There’s little doubt now that the device that thus far has been called Samsung Galaxy Alpha will be appearing either this Wednesday or on the 3rd of September. It’s a strange entry into the Samsung Galaxy lineup, bringing on a metal edge (similar to the Galaxy Note 4) and specifications that are similar to its slightly larger sibling, the Galaxy … Continue reading
On the face of it, Xiaomi’s plan must’ve seemed a good idea: take a leaf from Apple’s playbook and offer free messaging when users turned on its Android phones. Unfortunately, MIUI Cloud Messaging instead prompted accusations of data mining and intrusion into privacy, as new Xiaomi phones uploaded the contents of the phone book, numbers from received SMS messages, and … Continue reading
Gardening can be a pretty interesting hobby for some, as you get to see the labor of your hands literally bear fruit in due time, although for folks like me who do not have an inkling of what a green finger is like, it can be rather “deadly” for whatever plants that go through my doors. Having said that, apart from making sure that the plants in the house get an adequate amount of sunlight, you would also do well to ensure that they have enough water. In order to ease your watering woes in your rather extensive garden, how about giving the $39.99 3-in-1 Portable Sprinkler System a go?
This is one Portable Sprinkler System that is capable of watering your entire yard at one time, unlike other models that we have seen in the past. You will be able to enjoy the flexibility of using 3 sprinklers with just one faucet, where it is as simple as attaching your home’s garden hose to the first sprinkler; before hooking up the 6′ lengths of 1/2″ flat garden hose to the other remaining two sprinklers. Once done, simply arrange the Portable Sprinkler System in order to have it match your yard shape, where it can cover up to 950 sq. ft. of real estate. Choose from 10 spray patterns: center shower, spinning, circle, half circle, ring shower, rectangle, center strip, strip, wedge and half-wedge and get the job done in double quick time.
[ 3-in-1 Portable Sprinkler System makes gardening a whole lot more convenient copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
It does looks as though the future selfie handset from Nokia which will be known as the Nokia Lumia 730 has additional details concerning it leaking out to the masses – having being spotted yet again in its full polycarbonate form factor, albeit being accompanied by the nitty gritty that so many people have been hankering after – and that would include a price tag, relevant hardware specifications and of course, the all important release date.
These latest rumors happen to hail from Vietnam, which is the country where Nokia has set up some factory installations. It is touted to roll out for $240 or so after conversion, sporting dual SIM capability along the way so that you have added flexibility when it comes to using the phone for both work and leisure purposes.
At the back lies a 6.7MP camera with a Zeiss lens, while a 4.7″ HD display ought to keep those of you who are all right with a mid-range handset happy. Other details include a Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal memory, with the front-facing 5MP camera being the main draw for this particular handset since it ought to capture some really stunning selfies, to say the least. There will be virtual camera shutter and navigation keys for the Nokia Lumia 730, and hopefully it will arrive later this month.
Additional Nokia Lumia 730 Details Leaked
, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Most of the time, when we talk about large sized TVs, chances are these behemoths would cost an arm and a leg, and maybe beyond that. However, with South Korean giant LG announcing their latest offering, the LG 55EC930 OLED TV, it is surprising to take note (in a pleasant manner, of course) that the LG 55EC9300 actually costs less than the $3,500 mark, which makes it a new low for a TV of its size and class.
This is a next generation OLED TV that will be made available in the U.S. through different kinds of retailers, with Best Buy being the very first dealer to sell this spanking new model from August 24th onward, with pre-orders for the OLED TV being taken right at this very moment.
The LG 55EC930 OLED TV happens to be the third OLED TV which was released by LG for the past year plus, which would help consolidate its position in this particular display category at the same helping to lower the overall cost of ownership. As a comparison, one ought to realize that the LG 55EC930 OLED TV is 75% more affordable compared to the very first generation 55-inch class model from LG that actually sold for a whopping $14,999 one year back.
What makes the 55EC9300 special is this happens to be the very first OLED TV that will feature the intuitive new LG Smart TV+ webOS connected TV platform, being an interface that has been specially designed to offer consumers lightning-quick transitions between broadcast TV, streaming services and external devices, and you will not even notice any lag whatsoever since there is none to begin with.
It also looks good in any living room thanks to a 4.5mm thin body, alongside a gently curved screen that ultimately lays down the marker where design is concerned.
LG 55EC930 OLED TV Marks A New Low…In Price
, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
It goes without saying that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is ready and waiting to be launched by Samsung, considering the vast number of rumors and leaks of the handset that we have come across in the past week alone. Having said that, the rumor mill does not look as though it is going to be shut down anytime soon concerning this smartphone, where a South Korean report points to the Galaxy Alpha being announced this 13th of August, which would be a Wednesday.
Apart from that, while we have seen its chassis from the outside that will notably underline a metal-clad body, what most folks would be more interested in would be the innards, and even then the de facto rumors point to the likes of a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal memory, a 4.7” Super AMOLED display at 720p resolution, and a 1,850mAh battery.
It seems that other rumors are being circulated around that the Galaxy Alpha too, will not be satisfied with just 32GB of internal memory crammed right inside, as there might be a 64GB version in the pipeline as well, which will obviously go up against the iPhone 6 when the latter is revealed officially. If that is the case, then do not expect the purported 64GB model to arrive with a microSD memory card slot.
Samsung Galaxy Alpha Connected To 64GB Rumors
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Do you think that Samsung might have actually overstretched themselves when it comes to rolling out new smartphones that will cater to just about every single user group or budget? Apparently, the Tizen-powered handset that saw 17 different SKUs just a couple of months ago, has been delayed yet again as we found out late last month. Perhaps it is not a good idea to work on a high end Tizen handset, which could be why it seems that the Samsung Z handset will be sent back to the drawing board, only to be reworked as a lower end model.
It makes sense of course, considering how Samsung already commands a large chunk of the high end smartphone market with their flagship Galaxy and Galaxy Note devices, so to roll out a Samsung-branded Tizen-powered phone in the same niche might prove to be damaging in the long run. Instead, it seems that the Samsung SM2130H, a dual SIM phone that runs on Tizen, might be a better bet when it comes to seeing the light of day as Samsung dukes it out with other low-cost vendors such as Xiaomi and Micromax.
All in all, we do hope to find out more at the Tizen developer events that will be held by Samsung later this October in Shanghai and November in San Francisco.
Samsung Sets Sights On Low-End Tizen Handsets
, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
There was a time when Nokia conquered every single phone range – whether from the entry level to the mid-range or to the high end markets, and this happened way before there was this thing known as the iPhone. Having said that, while smartphones are nice to touch and lovely to use, most of the world’s population are unable to afford one high end model if you were to take their salaries and living expenses into consideration. This means there is still a huge market for entry level handsets that simply work – to send and receive text messages as well as take incoming calls and make them. The Nokia 130 joins a long list of bread-and-butter devices from the Microsoft-owned company.
It is so cheap, it costs just 19 Euros – unlocked, and is also a decent portable media player (if you do not mind the rather tiny 1.8” color display, that is) as it sports a built-in video player, MP3 player and FM Radio. Watching movies are as easy as slotting in a microSD card that contains the movie(s) of your choice, and the battery will be able to last for a good 16 hours of non-stop video playback, now how about that?
As for audio playback, we are looking at a continuous performance of up to 6 hours, not to mention having the ability to share content through the SD card, USB or Bluetooth connectivity. Arriving in both single and dual SIM models, you will find the Nokia 130 arrive in red, black and white colors as it hits selected markets later this quarter. [Press Release]
Nokia 130 Turns On The Affordability Dial
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SAO PAULO (AP) — The devastating news didn’t make sense to Brazilian Pierre Freitaz. How was it possible that, at age 17, he was infected with HIV if his only boyfriend seemed fit and healthy?
Freitaz confesses he knew little about the virus when he was diagnosed in 2004. He didn’t understand the difference between the infection and the disease it caused: AIDS. He was confused by the lack of obvious symptoms.
“It’s like I was living in a different part of the world, and I felt immune.”
While Brazil has long been seen as a global model in the fight against AIDS, activists and officials say more and more youths share Freitaz’s unawareness of HIV risks, or are unconcerned about them. Even as HIV infection rates have begun declining in many other places, cases have been slowly rising in Brazil — with the sharpest jump among youths 15 to 24.
“The numbers are going up. It’s a paradox, a shame. After all the money spent on treatment and implementing a policy for everyone to receive it, we have these disastrous results,” said Dr. Caio Rosenthal, a Sao Paulo-based specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases.
U.N. statistics show 44,000 new infections detected last year in Brazil, up from fewer than 40,000 in 2005 — a rate outpacing population growth. The national Health Ministry says overall numbers of HIV infections has reached nearly 800,000. That’s half of all the HIV cases in all of Latin America.
By comparison, in the United States, the rate of new HIV cases has dropped by a third over the past decade, according to a study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 1.1 million Americans are estimated to be infected with HIV.
When the global AIDS epidemic erupted in the 1980s, officials here reacted quickly. Brazil carried out widespread sex-education campaigns and became the first developing nation to offer free antiretroviral treatment on a large scale. The pace of deaths fell and mother-to-child transmission was cut sharply.
Officials say the persistent rise in cases could be partly the result of better systems for tracking the virus. Others blame religious opposition to sex-education campaigns, or say some youths mistakenly believe that progress in treating AIDS means it’s a problem of the past.
Brazil’s dominant Catholic church frowns on the use of condoms, but the chief resistance to sex education campaigns has come from evangelical Christians, whose share of Brazil’s population has jumped from 5 percent to 22 percent between 1970 and 2010, making them an increasingly influential political force.
Dr. Dirceu Greco, the former head of the Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis at the health ministry, said opposition by evangelical leaders “caused notorious backtracking” in AIDS policy. Another former leader of the program, Dr. Pedro Chequer, complained that the restrictions have hurt campaigns targeting vulnerable populations such as gays and sex workers.
“There was a very clear setback. Brazil used to be at the forefront, but now it’s just like any other country,” said Chequer, who is widely seen as Brazil’s leading anti-AIDS crusader.
In the past two years, for example, the federal government ordered schools to stop handing out comic books and other materials aimed at youth with stories encouraging the use of condoms to prevent HIV and teenage pregnancies.
Activists also complain the government scrapped the airing of pro-condom TV ads showing gay men hooking up at a nightclub while discussing safe sex. Health officials insist the ads were never intended for major television networks, but rather niche audiences.
The health ministry’s current top AIDS official, Fabio Mesquita, said nationwide, prime-time TV campaigns are a thing of the past because his team is studying ways to target younger, more vulnerable populations through the Internet and smartphones.
He placed much of the blame for rising infections on misplaced confidence among younger people who didn’t experience the disease’s most-deadly era: “The new generation was no longer scared of anything, everything was OK. Having sex without a condom was a risk they were willing to take.”
The government says spending on education and prevention is rising, but Mesquita said the fight against HIV must expand beyond safe-sex education: “We have to stop thinking of condoms as the only alternative to prevent the infection.”
He said one path is an expanded program to give retroviral drugs to all infected patients, even if there are not yet signs that the virus has weakened their bodies’ defense systems. Studies have suggested that HIV positive people who start taking medicines at that early stage are 96 percent less likely to infect others.
Brazil is studying another measure, pre-exposure prophylaxis, which involves a daily pill meant to protect those who are not infected. The U.S. government issued guidelines in May for using that process.
Brazil already has been a leader in treating AIDS. In eight years, it has doubled the number of HIV patients it treats to more than 350,000, at a cost of more than $420 million a year.
Still, many say education campaigns are essential.
“We need to start talking about how to bring back the issue to schools and convince evangelicals to join in so we are all more open about the problem,” said Beto de Jesus, who coordinated a project that tested gays and transvestites in mobile health units in several Brazilian cities.
Freitaz, who has lived with HIV for a decade now, is volunteering at Incentive Life Group in Sao Paulo, where one in every six gay men live with HIV. The organization promotes HIV testing so that carriers get treated before they infect others. Freitaz says he often meets young men who are no longer worried about HIV and AIDS.
“They think the medication is as simple as aspirin,” Freitaz said. “They have no idea.”
As temperatures rise, cool off with easy and tasty chocolate treats.
Decadent Frozen Hot Chocolate:
The cinnamon in this recipe percolates the flavors back to the earliest versions of hot chocolate.
Ingredients:
4.5 ounces of good quality of your favorite chocolate,
2 teaspoons of your preferred quality hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
1/2 -1 tsp cinnamon
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings and cinnamon
Instructions:
Break the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a glass bowl over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted.
Add the cocoa, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and cinnamon. Stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In a blender place the remaining cup of milk (or alternative if lactose intolerant), the room temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Or divide into smaller glasses for more manageable portions. Top with whipped cream, shavings and cinnamon.
Enjoy with a spoon or a straw.
Makes 2 to 2 1/2 cups, enough for 1 to 8 persons, depending on the size of the portions.
Cayenne Kicks AKA Wake Up Chunks:
Created by hiker Steve Rock to “kick you down the trail a bit.” Great for dessert or a snack on a hike.
Ingredients:
1 pound dark chocolate, chips or broken into pieces
1 cup peanuts, or nut
1⁄2 cup raisins, dates, or other dried fruit
1⁄8 cup coffee beans
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, to taste
1⁄2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Granola, dry cereal, or oatmeal (optional)
Instructions:
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil or waxed paper. Melt the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; remove from the heat. In a food processor with the chop blade, combine the peanuts, raisins, coffee beans and cayenne. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Stir the cocoa into the melted chocolate. Once the mixture is even and getting stiff, add the chopped nuts and fruits; keep stirring. Taste to check the spice level.
If the mixture is too moist and sticky, add more nuts, granola, or chopped cereal, or wait until firm enough to handle. (Cooling in the refrigerator will firm the mixture faster.) Roll the mixture into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Remove from the baking sheet and store in a covered container.
Quantity: Approximately 20 chunks
Chocolate Spread:
Use chocolate spread on cookies, on fruit, or practically anything.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs (pasteurized or egg substitute)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5-6 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions:
Cut the butter into small pieces and put in a blender. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla, and blend well. Add the cocoa powder and blend well again. Put in a container and refrigerate. Serve on bread or toast, with fruit, or in a sandwich.
Quantity: About 11⁄2 cups
Chocolate Medallions:
An easy-to-make confection.
Ingredients:
4 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
1⁄4 cup cocoa nibs, almonds, or hazelnuts
1⁄4 cup candied ginger
1⁄4 cup dried blueberries, raisins or other dried fruit
1⁄4 cup candied orange peel
Instructions:
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. In a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stir the chocolate until melted.
Remove the chocolate from the heat. Drop tablespoonfuls of chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet, using the back of the spoon to flatten into disks. Place one of each of the four toppings onto each circle. Work a few at a time; they will harden as they cool. Cool on the baking sheet until hardened. Store in a cool place in a covered container.
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