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Timex, the watch manufacturer has announced a new GPS watch for dedicated athletes. Timex Ironman Global Trainer Bodylink GPS watch comes with an integrated SiRF StarIII GPS receiver. It can aid the athletes to review their performance after each work-outs.
It is waterproof up to 50 meters deep and can measure the real-time speed, distance and pace of the athletes during the work-outs.

There is a customizable display with four windows that allows the user to view the pieces of information. 20 workout memories, hands-free options to start and stop the data capture automatically, and multi-sports mode are the other available features in Timex Ironman Global Trainer Bodylink GPS watch. It is compatible with Timex heart rate and bike sensors as well.

Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS watch will be available in the stores of US next month, and in Europe around September 2010.
Source: satellitenavigation.org.uk

The festival of Sadeh (Jashan-e Sadeh) Sadeh is a mid-winter celebration observed by Zoroastrians. Jashn-e Sade/Sadeh (in
Persian: جشن سده), is an ancient Iranian tradition celebrated before nowrouz. It includes preparing a large bonfire and is therefore also known as Adur-Jashan (Feast of fire).

The bonfire is to drive back the winter in defiance of Ahriman (satan). It is a deeply religious festival. Sadeh has a complex history, and two different traditions are to be noted.
By Yazd tradition, it is observed on Ashtad ruz, Adur Mah. This is the 100th (“sadeh” in Persian) day before Noruz. According to the Fasli calendar, this would place it on Dec 11.
The other day, observed by Kermani Zoroastrians, is Aban ruz, Vohuman mah (hundredth day after the gahambar of Ayathrima, held to be the beginning of winter) = January 24.

The chief preparation is the gathering of wood, and everyone in the community is expected to contribute:

ShAx-e shAx-e (h)armanI ‘A branch, a branch…!
Har kas shAx-e be-dehad Whoever gives a branch,
odA murAd-esh be-dehad! May God grant his wish!
Har kas shAx-e na-dehad, Whoever does not give a branch,
KhodA murAd-esh na-dehad! May God not grant his wish!’

(Perhaps there is some connection here with the custom of wishing on candles at birthdays.) People begin to gather an hour before sunset, a spot near a stream seems to be preferred.
More about Jashn-e Sadeh – جشن سده

According to a new report from IMS Research, shipments of smartphones grew 15% year over year in 2009. This performance stands in stark contrast to an estimated contraction of 7.9% in total handset shipments for the year.

“Last year validated the idea that the target market for smartphones is expanding rapidly”, said IMS Research analyst, Chris Schreck. “Increasingly, consumers who purchase a new handset are choosing a smartphone. The notion that smartphones are exclusively luxury purchases or enterprise tools is rapidly giving way to a perception of smartphones as a device with mass market appeal.”

Smartphone shipment growth is expected to accelerate in the future, with IMS Research projecting a CAGR of 24.5% between 2010 and 2015. Much of this growth is forecast to come at the expense of the feature phone segment, as the average selling price for entry level smartphones approaches the same levels as high end feature phones.