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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Executive Buy-In for Security Grows

Executive Buy-In for Security Grows: But Finding Skilled Staff is Ongoing Challenge
Senior leaders in business and government are buying in to the need for more cybersecurity investments as well as threat-intelligence sharing, new research shows. But why are they still struggling to hire the right security pros?

Self-driving cars could cut down on injuries by 90%, save $450 billion

Self-driving cars could cut down on injuries by 90%, save $450 billion:
Self-Driving Cars Save Lives Money
The thought of thousands of autonomous vehicles flying down our highways might be a frightening one, but it could also be a permanent solution for traffic safety. The Eno Center for Transportation claims that the proliferation of self-driving cars could cut down on vehicle-related injuries by up to 90% while saving the U.S. economy around $450 billion annually. According to the Eno Center, a vast majority of accidents occur because of human error, and more than 40% of wrecks involve drugs, alcohol, distraction or fatigue. Remove these factors from the equation and the roads quickly become much safer. Of course, the technology behind autonomous vehicles is still being perfected, so it could be years before this vision of the future is even feasible, much less financially viable.

Report claims short supply of Retina iPad mini due to display shortages from Sharp

Report claims short supply of Retina iPad mini due to display shortages from Sharp:
ipad-mini-price-2
Following several reports this month and hints from Tim Cook that Retina iPad mini stock could be in short supply when the device launches next month, the hit and miss DigiTimes reports today that the shortages are due to limited supply of displays from Apple’s supplier Sharp. Specifically, the report claims that Sharp’s “Oxide TFT process is seeing low yield rates” leading to a less than ideal supply of  7.9-inch Retina panels. Sharp accounts for around 40% of the displays for iPad mini with Retina display production, while LG Display is providing the other approximately 60%, according to the report:
LG Display (LGD) is another supplier 7.9-inch Retina panels, the sources noted. LGD uses a-Si process and accounts for about 60% of the panels supplied for use in Apple’s iPad mini with Retina display, with Sharp accounting for 40%, the sources said.
DigiTimes also notes that Innolux and AU Optronics attempted to obtain contracts to supply displays for the device but “failed.” The publication says LG Display is also providing around 60% of displays for Apple’s new iPad Air, while Samsung Display will be providing the remainder.
Earlier this month both Reuters and The Telegraph confirmed earlier reports from the often reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that supplies of the iPad mini would be “ridiculously tight” going into the holidays. When asked about supply of the iPad mini with Retina display during Apple’s Q4 earnings call this week, Tim Cook noted that it was “unclear” if they would have enough supply to meet demand for the quarter. Apple will of course have to wait until sometime “later next month” to find out how strong demand is when the new iPad officially launches.


Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of iOS Devices and Tech Industry.
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Next generation IGZO MEMS display features 10x higher light efficiency

Next generation IGZO MEMS display features 10x higher light efficiency: Next generation IGZO MEMS display features 10x higher light efficiency
This next generation IGZO MEMS display has been developed by a collaboration between Sharp and Qualcomm subsiduary Pixtronics.
Microscopic MEMS shutters which opens and close are used to control the output of light from the red, green, blue and white LEDs which make up each pixel. By using this system, the display features high levels of brightness and color reproduction in any environment, and significantly lowers power consumption.
"When compared to existing LCD panels, a color filter and polarizing plate are not used, so there is no light attenuation and the light can be used effectively. The light from the backlight reaches the users eyes directly with high color purity and brightness. "
The light utilization factor is ten times greater, so it is possible to create modes which have an emphasis on color reproduction or low power consumption.
Also, by using IGZO as the semiconductor material for the thin film transistors, the display can be used in a wide temperature range, and even in extremely cold conditions.
"As this is a completely new technology, our current challenge is to continue to improve the yield rate of the shutter manufacturing process."

Lenovo's 'Yoga' Android tablet has a built-in kickstand containing an 18-hour battery (hands-on)

Lenovo's 'Yoga' Android tablet has a built-in kickstand containing an 18-hour battery (hands-on): What does Ashton Kutcher have to do with a couple of Android tablets? We don't know either. What we do know is that Lenovo just announced a highly unusual device, and it's unique enough that Lenovo would have had our attention even if didn't use the "Jobs" actor as a spokesperson. What you see above ...

Samsung selling 1 million mobile devices daily

Samsung selling 1 million mobile devices daily: According to Samsung's executive vice president David Eun, the Korean based OEM is selling 1 million mobile devices each and every day. Eun pased along the word at the Samsung Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday morning; this includes smartphones and tablets-everything mobile. Consider that the manufacturer is still reaping the benefits of selling the Samsung Galaxy S4...

Motorola Wants to Make Your Phone Modular

Motorola Wants to Make Your Phone Modular:
Motorola Wants to Make Your Phone Modular
Motorola has announced that it's new research and development team, called Project Ara, is developing an "open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones". In other words, it wants your phone to come in bits.
Read more...