document.write('\x3col class=\x22tumblr_posts\x22\x3e\x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eBrilliant Engineering Applied to Parking \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_bookmarklet_entry\x22\x3e \x3cembed name=\x22box\x22 src=\x22http://www.woehr.de/en/projekte/budapest_m730/M730.swf\x22 type=\x22application/futuresplash\x22 height=\x22375\x22 quality=\x22high\x22 width=\x22500\x22 style=\x22\x22\x3e\x3c/embed\x3e\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_quote_citation\x22\x3evia \x3ca href=\x22http://www.woehr.de/en/projekte/budapest_m730/\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ewoehr.de\x3c/a\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp\x3eThis remarkable parking system is made by German company, W\u00f6hr Parking Systems.  Their site is at \x3ca href=\x22http://www.woehr.de\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://www.woehr.de\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ehttp://www.woehr.de\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x26#8212; why don\x26#8217;t we have these in USA?\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/brilliant-engineering-applied-to-parking\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/brilliant-engineering-applied-to-parking#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eLong Beach Rooftop View\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/AONJFmlDVMds8E2EfRjgzdpT7OKLQUCd1js9ba6dPCl4DIszjejN9qDzxKku/photo.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/0xG9s0tfeoqk3WvwNcPlclUIu9vOCs6ziGc060Zs4YZFmTyaDOfA6fCbA3Uq/photo.jpg.scaled.500.jpg\x22 width=\x22500\x22 height=\x22126\x22/\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3cp\x3eSent from my iPad\x3c/p\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/long-beach-rooftop-view\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/long-beach-rooftop-view#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eEmbarrassment of filth. Soon to be corrected. \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/rAcwobpAibecppygGxGowjqdurHcGsysttjecAynFrxdBuxvtjBjuvCbJakG/image.jpg.scaled1000.jpg\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/rAcwobpAibecppygGxGowjqdurHcGsysttjecAynFrxdBuxvtjBjuvCbJakG/image.jpg.scaled500.jpg\x22 width=\x22500\x22 height=\x22374\x22/\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/embarrassment-of-filth-soon-to-be-corrected\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/embarrassment-of-filth-soon-to-be-corrected#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_video_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_video\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cobject width=\x22400\x22 height=\x22325\x22\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22movie\x22 value=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/q9ZnwvyAk8k\x26amp;rel=0\x26amp;egm=0\x26amp;showinfo=0\x26amp;fs=1\x22\x3e\x3c/param\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22wmode\x22 value=\x22transparent\x22\x3e\x3c/param\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22allowFullScreen\x22 value=\x22true\x22\x3e\x3c/param\x3e\x3cembed src=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/q9ZnwvyAk8k\x26amp;rel=0\x26amp;egm=0\x26amp;showinfo=0\x26amp;fs=1\x22 type=\x22application/x-shockwave-flash\x22 width=\x22400\x22 height=\x22325\x22 allowFullScreen=\x22true\x22 wmode=\x22transparent\x22\x3e\x3c/embed\x3e\x3c/object\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_caption\x22\x3e\x0a                        \x3cp\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9ZnwvyAk8k\x26amp;feature=email\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eNew Apple Friend Bar Gives Customers Someone To Talk At About Mac Products\x3c/a\x3e (via \x3ca href=\x22http://youtube.com/user/TheOnion\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eTheOnion\x3c/a\x3e)\x3c/p\x3e\x0a                    \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3e\x26#8216;Virtual human\x26#8217; Milo comes out to play at TED in Oxford\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_bookmarklet_entry\x22\x3e \x3cobject height=\x22390\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22movie\x22 value=\x22http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/emp/external/player.swf\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowFullScreen\x22 value=\x22true\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowScriptAccess\x22 value=\x22always\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22FlashVars\x22 value=\x22config_settings_showUpdatedInFooter=true\x26amp;config_settings_skin=silver\x26amp;config=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fplayer%2Femp%2Fconfig%2Fdefault%2Exml%3F2%5F26%5F20959%5F21121%5F1%5F20100621093512\x26amp;config_settings_language=default\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutButton=false\x26amp;config_settings_showShareButton=true\x26amp;playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fmedia%2Femp%2F8070000%2F8078300%2F8078322%2Exml\x26amp;config_settings_showFooter=true\x26amp;config_widget_settings_widget=empstandard\x26amp;config_plugin_fmtjLiveStats_pageType=eav6\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutButton=false\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutCta=false\x26amp;config_settings_addReferrerToPlaylistRequest=true\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cembed allowfullscreen=\x22true\x22 src=\x22http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/emp/external/player.swf\x22 type=\x22application/x-shockwave-flash\x22 allowscriptaccess=\x22always\x22 height=\x22390\x22 flashvars=\x22config_settings_showUpdatedInFooter=true\x26amp;config_settings_skin=silver\x26amp;config=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fplayer%2Femp%2Fconfig%2Fdefault%2Exml%3F2%5F26%5F20959%5F21121%5F1%5F20100621093512\x26amp;config_settings_language=default\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutButton=false\x26amp;config_settings_showShareButton=true\x26amp;playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fmedia%2Femp%2F8070000%2F8078300%2F8078322%2Exml\x26amp;config_settings_showFooter=true\x26amp;config_widget_settings_widget=empstandard\x26amp;config_plugin_fmtjLiveStats_pageType=eav6\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutButton=false\x26amp;config_settings_showPopoutCta=false\x26amp;config_settings_addReferrerToPlaylistRequest=true\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3c/embed\x3e\x3c/object\x3e    \x3cblockquote\x3e\x3cdiv\x3e  \x3cspan\x3e  \x3cspan\x3eBy Jonathan Fildes\x3c/span\x3e\x3cbr/\x3e\x3cspan\x3eTechnology reporter, BBC News, Oxford\x3c/span\x3e  \x3c/span\x3e      \x3cdiv\x3e  \x0a\x3cdiv\x3e  \x09\x09\x09  \x09\x3cdiv\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/questions/bbc_online/adverts_general\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eAdvertisement\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/div\x3e    \x09  \x09    \x3cp\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e        \x3cp\x3eMilo made his world debut in 2009 at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles\x3c/p\x3e    \x3c/div\x3e        \x3cp\x3eMicrosoft has shown off its \x26#8220;virtual human\x26#8221; that reacts to a person\x26#8217;s emotions, body movements and voice.  \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eMilo, as he is known, is designed for use with the firm\x26#8217;s hands-free Xbox 360 motion controller called Kinect.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe technology is the brainchild of veteran UK games designer Peter Molyneux. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;I want to introduce a new revolution in storytelling,\x26#8221; he told the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Global conference in Oxford. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;Films, TV, even hallowed books, are just rubbish because they don\x26#8217;t involve me,\x26#8221; he said. \x26#8220;It\x26#8217;s a sea of blandness.\x26#8221;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eMr Molyneux said that he wanted to create a character \x26#8220;that seemed alive, that would look me in the eyes, and feel real\x26#8221;. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cspan\x3eHidden technology\x3c/span\x3e      \x3cp\x3eMilo was first shown off in a demo at the E3 expo in 2009, but has not been seen since. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;There was a huge row online about that with people saying \x26#8216;this can\x26#8217;t be real\x26#8217;,\x26#8221; Mr Molyneux said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe live demonstration used Microsoft\x26#8217;s soon-to-be released Kinect controller, which uses a series of sensors, cameras and microphones to interpret a player\x26#8217;s intentions. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe demo was conducted by an assistant, who showed Milo exploring a garden, learning to skim stones and finally confiding in him after being told off by his parents.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;We\x26#8217;re changing the mind of Milo constantly,\x26#8221; he said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;No two people\x26#8217;s Milos can be the same - you are actually sculpting a human being. Some of the things you are doing will change the course of his life.\x26#8221;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cspan style=\x22\x22\x3e  \x3cimg src=\x22http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48342000/jpg/_48342806_petermolyneux.jpg\x22 height=\x22170\x22 alt=\x22Peter Molyneux \x22 width=\x22226\x22/\x3e    Peter Molyneux\x26#8217;s first game was a text-based business simulation game in 1984  \x3c/span\x3e  \x3cp\x3eMr Molyneux said Milo had been built using artificial intelligence developed by his firm Lionhead studios, along with technology that was \x26#8220;hidden in the dusty vaults of Microsoft\x26#8221;. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eHe said the system exploited psychological techniques to make a person feel that Milo was real. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eIn addition, software allowed \x26#8220;complete control\x26#8221; over subtle facial elements such as blushing and even the diameter of Milo\x26#8217;s nostrils, which he said could denote stress. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;Most of it is just a trick - but it is a trick that actually works,\x26#8221; he said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eDuring the demonstration, the player egged Milo on to squash a snail in the garden. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eMr Molyneux said that commands such as these were interpreted by Milo using voice-recognition software along with a database that attempted to interpret the players intonation and meaning. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThese seemingly inconsequential events could also impact on Milo\x26#8217;s later life and development in the game, he said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe demonstration showed the initial stages of the game, where players learn to interact with Milo.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;After three-quarters of a hour, he recognises you,\x26#8221; said Mr Molyneux.  \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;I can promise you that if you are sitting in front of this screen, that is a truly wonderful moment.\x26#8221;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eHe said that the later stages of the game, which were not shown, allowed a player to explore the landscape with Milo more freely. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;There are lots of adventures - some of which are quite dark,\x26#8221; he said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eAt the moment, the technology is still in development and Microsoft has no plans to release it, he said. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eHowever, he hinted that the game was designed to be used for millions of people and therefore could one day become a commercial product. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;His mind is based in the cloud,\x26#8221; he told the audience. \x26#8220;As millions of people use it, Milo will get smarter.\x26#8221;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cspan\x3e\x26#8216;Good news\x26#8217;\x3c/span\x3e      \x3cp\x3eMr Molyneux showed off the technology at TED Global (Technology, Entertainment and Design), the European version of an established US event.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe invitation-only conferences explore \x26#8220;ideas worth spreading\x26#8221; and have featured talks by the former UK prime minister Gordon Brown and Nobel laureates as well as lesser-known technologists and designers.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThis theme of this year\x26#8217;s event is, \x26#8220;and now the good news\x26#8221;.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;Good news has become a near-extinct species,\x26#8221; said Bruno Giussani, European director of TED at the opening of the conference. \x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3e\x26#8220;But if you dig deeper, there is new technology, new science, new art, new ways of collaborating that offer a more hopeful view of the future.\x26#8221;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eInvited speakers at this year\x26#8217;s TED include a voting system designer, a women\x26#8217;s rights activist, a green chef and a physicist who runs a lab that aims to allow anyone to make almost anything.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eEach is given 18 minutes in front of the audience.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThis year\x26#8217;s conference runs from 13 to 16 July in Oxford, UK.\x3c/p\x3e    \x3c/div\x3e\x3c/blockquote\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_quote_citation\x22\x3evia \x3ca href=\x22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10623423.stm\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3enews.bbc.co.uk\x3c/a\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp\x3eTruly remarkable demo. Sort of scary in a way. \x3cbr/\x3efrom BBC News\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/virtual-human-milo-comes-out-to-play-at-ted-i\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/virtual-human-milo-comes-out-to-play-at-ted-i#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eBest Phishing Scam Email Ever\x26#8230;\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cp\x3e\x3cdiv\x3eHELO DEAR\x26#8230;\x26#8230;\x26#8230;\x3c/div\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv\x3eBOA.BANK OF AFRICA NEED YOU TO COME AND TAKE YOUR REMEN BARLANCE OF Us$500,000,00.DOLLARS, IT IS VERY AN URGENT FOR US TO INFORM YOU BECAUSE OF AFTER THIS YEAR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WILL BE BLOCK AND ENTER INTO DURMANT ACCOUNT AND WE HAS TRY THE PHONE NUMBER WE SAW IN YOU FERILY DOCUMENT BUT THE NUMBER IS NO LONGER IN USE\x3cbr/\x3eAS SOON AS I SEE YOUR REPLY I WILL TRANSFER YOUR MONEY TO YOU \x3cbr/\x3eTHANKS DR.SEKOU SYLLA\x3c/div\x3e\x0a\x3cbr class=\x22final-break\x22 style=\x22clear: both\x22/\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eHey, Hold the Phone!! (Like\x26nbsp;this\x26#8230;) - AntennaSys Blog Post\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_bookmarklet_entry\x22\x3e \x3cblockquote\x3e\x3cdiv\x3e          \x3cp\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://www.antennasys.com/storage/images/_DSC2948.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1277604778711\x22 height=\x22266\x22 alt=\x22\x22 width=\x22400\x22/\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22\x22\x3ePhoto by Steve Golson\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eI hit a nerve on Friday. \u00a0\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe iPhone 4 antenna controversy was way bigger than I realized. The traffic to this site was incredible, and the extent of the blogs and news sites that picked up my comments was humbling. \u00a0I also did four telephone interviews, including the \x3ca href=\x22http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/06/25/the-vulcan-iphone-pinch-the-right-way-to-hold-your-phone/\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWall Street Journal\x3c/a\x3e - they asked for photos, so we had some fun. \u00a0And yes, I did call it the \x26#8220;Vulcan iPhone Pinch\x26#8221;. \u00a0And no, Leonard Nimoy has not called.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eI received many emails, too. \u00a0The overwhelming tone of the email was very friendly; I wish I could respond to all of them immediately, but I am afraid that will have to wait. \u00a0I will try to touch on the topics raised in some of the emails in this blog entry.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eFirst off, I still don\x26#8217;t have my iPhone 4 yet. \u00a0Sigh. \u00a0I am waiting patiently, so keep in mind that all my comments are based upon my experience with designing embedded antennas, and not with the specific antennas in question. \u00a0I promise to post my first-hand experiences here once mine arrives. \u00a0Also, I don\x26#8217;t have any Apple-specific information that you don\x26#8217;t have access to. \u00a0I am not a consultant to Apple, and have never been; I don\x26#8217;t even play one on TV. \u00a0I don\x26#8217;t have an axe to grind. \u00a0Nor an iPhone 4 to play with. \u00a0But, I digress\x26#8230;\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eI have seen mention of the electrical tape fix, the scotch tape fix, the bumper case fix, even the short-the-other slot fix on various web sites. \u00a0The important thing to realize is that we are dealing with radio frequency (RF) currents in the antenna, not direct current (DC) as you will find in a flashlight, for example. \u00a0If you place a thin insulator (tape) across the \x26#8220;gap\x26#8221; and over the \x26#8220;band\x26#8221; on the iPhone 4, I would not expect that to make a very big difference. \u00a0With such a thin insulator you are effectively preventing a short at DC (zero Hertz), but at the RF frequencies involved (around 1GHz, or one billion Hertz) you are just making a large capacitor. \u00a0A capacitor is fundamentally two conducting plates separated by an insulator. \u00a0When the capacitance is high enough (plates big, insulator thin) at the frequencies in question, it looks just like a short circuit. \u00a0So, I would not expect tape to create any improvement when the Grip Of Death is used (see photo).\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eWhen I was on the phone with the WSJ, I explained the two distinct effects that holding the phone over the antennas will impart: detuning and attenuation. \u00a0\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eDetuning can be understood by imagining a wine glass that is empty. \u00a0If we tap the glass with a fork, the glass will ring, or resonate, at some frequency. \u00a0If we put some wine in it (or apple cider, since I don\x26#8217;t imbibe) the resonant frequency will change and in this case increase. \u00a0This is the same for antennas. \u00a0Antennas are generally resonant at their frequencies of operation, and when we put our hand over them we \x26#8220;load\x26#8221; them with the dielectric of our bag of salty water. \u00a0This lowers the resonant frequency of the antenna and may make it harder to squirt energy into it at the frequency we want. \u00a0If the antenna is particularly narrow-band, it may \x26#8220;kill\x26#8221; it completely. \u00a0Generally, physically small (compared to a wavelength) antennas are narrow-band and large antennas \x3cem\x3emay\x3c/em\x3e be wide-band. \u00a0This is why detuning is the first detrimental effect of putting your hand on an antenna. \u00a0Any antenna.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe second effect is attenuation, or loss. \u00a0Your hand is a dielectric, meaning it concentrates electric fields more than air. \u00a0This factor is called the dielectric constant, and for your hand is pretty high, like 12 or 20 or so. \u00a0It depends on your diet and BMI, so it\x26#8217;s kind of personal and I don\x26#8217;t want to make anyone uncomfortable by dwelling on it; the important thing is to be healthy. \u00a0Oh\x26#8230; right\x26#8230;. so this is what detunes the antenna. \u00a0But, your hand is also conductive, but not perfectly so. \u00a0So you WILL get a shock if you stick your thumb in a light socket, and I don\x26#8217;t recommend it. \u00a0This not-so-perfect conductor is what we call \x26#8220;lossy\x26#8221;. \u00a0RF energy impinging upon your hand (or head) is partially going to be turned into heat. \u00a0This is the SAR we were talking about, and you may have heard of. \u00a0This leads to an attenuation (reduction) in the signal being radiated into space by the antenna. \u00a0This is the other bad thing that happens to hand-wrapped antennas. \u00a0Once turned to heat, the RF energy is gone. \u00a0Just ask your dinner in the microwave.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eSo, \x3cem\x3edetuning\x3c/em\x3e causes problems with squeezing energy from the circuitry into the antenna (or vice versa), and \x3cem\x3eattenuation\x3c/em\x3e causes problems with losing energy to heat.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eThe so-called bumper case is a much thicker insulator (or dielectric) than a piece of tape. It pushes the lossy dielectric (your hand) further away, significantly reducing the capacitance. \u00a0I would expect this to reduce the detuning effect, but \x3cem\x3enot\x3c/em\x3e the attenuating effect. \u00a0Will it help? \u00a0You betcha\x26#8217;. \u00a0However, it is a tradeoff: pushing a very high dielectric constant but lossy material away, and substituting it with a lower dielectric constant material. \u00a0If I were a betting man, I would guess that the dielectric constant of the materials used is about 3.3. \u00a0So, it still will load the antenna, but not as much; and \x3cem\x3eit is entirely possible that this was taken into consideration in the design of the antenna\x3c/em\x3e. \u00a0Since I have had a case on my Primordial iPhone since it was new, I expect to do the same with the iPhone 4. \u00a0When it gets here. \u00a0Any time now.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eNow I want to rant a bit about the \x26#8220;experimental method\x26#8221; people have been using. \u00a0The iPhone 4 was out for roughly 24 hours before people were publishing the results of \x26#8220;tests\x26#8221; proving that it had inferior performance. \u00a0At my company, when I get to hook my fancy laboratory gear up to my client\x26#8217;s equipment in very controlled circumstances I can\x26#8217;t do it that fast. \u00a0Folks, there are a couple of reasons that you need to give this product some time before jumping to conclusions. \u00a0\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eFirst, we have no earthly idea what those little bars in the upper left corner of our screen really represent, yet we are staring at them like they\x26#8217;re going to help us find out what those damn numbers on \x3cem\x3eLOST\x3c/em\x3e meant. \u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://steve.grc.com/2010/06/26/iphone-4-external-antenna-problem/\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eSteve Gibson of Gibson Research (grc.com)\x3c/a\x3e did a great piece on the meaning of the signal bars; I am a huge fan of his, and his measured approach to technical challenges are worthy of our respect. \u00a0We don\x26#8217;t know what the bars mean, beyond more is better and less is \x26#8230; less better. \u00a0We also don\x26#8217;t have a handle on the time constant of the bars, which is to say we don\x26#8217;t know when the bars change with respect to when the signal changes. \u00a0And worse, we don\x26#8217;t know if it\x26#8217;s consistent. \u00a0After all, it\x26#8217;s controlled by software.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eSecondly, the cellular system is composed of many cell sites. \u00a0While you are making observations, you have no idea whether your iPhone is staying on one cell site, or switching between several. \u00a0This will completely obfuscate any measurements, even if you decided that the bars are useful. \u00a0In the good old days, when cell phones worked on steam, there was usually a service screen you can hack your way to which would show which site you\x26#8217;re on, and how strong it was in real engineering terms (dBm). \u00a0I have never seen that capability on the iPhone (but, I didn\x26#8217;t look too hard). \u00a0Such a capability would be hugely helpful in our experiments.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eSo, how do we evaluate the performance with these limitations? \u00a0The answer is: over more time, in more situations. \u00a0You need to observe more bars in more places. \u00a0(I know, cheap shot.) \u00a0Give it a couple of weeks. \u00a0Use it like you used your last phone. \u00a0If it doesn\x26#8217;t make you happy, return it to Apple. \u00a0But, give it a chance, and 24 hours ain\x26#8217;t it.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eSeveral reporters wrote that I \x26#8220;blame the FCC for the iPhone antenna problems.\x26#8221; \u00a0Well, I did say \x26#8220;it\x26#8217;s the FCC\x26#8217;s fault\x26#8221;, but I was a bit glib. \u00a0It\x26#8217;s the whole process that drives the design (I did say that, too), and part of that process is the tests the phones must pass. \u00a0And the FCC could care less whether your phone drops your calls in the middle of a conversation or not; they care about protecting the \x26#8220;spectrum\x26#8221; and safety. \u00a0AT\x26amp;T does care about efficiency, but they assume your hand is made of styrofoam. \u00a0Apple cares about striking a balance between product coolness (you\x26#8217;ll buy it) and product efficacy (you\x26#8217;ll keep it). \u00a0All of these pressures lead a product to the end point. \u00a0And then the unpredictable takes over anyway, so enjoy the ride.\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eSo, why didn\x26#8217;t Apple do it differently? \u00a0That\x26#8217;s a question I thought about through several showers. \u00a0I have finally boiled it down to one thing: any performance improvement would have made the iPhone 4 bigger. \u00a0Period. \u00a0Apple is putting ten pounds of stuff in a five-pound bag. \u00a0Put air space around the antenna to make it less sensitive to the presence of the human hand? \u00a0Fuggetaboutit. \u00a0Air doesn\x26#8217;t sell phones. \u00a0Gyroscopes, accelerometers, high resolution screens, multiple cellular carrier capability (did I say that?), and big batteries\x26#8230;. that\x26#8217;s what the people want. \u00a0\x3c/p\x3e  \x3cp\x3eYou just gotta hold it like this.\x3c/p\x3e  \x0a\x3c/div\x3e\x3c/blockquote\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_quote_citation\x22\x3evia \x3ca href=\x22http://www.antennasys.com/antennasys-blog/2010/6/26/hey-hold-the-phone-like-this.html\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eantennasys.com\x3c/a\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp\x3eThis guy is maybe the only guy I believe and trust in this whole hubbub about the new iPhone 4.  A phone which I find to work better than any phone I\x26#8217;ve owned.  Great read.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/hey-hold-the-phone-like-this-antennasys-blog\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/hey-hold-the-phone-like-this-antennasys-blog#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eFacebook is a Stupid Idiot (David Ippolito)\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_bookmarklet_entry\x22\x3e \x3cobject height=\x22417\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22movie\x22 value=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/zDHb4wewAIQ\x26amp;hl=en\x26amp;fs=1\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22wmode\x22 value=\x22window\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowFullScreen\x22 value=\x22true\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowscriptaccess\x22 value=\x22always\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cembed allowfullscreen=\x22true\x22 src=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/zDHb4wewAIQ\x26amp;hl=en\x26amp;fs=1\x22 wmode=\x22window\x22 allowscriptaccess=\x22always\x22 type=\x22application/x-shockwave-flash\x22 height=\x22417\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3c/embed\x3e\x3c/object\x3e    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_quote_citation\x22\x3evia \x3ca href=\x22http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHb4wewAIQ\x26amp;feature=player_embedded#!\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eyoutube.com\x3c/a\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp\x3eI love Ippolito\x26#8217;s work and this one is great!\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/facebook-is-a-stupid-idiot-david-ippolito-0\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/facebook-is-a-stupid-idiot-david-ippolito-0#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eNokia\x26#8217;s E71 Cannot Be Held at All and Get Reception!\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_bookmarklet_entry\x22\x3e \x3cobject height=\x22392\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3cparam name=\x22movie\x22 value=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/amPG52DVQuk\x26amp;hl=en_US\x26amp;fs=1\x26amp;rel=0\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowFullScreen\x22 value=\x22true\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cparam name=\x22allowscriptaccess\x22 value=\x22always\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cembed src=\x22http://www.youtube.com/v/amPG52DVQuk\x26amp;hl=en_US\x26amp;fs=1\x26amp;rel=0\x22 allowfullscreen=\x22true\x22 type=\x22application/x-shockwave-flash\x22 allowscriptaccess=\x22always\x22 height=\x22392\x22 width=\x22500\x22\x3e\x3c/embed\x3e\x3c/object\x3e\x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_quote_citation\x22\x3evia \x3ca href=\x22http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/nokia-muses-on-grip-styles-says-you-can-hold-your-phone-any-wa/\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eengadget.com\x3c/a\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp\x3eNokia muses on grip styles, says you can hold your phone \x26#8216;any way you like\x26#8217; \x26#8212; Engadget (seems that Nokia is eating their own dog food).\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3c/div\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/nokias-e71-cannot-be-held-at-all-and-get-rece\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/nokias-e71-cannot-be-held-at-all-and-get-rece#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eMy low-budget iPad holder, as I\x26#8217;ve yet to find the perfect solution for me. (repost)\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22posterous_autopost\x22\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/otlemjInIhnzbzAsbDIrpHJBimoexzcyEqFtcdufiHctfpthHwphdvcCkkbk/image.jpg.scaled1000.jpg\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/psimac/otlemjInIhnzbzAsbDIrpHJBimoexzcyEqFtcdufiHctfpthHwphdvcCkkbk/image.jpg.scaled500.jpg\x22 width=\x22500\x22 height=\x22669\x22/\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3cp style=\x22font-size: 10px;\x22\x3e \x3ca href=\x22http://posterous.com\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3ePosted via email\x3c/a\x3e  from \x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/my-low-budget-ipad-holder-as-ive-yet-to-find\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3eWoolgatherings\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0|\u00a0\x3ca href=\x22http://psimac.posterous.com/my-low-budget-ipad-holder-as-ive-yet-to-find#comment\x22 target=\x22_blank\x22\x3e\x3cspan style=\x22font-size: 11px\x22\x3eComment\x26#160;\u00bb\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/a\x3e \x3c/p\x3e \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a\x3c/ol\x3e');