San Diego based V-Enable, a free 411 service provider we first wrote about in December is celebrating April 11 (4/11) with a new product that adds real humans to the mix. FreeMobile411 (available at both... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:18 am
By Anonymous A CPA's lists of technologies that are worthwhile and some that are not. Lists of top ten technologies abound in the early months of each year. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
Ambios Technology, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a multi-year agreement doubling the size of its Santa Cruz headquarters. The additional space will be used to substantially increase manufacturing, engineering and research facilities. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Reviewed by Lynn M. Davis Joe Tennis' third book on the region is his best yet. It covers U.S. 58, from the Atlantic Ocean to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, from east to west, from the sandy shores of the commonwealth to its bluegrass borders at Kentucky. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
There are some positive indicators to be welcomed, like the steady improvement in air quality over the past 10 years and the increasing proportion of household waste being recycled. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Curtis Morgan, The Miami Herald Apr. 11--Water managers Thursday eased the toughest water rationing ever imposed in South Florida, giving millions of homeowners and businesses another day to run the sprinklers. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Matt Weiser, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Apr. 11--State wildlife officials rejected a bid Thursday to protect the American pika under the California Endangered Species Act, citing inadequate evidence that the rabbit relative is imperiled. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Wally Spiers, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Apr. 11--It's a big pile of dirt now but it won't be long before the site at the entrance to the Mel Price Locks and Dam near Alton will be a sophisticated research center helping scientists understand and manage rivers. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Dell, Inc. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
To the editor: In response to the Review-Journal's March 31 article, "Big ideas, slim hope for water": The recent report financed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority examining 12 water alternatives has clear signs of selected data and fraudulent conclusions. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Larry Rulison, Albany Times Union, N.Y. Apr. 11--COLONIE -- John Kelly III, head of research for IBM Corp., is very bullish on the Capital Region. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c88415) has announced the addition of "US Enterprise Business IT Network Hardware Expenditures, 2007-2012" to their offering. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
Cellfire has announced a McDonald's promotion in Utah that offers consumers free iced coffee, when they use Cellfire mobile coupons at participating McDonald's locations. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Apr. 11--CHAPEL HILL -- About 20 people attended a public information session Thursday on Orange County's search for a solid waste transfer station site. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Apr. 11--The St. Clair County Health Department will host a free Teen/Parent Summit for seventh- through ninth-graders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Westview Baptist Church in Swansea. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Apr. 11--CARRBORO -- The Carrboro Board of Aldermen is seeking citizens and business owners to serve on a Local Living Economy Task Force. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Apr. 11--Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) has been an English professor for so long that enthusiasm is no longer part of his lectures. Smug and dismissive, he's no more popular with his colleagues than he is with his students. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
By Jon Niccum, Journal-World, Lawrence, Kan. Apr. 11--In 1949, James Gunn submitted his first science fiction tale to the colorful pulp magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 11:00 am
I included this chart in my post yesterday. I selected it because it made the point I wanted to make (that delicious was languishing under Yahoo!'s ownership). I did check the chart against several... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:20 am
A satellite is being abandoned in orbit because its position can't be corrected without violating a Boeing patent on lunar flyby: The AMC-14 commercial geostationary satellite was launched in March... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:20 am
A satellite is being abandoned in orbit because its position can't be corrected without violating a Boeing patent on lunar flyby:
The AMC-14 commercial geostationary satellite was launched in March by a Proton launch vehicle into space just short of its minimum geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)...
However, SpaceDaily has now learned that a plan to salvage AMC-14 was abandoned a week ago when SES gave up in the face of patent issues relating to the lunar flyby process used to bring wayward GEO birds back to GEO Earth orbit.
Sources have told SpaceDaily that it was possible to bring AMC-14 back via the moon to a stable GEO orbit where the high powered satellite would have been able to operate for at four years and probably longer.
Industry sources have told SpaceDaily that the patent is regarded as legal "trite", as basic physics has been rebranded as a "process", and that the patent wouldn't stand up to any significant level of court scrutiny and was only registered at the time as "the patent office was incompetent when it came to space matters".
The Prelinger Archives is an incredible collection of old films, many of them accessible via its website.
In addition to old industrial films, quaint hygiene lessons for teenagers, and jaw-dropping things like footage of pre-1906 quake San Francisco, the site now features contributed mashups.
I particularly like "Planet Earth: Our Response," a dreamy mix of archive footage (assembled to look like an introduction to Earth culture) and shots of a guy mucking around with an alien probe.
Stefan sez, The Prelinger Archives is an incredible collection of old films, many of them accessible via its website. In addition to old industrial films, quaint hygiene lessons for teenagers, and... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:12 am
De Grisogono Meccanico DG is an all-mechanical "digital" watch that uses a wind-up mechanism to rearrange the "pixels" on its face to update the time. Only 177 will be made, which lets me out, but it doesn't stop me from drooling.
Link
(Thanks, Dan!)
De Grisogono Meccanico DG is an all-mechanical "digital" watch that uses a wind-up mechanism to rearrange the "pixels" on its face to update the time. Only 177 will be made, which lets me out, but it... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:09 am
Bruce Schneier's launched his annual "Movie Plot Threat Contest," in which he challenges his readers to come up with ridiculous threat-scenarios (think of blowing up an airplane armed with nothing but some optimistic misapprehensions about organic chemistry, Tang, and hydrogen peroxide). A condition of the competition is that your weird-ass threat has to be preventable by means of a snake-oil security product that you want to sell us (bonus points if deploying your product makes our lives hell -- shoe-removing, liquid-confiscating indiginities!).
There's a ton of great entries already -- I like this one, from R. Serrano:
PROTECT your family!, SERVE your country!
Would you LIKE some terrorist bombing your son's school with YOUR VERY OWN just stolen and filled with EXPLOSIVES car?
Don't let this happen with CURARE SHOTS! An easy to mount hypodermic syringe hidden beneath the seat of your car prevents burglars, thieves and TERRORISTS to MISUSE your car in ways YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE by literally stopping them on the seat of your car while a wireless silent alarm* warns the closest police station and a text message is sent to your cell phone**.
PROTECT your family AND SERVE your country well with CURARE SHOTS.
* Alarm sold separately.
** Text message service only available with selected providers.
Bruce Schneier's launched his annual "Movie Plot Threat Contest," in which he challenges his readers to come up with ridiculous threat-scenarios (think of blowing up an airplane armed with nothing but... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:07 am
By Evan Ackerman I really, really want a watch phone. I use my cellphone for two things: making phone calls, and checking the time, so if someone can stuff all that into a wrist-sized gadget and then actually... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 10:04 am
Next week the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund celebrates comics in New York City with a week of events leading up to the New York Comic Con!
Tuesday, April 15.
CBLDF's DRINK & DRAW! Tax Day is Over! Now drink up with NYC's best cartoonists and party for a good cause! Featuring Jeffrey Brown, Molly Crabapple, David Finch, Dan Goldman, Dean Haspiel, Alex Maleev, Paul Maybury, and dozens of NY's Finest Cartoonists. Sponsored by ComicSpace.com and Image Comics, premiering Paul Maybury's graphic novel AQUA LEUNG. Additional support provided by ACT-I-VATE, The Daily Crosshatch, SMITH Magazine & JahFurry
7:00 to 11:00 PM at Village Pourhouse
64 3rd Avenue at 11th St, Drink Specials all night!, $5 Suggested Donation; $20 for VIP Schwag Bag
Wednesday, April 16.
RASL Premiere Party! Come meet Jeff Smith in person at his only New York City appearance of the season, enjoy an open bar, and get a takeaway bag of tons of exclusive RASL goodies. Only 100 general admission tickets and 26 VIP tickets are available so get your ticket now!
8:00 to 11:00 PM at Coolture Spain, 409 W 39th St (between 9th and 10th),
Friday, April 18.
An Evening With Neil Gaiman! Experience the magic of Neil Gaiman at an exclusive reading to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Gaiman presents the reading at New York Comic-Con! Seating is limited and going fast.
I'm a proud donor to the CBLDF and I only wish I could make some of these boss events.
Link
(Thanks, JahFurry!)
JahFurry sez, CBLDF Presents New York Comics Week! Next week the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund celebrates comics in New York City with a week of events leading up to the New York Comic Con! Tuesday,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 9:59 am
Gartner analysts Michael Silver and Neil MacDonald told a conference audience yesterday that Microsoft’s Windows product is collapsing and must make radical changes to its operating system or risk... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 9:57 am
Scott sez, "This is a video of Penn and Teller subverting the old 'pull an animal out of the hat' trick by instead producing thousands of bees, including hundreds while ripping apart a stuffed rabbit--take... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 9:53 am
Scott sez, "This is a video of Penn and Teller subverting the old 'pull an animal out of the hat' trick by instead producing thousands of bees, including hundreds while ripping apart a stuffed rabbit--take that, kids! I thought of this after seeing the urban beekeeper post.
If you want to see loads of bees stinging Penn and Teller, you won't be disappointed."
Link
(Thanks, Scott!)
Dan "Ride Theory" Howland sends in a link to a stupendous Internet Archive video entitled "Disneyland Dream," noting: "This would be interesting if it were merely a 1956 home movie of Disneyland, but it becomes great when the skinny, dorky, goofy dad (think Dennis the Menace's pop) not only documents the actual trip, but shows us how they got there -- by winning a Scotch Tape vacation contest. Highlights: the family's matching 1950's 'Wild West' fringe jackets with their names stitched between the shoulders, and the kids repeated insistence they have to change hats to enter different parts of the park."
Every second of this footage is pure gold, from the cornball jokes, the lingering shots of the "tickertape parade" the suburban Connecticut neighbors throw as the family gets into their gigantic land-yacht to drive to the airstrip, the runway footage from Idlewild, and the trips around Pasadena, Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios in 1956. The humor is pure "dad" -- loving and corny and just right.
In July 1956, the five-member Barstow family of Wethersfield, Connecticut, won a free trip to newly-opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in a nationwide contest. This 30-minute amateur documentary film tells the fabulous story of their fun-filled, dream-come-true, family travel adventure, filmed on the scene at Walt Disney's "Magic Kingdom" by Robbins Barstow.
EreIamJH brings news about a commercial geostationary satellite that was launched last month. Due to a launch failure, the satellite did not reach the orbit required to perform its function. The satellite's owner, SES Americom, looked for a way to salvage the satellite, but ran into an unexpected hurdle; a Boeing patent on the lunar flyby process that would be used to correct the satellite's orbit. If another company doesn't purchase the satellite, it is likely to become another piece of space junk. The European Space Agency has posted a gallery of the maps they have put together for man-made debris in orbit around the earth.
STATE OF INDIANA IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR COURT SS:SITTING IN CROWN POINT, INDIANA COUNTY OF LAKE CAUSE NO. IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: JAMES SMITH, Petitioner, v. SHIRLEY SMITH, Respondent. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 8:00 am
Notice is hereby given of seizure of ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR DOLLARS ($1,294.00) IN UNITED STAES CURRENCY, ONE (1) BLACK DIGITAL SCALE AND ONE (1) BLACK FAST WEIGH DIGITAL SCALE MODEL #TS-500 on MARCH 29, 2008 at 3688 WINDEMERE DR. APT. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 8:00 am
By KJ Lang, La Crosse Tribune, Wis. Apr. 11--La Crosse County from 2004 to 2006 had about double the state average in the number of alcohol-related injuries among people age 12 to 24 in several categories, according to a new report. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 11 Apr 2008 | 8:00 am
They say the process destroys E. coli and other potentially deadly microbes that chlorine doesn't kill in fruits and vegetables. But consumer groups are concerned. ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 7:00 am
After jockeying for the company is over, analysts say, the five largest Web portals are virtually certain to shrink to four -- maybe three. ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 7:00 am
Sears, Wal-Mart and Circuit City are among those punished for not informing customers of the upcoming switch from analog. ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 7:00 am
KOROLYOV, Russia (Reuters) - A 29-year-old nanotechnology engineer became the first South Korean aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, when a Russian space rocket... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 6:47 am
People searching the internet for information on ways to commit suicide are more likely to come across sites encouraging it than sites offering help, research has shown. Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 6:37 am
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "In Universal Music Group v. Augusto, UMG is attacking the first sale doctrine. The issue concerns some promotional CDs that were mailed out, and later found their way to eBay. According to UMG, the stickers on the discs claiming that they still own the CD give them a legal right to control what the recipients do with them, and thus, UMG should be able to dictate terms. The EFF has filed an amicus brief countering that claim, saying that because they were sent by US mail, unrequested by the recipient, they are in fact gifts, no matter what the sticker claims. If UMG somehow wins this, I plan to send them CD of copyrighted expletives with a sticker informing them of the contractually required storage location. We discussed a similar issue with e-books a couple weeks ago."
The folks at Sanrio have achieved total Hello Kitty liftoff with this Hello Kitty Sander (unless it's a joke or a bootleg, in which case, it's time for Sanrio to copy the pirates and get into production). I don't have anything that needs sanding and I still want one.
Before the words were even completely out of my mouth, I knew I had guaranteed new depths of Hello Kitty Hell upon myself. Not only will my wife be looking for a Hello Kitty power sander, I’m sure I will also end up with a Hello Kitty tool set and Hello Kitty tool belt. My only hope is that I also receive a Hello Kitty nail gun (most likely with Hello Kitty nails included) that I can use to shoot nails into my head and put me out of my misery. It’s only a matter of time before they end up on our doorstep and Hello Kitty Hell takes on deeper and darker dimensions…
Most families of victims of the mass shootings at Virginia Tech have agreed to an $11 million state settlement that will compensate families who lost loved ones, pay survivors' medical costs and avoid... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 4:23 am
A drug has been tested that could protect against the fall-out from a "dirty bomb" terrorist attack or nuclear disaster. The drug, which blocks radiation damage to the... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 4:08 am
io9's Annalee Newitz points to a post on that science fiction blog today which reveals that Iron Man fights on the side of proprietary
software in a new comic book due out this summer.
"He's explicitly anti-Linux," she says. "Totally freakin weird!"
Ponca City, We love you writes "Scientists believe that powerful and unstable sound waves, created by energy supplied by the combustion process, were the cause of rocket failures in several US and Russian rockets. They have also observed these mysterious oscillations in other propulsion and power-generating systems such as missiles and gas turbines. Now, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a liquid rocket engine simulator and imaging techniques to help demystify the cause of these explosive sound waves and bring scientists a little closer to being able to understand and prevent them. The team was able to clearly demonstrate that the phenomenon manifests itself in the form of spinning acoustic waves that gain destructive power as they rotate around the rocket's combustion chamber at a rate of 5,000 revolutions per second. Researchers developed a low-pressure combustor to simulate larger rocket engines then used a very-high-speed camera with fiber optic probes to observe the formation and behavior of excited spinning sound waves within the engine. 'This is a very troublesome phenomenon in rockets,' said Professor Ben Zinn. 'These spinning acoustic oscillations destroy engines without anyone fully understanding how these waves are formed. Visualizing this phenomenon brings us a step closer to understanding it.'"
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is preparing an arsenal of rockets and aircraft to protect the Olympics opening ceremony from rain, hoping to disperse clouds before they can drench dignitaries at Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 3:10 am
Some scientists believe that humans have been affecting the Earth's climate since as long ago as 6,000 BC. One argues that there's a positive implication in that, if true.
Lineker points out a report that the European Parliament has rejected plans to criminalize file-sharing by private individuals. The amendment to remove the anti-piracy measures passed by a vote of 314-297. The decision is expected to influence how France, with its strict anti-piracy polices, approaches this issue when it assumes the EU presidency later this year. From InfoWorld: "France's so-called Oliviennes strategy to combat copyright abuse includes a 'three strikes and you are out' approach: Offenders lose the right to an Internet account after being caught sharing copyright-protected music over the Internet for a third time. The report is significant because it 'signifies resistance among MEPs to measures currently being implemented in France to disconnect suspected illicit filesharers,' the Open Rights Group said in a statement.
Positioning the social network as a breeding ground for television series, MySpace has signed a deal with a British-based production firm, ShineReveille International, to distribute its video content overseas... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:36 am
Faced with the collapse of the fall Chinook salmon run in the Sacramento River, the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to cancel all commercial salmon fishing this year from the California... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:36 am
OTTAWA Concerns about national security laws in the United States and sensitivities over Canadas control of its Arctic lands combined on Thursday to block a $1.3 billion takeover of Canadas largest space... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:36 am
In his first major policy decision on the environment, Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday blocked the nations first floating liquefied natural gas plant, which had been proposed for Long Island Sound... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:36 am
WINNIPEG - Managers at two British Columbia businesses were left scratching their heads Thursday trying to understand how telephone service could be knocked out for hours from Ontario to... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:16 am
simrook writes to tell us that World of Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has entered closed alpha testing, as reported by WoWInsider. Wrath of the Lich King, which we've discussed previously, will raise the level cap to 80 and introduce a new class: Death Knights. World of Warcraft remains the most popular MMORPG on the market with over 10 million subscribers. WoWInsider notes, "Various players are being invited to check it out, under a strict NDA."
SEOUL (Reuters) - The LCD TV market is seeing stronger-than-expected demand for small-size sets as consumers switch to sleeker TVs from bulky tubes at ever-faster rates, the chief executive Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 11 Apr 2008 | 12:01 am
Update: Mr. Quattrone's firm, Qatalyst, has been officially hired by Google, people close to the company told DealBook. Look who Google's turned to for help. Frank P. Quattrone is advising Eric E. Schmidt,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 10 Apr 2008 | 11:36 pm
Discovery could improve treatment of cancer and help prevent sickness after nuclear accident or attack Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 10 Apr 2008 | 11:18 pm
ahess247 brings us a lengthy BusinessWeek story on the increasing amount of attacks against the US government's online presence as well as its contacts in the private sector. Hackers are gaining a greater awareness of where valuable data might reside, and that awareness is leading to more precise, more sophisticated attacks. Quoting: "The U.S. government, and its sprawl of defense contractors, have been the victims of an unprecedented rash of similar cyber attacks over the last two years, say current and former U.S. government officials. 'It's espionage on a massive scale,' says Paul B. Kurtz, a former high-ranking national security official. Government agencies reported 12,986 cyber security incidents to the U.S. Homeland Security Dept. last fiscal year, triple the number from two years earlier. Incursions on the military's networks were up 55% last year, says Lieutenant General Charles E. Croom, head of the Pentagon's Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations. Private targets like Booz Allen are just as vulnerable and pose just as much potential security risk. 'They have our information on their networks. They're building our weapon systems. You wouldn't want that in enemy hands,' Croom says. Cyber attackers 'are not denying, disrupting, or destroying operations--yet. But that doesn't mean they don't have the capability.'"
Two nonprofits, the Knight Foundation and One Economy, have announced major new plans to bring internet access to low-income communities. Both hope to succeed where ambitious municipal WiFi projects have failed.
Two nonprofits, the Knight Foundation and One Economy, have announced major new plans to bring internet access to low-income communities. Both hope to succeed where ambitious municipal WiFi projects have failed.
A previously unexplained spike in security patches issued for Microsoft Office in 2006 and 2007 was spurred by sophisticated hack attacks against pro-Tibet organizations and U.S. defense contractors, an insider claims.
Microsoft Corp.'s attempt to take over Yahoo Inc. has become so tortured it may help Internet search and advertising leader Google Inc. grow stronger, undermining Microsoft's main reason... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 10 Apr 2008 | 10:33 pm
BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Catholic Church watchdog group in Brazil on Thursday criticized President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government over the record number of murders of tribal Indians... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 10 Apr 2008 | 10:29 pm
An anonymous reader writes "According to the Hollywood Reporter and news.com, Blockbuster will soon be announcing yet another reason not to go to a rental store. A media-delivering set-top box is in the works for the company, leveraging the store's existing competence in the industry to provide a viable alternative to iTunes, Xbox Live, and Amazon. 'There was no mention of price or how such a service would work in the report. But let's think about this: to compete with Apple TV or Vudu, the device would have to cost around $200, and rentals of movies and TV shows should be around $3 to $4 each, which would be slightly cheaper than rentals of new releases from Blockbuster currently. The big advantage Blockbuster would enjoy over Apple TV, Vudu, and TiVo, it seems, would be selection.'" I still think they're kinda doomed.
Your MP3s sound extra crisp through those expensive ear buds. But living too
much of the present in the digital music bubble will lead to a future of
silence. Learn how to protect yourself from permanent hearing damage in
Wired's How-To-Wiki.
stupefaction writes "The New York Times reports that an economist has exposed a mathematical fallacy at the heart of the experimental backing for the psychological theory of cognitive dissonance. The mistake is the same one that mathematicians both amateur and professional have made over the Monty Hall problem. From the article: "Like Monty Hall's choice of which door to open to reveal a goat, the monkey's choice of red over blue discloses information that changes the odds." The reporter John Tierney invites readers to comment on the goats-and-car paradox as well as on three other probabilistic brain-teasers."
Costa Rica plans to balance out carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to become "carbon neutral" by 2021, through a joint government-private enterprise effort, without foresaking economic growth,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 10 Apr 2008 | 9:29 pm
mikkl666 writes "Following the recent story about the discovery of the youngest planet outside our solar system, Spanish researchers now report that they found the smallest exoplanet observed so far. The planet, known as GJ 436c, was found by analyzing distortions in the orbit of another, larger planet, and its radius is only about 50 percent greater than the Earth's. The scientists are confident that their new method will lead to a series of further discoveries: 'I think we are very close, just a few years away, from detecting a planet like Earth.' You can also reference the the original paper online for further details."
Puskas writes "Joe Stewart is the director of malware research at SecureWorks, and presented a dire view of the current botnet landscape at the RSA conference this week. He conducted a survey of the top spamming 'nets, extrapolating their size from the volume of emails that flow across the internet. By his calculations, the top 11 networks control just over a million machines, hitting inboxes with some 100 billion messages a day. 'The botnet at the top of the chart is Srizbi. According to Stewart, this botnet — which also goes by the names "Cbeplay" and "Exchanger" — has an estimated 315,000 bots and can blast out 60 billion messages a day. While it may not have gotten the publicity that Storm has during the last year, it's built around a much more substantial collection of hijacked computers, said Stewart. In comparison, Storm's botnet counts just 85,000 machines, only 35,000 of which are set up to send spam. Storm, in fact, is No. 5 on Stewart's list.'"
The AMC-14 commercial geostationary satellite was launched in March by a Proton launch vehicle into space just short of its minimum geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)...
The Prelinger Archives is an incredible collection of old films, many of them accessible via its website.
io9's Annalee Newitz points to a post on that science fiction blog today which reveals that Iron Man fights on the side of proprietary
software in a new comic book due out this summer.
