Now, a new theory on size of black holes

Planetary scientists have come up with a new theory on the size of black holes -- claiming some of them have no "table manners", and tip their "food" directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously.
For its research, a team from the University of Leicester in the UK and Monash University in Australia investigated how some black holes grow so fast that they are billions of times heavier than the sun.
Prof Andrew King at University of Leicester, who led the study, said, "Almost every galaxy has an enormously massive black hole in its centre. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, has one about four million times heavier than the sun.
"But some galaxies have black holes a thousand times heavier still. We know they grew very quickly after the Big Bang. These hugely massive black holes were already full-grown when the universe was very young, less than a tenth of its present age."
Black holes grow by sucking in gas. This forms a disc around the hole and spirals in, but usually so slowly that the holes could not have grown to these huge masses in the entire age of the universe.
The scientists made a computer simulation of two gas discs orbiting a black hole at different angles. After a short time the discs spread and collide, and large amounts of gas fall into the hole. According to their calculations black holes can grow 1,000 times faster when this happens.
"If two guys ride motorbikes on a Wall of Death and they collide, they lose the centrifugal force holding them to the walls and fall," says King. The same thing happens to the gas in these discs, and it falls in towards the hole.
This may explain how these black holes got so big so fast. "We don't know exactly how gas flows inside galaxies in the early universe but I think it's very promising that if the flows are chaotic it is very easy for the black hole to feed," said King.
The findings are to be published in the 'Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'.

Facebook asks employers not to demand passwords of jobseekers

Facebook has warned legal action against companies that ask job applicants for passwords to the social network, saying such a request violates its terms of service.
Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan issued the warning in the wake of a published report that companies and governmental agencies were increasingly asking job applicants for access to their accounts as part of a pre-employment screening process.
In an open note to its users, Facebook has taken a stand against the growing trend of employers requesting the account passwords of jobseekers as a condition of employment consideration, saying they "don't think it's the right thing to do."
To be more specific, the company says giving potential employers access to personal accounts is detrimental to both the user and the user's friends, and could have legal ramifications for the employer.
"As a user, you shouldn't be forced to share your private information and communications just to get a job," the note, credited to Egan, flatly says.
"And as the friend of a user, you shouldn't have to worry that your private information or communications will be revealed to someone you don't know and didn't intend to share with just because that user is looking for a job."
The note goes on to say that employers requesting passwords open themselves for potential problems like discrimination claims and that they could "assume liability for the protection of the information they have seen."
Still, the note finishes by reaffirming that while Facebook will do what they can to protect their users' right to privacy, the user is most responsible for protecting that right.
"While we will continue to do our part, it is important that everyone on Facebook understands they have a right to keep their password to themselves."

TOMTOM VIA 125: Plug & Go

For your next road trip, don’t leave the house without your car navigation system. With a sophisticated navigation system—in-dash or on top of it— you’ll never have to struggle with confusing maps or unintelligible instructions ever again. It reduces driver stress too. Of course, commuters can’t wish away the traffic jams, but some navigation systems monitor traffic to avoid chaos on the roads. After one car trip with the Dutch manufactured TomTom Via 125 navigation system, I was hooked!
This R18,990-a piece portable navigation device couldn’t be simpler to use—just plug in and tap the touch screen. You will be on your way very quickly with its intuitive user interface. TomTom’s updated maps feature all the monuments, chowks, parks or attractions you need to find your way. Wherever you need to be, search for the nearest landmark and let TomTom show you the route.
Designed for convenience, the device even lets you use your voice for many different tasks, such as entering addresses and making calls hands-free. One can navigate complex junctions with ease using advanced lane guidance. No wonder, driving with these more fuel-efficient routes saves you money as well as reducing your impact on the environment.
Car navigation systems are fast becoming one of the most popular mobile electronics items on the market. Making your journey as convenient as possible, a navigation system features turn-by-turn directions that are both audible and visible, technology that automatically redirects you if you miss a turn, and point-of-interest-mapping in case you need a bite to eat or are looking for the nearest ATM.
I firmly believe that portable navigation devices are must-haves these days, especially if you travel or drive frequently. There is no shortage of navigation devices on the market with prices ranging from the low of R7,000 to as high as R50,000. But buying a direction-giving device that fits your particular needs can be confusing unless you know precisely what to look for.
You may believe that car navigation systems are just a glorified map for those who can’t remember correct road directions. Believe me and I am not exaggerating TomTom Via is so much more than just a map that says, “You are here.” It has a lot of great features that you may not even know about, making it more useful, easier to use or just plain fun. For instance, it clearly shows which lane to take at junctions so you don’t miss your turning. On the most difficult highway intersections, realistic 3D representation of the junction keeps you relaxed and safe.
Normally, car drivers prefer their navigation system to blend in with the dashboard to appear as seamless as possible. The TomTom navigation device sits on top of the dashboard and matches your car and style. And when it comes to screen display, the bigger navigation devices are, the better. Units with bigger screen sizes are easier to use and navigate. TomTom Via has clear display, reflective coating and anti-glare features. It is easier to read on the 5-inch screen in the daytime. Its touchscreen technology gives you the optimum view with the easiest control to make operating your device a pleasure.
Helping you to keep your eyes on the road, spoken instructions on the TomTom Via include street names, to make turnings even clearer. Guidance come available in Indian accented English plus 10 additional regional languages—Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati and Oriya. You can choose icons for your most frequent destinations and add your own text. This makes your navigation experience truly your own with even easier and quicker navigation to the places you go most often.
There’s a convenient foldaway mount that’s integrated with your device, so it’s always there when you need it. It attaches easily to your windscreen. And using the optional mounting disk, you can turn it upside down and position it on your dashboard too, where the screen automatically flips to the right way up.
My verdict:
TomTom Via can be a good choice for easygoing navigation on Indian roads.
Estimated street price: R18,990
Key FEATUREs
Dimensions: 134 x 93 x 19 mm (W x H x D)
Screen size & type: 5.0-inch, 16:9 resistive wide screen
Screen resolution: 480 x 272 pixels
Connectivity: Bluetooth for hands-free calling
Memory: 4 GB internal flash memory
Spoken navigation languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati, Oriya
Battery life: Upto 2 hours autonomous operation

LENOVO IDEACENTRE C320: Pay less for more

Desktops aren’t just for desks anymore. They’re showing up in every room of the house—gaming in the bedroom, streaming movies in the living room, emailing in the kitchen. Lenovo IdeaCentre C320 is the new addition to C Series models of Lenovo’s all-in-one desktops. Lenovo claims that this new PC will offer consumers an affordable space-saving solution, with the multimedia features that other conventional PCs offer.
The 20-inch wide LED-backlit touch screen display comes with a resolution of 1600 x 900p. It includes Windows 7 Home Premium combined with Intel Core i3-2120 CPU at 3.30 GHz with a storage capacity of 1 TB, 4 GB RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6450A graphics card. It has a pre-installed Lenovo Eye distance system which detects your distance from the screen and displays a message that you are too close to the screen. There’s also an option for a multi-touch enabled touchscreen being provided.
The C320 offers an optional USB 3.0 port, which lets users take advantage of faster speeds than the traditional USB 2.0 standard. Of course, you need to use USB 3.0 drives to make proper use of it. On some configurations, there’s also option to connect larger TVs or monitors using the HDMI port.
In PC Mark Vantage test, the C320 scored 7144 which is a good score and has a 4509 score in 3D Mark, which is the best score we have seen in recent models of Lenovo all-in-one desktops. It has a Power cinema which includes photos, videos, music files and games. The feature list includes Wi-Fi 802.11n, USB 3.0 and 6 USB 2.0. The desktop also features a 0.3 MP Web camera, but the quality does not match with that of 0.3 MP in IdeaCentre B320. The speaker quality is very good supported by SRS premium sound. In addition, the keyboard keys are very well placed and are in a combination of a vivid colours which makes it look fancy.
Estimated street price: R28,650
Specs
Display: 20-inch touchscreen display
Resolutions: 1600 x 900p
Operating system: Windows 7 Basic
Processor: Intel Dual Core i3, 3.3 GHz processor
Storage: 4 GB RAM, 1TB HDD
DVD writer, WiFi connectivity
HDMI, USB 3.0, wired keyboard and mouse

Canon PowerShot S100: Sleek and serious

This time it is even better. The follow up to the S95, Canon PowerShot S100 is a sophisticated pocket-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that has the power advanced users and enthusiasts need to create standout images. As with other PowerShot cameras, the compact PowerShot S100 incorporates all of the advanced Canon technologies that make capturing superb photos and video as easy as pressing a button. Yet, when it’s time to get creative, the very same camera in the hands of a skilled photographer can produce stunning images that would be at home in a gallery.
As automatic or manual as you need it to be, the PowerShot S100 is, at once, a pocket camera and a serious photographic tool, impressing even demanding pros. It incorporates the Canon HS SYSTEM, now featuring the new DIGIC 5 Image Processor for enhanced image quality and amazing low-light performance. It has got a high-sensitivity of 12.1 megapixel 1/1.7-type CMOS sensor, 5x zoom lens with a focal range of 24-140 mm and fast maximum aperture of f/2.0, and a 3.0 inch LCD display with a resolution of 461K dots. It also offers a maximum ISO of 6400 at full resolution, built-in GPS, 1080p movie recording at 24fps, full range of manual shooting modes, RAW format support and 9.6fps burst shooting.
Canon S100 has a lighter and slimmer body, weighting just 198 gms. The grip in this compact camera is also good, it has a rubberised grip on the back side of the camera. Some of the additions that this camera bring include High ISO NR settings (Low, Standard, High), Sport AE Point, Wind Filter (on/off) and Power IS for movies. You can also customize the ring function button. The TFT colour LCD got a wide viewing angle.
We had taken a number of photos in a variety of settings and this camera performed great almost in all scenarios. It really impressed with its low light performance, thanks to its new CMOS sensor. The Canon S100 provides great image quality, with its longer and wider zoom than its predecessor S95. The latest inclusions of DIGIC 5 processor gives this camera an edge over its competitors.
In the video mode, one improvement you will notice is its ability to zoom in and out during video recording. In terms of video performance, the colours were sharp with a good amount of detail and the auto-focus in this camera also works pretty good at keeping up with panning and zooming. The S100’s new intelligent IS system features 7 stabilisation modes which are automatically set by the camera depending on the scene you’re shooting.
The added feature of GPS in this camera comes handy. The GPS feature options includes On/Off, and GPS Logger (On/Off). Switch GPS on and the camera warns you to monitor battery life. There is also the option to update the camera’s time from GPS. Included in the box is Map Utility software so that you can track where you’ve been. Little disappointed with its battery life, we could shoot 170-200 images in full charge.
Overall, the PowerShot S100 is a well-designed camera which gives you good image quality.
Estimated street price:R26,999

Now, a car that changes colour with your mood!

 
Imagine your car changing its colour as per your mood. Well, your imagination is now a reality.
All thanks to French car manufacturer Peugeot which has unveiled a new car, Peugeot RCZ, that uses an innovative reactive paint to change its body colour in order to reflect its owner's emotions, be it happy, sad or anything in between.
In fact, engineers at Peugeot UK have developed this pioneering new technology by using a psychochromatic coating or mood paint, which alters the molecular structure of the paint to emit light at varying wavelengths.
The driver's moods are detected via heat sensors integrated into the steering wheel, which read their body temperature and pulse rate to change the exterior colour of the car accordingly, say the engineers.
"This really is a world first for motoring, to have developed a paint that accurately reflects the emotion of the driver, will no doubt have our competitors green with envy.
"Particularly as our customers can experience this innovation behind the wheel of the RCZ -- a sports coupe that already inspires goose-bumps with its double-bubble roof line," Vince Clisham, the product manager at Peugeot, said in a media release.

Dropcam Begins Shipping The $149 Dropcam HD WiFi Security Camera

Dropcam is back with its second and most advanced security camera. Introduced back at CES 2012, the Dropcam HD is finally ready to ship and delivered within 5-7 business days. It’s quite a good bargin, too.
Not much has changed since we first looked at the unit in early January. This model does 30 fps, night vision, two-way audio and 16x the resolution as the original Dropcam Echo. The live video is accessible through a cloud service for $9.99 a month. Dropcam also offers a DVR functionality. At $149 it’s priced very aggressively against other products with a smaller feature set.
By shipping this second product, Dropbox has officially made a dent in the startup hardware field. It takes a lot to ship a first product, but it’s even harder to stick around long enough to ship a second. As Dropbox’s CEO Greg Duffy explains in the interview with TechCrunch’s John Biggs below, don’t ship before it’s ready. It’s never too late to launch a great product.