Google X Revealed

picture of Sebastian Thrun (Photograph by Steve Jurvetson)

Imagine a place where a refrigerator can be connected to the Internet so the owner can order food that is almost finish automatically.

Dinner plate can tweet about the menu that you eat. And the robot can go to the office, replacing the 'master' who is lounging at home.

It does look like the setting of a science fiction movie alone. But it's actually a secret laboratory in the world are trying to realize the ideas to become reality. The owner of this secret laboratory is none other than Google.

Quoted from the New York Times, Tuesday, November 15, 2011, the lab called Google X is indeed very secret, even the majority of Google employees do not know it existed.

In the special research New York Times, sources with knowledge of the existence of this lab is to say Google X operates mysteriously, just like the CIA, U.S. intelligence agencies.

Google X is said to have two offices, one for logistics in the Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and another for the purposes of the robot, was at a secret location.

The leader of this secret facility is the Sebastian Thurn, a robotics expert on artificial intelligence (AI) is the world's top current and became a lecturer at Stanford University.

He created the first car without a driver in the world. In this lab there are also other professors from Stanford, namely Andrew Ng, who apply neuroscience to AI robots and machines that can operate like a human.

The ideas developed by Google X today is still far from reality. But according to the recognition of two informants who had received instruction about the project in this laboratory, there is a product of the lab ready to be opened to the public at the end of this year. Unfortunately, no mention of what exactly this product will be announced.

Google spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, did not respond to the New York Times interviews with dozens of confidential sources from within Google.

"The possibility of this is very interesting, but still it must be remembered that the amount spent on investment is much smaller when compared with the investments that were planted on the core business," she said.

iPod Nano Replacement by Apple

to EVERYONE who owns IPOD NANO 1st gen. Apple has released a replacement program regarding to the battery problem issue (just like what I exactly had). Contact your local Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Store for replacement / fix.

apple official statement

Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.

Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.

Note: This battery issue is specific to the iPod nano (1st gen) and does not affect any other iPod.

Replacement Process You may order a replacement unit via the web. Click here to begin.

Your iPod nano serial number will be checked to verify that it is eligible for this program. You will receive a replacement unit approximately 6 weeks after we receive your current iPod nano (1st gen).

If you have a personalized iPod nano, you will receive a non-personalized replacement. Make sure to use iTunes to back up any data on your current iPod nano before sending it in for a replacement unit.

Additional Information Identifying an iPod nano (1st gen):

It has a black or white plastic front and a silver metal back - later iPod nano models have a metal front and back. See images on this web page. If you need assistance with placing an order, please visit an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) and bring your iPod nano with you for serial number validation.

Your replacement iPod product is warranted to be free from defects for 90 days from the date of service.

Information as of 2011-11-11