Apple To Go Large In 2014 With iPhone 6 In May And iPad Max in October

China Mobile, supply chain rumors are emerging about Apple’s next significant product releases. Digitimes reports that according to “sources from the upstream supply chain, ” Apple is planning to release a 5-inch iPhone 6 “phablet” this coming May and a large tablet in October.

The immediacy for a larger-screen iPhone comes partially from the Asian market where Samsung’s phablets have made significant inroads. Assuming that Apple’s agreement with China Mobile includes these upcoming products, the pricing adjustments that normally occur with new iPhones could make the iPhone 5C significantly more affordable and attractive to the Chinese market. This would begin to make sense of the 5C, which so far seems to be a sales disappointment for Apple. Perhaps the important thing about the 5C is that it is not the 5S, so that down the road it can be discounted without putting price pressure on Apple’s flagship.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).” Previous reports have pegged the screen size at just under the 5 inches of Samsung’s Galaxy 4.

Quanta Computer, ” in October. Samsung is also reported to be working on a 12 to 13-inch tablet, and it seems evident that “these large-size tablets will greatly impact ultrabook demand.” This “iPad Max” will be a defacto laptop with the addition of new cases with integrated keyboards and batteries and could well become a mainstay for high schools and college students who need better content creation tools than thos offers on existing iPads and iPad Minis.

These larger screen sizes will put additional strain on iOS 7 and developers who will need to figure out how to adapt their apps to even more configurations. These additional formats will provide some exciting opportunities for applications as well, and we can anticipate that iOS 8 will contain many features designed to accommodate multi-screen design.

Diet,What promotes good sleep?

What promotes good sleep?

There are three substances that are key to understanding how nutrition can affect the brain chemistry that promotes good sleep:
• Tryptophan,
• Serotonin, and
• Melatonin.

What is tryptophan? All protein foods are composed of amino acids and tryptophan is one of them. It is the rarest of the amino acids, and is found in foods like turkey, steak, chicken and pumpkin seeds, and to a lesser extent in peanuts, sunflower seeds, beans and milk. Tryptophan is important because when it reaches the brain, it converts to an important chemical called serotonin.

What is serotonin? You may have heard of serotonin because of its connection to drugs such as Prozac, which are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is actually a chemical that carries messages between brain cells (neurones) and other cells. Decreased serotonin levels can lead to anxiety, depression, and increased cravings for carbohydrate foods. At night-time, serotonin undergoes two metabolic changes to become melatonin, the chemical that induces sleep.

What is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone that helps to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and promotes restful sleep. It is produced from serotonin in the evening to help us sleep.

The best way of ensuring optimal melatonin production is to sleep in as dark an environment as possible. Even low amounts of ambient light will suppress the production of melatonin which will affect not only sleep but have other health consequences as well.

• Always combine a protein food with a low to medium glycaemic index carbohydrate food to optimise tryptophan levels.

• Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and cigarettes.

• Avoid sedatives such as sleeping pills and alcohol to help you sleep. The effects are usually short-term, they can have counter effects, and sustained use can lead to dependency.

• Avoid buying melatonin supplements from the Internet (they are only available on prescription in the UK). Taking them may disrupt your own natural melatonin production and potentially suppress your ability to produce this important hormone, ultimately making sleep problems worse.

• Do not stop taking sleep medications suddenly. The best approach is to speak to your doctor and develop a strategy to slowly wean yourself off them.

• Changes in diet can help you sleep but it takes a little longer than the quick fix pill. Fill in a sleep diary and note what you’ve done on days when you’ve slept well or badly.

Sleeptember Sex Shocker

The less they earn, the less couples are likely to sleep together.

According to a major report into the nation’s sleeping habits, the clear dividing line is a household income of £35K. Below that, just over three quarters (77%) of couples say they sleep together every night they are at home, whereas at least 82% of those earning over that amount share the same bed when they can.

As the nation prepares for its mass return to work following the school holidays, The Sleep Council is releasing the results from its Great British Bedtime Report in time for the ‘Sleeptember’ season.

“That’s when the UK goes back to work in earnest and once again we all need some proper sleep,” says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council.

And it was the world of work that inspired a look at how household income and occupation affects our bedtime habits.

“The most startling statistics were how household income – or lack of it – is clearly taking its toll on relationships,” said Jessica. “Among those earning less than 25K, 12% said they never sleep with their spouse or partner. Among those not working at all the figure is 13%.

“£35K would appear to be a clear dividing line in terms of the number of couples who share the same bed and once you get to the over £55,000 income bracket the percentage of couples sleeping together rises further to up to 86%.”

The figures* also throw up other fascinating facts about the way income and occupation affect our sleep. And they reinforce a few stereotypes.

‘Culture vultures’ – those working in arts and culture – are far and away the most likely to choose meditation (21% of those questioned as opposed to the national average of 8%) or homeopathic remedies (18%, national average 7%) as ways of getting to sleep. They are also the most likely group of workers (57%) to be kept awake at night by worry and stress; the most likely to go to bed after midnight (36%, national average 19%); but also the most likely to get a hefty 8-9 hours sleep a night (at 15%, that’s more than twice the national average of 7%). They are also far more likely than other occupations (31%, national average 13%) to be kept awake at night by an uncomfortable bed.

The report also shows that those who earn the most sleep the best. Among those earning over £75K, 83% said they slept very well or fairly well most nights (national average 73%). That compares to a third (33%) of those who do not work who said they sleep very poorly or quite poorly most nights.

People working in legal professions are the most likely to get a good staple seven to eight hours sleep a night with almost a third (32%, national average 22%) saying they get that amount.

Those in architecture/engineering/building get the least sleep with 72% of them saying they get less than seven hours a night. Interestingly, when it came to asking respondents what kept them awake at night, this was also the biggest group laying the blame on a daytime nap.

High earners are the least likely to seek remedies to help them sleep: more than half (53%) of those bringing in over £75K say they have never taken remedies to help them sleep.

The most likely people to reach for medication are those earning under £15K with a quarter (25%, national average 17%) doing so. This group is also the most likely to consult their GP/health visitor with 15% (national average 10%) having done so.

By occupation, those working in HR are the biggest group (57%, national average 49%) to never take sleep remedies.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of those working in sales, media, marketing, architecture, engineering and building turn to alcohol to help them sleep. But here again, the culture vultures reign supreme with more than a quarter (26%) choosing this option.

When it comes to a typical weekday bedtime, legal eagles are the most likely to be tucked up between the sheets by 9-10pm (17%, national average 10%). For those in finance, the ‘witching hour’ is between 10-11pm with nearly half (46%) switching the light off between those times. More than a third (35%) of IT and telecoms boffins leave it until 11-12pm.

Those earning over £75K are more likely than any other income group (17%, national average 12%) to use their laptop as the last thing they do before going to sleep. Across occupational groups, one in five (20%) lawyers uses their lap top last thing at night, pretty much matched by the 19% of those in professional services who final check their inboxes before lights out.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those working in education are the most likely to read before turning over (49%, national average 41%).

Watching television is a universally popular ‘last thing’ pastime, particularly among people in architecture (45%), those in sales/the media (44%) and finance and IT and telecoms (42%).

When it comes to the bed itself, more interesting snippets emerge. For instance, those who earn the most – over £75K – are by far the most likely to have hung on to their beds for the longest with 23% of that income group having owned their bed for more than eight years. The Sleep Council’s recommended replacement cycle is every seven years.

It’s not as if they pay a fortune for them either. 30% of those earning over £75K paid just £400 – £599 for their current bed.

Sales, media and marketing types are among the most likely to pay more for their bed with 13% paying between £1-2K. Those working in the legal profession are the most likely to splash out on a good bed with 18% saying they spent at least £1K for the bed they sleep in.

Said Jessica Alexander: “Analysing our sleep and bedtime habits by occupation and income has thrown up some incredibly useful information. The Sleep Council is committed to ongoing research of the nation’s sleeping and bed buying habits as the way we buy beds and use them is constantly changing and evolving.”

* Note to Editors: The research for The Sleep Council was carried out online by Opinion Matters between 02/01/2013 and 23/01/2013 amongst a panel resulting in 5007 respondents (UK adults). All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).

what is sleep ?

The science of sleep We spend a third of our lives doing it. Napoleon, Florence Nightingale and Margaret Thatcher got by on four hours a night. Thomas Edison claimed it was waste of time. Why do we sleep? So why do we sleep? This is a question that has baffled scientists for centuries and the answer is, no one is really sure. Some believe that sleep gives the body a chance to recuperate from the day's activities but in reality, the amount of energy saved by sleeping for even eight hours is miniscule - about 50 kCal, the same amount of energy in a piece of toast. We have to sleep because it is essential to maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking. In other words, sleep plays a significant role in brain development. What would happen if we didn't sleep? A good way to understand the role of sleep is to look at what would happen if we didn't sleep. Lack of sleep has serious effects on our brain's ability to function. If you've ever pulled an all-nighter, you'll be familiar with the following after-effects: grumpiness, grogginess, irritability and forgetfulness. After just one night without sleep, concentration becomes more difficult and attention span shortens considerably. With continued lack of sufficient sleep, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is severely affected, practically shutting down. In fact, 17 hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (two glasses of wine). This is the legal drink driving limit in the UK. Research also shows that sleep-deprived individuals often have difficulty in responding to rapidly changing situations and making rational judgements. In real life situations, the consequences are grave and lack of sleep is said to have been be a contributory factor to a number of international disasters such as Exxon Valdez, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and the Challenger shuttle explosion. Sleep deprivation not only has a major impact on cognitive functioning but also on emotional and physical health. Disorders such as sleep apnoea which result in excessive daytime sleepiness have been linked to stress and high blood pressure. Research has also suggested that sleep loss may increase the risk of obesity because chemicals and hormones that play a key role in controlling appetite and weight gain are released during sleep. What happens when we sleep? What happens every time we get a bit of shut eye? Sleep occurs in a recurring cycle of 90 to 110 minutes and is divided into two categories: non-REM (which is further split into four stages) and REM sleep. Non-REM sleep Stage one: Light Sleep During the first stage of sleep, we're half awake and half asleep. Our muscle activity slows down and slight twitching may occur. This is a period of light sleep, meaning we can be awakened easily at this stage. Stage two: True Sleep Within ten minutes of light sleep, we enter stage two, which lasts around 20 minutes. The breathing pattern and heart rate start to slow down. This period accounts for the largest part of human sleep. Stages three and four: Deep Sleep During stage three, the brain begins to produce delta waves, a type of wave that is large (high amplitude) and slow (low frequency). Breathing and heart rate are at their lowest levels. Stage four is characterised by rhythmic breathing and limited muscle activity. If we are awakened during deep sleep we do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes after waking up. Some children experience bed-wetting, night terrors, or sleepwalking during this stage. REM sleep The first rapid eye movement (REM) period usually begins about 70 to 90 minutes after we fall asleep. We have around three to five REM episodes a night. Although we are not conscious, the brain is very active - often more so than when we are awake. This is the period when most dreams occur. Our eyes dart around (hence the name), our breathing rate and blood pressure rise. However, our bodies are effectively paralysed, said to be nature's way of preventing us from acting out our dreams. After REM sleep, the whole cycle begins again. How much sleep is required? There is no set amount of time that everyone needs to sleep, since it varies from person to person. Results from the sleep profiler indicate that people like to sleep anywhere between 5 and 11 hours, with the average being 7.75 hours. Jim Horne from Loughborough University's Sleep Research Centre has a simple answer though: "The amount of sleep we require is what we need not to be sleepy in the daytime." Even animals require varied amounts of sleep: Species Average total sleep time per day Python 18 hrs Tiger 15.8 hrs Cat 12.1 hrs Chimpanzee 9.7 hrs Sheep 3.8 hrs African elephant 3.3 hrs Giraffe 1.9 hr The current world record for the longest period without sleep is 11 days, set by Randy Gardner in 1965. Four days into the research, he began hallucinating. This was followed by a delusion where he thought he was a famous footballer. Surprisingly, Randy was actually functioning quite well at the end of his research and he could still beat the scientist at pinball.

A hard night's sleep

Snoring, sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome

25% of the UK population suffer some form of sleep disorder that results in excessive daytime sleepiness.

Explained below are some of the common disorders keeping us awake at night: snoring, sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome.

Snoring

In a survey by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association, 54% of people have had their holidays adversely affected by snoring and 20% have been banished to the bathroom because of the noise.

It is not only an embarrassment for sufferers but a test of endurance for family and friends.

What is snoring?

Snoring affects around 3.5 million people in the UK. It is an anatomy problem involving the soft tissue at the back of the throat and causes the emission of sound from the airway during sleep.

What causes snoring?

Snoring occurs when the soft palate tissue at the back of the throat relaxes too much, obstructing the entrance to the throat. As air tries to pass through, the soft palate vibrates and produces the snoring sound.

The problem may get worse with age but one of the main causes is size and body shape. People with short wide necks are most prone to snoring because the muscles around their windpipe can't support the fat around it when the person is asleep. As a general rule, anyone with a collar size of 16.5 inches or more is likely to snore.

Other snorers may have:

• poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. Muscles that are too relaxed contribute to snoring.
• large throat tissue. Children with large tonsils often snore.
• obstructed nasal passageway. People with stuffy or blocked noses often snore.

Can snoring be treated?

In 99% of cases, snoring is treatable. Weight is usually the main cause of snoring so shedding excess fat around the neck will stop extra pressure being put on the airways. Other treatments depend on diagnosis so an examination by a doctor will be useful. Also consider these self-help remedies:

• Avoid sleeping pills and alcohol before bedtime. These relax the very same muscles that cause snoring and also dehydrates the body, leaving nasal passages blocked up.
• Avoid heavy meals at least four hours before bedtime.
• Sleep on your side rather than your back. When you sleep on your back, your tongue falls backwards into your throat which can narrow your airway and partly block airflow. Try sewing a tennis ball into the back of your pyjama top. This will certainly stop you from sleeping on your back!
• Humidify the air in the bedroom and rubbing a few drops of eucalyptus or olbas oil into the pillowcase to help clear the nose.
• Exercise. This will improve muscle strength and promote weight loss.

 One woman's struggle with her husband's snoring

Sleep apnoea

What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea owes its meaning to the Greek wordapnea, meaning 'want of breath' and this condition affects the sleep of around 180,000 people in the UK.

What causes sleep apnoea?

Apnoea is caused by the same muscles that cause snoring. It occurs when the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula (the small fleshy piece of tissue hanging back of the throat) relax, partially blocking the opening of the airway. However, sleep apnoea is more dangerous than snoring in that it alters normal breathing patterns.

While asleep, suffers may stop breathing for between 10 to 25 seconds at a time, depleting the bloodstream and brain of vital oxygen supplies. The brain then suddenly sends an emergency signal, telling the person to wake up and take in a big gulp of air. In one single night, suffers may experience up to 350 'apneic events' and usually find themselves waking up sweaty, with a dry mouth and headache. The frequent interruptions of deep sleep leads to excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness.

Can sleep apnoea be treated?

Sleep apnoea is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with strokes, heart attacks and high blood pressure and therefore requires medical attention.

A sleep test called 'polysomnography' is usually carried out to diagnose sleep apnoea. Treatment varies according to severity of symptoms. Mild cases can be effectively treated through behavioural changes - losing weight, cutting down on alcohol or sleeping on your side, for example.

More severe cases may be treated with a CPAP machine, so named because they maintain constant positive air pressure to the wind pipe to help users breathe easy at night. The benefits are better sleep and reduced risk of heart attacks during the night.

 Dr Rob Hicks on obstructive sleep apnoea

Insomnia

What is insomnia?

One third of the UK population suffers from insomnia, a prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate, uninterrupted sleep. Symptoms may include having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early in the morning, feeling unrefreshed. The consequences are unpleasant, leaving sufferers feeling exhausted, irritable and unable to concentrate on simple tasks.

What causes insomnia?

There's no one specific trigger for insomnia but certain conditions seem to make individuals more likely to experience it:

• People aged over sixty
• Females
• Those with a history of depression

Stress is a major contributor. Traumatic events such as acute illness, injury or surgery, the loss of a loved one, exams, or trouble at work can all disrupt one's sleep patterns. In such cases, normal sleep almost always returns when the individual recovers from the event or becomes acclimated to the new situation.

Jet lag can also cause insomnia. Travelling east across time zones is more difficult to adjust to than travelling west, to earlier times. Usually one day of adjustment is all that is required to overcome the insomnia.

Environmental or lifestyle factors may also come into play - too much light in the bedroom or too much caffeine or stimulants in the body.

Can insomnia be treated?

Treatment is related to the cause, if the cause can be determined. Patients are evaluated with the help of a medical and sleep history (sleep diary). Chronic suffers may be treated through cognitive behavioural therapy involving relaxation and reconditioning.

One of the best ways to prevent insomnia is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid going to bed feeling stressed and worried. If you're worried about falling asleep, it will be more difficult to fall asleep. Try not to eat too close to bedtime and avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

Just remember, the less you worry about it, the more likely you'll achieve the perfect slumber.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

What is RLS?

Around 5.6% of the UK population suffer from restless leg syndrome, which causes a tingling, itching sensation and unexplained aches and pains in the lower limbs.

Sleep is disturbed because people often have a strong urge to move the legs to relieve the discomfort by stretching, rubbing the legs or getting up and pacing around.

What causes RLS?

It may be inherited. It occurs three to five times more frequently in first-degree relatives of RLS sufferers. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may worsen the symptoms. Other cases of RLS are associated with iron deficiency or nerve damage in the legs.

Can RLS be treated?

In mild cases, it might be just a matter of cutting out caffeine and alcohol, both of which aggravate the symptoms. Having a warm bath, massaging the legs or using a heat or cold pack will also help to alleviate the symptoms.

For more severe cases, there are a number of pharmacological treatments. Consult your doctor for further advice.

LACK OF SLEEP DEVASTATES THE SCHOOL DAY

Lack of sleep among primary school children is having a devastating effect in schools with nine out of 10 teachers (92%) complaining that pupils are so tired they are unable to pay attention in class. More than a third (38%) said lack of sleep among youngsters is a daily problem for them.

Nearly nine out of 10 teachers (88%) felt that too many distractions in the bedroom (games machines, TVs etc) were at the root of the sleep related problems along with the fact parents are simply not strict enough about enforcing bedtimes (82%).

And more than half (55%) of those questioned agreed that the brightest children in the classroom are the best slept and most wide awake.

The poll of 250 primary school teachers was conducted for The Sleep Council which is launching its first ever ‘sleep awareness’ project in schools – “Better Brains with More Sleep” – as part of National Bed Month (March). It aims to teach primary school children the importance of a good night’s sleep and the factors – such as regular bedtimes and a good bed – that can affect it.

“As part of our project we wanted to establish just how much of an issue lack of sleep has become among young school children,” said Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council. “Even we have been taken aback by the sheer scale of the problem.”

It would seem lack of sleep has now become so widespread in primary schools that nearly a quarter (24%) of the teachers questioned admitted that they had had to resort to letting children who are very tired sleep in a corner of the classroom.

For two thirds of teachers (65%) the problem is so serious they consider that the long term progress of their pupils can be affected while nearly half (48%) said lack of sleep made children unruly and badly behaved.

Commenting on the survey results, Siôn Humphreys, Policy Advisor for the National Association of Headteachers said: “NAHT is pleased to support this important initiative, drawing attention as it does to an oft-hidden yet significant matter. Schools cannot succeed without effective partnerships with the home. A tired and irritable child will not thrive, particularly in the active and pacey modern classroom. NAHT is particularly concerned about the still small but rising numbers of pupils who stay up late engaged in online gaming.”

And it’s not just academic performance that can be affected by youngsters who stay up too late. More than four in ten (45%) of those polled said lack of sleep made young children more susceptible to colds and other minor ailments.

When asked how they dealt with the problem of tired children in the classroom, more than six in 10 (66%) said they contacted the parents. But rather worryingly a small minority (6%) of teachers said they just ignored the problem as they simply didn’t have time to deal with it.

Proving that a good night’s sleep is key to academic achievement, more than two-thirds (68%) of teachers questioned said up to a quarter of their pupils regularly came in to school looking tired – a further one in five said between a quarter and half the class regularly seemed tired.

Less than four in 10 teachers (38%) felt a poor diet was to blame for sleep-related problems.

Said Jessica Alexander: “Lack of sleep would appear to be an issue across all primary school age groups which is a real concern. Our schools project will be looking to raise awareness among schoolchildren themselves but will also involve them monitoring the sleep habits of their parents.

“Hopefully this will in turn remind parents that they need to ensure their children get a decent night’s sleep if they are to do well at school.”

Being a traveler can make you lead a happier

Traveling the world and exploring new places can change your life. It exposes you to new cultures and can help shape your mindset. Without further ado, seven ways being a traveler can make you lead a happier, healthier life.

1. Improve Your Social Skills

Meeting new people is one of the great upsides of traveling. Whether it's chatting up your hostel roommate, making small talk with your seat-mate on a train or having a lively discussion at a local bar, you will be forced to improve your social skills (especially if you're traveling solo). If new situations tend to make you anxious, traveling is a sure way to take steps toward reducing that anxiety.

2. Reduce Stress

Taking time off is an obvious way to recharge and reduce stress levels. But while staying home and resting is a worthy use of your time off, traveling removes you from your everyday life and lets you truly escape. Traveling lets you put aside your daily responsibilities and focus on yourself for a moment. When you return home you'll feel refreshed and have the motivation you felt drained of before you left.

3. Accomplish Goals

Having a travel "to-do" list and slowly crossing things off that list keeps you motivated and positive. That list can include things like visiting certain locations or accomplishing a feat such as climbing a mountain or becoming conversational in the language of your next destination. Achieving those goals also increases confidence and gives a sense of success.

4. Stay Fit

Once you catch the adventure travel bug, you'll never be the same. Let's say while traveling you get lured into taking a hike with beautiful panoramic views. You go, it's not too strenuous and the experience takes your breath away. Now you want more -- harder hikes with even better pay off. While home, you exercise and prepare for more challenging hikes. You're healthier and fitter than ever and you get to look forward to accomplishing new goals.

5. Become More Flexible

Sometimes things don't go according to plan while traveling. Maybe your flight is cancelled or it rains the day you're scheduled to go on an epic outdoor adventure. It's okay -- there are other flights to take (or trains, or buses) and maybe on that rainy day you'll discover a hidden bookstore to explore or an adorable cafe to experience. Traveling helps you be more flexible and open-minded, making you more zen in your everyday life.

6. Become More Patient

Travel can involve a lot of waiting. You'll wait in lines. You'll wait for flights. You'll wait at restaurants. Learning how to cope with those waits, how to make conversation with those you're waiting with and how to stay calm in frustratingly slow situations will teach you how to remain patient and calm in all situations.

7. Have Better Relationships

Surveys have shown that couples who travel together report more intimate relationships. While travel can't make you have a good relationship, it can strengthen it. Being free of responsibilities like doing the dishes and walking the dog helps you relax together and focus on each other.