iPod Touch 5G アイフォーン5とiPod Touch

Still a user of iPod Touch 3G, with a dying battery, I am looking forward to the 5th generation now. Why pay for a new 4G while the next generation is on your door way?
But, it still takes a while before this mysterious 5G comes out.
Amazingly, there has been a site for iPod Touch 5G. According to this site, iPod Touch 5G has GPS feature. But just hope that it has a BETTER CAMERA.
According to TechClular, Apple is going to release white iPod touch 5G in October. To be announced at their annual media event on 5th October, and to be released on October 12th.

Updated on Oct. 2, found one more site "iPod Touch 5G Site". No much interesting information though.

Updated on Oct. 5, no iPhone 5 at all, just 4S. And no words mentioned about iPod Touch 5. This iPhon 4s is tad licker, but most similar to its predecessor iPhon 4. It has a better camera of 8 megapixel, and video recording of full high definition (1080P). What was enthusiastically demonstrated is their voice recognition features. The later is not really new, but more pleasantly arranged than most of the off the shelf products. The details of iPhone 4s' technical specifications can be found at apple's home page.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2011. According to ipod touch news, "It is well-known that even at the beginning of 2012 there will be no iPod Touch 5G". So, still have to stick with my iPod Touch 3G, with ashort-life batter.

Updated on Feb. 8, 2012. According to iPod Touch 5G Site, it will be launched in March of 2012. The rumor is that it will have a larger screen of 4".

(2012年8月30日更新)
半年以上たちましたが、やっと待望のiPhone 5（正式名称は不明）は登場しそうです。今のところ、9月12日の予約受付開始だそうです。４ｓでがっかりした人は沢山いたに違いありませんが、iphone 5に相当する新しい機能はそう期待できなそうです。横幅が変わらないといううわさから見ても、メディア系を楽しみたい人には不満噴出でしょう。詳細は、写真で見る「iPhone 5」のうわさを参照することです。

(2012年9月14日更新）
やっと個の日が来ましたが、どうもiPhoneファンにさえあまり喜ばしい日になっていないようです。ゆっくり、じっくり開発されてきたものはもはや時代遅れになったようです。このサイトは以下の人気機能がないことを指定しています。

• 　デジタル決済
• 　タッチして共有
• 　ダイナミックなホーム画面
• 　顔によるロック解除
• 　ワイヤレス充電

(2012年9月25日更新）

    「iPhone 5」、発売最初の週末で販売台数が500万台を突破という記事があるように、アイフォーンの勢いは止まることを知りません。早速、アップルの「Maps」に不具合があるという報道もありました[1]が、その程度のものはもうはやニュースではないので、しばらくはiPhone信者の熱狂は続くでしょう。個人的には、iOSでも、Androidでも、まだまだおもちゃ程度で、アプリはしょっちゅう落ちてしまうものです。それを本格的に何かのツールとして使うのは、まだまだ無理があり過ぎます。そういう意味では、殆どのユーザは軽いゲーム機感覚で使っていると思います。プロ級のことはホトンできないが、殆どのこと（メール、ウェブ、カメラ、勿論通話等）が同じデバイスで気軽にできるという意味では、素晴らしいものです。
    かといっても、スマートフォーンと言われているのは、アイフォーンだけではありません。機能か性能によっては、アイフォーン５などを凌ぐものはいくらでもあります。格好（デザイン）こそ、アイフォーンを好んでいる人はまだ多いかもしれませんが、中身を見比べるだけですぐ分かるように、アップルから余程「革命的」な新しいもの（技術をコピーする専門だから、ここでは技術ともいえない）を発明しない限り、今の勢いはいずれ衰えていくでしょう。
    あまり「本意」ではないが、一応iPod Touchも合わせて出しています。しかし、値段は高い上に、まずカメラはiPhone5より劣っています！使い物になりませんね。もはや購入する見当すらする気がなくなっています。ほかのマイクロSDをさせるスマートフォーンの方は余程使い勝手がいいです。はっきり言って、iPhoneかiPod Touchはメディアプレーヤーとしては、最悪です。すべてiTuneで管理するので、気をつけないと、いろいろ面倒なことになります。それに、なにより容量は拡張できないし、SDカードの用に、コンテンツを簡単に入れ替えられません。
    デザインは、機能の代わりにならないのは、仕方がありませんね。

(2012年１０月５日更新）

    早速ですが、iOS6のリリースに伴い、iOS6からの「脱獄」とダウングレードの情報もポストされ始めました[2],[3]。「脱獄」は分かります（その黒かグレーの行為への理解と違う）が、「ダウングレード」って、何故？調べてみると、新しいリリースによくある色々な不具合があるからで、iOS5に戻す不本意な選択だそうです。
    iPhone5のカメラに紫フレアがあるとも報道されています。アップルは、昔のアンテナもんだと同様に、どのカメラも同じ問題があるとコメントしました。
    それはそうと、自分が持っているiPod Touch4GをiOS6にアップグレードしました。その途端に、「産経新聞」のフリップの動きが可笑しくなりました。それに、全般的に遅くなった気がします。ただ古いOSにあるバグを除去してくれたと期待したのは、やはり甘かったようです。
    また、悪いニュースです。iOS6にアップしたiPod Touch4GでAppStoreを使えなくなりました。正確に言いますと、検索機能です。キーワードを入力するまではよかったが、結果が出て表示され始めると、アプリが落ちてしまいます。再びAppStoreを立ち上げると、先検索した結果は一瞬表示されるが、すぐ落ちてしまいます。しかも、検索結果の表示表法が変わり、一アプリほぼ一画面のようなリスト方法になりました。画面サイズの小さいiPod Touch上では、一覧性はとても悪いと思います。設計センスはもいいところです。全くユーザのことを考えていません。iOS5にアップした時に、App Storeがよく落ちるという人がいました[5]。ほかの情報は見つかりませんでした。仕方がないので、iPod Touch4Gを再起動させました（電源とホームキーを同時に長押し）。それで、無事に治りました。やはり、だれかメモリをリークしていたでしょうか。

---

参考リンク
[1] ウォズニアック氏から見たアップルの「Maps」--残念な出来だが「さほど深刻ではない」
[2] [iOS] iOS 6 のダウングレードと脱獄の現状について、デバイス別まとめ
[3] 【正規iOS6】 iOS 6 紐付き脱獄 ＆ Cydiaインストール方法 【Redsn0w 0.9.13dev4】
[4] iPhone 5カメラの紫フレア問題にAppleが公式コメント
[5] iTunes Store に接続できない
[6] iPod touchをiOS5にアップデートしたのですが… SafariやApp Storeを利用している.

クオンツ分析（quantitative analysis)投資法

Yahoo!Japanファイナンスから、「焦点：米銀行出身者、中国でクオンツファンドを相次いで立ち上げ」という記事がありました。「中国のクオンツファンドに関する政府統計や業界団体のデータはない。ただしシェン氏は、現在の運用残高はおよそ１００億元と推定しており、今後３年で１０倍の１０００億元に成長する、との見方を示す。」とのことです。2012年4月16日現在は1元＝12.875円ですので、1000億円は約1.3円です。

このクオンツファンドは、つまり「クオンツ分析」（以下HFK「ヘッジファンド用語集」の定義を参照）手法で投資の判断をするファンドのことです。

クオンツ分析（quantitative analysis）：数学的モデルを利用して、統計的・計量的に証券の投資判断をする手法。クオンツは「quantitative」（計量的）から派生した言葉で、クオンツ分析によって運用されるファンドは「クオンツ・ファンド」と呼ばれることがある。
1980年代、アメリカでロケット工学を専攻した科学者が、量子力学などの手法を金融工学に取り入れたのが発端で、その後デリバティブ取引やリスク・マネジメントなどさまざまな分野で盛んに用いられるようになった。2007年夏のサブプライム住宅ローン危機では、大手金融機関の大規模クオンツ・ファンドが、相次いで損失を計上したことが話題となった。

金融経済用語集では、以下の定義になっています。

クオンツは、「Quantitative（数量的、定量的）」から派生した用語で、高度な数学的手法や数理モデルを使って、マーケットを分析したり、投資戦略や金融商品を考案・開発したりすること、もしくはその専門家のことをいう。1980年代のアメリカで、NASAのロケット工学を専攻した科学者が、量子力学などの手法を金融工学に取り入れたのが始まりで、その後、デリバティブ取引やリスクマネジメントなど様々な分野で盛んに用いられるようになった。この関連用語として、過去の市場データや企業業績の推移などの数値化できる情報を用いて分析したり、予測モデルを構築したりすることをを専門に行っている人を「クオンツ・アナリスト」という。また、定量モデルにより銘柄の魅力度を判断し、投資を行う運用手法を「クオンツ運用」といい、その運用手法を使ったファンドが「クオンツ・ファンド」である。

しかし、どう考えても、皆が同じ手法で投資の売・買タイミングを判断するなら、相場はそれだけで一気に動くはずです。その次の瞬間（すべてシステム化されているので、大体秒単位のはずですが）、その手法の根拠はすでに崩れてしまっているかもしれません。金融経済用語集の続きは以下になっています。まあ、素人でも分かるような話ですね。でも、「プロ」と自称している人達が平気に行っています。自分の大事な資産を任せた人たちもどうかと思いますね。

ちなみに、2007年夏のサブプライムローン問題では、大手金融機関の大規模クオンツ・ファンドが、相次いで損失を計上したことが話題となった。これは、多くのファンドが同じ指標で判断して投資をしていたため、売却銘柄が類似し、結果的に多くのファンドでパフォーマンスが著しく毀損してしまったとのこと。一般にクオンツ運用の特性として、（1）過去のデータに基づくため市場環境の変化に脆弱、（2）ファンド間でのポートフォリオの類似性が高い、といった点があり、今後の成功の鍵は、まだ使用されていない「独自ファクター」の開発であるとのこと。

「投資」とは格好よく言っていますが、所詮ギャンブルですね。ギャンブルである以上、「常勝」というのは、ありません。これは、ゲーム理論ですでに証明されている数学の問題です。但し、ギャンブラー（資産を「プロ」に預かった人も同じです！！！）は常に、「俺は勝てます」、あるいは、「今は負けていますが、いずれ元を取れて、さらい大儲けできるはず」とか、勘違いしています。正確に言うと、自分に言い聞かせています。

因みに、これまでのところ、同ニュースにあるシェン・イ氏が運用しているクオンツファンドのリターンは２００％以上といいます。まさに奇跡的な実績ですね。AIJの真似っこでないことを願っています。あるいは、ただ単に「ビギナーズ・ラック」ではないことを信じたいですね。

Happiness and Satisfaction - from the Sudden Death of Whitney Houston

 &npbsp;  The sudden death of Whitney Houston is both a shock to the public, and somehow expected tragedy, give the ups and downs of her recent life. There had even been a wrong report about her death in 2001, close to 10 years ago. What's ironic though, she will be valued much more than when she was alive from now on, just all of the famous artists in the history.
 &npbsp;  Her sudden departure from this material world remind one how much difficult for human being to really appreciate this particular material world. Having been extremely successful in her career, one can easily imagine the fortune she have made from her success. A happy marriage with a similarly famous and successful person makes people expect even more happiness for her. Yet, in reality, it has turned out to be totally different.
 &npbsp;  No need to say, every family, every individual encounters all kinds of problems. It is not "sour grape" to think more about those endured by more successful people. Rather, this particular example shows how hard it is not to have worries, anxieties, perplex about our life, no matter how rich one can get in terms of material.
"Material Things Will Not Bring You Happiness" (backup) in "The Teenager's Guide to the Real World online", there are detailed descriptions about "happiness" and its relationship with all kinds of materials. In fact, this is not only for teenage, but also for adult people of all ages.
 &npbsp;  The GNH (Gross National Happiness) advocated by Bhudan's King is more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator. But it is no doubt an important indicator of the most important aspect of our life, with a more general definition for holistic and psychological.

(updated on Mar. 22)
According to TMZ, "The L.A. County Coroner has just released the singer's official cause of death -- accidental drowning ... but the report also notes heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors to Whitney's demise. ". ... "Officials say Houston also had traces of marijuana in her system ... as well as Xanax (anxiety medication), Flexeril (muscle relaxer) and Benadryl (allergy medication)." How sad it is. Drug starts everything evil, and ends what should not have ended.

Sugar: the Real Health Threat?

According to an Article publish in Nature by Dr. Robert Lustig's research team, "global consumption of sugar is primarily responsible for a whole range of chronic diseases that are reaching epidemeic levels around the world." (San Franciso Chronicle)

Excessive sugar, he argues, alters people's biochemistry, making them more vulnerable to metabolic conditions that lead to illness, while at the same time making people crave sweets even more.
...
It's sugar, not obesity, that is the real health threat
...
"The gestalt shift is maybe obesity is just a marker for the rise in chronic disease worldwide, and in fact metabolic syndrome, caused by excessive sugar consumption, is the real culprit,"

Americans eat and drink roughly 22 teaspoons(!!!) of sugar every day, according to the same article. Also, "erms that identify sugars on labels include sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, hydrolysed starch and invert sugar, corn syrup and honey." So if one believes about the theory above, one should also know where to look for the information of sugar in daily life.
Interesting enough,

In response to the study, the food and beverage industries said in statements that sugar cannot be blamed for high rates of chronic disease in the United States and elsewhere.
Comparing sugar to alcohol and tobacco is "simply without scientific merit," the American Beverage Association said. "There is no evidence that focusing solely on reducing sugar intake would have any meaningful public health impact."

According to healingdaily.com, "The average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week". It summarizes a list of ways sugar can affect one's health as follows.

• suppress the immune system.
• upset the body's mineral balance.
• contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• cause hypoglycemia.
• contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• cause kidney damage.
• increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• may lead to chromium deficiency.
• cause copper deficiency.
• interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• promote tooth decay.
• produce an acidic stomach.
• raise adrenaline levels in children.
• lead to periodontal disease.
• speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
• increase total cholesterol.
• contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• contribute to diabetes.
• contribute to osteoporosis.
• cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
• leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
• cause cardiovascular disease.
• increase systolic blood pressure.
• causes food allergies.
• cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
• cause toxemia during pregnancy.
• contribute to eczema in children.
• overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
• cause atherosclerosis.
• compromise the lining of the capillaries.
• cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
• increase the amount of fat in the liver.
• increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
• cause depression.
• increase the body's fluid retention.
• cause hormonal imbalance.
• cause hypertension.
• cause headaches, including migraines.
• cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
• increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
• increase insulin responses in those consuming high-diets compared to low diets.
• increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

While this list sounds over intimidating, even over exaggerating, healingcancernaturally.com gives an even longer list, in the article "Sugar’s Health Effects, Risks & Problems: Is Sugar Sweet Poison?--146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health".

Bungee Jumping can be Dangerous!

According to CBC (video):

An Australian woman is lucky to be alive after her bungee-jumping experience in Africa fell flat, due to a snapped cord that sent her plummeting 111 metres into a river below.

Erin Langworthy, 22, broke her collarbone in the Dec. 31 incident, yet managed to swim to safety in crocodile-infested waters — even though her legs were still bound together by a harness.

"I felt like I'd been slapped all over," she said, recounting the impact of slamming into the Zambesi River. The body of water is on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

So, think twice before trusting any bungee jump services!

It is later reported that Bungee jumps at Victoria Falls suspended after tourist plunged into Zambezi River.

For more information, Bungee Jumping Accidents tells us why and how it can be dangerous.
Fatal Accident in Bungee Jump is a video showing a person being strangled by the bungee cord.
Bungee jump accident with a shark!!  shows a jumper being attacked by a crocodile (? does not look like a shark to me).
New Zealand Bungy Jumping Accident Drops Tourist Into Icy River is a report about a woman, whose foot slipped from the harness during a bungee jump.
Bungee Jumping Accident Vidio is another clip of accident, with a broken cord! Fortunately, the victim hit the water chest first, and survived.
Bungee Disasters!!!!! summarized bungee jump related accidents into 3 groups.

Accidents caused by errors made by clubs - The most serious,
Possible Medical Concerns
People not jumping right

Bungee Ride Accident Reports has an extensive list of reports of accidents and news stories involving bungee jumps and amusement rides that use bungee cords.
Bungee Club Accidents is another site about more examples of Bungee jump accidents (backup).

Casualty of Birds by Human beings

  According to Golden Gate Audubon Society, "Approximately 100 million to 1 billion birds die in North America as a result of collisions each year. (American Bird Conservancy, 2010) Primary sources of collision-related mortality for birds are building windows, communication towers, vehicles, transmission lines, and wind turbines.". Sadly enough, all man made objects.
  Among the sources above, "glass" is the main culprit. Glass as the windows or the walls of buildings, especially high rise ones.
  The reason? Birds often take the reflections in the glass of the surroundings as a real one, and simply fly towards the mirrored objects without any doubts.
  Just as many people aiming the deceiving goal of getting rich, and lost everything in all kinds of gambling games (don't think about any types of "investment" any differently from gamble!).

Nuts, Serotonin Metabolites and Metabolic Syndrome

  Nuts are shown to be able to increase the level of serotonin metabolites in patients with metabolic syndromes, who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The nuts used in the related research are walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts. The research showed that "Patients given the nut-rich diet produced a higher level of metabolites derived from the metabolism of tryptophan and serotonin, fatty acids and polyphenols". It is interesting in the sense that "In food and dietary studies, the focus is always prevention. If we look specifically at this new research, we are not talking about a particular drug or introducing dietary supplements but simply replacing once source of fats with another, in this case nuts".
  Here is a backup of the news.

Paolina Borghese, The Fairest One Of All Beauty

  Paolina Borghese by Antonio Canova, has be chosen as the “Miss Italian Art”. In a survey for favorite beauty among the art works, by a sample of 1032 people, aged between 25 and 64. According to arcadja. The second is Callipige Aphrodite ("Venus (or Aphrodite) of the beautiful buttocks), and the 3rd is Grande Odalisque by Francesco Hayez (an unrecognised painting!).
  Mona Lisa ranked 62.

Note: below is Odalisque by Ingres (1814)

Steve Jobs Passed away at 56

When accessing apple's home page, Steve Jobs picture was displayed, with the title "Steve Jobs 1955-2011". He had "fought a rare form of pancreatic cancer", according to Reuters.

We should all thank him for his contributions to our society, and hope Apple employees will keep his spirits, maintaining Apple's superb ability of bring fantastic product and services to the world.

Stuff for Nerds - News, Gedgets, Reviews and Stuff

According to Wikipedia, "Nerd is a term that refers to an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit. Nerds are generally considered to be awkward, shy and/or unattractive by most. Thus, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by others, or will tend to associate with a small group of like-minded people."

On-line dictionary of Oxford has a much simpler definition: A nerd is "a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious".

Whatever the definition is, it is often quite fun to just surf around anything entitled nerd something.

Nerd Approved has news about gadgets and gizmos whatsoever imaginable, and hot in the media.

Nerd News has all news, rumors and reports about new technology, gears, nerdy news and so on. The LOL session, while not being updated frequently, is especially fun to read, if just for killing some time.

Topless Robot specializes in start wars, transformers, batman, impressive nerdy arts etc.

Nerd News and Reviews is more into video games, books, comics, movies, music, TC etc.

Last Supper was a day earlier?

The crucifixion, also known as the last supper, of Jesus Christ was on Wednesday, one day before the widely celebrated Maundy Thursday. This is claimed by a new research, by Professor Colin Humphreys, a scientist at the University of Cambridge.
Never realized that Cambridge has such a serious research or researcher conducting researches on this last supper.

Humphreys uses a combination of biblical, historical and astronomical research to try to pinpoint the precise nature and timing of Jesus's final meal with his disciples before his death.

Sounds like a chicken and egg situation from the very beginning. It looks more like a fantasy story than a scientific research. With due respect to all religions, can any religion be actually studied by "a combination of biblical, historical and astronomical research"? Does any religion like to be studied scientifically? Does any religion even belief in any science? If not, how can it be studied scientifically at all?

About "Coal is More Dangersous Than Nuclear"

Wall Street Journal published an article by HOLMAN W. JENKINS, JR., entitled "Coal Is More Dangerous Than Nuclear". Below is an interesting statement.
For 60 years, the hunt has been on for handfuls of “excess” cancers in populations subjected to unnatural doses of radiation. The findings have been more politically vexing than scientifically satisfying.
There should be substantial data, research results to support his statement. He continues with the fact of more plutonium and other metal mission from coal based power plant than a nuclear one.
This is no doubt a more convincing article than the desperate yet proofless outcry of Chris Busby about 200 thousand people dying from cancer around Fukushima area. Talking about this Chris Busby, found this site talking about his "ineptitude and conduct".
No matter whose theory is more acceptable, there are more hard figures on other dangers than this nuclear wastes, or any natural disasters including earth quake. Each year, at least thousands of people are dying from traffic accident, instantly on the site, and even more days later. About the same number of people are simply ending their lives each year, due to all sorts of (most human) factors. There are also a significant amount of people dying from over intake of alcohol, drugs. There are also many people dying from all kinds of crimes, killed by knives, guns or all sorts of deadly methods. Finally but lastly, there have been always wars of all sorts, started by all kind of excuses, in which, many people, especially civilians are being kill in the unit of thousands.
Nuclear is hot simply because it sounds more intimidating, more fascinating, and therefore more cashing rewarding to the media, which is constantly bored with lack of "breaking news".

Email anonymity breached?

According to TECHWORLD, Canadian researchers came up with a method to identify the writers of e-mails. As high-tech as it sounds, the ideas behind it is nothing but "sniffing out patterns in their writing style from use of all lowercase letters to common typos". If it goes well, it means that the sender of an e-mail can be singled out even if sent anonymously, especially those of malicious spam e-mails.

Concordia researchers tested their system by putting it to use on over 200,000 emails from 158 employees of Enron, and were able to identify authors 80% to 90% of the time.

80% to 90%... um, sounds like a promising number. But wait, what would happen to the 10% to 20% that might be wrongfully judged as  criminals?

Lunar Perigees

Sounds like a difficult techy term, but it's just saying that the moon will pass just 221,567 miles away on March 19. Supposedly its closest for 18 years.
What's more interesting, or not interesting, is that previous lunar perigees (aka supermoons; 1955, 1974, 1922 and 2005) all were accompanied with extreme weather events.