Haina G22: Kin One's clone

In spite of the fact that Microsoft’s Kin One phone is ‘dead’ project now, one of Chinese mobile phones’ producers has just launched its clone. Haina G22 is vertical slider with full QWERTY keyboard and 2.2 inch landscape screen with 320x240px resolution. It is based on MT6253 chip and is equipped with 108MHz ARM7 processor, Bluetooth, FM radio, MicroSD external memory card slot, 1050 mAh battery, 3.5mm headphones jack, 1.3MP camera on back side and frontal 0.3MP camera for video calls. As many other Chinese mobile phones it supports Dual-SIM function. Unfortunately we don’t have any official information about price.

The Future of Mobile Technology

The Future of Mobile Technology

In the beginning, there were paper cups and wires. Now we have the iPad. How is it that something so simple and mundane transformed into such a complex creation? Many of us take our phone’s features for granted, but not many a year ago most of those features were obsolete. We talk about the looks that will appear on people’s faces if we go back a couple of centuries in time and show them an iPhone; well you don’t need to go that far back, a few years will be more than enough.

Back in the 90s, a phone with good reception was enough for many people, if not all. Today, we need so much more. The Nexus One, the iPhone, the HTC HD2, all are great phones, and we’re just a few months since the iPhone 4G starts shipping but what we don’t realize is that all of this technology that we hold so closely and observe in awe is just momentary. Mobile phones ever since their commencement have changed more rapidly than the moods of a pregnant woman. Which begs the question: What new mobile technologies will emerge in the next few years that will completely change our lives? Have we really reached the pinnacle of human development, will Moore’s law(gasp!) be rendered useless in a couple of years? Read away to find out.

Cloud Computing :

‘Cloud Computing’ is a term being thrown about a lot these day, mainly in the context of the future of the World Wide Web. But the potential of computing in the cloud doesn’t begin or end with the personal computer, rather as put forward by ABI Research in their recent report: Mobile Cloud Computing declares that the cloud will soon become a huge force to be reckoned with in the mobile world, and eventually the dominant way in which mobile applications will operate.

Basically, ‘Mobile Cloud Computing’ refers to an infrastructure where both the data processing and its storage happen outside the device. Today, there are already a few mobile cloud computing services such a Gmail, Googlemaps and some more applications but still most of the data storage and processing takes place on the mobile device itself. With coming times, this could change.

Most of us tend to forget that still, a huge chunk of mobile subscribers do not have access to a smartphone. While it is a hard fact that these smartphones will get sophisticated, faster and cheaper with time, these lower-end-phones won’t be going anywhere and it is their very existence which will drive the Mobile Cloud Computing trend. Also, more than the number of developers for each specific kind of Mobile OS, there are developers for the web, Mobile Cloud Computing will provide to all its users access to countless of these web applications. Also currently, most phones are carrier bound, that is, if you want a particular phone for its specific features and applications, you have to subscribe to the carrier that that phone company wants you to. However, with Cloud Computing all you require is access to the web, which brings us to our next point.

Faster Access:

Perhaps one of the most important and required mobile technology, better access will unlock new areas of innovation and discovery to mobile developers. Advanced applications and devices require fast, easily affordable access, but today's 2G/3G cellular data service remains expensive and unavailable to a large portion of the 3.6 billion mobile subscribers, also with typical speeds between 400Kbit/second and 700Kbit/second, it leaves a lot to be improved. All of this is about to change soon enough, and with WiMax/4G just around the corner, the future couldn’t be more bright.

Often touted as 4G, Xohm WiMax is Sprint’s promise to provide mobile subscribers with a DSL level of wireless connectivity with speeds between 2Mbit/second to 4Mbit/second range. It should be available by the end of 2010.

Another leading mobile subscriber Verzion has stated that it shall be providing a similar wireless service, LTE by the end of the 2011. Many more companies have also announced their own plans for wireless technology but most of them seem bleak in comparison to Sprint’s WiMax. Also, considering the fact that most of these technologies won’t be available for commercial usage until 2011, critics say that by that time, WiMax will be way ahead with better technology and plans.

Conclusion:

We humans are a strange race. We’re never content. No matter how old our species gets or how advanced our technology. We’ll always find a way to make something better, useless though it may be, than its predecessor. Mobile technology is no exception to this regard. What started off as an endeavor to connect two different individuals separated by a block of land has soon become much more. Mobile Phones have become so much more than what they were meant to be, people can work, play, and do what not on something that fits in your pocket. The future is here, and all that matters now is where we go from here.

Source:-http://www.erodov.com/forums/future-mobile-technology/32069.html

Future of Mobile Technology – You’ll be amazed with its power

No one in 1960-70s would have thought that people will be able to carry a device all the time with them which can connect them to the rest of the world – A mobile phone.  Let aside thinking about a possibility of doing things like an iPhone can do.

I am sure no one in that time thought about smart phones – the mobile devices which apparently can do anything you want them to do.  Be it a Windows Mobile, Palm Pre or an iPhone.

In short, no one would have guessed 60-70 years back that the mobile technology future will give us devices like we have today. Similarly down the line somewhere around 2060-70 what mobile devices will be there, you can only imagine.

But the innovations don’t happen overnight.  The scientists and artists create concepts and designs today and then research and development takes place to give us a unique thing.  The time frame to develop these concept products vary depending on complexity and various other factors.

Today, I received an email from one of my colleague that intrigued me to do a little research to find out what lies in the future of Mobile technology.

I came across a blog where the designer has created some concepts but the idea behind these designs are so advanced that I am not sure if they are even possible.  And even if they are developed what will be the implications of such products.  Lets look at those designs.  I am telling you this guy is a genius.

The concept is a mobile device with built-in camera, scanner, Wi-Fi, has a transparent screen and can search information for any kind of object (text or image or any 3D object.)

1. When you can see a building through it, it gives you the image search result right on the spot.  It can be useful for a tourist to find out what building he/she is looking at.

2. Choose a building and touch a floor and it tells you more details of the building.
   Or if it is any other object you can use it to about it.  For instance if it a car then which model, if it is a structure then who built it etc.
3. It can tell you inside a building too to find out exactly which conference room, floor etc.
4. If you are reading a newspaper or magazine and doesn’t know of a word, then it can scan the word to find out the meaning for you.
5. Universal search – while reading a newspaper/magazine etc. if you want to find a particular keyword.  This device should be able to search for that word in the whole paragraph.
6. Want to read something when traveling to China or France, it can quickly translate any text to your preferred language.
7. If you are health conscious, when you look at the food item through it.  The device will be able to tell you the nutrients and calories etc.  It can be good for diabetes and blood pressure patients.
   
8. Shopping – look at a product and check it in various colors, sizes etc using this device.  And may be it can tell various offers available for the product.
9. Look at the stars and it will tell you their details and distance etc along with the solar system they are in.
10. Look at flower or insect, it will tell you their botanical name and other associated details.
11. And if you look at just the blue sky above, the device will tell you the weather, sun rise and sun set times etc.

Not sure if Apple, Microsoft, Google, Nokia or Sony are already working on this kind of device.  If they are and it is possible then the future of mobile technology will be really very different.  Obviously this device will have some security and privacy concerns and who knows what’s cooking in the bad guys’ mind.

Having said that, hope you like this article.  If you do, please share it with your friends through email, Facebook, Twitter or whatever medium you choose. And let us know what do you think about such kind of a device? How much will you be willing to pay? Do you see any concerns with such devices.

Top 10 Badass Ancient Weapons

Long before drive by shootings and police stabbings, our ancestors used some truly badass weapons against each other. Our ancient ancestors seemed to have a knack for finding the most gruesome and painful ways to attack each other – you could even argue that no modern weapons come close to being able to inflict the same level of suffering as these ancient weapons. You might even be forgiven for being thankful for guns with their quick deaths when you read this list of top 10 badass weapons.
This is a list of the most badass weapons in ancient history. This list excludes weapons beyond the medieval period.

10

Culverin

Culverins were medieval guns. These were often used by horsemen in a medieval kind of drive-by shooting. The hand culverin were made of a simple smoothbore tube, closed at one end except for a small hole designed to fire the gunpowder. The tube was held in place by a wooden piece which could be held under the arm. The tube was loaded with gunpowder and lead bullets. The culverin was fired by inserting a lighted cord into the hole. In the image above, the hand culverin is between two small canons.
These hand culverins soon evolved into heavier portable culverins, around 40kg in weight, which required a swivel for support and aiming. Such culverins were further equiped with back-loading sabots to facilitate reloading, and were often used on ships – a precursor to the modern canon.

9

Caltrop

A caltrop is a weapon made up of two (or more) sharp nails or spines arranged so that one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). Caltrops serve to slow down the advance of horses, war elephants, and human troops. It was said to be particularly effective against the soft feet of camels.

In modern times Caltrops have been used at times during labor strikes and other disputes. Such devices were used by some to destroy the tires of management and replacement workers. Because of the prevalence of caltrops during the Caterpillar strike of the mid-1990s, the state of Illinois passed a law making the possession of such devices a misdemeanor.
Iron caltrops were used as early as 331 BC at Gaugamela according to Quintus Curtius. They were known to the Romans as tribulus or sometimes as Murex ferreus, meaning ‘jagged iron’. The Roman writer Vegetius said:

The Roman soldiers rendered [the armed chariots] useless chiefly by the following contrivance: at the instant the engagement began, they strewed the field of battle with caltrops, and the horses that drew the chariots, running full speed on them, were infallibly destroyed. A caltrop is a device composed of four spikes or points arranged so that in whatever manner it is thrown on the ground, it rests on three and presents the fourth upright.

Punji sticks and caltrops were used in the Vietnam War, sometimes with poison or manure on the points.

8

Boiling Oil

Back in the day, you had to scale the walls of a city or castle before you could rape and pillage. This led someone to the brilliant idea that you could pour boiling oil on top of the people trying to climb in.

Oil was not difficult to come by as the women would all donate their cooking oil (a small price to pay to keep their privates private). If the town ran out of oil, they would use boiling water, or other easily obtainable things like sand.
Castles were often built with special holes in the sides to make it easier to pour this blistering liquid on unsuspecting climbers. They were so effective that they were called murder-holes. These holes were also useful for firing arrows at attackers or throwing rocks. Similar holes, called machicolations, were often located in the curtain walls of castles and city walls. The parapet would project over corbels so that holes would be located over the exterior face of the wall, and arrows could be shot at, rocks dropped on, or boiling water poured over, any attackers near the wall.
Various sources claim that molten lead was also used as a weapon in this way, but there is no historical evidence to support that view.

7

Arbalest

We all know that crossbows are badass – but what about the arbalest? The Arbalest was a larger version of the crossbow and it had a steel prod (“bow”). Since an arbalest was much larger than earlier crossbows, and because of the greater tensile strength of steel, it had a greater force. The strongest windlass-pulled arbalests could have up to 22 kN (5000 lbf) strength and be accurate up to 500m. A skilled arbalestier (arblaster) could shoot two bolts per minute. Arbalests were sometimes considered inhumane or unfair weapons, since an inexperienced crossbowman could use one to kill a knight who had a lifetime of training.

The use of crossbows in European warfare dates back to Roman times and is again evident from the battle of Hastings until about 1500 AD. They almost completely superseded hand bows in many European armies in the twelfth century for a number of reasons. Although a longbow had greater range, could achieve comparable accuracy and faster shooting rate than an average crossbow, crossbows could release more kinetic energy and be used effectively after a week of training, while a comparable single-shot skill with a longbow could take years of practice. Crossbows were eventually replaced in warfare by gunpowder weapons, although early guns had slower rates of fire and much worse accuracy than contemporary crossbows.
This weapon was so badass, that Pope Innocent II (pictured to the left) banned them at the second Lateran Council in 1139:

We prohibit under anathema that murderous art of crossbowmen and archers, which is hateful to God, to be employed against Christians and Catholics from now on.

Today the crossbow often has a complicated legal status due to the possibility of lethal use and its similarities with both firearms.

6

Hunga Munga

The Hunga Munga is an iron fighting tool named by the African tribes south of Lake Tchad; also called “danisco” by the Marghi, “goleyo” by the Musgu, and “njiga” by the Bagirmi. It is handheld weapon and has a metal pointed blade with a curved back section and separate spike near the handle. The weapon can be used in hand to hand combat (Melee) although it is normally thrown with a spinning action.

These African iron weapons are thrown with a rotatory motion (similar to an Australian boomerang), and cause deep wounds with their projecting blades. They come in many shapes and sizes and they were (and are) used across Africa from the Upper Nile on the east through Central Africa by Lake Tchad to the Africans of the Gaboon in West Africa. In parts of Central Africa, these weapons are shaped like a bird’s head.
This weapon is used in the Role-Playing game Mage The Ascension by the Euthanatos characters for their magical rituals. Buffy (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer – image to the right) used one of these from time to time to battle demons that enslave their victims and force them to give up their identities. The hunga munga was used in the opening credits of the show.

5

Morning Star

The Morning Star (also sometimes called the goedendag or Holy Water sprinkler) is a term used for a variety of club-like weapons with one or more sharp spikes sticking out of it. It would normally have one big spike poking out of the top with a bunch of smaller ones around the sides. These are often thought of as peasant weapons, but there were also very high quality ones made for the rich guys.

These weapons were most effective when you hit someone on the head with them. The Holy Water sprinkler, was a morning star popular with the English army from the sixteenth century and made in series by professional smiths. Some of them were over 6 foot long! This was the favored weapon of King John of Bohemia who was blind – he would just sit on his horse and swing the thing until he hit someone (preferably one of the bad guys).
In the game Mortal Kombat Deception, the character Havik (in the picture to the right) weilds a morning star in his form of armed combat. The Morning Star is considered to be a Holy Weapon in Dungeons and Dragons. Of course, when not engaged in battle, this was a useful tool for keeping thine wyfe and kids in line, or as a backscratcher. Badass!

4

Dead Bodies

One of the upsides to siege warfare in the middle ages was the huge number of dead bodies from people who had died of plague or other mysterious illnesses. A very handy use for these bodies was biological warfare! Most towns would barricade themselves behind huge walls that could not be breached by the enemy – but they often relied on outside sources of fresh water. This is where the bodies come in. You could dump a few bodies in the rivers leading in to the town and all you had to do was wait! A perfect opportunity to sit back and watch some jousting.

After a while, the plague would infect the town and you have a great victory! Obviously you can’t rape and pillage too soon, but at least you didn’t lose any men (except maybe the poor guys that had to carry the bodies to the river). In the image to the left, we see Jane Godbotherer being treated for the plague. She will eventually end up being used as a biological weapon.
Plague infection in a human occurs when a person is bitten by a flea that has been infected by biting a rodent that itself has been infected by the bite of a flea carrying the disease.
This type of warfare was used before the advent of catapults which were more much more effective at infecting towns with disease.

3

Trebuchet / Catapult

With the advent of the trebuchet (a very high powered catapult) came the realization that plagued bodies were no longer needed to slowly kill people in a fortified town or castle – you could simply catapult a rotting or diseased animal over the ramparts – or for truly fast results, you could fling over a few beehives. Dead horses were a popular weapon in this form of biological warfare, though anything filled with disease would do the trick.
The counterweight trebuchet appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the twelfth century. It could fling three-hundred-pound (140 kg) projectiles at high speeds into enemy fortifications. Trebuchets were invented in China in about the 4th century BC, came to Europe in the 6th century AD, and did not become obsolete until the 16th century, well after the introduction of gunpowder. Trebuchets were far more accurate than other medieval catapults.
The trebuchet could launch projectiles a distance of over half a mile (over 750 m).

2

Greek Fire

Picture, if you will, a slow day on the seas. The water is calm, the sky is blue, when suddenly, from out of nowhere, it starts raining fire! You discover that you have just been engaged by a Greek warship and they have flame-throwers! Yes – that’s right, the Greeks used flame-throwers in their naval battles from around 670 AD. So what do you do when you are being fired on by flame-throwers? According to one witness:

“Every time they hurl the fire at us, we go down on our elbows and knees, and beseech Our Lord to save us from this danger.”

In other words, not much! The recipe for Greek fire was a closely guarded secret – even now no one really knows what it was made of. Modern scientists have ventured a few guesses: petroleum, niter, sulfur; or naphtha, quicklime, sulfur; or phosphorus and saltpeter. Regardless of the recipe, the stuff was heated in a cauldron on the ship and squirted out a giant syringe at the enemy.
But… the Chinese beat them to it
In the 3rd century BC, a flammable liquid substance was found in the Gao Nu County, located in the northeast portion of what is now the Shaanxi Province. This “flammable liquid” (called Meng Huo You) was probably petroleum that had seeped through the ground and was floating above the local waters. Ever the ingenious people, the Chinese put it to good use in destroying towns built with timber.
In 900 AD, the Chinese also invented the Pen Huo Qi – a piston based naphtha flamethrower. The double-piston pump flamethrower was carefully documented and illustrated in the Chinese military manual known as the Wujing Zongyao (image on the right). It was, of course, used in siege warfare.

1

Scythed Chariot

I am sure most will agree that it doesn’t get more badass than this. A scythed chariot was a war chariot with one or more blades mounted on both ends of the axle. The scythed chariot was pulled by a team of four horses and manned by a crew of up to three men, one driver and two warriors. Theoretically the scythed chariot would plow through infantry lines, cutting combatants in half or at least opening gaps in the line which could be exploited. It was difficult to get horses to charge into the tight phalanx formation of the Greek/Macedonian hoplites (infantry). The scythed chariot avoided this inherent problem for cavalry, by the scythe cutting into the formation, even when the horses avoided the men.
The blades extended horizontally for a meter on the sides of the chariot. Xenophon, an eyewitness, describing the scythed chariots at the battle of Cunaxa says, “These had thin scythes extending at an angle from the axle and also under the driver’s seat, turned towards the ground”.
A scythed chariot can be seen in the chariot race of the movie Ben Hur, operated by Messala (here called a “Greek chariot” or a “beaked chariot.”). Scythed chariots are seen in the first Colosseum scene in the movie Gladiator. In the film Alexander by Oliver Stone, scythed chariots are shown charging into Macedonian phalanx during the beginning of Battle of Gaugamela scene.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from the Wikipedia articles: Crossbow, Caltrop, Trebuchet, Scythed Chariot

Barrett REC7 – M468 – Future Assault Rifle

Apparently, the M4 Carbine or the M16 aren’t good enough for the grunts on the field.  This isn’t really a new revelation either.  Let’s face it, since day 1 of the adoption of the M16 during Vietnam, the M16 hasn’t exactly been everyone’s favorite assualt rifle.  In fact, it has been regarded by some as a killer of US troops, leaving them stuck in firefights without effective stopping power and jammed rounds.  Never fear though young GIs and military buffs, the civilian weapons manufacturing sector is listening.  Barrett Firearm’s answer?  Let’s give them what they want.
Greater range, 50% increased stopping power, ability to fit into the current modular makeup of existing M16 component parts.  Basically, Barrett knows how to get an invention considered by a buyer.  Hearing the voice of the GI, military procurement officers sit around and think, “What can I do about this problem,  and is it going to cost me an arm and a leg?”  These posed questions are answered in the design of the Barrett REC7 assault rifle.  This rifle hasn’t reached operational status yet, but Barrett firearms took into consideration some key aspects of rifle design and selling points with the development of this rifle (conveniently mentioned in the opening sentence of this paragraph).  All key aspects overlooked by other ambitious projects with the aim to replace the M16.  Rifles such as the OICW and the Heckler and Koch XM-8 are examples of attempts to completely redesign the rifle, which also come packaged with enormous costs and long-run expenses for spare parts.
Barrett said, “Hey, I can make a rifle that is built on existing parts already used in the M4 and M16, and deliver the results the military wants.”  Now, we can only wait and see if this bad boy will ultimately be chosen as the next generation rifle for the armed forces, but until then, we can watch Mack talk about the Barrett REC7 assault rifle and demonstrate it’s superb capabilities.  Enjoy.

OICW Future Rifle Technology- Future Force Warrior

The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) will be the most versatile weapon ever. It can kill targets hidden around corners or dug in half a mile away. The OICW will leave no place for the enemy to hide with its incredible firepower. As you can see in the picture above the rifle is modular which allows for easy cleaning and maintenance.
The OICW has some convincing to do before it comes into full scale production.

For observers encountering OICW for the first time, there is also the question of sticker shock. If the demonstration project is successful over the next several years, the Pentagon plans to make an initial purchase of 45,000 OICWs, to be in the hands of elite light-infantry units by 2006. The weapons will cost between $10,000 and $12,000 each, plus $25 to $30 for each 20mm air-burst round.

For a Video and some more pictures of the Objective individual Combat Weapon click here for another post.

Future Force Warrior – Future Combat Systems Soldier – The Evolution of the Land Warrior

Systems, The Future Force Warrior will be deployed on the battlefield in the year 2010. The headgear of the Future Force Warrior alone is a mouthful so I will leave it up to the Future Force Warrior development team who describe it as the situational awareness hub of the system. It would include integrated tactical processing by providing maps, routes, and data with a 180° emissive visor display, high bandwidth wireless communications, microelectronic/optics combat sensor suite that provides 360° situational awareness, and integrated small arms protection.

On top of the advanced head gear, the FFW will be better armored and protected than any war fighter before him, taking advantage of high-tech “smart material” being developed out of iron particles and silicon which solidify when a current is applied. Currently the armor which covers the upper arms, legs, chest, and abdomen is composed of bullet resistant Kevlar and ceramic while the smart materials are being developed.
Future Force Warriors will also have a so called “Warfighter Physiological Status Monitor Subsystem” which will monitor the soldiers vital statistics such as stress levels, sleep status, workload capacity, and of course positioning. The Army’s overall vision for this unit would be to provide “On the Move hydration” and hydration monitoring, as well as monitoring of the soldier’s cognitive states, health, and wellbeing. Also on board will be a network of tubing that would provide 100 watts of cooling power to the FFW. Overall The Future Force Warrior of the United States Army and Marine Corps will be better protected, connected, and a more deadly fighting force.
This video is about the Land Warrior program which has become the Future Force Warrior program. The Land Warrior program was phased out in early 2007.

Myths About the NATO 5.56 Cartridge

M16A1, M16A2, M4, M16A4

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding the current M16A1, M16A2, M4, M16A4NATO 5.56 round and its effectiveness on the battlefield. Now before you make a judgment as a soldier or as a firearm enthusiast (a more euphemistic way of saying “gun nut”), consider your sources. Who is it that is telling you the 5.56mm, or .223 if you prefer, is an ineffective round? Is this source an armchair general who has watched Blackhawk Down one too many times; or a Navy Corpsman who has been attached to a MEF fighting in Fallujah and has seen, treated and inflicted these wounds with his own M-4? People look at the .30-06 round from their grandfather’s M1 Garand and the 7.62×51mm round from their dad’s M-14 and compare it to the M-16/M-4’s 5.56 and think; “Wow, this is considerably smaller. Therefore, it must be less effective.”
Now Joe Nichols had it right when he said, “Size Matters.” However, when you are talking about combat cartridges this is not always the case, and I say that hesitantly. When the 5.56 was derived from Remington’s .223 in the late 1950’s, it was meant as a “force multiplier” if you will. By that I mean a soldier could literally carry twice as much ammunition as one who has the older 7.62 for the same weight. They wanted a soldier who could stay longer in the field without re-supply and could literally out-last and out-shoot the enemy in many aspects. The 5.56 is an incredibly fast and flat shooting round compared to the 7.62, but is under half the bullet weight.
So one might ask; ‘How in the world can a smaller bullet be more lethal than a bigger one?” One word: cavitation. Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of a substance or material after an object enters it at a relatively high velocity. I guarantee you have seen cavitation before. Next time you are in the pool or on the boat, look at your hand as it passes through the water or the propeller spinning. In both cases you will notice bubbles on the trailing edge of each. You see this because the liquid water falls below its vapor pressure. Without getting into physics and the hydrodynamics behind it, I’ll just leave it at that. When a human body is hit with a 5.56mm 62-grain bullet traveling at 3,100 feet per second; essentially the same thing happens but much, much more violently. For a split second, the cavity created inside the human body by the round from an M-16/M-4 is about the size of a basketball (if hit dead center of mass). The 5.56 creates this massive cavitation by tumbling through the body initiated by inherently unstable flight.

5.56 ballistic test

Other calibers of bullets travel through the body on, more or less of, a straight line after some fragmentation. When the 5.56 round was first designed by Remington, it was meant to tumble through a target, not kill with brute force. It did this not only by the relatively blunt shape, but also by using a rifle barrel with less of a twist. Next time you look at an M-4 or an AR-15, notice it says “5.56 NATO 1:7” on the barrel. This literally translates into; “the bullet will make 1 full rotation for every 7 inches of this barrel.” This was not always the standard twist set for the new NATO round. The first AR-15 made by Armalite, had a 1:14 twist making it a very, very unstable round. One can only imagine the orientation of the entry and exit wounds. Now if you haven’t figured it out already, the less the twist, the more unstable the round is. (1:14 twist is less than 1:7) It is said in “firearm enthusiast” legend that the first tests were done on pig carcasses and that the entry wound could be on the lower right stomach with an exit wound coming out of the back upper left shoulder. It left horrific wounds and terrible internal damage to its intended target, immediately drawing the interest of the US Military, in particular USAF General Curtis Emerson LeMay. That’s right folks, you can thank we in the United States Air Force for the M-16/M-4 legacy (I say this without sarcasm). He thought it was an ideal weapon for his deployed members of the USAF Security Forces for guarding the perimeters of Air Force installations in such places as Korea and Vietnam. Before military trials, Armalite increased the barrel twist to 1:12 to improve accuracy. But when tested in frigid Alaska, accuracy was decreased because of the increased friction from the denser, colder air. Therefore, the barrel twist was eventually increased from 1:12 to 1:9 and eventually to the 1:7 you see it today. Although some bull-barreled AR-15’s and Stoner Sniper Rifles can be found in a 1:9, most issued M-16’s and M-4;s are primarily a 1:7 twist.
This change increased the accuracy of the 5.56 round out past 500 meters, but decreased its lethality when striking a body. Now the real debate begins… How truly deadly is the 5.56? Well, this past April when I was going through Combat Skills Training at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin, one week was spent in Combat Life-Saving class (CLS). The medics who instructed us had slide show after slide show of combat injuries they have treated over their last three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. And let me tell you, these were not for the weak stomachs among us. If you are reading this article, I bet you are the same type of person as I to ask, “What calibers caused those wounds?” These men and women have seen the worst injuries of coalition forces and enemy combatants alike. The Geneva Conventions state that medics must provide medical care to all captured enemy personnel when able. Therefore, many Taliban and Jihadist fighters came across their operating rooms. After class one day I asked all of them, “Do any of you doubt the killing power of the 5.56 round?” They all answered with a resounding, “NO.”
I personally don’t like telling war stories but I do enjoy telling hunting stories. I have brought down 180 to 200+ pound deer with a 55 grain .223 FMJ (full metal jacket) with no problem. Yes, I know, the counter argument to that is, “Well that’s not an enemy combatant hopped up on cocaine, khat or adrenaline.” I understand that, but if you saw the exit wound or those on the pictures from the combat medics, you would certainly cease your criticism of the 5.56. However, there are certain design features of the M-16/M-4 that continue to puzzle me.
We have all heard the reports of those rifles failing during combat during Vietnam and even yet today. During the 60’s when it was first introduced, it was hailed as “the self-cleaning rifle.” Of course that was proven to be a myth within the first months of its service. Soon thereafter, cleaning kits, cleaning manuals with attractive cartoon-like characters, and muzzle covers were issued in large numbers. A lot of the first problems the rifle saw were due to using ball powder vs. stick powder. Ball powder burns hotter, faster and dirtier than stick does. This caused the rifle to gum up quicker in the humid atmosphere of Vietnam and mis-feed the rounds. The U.S. Military then switched back to the cleaner burning stick powder and added a forward assist to jam the bolt carrier forward after heat expansion and carbon build-up. The military saw this problem and fixed it fairly early on, so why haven’t they saw the clear flaw in the 100% gas-blowback operation of the firearm? Why haven’t they learned lessons from rifles such as the AK-47, AK-74, G36, SCAR and countless other who have switched to a short stroke gas piston?

gas piston operated

So far rifles such as the HK 416, HK 417, SCAR and MAGPUL Masada have all incorporated this short stroke gas piston in their designs and have all seen massive reductions in carbon build-up, over-heating, and mis-feeds. If this needs any explaining; what this basically does is stop the hot, carbon-filled gasses just rear of the front sight and pushes a pistol-like rod back instead of the gas traveling all the way back to the bolt carrier assembly. It is even possible to convert current uppers to this gas piston system using such kits as those offered by Bushmaster. If the cost benefit is too great for these kits to be installed, why not begin to install them on the floor as they are now? They are 100% compatible with all lowers used by the M-16 and M-4.
So in conclusion, the main flaws of the M-16/M-4 assault rifle system is not necessarily in the round itself, but in one minor design feature of just the upper. This article is meant as a predecessor to a piece in the making on the advantages to switching to a round such as the 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. The 5.56 round is effective, but could be better. I want to hear your feedback. Tell me why so many people (mostly civilians) think the flaws of the rifle are in the round. I’m looking to you military folks; tell me about your operational experience with it. Airsoft players, armchair generals, and firearm enthusiasts; let’s hear your voice, but don’t comment on its “knock-down power” unless you hunt big game with a .223 or were once in the military and have used it in combat. Next up: A viable future replacement for the 5.56 and the M-16/M-4 combat rifles along with first-hand news from the front on forces already making the switch.
Remember; every rifle and every round can be equally as deadly when put in the right hands. We seek to find the perfect round and the perfect rifle to increase that number of hands.

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Acer Crams a Core i7 Into its New TimelineX Ultraportable

It's only been a few short months since Acer revealed its sleek, ultraportable Aspire TimelineX series, but the series is already getting an update. Acer just announced that it has updated the series, with a couple of new models and configurations.
A new model shines in the 1830T line--the 1830T-68U118, which features an Intel Core i7 680UM processor (1.46GHz with Turbo Boost technology), and 11.6-inch display, and a (supposed) 8 hours of battery life. The new model also lives up to its ultraportable classification, weighing in at just 3.09 lbs. This new ultra-light notebook has a suggested price of $899.
Acer updated the other TimelineX models as well: New features include HDMI output ports, Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors, full-sized keyboards (including the 11.6-incher), and Windows Home Premium. A couple of the 14-inch notebooks even have discrete graphics.
If you're looking for something a little closer to notebook instead of netbook, Acer is updating its 3820T line--13.3-inch screens, 3.97 pounds, and just over an inch (1.14 inches) thick. The 3820T line features Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, 4GB of RAM (upgradeable to 8GB), and up to a 320GB hard drive.
The Aspire 5820T (15.6-inch screens, 5.5 lbs) and 4820T (14-inch screens, 4.65 lbs) have been updated to include Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, up to 4GB of RAM (upgradeable to 8GB), and hard drives up to 500GB in capacity. Both lines will set you back $700+.
Also--for gamers--a couple of the 14-inch (4820TG) models now have discrete switchable graphics in an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics card. These models, which feature an Intel Core i5-460M processor, have a suggested retail price starting at $799.
While we're a bit skeptical about the "8-hour battery life" claim on all of these models, an 11.6-incher with a full-size keyboard and an i7 processor is certainly tempting.
The new configurations will be available in retail stores on Monday.

source:-http://www.pcworld.com/article/206227/acer_crams_a_core_i7_into_its_new_timelinex_ultraportable.html?tk=hp_new

NetTalk Duo Delivers on Promise of Replacing Your Landline Connection

The NetTalk Duo borrows elements from its competitors, the MagicJack and the Ooma Telo, to offer inexpensive, computer-optional landline-alternative phone service. The Duo can plug into your router for PC-free operation at home, but it can also ride a USB port for dirt-cheap calls on the go. Just be prepared for a few hiccups when you use it.
The Duo's pricing structure echoes the MagicJack's, albeit at slightly higher rates: $70 for the hardware and one year of unlimited local and long-distance service; $30 per year after that. That's still a drop in the bucket compared with landlines and Vonage.
During the initial setup, my Duo seemed unable to register with NetTalk's network--until I reset my router (a step not mentioned in the quick-start guide). After that, I could make and receive calls using my existing Uniden cordless phone system.
To use the Duo with my PC, however, I first had to download and install a USB driver. That's a hassle, especially compared with the MagicJack, which stores its software in memory. Also, at press time, the 64-bit version of the driver was still in beta, resulting in several warning messages as I installed it on my Windows 7 system. Another hassle: Unlike the MagicJack, which plugs directly into a USB port, the Duo requires a cable.
During the number-selection process, NetTalk offered choices reflecting both my area code and my city. But unlike Ooma Telo and MagicJack, it didn't let me choose the last four digits--it simply assigned them.
On the flipside, the Duo offers a few more calling features than either MagicJack or Ooma Basic. In addition to caller ID, call waiting, and voicemail, you get voicemail delivered via e-mail as an audio attachment (Ooma Basic lacks this), free 411 calls, three-way calling (a no-show on MagicJack), and Google Voice-style call forwarding: You can arrange for calls to your Duo number to ring your mobile phone, work phone, and any other numbers you want. Alas, you can't yet port your existing number to the Duo, a limitation that would make me think twice about trading my landline for it.
In my tests with a router connection, the Duo performed flawlessly, delivering loud, clear calls--even while my BitTorrent client was performing some heavy-duty file-sharing. With a PC connection, however, even getting a dial tone was a hit-or-miss proposition--and when it hit, I noticed some static on the line. The scratchy audio may be a beta-driver issue that NetTalk will correct, but for now the MagicJack has the edge as a mobile VoIP option.
NetTalk's toll-free tech support is available seven days a week, and you can also submit a ticket online. When I did so (on a weekday), I received a problem-specific, human-typed (as opposed to canned) response within about 20 minutes.
Because it can plug directly into your router, the NetTalk Duo offers a sizable advantage over the MagicJack. It also offers more calling features and support options. If you're not concerned about keeping your phone number, it could be the cheapy phone service of your dreams.

MacBook Air Update Reported

Apple is planning a refresh of the long neglected MacBook Air according to Far East reports.
DigiTimes, a news source dedicated to Asia's IT industry, claims Quanta Computer has won a contract to supply Apple with a new, smaller MacBook Air.
MacBook Air"Quanta has reportedly landed orders for 11.6-inch MacBooks from Apple. Shipments of 11.6-inch MacBooks are expected to top 400,000 to 500,000 units in 2010. But Quanta declined to comment on issues concerning clients or orders," reports DigiTimes.
The MacBook Air currently comes with a 13.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit glossy widescreen display.
DigiTimes added Quanta, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of notebook computers, is expected to ship a total of 13 to 13.2 million notebooks in the third quarter down 3 to 5 per cent from 13.7 million units shipped in the second quarter.
Reporting the rumours, several sources suggest Apple's new smaller MacBook Air could bridge the gap between the iPad and the MacBook.
The rumours of a new MacBook Air "ready to launch," have been doing the rounds for some time. Back in July, DigiTimes claimed Apple had plans for a MacBook Air with 11.6-inch display, running the Intel Core i-series of processors in the second half of 2010. The same report suggested the new iPod touch would come with a 3-megapixel camera, capable of both photo and video recording.
Apple currently sells the MacBook Air with Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1.86GHz frontside bus, 2GB Memory, 120 GB SATA hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for £1174 (US$1857) A 2.13GHz MacBook Air, with 128 GB solid-state drive, costs £1378 (US$2180).

Ultra Modern Villa Detailing Design Ideas Hybrid Architecture

This modern home design has unique form. This villa has geometries choreographically shape structure with unusual detailing building accent, sculptural style architecture in modern atmosphere. A hybrid concept, isn’t it?. Surrounding with natural landscape make this modern villa protected and like escape from a crowd. Privacy can be determine from its angular shape of the structure shields that protect the interior courtyard and pool area from the surroundings. The sculptured roof helps protect the site from the gaze of nearby residents, while incorporating a terrace that delivers panoramic sea views and further exposure to the sun. The house could be described as a hybrid – part modern villa, part garden pavilion.

The roof gives focus to the angular geometry of the plan as it grows from the asymmetrical tapering alignment of the site, creating dramatic outdoor living spaces. Working closely with the clients, we sought to create a house based on an intimate dialogue between the building and the landscape, seamlessly linking indoor and outdoor lifestyles. The pool, which wraps around the courtyard and private areas of the villa, acts as a natural contrast to the modernist construction. The waterfall smoothly cascades from roof to pool, and serenades the master suite with the cooling sound of rushing water. The ‘L’ plan allows each space in the house to orient itself towards the courtyard, using the pool as a focal point. The choreography of the house is flexible, allowing for various paths of movement and the outside courtyard acts as a counterpoint to the dynamic plan. Designed by d-earle architects.