7:11 PM
Prototype device has been created that can scan fingerprints from up to 6 feet away--scanning fingerprints remotely could be especially useful at security checkpoints in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The device could also save time in work locations, since instead of punching a keypad code or pressing fingers to a scanner, people could just hold up their hand as they walk towards a security door:
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/27052/?p1=MstRcnt
The Army is speeding up delivery for some of its new UAVs and expanding the size and range of its UAV fleet:
http://www.asdnews.com/news/33011/Army_Expanding_UAS_Fleet%2C_Speeding_Up_Delivery.htm
New version of the taser is coming out, this time the stun gun is geared for *animals*:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/yogi-and-bullwinkle-prepare-to-be-tased/
Apple reported record revenue and iPhone/iPad sales in their quarter that ended on Dec. 25. Apple sold 16.24 million iPhones last quarter, up from 8.7 million the year before and more than the 14.1 million from the previous quarter. Apple sold 7.33 million iPads in the quarter, almost equal to the 7.46 million iPads sold combined in the iPads first 2 quarters that it was available. Apple's revenue last quarter was $26.74 bil, up 71% from the year-ago quarter ($15.68 bil) and their net profit of $6 bil was up 78% from the year-ago quarter ($3.38 bil):
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/apple-surges-record-revenue-iphone-sales-q1/2011-01-18
Survey found that 26% of iPhone users on AT&T plan to switch to Verizon, with the biggest batch of people switching in the first 3 months that Verizon has the iPhone. Apple's loyalty rate dropped significantly once Verizon got the iPhone, with iPhone users citing poor reception and dropped calls as their top 2 reasons for leaving AT&T for Verizon. AT&T's dropped-call rate has improved significantly--4.7% of subscribers reported dropped calls over the past 3 months, down from 6% in the previous quarter...but Verizon's dropped call rate is just 1.7% according to the survey:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/att-lose-26-iphone-owners-verizon-survey-shows-534
Verizon is offering $200 Visa debit cars to its customers who bought a phone between 11/26/10 and 1/10/11 (the day before the Verizon iPhone was announced) and want the Verizon iPhone instead. However, customers will have to pay full price for the iPhone 4 ($650 for the 16 GB model and $750 for the 32 GB model):
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-offer-200-iphone-credit-recent-smartphone-buyers/2011-01-19
HP is not denying Engadget's report that they will release 2 webOS tablets later this year, each with WiFi-only versions, LTE versions for Verizon, and HSPA+ versions for AT&T. In fact, HP indicates that they will announce the webOS tablets on February 9:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/rumor-mill-hps-webos-tablet-destined-lte-networks/2011-01-19
A fox in Belarus shot the hunter that was trying to kill it, sending the man to the hospital with a gunshot would from his own rifle:
http://www.ajc.com/news/fox-shoots-man-804043.html?cxtype=rss_news_61499
Wow, ESPN is giving UT-Austin $300 million over 20 years for a special ESPN Texas channel! The amazing thing is that they will only get the 1 football game per season not shown on the Big 12's TV channels (so, that D-IAA game will be on ESPN instead of PPV), but ESPN saw enough value for football reruns and some basketball games to create a whole channel:
http://fangsbites.blogspot.com/2011/01/espn-to-launch-university-of-texas.html
The big winners in the ESPN channel are the nonrevenue sports and the Academic side at Texas. Every soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball, etc., game will be on ESPN Texas, the coaches shows, and all other sporting events will be shown around the country. The University will get half of the TV revenue to use for Academics, and ESPN will pay for 50 to 100 jobs based at the studio in the on-campus stadium. Three hours a day the ESPN Texas channel will show musical performances, plays, and documentaries by faculty and students at Texas, which will make the arts programs at Texas the most sought after department of its type in the country!
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/index.html
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/27052/?p1=MstRcnt
The Army is speeding up delivery for some of its new UAVs and expanding the size and range of its UAV fleet:
http://www.asdnews.com/news/33011/Army_Expanding_UAS_Fleet%2C_Speeding_Up_Delivery.htm
New version of the taser is coming out, this time the stun gun is geared for *animals*:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/yogi-and-bullwinkle-prepare-to-be-tased/
Apple reported record revenue and iPhone/iPad sales in their quarter that ended on Dec. 25. Apple sold 16.24 million iPhones last quarter, up from 8.7 million the year before and more than the 14.1 million from the previous quarter. Apple sold 7.33 million iPads in the quarter, almost equal to the 7.46 million iPads sold combined in the iPads first 2 quarters that it was available. Apple's revenue last quarter was $26.74 bil, up 71% from the year-ago quarter ($15.68 bil) and their net profit of $6 bil was up 78% from the year-ago quarter ($3.38 bil):
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/apple-surges-record-revenue-iphone-sales-q1/2011-01-18
Survey found that 26% of iPhone users on AT&T plan to switch to Verizon, with the biggest batch of people switching in the first 3 months that Verizon has the iPhone. Apple's loyalty rate dropped significantly once Verizon got the iPhone, with iPhone users citing poor reception and dropped calls as their top 2 reasons for leaving AT&T for Verizon. AT&T's dropped-call rate has improved significantly--4.7% of subscribers reported dropped calls over the past 3 months, down from 6% in the previous quarter...but Verizon's dropped call rate is just 1.7% according to the survey:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/att-lose-26-iphone-owners-verizon-survey-shows-534
Verizon is offering $200 Visa debit cars to its customers who bought a phone between 11/26/10 and 1/10/11 (the day before the Verizon iPhone was announced) and want the Verizon iPhone instead. However, customers will have to pay full price for the iPhone 4 ($650 for the 16 GB model and $750 for the 32 GB model):
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-offer-200-iphone-credit-recent-smartphone-buyers/2011-01-19
HP is not denying Engadget's report that they will release 2 webOS tablets later this year, each with WiFi-only versions, LTE versions for Verizon, and HSPA+ versions for AT&T. In fact, HP indicates that they will announce the webOS tablets on February 9:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/rumor-mill-hps-webos-tablet-destined-lte-networks/2011-01-19
A fox in Belarus shot the hunter that was trying to kill it, sending the man to the hospital with a gunshot would from his own rifle:
http://www.ajc.com/news/fox-shoots-man-804043.html?cxtype=rss_news_61499
Wow, ESPN is giving UT-Austin $300 million over 20 years for a special ESPN Texas channel! The amazing thing is that they will only get the 1 football game per season not shown on the Big 12's TV channels (so, that D-IAA game will be on ESPN instead of PPV), but ESPN saw enough value for football reruns and some basketball games to create a whole channel:
http://fangsbites.blogspot.com/2011/01/espn-to-launch-university-of-texas.html
The big winners in the ESPN channel are the nonrevenue sports and the Academic side at Texas. Every soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball, etc., game will be on ESPN Texas, the coaches shows, and all other sporting events will be shown around the country. The University will get half of the TV revenue to use for Academics, and ESPN will pay for 50 to 100 jobs based at the studio in the on-campus stadium. Three hours a day the ESPN Texas channel will show musical performances, plays, and documentaries by faculty and students at Texas, which will make the arts programs at Texas the most sought after department of its type in the country!
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/index.html