Computer code detects ultrathin magnetic materials

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore have developed an open-source computer code that can screen and identify two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials from a large database of materials1. This code shuns the need for the complex manual calculations that are usually needed to detect such magnetic materials.
• The code would be useful for hunting down specific ferromagnetic materials that, according to recent studies, might be used to design molecular quantum devices, sensors and ultrathin data-storage devices.
• At low temperatures, two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials exhibit magnetic properties. These materials retain such properties even in the absence of a magnetic field. However, their magnetic properties get disturbed when the temperature increases. The temperature at which such materials lose their magnetic properties is known as the Curie point.
• The Curie point, a critical property for such magnetic materials for practical applications, is difficult to calculate.
• To address this, the scientists designed the fully automated computer code. Using the code, they then scanned 786 materials from a large database. The researchers, led by Santanu Mahapatra, discovered 26 ferromagnetic materials with a Curie point beyond 400 degrees Kelvin.
• Additionally, they identified some important magnetic materials that have so far remained undetected. These materials could be ideal candidates for use in devices that could withstand high temperatures. 
• The team also developed a machine-learning model to predict the Curie temperature of various materials. If trained to screen a large database of ferromagnetic materials, this model would help identify such materials, which could be used to fabricate devices.
• References1. Kabiraj, A. et al. High-throughput discovery of high Curie point two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials. npj Comput. Mater. 6:35 (2020) doi: 10.1038/s41524-020-0300-2, Source: https://www.natureasia.com

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Computer code detects ultrathin magnetic materials

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore have developed an open-source computer code that can screen and identify two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials from a large database of materials1. This code shuns the need for the complex manual calculations that are usually needed to detect such magnetic materials.
• The code would be useful for hunting down specific ferromagnetic materials that, according to recent studies, might be used to design molecular quantum devices, sensors and ultrathin data-storage devices.
• At low temperatures, two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials exhibit magnetic properties. These materials retain such properties even in the absence of a magnetic field. However, their magnetic properties get disturbed when the temperature increases. The temperature at which such materials lose their magnetic properties is known as the Curie point.
• The Curie point, a critical property for such magnetic materials for practical applications, is difficult to calculate.
• To address this, the scientists designed the fully automated computer code. Using the code, they then scanned 786 materials from a large database. The researchers, led by Santanu Mahapatra, discovered 26 ferromagnetic materials with a Curie point beyond 400 degrees Kelvin.
• Additionally, they identified some important magnetic materials that have so far remained undetected. These materials could be ideal candidates for use in devices that could withstand high temperatures. 
• The team also developed a machine-learning model to predict the Curie temperature of various materials. If trained to screen a large database of ferromagnetic materials, this model would help identify such materials, which could be used to fabricate devices.
• References: 1. Kabiraj, A. et al. High-throughput discovery of high Curie point two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials. npj Comput. Mater. 6:35 (2020) doi: 10.1038/s41524-020-0300-: 2  Source: https://www.natureasia.com/

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Computer screens antiviral compounds against coronavirus

• Using computer-based screening techniques, an international research team has identified several antiviral compounds that could potentially be used to design drugs against the novel coronavirus1. They have also detected potential vaccine candidates against the virus.
• The techniques, designed to study the interactions between the antiviral compounds and specific coronavirus proteins, may speed up the discovery of new drugs, shunning the need for time-consuming experiments and trials.
• The scientists, including researchers from the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, India, and Denmark’s University of Southern Denmark, screened 640 antiviral compounds, including some antiviral drugs. Their aim was to explore how these compounds bound to the key coronavirus proteins, such as the spike protein and the main protease protein.
• The spike protein helps the virus to gain entry into human cells by binding to a cell-surface enzyme. The main protease protein, on the other hand, helps the virus replicate inside the human cells. The researchers, led by Rajeev Ahuja and Pritam Kumar Panda, both from the Uppsala University in Sweden, narrowed their search to 38 antiviral compounds that could bind to the viral proteins.
• Of these compounds, the most potent is an antiviral polymerase inhibitor, PC786, which targets several coronavirus proteins with high affinity. They also identified several additional antiviral drugs that strongly bound to the viral proteins. 
• Besides reducing the time needed between preclinical tests and clinical outcomes, such a drug-screening method is an important advancement in the search of new drugs for COVID-19, says Ahuja.
• References: 1. Panda, P. K. et al. Structure-based drug designing and immunoinformatics approach for SARS-CoV-2. Sci. Adv. (2020) Doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb8097 Source: https://www.natureasia.com/

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Computer screens antiviral compounds against coronavirus

• Using computer-based screening techniques, an international research team has identified several antiviral compounds that could potentially be used to design drugs against the novel coronavirus1. They have also detected potential vaccine candidates against the virus.
• The techniques, designed to study the interactions between the antiviral compounds and specific coronavirus proteins, may speed up the discovery of new drugs, shunning the need for time-consuming experiments and trials.
• The scientists, including researchers from the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, India, and Denmark’s University of Southern Denmark, screened 640 antiviral compounds, including some antiviral drugs. Their aim was to explore how these compounds bound to the key coronavirus proteins, such as the spike protein and the main protease protein.
• The spike protein helps the virus to gain entry into human cells by binding to a cell-surface enzyme. The main protease protein, on the other hand, helps the virus replicate inside the human cells. The researchers, led by Rajeev Ahuja and Pritam Kumar Panda, both from the Uppsala University in Sweden, narrowed their search to 38 antiviral compounds that could bind to the viral proteins.
• Of these compounds, the most potent is an antiviral polymerase inhibitor, PC786, which targets several coronavirus proteins with high affinity. They also identified several additional antiviral drugs that strongly bound to the viral proteins. 
• Besides reducing the time needed between preclinical tests and clinical outcomes, such a drug-screening method is an important advancement in the search of new drugs for COVID-19, says Ahuja.
• References: 1. Panda, P. K. et al. Structure-based drug designing and immunoinformatics approach for SARS-CoV-2. Sci. Adv. (2020) Doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb8097 Source: https://www.natureasia.com/

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Google turns any TV into computer for under $100

Google has unveiled a tiny HDMI dongle that can turn any TV into a full-fledged computer. Called the Chromebit, it uses Google's Chrome OS. It contains a fully featured, which uses the TV (or a standard monitor) as its display, and wirelessly connects to a keyboard and mouse using bluetooth. ''Smaller than a candy bar, the Chromebit is a full computer that will be available for less than $100,'' Google said. ''By simply plugging this device into any display, you can turn it into a computer. ''It's the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses.'' Google also said it is releasing its cheapest Chromebook laptops yet, two versions priced at $149 aimed at undercutting Microsoft's Windows franchise and gaining ground in even more classrooms. Various PC manufacturers have been working with Google to design lightweight laptops running on the Chrome operating system since 2011. The newest versions are made by
Hisense and Haier. Hisense's Chromebook can be ordered beginning Tuesday at Walmart.com and Haier's version can be bought at Amazon.com. Their arrival coincides with Microsoft's rollout of a lower-priced Surface tablet in an effort to reach students and budget-conscious families. Pre-orders for that device began Tuesday, too. The success of the Chromebook line is intensifying the PC pricing pressure. The cheaper version of the Surface Pro 3 sells for $499, compared with $799 to $1,949 for the higher-end models.  The discounted version has a slightly smaller screen - 10.8 inches rather than 12 - a slower processor, and less flexible kickstand - just three angles rather than unlimited positions. The Chromebook has served a dual purpose for Google. Like the company's Android software for mobile devices, the Chrome system is set up so users will automatically begin using Google's search engine and other services, such as Gmail and YouTube. Google has used the Chromebooks as a prod to bring down the prices of all PCs, something the company wanted to do because it has more opportunities to show the digital ads that bring in most of its revenue when more people can afford to buy an internet-connected device. Source: Article

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Get ready for Singularity: it’s closer to reality than we think

By: Edie Lush, I HAVE spent a lot of the past week checking out Ray Kurzweil’s world after reading Carole Cadwalladr’s interview with him in The Observer. It is a pretty eye-opening experience. Google’s new director of engineering estimates that computers will gain ‘consciousness’ by 2029 - i.e. when the machines have learned to make their own decisions. Kurzweil

is one of the poster boys of Singularity, defined by Wikipedia as the "moment in time when artificial  intelligence will have progressed to the point of a greater-than-human intelligence”. Associated with this are the concepts of Human 2.0 or Transhumanism, which are when humans begin to augment or replace parts of themselves with robots or computers. Kurzweil has a great deal to say about a future in which we have reverse-engineered the brain - i.e. figured out what every bit of our grey matter does, how and why. According to Kurzweil, "By 2030, reverse-engineering of the human brain will have been completed and non-biological intelligence will merge with our biological brains.” (He wrote this in 2003 by the way.) What does this even mean? Well, it means we’ll have connected our brains to computers. They’ll be able to monitor everything we hear, see and think, plus everything in our email box and answer our questions before we’ve thought of them. Asked recently ‘why would we do this?', Kurzweil responded: “Our search engines will… watch everything we're reading and writing and saying and hearing, and then they'll be like an assistant. It'll say... ‘You were wondering who the actor was in that movie with the robot that can speak six million languages and here she is and here's background about her.’  “Since that helps you through the day, we'll answer your questions before you ask them or even before you realise you have a question, and you'll just get used to this information popping up that you wanted and you'll be frustrated if you're thinking about something and it doesn't immediately pop up without you even having to ask for it.” Does that sound far-fetched? In fact, we’re already connecting our minds and bodies to computers. I recently met Olivier Oullier , Professor of Behavioral and Brain Science at Aix-Marseille University, who uses wearable technology and neurofeedback to train people out of cigarette addiction and obesity. With the help of some special glasses (see picture below) which monitor where you are looking, a brain monitor that senses and records what parts of your brain are being activated and your mobile phone, he can train your brain to better control food or cigarette craving in a video-game like setting. Outlier? No. Scientists in Malta have developed software that allows you to control your music (play, fast forward, turn it up to 11) with your brain. Researchers in Washington connected two people’s brains together - allowing one person to control another’s hand movements by thought. The FDA in the US has granted pre-market approval to Neuropace, a company whose brain implant reduces seizures in epileptic patients by identifying dangerous patterns of brain activity. Meanwhile Braingate has implanted sensors in your brain which allow a woman with tetraplegia to use her thoughts to steer a robot arm to grasp a bottle of coffee and lift it to her lips. The scientists at Proteus combine wearable and ingestible sensors to gather information about medication-taking, activity and rest patterns. Can’t remember if you took your last dose of heart medication? Sensors in the pills will send the information to your phone alerting you to rest easy. Most of us with an iPhone have experienced Siri’s (in)ability to translate your voice into simple commands. In my experience its better at calling my mother than finding directions to a restaurant, but while there are numerous, humorous examples of #Sirifails you can bet each version will be better.  And with life-blogging devices like Narrative which capture your every move in pictures (a "searchable and shareable photographic memory”) you can see how we might not be too far away from Kurzweil’s vision of predictive search. #Scaredyet? Edie Lush tweets at @edielush, Source: The Week UK

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Goa students to get tablets, notebooks for Rs.25

Students in Goa can now get a tablet PC or a notebook for just Rs.25. The digital largesse is a part of the Goa government education department's initiative to familiarise Class V and VII students with computers in order to "prepare them for the life ahead and get them curious about the e-systems", according to additional director education Anil Powar. "General category students will have to pay only Rs.25 while SC and ST students will have to pay Rs.10 to register for the scheme," Powar told reporters here Tuesday. The official said that the state government was making arrangements for purchasing nearly 50,000 notebooks and tablet PCs for distribution. "All the computers will have a special e-learning packages. After a day in class, the students will now be able to revise their tutions at home over the tablets," Powar said, adding that a provision of Rs.95 crore had already been made for the purchase of the computers in the last budget presented by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. All the systems will have inbuilt security systems installed to ensure that the computers are not misused for pornographic purposes and other controversial web applications, but the education department will also take an undertaking from the student's parents before handing over the computers. "It is a no objection certificate saying they are OK with us giving them the computers. The parents should also be in a position to both goad the students to logging onto the right websites," he said. The Goa government was the first state government in the country to give out free laptops to students over a decade ago. Source: iGovernment

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From science fiction to science fact: MIT expert achieves invisibility

Scientists have tended to dismiss as impossible the very idea of a device to render something invisible but that failed to dissuade one young academic from looking more closely at how it might be achieved. Mr Janos Perczel was a 22-year old undergraduate at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, when, in August 2011, he published a study describing an ‘invisible sphere’ that slowed down light, potentially allowing the device to remain invisible in front of ever-changing backgrounds of different colours. The Voice of Russia contacted Mr Perczel two years after his revolutionary discovery to ask about his recent projects and his studies at MIT.

Voice of Russia: Janos, before we get into details, how did you come up with the idea of trying to develop an optical devise that would allow things to be hidden things against changing backgrounds? Was there someone who inspired you? Janos Perczel: Science is always a matter of collaborating with other people. There were many people involved in the development of the project. One of them was Professor Ulf Leonhardt who was my supervisor. He was not only my mentor but also my main source of inspiration. There was also Professor Tomas Tyc who helped us with the project. Professor Leonhardt and Professor Tyc have been trying to come up with a solution to the problem of creating a device that would allow one to remain invisible against various backgrounds for some time. After I joined the project, it turned out that the optical sphere that Professors were proposing was operational only in one colour of the spectrum. I started looking into other solutions and it occurred to me that the invisible sphere has to be transmuted in order to slow all the light down to operate in all parts of the colour spectrum. Quite literally, I was having my breakfast in my house when I realised that a transmutation technique would make the optical sphere operational. Voice of Russia: So what is the ‘invisible sphere’? When I think of the device you created I imagine it as somewhat alike the invisibility cloak in the Harry Potter movies. Does it work the same way as science-fiction novelists so often describe? Janos Perczel: There are substantial differences between our sphere and what you see in the Harry Potter movies. Most important of them being that the invisibility cloak in Rowling’s novel is moldable, while our optical device is a rigid sphere-like object. You cannot change its shape or wrap it around yourself. The flexibility of the cloak that you so often see in the movies is incredibly difficult to achieve in reality. Admittedly, there are certain proposals how to do this, especially from St Andrews. Dr Andrea Di Falco has recently come up with the idea of flexible meta-materials which might eventually lead to the creation of Harry-Potter-like cloaks. For now, however, rigid box or sphere-like invisibility devices seem to be more realistic and, indeed, are already being produced in experimental science labs. Editor’s note: meta materials are artificial materials made from large molecules that can be combined to produce exactly the required properties. Voice of Russia: Janos, do you see your sphere being used in real life? When you first came up with the idea, have you ever thought of its practical applications? Janos Perczel: This question is always the hardest one to answer. It is hard to tell how a new device would be applied in practice because you never think about it during the research process. When people like myself develop a new device, we tend to think about the particular scientific problem we are trying to solve and not about how our research will be used in future. We like the feeling of exploring the unexplored. The decision about how the device will be used in practice usually belongs to the engineers, designers, and production managers who know the market well and can foresee what will sell better. Obviously, our device can be used to make things invisible when needed. I am worried about the potential military use of our optical sphere, especially in the area of the development of new invisible weapons. My hope is that the invisible sphere would be used in more peaceful ways. One of them might be shielding people from hazardous forms of radiation. Still, these are just suggestions. Voice of Russia: I know that you finished your invisibility sphere project back in August of 2011. Have you ever thought to continue with your research? Janos Perczel: It would be great to do something that would either be a continuation of our project or something that would relate to meta-materials more generally. Meta-materials can do incredible things. Their power lies in the fact that they can mold the flow of light. One sphere of research where they can be used is perfect-imaging. Professor Leonhardt, for instance, is currently studying how meta-materials can be used to enhance the image-resolution of microscopes. It would be great to get involved in such a project. Voice of Russia: What are you currently working on? Should we wait for yet another ground-breaking project? Janos Perczel: After publishing the paper in August 2011, I spent the next year at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where I obtained a Master's degree in Mathematical Physics, where I mainly focused on quantum teleportation. Then I moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where I am currently more involved with learning new physics than with research. For a physicist, it is very important to find the right balance between the two. For now, I am still trying to decide what my next project should be. Voice of Russia: My last question would be about your MIT colleagues. I understand that you have not yet spent much time at the Institute, only six months, but during this time have you come across a project that seemed absolutely extraordinary to you? Janos Perczel: Having spent here only half a year it is very hard to get a good overview of research that is happening on campus. You always hear about new robots being developed, computer technologies being advanced, and basic scientific ideas being interpreted from a new angle. One project that I found especially interesting is Professor Marin Soljacic’s research on wireless electricity, which he calls ‘witricity’. To transit electricity from one point to another Professor Soljacic uses magnetic resonance rather than wires. To me, this is not merely a remarkable idea which Professor Soljacic pioneered and made work, but is a revolutionary scientific breakthrough that can potentially transform the way all modern electronic devices work. Source: Voice of Russia, Image

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Engineers develop new energy-efficient computer memory using magnetic materials

By using electric voltage instead of a flowing electric current, researchers from UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have made major improvements to an ultra-fast, high-capacity class of computer memory known as magnetoresistive random access memory, or MRAM. The UCLA team's improved memory, which they call MeRAM for magnetoelectric random access memory, has great potential to be used in future memory chips for almost all electronic applications, including smart-phones, tablets, computers and microprocessors, as well as for data storage, like the solid-state disks used in computers and large data centers. MeRAM's key advantage over existing technologies is that it combines extraordinary low energy with very high density, high-speed reading and writing times, and non-volatility - the ability to retain data when no power is applied, similar to hard disk drives and flash memory sticks, but MeRAM is much faster. Currently, magnetic memory is based on a technology called spin-transfer torque (STT), which uses the magnetic property of electrons - referred to as spin - in addition to their charge. STT utilizes an electric current to move electrons to write data into the memory. Yet while STT is superior in many respects to competing memory technologies, its electric current–based write mechanism still requires a certain amount of power, which means that it generates heat when data is written into it. In addition, its memory capacity is limited by how close to each other bits of data can be physically placed, a process which itself is limited by the currents required to write information. The low bit capacity, in turn, translates into a relatively large cost per bit, limiting STT's range of applications. With MeRAM, the UCLA team has replaced STT's electric current with voltage to write data into the memory. This eliminates the need to move large numbers of electrons through wires and instead uses voltage - the difference in electrical potential - to switch the magnetic bits and write information into the memory. This has resulted in computer memory that generates much less heat, making it 10 to 1,000 times more energy-efficient. And the memory can be more than five-times as dense, with more bits of information stored in the same physical area, which also brings down the cost per bit. The research team was led by principal investigator Kang L. Wang, UCLA's Raytheon Professor of Electrical Engineering, and included lead author Juan G. Alzate, an electrical engineering graduate student, and Pedram Khalili, a research associate in electrical engineering and project manager for the UCLA - DARPA research programmes in non-volatile logic. "The ability to switch nanoscale magnets using voltages is an exciting and fast-growing area of research in magnetism," Khalili says. "This work presents new insights into questions such as how to control the switching direction using voltage pulses, how to ensure that devices will work without needing external magnetic fields, and how to integrate them into high-density memory arrays. "Once developed into a product," he adds, "MeRAM's advantage over competing technologies will not be limited to its lower power dissipation, but equally importantly, it may allow for extremely dense MRAM. This can open up new application areas where low cost and high capacity are the main constraints." Says Alzate, "The recent announcement of the first commercial chips for STT-RAM also opens the door for MeRAM, since our devices share a very similar set of materials and fabrication processes, maintaining compatibility with the current logic circuit technology of STT-RAM while alleviating the constrains on power and density." The research was presented 12 December in a paper called Voltage-Induced Switching of Nanoscale Magnetic Tunnel Junctions at the 2012 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting in San Francisco, the semiconductor industry's "pre-eminent forum for reporting technological breakthroughs in the areas of semiconductor and electronic device technology." MeRAM uses nanoscale structures called voltage-controlled magnet-insulator junctions, which have several layers stacked on top of each other, including two composed of magnetic materials. However, while one layer's magnetic direction is fixed, the other can be manipulated via an electric field. The devices are specially designed to be sensitive to electric fields. When the electric field is applied, it results in voltage - a difference in electric potential between the two magnetic layers. This voltage accumulates or depletes the electrons at the surface of these layers, writing bits of information into the memory. "Ultra-low–power spintronic devices such as this one have potential implications beyond the memory industry," Wang says. They can enable new instant-on electronic systems, where memory is integrated with logic and computing, thereby completely eliminating standby power and greatly enhancing their functionality." The work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) NV Logic Program. Other authors included researchers from the UCLA Department of Electrical Engineering; UC Irvine's Department of Physics and Astronomy; Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (a Western Digital Company); and Singulus Technologies, of Germany. Wang is also director of the Western Institute of Nanoelectronics (WIN), director of the Center on Functional Engineered Nano Architectonics (FENA) and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute. Source: Domain-B

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Samsung Group to raise spending to record $41.7 billion trillion won

South Korea's largest industrial conglomerate, Samsung Group, said it would increase spending to a record 47.8 trillion won ($41.7 billion) this year to push ahead with growth in its chip and display businesses as also to cultivate new revenue sources. The investment by Samsung Electronics Co, the largest maker of computer-memory chips, and its affiliates represents a 12-per cent increase from last year, according to an emailed statement today. The companies plan to spend of 31 trillion won in capital expenditure, the group said in the statement. However, details on the manner of allocation have not been disclosed. According to analysts, the investment would further cement Samsung's leadership in electronics at a time when competitors were trimming spends amid failing growth in the global economy. Over 70 per cent of the group companies' planned capex probably would be spent by Samsung Electronics, as it sought it focus on mobile-phone chips and next-generation displays for phones and TVs, they say. They add, the company was looking at the future and turning its focus to areas that were growing rapidly. Samsung Electronics shares were up 0.6 per cent to 1,036,000 won at the close of trading in Seoul, while the benchmark Kospi index was 1.8 per cent. The company's investment strategy is strongly driven by investment in new technologies ahead of rivals. It is now banking on logic chips and OLED displays to repeat its stupendous success in flash chips, computer memory chips and LCD flat-screens. This is in stark contrast with its rivals who are looking at a gloomy global economic and IT spending outlook as they stick to their conservative plans. Though the business group did not provide a breakdown of the 47.8 trillion won investment, according to analysts, the company would raise investment in mobile chips and next-generation OLED (organic light emitting diode) flat-screen displays. The say Samsung had strong cash flows to make bold bets in new technologies. They add, no other IT company could beat it in terms of investment and that was how Samsung added new sources ahead of rivals and widened its gap. Capital spending by the group is expected to account for 31 trillion won, up 11 per cent from a year ago, Samsung said in a statement. Analysts expect some 25 trillion won, or 80 per cent of the capital spending, would come from Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest technology firm by revenue, with its display unit, mostly boosting capacity of system chips and OLEDs. Investment in system chips such as mobile processors and sensors used in smartphones, tablets, and cameras would likely exceed spending on its more established memory chips for the first time, touching 7.5 trillion won, or exceeding investment in memory chips by around 1 trillion won analysts say. Investment in OLED is likely rise to 7 trillion won from last year's some 5 trillion won, while the rest would go towards LCDs, rechargeable batteries and LEDs, analysts said. Samsung Electronics makes mobile processors to power Apple's iPhone and iPad as also its own Galaxy line of mobile products. Samsung Mobile Display, the display unit of the group holds a near monopoly over OLED display supplies, which find application in high-end mobile gadgets would become dominant in TV screens to replace LCD. Source: Domain-B

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Apple loses tablet copyright appeal against Samsung in UK

Apple has lost its appeal against a ruling that cleared rival Samsung of copying its registered designs for tablet computers, in a decision which could end the two firms’ legal dispute on the subject across Europe. The world’s two leading smartphone makers are fighting over patents, both for smartphones and for tablets like Apple’s iPad, in courts around the world. Britain’s Court of Appeal upheld the country’s High Court judgment that, despite some similarities, Samsung’s Galaxy tablet did not infringe Apple’s designs, in part because its products were not as good. The decision is valid throughout Europe and should prohibit further legal disputes between the two companies over the design of tablets in the region. South Korea’s Samsung welcomed the decision saying in a statement: “We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners”. Apple declined to comment on the decision. The U.S. company has been instructed to run advertisements saying Samsung did not copy its registered tablet designs, both on its website and in selected newspapers. Apple can appeal to the Supreme Court. For the design of tablets in Europe this should be the final word. Source: SAM Daily Times

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Apple awarded $1bn in damages from Samsung in US court

A US jury has ruled that Samsung should pay Apple $1.05bn (£665m) in damages in an intellectual property lawsuit. It said several of Samsung's devices had infringed iPhone-maker Apple's software and design patents. The jury rejected Samsung's claims that several of its patents had been breached and awarded it no damages. Apple may seek an import ban of some of its rival's products, blocking them from the US market. Samsung has said it will appeal against the ruling. "We will move immediately to file post-verdict motions to overturn this decision in this court and if we are not successful, we will appeal this decision to the Court of Appeals," a statement from Samsung said. Apple and Samsung account for more than half of global smartphone and tablet computer sales. The nine-person jury at the federal court in San Jose, California had to consider 700 questions about each side's claim that its rival had infringed its intellectual property. It deliberated for less than three days before coming to its unanimous decisions. It rejected the South Korean firm's claim that Apple's intellectual properties were invalid. It added that Samsung was "wilful in its infringement" in many of the cases. Not all of Apple's claims were upheld - it had claimed a total of $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in damages. Samsung had sought $519m. Apple said it applauded the court "for finding Samsung's behaviour wilful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn't right." Samsung described the verdict as "a loss for the American consumer". "It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices," it added. Software and Design: The jury ruled that some of Samsung's handsets, including its Galaxy S 4G model, had infringed Apple's design patents for the look of its iPhone including the system it uses to display text and icons. However, it dismissed the allegation that the South Korean firm's tablets had infringed the rectangular design used for Apple's iPad. It also found that all the disputed Samsung devices had copied the bounce-back response in the iOS system's user interface, without paying a licence. This makes lists jump back as if yanked by a rubber band when pulled beyond their limit. Another infringement involved use of Apple's tap-to-zoom feature. Source: SAM Daily Times

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Are $25 computers a myth?

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By: Andrew Hiller, When Ebon Upton noticed that the number and quality of students majoring in computer sciences on the decline in the United Kingdom he decided to do something about it. He designed a computer for students that sells at about 10 percent of the cost of his competitors. Eben Upton, the founder and director of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, says his company has set an aim of creating a computer which would be cheap enough to be affordable to anyone and also programmable, because every year the number of people who can do some deep technical work on a computer has been on decline. Source: Voice of Russia. 

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Microsoft Surface tablet launch date confirmed

MICROSOFT’S FIRST TABLET, CALLED SURFACE, WILL LAUNCH ON OCTOBER 26 AT THE SAME TIME AS THE WINDOWS 8 OPERATING SYSTEM. 

Writing in its annual report, Microsoft confirmed, “The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices." The announcement applies only to one version of the two Surface Microsoft will sell. The device, based on ARM processors rather than Intel's, is the first computer the Windows-maker has ever produced itself. The company warned that it, and the more powerful version that will use Intel chips and come early in 2013, may have an impact on profit margins. The new Windows 8 operating system offers a mode that looks like Windows 7, called Desktop, and a new version that uses the same ‘Metro’ interface that is available already on Windows phone, making a tablet version's success particularly important. Microsoft is hoping that its new hardware will allow users to replace their Apple iPads and Windows 7 laptops with new Windows 8 tablets. Although no prices have yet been announced, Microsoft has claimed the devices will cost a “competitive” amount. Some specifications have already been released, including that the two devices will be 9.3mm and 13.5mm thick respectively, and both will feature 10.6” HD displays and a kickstand so they can stand up for users to, for instance, watch films. They will weigh 676g and 903g respectively, and also both come with a new case incorporating a thin keyboard. The Pro Version offer up to 128GB of memory, while the RT will come with either 32GB or 64GB. Microsoft emphasises that the devices are fully fledged computers designed to be used for everything that a computer can offer. Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg said “Microsoft felt they could not rely on others to deliver on their vision for Windows 8 in mobile computing.” In its annual report, Microsoft claims Windows 8’s “success depends on a number of factors including the extent to which customers embrace its new user interface and functionality, successfully coordinating with our OEM partners in releasing a variety of hardware devices that take advantage of its features, and attracting developers at scale to ensure a competitive array of quality applications. We expect to incur substantial marketing costs in launching Window 8 and associated services and devices, which may reduce our operating margins."Source: Sam Daily Times

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Chinese supercomputer begins operations

Deccan Chronicle, IANS, Beijin: China's Sunway BlueLight supercomputer, which was built with domestically-produced microprocessors and is capable of performing around 1,000 trillion calculations per second, has officially begun operations. The computer began working on Thursday at the National Supercomputing Centre in the easten city of Jinan in Shandong province, Xinhua reported. The computer was installed in September 2011 and underwent a three-month trial period before going into official use, making China the third country in the world - after the US and Japan - to produce such a supercomputer with domestically-produced processors. Developed by the National Research Centre of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology, the Sunway BlueLight marks a great technological leap for China's indigenous innovation in development and utilisation of high-performance computers, the centre said. The Sunway BlueLight will promote scientific and economic development of Shandong in fields of ocean utilisation, biopharmacy, industrial design and financial risk prediction. The computer will also serve as a node in China's national computing grid, contributing to scientific and economic development of the whole country. As a product of a combination of high-density packaging and low energy consumption technologies, the Sunway ranks among the world's leading supercomputers in terms of comprehensive performance. The Sunway BlueLight will be used to help increase the accuracy of climate simulations conducted by Chinese scientists and assist them in ocean monitoring, according to oceanology experts. "It allows scientists to simulate water movement more than 5,500 metres below the ocean's surface," said Pan Jingshan, assistant director of the centre. Comprising nine three-metre-high boxes and equipped with a total of 8,704 homegrown Shenwei 1600 microprocessors, the Sunway is among the 20 fastest supercomputers in the world. It is about 74 per cent as fast as the Jaguar Supercomputer in the US, which ranks as the third fastest computer in the world, although it is less power-hungry, Pan said Source: Deccan Chronicle, ***

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Rare Apple-1 PC on sale

Sotheby’s are auctioning off a rare working Apple-1 computer built by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and a document created by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs during his employment at Atari, macsessed.com reports.When it first went on sale in 1976, The Apple-1 consisted of a logic board only and its RAM did not exceed 8 kilobytes. Tags: World, Sci-Tech, News, Читать далее, Source: Voice of Russia.

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Apple to release latest iPad in China on July 20

Apple on Tuesday announced that it will begin selling the latest version of its market-leading iPad in China on July 20. The news comes on the heels of Apple paying $60 million to end a dispute over the iPad name in China, giving the US tech giant more certainty in selling its tablet Apple paid the sum to settle its long-running legal battle with Chinese computer maker Shenzhen Proview Technology. Third-generation iPad models will range in price from $499 for a Wi-Fi version with 16 gigabytes of memory to $829 for a 64-gigabyte iPad capable of connecting to telecom networks as well as wireless Internet hotspots. Greater China -- which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan - has become Apple's fastest-growing region, with revenues second only to the United States. Source: Hindustan Times

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Yep, it’s a tablet: Microsoft introduces the Surface

Microsoft is getting into the tablet hardware business. It showed off a family of new Windows 8-based tablets Monday called Surface at a press event in Hollywood. Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer took the stage at a small Hollywood production facility, Milk Studios, to introduce the new product, which the company hopes can cut into the dominant tablet-market position currently enjoyed by Apple’s iPad. Weighing in at just under 1.5 pounds (676 grams), measuring 12 millimeters in depth and arriving with a 10.6-inch diagonal display, the Surface features a magnesium body and has a 3mm-thick magnetic cover that doubles as a keyboard and trackpad. A family of Surface tablets in various shapes and sizes will be released later this year (specific release dates and pricing were not disclosed). Pro-level iterations will run Windows 8 using chips from Intel, and come in slightly heavier (903 grams) and thicker (13.5mm) configurations; while lower-rung models will run Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 designed for chips based on ARM’s core designs. Windows RT models will come in 32 and 64 gigabyte versions that will be priced on the level of ARM-based tablets and be available concurrent with the release of Windows 8, Microsoft said. Windows 8 Pro models will come in 64 and 128GB iterations and be available three months after the release of the Windows RT models. Microsoft stressed the device’s versatility as both a tablet designed for entertainment consumption (it’s display has a 16:9 aspect ratio optimized for HD) and personal computer use (it also has external USB 2.0 and HDMI ports). The detachable keyboard, meanwhile, includes a pressure-sensitive technology designed to distinguish between an intentional key stroke an inadvertent contact. In addition to the full-function keyboard with handrest, the device’s “VaporMg” cover has built-in stand that expands and retracts from the rear.Source: Beattie's Book Blog

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Microsoft's MirageTable gives video-conferencing an AR boost

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InAVate: Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of videoconferencing with a 3D, Kinect-based interactive solution. MirageTable allows sharing and interaction with real and virtual objects using a Kinect sensor, a curved screen and a 3D projector. Researchers, led by Hrvoje Benko, previewed the

Screen Shot On Linked Video

solution on the Mircrosoft Research site and recently presented it at the Computer-Human Interaction (CHI) conference in Austin, Texas. The Kinect sensor records 3D images of the user, which are then displayed on the curved screen using the 3D projector. Researchers explain that this allows users to make virtual copies of real-world objects and interact with them without the need for gloves or other tracking devices. Source: InAVate

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World's First Biodegradable Computer Mouse from Fujitsu

Techno-Guide: The famous Japanese computer hardware and IT service company,Fujitsu, has recently presented the world's first biodegradable computer mouse. The firm's optical mouse, dubbed, M440 ECO, has a PVC-free USB cable and is composed of Arboform and Biograde, materials used in the company's keyboard that was launched earlier.The optical mouse does not have any special exterior features that would help differentiate it from other computer mice. However, instead of using the traditional plastic, engineers made use of Arboform, a material that is based on a by-product of lignin (a paper-making process) and Biograde. According to Fujitsu, the mouse's outer shell boasts more elasticity than other biodegradable materials. The company also mentioned that if users switch to its new eco-friendly mouse, it would be possible to save approximately 60,000 kilograms of plastic per year.Source: Techno-Guide

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