Rumours about the television set from Apple have been floating for quite a long time, but now there seems to be some confirmation.
Foxconn, which manufactures the iPhone and iPad for Apple, reportedly, is making preparations for Apple's iTV. Terry Gou, Chairman, Foxconn, said, in an interview published by China Daily, that Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, the long-rumoured Apple's high-definition television. In addition, the report also sates that development or manufacturing has not yet begun.
If the report is to be believed, the Apple iTV features an aluminum construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling.
If production has not begun, as mentioned by China Daily, it can be expected that the product won't hit the market this year.
But, on the other hand, we can not ignore that China Daily did not publish any direct quote, and it makes us speculate that there might be some misinterpretation. Gou might have meant that his company is making preparations to be ready if the Cupertino-based giant Apple wants to build a television set.
One thing is sure that Apple will neither want nor appreciate that details about such a major new product are divulged like this. Given the fact that Foxconn and Apple share good business relations, it is hard to believe that Terry Gou will purposefully leak such major details.
According to TechCrunch, "An Apple HDTV will likely use a very similar branding and design plan as the iMac with near-edgeless glass and aluminum frame. It would also hopefully have a similar I/O port design, allowing consumers the luxury of having all the ports located in one location."
The report published by China Daily also indicates that Foxconn is joining hands with Sharp to produce Apple's HDTV.
We are not commenting on the authenticity of the report, but we would like to hear something from Apple now.
Foxconn, which manufactures the iPhone and iPad for Apple, reportedly, is making preparations for Apple's iTV. Terry Gou, Chairman, Foxconn, said, in an interview published by China Daily, that Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, the long-rumoured Apple's high-definition television. In addition, the report also sates that development or manufacturing has not yet begun.
If the report is to be believed, the Apple iTV features an aluminum construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling.
If production has not begun, as mentioned by China Daily, it can be expected that the product won't hit the market this year.
But, on the other hand, we can not ignore that China Daily did not publish any direct quote, and it makes us speculate that there might be some misinterpretation. Gou might have meant that his company is making preparations to be ready if the Cupertino-based giant Apple wants to build a television set.
One thing is sure that Apple will neither want nor appreciate that details about such a major new product are divulged like this. Given the fact that Foxconn and Apple share good business relations, it is hard to believe that Terry Gou will purposefully leak such major details.
According to TechCrunch, "An Apple HDTV will likely use a very similar branding and design plan as the iMac with near-edgeless glass and aluminum frame. It would also hopefully have a similar I/O port design, allowing consumers the luxury of having all the ports located in one location."
The report published by China Daily also indicates that Foxconn is joining hands with Sharp to produce Apple's HDTV.
We are not commenting on the authenticity of the report, but we would like to hear something from Apple now.
According to one website, you can calculate how much you owe to your mother and pay her accordingly. It sounds weird but American Coalition for Labor Reparations, created a website page, where you can put some basic figures and submit the form to see how much you owe your mother. It is a cool idea to pay one's mother on a Mother's Day.
The ACFLR is a public initiative whose goal is simple:compensate mothers for their labor.
Every laborer deserves a wage. Your mother went into labor for you and has never been repaid. Use the form below to calculate the labor reparations you owe.
Every laborer deserves a wage. Your mother went into labor for you and has never been repaid. Use the form below to calculate the labor reparations you owe.
Three Britons in their 20s have undertaken a record-breaking trip around the world in a cab, travelling over 43,000 miles (over 69,000 km) and putting 80,000 pounds (about $128,600) on the meter.
The three friends - Paul Archer, 25, Leigh Purnell, 24, and Johno Ellison, 28 - drove across four continents and 50 different countries in their trusty diesel motor, affectionately called Hannah, the Daily Express reported.
They had set out from London in February 2011 and returned home on Thursday after completing their record-breaking trip. But the trio, from Birmingham's Aston University, had some bizarre experiences during their expedition.
They had to dig the taxi out of a snowdrift in the Arctic Circle, were arrested in Moscow for drinking in front of the Kremlin and received a personal pardon from the president of Moldova after failing to produce the correct documents.
The three even endured detention by the Iranian Secret Police. Paul, one of the trio, was even deported as a suspected spy.
They have already set a new Guinness World Record for the highest taxi journey after reaching 5,300 metres above sea level with Hannah at Mount Everest's base camp.
After crossing the finish line in Covent Garden, Guinness World Records is expected to confirm whether they have broken the record for the longest journey by taxi or not.
The current record - 21,691 miles at a cost of 40,210 pounds - is held by Britons Eremy Levine and Mark Aylett and Spaniard Carlos Arrese who travelled from London to Cape Town in 1994.
They slept in cheap hotels and hostels, planned to raise 20,000 pounds for the British Red Cross with a journey from London to Sydney but were 5,000 pounds short of their goal by the time they reached their destination.
The three friends - Paul Archer, 25, Leigh Purnell, 24, and Johno Ellison, 28 - drove across four continents and 50 different countries in their trusty diesel motor, affectionately called Hannah, the Daily Express reported.
They had set out from London in February 2011 and returned home on Thursday after completing their record-breaking trip. But the trio, from Birmingham's Aston University, had some bizarre experiences during their expedition.
They had to dig the taxi out of a snowdrift in the Arctic Circle, were arrested in Moscow for drinking in front of the Kremlin and received a personal pardon from the president of Moldova after failing to produce the correct documents.
The three even endured detention by the Iranian Secret Police. Paul, one of the trio, was even deported as a suspected spy.
They have already set a new Guinness World Record for the highest taxi journey after reaching 5,300 metres above sea level with Hannah at Mount Everest's base camp.
After crossing the finish line in Covent Garden, Guinness World Records is expected to confirm whether they have broken the record for the longest journey by taxi or not.
The current record - 21,691 miles at a cost of 40,210 pounds - is held by Britons Eremy Levine and Mark Aylett and Spaniard Carlos Arrese who travelled from London to Cape Town in 1994.
They slept in cheap hotels and hostels, planned to raise 20,000 pounds for the British Red Cross with a journey from London to Sydney but were 5,000 pounds short of their goal by the time they reached their destination.
• Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA) Obesity Pills Wins Over FDA Panel More...
• Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTIC)' Pixuvri® Approved in European Union as Monotherapy to Treat Adult Patients With Multiply Relapsed or Refractory Aggressive Non-Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphomas More...
• Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMPE) Reports Pre-IND Meeting With the FDA to Obtain Clinical Path Guidance for Ampion™ for the Treatment of Chronic Pain of Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Schedules May 16th Webcast to Update Shareholders More...
• FDA Voices Caution About Popular Bone Drugs, Including Novartis AG (NVS)'s Reclast More...
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TKDG.DE) Reports Top-line Results From GEMINI II Pivotal Phase 3 Trial More...
• Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Release: Treatment with Ixmyelocel-T Shown to Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients More...
• PolyMedix Inc. (PYMX.OB) Provides Update on PMX-60056 Program More...
• Wake-Up Call: Your Alarm Clock Could Be Making You Fat, University of Munich Study More...
• Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death, University of Minnesota Study More...
• Facebook, Twitter, Other Social Media are Brain Candy, Harvard University Study More...
• Maternal Antibodies to Gluten Linked to Schizophrenia Risk in Children, Karolinska Institute Study More...
• City of Hope Researchers Develop Potential Cure for Advanced Type 1 Diabetes in Laboratory More...
• National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Backs Allergan Inc. (AGN)'s Botox for Some Migraine Sufferers More...
• Mylan Inc. (MYL) Launches Generic Lipitor® in Five European Countries More...
• Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Employees Kiss Pensions Goodbye More...
• Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Postpones IPO After Slashing Price by 50 Pct More...
• Oxford Finance Provides $27.5 Million Debt Financing Facility to Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. More...
• Onconova Therapeutics Inc. Drug Developer Raises $7 Million in Financing More...
• AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG) Slumps as it Shelves Possible Sale More...
• Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA) and Eisai Inc. (ESALF.PK) Expand Marketing and Supply Agreement for Lorcaserin More...
• Depomed, Inc. (DEPO) Announces Receipt of $1 million Milestone Payment From Ironwood Pharmaceuticals More...
• China Biologic Products Names Chairman David Gao to Additional Post of CEO More...
• Myrexis, Inc. Appoints New Executive Management Team in Alignment With Strategic Initiatives, Taps New CEO More...
• Bionor Pharma ASA's Shareholders Voted Industry ExpertsSteen Kroyer, Jerry Zeldis and Benedicte Fossum to Its Board of Directors at Annual General Meeting More...
• Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (AEN) Appoints Jeffrey J. Krawsas Independent Chairman More...
• AmerisourceBergen Corporation (ABC) Names Tim G. Guttman Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer More...
• AVI BioPharma, Inc. (AVII) Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Developments More...
• Alimera Sciences (ALIM) Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXA) Reports 2012 First Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update More...
• Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (ASTM) Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (FOLD) Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Amgen (AMGN) to Provide Testimony At FDA Stakeholder Hearing On Biosimilars More...
• Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)'s Australia Win in Vioxx Ruling is Upheld by Court More...
• Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTIC)' Pixuvri® Approved in European Union as Monotherapy to Treat Adult Patients With Multiply Relapsed or Refractory Aggressive Non-Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphomas More...
• Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMPE) Reports Pre-IND Meeting With the FDA to Obtain Clinical Path Guidance for Ampion™ for the Treatment of Chronic Pain of Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Schedules May 16th Webcast to Update Shareholders More...
• FDA Voices Caution About Popular Bone Drugs, Including Novartis AG (NVS)'s Reclast More...
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TKDG.DE) Reports Top-line Results From GEMINI II Pivotal Phase 3 Trial More...
• Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Release: Treatment with Ixmyelocel-T Shown to Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients More...
• PolyMedix Inc. (PYMX.OB) Provides Update on PMX-60056 Program More...
• Wake-Up Call: Your Alarm Clock Could Be Making You Fat, University of Munich Study More...
• Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death, University of Minnesota Study More...
• Facebook, Twitter, Other Social Media are Brain Candy, Harvard University Study More...
• Maternal Antibodies to Gluten Linked to Schizophrenia Risk in Children, Karolinska Institute Study More...
• City of Hope Researchers Develop Potential Cure for Advanced Type 1 Diabetes in Laboratory More...
• National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Backs Allergan Inc. (AGN)'s Botox for Some Migraine Sufferers More...
• Mylan Inc. (MYL) Launches Generic Lipitor® in Five European Countries More...
• Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Employees Kiss Pensions Goodbye More...
• Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Postpones IPO After Slashing Price by 50 Pct More...
• Oxford Finance Provides $27.5 Million Debt Financing Facility to Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. More...
• Onconova Therapeutics Inc. Drug Developer Raises $7 Million in Financing More...
• AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG) Slumps as it Shelves Possible Sale More...
• Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA) and Eisai Inc. (ESALF.PK) Expand Marketing and Supply Agreement for Lorcaserin More...
• Depomed, Inc. (DEPO) Announces Receipt of $1 million Milestone Payment From Ironwood Pharmaceuticals More...
• China Biologic Products Names Chairman David Gao to Additional Post of CEO More...
• Myrexis, Inc. Appoints New Executive Management Team in Alignment With Strategic Initiatives, Taps New CEO More...
• Bionor Pharma ASA's Shareholders Voted Industry ExpertsSteen Kroyer, Jerry Zeldis and Benedicte Fossum to Its Board of Directors at Annual General Meeting More...
• Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (AEN) Appoints Jeffrey J. Krawsas Independent Chairman More...
• AmerisourceBergen Corporation (ABC) Names Tim G. Guttman Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer More...
• AVI BioPharma, Inc. (AVII) Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Developments More...
• Alimera Sciences (ALIM) Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXA) Reports 2012 First Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update More...
• Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (ASTM) Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (FOLD) Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results More...
• Amgen (AMGN) to Provide Testimony At FDA Stakeholder Hearing On Biosimilars More...
• Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)'s Australia Win in Vioxx Ruling is Upheld by Court More...
Since last few months, if we follow the technology news headlines, one will find that there was a daily or weekly announcements about new technology, smart phones, tablets, electronic gadgets, computers, softwares, social networks. The Question is Do people can have enough time to catch up and get used to the technology that has just announced? May be not..
If we see the Apple's igadgets ( iPhone, iPad, Macbook, iPad, iOS ), users need to learn a new kind of technology to maximize its utilization. Then it has started different versions of all gadgets. Users don't get enough time to just learn the basic version and they were hammered with new versions. There are thousands of webs, that are providing information about them. These courses are so tough and without credits that can count towards your graduate studies, but one has to learn it to use it. It means human learning power increased in multiple times and continued the trend till the end of human life.
Examples of social media like Renren, Facebook, Google Plus, Linkedin, pinterest and others, There are so many announcements about them and users have to follow them to use them. It may be holding a public interest to some extent for now, as they are not tired of following new changes, but the question is will it last forever? Will users continue to be enthusiastic forever? or may be it is the hype that is creating a tech bubble. We don't know the answer as of yet. When people will find other important things to take care of in life or may be tired of following everything, they might stick to one technology and will started hating the change. It will lead to a tech bubble bursting. Social media are just a medium of sharing life, it won't help to fulfill the responsibility of one's own life and family life. For example if you haven't any job and you are in economic crisis, you can't just follow social networks. You need to put aside the things and seriously looking for any activity.
Also Read Facebook IPO should get Sell rating for long term
Announcements of Blackberry phones,Windows Phones, iPhones, Androids, Baidu Phones, Facebook Smart Phones catching eyes of users for now, but it is like each and every different university course, that one should learn in his life. Do human lives can sustain their interest on a daily or let's say weekly basis? Technology is making life easier but on the contrary side making life complicated by providing updates and innovation without giving enough time to adopt it. As a psychological level, I think it won't sustain and might get stagnant as people realize the way it is complicating your life.
Same case with tablets from iPad to Samsung's touch pads and now in a cheaper range of Ubislate and other companies. There is a daily announcement about a tablet or an app for tablet. People don't understand that why they have to keep following, as whatever they will learn today might be updated or changed tomorrow.
All of above arguments might not portray any picture of future of technology, but certainly raise a valid arguments to be answered by users in a coming years.
Share it if you like it. Support our team
If we see the Apple's igadgets ( iPhone, iPad, Macbook, iPad, iOS ), users need to learn a new kind of technology to maximize its utilization. Then it has started different versions of all gadgets. Users don't get enough time to just learn the basic version and they were hammered with new versions. There are thousands of webs, that are providing information about them. These courses are so tough and without credits that can count towards your graduate studies, but one has to learn it to use it. It means human learning power increased in multiple times and continued the trend till the end of human life.Examples of social media like Renren, Facebook, Google Plus, Linkedin, pinterest and others, There are so many announcements about them and users have to follow them to use them. It may be holding a public interest to some extent for now, as they are not tired of following new changes, but the question is will it last forever? Will users continue to be enthusiastic forever? or may be it is the hype that is creating a tech bubble. We don't know the answer as of yet. When people will find other important things to take care of in life or may be tired of following everything, they might stick to one technology and will started hating the change. It will lead to a tech bubble bursting. Social media are just a medium of sharing life, it won't help to fulfill the responsibility of one's own life and family life. For example if you haven't any job and you are in economic crisis, you can't just follow social networks. You need to put aside the things and seriously looking for any activity.
Also Read Facebook IPO should get Sell rating for long term
Announcements of Blackberry phones,Windows Phones, iPhones, Androids, Baidu Phones, Facebook Smart Phones catching eyes of users for now, but it is like each and every different university course, that one should learn in his life. Do human lives can sustain their interest on a daily or let's say weekly basis? Technology is making life easier but on the contrary side making life complicated by providing updates and innovation without giving enough time to adopt it. As a psychological level, I think it won't sustain and might get stagnant as people realize the way it is complicating your life.
Same case with tablets from iPad to Samsung's touch pads and now in a cheaper range of Ubislate and other companies. There is a daily announcement about a tablet or an app for tablet. People don't understand that why they have to keep following, as whatever they will learn today might be updated or changed tomorrow.
All of above arguments might not portray any picture of future of technology, but certainly raise a valid arguments to be answered by users in a coming years.
Share it if you like it. Support our team
India Inc has released IIP numbers on friday that are disappointing and many experts think that Economy may required stimulus to boost the growth that is already cooling off due to policies and Global uncertainties. If we see the comparison of IIP numbers MoM basis, Then since last year, we will see the trend is fluctuating not deteriorating. See the chart here ( Source : CSO ). One should notice that growth is not picking up and doesn't conclude that it started declining as general index is still at 186.4 which is just close to 11 month high.
As many news headlines has shown the picture in a different ( negative ) way and put it as a big question mark about Indian Growth story. The figures are maintaining little below of 11 month high. Although it is less than March 2011 but the trend is not negative. Stocks should not get punished based on IIP numbers data, but global factors like Europe and US will decide next course of the markets.
See below Table for comparison.
As many news headlines has shown the picture in a different ( negative ) way and put it as a big question mark about Indian Growth story. The figures are maintaining little below of 11 month high. Although it is less than March 2011 but the trend is not negative. Stocks should not get punished based on IIP numbers data, but global factors like Europe and US will decide next course of the markets.See below Table for comparison.
| General | Mining | Mfg | Electricity | |
| Mar-12 | 186.4 | 149.3 | 197.1 | 158.6 |
| Feb-12 | 174.9 | 134.8 | 186.5 | 145.1 |
| Jan-12 | 187.9 | 137.2 | 202.4 | 151.1 |
| Dec-11 | 178.8 | 136.2 | 190.7 | 149.8 |
| Nov-11 | 167.4 | 127.6 | 177.8 | 145.6 |
| Oct-11 | 158.1 | 120.9 | 165.9 | 152.1 |
| Sep-11 | 163.2 | 111 | 175.7 | 144.1 |
| Aug-11 | 162.4 | 117.6 | 172.6 | 149.4 |
| Jul-11 | 166.6 | 126.7 | 176 | 152.1 |
| Jun-11 | 170.3 | 126 | 182.1 | 144.3 |
| May-11 | 165.3 | 130.4 | 173.4 | 153.3 |
| Apr-11 | 167.8 | 129.1 | 178 | 146 |
Qualcomm's prototype tablet houses Snapdragon S4 mobile processor which is capable of full 1080p HD 3D playback, recording and even offers real-time 2D to 3D conversion.
Qualcomm has displayed world's first auto stereoscopic 3D tablet at the on-going CTIA-Wireless 2012 convention which has started on May 9. At the convention, Qualcomm has demonstrated the prowess of the Snapdragon S4 MSM8690 mobile processor that runs the 3D tablet. Phandroid managed to capture a video showcasing the auto stereoscopic 3D tablet.
Qualcomm stall at the CTIA Wireless 2012 in New Orleans, USA had put a tablet for demonstration. This tablet was running the new Snapdragon S4 mobile processor and its intention was to show the 3D capabilities of the chip. As per Phandroid, it was world's first auto stereoscopic 3D tablet but it was just a prototype.
At this moment, the Nintendo 3DS offers the auto stereoscopic 3D experience using parallax barrier. A parallax barrier is a device placed in front of an image source, such as a liquid crystal display, to allow it to show a stereoscopic image without the need for the viewer to wear 3D glasses.
The technology used in the Qualcomm tablet is different from the LG Optimus Pad 3D. The difference lies in the usage of optical gear and the special glasses layer to show the real 3D depths on the display.
The Qualcomm's prototype tablet did not require any 3D glasses to be used for enjoying the 3D content. Also it was able to convert the 2D content to 3D. This prototype glasses free 3D promising tablet supported 1920x1200 pixel resolution natively.
The tablet could also capture stereoscopic 3D and playback the same on the display in high definition. Even 2D videos can recording and used to playback in 3D with real-time conversion on the chipset. Apart from video, the tablet even does real-time 3D game conversion.
Qualcomm certainly has surprised several by showing the true potential of the Snapdragon S4 processor and also hint what consumers can expect in near future.
Qualcomm has displayed world's first auto stereoscopic 3D tablet at the on-going CTIA-Wireless 2012 convention which has started on May 9. At the convention, Qualcomm has demonstrated the prowess of the Snapdragon S4 MSM8690 mobile processor that runs the 3D tablet. Phandroid managed to capture a video showcasing the auto stereoscopic 3D tablet.
Qualcomm stall at the CTIA Wireless 2012 in New Orleans, USA had put a tablet for demonstration. This tablet was running the new Snapdragon S4 mobile processor and its intention was to show the 3D capabilities of the chip. As per Phandroid, it was world's first auto stereoscopic 3D tablet but it was just a prototype.At this moment, the Nintendo 3DS offers the auto stereoscopic 3D experience using parallax barrier. A parallax barrier is a device placed in front of an image source, such as a liquid crystal display, to allow it to show a stereoscopic image without the need for the viewer to wear 3D glasses.
The technology used in the Qualcomm tablet is different from the LG Optimus Pad 3D. The difference lies in the usage of optical gear and the special glasses layer to show the real 3D depths on the display.
The Qualcomm's prototype tablet did not require any 3D glasses to be used for enjoying the 3D content. Also it was able to convert the 2D content to 3D. This prototype glasses free 3D promising tablet supported 1920x1200 pixel resolution natively.
The tablet could also capture stereoscopic 3D and playback the same on the display in high definition. Even 2D videos can recording and used to playback in 3D with real-time conversion on the chipset. Apart from video, the tablet even does real-time 3D game conversion.
Qualcomm certainly has surprised several by showing the true potential of the Snapdragon S4 processor and also hint what consumers can expect in near future.
A world- first for TGO Green Energy Gym Technology
Georgie Delaney, Creative Director of The Great Outdoor Gym Company: “Hull City Council was a natural first choice for the pilot of our Green Energy Gym Technology, having successfully worked with us on eight adiZones and outdoor gyms across Hull. The Green Heart in Hull will be showcased all over the world. We aim to have Green Energy Gyms right across the UK, where people can keep fit and recycle the energy they burn off into electricity.”
TGO Green Energy Technology includes: Energy cross trainers; Energy hand bikes; Energy fitness bikes; Energy recumbent bikes; People Power Display Wall (measuring the power and energy generated by TGO outdoor gym equipment);
A health commitment...
The Green Heart in Hull also features Chief Medical Officer guidelines, scales, height measure, BMI index measure to encourage the local community to take those first steps towards healthy living – it’s all about wellness and forms part of TGO’s Responsibility Deal work with the Department of Health.
Mitch Upfold, Economic Regeneration Manager at Hull City Council, said: “We are pleased to be piloting TGO’s Green Heart scheme which is a great example of how local authorities can promote public health.”
It’s green, it’s shiny and it lights up at night.
It’s great for your health and it generates electricity.
It encourages kids and adults alike to learn about their health, energy generation and energy consumption.
It’s the Green Heart at Shaw Park, Hull.
Some cities have bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors where buses can reach up to 30 MPH, but in general, buses move pretty slowly. Never has the lowly bus looked so sexy as with this Dutch "Superbus" that can hit 155 MPH.
The electric bus, created by Wubbo Ockels (the Netherlands’ first astronaut, according to the BBC), carries 23 passengers and cost nearly $17 million to develop. The fiberglass and carbon vehicle recently debuted in Dubai.
It’s hard to imagine that any city would actually buy a fleet of these buses; just because a bus can go up to 155 MPH doesn’t mean it will ever get the chance. So most of us will never ride the Superbus. At the very least, its existence proves that buses can be exciting.
The electric bus, created by Wubbo Ockels (the Netherlands’ first astronaut, according to the BBC), carries 23 passengers and cost nearly $17 million to develop. The fiberglass and carbon vehicle recently debuted in Dubai.
It’s hard to imagine that any city would actually buy a fleet of these buses; just because a bus can go up to 155 MPH doesn’t mean it will ever get the chance. So most of us will never ride the Superbus. At the very least, its existence proves that buses can be exciting.
Today, the FBI is doing something it rarely does — talking, in public, about spies.
In a nationwide advertising campaign launching today that includes bus shelters, billboards and a website, the FBI is targeting corporate espionage — and encouraging employees of American corporations to be wary of spies in their midst.
“We’re doing something we’ve never done before, and it’s almost counterintuitive in the espionage business,” FBI Counterintelligence Assistant director Frank Figliuzzi told CNBC Thursday. “We’re talking to the general public about the threat from economic espionage.”
The FBI says the sheer scale of economic espionage against the nation’s top companies threatens America’s economic and technical dominance of the global economy.
According to Figliuzzi, the current FBI caseload shows that secrets worth more than $13 billion have been stolen from American companies — often by insiders or former insiders at the companies that have been victimized. The FBI says its arrests for economic espionage have doubled in the last four years, and that it has already surpassed last year’s arrest total halfway through this fiscal year.
Figliuzzi said espionage has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. “The target has changed to unclassified or what I like to call pre-classified technology, data research, the things that we all have at our place of employment, and we need to make the general public aware that the threat is to them and where they work,” Figliuzzi said. “They want what America has.”
The billboards and bus shelters will be visible in cities and regions that the FBI chose for their high concentrations of government contractors, including Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and North Carolina.
In recent months, US law enforcement agencies have wrestled with a large variety of corporate espionage cases that affected companies as diverse asBridgestone, DuPont, and Motorola.
In February, a federal grand jury in San Francisco charged five people and five companies with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets for trying to obtain secrets surrounding the development of chloride-route titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white pigment with various industrial uses. Among those charged were two former DuPont employees. In that case, the U.S. government said that the government of the People’s Republic of China had specifically targeted the TiO2 production capabilities for exploitation.
Also that month, a former software engineer for Motorola was found guilty of stealing trade secrets from that company. The Defendant, Hanjuan Jin, possessed more than 1,000 proprietary documents when she was stopped by U.S. customs officials while attempting to travel on a one-way ticket to China in 2007, the government said.
In April, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio charged Dr. Xiaorong Wang with theft of trade secrets from Bridgestone. Wang was a former research scientist at the Bridgestone Center for Research and Technology in Akron, Ohio from May 1995 until he was terminated on April 14, 2010, the government said.
And in one of the most high-profile cases to date, satellite scientist Stewart David Nozette was sentenced in March to 13 years in prison for attempted espionage and other charges. Nozette was caught on camera in an FBI sting at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, attempting to sell U.S. satellite secrets to a man he believed to be an agent of the Israeli Mossad intelligence service.
“They’re looking for everything from price lists to the latest pharmaceutical research, marketing strategies, new product information — typically whatever you view as your crown jewels at your company is likely the target of foreign economic espionage,” Figliuzzi said.
Although many of the recent cases to surface publicly involve people stealing corporate secrets on behalf of the Chinese, Figliuzzi said the FBI’s latest publicity effort is not specifically targeting any one country.
“What we’re seeing across our caseload is even some of our allies, when it's in their economic interest, will commit economic espionage. They know it’s cheaper to steal our technology than to research and develop it,” Figliuzzi said. “There’s an over-emphasis, I think, on pointing to one or two countries, when we’ve seen a panoply of countries.”
The FBI says foreign spies are interested in a wide range of secret corporate information, including, information and communications technology, sources of scarce natural resources, military technologies, particularly marine systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, and dual-use technologies from the clean energy, pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.
In its prepared materials, the FBI highlights some of the elements that make up the profile of a potential spy, telling companies to watch out for people exhibiting a range of behaviors, including:
Working odd hours without authorization
Taking proprietary information home in thumb drives or email
Making unnecessary copies
Disregarding company policies about installing personal software or hardware
Taking short trips to foreign countries for unexplained reasons
Buying things they can’t afford
Being overwhelmed by life crises or career disappointments
In a nationwide advertising campaign launching today that includes bus shelters, billboards and a website, the FBI is targeting corporate espionage — and encouraging employees of American corporations to be wary of spies in their midst.
“We’re doing something we’ve never done before, and it’s almost counterintuitive in the espionage business,” FBI Counterintelligence Assistant director Frank Figliuzzi told CNBC Thursday. “We’re talking to the general public about the threat from economic espionage.”
The FBI says the sheer scale of economic espionage against the nation’s top companies threatens America’s economic and technical dominance of the global economy.
According to Figliuzzi, the current FBI caseload shows that secrets worth more than $13 billion have been stolen from American companies — often by insiders or former insiders at the companies that have been victimized. The FBI says its arrests for economic espionage have doubled in the last four years, and that it has already surpassed last year’s arrest total halfway through this fiscal year.
Figliuzzi said espionage has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. “The target has changed to unclassified or what I like to call pre-classified technology, data research, the things that we all have at our place of employment, and we need to make the general public aware that the threat is to them and where they work,” Figliuzzi said. “They want what America has.”
The billboards and bus shelters will be visible in cities and regions that the FBI chose for their high concentrations of government contractors, including Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and North Carolina.
In recent months, US law enforcement agencies have wrestled with a large variety of corporate espionage cases that affected companies as diverse asBridgestone, DuPont, and Motorola.
In February, a federal grand jury in San Francisco charged five people and five companies with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets for trying to obtain secrets surrounding the development of chloride-route titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white pigment with various industrial uses. Among those charged were two former DuPont employees. In that case, the U.S. government said that the government of the People’s Republic of China had specifically targeted the TiO2 production capabilities for exploitation.
Also that month, a former software engineer for Motorola was found guilty of stealing trade secrets from that company. The Defendant, Hanjuan Jin, possessed more than 1,000 proprietary documents when she was stopped by U.S. customs officials while attempting to travel on a one-way ticket to China in 2007, the government said.
In April, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio charged Dr. Xiaorong Wang with theft of trade secrets from Bridgestone. Wang was a former research scientist at the Bridgestone Center for Research and Technology in Akron, Ohio from May 1995 until he was terminated on April 14, 2010, the government said.
And in one of the most high-profile cases to date, satellite scientist Stewart David Nozette was sentenced in March to 13 years in prison for attempted espionage and other charges. Nozette was caught on camera in an FBI sting at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, attempting to sell U.S. satellite secrets to a man he believed to be an agent of the Israeli Mossad intelligence service.
“They’re looking for everything from price lists to the latest pharmaceutical research, marketing strategies, new product information — typically whatever you view as your crown jewels at your company is likely the target of foreign economic espionage,” Figliuzzi said.
Although many of the recent cases to surface publicly involve people stealing corporate secrets on behalf of the Chinese, Figliuzzi said the FBI’s latest publicity effort is not specifically targeting any one country.
“What we’re seeing across our caseload is even some of our allies, when it's in their economic interest, will commit economic espionage. They know it’s cheaper to steal our technology than to research and develop it,” Figliuzzi said. “There’s an over-emphasis, I think, on pointing to one or two countries, when we’ve seen a panoply of countries.”
The FBI says foreign spies are interested in a wide range of secret corporate information, including, information and communications technology, sources of scarce natural resources, military technologies, particularly marine systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, and dual-use technologies from the clean energy, pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.
In its prepared materials, the FBI highlights some of the elements that make up the profile of a potential spy, telling companies to watch out for people exhibiting a range of behaviors, including:
Working odd hours without authorization
Taking proprietary information home in thumb drives or email
Making unnecessary copies
Disregarding company policies about installing personal software or hardware
Taking short trips to foreign countries for unexplained reasons
Buying things they can’t afford
Being overwhelmed by life crises or career disappointments
( Source: CNBC )
