Hasta La Gadget!

NASA‘s Curiosity robot, which has been rolling hither and yon on Mars in search of microbial life, has revealed some aspects of a rock that surprise scientists. The rock, named Jack Matijevic in honor of a NASA engineer who passed away shortly after Curiosity landed, contains a varied composition profile that was unexpected based on past missions. These newly discovered compositions give scientists a greater insight into the Martian planet’s environment and processes.

The “Jake rock,” as it is called, has a composition that is similar to that of igneous rocks found in volcanic areas on earth. It is the only rock they have discovered with this composition, for the time being, at least. The Jake rock is the first rock analyzed by Curiosity’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer, which is arm-mounted. Watch the video below to see Curiosity poke and prod at Jake.

Rocks with the composition of Jake are typically the result of crystallization of pressurized, water-rich magma. According to an APXS investigator, the Jake rock is particularly interesting because it is high in mineral feldspare-consistent elements, yet low in both iron and magnesium. The unique compositions were found at 14 different points on the rock.

Next up for Curiosity is a 100 yard trek eastwards, where a rock will be selected and used as the first subject to be drilled. Rock and soil samples are collected by the robot, and are utilized by researches to help analyze the environment. Over the next two years, a total of ten instruments on Curiosity will be used to try to determine whether the particular area has ever provided conditions for microbial life.

[via NASA]

NASA’s Curiosity reveals surprises on Mars rock is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Panasonic‘s Toughbook line of durable laptops has come a long way, with the first models looking akin to something you would use to transport nuclear launch codes. Over time, the laptop line has transformed into something sleeker and smaller, but no less durable. Today Panasonic announced the arrival of the Toughbook SX2, a business PC.

The Toughbook SX2 runs on an Intel Core i5 3.3GHz processor with Turbo Boost Technology. The machine weighs in at 3.13lbs, and is approximately 40% smaller than previous models, with a magnesium alloy chassis. The LED-backlit display measures in at 12.1 inches with an HD+ (1600×900) resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. The webcam can record in 720p high-definition, and has a built-in microphone. Ports include three USB 3.0 slots, VGA, HDMI, and an SD card slot. The battery life clocks in at 14.5 hours.

What about its durability? The SX2 has a drop height of 12 inches when turned off, with the exception of a drop to its base, which the device can handle while on or off up to 30 inches. The lid and base are rated for over 220lbs of pressure. For security, the SX2 is equipped with a hard drive/user/supervisor lock, a cable lock, Computrace, TPM security chip v1.2, Intel’s Anti-Theft Technology, and optional biometrics security.

The Toughbook SX2 is designed for mobility, which it seems to achieves with its thin and lightweight design. The wide array of features, high battery life, and durability combine the SX2 into a machine that seems as like it will function well as both an workstation and an everyday system. This laptop will be available later in October from authorized Panasonic resellers. The price starts at $2,649.

Panasonic announces the Toughbook SX2 business PC is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung has just days to go before the Series 5 Slate (and ATIV Smart PC) arrives hand-in-hand with the official launch of Windows 8, so we’re surprised that it’s been waiting so long to clear the usual regulatory hurdles in the US. Just in the nick of time, though, the 11-inch tablet has passed by the FCC for approval. There’s no hidden surprises to go with the testing — this is the regular Series 5 with Bluetooth and dual-band WiFi, but no visible NFC or the AT&T model’s LTE. As such, we’re more curious about when Samsung’s Series 7 Slate and Series 5 Ultra Touch reach the FCC’s doors. They’ll likely arrive soon, but any significant delay could put them on the sidelines for Microsoft’s big moment.

Filed under: Tablets, Samsung

Samsung Series 5 Slate reaches out and touches the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 03:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It goes without saying that each new software release should naturally come with better features and work in a more streamlined, stable manner. The same goes to Gmail for Android 4.2 which was apparently leaked in the video above. The thing is, Android 4.2 is not even released yet, with the most recent version of the Android operating system being 4.1.2, but the video above does seem to suggest that Android 4.2 is not too far off into the horizon.

The latest leaked APK was obtained by Android Police, and the demo video above showcased pinch-to-zoom capability for individual emails, in addition to a far easier manner of managing your emails – such as the beloved swipe to delete or archive. The app has been labeled as version 4.2, whispers are going around that your device will need to be rooted with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at the very minimum in tow to run the APK. Have you managed to snag a copy of the Gmail for Android 4.2 APK somewhere and given it a go? How do you find it?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Gmail glitch hits Android smartphones, Android Market and Gmail app blocked in China, again,

Foxconn is no stranger to controversy. Workers protests, suicides, threats of suicide, and riots have all marred the Taiwan manufacturer, which is accused of underpaying and overworking its workers while providing harsh, unsafe working conditions. The latest issue? Threatening to cut hospital funding for a worker who was severely injured on the job a year ago.

Foxconn employee Zhang Tingzhen, aged 26, was electrocuted while fixing a light. He fell 12 feet to the ground, and suffered severe, life-altering injuries. Several surgeries later, and nearly half of Tingzhen’s brain has been surgically removed, leaving him handicapped. He has been in hospital care since the accident, and is still not in good enough condition to leave.

Reportedly, Foxconn, who has been paying the medical bills, has been sending the worker’s family messages since July demanding that Tingzhen be removed from the hospital. The company has threatened to stop paying the bills, something that would be lawful under the applicable labor laws, unless Tingzhen undergoes a medical evaluation at a facility located 43 miles away. Due to the severity of his injuries, this is not possible.

Foxconn stated that it would have Tingzhen transported back to the hospital after the evaluation, but doctors fear that the trip could result in potentially fatal bleeding. The Chinese company, while acknowledging that it wants Tingzhen to travel for a medical evaluation, denies stopping payments on the medical bills. At the heart of this issue is a story that’s all too familiar: unsafe working environments, and disregard for workers, something that that seems to be at the core of Foxconn.

[via Reuters]

Foxconn reportedly threatens to cut support for severely injured worker is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.