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Friday 13 January 2012

IBM Creates World's Smallest Memory Bit Using Just 12 Atoms [ 13-01-2012 23:04 ]

Author: Oleg Kononosov Source: BBC Translation by: Paul Smith

The boffins at IBM have managed to cook up an impressive feat of storage that could lead to much denser forms of computer storage. The boys in the lab managed to store a single bit of data using just 12 atoms. To put that into context and show just how impressive a feat this actually is consider that the hard disk in the computer you are reading this on right now requires around a million atoms to store a single bit of data.

The researchers opted for an approach of seeing just exactly how far they could take data storage within the physical limits presented by the laws of physics. To do that they tried using just a single atom store the data bit, however, they found that when less than 12 atoms were used quantum fluctuations caused the loss of information. Twelve atoms was discovered to be the 'magic number' where quantum effects were overshadowed by classical physics. That allowed for reliable storage.

Another problem the researchers encountered was that the traditional materials used for magnetic data storage i.e. ferromagnetic materials were not ideal to use for data storage on such a small scale. The magnetic fields these materials cause would mean that the sets of atoms used to store the data would interfere with one another. Enter antiferromagnetic materials, which should bypass this problem.

All this is all well and good, but this research is a long way from seeing practical applications in the home. The 12 atoms used in the experiment were arranged by using a tunnelling electron microscope, not the most practical of tools to have lying around people's homes. What is probably more realistic is to use a 150-200 atom arrangement, which will be more stable at room temperature. Even then though new manufacturing techniques will have to be created to make any of this a reality.

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Amazon Web Kindle Store Dodges Apple's 30% Fee [ 13-01-2012 22:42 ]

Author: Oleg Kononosov Source: New Media Age Translation by: Paul Smith

Amazon's new web service for Kindle on the iPad is apparently allowing Amazon to dodge Apple's 30% fee it normally charges for any purchases that pass through the App Store. That 30% fee is not all that popular with those looking to hawk their wares through Apple, as you might imagine. It's not just Amazon either, the Financial Times has also pulled its app to get around the charges. The big question is whether this is the start of a trend and other companies will follow suit. If so then Apple might be forced into a climb down to try and retain their business and its cut of the profits.

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Video: Apple Store Egged In China [ 13-01-2012 22:36 ]

Author: Oleg Kononosov Source: Engadget Translation by: Paul Smith

Apple is well known for its product launches and part of that excitement is the first offering of whatever the new product is from Apple's retail stores. Throngs of people excitedly waiting for the store to open; the first customer proudly leaving the store to applause from the assembled Apple employees and a general euphoria that other companies just can't match.

That's not quite how it worked out in China when Appl's stores began selling the iPhone 4S. In fact it was quite the opposite with the store not opening at all, customers throwing eggs at the store and screaming 'liar' and lamenting that Apple had 'broken their hearts'. It seems that even when things go wrong Apple engenders a strong current of emotion from its customers.