Chemtrails

What are chemtrails, and should you be scared of them?

The trail of clouds that billow from anairplane streaking across the sky can be mesmerizing for children and adults alike. Jet engine traffic has become so common that it's not unusual to see several lingering streaks in the afternoon. And though many consider the streaks beautiful against a bright blue sky, others are alarmed about them. Concerns range from the idea that these streaks could exacerbate global warming to more elaborate theories that the government has secretly been dumping harmful substances on the land.

Before we get into the various theories about the possible harmful effects, let's discuss the scientific explanation for these streaks. Jet engines spew out very hot air. And, because water vapor is one of the byproducts of the exhaust, the air is also very humid. However, high in the atmosphere where these jets fly, the air is typically very cold -- often lower than -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the atmosphere up there is often of low vapor pressure, or the force exerted by a gas on the surrounding environment.


When a jet engine is spewing out hot, humid air into an atmosphere that is cold and has low vapor pressure, the result is condensation. The water vapor coming out of the engine quickly condenses into water droplets and then crystallizes into ice. The ice crystals are the clouds that form behind the engine. This is why the streaks are calledcontrails, short for "condensation trails." To help explain it, scientists liken it to seeing your breath on cold days. You may have noticed that puffs of breath dissipate quickly on dryer days. The same is true of contrails: When the atmosphere is more humid, the contrails linger, but when the atmosphere is dry, the contrails disappear more quickly.

This explanation makes sense. But, as author and airline pilot Patrick Smith tells readers, the contrails consist of not just ice crystals and water vapor but also other byproducts of engine exhaust. These include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfate particles and soot [source: Smith]. Some point out that these, in addition to the extra cloud cover, can have negative environmental effects. And conspiracy theorists have nicknamed contrails "chemtrails" under the suspicion that the government is taking advantage of this scientific phenomenon to secretly release other substances into the atmosphere.

The Chemtrail Conspiracy Theories

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet on contrails explains that contrails, even long-lasting ones, are simply trails of condensation and are not harmful. However, conspiracy theorists have become suspicious that the contrails expelled from jets today are thicker and linger longer than they did in the past. So, while they accept that contrails are a natural byproduct of jet engines, their suspicion is that the government has since used that excuse to put other substances in them, creating chemtrails. In addition, conspiracy theorists latch on to anecdotal evidence that connect epidemics of flulike symptoms to instances of contrails. Those who believe that there's something fishy about contrails have come up with several theories to explain what the government could be covering up.

One of the more extreme theories says that the government is intentionally spraying people with harmful substances in order to experiment with the effects -- or even to "weed out" the sick and elderly. However, many dismiss these theories on the grounds that such experiments would be of no real use. They say that the "chemtrails" would be released so high in the atmosphere that unpredictable winds would move them around significantly, making such experiments worthless and unreliable [source: Hodpadd]. Others speculate that the government is dumping barium salt aerosol on the land in order to assist in radar mapping for defense purposes [source: Knight].

Still others believe that the government could be experimenting with weather manipulation for defense purposes. This actually isn't as much of a stretch as it may seem. As long ago as the 1950s, the British were able to successfully "seed" clouds with salt, dry ice and silver iodide to make rain (see the sidebar on this page). It would seem that weather manipulation, then, is a very possible and effective military defense tactic. Conspiracy theorists believe it might have connections to HAARP, the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, which studies the atmosphere to advance communication and navigation systems.

Another popular theory is that chemtrails are well-intentioned attempts by the government to combat global warming or the depletion of the ozone layer by spraying particles to reflect the sun's radiation. However, if this is true, it's ironic that (non-conspiracy theorist) environmentalists blame contrails for polluting the skies. They say that jet traffic has become so bad that the sheer cloud cover from contrails, which can be seen from space, has been negatively affecting the environment, possibly contributing to global warming.

So, whether you consider the conspiracy hype healthy skepticism or paranoia, contrails are certainly an area of concern for the environment.

Google Glass

Google Glass mysteries revealed!

Finally: This week a long list of announcements and revelations about Google's cyborg eyewear were made.


Computerworld - Google co-founder Sergey Brin has been yakking about Google Glass for more than two years. Yet until this week, we didn't know even the most basic facts about the platform.

Google spilled some beans in an earnings call this week. The company also published facts about the hardware, software and licensing. And finally, users started receiving actual units, and have been blabbing about them on social media.

Here's what we've learned and what it all means.
Who's using Google Glass

First, the lucky winners: Google held a contest calling on people to tell why they wanted Google Glass. Google picked 8,000 people for their Glass Explorer program. The gadgets aren't free: They'll still have to pay $1,500 for the device.

That price is not necessarily the price consumers will pay for the shipping product when it does ship; no retail pricing has been announced.

At Googe's June developer conference last year, called Google I/O, Google offered to sell Glass to any attendee. Approximately 2,000 developers who purchased those units (on Amazon.com) have not received them yet, but are expected to in the coming weeks. Google won't charge those credit cards until the hardware ships.

By the time Google's next I/O conference begins, there should be about 10,000 people outside of Google itself in the possession of Google Glass devices. (Google's next I/O starts May 14. Google is expected to make Glass development a focus of the event.)

Google Glass may cause eyestrain or a headache, according to the Google Glass FAQ. Google says Glass is "not for children," and that "Google's terms of service don't permit those under 13 to register a Google account."

The hardware

Google Glass is a headset worn like glasses that has a projector for beaming images into the wearer's right eye, creating an illusion equivalent to viewing "a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away." That beaming of images happens by way of a prism, which bounces the light from the tiny projector into the prism and from there into the eye. The prism is clear, so looking through it shows both the projected image and also the normal field of vision. Users have to look up and to the right a little to see the Google Glass display.

Glass has 16 GB of RAM, 12 GB of which are usable for apps.

Sound is relayed to the user's eardrum not into the ears but via bone conduction through the skull.

Glass has a built-in microphone, which does a good job of picking up the voice of the wearer, but strains to capture sounds farther away. This is probably by design for both the privacy of non-wearers and also to improve the voice recognition of the user.

The right side of the Google Glass hardware is a touchpad, which enables users to control the device by tapping or swiping.

Glass connects to the Internet and any Bluetooth-capable phone via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The battery should enable a day of moderate use on each charge, according to Google. However, using the video feature drains the battery much faster. One user estimated that a video recording of less than seven minutes drained about 20% of the battery power.

The camera takes 5-megapixel pictures and 720p video.

Glass comes with a Micro USB cable and a charger.

It comes in five colors: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton and Sky.

The software

Glass runs Android, according to an earnings-call comment by Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page this week, although almost certainly a custom version of Android rather than the same version that runs on smartphones. In other words, Android smartphone apps won't run on Glass, and (presumably) Glass apps won't run on Android smartphones.

Glass comes with an Android-only app called MyGlass, which among other things enables SMS and GPS messaging. MyGlass for other phone platforms could come later.

An analysis of MyGlass reveals multi-player game support, although it's possible that it's there for Android in general rather than Glass in particular.

Developers can create apps, which Google calls "Glassware," using Java or Python plus what's called the "Google Mirror API," and a set of services called "RESTful" for conveying messages to and from the Glass devices.

How it works

The Google Glass user interface is based on "cards" -- discreet chunks of information similar to cards on Google Now -- and these exist in a timeline, which users can navigate via a swiping gesture on the touchpad.

"Cards" are created by developers who write software for Glass and are pushed to Glass via the apps they build and which users can "install." Cards can stay in place in the timeline, or can be "pinned" by the user so they remain accessible as time goes by.

In addiction to information, the cards can offer simple user interaction and can be shared between Glass users.

Users can capture pictures and video through the camera with voice commands or by tapping the touchpad.
Users initiate voice commands by saying "OK, Glass," which "wakes up" the device and prompts it to accept voice input.
By saying "take a picture," "get directions to" or "make a call to" users can command Glass to function in these limited ways. Voice commands can also enable users to Start a Google+ hangout, use Google Now, search the Internet, translate language, get the weather and find out flight information.If you make a call or send an email or text message, that communication happens not by Glass alone, but through a smartphone.

The terms of service

Google Mirror API Terms of Service were published this week. Google isbanning for early users the resale, loan or transfer of a Glass device without Google's permission. Google reserves the right to remotely de-activate the devices and not give accused violators a refund.

Google is banning monetization by app developers: No charging for apps, no advertising.
Glassware apps don't run on the Glasses, but in the cloud.
No retail ship date or price has been announced, but prognosticators say it could go on sale by the end of this year at the earliest or the end of next year at the latest.

What these facts tell us

Overall, the facts we learned this week tell us that Google is taking a very conservative, controlling approach to the platform.

Instead of flooding the device with features and functions, it's limited to a few common, powerful features. Instead of releasing it to the public, Google is allowing only 10,000 initial users and banning them from selling or sharing the devices.

In other words, Google is taking something of an Apple approach to the new product, which is the right way to go for a product as "different" as Google Glass.
So now that you know what Google Glass is all about, are you interested in buying one for yourself? If not, why not?

iPhone 6

iPhone 6 Concept Brings 4.8-inch, No Home Button Prototype to Life.

A new iPhone 6 concept shows a beautifully rendered iPhone 6 with a 4.8-inch display, no home button and an iPad mini inspired design.

The iPhone 6 concept shows us what an iPhone 6 prototype tumored back in December might look like. According to Jeffries analyst Peter Misek, Apple is working on a large screen iPhone 6 with no home button and a quad-core processor.

Steve Hemmerstoffer of nowhereelse.fr teamed up with talented designer Martin Hajek to design the iPhone 6, and a larger iPhone 6 that could take on phablets and smartphones with increasingly large screens.

This iPhone 6 concept isn’t quite as large as the Galaxy Note 2, but would compete nicely with the rumored 4.99-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy S4, the 4.8-inch display on the HTC One and the 5-inch display on the Sony Xperia Z.

In a photo heavy post, Hemmerstoffer shares two new iPhone 6 concepts which show another look at how Apple could deliver a large screen smartphone without dramatically increasing the size of the iPhone. The idea is simple, and their solution to controlling an iPhone with no home button is also simple; incorporate the trackpad design from the Macbook to deliver a clickable touch screen.

The solution certainly looks more elegant than the side-mounted home button we saw on an iPhone 6 concept with a massive display earlier this month. By removing the home button, the iPhone 6 is actually smaller than the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 6 with a 4.8-inch display is nearly the same size as the iPhone 5.

This design would solve many of the complaints of large smartphones, allowing Apple to offer an iPhone with a bigger screen, without burdening users with a phone that is too large to carry or too large to hold, at least in the eyes of users accustomed to 3.5-inch and 4-inch screens.

The idea to replace the home button with a click pad is interesting, especially with the idea that users can use it higher up on the screen. This would offer a larger touch target, but could prove troublesome for gamers who mash down on a games’ on-screen buttons.

The idea of a screen with an integrated clickpad is not new. The BlackBerry Storm and Storm 2 used a clickable screen, which was widely panned by reviewers and users.

In this iPhone 6 concept we see an overall look like the iPad mini and the new iPod touch. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 with a 4.8-inch display feature anodized aluminum backs with 4-inch and 4.8-inch clickable displays.

We expect the iPhone 5S release before the iPhone 6 arrives, and current rumors point to an iPhone 5S release in June or late summer, though nothing is set in stone.

Other rumors suggest Apple is planning an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 6, both set for a release in 2013. This wouldn’t be the first time Apple announced two iPhones in one year (Verizon iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S), but it would mark the first time the company announced 2 completely new iPhone models in one year.

New iOS 7 Concept Design Shows New Lockscreen, Widgets

As the inevitable launch of iOS 7 draws near, designers are releasing concepts of what they think it should look like, adding in features like widgets that Apple doesn’t have in its current mobile OS.

The newest iOS 7 concept comes from designer Frederico Bianco, and unlike some other concepts it doesn’t completely reinvent iOS, it just adds a few new features. Bianco’s concept shows off an enhanced lockscreen, new notifications, widgets, a new Settings menu and a new Mission Control for multitasking.

Much of Bianco’s design borrows from concepts that are already in iOS 6 or OS X, it just brings them to more apps and the homescreen of the iPhone and iPad. The design also borrows a few details from Android phones, though not many.

Lockscreen

The new lockscreen in Bianco’s iOS 7 concept looks just like the lockscreen in iOS 6, but it has a few added functions. In the concept users can change out the camera shortcut to one of a few other apps. The example used in the video is the dialer. With it, users can simply swipe up to get to the phone app and make calls instantly. There are some security issues there, however, as it would leave the user’s contacts easily available.

The top of the lockscreen also has a few enhancements. The concept lets users swipe to the left to access a few settings including airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Do Not Disturb. The last one is particularly useful so users can set Do Not Disturb without unlocking a phone, exiting an app, opening Settings and then turning the feature on.

Notifications

Notifications in Bianco’s concept look very similar to notifications in iOS 6, though the pop-up is white instead of the clear blue Apple uses. The added feature here is the ability to reply without opening Messages. This method just opens a text field that looks just like the field iOS uses for Tweets and Facebook status updates.

There is a chance for improvement here (something akin to Facebook Home Chat Heads would be nice), but even this simple implementation is better than replying to SMS messages or iMessages in iOS 6.

Widgets

Bianco’s iOS 7 concept adds widgets to iOS, while still maintaining the current grid of icons. Widgets don’t take up space on the screen, but instead appear above or below the app like Newsstand currently does.

In the concept users can access widgets for the Music, Calendar, Weather and App Store apps by double tapping their respective icons. The method seems strange at first, as it may make opening apps a bit slower and average users may not realize the feature is there. Even with such an awkward way of opening widgets, they’re still a welcome addition to iOS which still looks and acts mostly the same as it did in 2007.

Mission Control

Multitasking is something every design likes to take a shot at redesigning. Like many previous concepts, Bianco’s iOS 7 concept brings the OS X concept of Mission Control to iOS for multitasking.

Opening multitasking on the iPhone zooms out to show apps laid over the iOS homescreen with options to open a particular homescreen above them. The view also gives users an easy way to quit apps, while the current method makes users tap and hold to quite apps.

Mission Control works much better on the iPad where users can see multiple apps at once in a grid of six. The method is very similar to the multitasking menu on the HTC One, though it adds the ability to see individual tabs in Safari and the option to just go back to the homescreen.

Apple had designed iPhone 5 before death of Steve Jobs

Executive reveals company had planned latest iPhone, and one due to be launched this year, before death of co-founder in 2011

Apple's next two iPhones had already been designed before Steve Jobs died in October 2011, according to comments apparently made by a liaison officer for the company last week.

At a meeting with the San Francisco district attorney, George Gascón, who is keen to cut phone thefts in the region, Apple's liaison officer Michael Foulkes is reported by the San Francisco Examiner to have said the designs for the next two phones "preceded Tim Cook [being chief executive]".

That would mean that both one phone due to be launched this year, as well as the iPhone 5 , were already planned before Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder, died in October 2011, just a day after the iPhone 4S was unveiled.

A passage in Jobs's biography includes him testing out the Siri voice-control function that was introduced in the iPhone that October.

But while some – including Gascón – might be surprised by the idea of a company having a two-year pipeline for the design of a phone, others who have worked in the mobile phone industry emphasised that it is not unusual.

Horace Dediu, who runs the Asymco consultancy and previously worked at Finnish phone maker Nokia, said it was not surprising. "Having worked in a phone company, I think it's a given [that the phones were designed that far back]. Work under way now is for products shipping in 2016."

Other evidence of the long design pipeline for phones comes from BlackBerry, where the new Z10 and Q10 touchscreen phones have been in progress for more than two years, with delays to the BB10 software having held up their introduction by at least a year.

Dediu added: "Software alone does not a phone make. Hardware specifications are [determined] on a different time scale."

The news disappointed Gascón, who had hoped that at his urging Apple and other phone makers would be able to co-operate on devising a common system for disabling stolen phones and tablets. By publicising it, all companies would be able to cut thefts, he hoped. But Foulkes apparently told him that researching and incorporating such systems would be "long and laborious".

In the UK, carriers already co-operate in using a common system to prevent stolen phones from rejoining the network, by identifying the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, which is unique to each phone. But it is not implemented internationally, so that phones stolen in one country can be re-activated in another.

Apple's work on the first iPhone apparently began in 2005, after it diverted work begun in 2003 from attempts to build a tablet device, which later became the iPad.Pictures of the early prototypes from 2005 show a large device, more like a tablet than a phone.

"Apple does not comment on rumours and speculation," a spokesperson said.

Nextep Computer

Sony Nextep Computer Packs OLED and Can be Worn on the Wrist in 2020

This thing is ridiculous. We’re all for great concepts, and we’re even more excited about seeing crazy things that we can wear on our body. Like a watch. Or a fanny pack for the chest. But when it looks this shiny, and packs enough features to make anyone drool, we have to say we’re pretty skeptical. Or maybe we just don’t want to be let down. Meet the future of computing for Sony: the Nextep Computer.

When we think about mobile computing right now, we picture all sorts of different netbooks, laptops, and even tablets at this point. And, while some watches out there offer up Bluetooth capabilities to show our text messages, we want something better. A lot better. And thanks to the crazy minds at Sony, it looks like 2020 is the target date to get us what we want. The Nextep Computer concept is completely designed to be worn on your wrist like a watch — so much so, in fact, that its OLED panels are of the touchscreen nature, but are completely flexible to shape around your wrist.

It also features a holographic projector (of course, right? Why not?), and a slide-out keyboard that’s separated at the middle, for easy typing. You can fold out the Nextep Computer, and place it on the table to answer your emails, Instant Messages, or whatever else you need to do on your mobile watch computer. Sony’s targeting this for a 2020 projected release date, but let’s face it: that’s only 7 years away. We’ll keep our hopes up, though.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 keeps calm, carries on with big screen, 8-core chip and, yes, eye tracking!

If you're looking for Samsung's new Galaxy S4 to define a novel new era of smartphone greatness, it's time to temper your expectations. The brand-new flagship smartphone, which runs the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, improves hardware significantly and it piles on the features. Compared with the extremely successful Galaxy S3 that came before, it's a firm stride forward rather than a giant a leap, but it raises the bar again for Samsung's competitors. And by super-sizing the screen and packing in so much specialized software, the GS4 sets itself even farther apart from the iPhone.

The Galaxy S4 handset steadily draws from the same design language as the S3, but takes almost every spec to an extreme -- the screen is larger (5 inches), the resolution greater (1080p), the battery capacity higher (2,600mAh), the processor faster (1.9GHz quad-core or 1.6GHz octa-core), and the rear-facing camera stuffed with more megapixels (13, to be exact). But, once you've gone through the features checklist (which also includes lots of internal and external storage space and RAM), it's the software extras that Samsung continues to lean on to keep its phones one step ahead of the competition.

The problem is, based on my brief time with the Galaxy S4, very few of the extensive list of enhancements stood out as a killer, must-have, cannot-possibly-live-without feature. The TV control app that works with the IR blaster is perhaps one exception (the HTC One has this, too), as are a handy translation tool and eye-tracking and gesture capabilities that allow you to pause a video when you stop paying attention and let you hover your finger over an item to preview what it is. Many other software additions are semi-interesting ideas that some power users may enjoy once they've figured them out, but which will hardly convince a prospective buyer to pick the GS4 over, for instance, the HTC One, Nokia Lumia 920, or iPhone 5.

Design and build

At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S4 looks like a cookie-cutter copy of the GS3, but larger. It has the same rounded edges and narrow physical home button as its predecessor, but at 7.9mm deep (0.31 inch) and 130g (4.6 ounces), it's also a little lighter and thinner. Part of the slim look and feel is a result of Samsung creating sharper, straighter lines with the phone than the GS3's subtle curves (the Galaxy line is apparently inspired by nature no more).

Samsung's new Galaxy S4 features a 5-inch 1080p HD screen and a slightly slimmer, lighter build than its antecedent.

Standing at 136.6mm tall by 68.9mm wide (5.4 inches by 2.7 inches), the Galaxy S4 fits right in between the GS3 and the Galaxy Note phones. It's large, to be sure -- very large -- but since I've grown used to holding big handsets, it didn't feel overwhelming in my hands. A more dimpled finish on the white version I held reminded me of the Galaxy S2, in contrast to the GS3's silky brushed feel. The GS4 also comes in "Black Mist."

While visually appealing, I've never seen a Samsung phone that wows me with its finely crafted build quality or materials. The GS4 doesn't reach the same caliber as the beautiful, all-metal HTC One, nor is it as polished as the iPhone 5. To be fair, that isn't Samsung's goal; after all, Samsung has stuck by plastic for a few good reasons, including durability (it won't smash like glass), manufacturing benefits, and price.

As the rumors and leaks foretold, the GS4 has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen resolution. While it isn't exactly edge-to-edge, the smaller bezel makes the screen feel more expansive. At full brightness, the display's 441ppi pixel density looked rich and crisp, but I'll need to compare it with the BlackBerry Z10, iPhone 5, and others to really get a lock on just how sharp it is. Also, like you'd find in Nokia's Lumia line, the GS4 uses a highly sensitive screen that lets you navigate with long fingernails or even gloves (a must for cold-weather climates.)

Above the display you'll find the usual array of sensors and the 2-megapixel front-facing camera lens. There's no front-facing flash on the GS4 as I would have liked, but that was mostly wishful thinking anyway. Below the screen, you'll find the solitary physical home button, flanked by capacitive menu and back buttons. On the top of the phone is where you'll find the IR blaster, which shoots out infrared light to control your TV directly from the handset.

What I really like about this blaster, other than the accompanying app, is that Samsung promises it works for all televisions, not just Samsung TVs. The app will let you control channels and volume, and also play on-demand content through a partner.

Beneath the back panel sits a 2,600mAh battery and a microSD card slot capable of up to 64GB in expandable storage.

On the back, there's the 13-megapixel camera, a jump up from the GS3's 8-megapixel lens. Even though the number of megapixels isn't everything, Samsung has had a good track record with images so far. The shooter has an LED flash and records 1080p HD video.

Beneath the back cover, you'll find a microSD card slot that can store up to 64GB in external memory, to go along with the 64GB internal storage. There's also a 2,600mAh battery.

OS and apps

The Galaxy S4 runs none other than Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the most up-to-date version of Android you can get right now. Riding on top of it as usual is Samsung's Touch Wiz overlay, a customized interface that I, for one, think is getting a little long in the tooth. Also, keep in mind that the next Android OS, Key Lime Pie, should appear when Google I/O opens on May 15. That's not far away, so I hope that Samsung and the carriers fast-track the Galaxy S4 for an upgrade.

However, Samsung does use TouchWiz to add a bevy of software enhancements, like gestures, and a beefier notifications tray that offers a ton more toggling options to quickly turn settings on and off. In addition to your usual toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, you'll also see toggles for call-blocking mode and eye-tracking gestures.

A tiny IR blaster on top turns your GS4 into a remote to control your TV.

To Samsung's credit, several functional tools carry over from the Galaxy Note 2, including the multiview mode that lets you split the screen to interact with two apps, say the browser and notes.

Once again attempting to out-Google Google, Samsung introduces the S Translator tool, embedding it into e-mail, the ChatOn messenger app, and letting it stand as its own tool. Speaking of ChatOn, the Samsung-built chat app adds three-way video calling, screen-sharing, and video calls that make use of both cameras.

I also like the idea of another new collaborative feature, Group Play. As with some of the GS3's photo-sharing features, this one rewards GS4 owners by letting them connect (via NFC or Bluetooth) to other Galaxy S4 devices to share music, photos, documents, and even engage in multiplayer games. For the music aspect, envision a whole room full of people playing the same song from their phones: instant surround sound!

As for Group Play games, Gun Bros 2 and Asphalt 7 have been specifically adapted for the GS4. Samsung will release an SDK for other game developers to jump on board with simultaneous, social game play. Good idea? Sure. But without knowing how practical it is to set up and use, the jury is still out.

The Galaxy S4 interface includes a more extensive set of toggle controls in the drop-down menu

Eye-tracking gestures
Conflicting rumors painted a scenario where you'd scroll the screen with your eyes using eye-tracking software within the GS4.

Turns out, that's somewhat true. Smart Pause and Smart Scroll are two features that build off the Galaxy S3's optional Smart Stay feature, which kept the screen from dimming when you looked at it. In the GS4, tilting the screen up or down while looking at it scrolls you up or down, say if you're reading a CNET story, of course. As a daily commuter with one hand on the phone and one on a hand strap, this could be a more convenient way to catch up with news while on the train or bus.

I really like the idea of Smart Pause, which halts a video you're watching when your eyes dart away, then resumes when you start paying attention again.

Both features worked better in theory than they did in practice, though I should mention that the GS4 I was looking at is (obviously) preproduction running prefinal software. Still, response time was a beat slower than I wanted, taking a little time to pause and resume the video, and scroll the screen. A minor delay makes sense. You wouldn't want to start and stop again every time you're distracted for a second. Instead, the software seems to track longer periods when you're away, like if you stop what you're doing to order a cup of coffee, talk to a friend, or climb a set of stairs.

Air View and gestures

While you can make googly eyes at the GS4, most gestures are still reserved for your fingertips. Hovering features known as Air View make their way from the stylus-centric Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet to the Galaxy S4, but replace the stylus with your digit.

You can control the Galaxy S4 by waving your hand in front of the camera sensor.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Hover your finger and you can preview a video clip or image from the photo gallery, glance at browser tab thumbnails, find your place on a video timeline, and check out an e-mail. You'll also be able to magnify calendar events and get a closer look in speed dial. Flipboard has built a customized app to work with Air View, which lets you hover over a tile to see which articles lie beneath.

In addition to hovering with a fingertip, you can wave or wipe your whole hand in front of the screen (and camera sensor) to navigate around. For example, enable this gesture and you can agitate your palm to pick up the phone or switch songs in a playlist. Steadily sliding your hand back and forth can advance photos in a gallery, or browser tabs. You can also scroll up and down in a list.

Performance

While the Galaxy S4 will look the same everywhere in the world, it won't necessarily have the same motor under the hood. Your future GS4 handset will either thrum from a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series processor, or from a 1.6GHz eight-core chipset,Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa silicon.

We'll need to set the two bad boys side by side in the lab to see real-time performance differences, but in the meantime, the Octa-curious can get a load of CNET editor Eric Franklin'sOcta 5 benchmarks from Mobile World Congress.

Data speed freaks can rest assured that the Galaxy S4 will support LTE in expected markets (these haven't yet been announced), and LTE roaming will be possible for some geographies (very nice).

As for battery life, the phone has a large, 2,600mAh ticker, but also a larger screen and even more features to compromise performance. Smart Stay and S Voice both drain the battery more quickly, which just means that, as always, potential buyers should adjust their expectations. The more video and games you play, the shorter your life per battery charge.

In terms of storage and memory, the Galaxy S4 has 2GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and another 64GB available through the microSD car slot. In today's market, you can't get more than that.

Pricing and availability
If this phone sounds like something you want to get your hands on, you won't have to wait too long. Samsung plans to stagger releases worldwide in April and May.

In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Cricket Wireless will all get the Galaxy S4 (along with Sprint MVNO Ting) AT&T will sell the phone for $250 with a new, two-year service agreement. Both it and U.S. Cellular will open up preorders on Tuesday, April 16.

What's missing?

While the Galaxy S4 hits expectations square on the head, there are still a few small areas that competitors can crow about. As I mentioned, premium build materials are one. After my briefing, it also isn't exactly clear where the Galaxy S4 comes down on wireless charging. Samsung will support wireless charging through the Qi standard, though it's strange to me that Samsung didn't drum up the feature, especially since we know that you can rig a Galaxy S3 to wirelessly charge. Competitors, like LG's Nexus 4 and Nokia's Lumia series, also support wireless charging.

How it compares with the competition.

The Galaxy S4 is a high-end, fully featured smartphone that's meant for almost everyone. Samsung has made sure to include every salient hardware spec and enough new and interesting software features to hold your attention, if not constant use.

Although the handset's hardware isn't exceptionally beautiful and software isn't particularly inspiring, it has every essential feature and then some. Right now, the best way I can describe it is as the Gap clothing of smartphones. While you may not use or even like every item on display, it's long on basics, represents a certain high standard, and you'll be able to get it anywhere.

10 Of The Least Tourist-Friendly Nations On Earth

Just because a destination is compelling or popular doesn't make it tourist friendly. A geological feature, an abandoned castle or a wildlife refuge can put a region or a country on the map, but it won't criss-cross that map with the roads needed to get visitors from Hotel A to Lookout B and it can't guarantee that locals will be friendly to foreigners. A new study from the World Economic Forum shows that many countries don't have what athletic coaches often refer to as "intangibles," the hard to measure stuff that makes up the space between mediocre and great.

The WEF'sTravel and Tourism Report tosses around a lot of numbers as it tries to rank the success of the tourist industry in every nation on Earth, but the numbers that prove most interesting are the measures of "Affinity for Travel and Tourism," which chart various peoples' attitudes toward foreigners within the context of tourism's economic impact on their countries. By leveling the playing ground -- the "affinity" score doesn't take into account whether there is anything in a country actually worth visiting -- the report gives a rare view into which countries actually care about the tourists they attract.

And the countries that rank at the bottom for "Affinity" aren't all war torn or sub-Saharan. A Caribbean beach destination and a European power are among the 20 worst performers. China, meanwhile, came in with the 11th worst score overall, narrowly beating out Chad in the service department.

What does this mean for travelers? Visitors to the ten countries listed below--which ranked among the worst--may see beautiful sites, experience lovely weather and have a great time, but if they don't their complaints may fall on deaf ears.

10. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has been a war zone for some time and is probably best known as a source of "blood diamonds." The capital, Freetown, has come up in the world but it hasn't brought the rest of the country along.

9. Kuwait
This rich Middle Eastern country has plenty of sun but few welcome mats.

8. Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful country and its presence on the list is slightly baffling, considering the locals are very friendly. Still, infrastructure could be better.

7. Chad
Chad has few roads and few peaceful areas. Not the kind of place you want to be.

6. Haiti
Haiti is possessing of all manner of charms and every conceivable manner of problem.

5. Pakistan
Not the most welcoming place for westerners. Ixnay on the beachwear.

4. Algeria
Algeria is a beautiful country, but the Arab Spring hasn't made it safer for the European tourists who used to come here.

3. Russia
Mother Russia is the go to destination for lovers of bureaucracy, paperwork and transportation boondoggles.

2. Bolivia
Bolivia made the list despite boasting some genuinely striking attractions, including the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and the Atacama Desert.

1. Venezuela
Chavez is dead but the anti-Western sentiment lives on. It may have the highest waterfalls on Earth, but it doesn't have much of an eco-tourism industry. Pity really.

Gate To Hell

Pluto's Gate Discovered: The Plutonium 'Gate To Hell' Found In Ancient City Of Hierapolis

Hell is a hard place to describe in detail, since, after all, going there would require dying first. But in an effort to find out what the ancient version of the underworld looked like, archaeologists may have unearthed the gateway to Hades.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, a team of archeologists working in the ancient Phrygian city of Hierapolis in southwestern Turkey claims to have located the Plutonium, or Pluto's Gate -- an ancient pilgrim site considered the entryway to the underworld. A small cave near the temple of Apollo, the Plutonium grew in association with death from deadly gases it emitted.

Francesco D'Andria of the University of Salento announced the discovery during a press conference in Turkey in mid-March, according to La Gazzetta Del Mezzogiorno.

D'Andria told Discovery News he also found remains of the temple, a pool used by pilgrims and a series of steps.

“We could see the cave's lethal properties during the excavation. Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening, instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes,” D'Andria added, according to Discovery News.

Austin Considine explains for VICE that the cave is a natural phenomenon, and that similar "openings in the earth's crust" can be found elsewhere:

Such noxious portals are found around the globe. Undoubtedly the coolest, a modern day hell gate in Turkmenistan has been burning for over 40 years (the geologists who accidentally created it decided to light it on fire to protect locals from the gases, and it’s been burning ever since).

Famous authors such as Roman statesman Cicero and the Greek geographer Strabus wrote about the Plutonium during their respective eras. Alister Filippini, a researcher in Roman history at the Universities of Palermo, called the find at Hierapolis exceptional to Discovery News, saying "it confirms and clarifies the information we have from the ancient literary and historic sources.”

Hierapolis, near the modern Turkish city of Pamukkale, has been labeled a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sees more than 1.5 million visitors each year. Francesco D'Andria has been excavating in the area for years, and in 2011, he claimed to have located the tomb of Saint Philip, one of Jesus' apostles.

Top 10 Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey brands.

1. Maker’s Mark Whiskey – So good when it strikes the lips. This is the bourbon whiskey that actually got us into bourbon whiskey. It’s inside everyone’s top rated 3 for American Whiskeys. If you wish to try out great whiskey and don’t know much concerning this, start right here. We essentially have a very barrel someplace in the Marker’s Mark warehouse with our names on it, from when they had some promo like 10 years ago.

2. Knob Creek Whiskey – Yet another powerful fan favorite and had a classy sense to it. Knob Creek is wealthy and dark and sturdy (100 proof). This Whiskey is quality and you may need to shell out additional money for it then other whiskeys.

3. Four Roses Whiskey – The best retained Whiskey secret in America. This whiskey used to be very hard to find, but it’s slowly becoming more achievable in the states. The taste of this whiskey has an edge to it and is a very close runner for the top location. If you ever see it, purchase it and say thanks to us later!

4. Woodford Reserve Whiskey – This is argued by many Whiskey lovers as the best whiskey for the price. This whiskey is premium, delicious and light. We’ve met tons of people who claim this is their Whiskey of choice. We even know a guy who named his cat after it!

5. Blanton’s Whiskey – This is a pretty controversial Whiskey, it seems to be a hate it or love it brand. This might have something to do with the price. This whiskey has a great flavor that teases with Vanilla and Caramel. We love this whiskey.

6. Jack Daniel’s Whiskey- This Whiskey obviously doesn’t need an introduction. It’s one of the most popular whiskeys in the world. Always a great option when you have nothing else to turn to, and a crowd pleaser. There always seem to be wild party stories associated with Jack.

7. Wild Turkey Whiskey – Ah, the dirty bird, another extremely popular whiskey. It’s also offered in a 101 proof bottle as well. This whiskey is a best seller and well known all over the country.

8. Old Rip Van Winkle Whiskey – A strong whiskey at 107 proof, but not lacking in taste. This whiskey has a great color, and a spot in our personal collection.

9. Elijah Craig Whiskey – Another hate it or love it whiskey. We love it and no one can ignore the quality for the price. Some of our buddies claim this as their favorite whiskey. We wouldn’t go that far, but we enjoy it too.

10. Jim Beam Whiskey – Extremely popular and made the list on quality for price alone. This whiskey won’t make a dent in your wallet and has to be included on any American whiskey list no matter what the listing.