text:
namespace {
const int32 kCommandBufferSize = 1024 * 1024;
const int32 kTransferBufferSize = 512 * 1024;
}

namespace egl {

Display::Display(EGLNativeDisplayType display_id)
    : display_id_(display_id),
      is_initialized_(false) {
}

Display::~Display() {
  gles2::Terminate();
}

bool Display::Initialize() {
  gles2::Initialize();
  is_initialized_ = true;
  return true;
}

bool Display::IsValidConfig(EGLConfig config) {
  return (config != NULL) && (config == config_.get());
}

bool Display::GetConfigs(EGLConfig* configs,
                         EGLint config_size,
                         EGLint* num_config) {
  // TODO(alokp): Find out a way to find all configs. CommandBuffer currently
  // does not support finding or choosing configs.
  *num_config = 1;
  if (configs != NULL) {
    if (config_ == NULL) {
      config_.reset(new Config);
    }
    configs[0] = config_.get();
  }
  return true;
}

bool Display::GetConfigAttrib(EGLConfig config,
                              EGLint attribute,
                              EGLint* value) {
  const egl::Config* cfg = static_cast<egl::Config*>(config);
  return cfg->GetAttrib(attribute, value);
}

bool Display::IsValidNativeWindow(EGLNativeWindowType win) {
#if defined OS_WIN
  return ::IsWindow(win) != FALSE;
#else
  // TODO(alokp): Validate window handle.
  return true;
#endif  // OS_WIN
}

bool Display::IsValidSurface(EGLSurface surface) {
  return (surface != NULL) && (surface == surface_.get());
}

EGLSurface Display::CreateWindowSurface(EGLConfig config,
                                        EGLNativeWindowType win,
                                        const EGLint* attrib_list) {
  if (surface_ != NULL) {
    // We do not support more than one window surface.
    return EGL_NO_SURFACE;
  }

  scoped_ptr<gpu::CommandBufferService> command_buffer(
      new gpu::CommandBufferService);
  if (!command_buffer->Initialize())
    return NULL;

  gpu::gles2::ContextGroup::Ref group(new gpu::gles2::ContextGroup(true));

  decoder_.reset(gpu::gles2::GLES2Decoder::Create(group.get()));
  if (!decoder_.get())
    return EGL_NO_SURFACE;

  gpu_scheduler_.reset(new gpu::GpuScheduler(command_buffer.get(),
                                             decoder_.get(),
                                             NULL));

  decoder_->set_engine(gpu_scheduler_.get());

  gl_surface_ = gfx::GLSurface::CreateViewGLSurface(false, win);
  if (!gl_surface_.get())
    return EGL_NO_SURFACE;

  gl_context_ = gfx::GLContext::CreateGLContext(NULL,
                                                gl_surface_.get(),
                                                gfx::PreferDiscreteGpu);
  if (!gl_context_.get())
    return EGL_NO_SURFACE;

  std::vector<int32> attribs;
  if (!decoder_->Initialize(gl_surface_.get(),
                            gl_context_.get(),
                            gfx::Size(),
                            gpu::gles2::DisallowedFeatures(),
                            NULL,
                            attribs)) {
    return EGL_NO_SURFACE;
  }

  command_buffer->SetPutOffsetChangeCallback(
      base::Bind(&gpu::GpuScheduler::PutChanged,
                 base::Unretained(gpu_scheduler_.get())));
  command_buffer->SetGetBufferChangeCallback(
      base::Bind(&gpu::GpuScheduler::SetGetBuffer,
                 base::Unretained(gpu_scheduler_.get())));

  scoped_ptr<gpu::gles2::GLES2CmdHelper> cmd_helper(
      new gpu::gles2::GLES2CmdHelper(command_buffer.get()));
  if (!cmd_helper->Initialize(kCommandBufferSize))
    return NULL;

  scoped_ptr<gpu::TransferBuffer> transfer_buffer(new gpu::TransferBuffer(
      cmd_helper.get()));

  command_buffer_.reset(command_buffer.release());
  transfer_buffer_.reset(transfer_buffer.release());
  gles2_cmd_helper_.reset(cmd_helper.release());
  surface_.reset(new Surface(win));

  return surface_.get();
}

void Display::DestroySurface(EGLSurface surface) {
  DCHECK(IsValidSurface(surface));
  gpu_scheduler_.reset();
  if (decoder_.get()) {
    decoder_->Destroy();
  }
  decoder_.reset();
  gl_surface_ = NULL;
  gl_context_ = NULL;
  surface_.reset();
}

void Display::SwapBuffers(EGLSurface surface) {
  DCHECK(IsValidSurface(surface));
  context_->SwapBuffers();
}

bool Display::IsValidContext(EGLContext ctx) {
  return (ctx != NULL) && (ctx == context_.get());
}

EGLContext Display::CreateContext(EGLConfig config,
                                  EGLContext share_ctx,
                                  const EGLint* attrib_list) {
  DCHECK(IsValidConfig(config));
  // TODO(alokp): Add support for shared contexts.
  if (share_ctx != NULL)
    return EGL_NO_CONTEXT;

  DCHECK(command_buffer_ != NULL);
  DCHECK(transfer_buffer_.get());
  bool share_resources = share_ctx != NULL;
  context_.reset(new gpu::gles2::GLES2Implementation(
      gles2_cmd_helper_.get(),
      NULL,
      transfer_buffer_.get(),
      share_resources,
      true));

  if (!context_->Initialize(
      kTransferBufferSize,
      kTransferBufferSize / 2,
      kTransferBufferSize * 2)) {
    return EGL_NO_CONTEXT;
  }

  context_->EnableFeatureCHROMIUM("pepper3d_allow_buffers_on_multiple_targets");
  context_->EnableFeatureCHROMIUM("pepper3d_support_fixed_attribs");

  return context_.get();
}

void Display::DestroyContext(EGLContext ctx) {
  DCHECK(IsValidContext(ctx));
  context_.reset();
  transfer_buffer_.reset();
}

bool Display::MakeCurrent(EGLSurface draw, EGLSurface read, EGLContext ctx) {
  if (ctx == EGL_NO_CONTEXT) {
    gles2::SetGLContext(NULL);
  } else {
    DCHECK(IsValidSurface(draw));
    DCHECK(IsValidSurface(read));
    DCHECK(IsValidContext(ctx));
    gles2::SetGLContext(context_.get());
  }
  return true;
}

}  // namespace egl


On a human scale, Mars is far away. It takes more than six months for a spacecraft, traveling at more than 12,000 mph, just to reach the planet. More importantly, once there, it takes radio waves—traveling at the speed of light—about eight minutes to reach the Earth. That removes any opportunity for decision-making from Earth-bound human controllers. By the time a problem is discovered, transmitted back to Earth, acted upon, and instructions are sent back to the spacecraft, the lander will likely be a smoking pile of space junk on the planet surface. Landing on the Martian surface by an unmanned spacecraft must therefore be automatic and completely autonomous.
It turns out that landing safely on Mars is difficult. Only 40% of the spacecraft sent by any space agency have been successful, with the US the only nation whose missions have survived the landing. Fortunately, on November 26, NASA's InSight lander made a nearly picture-perfect approach and landing on the red planet. Almost immediately, it sent back a picture of its new neighborhood. This was the eighth successful landing of a spacecraft on Mars.
InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport) is a mission in the NASA Discovery Program. Its goal is to place a single geophysical lander on Mars to study its deep interior. Using an array of geophysical instruments, InSight will examine the seismology (Mars quakes), subsurface temperature, and planetary motions to help better understand the processes that shaped the rocky planets that inhabit the inner part of our solar system.
But first, InSight needed to land safely on the Martian surface—a process with thousands of steps, according to a NASA video detailing the landing and featuring Rob Manning, chief engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. The process of getting from the top of the Mars atmosphere to the surface is called Entry, Descent, and Landing or EDL. Before reaching the planet, the InSight spacecraft is in cruise stage, with a solar array facing the sun to generate electricity, an antenna facing the Earth for communications, and an astronavigation system using the positions of the stars to help stay on course.
Seven minutes before reaching the top of the Martian atmosphere, the cruise stage is separated from the InSight lander. "Before you hit the top of the atmosphere, though, the space capsule has to orient itself so that the heat shield is precisely facing the atmosphere. Now the fun begins!" said JPL's Manning in the video.
"The vehicle is moving at nearly 13,000 mph, but it's hitting the top of the atmosphere at a very shallow angle—12 degrees. Any steeper and the vehicle will hit the thicker part of the atmosphere and will melt and burn up," said Manning. If the spacecraft approached at any shallower an angle, it would bounce off the atmosphere of Mars and head back into space. As the lander travels closer to the planet and the atmosphere thickens, friction causes the heat shield to reach 1,000°C—hot enough to melt steel.
The friction causes the vehicle to slow from about 13,000 mph to about 1,000 mph. At ten miles above the surface, a supersonic parachute is deployed. Fifteen seconds later, the heat shield is jettisoned and ten seconds later, pyrotechnic devices are used to unfold and lock the lander's three legs. A minute later, the landing radar—which points down to the surface—is switched on.
"At about a mile above the surface of Mars, the lander falls away from the back shell (which is attached to the parachute) and lights its engines," noted Manning. The vehicle uses its rocket engines to rotate out of the way of the descending back shell and parachute. "The last thing that has to happen is that on the moment of contact, the engines have to shut down immediately—if they don't, the vehicle will tip over," said Manning.
The entire landing process takes about 7 minutes. And judging from the tension and subsequent relief evident in live videos from the JPL control room, the landing was picture perfect. Because of all of the dust kicked up in the landing sequence, the JPL team is keeping the dust shields on InSight's cameras. But even with the shields in place, the spacecraft has sent back images from the planet surface. Several hours later, it deployed its solar panels to provide the electricity needed for continuous operation of the lander. If everything continues to go well, InSight will spend the next two years using its instruments to investigate the deep interior of the planet Mars.


So what are we to make of finding le mot juste? Examine every sentence, no matter how simple, for placement of the perfect word in the precise place. In your novel. In your storytelling. In your proposal. In your white paper. In your PowerPoint. In your email. In your Tweet.
Flaubert would spend days, even weeks, to compose a single page. Not an option in the digital age. Still, wrestling a few extra minutes for the right words is time well spent.
Great content can do no better.
I particularly like Flaubert's remark to Madame Colet. The goal of writing is to match word with thought. Of course, one hopes that the thoughts are original and interesting and worth expressing.
Thanks for your note, Eric. Yes, I agree with you about the hope for original, interesting thoughts.


We are Made In Madison.
Your involvement is crucial to our community's success.
Working together, we can help Madison youth thrive and become successful adults.
Check out the Parent Project on iCRV radio.
You can catch a new show every Wednesday at 4:30pm or go to their website and check out all past episodes.
M.A.D.E. in Madison is celebrating everyday people doing extraordinary things in our community! Nominate a local hero you know by filling out this form and emailing it to bardenc@madisonct.org. Let us know who it is and what they do to make our community a happy, healthy place to live.


text:
M. Penn Designs | Bio
Osceola32
designs in fashion & ink by michael penn
Michael Penn, fashion designer, singer, writer and artist was reared in Boston. He apprenticed under German fashion designers, Gottfried Schmidt and Peter Rank, and opened an Haute Couture boutique in Frankfurt under the nom de plume C.Gordon, whose clothing line has been seen and sold in world fashion capitols such as New York, London, Tokyo, Munich, and Barcelona. Collection C. Gordon also took part in International Trevira shows produced by Hoechst GmBh and debuted in the 1990s in "Frankfurt Zieght ein," an annual fashion show along the Ziel shopping district in downtown Frankfurt. He has been creating ever since. He is an entrepreneur and a man of many hats—quite literally; he's a milliner, too (a person who makes women's hats). He sold hats with Barney's under the label of Susan Thompson. He has sold hats under a variety of labels on Newbury Street in one of the oldest businesses on that street called Toppers.
Michael graduated from the University of Maryland the European Division, the University of Massachusetts, and Cambridge College, where he obtained a Masters in Management and E-commerce. He holds a MME and several other letters. He attended Goethe Institute in Munich and has had all sorts of private lessons from French to Chinese taught by graduates of Vassar College. He has attended a wide variety of schools and has a diverse education and experience, because he loves to learning. He has been a certified linguist, reading and ESL teacher. He even served four years in the Armed Forces where most of his journeys began as an Intelligence analyst and linguist. The perpetual student is taking medical courses and studying towards his Doctoral degree; he is a firm believer that "the more you know, the less you know," especially after his Masters degree.
As lead vocalist, Michael has performed solo and ensemble throughout Europe. An actor since high school, Michael has been on television, as well as in plays and movies; he longs to be a star, having been tutored by actress, Butterfly McQueen, and arranger, Ronald Jones. His first recording was with bassist, Peter Schneider, who played with Tina Turner's ex-husband, Ike, and his last big gig was with bandleader, Russell Valdez, who played with Fleetwood Mac. Michael's agent was Valerie Geiss of Munich, who procured Michael's speaking role on Tat Ort (The Scene of the Crime) on German television, as well as on a few commercials. He even was a hand model after modeling for a Laganese Ice Cream ad.
Michael also is a poet and journals daily, hoping one day to publish them under the title All That and Nothing, but That's Not What James Baldwin Would Say. Michael idolized author James Baldwin. Michael also loves photography and collected personal photos of Fenway Park and the city of Boston and many other tourist cities. As an artist, Michael's first group exhibit was with artist Paul Goodnight and the late Therese India Young, a great spiritual artist, whom Michael deeply admired. They taught him to "throw it all out and let it go." For over 20 years, he has been creating abstract works and scribbling in his journals, still taking art lessons; but for the most part, he continues to throw it all out and just paint or draws abstracts. He's currently painting two works for a gallery in Stuart, Florida, where he hopes to fetch at least $50,000.00 for his works... wanna buy one?
Michael is a Buddhist by way of life and a Christian from religion with smorgasbord approach to all that is spiritual. A decade ago, he accomplished a four-week photographic study-tour of Thailand and prepared a guided tour—storyteller format—from an African-American perspective of Thailand. He loves temples and sacred places. Since his near-death experience, he believes his soul was saved in the thousand-year-old church in Trondheim, Norway.
Michael now lives both in Florida and in Boston.
© 2009-2010 Michael Penn Contact Me

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Brad Choate assumed duties as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement on July 1, 2008. As Vice Chancellor Choate has responsibility for the University's fundraising efforts as well as University Relations, the Arkansas Alumni Association, constituent relations, special events and the Arkansas World Trade Center.
Before joining the University of Arkansas, Choate was Vice President for University Advancement at University of South Carolina where he had responsibility for fundraising efforts and advancement units, including the offices of advancement administration, media relations, communications, development, government relations, and the Carolina Alumni Association.
Prior to South Carolina, Choate was president and chief executive officer of the Minnesota Medical Foundation, where he served for 10 years. Choate oversaw fundraising efforts totaling more than $500 million for health-related research, education, and service at the University of Minnesota.
In 2004, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education named Choate the winner of the CASE Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Award recognizing his leadership and exemplary professionalism. The award recognized Choate for making great strides in the development and quality of the Minnesota Medical Foundation and for providing significant service to the community of institutionally related foundations.
Before joining the Minnesota Medical Foundation, Choate was associate vice president for development and university relations at Penn State University, where he oversaw completion of three highly successful capital campaigns, including a $352 million university-wide capital campaign. Choate also has held senior management positions at The Ohio State University including director of corporate and foundation relations.
Choate earned a bachelor degree in history, a bachelor degree in political science and a master's degree in education from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife, Julie, have three children: Brent, a captain in the U.S. Air Force and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy; Lauren, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse; and Lindsey, a doctoral student at the University of Arkansas.


"I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass"
Composed solely of lines from Third Eye Blind songs.
Written awhile ago.. Kinda relevant, kinda not.
Over a year old, but it still holds true... unfortunately.
My heart was beating so hard I couldn't sleep... Had to write.
Her slow demise to Parkinsons.
"It's not the ones we catch that make us stronger, it's the ones that get away."


text:
mobiles.io - The Mobiles Blog
Know Your Mobile Blog
Xiaomi's Mi 8 Pro Hits The UK, And You Won't Believe The Price
Damien McFerran 08/11/2018 - 3:50pm
The Apple of the East is shaking things up
Today, Chinese giant Xiaomi signalled its intentions to enter the UK market with a series of products at super-competitive prices.
The big news was the arrival of the Mi 8 Pro, Xiaomi's flagship handset which comes with a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 6.21" AMOLED FHD+ display and an in-screen fingerprint scanner – all for £499.
Xiaomi's phones are famous for being cheap and powerful, but many doubt that the company could keep its prices low outside of China. The Mi 8 Pro being less than £500 proves that it can, and we imagine it will have rivals like OnePlus feeling seriously nervous. The OnePlus 6T suddenly has a significant competitor on UK soil.
The Mi 8 Pro has been turning heads since its launch this year in China, but up until now those living outside of Xiaomi's homeland have been forced to turn to Chinese resellers and risk paying high import fees. Now, it's going to be possible to purchase the company's leading phone without having to worry about any of that – and you'll have a valid UK warranty to boot.
Xiaomi also revealed that it is releasing its Mi Band 3 fitness tracker for a bargain-basement price of £26.99, and is also bundling it with the Redmi 6A for a stunning £99, exclusively through UK network 3.
That's not all – Xiaomi is also opening its first UK store on November 18th, at Westfield White City in London.
by dmcferran at November 08, 2018 03:50 PM
Pixel 3 Owners Aren't Happy About The Phone's Display
LG strikes again?
The Google Pixel 3 is out now, and we've been lucky enough to have spent some time with the handset ahead of our full review. While we'll save complete impressions until then, we can say that it's one of the most delightful devices we've seen in 2018 so far; stock Android is a joy to use and the phone's camera really is something else.
There's just one glaring issue, and it's the screen.
If you followed developments surrounding the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL last year, you'll no doubt recall that a lot of Pixel 2 XL owners had serious problems with the phone's LG-made OLED screen, such as 'colour shift' and pink hues. Some phones would have screens which had a pink gradient either at the top or bottom, while others had a pinkish tone when compared to OLEDs produced by other companies.
What brought this issue into sharp relief was that Google picked not one but two display makers for its Pixel 2 models – LG made the screen for the larger XL, while Samsung produced the screen for the smaller edition. Samsung is arguably the king of smartphone OLED panels, and while its record isn't totally perfect, it seems to have perfected the production process to a point where its screens look brilliant across most devices (it supplies Apple with OLEDs for the new iPhones).
Fast forward to the present, and you might assume that Google – having seen the number of reports from unhappy Pixel 2 XL users – would have switched solely to Samsung as its display supplier. However, that's not the case, and this year the company has swapped things around; LG now creates the display for the smaller Pixel 3 while Samsung makes the one found in the Pixel 3 XL. The end result is very much the same, however: disgruntled customers.
A quick glance online shows that a worrying number of people are reporting that their Pixel 3 phones are exhibiting pink gradients on the screen, just like last year's Pixel 3 XL.
Reddit user mikehitchco commented:
"So my Pixel 3 came today, and the bottom half of the screen has really bad pinkish tone distortion. It persists after reset and is visible at all angles, including head on.
I was REALLY hoping after the Pixel 2 XL mess (I went through a bunch to get one with a decent screen) this would be solved. But apparently Google still can't manage to make phones with good screen."
Another reddit user, Mjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj, added:
"In the photo gallery you can see my OG Pixel 1, the original Pixel 3 I received from Google in the middle and its replacement on the right. I can still see some pink in the photo on the replacement device in specific conditions but it is not as noticeable as the first one, especially in person."
Meanwhile, Jrlutz31 decided to visit a store to compare the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and found the same issue was present:
"People reporting that the top half of the pixel 3 screen is pink. I checked them out in store and noticed the same thing too. Glad I ended up going with the XL. This would drive me insane."
Another reddit user by the name of GrayBoltWolf supplied more evidence, this time on a grey image:
Tekstical was even told by Google that this fault is 'normal':
"Well I got my pixel 3 yesterday a week ahead of time and man I was excited. Looks so much better than the pixel 2, started using it and noticed the screen is 2 different colors.
Top half is white like normal and the bottom half has a strong pink tint to it that I couldn't get over. Chatted with Google help and they repeatedly told me it was normal and it's just oled shift, totally fine.
I have an LG oled tv that's not half pink so I find that difficult to believe. Well Google wouldn't RMA it, and kept telling me it's normal. So I returned it. I'm pissed, I waited for this phone and then Google pretty much just told me I'm not seeing what I'm seeing. So they would rather lose a customer rather than send me an 800 dollar phone that's not screwed up out of the box. I hope anyone else who has to deal with this has better luck than I. They were super happy to tell me to kick rocks."
Granted, these are just a handful of cases, but we noticed on our own review unit of the Pixel 3 that the same issue is present. It's difficult to see on a 'busy' display and is only barely visible on a pure white screen, but when the automatic brightness kicks in and the screen is dimmed, it becomes obvious – and, maddeningly, it's impossible to un-see once you know it's there.
Below is a shot of our review unit alongside a Galaxy S9+ sporting one of Samsung's latest AMOLED panels. Both phones are showing the exact same white JPG; night mode has been enabled and the brightness has been reduced to zero to fully show the gradient effect. You can also see how 'pink' the Pixel 3's display is compared to Samsung's.
While OLED is a trickier process to perfect than LCD and even Samsung has wobbles every now and then (a Know Your Mobile review Galaxy S7 had the same issue a few years back), it would seem that LG is really struggling to meet an acceptable standard on its displays – despite the fact that its OLED TV sets are brilliant.
According to Ars Technica:
"Samsung has been working for several years to mature its phone OLED panel technologies. LG has been working for years doing the same on TVs. LG's display division reportedly wanted to focus on larger panels for a long time, so the company is now playing catch-up on mobile. But regardless of the manufacturer, not all OLED panels are created equal; that picture gets even clearer when comparing phones and TVs. The technology may have been around for years now, but it's still only just maturing—especially when it comes to mobile."
The issue here is that LG is playing catch-up with phones that cost over £700 – hardly loose change in most people's eyes. Of course, a pink gradient on your screen doesn't suddenly render it unusable and many people may not even notice, even if their phone has colour shifting problems. Still, if you're fussy about these things – we know we are – then you may want to pick the Pixel 3 XL over its more pocket-sized sibling, which is a shame because the standard Pixel 3 is one of very few 'small' handsets on the market right now.
Best iPhone XR Cases
Damien McFerran 07/11/2018 - 10:06am
Get that shiny new iPhone some protection
Apple's shiny new handset is finally here, but there's something a little off about this release – Apple itself hasn't produced any official cases for the iPhone XR (yet, at least). Perhaps the company is keen for its fans to show off those vibrant colours when they're out on the street? Whatever the reason, it's perhaps harder than usual to pick which case you want for your new handset, so we've come to your aid and pulled together the best selection of iPhone XR cases on the market right now.
Olixar Ultra-Thin iPhone XR Case - 100% Clear
One of the cheapest options on this list, the Olixar Ultra-Thin iPhone XR Case is made from soft, bendy plastic and provides a snug and bulk-free means of protecting your investment. It's not going to stop damage from huge drops – you'll need a much more robust case for that – but it will prevent knocks and scratches from sullying the pristine surface of your brand new XR. If you want a case that barely feels like its there, it's a solid choice.
Olixar MeshTex iPhone XR Case
It's just a couple of quid more than the Ultra-Thin case but worth the additional outlay if you'd prefer something a little more solid. The snap-on MeshTex is made from solid plastic with lots of little holes inserted, so you can see the phone underneath. Again, this isn't going to offer very much protection in the event of a fall onto solid ground, but it will prevent marks, bumps and other low-level damage – and it looks great to boot.
UAG Plasma iPhone XR Protective Case
This case is perfect for those of you who worry that they're going to drop their precious new iPhone on a daily basis. UAG's reputation as a creator of rugged cases is well deserved; this case adds a lot of bulk to your phone but protects it in all the key places, meaning that it will survive drops from considerable heights. UAG's cases have a distinct appearance that arguably won't be for everyone, but if you value safety over looks then this is something of a no-brainer, especially when you consider the reasonable price point.
Ghostek Exec 3 Series iPhone XR Wallet Case
While it looks a bit odd – the 'wallet' flap on the front only covers two-thirds of the display – we actually quite like the Exec 3 Series case. The cut-out at the top allows you to see notifications as they come in without having to actually open the case, and the transparent back means that lovely Apple logo is exposed for the world to see. On top of all that, this is a pretty sturdy case which will allow your phone to survive accidental drops.
Mujjo Genuine Leather iPhone XR Case
Mujjo isn't messing around when it comes to cases; the company uses the finest quality leather to create products which look and feel utterly gorgeous – hence the rather steep price when compared to some of the other case options listed here. It's XR range includes plain cases and wallet-based options, which have a flap on the back into which you can insert two credit cards. The leather ages beautifully and provides a surprising degree of protection without bulking out the device too much. They might cost a fair bit, but Mujjo's cases come highly recommended.
Krusell Broby iPhone XR Leather Case
If shiny leather isn't your thing, then this genuine suede leather case might fit the bill. Krusell has used leather which has been "sourced and treated adhering to the highest social and environmental certifications" apparently, and it shows; the Broby looks fantastic and feels great in the hand, although it's worth noting that suede ages in a different manner to shiny leather.
Tech21 Evo Luxe Liberty London iPhone XR Case
All of the cases we've featured thus far have been on the understated side, so here's one that really pushes the boat out. Designed by Liberty London, it comes in an eye-catching (that means bright, we think) Azelia red finish, and can withstand drops of up to 10 feet, despite being thin and light. Sure, that colour isn't going to be to everyone's tastes, but you can't say this case doesn't make an impression.
Otterbox Pursuit Series iPhone XR Tough Case
Otterbox is famous for its seriously tough cases, and this example is sure to follow the same tradition. It boasts certified 'Drop+' protection and a dual material construction, both of which offer incredible security when it comes to clumsiness. The shell is scratch-resistant and despite all of the protection on offer, it's still thin and pocket-friendly. All of this comes with a hefty price tag, but Otterbox fans will know that quality doesn't come cheaply.
Nodus Shell Case II + Micro Dock
Can you tell we love leather cases? Nodus is another company which specialises in producing this kind of product and its XR case is handcrafted from full grain veg tanned Italian leather, is Qi Wireless compatible and even features magnetic shielding. The soft microfibre lining protects your phone when the case is fitted, while the poly-carbonate core prevents damage from accidental drops. It even comes with a magnetic 'micro dock' which allows you to clip the phone onto pretty much any surface. It's on the pricey side, but this is a quality case.
Thanks to Mobile Fun for supplying the iPhone XR cases used in this review.
by dmcferran at November 07, 2018 10:01 AM
Grab Yourself A Xiaomi-Flavoured Bargain Thanks To GearBest
Pick Up The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite For Just £113
Xiaomi's making a big push in Europe this year, after years of being largely exclusive to its native China. In case you didn't know, Xiaomi is one of the most successful smartphone companies in the world and is often called "The Apple of the East". Unlike its North America rival however, Xiaomi prides itself on selling phones at rock-bottom prices and instead generating revenue via its range of supporting services.
While Xiaomi is looking to expand in the UK soon, there's no reason to wait if you want to bag yourself a bargain. Chinese online reseller GearBest has just kicked off its 11.11 promotion which includes some notable Xiaomi handsets, and the even better news is that the retailer ships direct to the UK.
GearBest sells global versions of Xiaomi's phones which means you'll get full English language support and Google apps pre-installed – something that a lot of other Chinese retailers don't provide.
As part of the 11.11 offer, you can pick up the superb Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, which runs Android One and is therefore assured a long stream of software updates direct from Google itself. GearBest is selling this particular phone – which boasts dual cameras and a fingerprint scanner – for just £113. Yes, you read that correctly.
The Mi A2 Lite has a 5.84 inch, 2280 x 1080 LCD screen and is rocking a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa Core chipset, along with 3GB of RAM. There's 32GB of storage and you can expand that amount with cheap MicroSD cards – or you can use that second slot to insert another Nano SIM. It's also got a massive 4000mAh battery for impressive stamina, making it a solid all-round option if you want a quality smartphone that doesn't cost the earth.
When you look at what companies like Motorola and Huawei are charging for their budget devices in the UK, asking just over £100 for this handset is a bit of a steal – and GearBest has other offers coming over the next few days, so it's worth keeping your eyes on the site.
Camera Shoot-Out: iPhone XR Vs. Google Pixel 3 Vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+
The king of the snappers, 2018 edition
More so than ever before, the quality of your smartphone camera has become a real sticking point for many buyers. A few years ago people were willing to put up with slow focus time and muddy images purely because their phone having a camera was a convenience rather than an expected necessity. Today, the situation is rather different; phones have cameras which are rivalling the kind of quality you'd normally associate with a DSLR, and thanks to rapidly-improving AI tricks they can produce stunning 'bokeh' effects which look just like the real thing.
But which phone is best if you want to get the finest possible shots from a smartphone? We decided to test three of 2018's flagship devices to see which comes out on top: the recently-released iPhone XR, the Google Pixel 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S9+. We took a series of shots using all three phones (auto mode with no tinkering) to see how each one performs. The results are below.
This bookshelf was our first subject. Both the Pixel 3 and iPhone XR took really colourful snaps – check out the brightness of the yellows – while the Galaxy S9+ looked ever-so-slightly washed-out in comparison. The red colours in the XR shot look a little muted, however.
Next up was a pair of trees. Interestingly, both the S9+ and XR produced brighter images in this shot, with the Pixel 3 making the tree on the left appear a lot darker. The sky is also a lighter hue in the photos taken by Apple and Samsung's devices, while we detect a little more detail on the leaves of the right-hand tree in the Pixel 3 shot. We'd also argue that the sky has more range in terms of colour on Google's phone.
There's no a massive amount of difference between the three phones with this close-up shot of a flower. If pushed, we'd have to say that the XR produces the best snap – check out the more pronounced colour gradiant between the pink and the white on the petals.
This dark, indoor shot shows how much effort Samsung and Google have put into improving low-light photography on their phones. The S9+'s variable aperture means that more light enters the sensor and we get a brighter snap – albeit one which loses a bit of fine detail. The Pixel 3 isn't quite as bright but boasts sharp detail – impressive stuff when you consider this was taken in very dark conditions. The XR comes in last place here; the image is fuzzy and very dark.
Now for a portrait-mode selfie. All three phones cope well as far as edge detection is concerned; remember, the S9+ is the only device in this shoot-out which comes with a secondary snapper for depth information – both the Pixel 3 and XR are using software to create the same effect. The Pixel 3 and S9+ snaps are of similar quality, while the iPhone snap appears to feature the controversial 'beauty' effect – notice how the skin is smoothed and the cheeks are ever-so-slightly rosy? You may prefer this; to be honest, it does result in a more appealing image. We also like the way in which the XR shot gradually fades out of focus over the hairline.
This close shot of some flowers comes out well on all three phones. The Pixel 3 'sees' the blue flowers in a slightly darker shade, but that's about it.
This long-shot is interesting. The Pixel 3 image is darker, but arguably has a lot more detail. Both the S9+ and XR images are 'softer' with lighter colours. Compare the trunk of the tree on the left in the Samsung and Apple shots with the Pixel 3 one – it looks a lot darker in Google's image.
As expected, it's a close call. All three of these phones are engineered to take amazing shots, but the way in which they go about that is slightly different in each case. Google uses AI to improve its images and boost low-light snaps, whereas Samsung has come up with a mechanical solution – a variable aperture – to achieve better images in darkened environments. Based on our findings, Google's approach is the superior one.
However, there were points during our test where it became clear that the Pixel 3 was producing much darker and less colourful images than its rivals – not in every situation, it should be noted, but it was apparent. This was, in all honesty, a more accurate representation of the real-world environment (all of these outdoor snaps were taken on a rather dull and overcast day) but the fact that both the iPhone and Galaxy S9+ could pick out more colour suggests that they're the ones to go for if you like punchy images with plenty of 'zing'.
It's important to point out that the Galaxy S9+ has a second telephoto camera which we didn't test here – largely because the Pixel 3 and XR lack this feature. This is helpful for close-up shots, and it's worth noting that the XR's bigger brother, the XS, has one of these also. Google opts for a digital zoom solution which is impressive, but not quite as good.
So which should you go for? To be brutally honest, it's hard to really say; we wouldn't want to recommend a single one of these phones purely based on its camera, as there are a lot more things to consider.
They're all excellent and all have strengths and weaknesses; the Pixel 3 is amazing in low light (and will get even better once Google turns on its enhanced night mode shooting feature) but occasionally took rather dull images during our test. The XR struggles in low light but is capable of producing some really colourful shots. The S9+ is somewhere in the middle; it likes to make each image bright and breezy and can take good images in the dark, but those pictures are often subject to poor detail.
Our advice? Have a read of our reviews of each phone and see what you make of the full package, and if you can't choose between them, have a look at the images above and pick the phone which produces the ones you like the most.
Thanks to Mobile Fun for supplying the iPhone XR, Google Pixel 3 and Samsung Galaxy S9+ used in this feature.
12.9in and 11in iPad Pro Review Roundup
Michael Grothaus 05/11/2018 - 12:05pm
Probably the best tablet ever–and maybe a true laptop replacement.
Apple last week unveiled the new iPad Pros–and they featured the biggest redesigns in the product's history. Following in the footsteps of the iPhone X, Apple decided to ditch the Home button on the iPad Pro, replacing it with Face ID.
That also means that Apple could stretch the screen size of the Pros edge-to-edge. In other words, you're getting a Pro with a larger screen, but not in a larger body compared to the last generation.
The new Pros also include the A12X Bionic chip, which Apple says is faster than the chips found in most PC laptops. The iPad Pros have also done away with the headphone jack and the Lightning port, replacing it with a USB-C port. The new Pros don't come out until Wednesday, but some publications have gotten their hands on review units. Here's what they're saying about Apple's latest tablet:
"It's also impossible to look at the iPad Pro and not be struck by its design. This is the first truly new Apple mobile hardware design in a long while, and it has a deeper connection to the MacBook Pro than the iPhone or previous iPads. Instead of rounded corners and soft shapes, the iPad Pro is all hard corners and flat sides, with massive, asymmetrical antenna lines on the back and a huge camera bump. Most people I showed our space gray review unit to thought it looked cool, but I think it's kind of brutal looking — almost like a reference design.
"Those squared off edges and smaller bezels change the screen-to-body ratio in positive ways: the 11-inch model fits a larger screen in the same size body as the old 10.5-inch model, and the 12.9-inch model shrinks the body down to fit the screen, making it much less clumsy to use than the outgoing model."
"This tablet is excellent, and easily the best Apple has ever made - but you'll need to know how to use it to get the best out of it. Designed, as the name suggests, for the professional, those in key industries will love the power, precision and overall quality on offer here. If you're a 'standard' user, then you'll be buying this iPad Pro as a luxury device, a media powerhouse - but get ready to pay out for the privilege."
"By every measure I can think of, these are the best, most powerful, most capable iPads I've ever used. They put other tablets to shame.
"But Apple has begged the question: Can an 11-inch ($799) or 13-inch ($999) iPad Pro replace your need for a MacBook or Windows PC at work? It's possible, but you'll need the right kind of occupation, and a lot of patience and determination.
"No laptop can emulate the drawing capabilities of the Apple Pencil, or feel as natural to hold and use with touch. It's not even close. The iPad Pro has a clear lead over PCs there."
"The iPad's a beautifully designed thing, now -- practically perfected, from a pure hardware perspective. The whole screen ratio to body size is just right, and the thickness, and everything else. Now it needs the accessories, the keyboards and trackpads, and the inputs, and maybe a more advanced OS that shows more on screen at once.
"But without the apps that show off what it can do, and push it into new territories -- USB-C camera tethering, multi-display app workflows, ways to maybe eventually add a mouse or trackpad or other inputs beyond a keyboard -- it feels hindered."
"The new iPad Pro inspired me to want to do more, to make more, to "Think Different" just like the original Mac did when I sat down in front of its all-in-one design, boxy mouse, and drew in MacPaint for the very first time.
"But if you're just planning to use the iPad Pro to watch videos, browse social media, or play light games like Candy Crush, its potential will be wasted, and any older or cheaper iPad or cheaper brand of tablet will do.
"You should only get a new iPad Pro if you're gonna be pushing its power. Otherwise it's like getting a sports car and never driving faster than 35 mph — people will ooh and ahh at your shiny new thing, but you'll return home feeling empty every time."
by michaelg at November 05, 2018 12:03 PM
Here's The Biggest Problem With The iPhone XS and XR
Damien McFerran 05/11/2018 - 9:05am
...and it's nothing to do with the handset, either
Apple's 2018 iPhones make for an impressive trio. The iPhone XS and XS Max boast stunning OLED screens and solid designs, and the cheaper XR – while sporting an LCD panel – is no less impressive from a technical standpoint; all three devices are powered by Apple's A12 Bionic chipset and are among the most powerful smartphones on the planet right now. Even the occasionally irksome Face ID can't take away from the fact that Apple's latest blowers are pretty fantastic.
But there's one massive problem with these phones, and it has nothing to do with the hardware and everything to do with Apple's business practices.
As we all know, Apple charges a premium for its phones – the infamous 'Apple Tax', according to the company's critics. Compared to similarly-specced Android phones on the market, Apple's handsets cost slightly more; an understandable increase when you consider that the firm arguably goes that extra mile to ensure its phones have that additional spit and polish right out of the box. Having that logo on the back of your handset costs you, but for most fans, it's worth the investment.
Despite asking you for over the odds for its products, Apple seems to relish short-changing its customers at every available opportunity. The 2018 iPhones are a shining example of this; all of them support fast-charging but none come with a charger capable of supplying the correct amount of power for this feature.
To Apple diehards, this might not seem like a big deal; after all, they're used to this practice. But to anyone else, it's almost criminal. We can't think of a single Android phone we've owned (or had in for review) that supports fast charging and doesn't come with the required charger in the box; it's a core feature, and as such, most Android phone makers realise that their customers want to use it on day one, rather than having to shell out more cash to access it. What good is advertising that your phone has fast charging when you have to pay extra for the privilege?
Apple's approach is to bundle the same charging block it has been using for years with its new iPhones – one that doesn't support fast charging – and then expect its fans to shell out the additional £70 (£20 for the USB Type-C cable and £50 for the 29W Apple fast charging block) to access this feature. Granted, Apple says you can use other charging blocks that support fast charging, but if you've only ever owned Apple devices you're unlikely to have one lying around the house – so you're going to have to spend some cash.
The bad news doesn't end there if you're an Apple fan. While the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR all come with a pair of Lightning-compatible wired headphones, the phone doesn't come with a dongle that allows you to use a pair of 3.5mm cans. "So what?" the Apple faithful will no doubt say. "At least there's a pair of headphones in there, right?" That's true, but compare this what Google offers with its shiny new Pixel 3 – you not only get the wired USB Type-C headphones, but also a 3.5mm dongle in case you want to use your own pair (and yes, the Pixel 3's charger supports fast charging, too).
Google clearly understands that giving the consumer choice is the key to a successful shopping experience; so why isn't Google – and companies like Google – utterly smoking Apple in the smartphone arena? Why, if Apple is such a shoddy firm when it comes to ripping off its consumers, does everyone seem to own an iPhone? Simple – Apple removes the choice but makes the consumer think it's a positive.
Think back to when Apple dropped the 3.5mm headphone socket on the iPhone 7; Apple's company line was that it "took courage" to make the change; like it was doing something painful to benefit the end user. Of course, it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the company also owns Beats by Dre, a headphone firm which makes loads of wireless cans – or that Apple was releasing its own brand of super-expensive wireless AirPod headphones – honest! Apple removed choice in a way which was totally anti-consumer, yet your average Apple fan is so tanked-up on iPhone Kool-Aid that they barely batted an eyelid; they just picked up some AirPods (a snip at £160!) and forgot about the 3.5mm connection.
Where Apple goes, the industry follows, and now there are loads of Android phones on the market that have also ditched the headphone socket. However, Apple is the enabler here; any other firm would never have gotten away with this and certainly wouldn't get away with advertising its phone as supporting fast charging but then neglecting to include the correct charger in the box – with a phone that costs over £1000.
However, Apple's almost fanatical fanbase will endure almost any wrongdoing in order to stay loyal to the brand, which is why the company continues to pull stunts like this. Why include a fast charger in the box when you know leaving it out will make zero difference to your average iPhone buyer? That's an extra £70 Apple can potentially make per iPhone sale (even more if you include the 3.5mm dongle into the equation). You can hardly blame the company in this regard; this is extra, valuable revenue. In fact, it feels to me like your average Apple fan actually likes having to offer up additional money to its technological God; like this is some kind of penance that somehow improves their standing in the eyes of The Church of Cupertino.
Will this situation ever change? I can't see it happening, simply because unlike any other firm on the face of this spinning globe, Apple is almost bulletproof in the eyes of its supporters. It's easy to see why this is the case, too; I use a MacBook Air as my primary work computer and I love it – it's elegant, easy to use and welcoming – all things that my last Windows-based laptop was not. While I'm an Android user first and foremost, I've owned several iPhones in the past and the user experience is almost always superior (the Pixel 3 is perhaps the first Android phone I've used which seriously challenges this). And even if Google made a phone which 'out-iPhoned the iPhone', it would still be lacking the almost impenetrable walled garden that is the Apple ecosystem; a series of products and services which, when used together, make for a seamless and hassle-free experience.
This is what people pay for when they buy Apple products, and this is why they will seemingly put up with all manner of shady business practices to ensure they get a device with that famous logo on the back. Blind devotion? Not always. Worrying? Yes, because until consumers make a stand and demand better treatment, Apple is never, ever going to change.
Thanks to Mobile Fun for supplying the iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max used in this feature.
iPhone XR Review: The iPhone You Should Buy In 2018
Apple's budget iPhone is arguably a better choice than the XS and XS Max
While Apple perhaps wants people to focus on the more expensive iPhone XS and XS Max, the staggered launch of the iPhone XR – billed as the 'budget' option by many – suggests that this third model could offer something special. Just like the iPhone 5C all those years ago, this cut-price offering sits alongside 2018's flagship iPhones as a more accessible alternative, despite the fact that it uses the exact same A12 Bionic processor and comes with Face ID as standard.
There are some other things to consider, however; the XR lacks the OLED screen seen on the XS and XS Max, there's no 3D Touch and the resolution is lower, too. You also lose the second telephoto camera on the back of the phone, so optical zoom isn't an option. Are these concessions really worth the saving of around £250, or should you opt for the full-fat XS version? Read on to find out.
iPhone XR Review: Design
Available in a range of nice, eye-catching colours, the iPhone XR is designed to look a little more vibrant and appealing than the stately XS. It has the same basic design – a metal frame with rounded edges, backed by easily-breakable glass – but there are some subtle differences to note. Perhaps the most obvious is the lack of a dual camera array on the back; instead, there's a single lens which protrudes rather alarmingly, which means it's impossible to lay the phone down on a flat surface without it wobbling. This is, perhaps, the only genuine grumble you can have about the XR from a pure design perspective.
The bottom of the phone is home to the Lightning port (making perhaps its final appearance – Apple has shifted to USB Type-C on its new iPad models), one of the speakers (the other is at the top, in the earpiece) and the in-call mic. On the right-hand side there's the Nano SIM tray (the XR, unlike its Android rivals, doesn't allow for two SIMs to be inserted at once) and power button; the left-hand side features the two volume keys and the traditional 'mute' switch. It's an incredibly clean phone overall, something which is of course helped by the fact that Apple has once again decided that a fingerprint scanner isn't required when you have Face ID. We're not entirely sure that's the case, but more on that later.
It's worth noting that the XR is slightly larger than the standard XS, and slightly smaller than the XS Max – it's a neat middle ground between the two. Apple's phones have traditionally been a little daintier than their Android rivals, and the wisdom of making the XR larger than the standard model seems off; however, in reality, the XR is on par with pretty much any typical Android device these days. It has the same footprint as the BlackBerry Key2 LE that we reviewed recently - which we felt that was quite a compact device – and is much smaller than the Honor 8X. Even though the XR might sound bigger than you'd like on paper, it's actually perfectly pocket-sized if you're used to Android phones. The problem is when you're upgrading from the iPhone SE or iPhone 7 – it might take some getting used to.
The XR is water and dust proof, with a rating of IP67 – that's lower than the XS and XS, which have a rating of IP68. The difference? Well, the XR can withstand half an hour of immersion in depths of up to a metre, while the XS and XS Max can handle half an hour in depths greater than a metre.
iPhone XR Review: Display
Outside of the camera, the single biggest difference between the XR and its stablemates is the screen. It uses a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display which Apple is calling the most advanced of its type – and we're inclined to believe them. While it can't quite match an OLED panel for colour vibrancy and deep, dark blacks, it's easily the best LCD screen we've ever laid eyes on. It's bright, colourful and has great contrast; the only fly in the ointment is that there seems to be some slight 'ghosting' when scrolling through certain apps (white backgrounds with black text are when this is most noticeable).
With a resolution of just 1792×828 pixels, the screen offers a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. Compare that to any modern flagship phone and it sounds awful, but we've long argued that cramming all of those pixels into a mobile display is ultimately pointless; after a while, it becomes impossible to see the benefit and all it does is add more pressure on the phone's processor. While it's possible to pick out individual pixels on the XR's screen if you really squint, it's still perfectly serviceable. We'd even argue that the average person wouldn't be able to tell that this display is pushing less pixels than the one on the XS – our anecdotal tests seem to back up this viewpoint.
The notch is still there, of course; it has become a fashion statement rather than a functional feature now, and we'd imagine that will prolong its lifespan for many years to come yet. It's a shame that Apple couldn't reduce the size of the notch in some way, like OnePlus has done on the 6T, but it houses some pretty complex tech, so we can't complain too much.
The only other thing to note is that the bezel around the screen is slightly bigger than the one seen on the XS and XS Max, presumably because LCD tech has been used. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's worth noting. There's also no 3D Touch, but even the most hardcore Apple fan will admit that the omission of this feature isn't worth crying over.
iPhone XR Review: Software & Performance
Because it's launching a few weeks after the arrival of the XS and XS Max, the XR benefits from the first bug-fixing update to iOS 12, 12.1. After the mess that was iOS 11 last year, iOS 12 feels totally different; it's smoother, faster and more intuitive. Features like Screen Time offer tangible advantages, in this case helping you to take control of how many hours you spend staring at your handset's display. It might sound like an odd feature to include – something that makes you use your phone less – but it's refreshing to see hardware makers recognise that sometimes, we take things a little too far when it comes to smartphones.
As previously noted, there's no fingerprint scanner on the iPhone XR, so you're totally reliant on Face ID – again. While this system is massively improved over the one that launched with the iPhone X, it's still far from perfect. There were multiple times during our review period when it failed to work properly, and even more times when it did work, eventually, but nowhere near as rapidly as a finger on a scanner.
FaceID is an amazing piece of tech – there's no doubt about that – but it should never, ever have been positioned as a replacement for the fingerprint scanner, and we're not sure it will ever rival that option when it comes to speed and accuracy. We remain eternally hopeful that next year, Apple will adopt an in-screen fingerprint scanner and give us both options, but it feels like the company is throwing its weight behind Face ID in the hope that we'll all eventually forget that it's not as elegant and precise as Touch ID was (even the 2018 iPad Pro uses it).
Because it's rocking the same A12 Bionic chipset that's seen in the XS and XS Max, the iPhone XR is one of the most powerful phones on the planet right now. Apple's tech is way ahead of what Qualcomm comes up with traditionally, because Apple knows its chips will only go into a handful of devices – devices which it designs from the ground up. Therefore, it can extract every bit of power from the chip in a reliable manner, whereas Qualcomm's Snapdragon range has to cope with the Android sector's dizzying number of different hardware variants.
Because the XR is pushing less pixels than the XS and XS Max, this power is even more obvious; less pixels to push means the processor can go that extra yard, and performance is never anything less than exceptional. Every single activity or function on the XR feels buttery-smooth and moving between apps is instantaneous. Apple fans often boast that in terms of the UI experience, the iPhone is king – and it's hard to argue after spending a few days with the XR; it's an absolute pleasure to use. While it has 3GB of memory compared to the 4GB found in the XS and XS Max, we can't say we noticed any dips in performance.
In terms of benchmark scores, the XR scored 362243 in Antutu's test. In Geekbench 4, it clocked up a single-core score of 4792 and a multi-core score of 11156.
iPhone XR Review: Battery & Memory
While it lacks an OLED screen so all of those black pixels are lit rather than turned off, the iPhone XR comprehensively beats the XS and XS Max when it comes to stamina – and we think that lower-resolution display is the reason.
In normal day-to-day use – where we used the phone as our main handset and browsed the web, replied to emails, listened to music, took photos and video and played some 3D games – the XR was still full of juice by the time the sun went down. In fact, we were able to forgo charging the phone in the evening and still had some power left the next day – something that rarely happens with modern smartphones, and certainly hasn't happened before with any iPhone we've owned.
Of course, the caveat here is that your personal usage will impact the XR's battery life. If you decide to set the screen to maximum brightness and watch two or three films in a single day, then the battery is obviously going to take a battering. Recording 4K video also sucks power at an alarming rate, but this is the same across all phones.
The phone supports both fast charging and wireless charging – we tested the latter on our Samsung Galaxy charging dock – but sadly the bundled wall charger doesn't quick-charge the phone. You'll need to buy another (expensive) charger from Apple to do this, which is quite a cheek when you consider that pretty much every other smartphone maker on the planet includes a fast charger in the box.
In terms of storage, the XR is available in three flavours: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. 64GB is pretty much the entry level for a 2018 smartphone these days, and will be enough for a typical user, but the fact that you can't add in more memory means you need to pick the right capacity on day one.
iPhone XR Review: Camera
The headline news here is that the XR drops the secondary telephoto camera and opts for a single 12-megapixel wide angle snapper. This means the fancy 'Portrait' shots are done entirely with software, and you can't zoom in quickly on objects, either.
Outside of that, it's hard to be disappointed with the quality of the photos and video produced by the XR. The camera is basically the same as the main sensor on the XS and XS Max, so you can expect the same kind of quality – in short, photos look sharp, colourful and showcase good levels of contrast and dynamic range. Apple's new HDR system works brilliantly too, taking multiple shots to really bring out the detail in each scene. Portrait shots are also great, despite the lack of a second sensor to judge depth.
It's worth noting also how quick the XR's camera is to focus and shoot; this has been a hallmark of Apple's hardware for years, and it's pleasing to see this maintained even on 'cheaper' hardware. While Android phones like the Galaxy S9 and Pixel 3 are catching up – and even surpassing – Apple in this regard, the vast majority of Android handsets come a poor second to Apple's devices when it comes to focus-and-shoot speed.
The lack of a proper optical zoom is a shame, and we did miss it when we were messing about the XR's camera. Digital zoom isn't as bad as you might assume on this model, but it's not as easy to use. Meanwhile, the selfie cam is fine, and video recording is very good indeed.
iPhone XR Review: Conclusion
Listing the things that the iPhone XR lacks when compared to the XS and XS Max makes it seem like you're losing a lot just to shave £250 off the asking price: no OLED screen, no telephoto camera, weaker water and dust protection, no 3D Touch, 1GB less of RAM.
However, these things mean little when it comes to the day-to-day performance of the phone, which is utterly superb. By selecting a lower-resolution display Apple has given the XR a real boost in terms of performance, and the great thing is, most people won't even notice that there are less pixels moving around. An OLED panel would have been nice, but Apple's fancy new Liquid Retina technology is seriously striking, so it's not a massive loss.
There are annoyances here and there – no fast charger in the box, Face ID isn't as good as Touch ID, and then there's the yearly merry-go-round of finding which dongle you need for simple things like plugging in a pair of wired headphones – a standard situation for Apple fans these days. Ultimately, though, this is perhaps the best iPhone option of 2018. While it's not cheap when compared to what the Android market has to offer, if you're a diehard Apple fan then the notion of switching sides means this will seem reasonably-priced when compared to the company's other iPhones this year – yet it never feels like you're missing out by choosing the XR.
If you absolutely have to own the very best iPhone then the XS remains the better choice, but for everyone else, this is the one to go for.
Thanks to Mobile Fun for supplying the iPhone XR used in this review.
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Apply every morning and/or evening to a freshly washed face. Snip or twist to open a pearl tip and squeeze a small amount of serum onto fingertips. Gently massage product onto skin, specifically dark spots; do not rinse off. Ideal for hands too.


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Liran Assness: finding opportunity in challenges
Home | Liran Assness: finding opportunity in challenges
If you want to know the secret to entrepreneurial success, just ask Liran Assness. A seasoned entrepreneur and chief executive who employs thousands, he knows the meaning of hard work and innovation.
Assness was this year's winner of The Kirsh Family Entrepreneur Award, recognised for his entrepreneurial savvy in his latest venture, Sekta, a holding company that brings together multiple individual entities to form an industrial powerhouse. The group operates across the energy, petrochemical, oil and gas, marine, mining, manufacturing, and construction sectors.
"When you think about successful entrepreneurs these days, names like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs come to mind," said Wendy Fisher, who announced Assness' award at the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards held virtually this past Sunday.
"But what about others who do remarkable things in ordinary ways?
"There are big thinkers, challengers, achievers. This is one kind of entrepreneur. There is another kind, the kind that may not be a household name. The kind that provides goods and services that seem more ordinary than extraordinary. Entrepreneurs who start, grow, and run businesses which are the lifeblood of our economy and community."
Perhaps the truest test of an entrepreneur is how they perform when the going gets tough, Fisher said, testing their ability to adapt and persevere. This is precisely what Assness has done.
"He has shown true resilience and sustained his business throughout COVID-19," she said. "Liran has delivered for customers, employees, and the company, a manifestation of his vision and hard work."
Sekta operates throughout South Africa and in various other African countries, and employs between 2 000 to 3 500 staff members. Having formed Sekta only last year, Assness' swift success has been nothing short of phenomenal.
"Liran is able to identify opportunities, and through strategic partnerships and an understanding of the industry, has been able to turn them into something truly remarkable," said Rabbi Aharon Zulberg, a close friend of Assness.
"He's a real active community member. Whenever there is a need, he's one of the first to step forward."
Assness admitted that being an entrepreneur is tough, but said the support he has received has made the journey more bearable.
"It's gruelling work, and it's not easy at all," he said. "That's why the first thank you has to be to my wife, Tamara, for all that she has done. She has a great business mind, so she's always up to date with everything that I'm doing, and she has never doubted me one bit, but has always been behind me."
Assness also thanked his parents and executive team for their invaluable contributions.
"I'm so fortunate to have all of you guys around, and to work with talented people on a daily basis. You know exactly who you are. It has been an absolute pleasure and an unbelievable journey working with you, and I'm excited about what we will do as a group in the future."
The company has made great strides since its inception, Assness said, and is today a major powerhouse.
"Today we're a business of close to a R1 billion in turnover with six companies within our group. That's the foundation we're looking at to grow Sekta into the future.
"To the South Africans out there, I know it's tough at the moment with all the challenges out there, but there's tremendous opportunity on the ground," Assness said. "If you're willing to put your head down, we've got everything here in South Africa.
"Go out and do it. I promise you it can be done."
Related Topics:Absa Jewish Achievers
Achiever Awards reimagined
Wendy Fisher: looking for the light
Michael Katz: trusted advisor who hardly sleeps
It's official: not even a pandemic can stop the South African Jewish community from paying tribute to the heroes in its midst.
Against a background of social distancing and sanitisation, thousands came together last Sunday for the most iconic iteration of the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards in its 22-year history.
Instead of gathering in person at a decked-out venue, guests participated in an evening of glamour and fine dining from the comfort of their own home for the first ever online version of the annual awards ceremony.
Other than hundreds of paying and invited guests, between 30 000 and 60 000 people from around the world also watched the spectacular event on YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and Zoom.
No effort was spared to ensure that the evening was as enthralling online as it would in person. In the run-up to Sunday night, couriers shuttled staggering numbers of cocktail packs to each individual guest's home, making sure that the annual Achievers magic wasn't lost.
Gin, tonic, and prosecco flowed freely in homes across South Africa as participants prepared to watch a livestream of the awards ceremony, ready to raise a l'chaim as they cheered the winners.
As if this wasn't enough, many guests who would otherwise have reserved a table at the live event also had a lavish three-course gourmet kosher meal delivered to their doorstep. Arriving in a sleek cylindrical box, the spread included tantalising entrees, a mouth-watering main course, and even an array of sweet treats to accompany the evening's viewing.
The meals were catered by Maxi Kosher Discount Butchery and styled by Dolores Fouche under the strict supervision of the Johannesburg Beth Din. Added to the food, there were beautiful fabric placemats, napkins, face masks, and even the traditional Achiever kippa for participants. Each featured the artwork of renowned South African artist Kim Lieberman.
The evening began with an exclusive red-carpet event presented by Dina Diamond, with various nominees joining her virtually to chat before the ceremony got underway. Excitement mounted as the red carpet concluded at 18:00 when the Awards ceremony began.
"For the past 21 years, we have gathered in hotel boardrooms and convention centres to celebrate the remarkable and disproportionate contribution made by the Jewish community to the development of post-apartheid South Africa," said Howard Sackstein, chairperson of the SA Jewish Report and the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards.
"When we started planning tonight's event more than a year ago, we didn't expect to be playing hide and seek with a virus. We didn't predict that the world would be gripped in the vice of a worldwide pandemic that has so sadly claimed the lives of so many in our community.
"This year, we cannot just recognise nine winners. We as the board of the SA Jewish Report feel the need to pay tribute to literally hundreds of South Africans who have been an ohr lagoyim [a light unto the nations].
"Tonight, we announce our roll of honour to recognise and pay tribute to the many South Africans who have sacrificed so much for a better South Africa during the pandemic of 2020."
That list was both extensive and illustrious. This year's winning personalities included seasoned entrepreneur Liran Assness, the chief executive of holding company Sekta and recipient of The Kirsh Family Entrepreneur Award; Ferrari icon turned cheese aficionado Jody Scheckter, who received the Art, Science, Sports and Culture Award; as well as Wendy Fisher, acclaimed sculptor and philanthropic powerhouse, who took the Humanitarian Award in honour of the late Chief Rabbi, Cyril Harris.
Title sponsor Absa's award categories recognised the accomplishments of renowned lawyer Professor Michael Katz with the Absa Business Icon Award. Professor Mervyn Mer, the principal specialist and head of intensive-care at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital received the timely Absa Professional Excellence in the Time of Covid Award, and Discovery's Dr Jonathan Broomberg walked away with the Absa Business Leadership in the Time of Covid Award.
The Europcar Women in Leadership Award went to Pick n Pay group's Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, and Professor Barry Schoub, retired expert in vaccinology and virology, was recognised for his contribution to humanity with the Kia Community Service Award.
Ninety-eight-year-old Sir Sydney Kentridge, whose lifetime in service of the law is nothing short of legendary, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of Helen Suzman for his decades of service. Even Sackstein received a surprise award – the Lawrence and Karen Abrahamson Family Award for his efforts to connect the Jewish community with an array of webinars during the lockdown period.
Not even the annual event's signature entertainment was dispensed with this year. Jewish comedian Gilli Apter kept guests giggling as compere, and the musical performances screened between each presentation were spectacular.
These included the melodies of singer Danielle Bitton and opera aficionado Yudi Cohen, whose performance of The Prayer shook the speakers in every home. They were joined by the toe-tapping yiddishe music of Caely-Jo, and even international Jewish-music sensation the Maccabeats.
Completing the line-up of musical magic was Choni G and six-year-old Bibi Shapiro (whose Avinu Malkeinu previously took YouTube by storm), and Jonathan Roxmouth of Phantom of the Opera fame.
In true Achiever Awards style, this once-in-a-lifetime event delivered an evening that not only paid tribute to the heroic personalities among us, but also provided a much-needed dose of positivity and joy.
"There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
The words of the late Leonard Cohen never fail to invigorate Wendy Fisher. An avid artisan and philanthropic powerhouse, she seeks out the light in the bleakest of times, striving to uplift not just herself, but those who are struggling most.
For this reason, Fisher received the Humanitarian Award in honour of the late Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris at the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards this past Sunday.
Those who have witnessed her passion for philanthropy lauded her via video, including her father, the renowned Natie Kirsh.
"As a father, I'm expected to talk well of my daughter," he said. "But I have something to say beyond what can be expected of a father."
Kirsh said that Fisher wasn't just a respected president of the Guggenheim Art Museum in New York, but also someone who had made a difference in the lives of thousands through an online university lecture programme she piloted earlier this year. Called Lockdown Academy, the project has given 3 000 people from around the globe a range of free and fascinating lectures every day.
"Wendy, I congratulate you on this award," Kirsh said. "As your father, I'm proud of your achievements, and I believe that all your university listeners around the world join me in celebrating you receiving this honour. Well done Wendy."
Fisher's family and friends praised her commitment to others, listing her exhaustive array of philanthropic ventures aimed at uplifting and supporting the less fortunate.
"Wendy is South African, and her heart lives in South Africa," said clinical psychologist, Dr Dorianne Weil. "She and her family found themselves in South Africa over the lockdown, and she offered herself and her resources in helping to uplift the many who were being affected by COVID-19."
Fisher said she was humbled to receive an honour in the country where she feels most at home.
"Receiving this award made me reflect on my work over the past four decades, and how I'm directing my energy going forward," she said. "This opportunity comes as we endure a global pandemic and the broader existential concerns it brings."
In looking for inspiration to lead us forward, Fisher said she reflected on her youth, how she was raised, and how that influenced the path ahead.
"Coming of age in Swaziland was pivotal to who I am today. I remember our solitary house on the hill, the uneven dusty roads, and the bright starry nights. We didn't have electricity in the early days, and had a fresh water tap in the garden.
"Our family values have always been to help others, so it was only natural that villagers came to retrieve fresh water from our tap. There are countless examples like this that left a lasting impression on my siblings and me, compelling us to continue to invest in community and philanthropy."
Her parents' values are imbedded in the family DNA, said Fisher.
"From my energetic, generous dad, Natie, I learned what it means to be a passionate visionary and entrepreneur," she said. "His mantra is, 'teach a man to fish'. People can build on the support you provide and become self-sustainable."
From her mother, Frances, Fisher said she learned to prioritise family and look for opportunities to come together and really see each other.
"My mum's wisdom is simply that when people sit and break bread together, their shared humanity is what's felt, not their differences. Together with my siblings, we have carried the legacy of our parents forward, and I share this honour with them."
Fisher encouraged others to seek their own inspiration as we look to the future.
"Teach a man to fish, to bring light where there is dark, to come together and build strong, vibrant cultures, and step up to help people in need," she said.
"I hope you are inspired in your own journey to embrace our shared humanity for the benefit of all."
When legal stalwart Professor Michael Katz begins a sentence with the words "with respect", those who know him understand that respect is the last thing on his mind.
"He has an expression which those who know him means the very opposite of what he's saying," says Miranda Feinstein, senior executive of ENSafrica. "It starts when he says, 'with respect'. And if he thinks you are behaving like a real nincompoop, he will say, 'with great respect!' and everybody around knows that there is no respect intended at all."
Feinstein was one of many South Africans who paid tribute to Katz when he received the Absa Business Icon Award at the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards last Sunday.
Katz, a highly regarded and sought-after corporate lawyer, was this year asked by the president of South Africa to be a board member of the national Solidarity Fund, set up to support the medical response, contribute to relief efforts, and mobilise the country in the fight against COVID-19.
Two years ago, he was called to work on the Nugent Commission, set up to sort out the South African Revenue Service. Katz is also the person behind reforming the country's tax policy.
"His success doesn't lie in any one particular case, but in that he has become the trusted advisor of business and public bodies who believe in him," said Wim Trengove, the founding vice-chairperson of Thulamela Chambers. "He puts in a lot of attention at all hours, day and night."
David Unterhalter, acting judge on the Supreme Court of Appeal, agreed. "It's hard to know when precisely, if ever, Michael goes to sleep," he said. "He's not only a practitioner of extraordinary repute, he has also been a critical person for the purposes of reforming and developing the commercial law of this country, especially company and tax law."
Katz has been integrally involved in Jewish community affairs in Johannesburg, offering guidance and advice to communal leaders in times of need. He has even played an integral part in the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre as board chairperson, said the centre's founder and executive director, Tali Nates.
"He was so pivotal in everything we know about the Bill of Rights in South Africa and the way we look at human rights," she said. "Michael always was our icon.
"As the idea of creating a Holocaust Centre in Johannesburg came about, there was no doubt that Michael was the right person," Nates said. "His knowledge, love of books, and love of history of the Holocaust and genocide always enriches the conversation."
Katz expressed his thanks, saying that receiving an honour from one's own community was very meaningful.
"No one who has any achievement does it on his or her own. You need an ecosystem of supporters," he said. "Mine includes my wife, a dedicated counsellor over 44 years of marriage. I have been truly privileged to have such a wonderful partnership."
Katz paid tribute to his two daughters, and expressed his gratitude for the support he had received from his colleagues at ENSafrica.
He also offered some words of advice.
"The Jewish community is, unfortunately, a shrinking community, in a country that faces many challenges.
"What's required? Unity. We need unity of the community. We have remarkable institutions in our community with dedicated officers and staff who care for the every need of the community, but they need our support."
Communal unity is also fundamentally important to address poverty and inequality, Katz said.
"We need to support the country and the wider community in which inequality abound and where social justice is compromised," he said. "We need to play a meaningful role, and hopefully, we can be agents of stability against a background of volatility.
"The SA Jewish Report has played a meaningful role in the era of COVID-19 in which people's sense of well-being has been reduced. Howard Sackstein and his colleagues have spared no effort in endeavours to uplift the morale of the community when it really needed it," Katz said.
"When one has the privilege of serving one's people, one must grasp it with both hands."


text:
Low-cost 3D-printed shelter being built from clay and straw
Low-cost 3D-printed shelter be...
The WASP team plans to extend the shelter to a total of 4 m (13 ft) high, before adding a roof and door
WASP Project
To build the home, WASP went through 2 cubic meters (70 cubic ft) of water and used 200 kWh of electricity
Including the cost of gasoline, straw, etc, the cost of the shelter so far comes in at just €48
The firm has so far 3D-printed a 270 cm (106 in) high and 5m (16 ft) diameter structure of clay and straw
The clay and straw shelter was built in layers, with a total of 135 layers taking 20 minutes each to complete
Each layer weighs a hefty 300 kg (661 lb)
The WASP team now plans to extend the shelter to a total of 4 m (13 ft) high, before adding a roof and door
Last year we reported on Big Delta, a massive 3D printer that showed promise as a means of creating cheap housing by using low-cost materials like mud and clay as a building material. The firm behind it, Italy's WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project), appears to be making good on that promise, and has almost completed building a new shelter that's cost just €48 (about US$55) so far.
Right off the bat it's important to note that even when the shelter is successfully completed, it will be very basic indeed, essentially comprising the walls, door, and roof. Still, to people around the world in dire straits, such as refugees or victims of natural disaster, a basic roof over their heads could mean the difference between life and death.
So far, WASP has 3D-printed a 270 cm (106 in) high and 5m (16 ft) diameter structure predominantly made from clay and straw, with some lime used too. The construction process mirrors that of the Dubai office building, involving a huge printer extruding layers of building material, which are slowly built-up into a structure.
The shelter comprises a total of 135 layers so far, with each one taking 20 minutes to complete. Each layer weighs a hefty 300 kg (660 lb) and WASP says that two people and one 3D-printer setup could build an entire shelter unaided.
WASP went through 2 cubic meters (70 cubic ft) of water and used 200 kWh of electricity. Adding these, plus the cost of gasoline, straw, etc, it came up with the €48 construction cost, though that doesn't include any payment for workers involved.
Next, WASP will take a week's break from the project, then extend the shelter to a total height of 4 m (13 ft), before adding a roof and door. It's still early days in the project, and the team intends to experiment with different materials and techniques once the first shelter is built.
Source: WASP
3D PrintingBuilding and ConstructionHouseHomeShelter3D Printing
navmed August 11, 2016 09:24 AM
Good start, I guess. But it would be more useful with a door and roof.
Bob Flint August 11, 2016 02:00 PM
The raw materials are cheap, but what is the real cost for the rig, transportation, insurance,set-up, labor, etc...also over a week to build is way too long, the people really needing a shelter will still build by hand formed rectangular bricks way faster...
Koolski August 11, 2016 02:52 PM
The 48 euro cost is materials only. They mentioned labor; what about use of the printer and transportation to and from the site? The end price will be considerably higher.
RobbLee August 11, 2016 06:06 PM
Was wondering about the structure of the walls and the strength of the structure. Is rebar being added?
Mzungu_Mkubwa August 12, 2016 09:27 AM
Reminds me of an old kids' song: "The rains came down and the floods came up..." The foolish man builds his house out of the mud...
Cool tech. Use cement. (And re-bar, as mentioned by RobbLee. ☺)
Carbon nanofibers boost the hardness of 3D-printed aluminum
Meltio Engine transforms any CNC machine into a hybrid 3D print system
Life-size model heart 3D-printed out of cardiac tissue-like material
New 3D printing technique fuses titanium particles at supersonic speeds


text:
Curtis Dvorak
Curtis Dvorak was born on 16 July, 1974 in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, is a Retired. Discover Curtis Dvorak's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 46 years old?
Born 16 July 1974
Birthday 16 July
Birthplace Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Nationality Pennsylvania
We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 July. He is a member of famous with the age 48 years old group.
Curtis Dvorak Height, Weight & Measurements
At 48 years old, Curtis Dvorak height not available right now. We will update Curtis Dvorak's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
Who Is Curtis Dvorak's Wife?
His wife is Jasmine Renee Dvorak
Wife Jasmine Renee Dvorak
Curtis Dvorak Net Worth
His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. So, how much is Curtis Dvorak worth at the age of 48 years old? Curtis Dvorak's income source is mostly from being a successful . He is from Pennsylvania. We have estimated Curtis Dvorak's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets.
Source of Income
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Wikipedia Curtis Dvorak Wikipedia
Dvorak attended Virginia Tech and was selected to be the college's mascot in his Sophomore year. Their mascot, HokieBird, is very popular and plays an active role in all Virginia Tech sports. He competed in and won the National Cheerleaders Association championship in 1996, then graduated with a major in Communications.
Entertaining at the stadium is Dvorak's favorite activity. He planed, practiced and performed daring stunts at Jaguar home games. His exploits included riding a zip-line from the top of the scoreboard to mid-field, parachuting into the stadium, rappelling down the scoreboard, and bungee jumping from a stadium light tower. On the field, he was frequently seen on a small scooter, motorized skateboard or golf cart. Dvorak commented. "I want to make all the fans laugh, have a good time and be entertained. Everyone who paid a lot of money to go to the games, I want to add to that experience and help make them go home happy. I want them to say 'I got my money's worth'."
As of January 2015, Dvorak had been the mascot for 19 years. He turned 40 in 2014, but had shown no sign of slowing down. During an interview in 2009, he was asked about retiring and responded, "I've always told myself (I'll do it) until we win a Super Bowl." Unfortunately, the Jaguars did not win a Super Bowl in 2014 and Curtis had a change of heart and decided to hang up the cat suit on June 23, 2015. After a month of retirement, Dvorak accepted a co-host position on the local television show, "First Coast Living" and contributing stories to "Good Morning Jacksonville", both shows on WJXX and WTLV. Dvorak stated, "I'm going to do something I've done for 19 years...entertain Jacksonville...I just won't be covered in fur."
Dvorak was criticized for displaying a hand-made sign reading "Towels Carry Ebola" during the Jaguars' October 5, 2014 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The sign was in reference to the Steelers' Terrible Towel and the presence of Ebola virus disease in the United States.
During the 2011 Players Championship, Dvorak chaired the Plaid Party, a charity event which raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
A notable shenanigan involved removing his costume (except the head and shoes) to reveal a yellow bodystocking with black spots and teal G-string, then streaking across the field at the 2010 Pro Bowl.
He frequently moderates NFL 101, a 2½ hour workshop for women, designed to teach football basics. In 2010, he was an emcee for Chalk talk, an event that allowed participants to experience how NFL football works behind the scenes.
He donated time without the costume to many charitable causes as an organizer, or a participant playing golf or tennis. Dvorak emceed the Jacksonville Dancing with the Stars competition in 2009, a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Dvorak became acquainted with Jacksonville Roar member Melanie McAlister during a 2001 NFL tour to entertain U.S. troops in the middle East. They began seeing each other, but team rules prohibit fraternization between cheerleaders and players, so Melanie left the squad and enrolled at St. Vincent's School of Medical Sciences in radiology. They were married at EverBank Field on March 12, 2005. They were divorced in May 2014.
Other visiting teams have taken exception to Jaxson's antics, too. There were so many complaints that "Mascot conduct" became an agenda item at the NFL Owners meeting in 2000. Dvorak explained, "Along with their discussions of revenue sharing and TV deals, one of the topics was how to stop the mascots (from being too disruptive). They showed a 10-minute video and nine and a half minutes were my highlights. It made my parents so proud." As a result, the National Football League added a new rule: "Team mascots must stay behind the 6-foot white border at all times during the game. And they are prohibited from engaging in any acts of taunting opposing players, coaches or game officials."
During a timeout during the 1998 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jaxson carried a full-sized figure resembling Kordell Stewart onto the field near the Steelers' huddle and proceeded to trample and punch the effigy. Another timeout saw Jaxson run in front of the Steelers' bench, where he used a Terrible Towel to wipe various parts of his anatomy.
While watching sports mascots on television, Dvorak considered his future. "I remember thinking I was funnier than those guys and it had to be a full-time gig." He competed for a mascot job with the Charlotte Knights baseball team but finished second. The Jacksonville Jaguars were starting a mascot program and happened to contact the Knights. They mailed them his audition tape and resume and then the Jaguars invited him to the tryouts on June 1, 1996. Dvorak was judged better than the fifty other hopefuls and was hired to become Jaxson de Ville. Dvorak's first appearance as Jaxson was at the Jaguars' pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 18, 1996.
Curtis John Dvorak (born July 16, 1974) was primarily known as Jaxson de Ville, official mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. He was the first person to portray the Jaguars mascot in the team's history and had the title, Vice President of Mascot Relations. Curtis retired from serving as Jaxson de Ville on June 23, 2015.
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The Asus EeePC 1015PX brings you all of the functionality of a notebook contained in a sleek netbook package.
The Asus EeePC 1015PX comes with the Intel Atom N570, the most powerful Intel Atom dual-core processor to date. This means you will be able to enjoy multi-tasking productivity, as well as a more complete internet and multimedia experience. A great companion to travel with, the EeePC 1015PX has a battery that can last all day long on a single charge. The ASUS-exclusive Super Hybrid Engine technology allows you to make the most out of your battery, letting you stay connected for long periods of time. This special system detects when you need to use more battery power and when you need to use less, making your netbook incredibly energy efficient. Both slim and stylish looking, this Asus model has a 10.1 LED backlit screen that displays bold and vibrant graphics. The ergonomic chiclet keyboard and large touch pad make typing and navigating a comfortable experience, even when you are using the netbook for an extended period of time.
Weighs in at only 1.25kg, making it incredibly easy to take with you wherever you go.
Comes with built-in speakers, wireless LAN aerial, and Bluetooth aerial.
The Intel Atom N570 processor is the most powerful to date.
With a 250GB hard drive, you have tons of room for all of your favourite multimedia files.
Connecting to the internet is easy, thanks to the wireless network adapter.
Meets environmental standards like ENERGY STAR and EPEAT.
The 10.1 inch LED backlit display produces clear, vivid images for your viewing pleasure.
The Asus EeePC 1015PX is the perfect compromise between functionality and affordability. It is very simple to use and incredibly portable, making it obvious why so many people have purchased it online. One of the most popular netbooks available on the market, its many happy previous buyers indicate that it is a good value.


text:
Q: Could not run jar file in hadoop3.1.3 I tried this command in command prompt (run as administrator):
hadoop jar C:\Users\tejashri\Desktop\Hadoopproject\WordCount.jar  WordcountDemo.WordCount  /work /out

but i got this error message:
my application got stopped.
2020-04-04 23:53:27,918 INFO client.RMProxy: Connecting to ResourceManager at /0.0.0.0:8032
2020-04-04 23:53:28,881 WARN mapreduce.JobResourceUploader: Hadoop command-line option parsing not performed. Implement the Tool interface and execute your application with ToolRunner to remedy this.
2020-04-04 23:53:28,951 INFO mapreduce.JobResourceUploader: Disabling Erasure Coding for path: /tmp/hadoop-yarn/staging/tejashri/.staging/job_1586024027199_0006
2020-04-04 23:53:29,162 INFO sasl.SaslDataTransferClient: SASL encryption trust check: localHostTrusted = false, remoteHostTrusted = false
2020-04-04 23:53:29,396 INFO input.FileInputFormat: Total input files to process : 1
2020-04-04 23:53:29,570 INFO sasl.SaslDataTransferClient: SASL encryption trust check: localHostTrusted = false, remoteHostTrusted = false
2020-04-04 23:53:29,762 INFO sasl.SaslDataTransferClient: SASL encryption trust check: localHostTrusted = false, remoteHostTrusted = false
2020-04-04 23:53:29,802 INFO mapreduce.JobSubmitter: number of splits:1
2020-04-04 23:53:30,059 INFO sasl.SaslDataTransferClient: SASL encryption trust check: localHostTrusted = false, remoteHostTrusted = false
2020-04-04 23:53:30,156 INFO mapreduce.JobSubmitter: Submitting tokens for job: job_1586024027199_0006
2020-04-04 23:53:30,156 INFO mapreduce.JobSubmitter: Executing with tokens: []
2020-04-04 23:53:30,504 INFO conf.Configuration: resource-types.xml not found
2020-04-04 23:53:30,507 INFO resource.ResourceUtils: Unable to find 'resource-types.xml'.
2020-04-04 23:53:30,586 INFO impl.YarnClientImpl: Submitted application application_1586024027199_0006
2020-04-04 23:53:30,638 INFO mapreduce.Job: The url to track the job: http://LAPTOP-2UBC7TG1:8088/proxy/application_1586024027199_0006/
2020-04-04 23:53:30,640 INFO mapreduce.Job: Running job: job_1586024027199_0006
2020-04-04 23:53:35,676 INFO mapreduce.Job: Job job_1586024027199_0006 running in uber mode : false
2020-04-04 23:53:35,679 INFO mapreduce.Job:  map 0% reduce 0%
2020-04-04 23:53:35,698 INFO mapreduce.Job: Job job_1586024027199_0006 failed with state FAILED due to: Application application_1586024027199_0006 failed 2 times due to AM Container for appattempt_1586024027199_0006_000002 exited with  exitCode: 1
Failing this attempt.Diagnostics: [2020-04-04 23:53:34.955]Exception from container-launch.
Container id: container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001
Exit code: 1
Shell output:         1 file(s) moved.
"Setting up env variables"
"Setting up job resources"
"Copying debugging information"

C:\hadoop\hdfstmp\nm-local-dir\usercache\tejashri\appcache\application_1586024027199_0006\container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001>rem Creating copy of launch script

C:\hadoop\hdfstmp\nm-local-dir\usercache\tejashri\appcache\application_1586024027199_0006\container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001>copy "launch_container.cmd" "C:/hadoop/logs/userlogs/application_1586024027199_0006/container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001/launch_container.cmd"
        1 file(s) copied.

C:\hadoop\hdfstmp\nm-local-dir\usercache\tejashri\appcache\application_1586024027199_0006\container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001>rem Determining directory contents

C:\hadoop\hdfstmp\nm-local-dir\usercache\tejashri\appcache\application_1586024027199_0006\container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001>dir  1>>"C:/hadoop/logs/userlogs/application_1586024027199_0006/container_1586024027199_0006_02_000001/directory.info"
"Launching container"

[2020-04-04 23:53:34.959]Container exited with a non-zero exit code 1. Last 4096 bytes of stderr :
'"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_171"' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

[2020-04-04 23:53:34.960]Container exited with a non-zero exit code 1. Last 4096 bytes of stderr :
'"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_171"' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

For more detailed output, check the application tracking page: http://LAPTOP-2UBC7TG1:8088/cluster/app/application_1586024027199_0006 Then click on links to logs of each attempt.
. Failing the application.
2020-04-04 23:53:35,743 INFO mapreduce.Job: Counters: 0

A: '"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_171"' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
The JAVA_HOME variable is not properly set in hadoop-env.cmd.
Also, move the JDK installation to a folder without whitespaces (say, C:\Java\jdk1.8.0_171)
Update the JAVA_HOME and PATH environment variables
Add this line in hadoop-env.cmd,
set JAVA_HOME=C:\Java\jdk1.8.0_171

Restart the hadoop daemons and run the Job.

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