INL has created something I used to ponder as a kid. Star Trek was one of my favorite shows growing up, but I always wondered how some of that high-tech gear could work if it was real. I used to imagine some type of layer that would collect the heat generated within a fusion reactor and convert it directly into electrical power. This, I thought is how it would be done in the future rather than some clunky mechanical solution like a turbine. (of course we’re still trying to make fusion self-sustaining, but that’s beside the point…) It may not be designed for use in a fusion reactor, but INL’s device does exactly what I envisioned. There are some technical hurdles for the new device, (namely converting the high-frequency AC it produces into DC) but once those are solved, there are all sorts of applications for this technology.
Category Archives: Tech
Apple’s iPhone/iPod 2.0 OS rocks…
Ok, I’m probably going to sound like a bit of a fanboy for writing this, but who cares. I love my new iPod Touch, particularly the new 2.0 OS. I personally didn’t need the phone and camera of the 3G iPhone. (already have a nice new cameraphone and I’m not a big fan of AT&T) I was buying a Macbook anyway and Apple was running their free iPod with a new Mac deal so it was a win-win. A lot of people seem to think it stinks that Apple is charging for the 2.0 OS, but it really is worth it. (C’mon, it’s only $10 people!) Before 2.0, you got the stock apps and that was it. The 2.0 OS brings features like WPA/WPA2 Enterprise support, the same ActiveSync integration as the iPhone and access to applications from the iPhone app store. In fact the only glaring item missing from the device is a tasks application that ties into ActiveSync. Hopefully that will be something that appears on the app store. (preferably for free…) The iPod is also an excellent social networking tool, perfect for twitter tweets and quick checks of facebook. There are even blogging clients for some of the more popular platforms like WordPress. Apple has worked hard to unify the look and feel of the included apps, but there are still inconsistencies. One thing I found strange is that some apps rotate, while others don’t. I personally prefer the landscape view because it’s easier to type accurately on the virtual keyboard. It’s not hard the other way, but I find it makes me type slower. Still the interface design is very good; exactly what I would expect from Apple. The iPod Touch is a great all around gadget; useful for both work and entertainment. While it’s certainly geared more towards entertainment, it is quite useful as well.
Tax free weekend
With the tax free weekend and a brand new Apple store less than a block from my office, I couldn’t resist. As it happens, my mother-in-law needed a new computer and wireless setup. Of course I couldn’t leave without a little something for myself. As a matter of fact I’m writing this entry on it right now! (an iPod touch) I’ve barely used it and I’m already in love with it! The only real downside is no wpa enterprise 🙁 Maybe there’s a hack?
update: If you need WPA Enterprise on your iPod touch, just pay the $10 to get the 2.0 version firmware. It’s got support for enterprise WPA/WPA2 encryption and loads of other features that will make the device more useful in the workplace. More on that later…