Space Station

A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live and work in outer space for a period of time.

The International Space Station (ISS)

To date, only low earth orbital (LEO) stations have been implemented, otherwise known as orbital stations. A space station is distinguished from other manned spacecraft by its lack of major propulsion or landing facilities—instead, other vehicles are used as transport to and from the station. Current and recent-history space stations are designed for medium-term living in orbit, for periods of weeks, months, or even years. The only space station currently in use is the International Space Station. Previous stations include the Almaz and Salyut series, Skylab and Mir.

Space stations are used to study the effects of long-term space flight on the human body as well as to provide platforms for greater number and length of scientific studies than available on other space vehicles. Since the ill-fated flight of Soyuz 11 to Salyut 1, all manned spaceflight duration records have been set aboard space stations. The duration record for a single spaceflight is 437.7 days, set by Valeriy Polyakov aboard Mir from 1994 to 1995. As of 2009^[update], three astronauts have completed single missions of over a year, all aboard Mir.

Space stations have been used for both military and civilian purposes. The last military-use space station was Salyut 5, which was used by the Almaz program of the Soviet Union in 1976 and 1977.

Future developments

• The People's Republic of China is expected to launch its first space station named Tiangong 1 in the first half of 2011. This would make China the third country to launch a space station. China will be launching two more space labs called Tiangong 2 and Tiangong 3 before 2016. It will then launch a 30-ton space station by 2022. Project 921-2 is the working name given by the People's Republic of China for plans to create a manned space station.

• Currently, Bigelow Aerospace is developing commercial inflatable habitat modules, derived from the earlier NASA Transhab concept, intended to be used for space station construction and for a space prize they are funding and operating, America's Space Prize. Genesis I and Genesis II are ⅓-scale unmanned prototype modules orbited to test the feasibility of inflatable structures and other systems in space. Future modules include the Galaxy, Sundancer and BA 330, each being progressively larger and more complicated, with the BA 330 intended as the full-scale manned production model for Bigelow's expandable space habitation module program.

• In April 2008, the Russian space agency has proposed the construction of an orbital construction yard for spacecraft too heavy to launch from Earth directly. It would not begin construction or be finished until after the decommissioning of the International Space Station. This plan was described to ISS partners by Anatoly Perminov June 17, 2009.

• Galactic Suite is a space hotel planned to be operational by 2012.

• Excalibur Almaz plans to refit Soviet Almaz space stations for commercial purposes

Interest to learn more? Click here. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_station

2010 Moscato - Brown Brothers

I absolutely love this wine. Cheap and affordable at S$20 and easily obtainable at any NTUC Fairprice.

This current release is a light straw colour with some youthful green tinges, while the nose is lifted with aromas of musk, citrus and freshly crushed grapes.  In the mouth the wine is alive with a vibrant and mouth filling sherbet flavour.  A wine of universal appeal, the retained carbon dioxide gives a mild frizzante effect resulting in a lively and fresh wine.  Serve well chilled and enjoy while young and vibrant.



This versatile wine is an ideal accompaniment to any occasion whether it is served with or without food, or as an aperitif or table wine. Try it with baked Stanley apple filled with quince and hazelnuts and mascarpone cheese.

Alcohol: 5.5% pH: 3.3 Acid level: 5.9 g/L. Enjoy while young and vibrant.

 To learn more about Brown Brothers click here Brother Brothers 

Dividends Really Do Matter

Intelligent Investing

Daniel Peris, 09.16.10, 03:00 PM EDT
 

Steady and rising dividends over the years keep your portfolio growing even when the overall market goes nowhere. 

 

Read on : Forbes - Intelligent Investing

World Most Expensive Car

The 1936 Bugatti Atlantic 57SC has recently been sold at auction for around $30 million.

Source : CNN News

The Bugatti Type 57 and later variants (including the famous Atlantic and Atalante) was an entirely new design by Jean Bugatti, son of founder Ettore. Type 57s were built from 1934 through 1940, with a total of 710 examples produced.

Most Type 57s used a twin-cam 3257 cc engine based on that of the Type 49 but heavily modified by Jean Bugatti. Unlike the chain-drive twin-cam engines of the Type 50 and 51, the 57's engine used gears to transmit power from the crankshaft.

Considered by some to be the most beautiful pre-war car, the Atlantic body Type 57S featured flowing coupe lines with a pronounced dorsal seam running front to back. It was based on the "Aérolithe" concept car of 1935. Like the Type 59 Grand Prix car, the Aérolithe used Elektron (a magnesium alloy) or Duralumin (an aluminium alloy) for its body panels. Therefore, the body panels were riveted externally, creating the signature seam.

The production Atlantics (just four were made) used plain aluminium, however. But the dorsal seams were retained for style, and have led to the car's present fame.

Only two of the cars survive. One is in the collection of Ralph Lauren, the second was owned by Dr. Peter 

Williamson, and won the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Williamson's car (#57374) was sold for between $30 and $40 million at an auction in May 2010 to the Mullin Automotive Museum located in Oxnard, California.

The Atalante was a two door coupe body style similar to and built after the Atlantic, built on both the Type 57 and 57S, but with a single piece windscreen and no fin. Only 17 Atalante cars were made, four of which reside in the Cité de l'Automobile Museum in Mulhouse, France (formerly known as the Musee Nationale de L'Automobile de Mulhouse). The name Atalante was derived from a heroine of Greek mythology, Atalanta.

 

Rediscovered Type 57S Atalante

Main article: Bugatti Type 57S Atalante number 57502

 

In 2008 the Bugatti Type 57S with chassis number 57502 built in 1937 with the Atalante coachwork for Earl Howe was discovered in a private garage in Newcastle upon Tyne, having been stored untouched for 48 years and known about only by a select few people^[4]. It was auctioned in February 2009 at the Retromobile motor show in Paris, France, fetching €3.4 million (about US$4.6 million), becoming one of the highest valued cars in automotive history, owing much to its extremely low mileage, original condition and ownership pedigree.

Source : 1937 Bugatti Type 57

James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 - Going for $10 million?

The original Aston Martin featured in 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball' is set to go on auction.

Click here : Watch the Video 

Why Nokia can't crack the U.S. market

By David Goldman, staff writerSeptember 16, 2010: 11:59 AM ET

 

Source : CNN Business News

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Like soccer and small cars, Nokia is popular everywhere in the world except the United States.

Though that near-global popularity has made the company the clear No. 1 handset maker in the world, the tide has shifted, and Nokia is struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation set by Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) and a number of Android smartphone manufacturers. 

Nokia's market share has slipped to 35% this year, according to IDC. That's down from 48% in 2006, the year before Apple unveiled the iPhone. But Nokia's overall performance is significantly better than its showing here in America. Nokia phones make up just 7.8% of the U.S. handset market, according to comScore, far behind leaders Samsung, LG and Motorola (MOT, Fortune 500).  

Nokia's rapidly declining market share and absence of visibility in the United States have led investors to send shares of Nokia (NOK) tumbling 75% since its peak in the fall of 2007.

Those factors combined to create a crisis of confidence at the Finnish company. Days before unveiling its new smartphone lineup, Nokia decided last week to oust its CEO and name a North American replacement: Microsoft's Stephen Elop.

"The appointment of an executive from an American company to the CEO post at Nokia is a good indication of the company's renewed focus on the U.S. market," said Dan Hays, partner at consulting firm PRTM. "One of the core issues for Nokia is the United States."

America is a country that Nokia has historically been unable to play nice with. Unlike wireless providers abroad, carriers here like to exercise some control over the look and feel of the devices running on their networks. Other device manufacturers are willing to collaborate, but Nokia has been unwavering in its insistence on having complete control over both the hardware and software of its phones, Hays said.

Some analysts remain skeptical that much will change, even with the new leadership.

"We always hear from Nokia, 'The U.S. is important to us and we're adjusting our strategy,' but it has never worked," said Ramon Lamas, analyst at IDC. "Hiring Elop doesn't necessarily equate to a renewed North America focus."

Still, the infusion of new blood means just about anything at Nokia is fair game. Struggling in all of its key areas, Nokia needs to take a hard look at each of its strategies and product road maps.

That could mean taking a page from America's playbook and ditching Nokia's own proprietary operating systems, Symbian and MeeGo, for Google's (GOOG, Fortune 500) Android.

Android has a number of advantages, not least of which is the fact that it's free for manufacturers to license. Nokia has devoted tremendous time and resources to improving its Symbian software, and it launched a high-profile partnership with Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) to create a second, separate operating system called MeeGo for high-end phones.

By embracing Google's Android operating system, Nokia could follow in the footsteps of Motorola, which struggled to make a winning device to replace its top-selling RAZR until it ultimately adopted Android for its Droid smartphone.

But analysts think that moving to Android is almost entirely out of the question for Nokia. The yet-to-be-released MeeGo has a growing wave of developer support and momentum behind it, and Symbian remains popular among its users.

Plus, ditching its proprietary software would leave Nokia scrambling to stand out in a crowded field.

"Nokia is the market leader, and as such it cannot do what everyone else does," said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Gartner. "Nokia has spent too much money and resources to get to where it is today."

For all those resources, the most crucial issue facing Nokia is that its phones just aren't all that great. Nokia is way behind its rivals on innovations like touch screens, thin materials, and design. If Nokia was satisfied with its phone lineup, why would it overshadow the much-hyped N8's unveiling with a management shakeup?

The real lesson Nokia should learn from America, say some in the industry, is that it needs to make its phones high-quality vessels for great applications. That's what ultimately made the iPhone take off, and that's what's fueling the Android surge as well.

"Nokia certainly doesn't need North America to survive or even thrive, as the real growth is being generated in emerging markets where Nokia's brand remains strong," said Andy Castonguay, analyst at Yankee Group. "But if it could harness some of the innovation being generated by U.S. app developers, together with a sharp portfolio of smartphones and a more dynamic OS, Nokia can still turn it around."

Nokia: No. 1 and fighting for life

By Kevin Voigt, CNN

September 18, 2010 -- Updated 0529 GMT (1329 HKT)

 

Source : CNN Business News 

 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Nokia is the undisputed cell phone making champion of the world
• The company is facing a steep erosion of market share with smartphone
• Nokia missed the tilt in the handset world from hardware to software focus
• Nokia executive: "We have our work cut out in the high end, and we will solve that"

(CNN) -- It's been a roller-coaster week for Finnish tech giant Nokia: Turmoil at the top and the introduction of its next generation of smartphones at its annual Nokia World Conference in London, where the message from executives was: "Nokia is back!"

"Today, the 14th of September -- mark that date in your calendar -- is the beginning of our fight back in the smartphone market," Niklas Savander, executive vice president of markets for Nokia, told CNN at the expo.
Fight back? Nokia owns 40 percent of the global handset market. It's expected to shift almost half a billion handsets this year, nearly twice that of nearest maker, Samsung.

CNNMoney.com: Why Nokia can't crack the U.S. market

Nokia is the undisputed cell-phone making champion of the world -- and fighting for its life?

"That seems strange, I know, but they are," said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst for Gartner Inc. in London.

In a dilemma that's sure to become fodder for a myriad of business school case studies, Nokia was slow to grasp that the future of the handset industry won't be written by hardware, but by software.

The shake-ups at the top -- foremost the departure of Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo for Microsoft veteran Stephen Elop -- and the introduction of its next generation of smartphones this week signaled a change in focus for the Finnish tech giant, yet in many ways the company is a victim of its own past success.

"They are the leader today, but you have to look at how quickly their share is declining," Cozza said.

Nokia has dominated across the globe in low and mid-range priced phones and will continue to be an industry force in the future.

"The problem is users are migrating to the smartphone market ... all the innovation is coming from the high-end of the market, and this is where they are not a leader at all."

Nokia's problem can be summed up this way: Its operating software, Symbian, is all thumbs.

Nokia cellphones rocketed to success in the 1990s with an innovative user interface that taught a legion of devotees around the world how to text and pull down different menus with a thumb toggle switch. That all changed when Apple's iPhone was introduced three years ago with an innovative touch screen that did away with thumb gymnastics.

"Nokia has a legacy software which users are used to, which makes it difficult to throw out everything and recreate something new," said Thomas Kang, an analyst with Strategy Analytics in Seoul.

"The easy path is just to build on what you've done in the past, and that's kind of left them behind -- Apple started from scratch."

Companies starting from scratch in the smartphone industry have never had it easier. Instead of developing your own proprietary microchip -- as Nokia did in partnership with Texas Instruments in the 1990s -- the hardware required to build a smartphone has become standardized.

"It basically meant that anyone can buy a semiconductor, wi-fi chip and camera from a third-party to build a phone," said Adrien Bommelaer, senior research analyst for Piper Jaffray in London.

"So hardware is not differentiating you from your competitors any more -- the differentiation is now done by software," Bommelaer said.

And more important, the number of software developers you can attract to the system. The iPhone has spawned a dizzying variety of apps which create a huge "ecosystem designed around personal preferences and features," Cozza said.

But the real threat to Nokia's current dominance isn't iPhone or Research in Motion's Blackberry -- the two most popular high-end makers. The real culprit behind Nokia's shrinking market share is Google and its Android operating system.

Provided to smartphone makers without license fees, Android is a low-cost operating system that analysts say works better in a touch-screen interface than the latest version of Symbian. As a result, large companies such as LG and Samsung are flocking to Google's system, drilling a hole in Nokia's dominance in the low and mid-tier priced phones.

In the past year, the market share of Android-based phones jumped from 3.9 percent to an astonishing 17.7 percent, according to Gartner. At the same time, Nokia's Symbian driven market share dropped from about 47 percent to just over 40 percent.

Gartner predicts that by 2014, Android-based phones will be poised to eclipse Nokia systems by market share.

Nokia hopes to stem the tide by the change at the top and the introduction of its new smartphone, N8, which goes on sale from October 1. Analysts are waiting to see whether the new Nokia leadership will be able to stop the loss of market share, and whether improvements to the Symbian software will be able to attract developers to build more applications for Nokia phones.

So far, the jury is out. "The N8 -- it's a good phone," Bommelaer said. "Is it enough? Probably not, but it's a step in the right direction."

Nokia's Savander told CNN: "When you have 40 percent market share, you do not have the luxury of focusing on one segment only, and so we have been doing a lot of work in making sure we are very competitive when it comes also to the low end and to attract new consumers into the smartphone segment.

"Granted, we have our work cut out in the high end, and we will solve that," he said.

Do you know your beef?

For so long i have been eating beef and i was not aware that there is a grading for it. Read on.

   

"The Wagyu Beef" - also known as "Kobe Beef" is the ultimate masterpiece of Japanese Beef. Wagyu are raised with pride and care all over Japan, and they provide truly world class high quality beef. Wagyu is strictly graded and sorted info five classes by professionals from the Japan Meat Grading Association from A 1 to A 5. A5 is the highest grade of Wagyu Beef.

One of the most important factors for grading beef quality is "marbling", which refers to the fine white streaks of fat that run through lean beef and enhance flavor and tenderness. "The Wagyu" has excellent marbling that puts it among the world's top class. Furthermore, the fat in "The WAGYU" melts at just 77F (25C), a lower temperature than any other beef. This explains why "The WAGYU" melts in your mouth for a sensational burst of flavor from the very first bite. (Source : http://www.1-800-kobebeef.com/christmasgifts.html)

In Japan, beef quality is commonly referenced to the marbling content which is graded on a Beef Marbling Standard of No. 1 – 12, with No. 1 having practically no marbling to No. 12 being completely white with marbling.  The Japanese Beef Marbling Grading is very strict.  Based on  Nikuya Meats Ltd's (Nikuya is the No. 1 meat purveyor for the Japanese retail and foodservice industry in Vancouver) own visual evaluation, if they were to use the Japanese scale of BMS 1 – 12, their comparison of the Japanese, Australian, American Wagyu Beef and Canadian Graded Beef products in terms of marbling would be as follows.  (Please note this is their opinion and differs from the official grading parameters used for BMS grading in Japan.)

Grade	BMS Grade
Canada A Canada AA Canada AAA Canada Prime USA Kobe (Black) USA Kobe (Gold) Aust Wagyu (MB9+) Jap Wagyu (A4) Jap Wagyu (A5)	BMS No. 1 BMS No. 2 BMS No. 3 BMS No. 4 BMS No. 5 BMS No. 6 BMS No. 7-8 BMS No. 8-9 BMS No. 9-10

Japanese Wagyu A5 Grade is rare even in Japan.  An A5 grade with BMS 11 or 12 is extremely rare and in most likelihood has not yet been exported overseas.

Studies have indicated that Angus beef averages BMS of 2 but cannot achieve BMS greater than 5. On the other hand, Wagyu cattle averages BMS 4 – 6 but depending on quality of genetics, controlled feeding program and age at time of slaughter, can on very rare occasions reach the top grade of BMS 12. In Japan, for beef cuts to be considered of ‘Kobe’ quality, they must exhibit BMS of 5 or higher. Therefore, Nikuya only imports products higher than the American Kobe Beef Black Grade (BMS 5). 

Marbling is one factor which determines meat quality.  Usually more marbling equates to more tenderness.  More equally distributed marbling equates to more consistent tenderness and flavour throughout the piece of meat.  More marbling combined with more consistent marbling equates to better piece of meat since it is more difficult to produce a product with finer streaks of marbling that is consistently distributed throughout the piece of meat.  Therefore, pricing of the Wagyu Beef products are usually consistent with the products marbling.  The highest marbled product from Japan would be most expensive, followed by Australian and American. 

Flavour on the other hand is mainly dependent on the feed given to the animals.  The Japanese and Australian products are raised to meet the taste profile preferred mainly by the Japanese market.  Therefore, these products provide a silky rich flavour and a mild well-rounded taste.  On the other hand, although the American Kobe Beef is not as well marbled as the other two products, it has a very unique ‘buttery’ flavour. (Source : http://www.nikuya.ca/products/our_view_marbling.htm )

6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook

by Kathy Kristof, Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Click Here to read article from Yahoo

The whole social networking phenomenon has millions of Americans sharing their photos, favorite songs and details about their class reunions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and dozens of similar sites. But there are a handful of personal details that you should never say if you don't want criminals — cyber or otherwise — to rob you blind, according to Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

The folks at Insure.com also say that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. By now almost everybody knows that those drunken party photos could cost you a job, too.

You can certainly enjoy networking and sharing photos, but you should know that sharing some information puts you at risk. What should you never say on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site?


Your Birth Date and Place
Sure, you can say what day you were born, but if you provide the year and where you were born too, you've just given identity thieves a key to stealing your financial life, said Givens. A study done by Carnegie Mellon showed that a date and place of birth could be used to predict most — and sometimes all — of the numbers in your Social Security number, she said.

Vacation Plans
There may be a better way to say "Rob me, please" than posting something along the lines of: "Count-down to Maui! Two days and Ritz Carlton, here we come!" on Twitter. But it's hard to think of one. Post the photos on Facebook when you return, if you like. But don't invite criminals in by telling them specifically when you'll be gone.

Home Address
Do I have to elaborate? A study recently released by the Ponemon Institute found that users of Social Media sites were at greater risk of physical and identity theft because of the information they were sharing. Some 40% listed their home address on the sites; 65% didn't even attempt to block out strangers with privacy settings. And 60% said they weren't confident that their "friends" were really just people they know.

Confessionals
You may hate your job; lie on your taxes; or be a recreational user of illicit drugs, but this is no place to confess. Employers commonly peruse social networking sites to determine who to hire — and, sometimes, who to fire. Need proof? In just the past few weeks, an emergency dispatcher was fired in Wisconsin for revealing drug use; a waitress got canned for complaining about customers and the Pittsburgh Pirate's mascot was dumped for bashing the team on Facebook. One study done last year estimated that 8% of companies fired someone for "misuse" of social media.

Password Clues
If you've got online accounts, you've probably answered a dozen different security questions, telling your bank or brokerage firm your Mom's maiden name; the church you were married in; or the name of your favorite song. Got that same stuff on the information page of your Facebook profile? You're giving crooks an easy way to guess your passwords.

Risky Behaviors
You take your classic Camaro out for street racing, soar above the hills in a hang glider, or smoke like a chimney? Insurers are increasingly turning to the web to figure out whether their applicants and customers are putting their lives or property at risk, according to Insure.com. So far, there's no efficient way to collect the data, so cancellations and rate hikes are rare. But the technology is fast evolving, according to a paper written by Celent, a financial services research and consulting firm.

Pro-privacy social network launched as Facebook rival

Pro-privacy social network launched as Facebook rival

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100917/ttc-us-internet-technology-website-faceb-0de2eff.html 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Four US students who launched a new social networking site called "Diaspora" are stressing its ease of use and stricter privacy policy, in a bid to make waves in a field dominated by Facebook.

The version available to software developers since Wednesday is giving outsiders an opportunity to work on applications within its framework, ahead of a public launch due at a yet undisclosed later date.

"This is now a community project and development open to anyone with the technical expertise who shares the vision of a social network that puts users in control," said the founders at the project site www.joindiaspora.com.

Billed as the "privacy aware, personally controlled, do-it-all, open source social network," New York University programmers Daniel Grippi, Maxwell Salzberg, Raphael Sofaer and Ilya Zhitomirskiy showed off the site's sleek white and gray interface with icons representing users, much like on Facebook.

Emphasis on privacy appears as a direct pull for the many complaints made about its giant rival in the field, and may serve as a tool to attract discontented users from Facebook's half-billion-strong population.

To set up Diaspora, the students made an appeal in May for donations through the site Kickstater.com, a platform for projects to find investors.

Successful in their efforts, the founders collected over 200,000 dollars, including input from, mysteriously, Facebook boss and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Republic of Singapore Air Force

So proud of our Air Force. Click here to catch the video of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 40th Anniversary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhZN307evOs&feature=related

Demonstration of a M-113A2 Ultra Mechanised Igla IFU on deployment, visible in the background is an I-HAWK SAM launcher.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Boeing CH-47 Chinook carrying our Singapore Flag during the National Day Parade

An F-5S of 144 Sqn preparing for take-off.

F-15SG of the 428th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

An operational G550 CAEW of 111 Sqn on display at Singapore Airshow, 2010

An F-16C of 140 Sqn scrambling.

A Singapore Peace Triton S-70B being guided by a member of the RSN on the flight line of Naval Air Station North Island.

F-16 Fighting Falcon General Dynamics

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Singapore_Air_Force

The backbone of the RSAF is formed by the Block 52/52+ F-16 Fighting Falcons. These are armed with US-supplied AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles and LANTIRN targeting pods, laser guided munitions and conformal fuel tanks for long-range strike.

While Singapore initially bought as many as 70 F-16 planes, on November 18, 2004, it was announced that the RSAF would donate its remaining 7 F-16A/B's to the Royal Thai Air Force. It is believed that these early Block 15OCU aircraft were upgraded to "Falcon One" standard by ST Aerospace before the transfer and delivered in late 2005. In return, the RSAF was permitted to train at the Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base in north-east Thailand for a specified number of days each year. This would mean that the RSAF will operate only the Block 52/52+ model, as many as 62 F-16CJ/DJ planes.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16_Fighting_Falcon

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.

 

The Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with numerous innovations including a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system that makes it a highly nimble aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and has 11 hardpoints for mounting weapons, and other mission equipment. Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to its pilots as the "Viper", due to it resembling a viper snake and after the Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper starfighter.

In addition to USAF active, reserve, and air national guard units, the aircraft is used by the USAF aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16 has also been selected to serve in the air forces of 25 other nations.

AH-64D Apache Longbow

 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-64_Apache#AH-64D

The advanced model, the AH-64D Apache Longbow, is equipped with an improved sensor suite, a glass cockpit, and weapon systems. The main improvement over the A-variant is the dome installed over the main rotor which houses the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave Fire Control Radar (FCR) target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI).^[141] The raised position of the radome allows for detection and launching of missiles at targets when the helicopter is hidden by an obstacle (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). A radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows a AH-64D to share targeting data with other D-models. This allows a group of Longbow Apaches to fire on targets detected by the FCR of a single helicopter.^[142]

The aircraft is powered by a pair of uprated T700-GE-701C engines. The forward fuselage of the aircraft was expanded to accommodate new systems for improved crashworthiness, survivability, navigation, and 'tactical internet' communications capabilities. The first of the upgraded Block II Apaches was delivered to the US Army in February 2003. Block II includes upgrades to the digital communications systems.^[143]

Block III aircraft include the following upgrades: improved digital connectivity, the joint tactical radio system, enhanced engines and drive systems, capability to control UAVs, new composite rotor blade, full IFR capability and improved landing gear.^[143] The new blades, which successfully completed flight testing in May 2004, increased the Apache's cruise speed, climb rate and payload capability.^[144] The US Army now plans to field the first Block III equipped unit in November 2012.^[145]

F-15E Strike Eagle - McDonnell Douglas

So proud of our F-15SG. Add more punch to the 3rd Generation SAF.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15E_Strike_Eagle#F-15SG

The F-15SG (formerly the F-15T) is a variant of the F-15E, currently ordered by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) after a seven-year evaluation period involving five other fighter aircraft under consideration. The F-15SG was chosen on 6 September 2005 over the Dassault Rafale, the only remaining aircraft still in contention.^[67]

  
The F-15SG is similar in configuration to the F-15K sold to South Korea, but differs in the addition of the APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by Raytheon. The F-15SG will be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 29,400 lbf (131 kN) thrust engines.

Pending news on the progress of the F-35 program, the RSAF placed an order of 12 aircraft with an option for 8 more to replace its A-4SUs. The purchase is part of the New Fighter Replacement Program, worth about US$1 billion, which will be the most expensive single fighter aircraft purchase by the RSAF.
On 22 August 2005, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified US Congress about a potential Foreign military sales (FMS) of weapons, logistics and training in the event that the Boeing F-15 was selected by Singapore. Since the F-15 purchase has now been confirmed, it can be assumed that Singapore will follow up on this proposed weapons and logistics package, worth a further US$741 million if all options are exercised. Various weapons and hardware are included in this package such as AIM-120C, and AIM-9X missiles; GBU-38 JDAM, and AGM-154 JSOW air-to-surface weapons; Night Vision Goggles and Link 16 terminals.^[68]
 

  
The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on 22 October 2007, exercised the option to purchase eight more F-15SG fighters which was part of the original contract signed in 2005. Along with this buy, an additional order of four F-15SGs increases total to 24 fighters on order.^[69] The first F-15SG was rolled out on 3 November 2008. Deliveries of F-15SGs began in second quarter of 2009 and will continue to 2012.^[70]
In July 2010, at least 12 have been delivered - 6 of which traveled to its home base in Singapore, while the others are with the long-term training detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

Android gains US smartphone market share

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100917/ttc-us-it-company-telecom-google-apple-r-0de2eff.html

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Google's Android operating system increased its share of the US smartphone market in the quarter which ended in July while Blackberry maker Research in Motion, Apple and Microsoft lost ground, digital tracking firm comScore said.

Canada's RIM remained the leading smartphone platform in the United States with a 39.3 percent share of US smartphone subscribers, comScore said, but its share fell 1.8 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Apple, maker of the iPhone, saw its market share fall 1.3 percent to 23.8 percent in the quarter while Android's market share rose five percentage points to 17.0 percent.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile saw its share fall 2.2 percent to 11.8 percent, while that of Palm, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard earlier this year, held steady at 4.9 percent.

ComScore said that despite losing share to Android, an open-source platform which Google makes available to handset makers, most smartphone platforms are still gaining subscribers as the smartphone market overall continues to grow.

The Reston, Virginia-based company said 53.4 million people in the United States owned smartphones at the end of July, up 11 percent from the April period, and a total of 234 million Americans aged 13 and older use mobile devices.

ComScore said Samsung had a 23.1 percent share of US mobile subscribers at the end of July followed by LG with 21.2 percent, Motorola with 19.8 percent, RIM with 9.0 percent and Nokia with 7.8 percent.

UN scientists say ozone layer depletion has stopped

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UN scientists say ozone layer depletion has stopped

GENEVA (AFP) - – The protective ozone layer in the earth's upper atmosphere has stopped thinning and should largely be restored by mid century thanks to a ban on harmful chemicals, UN scientists said on Thursday.

The "Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion 2010" report said a 1987 international treaty that phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) -- substances used in refrigerators, aerosol sprays and some packing foams --- had been successful.

Ozone provides a natural protective filter against harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun, which can cause sunburn, cataracts and skin cancer as well as damage vegetation.

First observations of a seasonal ozone hole appearing over the Antarctic occurred in the 1970s and the alarm was raised in the 1980s after it was found to be worsening under the onslaught of CFCs, prompting 196 countries to join the Montreal Protocol.

"The Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 to control ozone depleting substances is working, it has protected us from further ozone depletion over the past decades," said World Meteorological Organisation head of research Len Barrie.

"Global ozone, including ozone in the polar region is not longer decreasing but not yet increasing," he told journalists.

The 300 scientists who compiled the four yearly ozone assessment now expect that the ozone layer in the stratosphere will be restored to 1980 levels in 2045 to 2060, according to the report, "slightly earlier" than expected.

Although CFCs have been phased out, they accumulated and persist in the atmosphere and the effect of the curbs takes years to filter through.

The ozone hole over the South Pole, which varies in size and is closely monitored when it appears in springtime each year, is likely to persist even longer and may even be aggravated by climate change, the report said.

Scientists are still getting to grips with the complex interaction between ozone depletion and global warming, Barrie explained.

"In the Antarctic, the impact of the ozone hole and the surface climate is becoming evident," he said.
"This leads to important changes in surface temperature and wind patterns, amongst other environmental changes," Barrie added.

CFCs are classified among greenhouse gases that cause global warming, so the phase out "provided substantial co-benefits by reducing climate change," the report found. Barrie estimated that it had avoided about 10 gigatonnes of such emissions a year. However, the ozone-friendly substances that have replaced CFCs in plastics or as refrigerants - hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) -- are also powerful greenhouse gases. HFCs alone are regarded as 14,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the focus of international efforts to tackle climate change, and HFC emissions are growing by eight percent a year, according to UN agencies.

"This represents a further potential area for action within the overall climate change challenge," said UN Environment Programme chief Achim Steiner in a statement.

Samsung takes aim at Apple's iPad, iTunes

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - – South Korea's Samsung took aim at Apple's iPad and iTunes with the US launch of its new Galaxy tablet computer and an online entertainment hub for movies and television shows.

Samsung said US wireless carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will sell the Galaxy Tab, which was unveiled at the IFA electronics trade fair in Berlin, Germany, in early September.

Samsung said the Galaxy Tab would be available in the United States in the "coming months" but did not provide pricing details of the touchscreen device seen as its answer to the iPad.

The South Korean electronics giant said the Galaxy Tab will offer access to "Media Hub," a new content service at Samsung.com.

MTV Networks, NBC Universal and Paramount are among the partners in Media Hub, which Samsung said will offer a "robust library" of movies, including new release films, next day television episodes and full TV show seasons.

Movies and TV shows can be rented or purchased and shared with up to five devices including Galaxy S smartphones, Samsung said.

"The new site further shifts the company from a product and technology provider to providing an overall digital experience," Samsung said in a statement.

Releasing the Galaxy Tab in the United States, Samsung sought to emphasize its differences with the iPad, which has been a hot seller for Apple since it hit stores in April.

Samsung noted that the Galaxy Tab has front- and rear-facing video cameras, allowing for video chat, and runs the popular Flash video software from Adobe.

The iPad does not have a camera and Apple has banned Flash from the device. "With support for Flash Player 10.1, the Galaxy Tab delivers an enhanced content experience when compared to other tablets currently available in the US," Samsung said.

The Galaxy has a seven-inch (17.8-centimeter) touchscreen, smaller than the iPad's 9.7 inches, weighs 0.8 pounds (380 grams), almost half the iPad's 1.5 pounds, and is powered by Google's Android operating system.

"The Samsung Galaxy Tab is designed for people who want a premium mobile entertainment experience on the go, but don't want to be weighed down by a bulky device," Samsung said.

The Galaxy Tab provides access to the more than 80,000 applications available on the Android Market, Samsung said.

The Galaxy Tab is one of a number of tablet computers slated for release in a bid to challenge the iPad.

US computer maker Dell offers the "Dell Streak," an Android-powered device with a five-inch screen, and Japan's Toshiba unveiled its "Folio 100" at the IFA in Berlin,

US handset maker Motorola said this week it hopes to release a tablet computer powered by Android early next year and South Korea's LG Electronics has promised to release an Android-based tablet computer before December.

US computer giant Hewlett-Packard is pinning its hopes on its Slate. Glenn Lurie, president of AT&T's emerging devices, welcomed the arrival of the Galaxy Tab. "We're looking forward to expanding our computing device portfolio and giving our AT&T customers more great choices with this innovative device," Lurie said.

AT&T is the exclusive provider of 3G cellular service in the United States for Apple's iPhone and iPad.