More than one billion iPhones have been sold since Steve Jobs took to a stage at Macworld in San Francisco promising “an iPod, a phone and an Internet communicator” – before revealing one device that performed all three functions.

iPhone fever has sent Apple’s value soaring to £515bn – despite the first year of falling iPhone sales in 2016.

There have been 11 new versions of the phone since that launch, with some controversial redesigns including different-sized models, changes to screen sizes and disappearing headphone jacks.

The device also led to the launch of the App Store in 2008 – and the creation of a new digital industry, making fortunes for the inventors of apps such as Angry Birds, Uber and WhatsApp.

Other innovations include the Siri voice-activated personal assistant, the use of Touch ID and a powerful 64-bit processor.

The phone has been such a hit that the phone alone has generated more cash than the product ranges of Microsoft and Google.

The next version of the phone – expected to be unveiled in September – has been rumoured to feature a larger screen that covers most of the front of the device.

Now imagine what Adam Jones had to go through when he was trapped on a deserted island for 9 long years and who was rescued using one of the most incredible technological advancements of our time, Google Earth. Here is his story.

The voyage

Adam Jones and 2 of his friends had taken off for a journey in 2006. They were supposed to travel to Hawaii from their home in Liverpool, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and the Panama Canal on their way.

The first stage of the voyage went off without a hitch. They crossed the Atlantic smoothly, but as soon they reached the Pacific Ocean after passing the Panama Canal, things began to go wrong for them. Their boat got trapped in a huge storm which damaged their electronic equipment and the boat. It also caused his two friends to go overboard and knocked Adam unconscious for 17 days while he drifted in the Ocean.

Initial days

Adam had to spend 2 weeks on his boats water ration, but had to build a water trapping contrivance to collect water at a drop a minute. He saved lots of water when it rained. He also had to build a solid shelter after his makeshift shelter of debris form the boat collapsed. It took him 11 weeks to bring a tree down using a clam shell.

He laments not having a machete as that tool alone would have helped him quite a lot on the island. He also learned how to make a fire and finally had heat and light on the island.

Food hunting

Adam had to hunt for food and found 8 feral goats on the island. But they were difficult to hunt without any equipment. He tried using a bow and arrow but the construction was not sturdy enough. But as luck would have it, he found a goat trapped in some tree bushes.

Adam killed it by first trying to squeeze its windpipe and then bashing its head in using a clam shell. He describes the experience as gruesome and it took 15 minutes for him to kill the animal. But it was meat and close to 50 kilos of it.

The physical endurance

Adam admits that he had to work hard to keep himself physically fit on the island. He says that he used to do push ups, chin ups on a tree branch and squats with boulders on his shoulders. He did those exercises every day. That also included 300 meter runs on the beach.

The mental agony

Adam says that the most difficult part was the mental agony he had to suffer on the island. The constant feeling of being lonely on a big island and the impending feeling of never being rescued ate him up from inside. He says that if you are alone for quite a long time and start talking to yourself, there is something very wrong with you.

Adam had built a SOS sign 10 feet high but found it inadequate. Finally he decided to clear a large area and built a huge SOS sign that would be visible easily. He said he always had a hope of a plane flying above and sighting the SOS sign and rescuing him. It was hard but he never gave up and it was the most important thing he could do.

And the rescue arrives finally

Adam was surprised to hear the sounds of a plane one day above him. He waved towards the plane multiple times and the plane eventually dropped a packet for him.

The packet contained fresh water, a radio, food and a medical kit. When he switched on the radio and talked to the pilot, it was the first human voice he heard for 9 long years. After talking for a long time, he asked how he was found. The answer came that a kid in Minnesota had seen his SOS sign on Google Earth and alerted the authorities.

He still had to wait for 5 days to be rescued, since it took that long for a boat to reach that unnamed island and he finally departed from the place he called home for 9 years.

source: trendingpost.net

Can you match the words with their opposites?

Key: 

1. e.

2. a.

3. j.

4. b.

5. i.

6. h.

7. c.

8. d.

9. g.

10. f.

Google has finally launched the much awaited Kiddle, a customised search engine for children. Entering the search site, one finds Kiddle written in the characteristic colourful Google style, this time set not against the plain white of Google, but a colourfu lalien planet surface. There is also a red droid alien waiting to answer all your queries.

While the search interface is largely the same, with different search options including the usual web, images, news and videos, the search results are clearly modified for a younger audience. For example once you type Obama (in big blue fonts), in the search box, you would not have the President’s website, Obama’s twitter handles, the latest news on top or his Wikipedia page at the top, as is the usual case with standard Google. Instead, you would have a list of links to Obama’s pages on biography.com, britannica.com, famousbirthdays.com etc. each of which would be   by a large picture of the American President.

The search results are also not as cluttered, and come well-spaced with a bigger font, easier for kids to read.

On its ‘About’ page, Kiddle also explains the logic behind its search results.

Safe sites and pages written specifically for kids, which will be handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors, would usually be featured in the first three results. The next rung would include safe, trusted sites that are not written specifically for kids, but have content written in a simple way, easy for kids to understand.

Finally, after this would follow safe, famous sites that are written for adults, providing expert content, but are harder for kids to understand.

If the child types something ‘unsuitable‘ for kids, one of Kiddle’s alien droids would come hob-nobbing with the message “Oops, looks like your query contained some bad words. Please try again!”

Lastly, Kiddle has also announced that they “don’t collect any personally identifiable information, and (their) logs are deleted every 24 hours”.

Microsoft’s ‘Get It Done’ campaign stresses how easy technology has made it to work from anywhere, but many question if doing so is a good idea. Featured in it are statistics that show the percentages of people who keep plugging away regardless of where they are or what they’re doing. Those numbers were gathered by Microsoft with the help of Harris Interactive, Inc. Researchers found that among those polled 55% said they need the ability to get work done regardless of where they are. For 19 percent of them that includes in the bathroom. Nearly half said they’ve remotely participated in meetings while on vacation. Over a quarter reported that they’d performed work-related tasks while out for happy hour. Though the ad campaign certainly shows the flexibility technology provides, it’s also raised questions about whether taking advantage of it is a good idea. Among the concerns expressed is that individuals are increasingly packing more work into their day at the expense of their work performance and their health.

Can you find the words or expressions in the text that have the same or similar meaning?

1. one fourth of something

2. from a distance

3. worry

4. to take part

5. to make use of

6. to collect

7. to keep working hard

8. to interview in a survey

9. the ability to change easily

10. not depending on something

Key:

1. quarter

2. remotely

3. concern

4. to participate

5. to take advantage of

6. to gather

7. to plug away

8. to poll

9. flexibility

10. regardless of something

In the big cities, it’s almost impossible to escape trash. It’s everywhere: on the streets, in the subway, in the parks…

The idea of tracking down the litterbugs who leave their trash wherever they please is daunting. But the scientists at the Hong Kong Cleanup Organization have found a way.

They collected a bunch of trash from the streets, such as cigarette butts and condoms. Then, the scientists used these specimens to retrieve the DNA information of their previous “owners.”

Based on DNA analysis and demographic data, they managed to recreate the faces of the actual litterbugs.

According to the Hong Kong Cleanup Organization, their goal was to “put a face to the anonymous crime of littering.”

The innovative campaign “The Face of Litter” features a series of simulated portraits, created with the help of DNA phenotyping service Snapshot.

“Data has been used to create a visual representation of the person who has littered. The DNA data is then combined with other factors, such as demographics […] to determine the approximate age of the litterer for even greater accuracy,” online magazine and campaign partner Ecozine reports.

The organization hopes this campaign will have a positive impact on the community and encourage more people to be aware of litter, excess waste and possible ways to minimize it.

However, the concept of DNA-based portraits isn’t all that new. It was popularized back in 2013, when artist and programmer Heather Dewey-Hagborg started making 3D masks from the forensic examples she would find in the streets and public restrooms of New York.

A videóhoz lehet feliratot is kapcsolni, a jobb alsó sorban az óra mellett ikonnal! 

There’s nothing quite like a child to put you in your place, is there?

A video of children as old as their early teens who have no clue what a Sony Walkman is (or does) will definitely make you feel your age.

Even if you’re barely approaching 30, you’ll most likely have some memory of cassette tapes and portable music players from the pre-MP3 and CD eras.

But the puzzled looks on these kids’ faces as they try to crack the code of whatever these weird contraptions are will definitely have you squirming.

‘Oh a phone! Oh, it’s not… what is this thing?’ asks Krischelle, 9. Hmmm…

source: Metro

to be confused – összezavarodott
to feel old beyond one’s years – öregebbnek érzi magát, mint ahány éves
to put one in one’s place – helyretenni valakit
to have no clue – fogalma sincs
to feel one’s age – annyi idősnek érzi magát, amennyi
barely – alig
portable – hordozható
era – korszak
puzzled looks – tanácstalan tekintet
to crack the code – megoldani, megfejteni
contraption – szerkezet
to squirm – feszengeni

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Bemutatták a limitált szériás 18 karátos arany HTC One okostelefont

Egy telefongyártó cég olyan új mobilt kreált, amelynek ára eléri a megdöbbentő 2,750 fontot, mivel a telefon tiszta 18 karátos aranyból készül. Az új Gold HTC One a cég által kiadott legdrágább telefon, és valódi aranyból készül.

A közönséges mobilként működő trendi okostelefonnak a legmodernebb érintőképernyője van full-HD kijelzővel. A kijelző 4.7 colos, és a telefon 32G adatmennyiséget képes tárolni, és egy 4.0 megapixeles kamerával van felszerelve. A telefonból csupán öt darab létezik, és a limitált szériás okostelefont a MBO Díjátadó 18. évfordulójára gyártották. A telefont a HTC által támogatott Legjobb Új Előadó kategória győztesének adják majd az idei október 19-i eseményen Glasgow-ban.

A luxus megjelenés eléréséhez a HTC ONE-t 18 karátos arannyal vonják be mielőtt polírozzák, hogy kidolgozása kifinomult legyen. A telefon a háztartási eszközöket egyéni igény szerint aranyozó Goldgenie-vel partnerségben kerül gyártásra. Az egyedülálló telefon hátuljára speciális MOBO 18 jelzés van gravírozva.

Phil Blair, a HTC Európai Elnöke elmondta: "A legjobb művészek mindig is aranylemezt kaptak sikereik elismeréseként, ám ma a legtöbb ember a telefonján hallgat zenét. Ezt a tényt szerettük volna elismerni. A HTC ONE a mobil dizájn és innováció csúcsa, tehát nyilvánvaló választás volt a díj különlegesebbé tételéhez. Biztosak vagyunk benne, hogy a nyertes MOBO művész nagyon fogja szeretni az egyedi telefont. És a nagyközönségből is adunk majd egy esélyt egy szerencsés embernek arra, hogy hamarosan megkaparintson egyet.”

Kanya King MBE, a MOBO Díjátadó alapítója hozzátette: "Az, hogy a MOBO betölti a 18-at, óriási eredmény, és számunkra ez egy különleges esemény. A 18 karátos aranyHTC One telefon egy nagyszerűen kiegészíti a nagykorúvá válási ünnepségeinket, és MOBO cicomát kölcsönöz az eseményeknek!"

A Goldgenie korábban készített rendelésre telefonokat Denzel Washington színésznek, Will Smith filmsztárnak és Kate Moss szupermodellnek.

The age of handwriting is slowly coming to an end as some schools have turned to computers for almost everything. However, many learning institutions still require children to use a pen, and this is where the Lernstift pen can make a huge impact.

The Lernstift pen is not an ordinary pen!  A pair of German inventors has created a digital pen that can check for spelling mistakes in handwriting.It has a built-in sensor that recognises writing movements and tracks the shape of the letters to recognise words. It then vibrates when a mistake is made. The technology inside includes a motion sensor, an unknown Linux distribution, processor, RAM, and a vibrating module. The motion sensor recognises all writing movements, even if the pen is used to write in the air. This means Lernstift doesn’t need any additional recognition devices or special paper to work.

Lernstift also has Wi-Fi built-in and the pen can be connected a smartphone or PC to upload written texts online, share them on social networks or take part in writing training. 

Besidesthe error detecting function, the pen can help for more attractive writing that doesn’t look like scrambled letters. Furthermore, the Lernstift pen is capable of working alongside an app where everything you write on paper would show up on the app. In addition, the app would suggest corrections for errors, along with connecting to social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Currentdigital pens use optical sensors to pick up the writing movements and digitise the words or sketches so they can be used on a computer.Future models will also check for grammatical errors and the designers hope it will help children and adults develop their writing and spelling skills and to correct grammatical mistakes, such as word order.

The software inside the Lernstift is updatable, and users will have the option to change the tip of the pen to their own preference.

The software has over 40 languages and Lernstift will be launched in English and German before being rolled out to more languages. This means it could also be used to help people learn new languages.

handwriting – kézírás
to come to an end – valaminek a végéhez érni
however – ennek ellenére
learning institution  – oktatási intézmény
to require – igényelni, megkövetelni
ordinary – hagyományos, közönséges
to check for – keresni valamit (ellenőrizni)
built-in sensor – beépített érzékelő
to recognise – felismerni
movement – mozgás
to track – nyomon követni
to vibrate – vibrálni
motion sensor – mozgásérzékelő
distribution – disztribúció, kiterjesztés
additional  – további
device – eszköz
to upload – feltölteni
to share – megosztani
to take part in– részt venni valamiben
besides -valami mellett
scrambled – zagyva, összezavart
furthermore – azon kívül, továbbá
to work alongside – valamivel együtt dolgozik
to show up – megjelenik
in addition – ráadásul
to suggest – ajánlani, javasolni
current – aktuális
optical sensor – optikai szenzor
sketch – vázlat
to develop – fejleszteni, fejlődni
updatable – frissíthető
tip of the pen – a toll hegye
preference – előny(ben részesítés)
to roll out to – kiterjedni

Janjaap Ruijssenaars, 39, of Universe Architecture in Amsterdam, wants to print a building resembling a giant mobius strip – a continuous loop with one side – with around 1,100 square metres of floor space using the massive D-Shape printer. The printer, designed by Italian Enrico Dini, can print up to almost a six-metre-by-six-metre square using a computer to add layers 5-10 mm thick. Mr Ruijssenaars says the building could serve as a home or a museum and would have parts usually made from a concrete-like material printed using broken up rocks and an emulsion binding, while steel and glass would provide the facade. "It’s our ambition to have the first printed house, this printer has made art or objects for sea defences, but this is the first time to build something that can be lived in," he told AFP. Mr Ruijssenaars said the plan was not initially to print the building but the hi-tech medium turned out to be the most appropriate.

"With a 3D printer, even a small model, we could make the whole structure from bottom to top without anyone seeing where it is begins or ends," he said. Working with Dutch mathematician and artist Rinus Roelofs and Dini in Italy, "we put the whole thing in the computer," the architect said. A Brazilian national park has expressed interest in the building, which would cost around four million euros ($5.3 million) to construct, the architect said, or it could be built as a private home in the United States. The project would take around 18 months to build and the printer "might be active for half a year," Mr Ruijssenaars said. "The challenge is demonstrating that it’s possible to print real buildings in 3D and affirm that there is a new way to manufacture buildings," Mr Dini, 50, said by telephone from Italy. Mr Dini, who gave up his well-paid job in robotics designing prototypes for the footwear industry to build his monster printer, said that 3D printing of buildings remains a hybrid process with other building techniques for reinforcement. "And it’s about being competitive with other construction techniques," he said. One advantage of using printing is that you can easily build-in empty spaces for plumbing and electrics – and that you can use rocks found in situ at the construction site, which could be almost anywhere. "The great thing about the printer is that you can take it somewhere and then print with the ground you find on location," Mr Ruijssenaars said.

"So you could take the printer to the moon, assemble it there and print with moon material."

source: dailytelegraph.com.au

to print – nyomtatni
to resemble – hasonlítani
mobius strip – Möbius-szalag
continuous loop – folyamatos/végtelen hurok
floor space – alapterület
to add – hozzáadni
layer – réteg
to serve as – szolgálni valamiként
concrete-like – beton-szerű
broken up – szétzúzott/darabokra tört
emulsion binding – emulziós kötés
steel – acél
to provide – nyújtani/biztosítani
facade – homlokzat
sea defence – tengeri védelem
initially – eleinte/kezdetben
medium – közeg
appropriate – megfelelő
architect – építész(mérnök)
to express interest – érdeklődni
to cost – kerülni (pénzbe)
to construct – építeni
to take (time) – igénybe venni (valamennyi időt)/tartani valameddig
challenge – kihívás
to affirm – megerősíteni/állítani
well-paid – jól fizetett
footwear industry – lábbeli-készítő ipar
to remain – maradni
process – folyamat
reinforcement – megerősítés
competitive – versenyképes
advantage – előny
to build-in – beépíteni
plumbing – vízvezetékrendszer
electrics – elektromos hálózat
in situ – helyben/eredeti helyzetben
construction site – építkezési terület
ground – talaj/terep/föld
on location – helyszínen
to assemble – összeszerelni/összerakni

… és egy rövid videó arról, hogyan is működik a 3D printer technika! 

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