New NIR Scanner Alerts to Brain Trauma Faster

Each year, more than 10 million people world-wide suffer from severe head trauma while 1.5 million of those people are in the U.S. alone.
Infrascan has created an innovative, safe, and noninvasive way to detect brain trauma instantly and at the scene of the accident.  This sturdy handheld, portable device uses near-infrared (NIR) technology to instantly determine if internal bleeding is present in a patient’s head and if immediate use of a CT scan is required.  Successful treatment often depends upon a timely intervention to prevent neurological deterioration.
Brain hematoma detection is vital within the first hour of a cranial trauma. This device could become a standard for emergency medical technicians, first responders, on the field athletes, and also battlefield medics.  Uncontrolled bleeding from the brain can become deadly within a matter of minutes, so an instant assessment of possible intracranial hematomas (more commonly referred to as bleeding on the brain).  For patients who live in rural areas, immediate evaluation of the severity of brain trauma could be essential if the patient requires immediate transport to a hospital with specialized CT equipment.
The FDA has recently approved the use of the Infrascanner Model 2000 for use, which is an upgrade of the previous Model 1000, and is now available to even to the general public.

How it Works

This transportable device functions by emitting infrared light to different areas of the brain.  The absorption of light should be symmetrical throughout the brain unless there is greater local concentration of hemoglobin.  The differential of this light absorption in a particular area of the head leads to an instant estimation of the location and extent of the injury.

Scanning a patient with the device takes about 2-3 minutes. Rapidly and with ease, the Infrascan reforms emergency medical assistance and could save and improve the value of many lives.
Infrascanner 2000 is available for civilians via MedLogic and for U.S. military customers via ADS Medical.

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A World Without Passwords?

Earlier this week we covered the breaking news about Google looking to use alternatives for passwords. Lets take a closer look at what technology is involved.
Passwords have long been viewed as a weakness within the world of digital security.  Instead of passwords, Google engineers would propose to use a dedicated device, for identity confirmation.  Experimentation performed by Google allowed users to use a YubiKey, a cryptographic USB card, in order to confirm identity.  Though it was currently in a USB format for experimentation purposes, Google has indicated that future versions of the technology would be wireless.  They also indicated that it would probably be integrated with a device that you already own, like a smartphone. Perhaps the most exciting part about all of this is that it wouldn’t be solely dependent on Google.  Rather, you would only need to run a browser that supports the protocol that Google has created.

It all sounds very exciting, but until the rest of the internet climbs on board, it isn’t likely that you will be going password free any time soon.  However, there are many things you can do to increase your security when using passwords.  The simplest thing, and perhaps most important, is to use different passwords for different services.  Remembering multiple complex passwords can be difficult, but it is important to have dedicated passwords for each service you use.  Using the same password all over the internet only increases the chance that your security will be compromised.
If you can’t fathom coming up with that many passwords, or keeping track of them, you can try a password management service.  Many password managers will generate passwords for you, as well as store them.  It may sound like a hassle, but it is necessary until passwords are a thing of the past.  This, if Google has a say, may be sooner than you think.

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Bringing the Start Menu Back to Windows 8

We have said it before and we will say it again, Windows 8 is different. However, different is not always better, as indicated by the three-point-something market share it currently holds as opposed to the approximately forty percent market share held by Windows 7.
The first thing a user notices about Windows 8 is that it doesn’t have a Start Menu. When Pokki launched its start menu app for Windows 8 last October, they may not have been expecting as big a success as they have achieved. Over 1.5 million Windows 8 users have now downloaded the app, and the number is still rising.



Windows 8 has sold about 60 million licenses so far, if we consider that Pokki is a third party, their 1.5 million is a big achievement. We also have to factor in ClassicShell, Stardock Start8, Power 8, and Revel BringBack apps that basically do the same thing. While Pokki rules the roost, other developers are not far behind.


Microsoft removed the Start Menu in Windows 8 based on data that suggested a drop in start menu usage by average users. However, the success of Pokki’s start menu and that of many other start menu apps could force Microsoft to create an app of their own. Currently, Pokki has improved the features on their start menu. The new and improved menu has:

1. an app store
2. refreshed UI with a light theme option
3. option to switch between start button icon and modern Windows logo
4. improved search
5. option to disable hot corners
6. ability to boot directly to desktop

The start menu by Pokki has a screen similar to a smartphone, where you can arrange applications, folders, shortcuts etc. anyway you want.  With more and more Windows 8 users downloading start menu apps, we can expect Microsoft to take notice. Maybe they will create an add-on that brings back the start menu, or maybe they will simply strike a deal with Pokki. As always, we will keep you updated with the latest developments.

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Windows 8 vs Windows 7 Performance Test

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World Wide Statistics

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Social Networking:

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SolusOS Linux Project Introduces Consort

The GNOME 2 desktop is so popular among the users that several extensions have been introduced to GNOME 3, just to give its desktop a classic appearance. The SolusOS Linux project has recently introduced ‘Consort’, a classic Linux desktop that came into being after gnome-panel, nautilus, gnome-session-fallback, and Metacity were forked to consort-panel, Athena, consort-session, and consortium respectively.

 The lead developer of SolusOS project, Ikey Doherty wrote “With our forks, we can maintain an experience virtually identical to GNOME 2, but vastly improve it with no need for hardware acceleration such as with GNOME Shell or Cinnamon”.
While Consort offers classic features such as “right click-interaction on the panel and GNOME 2 applet support”, it also supports modern components that will allow Python
 GNOME 2 applets to run smoothly.
While some users have welcomed the news and are excited about the classic GNOME experience, even if it is a virtual experience, others claim that too many similar products are already in the market. Although Linux has stuck by its GNOME 3 desktops, but the existence and popularity of such products that allow the user a virtual GNOME 2 experience, is indicative of the desktop’s popularity.

 SolusOS 2 Alpha 7 will be released very soon, and it will include a test revision of Consort. With Consort, the developers at SolusOS are trying to bring back the original GNOME 2 experience; they are also leaving room for expansion and trying to find the right combination between the classic desktop appearance and the new options offered by the latest technology.

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Antivirus Software to Protect Today’s Gadgets

Anti-Virus protection is important no matter what type device you are using. Despite what you may have heard, smartphones and tablets also need protection from viruses and malware. So it’s important to make sure that you have the right kind of anti-virus protection for your device. Several companies offer protection for different types of devices. Some even offer that protection for free

AVG offers an anti-virus app for Android smartphones. Simply called AVG AntiVirus Free for Android, it works on all versions of Android OS, v2.0 an onwards. It also offers you the ability to control your smartphone remotely, in the event that you lose it or have it stolen from you. It scans apps, files, settings, and protects you while browsing the internet. It also offers email filtering, in order to protect you from scams. Perhaps the best part is that they offer the app for free!

Don’t have an Android? Available in the App Store for iPhone and iPad is the Intego VirusBarrier iOS. For a one time app fee of $0.99, the Virus Barrier iOS scanner allows you to scan your files for viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and Mac OS X and Windows malware.
Maybe you are looking for something that can protect all of your devices. If you want just basic protection from viruses and software, Avast Version 7 offers it for free for your PCs, Macs and mobiles. Avast states that they are the world’s most popular antivirus protection, and further indicate that they protect more than 176 million devices. If you are looking for more than just basic protection and are willing to pay for it, they also offer enhanced versions Avast Pro Antivirus and Avast Internet Security.

Have several devices to protect? Norton 360 Multi-Device offers a security package for up to 5 devices. As the name suggests, it protects any combination of Macs, PCs and Android smartphones and tablets. Norton 360 Multi-Device also offers features like automatic backup and tracking and recovery for lost or stolen phones.

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Nokia Introduces 3D Printing Kit for Lumia 820

Lumia 820 has a removable shell, and those shells are already available in a wide range of colors. However, with 3D printing slowly gaining popularity, Nokia has introduced a 3D printing kit for this popular phone.

3D printing has been around for quite some time now, and has made surprisingly slow progress when it comes to expanding its own niche. 3D printers are shaped like printers, but they are a manufacturing device. The users instruct the device to produce a product by providing it with detailed schematics, and the printer uses resigns, glues, cellulose, and other material to ‘print out’ (read manufacture) the product.

Through 3D printing, your everyday accessories can be highly customized, and Nokia has seen the potential in this regard. Through the 3D printing kit, Nokia has put the power of design in the hands of the user. Now you can design your own Lumia 820 shell with colors, materials, text etc of your own choice. You could opt for a water proof material, a glow in the dark material, or ordinary plastic. You could choose to leave room for a butter knife or a torch. In other words, you could simply go crazy and design a shell that turns your Lumia 820 into a device from the future; the possibilities are endless.

Nokia aims to cater to put the power in the hands of the users through this step. While 3D printers are not all that common, but this is the first such option available for a smartphone in the market. The 3D printing development kit contains 3D templates, best practices, recommended materials, and case specs. Through 3D printing, a talented designer could develop designs that cater to a local niche market, and a local distributor can then sell those designs in abundance.
The 3D printing kit is aimed at individual users and retailers/distributors alike. While the individual users gain a chance to develop their own custom Lumia 820; distributors can make use of this opportunity to create and sell a wide variety of Lumia 820 shells and make a nice profit.

The release of 3D printing kit for Lumia 820 by Nokia is the first step towards empowering users in smartphone designs. In the future, we can expect Apple and Samsung to follow in Nokia’s footsteps.

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Phone and Smart Appliances Bill in One?

As the unpredictable and innovative world of technology continues to grow at an express rate, smartphone users could soon find themselves paying their phone provider for more than just their calls.
It seems the ever-changing digital landscape has forced marketers to continually rethink content and come up with further and better ways to connect with consumers.
Just as the American multinational telecommunications corporation, AT&T, announced its forthcoming Digital Life Home Security and Automation project, which allows users to control aspects of their home, via their smartphone, Samsung has launched its versatile home appliance range (Smart Appliances).
So if having a bill from your network for your smartphone was not enough, users could soon begin racking up additional costs for appliances, such as the fridge.

In-built fridge tablet:
The Android-based Samsung refrigerator has a tablet installed on the front of the fridge, allowing the user to create a shared grocery list on the refrigerator.
If someone adds to the list, even while another person is shopping, the list will update and appear on their mobile device.



You can also tell the program what options you have available for dinner and it searches the food and cookery site Epicurious, to find a recipe using your ingredients.
A Samsung spokesman said: “Convenience, ease of use, organization and connectivity are the heart of Samsung home appliances.”

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Apple’s App Store Sails Past 40 Billion Downloads

In a recent press release, Apple Inc. announced that over 40 billion apps have been downloaded from their app store so far. It was also mentioned in the press release that developers have now made over 7 billion dollars through the app store, and over 20 billion (out of 40 billion) downloads were made in 2012 alone.
Over 775,000 apps have been created for the app store so far resulting in the impressive 7 billion dollars payout for the developers. About 2 billion downloads came in December alone. We know that you have done your part in making Apple’s app store a roaring success, but let’s wait and see the bigger picture here. The App Store has shown exponential growth since its conception, and if this trend continues, it will break its own record of 20 billion unique downloads this year

The 40 billion downloads we have mentioned are unique downloads; with newspapers, magazines, games, project management, and several other types of apps being downloaded daily. In 2012, games dominated the list of highest grossing iPad apps as seven of the top ten highest earning apps were video games.
The App Store offers developers and customers an ideal platform, allowing developers to monetize their apps, while providing customers with a safe and reliable space to find what they are looking for.
Mobile apps have become so common in our lives that “there is an app for that” has become a commonly repeated phrase in our daily conversations.
If the App store keeps growing at this rate, it will soon have over one million apps, and the number of unique downloads will cross a total of 70 billion this year. The App Store has come a long way from its conception in July 2008, and it seems as if it will continue to grow at a rapid pace.

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Apple Launching Cheaper iPhone to Compete with Android

Most readers would rub their eyes after reading the headline. Apple is notorious for pricing their products highly when compared to the other companies in the industry. However, the Cupertino giant has revealed plans to launch a cheaper iPhone in developing markets. The company has been facing increased competition from devices which run on Android, as they are priced lower and affordable for a larger segment of the audience.

Going Against Steve Jobs’ Ideology

Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, had been strict with the policy of pricing products at a certain level. He was a staunch believer in quality over quantity and had followed the principle up till his death. Now it seems the people in charge have decided to break away from Jobs’ principle and adopt a new policy. Of course, circumstances change over time but it has been just over a year since Jobs passed away. Since then, Apple has faced a number of setbacks.

Sales in China Encouraging

Apple recently revealed that it was selling a record number of iPhones in China. Previously, the market had been dominated by Asia-based companies like Samsung and Nokia. Yet, the launch of the iPhone 5 saw two million units of the smartphone being sold within a week. That is at par with some of the leading markets for Apple’s products, particularly in the developed countries. Hence, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Apple wants to tap into the growing demand in developing markets.

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A Touch Too Far or a Safe Bet for Windows 8?

 Despite clocking up 60 million licenses to date, there have been many scathing reviews of Microsoft’s Windows 8. Will the technology giant’s move into the touchscreen market be worth the gamble?

In a bid to try and regain the ground lost to Apple and Google, Microsoft are making a big bet on the most radical redesign of Windows since they introduced Windows 95 more than 15 years ago.

The Windows 8 software and a new Surface tablet running it, was launched in October.
However, it was not long before critics, such as internet entrepreneur and MIT professor Philip Greenspun, began attacking the new offering.

Negative response
Greenspun described Windows 8 as the ‘ideal Christmas present for someone you hate’ and said Microsoft has integrated the tablet and the standard Windows desktop in the most ‘inconvenient and inconsistent possible way’.

“Microsoft has had since October 2008 to study Android. It has had since June 2007 to study iPhone. It seems as though they did not figure out what is good about the standard tablet operating systems,” Greenspun said.

Gabe Newell, co-founder of software and technology company Valve Corporation, described Windows 8 as a ‘giant sadness’.

“It just hurts everybody in the PC business,” Newell, who runs the Steam games store, told The Verge. “Rather than everybody being all excited to go buy a new PC, or buying new software to run on it, we’ve had a 20-plus per cent decline in PC sales.”

But surely there are people excited about having a full Windows computer that is also a tablet, and of course, the slick new interface of touchable, customizable tiles?
Microsoft bosses stick to their guns and say Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet.

Sales to date
At the 11th Annual J.P. Morgan Tech Forum this week, Windows chief marketing officer and chief financial officer, Tami Reller, announced that Windows 8 has sold 60 million licenses since its release in October.

This represents the cumulative sales of Windows 8 including both upgrades and sales to OEMs for new devices.

There are now more than 1,700 certified systems for Windows 8 and Windows RT.  Bosses at Microsoft have also highlighted strong growth in developers building for Windows 8.
Windows spokesman, Nick Parker, said: “Touch and other new capabilities in Windows 8 are powering the latest hardware innovations coming from our OEM partners. Together we are delivering interactive new experiences through devices and services that deliver on customers’ need for constant connectivity, mobility and flexibility.”

The results so far show a similar sales route that Microsoft saw with Windows 7, so is such a hostile reception from critics warranted?

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How Windows 8 Is More like Vista than Windows 7

  No one knows what the performance of Windows 8 is like. If the market reports are to be believed, the sales have not been up to expectations and the user acceptance is not encouraging either. On the other hand, Microsoft has maintained that they have sold 40 million copies of Windows 8 already and it is selling faster than Windows 7. One cannot be sure about who to rely upon but the general outlook seems to be that Windows 8 has underperformed.
It would mean that Microsoft’s claim that Windows 8 is performing better than its predecessor don’t have much substance. Up till now, Windows 7 has been one of the best selling products put out by Microsoft and it had been a success from the outset. However, user acceptance has been slow for Windows 8 and people haven’t been praising it like they did Windows 7. In this regard, it seems as though Windows 8 is more like Windows 7.

When the first look of Windows 8 was revealed to the people, the general perception was that Microsoft had gone out of its way to distinguish it from Windows 7. This seems to be the case as the acceptability for the new operating system has not been as quick as it was for Windows 7. People have been complaining about the barrage of new features which Windows 8 carries and the time it takes for them to get used to the new interface.

On the other hand, Vista had been a non-performer from the beginning. The reviews were not too positive and users soon realized that it was inferior to the alternatives on offer. Most people who were swayed by the new features and aggressive marketing switched to Windows 7 or shifted to another operating system altogether. In Vista’s case, 1% of the computers were running on it after one month. In Windows 8’s case, the figure is 1.2%. There clearly isn’t much of a gap between Vista and Windows 8.

Every person is entitled to his/her own opinion but the facts paint a not too rosy picture for Windows 8’s performance. Microsoft did everything it could to promote it yet the uptake has not been too optimistic so far. Ultimately, by making Windows 8 different from Windows 7, Microsoft has made it more like Vista in terms of performance at least. If that proves to be the case, Microsoft has another non-performer on its hands.

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VLC though good, has some problems!

Simple, fast and powerful media player. Plays everything: Files, Discs, Webcams, Devices and Streams. Plays most codecs with no codec packs needed:
MPEG-2, DivX, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3...
Runs on all platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix... Completely Free, 0 spyware, 0 ads and no user tracking.
Can do media conversion and streaming


 When it comes to the sound.. if you use a laptop or any small speaker don't push the audio to 200% in vlc volume panel which may lead to destroy of those speakers.

The laptops speakers is  ~4ohms,which doesnt hold if you boost the audio.

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Leap Motion motion control tech to be bundled with Asus PCs

With the Leap, from Leap Motion, developers will be able to create apps that can translate the movement of users' hands -- and even their fingers -- onto the screen

Leap Motion, which created an innovative gesture control technology that measures users' movements to an accuracy of a hundredth of a millimeter, has struck a deal to bundle its Leap device and app store with a series of Asus computers

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Leap Motion has said that 14 percent of developers want to do gaming-related applications, while 12 percent want to use the technology for music or video applications, 11 percent for art and design, 8 percent for science and medicine, and 6 percent for robotics. At launch, the company plans an Apple-style app store, and more than 90 percent of developers asking for software development kits want to sell their work through such a store. All told, developers have proposed more than 40,000 different applications.

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