From the Editor's Desk: So long, Seoul

What do you do if you're a company with some good products, but pretty much zero mind share? If you're LG, you pack up a handful of journalists and bring 'em to Seoul for a week-long media tour. That's where I was last week -- Seoul, South Korea, where LG hosted a number of us for the launch of the Optimus G, some closed-door meetings, a little bit of sightseeing, a lot of great food, and a new understanding of how this crazy smartphone business works in general, and for LG in particular.

Meanwhile, the world went crazy for the iPhone 5. Bat-shit crazy.

It's been a little while since we last chatted. Let's make this one count, shall we?

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/P1ktY2m9oOg/story01.htm

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The original 'Twitter'? Tiny electronic tags monitor birds' social networks

ScienceDaily (Sep. 20, 2012) ? If two birds meet deep in the forest, does anybody hear? Until now, nobody did, unless an intrepid biologist was hiding underneath a bush and watching their behavior, or the birds happened to meet near a research monitoring station. But an electronic tag designed at the University of Washington can for the first time see when birds meet in the wild.

A new study led by a biologist at Scotland's University of St. Andrews used the UW tags to see whether crows might learn to use tools from one another. The findings, published last week in Current Biology, supported the theory by showing an unexpected amount of social mobility, with the crows often spending time near birds outside their immediate family.

The study looked at crows in New Caledonia, an archipelago of islands in the South Pacific. The crows are famous for using different tools to extract prey from deadwood and vegetation. Biologists wondered whether the birds might learn by watching each other.

The results, as reported by St. Andrews, revealed "a surprising number of contacts" between non-related crows. During one week, the technology recorded more than 28,000 interactions among 34 crows. While core family units of New Caledonian crows contain only three members, the study found all the birds were connected to the larger social network.

The new paper is the first published study using the UW tags to record animal social interactions.

"This is a new type of animal-tracking technology," said co-author Brian Otis, a UW associate professor of electrical engineering whose lab developed the tags. "Ecology is just one of the many fields that will be transformed with miniaturized, low-power wireless sensors."

Biologists normally tag animals with radio transmitters that broadcast at a particular frequency, and field researchers use a receiver to listen for that frequency and detect when the animal is present. An encounter between small animals would only be recorded if the researcher was nearby.

The UW system, called Encounternet, uses programmable digital tags that can send and receive pulses.

"Encounternet tags can monitor each other, so you can use them to study interactions among animals," said co-author John Burt, a UW affiliate professor of electrical engineering. "You can't even start to do that with other radio-tracking technology."

Other research groups are using the UW tags around the world. Researchers at the University of Windsor in Canada are using them to study mating behavior in Costa Rican long-tailed manikins; a researcher at Drexel University is using them to study the interaction between birds and army ants in Costa Rica; German researchers are putting the tags on sea lions in the Galapagos Islands to study their behavior as they pull up on beaches; and researchers in the Netherlands are studying the social behavior of great tits, a small woodland bird. "It's a big topic right now, the idea that animals have social networks," Burt said. He has been working with field biologists for the last three years to deploy the tags.

"There are other tags that can do proximity logging, but they're all very big and for larger animals. None is as small as Encounternet -- or even near to it."

The smallest of the UW tags weighs less than 1 gram (0.035 ounces) and can be used on animals as light as 20 grams (less than an ounce), about the weight of a sparrow.

Researchers attach the tags to birds with straps that degrade and harmlessly fall off after the battery dies. The tag records nearby pulses, and the signal strength gives an estimate of the other animal's distance.

A typical study using the system includes a few dozen tags and between 10 and 100 fixed base stations. When tagged animals pass a base station the data is transmitted wirelessly from the tag to the base station, and from there to the Internet. Researchers can also reprogram the tags remotely -- for example, they can look at initial results to see when there are few encounters happening, and turn the battery off during those times to conserve power.

Burt completed his doctorate at the UW in 2000, with a dissertation on birdsong communication and learning. He wished that there was a way to automatically monitor bird interactions in the wild, and in 2005 joined forces with Otis, an expert in small, lightweight, low-power electronics. Burt managed the project to develop the tags, with funding from the National Science Foundation, as a research scientist in Otis' group. This fall they founded Encounternet LLC in Portland, Ore., where Burt now lives. He is working to add a GPS component to record the location of encounters, and to add an accelerometer and other sensors that could detect an animal's behavior.

"People are excited about this because for the first time, it allows them to study smaller animal interactions and social networks on an incredibly fine scale," Burt said. "Social networks are turning out to be key to understanding many animal behaviors. People say Encounternet is the only thing they can find that can collect that information."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Washington.

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Journal Reference:

1. Christian Rutz, Zackory T. Burns, Richard James, Stefanie M.H. Ismar, John Burt, Brian Otis, Jayson Bowen, James J.H. St Clair. Automated mapping of social networks in wild birds. Current Biology, 2012; 22 (17): R669 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.06.037

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/UtUhv3SJTuE/120920153113.htm

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A's beat Tigers to avoid sweep

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:04 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2012

DETROIT (AP) - The Oakland Athletics avoided a three-game sweep, yet still came out on the losing end.

Seth Smith homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and the Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 12-4 in a matchup of AL playoff contenders. But the wild-card co-leaders also learned they would be minus starter Brett Anderson for the remainder of the regular season.

An MRI revealed Anderson sustained a Grade 2 strain of his right oblique muscle on Wednesday night, when the left-hander awkwardly fell off the mound and exited after two-plus innings.

Anderson was 4-2 with a 2.57 ERA after six games while coming off Tommy John surgery. The A's revealed the extent of his latest injury after their victory.

"He's a guy that's got ace-type of stuff. It hurts to lose a starting pitcher," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "But we've lost a lot of starters in the last month and a half, three."

Melvin said he doesn't know about Anderson's availability for the postseason.

The team also is without Brandon McCarthy, who was hit in the head by a line drive, and Bartolo Colon, who was suspended for using a performance-enhancing drug.

Both clubs are in second place in their divisions, and Oakland is even with Baltimore for the wild-card spot.

The Tigers are two games behind the Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

Outscored 18-4 in the first two games, Oakland held down Miguel Cabrera to win the finale. Cabrera singled in four at-bats, and tops the AL in batting at .333.

Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead single in a four-run sixth inning that made it 6-3, then had an RBI double to cap a six-run ninth that included Smith's three-run double.

"We're not the type of team to score a run here, a run there, two runs here. We're more of a big-inning team, more often than not," Smith said.

Pat Neshek (2-1) retired the only batter he faced and got the win.

Anibal Sanchez (3-6), who held Cleveland hitless for 6 2-3 innings in his last start, gave up six runs on six hits and two walks in 5 2-3 innings.

Smith hit his 14th homer, a solo shot in the fifth that made it 2-all. The Tigers retook the lead in the bottom half when Cabrera singled and scored on Prince Fielder's double.

The A's went ahead for good in the sixth. Brandon Moss hit a tying double with one out and after Chris Carter struck out and Smith was walked intentionally, Donaldson singled.

Phil Coke relieved and George Kottaras hit a liner that center fielder Austin Jackson misjudged, the ball sailing over his head for a two-run triple.

"It kind of knuckled. I was right there. It just took a left turn on me," Jackson said.

Kottaras felt fortunate.

"I knew I hit it good. I saw him coming in. I thought, `Oh no, he's going to catch it,"' Kottaras said. "Then when I saw it go over his glove. I was like `Great!' But then I thought, `I've got to keep running."'

Andy Dirks led off the Detroit sixth with a home run off Jerry Blevins.

Yoenis Cespedes hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to start Oakland's scoring in the ninth.

The Tigers threatened in the first against Tommy Milone, loading the bases before Delmon Young grounded into an inning-ending double play.

"We missed a couple opportunities," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Delmon hit a ball right on the button in the first inning, double-play ball, he hit it right on the nose. We had a couple other opportunities. We had some chances."

Detroit broke through in the second to take a 2-0 lead on Gerald Laird's RBI single and Jackson's sacrifice fly.

Second baseman Omar Infante's throwing error on an attempted double play gave the A's a run in the third. It was his 10th error in 51 games since being acquired from Miami, along with Sanchez, on July 24.

NOTE: Detroit C Alex Avila is no longer having headaches, according to Leyland. Avila sprained his jaw when he collided with Fielder chasing a foul ball on Sunday. ... Cespedes was the designated hitter because of a bone bruise on the bottom of the outfielder's foot that has lingered for the last few days. ... Oakland OF Coco Crisp missed his second game because of an eye allergy. ... The Athletics travel to New York for a three-game weekend series. Jarrod Parker faces CC Sabathia on Friday night. ... Rick Porcello and the Tigers host Sam Dedundo and Minnesota on Friday night.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Nationals secure playoff berth

The Washington Nationals brought postseason baseball back to the nation's capital for the first time since 1933, clinching a playoff spot Thursday night with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49109486/ns/sports-baseball/

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Video: Who Benefits From the iPhone 5?

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Archaeologists uncover 'lost garden' in quest for Richard III

ScienceDaily (Sep. 7, 2012) ? Archaeologists from the University of Leicester who are leading the search for the lost grave of King Richard III announced today that they have made a new advance in their quest.

They have uncovered evidence of the lost garden of Robert Herrick ? where, historically, it is recorded there was a memorial to Richard III.

Now the ?time tomb team? as they have become to be known has discovered paving stones which they believe belong to the garden.

The University of Leicester is leading the archaeological search for the burial place of King Richard III with Leicester City Council, in association with the Richard III Society.

In 1485 King Richard III was defeated at the battle of Bosworth. His body, stripped and despoiled, was brought to Leicester where he was buried in the church of the Franciscan Friary, known as the Grey Friars. Over time the exact whereabouts of the Grey Friars became lost.

The project which began two weeks ago has involved digging of two trenches at a council park- and this week a third trench was excavated. Earlier this week, the archaeologists confirmed they had found the church of the Grey Friars and now they have found the garden outside the church.

Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said: ?This is an astonishing discovery and a huge step forward in the search for King Richard's grave. Herrick is incredibly important in the story of Richard's grave, and in potentially helping us get that little bit closer to locating it.?

In the early 1600s, Alderman Robert Herrick, a mayor of Leicester, bought the land of the Grey Friars and built a large mansion house with a garden on the site. In 1612, Christopher Wren, father of the famous architect, was visiting Herrick and recorded seeing a handsome three foot stone pillar in Herrick's garden. Inscribed on the pillar was: 'Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England'.

This is the last known record of the site of King Richard's grave. Richard is historically recorded as being buried in the choir of the Church of Grey Friars.

Thereafter, in 1711, Herrick's descendants sold the mansion house and garden. After passing through various owners the mansion house was eventually pulled down sometime in the 1870s and the municipal buildings were built. However, Herrick's garden seems to have remained a garden, or wasteland, up until the 1930s - 40s when it was tarmacked over to become a car park.

Mrs Langley added: ?The discovery of Herrick's garden is a major step forward and I'm incredibly excited. In locating what looks like one of the garden's pathways and, potentially, its central area which could have once held the three foot stone pillar marking the location of King Richard's grave, we could be that bit closer to finding the resting place of Britain's last warrior king.?

Mr Buckley, Co-Director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services, said the area of paving was found at its southern end, composed of re-used medieval tiles laid in a haphazard pattern.?

?The tiles were also extremely worn and of many different sizes.? Although the date at which the paving was laid has yet to be confirmed, we suspect that it relates to the period of Herrick?s mansion.? Interestingly, the 18th century map of Leicester shows a formal garden with a series of paths leading to a central point.?

?The paving we have found may relate to this garden, but it lies outside the church to the south. Inside the church in this third trench, further investigation has revealed some large fragments of window tracery which could well relate to the east window, behind the high altar.? If so, this may show that we are in the extreme east end of the building ?near the choir where Richard III is said to have been buried.

?Having overcome the major hurdle of finding the church, I am now confident that we are within touching distance of finding the choir ? a real turning point in the project and a stage which, at the outset, I never really thought we might reach.?

Work at the site will stop for a public open day between 11- 2 on Saturday September 8 and will resume next week. More details of the public open day here: http://news.leicester.gov.uk/newsArchiveDetail.aspx?Id=1671

The dig is being filmed by Darlow Smithson Productions? for a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary to be aired later this year.

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Do Dallas Realtors Need a Reality Check on Their Ads? (And Are ...

I about died when I saw this Realtor ad on AOL Real Estate ? of course it?s from a Canadian firm. The Canuks can just get away with more than we can when it comes to billboard advertising.

Or can they?

So I started thinking back to local ads I?ve seen from our Dallas agents. Who do you think has the best ad of them all? The craziest? My vote goes to Clay Stapp for his orange condoms strapped to a card ? see for yourself!

So why do agents advertise themselves so dang much and what does it get them?

I am being interviewed by a guy named Mark Ellwood who is writing a book called?BARGAIN FEVER:Why We?re Obsessed with Getting More for Less.?The book will be published by?Penguin-Portfolio, due out in April of 2013. Mark says that we Americans are OBSESSED with bargains. We are talking about the real estate connection, of course, and the lengths people will go to to get their homes sold. Mark says that 10 years ago, retailers sold just 15-20% of their inventory at some kind of promo price ? today, that number is 40-45%. Put simply, sales of sales have more than doubled in a decade.

And don?t think real estate is exempt!

In another post, I?ll delve into this. But while I was answering some questions for Mark, I mused on how much trouble and cost Realtors go to to create a brand for themselves. They spend THOUSANDS. (He was amazed.) Are these costs passed onto the consumer? You betcha! Look at any vanity ad in a glossy magazine and know that the agent spent at least $3,000 to $5,000 for his or her hair, make-up, wardrobe, consultant fees, skin care, microderm, Botox, photographer, all this before they even swipe the credit card for their ad! I firmly believe this is what got Eleanor Mowery Sheets in trouble, among other things.

Mark asked me what agents spend their money on ?? how much time do you have, I responded? Branding, ads, marketing their clients? properties and it does not come cheap. Most agents tell me they advertise clients? homes in print for the sheer sake of their clients, to appease them. They KNOW it does no good, they KNOW everyone is on line looking for real estate, but they still fall in line like good sheep and continue to waste more paper.

As for the vanity ads, I get it, branding. But how important will branding be when everyone in America is looking for a bargain ? when buying real estate on sale is the norm?

America, says Mark, has transformed into a country where everyone has caught bargain fever.

Discounts happen more frequently and with deeper price slashing than even a decade ago: where once sales were used to juice traffic on certain days, Groupon and its ilk have made sales a daily concept. Discounts are no longer the exception, they?re the norm.?It isn?t just blue?collars who are budget?watchers any more ? white collar execs from managers to CEOs are now deal chasing, too. In less than four years, the number of people who only buy clothes when they?re on sale has gone up from 16% to 23%, almost a quarter of the population. And among those earning $150,000 or more it?s accelerated even more ? from 10% to 20% (Salmon Research).

Does anyone really think it?s smart to pay full price any more? No, and you know it: the richer the client, the harder they will drive the housing bargain!

So I ask you, if this trickles down to real estate, which it will, why are agents spending thousands on vanity ads, hair and make-up other than the fact that ? it?s oh so much fun?

Source: http://www.candysdirt.com/2012/09/05/do-dallas-realtors-need-a-reality-check-on-their-ads-and-are-ads-worth-it-when-its-all-about-bargains/

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Proficient Audio launches MaxTV MT2 speaker box, soundbars start job hunt

If Proficient Audio's new MaxTV MT2 speaker box is anything to go by, the company obviously isn't enamored with the latest slew of slim, elegant soundbars. As the picture shows, it's designed to act as a platform for your TV and can support up to 160 pounds -- enough for even the biggest of flatscreens. The hard, no-grill design shows off the box's two 1-inch tweeters, four 2.5-inch mid-range speakers and two 5.25-inch, down-facing subs. Four internal 20-watt, two-channel digital amps take care of the power, and with two of those dedicated to the woofers, we'd expect some serious neighbor-waking base. It's not just for your TV either, as the built-in Bluetooth supports audio streaming from any of your favorite gadgets. The soundbar-on-steroids is shipping now for 599 bones, and if that sounds a little steep, Proficient Audio assures you that "once someone hears the difference MaxTV makes, they will buy it."

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/07/proficient-audio-launches-maxtv-mt2/

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