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ELMSLEY (Elmsly), JOHN, judge and politician; b. 1762 in the parish of Marylebone, London, England, eldest son of Alexander Elmsly (Elmslie) and Anne Elligood; m. 23 July 1796 Mary Hallowell in London, and they had five children including John Elmsley*; d. 29 April 1805 in Montreal, Lower Canada.
The Elmslie family came from the parish of Touch, Kincraigie, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where they were small farmers and Quakers. In the mid 18th century Alexander and his brother Peter moved to London, changed the spelling of their name to Elmsly, and joined the Church of England. John Elmsley entered Oriel College, University of Oxford, on 3 Dec. 1782, graduating with a ba in 1786 and an ma in 1789. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple on 7 May 1790. Through connections with the Home secretary, the Duke of Portland, Elmsley secured the chief justiceship of Upper Canada in April 1796, when he was resident at Lincoln's Inn. On 20 Nov. 1796 he arrived at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) with his friend, the Reverend Thomas Raddish (Reddish); his bride and her loyalist father, Benjamin Hallowell, followed later after a lengthy visit in Boston, Mass., their home until March 1776.
Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe had left the province in July, choosing Peter Russell to act as administrator in his absence. The government officials were rather unwillingly preparing to follow Simcoe's orders and move the seat of government from Newark to York (Toronto). Elmsley objected strongly to the move because he thought that there would be great difficulty in finding lodgings and jurors for the Court of King's Bench and the Home District court, both of which automatically held their sessions in the capital. He and Russell quarrelled acrimoniously on this issue throughout most of 1797. In July 1797 a resolute Elmsley paid £1,105 for a house in Newark. Russell insisted that the capital be moved, and in June 1797 met his first parliament in York. A compromise was reached by passing a bill permitting the courts to remain at Newark for a further two years. Elmsley finally moved to York in the spring of 1798, building a large house that later became the lieutenant governor's residence.
Russell and Elmsley continued to disagree about almost everything. In November 1797 Russell had renewed his own temporary appointment as a puisne judge, first made by Simcoe in 1795. Elmsley immediately objected, and his objection was upheld by the Duke of Portland on the principle of separation of judicial and executive authority. Other issues continued to divide the administrator and the chief justice.
In April 1799 Peter Hunter was appointed lieutenant governor of Upper Canada and commander of the forces in the Canadas, and on 16 August he arrived in York. Because his military responsibilities necessitated long absences from the province Hunter left its administration mainly to a committee of the Executive Council consisting of Russell, Æneas Shaw, and Elmsley, who was chairman. During the early years of the Hunter administration Elmsley was the most powerful man in the province, but he later lost much of his influence to his own nominee as judge, Henry Allcock, and to the attorney general, Thomas Scott*.
While he was in Upper Canada Elmsley was particularly concerned with land granting problems, the provisional agreement with Lower Canada on tariffs, and the administration of the courts and law. In land and tariff matters he was greatly influenced by his friend Richard Cartwright and generally supported the loyalist and merchant point of view. In legal matters he tried to adapt English law to Canadian circumstances. He objected, for example, to the complicated English machinery by which married women alienated property, and introduced a bill to make such transactions easier. In this attitude he was consistently opposed by Allcock, who believed that there should be absolutely no tampering with English law, procedures, and precedents.
Elmsley wrote reports on many subjects in Upper Canada, especially in the early years of Hunter's administration. They are usually clear and sensible, but as in his private correspondence he revealed a tendency to dramatize events, his own actions, and his deteriorating relations with others. He was one of the few university graduates in the province, and was much given to elegant phrases and Latin quotations, a habit that may not have endeared him to all his colleagues.
At the time of his appointment to Upper Canada, Elmsley was promised promotion to the chief justiceship of Lower Canada, should it become vacant. In 1800, however, he withdrew his claim because he feared that he would lose money with another move. Despite his reluctance he was appointed to the Lower Canadian post in May 1802, following the resignation of William Osgoode*. The salary was increased from £1,000 to £1,500 a year, and he was to be called to the Executive and Legislative councils with a "seat next in Rank to the Lieutenant Governor."
Elmsley was urged to hurry to Quebec, but he waited for Hunter's return to York and did not take the oaths of office in the lower province until 29 Oct. 1802. Although he was "perfectly master of the French language" and had studied "the old norman law" in France, he was at a disadvantage in Lower Canada because he constantly had to depend on others for specialized knowledge and advice on French jurisprudence. It probably did not help that he regarded the French judicial system as inferior to the English. In any event his career in Quebec was brief. From June to November 1803 he was on leave in England, and in November 1804 he became seriously ill. In February 1805 he went to Montreal intending to travel in the United States to recover his health, but he died there on 29 April 1805. His widow and children returned to England; his large houses in York and Quebec were both eventually bought by the government.
In this period the position of chief justice was extremely important in the administration of the province. In both Upper and Lower Canada Elmsley was president of the Executive Council and speaker of the Legislative Council. He was particularly powerful in Upper Canada because there was no resident lieutenant governor throughout his entire career there. His difficulty in working with others, however, combined with occasional impetuousness to prevent his accomplishing all that he wished. Like so many of the early government officials he was obsessed with his own importance and with his precarious personal finances. Although his contemporaries all agreed that he had great ability, his quarrelsomeness, especially with Russell and Allcock, greatly reduced his influence.
AO, ms 75; ms 78. MTL, John Elmsley letterbook; William Dummer Powell papers; Peter Russell papers; D. W. Smith papers. PAC, MG 23, GII, 10, vol.4: 1596–99; HI, 3; 5; RG 1, E1, 46–48; E14, 10–11. PRO, CO 42/120–31, 42/320–42. QUA, Richard Cartwright papers. Corr. of Hon. Peter Russell (Cruikshank and Hunter). Corr of Lieut. Governor Simcoe (Cruikshank). Gentleman's Magazine, 1805: 677. Alumni Oxonienses; the members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1866 . . . , comp. Joseph Foster (4v., Oxford and London, 1888), 2: 423. Armstrong, Handbook of Upper Canadian chronology. F.-J. Audet, Les juges en chef de la province de Québec, 1764–1924 (Québec, 1927), 37–38. D. B. Read, The lives of the judges of Upper Canada and Ontario, from 1791 to the present time (Toronto, 1888), 43–52. The register book of marriages belonging to the parish of St George, Hanover Square, in the county of Middlesex, ed. J. H. Chapman and G. J. Armytage (4v., London, 1886–97), 2: 151. Dooner, Catholic pioneers in U.C., 193–201. Life and letters of Hon. Richard Cartwright (Cartwright). MacDonald, "Hon. Richard Cartwright," Three hist. theses. W. R. Riddell, The bar and the courts of the province of Upper Canada, or Ontario (Toronto, 1928); Legal profession in U. C.; Life of William Dummer Powell. E. A. Cruikshank, "A memoir of Lieutenant-General Peter Hunter," OH, 30 (1934): 5–32. E. G. Firth, "The administration of Peter Russell, 1796–1799," OH, 48 (1956): 163–81.
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Edith G. Firth, "ELMSLEY, JOHN (1762-1805)," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed September 29, 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/elmsley_john_1762_1805_5E.html.
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|Author of Article:
|Edith G. Firth
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|Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5
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|Access Date:
|September 29, 2023


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Goddess Hecate Herbal Blend & Incense
Regular price
Hecate Herbal Spell Blend and Incense
4.oz Jar by volume
Our Hecate blend was designed for all your needs. Use honor the goddess, Burn as incense, to fill sachet bags, to ring candles during ritual, cast into a ritual or bonfire, Stuffing Poppets, Altar Sprinkle or offerings and more.
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Do not ingest
You can Burn as a loose incense in heat proof vessel with a charcoal disk and sand, also available in our shop. You only need a pinch on a disk to add a magical feel to your sacred space.
Hecate, Greek Goddess
of The Crossroads
Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and the goddess of witchcraft -- once a widely revered and influential goddess, the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries. In current times, she is usually depicted as a "hag" or old witch stirring the cauldron.
But nothing could be further from the image of Hecate's original glory.
A beautiful and powerful goddess in her own right, the Greek goddess Hecate was the only one of the ancient Titans who Zeus allowed to retain their authority once the Olympians seized control. Zeus shared with Hecate, and only her, the awesome power of giving humanity anything she wished (or withholding it if she pleased).
Usually classified as a "moon goddess", her kingdoms were actually three-fold . . . the earth, sea, and sky. Having the power to create or withhold storms undoubtedly played a role in making her the goddess who was the protector of shepherds and sailors.
A lover of solitude, the Greek goddess Hecate was, like her cousin Artemis, a "virgin" goddess, unwilling to sacrifice her independent nature for the sake of marriage. Walking the roads at night or visiting cemeteries during the dark phase of the moon, the goddess Hecate was described as shining or luminous.
In other legends she is invisible, perhaps only glimpsed as a light, a "will-o-the-wisp". Perhaps it was this luminous quality that marked Hecate as a "moon goddess", for she seemed quite at home on the earth.
Some scholars believe it is also was because her mother was Asteria (the Titan goddess of the Shining Light or "Star") or perhaps it was because she sensibly always carried a torch on her journeys.
Like Artemis, Hecate was usually depicted with her sacred dogs, although Hecate and even her animals, were sometimes said to have three heads and that they could see in all directions. Although usually depicted as a beautiful woman having three human heads, some images are fearsome indeed (one with a snake's head, one with a horse's, and the third a boar's head).
This farsightedness, the ability to see in several directions at once (even the past, present, and future) featured largely in her most famous myth, the abduction of Persephone. For it was the goddess Hecate who "saw" and told the frantic Demeter what had become of her daughter.
The goddess Hecate continued to play an important role in the life of Persephone, becoming her confidante when she was in the Underworld. Hades, thankful for their friendship, was more than hospitable, honoring Hecate as a prominent and permanent guest in the spirit world. Surely this had the effect of enhancing her reputation as a spirit of black magic with the power to conjure up dreams, prophecies, and phantoms.
Greek Goddesses: Hecate
Hecate's ability to see into the Underworld, the "otherworld" of the sleeping and the dead, made her comfortable and tolerant in the company of those most would shun out of fear or misunderstanding.
In her role as 'Queen of the Night', sometimes traveling with a following of "ghosts" and other social outcasts, she was both honored and feared as the protectress of the oppressed and of those who lived "on the edge". In Rome many of the priests in her sacred groves were former slaves who had been released to work in her service.
The goddess Hecate was often accompanied on her travels by an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Not really known as a goddess of wisdom, per se, Hecate is nevertheless recognized for a special type of knowledge and is considered to be the goddess of trivia.
Hecate's farsightedness and attention to detail, combined with her extraordinary interest in that which most of us discount as irrelevant or arcane, gave her tremendous powers.
She knew what the rest of us did not.
Greek Goddess Hecate
Not surprisingly, the people thought it best to give the goddess Hecate (and any friends that might be accompanying her) a lot of honor and a fairly wide berth. When darkness descended they wisely retired to the fireside for supper, but put the leftovers outside as an offering to Hecate and her hounds.
That the homeless and destitute were often the actual beneficiaries hardly mattered...after all, they were under Hecate's protection.
In a similar fashion, food was often left at the crossroads to honor Hecate, especially at junctions where three roads converged --what we often call a "Y-intersection".
Frequently a pole was erected at the intersection and three masks would be hung from it to pay homage to Hecate and to request her guidance in helping to choose the right direction.
Three-faced masks also adorned the entrances of many homes, honoring the goddess Hecate who could, of course, wield her influence over "the spirits that traveled the earth" to keep them from entering the household.
Greek Goddess Hecate
It is hardly surprising that a woman who needed to make a trip alone at night would say a brief prayer to Hecate to seek her protection. The goddess Hecate, like her cousin Artemis, was known as a protector of women, especially during childbirth.
Not only was Hecate called upon to ease the pains and progress of a woman's labor, but especially to protect and restore the health and growth of a child.
Similarly, Hecate played a role that, in contemporary times, we would describe as "hospice nurse", helping the elderly make a smooth and painless passage into the next life and staying with them, if need be, in the otherworld to help prepare them for their eventual return to the earth in their next life.
Familiar with the process of death and dying as well as that of new birth and new life, the goddess Hecate was wise in all of earth's mysteries.
Greek Goddess Hecate
The Greek goddess Hecate reminds us of the importance of change, helping us to release the past, especially those things that are hindering our growth, and to accept change and transitions. She sometimes asks us to let go of what is familiar, safe, and secure and to travel to the scary places of the soul.
New beginnings, whether spiritual or mundane, aren't always easy. But Hecate is there to support and show you the way.
She loans her farsightedness for you to see what lies deeply forgotten or even hidden, and helps you make a choice and find your path. Oft times she shines her torch to guide you while you are in dreams or meditation.
Hecate teaches us to be just and to be tolerant of those who are different or less fortunate, yet she is hardly a "bleeding heart", for Hecate dispenses justice "blindly" and equally.
Whether the Greek goddess Hecate visits us in waking hours or only while we sleep, she can lead us to see things differently (ourselves included) and help us find greater understanding of our selves and others.
Although her name may mean "The Distant One", Hecate is always close at hand in times of need, helping us to release the old, familiar ways and find our way through new beginnings.
info from goddessgift.com
Shabby Witch can not guarantee the outcome of any ritual or spell work done with the use of our products. Remember, it 's your intention that will cause the spell to work. Our products are only an aid for your spiritual work.

subset: commoncrawl


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The motion passed at UCU congress on Wednesday 30 May calls for a process of providing information and engaging in dialogue. It does not call directly for an academic boycott of any Israeli institutions. The National Executive Committee will in the near future be considering what action it should take in relation to all the motions passed at congress.
'Today's motion on boycott means all branches now have a responsibility to consult all of their members on the issue and I believe that every member should have the opportunity to have their say. The earlier motion means that any future calls for a boycott must pass key tests before a boycott can implemented.'
So I guess that means that those who oppose the boycott, as I do, now have the chance to lobby their own branch and I have written to my branch officers today. With this fudge I would hope that the boycott is dead, but only if enough people make their views known!
Reading the text of the motions on Engage, this is hardly a disinterested campaign.
Congress instructs the NEC to
* circulate the full text of the Palestinian boycott call to all branches/Las for information and discussion;
* encourage members to consider the moral implications of existing and proposed links with Israeli academic institutions;
* organise a UK wide campus tour for Palestinian academic/educational trade unionists;
* issue guidance to members on appropriate forms of action
Members please vote.
Shalom Lappin provides a detailed response to the boycott motion and urges a tactic of resignation and organisation. His piece is on Normblog here. It is worth reading and careful consideration. I think my initial thoughts were too optimistic.


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Twelve U.S. carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects will be the first to receive grants from the $1.4 billion allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Energy Department said on Friday.
The first phase of these projects will include $21.6 million in Recovery Act funding and $22.5 million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1 million. The remaining Recovery Act funding will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive phase-two selection process.
Projects included large-scale industrial carbon capture and storage projects that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources—such as power plants, cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, paper mills, and manufacturing facilities—and store the carbon dioxide in deep saline formations and other geologic systems. The DOE said it had also made conditional selections of 16 projects that demonstrate innovative concepts for beneficial carbon dioxide use. These conditional selections are subject to additional merit reviews and technical evaluation.
The initial duration of each project selected is approximately seven months. Projects will be subject to further competitive evaluation in 2010 after successful completion of their Phase 1 activities. Projects that best demonstrate the ability to address their mission needs will be in the final portfolio that will receive additional funding for design, construction, and operation.
Large-scale industrial carbon capture and storage selections included:
Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (Allentown, Pa.): A state-of-the-art system to concentrate CO2 from two steam methane reformer waste streams will be designed, constructed, and demonstrated at Port Arthur, Texas. More than 1 million tons of CO2 will be delivered per year via pipeline for sequestration in the Oyster Bayou oilfield for enhanced oil recovery by Denbury Onshore LLC. (DOE share: $961,499)
Archer Daniels Midland Corporation (Decatur, Ill.) Archer Daniels Midland Company, a member of DOE's Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium, will partner with other research organizations to demonstrate Dow ALSTOM's advanced amine process to capture CO2 from industrial flue gases and sequester the CO2 in the Mt. Simon Sandstone reservoir. (DOE share: $1,480,656)
Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division (Richland, Wash.): Battelle researchers will partner with Boise White Paper LLC and Fluor Corporation to demonstrate geologic CO2 storage in deep flood basalt formations in the State of Washington. Fluor Corporation will design a customized version of its Econamine Plus™ carbon capture technology for operation with the specialized chemical composition of exhaust gases produced from combustion of black liquor fuels. (DOE share: $500,000)
C6 Resources (Salno, Calif.): Objective is to capture and transport by pipeline approximately 1 million tons per year of CO2 streams from facilities located in the Bay Area, Calif., to be injected more than 2 miles underground into a saline formation. C6 Resources, an affiliate of Shell Oil Company, will conduct the project in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. (DOE share: $3,000,000)
CEMEX Inc. (Houston, Texas): CEMEX USA will partner with RTI International to demonstrate a dry sorbent CO2 capture technology at one of its cement plants in the United States. CEMEX will design and construct a dry sorbent CO2 capture and compression system, pipeline (if necessary), and injection station. This commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration demonstration project will remove up to 1 million tons of CO2 . (DOE share: $1,137,885)
ConocoPhillips (Houston, Texas): ConocoPhillips will demonstrate new advancements that improve conversion efficiency and economies of scale for carbon capture systems at a petcoke-based 683-megawatt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant adjacent to its existing refinery in Sweeny, Texas. About 85 percent of the CO2 from the process stream will be captured and over 5 million tons sequestered in a depleted oil or gas field. (DOE share: $3,014,666)
Leucadia Energy LLC (New York, N.Y.): Partnered with Denbury Onshore, Leucadia Energy will demonstrate advanced technologies that capture and sequester more than 4 million tons of CO2 emissions at the Lake Charles co-generation petroleum coke-to-chemicals (methanol) project to be located near Lake Charles, La. The project will transport compressed CO2 through a 12-mile pipeline that connects to Denbury's Green Line pipeline system in Louisiana so that it can be used for enhanced oil recovery in the Hastings and Oyster Bayou oilfields in Texas. (DOE share: $540,000)
Leucadia Energy LLC (New York, N.Y.): Leucadia Energy and Denbury Onshore will demonstrate advanced technologies that capture and sequester CO2 emissions from an industrial source. Mississippi Gasification LLC, a Leucadia affiliate, is building a petcoke-to-substitute natural gas plant in Moss Point, Miss., to demonstrate large-scale recovery, purification, and compression of 4 million tons per year of CO2. (DOE share: $840,000)
Praxair Inc. (Danbury, Conn.): Praxair will partner with BP Products North America, Denbury Resources, and Gulf Coast Carbon Center to demonstrate capture and sequestration of CO2 emissions from an existing hydrogen-production facility in an oil refinery into underground formations for CO2 -enhanced oil recovery. This demonstration will be performed at the BP refinery, and a lateral pipeline will be built to connect to Denbury's Green Pipeline to transport 1 million tons of CO2 per year. (DOE share: $1,719,464)
Shell Chemical Capital Company (Houston, Texas): The objective of this project is to capture, condition, and transport by pipeline approximately 1 million tons per year of by-product and off-gas CO2 streams from facilities located along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans for geologic storage. (DOE share: $3,000,000)
University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah): More than 1 million tons of CO2 per year will be captured from various industrial sources, compressed, and transported via two new intra-state pipelines for CO2 -enhanced oil recovery and deep saline sequestration research in Kansas. Beneath each enhanced oil recovery target, a major saline aquifer spanning most of the State of Kansas will be used for CO2 injection. (DOE share: $2,696,556)
Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative Inc. (Cadillac, Mich.): Investigators will demonstrate advanced amines and additives supplied by Hitachi and Dow to capture 300,000 tons of CO2 per year. Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative will be building a 600-megawatt circulating fluidized bed power plant near Rogers City, Mich. (DOE share: $2,723,512)
Source: DOE


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The American Public Health Association defines public health as:
The field that promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors. From conducting scientific research to educating about health, people in the field of public health work to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy. That can mean vaccinating children and adults to prevent the spread of disease. Or educating people about the risks of alcohol and tobacco. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. It also works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems. Public health saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive and reduces human suffering.


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Boise State knocks off Nevada, wins share of WAC title
Boise State knocks off Nevada, wins share of WAC title With their 44-33 win over Nevada on Friday night, Boise State seized a share of the WAC title.
The two teams repeated recent history after the Broncos jumped out a big lead only to have the Wolf Pack make it a game towards the end of the first half. Last season, Boise was up 21 points twice before Nevada came back and made it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. In 2007, the Broncos had a 21-7 lead evaporate before finally beating the Wolf Pack in the fourth overtime.
On Friday, Boise cruised to a 27-3 second quarter lead before Nevada crawled back right before half with two touchdowns under four minutes. The Broncos also had a 44-26 lead in the fourth until the Wolf Pack added a garbage touchdown at the end to make the score respectable.
Kellen Moore finished with 262 yards on 17-of-33 passing for five touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Doug Martin also added 128 yards on 16 carries as the Broncos racked up 165 rushing yards.
Of course, that was nothing compared to the 242 rushing yards Nevada compiled. Vai Taua was once again as good as advertised, rushing for 160 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown (which went for 71 yards).
In the end, Nevada just couldn't string enough drives together in the second half to seize the momentum in the game and turn the tide in their favor. Even after Taua busted off the 71-yard to put them up by eight and they recovered a Boise fumble on the next possession, the Wolf Pack couldn't flip the script.
A win once again just wasn't in the cards for Nevada.
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom.


text: By the end of this course, you will be able to assess when mindfulness may be helpful for your patients or clients, educate them about its potential benefits, and refer them to mindfulness programs and resources. To begin, you will explore what mindfulness is (and is not) through presentations and direct experience. You will also learn about the research supporting the benefits (and risks) of mindfulness for various conditions, as well as how to identify contraindications. Finally, you will learn about the benefits of this practice for you as a busy healthcare provider. Continuing Education Credit This course has been designed to meet Minnesota Board of Nursing continuing education requirements for 10 contact hours and may be eligible for CE credit from other professional boards that allow self-documenting of continuing education activities. It is your responsibility to check with your regulatory board to confirm this course meets your local requirements and, if necessary, to provide them with the certificate of completion you get if you pay for and fulfill all the requirements of this course.


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Tag archives for Money Belt
Hi fellow travellers! I'm Ella West, and I guess I have one thing in common with you if you've chosen to read this post; I love to travel. I've visited a fair few places in my time, both pre and post children, so I thought I'd put together an article of tips on the little things that might be useful wherever you're thinking of journeying to. I hope it's useful!
1. Decent footwear
Make sure you have good quality footwear that you've worn in, because wherever you're going, be it a short city break in Paris, or a month long trip travelling off the beaten track in China, the last thing you want is blisters and sores ruining the journey.
You need shoes that were made for walking to get the most out of places like this…
Ladies, I know we all love shoes, but I really do believe that sacrifices should be made in this area when it comes to foreign travel. Ditch the heels and go for comfortable, flat sandals for nights out. For a start, they weigh less and are much easier to pack in your luggage. Secondly, you can get really nice, dressy sandals anyway.
2. Mosquito Net (and repellent, and after-bite cream!)
This advice is maybe more relevant to some countries than others, but I would suggest you at least take a decent insect repellent, because those little buggers can be vicious and incessant!
My princess bed, that doubles up as a fortress.
When I went backpacking in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia last year, I took with me a net that could be fixed above the bed to prevent any nasty little creatures from getting in, and it worked. The only tricky thing was finding something to fix it to, but you can be creative; use light fixtures, picture hooks, window fixtures, anything.
3. A Poncho
I know they look geeky, but a poncho can be really useful and make you that little bit more comfortable when the weather turns. In Florida, there's normally a downpour for a very short time in the afternoon, and Disney charge about £20 for one with Mickey Mouse on! I've experienced rainy seasons in North, Central and South America, and Asia, and believe me, you do not want to be left in soaking wet clothes all day.
They weigh next to nothing – pack one just in case!
4. A sarong and wrap for holy places
In lots of churches and holy places across the world it is a necessity to ensure your legs and shoulders are covered. Be it the Grand Palace in Bangkok or St Peter's Basilica in Rome, you don't want to miss out on seeing something spectacular.
Don't miss out on Michelangelo's La Pieta in St, Peter's Basilica, Rome
There are often street sellers hanging around to sell or hire ill-prepared tourists appropriate items of clothes, but save yourself some money and research the regulations before your visit.
5. A Side Bag and/or Money Belt
Wherever you go, be it a city in the UK or a rural village abroad, you have to be vigilant against theft. Theft happens everywhere unfortunately, but it can be absolutely devastating when it happens abroad and you're helpless or vulnerable. Sometimes carrying a backpack or a rucksack is unavoidable, but I strongly urge you to invest in a small side bag for valuables – your money, passport, phone and camera. A side bag should fit nicely under your arm, therefore making it that little bit harder for someone to tamper with. Money belts are also incredibly useful, and can be worn quite easily underneath your t-shirt – a difficult place for opportunist thieves to aim for!
My husband took a trip to Barcelona earlier this year, or I should say, he tried to take a trip to Barcelona. He was going for a weekend to help cheer up his friend whose girlfriend had recently ended their relationship, but when he got to passport control in Spain, he found his passport had been pick-pocketed.
Result: he had to spend 24 hours in an airport cell until he could be put on a return flight the next day.
The moral of the story: be vigilant with valuables at all time (or, don't go on holiday without your wife!).


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Pig Corticosteroid Binding Globulin (SERPINA6) ELISA Kit
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Pig Corticosteroid Binding Globulin (SERPINA6) ELISA Kit
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Shipped within 5-12 working days.
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- Tested applications: ELISA
Dry ice required for shipping: No
This product is for research use only. The range and sensitivity is subject to change. Please contact us for the latest product information. For accurate results, sample concentrations must be diluted to mid-range of the kit. If you require a specific range, please contact us in advance or write your request in your order comments. Please note that our ELISA and CLIA kits are optimised for detection of native samples, rather than recombinant proteins. We are unable to guarantee detection of recombinant proteins, as they may have different sequences or tertiary structures to the native protein.


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Matt & Wendy Wooley
Kentucky Derby & Oaks '09
Kentucky Derby Photos, Preakness Stakes Pictures and Belmont Stakes images. EquiSport Photos' Kentucky Derby Pictures are intended for MEDIA & EDITORIAL USE. Please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com for media use. Contact Us Or contact the track photographer regarding similar horse racing pictures for personal use. (Churchill, http://www.reedpalmerphoto.com)Read More


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This looks to be the first major misstep in Jeremy Lin's Knicks career: After we reported that many of Manhattan's finest dining establishments would shuffle their schedules to seat Jeremy Lin (and five guests) tonight at eight, he went instead to Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, a reader reports:
After the whole restaurant experiment, J Lin chose none of them...he and Landry Fields walked right by our table at Del Friscos as the entire upstairs cheered for him. The staff was as giddy as everyone else. Good moment.
(Someone else mentioned the moment on Twitter.)
Sounds like a nice time, Lin and his buddy Fields going for steaks in Midtown. Maybe they went for bone-in ribeyes. Perhaps Lin had a dry-aged porterhouse and Landry a filet mignon. Or both might have chosen lobster and split a cauliflower-brie gratin. We don't know—our sources aren't that good.
But we do know this: Jeremy, you whiffed. Judging by the timestamp of the email and the tweet, Lin and Fields settled in for dinner sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight, which is to say they could have taken the tables at Del Posto, Babbo, or Le Bernardin that opened up at least 30 minutes after eight. And that's to say nothing of Eleven Madison Park—which New York recently ranked the top restaurant in the city, and which served this author the best meal he's ever had—where Lin's six-top could have been available at 9:45, or Minetta Tavern, where Lin could have found better meat than Del Frisco's in a more charming atmosphere, and at 8, no less. Who's the insane one, again?
EARLIER: Are New York's Most Exclusive Restaurants More Eager To Seat Jeremy Lin Or Eli Manning? Deadspin Investigates


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
esev! dude, where have you been? We need dev help! -Thom
The music remote isn't supported in older kernels. You need a newer HID driver. See here: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Gyration_GYR4101US


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SurveyMonkey Acquires Fluidware, Provider of FluidSurveys and FluidReview
Canadian Survey and Application Review Provider Extends SurveyMonkey's Global Reach, Product Base and Team
Palo Alto, CA and Ottawa, ON, August 5, 2014 – SurveyMonkey, the world's leading online survey platform, today announced the acquisition of Fluidware, a provider of online survey and application review tools. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Fluidware, established in Ottawa in 2008 by co-founders and co-CEOs Eli Fathi and Aydin Mirzaee, is the provider of software solutions FluidSurveys and FluidReview. FluidSurveys is an online tool that allows individuals and organizations from around the world to create fully-customized surveys, collect data from respondents and analyze results in real-time. FluidReview is a centralized solution that makes it easy for organizations to collect, manage and review applications and submissions online, including scholarships, grants, fellowships, calls for proposals and business plan competitions.
"This highly complementary acquisition will extend SurveyMonkey's global reach, particularly into the attractive Canadian market where Fluidware is an industry leader," said Dave Goldberg, SurveyMonkey CEO. "We look forward to working alongside the talented Fluidware team as we continue to execute on our strategy to attract new customers, access new territories and leverage leading technologies that help further our mission of helping our customers make better decisions."
"We are thrilled to be joining forces with SurveyMonkey, the global leader in the category and the creator of one of the first consumer software-as-a-service products," said Mirzaee. "As part of SurveyMonkey's unrivaled product portfolio, FluidSurveys and FluidReview will benefit from superior resources and support, including a proven management team with more than 15 years of operating experience. We will be able to accelerate and scale the development of innovative software solutions that empower customers worldwide."
SurveyMonkey intends to maintain Fluidware's office and infrastructure in Ottawa. Additionally, there will be no change in the location of Fluidware's customer survey data. It will continue to be stored in Canada, and protected by the same Canadian standards that were in place before the transaction. Fathi and Mirzaee will each have a role in the combined company.
About SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey is the world's leading online survey platform, with more than 2 million survey responses every day. SurveyMonkey has revolutionized the way people give and take feedback, making it accessible, easy and affordable for everyone. The company was founded in 1999 with a focus on helping people make better decisions, and has built technology based on over 10 years of experience in survey methodology and web development. Customers include 99% of the Fortune 500, academic institutions, organizations and neighborhood soccer leagues everywhere.
The company has over 300 employees globally, with headquarters in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, visit www.surveymonkey.com.
About Fluidware
Fluidware was established in February 2008 to develop software solutions that empower intelligent decisions. Today its flagship products, FluidSurveys and FluidReview, are used in over 40 countries by Fortune 500 companies, global non-profit organizations, universities, government institutions, grass-roots organizations and startups. Its customers rely on Fluidware software to help collect and analyze the data they need in order to succeed.
Paul Kranhold / Samantha Verdile / Reze Wong
firstname.lastname@example.com / email@example.com / email@example.com
(415) 618-8750 / (212) 687-8080


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The American Journal of International Law, Volume 65, Issues 1-3
American Society of International Law, 1971 - International law
Vols. for 1970-1973 include: American Society of International Law. Meeting. Proceedings, 64th-67th, previously published separately; with the 68th, resumed being publihsed separately.
The Cambodian Operation and International Law Richard A Falk
The Constitutionality of the Cambodian Incursion William D Rogers
Legal Dimensions of the Decision to Intercede in Cambodia
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accepted accordance action activities adopted Africa agreement American application areas armed Article Assembly assistance attack authority Cambodia Charter claim concerned Conference Congress considered Constitutional continuing Convention Council countries Court crimes decision defense determined developing effect established existing fact force foreign Fund Government human important Institute interest international law issue Italy Judge jurisdiction Justice limited marine matter means measures ment military neutral North objectives obligations official operation opinion organizations parties peace political pollution possible practice present President principle problems procedure proceedings Professor proposed protection provides question reason reference regard relations Report request resolution respect responsibility rules Security seems Senate Society South Soviet Statute suggested territory tion treaty Tribunal United Nations University Viet-Nam Vietnamese violation volume wastes York


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Review Alienware M17x R3 (GTX 460M, i7-2630QM) Notebook
It's always exciting when a new Dell Alienware notebook comes out. The massive case radiates power and sturdiness. The question of mobility flies out the window after finding out this gaming powerhouse weighs in at 4.3 kilograms.
The Intel Sandy Bridge chipset in place here has recently been getting a lot of flak for its faulty SATA II clock generator. As with the Aspire 7750G, which has the same Core i7-2630QM processor and Cougar Point chipset, we've decided to review the Alienware M17x R3 because the chipset is only theoretically defective. Bugs stemming from the faulty SATA II clock generator should not be an issue with new devices but only start to malfunction after several years if ever, and then only after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Manufacturers have been speaking of a 36-month time period after which a decrease in performance or malfunctioning of the 3Gbps SATA ports may arise.
An Alienware M17x R3 that makes its way to store shelves in April 2011, by when Intel plans to have fixed this issue, will have exactly the same performance specs as the one in this review (if it has the same configuration as the in-review model). Until further notice, Dell has removed the M17x R3 from their online store. Please find further details here.
The likewise recently reviewed Aspire 7750G was fitted with the same i7-2630QM but also with a weak 5400 RPM hard drive. This HDD slowed down the entire system considerably. The M17x R3, on the other hand, offers the potentially ideal combination of the Sandy Bridge processor and a 256GB SSD from Samsung. Can our Alien measure up to other powerful SSD laptops from the past or will the Sandy Bridge i7 CPU even manage to raise performance to a new level?
The coupling of a i7-2630QM and Geforce GTX 460M (GDDR5) might get gamers giddy with excitement. Compared to the older Clarksfield (i7-720QM etc.) can the new Sandy Bridge CPU provide for an even better gaming experience? How about the 17" full-HD display, can it stand up to the demands for professionals? Find the answers to this and more below.
The model of the M17x R3 provided to us by Dell and furnished with a full-HD screen, i7-2630QM, 4 GB RAM, GTX 460M, 256GB SSD, DVD burner and Windows 7 Home Premium will cost about 2,500 Euro when its back on the shelves in April.
Dell's position on the Intel Sandy Bridge issue:
Dell and Intel are in communication regarding the design issue in the recently released Intel 6 Series (Sandy Bridge) support chip, code-named Cougar Point. This affects four currently-available Dell products: the XPS 8300, the Vostro 460, the Alienware M17x R3 and the Alienware Aurora R3, as well as several other planned products including the XPS 17 with 3D-capability.
Dell is offering many options concerning their warranty and servicing for affected devices. As soon as the new Intel chipset is available in April, faulty motherboards will be replaced with new defect-free ones at no cost to customers. Customers can bring their device to an authorized Dell Service Providers to make the replacement or alternatively return their device for a refund. Dell will provide further details on the issue as it becomes available.
We didn't feel like bothering with the decision-making concerning case color and hardware configuration and left it up our technical contact person at Dell. He ended up deciding against Metallic Silver, instead choosing Metallic Black. Even though they might seem very similar at first sight, the M17x R3's has undergone many changes compared to its predecessor, the M17x R2 (HD 4870 X2). These changes included the ports, the case thickness (now thinner than the R2) and the materials the case is composed of.
First of all, we noticed the new R3 lost weight compared to its older brother, 1.19 kg to be specific. The older M17x R2 weighed in at a whole 5.5 kg, measured without the power supply (R3 also weighed without power supply). The causes of the weight loss are the light SSD weighing 55 grams (instead of 2 x 2.5" HDDs), the single GPU (instead of Crossfire HD 4870 X2 incl. 2 heat sinks) and the magnesium alloy instead of heavy anodized aluminum. The base unit, moreover, has become thinner due to the lack of second GPU slot (SLI/Crossfire) which also reduced the weight a bit as well.
The case is composed of this magnesium alloy not only on the inside but it also makes up the outer shell. The older R2's anodized aluminum case demonstrated itself as very sturdy and the R3 maintains the same level of sturdiness with a thinner case. Uncommonly sturdy, warp-resistant and compact, the case structure is akin to a thick plank. The the very outside of the case has a Soft-Touch finish, like the one first seen with the M11x R2. This finish should be rather strong and not come off with wear according to Dell. We found the excellent non-slip surface to be quite pleasant to the touch. Fingerprint marks do get left behind but are not very visible.
The smooth plastic base plate gives in a bit to pressure. After removing screws (below the battery), the base plate can be removed. The exhaust vents cave in when pressure is applied and the area around the silver plaque creaks loudly in response to poking it, the surface feels quite loose here.
The separate backlights all over the case add a lot to the design. Via the Alien FX tool, you can choose the illumination settings for individual areas like the Alienware logo, the number pad, the arrow keys, the power button and the touchpad borders to shine in at least 30 different colors.
As already mentioned, Dell has changed around the selection and positioning of ports as well as moved the exhaust vents from the sides to the base plate. This allows the ports at the sides to be evenly spread out. The front and back contain no ports or card readers save the power connector at the back.
New are the two USB 3.0 ports marked "super speed" or SS USB and the HDMI input. This means that video game consoles may be hooked up to the HDMI-In in order to use the notebook's display. Like before, the 8-in-1 card reader and the 54mm ExpressCard slot are included. Ambitious users therefore do have the option of inserting an expansion card. Moreover, the Firewire port has been removed.
Four audio ports allow for a surround-sound signal to be transmitted to external speakers. On top of that, there's also an S/P DIF for a digital optical audio signal. An adapter for the S/PDIF port, TOSLINK connector, comes with the notebook.
The placement of ports is quite convenient. Of course, HDMI, VGA and Ethernet would have been ideal at the back. The bulkiest cables like HDMI and VGA are, however, placed toward the back of the right and left sides respectively.
Internet and Bluetooth
The network cards in place here are top-of-the-line, which you'd expect from a notebook costing over 2,000 Euro. Along with Gigabit Ethernet (Atheros AR8151) comes the Dell Wireless 1501 Half Mini Card (Draft N). On top of that, you get the current Bluetooth 3.0 + HS standard.
Considering that the focus of the M17x R3 is gaming, Dell has in turn forgone packing the hard drive with unnecessary Bloatware. The Command Center gives the user control of the most essential settings in the system. You can set the energy saving regime, adjust the backlighting down to the fine details and set the level of security. On top of that, you can control touchpad settings via "Alien Touch". The package also contains additional drivers, Roxio Creator, Webcam Central and OS back-up DVD.
Little add-ons like the baseball cap, mousepad, small user manuel and laptop sleeve have long come standard with Alienware notebooks. It seems the Alienware folks have, however, done away with the large leather-bound user manual for cost reasons.
The warranty for Alienware devices may last from 12 to 36 months depending on the package. The standard 12-month warranty here is a bit too short for such a high-quality notebook.
Input Devices
Not only the most adament of gamers need a good, responsive keyboard. The rubberized, non-slip keys demonstrates an excellent keystroke feel with the right pressure point. The keys press deep into the keybed almost to the level of a desktop keyboard. Unfortunately, the keyboard starts to give even in response to slight pressure around the number pad (right) and the WASD keys (left). Especially toward the left, we felt an undeniable compression of the area underneath the keys. The M17x R2 had the same problem of a partly spongy keyboard.
The layout, on the other hand, is outstanding. Getting used to it does not take long. The standard-sized number pad and the large arrow keys sticking out toward the bottom of the keyboard make for comfortable use without looking down. But if you do need to take a look down at the keys, the backlight will help you find the right ones no matter how dark the surroundings.
The touchpad has generous dimensions as before but Alienware has done away with the grainy texture of the R2's touchpad, moving back to a smooth surface with little friction. We were satisfied with the responsiveness of this multi-touch pad (Synaptics TouchPad V7.4). Cursor movement and gestures were recognized and implemented upon the slightest touch.
The excellent touchpad buttons don't miss a click. The depression depth is very clear and clicks are crisp with minimal noise. Neither of the two keys sticks after being pressed and they spring up quickly once pressure is removed. We usually only find touchpads with such good feedback in T-Series ThinkPads, HP Elite Books and HP Pro Books.
Our 17-inch M17x R3 is equipped with a 16:9 display. This one has 120 pixels less than its predecessor that rendered a 1,920 x 1,200 picture at an aspect ratio of 16:10. This means, we have here a full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 (1080p) screen that most gamers and film fans would want. The display model indicator seems to read MGNC7€173WF1, but it's hard to tell.
This is no anti-glare screen, which is a result of the edge-to-edge construction of the display lid. That is, there's a plastic pane covering the screen and the whole display frame. The advantage of this is that it protect the sensitive screen surface. Other than that, dirt doesn't collect in the corners of the screen.
The full-HD screen offers a good contrast ratio of 527:1. Combined with the glossy screen, this provides for crisp, vivid colors. The good color space, for which we have drawn an ICC profile (pictures below), comes as no surprise. As expected, a screen in an Alienware notebook of this price range does at least cover the sRGB color space.
The following ICC images compare the M17x R3 (colored) to color spaces typical in image processing like sRGB and AdobeRGB (transparent). The M17x R3 doesn't come close to AdobeRGB, unfortunately. For the sake of comparison, we include the ICC profiles of the 08/15 displays of the Aspire 7750G (t), the MacBook Pro 13 2010-04 (t), the Dell Studio XPS (RGB LED) from the beginning of 2009 (t) and the recently reviewed Vaio Z13Z9E (t).
The screen reaches a maximum brightness of 252 to 261 cd/m² in the upper part of the screen. This high maximum luminance is, however, only important for outdoor use. For indoor use, a screen brightness of 100 to 150 cd/m² is enough. Individual LEDs are responsible for illuminating the screen and provide for quite an evenly lit screen with a brightness distribution value of 89%. With such an evenly illuminated screen, blotches of light resulting from relatively brighter spots are not visible.
We tested out the visibility of screen contents outdoors. Considering the relatively weak winter sun, we could make out what was on the screen alright. Depending on the tilt angle of the display lid, you might have to struggle with irritating reflections outdoors.
The range of horizontal viewing angles is extremely broad. There's no color distortion (ghost images) no matter what angle from the left or the right you look at the screen from (up to 90º to the right/left). The image does, however, develop a yellow tint at angles over 50º, but the image hardly becomes any darker (see YouTube video). Vertically, it's a different story. Tilting the display 20º or more from a direct viewing angle results in gradual color inversion. As far as vertical viewing angles go, the M17x R3's display is at the same level as most other laptops out there.
The Sandy Bridge quad-core i7-2630QM running at 4 x 2.0 GHz (base clock rate) has already provided for fast application performance in the Deviltech Fragbook DTX (Clevo P170HM, GTX 470M) and the Asus G73SW (GTX460M, i7-2630QM). As with the older Clarksfield quad-core CPUs, the Turbo Boost function can be overclocked up to 2.9 GHz.
Intel's Turbo Boost 2.0 can really profit from new and improved cooling systems. If applications request more processing power, the Turbo Boost 2.0 goes into effect (Dynamic Range @ Turbo Frequency Limits) and keeps the clock rate above the base as long as the temperature level permits. At higher temperatures, the processing power drops.
This means that after a short period in idle mode with enough cooling, the Core i7-2630QM can be overclocked to the max for a short while. This means that applications with a low CPU overhead can run faster. After this, the normal Turbo Frequency Limits of 2.6 GHz (quad-core), 2.8 GHz (dual-core) and 2.9 GHz (single-core) are restored. Find further details at Review Intel Sandy Bridge Quad-Core Processors.
As usual, the Hyperthreading function simulates four additional virtual cores, good for multitasking. Applications can process up to 8 threads simultaneously with Hyperthreading on. The quad-core TDP of 45 watts represents the maximum energy consumption of the CPU (but can be exceeded when overclocked). The memory controller and the HD Graphics 3000 on-board CPU are, of course, included in this figure. The HD Graphics 3000 allows for an economical use of energy and longer battery life provided that there's little stress on the GPU. That is, the dedicated Geforce GTX 460M graphics card is turned off automatically via Nvidia Optimus when GPU load remains below a certain level. Intel has, moreover, substantially increased the 3D performance of its HD Graphics 3000, which we thoroughly discuss in the review of the Intel HD Graphics 3000 Graphics Card.
Using the CPU Benchmark WPrime, the i7-2630QM processed faster than the comparable 720QM (483s) and 740QM models (427s). In this multi-core test, the fewer seconds, the better. The 2630QM managed 324s, a whole 25% faster than the powerful quad-core 740QM .
The Cinebench R11.5 CPU benchmark (Multi, 64 Bit), the 2630QM earns 4.88 points, much more than the 740QM (3.4; MSI GX660R) gets. The "identical" i7-2630QM in the Aspire 7750G managed to snatch an even 5.0 points, slightly higher than the M17x. Because the CPU benchmarks were performed back to back, it's possible that the dynamic frequency of the M17x was not fully taken advantage of during the benchmark. It's higher clock-rated sibling, the 2820QM (2.3 GHz, 5.7 points) manages to earn an even higher score in the R11.5 test (mySN XMG P501).
|PCMark 05 Standard
|12019 points
|PCMark Vantage Result
|12700 points
The processing speed is not only measured but can also be observed as very fast. In PCMark Vantage, the M17x earns 12,700 points. This is a ridiculously high score, putting the M17x among the crème de la crème. The main cause of this would be the Samsung SSD. This score puts the M17x R3 in fourth place of all the notebooks we've reviewed! Our little monster even got remarkably close to the mySN XMG U700 ULTRA (GTX 470M SLI, 13,655 points) with this score.
|3DMark 05 Standard
|21131 points
|3DMark 06 Standard Score
|14086 points
|3DMark Vantage P Result
|8276 points
|3DMark 11 Performance
|1805 points
Without a powerful graphics card, the Alienware laptop would just be a waste. Our test model was, therefore, furnished with a high-end Nvidia GPU, connected via MXM module. The DirectX 11-capable GeForce GTX 460M is among the fastest of GPUs. It makes use of 1,536 MB GDDR5 video memory, connected at 192 bits. As far as it's clock rate goes, the GeForce GTX 460M processes at 675 MHz (core), 625 MHz (memory) and 1,350 MHz (shaders). The memory clock rate has exhibited differences in GTX 460M devices in the past: Toshiba Qosmio X500, Medion Erazer X6811, Asus G73JW, MSI GT663R = (1,250 MHz); MySN XMG P500 PRO = (625 MHz).
Besides offering a great gaming experience, the GPU has various other features. While PhysX (GPU-based physics computations) and PureVideo HD (video acceleration) can be used with the notebook on its own, the 3D Vision technology (stereoscopic 3D rendering) requires a 120-Hz monitor and a special kit.
In the time-tested 3DMark 2006 benchmark (1,280 x 1,024) the M17x R3 earns 14,086 points, the highest score so far with a GTX 460M. And the Asus G73SW-TZ083V has to admit defeat by a very narrow margin (13,932). The more recent 3DMark Vantage gives our test machine 8,276 performance points, placing it once again ahead of the G73SW-TZ083V (7,899 points).
Unigine Heaven 2.1 (tessellation normal, DirectX11, 1,280x1,024) shows that the powerful Sandy Bridge quad-core CPU does not necessarily provide for better gaming performance than Clarksfield chips (e.g. 740QM). The M17x R3 earns—like all other GTX 460M systems—a refresh rate of 24 fps (Medion Erazer X6811, MSI GT663R). The leading competitor from AMD, the Mobility Radeon HD 5870, meanwhile trails just a single frame rate behind with 23 fps (MSI GX660R).
The afterburner in our Alienware UFO is without question the Samsung SSD PM810 (256 GB). This MLC model also known as the 470-series measures 2.5" (7 mm high). Sold individually, it costs 565 Euro.
The advantage of the SSD lies in sequentially reading large files. The read rate is 3 times faster than a conventional HDD. Only once the data packages become smaller and are scattered around in memory does the SSD truly show its power. With 512KB data packets, the Samsung PM810 outperforms a 5400 RPM HDD by a factor of 5. With 4KB files the difference reaches a factor of 20.
With this caliber of power, the Samsung SSD PM810 snatches 11th place in the best hard drive scores in PCMark Vantage: 19,975 points (sub-score). The Sony Vaio Z12, moreover, shows the SSD can reach even greater heights with its year-old score earned with two Toshiba SSDs using Raid 0 (24,467 points). One thing's for sure: conventional notebooks with 5200/7200 RPM HDDs have no chance against systems fitted with an SSD. On top of that, SSDs have a low sensitivity to physical impact and run silently.
With maximum details (very high) in full HD, the refresh rate reaches only a choppy 15 fps. The Sandy Bridge Asus G73SW-TZ083V (2630QM) with the same GPU manages even less: 13 fps. In order for the game to be at all fun, you have to reduce the graphics settings—it's best to start with the resolution. With high details (1,024 x 768), the first-person shooter runs at a smooth-as-can-be 55 fps on the M17x R3. This leaves some breathing room to at least bring the resolution up to 1,366 x 768.
|Crysis - GPU Benchmark
|Very High, 0xAA, 0xAF
|19.39 fps
|54.6 fps
This action adventure is playable with maximum details (Full HD), running at 33 fps. This is a very good result considering that notebooks with the 740QM have so far only managed to get as high as 31 fps (Qosmio X500-TZ1V). The G73SW-TZ083V, also with a Sandy Bridge CPU, manages only 29 fps.
|high/all on, 0xAA, 4xAF
|32.9 fps
|all on/high, 4xAF
|47.8 fps
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
The M17x R3 gets pretty high in the charts with its refresh rate in this first-person shooter from Electronic Arts. With maximum details in full-HD, our system runs the game at 32 fps. Once again, this is just a bit better than the G73SW-TZ083V (30 fps). 740QM laptops with the same GPU can almost keep up here. MSI GT663R-i7488BLW7P and Erazer X6811-MD97624 likewise manage around 30 FPS. The new Radeon HD 6850M doesn't quite manage to get refresh rates like these, however. The GPU runs out of breath in full HD at 19 fps (Aspire 7750G, i7 2630QM).
|Battlefield: Bad Company 2
|high, HBAO on, 4xAA, 8xAF
|32 fps
|high, HBAO on, 1xAA, 4xAF
|60.6 fps
Metro 2033
The sole weak point of our M17x R3 turns out to be Metro 2033. The maximum details in full HD allow for a mere 10.5 fps. Gamers with high standards will have to make do with 1,600 x 900 pixels and the high graphics setting: 30 fps. This is, however, no reason for the M17x R3 to bow its head in shame since not even SLI GTX 460M systems like the mySN XMG U700 ULTRA manage to get beyond 18.5 fps.
|Metro 2033
|Very High DX11, AAA, 4xAF
|10.5 fps
|High DX10, AAA, 4xAF
|30 fps
|Normal DX10, AAA, 4xAF
|55.5 fps
StarCraft 2
The long-awaited RTS sequel can be run in full HD with graphics settings on Ultra, resulting in a playable 34.5 fps on the M17x R3. Older Core i7 like the 640M are right on the M17x R3's tail at 32 fps (XMG P500 PRO).
|StarCraft 2
|34.5 fps
|65.4 fps
|83.5 fps
Mafia 2
With no restrictions, the 1920s gangster epic runs with maximum details in full HD at a very playable 39 fps. The setting "High" allows for an even better 62 fps. The competition from Radeon doesn't quite earn such smooth frame rates due to its sluggish GDDR3. The new HD 6850M is a whole 23% slower (Aspire 7750G).
|Mafia 2
|high, 0xAA, 16xAF
|39.2 fps
|high, 0xAA, 16xAF
|62.3 fps
Verdict: Gaming
The gaming performance of the Alienware M17x R3 leaves almost nothing to be desired. Even in extremely resource-demanding games like Metro 2033, a refresh rate of 30 fps with the highest details settings keeps it quite playable. Ambitious gamers are set for years to come with the GeForce GTX 460M with its DirectX 11 support. Performance aficionados might want to consider the GTX 485M, which provides for even higher frame rates.
You'll find benchmarks for a large number of other games either in our GTX 460M breakdown or in our Comparison of Notebook-GPU Gaming Performance.
|Crysis - GPU Benchmark (2007)
|Crysis - CPU Benchmark (2007)
|Risen (2009)
|Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
|Metro 2033 (2010)
|StarCraft 2 (2010)
|Mafia 2 (2010)
System Noise
The M17x R3 is equipped with two independent heatpipes with one exhaust fan each. The cool air flows into the case via two large air intakes along the base plate—which should not be covered up while running games—and makes its way to the heat exchanger (cooling fins). The M17x R3 can, on the one hand, really make some noise, reaching 48.1 dB(A) when running demanding applications. On the other hand, both fans turn off completely in idle mode. Because we're dealing with a completely silent SSD here, the colossal Alienware powerhouse becomes a sleeping giant. This is partially thanks to the Nvidia Optimus technology that deactivates the GTX 460M under light use. In such cases, the on-board Graphics 3000 GPU provides more than enough graphics-rendering power.
As soon as stress is applied to the CPU and/or GPU, the cooling system gets to work. When the Core i7-2630QM is under a constant 100% load (Prime95), the system noise reaches a constant 44.3 dB(A). At this point, we started the GPU- stress test, Furmark. The noise level rises to a roaring 48.1 dB(A). Gamers have to get used to a maximum of 46 dB(A). The system reaches this noise level during the Furmark tests and 3DMark2006.
Upon ending the stress tests, the fans don't remain on for long. This is true mostly for CPU stress. When we stop Prime95, for example, from one second to the next the noise level falls from 44.3 dB(A) to 29.5 dB(A) (fans off!). The fans shut off only in the performance profiles "Balanced" and "Energy Saver". Set to "High Performance", the CPU cannot reduce its clock rate this fast.
Noise Level
29.5 / 29.5 / 29.5 dB(A)
|29.5 dB(A)
|34.6 / dB(A)
|46 / 48.1 dB(A)
30 dB
40 dB(A)
50 dB(A)
min: , med: , max: Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)
What does this blue temperature graphic tell us? In short, we can do whatever we want. The M17x R3 heats up during the stress test (100% CPU & GPU load) to 49ºC. This is only the case, however, at a single point right by the Nvidia GTX 460M. See our insight into the life within the case below.
It hardly comes as a surprise, therefore, that the CPU heats up to a maximum of 90ºC in the stress test. The GTX 460M reaches a mere 79ºC. The 3DMark2006 benchmark performed right after the several-hour-long stress test doesn't show any particular thermal throttling.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 28 °C / 82 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 48.7 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.2 °C / 72 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 23.2 °C / 73.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 29 °C / 84.2 F (+5.8 °C / 10.4 F).
Alienware has furnished the M17x with a good sound system. Even without a subwoofer, the two stereo speakers located behind the Alien's eyes (front edge) produce fairly balanced mids and highs. The bass makes its presence clearly know and you can feel the vibration in the palm rest. The maximum volume is quite high (no distortion) and the sound quality is very clear and precise.
The only criticism we have has to do with the not-quite-perfect highs. When playing highs-heavy music, the highs don't exactly stick out. Just about all notebooks have problems with this, however. For one, there's no tweeter and individual speakers always have problems when all frequencies have to be represented. An outstanding exception is the Asus N73JQ-TZ087V with its Sonic Master.
The stereo effect is minimal, likely due to the speakers being located at the front. The M17x R3, of course, cannot compete with good external sound systems, especially 5.1 combinations of rear, front and center speakers. For various videos and music, the sound quality is nevertheless decent.
Battery Life
Such a large notebook can't possible have a good battery life... This is a prejudice that Dell's Alienware M17x R3 has to confront. You'd think its 4.3-kg weight holds as little promise of mobile use as its bulky case. But our big 'ol Alien manages to surprise us. In idle mode, 6 hours go by until the stoic-like M17x R3 draws its last breath.
Our internet via Wifi test comes very close to the advertised battery life. After 3 hours 34 minutes, the battery is drained. During the test, we visited YouTube, downloaded some files and scampered about some news sites. The LED screen remained at a brightness of 100 cd/m² meanwhile.
The question of whether you could get a round of Battlefield in on the bus was answered by our heavy use test using the Battery Eater tool. After 80 minutes, the Battery Eater Classic Mode window disappeared from the screen. But since this test places stress mainly on the CPU and therefore doesn't necessarily reflect the conditions of mobile gaming. If you really want to, you can count on about an hour of mobile gaming.
The 90-Wh lithium-ion battery (8,100 mAh) is responsible for the Alien's decent battery life. Moreover, it requires a mere 145 minutes to fully charge. For such a high capacity, the battery really does charge quickly.
We recently observed the considerably reduced energy consumption in idle mode with a Sandy Bridge quad-core processor in the Aspire 7750G. While the Acer with the same i7-2630QM processor and an on-board HD 6850M that can't be shut off manages a low 12.9 watts (idle, minimal), the M17x R3 eats up a good deal more energy, measured at 17.5 watts. The Alienware even has the advantage of a GTX-460M GPU that can be shut off via Optimus. The maximum idle power consumption, without charging the battery, reaches 18.9 watts and 26.7 watts (7750G and M17x R3 respectively).
Even if the Aspire 7750G seems more economical here, we have to say the M17x R3 is more efficient than the Clarksfield generation (i7-720QM, 740QM, etc.). In idle mode, the Asus N73JQ-TZ087V (740QM) eats up between 19.3 and 29.5 watts (min. - max.). The particularly wasteful MSI GX660R (740QM) contributes to a high electric bill, running at 29 to 51.3 watts.
At the opposite extreme, we measured the power consumption under heavy use. The stress test for the CPU and GPU (Prime95, Furmark) resulted in 163 watts. When only the GTX 460M is active, we measured 129 watts. This isn't exactly a problem for the 240-watt power supply. Moreover, the power supply weighs a mere 814 grams—pretty light.
|Off / Standby
|0.4 / 0.9 Watt
| 17.5 / 23.6 / 26.7 Watt
122 / 163.4 Watt
The Alienware M17x R3 not only looks supersweet and will causes some jealous looks to come your way. But the performance is without a doubt the apex of what's currently available in the notebook world. Of course, there will be more powerful Sandy Bridge processors than the Core i7-2630QM (4x2 GHz). But, combined with the frisky 256GB Samsung SSD, there's hardly any rendering, image processing or conversion task the M17x R3 isn't fit for.
Coupled with the speedy Geforce GTX 460M, our system here reached some impressive scores in games and 3D-benchmarks, better than i7-740QM notebooks without SSDs. In any case, gamers can make use of the powerful gaming configuration only outshined by top-of-the-line graphics cards like the HD 6970M or GTX 485M .
Such power, fortunately, does not come at the expense of comfort or battery life. The 3 hours 30 minutes for typical mobile use and inactive fans in idle mode, resulting in relatively low energy consumption are a big plus.
The Alienware test notebook provided to us was recently taken off the shelves temporarily by Dell due to the recall of Cougar Point chipsets. Equipped with a full-HD display, i7-2630QM, 4 GB RAM, GTX 460M, 256GB SSD, DVD burner and Windows 7 Home Premium, the future price will be about 2,500 Euro. A statement from Dell about the recall is located toward the beginning of this review. You can find more information about the Sandy Bridge recall here.


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Capability Update – Air Projects
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today provided an update on three air capability projects.
Acceptance of Fifth and Final KC-30A MRTT Aircraft
Minister Smith and Minister Clare announced Defence's acceptance of the fifth and final KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The aircraft was delivered to Defence at the Airbus Military MRTT facility at Madrid, Spain.
This aircraft, to be designated A39-005, is the fourth aircraft to be converted in Australia from a commercial A330 airliner to a state-of-the art military tanker by Qantas Defence Services (QDS) at Brisbane Airport. One aircraft was modified in Spain, and remains in Spain for testing of the military avionics and boom refuelling systems.
The final aircraft completed Australian conversion in July 2012 before being flown to Europe by Airbus Military to undergo painting and final preparation for delivery.
The aircraft will now be flown back by an all Australian crew to its home base at No. 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.
The excellent performance of the aircraft and crews at the recent Pitch Black exercises in Darwin has shown the good progress that has been made on the KC-30As.
Australia is the lead customer of the MRTT aircraft which integrates a new Advanced Refuelling Boom System and pod based hose and drogue refuelling system into a commercial Airbus A330 to create the world's most advanced tanker aircraft.
King Air Simulator
Minister Smith and Minister Clare also announced that CAE Australia (CAE) will provide Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350 simulator training services in Sale, Victoria.
CAE will establish a full-flight simulator of the King Air 350 operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The King Air 350 is a modern glass cockpit, twin-engine turboprop with two front seat crew capable of carrying up to four backseat crew or nine passengers.
The King Air is used to train students for low-level tactical fast-jet operations and maritime surveillance operations. Low-level tactical and maritime training flights are typically conducted 250 to 1000 feet above ground level.
The contract, worth $14.2 million, will provide over 1500 simulator hours each year through to the planned withdrawal of the King Air 350 in mid-2018.
CAE will also build the facility to house the simulator and provide training which is currently undertaken in the United States. This training has been done in CAE's Dallas Simuflite Training Centre because of a lack of such a facility in Australia.
Simulation is an increasingly important method of training for Defence personnel as combat systems become more complex.
Using simulator services in Australia will mean a greater training capability for the RAAF and savings of both time and money.
The simulator will be used by the RAAF's No. 32 Squadron and the School of Aviation Warfare to train pilots, air combat officers and Royal Australian Navy observers at RAAF Base East Sale.
The procurement of King Air Simulator Services is an important capability addition in the training of Australian Defence personnel.
The simulator and facility will be owned and operated by CAE Australia.
Naming of the new training squadron to operate the Navy's MH-60R 'Romeo' helicopters
Minister Smith and Minister Clare today also announced that the name of the new training squadron to operate the Navy's MH-60R 'Romeo' helicopters would be 725 Squadron.
725 Squadron will form as the operational training squadron, while 816 Squadron, which currently operates the S-70-B2 Seahawk, will transition to the MH-60R as the operational support squadron.
In June 2011, Government announced that 24 MH-60R "Romeo" naval combat helicopters and supporting systems would be acquired under Project AIR 9000 Phase 8.
Australia is the first foreign customer for the MH-60R helicopter which will offer the latest in anti-submarine and surface sensors and weapons, including the Mk 54 torpedo and the Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.
The designation 725 Squadron has been chosen as it has long lineage of helicopter and anti-submarine operations and training. Notable exploits of the Squadron include the rescue of sailors following the collision of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne with HMAS Voyager on the night of 10 February 1964, escort duties in the 1960s for HMAS Sydney in her resupply missions to Vietnam and flood relief operations in Nowra in July 1974 where the Fleet Air Arm rescued some 352 people.
The Squadron was last decommissioned on 27 December 1975.


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Ocean County health officials tell the Asbury Park Press that the state Public Health Environmental and Agricultural Laboratory performed the tests on the fox and released them to county officials on Tuesday.
The four-year-old girl suffered scratches on her arm, leg and lip in Saturday's attack, which occurred at a home in Lakewood. She will receive a rabies-prevention treatment for 14 days and officials will closely monitor her condition.
The fox hid under a deck after attacking the girl and it later tried to attack police officers. An officer then shot the fox to death.
The child's name has not been released.
Information from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press


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There's no better way to explore a place than by bike. In honour of our favorite two-wheeled travel companion, here are 10 trips around the world that should be on every cyclist's wish list.
1. Isle of Wight, England
The Isle of Wight is a cycling paradise that is home to some of the UK's most varied terrain: lush velvet hills rolling into the sea, narrow lanes through tidy hedgerows, deep and mysterious green gullies, and the island's most striking feature, the ridge of white chalk cliffs stretching across its breadth. Although cyclists have been enjoying its outdoor pleasures for decades now, it's only been in recent years that Wight has started to attract young and trendy Londoners looking for a romantic weekend by the sea with a buzz – which gastropubs, slick hotels and a calendar full of festivals now provide.
Wightlink passenger ferries sail from Portsmouth to Ryde pier throughout the day; fares vary for the 18-minute crossing but bikes are free.
By right, Tasmania should be too small to have huge pockets of wilderness, but untouched and untamed lands stretch along its fierce west coast. Cycling land this wild should not come easily and it doesn't, with the hill climbs queuing one after the other – you will notice them but not as much as the scenery, which takes in Tasmania's most famous mountain (Cradle Mountain), its cutest coastal town (Strahan), its highest waterfall (Montezuma Falls) and its most beautiful lake (Lake St Clair), all on highways that feel at times like back roads.
Tasmania is covered in detail in an excellent series of four maps produced by the state government's Information and Land Services Division.
Tackling hilly Luberon with a touring load might seem crazy, but several hundred kilometres of well-signed bike paths render it very enjoyable, as do ancient Roman ruins, medieval chateaux and ambrosial wines. This sun-drenched corner of Provence is a mix of manicured vineyards and ancient villages tumbling haphazardly down rocky slopes. Cool pine forests and blue fields of lavender stretch away on either side of the road. But the real goal here is legendary Mont Ventoux, scene of several Tour de France dramas, dominating the landscape and silently luring cyclist pilgrims to its summit.
Mont Ventoux is usually snow-covered above 1300m from December until May. The summit road is accessible only during the summer months.
The ferry conveying you and your trusty steed from Seattle or Anacortes weaves its way calmly, the perfect introduction to the slow, peaceful character of these islands. Awaiting you are forested shorelines, secluded coves, bucolic vistas and quiet roads. The three largest islands, Lopez, Orcas and San Juan, each have their own distinctive charm, with historic sites and art galleries. The terrain is hilly, but each can be cycled in a day, including plenty of time to watch for seals, otters, sea lions and the odd orca, or black-tailed deer and eagles further inland.
Washington State Ferries provides the main transport link between Anacortes and the islands. The Victoria Clipper runs from Seattle to Friday Harbor.
Beginning in fertile lowlands flanking the Shannon estuary, this route rolls past golden-sand beaches to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher facing the Atlantic. Next come the music hotbed towns of Milltown Malbay and Doolin, where you enter a pub only if you're in for the long haul – leaving before the last song is sung seems a monstrous breach of etiquette. From here progress to the relentlessly grey, yet captivating, limestone expanse of the Burren, reminiscent of a lunar landscape. Then take a sojourn into Yeats' country before sauntering back in a loop through County Clare's gentle patchwork countryside.
May and June are best for wildflowers in the Burren, while some accommodation opens only from June to August. Book well ahead during July and August.
Fascinating Cuba is a delight at helmet level. Try the spectacular 9km descent along the La Farola highway, from the crest of the Baracoa Mountains down to the south coast. The highway clings to cliffs hung in tropical vegetation, with guard rails protecting you from drop-to-nowhere gorges, before sweeping from one giant limestone ledge to the next, each turn providing a closer vista of wild open ocean. Built by the Revolutionary government, this magnificent mountain highway is an irresistible challenge for cyclists. Traditionally, the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista Cuba (Cuba's answer to the Tour de France) is run over this route.
Food options are minimal: be prepared to eat out of your panniers. It's also essential to carry your own bike equipment and first-aid supplies.
This iconic road runs the length of the narrow country from north to south. It is the most popular cycling route in Vietnam, a long but immensely rewarding trip along the best parts of Vietnam's coastline. The route has some reasonable hills, climaxing in the mighty Hai Van Pass (496m) – with a breathtaking descent as pine-clad mountains loom to the west and the South China Sea vanishes into the east. Take the time along the way to gaze at networks of lush rice fields blanketing the hidden valleys below; fish, snorkel or dive the turquoise waters of the coast; and soak up the atmosphere of delightful rural hamlets.
The Indochina Trekking Company, based in Hanoi, offers a variety of cycling adventures in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
With the first half decidedly laid-back and the second portion anything but, the mix of scenery and sweat make this one of the best one-day rides in the country. Starting from university-town Dunedin you soon shed the trappings of the city and succumb to the lure of the open road. The serpentine route twists pleasantly along the shore, providing tremendous ocean views, and the terrain is made for cycling. Then suddenly there's a sharp turn to the right and you're gaining altitude like a climbing fighter-jet. Get ready for steep climbs, fast descents and the odd albatross to keep you company. The route should be negotiable year-round whenever conditions are dry. However, you're less likely to suffer frozen extremities on descents outside June to August.
This justifiably renowned cycling route is best-known for the scenery – breathtaking rocky coastlines, the crystal clear Bras d'Or inland sea and the soaring ridges of the Cape Breton Highlands – especially in their autumn colours. But adventure-seekers will also be satisfied as gently rolling hills become invigorating mountains with some tough climbs and heart-thumping descents. Combined with local wildlife (such as beavers, moose and deer), quaint fishing villages, an intriguing Gaelic culture grown from French-Scottish roots and plenty of fresh ocean breezes, Cape Breton is the whole package.
The Celtic Colours roving music festival makes October a superb time to visit.
By cycling the often overlooked, yet spectacular, far reaches of the northeast corner of Italy, you have the opportunity to intimately discover this earthy region. Along roads that make for easy pedalling, Slovenian farmers tend their fields in the strong sun, rows of vines cling to voluptuous hill country, and you smell the freshly tilled earth and feel the wind cool the sweat from your face. Then in the evenings, relax in a piazza to sample the region's famous white wines and join the laidback locals for a chat. The route's icing on the cake is the final scenic jaunt down the Istrian coast.


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Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com A year that began with Nickelback 's Chad Kroeger doing a simple co-write on a song with pop star Avril Lavigne is ending with the pair engaged and planning their wedding. Now, Kroeger says he's expecting a ceremony that will probably be anything but traditional. Kroeger tells Men's Health magazine that he's taken a back seat while his bride-to-be plans a good portion of the wedding. He explained, "We [grooms] get such an incredibly small chunk in terms of what we can actually participate in … I get control over nothing. I just show up. But I'm glad, because she has … traversed these territories before. These are uncharted waters for me, so it's nice to have her to guide me through this." The frontman says he's quite impressed with what he's seen so far, adding, "She's got great ideas. I would have gone a little too traditional, I think, and she's giving it a real rock 'n' roll edge. The groomsmen won't be wearing piano neckties, (but) let's just say she's taking the bull by the horns and steering the ship towards what is going to be the most unique wedding that the planet has probably ever seen." Kroeger told the magazine that he never envisioned himself as a married man, but his relationship with Lavigne got him thinking otherwise. He adds, "Honestly, it was more my idea than hers to get married. I'm just lucky she said yes." Lavigne was previously married to Sum 41 's Deryck Whibley. Lavigne's current and former beaus recently had a humorous exchange over Whibley's decision with his current girlfriend to dress as the newly-engaged couple for Halloween. [button href="http://loudwire.com/chad-kroeger-and-avril-lavigne-wedding-night-playlist/" title="Next: A Suggested Chad Kroeger-Avril Lavigne Wedding Night Playlist" align="center"]
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Nickelback's Chad Kroeger Looking Forward to 'Most Unique Wedding the Planet Has Ever Seen'


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Smartphone manufacturers Micromax in India and Xiaomi in China have given the low-end segment a shake up with their latest products, and even if the devices don't go on sale around the world, their launches will likely be felt globally.
The impressive specs and aggressive pricing of the Micromax Yu Yuphoria and the Xiaomi Mi 4i will put pressure on phone makers Samsung Electronics and Motorola Mobility to step up their efforts in the segment for sub-$200 smartphones.
"It's more pain for the established vendors. These devices have the potential to reset customer expectations," said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight.
The Yu Yuphoria was launched on Tuesday in India. It's an LTE smartphone that will cost about $110 without a contract in that country. It has a 5-inch, 720 x 1280 pixel screen and a Snapdragon 410 processor. The specifications also include an 8-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, as well as 2GB of RAM and 16GB of integrated storage. While smartphones in this price category used to look as cheap as they were, the Yuphoria has a metal frame to help it look more premium.
The Xiaomi Mi 4i is more expensive at just above $200, but offers better specs. The 5-inch screen has a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution and the processor is Qualcomm's more powerful Snapdragon 615. The main camera has a 13-megapixel resolution. It, too, has a 5-megapixel front camera, LTE, 16GB of integrated storage and 2GB of RAM.
The two devices share another common feature: They leave competing devices in the dust by offering smartphone buyers more bang for their buck.
The second-generation Moto G from Motorola may have a 5-inch, 720 x 1280 pixel screen and an 8-megapixel camera just like the Yuphoria. But the front camera only has a 2-megapixel resolution, the amount of storage and RAM is half of what the Yuphoria has, and the price tag is still $170. There is also an LTE version available in some parts of the world that makes the price difference even larger.
Samsung's midrange smartphones also come off looking expensive in comparison. The Galaxy A5 is like the Mi 4i, an LTE smartphone with a 13-megapixel camera, 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. But it has the less powerful Snapdragon 410 under the hood and the 5-inch screen isn't full HD. Instead, users have to make do with 720 x 1280 pixels and still pay about $350.
Even if the newcomers offer great specs for little money, Samsung and Motorola think they have an edge.
"They hope they'll be able to command a premium for their brand, but that margin is being eroded all the time," Wood said.
The Yu Yuphoria and the Mi 4i are unlikely to go on sale in the U.S. and Europe, because Micromax and Xiaomi continue to focus on their respective home markets, along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Russia for Micromax, and India, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia for Xiaomi.
However, the repercussions will likely result in better products that will go on sale globally. Samsung is dependent on this segment of the market to keep its volumes up, so the company must come up with a competitive response, according to Wood. And Samsung sells its products in as many markets as it possibly can. With the exception of the second generation Moto G with LTE, Motorola has also shipped its affordable smartphones all over the world.
There are several reasons for the ascent of Micromax and Xiaomi. The biggest one is arguably that developing smartphones has become much easier, and companies no longer need a big research and development department.
"Virtually all phones are manufactured in China or Taiwan, and the ecosystem there is so ripe that everyone gets access to the same components and materials," Sanjay Kapoor, chairman at Micromax, said in an interview earlier this year. "So if you manage your overheads right, you can build world-class products."
Samsung and Motorola didn't immediately respond to questions about their future plans.
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