Indonesian Digital News Archive

One of the most daring and difficult climbs of last year was the first ascent of the Shark Fin on Mt. Meru put up by Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk and Conrad Anker. Those three men are some of the most experienced and respected climbers around and this expedition still pushed them to the very edge of their physical and mental limits. The video below is trailer for the documentary of that climb and it gives you a sense of the challenges that these three men had to over come just to reach the top. The film looks fantastic, that is if you enjoy watching climbers suffer.

Posted by Eva-Lotta Lamm, Riccardo Govoni, and Ellie Powers of the Google Play team



We've been working on a new Google Play Developer Console, centered around how you make and publish apps, to create a foundation for the exciting features we have planned for the future. Earlier this year at Google I/O, we demoed the new version (video). Since then, we've been testing it out with tens of thousands of developers, reviewing their feedback and making adjustments.



Today, we’re very happy to announce that all developers can now try the new Google Play Developer Console. At its core, the Developer Console is how you put your app in front of hundreds of millions of Android users around the world, and track how your app is doing. We hope that with a streamlined publishing flow, new language options, and new user ratings statistics, you’ll have better tools for delivering great Android apps that delight users.

Sleeker, faster, easier to navigate

You spend a lot of time in the Developer Console, so we overhauled the interface for you. It's bright and appealing to look at, easy to find your way around using navigation and search, and it loads quickly even if you have a lot of apps.

Track user ratings over time, and find ways to improve

One of the most important things you'll be able to do is track the success of your app over time — it's how you continue to iterate and make beautiful, successful apps. You'll see new statistics about your user ratings: a graph showing changes over time, for both the all-time average user rating and new user ratings that come in on a certain day. As with other statistics, you'll be able to break down the data by device, country, language, carrier, Android version, and app version. For example, after optimizing your app for tablets, you could track your ratings on popular tablets.

Better publishing workflow

We've completely revamped and streamlined the app publishing process to give you more time to build great apps. You can start with either an APK or an app name, and you can save before you have all of the information. You can also now see differences between the new and old versions of an app, making it easy to catch unintentional changes before you publish a new version to your users.

More languages for listings, with automated translations

You'll also enjoy a new app publishing flow and the ability to publish your app listing in 49 languages. Once you've saved any change to your application in the new Developer Console, your users will have the option of viewing an automatic translation of your listing on the web today and soon on devices — no additional action on your part is needed.

How can you try the new version?

Go to your Developer Console and click on “Try the new version” in the header or go directly to the new version. If you prefer the new version, don't forget to bookmark the new URL.



Please note that we're not quite done yet, so the following advanced features are not yet supported in the new Google Play Developer Console: multiple APK support, APK Expansion Files and announcements. To use these features, you can click “Switch back” in the header at any time to return to the old version.



Click the “Feedback” link in the header to let us know what you think, so that we can continue to improve your experience as a Google Play developer. Thank you for all of the feedback so far.

Looking for a little Monday morning inspiration to get your week off right? Then look no further than the video below which features some amazing timelapse images shot by photographer Enrique Pacheco in all corners of the globe. As we've come to expect from these amazing timelapse videos, there are some beautiful scenes here that will get you in the mood to start planning your next adventure.

Made on Earth from Enrique Pacheco on Vimeo.

The next few days could potentially be exciting ones on both Everest and Lhotse. The promised weather window appears to be on track and ready to open starting tomorrow, which will grant access to the summit at last. As a result, the teams that have been struggling there most of the fall are now ready to make the final push to the top.

Among them is Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, who is attempting the West Ridge of Everest alone and without oxygen. Kuriki has spent much of the past week in Camp 2, waiting for his opportunity to go higher, and over the weekend he was able to move up to Camp 3 in order to get into position for his summit bid. According to his Facebook page, Kuriki will stay in C3 for today, gather his strength and wait out the weather. Tomorrow he'll proceed up to Camp 4 and weather permitting he'll go to for the summit on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Polish team led by Artur Hajzer climbed up the South Col route over the weekend and now have five climbers in Camp 4. Their weather forecasts indicate that starting tomorrow things improve quite nicely with a window that will remain open late into the week. Having struggled in high winds and snowy conditions the past few days, the team is a bit weary and battered, but they are excited to get the chance to tag Lhotse's summit at last. If the weather window stays open as expected, a second group of climbers will attempt to make another summit bid on Friday.

Finally, there have been no updates from the Korean team that is attempting Everest along the traditional South Col route but presumably they'll be moving into position as well. It wouldn't at all be surprising to learn that they are also in Camp 4 and waiting on the weather window tomorrow as well, but for now we'll just have to wait to see if they are able to complete their climb as well.

Good luck to all the climbers. Stay safe and get up and down in one piece.

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, yesterday Felix Baumgartner was finally able to make his long-planned jump from the edge of space. When he exited his tiny capsule, he was actually above 128,000 feet (39,014 meters) and during free fall he managed to hit speeds of over 725 mph (1166 kph). For those of us who watched it live, it was quite an amazing spectacle, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who had to remind himself to breathe ever once in awhile. In case you missed it however, the YouTube video below will help you catch-up on all the action. It was definitely something to witness, and looks just as great even when it isn't live.

Congratulations to Felix and the entire Red Bull Stratos team on a job well done. Amazing accomplishment!

It is beginning to look like today is the day that Felix Baumgartner will finally get the chance to make his historic jump from 23 miles above the surface of the planet. The winds in Roswell, New Mexico are light this morning and the skies are clear. Liftoff is currently scheduled for 9:00AM local time and it will take Felix approximately three hours to float up to his jumping point in his helium filled balloon. After that, it is five minutes of free fall, during which he'll hit speeds in excess of Mach 1, before he pulls his ripcord and spends 15-20 more minutes drifting back to Earth.

You can watch the entire thing live in the YouTube stream below. It should be quite a show, and after all the delays and setbacks, it is beginning to look like today will be the day.

Good luck Felix! Godspeed!

When you think of locations that would make for a great timelapse videos, the Grand Canyon would seem to be right at the top of the list. This video more than confirms that as it simply captures one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet in the best way possible. The video was made over seven weeks in April, May and June, when more than 80,000 photos were take throughout the Grand Canyon region. The filmmakers even managed to capture the solar eclipse that took place back in May and it all makes for a grand 5+ minute experience.

Grand Canyon : Blink of Time from GOTM Films on Vimeo.

Our friends over at impossible2Possible are getting ready to launch their next big youth ambassador adventure. The organization, which is dedicated to educating and inspiring students in classrooms across the globe through the use of adventure, routinely sends young people on an adventure of their own to spotlight a particular cause. This time that cause is raising awareness about the importance of fresh water in developing parts of the world and they'll spread the word on that topic by running across the Kalahari Desert in Botswana.

Dubbed Expedition Africa 2012, the journey is scheduled to get underway on October 29 and run through November 12. It will feature eight youth ambassadors between the ages of 17-21, who will be running through some of the more remote and beautiful areas in Botswana. While they are there, they'll be using satellite communication systems to reach out to classrooms to help educate them about the country and the importance of water there. Botswana is a landlocked country that is mostly covered by desert, although it is home to the Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland deltas in the world. That body of water creates an oasis that provides life to a dizzying array of animals, such as elephants, lions and hippos, that call the region home.

The official Expedition Africa 2012 website should be launching soon, providing more information about the adventure, the young people who will be taking part and the educational goals they hope to accomplish. As with all of the i2P projects, I'm sure this will be an amazing experience for all involved and quite interesting for those of us who follow along at home.

On a personal note, Botswana is on a short list of destinations for my next adventure as well, so I'll be following along with even more interest.

REI has posted 13 Essential Tools for Surviving a Zombie Outbreak, with some tips on all the right gear, which they're happy to sell you, to have with you when the apocalypse begins. The infographic tells you how to neutralize a zombie using a cast-iron skillet, how to use a mirror to signal for rescue and much, much more. I've snipped the graphic down a bit to fit on this page, but click here to see it in all of its full-size glory.

Fun stuff for a Friday!

As the weekend draws near, more information is creeping out about the teams that remain on Everest and Lhotse who are hoping to make summit pushes sometimes in the next few days. We've known for awhile now that there is a Japanese climber (identified as Nobukazu Kuriki) and a Korean team on Everest and a Polish squad hoping to summit Lhotse, but beyond that details have been scare. Thanks to Explorers Web, we now have a clearer picture of these teams and their ultimate goals.

According to an update from ExWeb, the Korean team is the 2012 Everest Peace Expedition from the Gang-Won University Alpine Club. The group is led by Himalayan vet Sung-Wook Hong, and includes the following members: Bong-Ha Park, Young-Hoon Oh, Jin-Seok Kim, Joo-Hwan Ahn, Seok-Joo Woo Young-Rae Kim, Jin-Young Jeong, Keun-Young Choi, and Il-Jin Im. Updates from the team have been a bit sporadic, but a few days back they indicated that they were in Base Camp on the South Side of the mountain, waiting out the weather. Their forecasts indicate that a shift could come in the next four days, and they are preparing to make a summit bid when that happens.

The Polish Lhotse team is essentially in the same boat. It is a young squad led by Artur Hajzer who have also been hoping to wait out the weather. ExWeb quotes Hajzer as saying that his considerable experience in the Himalaya tells him the weather won't make a permanent change until late October or into November, and if they stay patient they'll get their opportunity. They're planning on starting for the summit of Lhotse this weekend with an eye on topping out in the Sunday or Monday timeframe. Since Everest and Lhotse share the same route up to Camp 4, they'll likely be climbing in tandem with the Korean team over the next few days.

As for Kuriki, he's making a solo, but supported, climb along the very dangerous and isolated West Ridge. As if that route wasn't challenging enough, he's also going up without oxygen. The latest news from his Facebook page indicates that he is still in Camp 2 today waiting for the weather window to open. He believes that will happen in the next day or two as well. His forecasts indicate the winds will drop on October 15 or 16, providing access to the summit for a short time. If thats true, he'll start to move up tomorrow and Sunday so that he'll be ready to take advantage of the calm (relatively speaking!) conditions.

Seems like it should be an exciting weekend on Everest and Lhotse. Wish these teams luck and lets hope the weather cooperates. In the meantime, check out the latest YouTube video from Kuriki which he posted this morning. It is some beautiful images from the Himalaya that are sure to inspire.

I've said it before, and I'll know doubt say it again. Our world is a pretty amazing place. The most recent example that I've seen of that is the video below which was shot off South Africa by explorer Mike Horn and photographer Chase Jarvis. While sailing there they came across a "super-pod" of dolphins that swarmed around their ship. There are literally dozens of them and it is quite a beautiful site.

Patagonia is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, bar none. Climbers Michi Lerjen and Jorge Ackermann traveled there recently to climb a new route on Fitz Roy, perhaps the most famous peak in an already famous region. Michi and Jorge share their adventure with us in this 20 minute short film that gives you a sense of that spectacular wilderness and the efforts they went through to climb there.

This is a fantastic little film about a big adventure. Enjoy.

Patagonia Winter from Royal Family Productions on Vimeo.

After months of speculation and waiting, the US Anti-Doping Agency released a 200+ page report outlining the case it has against Lance Armstrong yesterday. In the report, the USADA claims that not only did Armstrong use performance enhancing drugs while competing as a professional cyclist, but that he was also at the center of an extensive doping ring that permeated throughout the U.S. Postal squad and cycling in general. To back-up their claims, the report cites 26 witnesses, including 11 former Armstrong teammates.

The document released yesterday is just a synopsis of the vast amounts of evidence that the USADA claims to have on Armstrong. It references eye-witness reports, emails, lab tests and financial documents, and includes details a strict doping regimen that included PED's and blood transfusions, and even says that Armstrong's ex-wife Kristen would wrap cortisone pills in foil and hand them out to riders on his team. Travis Tygart, the head of the USADA,  called it "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."

Perhaps the most damning evidence of all comes from the list of cyclists who have testified against Armstrong, including several riders that were close friends. That list includes George Hincapie, one of the most respected riders in the sport, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, Dave Zabriskie, Tyler Hamilton and others. Each of them admitted to doping and implicated Armstrong in the process.

As if that wasn't enough, the report also claims that retroactive testing of Armstrong's blood samples taken in the 1999 Tour de France test positive for EPO. Not just one sample, but six. For years Armstrong has used the defense that he never tested positive for a banned substance during his career, but what he doesn't really mention is that a test for EPO didn't come along until a few years later. He would also often dismiss those who spoke out about potential doping by discrediting them in the media, often claiming they had some grudge or axe to grind. The list of people on this list will be much harder to dismiss so lightly.

So what happens next? The UCI now has three weeks to review the report and decide how to proceed. It is that body, along with the Tour de France, that can elect to strip Armstrong of his seven titles. Because he chose to not fight these charges, Lance already faces a lifetime ban from competition, it is just a matter of whether or not his wins will continue to be considered official.

For anyone who has followed the sport of cycling or the Lance Armstrong saga, these results probably aren't much of a surprise. Considering the era in which he competed, it seems virtually impossible that he could have won all those races while competing completely clean. It's a shame that Armstrong's reputation now seems destined to go down in flames, as he has done a lot of good things outside of the sport that made him famous. He is also a tremendous athlete whether he was doping or not, but his legacy will be forever tainted by this scandal.

Due to high winds earlier in the week, skydiver Felix Baumgartner was forced to postpone his record setting jump on both Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday his mission control were in standby while they evaluated the weather, but the winds were still a bit too dangerous for liftoff. While examining the forecast they came to the conclusion that the next few days would be a challenge so they have now tentatively scheduled the next attempt for Sunday, October 14.

Baumgartner is attempting to set a new record for the highest skydive in history. The plan is for him to use a small capsule attached to a helium balloon to carry him up to 120,000 feet (36,576 meters), where he'll pop open the door and leap out into the very thin atmosphere. At that altitude he'll be right on the edge of space and the thin air will provide very little resistance. It is believed that he'll quickly accelerate past 690 mph (1110 km/h), breaking the sound barrier in the process. After free falling for about five minutes, he'll then pull his ripcord, and in theory make a long slow descent back to Earth.

The reason the weather needs to be just perfect for this flight is that the helium balloon that carries him aloft is very delicate and can be easily damaged by winds. In order to ensure Baumgartner's safety on the way up, his support crew is not taking any chance. The balloon has preformed flawlessly in two test runs at lower, but still substantial, altitudes but now that it is time for the big event, they aren't going to rush into anything. Considering Felix has waited years for this jump, and survived all kinds of obstacles including legal challenges, I'm sure he can manage to wait a few more days.

The jump, when it does eventually happen, will be broadcast live on the Internet. Stay tuned for updates over the weekend on RedBullStratos.com for what should be a pretty spectacular event to witness. In the meantime, check out the video from one of his test jumps below.

The fall Himalaya climbing season is slowly grinding to a halt as the jet stream seems to have already shifted across the region, bringing unpredictable weather conditions and high winds with it. That hasn't deterred a few climbers that remain on their mountains, hoping to get one last weather window that will allow them access to the summit. Two mountains that still have climbers in place are Everest and Lhotse, where teams are moving up although their chance at success remains very much up in the air.

One climber that has set some ambitious goals for himself this fall is Nobukazu Kuriki who is attempting a true solo summit of Everest without oxygen and along the West Ridge no less. According to updates on has Facebook and Twitter pages, Kuriki arrived in Camp 2 yesterday amidst high winds, which he is hoping will die down in the next day or two. The forecast indicates that low pressure could settle over Everest this weekend, giving him an opportunity to make a summit bid, but for now he sits and waits to see if he'll be able to move up. The Japanese climber has been sharing videos of his progress and you'll find his most recent video below.

Alan Arnette says that this is Kuriki's fourth attempt on Everest , with his most recent expedition taking place last fall. He also has solo climbs on  Denali, Aconcagua, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro and Carstensz Pyramid, while also knocking off 8000 meter climbs on Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri.

Meanwhile, Alan also reports that the Korean team that I mentioned last week is still attempting the South Col route on Everest, although there has been no updates on their progress. Similarly, the Polish team on Lhotse, which shares much of the same route as Everest, is reportedly still on the mountain and still hoping to summit as well. Last week we knew that they had reached as high as Camp 4 on the mountain, which means they should be well acclimatized and read to go, weather permitting.

Finally, over on Dhaulagiri teams have called it quits for the season as well. Carlos Soria has decided that the mountain is simply too unstable to attempt a summit bid, so the 74-year old Spaniard is heading home, saying that he has learned that you must climb the mountain in the spring, when conditions are more stable. The Summit Climb team, led by Dan Mazur, came to that same conclusion a few days back and that squad is headed home too.

That means it is all eyes on Everest and Lhotse to see how we'll finish out the season.

Virgin, Utah played host to this year's Red Bull Rampage freeride mountain bike competition, in which some of the most talented, and dare I say crazy, riders in the world went head-to-head. The video below features highlights from the event which included some of the biggest drops, flips and jumps that you could ever hope to see. This event is definitely not for the faint of heart, as you'll soon see. I think my stomach dropped a few times just from watching this. Wow!

Did you think this year's Tour de France was a bit boring? Was Bradley Wiggin's win lacking in drama? If you, like so many others, felt that way than hold on to your hats. If rumors are to be believed Tour organizers are about to shake things up.

According to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, they have received numerous anonymous reports from within the Amaury Sport Organization, which plans Le Tour each year, that course planners are actually considering ending the race on the slopes of Alp d'Huez, perhaps the most well-known and legendary of all the mountains in the race. If true, it would be the first time that the race didn't end on the streets of Paris, with the rider in the Yellow Jersey essentially taking a ceremonial lap along the Champs Elysees.

The 2013 edition of the race will mark the 100th running of the Tour, so of course fans of the race expect there to be some surprises to celebrate that milestone. The course itself will be revealed in full on October 24, although we already know that the first three stages will be held in Corsica, followed by a team time trial in Nice. What else is in store for the riders remains to be seen.

Alp d'Huez is known for punishing even the best climbers the sport of cycling has to offer. It features 21 switchbacks, spread out over 13.8 km (8.5 miles) with an average grade of 7.9%. Each of those hairpin turns has been named for the riders who win the stage over the years, which only adds to the legend hat the slope brings to the Tour when ever it is included on the course.

So, is there any chance that the race could end on this massive mountaintop? I'd say there is always a chance, but personally I'd be quite surprised. The Tour is steeped in tradition and one of the most well respected of those traditions is the final ride on the Champs Elysees on the final day. Pitting the riders against one another on a final grueling climb would certainly add a new element to the competition however, as even large time gaps can be eliminated on Alp d'Huez. It would make for a very different strategy to say the least. If I were a betting man, I'd say the ride still ends in Paris, but perhaps the Saturday before the finishing stage is held on Alp d'Huez. That would still be quite impactful on the race and introduce a new level of drama.

I guess we'll find out more on October 24.

Earlier this week the mountaineering world was rocked by another avalanche tragedy on a Himalayan peak. Just two weeks after a serac collapsed on Manaslu, killing more than a dozen people, we received word that a major snow slide had swept two Uzbek climbers off of Annapurna. Yesterday a search and rescue team combed the mountain looking for traces of the missing men, but found no trace. Late in the day it was announced that they were suspending the search and heading home.

The tragedy occurred on Monday when a team of three climbers from Uzbekistan were moving up Annapurna from Camp 1 to Camp 2. The avalanche caught them in the middle of that climb and quickly buried Iljas Tukhvatullin and Ivan Lobanov. A third member of their team managed to avoid being swept down the mountain and was able to descend to Camp 1 and call for help.

The only other team on Annapurna this fall was a squad of Russian climbers who were hoping to open a new route. As soon as they could, members of that team moved up the mountain to search for their fallen comrades. With the assistance of a helicopter, that search went on all day yesterday but the debris field is reportedly quite large with literally tons of snow covering the area. Russian Climb reports that the SAR team swept the slope as best the could and checked numerous crevasses, but found absolutely no trace of the missing men.

After a disappointing and sad day on the mountain, all of the climbers were planning on descending to Base Camp today and heading home. The weather has changed for the worse in the Himalaya and the loss of the two Uzbek climbers has cast a shadow over the season on Annapurna, a mountain that is always unyielding, even in the best of conditions.

My condolences to the friends an family of the fallen.

I am fortunate enough to have a lot of outdoor gear come cross my desk. Everything from the latest hiking boots, sleeping bags and tents to outdoor clothing, electronic gadgets and of course backpacks. Some of it is impressive and innovative and some of it is downright frustrating and poorly designed. On occasion I get to test a piece of gear that turns out to be quite a nice surprise. Something that I expect to be good, but it still exceeds my expectations. This happens to be the case with the new Quick Backpack from Cannondale, a bag designed for cyclists but versatile enough to be used for so much more.

The first thing that caught my attention about the Quick Backpack was just how many storage options it has. In addition to the voluminous interior pocket, complete with padded laptop sleeve, the bag has another large zippered pocket built into the lid and a smaller organizational pocket for storing pens, business cards, USB drives or any other small items that you want to carry with you. Two deep side holsters are perfect for even large water bottles and integrated helmet loops make it a snap to carry your headgear.

Constructed from very high quality nylon, this pack is durable and rugged. I am impressed with how well it handls day-to-day use without a hint of wear and tear and its water-resistant fabrics make it a perfect commuter pack for when you're meeting friends or heading to the office. The designers even had the foresight to line the bottom of the pack with a rubberized fabric that further helps to keep the interior safe and dry.



If I was impressed with the solid construction of the Quick Backpack, I was doubly so with how comfortable it is to wear. The shoulder straps and back panel feature thick padding without compromising ventilation. This helps the pack to carry a heavy load with ease, both on and off the bike, and I found myself choosing this bag not just for my regular rides but also for jetting off to the office as well.

All of my favorite gear have one thing in common and that is a level of versatility that makes them all useful in a variety of situations. The Cannondale Quick Backpack certainly fits that description. As I mentioned above, this bag is good enough to be used not just while cycling but for your daily needs or even while traveling. I love how large and easy to access the pockets are, which helps to keep all of your gear well organized and close at hand. I also love how well padded and well built it is as well, which not only helps protect the contents of the bag but ensure that you'll be using it for years to come.

If you, or the cyclist in your life, is looking for a pack that is comfortable, durable and versatile, then look no further. Cannondale has you well covered. Oh, and this pack also happens to be very affordable. Priced at just $120, the Quick Backpack is quite a bargain.

The Pinarello Dogma 2 road bike frame is the one that Bradley Wiggins rode to victory at the 2012 Tour de France earlier this year. It costs in excess of £10,000 (roughly $16,000) and is a rolling testament to how far cycling technology has come. The frame is made out of carbon fiber and weighs a mere 920 grams (2 pounds), which gives you a sense of just how light the Tour bikes actually are.

In the video below, rider Martyn Ashton take the Pinarello Dogma 2 out for a spin, putting it to the test in places and situations it was never meant to be used in. The results are a pretty entertaining video that shows off his own unique brand of cycling skills that don't resemble Wiggins much at all.