Archive for May, 2010

Chinese scientists demonstrate 2Mbps internet connection over LED

LED data transmission used to be all the rage — we fondly remember beaming Palm Pilot contacts via IrDA. Then we got omni-directional Bluetooth and building-penetrating WiFi, and put all that caveman stuff behind us. But now, scientists the world over are looking to bring back line-of-sight networking, and the latest demonstation has Chinese researchers streaming video to a laptop with naught but ceiling-mounted blue LEDs. The Chinese Academy of Sciences claims to have realized a 2Mbit per second internet connection that transmits data simply by modulating the flicker of the little diodes, and imperceptibly enough to have them serve as room lighting as well. Like Boston University before them, the Chinese scholars see short-range LED networks controlling smart appliances. It’s not quite the gigabit speed you’d get from laser diodes, but this way you’ll get more mileage out of those expensive new bulbs.

Monday, May 17th, 2010 Home improvement No Comments

Difference between low-E low-E4, SunCoat low-E

There are basically five types of LowE coatings currently on the market.

Three are “sputter” or softcoats and two are “pyrolytic” or hardcoats.

Of the three softcoat products, basic LowE would be considered a high solar heat gain product. LowE2 would be considered a low solar heat gain product, and LowE3 would be considered an even lower solar heat gain product.

Andersen’s LoE4 has a standard LowE2 coating between the lites and argon gas for energy performance, but it also includes a titanium dioxide coating on the exterior of the window that makes the glass “self-cleaning”.

Although some folks might cringe at the term self-cleaning, the coating does work quite nicely and you will notice a difference in how they look and in how often you will have to clean the glass.

Finally, the “4th” feature of the LoE4 is a plastic film that is applied to the glass in the factory that protects it from dirt and debris and even minor scratches during shipping and handling and install.

Andersen’s SunII glass is a tinted LowE2 that has very nice solar heat gain blocking ability and also it is nice because it cuts down on glare as well.

Milgard’s SunCoat is a standard LowE2 product – much the same as the LowE2 that Andersen offers as their standard.

SunCoatMax is a LowE3 product. The LowE3 product is very new and has only been around for maybe 3 or 4 months – this doesn’t mean avoid it because it is new – it means that it is an advancement of a proven technology and it works really well.

LowE3 has the same heat blocking ability as a tinted LowE2 (such as SunII), but with visible light transmittance very similar to a standard LowE2 product – without tint.

In the case of a west-facing door that has both heat and glare issues, then you may prefer a tinted LowE but with the understanding that the view thru the door will be less.

SunII has either 38% or 40% visible light transmittance (I forget which version they use) and SunCoatMax has 66% visible light transmittance – again with very comparable solar heat blocking capability. Standard LowE2 (including SunCoat) has about a 70-72% visible light transmittance.

Standard LowE has about a 78% visible light transmittance, but it also passes significant solar heat which is an advantage in places other than where you live.

I didn’t mention anything about hardcoat coatings because none of the products you mentioned use them. Also, they are much less appropriate in your environment (primarily cooling) than are sputter coats.

No LowE coating has an affect on sound propagation thru the glass.

Sunday, May 16th, 2010 Home improvement 1 Comment

Download Full Version of Portal FREE from steam until may 24th!

Portal is now available for download for free to anyone with a steam account.

PC AND Mac Version

http://store.steampowered.com/freeportal/

Thursday, May 13th, 2010 Games No Comments

Hard to find 800 number website

Amazon.COM Hours of Operation (PST): 24/7
1-800-201-7575 or 1-206-266-2992
orders@Amazon.com or info@Amazon.com
More info about Amazon CS phone numbers

Amazon Seller Support: 877-251-0696

Amazon rebates status line 866-348-2492

Amazon.CA Hours of Operation (PST): 24/7
1-877-586-3230

Bally’s Total Fitness Member Services
1-562-484-2980
6:00am – 5:00pm PST, Monday – Friday

Bank of America “Customer Solutions” department, 1-888-717-3999

Barnes & Noble.COM Hours of Operation (EST): 7 days 7AM-11PM
1-800-843-2665
service@BN.com
› Continue reading

Monday, May 10th, 2010 Informations 3 Comments

ClamCase Turns Your iPad Into A Laptop

Thursday, May 6th, 2010 Gadgets, Video No Comments

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