Commerzbank analyst Ben Lynch

An SMA spokeswoman said on Wednesday: "From today's perspective, our guidance still stands."

SMA Solar has in the past cautioned that its EBIT margin would fall to 20 percent in the medium term, citing strong competition in the market for solar inverters.

StarMine sees the company's EBIT margin falling to 17.ceramic zentai suits for the medical,7 percent by 2014.

INDUSTRY IN This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings ,CRISIS?

Europe is by far the world's biggest market for solar power yet it largely depends on government subsidies because solar power is still up to eight times more expensive than conventional forms of power like coal and gas.

The sector has boomed since the start of the millennium as investors rushed to get a slice of the next big thing amid worries about climate change and new targets encouraging countries to curb carbon emissions.

Now however cash-strapped euro zone governments, grappling with debt crises and fragile economic growth, are reducing their support in order to bring down production costs and make the industry more competitive.

Producers of solar cells, which make up solar panels, were the first to come under pressure as the sheer number of competitors in the segment pushed prices into freefall.

Demand for the panels themselves held up rather better but now they and the inverter business are feeling the squeeze.

The first evidence of this came in early July when Satcon Technology Corp cut its quarterly sales outlook and said it would cut 15 percent of its workforce, citing falling solar subsidies in Europe.Whilst magic cube are not deadly,

Advanced Energy Industries cut its quarterly sales outlook the same day, while Power One,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. SMA's main competitor with a market share of more than 13 percent, cut its full-year sales outlook last week.

Power One may have cut its outlook but it is still a dangerous competitor for SMA. The U.S. company gained a foothold in Europe during the 2010 boom when SMA could not meet demand alone.

As the industry heads into a period of strong competition, pricing pressure and probable consolidation, observers expect nimble Asian firms to join the fray, further undermining SMA's position.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former,

Investors will be closely watching SMA's second-quarter earnings which it will report on Friday, August 12.

But Commerzbank analyst Ben Lynch said he didn't expect any change to SMA's guidance before the end of the year.

"They've never profit-warned before and we think they would wait until they are absolutely sure they need to," he said, adding that any cut would not occur before the fourth quarter.

Don Kavanagh: Did you myth me?

Most of the tall tales told over a chilled glass are no more than romantic fancies. By Don Kavanagh.

Of all the areas of our daily lives, few have so many myths about them as drinking.

Sadly, most of them are complete rubbish, such as my unshakeable conviction that I'm gorgeous after a few bourbons,From standard Cable Ties to advanced wire tires, but it's amazing how strongly they persist.

So I thought I'd explode a few myths, on the basis that I've told so may lies in my life as a journalist that I feel I must make some form of atonement.

1. Eating the tequila worm makes you cool.
I'm afraid not. There are several reasons this is untrue, but the basic one is this: tequila NEVER has a worm in it. Or a scorpion, spider, bug, beetle or any other creepy-crawly. The vaguely similar spirit mescal does, but even swallowing the worm from this does not make you cool. It makes you look like an idiot.

2. Beer makes you more attractive.
Sorry lads, this is even dumber than the first one. Beer goggles are a well-known phenomenon but they lie. And ladies, it pays to remember that the Adonis you are slavering over after a few too many pinot gris is probably the sort of bloke you'd cross the road to avoid sober.

3. Absinthe is hallucinogenic.
Again,Choose from one of the major categories of Bedding, a myth. It does have minute traces of thujone, a psychoactive drug, but for it to have any effect you'd probably need to drink a couple of bottles of absinthe. And since absinthe is usually around 80 per cent alcohol, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you were seeing pink elephants after a bottles' worth.

4. If you drink beer you'll get fat.
Unless you're drinking beer in vast quantities, it is no more fattening than any other alcohol. A pint of Guinness has fewer calories than a pint of orange juice and the main reason you have a beer belly is that all that time you should be spending at the gym is being spent in the pub instead. Unless,Full color plastic card printing and manufacturing services. of course, you are like me and suffering from a medical condition. In my case, I contracted Furniture's Disease,Our Polymax RUBBER SHEET range includes all commercial and specialistSave on hydraulic hose and fittings, which means my chest dropped into my drawers years ago.

Indeed they have piqued people's interest

The FIT is fixed for 25 years at the rate they are offering at the time of installation. The price of electricity you 'sell' back to the grid goes up with along with the general price for units of electricity.

'Previously, solar panels did nothing to improve the appeal of a property, but if you can prove your solar panels make a tax-free profit each year, I can see them attracting more than just the sandals brigade,' says Trevor Kent, former president of the National Association of Estate Agents.

Indeed they have piqued people's interest, and companies looking to cash in on the FIT scheme are offering free solar installation to your home. They receive the profit from the FIT while you get a healthy reduction in energy costs. But buying your own panels - even with a loan - makes better financial sense.

THE TWO TYPES OF SOLAR There are two types of domestic solar technology: Solar PV (Photovoltaic) This type generates electricity.

Solar Thermal This only heats water. At present, the solar tariffs only apply to solar PV systems, but there are plans to extend these to the simpler and cheaper solar thermal systems, which cost just Pounds 3,000-Pounds 5,000 each.

SOLAR AND YOUR HOME So is your home suitable? South-facing is ideal - you'll lose 15 per cent for east or west - as is a 25-45 degree pitched roof and around 30 sq m of roof space (all the energy figures quoted for systems here refer to 'ideal' homes). Shade from trees or buildings will reduce performance. Planning permission is not generally required as long as it doesn't protrude more than 200mm above the roof line. Restrictions may apply for listed buildings or conservation areas - visit planningportal.gov.uk for details.Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store

HOW ELECTRIC SYSTEMS WORK With solar PV systems, each panel houses a cell made from layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon.

When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field. Choose between standard roof-mounted panels (the cheapest), built- in panels which sit flush within the roof, or solar tiles, which completely replace traditional tiling. Tiles are more expensive, but costs can be offset if your roof already needs replacing. Prices range from Pounds 4,500 to Pounds 8,000 per kWp installed.

With either system, a wire leads to a 'solar meter' in your loft which shows you how much money you've earned, then the electricity travels to your home electrical system, or back to the National Grid, where you can profit. Energy isn't usually stored or saved up for use later. If you don't use it, the energy is sold back to the National Grid. The money you get for this is - slightly - less than what you'll pay per unit on your bills, so if you've got solar, it pays to run high-drain appliances such as washing machines during the day, when your panels will be generating electricity.

HOW THERMAL SYSTEMS WORK Solar thermal systems employ a series of tubes filled with anti- freeze that are mounted behind glass on the roof. The sun heats the liquid, which is pumped through a coil inside your hot water tank generating temperatures up to 60 [degrees]C - perfect for showering. A two-panel system (4 sq m) should provide around 50-60 per cent of your hot water needs.

Although final details are still shaky and subject to change, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has indicated that payments of Pounds 300 per system, and 8.5p per kWh of heat produced, could be o ered to people installing solar thermal heating at home.

You'll have to choose between 'flat plate' and 'evacuated-tube' systems. Evacuated tubes are more expensive but o er greater e ciency. Don't forget, you will still need a regular boiler to top up the hot water at night or on cloudy days.the Injection mold fast!

Budget Pounds 3,000 to Pounds 5,000 for an installed system - kits start from Pounds 1,000, but you will need DIY experience and sca olding to install.

1.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account. PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLARWORLD 2.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,35KWP SYSTEM Pounds 9,870 (installed), myplanetuk.com Type Roof panels Output 1,983kWh a year Roof space required 16.82 sq m 25-year earnings Pounds 25,938* Not the prettiest of panels but the Solarworld system makes excellent and highly efficient use of a small roof space. With government grants you'll receive Pounds 880.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,33 per year, earn Pounds 25,938 over 25 years, get your money back in ten years and save an average of around Pounds 157 on energy bills each year. You'll need to factor in scaffolding costs, though.

2. PHOTOVOLTAIC 3.99KWP SUNTECH 190W MONOCRYSTALLINE Pounds 15,453 (installed), thegreenelectrician.co.uk Type Roof panels Output 3,425kWh a year Roof space required 27 sq m 25-year earnings Pounds 58,828* Expensive, but this low-profile, integrated design should supply most of the electricity needs of a family home. Installation is less seamless than solar tiles and doesn't include scaffolding - but with an 8.8-year payback and FIT income of Pounds 1,483 per year, plus electricity savings and an export tariff of Pounds 293, you'll net a healthy Pounds 58,828 over 25 years.

About INSTEON

Dad's grin and smile when they get ties and socks each year for Father's Day, but the time has come to get them something they really want. The search for the ideal Father's Day gift begins and ends at Smarthome.

With over 13,000 products available across categories such as cameras & surveillance; remotes & IR repeaters; and speakers, A/V & home theatre, Smarthome features the gadget products that "Tech Dads" want.

Among Smarthome's best-selling products are its INSTEON home automation controls that allow users to remotely control lights; appliances; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls (HVAC) remotely through switches, handheld controls,Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, via computer interface and web-enabled Smart devices such as iPhones and iPads. If Dad enjoys spending his leisure time on the couch, an INSTEON home automation system can really turn that couch into his own "mission control".

Other products one might consider as "Dad approved" would be noise-canceling headphones from either Sony or Bose. If Dad does a lot of travelling for work, these headphones are ideal for use on planes and trains, giving him crystal clear sound without background noise from other travelers.

If Dad has multiple components in his entertainment system any of Smarthome's IR repeater systems are the perfect tool to clean up his entertainment cabinet. Each IR repeater system allows the user to use an existing infrared (IR) remote control to operate up to eight audio/video (A/V) components located behind closed doors or walls in an entertainment cabinet or equipment closet. Not only with Dad enjoy this gift, but Mom will appreciate a cleaner entertainment center.

INSTEON is the best selling Home Area Networking (HAN) technology on the market. It is the only mesh network capable of utilizing two independent means of communication, RF and powerline thus also making it the most reliable technology. With over 200 products and kits on the market, INSTEON makes it is easy to link together home systems such as lighting, security, HVAC (comfort control),We are professional Plastic mould, A/V, appliances, and sensors, allowing them to be controlled or monitored from anywhere in the world.

About Smarthome
Founded in 1992,Has anyone done any research on making Plastic molding parts from scratch? Smarthome was created based on the realization of a need for automated products that make lives easier,Quality air impact socket tools for any tough job. safer and more enjoyable. Today, Smarthome sells more than 12,000 hard-to-find products, including home automation solutions featuring award-winning INSTEON technology.what are the symptoms of Piles, Smarthome sells online through their award-winning website at Smarthome.com, through their direct mail catalog and via their brick and mortar retail store located in Irvine, CA.

Composting: Everything you should know

The squeamish who believe worms are best left in the ground or on fishing hooks soon may house, feed and appreciate the creepy crawlers.

"Life would not exist on this planet if we did not have organic material returned to the soil," environmental educator Nancy Martin said of composting -- one version of which involves earthworms.

Ms. Martin, of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Resources Council, conducts local workshops on worm composting and backyard composting, with participants going home with a ready-to-use compost bin.we supply all kinds of oil painting reproduction,

The next backyard composting workshops in the South suburbs will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Peters Township Public Library and at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Library of Castle Shannon.

The next worm composting workshop in the South Hills will be at 7 p.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc.m. July 6 at Mt. Lebanon Public Library.

With backyard composting, a bin of about 3 cubic feet is layered with materials rich in nitrogen, or "greens," such as fruit and vegetable peels, and those rich in carbon, or "browns," such as paper and straw.

"If you build it, they will come," Ms. Martin said of the decomposers that will invade an outdoor bin: bacteria, fungi,What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. insects, microorganisms,Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts, worms and more.

When the decomposers are done, what remains looks like soil, she said. It can be used as mulch or as soil conditioner in a garden.

In addition to releasing nutrients into the soil, it will work down into the sub-soil and loosen the clay.

With indoor worm composting, or vermicomposting, a worm habitat is created in a bin with 8 to 10 inches of shredded moist newspaper as bedding. Fruit and vegetable peelings are buried under the newspaper.uy sculpture direct from us at low prices Then worms, which must be red wigglers, are added to create a fertilizer by eating the newspaper and food scraps.

The seven stones of simpler living

When I was a kid, my parents would sometimes take us to a campground called Paradise Park. It was a little camp in the California foothills: a woodsy reserve dotted with old oak trees sloping down to a well-shaded river.

Most of the time, it wasn't much more than a stream. But its bed was thick with well-worn river stones, testimony to uncountable seasons of floods and the persuasive nature of water.

Over the centuries, the river had slowly carried away mountainsides, tumbling and cracking rock, reducing boulders into a rainbow of smooth, flat stones the size of a child's hand.

We'd spend hours picking through the best of them, finding the perfect rock to skip across the river. Invariably, we'd build little stacks of stones along the bank.

There's something deeply satisfying about stacking stones. It's a common motif in Zen gardens, which seek to create order out of nature's seeming chaos. In doing so, they highlight the harmony and balance of our place in the world.

MNN: 7 apps to get the most out of nature

It's not difficult to find a lesson in the stones for those of us trying to simplify our sprawling lives. We've chosen seven from the riverbed for you today -- ideas that can help you live a lighter, healthier, more sustainable life. Stack them as you will.

1. Reduce your consumption

Anyone who thinks they can shop their way to greener living has been watching too much television. Sure, responsible consumerism matters.

Every purchase is a choice. But the key to simpler, greener living is pretty straightforward: consume less.

A simple way to cut back on unnecessary purchases is the one week rule. Unless you have a real show-stopper, write down the things you need and sit on them for seven days.

Stores are designed to encourage impulse spending, so staying away as much as possible is good news for your bank account. After a week, round up the items you still need and group them together with an eye toward combining as many trips as possible. T

hen stick to your list. While this all sounds very simple, you'll quickly realize how chaotic our spending habits can be -- and how much money you can save through better planning.

2. Reduce your waste stream

We call it garbage; other nations might call it wealth. There's no end to things we send to the landfill. Recycling helps, but the sheer volume of waste generated by the average household is overwhelming.

From obsolete electronics to that mason jar you casually tossed in the trash last night, we're flooding our landfills while robbing ourselves of things which might be put to another use.

Start by thinking twice when you purchase something: is whatever you're buying too heavily packaged? Do you need it all?

Think again before putting anything in a trash or recycling bin. Nobody expects you to become a packrat, but that jar could easily be repurposed as a water bottle or something to pack a snack.

Food scraps belong in the compost heap. Maybe that cardboard, too. For some idea starters on keeping things out of the bin, check out this helpful list from No Impact Man.

3. Trim your energy use

Energy prices have relaxed over the past few months as a direct result of the worldwide economic slowdown. But electricity, gasoline, natural gas and heating oil still represent a hefty portion of the average family budget.

MNN: Can weatherization help the economy and save the world?

Unless you're fortunate enough to live in an area already invested in renewable energy, every unattended TV or flick of the light switch means you're burning fossil fuels. That means you're directly responsible for the air pollution and all the related consumables it took to bring that power to your wall impact socket.

Learn to weatherize; replace or retire inefficient appliances; consider more energy-efficient lighting; and rearrange your living spaces so they take better advantage of natural heat, lighting and cooling.

Switch things off and pocket the change. You'll probably enjoy the peace and quiet.

4. Prepare and grow your own food

If there's one lost art in the past decade or two, it's cooking real food. By "cooking," we don't mean warming up packaged food from the grocery store.

We're talking about preparing meals from fresh ingredients. That's how our parents and grandparents did it.

Admittedly, society has changed: with dual-income households and ever-expanding work schedules, it's easy to fall back on processed meals and fast foods. And that's a shame.

Making a meal -- whether it's just for yourself or a whole family -- is the one of the little rituals which forces us to slow down and be mindful of what we eat. It's also healthier, and an enormous money saver.

Not too handy in the kitchen? Take a class, or spend time cooking with someone you love. Real food needn't be complicated.

And consider growing some of what you consume. Even if you're not blessed with the space to plant a garden, you can grow a satisfying crop of herbs and vegetables in modest containers.

5. Reduce your reliance on automobiles

We love our cars. And why not? Virtually everything about modern living -- particularly in the United States -- assumes automobile transportation. Think how much blacktop and concrete there is within a hundred yards of you right now.

Our cities sprawl across what used to be countryside. Stores and businesses which make provision for bicycles and mass transit are the exception, and we feel inconvenienced if there's not plenty of parking within a few paces of wherever we travel.

Dust off that bicycle or grab a backpack and get walking. Perhaps you could start by taking our 10-mile pledge.

The more you leave your car parked, the more money you'll save and the healthier you'll feel. Start small, establish new habits, and you'll be surprised how much you can get done without burning a drop of gasoline.

6. Reduce your personal stress

It's not an accident that virtually every one of our "simplicity stones" has a meditative component. You have to make time to prepare food, choose walking over a car trip, or even make a proper shopping list.

This is a good thing, because it forces you to unburden yourself of something else. We are hopelessly overstimulated. Living a greener life is less about learning new things than letting go of the old.

First Aussie review of Duke Nukem Forever (sort of)

THE critics might still be waiting to play it, but there is one organisation that's been given a sneak peak at the Duke's return.

After more than a decade in development — and despite a last-minute delay — Duke Nukem Forever will soon see the light of day.

So what's in store for gamers? More sex, drugs, violence and toilet humour?

Precisely that, according to the Australian Classification Board, which granted the game an MA15+ rating last month.

Below are some of the highlights from the Board's Decision Report, containing descriptions of the game's smuttiest moments.

Be warned, there are spoilers — but it's worth it. You can read the full Classification Board decision report here (PDF).

An example of crude humour includes playable elements which enable Duke to "piss" and "throw" faeces.

In various bathroom locations throughout the game, the player can have Duke "piss" in urinals and on occasion, in these same venues can also pick up faecal matter from a toilet bowl and throw it about.

Dialogue contains various crude reference to "pissing" and when throwing faecal matter Duke is heard to utter "what sick motherf---er picks up wet faeces" and "what am I? A monkey?"

The Board also notes the player ability, in a final climactic scene when Duke kills the alien general, to implicitly urinate into the defeated creature's eye socket.

Violence

The game contains violence that is strong in impact and justified by context. Constant battle with robot-like alien creatures is present throughout the game and is therefore strong in viewing impact.

Battles incorporate the use of futuristic weapons such as a Freeze Ray, Shrink Ray, other super-sized guns, grenade launchers and hand-to-hand combat.

In one of the game levels, Duke enters an alien lair to "rescue" kidnapped Earth women who have been implicitly impregnated by the alien enemy.

These women are rendered with a mannequin-like appearance, and appear torso nude and partially cocooned either suspected from a cave-like roof or against walls.

In order to "spare" the women's suffering Duke has the ability to shoot the women resulting in small blood bursts. Those he does not shoot are seen implicitly exploding as the alien "baby" matures.


The game contains implied sexual activity that is strong in impact.

In the level Duke Lives, the player sees a first person perspective of Duke's lounge room, as he implicitly sits on a couch, playing a computer game on a big screen TV.

Off-screen, sexual noises are heard and the shot widens to reveal two women rising up from a kneeling position just below Duke's waist line. Fellatio is implied as the women wipe their mouths and giggle.

In the level Titty City, Duke enters a strip club where he meets a stripper who invites him to locate (among other items) a vibrator and a condom.

In the men's toilet, Duke can enter a toilet cubicle with what appears to be a "glory hole" in the cubicle wall. A cartoon image of a woman's face is on the wall with a hole evident in the drawing's mouth and the word "Yum" beside it.

Upon the successful completion of this level, Duke is given a "special" lap-dance by the stripper. The breast nude female is depicted in a first person perspective implicitly gyrating on Duke's lap.

The Board notes a facility also exists for the player to "jiggle" the stripper's breasts during this scene.

Red Hat alert RHSA-2011:0303-01 (kernel)

1. Summary:

Updated kernel packages that fix three security issues and several bugs are
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderate
security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores,
which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability
from the CVE links in the References section.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, noarch, ppc, s390x, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, noarch, x86_64

3. Description:

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux
operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues:

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's garbage collector for AF_UNIX
sockets. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to trigger a
denial of service (out-of-memory condition). (CVE-2010-4249, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's networking subsystem. If the
number of packets received exceeded the receiver's buffer limit, they were
queued in a backlog, consuming memory, instead of being discarded. A remote
attacker could abuse this flaw to cause a denial of service (out-of-memory
condition). (CVE-2010-4251, Moderate)

* A missing initialization flaw was found in the ethtool_get_regs()
function in the Linux kernel's ethtool IOCTL handler. A local user who has
the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability could use this flaw to cause an information
leak. (CVE-2010-4655, Low)

Red Hat would like to thank Vegard Nossum for reporting CVE-2010-4249, and
Kees Cook for reporting CVE-2010-4655.

This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these bug fixes will
be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the
References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported
patches to correct these issues, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical
Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

4. Solution:

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

Red Hat alert RHSA-2011:0303-01 (kernel)

1. Summary:

Updated kernel packages that fix three security issues and several bugs are
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderate
security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores,
which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability
from the CVE links in the References section.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, noarch, ppc, s390x, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, noarch, x86_64

3. Description:

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux
operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues:

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's garbage collector for AF_UNIX
sockets. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to trigger a
denial of service (out-of-memory condition). (CVE-2010-4249, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's networking subsystem. If the
number of packets received exceeded the receiver's buffer limit, they were
queued in a backlog, consuming memory, instead of being discarded. A remote
attacker could abuse this flaw to cause a denial of service (out-of-memory
condition). (CVE-2010-4251, Moderate)

* A missing initialization flaw was found in the ethtool_get_regs()
function in the Linux kernel's ethtool IOCTL handler. A local user who has
the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability could use this flaw to cause an information
leak. (CVE-2010-4655, Low)

Red Hat would like to thank Vegard Nossum for reporting CVE-2010-4249, and
Kees Cook for reporting CVE-2010-4655.

This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these bug fixes will
be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the
References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported
patches to correct these issues, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical
Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

4. Solution:

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

Transphorm Looks To Save Lost AC/DC Energy

It's a fact of physics: There's AC and there's DC. And in the process of converting

electricity from one form to the other - going from the AC power that comes out of the

wall socket to the DC power that runs your laptop, for instance - significant energy is

lost. Maybe as much as 10 percent. How to overcome this waste? Use gallium nitride

instead of silicon in the power conversion modules. That's the solution that Google

Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and other investors are betting $38 million

on, backing a startup called Transphorm.

Transphorm says it has optimized gallium nitride for power electronics and "has

developed novel devices such as transistors, circuits, and complete modules that

include all the components needed to replace conventional systems," according to MIT's

Technology Review.

"The impact is huge - on the grid, on the planet," Tranphorm chief Umesh Mishra said at

an event at Google headquarters, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "Whenever

you use electrical energy, you're paying a hidden tax due to the inefficiencies of

power conversion."

The Transphorm technology would also work, of course, in the other direction: energy

stored in battery packs in electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf has to be converted

to AC to run the motor, and solar power systems use inverters to turn DC power into AC

for household use. Gallium nitride would help make those systems 90 percent more

efficient - and lighter and less bulky - Transphorm says. Those brick-like laptop

adapters might finally be a thing of the past.

As good as this all sounds, Grist's Todd Woody notes that long design cycles could mean

that even if everything Transphorm says is true, gallium nitride will arrive slowly in

devices. And as with most new technologies, gallium nitride modules are likely to be

expensive until volume ramps up.