World's Oldest Computer Is Really Old

The Antikythera Mechanism, sometimes called the "world's oldest computer," is even older than previously thought, according to researchers.

The remarkable astronomical mechanism was discovered in 1901 amongst the wreckage of a Greek ship believed to have sunk sometime between 85 B.C. and 60 B.C., near the island of Antikythera between Crete and Greece.

Since its discovery, scholars have marveled at the Antikythera Mechanism, given that its origin appears to predate other devices of equal complexity by as much as a millennium or more, as noted by The New York Times.

"The complex clocklike assembly of bronze gears and display dials predates other known examples of similar technology by more than 1,000 years. It accurately predicted lunar and solar eclipses, as well as solar, lunar and planetary positions," the Times described the ancient mechanism, which measures just about 8 inches across.

Previous estimates placed the mechanism's construction at around 125 B.C., but new research pushes that date back further, to 205 B.C., according to Christián Carman of Argentina's National University of Quilmes and James Evans of the University of Puget Sound.

In a paper appearing in the Archive for History of Exact Science, Carman and Evans describe how they arrived at the new date. They began by comparing the "hundreds of ways that the Antikythera's eclipse patterns could fit Babylonian records" reconstructed by Brown University's John Steele, Evans said in an article published by the University of Puget Sound. By process of elimination, the researchers concluded that 205 B.C. was the likeliest date for the mechanism's construction.

Carman and Evans said their work was made more difficult by the fact that "only about a third of the Antikythera's eclipse predictor is preserved." The mechanism began falling apart immediately after it was brought to the surface back in 1901, as described in the video below.

In recent years, computer-aided scanning and analysis techniques have made it possible to digitally reconstruct the Antikythera Mechanism with what scientists believe is great accuracy. This has paved the way for a number of new theories about its origins and capabilities.

Mac vs. PC: Here are the real differences

The burning rivalry between Mac and PC is one of the most storied rivalries in the history of technology – ruining friendships, bringing down corporations and inspiring some very creative commercials — but do we truly understand the fundamental difference between a Windows PC and a Macintosh? I’m sure many of you do, but for those who don’t have a grasp of the finer details, Computerphile has put together a short video primer explaining how Macs and PCs differ.

Professor Tom Rodden begins by discussing computer systems in their most basic form. You start with the physical hardware, then an operating system, then the applications on that operating system and finally the windowing system which the user directly interacts with. Of course, the way we interact with our computers has changed drastically over the years, but the basic interactions remains the same.

Moving on to the advent of the Macintosh computer, Rodden explains that historically,Microsoft has been a software company. The Surface tablets are the first hardware built by Microsoft in quite some time. Apple, on the other hand, controls both the hardware and the software in its computer business. This means that Apple can “optimize and protect” its computers in ways that Microsoft can’t.

Apple’s operating system can therefore make presumptions about the hardware it will be functioning on because Apple can extensively test its operating system with every piece of hardware it releases. Microsoft doesn’t have this luxury, as dozens of manufacturers create hardware for Windows. This is where device drivers come into play, and why certain accessories or programs might be incompatible from one Windows computer to another.

The obvious downside to siding with Apple is that you’ll only ever have one machine to choose from. This leads to inflated prices, which is why an $1,099 iMac is seen as a bargain. OS X and iOS are both regularly lambasted for bring closed off in comparison to other mobile and desktop operating systems as well. You have more freedom on Windows to customize both hardware and software than you ever will on a Mac.

All of this may sound redundant to those of you who understand the technical distinctions between Macs and PCs, but everyone else should take a few minutes to watch the video above.

SOURCE:

YOUTUBE (COMPUTERPHILE)

Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime Tipped to Feature Ultra-Slim Bezels in Leaked Image

Samsung's much-rumoured Galaxy F smartphone, also known as Galaxy S5 Prime, has once again been leaked in an image, this time alongside a Galaxy S5 handset and showcasing a thinner bezel that similar to those on the recently announced LG G3.

The alleged image showing the rumoured Samsung Galaxy F, courtesy Phonearena, not only highlights the smartphone's LG G3-like thin side bezels, but also the slightly slimmer bezels on top and bottom also as compared to the Galaxy S5 , giving more room to the screen while maintaining a smaller profile.

A couple of days ago it was noted that the rumoured prime-variant of the Galaxy S5 might feature the Exynos 5433 SoC and Intel XMM7260 modem, like indicated in previous reports.

Earlier this week, the alleged Samsung Galaxy F's black colour variant was again teased in an image showcasing the brushed metal back panel. Other than that, the alleged premium Galaxy S5 variant will also have an aluminium chassis instead of the chrome plastic frame, as from an earlier report.

Some of the rumoured specifications of the handset include a 5.3-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixel) screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, and 3GB of RAM. It is also reported to be a limited edition smartphone, due to the expensive nature of its Super AMOLED QHD display.

The Galaxy S5 Prime is expected to launch sometime in September alongside the iPhone 6. Samsung, with its to-be-announced Galaxy F smartphone could finally step away from its plastic image with the anticipated metal rear panels. For now, the firm has its metal Galaxy J smartphone out but that is only available in their home turf and has not been made available globally.

Cell Phones Kept in Trouser Pockets May Affect Male Virility: Study

Do you have a habit of keeping your cell phone in your trouser pocket? It could damage your chances of becoming a father.

According to a study, radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile phones can have a detrimental effect on male virility.

Given the enormous scale of mobile phone use around the world, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified.

"This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality," cautioned Fiona Mathews, a professor of biosciences at University of Exeter in Britain.

"This could be particularly important for men already on the borderline of infertility, and further research is required to determine the full clinical implications for the general population," he said.

Most of the global adult population own mobile phones, and around 14 percent of couples in high and middle income countries have difficulty in conceiving.

To reach this conclusion, a team led by Mathews conducted a systematic review of the findings from 10 studies, including 1,492 sperm samples.

The sperm quality was measured in three different ways: motility, viability and concentration. In control groups, 50-85 percent of sperm have normal movement.

The researchers found this proportion fell by an average of 8 percentage points when there was exposure to mobile phones. Similar effects were seen for sperm viability.

The effects on sperm concentration were less clear. The results were consistent across in-vitro studies conducted under controlled conditions, said the study published in the journal Environment International.