Sunday 14 August 2011

iOS 4 significantly slows down the iPhone 3G

Just a quick post to warm people that the iOS 4.0 upgrade will significantly slow down an iPhone 3G. I don’t know if it’s the slower processor or the lack of RAM, but I very much regret making the upgrade. The only useful features of iOS 4 that are enabled on the 3G are folders and the new version of Mail. While those are nice, they don’t begin to make up for the incredibly slowness of the update for certain tasks. Typing in addresses in Mail, for example, often hangs the phone for several seconds. It now takes a few seconds for the settings menu to first come up, as well.

How to rotate iPhone video on a Mac

I ran into what is apparently a not uncommon problem with iPhone video: you start to take a video while the camera is in portrait mode (just by accident of how you’re holding it) and then the rest of the video is stuck that way, even if you took 99% of it in landscape mode. If that didn’t make any sense, the bottom line is I had a video I needed to rotate 90 degrees. While there were plenty of solutions available on the PC, tons of Googling turned up virtually nothing for Mac Os X, short of finding an old copy of iMovie from five years ago.

Classic Atlantic article on the diamond scam

One of the more useful things to be aware of as an American is the surprising ruthlessness of Madison Avenue’s manipulation. Nowhere is that more evident than in a classic Atlantic story from 1982 exposing how the public was fooled into thinking diamond rings are an integral part of marriage custom. I’d read it a while back, and had forgotten how good a read it is. The most surprising detail is that the “custom” of giving a woman a diamond engagement ring was completely contrived shortly after WWII by a Manhattan advertising agency.

Monday 8 August 2011

The Great Star of Africa


  • Weight: 530.2 carats
  • Color: Unrecorded
  • Clarity: Unrecorded
  • Cut: Pear
  • Source: South Africa
One of the most famous diamonds is the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, which was cut from the world's largest rough diamond, the Cullinan I. The historic Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa in 1905,

Koh-I-Noor ("Mountain of Light")




First mentioned in 1304, it weighed 186 carats and was an oval cut stone. It is believed to have once been set in the famous peacock throne of Shah Jehan as one of the peacock's eyes. Recut in the reign of Queen Victoria, it is among the British Crown Jewels and now weighs 108.93 carats.

Friday 5 August 2011

List of Best Universities of London

Overall popularity

RankScoreItem
1. 5161University College London
2. 2896London School of Economics
3. 2682Imperial College London
4. 2149London Metropolitan University
5. 2058London Business School
6. 1461Queen Mary, University of London
7. 1368City University, London
8. 1208Institute of Education
9. 881Open University
10. 862Kingston University
11. 857Royal Holloway, University of London
12. 824Brunel University


Princess Love for Pearls

Different jewelry have different personalities. Diamond gives out its bright luster; colored gemstone has its own color language; jade implies its cultural background. And pearl is the most elegant, intellective and vigorous one, which is deserved to be called "Jewel Queen."

Universities in Germany


Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel2010
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen2010
Freie Universität Berlin2010
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen2010
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin2010
Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz2010
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg2010
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen2010
Leibniz Universität Hannover2010
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München2010
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg2010
Philipps-Universität Marburg2010
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen2010
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn2010
Ruhr-Universität Bochum2010

Pearl Jewelry

Pearl jewelry is classic, stunning and always the perfect gift. Whether you are buying pearl jewelry for yourself or a loved one you can never go wrong. 

When you are buying pearl jewelry you want to make sure you are getting beautiful, high quality pearls. The best way to ensure that you are getting high quality pearls when you buy pearl jewelry is to make sure you are buying the jewelry from a reputable source.

Pearl earrings, pearl necklaces and bracelets should all be made with high quality pearls. We take great pride in the quality of our pearl jewelry because we know that you will want to hand-down that jewelry for generations.

Pearls get more beautiful as they age, but it is important that you care for the pearls properly. You should store your pearl jewelry separate from all other jewelry. It is generally a good idea to store your pearls in a cloth bag or pouch.

If you live in a dry climate you may even consider storing a damp linen with your pearl jewelry so they do not dry out. Remember to put on your make-up and perfume before putting on your pearls so you protect them.

Pearl jewelry should be wiped down after you wear it. You should use a simple dry, soft cloth. If you spill anything on your pearly jewelry make sure you wipe them quickly with water and then dry them with a soft cloth.

Romantic Element of Pearls in Jewelry

The fast changing fashion makes this world so dazzling. The diamond used to be "the queen of gems", but now it is not able to satisfy the more fashion-conscious people any more. All kinds of other gems and jewelry are becoming just as popular. The new fashion concept is virtually a harmony of all gems in different categories. In this concept, each kind of gem is endowed with new elements. 

Modern pearls have become so functional---they don't only represent dignity and wealth any more, but now have a more romantic element. Now pearls are essential to create a romantic style of jewelry. They are being combined with romantic patterns like flowers, symbols of purity like platinum and representing long-lasting love stones like diamond. With pearls, the whole piece of jewelry becomes so much visual and refined.

Platinum qualities

PURE

Platinum is pure, naturally white and is kind to the skin.

Caring for your jewellery

Ensure your precious platinum pieces remain in perfect condition with advice and tips on jewellery storage, cleaning and maintenance. Look after your precious platinum jewellery and its looks will last forever.

What to look for in a platinum ring


A platinum ring is precious. A platinum engagement ring is the perfect choice to mark the most important and meaningful relationship of your life. The design of your platinum ring is a very personal decision, however there are four general points to consider:

How is diamond cut8i

The expression, "a rough diamond" is used to describe a diamond in its natural uncut state. They so resemble a glass pebble that most people would pass them without a glance. It is the skill of a diamond cutter that unlocks the fiery beauty that lies inside.

Modern diamond cutting is scientifically planned to take the best advantage of a diamond's natural properties. First, because no two diamonds are alike, each has to be studied very carefully and marked for cutting. Some diamonds are cleaved or split along their "grain" like a log, but most diamonds are sawn across the grain by a thin metal disc coated with diamond dust and revolving at high speed.

The 5Cs and things to know about Diamonds Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions. Of the 5c's,the cut is the aspect most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature. Quite often the cut of a diamond is confused with its shape. Diamonds are cut into various shapes, depending upon the original form of the rough. Whatever the shape, a well-cut diamond is better able to reflect light. A diamond's ability to reflect light determines its display of fire and brilliance. Diamonds are usually cut with 58 facets. These facets follow a mathematical formula and are placed at precise angles in relation to each other. This relationship is designed to maximize the amount of light reflected through the diamond and to increase its beauty.