Gizmodo has also seen this problem, 16 readers said that they also had this same problem. Apple is aware of this screen issue and has already given customers new units, but they have yet to acknowledge this problem with poor reception.

However, as owners were still able to make and receive calls it could just be a software glitch. Do you have the same issue? Please share this information with our readers.

The biggest complaint to emerge is that the phone’s signal strength drops when a user grips the phone by the metal antenna band. Gizmodo has over a dozen videos of users showing off this problem.

We’ve run the same test on our phone. When we held the phone in front of us in our left hand with our fingers touching the metal band, the bars representing signal strength dropped from 5 to 1 in less than a minute.

The problem appears to involve finger-contact on certain parts of the metal band. When we switched the phone to our right hand (which put our fingers in different positions), the signal strength remained the same.

This is a strange error. Assuming the signal strength actually affects the quality of phone calls, Apple had better be able to fix this problem with a firmware update, or it will likely have millions of irate customers.

Other reported iPhone 4 problems are of the one-off type. They include screens shipping with discoloration, including yellowing in the bottom right corner and fragility. The iPhone has already been scratched by at least one user, and another user says s/he dropped an iPhone from a foot up and the glass back of the phone shattered.

Apple will likely sell 1+ million units today, so the scratched, broken, and yellow phones don’t seem much of a concern (although any other company would be catching hell for them). The reception problem, however, could be a big issue.

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At last, the latest major update for the iPhone and iPod Touch is available for download via iTunes, bringing with it such long-awaited features as multitasking, a unified e-mail inbox and home-screen app folders. Should you upgrade? Well, yeah, but don’t expect all your apps to start working in the background just yet.

The iOS 4 update went live on iTunes at about 1 p.m. Eastern, and upgrading your iPhone or iPod Touch to the new OS is a simple matter of syncing your handset with the iTunes desktop application; you should be prompted to download and install the upgrade a few seconds after attaching your iPhone to the connector cable. The entire process should could take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how long it takes to download the installation file (which is anywhere from about 290MB to more than 550MB in size, depending on the device you’re updating), so be patient.

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2. Samsung i7500 Galaxy
This is a nice Android phone with an excellent AMOLED display.
Display : 3.0 inches AMOLED, 320 X 480 pixels, 16M colors
Touchscreen : AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Camera : 5MP autofocus, LED Flash
Quad Band GSM
Dual Band 3G HSDPA
GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS
Price
About $680

3. HTC Magic
I don’t need to explain anything about this awesome device.
Display : 3.2 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
Camera : 3.15 MP autofocus
Quad Band GSM
Dual Band 3G HSDPA
GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS
Price
About $480

4. Motorola CLIQ (DEXT MB220)
This is also a capable Android phone from Motorola.
Slide Out QWERTY keyboard
Display : 3.1 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 262K colors
Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
Camera : 5MP autofocus
Quad Band GSM
Dual Band 3G HSDPA
GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

5. HTC Dream
HTC should be the brand when purchasing Android Devices.
Display : 3.2 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
Camera : 3.15MP autofocus
Quad Band GSM
Dual Band 3G HSDPA
GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS
Price
About $500

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PS236

· Large storage capacity.
Includes 4 GB of embedded memory storage and can be expanded to a total of 20 GB of memory using an external SDHC card.

· Choice of input devices.
Can be customized with either the standard numeric keypad or a PDA keypad, depending on the application and need.

· Long battery life.
Can operate at full capacity for up to 12 hours on a fully charged battery.

Getac PS236

Getac PS236

Getac PS236

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Nasty Solar Storms and Black-outs ahead

“The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity. At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we’re getting together to discuss.”

The National Academy of Sciences framed the problem two years ago in a landmark report entitled “Severe Space Weather Events—Societal and Economic Impacts.” It noted how people of the 21st-century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A century-class solar storm, the Academy warned, could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.

Much of the damage can be mitigated if managers know a storm is coming. Putting satellites in ’safe mode’ and disconnecting transformers can protect these assets from damaging electrical surges. Preventative action, however, requires accurate forecasting—a job that has been assigned to NOAA.

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coronal mass ejections, solar flares, solar radiation, solar storms, Space, stars, sun

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Before that new car smell has a chance to dissipate, audiophiles often tear into their dashboards and interior panels, gutting the factory radio and speakers for a custom setup. Not being completely blind to this, auto manufacturers are responding with their own original-equipment configurations worthy of a listen.

Here are 10 of the best new car sound systems available in North America. Some systems come as a standard feature in their respective cars, while others are options. Regardless, they’ve been designed more for excellent balance and clarity than outright deafening volume, which is why wattage alone didn’t sway our votes. We’ve also paired each with the preferred soundtrack to match both the characteristics of the system and personality of the car.

10: Bose Media System

Available in: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Soundtrack: The Best (Farewell Tour), Luciano Pavarotti

Some sports car purists insist a Ferrari’s sound system begins and ends with its engine. Ferrari has even hidden audio systems behind retractable covers in some cars. The 612 Scaglietti is less sports car and more really fast 2+2 GT, so even the Maranello faithful shouldn’t be too upset with the addition of the Bose Media System. It may not be pretty, but it does centralize the infotainment features and was developed with the car’s interior in mind. Because they were born in the same area and will forever be known for the notes they hit, it’s only right to enjoy this car and system with Pavarotti’s final work.

9: Boston Acoustics/Kicker SRT

Available in: Chrysler 300C/Chrysler 300C SRT8

Soundtrack: Aja, Steely Dan/Exclusive, Chris Brown

Chrysler recognizes the broad appeal of the 300C and wisely offers systems to satisfy multiple generations. If you’re more inclined to drive the mild-mannered 300C editions, you’re more likely to appreciate the optional Boston Acoustics package. Rarely do 368 Watts, seven speakers and a subwoofer produce such full sound. It’s a great system to explore the similar attention to detail demonstrated on Steely Dan’s Aja. If you don’t roll that way, but still like the car, go for the hotter 300C SRT8. Then you can play Chris Brown’s Exclusive on a system made to handle the lows: the 13-speaker, 322-Watt Kicker surround sound system with a 100-Watt subwoofer.

8: Rockford Fosgate Audio System

Available in: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution*

Soundtrack: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters, Mitsubishi’s Lancer and Rockford Fosgate have each been dismissed as being more exuberant performers than precision players in their respective fields. However, this is not true, especially in this setup. The 650 Watt, nine-speaker system includes an enclosed 10-inch subwoofer in the trunk and is surprisingly adept at handling crisp highs without sounding hollow. Unlike some other factory systems, the speed-sensitive volume and equalization work very well also.

7: THX II Certified Audio System

Available in: Lincoln MKX

Soundtrack: Graduation, Kanye West

The theater experience in the Lincoln MKX crossover is based on more than just the rear-seat DVD player. The optional THX II Certified Audio System is the best auto-based representation we’ve heard of inventor Tomlinson Holman’s standard. Whereas the first Lincoln-based edition could get a bit mired in bass, the MKX package is cleaner. It now handles bass as efficiently as other ranges and requires little to no fiddling to get it right; it’s why the 14-speaker, 600 Watt system is best experienced with a soundtrack like Kanye West’s Graduation.

6: Dynaudio Audio System

Available in: Volvo S80

Soundtrack: ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, ABBA

It doesn’t have a universally known manufacturer’s named attached, but the Volvo S80 features a setup built in collaboration with Danish firm Dynaudio for an impressive package of 12 speakers — each with its own filter — and 650 Watts (truth be told, they did work with Dolby Laboratories to fine tune the surround sound). You can’t help but be impressed by the reproduction, regardless of where you’re sitting. One thing that kept this system from a higher rank was its lack of intuitive operation. It’s an improvement over past systems, but still uncharacteristically complicated. To bring simplicity back to it all, we paired this system with a greatest-hits package from ABBA. Just be thankful we showed mercy and avoided Ace of Base as the soundtrack of choice.

5: Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound System

Available in: Cadillac CTS

Soundtrack: Synchronicity, The Police

Cadillac has gone from being the punching bag of the luxury car industry to a force that’s reclaiming a healthy share of its former glory. This is due, in no small part, to the revamped CTS model. There are highlights everywhere you look, but for our purposes we’ll concentrate on the Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound System. Its 10 speakers may come up short of other systems in quantity, but don’t equate that to the quality. Unlike some Bose-labeled factory systems that have disappointed, this is worthy of the name, delivering the accurate fullness and range associated with the brand. It matches nicely with the diverse collection of well-mastered tracks on Synchronicity from The Police, which will barely put a dent in the 40GB hard drive onboard.

4: Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 Digital Surround Sound System

Available in: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

Soundtrack: Symphony No. 5, Beethoven

One Mercedes-Benz that clings to its old-school character is the exclusive CL-Class coupe. For the privileged few who will pilot these $100,000-plus machines, Beethoven’s beautiful, inspiring Symphony No. 5 sounds its best on an uninterrupted drive while played through the CL’s Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 Digital Surround Sound System. The precision-tuned package delivers 600 Watts and features 14, perfectly placed speakers. It produces some of the most realistic, dynamic range you’ve experienced in a car. Just remember: It’s dangerous to pretend you’re conducting while driving.

3: Bowers & Wilkins System

Available in: Jaguar XF

Soundtrack: Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd

Three British icons, Bowers & Wilkins, Jaguar and Pink Floyd, come together for our No. 3 best system. Say what you will about the controversial Jaguar XF design, it is a stylish and contemporary replacement for the outdated S-Type. Anticipating XF buyers would appreciate the effort, Jaguar is offering a Bowers & Wilkins 440 Watt, surround sound system with 13 speakers, plus a subwoofer. Since B&W speakers are the reference-quality choice of serious audiophiles, and even recording studios, you’d best not waste them on any old soundtrack. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon brings out the best in the speakers and vice versa.

2: Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound Audio System

Available in: Lexus LS models

Soundtrack: The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

With total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 0.1%, the 19-speaker, 450-Watt Mark Levinson Reference (7.1-channel) Surround Sound Audio System is a compelling reason to let someone else drive while you close your eyes and experience the concertos of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. You’re not likely to miss a single note because the system has a range of 20 to 20,000 Hz — beyond the hearing range of some people. The 8GB hard drive is a little conspicuous in its light capacity, though we envision few LS owners will complain. In any case, it’s a minor gripe against what’s still an exceptional audio system.

1: Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System

Available in: Audi A8

Soundtrack: Time Out, The Dave Brubeck Quartet

It’s one thing to garner a favorable review of a system for an enthusiast publication, but winning an international award is quite another matter. Ward’s Auto World gave the Audi A8′s Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System top honors at its 2006 “Interior of the Year” awards. The impressive setup consists of 14 speakers (including a 12-inch subwoofer), each with its own amplifier. And yes, we’ll confess the pair of acoustic lens speakers atop the dash are just plain fun to watch as they extend and retract. Altogether, the remarkable system produces nearly 1,100 Watts. The car’s cool character and the system’s strengths play well with Dave Brubeck’s Time Out, here sounding as fresh as ever.

Aural Pleasure

Auto manufacturers are giving us more reason than ever to keep our cars fully intact and utilize the factory sound systems that come standard on modern-day models. Our 10 featured systems can be found in cars ranging from about $30,000 to nearly $300,000, allowing an outstanding audio experience for just about any budget.

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NASA Creates First 3-D View Of Solar Eruptions

NASA Spacecraft Make First 3-D Images of Sun

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1. Sunspots
Sunspots form where intense magnetic field lines twist and poke up through the surface. These knotted fields shut down the normal flow, or convection, of hot plasma from the sun’s interior to the surface, making the region cooler and darker than its surroundings.

2. Field Lines
Sunspots explode when the field lines twist to the point of snapping, like a rubber band wound too tightly. They link up again to form a new shape, but not before releasing enormous amounts of stored energy and hot gas into the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona.

3. Solar Flare
The resulting eruption, called a solar flare, heats the surrounding gas to 180 million degrees Fahrenheit. The explosion accelerates subatomic particles to near light-speed and spews radiation (mostly ultraviolet and gamma rays and x-rays) into space.

4. Plasma Burst
Flares are sometimes followed by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), in which billions of tons of the sun’s plasma are flung into space en masse. These huge bubbles of matter travel relatively slowly (1,000 miles a second); even the fastest ones take a day or so to reach Earth.

5. Earth Impact
Eight minutes after a flare erupts, Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the radiation pulse. This pulse produces extra ions and electrons, causing the atmosphere to puff out. The expanded atmosphere increases drag on satellites and degrades radio and GPS signals. But the worst is yet to come. Potentially more destructive than a flare’s radiation pulse, CMEs boost the speed of the solar wind and create a shockwave of energetic protons. That shockwave distorts Earth’s magnetic shield, and the protons stream down on the poles creating geomagnetic disturbances like the Northern Lights. The shockwave can also destroy the electronics in satellites.

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Also, there’s a new text-to-speech API that’ll allow developers to take advantage of voice search-esque implementation for their application. What’s even cooler is new support for handwriting gestures–as we see it, you can draw out any letter on the touchscreen and it’ll automatically jump to that section in whatever list you’re in. So for example, in the music app you can handwrite ‘e’ on the touchscreen and you’ll be brought to the corresponding ‘e’ section. That new feature should be incredibly useful.

We’re growing more and more excited about Android 2.0 by the day and we’re hoping/praying/begging that T-Mobile will handle the release of Donut a lot better than they did Cupcake. Who’s with us?

Android History Updates:

A cupcake was placed beside Android at Googleplex to commemorate the 1.5 release of Android.Although Android is an open-source product, some development has been continuing in a private development branch. In order to bring this software into public view, a read-only mirror branch has been created, known as cupcake. Cupcake is commonly misunderstood as the title of an actual update, but as stated on Google’s development website: “cupcake is still very much a work in progress. It is a development branch, not a release.” Notable changes to the Android software that will be introduced in cupcake include changes to the download manager, the framework, Bluetooth, the system software, radio and telephony, developer tools, the build system and several applications, as well as a number of bug fixes.

On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 update for Android was released. There are several new features and UI updates included in the 1.5 update:

Ability to record and watch videos with the camcorder mode
Uploading videos to YouTube and pictures to Picasa directly from the phone
A new soft keyboard with an “Autocomplete” feature
Ability to automatically connect to a Bluetooth headset within a certain distance
New widgets and folders that can populate the desktop
Animations between screens
Expanded ability of Copy and paste to include web pages

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