The team is scheduled to make the ascent to the peak of Mount Everest today
Jim Dalrymple Macworld.com
If you’re planning an expedition to conquer Mount Everest, you need to make sure you have all have of the necessary supplies. If your list of supplies is anything like the most recent group to take on the Everest challenge, you should pack your MacBook Pro and a few iPods, too.
On the First Ascent Web site, Gerry Moffat, head of production for the team, films daily dispatches and uses his MacBook Pro to transfer and edit the data. All of the footage is shot on a solid state cards on the mountain.
“It’s then put into the trusty MacBook Pro,” Moffat said in a video on the Web site. “These have been functioning superbly all the way up — we’re at about 21,000 feet.”
After the footage has been backed up, the card goes to one of the sherpas who takes it to the base camp for editing. The video editor, Tom, then makes another backup of the data and begins editing the footage for public viewing.
The relevant clips are imported into Final Cut Pro, Apple’s professional video application. Music is added, the video is edited and the dispatch is ready to be encoded for the Internet. The files are uploaded via satellite connection to an FTP server in the US and posted to the Internet.
Documenting the journey is not the only reason to carry Apple gear on Everest. Each climber has an entertainment pack that they carry for rest periods. Many of them chose to bring their iPods.
During a rest day, some of the climbers give us a glimpse of what they take with them to pass the time.
“This is what’s turing out to be the best entertainment on this trip — my iPod touch,” one of the climbers said.
“Of course, I’ve always got my trusty [iPod] shuffle,” said another climber when he was going over his entertainment kit.
One of the other climbers brought her iPod nano on the trip to sit back and rest with.
The team is scheduled to make the ascent to the peak of Mount Everest today. You can view all of the video dispatches on the First Ascent Web site.
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Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 – the backbone of your PC’s security system, offering protection from a range of IT threats. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 provides the basic tools needed to protect your PC.
Here are some key features of “Kaspersky Antivirus Personal”:
Essential Protection
· Protects from viruses, Trojans and worms
· Blocks spyware and adware
· Scans files in real time (on access) and on demand
· Scans email messages (regardless of email client)
· Scans Internet traffic (regardless of browser)
· Protects instant messengers (ICQ, MSN)
· Provides proactive protection from unknown threats
· Scans Java and Visual Basic scripts
Preventive Protection
· Scans operating system and installed applications for vulnerabilities
· Analyzes and closes Internet Explorer vulnerabilities
· Disables links to malware sites
· Detects viruses based on the packers used to compress code
· Global threat monitoring (Kaspersky Security Network)
Advanced Protection & Recovery
· The program can be installed on infected computers
· Self-protection from being disabled or stopped
· Restores correct system settings after removing malicious software
· Tools for creating a rescue disk
· Data & Identity Theft Protection
· Disables links to fake (phishing) websites
· Blocks all types of keyloggers
Usability
· Automatic configuration during installation
· Wizards for common tasks
· Visual reports with charts and diagrams
· Alerts provide all the information necessary for informed user decisions
· Automatic or interactive mode
· Round-the-clock technical support
· Automatic database updates
Requirements:
· Intel Pentium 800 MHz 32 bit (x86) / 64 bit (x64) or higher (or equivalent)
· 512 MB available RAM
· 50 MB free space on the hard drive
· CD-ROM (for installation of the program from CD)
· computer mouse
· Internet connection (for product activation)
· Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher (for downloading updates)
· Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0
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NOKIA 5140
EXPERT REVIEW
Nokia’s latest in the rugged rubber-bodied series, the 5140 has a lot of innovations up its sleeve, enough to give the series yet another fresh look. With some added functionalities that were long overdue the 5140 seems to have what it takes to be a perfect outdoor phone.
Out of the box
The phone once again sports a durable rubber exterior that keeps it safe from water as well as physical damage. Sized at 106.5 x 46.8 x 23.8 mm and weighing about 100.8g, it may not be the lightest (or the smallest) Series 40 phone to carry around, but for the excellent hard-grip rubber body, that’s a very small price to pay. The keypad has tremendously improved over the previous models. While the Nokia 5100 was downright painful for typing SMS messages, this one has a soft jelly-like keypad that greatly improves the typing speed and response of the phone. The display size remains the same though; the 27.3 x 27.3 mm screen is capable of supporting only 4096 colors in 128 x 128 pixels. The Nokia 5140 is the first in its series to have an inbuilt VGA (640 x 480 pixels) camera, located at the back of the phone and protected by a scratch resistant lens. Overall the phone looks sporty, which kind of shows that the owner is a very ‘outdoors’ kind of a person.
Features
The biggest selling point of the phone is the nature-proof exterior. All the important exposed parts of the phone are protected with a rubber lining that makes sure the phone stays safe under any condition. We tried a number of things to test the durability of the exterior. In fact, we came up with a great new table-bouncing phone game with it. Just as Nokia claims, the body took all the shock without any damage to the internal parts. The rubber exterior not only takes the damage, but will also protect your phone from dust and water, which makes it the ideal phone to have during monsoons. Though Nokia would never recommend it, the phone is water-resistant to the extent that we dipped it inside a bucket of water and were using some applications in it successfully. Mind you, Nokia would never recommend you to try these tests on your phone. We performed them just to determine the phone’s durability. The VGA camera is as easy as ever in this model. You can take pictures in standard, portrait and night modes. You can also set it up for taking up to 5 sequential shots. It also has video recording capabilities along with a built-in video player.
Among the new features is a digital compass that works extremely well. You can calibrate the compass using the bubble level on the top and from then on you’ll get accurate digital as well as analog readings.
This is an extremely useful feature to have if you’re into trekking or planning to go to a place beyond the reach of technology. Even if you’re not getting any network where you’re going you can always use the phone for its additional ‘outdoor’ features.
Another great feature is the ‘Push to Talk’ function that makes your 5140 a Walkie-Talkie. You can broadcast your voice to multiple recipients with this facility turned on without them needing to answer the phone. Your voice will be played on the phone’s loudspeaker. This is an excellent feature, but sadly not all network operators support it and it’s not a free facility from those who do. The decibel meter feature makes for a weird, but interesting one. You can set an alarm to go on if the decibel meter exceeds a certain level of noise. This cannot only be a fun feature to use, it can also help protect your equipment from thieves and possible animal attacks during treks or camps. Of course a good outdoor phone would be incomplete without some music playback capabilities and for that the Nokia 5140 features a stereo FM radio.
There’s not much difference in the navigation system or the menu options in this phone, except that the navigation was a bit slow and tardy. You can customize the way your phone wallpaper and the menu looks by using one of the 5140’s built-in themes. You’ll find the generic applications that are present in any self-respecting phone, which include – alarm clock, calculator, calendar, notes, to-do list and wallet. For connectivity the phone supports Infrared (but not Bluetooth) and is capable of data transfer via Class 10 GPRS, EDGE (Class 6) and HSCSD. The phone battery lasts for 3-4 days of regular usage and the network reception and voice clarity is as clear as it gets.
Conclusion
With a street price of around Rs. 24,000 this phone is obviously not meant for your average cell phone enthusiast. Its features clearly indicate that it’s a specialized phone meant for the sole purpose of being a great tool when you’re trying to ‘be one with nature’. As for the regular city slickers there are a lot of better options available at a lesser price and more useful everyday features than this one. But for those who live for getting out of the city and roughing it up with nature, this phone will be a great companion.
source : techtree
Features:
- Video recorder and player
- Digital VGA camera with night mode and the ability to take a rapid sequence of shots.
- Colour display (65k)
- Nokia Xpress audio messaging enables sending messages without typing
- Fitness coach application for planning and recording activities
- Stereo FM Radio (can be used as the alarm clock alert)
- Thermometer
- Decibel meter
- Flashlight
- Infrared wireless technology
- EDGE and GPRS for high speed data transfer
- Java™ application support
- Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones
- WIM (Wireless Identity Module)
- Wallet
- XHTML (WAP 2.0) browser
- Voice dialling, Voice commands, Voice recorder and Integrated handsfree speaker
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CAMEL TROPHY
The Camel Trophy began in 1980 with a crossing of the Transamazonica highway, subsequent events have been called “the Olympics of 4×4”. They were all about adventure and exploration. Over the next eight years, the expeditions crossed Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Zaire, Brazil, Borneo, Australia, Madagascar (the first north-south crossing) and Sulawesi before returning to the Amazon. These grueling tests of human endurance brought together teams from around the world in the hope of triumphing in some of the most treacherous off-road conditions imaginable. Team work and camaraderie were crucial. The competitive element came in a series of “Special Tasks,” such as winching and timed driving routes, in which the national teams competed against each other.
In the 1990s, the Camel Trophy headed to Siberia and the USSR, followed by Tanzania, Burundi, Guyana, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile (the “Road to Hell” event), Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras (controversially serving 500 out-of-season lobster at a dinner), Kalimantan (a thousand miles and 18 rollovers to celebrate the first crossing of the island 100 years previously) and Mongolia. But the Camel Trophy didn’t just change venue. Over the years, the event evolved from a mud-plugging expedition to involve elements of adventure sport, such as kayaking, mountain biking and winter sports. Teams were selected by each competing nation in competitions held nationally, designed to test the athletic, engineering and driving prowess of potential candidates. For some events, a million people applied to take part! One person’s hell is another person’s heaven.
Although the events had an impact on the environment through which they traveled, there were ways in which the Camel Trophy benefited the local society or environment. In 1993, for example, the teams worked through the night to build an environmental monitoring station in the jungle so biologists could accurately study the flora and fauna of an area which had barely been explored previously. In all the events, the convoy’s progress reopened roads and tracks which had fallen into disuse and frequently rebuilt bridges and repaired sections of damaged tracks.
In 1998, the Camel Trophy returned to Argentina and Chile for the penultimate Tierra del Fuego event. The Freelander made its debut and was used to speed the competitors six thousand miles across the remote and snowy environment. Outdoor pursuits dominated the event. Shortly afterwards, Land Rover, a major sponsor, felt that the Camel Trophy was moving away from adventure and exploration and a news release indicated they would not sponsor future events. This ultimately lead to the cancellation of the 1999 event which was planned for Peru.
“We have enjoyed a unique relationship with the Camel Trophy event over almost two decades and it has played a major role in sustaining the image of Land Rover as the manufacturer of the best 4×4’s in the world. However, with the changing character of the event it will no longer provide us with an active demonstration of Land Rover’s brand essence – limitless capability. We wish Camel Trophy every success with their new format. As for Land Rover, future activities will concentrate on our customer base with the emphasis very much on rugged off-road adventure.” Martin Runnacles, Rover Group Marketing Director
In 2000, the Camel Trophy returned with a new style of event. It developed the spirit of the Tierra del Fuego but the 32 competitors explored Tonga and Samoa in RHIB powerboats. Although the event was successful as a sporting activity, it failed to give the sponsors the exposure they desired. In the future they would concentrate on fashion, not performance. It was to be the last Camel Trophy.
The Vehicles
The Camel Trophy originated in 1980 with three Jeep-equipped German teams exploring the Amazon. After that first event, the organisers turned to Land Rover and over the course of the next twenty years, all of the Land Rover vehicle range were used. Range Rover, Series III, Defender, Discovery and Freelander vehicles all appeared in the distinctive “sandglow” colour scheme.
The vehicles were heavily modified by Land Rover Special Vehicles with a range of expedition, recovery and safety equipment, including:
- Safety Devices roll cages
- Under body protection and steering guards
- Modified electrical systems
- Winches
- Dixon Bate tow hitches and recovery points
- Mantec snorkels
- Transmission breathers
- Michelin XCL or BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tyres
- Upgraded suspension and transmission components
- Auxiliary fuel tanks
- Webasto fuel burning heaters
- Brownchurch roof racks
- Hella driving, spot, fog, convoy and work lamps
- Bull bars and bush wires
- Flag poles
- Event plaques, decals and sponsor logos (including Camel Trophy Adventure Wear/Bags/Boots/Watches, Lee Cougan, Perception, Sony, Scott USA, Safety Devices, Land Rover, Fjällräven, Warn, Malaysia Airlines, Superwinch, Shell, Avon)
- Expedition tools, Jerry cans, Pelican cases, Zarges boxes, high lift or New Concept air jacks, sand ladders, axes, ropes, drawbars, spades
- Garmin, Terratrip and other navigation and communication equipment
Generally speaking, except for support and specialist vehicles, the Land Rovers were only used for one event. Some competitors purchased their vehicles and many remained in the host country. Consequently, those vehicles that returned to the UK were highly sought after as they were low mileage – but they were “Camel Trophy miles”! Unfortunately, they were stripped of most of their equipment by Land Rover before they were released and restoring the vehicles to their original condition is expensive and time-consuming. Collectors of these vehicles turn to the Camel Trophy Owners Club to help them research and restore their vehicles.
source : wikipedia
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