Google's wonderfully random Niels Bohr doodle

I fancy that Google's doodlers sit in a room where every wall is a different color.

I imagine that they walk into work everything morning, not knowing what they will be doing, thinking or smoking.

And then they just chat.

Someone says something. Someone else says something entirely unrelated. And then, through some odd finger-pointing and head-bobbing, they reach a conclusion.

How else to explain today's doodle which celebrates the birthday of one of physics' great lights,Niels Bohr?

Bohr had such refined talents that not only did he win the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922, but he managed to inspire his son, Aage Bohr, sufficiently that he, too, was awarded a Nobel in 1975.

Today, though, is not some especially significant milestone in the Bohr family. It is not the 100th anniversary of his birth or death, nor his 150th.

It's just that Niels Bohr would have been 127 today. Which seems beautifully random and humorous.

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Bohr himself certainly had a sense of humor.The Washington Post helpfully collected some of his more pithy observations, ones that make one imagine Bohr would have been anything but a bore in company.

Wouldn't it make a glass of Pinot Noir that much more noir to hear your drinking companion tell you: "No, no, you're not thinking -- you're just being logical"?

This is a line that would come in useful so often in both intellectual and loving conversations.

When Bohr worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, he had misgivings. Well, he did come from Denmark -- one of the most civilized parts of Europe.

However, he managed to express his misgivings in such a disarming way: "That is why I went to America. They didn't need my help in making the atom bomb."

I wonder whether Google might offer another fairly random doodle this week. Might it be the, um, 27th anniversary of, um, the first smoothie or something?

Samsung Ativ Smart PC

When Samsung's new Ativ line of Windows phones and tablets debuted at Germany's IFA trade show in late August, it was unclear when or if those models would be coming to the U.S. Thanks to AT&T's rollout of its fall line, we now know at least of of the tablets -- the Ativ Smart PC -- is bound for American shores.

The Ativ Smart PC is the middle child of the tablet line, which also includes the Ativ Tab at the bottom and the Ativ Smart PC Pro as a step-up model. The Tab will run the stripped-down Windows RT operating system, while both of the "Smart PC" versions run full-on Windows 8. The Ativ Smart PC uses Intel's next-generation Atom CPUs -- code-named Clover Trail -- and packs 2GB of RAM, 64GB of storage space (with a microSD slot for additional expansion), dual webcams (2-megapixel front, 8-megapixel rear), and a 1,366x768-resolution display. (The Ativ Smart PC Pro runs faster Ivy Bridge Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, and among other higher-end specs, has a full 1,920x,1080-pixel screen.)

The first announced version of the Ativ Smart PC will come from AT&T, with the wireless provider's 4G LTE mobile broadband service on board. Samsung hasn't said if the Ativ Smart PC will be coming to other carriers, nor if a Wi-Fi-only version is in the works. (The Smart PC also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.)

The Samsung Ativ Smart PC tablet running Windows 8.

We had a chance to handle the Ativ Smart PC at AT&T's fall launch event in New York City (see video, above). In person, there's no getting around the fact that the Samsung Ativ Smart PC is one monster of a tablet. It's screen measures a vast 11.6 inches across (diagonal) which is plenty big. While it offers a captivating view, using a slate this size anywhere other than spacious office or home environs would be comical. Imaging pulling out this juggernaut on the train, bus, or even airplane. It won't help you make friends and might even spark an argument or two. Another issue is the Ativ Smart PC's portly profile. At 19.9mm (0.78 inches) thick and 750 grams (1.65 pounds), the device felt noticeably heavier and thicker than the 10.1-inch Asus Vivo Tab RT (a Windows RT tablet that's also available through AT&T).

While the Ativ Smart PC seemed relatively zippy during our quick initial hands-on, we'll be most intrigued to see if the new Clover Trail Atom CPUs live up to Intel's claims. The last-generation of Atom processors were relegated to entry-level Netbooks, and their performance left a lot to be desired.

With an 11.6-inch screen, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC is one of the larger Windows 8 tablets.

Similar to other Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, Samsung includes a detachable clamshell-style keyboard that turns the Ativ Smart PC into a makeshift laptop. Samsung has not yet indicated pricing for either the tablet yet, and the only information we have regarding availability comes from AT&T, which says only that the tablet will be available for purchase "in time for the holidays."

We'll have a full review of the device as soon as we can get one in for testing.

iPad mini rumor round-up: Production begins in Asia, parts leak and mock-ups get handled

Rumors about the iPad mini keep getting stronger as the days progress. Yesterday we saw UkraninaniPhone.com leak parts of the iPad mini and today WSJ is claiming that Apple’s suppliers have begun mass production of the iPad mini.
While the Journal does not reveal its source it claims people with knowledge on the matter have confirmed that the production of the tablet has begun. Yesterday, it was revealed that the iPad mini will have a nano-SIM tray, a lightning connector and will also have a back casing with a design somewhat similar to the iPhone 5 along with a 7.85-inch display.
Before this Fortune magazine ran a story claiming that some Apple investors had told it that the company plans on sending invites for the iPad mini event on October 10, with the event scheduled for October 17 and the product would be available by November 2.