Visual Media

  • Choose your DNS servers wisely for more speed when loading web sites

    May 18th, 2010 at 7 pm. No Comments - Category: Computer, Internet - Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

    If you have tried everything to make pages load faster, including changing your DNS servers to for example OpenDNS, there might be one more thing you can try: finding the fastest DNS servers for your connection and your individual location. Give “namebench” a try. Namebench is an app that run ons Mac, Windows and UNIX and will test and find the fastest DNS servers for your connection.

    I have tried it the last couple of days and I must say the results where really noticeable. In my case namebench recommended Google Public DNS servers that resulted in over 120% faster lookup times compared to OpenDNS. Your results may vary. The app usually also takes into consideration the fact that you may have very fast domain servers for your more local sites, depending on what country you live in. In that case it might recommend a global server AND a local server.

    Namebench does a series of connection tests that you can set up and easily run without knowing much about all the DNS stuff. It will analyze and do its thing and then return with a full report that pops up in your default browser. In the top right it will indicate what DNS IP addresses it recommends for you to use and in the top left it will show you if your current DNS servers are slower or faster than what it recommends.

    You can find more info, instructions, screenshots and download links on the namebench project site.

  • IBM Testing 100 GigaHertz Graphene Transistor

    February 8th, 2010 at 5 pm. No Comments - Category: Computer - Tags: , , ,

    IBM Scientists Demonstrate World's Fastest Graphene Transistor. (PRNewsFoto/IBM)

    “YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - 05 Feb 2010: In a just-published paper in the magazine Science, IBM (NYSE: IBM) researchers demonstrated a radio-frequency graphene transistor with the highest cut-off frequency achieved so far for any graphene device – 100 billion cycles/second (100 GigaHertz).

    http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100205/NY50316

    This accomplishment is a key milestone for the Carbon Electronics for RF Applications (CERA) program funded by DARPA, in an effort to develop next-generation communication devices.

    The high frequency record was achieved using wafer-scale, epitaxially grown graphene using processing technology compatible to that used in advanced silicon device fabrication.”

    Read the rest of the press release: IBM PR

  • PureMobile offers unlocked iPhone/iPhone 3G that works with USA Carriers

    March 11th, 2009 at 6 pm. No Comments - Category: Gadget, Mac, iPhone, iPhone 3G - Tags: , ,

    PureMobile is offering an apparently hardware/software hacked iPhone on their site with no service plan or contract required. Here is from their (now outdated iPhone model, new iPhone 3G links at the end of this article) product page:

    “Before you purchase, please note the following:

  • Make Google Gears Work with Safari 4 beta for Mac

    March 11th, 2009 at 6 pm. No Comments - Category: Apple, Mac, Safari, Software, WordPress - Tags: , , , ,

    You can find a build that will work at this post:

    http://artfulco.de/post/81354511/google-gears-webkit-nightlies-safari-4-and-fluid-app

    Or go directly to download the built Google Gears installer package:

    http://static.artfulco.de/google-gears/gears-3234.zip

    This also solved it not working with wordpress admin for me. There are still some Safari 4 beta bugs that conflict with wordpress admin, but at least this helps speed up the admin.

  • iPhoto ’09 recognized one of my dog’s faces

    January 30th, 2009 at 7 pm. No Comments - Category: Mac, Software - Tags: , , ,

    I was astonished when iPhoto ’09 worked through my almost 10 thousand photos and recognized one of my dogs as a human face. In fact, I am guessing that, because this shot is kind of frontal, it recognized it as a human face. No problem with that. My dogs are part of the family and in fact I love the fact the application is recognizing their faces. The face of this dog looks quite human indeed…. :-)

    iPhoto '09 recognizing my dog's face

  • Internet via power lines in Sao Paulo, Brasil offered by AES Eletropaulo starting 2009

    November 13th, 2008 at 1 pm. No Comments - Category: Computer, Internet, Tech - Tags: , , ,

    AES Eletropaulo Telecom announced they will provide internet via the electrical network power lines starting in the first quarter of 2009 using the BPL technology (Broadband Powerline). This will enable any outlets to work as a internet access point within any so enabled apartments or buildings. About 150 residences are currently testing the technology and the company is currently waiting for ANATEL approval (National Telecommunications Agency). The “modems” have already been approved.

  • Memristor Storage to replace HD + RAM

    September 5th, 2008 at 1 pm. No Comments - Category: Computer, Science, Tech -

    Accidental discovery of the elusive “memristor” electronic component. It could soon replace both RAM and hard drives with devices 10x smaller. Cell phones might become sensors, protecting planet Earth. Credit: Richard Hart – The Next Step

  • Apple Brazil: iPhone cleared by Anatel to be sold in Brazil

    August 13th, 2008 at 1 pm. No Comments - Category: Apple, Computer, iPhone - Tags: , , ,

    Brazil’s ANATEL, the National Agency of Telecomunications, a governmental body that approves telecom products before they can be sold in the country, today officially cleared Apple’s iPhone for commercial use. Specified and approved are the frequencies that are going to be used, designations, power levels and the associated name of the technology. Also listed are the maximum transfer speeds that are marked as: 3, 11 and 54 Mbit/s.

    ANATEL iPhone

    Also approved by the document is its use as wireless (wifi) access terminal.

    Another note mentions that the device must be sold with battery and charger that have been cleared by ANATEL. The final requirement is a sticker or marking on the device to make it known that it has been approved for use by ANATEL.

    Find the link to the original document here: http://sistemas.anatel.gov.br/sgch/Certificado/HomologacaoPICC.asp?consulta=1&?NumRFGCT=146908

    I believe this was the biggest hurdle for Apple to take in Brazil and that we should be seeing the device for sale either on August 22, 2008 or shortly thereafter.

  • Apple Brazil: Apple Shop Paulista Opens Officially

    August 7th, 2008 at 7 pm. No Comments - Category: Computer, Software, Tech, Uncategorized - Tags: , , , ,

    Today at 6:30pm the Apple Shop at FNAC Paulista was officially opened with a white ribbon cutting. Present at the event where, among others, the President of Apple Brazil, Apple Brazil’s Marketing Director and the Director General of FNAC in Brasil, who gave a short speech, welcoming everyone and thanking all the Apple Fan’s for their presence. The crowd was about 50 to 60 strong and somewhat timid, but gave applause after the cutting. Two photographers (not sure if bloggers, they did not look professional, but Mr. Shapiro and Co. gave a performance anyway) took some pictures. Customers where served Champagne and canapes, and a few blond, long haired, tall girls dressed in Apple Black guaranteed that eyes had something to look at other than Apple’s product line that was presented on the usual woodden tables with all devices functional for people to play with.

    I observed that there where many accessories available now that where missing before, including a few mobileme boxes that went for R$189 ($119), not far off from the original price. One of the Apple consultants pointed out that pricing would gradually fall until christmas and that many of the accessories still missing would be on the shelves soon. Currently there are 2 consultants tending to curious clients visiting the Apple Shop at FNAC Paulista. Both are very friendly and knowledgeable. Since they are not salespeople and but consultants they are there for giving advice and answers to curious questions, and unlike sales people, they took time to talk with me for over 15 minutes and answer my questions.

    Unfortunately I did not manage to talk to Mr. Shapiro, Apple Brazil’s President. I would have asked him when the iPhone will arrive here. All in all things are looking up. Keep you posted.

  • iTunes Store Brazil on the way?

    July 10th, 2008 at 11 pm. No Comments - Category: Mac - Tags: , ,

    Apple has opened up the AppStore section of the iTunes Store to Brazilian users. It is now possible to choose “Brazil” on the pulldown menu at the bottom of the iTunes Store Home Page and it will take you directly to the US store’s Applications for iPhone section. No portuguese translation yet, but considering the iPhone will also launch in Portugal this would be a minor step.

    Nothing new has come forward about the iphone 3G launch in Brasil other than the fact that way over 100000 people have signed up to be notified on the website at Claro.com.br who will bring the phone to local stores. It is also known that the phone is currently being examined and liberated (homologated) by Anatel for use in Brazil and to make sure it complies with GSM rules. This should be a technical detail since it has been announced allover the world.

    More details and news as I get them.

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