iPad 2 is as fast as an 80′s supercomputer

also, power comparable to a cray 2 can be bought with as low as 600$ :P

 

 

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iPad 2 is as fast as an 80′s supercomputer

via SlashGear by Shane McGlaun on 5/10/11

If you sit back and think about how far technology has come in the last few decades it is really mind blowing. The technology used to put man on the moon in the 60′s was less powerful than the average smartphone today and yet America still pulled it off. If you have ever looked at your tech and wondered how powerful it really is compared to the computers of yesterday you aren't alone. Computer scientist Jack Dongarra is one of the folks that is tasked with keeping track of the world's fastest supercomputers.

Dongarra is a keeper of the Linpack computing benchmark that is used to test the mathematical capability of a computer. He and his research group decided to take the iPad 2 and see how it stacks up against the supercomputers of yesterday. As it turns out the iPad 2 is a rival for a Cary Supercomputer that was the top dogs in processing power back in 1985. The iPad 2 performance rivals that of the Cray 2 supercomputer with eight processors, which was world's fastest supercomputer in 1985.

The researchers also note that the iPad 2 is ten times faster than the original iPad. To make the iPad 2 performance even more impressive, apparently the researchers were only able to test with one of the iPad's two processing cores. Dongarra expects that the iPad 2 will end up with a Linpack benchmark of between 1.5 and 1.65 gigaflops. That number would have kept the iPad at the top of the supercomputer performance charts through 1994. That is really impressive.

[via NYTimes]

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ASUS blames unexpected demand for Eee Pad Transformer shortages

we all want our transformer :P

 

 

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ASUS blames unexpected demand for Eee Pad Transformer shortages

via SlashGear by Chris Davies on 5/6/11

Shortages of ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer are apparently down to the tablet being a victim of its own success, according to the company's Taiwan spokesperson, not component shortages or anything else. Despite reports that ASUS could only build 10,000 Transformers per month because Apple had snapped up all the available display supplies, David Chang told Netbook News that in fact it was simply down to ASUS not expecting as many buyers as they've had.

"It really depends on the demand" Chang explained, saying that ASUS was expecting to produce 100,000 Transformer units in May and then a further 200,000 or more in June. "The current demand surpasses our expectations by far." Chang says the company believes "we will see a significant alleviation in the month of June."

In fact, ASUS only expected to sell 300,000 Eee Pad Transformer units in Q2 2011 altogether, a number which now seems conservative – if, of course, it can ramp up production in time. This certainly looks to be the sweet-spot, with the XOOM and Iconia Tab A500 failing gain traction in comparison to the Transformer's clever battery-toting Keyboard Dock. Meanwhile, ongoing shortages of the iPad 2 have left would-be tableteers looking around for alternative ways to get their touchscreen fix.

More on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer in our full review.

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IP-Address Is Not a Person, BitTorrent Case Judge Says

I'm not a number, I'm a free man :D

 

 

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IP-Address Is Not a Person, BitTorrent Case Judge Says

via OSNews by donotreply@osnews.com (Thom Holwerda) on 5/3/11

"A possible landmark ruling in one of the mass-BitTorrent lawsuits in the U.S. may spell the end of the 'pay-up-or-else-schemes' that have targeted over 100,000 Internet users in the last year. District Court Judge Harold Baker has denied a copyright holder the right to subpoena the ISPs of alleged copyright infringers, because an IP-address does not equal a person."

 

 

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Probe confirms Einstein effects

\m/

 

 

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Probe confirms Einstein effects

via BBC News - Home on 5/4/11

The subtle way the Earth distorts the space-time around it is measured by a Nasa spacecraft in an ultra-precise confirmation of Einstein's ideas.

 

 

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Robots 'Evolve' Altruism

The apocalypse is near. 666

 

 

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Robots 'Evolve' Altruism

via Slashdot: Hardware by samzenpus on 5/4/11

sciencehabit writes "Computer simulations of tiny robots with rudimentary nervous systems show that, over hundreds of generations, these virtual machines evolve altruistic behaviors. They begin to share small disks — a stand-in for food — with each other so that their comrades' traits are passed on to the next generation. Experts say the study sheds light on why various animals — from bees to humans — help each other out, even when it hurts their own chances to reproduce."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

 

 

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Former Senator Wants to Mine The Moon

That reminds me of a SouthPark episode :D
Sorry..

 

 

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Former Senator Wants to Mine The Moon

via Slashdot: Hardware by samzenpus on 5/4/11

MarkWhittington writes "Harrison Schmitt, Apollo Moonwalker, geologist, and former United States Senator, recently presented a plan to solve the world's long term energy problems by developing fusion power fueled with helium-3 mined from the Moon. He presented this plan in a speech at Williston Basin Petroleum Conference."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

 

 

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Boeing's Phantom Ray soars like a terrifying, unmanned eagle

You gotta love rays, they're adorable :D A ray shaped UAS.. not bad at all :D

 

 

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Boeing's Phantom Ray soars like a terrifying, unmanned eagle

via Engadget by Brian Heater on 5/3/11

Boeing's new Phantom Ray aircraft made a covert first flight last week, taking to the skies above California's Edwards Air Force Base. The unmanned airborne system (UAS) reached 7,500 feet, hitting a maximum speed of 178 knots and flying for a total of 17 minutes -- sure, it won't outlast the Phantom Eye anytime soon, but hey, we've all gotta start somewhere. What the 36-foot long vehicle lacks in relative endurance, it makes up stealth, designed to be undetectable on radar, and thanks to a deeply embedded engine, giving off a minimal amount of heat. Boeing will be running additional tests on the autonomous vehicle in the coming weeks, in attempt to prep it for possible future surveillance and attack missions. No word on when this might actually be hitting an airspace near you, but in the meantime, it's probably best to refrain from ticking off any deep pocketed governments.

Continue reading Boeing's Phantom Ray soars like a terrifying, unmanned eagle

Boeing's Phantom Ray soars like a terrifying, unmanned eagle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style

When cruising with 10km/h, the temperature is high and women and sea are within the vicinity, it switches the music to the latest R&B hits, it turns up the volume and lowers the windows and/or the sunroof. :P

Android version? No sugar for the android kids? :P

 

 

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Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy

via Engadget by Zach Honig on 4/28/11

We're always looking for excuses to get behind the wheel, so naturally the new Dynamic Music function in the Mini Connected app made us yearn for a chance to hit the road. Version 2.0 brings this headline feature to the iPhone, which includes exclusively-composed music that adjusts based on things like a compatible Mini Cooper's "longitudinal and lateral acceleration." In other words, the faster and crazier you drive, the more exciting the music becomes. So instead of having mom in the passenger seat begging you to slow down, there's music that encourages you to do the opposite. The press release even references a "hallmark Mini go-kart feeling," so you might want to make sure everyone's buckled up before you plug in. Should anyone fail to do so, a new feature called Mission Control will let you know, also nagging about poor driving conditions. How's that for a mixed signal?

Continue reading Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy

Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guantanamo bay

Recently the wikileaks released Guantanamo bay related stuff here

Where are the Harold and Kumar reports though? :P

Βραβείο του ΠΟΥ στον Γ.Παπανδρέου για την αντικαπνιστική του δράση

WTF? A prize without having first achieved a favorable result? WTF?

 

 

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Βραβείο του ΠΟΥ στον Γ.Παπανδρέου για την αντικαπνιστική του δράση

via In.gr Νέα: Ελλάδα on 4/28/11

Η βράβευση του πρωθυπουργού Γιώργου Παπανδρέου από τον Παγκόσμιο Οργανισμό Υγείας, για τη σταθερή αντικαπνιστική του στάση και την υιοθέτηση αυστηρής σχετικής νομοθεσίας, ανακοινώθηκε την Πέμπτη στη Μόσχα, στο πλαίσιο της πρώτης παγκόσμιας διάσκεψης υπουργών Υγείας. Η απονομή του βραβείου πιθανότατα θα συνδυαστεί με τα εγκαίνια του πρώτου ειδικού γραφείου του ΠΟΥ για τις μη μεταδιδόμενες ασθένειες στη νοτιοανατολική Ευρώπη, που θα γίνει στην Αθήνα στις 3 Ιουνίου.

 

 

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Dutch Lower House Opposes Carriers Blocking Services

 

 

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Dutch Lower House Opposes Carriers Blocking Services

via OSNews by donotreply@osnews.com (Thom Holwerda) on 4/27/11

Well, this is a pleasant surprise. This weekend, we ran a story about the carrier situation in the The Netherlands. The largest carrier in The Netherlands has announced it's going to charge for services like IM and Skype, while the other two carriers were thinking about following suit. I stated I expected little from our politicians - but boy, turns out I was wrong. Basically the entire lower house - left to right, progressive to conservative - is not happy with the carriers' moves, and are now exploring options to prohibit them from implementing their plans - including the option to embed net neutrality in our telecommunications act. Go go... Politicians?!

 

 

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SouthPark 15th season premiere: "HUMANCENTiPAD" Press Release

:D

 

 

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"HUMANCENTiPAD" Press Release

via South Park Studios News on 4/24/11

From the Comedy Central Press Release:

HUMANCENTiPAD IS APPLE'S REVOLUTIONARY NEW PRODUCT
IN THE 15TH SEASON PREMIERE OF "SOUTH PARK"
BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 10:00 P.M. ON COMEDY CENTRAL

--------
"South Park: The Complete Fourteenth Season Uncensored" DVD And Blu-Ray
Arrives In Stores On Tuesday, April 26
--------
All-New Season 15 Episodes Available In HD Exclusively On xBox LIVE, iTunes, Sony
Playstation Network, Amazon Video On Demand
New Episodes Also Available On SouthParkStudios.com
--------

NEW YORK, April 25, 2011 - The latest Apple product to hit the market is revealed in the 15th season premiere of "South Park" titled, "HUMANCENTiPAD," premiering on Wednesday, April 27 at 10:00 p.m. on Comedy Central.

Kyle is intimately involved in the development OF a revolutionary new product that is about to be launched by Apple. Meanwhile, Cartman doesn't even have a regular iPad yet. He blames his mother.

 

 

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T-Hawk UAV enters Fukushima danger zone, returns with video

After the T-Hawk finished with the reconnaissance, a squad of T-800s and T-1000s went into the plant to search for John Conor :P

 

 

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T-Hawk UAV enters Fukushima danger zone, returns with video

via Engadget by Zach Honig on 4/21/11

We'd love to head on down to Fukushima with a DSLR and some iodide pills, but that's obviously not going to happen. Sending in a flying robot seems to be the next best thing, though, and that's exactly what Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has done. T-Hawk, a US-made MAV (Micro Air Vehicle) commonly used to search for roadside bombs in Iraq, made its Japanese debut last week when it photographed the nuclear plant from above, providing a detailed look at the interior damage a month after iRobot's visit. Small enough to fit in a (rather large) backpack, officially the T-Hawk is named for the tarantula hawk wasp species, but could just as easily have been named for the T. Hawk Street Fighter character, who also swoops in to attack his opponents from above. As expected, things look pretty nasty at ground zero, so head past the break for a video of the damage.

Continue reading T-Hawk UAV enters Fukushima danger zone, returns with video

T-Hawk UAV enters Fukushima danger zone, returns with video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First US Predator strike in Libya

The robots are deploying their forces, demanding from the Libyan army to succumb to their overmind's will :P

 

 

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First US Predator strike in Libya

via BBC News - Home on 4/23/11

The US military confirms the first strike by an unmanned Predator drone aircraft in Libya.

 

 

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Solar Magnetic Energy, Better than Photovoltaic Cells?

 

 

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Solar Magnetic Energy, Better than Photovoltaic Cells?

via SlashGear by Kevin Fubar on 4/22/11

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new property of light that allows them to harness the magnetic attributes of light. Electromagnetism being a classically unified force, the relationship between light and magnetism is well known, but the magnetic component was thought to be weak enough that it could be safely ignored. Stephen Rand, a professor at UMich, said of this, "You could stare at the equations of motion all day and you will not see this possibility. We've all been taught that this doesn't happen. It's a very odd interaction. That's why it's been overlooked for more than 100 years." Scientists are so awesome.

"This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation," Rand said. "In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source."

Right now solar power cells are expensive and somewhat dirty to produce as they are made from semiconducting wafers. This will allow solar collection apparatus to be constructed from much more common materials. This could be the breakthrough that makes solar power cheap enough for widespread adoption.

"To manufacture modern solar cells, you have to do extensive semiconductor processing," Fisher, a PhD student involved in the research, said. "All we would need are lenses to focus the light and a fiber to guide it. Glass works for both. It's already made in bulk, and it doesn't require as much processing. Transparent ceramics might be even better."

This could be a major breakthrough, focusing the light into a usable beam and creating voltage potential with cheaper materials is going to be the ticket to ending the world's dependence on fossil fuels once and for all. There isn't going to be a magic bullet that'll solve all of these problems, solar power is a major component. Efficient energy storage solutions like flywheel energy storage systems are also going to be an important part in leveling out the grid.

[via Earth Techling]

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Fiat increases stake in Chrysler

 

 

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Fiat increases stake in Chrysler

via BBC News - Home on 4/21/11

Fiat moves closer to majority control of Chrysler with $1.27bn (£774m) deal to raise its stake in the US car maker to 46%.

 

 

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Samsung sells HDD division to Seagate for $1.375 billion

seagate FTW

 

 

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Samsung sells HDD division to Seagate for $1.375 billion

via Engadget by Vlad Savov on 4/19/11

We're firmly of the belief that SSDs are our future and Samsung would seem to agree. The Korean electronics giant has just announced that it's selling its hard disk drive-manufacturing arm to Seagate Technology for a neat $1.375 billion in equal measures of cash and stocks. As a result, Samsung Electronics will own approximately 9.6 percent of Seagate and get to nominate one new member to join Seagate's Board of Directors, while the two companies have further agreed to deepen their strategic relationship with related cross-licensing and supply stipulations. Samsung will provision Seagate's solid state drives with NAND flash memory, whereas Seagate will furnish Samsung's PCs and consumer electronics products with hard disk storage. The deal is expected to complete in full by year's end and you can read all about it in Seagate's press release after the break.

[Thanks, Pavel]

Continue reading Samsung sells HDD division to Seagate for $1.375 billion

Samsung sells HDD division to Seagate for $1.375 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metal Pen hides a level and a screwdriver, perfect geek gift

:D

 

 

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Metal Pen hides a level and a screwdriver, perfect geek gift

via SlashGear by Shane McGlaun on 4/19/11

It's hard to believe that here in the US we are very close to being done with another school year. That means that you will need to find gifts for all those graduates you know and if you want something cool that won't break the bank here it is.

This is a metal pen with an integrated level, screwdriver and ruler. The body of the pen is marked in inches. You can see the bubble level window the little window and the screwdriver has both a small flat tip and a Philips bit under the cap on top.

The pen is cheap too with a price of $14.95 each. You know that this pen will get lots of use; I always need a screwdriver at odd times and never have one. There is no word on if the pen has black or blue ink color.

[via neatorama]

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The Life Of The Noble Cinquecento

Hi!

The 16th of April 2011, Saturday, was the last day of our beloved Fiat Cinquecento. My mother and I were in it (my mom was driving) and we were returning from shopping to our house using the Kifisos highway. We were driving at a normal speed in the rightmost lane when a big truck that was behind us decided to ram our car. After 3 repeated collisions, the car lost traction and overturned.

The heroic Cinquecento didn't let anything happen to me or my mom, but, unluckily, it got damaged (not beyond repairs, but the insurance won't pay, since the repairs will cost more than the car's cost [which is infinitely big, but the insurance company won't accept that]). Here are some photos:

 

Goodbye Dear Friend, you will be missed :'(

First light wave quantum teleportation achieved, opens door to ultra fast da...

Now we are teleporting quanta.. In a few years we will teleport anything (including warships) :P

 

 

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First light wave quantum teleportation achieved, opens door to ultra fast data transmission

via Engadget by Richard Lai on 4/18/11

Mark this day, folks, because the brainiacs have finally made a breakthrough in quantum teleportation: a team of scientists from Australia and Japan have successfully transferred a complex set of quantum data in light form. You see, previously researchers had struggled with slow performance or loss of information, but with full transmission integrity achieved -- as in blocks of qubits being destroyed in one place but instantaneously resurrected in another, without affecting their superpositions -- we're now one huge step closer to secure, high-speed quantum communication. Needless to say, this will also be a big boost for the development of powerful quantum computing, and combine that with a more bedroom friendly version of the above teleporter, we'll eventually have ourselves the best LAN party ever.

First light wave quantum teleportation achieved, opens door to ultra fast data transmission originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US government contractor developing 'microwave gun,' Hot Pockets tremble

Note the quote of the manager: disable the half of the army with microwave guns and then finish the rest with lasers :D

of course everything will be controlled by computers or robots.. imagine the scenario where the aliens invade while the machines are revolting against humans. it's a mix of terminator, alien, predator and a little bit of matrix if pushed too far :D

 

 

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US government contractor developing 'microwave gun,' Hot Pockets tremble

via Engadget by Jesse Hicks on 4/16/11

Ah, the beloved "electronic bomb," able to disable all technology in its vicinity: variations on the concept go way back, but useful prototypes remain tantalizingly out of reach. Into the breach steps defense contractor BAE Systems, taking a fresh crack with a High-Powered Microwave (HPM) gun intended to disable small boat engines - if successful, the technology may also target ships, UAVs, and missile payloads. The secret-shrouded weapon sounds similar to Boeing's planned airborne EMP weapon, but lacking the missile delivery systems. BAE seems to be betting big on electromagnetic warfare as a future battlefield tactic, with a manager pitching the sci-fi scene to Aviation Week:

"Unlike lasers, HPM beams don't need a lot of accuracy. With a fan [of HPM energy] you can target 10-30 small boats. If you can knock out 50-75% of the engines in a swarm, you can then concentrate on the remainder with lasers or kinetic [cannons]."

To develop better defenses against such attacks, the contractor received $150,000 from the Air Force to test-fire microwaves at military computers. No word on whether said defenses involve generous use of tin foil.

US government contractor developing 'microwave gun,' Hot Pockets tremble originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists unlock the secrets of bike stability, make riders optional

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/scientists-unlock-the-secrets-of-bike-stability-make-riders-opt/

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Magnetic fields shut down speech, permit love songs (video)

 

 

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Magnetic fields shut down speech, permit love songs (video)

via Engadget by Jesse Hicks on 4/14/11

You already know the strange powers of Stephin Merritt, but today we're talking about real magnetic fields. Powerful electromagnets, it turns out, can do remarkable things to the brain -- in this case, prevent a volunteer from reciting "Humpty Dumpty." The carefully directed magnets temporarily disrupt the brain's speech centers; the volunteer can still sing the rhyme using different areas of the brain, but simply can't overcome a series of stammers when trying to merely recite it. Of course, it's not all mad scientist applications: the UK team experimenting with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) thinks it can help us understand and treat migraines (as we've seen before with the Migraine Zapper), depression, and ADHD, among other ailments. But improving physical well-being doesn't make for nearly as entertaining media -- see the British inflict some involuntary quiet time in the video above.

Magnetic fields shut down speech, permit love songs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laser gun fired from US navy ship

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/technology-13033437

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