Google UK boss offers 'unreserved apology' for delayed Nexus 4 orders

Dan Cobley says pre-Christmas deliveries on track for this week, offers shipping refund for late orders

As we've reported in great detail over the past month, customers hoping to pick up the Nexus 4 directly from the Google Play Store haven't had the easiest time ordering the device. Even after dealing with a tumultuous ordering process, some in the UK have found that their orders had missed the shipping window they'd been given by Google Play.

As a result, some disgruntled customers decided to go straight to the top to get answers, reaching out to Google UK & Ireland Managing Director Dan Cobley on his Google+ page. Today Cobley has responded with an update on the situation, an apology to those affected, and a shipping refund for those whose orders had missed the quoted 3-5 day window. The bottom line is that orders with pre-Christmas shipping estimates should be processed in the coming week.

In his Google+ message, Cobley also addresses the subject of stock levels, saying supplies from Nexus 4 manufacturer LG have been "scarce and erratic." The first wave of Nexus 4 stock sold out in under an hour, and the second wave was back-ordered by over one month in under a day.

Check past the break for Cobley's message in full.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/bbFE-nj3JO4/story01.htm

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Passing the alcohol test: Fundamental properties of molecules have not changed during the past seven billion years

Dec. 14, 2012 ? The mass ratio of protons and electrons is deemed to be a universal constant. And rightly so, as the latest radio-astronomy observations of a distant galaxy have shown. Scientists at the VU University of Amsterdam and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn used the 100-metre radio telescope in Effelsberg to measure absorption lines of the methanol molecule at a number of characteristic frequencies. The researchers analysed the spectrum of the simplest of all the alcohols in a very distant galaxy. The result: to a high degree of accuracy molecules and molecular matter have the same properties today as they did seven billion years ago. According to this finding, the mass ratio of protons and electrons in particular has changed by less than one hundred thousandth of a percent in this period.

Measurements are the only way that physicists can find out about fundamental universal constants such as the proton-to-electron ratio. Although all terrestrial experiments produce the same value for this ratio, it would theoretically be possible for the constant to have a different value in different regions of the universe or at different times in its history. The methanol molecule is a suitable sensor for detecting such deviations.

A number of lines in the radio spectrum of this molecule would exhibit a significant frequency shift if the proton-to-electron mass ratio changed, while other lines would not be affected by this shift. A group at the VU University of Amsterdam only recently found out which property makes methanol such a sensitive sensor: ultimately it is a quantum tunnel effect which occurs if the internal rotation of the molecule is impeded. This effect leads to very high values for the sensitivity coefficients of the corresponding spectral lines, which can all be calculated individually.

"This makes the methanol molecule an ideal test case in order to discover a possible change in the proton-to-electron mass ratio over time," says Wim Ubachs, Professor at the VU University of Amsterdam and head of the physics department. "We therefore proposed a search for line radiation from methanol in the distant universe in order to compare the structure of the molecules thus found with the structure of today's methanol in laboratory experiments."

The team observed a galaxy where a number of different molecules had already been observed. The galaxy, which is in the line of sight of a high-intensity radio source called PKS1830-211, is about seven billion light years away from Earth. The scientists aimed for four different line transitions in the radio spectrum of the methanol molecule with their search program. And they were actually able to see all four lines with the aid of the 100-metre radio telescope in Effelsberg.

"As an optical astronomer it has been an interesting experience to carry out observations at the large wavelengths which occur in the radio range," says Julija Bagdonaite, doctoral student at the VU University of Amsterdam and lead author of the publication. "The methanol molecule had absorbed these radio waves seven billion years ago, and the waves have carried along its fingerprint from the distant past on their passage to Earth."

By analysing the quantum structure of the methanol molecule the researchers were able to deduce that two of its spectral lines which they observed at frequencies around 25 GHz were influenced hardly at all by a change in the proton-to-electron mass ratio. The other two lines reacted much more sensitively to a modification of this parameter.

"The source we investigated is by far the most suitable of all our observational objects for investigating the validity of our local physics even in very distant exotic environments," says Christian Henkel from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. "It would be fantastic if we could find more sources of this type which we could use to look even further back into the past."

The scientists also included systematic effects of the observations in the evaluation of the data and thus obtained the following result: in the course of the past seven billion years the mass ratio of protons and electrons has changed by a factor of 10^-7 at most and is therefore rightly deemed to be a universal constant. This result can definitely be interpreted to mean that the structure of the molecular matter as derived from spectral observations agrees very accurately with the structure seven billion years ago. Possible deviations amount to a mere one hundred thousandth of a percent or even less.

"If we were really to find deviations in this fundamental constant, we would have a problem with our understanding of the foundations of physics," concludes Karl Menten, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. "Most importantly, this would violate Einstein's equivalence principle, the cornerstone of the general theory of relativity."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.

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Journal Reference:

1. J. Bagdonaite, P. Jansen, C. Henkel, H. L. Bethlem, K. M. Menten, W. Ubachs. A Stringent Limit on a Drifting Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio from Alcohol in the Early Universe. Science, 2012; DOI: 10.1126/science.1224898

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/NNCPpQYLlcg/121214102426.htm

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China marks 75th anniversary of 'Rape of Nanking'

AP

People react as they gather to mourn for the victims of 1937 Nanjing Massacre at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall in Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu province on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012.

The Associated Press reports ??Air raid sirens rang again in Nanjing on Thursday to mark 75 years after a bloody invasion by the Japanese imperial army that remains as one of the most sensitive friction points in the shared history of two Asian powers.?

On December 13, 1937, the Chinese city fell to Japanese forces; what followed was a massacre of war prisoners, soldiers and citizens, known in the West as the "Rape of Nanking."?China maintains as many as 300,000 people died; Japan says the toll was far less.

AP

People gather at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall on Dec. 13, 2012.

Peter Parks / AFP - Getty Images

A Nanjing massacre survivor, center, cries after placing flowers on a wall with the names of victims at the Memorial Museum in Nanjing on December 13, 2012.

Peter Parks / AFP - Getty Images

Chinese military personnel attend a ceremony at the Memorial Museum in Nanjing on December 13, 2012.

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Source: http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/13/15882754-china-marks-75th-anniversary-of-rape-of-nanking?lite

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Climate warming unlikely to cause near-term extinction of ancient Amazon trees, but multiple threats to the forest remain

Dec. 13, 2012 ? A new genetic analysis has revealed that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive human-caused climate warming in the coming century, contrary to previous findings that temperature increases would cause them to die out.

However, the authors of the new study warn that extreme drought and forest fires will impact Amazonia as temperatures rise, and the over-exploitation of the region's resources continues to be a major threat to its future. Conservation policy for the Amazon should remain focused on reducing global greenhouse-gas emissions and preventing deforestation, they said.

The study by University of Michigan evolutionary biologist Christopher Dick and his colleagues demonstrates the surprising age of some Amazonian tree species -- more than 8 million years -- and thereby shows that they have survived previous periods as warm as many of the global warming scenarios forecast for the year 2100.

The paper is scheduled for online publication Dec. 13 in the journal Ecology and Evolution. The new study is at odds with earlier papers, based on ecological niche-modeling scenarios, which predicted tree species extinctions in response to relatively small increases in global average air temperatures.

"Our paper provides evidence that common Amazon tree species endured climates warmer than the present, implying that -- in the absence of other major environmental changes -- they could tolerate near-term future warming under climate change," said Dick, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and acting director of the U-M Herbarium.

But study co-author Simon Lewis of University College London and the University of Leeds cautioned that "the past cannot be compared directly with the future."

"While tree species seem likely to tolerate higher air temperatures than today, the Amazon forest is being converted for agriculture and mining, and what remains is being degraded by logging and increasingly fragmented by fields and roads," Lewis said. "Species will not move as freely in today's Amazon as they did in previous warm periods, when there was no human influence. Similarly, today's climate change is extremely fast, making comparisons with the past difficult.

"With a clearer understanding of the relative risks to the Amazon forest, we conclude that direct human impacts, such as forest clearance for agriculture or mining, should remain a focus of conservation policy," Lewis said. "We also need more aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimize the risk of drought and fire impacts to secure the future of most Amazon tree species."

Dick and his colleagues used a molecular clock approach to determine the ages of 12 widespread Amazon tree species, including the kapok and the balsa. Then they looked at climatic events that have occurred since those tree species emerged. In general, they inferred that the older the age of the tree species, the warmer the climate it has previously survived.

The researchers determined that nine of the tree species have been around for at least 2.6 million years, seven have been present for at least 5.6 million years, and three have existed in the Amazon for more than 8 million years.

"These are surprisingly old ages," Dick said. "Previous studies have suggested that a majority of Amazon tree species may have originated during the Quaternary Period, from 2.6 million years ago to the present."

Air temperatures across Amazonia in the early Pliocene Epoch (3.6 million to 5 million years ago) were similar to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections for the region in 2100 using moderate carbon-emission scenarios. Air temperatures in the late Miocene Epoch (5.3 to 11.5 million years ago) were about the same as IPCC projections for the region in 2100 using the highest carbon-emission scenarios.

The 12 tree species used in the study are broadly representative of the Amazon tree flora. Primary forest collection sites were in central Panama, western Ecuador and Amazonian Ecuador. Additional collections were made in Brazil, Peru, French Guiana and Bolivia. Other plant samples were obtained from herbarium specimens.

"The most lasting finding of our study may be the discovery of ancient geographic variation within widespread species, indicating that many rain forest tree species were widely distributed before the major uplift of the northern Andes," said co-author Eldredge Bermingham of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

To determine the age of each tree species, the researchers extracted and sequenced DNA from plant samples, then looked at the number of genetic mutations contained in those sequences. Using a molecular clock approach and population genetic models, they estimated how long it would take for each of the tree populations to accumulate the observed number of mutations, which provided a minimum age for each species.

"An important caveat is that because we've been in a cold period over the past 2 million years -- basically the whole Quaternary Period -- some of the trees' adaptations to warmth tolerance may have been lost," Dick said. "Additional research is needed to test whether this has occurred."

The Ecology and Evolution paper is titled "Neogene origins and implied warmth tolerance of Amazon tree species." In addition to Dick, Bermingham and Lewis, Mark Maslin of University College London is a co-author. Financial support for the research was provided by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the University of Michigan, the National Science Foundation and the Royal Society.

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Eco Property five Methods to Green Your House | Home ...

Eco Residence ? five Techniques to Green Your House

Everybody is buzzing about going green these days and the House is 1 of the greatest locations to begin. Because we invest so a lot time inside our houses, it just tends to make sense to start off becoming much more eco-friendly there. Here, we?ll appear at 5 Strategies you and your loved ones can start out going green with an eco House.

a single. Clean green. The majority of commercial cleaners that you discover on supermarket shelves are complete of harmful toxins and nasty chemical substances that might leave your Residence shiny however can wreak havoc on your lungs and skin, not to mention they are very toxic to little kids and pets. Rather of reaching for that vibrant blue window cleaner subsequent time, why not attempt vinegar and water to leave your windows sparkling clean. Vinegar is an exceptional cleanser and when mixed with baking soda, it also functions as a all-natural abrasive. And, if you favor some thing a tiny a lot more commercial, there are a lot of eco-friendly cleaners on the market these days, as effectively.

two. Begin conserving water. You do not have to remodel your bathroom to use much less water. Going green is as effortless as putting in new shower heads that use much less water, taking showers Rather of baths and washing dishes in a sink complete of water As an alternative than operating the faucet continually. A specific dam can be dropped into your toilet tank to lessen the quantity of water utilised with each flush, producing your Property an eco Residence.

three. Adjust your lights. There are 2 Methods to go here in order to lessen the quantity of electrical power that you use in your Property. The very first is to replace all ceiling lights with fluorescent bulbs. These are now readily available in warm light, so you will not even miss the softer yellow appear of tungsten, but the quantity of power saved is absolutely going to make a distinction in your electric bill. The other way to save additional income and power is to use LED lights in your lamps. These do not perform as properly for overhead lights, yet they are very vibrant and best for much more concentrated illumination and expense pennies a year to run.

four. Switch to glass and metal. When it comes to the kitchen, you are going to locate significantly of waste here. Instead than use plastics and other related compounds that may be leaching chemical substances into your food or that are disposable, pick glass and metal containers. They are less complicated to clean, can be re-utilised and if you prefer the appropriate sort, you are going to be able to use them in the freezer or in the oven. The very best element? You will not be contributing to the landfill dilemma with plastic bags and disposable containers.

five. Use eco Residence furniture. By selecting to purchase products for your Household that are produced out of supplies that are effortlessly replenished, you are contributing to a far more eco-friendly globe. Teak, oak and other fine woods take a lot of, numerous years to develop, yet supplies like cork and bamboo, whilst nonetheless fashionable, can be replaced quickly. Selecting bamboo chairs and natural cotton or flax fabrics to cover your furnishings is a great way to commence going green.

Remain Updated With Home Improvement

Source: http://www.hncvt.com/eco-property-five-methods-to-green-your-house.html

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Help patients access quality personal training to ... - Exercise Works!

Personal training is important to patients with chronic disease problems! Personal trainers provide a bespoke, personal service that enable patients to reach their health and physical activity goals successfully. This may mean being able to walk with their grandchildren to the shops, or being able to recover from cancer treatment, or simply being able to unscrew the top of a jar without needing assistance!

The personal trainer's role
A personal trainer serves as your fitness coach and great motivator! Whether you're just starting an exercise program, or are an experienced exercise patient, a personal trainer can help you meet your health goals. Always check with your doctor first though before you increase your physical activity levels and ensure your health care professional advises you on the best exercise to suit your disease condition or health problems. Different diseases respond to different exercise programs.

Personal training usually includes:

A health and exercise evaluation.?This is a series of tests - overall fitness, flexibility, muscle strength and endurance - used to measure your fitness level. Your trainer should ask about your health conditions, medications and exercise experience. An assessment of your health and fitness to exercise may also be provided by your doctor to the personal trainer. The gym may also require you to complete some details of your health history for safety reasons.

A personalized exercise and health program.?There is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise and health. A personal trainer will create an exercise program for you based on your goals, interests, ability level and schedule. Your trainer will modify the program as goals are met.

Supervised exercise.?The Personal Trainer should teach you proper exercise techniques that minimize injury risk and maximize results. If you have a question or your posture or outcomes are not achieved, your trainer should be right there to help you. Also, he or she can encourage you to keep going when you feel like giving up! Something that my Personal Trainer, David Smyth (from Virgin Active Gym, Derby) is very good at doing! Level 3 exercise referral specialists and Level 4 Chronic Disease exercise trainers can help provide professional support if you are a patient with a long term disease.?

But we all need support and motivation to keep enjoying exercising!

As a Personal Trainer, and Chronic Disease Exercise Specialist, I enjoy training patients who otherwise would not be accessing exercise services. This often means working in areas where you have to be culturally sensitive and have little community equipment. But it?s still great fun! And whatever age, people soon realise the benefits of exercise and that Exercise Works!

Some people may want to meet with a trainer several times a week, while others may just want an occasional check-in to get feedback. It's up to you.

The benefits
Studies show that supervised training programs can help patients, whatever their health problems or conditions, achieve their health goals - no matter what those goals are.

A trainer can help you:

Get in shape.?Trainers will give you a workout program that will help you reach your ideal, healthy weight or fitness level. They'll also motivate you to stay on track and maintain your exercise plan.

Gain muscle strength and tone up.?Your trainer will show you what strength exercises to do to achieve your desired look and feel, and give you confidence in every day activities. For patients this may be having greater stamina to get out of a chair or climb the stairs.

Maintain your health and well being.?If you've already reached your goal, a personal trainer can help you achieve other goals of health and fitness, or work on other areas such as flexibility, balance, co-ordicnation skills and mobility.

Improve athletic performance.?If your goal is to improve your 5K time or do a triathalon, a personal trainer may help you accomplish it. If you want to feel like an Olympian within your abilities then there are a variety of opportunities out there to match the right personal trainer for your needs and disease condition.

Stay injury-free.?Your trainer will show you how to do strength training and cardio exercises the right way, and enjoy exercising safely! Always include a 10-15 minute warm up and cool down for each exercise session, and don't exercise if you feel unwell.

Finding a trainer

Trainers usually work in gyms or personal training studios. Some may even come to your home for training sessions.

Cost depends on how often you want personal training, your region and the trainers place of employment. Expect to pay between ?35 upwards for an hour-long session. Personal training services may be available for a reduced fee if you're a member of a gym. Some gyms may even include personal training in the cost of membership or as part of an exercise referral program.

It's important to check out the personal trainer's credentials before you commit, especially if you want a personal trainer to help you exercise safely and effectively if you have a long term health problem. Anyone can call themselves a personal trainer. There is no required education or certification. Still, you can?easily find out who is certified by a nationally recognized professional organization, such as:

Register of Exercise Professionals UK or the American College of Sports and Exercise Medicine.

Also, ask for referrals and a list of references before choosing a personal trainer.

Personal training alternatives
One-on-one personal training is not for everyone. If enjoy exercising on your own and don't need the extra "push," you probably don't need a personal trainer. But, if you're on the fence about hiring a personal trainer, consider these alternatives:?

1. Group personal training.?Some gyms may offer small group training sessions. You'd get the personal attention from a trainer at a fraction of the cost. These could be Zumba, Boxercise or wheel chair dancing classes!
2. Partner training.?Share the personal training session with your spouse or friend. You'll save money and socialize, and have fun with a friend! Having an ?Exercise Buddy??is great if you have a long term disease or are recovering after surgery as it helps motivate and focus your mind on exercise.
3. Fitness classes.?Classes like aerobics, indoor cycling and weightlifting are often included in the cost of a gym membership. Instructors will demonstrate proper technique and help you if you need it. They can be motivating too!
4. Group walks,runs or bike rides.?Many communities have local walking, nordic walking, running or cycling organizations or teams that meet regularly for a run or a ride. This is perfect for people who enjoy company and the great outdoors when they exercise.

Other health professionals. Personal trainers can only help you achieve your fitness goals. If you need nutrition advice, see a registered dietician. If your back hurts or you have other aches and pains, see your doctor or physiotherapist.

Always use equipment safely and follow the instructions and ensure that you train safely when the environment or weather is not ideal.

Most of all enjoy feeling healthier and fitter, and acheiving the personal goals that mean the most to you!

Ann Gates BPharm(Hons) MRPharmS and Founder of Exercise Works!

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Source: http://www.exercise-works.org/latest-news/2012/12/13/help-patients-access-quality-personal-training-to-help-them.html

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24me Is an Automated To Do List and Personal Assistant for the iPhone

iPhone: There are lots of apps you can use to turn your phone into a personal assistant. 24me is a new one that combines several convenient features to automate much of your life?including paying bills and running errands.

By linking your service providers (US only), contacts, and Facebook to the app, 24me can generate your daily tasks as needed. For example, when a bill comes in, you'll see the task with a link to pay it (using personal finance service Pageonce). When your friend's birthday is coming up, 24me will notify you and give you a one-click link to post on Facebook or buy a gift card directly from the app. You could also add a task like "Call Mom" and 24me will add the call button next to the task. It can even help you with physical tasks; if you enter something like "weed the lawn," you'll get a button that links to TaskRabbit, where you can pay someone to do your physical errands.

Besides all that, the free app is also a full task manager. You can add tasks by voice or by taking a photo, set reminders and notes, drag-and-drop to sort tasks, and share tasks with others.

Your information is encrypted in transit and you can connect as many or as few service providers as you wish.

All in all, it's a pretty smart to-do list manager that can help you spend less time actually managing your to dos. It's coming soon to Android as well.

24me | via VentureBeat

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Ej62uqYyS44/24me-is-an-automated-to-do-list-and-personal-assistant-for-the-iphone

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