There are approximately 560 satellites operating in the Earth’s orbit, out of ~8,000 man-made objects in total. Satellites have an operating lifespan between five to twenty years after which they will continue to stay in the orbit as space junk or incinerated upon re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere.

Currently, the former Soviet states launch about 1,300 satellites into the orbit per year, the USA about 1,000, Japan 100, China 50, France 40, India 30, the UK 25, and a few from Australia and Israel.

Some satellites, called microsats, nanosats, or picosats, can be as small as 10 cm in diameter and 0.1 kg in mass.

Introducing the Eubiq System, the world’s first-of-its kind electrical power outlet system that is practical, safe and simply beautiful! The innovative track capable system allows you to add, remove and reposition power outlets anytime anywhere - by just a simple twist.

See the demo of the Eubiq products.

What if you could snap a photo or shoot video using just your umbrella?

That’s what Sho Hashimoto, Shingo Iwata, and Takashi Matsumoto are developing with Pileus: The Internet Umbrella.

The Pileus system is described as a “mobile tangible browser to make rainy days fun.” The umbrella is Wi-Fi-enabled with a built-in camera. A Pileus user can take a picture or video using the umbrella, and the media is uploaded to Flickr or YouTube. Then, the user can twist the handlebar, which contains an RFID reader, to scroll through the content on each site. The media content is projected onto the umbrella’s underside. The team also hopes to integrate GPS sensors into the umbrella to be used as a navigational system.

It is as bad because accident-prone.

To see other High-Tech Umbrellas here

We love Apple. Apple knows more about “clean” design than anybody, right? So why do Macs, iPods, iBooks and the rest of their product range contain hazardous substances that other companies have abandoned? A cutting edge company shouldn’t be cutting lives short by exposing children in China and India to dangerous chemicals. That’s why we Apple fans need to demand a new, cool product: a greener Apple.

Nine months after the campaign, then Steve Jobs has decided to bring us closer to the greener apple that Mac users all over the world have been asking for. Today we saw something all been waiting for: the words “A Greener Apple” on the front page of Apple’s site, with a message from Steve Jobs saying “Today we’re changing our policy.”

Recycle your stuff. Recycle it with Apple. At no charge.

ESD, or ElectroStatic Discharge, is one of the few things an individual can do to damage or destroy his or her computer or hardware components. Much like the shock you receive when rubbing your feet on the carpet and touching something metal, ESD can occur when working in your computer and will cause components you touch to no longer work properly. ESD can occur without the user feeling a shock and will only occur while working on the inside of the computer or handling an expansion card.

Prevention

The best method of preventing ESD is to use an ESD wrist strap and/or use a grounding mat or table. However, because most users do not have access to such items, the below steps are to help reduce the chances of ESD as much as possible:

Zero Potential - Most importantly, make sure you and the computer are at Zero Potential by continuously touching an un-painted metal surface of the chassis or the computer power supply case.
Standing - It is also very important that you are standing at all times when working on the computer.
Cords - Make sure everything is removed from the back of the computer (power cord, mouse, keyboard, etc).
Clothes - Make sure not to wear any clothing that conducts a lot of Electrical Charge, such as a wool sweater.
Weather - Electrical storms can increase the ESD risk; unless absolutely necessary, try not to work on a computer during an electrical storm.
Accessories - To help reduce ESD and help prevent other problem, it is also a good idea to remove all jewelry.

Gay!! I want this!! Never mind the Vista.

Compiz-Quinn for Ubuntu (Linux)

If you are currently using Ubuntu, and installed with a decent graphic card, you may wish to refer here on how to install this eye-candy onto your box.

Ubuntu is a community developed, linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. And most of all, its FREE !

Request for the installation CDs from ShipIt today. As many CDs as you like (to distribute it) and they are generous enough to ship to your doorstep without a single cent charged.

Found this very cool add-ons for Firefox browser.

Tab Effect

This will add flip-flop effects when switching between tabs.

Works with: Firefox Firefox: 1.5 – 2.0.0.