Archive for RB

| November 17, 2012
Comments Off on Full Sized Hot Wheels Camaro

Full Sized Hot Wheels Camaro

Full Sized Hot Wheels CamaroTheDetroitBureau’sPaul A. Eisenstein writes that a life-size Hot Wheels Chevy pony car is debuting at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Chevy and Mattel (MAT) have combined to put the Hot Wheels brand on a special edition 2013 Camaro. General Motors (GM) and Mattel have had a long and prosperous relationship. The toy company has produced matchbox-sized replicas of the pony car since 1968. The Camaro Hot Wheels is inspired by the 1968 “Custom Camaro” Spectraflame 1:64-scale toy.

Camaro Hot Wheels package

Chevy has used the Hot Wheels theme for several years at its SEMA. stand, In 2011 Chevy displayed a bright yellow version of the Camaro at the base of a life-size track. The blog reports that Chevy plans to actually add a Hot Wheels edition to the line-up. It will come as a $6,995 upgrade on both the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro and Camaro Convertible.

For the money, the special edition will get a bright metallic paint scheme that could come from the local toy shop. The Camero will also get special graphics, red-lined 21-inch wheels, and Hot Wheel flame badges on the fenders and trunk.

The Hot Wheels Camaro will feature matte-black touches around the hood and taillight surrounds. The upgrade will also borrow some trim pieces from the high-performance Camaro ZL1 package. That package includes the rear spoiler, front grille, and front splitter.

The black leather-trimmed interior will boast Hot Wheels logos embroidered on the front seats, which are finished in red and black stitching. The Hot Wheels flame will adorn the Camero’s door interiors with special Hot Wheels Edition sill plates completing the package. Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment package will come standard.

Engine options

TChevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Concepthe Hot Wheels Camaro can be ordered with different engine options.  The base will have the Chevy 2LT package with its 3.6-liter V-6, rated at its stock 323 horsepower. For more fun on the track, upgrade to the 400-hp 2SS package featuring the 6.2-liter L99 V-8. The 2SS will be delivered with a dual-mode exhaust system, as will the 2LT equipped with a manual gearbox.

Chevy can only hope to match the success of the 1:64 edition Camaro. Mattel has sold its Camero by the millions over the last 44 years. The pony car was one of 16 original Hot Wheels models. Chevy is returning the favor. The Chevrolet Hot Wheels Camaro becomes the first production car to carry the toy series’ name.

The project was launched in 2010 and initially was focused on the concept model unveiled at the SEMA Show last year. The final production design for the 2013 street car was taken from one of five sketches worked up by Hot Wheels chief designer Felix Holst.

“It’s been nearly 20 years since I started designing cars for Hot Wheels and I have yet to drive one home,” said Mr. Holst. The VP of creative for the Mattel Wheels Division continued, “Personally, I can’t wait to open the doors and see the Hot Wheels Camaro sitting in the garage.”

Hot Wheels Camera

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Category: Cars | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| November 15, 2012
Comments Off on Your Smartphone Can Kill

Your Smartphone Can Kill

Your Smartphone Can KillWe all love our smartphones. But did you know that your phone can kill you? And not only texting while driving can kill you and other people. A man in Uganda reportedly contracted Ebola from a mobile phone. Reports say he stole the smartphone from a quarantined ward of a hospital, near the site of a recent Ebola outbreak.

Next time you come down with the flu or Ebola, blame your cell phone. According to the London DailyMail, researchers have discovered there are more bacteria on the average smartphone than you will find in a toilet.

Tests at the University of Arizona by microbiologist Charles Gerba found there was up to 10 times the amount of bugs that can cause nausea, stomach problems, or even death on cell phones than are present in a lavatory.

The expert explains that germs are spread by phones that are often passed between people but are never cleaned which allows the germs to keep on building up. The University of Arizona researcher says the bugs get on a phone because it is so close to our hands and mouths. When somebody lets a friend or a stranger use their smartphone their bacteria easily gets on the device too.

Add to this frenzy of activity that germs thrive in warm places. Not only does your smartphone generate its own heat, but it also gets some help from your own body heat by spending time in your hands and next to your mouth.

ProGerms on your cellfessor Gerba added that because mobile devices are electronic some people are reticent about cleaning them. He says that phones are just not part of our cleaning routine whereas we should think about giving them a wipe with an antibacterial substance now and then.

In order to clean your iPhone, Apple (AAPL) says:

  1. Unplug all cables and turn off iPhone (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then slide the onscreen slider).
  2. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings.
  3. Don’t use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives to clean your iPhone. The front and back glass surfaces have an oleophobic coating.
  4. To remove fingerprints, simply wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and may scratch the glass.

rb-

Yick… I also wrote about the filthiness of keyboards here. Clean your mobile phone before it kills you!

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| November 13, 2012
Comments Off on Tablet Info

Tablet Info

ComputerWorld defines post-PC devices like a tablet with four characteristics;
1. It’s an appliance.
2. It’s got a multi-touch UI,
3. It doesn’t have file management,
4. Apps function on the app-store model.

Big Drop in Tablet Average Selling Price

Big Drop In The Average Selling Price Of TabletsThe Business Insider has documented the average selling price (ASP) of tablets keeps falling. The ASP fell 17 percent from 2010—when it was pretty much just the Apple (AAPL) iPad—to 2011. Through the first six months of this year alone, the ASP has fallen another 17 percent.

The drop is driven partly by the introduction of $200 mini tablets like the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle Fire, but also a fall in the price of the dominant large-screen devices.

rb- No wonder Apple is suing everybody in sight to prevent competition. They need to protect their profit margins. Way to go USPTO.

Tablet Average Selling Price

Are We in the Post PC Era

Are We in the Post PC EraKevin C. Tofel at GigaOM recently wrote that by looking at the numbers, it’s difficult to argue that the Apple (AAPL) iPad is anything less than a success. The company sold more iPads — 15.4 million — than any traditional computer maker sold PCs in the last quarter of 2011. Mr. Tofel argues what is debatable, however, is whether the iPad will take us to the “post-PC” era, as Apple calls it. Former Apple director Michael Mace suggests that the PC isn’t going away, agreeing with Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, who recently said “I don’t predict the demise of the PC industry, I don’t subscribe to that.”

Michael Mace observed on his personal blog that. “I think the ‘PC era’ meme from Apple is self-serving hype. Of course, they want to convince you that the world is shifting away from a market where Apple has less than 10% worldwide share to a market where Apple has well over 50% share.”

“... My thought is that PCs aren’t going to suddenly disappear, but people will continue to opt for capable tablets or hybrid devices in the place of future, new PC purchases. The mobile market is shifting traditional tasks away from PCs of old, and for people who need a PC occasionally, they will likely be able to access one remotely.”

“Apple is simply calling out the post-PC era because it has successfully transformed its business lines ahead of the curve and before its peers.“

Mr. Tofel points out that when all is said and done, Mace makes one last salient point worth noting: How will Microsoft (MSFT) respond to the iPad? We know the answer is Windows 8, but there’s still an open question about how well the platform will do on tablets. Perhaps, Mace notes, we’re not exactly on the cusp of a post-PC age, but instead, a post-Microsoft era.

Related articles:

  • Amazing Stats from Apple Q3 Earnings Prove Yet Again We’re In A Post-PC Era

Magic Cable Trio All-in-One USB Simplicity

Magic Cable Trio All-in-One USB SimplicityTested.com points out the handy Innergie Magic Cable Trio which solves an age-old problem. You never have the right USB connector when you need it. The Magic Cable Trio combines mini USB, micro USB, and 40-pin dock tips into a single cable. The handy-dandy cable will play ball with your tablet, or just about any USB device you can get your hands on according to Tested. It won’t work with printers, but the Magic Cable Trio is meant for plug-and-play accessibility, not languishing behind a desk collecting dust.

The tips are all attached and fold out-of-the-way when not in use. Tested says the extra tips could be a bit of a nuisance, but you’ll never have to worry about losing the adapters in the bottom of a backpack. The Magic Cable Trio costs $20 at Innergie’s store.Innergie Magic Cable Trio

Related articles

Polycom on iPad

Polycom logoAnalysts are forecasting that the tablet market will grow five-fold by 2015 to 320 million units sold annually. The cumulative number of tablets in use by that point will be about 900 million. Many are predicting that the tablet will continue to gain in functionality and take over the laptop in the coming years.

Polycom is pioneering high-definition video collaboration for tablets called Polycom® RealPresence™ Mobile. Polycom RealPresence Mobile is the first enterprise tablet software that lets mobile users enjoy HD video collaboration from anywhere. It is available now on the Apple (AAPL) iPad 2, MotorolaXOOM, and Samsung (005930) Galaxy Tab 10.1—with more mobile devices to follow.

RealPresence Mobile extends Polycom’s HD video collaboration technology beyond the office and conference room. Iy bringing a high-quality, secure, reliable experience to tablets that is comparable to desktop and room systems.

RealPresence Mobile delivers enterprise video collaboration for the business tablet market and delivers provisioning, management, system interoperability, firewall traversal, and scalability that CIOs need, and the reliability, security, rich features, and lifelike quality that users demand.

RealPresence Mobile scales, supporting up to 75,000 devices and 25,000 concurrent calls.

You can find download a free end-user application from the Apple Store, Android Market, and Samsung Apps.

Related articles

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Category: Tablet computing | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| November 12, 2012
Comments Off on Veterans Day 2012

Veterans Day 2012

Thanks a Vet
Veterans Day 2012

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Category: Holidays | Tags: ,
| November 8, 2012
Comments Off on Complainers Are Bad for Your Brain

Complainers Are Bad for Your Brain

Complainers Are Bad for Your BrainMinda Zetlin recently asked in an Inc. article, Listening to Complainers Is Bad for Your Brain, Do you hate it when people complain? It turns out there’s a good reason. Trevor Blake, a serial entrepreneur and author of Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life says that listening to too much complaining is bad for your brain.

In the book, Mr. Blake describes how neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session. Mr. Blake writes’

The brain works more like a muscle than we thought … So if you’re pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you’re more likely to behave that way as well.

Even worse, being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity–including viewing such material on TV, actually peels away neurons in the brain’s hippocampus. “That’s the part of your brain you need for problem-solving,” he says. “Basically, it turns your brain to mush.”

Mr. Blake explains if you’re running a company, don’t you need to hear about anything that may have gone wrong? ”

Train your brainThere’s a big difference between bringing your attention to something that’s awry and a complaint. “Typically, people who are complaining don’t want a solution; they just want you to join in the indignity of the whole thing. You can almost hear brains clink when six people get together and start saying, ‘Isn’t it terrible?’ This will damage your brain even if you’re just passively listening. And if you try to change their behavior, you’ll become the target of the complaint.

So, how do you defend yourself and your brain from all the negativity? Blake recommends the following tactics:

Brain defense tactics

Walk away1. Get some distance  You should look at complaining like smoking. a complainer is a smoker spewing out toxic fumes and you are the victim of their smoking. “The approach I’ve always taken with complaining is to think of it as the same as passive smoking.” Your brain will thank you if you get yourself away from the complainer if you can.

2. Ask the complainer to fix the problem If you can’t easily walk away, a second strategy the article recommends is to ask the complainer to fix the problem.

“Try to get the person who’s complaining to take responsibility for a solution,” Blake says. “I typically respond to a complaint with, ‘What are you going to do about it?'” Many complainers walk away huffily at that point because he hasn’t given them what they wanted, Blake reports. But some may actually try to solve the problem.

3. Shields up! When you’re trapped listening to Shields up!a complaint, you can use mental techniques to block out the griping and save your neurons. Blake favors one used by the late Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros during a match against Jack Nicklaus–a match the crowd wanted Ballesteros to lose. “He was having difficulty handling the hostility of the crowd,” Blake says. “So he imagined a bell jar that no one could see descending from the sky to protect him.”

A related strategy is to mentally retreat to your imagined favorite spot, someplace you’d go if you could wave a magic wand. “For me, it was a ribbon of beautiful white sugary sand that extended out in a horseshoe shape from a private island,” Blake says. “I would take myself to my private retreat while people were ranting and raving. I could smile at them and nod in all the right places and meanwhile take myself for a walk on my private beach.”

rb-

Having worked in retail a long time ago, you learn some of these behaviors when you have to deal with the public. I practiced a combination of shields up, and let the public blather on, and then moved on as quickly as possible. It is important to develop a coping mechanism because listening to complainers is bad for your brain.

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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