Samsung's next Galaxy device is a Pro Camera running Android

The Galaxy brand is about more than smartphones. According to TechCrunch, Samsung has revealed a professional-grade, mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses during a London event recently.

                                  Samsung's next Android pro camera

The Galaxy NX runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, adding the ability to post high quality images directly within the camera to popular social apps like Instagram.

While Samsung has used the NX moniker for its cameras previously, and the recently announced Galaxy S4 Zoom is a hybrid smartphone and 10x shooter, the Galaxy NX appears to be aimed squarely at pro users.

The back of the Galaxy NX features a 4.8-inch HD LCD, backed up by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. Featuring a 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, the Galaxy NX is also 4G LTE, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0 ready.

The Galaxy NX is interchangeable with Samsung's line of existing NX lenses. A shutter speed of 1/6,000 of a second and 8.6fps shooting borders on the expected level of quality found in DSLRs, but there's no indication from Samsung on pricing.

Apparently, the Galaxy NX may hit stores in the UK this summer, but other regional availability was not announced.

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Can Sabah become Biofuels centre in Malaysia?

According to report, yes, Sabah can become the centre for Second-Generation Biofuels.


Sabah to become second generation biofuel centre

There are more that 120 oil palm mills in Sabah, and according to industry study, they can provide sufficient residues or waste for downstream processing to produce biofuels.

If Sabah can gather these mills in a joint venture initiative, there is no doubt we will be able to tap into the biomass pellets market for Asia region which is estimated to be 10 million tonnes a year by 2020.

Syarikat Teck Guan Group, one of the palm oil industry players here, have recently launched its pilot bio-ethanol project in Tawau.




Empty fruit bunches going to waste? Photo credit: biochar


What are second-generation biofuels

Advance biofuels, or second generation biofuels, are fuels that can be manufactured from various types of biomass. While first generation biofuels are derived from arable crops, second generation biofuels are made from lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste.

It is more difficult to extract them in the second generation biofuels, but unlike in the first generation, sourcing of raw materials doesn't compete with the food supplies.


Biomass joint venture cluster formed in Sabah

The aspiration to turn Sabah into the country's second generation biofuel centre is one step closer with the signing of the first of its kind biomass joint venture cluster here yesterday.

In the ceremony, some 10 oil palm mills here made their commitment to supply oil palm biomass to the joint-venture company, Lahad Datu Biomass JV Cluster, which they themselves own. These include major plantation companies, namely Teck Guan Group, Bell Group, Genting Bhd, Kelas Wira Sdn Bhd and Golden Elate Sdn Bhd.

The company will then decide on the best use for the biomass such as producing solid or liquid biofuels in the form of pellets or ethanol, according to a statement from Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Sabah Sdn Bhd.


Source: The Green Mechanics