There Is an Airplane On the Moon (and It's Not a Photoshop)

No, this incredible image is not a Photoshop montage and that's not Batman's plane. It's a Qantas Dash 8 Q 400, a twin propeller passenger airplane passing in front of the Moon in Australia. This is how it was taken:

Today, I achieved something I have wanted to do for a considerable length of time: A plane crossing the moon.
Everyday this Qantas Dash 8 Q 400 flys over our country property,always at 5.30 pm, without fail—I have watched it fly 'through' the moon a few times.
Today, the moon was at the 'right' phase-approx in line with the planes flight path. So I set up gear (I have done this drill quite a few times!)
I saw the plane along way of and thought 'no-its not going to hit',I stayed beside scope just in case,then as it got closer,I could see "it was going to line up!"
My palm started to sweet—buck fever. I only want to pull the trigger when I knew the plane was in the centre of the moon. I got my wish!

The shot was taken in South East Queensland, at 5:30pm on September 16. Chris—the photographer—used a Vixen 103 ED refractor on a Vixen GP mount, guiding by a Vixen SS2K. His camera was Canon 450D at 1/250s, set on ISO200.

One shot in a million, indeed. [Ice In Space via APOD]

Source: gizmodo

The Verizon Samsung Continuum is a Samsung Galaxy S Android Phone With Two OLED Displays

The breakneck pace of awesome Android phones continues: this is a leaked picture of the Verizon Samsung Continuum, an Android phone with two OLED displays. One screen acts as the main display while the second screen acts as the "Ticker".
The "Ticker", as its called now, will show notifications, RSS updates, weather forecasts, and presumably more tools of that nature. It's likely that the "Ticker" will give users a quick-access method to use their phones without needing to fire up the big screen. It's an interesting concept that should add versatility and give the Continuum a hallmark feature.
Other than that, the Continuum seems to be another Samsung Galaxy S device. No word on availability yet but it's supposedly headed to Big Red. [Engadget]

Source: gizmodo

What the 'Like' button means for web traffic

By Jolie O'Dell, Mashable

September 30, 2010

Since the button launched, many publishers are reporting large increases in traffic specifically due to this kind of social plugin

The new-this-year-yet-somehow-already-ubiquitous Facebook Like button has been around just long enough to generate some interesting numbers relating to Facebook users and web traffic. The button, which launched in April at f8, Facebook's (Facebook) developer conference, is now present on roughly 2 million sites around the web, from sports sites to news organizations and many other kinds of publishers.  A media analytics lead on Facebook's Developer Network Insights team crunched some numbers and found that Facebook Likes not only generate interesting data about the "likers" (a.k.a. Facebook users who are also active on your website) themselves; this data also speaks volumes about clickthrough rates, time on-site and other engagement metrics.

Stats about people
On average, a Facebook user who "likes" your content has more than double the number of friends than does a typical Facebook user. This could mean the user is more "social" or more influential; on the other hand, it could mean the user is an attention-seeking narcissist.
While it's fatuous to read too much into that statistic, the number does show that the average "liker" is more active from a social-web standpoint.
An even more interesting stat about the likers is that they click on five times more links to external sites than the typical Facebook user. If clickthroughs are what you're looking for from your social media strategy, this is good news.
Here's a stat just for news sites: The average Facebook user who "likes" content on a news website is 34 -- that's about 2 decades younger than the average newspaper subscriber.
We've known for some time that the future of journalism and social media are, at this point, inextricably linked; this stat provides a little hard evidence for that conclusion.

Stats about traffic
Most website owners are aware that Twitter (Twitter) refers a ton of traffic. It's meant to be a content-referral network, so link-sharing and clickthroughs are a given in many cases.
The Facebook "Like" button, however, might be bringing Facebook closer to competing with Twitter in the area of referral traffic, though.
Since the button launched and was integrated on millions of sites, many publishers are reporting large increases in traffic specifically due to this kind of social plugin. ABC News reported a 190 percent increase; Gawker's traffic shot up by 200 percent; Sporting News said their site traffic was up by a shocking 500 percent; and NBA.com said that Facebook had become their second-largest referral source.
Facebook relays messages from publishers saying that these users "are more engaged and stay longer when their real identity and real friends are driving the experience through social plugins."
As an example, NHL.com reported that pages per user was up by 92 percent, time on-site was up by 85 percent, video-viewing increased by 86 percent more videos and overall visits went up by 36 percent.

Clearly, Facebook is only part of social media referral traffic, but it's becoming a larger part as the network grows and users become accustomed to interacting with third-party and external content from within the comfort of their social graph.

Source: cnn

Spoiler alert! Facebook movie secrets revealed?

By Helen A.S. Popkin

Figure you'll save yourself a wad of cash and skip "The Social Network" because — hey — like "Titanic," you already know how it ends? Pump your brakes, sport. There might be a few secrets you don't yet know about Facebook — the world's largest virtual time suck you're always complaining about in your status updates. Here's some super-secret twists that may or may not (pretty much, not) pop up in the plot: * Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg quits Harvard for Palo Alto, Calif. to join lovely and talented Napster dude Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), only to learn that Timberlake — er — Parker … is a DUDE!

* Mark Zuckerberg takes the "red pill" and discovers he's latex-clad Jesus … and Cowboy Curtis sure has put on a lot of weight! You know, like Neo in "The Matrix."

* After six years of convoluted stories about how the nonstop Facebook redesigns are the results of ongoing research based solely on user needs, we learn that Mark Zuckerberg is totally making it up on the fly from the stuff on the bulletin board behind our heads!

* Disillusioned Harvard student Eduardo Saverin discovers that the obnoxious code monkey Mark Zuckerberg who screwed him out of his Facebook shares is actually the other half of Eduardo's split psyche and the only way he can stop him is to get author Ben Mezrich — the dude who wrote the book about the MIT students who made millions gaming Las Vegas — to write a one-sided exposé chronicling Eduardo's beefs in a book Hollywood snaps up before it's even written.

* Unable to silence the imaginary voice whispering, "If you build it, you'll get farm coins," millions of Facebook users willingly expose their personal information to a third party for the privilege of spending countless hours tiling virtual soil in a faux feudal system rather than, you know, having a life.

* Facebook users triumphantly shed their ambivalence about their relationship with the world's largest social network and enthusiastically jump on the metaphorical Facebook bus for what — on the surface — seems a fairy tale happy ending, but is actually a bleak commentary on our unpredictable, ambiguous future.

* After finding the origami unicorn Edward James Olmos fashioned out one of of his "I'm CEO ... b-tch!" business cards, Mark Zuckerberg realizes he is no different from the "dumb f--ks" he's been targeting for years on his social science fiction network.

* Turns out, your online privacy has been dead the whole time!
 
Related: Facebook movie is all about the hoodies ... and shower shoes

Source: msnbc

What Is Lowtide?

The iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch all use a menu system called "Springboard" that doesn't exist on the new Apple TV. But what the Apple TV uses instead might be coming to iPad.

Lowtide is the AppleTV iOS app...

While the new Apple TV uses the iOS operating system, its interface is even more closed than an iPad or iPhone. You won't be able to load apps from iTunes or browse the web using Safari. (At least not yet.)

Instead, the whole interface is an application called "Lowtide", essentially an updated version of the "Front Row" system that has been on Macs and older Apple TVs for years. Lowtide will handle all the user interaction, as well as the video playback and streaming, connecting to Macs or other iOS devices through AirPlay—it's an one-stop shop for the entire Apple TV experience.

...that's probably coming to the iPad...

Thanks to poking around by TUAW, it's looking likely that Apple may include Lowtide in the upcoming iOS 4.2 release for iPad. That would mean your iPad would gain all the features of the Apple TV: television rental, streaming from other computers on the local network running iTunes, perhaps even being used as an AirPlay destination for other iOS devices.

Think of Lowtide as the app that would turn your iPad into an Apple TV with the screen already attached.

...and possibly iPhones and iPod touches...

It looks like Lowtide will just be on iPads for now, but since all iOS devices share similar internal equipment, there's little to stand in the way of a version of Lowtide for iPhone and iPod touch except a rethinking of the interface to make it more suitable for a handheld device.

It's possible, however, that Apple will decide that television rental and the like won't be accessible to the smaller iOS devices. It doesn't really make sense to falsely limit it—why shouldn't I be able to rent a TV show on my iPhone if I want?—but Apple has been known to provide differing levels of access to iTunes content in the past.

...that might be invisible until you buy a TV show on iTunes.

Right now Lowtide appears to be a "hidden" service on the iPad, only showing up when activated when called by specific situations. (Like how the photo import service on iPad only appears when you plug in the Camera Connection Kit.)

But the iPad's "Video" app has been mysteriously threadbare since the iPad's launch. While there's nothing to indicate that Apple will replace the Video app with Lowtide in iOS 4.2, it only makes sense to integrate both the local video playback and the Apple TV experience Lowtide provides into a single movies and television destination—especially one that's so plugged into iTunes.

Source: gizmodo

Gateway Shoves WiMax Into an NV Series Notebook

The NV59C66U might not have the sexiest name, but its integrated WiMax card might be titillating enough to make up for it—assuming you live somewhere that it matters.

It starts at $700, and can be configured up to a Core i5 processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and a Blu-ray drive. All of which is pretty standard these days, but it's a good option if you're itching for some 4G laptop goodness.

GATEWAY LAUNCHES NV59C66U NOTEBOOK
WITH INTEGRATED WIMAX, NEW PREMIUM DESIGN

New model available now with WiMAX wireless connectivity and a deluxe look and feel; Entire line updated with latest performance technology at affordable prices

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2010 – Gateway today unveils the Gateway NV59C66u notebook, the newest model in its Gateway NV Series line of notebooks, which features integrated WiMAX capabilities, a premium chassis design and a robust configuration.

Customers can pair the Gateway NV59C66u with integrated WiMAX hardware, and then choose a WiMAX service provider to connect to networks in a growing number of cities and metropolitan areas around the United States for a fast and reliable connection to the Internet. WiMAX is the next-generation of wireless technology designed to enable pervasive, high-speed mobile Internet access at an affordabe cost, and is the first all-IP mobile Internet solution enabling efficient and scalable networks for data, video, and voice..
The WiMAX card in the Gateway NV59C66u is the Intel® 6250 wireless card, which provides a reliable connection to both WiMAX and Wi–Fi networks. As a result, customers using WiMAX on the Gateway NV59C66u will be able to connect while moving around their coverage area, making the notebook ideal for small business owners that move about a specific urban area, such as realtors and salespeople, as well as students and other tech-savvy individuals that want to remain connected.
"The availability of the Gateway NV59C66u comes at an opportune time for customers who want a consistently reliable and fast connection to the Internet through either WiMAX service, which is rolling out this year in more metropolitan areas or 802.11 b/g/n WiFi connections to hot spots and WiFi networks," said Ray Sawall, senior product marketing manager for Gateway notebooks. "In addition, the performance, feature-set and affordability of notebooks have increased dramatically to make them an even more appealing option to customers who want an all-purpose PC – and that's incredibly evident here in the entire Gateway NV Series and with the new Gateway NV59C66u with integrated WiMAX."

Complementing the new WiMAX capabilities, the Gateway NV59C66u features a new design with an attractive tone-on tone patterned espresso chassis that is visually interesting and stylish. The metal chassis and palm rest both appear to be dramatically textured, but feel subtle and comfortable to the touch.
The Gateway NV59C66u will soon be followed by additional new models in the Gateway NV Series line that come in a range of configurations and prices to meet the needs of a different types of PC customers such as small businesses, families and students.
Latest Technology for Staying Productive and In Touch
With reliable and fast processing technology, the Gateway NV Series notebooks deliver tangible benefits to customers, including the ability to handle multiple applications at once. The Gateway NV Series feature Intel Core i3 and Core i5 as well as AMD Athlon and AMD Turion, processors, supported by up to 4GB of DDR3 memory that is upgradeable to 8GB. Ample storage space is available for with high-capacity hard drives ranging from 320GB to 500GB(1).

In addition to featuring an Intel Centrino Advanced-N+WiMAX 6250 WiMAX Wireless Card for a connection to WiMAX networks, the Gateway NV59C66u also has integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi Certified connectivity for a convenient connection to hot spots and wireless networks, as do other models in the Gateway NV Series line. The integrated High Definition webcam allows web chats and video emails in incredible clarity thanks to its 1280x1024 resolution. Also, Gigabit Ethernet LAN connectivity ensures a fast wired online connection.

Visually complementing the performance technology in the Gateway NV Series' is the High Definition LED-backlit TFT Widescreen display. Delivering crisp and clear video with vibrant color and detailed images, the Gateway NV Series have models in two sizes: The Gateway NV Series with a 15.6-inch display deliver 1366x768 resolution, while the Gateway NV Series with a large 17.1-inch display provide even more clarity with 1600x900 resolution. Customers who want to share video on the go can use the HDMI port to connect the Gateway NV Series to a home theater or external LCD to deliver crisp high-quality visuals and high-fidelity audio with a single cable.

Extra Features Make Life Easier
The Gateway NV59C66u and Gateway NV Series are complemented by extra features in the line that make it incredibly enjoyable and useful. Navigating websites, moving between documents and even inputting characters is incredibly enjoyable thanks to the notebooks' multi-gesture touchpad, touchpad lock, and dedicated numeric keypad.

The Gateway NV Series comes with either DVD or Blu-Ray drives, giving customers a way to view the latest movies. Also, digital media can be downloaded to the notebooks through the media card reader and USB ports. Protecting media and other files on the PC is easy, since the Gateway NV Series includes MyBackup functionality that gives customers a way to quickly and easily back-up all important files to another location such as a USB drive or another hard drive.

Gateway's popular "social networking" button is integrated into the NV Series, so customers can access their social networks, including Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, with a single touch of a button.

Gateway NV Series Availability, Price and Configuration
The Gateway NV Series will be available at retailers nationwide over the coming weeks at prices starting at $479.99. The Gateway NV59C66u with integrated WiMAX is priced at $699.99 and is available now.

Source: gizmodo

Jaguar C-X75 Concept: An Electric Jet XJ220 From The Future

For its 75th anniversary, Jaguar's unveiling the C-X75 Concept, an extended-range electric coupe showing off a new design direction for the leaping-kitty brand, along with a electric/gas turbine power source generating 780 hp. Your 21st century British supercar awaits.

Designed with the intent to move Jaguar's styling into something new and evolved, the C-X75 revives the promise of the XJ220 two-seat supercar from the 1990s; one vehicle that carriers every engineering resource Jaguar can muster.

The C-X75's design mixes a number of cues from Jaguar's modern lineup, but in shape and proportion resembles the 1966 XJ13 Le Mans prototype, a car Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum tags as "possibly the most beautiful Jaguar ever made."

But there's no precedent in Jaguar history for the powertrain under its aluminum skin. Using four electric motors at each wheel generating 195hp each and a lithium-ion battery pack, Jaguar says the C-X75 can hit 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, with a 10.3-second dispatch of a quarter mile. The batteries carry enough energy to carry the two-seater 68 miles on electric power alone.

And when those dim, the C-X75 can refill its electric power with two micro gas turbines, paired midships, that generate 94 hp apiece, providing nearly 500 miles of additional range. The turbines can operate independently, and can be called upon to directly power the electric motors. Yoked together, the system provides 780 hp and 1187 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels.

Aside from aesthetics, the designers needed to deal with the forces require to keep the C-X75 stable at an estimated top speed of 205 mph. The scoops on the side feed the gas turbines, which need 25,000 liters of air per minute in operation. The exhaust gases from the turbines feed into the aerodynamics as well.

In the cabin, Jaguar has designed a series of new touchscreens, including one that can mimic the dash of a D-Type. The center dash also sports a Bremont-designed clock, and instead of speakers, the Bowers & Wilkins sound system uses transducers lining the doors and bulkhead in a honeycomb pattern, creating a system that can actively cancel some of the noise from the mini jet engines behind the passengers' spines.

For three-quarters of a century, Jaguar has embodied the highs and lows of Britain's auto industry. Left for dead several times, Jaguar has struggled into a semblance of financial stability following its sale by Ford to India's Tata Motors in 2008. But it has shied from made an overarching statement of purpose about its future under new ownership until now. If it can put some of the C-X75's technological bounty into a real vehicle, Jaguar could craft a few more years as glorious as any from the previous 75.

Source: gizmodo