Monday, March 26, 2012

TOP 10 TECH THIS WEEK


Any company with the gumption to call its product "the Ferrari of electric bikes" has our undivided attention, and that's just what EH Line has done with its Street Racer. It's not going to go hundreds of miles per hour, but it can zip you up to 28 mph, and then you can assist with the pedals at the same time.

Beyond its speedy road capabilities, it's a trainer, too, letting you ride it in stationary mode while it simulates the hills and valleys of real-world bike riding. And, you can simulate that same terrain while you're riding on flat land. It's pretty light for an electric bike, but its price isn't: $9250.

What happens when you mount jet engines upside down on a specially designed wing? You get better lift and a quieter aircraft, according to engineers at NASA who designed AMELIA (Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics).

The advantage of that enhanced lift? You can use a runway that's 25% the size of a runway you'd need for conventional aircraft. And because those engines are on the top side of the wing, the wing itself prevents a sizable portion of the planes noise from reaching the ground. Beyond those advantages, this design can make wings smaller, creating less drag and better fuel efficiency.

This is not some pie-in-the-sky concept, either -- NASA already has flying prototypes using this technology, so you can expect this to be implemented in commonplace aircraft fairly soon.

Want to try the next version of the astonishing and powerful image editing software, Adobe Photoshop? You can now download the Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta free. The new version, code-named "Superstition," is the 13th version of Photoshop, which many (myself included) believe is the best software application ever developed.

This new version packs pure magic, letting you move objects within a photo and miraculously replace that object's background -- it's called Content Aware technology, introduced in the previous version but a whole lot smarter now. It also sports faster processing, and a pleasant new darker background that makes it easier to focus on the work at hand.

One advantage Android phones have over their competitors is their ability to connect to USB devices, and this USB reader uses that advantage to give those already versatile phones even more capabilities.

On board this $40 Sanwa USB reader is a plethora of slots, accommodating microSD, SD and miniSD cards, and it can even accommodate a mouse or a game pad. It works with a variety of Samsung, Sony and Toshiba Android devices.

When people say the words "diamond ring," they're usually thinking about a metal band with a diamond attached. But a Swiss jeweler went a step further, using a powerful laser to create this solid diamond ring, a work of pure art and beauty.

It took an enormous diamond to carve this spectacular bauble, with the finished 150-carat size worth a lot more than two months' salary for just about anybody, unless you're some kind of billionaire -- its $70 million price tag makes this a ring the bride will want to wear only in the presence of armed guards.

How do you get from New York to Beijing in two hours? According to the Evacuated Tube Transport Technology (ET3) Network, it's all done with a series of tubes. Strap yourself into a car-sized passenger capsule with five of your closest friends, and you'll be zipped along inside a vacuum tube that spans the Earth. It's levitated with magnets (maglev), flying along in a friction-free environment in which you can travel at 4000mph.

Using currently available technology, the organization says it can accomplish 50 times more transportation per kilowatt hour than electric cars or trains, at 1/10 the cost. The first step is constructing a 3-mile, 375 mph demo track just to show everyone that it's possible. The group is currently looking for a location in the Los Angeles area to do just that.

Why should you care about a professional camera that costs $3499? This shows you the kind of technology that will be available in everyday cameras and maybe even smartphones someday soon. The biggest attribute of the new Canon 5D Mark III: its spectacular low light performance, where it can almost take pictures in the dark.

Not only can it do that, it can snap those shots quickly at six frames per second, and shoot super-crisp high-definition video, looking even better than the Saturday Night Live opening video shot with its predecessor, the D5 Mark II. It does all that with highly advanced image processor called Digic 5+, whose technology we hope will trickle down to the rest of us before too long.

Here's another NASA aircraft project, this one using frozen liquid natural gas as its fuel. Called SUGAR (Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research) Freeze, this 154-seat plane aims to solve that problem of jet aircraft gobbling fuel like there's no tomorrow.

Why natural gas? Because there's so much of it -- particularly in the United States -- and it creates less pollution. In addition, this design requires 64% less fuel than a typical 737 you might be flying today.

We got our hands on the brand-new Angry Birds Space game this week, and we think you'll like it even if you can't stand the first Angry Birds games. It's the most inventive Angry Birds edition yet, which is in some ways familiar and others completely alien to the gameplay of its predecessors.

You get a lot of fun for your $.99 (or up to $2.99, depending on which device you're using), but one thing's for sure, when you take away gravity, the laws of physics are still in play, brilliantly demonstrated in this worthy update to an already iconic game.

Lamborghinis are already frighteningly ferocious land rockets, but this concept by Mark Hostler takes the supercar into another dimension. His Ferruccio concept is a forward-looking flight of fancy that imagines what Lamborghini might do next, giving it an aggressive scissors-like nose, an impossibly low stance and a formidable double-turbocharged power plant under the hood. [continues next slide]

Yes, there's a V12 engine designed into this fierce raging bull, but its futuristic valves are activated by "computer-controlled pneumatic solenoids," according to its designer.

Looking like a Batmobile turned into a weapon, we're not sure this scary conveyance would pass muster with anyone who's concerned about auto safety.

Tech took to the air this week, and the result was spectacularly fuel-efficient airliners, a speedy trip from New York to Beijing in two hours, and even birds flying through space in pursuit of their porcine nemesis. Step into the cockpit with us as we fly through that maelstrom and a lot more on this week’s Top 10 Tech.

Beyond that otherworldly excitement, back here on terra firma we found a car that might be too scary to drive, an electric bicycle whose maker compares it to a Ferrari, a monster camera that might show the way to the future, a super-convenient attachment for Android phones, as well as a brand-new version of our favorite software application on the planet.

And for our romantic readers, the icing on the cake was probably the most spectacular piece of jewelry we’ve ever seen. It’s been an unusual week, one you won’t want to miss as we’ve narrowed down thousands of possibilities to the Top 10 Tech This Week.

So… I want to meet a friend in Japan… I pull out my smart phone, launch the ET3 app and tell it, “I want to go to Ichi Ban Cafe in Tokyo.” 5 minutes later, a satellite-controlled G-Ride (Google driverless vehicle) pulls up to my current location. I get in and it takes me to the nearest ET3 terminal and within 2 hours I’m dining on yakisoba and sippin’ a lime shu-hi with my good buddy Yoishi!

We should seriously start to lobby congress to consider an ET3 infrastructure a homeland security issue. This will disgorge some of the wasteful military spending in favor of a worthwhile project :-)

Another news? Visit Updated news

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

TOP STRESS RELIEF FOODS

Relora Max Stress reliever Formula is specially developed to be used for stress management including stress-related appetite control. Despite as being a stress management supplement, it doesn’t have any sedating effects, so you can stay energetic without feeling sleepy. This is due to the ingredients present in this product don’t bind with all the benzodiazepine receptors though it can provide relaxation.

By regularly using this supplement, you can achieve relaxation and forestall stress but it can also help in normalizing the hormonal changes that are usually involved in stress and extra weight.

This is a natural natural supplement that is used for to reduce anxiety and weight-loss. Scientific outcomes have shown which with this health supplement, anxiety management and stress-related desire for foods might be managed.

Stress is considered to be part of life; however, when chronic stress happens, the adrenals start to release more stress hormones. With the increased levels of stress hormones, it can result to excess storage of body fats. For the reason that stress hormones cause the discharge of signals to the brain to raise the appetite including the cravings for foods, particularly comfort foods. In addition to that, stress hormones also work as a signal to the fat cells. This leads the fat cells to store more fats while releasing less fat. Another function stress hormones is usually to block the effects of insulin. Therefore, whoever has problems with their blood sugar could have more problems in controlling their sugar levels. To sum it up, chronic stress often brings about increased weight gain and eventually, obesity.

For individuals who would like to relieve themselves from stress, Relora Max Stress Relief Formula is a great stress management supplement. It can be safely taken with other health supplements; however, it is not advised to be taken with other herbal supplements considering that the interaction with other herbal supplements is just not known. It is best to consult a physician before doing so.

Relora can relieve stress and prevent stress-related eating. However, it should not be used as a single treatment for weight loss but alternatively an adjunct to diet and exercise.

STUDY: SLEEPING PILLS INCREASE EARLY DEATH RISK

MINNEAPOLIS (KARE11) -- Sleeping pills may help you get some shut eye. But a new study found people who popped prescription strength sleep aids, even fewer than 18 pills a year, were nearly four times more likely to die earlier or get cancer than those who do not take sleeping pills.

It is known that good sleep is essential to good health so some people take sleeping pills to get that rest. But the new study of nearly 35,000 people, published in the British Medical Journal, may now have some putting the pills away.

Dr. Michael Howell, who treats those with sleep issues at the University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview Sleep Disorder Center, said, "It will reinforce that these meds need to be prescribed with caution."

He said the risks of prescription sleeping pills have been known but it has been unclear if the patients' health issues or the sleeping pills were the cause.

Howell said, "But this essentially takes us a little step further into actually suggesting it may be the medications that are actually the problem."

Howell said some of those prescriptions were likely not necessary. He said what should be taken from this study is that, "People who are on these medications and their physicians should take a hard look to see if they are necessary."

Howell said not to stop taking your sleeping medication yet. Some people need it. But your insomnia could actually be sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, for which there are other therapies.

And those who are correctly diagnosed with insomnia may want to consider alternative treatments like cognitive behavior therapy instead of popping more pills.

Dr. Howell said this study looked at sleep medications new and old, from Ambien to Valium. He said more study needs to be done to find out exactly why prescription sleeping pills are associated with a greater risk of cancer and death.

4 Rules For Healthy Dessert

What happens when you pair a doctor who focuses on nutrition with a world-renown pastry chef? You get an amazingly healthy dessert that doesn’t taste like diet food.

We asked Melina Jampolis, M.D., an internist and board certified physician nutrition specialist, to come up with four rules for a healthy dessert. Then, we put Johnny Iuzzini, a pastry whiz who you might recognize as the host of Bravo’s Top Chef Just Desserts, to make a delicious dessert while abiding by Dr. Jampolis’ rules. The result? A balanced, pillow-y parfait.

1. Limit your calories to 100 to 150 for an everyday dessert (though dessert shouldn’t be an everyday affair). For a splurge dessert, keep to 250 to 300 calories.

2. Substitute whole grains whenever you can—even if it’s only for a quarter of the total grains, every little bit adds up to better health since they’re a great source of fiber and anti-oxidants.

3. Add in healthy fats like nuts or seeds (or avocados!). Not only do they boost the fiber and nutrient content, healthy fats help lower the glycemic index of sugary desserts, which can help prevent you from craving even more sugar an hour later.

4. To really boost the nutritional value, add in deeply colored fruits like berries or cherries. These fruits are loaded with potent disease-fighting phytonutrients called polyphenols. (Dark chocolate is also a great source of polyphenols as long as it contains about 70 percent cacao.)

2. In a large bowl, mix together all the seeds and nuts with the maple syrup and salt until coated evenly. Spread the mix evenly in a single layer on each lined baking sheet and place in the pre-heated oven.

3. Stirring occasionally, bake the trail mix until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Allow it to cool and break it up into a loose mixture. Toss with the dried fruit.

In the bottom of each 6 oz parfait glasses (or a regular drinking glass or bowl will work), place ¼ cup of trail mix. Next, pour in half of the yogurt and add 1/8 cup of the berry mixture. Repeat each of the layers once more and serve.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Dannon Activia, Healthy Dessert, Johnny Iuzzini, Melina Jampolis, Parfait, Yogurt. Bookmark the permalink.