Kokuyo, Murata, Intel develop wireless charging desk

TOKYO —Kokuyo Furniture Co, Murata and Intel have teamed up to create a wireless charging desk prototype that allows users to charge compatible devices that are placed onto it.
The desk, designed for office use, has a wireless device charging system, developed by Murata Machinery, built in. It also has embedded charge indicator lights that on the desk surface. Some 25W of wireless power can be transmitted to any device compatible with Murata’s Wireless Power Transmission Modules, Murata said on its website.
Murata has for some time been developing wireless charging systems that use capacititive coupling, electromagnetic induction, magnetic resonance and radio waves.
The three companies said that the prototype is designed to offer a glimpse at a potentially more mobile, cable-free workspace of the future. The technology will be demonstrated at CEATEC 2012, which is scheduled to take place Oct 2-6 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.

100-year-old man sets 100km cycling record

A 100-year-old Frenchman has set a record for the fastest centenarian to cycle 100km.

Robert Marchand completed the distance in 4 hours, 17 minutes and 27 seconds.

According to the AFP, the amateur cyclist claims to have clocked up tens of thousands of kilometres in his lifetime.

Speaking after his success, Marchland admitted: "I did a little better than I hoped.

"However, the going was tough in the last few kilometres."

Marchland purchased his first bicycle in 1978 at the age of 66.

His bid for the centenarian record has been officially certified by the French national cycling federation. 

U.S. consumer sentiment jumps to 4-month high

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. consumer confidence in September rose to the highest level in four months, indicating an optimistic outlook of the U.S. economy, according to the Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment revealed on Friday.

The index of U.S. consumer confidence climbed to 78.3 in September from 74.3 in the prior month, the best reading since May, when the index stood at 79.3.

The index gauging consumer expectations for six months from now, which more closely projects the direction of consumer spending, increased to 73.5 from 65.1 in August. The index of current conditions, reflecting Americans' perceptions of their financial situation and whether they consider it a good time to buy big- ticket items like cars, fell to 85.7 from 88.7 last month.

"The September improvement in confidence was due to more favorable prospects for the economy and for jobs during the year ahead," said Richard Curtin, chief economist in charge of the survey.

Rising property values, higher stock prices and a stabilization in the cost of gasoline may all contribute to drive sentiment up. Growing confidence could stimulate consumer spending. It is widely believed that the U.S. economic recovery will heavily rely on the rebound of consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the overall economic activity.

India launches its heaviest satellite

NEW DELHI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- India Saturday successfully launched its heaviest satellite -- GSAT-10, weighing 3,400 kg -- from French Guiana, the state-owned space agency said.

"The launch vehicle lifted off at 2.48 a.m. (Indian Standard Time) after a smooth countdown lasting 11 hours and 30 minute," the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said in a release.

The communication satellite carried 30 transponders and a component of navigation system Gagan into space. ISRO used the European Space Agency's Ariane-5 rocket to launch the satellite which will be ready for use by November.

"The satellite is in good health," the statement said.

UN chief pranked by fake phone call from Canadian radio comedy team

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was pranked by a phone call from a fake Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the UN General Assembly annual debate, his spokesman confirmed on Friday.

Martini Nesirky, the UN spokesman, told reporters the Masked Avengers, a Quebec radio comedy team, reached Ban between sideline meetings on Wednesday but said the secretary-general quickly realized it was a prank, adding the pranksters should improve their fake French accents.

The Masked Avengers, Montreal's Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel, fooled former U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin during her failed campaign, thinking she was talking with former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, published reports said. Harper's spokesman tweeted about the prank, "well played."

The Avengers'past victims also included New York real estate magnate Donald Trump, The Canadian Press reported Thursday.