On October 31, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a
patent application from Apple that reveals a new power management system that
will work with both a power adapter and seamlessly with a portable solar panel
accessory for busy people on the go. Apple's engineers are thinking big with
their on-site solar power now creating the energy equivalent to powering 17,600
homes a year. The experience that Apple's engineers are gaining with working
with solar panels is filtering through to creating a power management system for
future Macs and iDevices. Apple has already been granted seven solar power
patents thus far and you could review most of them in our Green Technology
Archives. Today's patent goes one step further than most by introducing us to a
solar power panel accessory for mobile devices like a MacBook or iPhone that
won't require a power converter. Apple's system may be closer to reality than
first thought considering that Apple's senior power design engineer noted as the
inventor of this system has been snatched by Samsung within the last year.
Apple Invents Portable Solar Panel Accessory for Recharging Devices on the
Go
Apple's patent filing states that in the absence of the power adapter
and/or mains electricity, the portable electronic device may be powered by the
battery until the battery is fully discharged. Because the battery has a limited
runtime, operation of the portable electronic device may generally be dependent
on the availability of mains electricity. Hence, use of portable electronic
devices may be facilitated by improving access to power sources for the portable
electronic devices.
Apple's invention relates to providing a power management system that
supplies power to components in an electronic device. The power management
system includes a system microcontroller (SMC) and a charger. The electronic
devices that will be able to take advantage of Apple's new solar panel include a
MacBook, iPad, iPod touch and iPhone.
During operation, the power management system accepts power from at least
one of a power adapter and a solar panel. Next, the power management system
supplies the power to components in the electronic device without using a
converter circuit between the solar panel and the power management system.
In some embodiments, using the power management system to supply the power
to the components involves tracking a maximum power point of the solar
panel.
In some embodiments, tracking the maximum power point of the solar panel
involves measuring one or more output powers associated with at least one of the
solar panel and the power management system, and adjusting an input voltage of
the power management system based on the one or more output powers. For example,
the input voltage may be adjusted based on the output power(s) using a
perturb-and-observe technique and/or an incremental conductance technique.
2013年10月31日星期四
Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that you will be capable of run Windows
Next week, on October 18, Microsoft will release Windows eight.1, a
relatively massive update that Microsoft hopes will ultimately give it relevance
in the tablet space, and in the exact same time make Windows 8 much less
abhorrent for desktop and laptop users. Microsoft is deluding itself, even
though: Windows 8.1 definitely improves upon the horrid state of affairs which
has persisted because the 1st public preview more than two years ago, but
there’s no way that it's going to unseat iOS or Android inside the mobile arena.
At best, the modifications made to Windows eight.1 will enable the OS to
continue along the incredibly gradual incline treaded by Windows 8. Next year,
although, when Windows 9 is released across every type element and unifies the
app ecosystem across smartphones, tablets, and desktops, then Microsoft actually
stands a opportunity against Google and Apple.
Ever because Windows Telephone 7 limped out the gate in 2010, after which the lackluster launch of Windows eight a year later, it has been clear that Microsoft has been moving to merge the touch, mobile, and desktop ecosystems. From an early date, Microsoft was speaking up how Windows 8′s Metro apps have been pretty much compatible with Windows Phone 7 - then, slightly later, Microsoft made a lot of noise about how Windows Telephone eight would use the same kernel and other low-level libraries as Windows 8. Most recently, with Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft will edge however closer to cross-platform compatibility having a shared app store.
More than the years, it appears just about each Microsoft vice president has discussed how Windows and Windows Phone apps are almost compatible - but, as evidenced by the slow development of Windows 8, Windows Telephone, and their respective ecosystems, almost compatible just isn’t fantastic enough. The thing is, absolutely everyone knows how amazing comprehensive cross-platform compatibility could be. Every person knows that it could be the magic bullet that would quickly give Microsoft a possibility at competing against Apple and Google. That is why Microsoft keeps teasing us, keeps spinning a yarn, to assure absolutely everyone - buyers, developers, and tech pundits - that it knows how critical a unified ecosystem is.
With Windows 9, I bet that Bill Gates’ 1980s dream of Windows Everywhere will ultimately come to fruition. Barring a different civil war, I strongly count on that Windows 9 will run on smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and all the things else in in between, and developers might be in a position to write a single Windows app and have it run across each and every type issue.
Hopefully, Windows 9′s unified ecosystem will resemble iOS: You go to the new app shop (presumably getting debuted in Windows 8.1), then you are only shown the apps that should work effectively on the form issue of your present device. Developers will have the selection of being able to write one app that scales to different screen sizes/resolutions, or 1 app with numerous views/layouts that are optimized for each screen size/resolution - but the main factor is that the exact same code will perform on any Windows 9 device, since the underlying kernel/libraries/abstraction layers are the identical.
In one particular fell swoop, as an alternative to becoming coerced and cajoled by Microsoft into publishing apps for its distant-third platforms, the combined user bases and ecosystems will basically make Windows 9 a desirable platform that can compete with iOS and Android in terms of reach and money-making prospective.
But what about game consoles? Nicely, when it comes to sheer numbers, consoles are still modest fry; over their complete seven-year span, Microsoft and Sony have only sold about 160 million Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles combined. By comparison, analysts estimate that 700 million smartphones and around 400 million PCs had been shipped in 2012 alone. Still, even when the absolute numbers are fairly smaller, Microsoft knows complete effectively that the usefulness and desirability of a software program ecosystem grows exponentially using the addition of new type elements and use cases. Imagine in case you could get a single app on your Windows 9 smartphone, and then have it automatically installed on your Windows 9 desktop and Windows 9 game console, or have your gameplay videos automatically sync from your console to your smartphone and Computer - that’d be quite great, suitable?
The excellent news is that the Xbox A single already appears to be compatible with Windows eight apps, by virtue of operating a cut-down version of Windows eight for apps, alongside the Xbox OS for games. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that you will be capable of run Windows eight apps directly around the Xbox 1, but we’d be shocked if that wasn’t the case. In the very least, there will possibly be an update towards the Xbox One - perhaps around the exact same time because the unified Windows eight and WP8 app retailer is launched - that brings Windows 8 apps for the Xbox 1. Then, by the time Windows 9 rolls around for smartphones/tablets/PCs, we should really have apps that run across the whole gamut of devices, like consoles.
If Microsoft had unified its mobile device, Pc, and console operating systems last year, with the release of Windows eight, then I feel the consumer computing landscape could be really, very various. Microsoft would most likely be on top and calling the shots, as an alternative to trailing behind the big boys, squeaking tremulously for focus and not getting it. As a consequence of prevarication, internal strife, gutless equivocation, and most likely a slew of other factors that we’ll never get towards the bottom of, Microsoft has had 3 of its weakest OS releases in history: Windows Phone 7 and eight, and Windows 8.
If Windows 9 is released subsequent year, Microsoft may stand a possibility, especially if Windows 8.1 and the acquisition of Nokia can bolster its mobile efforts within the meantime. No matter if such a utopian unified platform can unseat iOS and Android, though, remains to become observed. Apple and Google aren’t standing nonetheless, and continue to solidify their marketplace share regardless of Microsoft’s ideal efforts to remain relevant. If Windows 9 does not come out within the next 12 months, or if Microsoft does not have some other super-secret plan up its sleeve, the company’s future will creep ever closer towards total untenability.
Ever because Windows Telephone 7 limped out the gate in 2010, after which the lackluster launch of Windows eight a year later, it has been clear that Microsoft has been moving to merge the touch, mobile, and desktop ecosystems. From an early date, Microsoft was speaking up how Windows 8′s Metro apps have been pretty much compatible with Windows Phone 7 - then, slightly later, Microsoft made a lot of noise about how Windows Telephone eight would use the same kernel and other low-level libraries as Windows 8. Most recently, with Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft will edge however closer to cross-platform compatibility having a shared app store.
More than the years, it appears just about each Microsoft vice president has discussed how Windows and Windows Phone apps are almost compatible - but, as evidenced by the slow development of Windows 8, Windows Telephone, and their respective ecosystems, almost compatible just isn’t fantastic enough. The thing is, absolutely everyone knows how amazing comprehensive cross-platform compatibility could be. Every person knows that it could be the magic bullet that would quickly give Microsoft a possibility at competing against Apple and Google. That is why Microsoft keeps teasing us, keeps spinning a yarn, to assure absolutely everyone - buyers, developers, and tech pundits - that it knows how critical a unified ecosystem is.
With Windows 9, I bet that Bill Gates’ 1980s dream of Windows Everywhere will ultimately come to fruition. Barring a different civil war, I strongly count on that Windows 9 will run on smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and all the things else in in between, and developers might be in a position to write a single Windows app and have it run across each and every type issue.
Hopefully, Windows 9′s unified ecosystem will resemble iOS: You go to the new app shop (presumably getting debuted in Windows 8.1), then you are only shown the apps that should work effectively on the form issue of your present device. Developers will have the selection of being able to write one app that scales to different screen sizes/resolutions, or 1 app with numerous views/layouts that are optimized for each screen size/resolution - but the main factor is that the exact same code will perform on any Windows 9 device, since the underlying kernel/libraries/abstraction layers are the identical.
In one particular fell swoop, as an alternative to becoming coerced and cajoled by Microsoft into publishing apps for its distant-third platforms, the combined user bases and ecosystems will basically make Windows 9 a desirable platform that can compete with iOS and Android in terms of reach and money-making prospective.
But what about game consoles? Nicely, when it comes to sheer numbers, consoles are still modest fry; over their complete seven-year span, Microsoft and Sony have only sold about 160 million Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles combined. By comparison, analysts estimate that 700 million smartphones and around 400 million PCs had been shipped in 2012 alone. Still, even when the absolute numbers are fairly smaller, Microsoft knows complete effectively that the usefulness and desirability of a software program ecosystem grows exponentially using the addition of new type elements and use cases. Imagine in case you could get a single app on your Windows 9 smartphone, and then have it automatically installed on your Windows 9 desktop and Windows 9 game console, or have your gameplay videos automatically sync from your console to your smartphone and Computer - that’d be quite great, suitable?
The excellent news is that the Xbox A single already appears to be compatible with Windows eight apps, by virtue of operating a cut-down version of Windows eight for apps, alongside the Xbox OS for games. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that you will be capable of run Windows eight apps directly around the Xbox 1, but we’d be shocked if that wasn’t the case. In the very least, there will possibly be an update towards the Xbox One - perhaps around the exact same time because the unified Windows eight and WP8 app retailer is launched - that brings Windows 8 apps for the Xbox 1. Then, by the time Windows 9 rolls around for smartphones/tablets/PCs, we should really have apps that run across the whole gamut of devices, like consoles.
If Microsoft had unified its mobile device, Pc, and console operating systems last year, with the release of Windows eight, then I feel the consumer computing landscape could be really, very various. Microsoft would most likely be on top and calling the shots, as an alternative to trailing behind the big boys, squeaking tremulously for focus and not getting it. As a consequence of prevarication, internal strife, gutless equivocation, and most likely a slew of other factors that we’ll never get towards the bottom of, Microsoft has had 3 of its weakest OS releases in history: Windows Phone 7 and eight, and Windows 8.
If Windows 9 is released subsequent year, Microsoft may stand a possibility, especially if Windows 8.1 and the acquisition of Nokia can bolster its mobile efforts within the meantime. No matter if such a utopian unified platform can unseat iOS and Android, though, remains to become observed. Apple and Google aren’t standing nonetheless, and continue to solidify their marketplace share regardless of Microsoft’s ideal efforts to remain relevant. If Windows 9 does not come out within the next 12 months, or if Microsoft does not have some other super-secret plan up its sleeve, the company’s future will creep ever closer towards total untenability.
2013年10月14日星期一
Facebook Acquires Data Compression Company Onavo
Facebook has agreed to acquire Israeli startup Onavo for between $100
million and $200 million, according to various reports, although neither
Facebook nor Onavo have disclosed the terms of the deal. This will be Facebook's
first office in Israel.
Tel Aviv-based Onavo is a mobile analytics company founded in 2010 that makes data compression software and provides analytic services for smartphone applications. Its data compression app, called Onavo Extend, was introduced for iOS in 2011 and for Android in 2012. According to its website, the app can increase your mobile data plan by up to 500% without additional fees. Its analytics tool, called Onavo Count, tracks how much data is consumed by each app on your smartphone.
Facebook has focused heavily on strengthening its mobile business, which has experienced the most growth lately. The social network's acquisition of Onavo benefits this effort in three ways: First, Onavo's data compression software will be especially valuable to Facebook's 100 million customers using its Facebook For Every Phone app on feature phones. According to Facebook, millions of people in developing markets such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines rely on feature phone technology to connect to Facebook without having to purchase a pricey smartphone. These basic devices can cost as little as $20.
Second, acquiring Onavo supports Facebook's newest initiative, Internet.org, which aims to connect everyone across the world. Onavo executives named this as another perk of joining the Facebook team. Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung are also partners in the Internet.org initiative.
"We're excited to join their team, and hope to play a critical role in reaching one of Internet.org's most significant goals -- using data more efficiently so that more people around the world can connect and share," wrote CEO Guy Rosen and CTO Roi Tiger.
Finally, Facebook has an opportunity to break into a new market -- in Israel. According to reports, Facebook lost to Google in June in acquiring Israeli mapping company Waze after months of negotiations. Facebook reportedly wanted to move Waze's operations to Facebook's existing facilities, which Waze did not want. According to Onavo's Rosen and Tiger, its mobile utility apps will continue as a standalone brand -- like Facebook acquisitions Instagram and Parse -- and remain in Tel Aviv.
"We expect Onavo's data compression technology to play a central role in our mission to connect more people to the Internet, and their analytic tools will help us provide better, more efficient mobile products," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.
Tel Aviv-based Onavo is a mobile analytics company founded in 2010 that makes data compression software and provides analytic services for smartphone applications. Its data compression app, called Onavo Extend, was introduced for iOS in 2011 and for Android in 2012. According to its website, the app can increase your mobile data plan by up to 500% without additional fees. Its analytics tool, called Onavo Count, tracks how much data is consumed by each app on your smartphone.
Facebook has focused heavily on strengthening its mobile business, which has experienced the most growth lately. The social network's acquisition of Onavo benefits this effort in three ways: First, Onavo's data compression software will be especially valuable to Facebook's 100 million customers using its Facebook For Every Phone app on feature phones. According to Facebook, millions of people in developing markets such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines rely on feature phone technology to connect to Facebook without having to purchase a pricey smartphone. These basic devices can cost as little as $20.
Second, acquiring Onavo supports Facebook's newest initiative, Internet.org, which aims to connect everyone across the world. Onavo executives named this as another perk of joining the Facebook team. Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung are also partners in the Internet.org initiative.
"We're excited to join their team, and hope to play a critical role in reaching one of Internet.org's most significant goals -- using data more efficiently so that more people around the world can connect and share," wrote CEO Guy Rosen and CTO Roi Tiger.
Finally, Facebook has an opportunity to break into a new market -- in Israel. According to reports, Facebook lost to Google in June in acquiring Israeli mapping company Waze after months of negotiations. Facebook reportedly wanted to move Waze's operations to Facebook's existing facilities, which Waze did not want. According to Onavo's Rosen and Tiger, its mobile utility apps will continue as a standalone brand -- like Facebook acquisitions Instagram and Parse -- and remain in Tel Aviv.
"We expect Onavo's data compression technology to play a central role in our mission to connect more people to the Internet, and their analytic tools will help us provide better, more efficient mobile products," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.
Nokia-designed application tools
The optimist would say that Windows Phone's prospects have by no means been
brighter. The pessimist would disagree.
Around the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which contains new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids maintain its spec lists searching fresh. Furthermore, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's greatest hardware ally absolutely into the fold, all whilst BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the computer software giant a possibility to at least double Windows Telephone growth by 2017.
Around the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, together with the OS fighting for much less than 10 % of mobile's global industry share, although Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Furthermore, Microsoft features a issue with partners. At this time it really is trying to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Telephone ecosystem. If that fails, Microsoft can be the only outfit producing Windows phones. That single-source approach may perhaps work for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a challenging time standing up to Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in receiving its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the most recent update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones plus the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Nevertheless, Windows Phone shoppers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a individual assistant, greater storage support for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. A lot of of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have extended existed on Android and iOS.
Then there's Skype, the other enterprise that Microsoft bought in 2011 (and for 1.3 billion greater than Nokia), however the organization has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime and in some cases Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone 8 Skype users can location calls in the People today hub, after very first downloading the app. What I'm talking about is making this an out-of-the-box feature.
We do know, at the very least, that Microsoft is difficult at function on a private assistant of its personal named Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update should be a significant a single that consists of this personal assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the pretty least. Just after the Nokia acquisition is comprehensive (assuming it gets shareholder and windows 7 professional retail version regulatory approval), Windows Phone need to rapidly incorporate Nokia-designed application tools, like its camera add-ons, into the native OS expertise.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- should be to take the major risks that make a company stand out as a player worth paying interest to. Immediately after the transition, the Windows Telephone group really should not just use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft ought to waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its perform on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one particular from 2011, also under), and probably create a high-end luxury telephone of its personal.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime getting reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google with out genuinely managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and capabilities that happen to be just good sufficient.
Around the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which contains new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids maintain its spec lists searching fresh. Furthermore, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's greatest hardware ally absolutely into the fold, all whilst BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the computer software giant a possibility to at least double Windows Telephone growth by 2017.
Around the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, together with the OS fighting for much less than 10 % of mobile's global industry share, although Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Furthermore, Microsoft features a issue with partners. At this time it really is trying to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Telephone ecosystem. If that fails, Microsoft can be the only outfit producing Windows phones. That single-source approach may perhaps work for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a challenging time standing up to Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in receiving its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the most recent update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones plus the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Nevertheless, Windows Phone shoppers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a individual assistant, greater storage support for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. A lot of of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have extended existed on Android and iOS.
Then there's Skype, the other enterprise that Microsoft bought in 2011 (and for 1.3 billion greater than Nokia), however the organization has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime and in some cases Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone 8 Skype users can location calls in the People today hub, after very first downloading the app. What I'm talking about is making this an out-of-the-box feature.
We do know, at the very least, that Microsoft is difficult at function on a private assistant of its personal named Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update should be a significant a single that consists of this personal assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the pretty least. Just after the Nokia acquisition is comprehensive (assuming it gets shareholder and windows 7 professional retail version regulatory approval), Windows Phone need to rapidly incorporate Nokia-designed application tools, like its camera add-ons, into the native OS expertise.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- should be to take the major risks that make a company stand out as a player worth paying interest to. Immediately after the transition, the Windows Telephone group really should not just use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft ought to waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its perform on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one particular from 2011, also under), and probably create a high-end luxury telephone of its personal.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime getting reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google with out genuinely managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and capabilities that happen to be just good sufficient.
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