Facebook Threatens Email

Facebook has unveiled a new messaging system that could see a drop in the use of more traditional email systems, reports with Wall St Journal.

The new Facebook service will provide users with an '@facebook' email address, and is designed to merge email, instant messaging and SMS text messaging into a single inbox. If it catches on, it could pose a threat to rivals such as Google and Yahoo and see Facebook becoming the largest internet messaging provider.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, argues that the system will not by any means replace email.

"This is no an email killer. This is a messaging system that includes email as a part of it". He said

As well as maintaining conversation histories and tracking the user's communications, the system will feature a 'social inbox' that will filter messages from people who aren't in a user's social circle.

"We can do some really good filtering for you because we know who your friends are". He said.

As creepy as that sounds, the new service should roll out over the next few months and is expected to be a hit, especially with younger people who do not already use email. The threat to rivals lies mainly in the fact that Facebook already knows so much about its users, which it will no doubt exploit to full advantage. That and the fact it has 500 million users worldwide, substantially more than other traditional email providers.

Look out, Google.

Bowers and Wilkins P5 – Best HeadPhone

Personality's important but so are good looks - and the P5s, B&Ws first ever set of headphones, have got both in droves. Arriving in a quilted black pouch and sporting impossibly soft New Zealand lambskin ear pads and headband, gently twisted steel struts and brushed B&W embossing, the P5s look as though they sound wonderful. They also sound wonderful. The P5s present a fine, wide soundstage and give an excellent impression of space, while passively blocking an impressing amount of outside sound. There are higher end headphones out there in Dimension Audiophile, but these little buggers are designed to be used where you'll use them most: while you're out and about with your iPod.

Panasonic Axes Technics 1200s

Like the last raver dancing as the trance is unplugged, the DJ world has been left lonely and disoriented at the news that Panasonic has decided Technics SL-1200 and SL-1210 turntables will cease production early next year.

Although no concrete word from Panasonic has been confirmed, many tech blogs are spouting obituaries for the turntables, and several claim to have translated a Japanese press release confirming the news. However, Panasonic's global site sows no trace of the news, leading some optimists to believe it's not true, and some sceptics to believe they just haven't got around to officially telling us yet.

Due to their direct drive mechanism and sturdy build, the SL-1200 and SL-1210 have been the mainstay of the DJ community since their advent in 1972. But with a decline in sales over the last few years - now down to five percent of what they were a decade ago - it's hardly surprising if Panasonic has decided the line is no longer profitable.

According to dance music mag Resident Advisor, Panasonic released the following statement about the deck's end:

After more than 35 years as a leading manufacturer of analogue turntables, Panasonic has regretfully taken the decision to leave this market. However, Panasonic will continue to sell headphones under the Technics brand.

We are sure that retailers and consumers will understand that our product range has to reflect the accelerating transformation of the entire audio market from analogue to digital.

In addition, the number of component suppliers serving the analogue market has dwindled in recent years and we brought forward the decision to leave the market rather than risk being unable to fulfill future orders because of a lack of parts.

Whatever the reason for the turntables' demise, it's a sorry day for DJ's ( and ravers ).

Logitech launches solar powered keyboard

Jumping on the ecologically friendly bandwagon is Logitech, which, hot on the heels of Philips's solar-powered remote control, has released a solar-powered keyboard. Not only does it do away the need for battery or cable power altogether, but it's also made from PVC-free materials and comes with completely recyclable packaging, with the idea that it will lower your carbon footprint (even if by just a teensy amount).

They keyboard features solar panels that grab any available light, including the light from tungsten or fluorescent bulbs. A handy solar panel app lets you know the status of the keyboard, and it is completely wireless, allowing you to rush outside with it if you start running out of power.

When fully charged the keyboard can run in complete darkness for up to three months. It also features Logitech's "incurve" keys, which are designed to be easier on the fingertips.

"They keyboard is still the best input device for typing emails and Ims, updating your Facebook page or posting responses to your favorite blogs - and the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is the next big innovation in keyboard technology," said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech's keyboards and desktops.

The device, which is in no way a novelty, should be in shops a few weeks before Christmas with a retail price of $169.

Yamaha PDX-31 released

Did you think the wave of iPod/iPhone sound systems had receded back into the technology ocean? Wrong, people. So, so wrong. And to prove that it can still be done with style, Yamaha has put out this sleek little beauty.

The Yamaha PDX-31 not only proffers typical Yamaha audio excellence, but it is also rather good looking, and available in three colours. It houses a pair of 3.21-inch speakers, dual wall construction and offers an auxiliary jack for non-Apple-branded players (just to prove it's not elitist).

The PDX-31 also comes with a rather classy wee remote that mimics the interface of an iPod, so that you can have a rather surreal experience from controlling your iPod with another iPod. How postmodern is that?

Apple previews OS X 10.7 'Lion'

Apple has allowed a neak peek at its up and coming OS X 10.7, dubbed 'Lion', which is to be inspired by many of Apple's iPad innovations.

The peek previewed just some of Lion's features, including the Mac App Store, which will allow users to easily find and install desktop apps, and Launchpad, a system to make it easier to launch apps. Lion will also have feature Mission Control, a new way of navigating your system, allowing a unified view of open windows, open apps and the dock.

"Lion brings many of the best ideas from iPad back to the Mac, plus some fresh new ones like Mission Control that Mac users will really like," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Lion has a ton of new features, and we hope the few we had time to preview today will give users a good idea of where we are headed."

There's no set release date for Lion as yet, but Apple is hinting at sometime around mid-2011.

Classification or Types of Internal Combustion Engines

There are many different types of  internal combustion engines. They can be classified by:
1.  Application.  Automobile,  truck, locomotive, light aircraft, marine, portable power system, power generation

2.  Basic  engine design. Reciprocating engines  (in  turn  subdivided by  arrangement  of  cylinders: e.g.,  in-line, V,  radial, opposed), rotary engines (Wankel and other geometries)

3.  Working cycle. Four-stroke cycle: naturally aspirated (admitting atmospheric air),  supercharged  (admitting  pre-compressed  fresh  mixture),  and  turbo-charged  (admitting fresh mixture compressed  in  a  compressor driven  by  an exhaust  turbine),  two-stroke cycle: crankcase  scavenged, supercharged, and turbocharged

4.  Valve or port  design and  location. Overhead (or I-head) valves, under-head  (or L-head) valves,  rotary  valves,  cross-scavenged porting  (inlet  and  exhaust ports on opposite sides of  cylinder at one end), loop-scavenged porting (inlet and exhaust ports on same side of cylinder at one end), through- or uniflow-scavenged (inlet and exhaust ports or valves at different ends of cylinder)

5. Fuel.  Gasoline  (or  petrol),  fuel  oil  (or  diesel  fuel),  natural  gas,  liquid  petroleum gas, alcohols  (methanol,  ethanol), hydrogen, dual fuel

6.  Method  of  mixture  preparation.  Carburetion,  fuel  injection  into  the  intake ports or intake manifold,  fuel injection  into the engine cylinder

7. Method  of  ignition. Spark ignition (in conventional engines where the mixture is uniform and in stratified-charge  engines where the mixture is non-uniform),
compression ignition  (in  conventional  diesels,  as  well  as ignition  in  gas engines by pilot injection of fuel oil)

8.  Combustion chamber design. Open chamber  (many designs: e.g.,  disc, wedge, hemisphere, bowl-in-piston), divided  chamber  (small  and  large auxiliary
chambers; many designs: e.g., swirl chambers, pre-chambers)

9.  Method  of  load control. Throttling of  fuel  and air  flow  together  so mixture composition  is  essentially  unchanged,  control  of  fuel  flow  alone, a  combination of  these

10. Method of cooling. Water cooled, air cooled, un-cooled (other than by natural convection and radiation)