
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Despite what NSA Official Claims… Former NSA Chief Says the Feds *Are* Collecting Data on You

Monday, July 30, 2012
Google Brings Google Earth 3D to iOS
Earlier this summer, Apple announced that they would be building their own map software to run on iOS devices. This effectively meant that Google Maps would no longer be an integral part of the Apple system.
Not to be deterred by the announcement, Google has continued to develop and improve their mapping software not only on Android (of course) but also on iOS. As of this past Thursday, iOS now has Google Earth 3D rendering on its iOS app. It's a limited number of areas that are featured, but Google plans on adding more all the time.
The only drawback is that the 3D rendering will only work on iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and iPad 3. I suppose it's just one more reason to upgrade your hardware...
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Curing LIght in IronMan 2

Saturday, July 28, 2012
Google Talk Suffers Outage
In the last 6 months or so, I've become very reliant on Google Voice.
The service handles all of my text messaging as well as taking care of storing and notifying me of voicemail.
So, it kind of goes without saying that at this point of time, I flat out *need* access to the service.
Yesterday, there was an outage of the service and, in typical Google fashion, they were all over trying to fix it.
Along the lines of their motto "Don't Be Evil", they also handled the outage with a great deal of transparency.
If you ever want to see how these things are dealt with as well as the progress they are making on these situations, you can Go to the following link.. It is their App Status Dashboard.
So I've come away from this situation impressed. The nice thing about dealing with Google on these types of things is that you know they have the resources and brainpower to get these things rectified quickly.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, July 27, 2012
Google Debuts 1-Gigabit Internet Connections in Kansas City

Thursday, July 26, 2012
StarDental®’s 430 SWL Named #1 Selling Fiber-Optic Handpiece in America

Handcrafted in Lancaster Pennsylvania,
StarDental’s 430 Line has Become an Industry Classic
Malvern, PA (July 24, 2012) – DentalEZ® Group, a supplier of innovative products and services for dental health professionals worldwide, is pleased to announce that research performed by Strategic Data Marketing* has revealed that StarDental®’s 430 SWL handpiece is the #1 selling fiber-optic handpiece in America.
As the top-selling handpiece line in DentalEZ history, the solid and dependable StarDental 430 series has earned its place as a staple of the American dental practice. Named the 430, which signifies the revolutions per minute, the first 430 handpiece was introduced in 1981. Each 430 handpiece is handcrafted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The design of the 430 series handpiece evolved from StarDental’s Vista line, which was first introduced in 1979. Two years later in 1981, the first member of the 430 handpiece line was introduced to the dental industry. Star’s Vista line introduced the original look of the 430, but each handpiece in the 430 line gradually evolved into its own right, with new overall designs and updated modern technology such as StarDental’s ceramic ball bearing turbines.
A fiber optic version of the handpiece was introduced in 1987, and the LubeFree™ ceramic bearing was introduced in 1991. Since then, the 430 has had numerous updates with many models to choose from.
According to StarDental Senior Product Manager, Rick Gross, “Every StarDental 430 handpiece is built by hand in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a place where heritage and tradition are held in high regard by those who live and work there. When a dental professional chooses to use a 430, they are not only purchasing a quality handpiece, they’re also shaking the hand that helped build it by supporting their fellow working Americans.”
As the #1 selling fiber-optic handpiece on the market, each handpiece in the StarDental 430 Series remains a classic favorite among dental professionals. Made with StarDental ceramic ball bearing turbines, the full family of the 430 Series includes: StarDental’s 430 SWL, featuring solid glass rod fiber optics, the 430 K®, 430 SW®, and the Kaleidoscope®. Each is available in lubricated or StarDental’s traditional LubeFree™ which provides substantial cost and time savings.
The small head and high-torque design of the 430 Series provides superior oral accessibility and visibility, and the high power enables fast and precise removal of tooth surface and amalgam. Its low noise level reduces the possibility of auditory damage and provides a pleasant patient experience. The recent introduction of the StarBright® LED Handpiece Swivel and StarBright® LED Replacement Bulbs provide the option to switch the 430 SWL, as well as all existing StarDental handpieces to a cool, white LED light source.
For additional information on all DentalEZ promotions and products, please call 866-DTE-INFO or visit www.DentalEZ.com.
*Document available upon request
About Strategic Data Marketing (SDM)
SDM is the only dental research company specifically dedicated to providing reliable and accurate market research services for a myriad of manufacturers and product brands in key dental markets. Their extensive report options and custom services provide dental professionals with the tools needed to make informed, timely decisions in developing and selling dental products to the US, Canada and UK dental markets.
About DentalEZ® Group
DentalEZ® Group is committed to advancing the practice of dentistry through innovative products and services. Encompassing six distinct product brands — StarDental®, DentalEZ®, CustomAir®, RAMVAC®,NevinLabs™, and Columbia Dentoform® — DentalEZ® Group manufactures everything in the operatory, from handpieces to chairs to vacuum systems to dental simulation models, creating a complete line of products to elevate the health, comfort, and efficiency of the dental operatory. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Air Techniques Spectra - Digital Caries Detection in Action and Restoration with the Lightwalker Er:YAG Laser
The diagnostic armamentarium of dentistry is changing. Several dental schools are no longer teaching the "sharp explorer diagnosis" and are using other more advanced diagnostic protocols. I've been fortunate enough to have studied and used digital caries detection devices for several years now. I've found them to be reliable, accurate, and of great benefit to my patients.
In the last 4 years or so, we've seen the evolution of caries detection to what I now am referring to as "visual diagnostics". The devcies use CCD's (digital camera chips, also called Charged Couple Devices) to take photos of teeth using certain colors of light that help reveal decay at stages where it is much more difficult to find using conventional methods.
The real advantage of visual diagnostic devcies is that, by finding problem areas in the early stages, the doctor can decide whether to attempt to remineralize the areas using a combination of techniques & products or if the tooth requires a restoration. By taking and saving these images, areas can be monitored and compared to see if areas are improving, worsening, or staying the same. The more data the doctor has, the more accurate the treatment can be.
What follows is an example of monitoring a tooth over time with the Air Techniqes Spectra device. The Spectra takes a photo of the tooth and applies a special algorithm to the data it detects. This algorithm allows the areas of concern to be clearly shown on the tooth surface. The "overlay" has the appearance of Doppler weather radar.



Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Ultradent Announces UltraSeal XT Hydro!

Product Details
A simplified procedure.
With so many sealants on the market, it can be difficult to choose which sealant is right for your patients. With over a decade of leadership, the name UltraSeal has proven it can be trusted.
UltraSeal XT® plus has been THE leader in sealants since 1998,1 and has consistently demonstrated high retention rates.2 Reality states "It's simply the best."3
With such a history, we're excited to introduce a new option from the UltraSeal family: UltraSeal XT® hydro.
Based on the proven UltraSeal XT plus chemistry, UltraSeal XT hydro is an evolution of UltraSeal XT plus. Its hydrophilic chemistry eliminates the need to pretreat the tooth with PrimaDry, so you can give your patients effective treatments even faster.
UltraSeal XT hydro also offers many other unique benefits:
- New! Hydrophilic chemistry
- New! Advanced adhesive technology
- New! Fluorescent properties
- Two Shades: Opaque White and Natural
- Thixotropic/ideal viscosity
- BPA-free formula
- Syringe and Inspiral® Brush tip delivery
- Highly filled resin (53%)
- Fluoride release
- Radiopaque
See the evolution of the trusted UltraSeal name with UltraSeal XT hydro. And start seeing the difference the evolved chemistry can make for you and your patients.
Visibility at every visit.
After placing a sealant, it is often difficult to check margins and retention. UltraSeal XT hydro addresses that difficulty with added fluorescent properties. Fully viewable under a black light, the sealant's fluorescence allows you to check the integrity of the sealant at the time of placement AND at subsequent visits, so you can literally see the retention.
Incredible bond strength.
The new hydrophilic and adhesive qualtities UltraSeal XT hydro offer exceptional results. The hydrophilic chemistry eliminates the need to pretreat the tooth with PrimaDry--simplifying the procedure without compromising quality. Additionally, when combined with the characteristic thixotropic nature, the hydrophilic chemistry chases moisture (that in hydrophobic sealants can cause sealant failure) deep into the pits and fissures on a microscopic level. Once there, the advanced adhesive technology securely bonds the sealant to the enamel, increasing marginal retention and reducing microleakage.
Ultradent has never used BPA in its dental sealants. Ultradent is aware of the risks associated with BPA. An independent third-party laboratory tested UltraSeal XT plus and UltraSeal XT hydro and found levels of less than 0.00000% BPA in each product.
1 Reality Ratings. Reality. Reality Publishing Company. 1998 - 2011. http://www.realityesthetics.com.
2 Boksman L, Carson B. Two year retention and caries rates of UltraSeal XT and FluoroShield light-cured pit and fissure sealants. Gen Dent 1998 March-April;46(2):184-187.
3 UltraSeal XT plus. Reality. Reality Publishing Company, 16 May 2011. http://www.realityesthetics.com.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Is Google Attempting to Improve Gmail on iOS Devices? It's Starting to Appear that Way...

If you have any iOS device *and* you have a Gmail account, you may have been less then pleased with the experience. I mean, it's better than having to access your Gmail account through the browser, but not a whole lot better.
Now comes news. that an improvement in the user experience may not be too far away.
The company Sparrow has been around since February 2011 and has made quite a name for itself by creating email programs for both OS X (the main Mac OS) and iOS (which runs the portable Apple devcies). While not a company that has been around a long time, Sparrow still built quite a following rather quickly. The real buzz for Google users is that Google purchased Sparrow on Friday.
What does this mean? Well obviously it's speculation at this point in time, but Google purchasing a company that has made a tremendous impact in the realm of email for Macs looks like the Gmail for iOS interface is due for a tremendous upgrade.
If you area current Sparrow user on your iPhone, you might be interested in this tidbit I found in the App Store today: "Sparrow has been acquired by Google. As the team works on new projects, there will be no new features released for the Sparrow apps, other than minor maintenance and bug fixes."
Personally I'm looking forward to my Gmail upgrade. If I'm already a Sparrow user, well I might be a bit bummed.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
DentalEZ® Group Announces Winner in “Hands-On” Contest for Dental Students
Malvern, PA (July 18, 2012) – DentalEZ® Group, a supplier of innovative products and services for dental health professionals worldwide, is pleased to announce the winner of its Hands-On social media contest. Eric Navok, a 4th year dental student at the University of Connecticut, submitted the winning photo that earned him the grand prize in DentalEZ’s latest campaign for dental students. The winning image features Navok placing a dental implant.
Navok will receive a DentalEZ “All Access Pass” to the 2012 ADA Annual Session. This includes flight, transportation, 2-night hotel stay, show registration, a “meet and greet” at the DentalEZ booth, plus the benefit of admittance to the complimentary CE courses at the show. In addition, Navok will be presented with a personally engraved, StarDental® Starter Kit containing 1 high-speed handpiece, 1 low-speed motor, 1 swivel + 2 attachments at the Annual Session.
Navok is a life-long resident of Stamford, Connecticut. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University and worked for 2 years as a chemist for Duracell before changing careers to dentistry. He is involved in many student organizations such as ASDA, the General Dentistry Interest Group, and the Jewish Student Group. He also works as a liaison to the CSDA and Hartford Dental Society. Navok recently did his first pulpectomies during a dental mission trip in Honduras.
Dental students who participated in the Hands-On Campaign were asked to simply capture a photograph of a “hands-on” moment in their daily lives that they are passionate about, in or out of the oral healthcare arena, and then submit the image to DentalEZ Group via its Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/DentalEZGroup. DentalEZ Group then choose the top photo that generated the most attention and votes from viewers.
Each student who participated automatically received a coupon from DentalEZ for a FREE swivel with the purchase of any StarDental handpiece. StarDental also engraved the handpiece with the student’s name.
For additional information on all DentalEZ promotions and products, please call 866-DTE-INFO or visit www.DentalEZ.com.
About DentalEZ® Group
DentalEZ® Group is committed to advancing the practice of dentistry through innovative products and services. Encompassing six distinct product brands — StarDental®, DentalEZ®, CustomAir®, RAMVAC®,NevinLabs™, and Columbia Dentoform® — DentalEZ® Group manufactures everything in the operatory, from handpieces to chairs to vacuum systems to dental simulation models, creating a complete line of products to elevate the health, comfort, and efficiency of the dental operatory. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
For Back Health… Get on the Ball! Available from CrystalMark!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Sprint Launches 4G LTE in Limited Markets
My hometown carrier and my personal wireless carrier has officially launched their 4G LTE network.
While Sprint has featured a 4G connection for some time now, up until this point it has been on the older (and slower) WiMax and HSPA+ protocols. Now with 4G LTE, the speeds will be blazing.
4G LTE is capable of about 75mbps upload speeds and 300mbps download speeds. That's right, blazing fast. Of course that speed depends on your device and the strength of your connection. Just like any wireless connection, the weaker the signal, the slower the speed.
Oh, and you are probably wondering where the new bandwidth is being deployed. So far, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Huntsville, San Antonio, Waco, and Granbury in the great state of Texas… Atlanta, Rome, Newnan, Athens, Carrollton, and Calhoun in Georgia… and Kansas City and St. Joseph in Missouri.
Look for more markets to be added soon...
Monday, July 16, 2012
Pandigital Handheld Scanner is a Winner!!!

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Nintendo Announces Next Gen Wii Gaming Console - Dubbed Wii U - Is Coming Before the End of 2012

Technical Specs

Launches
Holiday 2012.
Size
Approximately 1.8 inches high, 10.5 inches deep and 6.8 inches long.
Weight
Approximately 3.41 pounds (1.5 kg).
Wii U™ GamePad
The Wii U GamePad™ controller removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. It incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio LCD touch screen, as well as traditional button controls and two analog sticks. Inputs include a +Control Pad, L/R sticks, L/R stick buttons, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons, ZL/ZR buttons, Power button, HOME button, -/SELECT button, +/START button, and TV CONTROL button. The GamePad also includes motion control (powered by an accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor), a front-facing camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, rumble features, a sensor bar, an included stylus and support for Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs approximately 1.1 pounds (500 g).
Other Controllers
The Wii U console is capable of supporting two Wii U GamePad controllers, up to four Wii Remote (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers or Wii U Pro Controllers, and Wii accessories such as the Nunchuk, Classic Controller and Wii Balance Board.
Video Output
Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, Wii D-Terminal, Wii Component Video, Wii RGB, Wii S-Video Stereo AV and Wii AV.
Appearance
The new console features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any home entertainment setup.
CPU
IBM PowerⓇ-based multi-core processor.
GPU
AMD Radeon™-based High Definition GPU.
Storage
Wii U uses an internal flash memory. It also supports SD memory cards and external USB storage.
Media
Wii U and Wii optical discs.
Networking
Wii U can access the Internet via wireless (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) connection. The console features four USB 2.0 connectors – two in the front and two in the rear – that support Wii LAN Adapters.
Wii Compatibility
Nearly all Wii software and accessories can be used with Wii U.
Audio Output
Uses six-channel PCM linear output via HDMI® connector, or analog output via the AV Multi Out connector.
Wii U Features
In addition to introducing new ways to play, Wii U also offers users a variety of non-gaming features to enhance the overall experience.
- Miiverse: Miiverse is a brand-new network communication system that lets gamers from around the world share experiences, discuss games and discover new content. Using their personalized Mii character, players enter Miiverse and see games, applications or entertainment content that either they have interacted with recently, expressed interest in learning more about or that their friends are using or discussing. From here they can challenge their friends to play together, ask a question about a difficult level or discover new elements of their favorite games they never knew existed. After a notable achievement or other share-worthy moment, players can pause their game or application and seamlessly post messages to the Miiverse community.
- TV Remote: The Wii U GamePad controller may also function as an infrared TV remote, whether users are watching TV or playing a game.
- Near Field Communication (NFC): The Wii U GamePad has the ability to communicate wirelessly with objects that are held above it. This allows for a variety of interesting new possibilities for games and activities.
- Nintendo eShop: The digital storefront for Wii U will be available at launch and offer a variety of content for people to download and enjoy. Consumers will also be able to purchase and download select games that are also available at retail stores.
- Video Entertainment: Nintendo is working with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube to bring video experiences to Wii U that will take advantage of the integrated second-screen experience. Additional details will be released at a later time.
- Video Chat: Using the built-in camera of the Wii U GamePad, people can communicate with other Wii U owners in real time.
- Internet Browser: Wii U comes with a browser that lets people with a wireless Internet connection surf the Internet from the comfort of their couches.