ConnectedLife looks Back to the Future. We talk with Theory of a Deadman about their upcoming album, find out how technology is saving DaVinci’s paintings, and look at tech winners and losers. Get in the DeLorean. This is ConnectedLife!
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-CA&brand=sympatico&vid=a13147e5-da3c-4844-92a7-c55aa822ee28
Technology Helps Save Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper"
The bad news is that Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper" has not aged well. And, in order to protect it from outside pollutants, only a handful of viewers are allowed to see at one time. The good news is that technology may have come to the rescue; officials have uploaded a 16-billion pixel image of the painting for everyone with internet access to see. The resolution is 1,600 times stronger than an image taken on a standard 10 megapixel camera. The extremely high resolution will give experts and art lovers from around the world the chance to examine even the tiniest details of the 15th century wall painting. Bravo!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
ConnectedLife: Modern Living Show 29
ConnectedLife looks at modern living. We find out how cell phones affect sleep, show you a new way to read your favorite books, and check out Sony’s Full HD. ConnectedLife is living large!
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?from=inline&fg=gtlv2&mkt=en-ca&tab=s2&showPlaylist=true&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:2d6e4679-8332-424a-99db-0b8db3563ce6
E-readers:
Reading while commuting has always been a great way to pass the time. And novel-reading on cell phones gained traction in Japan a few years ago when classic novels became available. In fact, popular, serial short novels written out on cell phones as text messages have recently made the jump from simple time-wasters to best-selling books.
The cell phone novel idea still hasn’t really taken hold in North America, but the recent sold-out success of Amazon’s Kindle launch and their purchase of audible.com suggest that E-reading may be coming to North America in a big way. The Kindle, the Sony Reader, the CyBook and other E-readers let users download multiple books and read them on-the-go.
Philip’s ‘Readius’ combines the best of both worlds by acting as a cell phone and an E-reader. The fact that 5 of the top 10 novels in Japan were originally created as cell phone novels suggests that E-readers might become a staple feature in all future mobile devices.
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?from=inline&fg=gtlv2&mkt=en-ca&tab=s2&showPlaylist=true&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:2d6e4679-8332-424a-99db-0b8db3563ce6
E-readers:
Reading while commuting has always been a great way to pass the time. And novel-reading on cell phones gained traction in Japan a few years ago when classic novels became available. In fact, popular, serial short novels written out on cell phones as text messages have recently made the jump from simple time-wasters to best-selling books.
The cell phone novel idea still hasn’t really taken hold in North America, but the recent sold-out success of Amazon’s Kindle launch and their purchase of audible.com suggest that E-reading may be coming to North America in a big way. The Kindle, the Sony Reader, the CyBook and other E-readers let users download multiple books and read them on-the-go.
Philip’s ‘Readius’ combines the best of both worlds by acting as a cell phone and an E-reader. The fact that 5 of the top 10 novels in Japan were originally created as cell phone novels suggests that E-readers might become a staple feature in all future mobile devices.
Friday, February 22, 2008
All About Autos Show 28
In this episode, Connected Life looks at cars. We check out the advances in the electric car, we look into flex-vehicles, and we find out how India’s new ultra-low cost Nano car may cause more problems than it solves. Start your engines – this is Connected Life!
MIT City Cars
Smart Cities Group and MIT’s ambitious City Car Design Project envisions two-seater electric vehicles that weigh under 1,200 pounds and collapse and stack together like shopping carts. Drivers would be able to stack from six to eight cars into an average sized parking space. Although the interdisciplinary project is still under development, the project is designed as a system of shared cars with kiosks at locations around a city or small community.
Tata Motors
Indian consumers are cheering Tata Motors $2500 Nano, but critics are concerned that the inexpensive car will trigger millions of new sales and put additional strain on the country’s already clogged roads and mounting air pollution problems. By 2035, Indian vehicles are expected to release over 1,400 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
Flex-fuel Cars
Just what exactly are flexible-fuel vehicles or FFVs? They are essentially dual-fuel vehicles that can use different sources of fuel, either mixed in the same tank or with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel. A common example is a vehicle that can accept gasoline mixed with varying levels of bio-ethanol (gasohol).
Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85% ethanol (E85). Except for a few engine and fuel system modifications, they are identical to gasoline-only models. FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85. However, since a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, FFVs typically get about 20-30% fewer miles per gallon when fueled with E85. North America flex fuel ethanol is almost exclusively derived from corn, but in Brazil, where FFV’s make up 80% of vehicles sold – the ethanol comes from locally grown sugar cane.
FFVs have been produced since the 1980s, and dozens of models are currently available. Since FFVs look just like gasoline-only models, you may have an FFV and not even know it. To determine if your vehicle is an FFV, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual.
Electric Car Update
When it comes to the electric car, reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. With the introduction of full Electric Vehicles and plug-in hybrids from the big players, everyone is going be talking about going electric.
And we’re starting to see some impressive stats to justify the excitement. While many plug-in hybrids have an electric-only range of 30-60 miles, they have an impressive extended range of between 400-700 miles. Phoenix Motorcars already has an all electric zero-emission Sport Utility Truck that can travel freeway speeds while carrying five passengers and a full payload. Other electrics on the horizon include the Tesla Roadster and the Aptera - scheduled for production in 2008. The Chevy Volt, the Mitsubishi’s iMiEV, and the Opel Flextream are all coming in 2010.
Although prices haven’t been confirmed for the Chevy Volt, it's expected to be affordable, have good power and a huge extended range. GM’s extensive experience with EVs from their EV1 test deployment should also help.Overall things are looking really good for the future of EVs. With so many large companies backing the technologies, we’ll soon be seeing more high quality vehicles at lower prices – and that’s good for everyone.
MIT City Cars
Smart Cities Group and MIT’s ambitious City Car Design Project envisions two-seater electric vehicles that weigh under 1,200 pounds and collapse and stack together like shopping carts. Drivers would be able to stack from six to eight cars into an average sized parking space. Although the interdisciplinary project is still under development, the project is designed as a system of shared cars with kiosks at locations around a city or small community.
Tata Motors
Indian consumers are cheering Tata Motors $2500 Nano, but critics are concerned that the inexpensive car will trigger millions of new sales and put additional strain on the country’s already clogged roads and mounting air pollution problems. By 2035, Indian vehicles are expected to release over 1,400 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
Flex-fuel Cars
Just what exactly are flexible-fuel vehicles or FFVs? They are essentially dual-fuel vehicles that can use different sources of fuel, either mixed in the same tank or with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel. A common example is a vehicle that can accept gasoline mixed with varying levels of bio-ethanol (gasohol).
Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85% ethanol (E85). Except for a few engine and fuel system modifications, they are identical to gasoline-only models. FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85. However, since a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, FFVs typically get about 20-30% fewer miles per gallon when fueled with E85. North America flex fuel ethanol is almost exclusively derived from corn, but in Brazil, where FFV’s make up 80% of vehicles sold – the ethanol comes from locally grown sugar cane.
FFVs have been produced since the 1980s, and dozens of models are currently available. Since FFVs look just like gasoline-only models, you may have an FFV and not even know it. To determine if your vehicle is an FFV, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual.
Electric Car Update
When it comes to the electric car, reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. With the introduction of full Electric Vehicles and plug-in hybrids from the big players, everyone is going be talking about going electric.
And we’re starting to see some impressive stats to justify the excitement. While many plug-in hybrids have an electric-only range of 30-60 miles, they have an impressive extended range of between 400-700 miles. Phoenix Motorcars already has an all electric zero-emission Sport Utility Truck that can travel freeway speeds while carrying five passengers and a full payload. Other electrics on the horizon include the Tesla Roadster and the Aptera - scheduled for production in 2008. The Chevy Volt, the Mitsubishi’s iMiEV, and the Opel Flextream are all coming in 2010.
Although prices haven’t been confirmed for the Chevy Volt, it's expected to be affordable, have good power and a huge extended range. GM’s extensive experience with EVs from their EV1 test deployment should also help.Overall things are looking really good for the future of EVs. With so many large companies backing the technologies, we’ll soon be seeing more high quality vehicles at lower prices – and that’s good for everyone.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
ConnectedLife - Digital Movies and Music Show 27
Well,
We're all working away at making this new entity work. We have completed the new episode and it looks great.
It's Episode 27: Digital Music and Movies. ConnectedLife looks at the changing digital music and movie landscapes. We check out iTune Movie Rentals, digital rights, and the HD-DVD / Blu-ray battle. ConnectedLife gets bit!
Onward and upward,
Peb
We're all working away at making this new entity work. We have completed the new episode and it looks great.
It's Episode 27: Digital Music and Movies. ConnectedLife looks at the changing digital music and movie landscapes. We check out iTune Movie Rentals, digital rights, and the HD-DVD / Blu-ray battle. ConnectedLife gets bit!
Onward and upward,
Peb
Friday, January 18, 2008
M20 launches
Well, it took some fancy wheeling and dealing, but Media 2.0 (M20 for short) is officially in business. With Bradley Shende at the helm - it looks like clear sailing ahead.
Welcome aboard:
Brian Sword - Director Producer
Nigel Williamson - Editor
Paul Breau - Writer Producer
Jack Kao - Technical Producer
The latest episode of ConnectedLife is up on msn.sympatico and it looks great. ConnectedLife looks Back to the Future. We talk with Theory of a Deadman about their upcoming album 'Scars and Souvenirs', find out how technology is saving Leonardo DaVinci’s paintings, and look at tech winners and losers. Get in the DeLorean. This is ConnectedLife!
Check it out at:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-CA&brand=sympatico&vid=a13147e5-da3c-4844-92a7-c55aa822ee28
You can watch previous episodes at:
http://technology.sympatico.msn.ca/video/connectedlife/
We love technology - the good stuff, that makes your life easier and more fun - and each week we explore the latest, the most talked about, and the undiscovered. Through interviews, product reviews, news flashes and comments from the public – you'll be entertained, enlightened, and prepped for the water cooler. Sit back with Bradley Shende each week for a 5 minute ride that will keep you connected – and don’t worry, we'll leave the pong high scores out of it.
Looks like 2008 is going to be a great year.
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