Solar Used To Sterilize Med Equipment, Cook Food

A new solar apparatus has been created to use the sun to heat up water to create steam. This steam can be used for sterilizing equipments, medical apparatus, or to cool food.

As I understand it, this applies the same concept that is used on solar ovens. We tried it once weekend. I built a crummy version but it worked.

This new autoclave device can really help in situations and places where electricity is scarce or unreliable.

Harnessing the power of the sun is ageless. We all know that solar and other renewable power sources is key to cleaner environment and, one day, will wield us off the current energy sources that produce green house gases.

In first world conditions, we don't worry about cooking oil, having clean water (unless you live in a fracking zone), or electricity. But these same renewable tech should be given equal considerations in helping third world nations or far off villages with their basic and medical needs.

This new implementation by Rice University is called the Capteur Soleil.

There is no mention how soon this tech will reach those who needs it but soon the better. And hopefully, sooner.

More at Earthtechling.

Miltary Green: Not Just About Uniform, Also About Renewable Power

The Secretary of the US Navy hopes to have the Navy and Marine use renewable sources to provide 50% of its power needs by 2020. The impact of this is huge beyond just national security concerns.

Already, being deployed into the war theaters are solar gears and tents. The USAF is make sure its squadrons of warplanes are certified to use biofuels.

Again, great for national security but also great for civilians. In the long term, the research into renewable power with Pentagon’s back should speed up new tech deployment as well as drive down cost over the long-run. And the new tech and lower costs will eventually trickle down to non-military markets.

Don’t think so? Think Cold War tech. It’ll happen.

More at Greenjava.

Solar, Wind, And EV Incentives

Right now, if you get an plug-in vehicle, you essentially forgo the need to burn petroleum in exchange for power generated by the local power plants or whoever your city mandates you buy your electricity from. So we're pretty much making someone else increase the load of chemicals that affect the environment, and ultimately, the planet.

What if the government offers additional incentives for consumers who purchase renewable energy solutions in addition to the EV? Or what if the power companies also provide incentives for consumers with EV to drive even less?

More at GreenJava.

Can Green Tech Be The Salvation For Third-World Nations?

The Sahara Desert, from what little I gathered from Wikipedia, is a diverse and large desert, about the size of the United States and all of Europe. What we see is large sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Given the tremendous amount of heat, sun, and wind with a sparse population, it would appear to be an opportunity for renewable energy investments. It would benefit a whole region as well as drastically reduce reliance on petroleum.

I know there are a lot of politics and conflicts that are regional as well as international in scope. However, there is a saying that goes along the line of if something isn't hard, it's not worth doing. Or something close to it.

A multibillion dollar effort can go a long way in help energy starved nations while also benefitting the local populations. Of course, we should not make the same mistakes that many companies and conquering armies from first world nations often do.

This an endeavor should be one undertaken with the ultimate goal of helping all of humanity.

Aerogenerator: MegaWind Turbine Capable of 10MW & Counting

Apparently, there is a great competition among various groups vying for the title of the biggest, most efficient, and powerful wind turbines and a new design from a British team based on a spinning leaf can be a challenger to the Americans and other EU teams. More importantly, it will be operational in 2014 (according to The Guardian).

Dave The Mobile Warrior

Yes, there really is a Dave the Mobile Warrior.  He's one of the most brilliant individuals on this planet.  But like most American youth today, he has yet to reach his true potential.  I'm working on that.  Rather, I'm working to make sure he works on it so I can be rich.  Dave just needs to find something to focus on.  Yes, he's that brilliant.

Anyway, he's going on a cruise in June and I've asked him to provide Onxo and On Apple with video feeds if possible but definitely pictures.  More importantly, his mobile experience.

We've discussed about what mobile gears he'll bring along with him and what'll happen if he runs into trouble.  Dave the Mobile Warrior laughed when I mentioned trouble.  He's counting on it!  MacWind, iPhone, and a new Luminix camera are all that he's bringing for now.

What do you think?  Is that enough?  Will the cruise have wifi access so that he won't be cut off from his Slingboxes and media files?  How's he going to deal with the pirates?

Stay tuned!

Mobile Tip To Extend Battery For MacWind (Maybe Other Netbooks and OS's)

This tip came from Dave the Mobile Warrior.

A poster who turned his Wind netbook into a MacWind offered readers at the MSI Wind forum some pointers on how to extend the battery life for their Winds. Well, that's just one of the tips he offer.

• Time Synchronization
• Battery Life - CPU Throttling
• Ext Monitor
• Audio
• Scaling resolutions for applications.

Some of this doesn't necessarily apply to folks who run OS X on their Atom-based netbooks. I encourage you to take a look. Maybe you know a thing or two that you can share with the rest of us.

Link: MSI Wind.net

OS X Without the Mac

Traditionally, with we talk about Apple's Mac with the OS, we refer to it as "Mac OS X".

Now, Appleinsider has revealed that Apple has decided to trademark the "OS X" with the "Mac".  As explained, it's likely because Apple's OS exists in multiple devices that are not Macs:  iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.

Not to mention on a myriad of non-sanctioned devices like my MacWind.  So here's where I think this is interesting.  Just OS X.  

What I'm about to say is mere speculation on my part (I have no sources, this is not a rumor, but just my educationed musing) but consistent with Apple traditon of taking unassuming steps that are laid out on a road map that eventually somewhere.   Can this be the towards possibly licensing OS X for use outside of Mac computers?

Here's why based on Apple's past actions.

• PowerPC to Intel transition - no one thought that was possible.  Blood enemies and all.  Things change.  Time change.
• Apple has AMD chips running OS X in Cupertino.  We have to be very naive to think otherwise.  Cell chips?  You bet.  
• No disk drive.  Now, no user changeable batteries on some Macbooks.  Already, that exists in the iPod and iPhone lines.  And let's not forget no firewire on the unibody Macbooks.  Apple is very sneaky at adopting new technology as they are at dropping older ones.
• USB - Apple wasn't the first to use it but it was certainly the one that introduced the public to it with the original iMac.
• iPod Touch with recoding abilities.  Right.  VOIP is more like it.  iChat Voice or Video years down the line?  Definitely.
• Some experience now with certifying apps - may translate that experience into hardware certifications.

Those are behaviors that Apple has exhibited in the past that had me wondering about this trademark change and potential of OS X licensing.  Nothing in those behaviors sugget OS X on Viaos or Inspirons.  Nor should we just take Apple's word if Apple executives, Cook or Schiller, offers Apple's explanation for this change in trademark.  

Apple likes to surprise people so don't be surprised if OS X licensing is in the cards.  Apple will still make Macs.  And as far as licensing, I'm sure Jobs and Co. has made sure Apple always come out on top - in technical and financial terms.

If this happens, it'll be soon.  Windows 7 is coming soon.  Based on personal judgment and what I'm reading in the press, Redmond may have a remedy for it OS woes. The public is still fuming over Vista and corporations are sticking with XP.  If Apple wanted to take OS marketshare, this is the time.

Source:  Appleinsider

Note:  I know the other side of the argument:  Steve Jobs will never let this happen.  I'm almost with you on this one.  Jobs has never public said he regretted not licensing the Mac OS in the 80s but he has publicly said he marvelled at Microsoft's ability to make deals.  Maybe Jobs, health willing, will try to make a few of his own now.

MacWind Update: Keep it?

Dave the Mobile Warrior informed me last night that he may get rid of his MacWind.  I was curious to find out why he would do such a thing.  It was his idea that we get the Wind and install OS X (we own our copies).

So, I'm a bit torn now.  Folks, what should I do?  I truly do like the new Macbooks and the 13" LED are just what I was waiting for.

Anyway, I want to run some benchmarks on it before I do get rid of it or something.  We got it on eBay with the live.com 30% discount.  So, the cost came out to about $350 which isn't bad for the configuration. The same Wind was on Amazon for $480 at the time. (Sounds like Dave the Mobile Warrior might do well under the Obama plan...hmm...)

The thing is that it's a not real Mac.  So, there are quirky workarounds that has to be employed to get it working the way it should.  The mic doesn't work so you need a Bluetooth or USB headset.  The Wi-Fi works but through a 3rd party utility.  Otherwise, you'll have to get some specific wireless card that OS X recognizes.

I like it because it's light and small.  I just have an issue with real estate.  It's a nice toy.  That's pretty much what I have say about it.

So, what do you think?

Bigger Batteries - The Way to Go?

A third-party nine-cell battery for my MacWind would provide me with 6.5 hours of continuous battery use.  Do you think I should get it?

The MacWind I've been talking about lately weights in at about 3 pounds. That's with the 6-cell battery.  It provides me with about 4.5 hours of juice per charge and I find that adequate. But then the debate is whether the weight is more important or adding a little weight but gain 50% of battery life is worth it.

Right now, I would have to choose between the standard 6-cell configuration or a 3rd party 9-cell battery.  In time, I think we'll get more choices given that mobility is increasingly important to a lot of mobile warriors and the ability to work without worry about finding  an outlet is very important.

 What do you think?  With the live.com deal and eBay , I can get it for a good price now.  I've included the link if you're interested.  MSI forums has more info about it.  I guess I will let those intrepid early adopters go through a couple of charge cycles before deciding.

MacWind Update

My Powerbook still gets it's use as an iTunes base for me.  And I've got a webcam set up as a security cam.  So, it's still got it's place on my mobile life.

However, since last Saturday when I picked up my Wind from Dave the Mobile Warrior, it's all I have been using.  My impressions?

It's plenty fast for day-to-day work.  I've written some short stories on it for my friend's site.  I've worked on a children's book for my nephew's birthday using Inkscape and Gimp.  Obviously, outside of iWork, Crossover (free yesterday), and Rapidweaver, I've decided to go as open-source as I can on it.

I enjoy having a notebook with a long battery life.  My Al Powerbook 1Ghz lasts about 3 hours on two battle-tested batteries with a pretty worn LCD screen.  So far, it's lasted me from about 4 to 4.5 hours (wireless on, screen 3/4 bright), it's a far cry from the 6 hours advertised.  I should have known that was too good to be true.

Best of all, the LED screen is very bright.  That's a big plus.

I'm going to run some basic benchmarks this weekend to compare it with the Powerbook and a Mac Mini to see how it fares.  The Wind has an overclocking function so I'm curious if the 25% increase in clock speed translate into real world benefits.

Onxo Update For the Week

I was all over the place this week.  Just like me.  I like that.  The week started with G1's arrival at my backdoor and, seemingly, about to end with my time playing on my MacWind.

Also this week, we touched on wireless providers, Android, iPhone (of course), and a couple of tips to help mobile warriors stretch their hard-earned dollar.

Mobile Issues:

• iPhone's effect on innovation, market dynamics, and revenues for everyone.
  
• Mobile Savings - 25-30% savings by using live.com and ebay
• Economic relief for T-Mobile users
• Tough times may lead to great deals this Holidays.
• Netflix and telecoms winners in economic crunch.
• Living from a mobile device.
• AWS-3 update
• Wireless providers needs a Christmas Carol moment.
• Sprint's WiMax needs Android
• Data from Wired is goodness for telecommuting
• No open-source for RIM

Mobile Devices on Onxo:

• October or November surprises for gadget lovers?
• Indian telecom offers netbooks with wireless broadband.
• New Benchmarks from Macworld for the new Macbooks
• Apple's netbook won't be a netbook.
• Nvidia's 9400M rocks! 

MacWind: Macbook Mini

I took the day off to catch up on some work, tutoring, and eventually visited Dave the Mobile Warrior to get what I've been waiting a whole week for:  my MSI Wind.

More specifically, I have been waiting for my MacWind, the first Macbook mini (its unofficial status be damned) and it has been worth every moment so far.

I had previous said that I was going to get a new Mac.  And true enough, I have.  I love the long battery life, the bright screen (my poor poor old Powerbook G4), and with only 1GB, it purrrrrrs...

 That piece of paper is actually a a couple of Apple logo stickers that came with the copy of Leopard that I bought.  Guess what I'm going to do with it?

There you go.  I will post more updates on my experience with the MB nano, or MacWind, both names are interchangeable.  It's pretty awesome.  And I was able to get this on the cheap.  If you remember last week, I was recommended by Dave to share with everyone the Live.com deal.

I have to say I am very satisfied, again so far.  And we tried it with the iChat and it works great.  The only issue is the mic doesn't work.  As far as I know, that is the only issue I'm sure some enterprising mobile warrior will resolve.

In any case, I'm once again very mobile with each 6-hour battery life.