The ORB™ Bluetooth Headset - Sci-fi Becoming Reality !

Well, it was only a matter of time before this new gadget would make its way into the mainstream, and dare we say - we think the concept is a real winner.

With electronic gadgets getting smaller and smaller, giving a user even more freedom with regards to portability and mobility, the ORB™ is a nifty little gadget we think will most likely set the standard for most future bluetooth and portable listening devices.

First we had the fixed line telephone, then came the next logical step - the wireless (or cellular) phone, .giving the user mobility. Having said that, the portable phone would still need to be carried around - and could sometimes be considered a lumpy little device that you need to be aware of constantly, in order not to lose it, or forget it on the table of your favorite coffee shop as you gracefully exit.

Now considering the evolution of the telephone over the last years from fixed line to wireless, from bulky to light and compact, one could almost guess the next logical step, right? Well how about having your phone on your ear, almost out of sight completely.

Well, admittedly we're not completely at that stage yet, but my gut feeling is we're probably moving ever so purposefully in that direction. At least, the inventors and manufacturers may be considering it as a next step in the evolution of the phone. Probably also the final step in evolution, because let's face it - where would one go from there? Telepathy maybe? :) But consider a little device so unobtrusive, light and compact, able to fit snugly onto your ear without being unsightly, or visually distracting to everyone you may come into contact with?

Introdcing the "ORB™ Wireless Earpiece Finger Ring" - that's a mouthful for such a small device. On July 23rd, 2009, AbsolutelyNew Inc, announced that cellphone users worldwide - which incidently now exceeds more than 1 billion - may soon be able to look forward to this new device. Now besides being able to fit snugly into a person's ear - the little device actually transforms from a finger-worn ring, that twists open, to become a secure, comfortable and sophisticated Bluetooth headset. Yes, you read correctly - it transforms from a finger ring into a bluetooth headset, with a simple twist - and voila! - you're talking to your friends in no time.

The technology was developed by Hybra Advance Technology Inc, and AbsolutelyNew's Science+Technology Division. Now, the device uses "bone conducting technology" that delivers high quality sound - without the device actually being inside the ear.

The deluxe version features a FOLED, short for "Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode" screen, which gives access to caller ID and also calender reminders. Another feature is voice-to-text, without the need to even take the ring off one's finger. The not-so deluxe model, or "base model" as it is called, features no screen or display. However, all models have a 30 foot range, which is "class 2 Bluetooth", and are available in different ring sizes.

The ORB™ is set to become available on the market in the USA, Asia and Europe in January 2010. The suggested retail price for the base model is $129 USD, featuring an aluminum housing, while the deluxe version (featuring the displays) will become available in April 2010 - suggested retail price: $175 USD

Limited edition models are also planned, featuring gemstones.

AbsolutelyNew is a company that specializes in partnering with inventors, manufacturers, and retailers alike, to launch new breakthrough products onto the market.

More Info:

AbsolutelyNew.com | Hybratech.com

Hitachi Ultrastar A7K200 - Most Powerful Hard Drive To Date - 7200 RPM, 2TB

This week, on August 11, 2009, Hitachi announced the release of the latest addition to their family of Enterprise-Class Hard Drives, the new Ultrastar A7K2000.

It delivers enormous capacity, combined with 7200 RPM performance, reliability and enterprise-class mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) of a whopping 1.2 million hoursThe Ultrastar A7K2000 has been designed with the best interests of the environment too, offering highly competitive power efficiency. The Hitachi GST Ultrastar A7K2000 is the fourth generation, high capacity hard drive rolling off Hitachi's production lines, and is clearly in a class of its own with its 2 Terrabyte (2TB) storage capacity.

While the storage capacity has doubled from its predecessor, the A7K1000, its size has not increased. In fact, the A7K2000 has been outfitted with its massive 2TB storage capacity, without taking up any more space than the original 3.5 inch A7K1000 drive. Same size, double the capacity.

The Ultrastar A7K2000 is reported to be the 'industry’s first enterprise-class, 7,200 RPM 2TB hard disk drive' according to Todd Gresham, senior vice president, Networked Storage Solutions, Xyratex.

The (double the capacity) Ultrastar A7K2000 can be integrated into existing storage systems with no hassle, due to the fact that the 3.5 inch encasing occupies the same size as its predecessor, while drawing less power. Same size, double the capacity, requiring less power - not a bad combination of attributes I would say.

Couple that with Hitachi GST's five year warranty, and its reputation as a reliable, global storage partner among users around the world, and the new drive may very well be a popular choice among users. The size and capacity make it ideal for use in data centers, and at an operating speed of 7200 RPM, the overall performance is better than drives operating at a lower RPM - and it uses less power than these slower RPM drives.

So how much better you ask? Compared to the Ultrastar A7K1000, Hitachi claims impovements of 155 percent in data transfer rates, and a massive 120 percent improvement in watts-per-GB. A 36 percent reduction in power consumption during low RPM idle mode, means data centers will most likely save a significant amount in terms of cost for temperature control within the data centers, which need to be cooled to maintain a constant temperature for optimum hardware and equipment performance.

Furthermore, the Ultrastar A7K2000 is RoHS compliant, and also halogen free. The 2TB Ultrastar A7K2000 is now available globally, while the 1TB and 500GB versions should be available soon.

Just some of the other types of hard drives available from Hitachi include the Deskstar, Travelstar, CinemaStar and Endurastar.

Isn't technology wonderful? I would say so :)

Source: Hitachi

Breakthrough In Quantum Computing

ambridge and Birmingham University physicists have shown that electrons present in narrow wires are able to split into two particles called spinons and holons.

Electrons are fundamental building blocks of nature and cannot be split in isolation, yet when they are crowded into narrow wires, the electrons then split apart.

An electron carries electricity within wires, and is also responsible for making magnets.

It is interesting that that both electric charge and magnetism are properties that are carried by electrons, and under normal circumstances, an electron cannot be broken apart.

The scenario seems to change however when electrons are brought together. what happens is that the similarly charged electrons seem to change the way they behave when grouped, in order to avoid getting to close to each other.

When used in ordinary methods, this usually does not make too much of a difference to the electrons' behaviour. In a very narrow wire however, these electrons find it much more difficult to avoid each other, and the resulting effect is that movement of the electrons are exacerbated, as they try to avoid each other.

Already in 1981, a physicist called Duncan Haldane claimed that this would happen under the lowest temperatures. The two properties that these electrons possess, magnetism and electrical charge, would seem to cause the electrons to split in order for these properties to remain separate. Hence, the electron splits into two new types of particle called spinons and holons.

The challenge for the physicists was to group together the electrons so tightly in a 'quantum wire', and then bring the wire close enough to an ordinary metal, in order for the electrons in the metal to 'jump' into the wire by quantum tunneling.

By applying a magnetic field they were able to observe how the electron needed to fall apart into the two new properties - spinons and halons.

Dr Chris Ford from the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory says, 'We had to develop the technology to pass a current between a wire and a sheet only 30 atomic widths apart.'

The measurments needed to be made at a very low temperature - about one tenth of a degree above absolute zero.

The consensus from this experiment is that this behaviour may form the basis of the future quantum computer. The reasoning behind this is because of the fact that Quantum wires are widely used to connect up quantum 'dots'. Dr Chris Ford was quoted as saying that this could lead to a new computer revolution.

The basic principle behind the quantum computer theory is that quantum properties can be used to represent data, and then perform operations on these data. At the moment many national government and military funding agencies support research on quantum computing.

Experiment performed in Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory with theoretical support from scientists at the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy.

Source and more info: University of Cambridge