Cell, 4600mAh).

A key selling point for the Agora Chromium Laptop is fast loading - the machine boots in under 5 seconds and resumes instantly according to Kogan - and apps, documents, and settings are stored in the cloud, so "even if you lose your computer, you can just log in to another Kogan Agora Chromium Laptop and get right back to work."

Initially the Kogan Agora Chromium Laptop is available for pre-order exclusively for Australian and UK customers and is priced at AUD349 or £269.

ILUSI OPTIK 24

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ILUSI OPTIK 23

Lenyek Tangan Budak Guna Motor

Palestinian unity government to be formed by June 6th

Monday May 30, 2011 11:08 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The two major Palestinian political parties, Fateh and Hamas, have announced that they are in the final stages of negotiation on a national unity agreement, and will formally institute the unity government on June 6th.

Israel and the US have both expressed discomfort with the idea of a national unity government, and the Israeli Prime Minister and other officials have stated that they will not negotiate with any Palestinian national government, as they consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization due to the group's previous involvement in attacks against Israeli civilians.

Hamas has not been involved in attacks on Israeli civilians since 2005, and in 2006 was elected in democratic elections to lead the Palestinian government. Although they formed a government in the Gaza Strip, they were prevented from doing the same in the West Bank, where the Israeli-supported Fateh government took power.

Since that time, the two parties have been at odds, with in-fighting claiming some 200 lives over the last four years. Several previous attempts at national unity governments, including a call by political prisoners led by Fateh activist Marwan Barghouthi, were unsuccessful at bringing about a unity government.

Now, officials from both major parties say that the leadership for the new government has been selected, and will be submitted to the Palestinian Legislative Council. After a two hour meeting in Gaza City, at the house of Hamas leader and elected Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, representatives from the two parties said the new government will be made up of representatives from both parties, serving a term of one year.

Nabil Sha'ath, of the Fateh party, called the agreement a “good and positive sign”, and Haniyeh of Hamas agreed, telling reporters after the meeting that he believed the national unity government was a “strategic option and a national necessity”.

Israeli government officials withheld some of the Palestinian Authority's funds, which the Israeli government controls, upon the announcement of a national unity government. The funds have since been released, but Israeli officials say they will again withhold the money if the government is put in place.

The Palestinian government, regardless of its makeup, does not control any actual nation, but two distinct territories, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which remain under Israeli military occupation. The Israeli military controls all aspects of life in the Occupied Territories, including birth and death certification, marriage, vehicle registration, courts, passport issuance, border control, control of movement within the Territories, which is severely restricted, and virtually every other aspect of governance.

Rafah Crossing Opens Allowing Hundreds Travel, Many For Fist Time In 4 Years.

Monday May 30, 2011 11:23 by Kevin Murphy - IMEMC and Agencies

After four years of closure the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza strip was opened on Saturday allowing hundreds of Gazans to travel into Egypt

There were joyous scenes at Rafah over the weekend as hundreds of Gazans took advantage of the relaxed restrictions on movement previously imposed at the behest of Israel by Egypt’s ousted Mubarak government. The new Egyptian interim government has allowed women and men aged under 18 and over 40 unrestricted travel between Egypt and the besieged Palestinian hamlet for the first time in four years.

The opening of Rafah was one of the incentives posed by the Egyptian government to Hamas in return for signing the recent reconciliation deal with Fatah. It was announced in April that the border was to be opened.

Talking to al-Jazeera, many undertaking the crossing spoke of how it was the first time they have been able to see family in Egypt or travel abroad since the siege was tightened four years ago in response to the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas.

The opening was warmly welcomed by Gaza citizens, business men and its de facto ruling government party Hamas.

Member of the Hamas political bureau Ezzet al Rasheq commented on his twitter feed that “the Egyptian decision to open the Rafah crossing permanently is a brave initiative and a new success for the Egyptian revolution after its success in effecting the Palestinian reconciliation”. According to Hareetz, Hamas also held a festive ceremony to celebrate Egypt’s decision.

The Gazan Federation of Businessman, speaking to Maan news agency, welcomed the opening of the crossing saying it would aid attempts to renew civilian infrastructure destroyed during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008/09. A 1 $Billion investment package has been announced by the Palestinian Investment Fund to help undertake the reconstruction.

Israel has expressed concern at the opening of the border and has charged Egypt with responsibility for preventing the smuggling of weapons in and out of the area which is controlled by Hamas. In a statement to reporters in Jerusalem Israeli Home Front Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said that “the moment the Egyptians opened, they are responsible”.

Israel has called for international observers and Israeli camera monitoring to return to monitoring the border however Hamas has said they are not needed at this time, according to Hareetz. "The Palestinians have proved their ability to operate the Rafah crossing," said Hamas Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad.

A 2005 agreement between the PA and Israel established a European Border Monitoring group at the Rafah border. However the group stopped its work after Hamas took control of the area in 2007.

The opening of the border does signal an end to the siege on the Gaza strip. The Rafah crossing remains to be closed to trade. The main crossing for commercial goods remains to be through the Israeli crossing at Eratz. Israel maintains control over electricity and water in the area.

The UN and International Red Cross have deemed the blockade of Gaza to be illegal under international law and called for its ending.