Who ever decreed that ?patience is a virtue? clearly underestimated the power of ?want? when faced with an Ubuntu Phone.?
The good news is that we inch ever closer to getting hold of one. Mark Shuttleworth recently announced that?it?ll the first Ubuntu Phone?s will arrive in October, and?an installable image for the Galaxy Nexus?(along with the phone source code) will drop late?February/early March.
But what are we supposed to do in the mean time? Wait?!
Thankfully not. Enter graphic designer Alex Miller and his ?Ubuntu G Theme Project? for Android?
Ubuntu G
It?s all smoke and mirrors, of course?
Ubuntu G ? which, in my mind I keep?pronouncing?as ?Ubun-tug ? is a small project aimed at making an existing Android-powered smartphone look like an Ubuntu-powered one.
To do this is takes a variety of pre-existing Android apps,?including?Apex Launcher,?Tasker?&?UCCW, then themes and/or configures them until they resemble parts of the Ubuntu Phone interface.
It?s all smoke and mirrors, of course.?While the end result looks like an Ubuntu Phone it doesn?t behave like one. The gesture support so key to the Ubuntu Phone experience, for instance, isn?t replicated.
But as far as aping the interface goes it?s pretty spot on, allows plenty of room for?customisation?and is bar?far the?easiest ? and cheapest ? of the various ?Ubuntu Phone Theme? guides floating around cyberspace.
You?ll find Alex?s full guide, along with links to everything you need, behind the button below. Do note before heading over that you will need to buy one app -?WidgetLocker LockScreen?- in order to fully replicate the look.
I'm not asking the question of "could Apple follow" because the amount of cash that would need to be raised would be mind-boggling. Most thought that taking Dell private was impossible, and once you get past "impossible," degree doesn't make that much difference. With Apple stock down sharply, the opportunity may increase to eliminate the impossible part.
Contact: Jenni Glenn Gingery jgingery@endo-society.org 301-941-0240 The Endocrine Society
High hormone levels signal increased likelihood of pregnancy, birth
Chevy Chase, MD Women with a high concentration of anti-Mllerian hormone stand a better chance of giving birth after in vitro fertilization, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Anti-Mllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the ovaries. The study found women with high AMH levels were 2.5 times more likely to have a successful IVF cycle than women of a similar age with low levels of the hormone. AMH levels were a predictor of pregnancy and live birth, even when the mother's age and egg production were taken into account.
Although a growing body of research has pinpointed AMH levels as an indicator of the number of eggs remaining in a woman's ovaries, this study is the first to demonstrate AMH levels are directly connected to birth and pregnancy rates, regardless of the number of eggs retrieved.
"For women who are struggling to get pregnant, a high AMH level should be very reassuring," said Thomas Brodin, MD, of Uppsala University in Sweden and lead author of the study. "High levels of this hormone mean there is a greater chance they have plenty of healthy eggs remaining to support a pregnancy."
Researchers concluded high AMH levels are associated with successful IVF treatment because the hormone levels reveal important information about the quality as well as the quantity of eggs left in a woman's ovaries. Women who have high AMH levels are likely to have a high proportion of eggs capable of developing into healthy embryos, Brodin said.
The prospective cohort study tracked 892 women who underwent IVF treatment at the Carl von Linn Clinic in Uppsala between 2008 and 2011. The participants underwent a total of 1,230 IVF cycles. AMH levels in the participants' blood were measured prior to treatment.
The study found that women were more likely to have a successful treatment outcome as their AMH levels increased. Women who had AMH levels above 2.94 ng/ml had the highest birth rates. The effect leveled out when AMH levels surpassed 5 ng/ml.
Although researchers did not find a cut-off point below which women could not get pregnant, IVF success rates dropped substantially as AMH levels declined. Among the study participants who had AMH levels below 0.2 ng/ml, 53 IVF cycles resulted in only 18 embryo transfers and the birth of three children.
The study found reason for optimism among women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition normally associated with ovulation problems. Women who have this condition tend to have high AMH levels.
"Our data suggests women who have polycystic ovaries are likely to be good candidates for IVF," Brodin said. "Along with high AMH levels, this group tends to have a significant supply of eggs remaining in the ovaries."
###
Other researchers working on the study include: N. Hadziosmanovic and L. Berglund of Uppsala Clinical Research Center, and M. Olovsson and J. Holte of Uppsala University.
The article, "Anti-Mllerian Hormone Levels Are Strongly Associated with Live-birth Rates after Assisted Reproduction," appears in the March 2013 issue of JCEM.
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Contact: Jenni Glenn Gingery jgingery@endo-society.org 301-941-0240 The Endocrine Society
High hormone levels signal increased likelihood of pregnancy, birth
Chevy Chase, MD Women with a high concentration of anti-Mllerian hormone stand a better chance of giving birth after in vitro fertilization, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Anti-Mllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the ovaries. The study found women with high AMH levels were 2.5 times more likely to have a successful IVF cycle than women of a similar age with low levels of the hormone. AMH levels were a predictor of pregnancy and live birth, even when the mother's age and egg production were taken into account.
Although a growing body of research has pinpointed AMH levels as an indicator of the number of eggs remaining in a woman's ovaries, this study is the first to demonstrate AMH levels are directly connected to birth and pregnancy rates, regardless of the number of eggs retrieved.
"For women who are struggling to get pregnant, a high AMH level should be very reassuring," said Thomas Brodin, MD, of Uppsala University in Sweden and lead author of the study. "High levels of this hormone mean there is a greater chance they have plenty of healthy eggs remaining to support a pregnancy."
Researchers concluded high AMH levels are associated with successful IVF treatment because the hormone levels reveal important information about the quality as well as the quantity of eggs left in a woman's ovaries. Women who have high AMH levels are likely to have a high proportion of eggs capable of developing into healthy embryos, Brodin said.
The prospective cohort study tracked 892 women who underwent IVF treatment at the Carl von Linn Clinic in Uppsala between 2008 and 2011. The participants underwent a total of 1,230 IVF cycles. AMH levels in the participants' blood were measured prior to treatment.
The study found that women were more likely to have a successful treatment outcome as their AMH levels increased. Women who had AMH levels above 2.94 ng/ml had the highest birth rates. The effect leveled out when AMH levels surpassed 5 ng/ml.
Although researchers did not find a cut-off point below which women could not get pregnant, IVF success rates dropped substantially as AMH levels declined. Among the study participants who had AMH levels below 0.2 ng/ml, 53 IVF cycles resulted in only 18 embryo transfers and the birth of three children.
The study found reason for optimism among women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition normally associated with ovulation problems. Women who have this condition tend to have high AMH levels.
"Our data suggests women who have polycystic ovaries are likely to be good candidates for IVF," Brodin said. "Along with high AMH levels, this group tends to have a significant supply of eggs remaining in the ovaries."
###
Other researchers working on the study include: N. Hadziosmanovic and L. Berglund of Uppsala Clinical Research Center, and M. Olovsson and J. Holte of Uppsala University.
The article, "Anti-Mllerian Hormone Levels Are Strongly Associated with Live-birth Rates after Assisted Reproduction," appears in the March 2013 issue of JCEM.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Keystone XL pipeline,?a flashpoint in the debate over climate change, will receive a?"fair and transparent" review from the US State Department, secretary of State John Kerry said Friday. Kerry said he hopes to make an announcement about the Keystone XL pipeline in the 'near term.'
By Matthew Daly,?Associated Press / February 9, 2013
Secretary of State John Kerry takes questions during a news conference with Foreign Minister of Canada John Baird, at the Department of State in Washington. Kerry declined to comment on the merits of the Keystone XL pipeline, but he said the Keystone review process begun under Clinton is well under way.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday promised a "fair and transparent" review of a Canadian company's plan to pipe oil from western Canada to refineries in Texas.
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In his first comments about the controversial?Keystone?XL pipeline since becoming secretary of state, Kerry said he is waiting for a review begun by his predecessor, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and hopes to make a decision in the "near term." The State Department has jurisdiction over the $7 billion pipeline because it crosses an international border.
Kerry, who met with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird on Friday, praised Canada as a close ally and the largest energy supplier to the U.S. He declined to comment on the pipeline's merits, but he said the review process begun under Clinton is well under way.
"I can guarantee you that it will be fair and transparent, accountable, and we hope that we will be able to be in a position to make an announcement in the near term," he said.
Calgary-based TransCanada has proposed the 1,700-mile (2,700-kilometer) pipeline to carry oil derived from tar sands in Alberta to refineries in the Houston area.
The pipeline plan has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate over climate change. Republicans and business and labor groups have urged the Obama administration to approve the pipeline as a source of much-needed jobs and a step toward North American energy independence.
Environmental groups have been pressuring President Barack Obama to reject the pipeline, saying it would carry "dirty oil" that contributes to global warming. They also worry about a spill.
Kerry said he pays "great respect" to the importance of the U.S. energy relationship with Canada and the overall relationship between the two neighbors.
"Canada is our largest energy supplier, and our shared networks of electrical grids keep energy flowing both ways across the border. As we move forward to meet the needs of a clean energy future on this shared continent we are going to continue to build on our foundation of cooperation," he said.
Baird said he and Kerry had a good discussion on energy policy.
"Obviously, the?Keystone?XL pipeline is a huge priority for our government and the Canadian economy, and I appreciated the dialogue we had about what we could do to tackle environmental challenges together," he said.
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Meet drowsy Moonboy. Blown out of bed by a big lunar sneeze, he sleepwalks through dreams. Help Moonboy reach his bed!. Guide him safely through various traps, clear obstructions from his path, and shift his surroundings to create a safe passage to the cozy bed.
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Cloudrobot is, potentially, the worst name we've ever heard for a product. Thankfully, if this robotic pugilist ever does come to market, we're pretty confident it'll be under a different brand. These fighters are not nearly as cute or pocketable as the Battroborgs that punched their way through the Engadget compound recently. In fact, these guys are down right intimidating. The product of six developers and engineers based out of Budapest, the 16-inch tall bots pack 21 motors, controlled by an AVR chip, that allow them a stunning range of motion and precision. The movements themselves are passed to the bot by a computer, which is currently running a crude simulation / video game. The punches, blocks and footwork are all triggered by a standard gamepad connected via Bluetooth.
Rather than risk serious damage to these expensive machines, their all metal bodies are protected from blows by Everlast-branded boxing gloves. And, in fact, they rarely come in contact with each other (at least in their current form). For now points are counted in the virtual environment, rather than in landed hooks and jabs. Which might not be bad since the bots gain quite a bit of mustard on their shots thanks to electromagnets in their feet that keep them anchored to the ring. Primarily those magnets are for stability, so that the occasional glancing blow doesn't send them toppling over, but it also lets them "sit down" on their punches, just like a real boxer. The company is currently looking for an American partner to help them produce and market the robots. It also has a rather ambitious target price of $300 per combatant, which may have them making some tradeoffs in the final design. The best thing we can do, though, is let Cloudrobot speak for itself, so check out the video after the break.
Walking and running are hugely popular ways to exercise, and there are several really good iPhone apps that aim to help you keep track of the walking or running you're doing. Since February is Fitness Month at iMore and Mobile Nations, we took a look at the most popular ones, and figured out which one was the best for most people.
That app is Endomondo Pro, and here's why we picked it.
Interface and design
The first thing you'll notice upon launching Endomondo Pro is the interface. It's one of those times when you really learn to appreciate the simplicity of some apps. Everything you need to see is presented to you on one screen, neatly organized, and easily accessible. It becomes obvious right off the bat what you're supposed to do in order to start an activity or log your workout.
The main screen of Endomondo Pro, the workout menu, provides you with the information you need during a run, walk, or other event at a glance. You'll see statistics such as total duration, distance, calories burned, heart rate, and the type of event that you're tracking such as running, walking, cycling, or whatever preset you've selected for that session.
This workout menu is also where you can start, stop, and pause a session as well as choosing a workout type. You'll also see the GPS signal strength which can, of course, affect accuracy when counting steps and tracking statistics.
While you'll spend most of your time inside of the workout menu when using Endomondo Pro, you can also access some other useful features from the main navigation menu. In order to access it, just tap on the menu icon in the upper left hand corner. From here you'll get quite a few more options that we'll go over in more depth below.
Overall, the interface of Endomondo Pro is extremely simple to just pick up and start using. This is one thing that really appealed to me. Dieting and exercising, especially if you're doing so to achieve weight loss, is frustrating enough on its own. It was nice to be able to just start using Endomondo Pro without having to configure a ton of settings and calculations before hand.
Some of the apps we looks at for step counting and run tracking were either too cluttered or didn't provide enough information. Endomondo Pro is a nice compromise that gives you the data you want in a much more simplified way.
Supported activities
Endomondo Pro supports a ton of different kinds of workouts and activities. You can easily switch between them based on what kind of activity you plan on performing. The most obvious ones are there such was running, walking, cycling, mountain biking, and tons more. There are even off-shoots of sports that I wasn't even sure what they were. Bottom line, Endomondo Pro probably has the sport type you're looking for.
From the main workout menu, you can actively change the sport type as often as you'd like for different workouts. If you run in the morning, just tap on the sport type and change it to running. If you walk or perform a different kind of sporting activity later in the day or switch up your workouts day to day, you can again just tap on it and change it for another workout. Each workout you save will log into Endomondo Pro where you can view them in your history. Since everything you save to Endomondo Pro is saved to your account, regardless what device you're logged into, you'll be able to see your progress from past workouts.
Creating and finding routes
When running or walking, a lot of users like to be able to track their routes and progress. Whether you prefer the same routes, go on different ones, or experiment until you find the ones you like, Endomondo Pro can save them for you.
From the navigation menu, choose the Routes option and you'll be given information on routes you have saved. You can also tap on the nearby tab along the top to view any routes that other Endomondo users have saved. This is a nice way to find new areas to run or walk in. You may even find routes that are exactly the length you'd like.
How many routes you find nearby will heavily depend on how many people around you are using Endomondo and sharing their own routes. If you'd like to create your own or don't find any you'd like to use, you can do so by signing into your account on endomondo.com.
I created a few routes for both walking and running and just like the app itself, the website is very easy to navigate and create routes. You start by searching for a starting point by entering it or finding it on the map. You can then drop a point on the map and then continue to drop points to wrap around or twist and turn wherever you'd like. You can also classify that route as a route for running, biking, and more.
You also have options as to who you'd like to be able to see your route. If you want your routes to be private, you can choose the private option. If you'd like other users to be able to utilize and enjoy the routes you've created, you can choose the public option. This means that any Endomondo user that views routes nearby within their own app will see the routes you've created in their area. I was surprised to see there were already a few Endomondo routes created in my area when I first launched the app. I'd assume that users in heavily populated areas will see even more routes already created for them.
GPS & tracking accuracy
The main workout menu screen of Endomondo shows you GPS strength at the very bottom. The better the GPS can track, the more accurate Endomondo Pro will be at delivering the best results and gauging your stats.
I took Endomondo out with me for a day and spent the day counting steps periodically as well as measuring distances with another device. For the most part, Endomondo Pro was spot on if not within just a couple steps or meters off. A lot of this had to do with GPS reception. In areas where the GPS tracking had a high to medium signal, the results were almost always the same and within less than a step or two difference. If I wandered into an area with reception was less than stellar to very poor, Endomondo has more trouble with keeping up with steps and typically fell short.
This is something that's expected with any step or run tracking app that relies on native GPS. I did find Endomondo to be just as accurate, if not more accurate, than RunKeeper, another popular run tracker app available in the App Store.
When it comes to creating routes or scheduling workouts, you'll obviously want them to be in areas where Endomondo Pro can track your activity. For most users, this won't be a problem. In my experience, I only needed a minimum of two signal bars or so (and a data connection) in order for Endomondo to be able to keep up.
Social sharing & community
The social sharing aspects and the community portion of Endomondo Pro are great additions but will highly depend on how engaged the audience around you is. If you have a lot of friends on Facebook or in your contacts that also have iPhones, the odds of you finding some friends that have Endomondo become higher.
Currently, the only way to find friends on Endomondo Pro is to search for your existing friends either by the built-in Address Book or by pulling in your Facebook friends. This is one area where I think Endomondo Pro does need a small amount of improvement. While I did manage to find some friends locally that use the service, it was limited to about 5. If Endomondo were to create their own community where users could have more interaction, I think it would create a fully rounded experience.
As it sits right now, any friends that you've added to Endomondo Pro will have to accept your invitation. After that their data will start feeding into the News Feed section of the app. The only other way you can interact or view data on other users is with a premium yearly or monthly subscription. We'll talk about that in just a few minutes.
There are lots of users out there that don't really care about making their workout routines social. If that sounds like you, this aspect of Endomondo Pro probably won't bother you as much. If you do need that extra encouragement from friends and family to work towards your exercise goals, you may have to do the leg work to see if anyone in your area is using the service already. In my experience, while Endomondo Pro doesn't have a huge following, even in my tiny area I was able to find users that I can interact with.
Pricing
Endomondo Pro for iPhone is currently available in the App Store for $4.99. There is a free slimmed down version available if you'd like to try it before you buy. The $4.99 gets you access to create routes, save a history, choose and customize workouts, and more.
If you'd like even more information and stats, Endomondo does have subscription plans available that offer even more functionality. For $19.99 a year or $2.99 per month, you can gain access to Endomondo Premium. Outside of all the features that Endomondo Pro offers, you'll also get heart rate zone information for better training control, workout comparisons, peer benchmarks to view how you stack up to not only your friends but other Endomondo users as well, training analysis, and weather information for your area that will log with your training sessions.
For most users, the base $4.99 price for Endomondo Pro will do what they need it to do while more advanced or hardcore users that train regularly will find a lot of value in the premium subscription.
The bottom line
There are several walk and run tracking apps available in the App Store and all of them have their benefits and their drawbacks. Endomondo Pro offers a happy medium between functionality and ease of use. While it won't give you as much data as an app with dedicated hardware would give you, the GPS and tracking portion holds its own against RunKeeper.
We found the layout of Endomondo Pro to be enjoyable. Creating routes on your own is also super simple and syncs to your device through your account almost instantly. Whether you're just getting started with step tracker apps or are looking for a new one to replace the current, Endomondo Pro provides a great experience complete with the tools you need to stay on track during training time.
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Public release date: 12-Feb-2013
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