Dark matter or revise the law of gravity?

Here is an interesting thought, is chasing dark matter a red herring and should we actually be revising one of the basic laws of physics, the law of gravity? These scientists think so and have some evidence that they might be correct.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130828103446.htm

New app unveiled for voter information | www.wdbo.com

Florida is getting up to date on voting, no more "hanging chads"?

New app unveiled for voter information | www.wdbo.com

Just had to share this....

"Teach your children well, their parents' hell did slowly go by"

Frequent Fliers: Family Edition | The Gate

Paperless check-in

It haas been a while since I posted, which corresponds with a spell working from home, so not much travel. However my travel is picking up again, and I do want to mention one major change.
On my recent DL flights I have managed to travel totally paperless. While I have used mobile check in before, I always had a paper copy as backup. When I derived to Android I discovered that the Delta online check-in with mobile option was sending an xml file that my phone did not interpret. So back to paper. Then DL released their Android app, which enabled check-in and download of the relevant boarding passes. But it did not allow printing of a paper backup. So I tried it out and ' bingo', I was able to use my mobile boarding passes on all segments.
Since then I have also made a trip on AA, with the same success after installing their app.

No more paper for me

WifI Calling on the MyTouch 4G

After using the WiFi calling at home quite heavily, since cell reception in my house is bad for any provider, I was looking forward to trying it out as an alternative for international calling. And guess what, IT WORKS! On a recent trip to Tokyo, where I would have no cell connection anyway, is was able to call home, and be called, using the WiFi calling. Lucky for me my work required that I rent a MiFi (WiMax) box. In addition to using it to connect my laptop to the Internet, I was able to connect the phone. I could then make my calls and send or receive text messages via WiFi running off the MiFi box. As this box was also battery operated, I was basically able to use my cell phone as a mobile phone, all over Tokyo. Other than some dead spots inside buildings, it worked a treat.

Because of the time zone differences most of my calls took place in off-peak hours, so essentially free calls. Sure beats the $1.29+ that most providers charge for international roaming.

MyTouch 4G Initial review

As you might have seen by an earlier post from Firefly, I took the plunge and switched to the new MyTouch 4G on the T-Mobile network. After using this phone for almost a week, I am very pleased with it. It took a little getting used to it, not so much in the UI, although that was an adjustment from physical keyboard to screen based keyboard, but in ensuring that everything was set-up as I wanted. Especially because of the broad integration with social networks, which impacts some results on the phone. For example, the Contacts function has a link to Facebook, and fills the "Me" record with Facebook profile information. However, the Facebook account that I use the most and wanted to link to, uses a nickname which I did not want in the Me record. I found that by resetting the phone, editing the Me record and THEN linking to Facebook, I was able to get the desired result.

One of the key functions that influenced my choice was T-Mobile's decision to make WiFi calling available on their Android phones, especially the MT 4G. After a small glitch during set-up, which was quickly resolved by calling Customer Care I was up and running. This feature is important at home as none of the major networks have very good reception in my area, specifically inside the house. In fact for out AT&T phones I am running their Micro-Cell. T-mobile does not need a microcell as WiFi calling uses any existing WiFi network to makes calls, for texting and of course for data. In addition, I am heading overseas for a business trip shortly and will be able to make calls from the other side of the world, without messing with SIM cards, unlocking the phone, etc.

In the first few days I was a little concerned about battery life, as I seemed to need to recharge quite frequently. While exploring the Settings function, I discovered a listing of power usage. This showed that over 50% of the battery power goes to the screen. in other words, the more you play with the phone, the quicker the battery will run down. If I just do my normal usage, without constantly viewing the screen, the phone easily lasts all day, including regular email and Facebook synching, as well as a number of phone calls.

I also just found out that Dish network have released an Adroid app which allows remote access to my DVRs, AND also streams the Slingbox that I have attached to one. This is a free app, which makes my wife jealous, as she paid $30 for the one on her iPhone. Buts apps will be the subject of a future post.

My Review of T-Mobile myTouch 4G Black

Originally submitted at Wirefly

The myTouch 4G for T-Mobile is the newest addition to the myTouch lineup. Running on Android 2.2 operating system, you can customize to your heart's content. With groundbreaking speed and exclusive features, the myTouch 4G is a premium smartphone. Lightning fast 4G speeds lets you download pho...

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Black

Great new phone

By Illusioneer from Celebration, FL on 11/22/2010

 

4out of 5

Phone Size: Average

Bluetooth Connectivity: Quality Connection

Data Connection Speed: Fast

Pros: Attractive Design, Easy to use, Great OS, Good Interface w/email, WiFi calling, Selection of apps, Brilliant Display, Easy Navigation

Cons: Display is battery hog

Best Uses: Organizing Schedule, Music, Texting, Organizing Contacts, Making Calls, Email, Web Browsing

Describe Yourself: Gearhead, Business Professional, Practical

This phone does everything that I was expecting, and then some. Battery life is OK, unless you spend all your time playing with the phone, then you probably need to recharge during the day

(legalese)

The end is in sight

It looks like something closer to my ideal phone is available  (as per 11/3/2010) - the t-Mobile myTouch 4G. Is uses the HSPA+ network for hogh speed data, and comes with UMA and WiFi hotspot capabilities. Added extra are the front facing camera and the ability to video call using the cellular network, not just on WiFi (using Qik). Click on the title above for a link to some overview videos.

But there are a lost of rumors and presentations planeed this month, eg. Nexus 2/HD, a Samsung event, so I am still going to wait a few weeks before taking a final decisions.

The search for a new phone becomes hotter

This looks like a serious contender for a phone to replace my AT&T EPIX (WM6.5). Key attributes that I like are:

• Android 2.2
• HSPA+ (near 4G, if not real 4G)
• Front facing camera (for video chat)
• WiFi Calling (not full blown UMA, but close enough)
• 5MP camera

Would have been nice if it had:

• Dual core processor (supposedly better battery life)
• (Micro)SD card slot (not listed, but who knows)
• Full UMA (including hand-off between cellular network and Wi-Fi network)
• AMOLED screen (no mention in any specs I could find)
• 4.3" screen (although this is the least of the wishes, due to the resultant size issue)

Further musings on the WM6.5 on Samsung EPIX

I found out that, due to a slight coloring on my "liquid detector" I was not eligible for a warranty replacement of my EPIX after all. However, they did send me a replacement USB cable. And much to my surprise it worked! So I was able to install WM6.5. My initial findings are that the phone is still quite stable (as I seemed to have resolved the WM6.1 instability with the removal of Newsbreak). Instead of Newsbreak I am using the default RSS reader, but do not like it so will look for another alternative.

I am not so happy with the WM6.5 browser, even though it is more modern with a zoom capability. Of course, without multi-touch capability, the zoom has to be done with a slider. It requires a tap on the options button, a zoom button and then quickly to the displayed slider. If you are not quick enough the slider disappears, I wish that the wait time could be adjusted (registry hack anyone?). Also the slider is not so easy to use so you often spend time fiddling around to get the page at the right size to be able to both read the text, as well as view the page without constant scrolling left/right.

I have noticed that "Messaging" has changed slightly, not choice of "text" or "MMS" for a new message, it assumes text. I do like that a number of key apps and screen have finger gesture controls, e.g. flick scrolling.

Where I have noticed a huge improvement is the time to lock in the GPS satellites. Previously it took as long at 2-3 minutes, now it seems to be about 10-20 seconds! Also, the GPS battery drain is gone, so I can now use location based apps.

All in all, this update means that yes, I can use my phone for a few more months, while I wait to see what comes out of the woodwork around Christmas time. I suspect that T-Mobile's "Project Emerald" phone from HTC is going to be a strong contender; what with HSPA+ (21Mbps down/11Mbps up), UMA (hopefully) and Andriod.

Test msg from Ping.fm

0-0 at the end of regulation, hope this does not go to penalty kicks

Watching the big game. Hup Oranje!

Great night spoiled in last minutes. In shuttle to car park, teenager stood up and offered me her seat. Do I really look that old?

World of Color was typical Disney, magnificent and finished to the nth degree

Finishing my magical night at Disney with California Adventure's brans new World of Color

Managed to catch one of the last flights to the Moon of Endor. Followed it with the Indiana Jones Adventure.

Disney has not only the most beautiful fireworks, they are perfectly tme to the soundtrack

Oops, 4th July fireworks only last weekend, just their normal/special tonight

Special West Coast treat tonight, Disneyland & California Adventure. World of Color as special entertainment, then Disneyland July 4th fireworks

Just finished another evening of entertainment at Hollywood's Magic Castle

Earthquake was a 5.9, epicenter about 80 miles south of my location. Effective strength here about a 3 (USGS.GOV)

Just experienced earthquake in Orange County, severity unknown but not large

Samsung EPIX WM6.5 update

Just when I had given up hope, Samsung finally released the WM6.5 upgrade for my Samsung EPIX. My initial euphoria was dampened when I realized that I could not load the upgrade because my UB connection has stopped working. However my spirits soared again when I realized that I am just (by a few days) within the warranty period. A quick call to AT&T and a new (reconditioned?) phone will be on its way to me shortly. In an earlier post to this blog I had expressed some frustration about my phon and of my desire to start looking for a replacement. One of the issues was an almost daily freezing of the phone. Due to the USB problem I decided last weekend to carry out a hard reset, to see if this would clear the issue. It did not, but then I found that I had lost my Sprite backup files when my SDHC card had gone funny one me. No major issue as all imprtant data is on the Exchange server, and other data is on the SDHC card (except the backup files).
This did require a reinstall of all key programs, an opportunity to clean out unused programs and to update the programs that I am using. For this I go to the site where the program was purchased and check to see whether there is a newre version. For my RSS reader, Newsbreak, I was shocked to notice a comment on the site that this program was NOT compatible with my listed phone (Not the Ilium Software site but a 3rd party retail site). So I did not re-install this program and since then did not have a single freeze.

So two pieces of good news this week that will enable me to extend the life of my EPIX until I am again upgrade eligible with AT&T. At that time I can take stock again and see what phones are available. There are some personal reasons to remain with AT&T, but to date their only super smartphone was the iPhone. Now that the Captivate (Samsung Galaxy S) has been announced this gives me a better phone to which I might switch. However, I am also still tempted by T-Mobile with their UMA feature and the HSPA+ network. perhaps by the time my AT&T contract is up T-Moble will also have a true HSPA+ phone. At 21M/s this would blow the Evo out of the water for network speed.

Look for a post in about 2 weeks with my WM 6.5 reviw.

Happy and safe Independence weekend to all my friends