This Facebook Phone Sure Is Addictive

Despite all the negativity around the Facebook phone, the early reviewers can all agree on one thing: The Facebook phone got them using Facebook?a lot. Maybe even too much. Ahead of Friday's official release of the $99 HTC First that comes preloaded with the new Facebook Home software, which will also be available for download by Android users, a bunch of gadget reviewers have been playing with the phone for a few days, bestowing their thoughts and feelings for our reading pleasure on the Internet today. Overall, they sound pleasantly surprised. In his review at TechCrunch, the noted Apple-phile MG Siegler even calls it "really good"?twice. Most of the reviewers spend so much time using fancier phones (and not all that much Facebook, apparently) that they ultimately conclude the HTC First isn't really for them. They did, however, find that when the social network was put right in front of them, they wanted to use all the Facebook functions, and pretty much all the time.

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All of which is to say that if people go out and buy this thing, Facebook will at least succeed in getting people to spend even more time on Facebook.?

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The Cover Feed, which shows Facebook photos and notifications right on the lock screen, is "surprisingly addictive," says Siegler:

And it?s surprisingly addictive. Because you can swipe to scroll through these images/statuses all without unlocking the phone, I?ve found myself doing this each day that I?ve been testing the phone more than I care to admit. The fact that you can double-tap to ?like? any of these (an action taken right out of the Instagram playbook) is even more addicting.?

In addition, "regular" Facebookers will find that they use the other Facebook apps more than they would before, according to "regular Facebook user" Walt Mossberg over at AllThingsD:

I found Facebook Home to be easy to use, elegantly designed and addictive. Although I?m a regular Facebook user, I found that, with Home, I paid more attention than ever to my news feed, Liked items more often and used Facebook?s Messenger service more often. So, if you are a big Facebook fan, Facebook Home can be a big win.

And even a "very infrequent" user of the social network will want to play with the Facebook parts over the very hidden Android stuff, adds The Verge's Dieter Bohn:

That said, I find it very telling that even this infrequent Facebook user found himself interacting with status updates instead of doing other stuff on my phone ? Home radically increased my Facebook usage. If Facebook makes good on its promise to release monthly updates and these updates can significantly increase the basic utility of the homescreen, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a lot of people start using it.?

David Pogue over at?The New York Times?had "all kinds of fun" with his device:

You can?have all kinds of fun on the Cover Feed. If the stately scrolling is too slow for your tastes, you can flick to the next photo, and the next, and the next. You can double-tap the screen to "like" a post. You can hold a finger down on the screen to see the entire photo, smaller; big parts of it are generally chopped off in the process of enlarging it to fill the phone?s screen. And you can tap a tiny speech-balloon icon to read people?s comments, or to leave one of your own.

Wired's Alexandra Chang, also an infrequent Facebook user, goes so far to say that all of that "adds value" to the overall experience:

For people who spend a lot of time on Facebook and?want?to stay connected to their Facebook friends, Facebook Home makes absolute sense. There?s little reason not to get Facebook Home if you already have a compatible Android device. And even if, like myself, you don?t spend tons of time on the social networking site, Facebook Home adds value to the Android experience without feeling invasive.

Though, "productivity minded people"?so, like, business people? or maybe people who want to use their phone for stuff other than Facebook??shouldn't touch the thing because it's that addictive, notes Engadget's Brad Molen:

In its current state, Home isn't the best fit for productivity-minded people, although it does offer a bit of mindless entertainment for anyone just looking to burn a minute or two throughout the day. More importantly, Home is proof that Facebook wants to attack the saturated mobile market.?It's hard to say if it will win the battle, but it's bringing a heavy load of artillery to the fight.?

CNET's Jessica Doulcourt?found her "engagement dramatically jumped," but she wasn't sure that was such a good thing:

My engagement dramatically jumped while I was using Home, although I also wasn't sure I was seeing the highest-quality "news" in my feed. Since I couldn't view my entire news feed, I couldn't tell if I was viewing the most complete or recent list of updates. Scrolling through Cover Feed may have made me a little more entertained, but it sure didn't make me feel any smarter.

Ultimately, people who don't want to be addicted to Facebook might see the whole thing as a distraction, argues ABC's Joanna Stern.

That's the beauty of trying out Facebook Home or buying the HTC First. Facebook's Android layer can be disabled at any time. And my guess is that will be the case for many people -- not because the software isn't nicely designed and Chat Heads aren't the future of mobile messaging, but because you can't control the updates that appear on the front of your screen and ultimately having people all over the face of your phone is distracting.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-phone-sure-addictive-135816373.html

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Metabolic fingerprinting: Using proteomics to identify proteins in gymnosperm pollination drops

Apr. 10, 2013 ? Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, performing a variety of essential functions such as DNA replication, catabolizing reactions, and responding to stimuli. The complete set of proteins expressed in an organism at a given time, under defined conditions, is known as the proteome. While the genome of an organism remains relatively stable, the proteome is remarkably dynamic, varying from cell to cell and even within a single cell and changing rapidly in response to developmental and environmental cues.

Proteomics is a powerful technique for examining the structure and function of the proteome. For some organisms, proteomics can uncover the relationship between DNA, RNA, and the production of proteins -- enabling the comparison of the genome to the proteome. For those organisms that have not yet been sequenced, proteomics facilitates the discovery and identification of proteins. In a new study published in the April issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, graduate student Natalie Prior and her colleagues demonstrate the suitability of proteomics in determining the composition of gymnosperm pollination drops.

"The biggest limitation in what we are doing is that there is no published gymnosperm genome," says Prior. "Most of the work on gymnosperms has been anatomical, histological, or morphological. The biochemical perspective is really lacking."

Mediating signaling between the pollen and the ovule, one role of the pollination drop is to provide a germination medium, which can be species specific. Additionally, in some species, anti-microbial proteins have been identified, suggesting that pollination drops provide protection in addition to acting as a landing spot for pollen grains.

"The proteins we are finding are really starting points for other research," says Prior. "We can identify these proteins, but there is a lot more research that can be done once we know what proteins are there."

Identification of the proteins found in pollination drops provides a metabolic fingerprint and thereby informs understanding of seed plant evolution. Comparing the proteomes of different species allows for identification of proteins, elucidating pollen-ovule interactions in gymnosperms.

"We are using proteomics to examine the biological relevance of the proteins that the pollen grain is exposed to in the drop," comments Prior. "It's fascinating to know if any of those proteins are consistent among groups of gymnosperms and what we can learn from that."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Journal of Botany, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Natalie Prior, Stefan A. Little, Cary Pirone, Julia E. Gill, Derek Smith, Jun Han, Darryl Hardie, Stephen J. B. O'Leary, Rebecca E. Wagner, Tyra Cross, Andrea Coulter, Christoph Borchers, Robert W. Olafson, Patrick von Aderkas. Application of Proteomics to the Study of Pollination Drops. Applications in Plant Sciences, 2013; 1 (4): 1300008 DOI: 10.3732/apps.1300008

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/top_news/~3/-sCZFEGftUE/130410141545.htm

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Google: Glass Explorer edition to ship within the next month

Developers (and non-developers) who signed up for the Google Glass Explorer program should have their very own pair right before Google I/O

If you plunked down the $1500.00 to become a Glass Explorer at Google I/O last year, you should have your very own set of Google's next big thing in your hands within a month. This is according to what Google has told the folks over at Tech Crunch during today's "Glass Collective" event with Google Ventures. 

The timing for this just screams Google I/O, and we certainly expect to see Google Glass spend a good bit of time front and center during Google's yearly developer conference. Since the project was first unveiled at Google I/O last year, we've seen quite a bit of push from Mountain View to keep people interested, and get developers on board. We wouldn't be surprised to see things come to a head with special developer sessions for Glass, along with plenty of exposure during the keynotes.

If you're a part of the Glass Explorer group, keep an eye on your inbox for more information.

Source: Tech Crunch

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/NPXmp3pDgPM/story01.htm

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Billy Smith welcomed son Dennis Ricardo Smith Monday, March 25 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/sxFbJ-stzGs/

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Tips for creating a greener outdoor living space | Life And Leisure NJ

(BPT) ? Outdoor living spaces remain a popular home improvement, but while you?re planning your patio or prepping your planting beds do you consider the impact these improvements might have on the environment? Creating a great outdoor space can be even more satisfying when you take steps to make your project as ?green? as possible.

If your spring to-do list includes backyard projects such as building a patio or decorative landscaping, here are some eco-friendly ways to accomplish your goals:

Choose greener materials

Long gone are the days when it was difficult to find building materials created with sustainable manufacturing processes. Today, you can find products such as pavers and even paver base ? used in patio-building ? that are not only made from recycled materials, but also are 100 percent recyclable.

For example, to build a greener patio, start with Brock PaverBase, which holds the coveted ?Cradle to Cradle? certification that recognizes a product?s safety for people and the environment, and design for future life cycles. The overlapping panel system makes prepping the ground for patio pavers quick and easy, eliminating more of the time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of traditional patio-building ? all while delivering a better looking, professional-quality result. You can learn more at www.brock-international.com.

When building products made from recycled materials aren?t available, consider ones that are naturally sustainable. Such products can also provide a unique look. Bamboo, for example, is gaining popularity as a fencing and decking material and it?s eco-friendly because it?s fast-growing and durable. Cedar is another decking and fence product that is naturally ?green,? because it is naturally resistant to moisture ? making it more durable. It also contains natural oils that prevent rot without the chemical treatments needed by other woods such as pine, and it can be recycled and used for other building projects.

Responsible accessories

Energy and water consumption are also important considerations when greening your backyard environment. Opting for solar-powered pathway, deck and accent lighting ? rather than traditional electric lights ? is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of your outdoor living space, while saving money on your utility bill. It?s easy to find a wide variety of solar lighting styles, whether you look online or at your local home improvement store.

Reducing water waste is also important for the environment and your wallet. If you have a lawn sprinkler system, be sure to avoid watering during the hottest hours of the day when water will evaporate off the grass before it had time to sink into the soil. Timers on a sprinkler system can also help conserve water. You can also recycle rainwater to irrigate backyard flowerbeds. Simply set up a rain barrel to collect water.

Finally, think about the furnishings you?ll use on your patio or deck. While plastic may seem durable ? and cheapest to buy ? consider what will happen to the furniture once it?s no longer usable. Furnishings made from recyclable materials like wood or iron may be kinder to the environment in the long run. You can also look for furniture made from recycled products. Or, visit garage sales and give old wood or metal lawn furniture a fresh coat of paint, some new cushions ? and a new life in your environmentally friendly outdoor space.

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Source: http://www.lifeandleisurenj.com/green-living/tips-for-creating-a-greener-outdoor-living-space.html

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Circus elephant shot in drive-by shot in Miss.

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) ? A circus veterinarian says the Asian elephant wounded in a drive-by shooting in Mississippi should be fully recovered within a few weeks.

Meanwhile, a reward for information leading to an arrest has climbed to $21,000.

Dr. Dennis Schmitt, a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus veterinarian, says the 39-year-old Asian elephant named Carol will be taken home to Springfield, Mo., to recuperate.

Schmitt says the bullet hit Carol in the neck just above the shoulder, but it missed any major blood vessels or nerves.

Schmitt says the elephant has been alert and active since the injury.

Police Chief Tony Carleton says a vehicle drove past Tupelo BancorpSouth Arena about 2 a.m. and fired into the area. Police are investigating.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/circus-elephant-shot-drive-shot-miss-165153532.html

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Sandy Hook Parents Coming to DC on Air Force One to Lobby Congress

DORTMUND, April 8 (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels and midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski have been cleared to play in their Champions League quarter-final return leg against Malaga on Tuesday, coach Juergen Klopp said. Hummels, out since March with an ankle injury, and Blaszczykowski, back after a groin problem, had missed the first leg 0-0 draw in Spain last week. "At the moment it looks good for all of them and they are all with the team in the hotel," Klopp told reporters on Monday, saying Marco Reus and keeper Roman Weidenfeller had also overcome minor knocks. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sandy-hook-parents-coming-dc-air-force-one-165024382--abc-news-politics.html

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