Source: Gizmodo | 7 Jul 2009 | 10:40 am

Finally, A Decent Website To Browse Android Apps: AndroLib

Ever tried finding applications for the Android platform on the web rather than from your handset? Don’t even consider using the regular web version of Android Market - Google’s official app directory - on your computer’s browser: it has no search (irony much?), no categories, no community involvement like comments, ratings and reviews, and it’s only available in English for now.

In other words: it sucks.

As a reporter lacking an Android-powered phone but with a great interest in the platform, it sucks even more. Sometimes I need to know which applications in a certain category are available for Android, what people are saying about them, what version a certain app is at, and so on. Until now, I used Cyrket for that, a third-party directory that provides me with most of the functionality I need for doing a bit of research about Android apps. But the website is slow, regularly returns errors and doesn’t provide a decent filter between paid and free apps, so the experience was usually below par.

But now, thanks to @conoro, I found another website with Android apps listings that should suit my needs for now: AndroLib. A tad more pleasing to the eyes than Cyrket (albeit not that much), AndroLib is available in 7 of the most spoken languages in the world, has proper search and RSS, clear application overview pages and supports feedback from the user and developer community.

Finally!

Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 10:32 am

CrunchDeals: Native Instruments Komplete 5 for $399

Saving $750 on the ultimate software instrument and sound package is a good idea. Komplete 5 usally goes for $1149. The deal is available through July in limited stock so hurry up, don’t miss out on this one. See below a list of the top-notch instruments you get with Komplete 5.

KONTAKT 3 - the industry-standard sampler with a 33 GB library
GUITAR RIG 3 Software Edition - the ultimate guitar and bass studio
MASSIVE - the formidable sound monster for fat basses
REAKTOR 5 - the extremely versatile, modular instrument studio
ABSYNTH 4 - the legendary synthesizer for vivid soundscapes
BATTERY 3 - the dedicated drum sampler providing premium drum kits
AKOUSTIK PIANO - three famous grands and one upright
ELEKTRIK PIANO - the sounds of four renowned electric pianos
B4 II - perfectly recreates the sound of the legendary B3
FM8 - FM synth for crystal-clear, airy, and razor-sharp digital sounds
PRO-53 - the faithful reproduction of a synth legend

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2009 | 10:17 am

QOTD [Digital Daily]

QOTD [Digital Daily]

“Everybody knows that Steve has a grave illness and that he has devoted the same compulsive energy to making sure that the company runs well in his absence that he puts toward everything else there. If somebody sued because they were saying that they didn’t know about his health, they would not have a leg to stand on. This is sleazy entertainment, a sideshow.”

– Technologist Paul Saffo says Apple CEO Steve Jobs doesn’t need to do a medical full monty for the company’s investors.

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2009 | 10:00 am

Push Gmail Comes To The iPhone — Through An App (If It’s Accepted)

You’d think on a phone that can do as many cool things as the iPhone, push email through one of the world’s most popular email services, Gmail, would be one of them. But for some reason, Google and Apple haven’t turned on the functionality for Gmail accounts on the iPhone. Sure, you can get push email through MobileMe, Yahoo Mail or Exchange, but basic Gmail users are basically out of luck. Until now, maybe.

Let me be clear, I’m still not certain that this app will even be approved for the App Store. But if it is, it’s pretty awesome.

It’s called GPush; it’s a very simple app that uses the new Push Notifications in the iPhone 3.0 software to ping your iPhone every time a new message comes in. Yes, not only is it push Gmail, it gives you Gmail with notifications. While you might think that could be annoying, it actually works quite well.

And the app couldn’t be simpler. You fire it up, enter your Gmail username and password, and if you choose, you never have to open the actual app ever again. The app doesn’t even have anything besides the log-in screen. It technically works by using IMAP IDLE functionality which Gmail supports (but doesn’t on the iPhone for whatever reason). This is the same way that push Gmail works on devices like the Palm Pre and Android phones.

And while IMAP IDLE is generally thought to be not as good as actual push, GPush works pretty well. In my tests, new emails would show up about 10-30 seconds after I sent them. Not “instantaneous,” but not bad either. Especially when you compare it to having to open the email app and have it manually check if any email is there. Or setting the iPhone to check it every 15 or 30 minutes.

And both of those methods require the use of iPhone battery life. GPush does not because it’s doing all the work in the background, on Tiverias‘ (the company behind the app) servers. You will still have to open the iPhone’s email app to read the email beyond the subject, but with GPush you will know when there is actually email there to read.

As I noted, for all this to work, you have to enter your Gmail username and password into the app. The developers promise that it uses SSL encryption to protect your password and send it to Google securely.

So, the big question is: Will Apple approve this app? “Apple should technically speaking approve the application, nothing went into the code that violated either Apple’s or Google’s Terms of Service,” we’re told. Ahh, but it’s Apple, they’ve done quite a few things that don’t make sense when it comes to approving/rejecting apps. And they have a history of being picky when it comes to apps that revolve around email. So, we’ll see.

If and when it is accepted into the store, it will cost $0.99.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 9:59 am

Palm Pre To Hit Europe By Christmas With Telefónica

There were a few leaks and rumors about this last week, but now it's been officially confirmed that the Palm Pre will launch exclusively with mobile network Telefónica, initially in four major European markets. Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany will get the device first on the O2 and Movistar networks, just before the winter holidays. Pricing has not been announced. This is something of a coup since, at least in the UK, Telefónica-owned O2 already has the iPhone deal, thus making it the sole arbiter of two of the hottest phones right now. OK, the Pre maybe isn't as hot as it was pre-launch, but it remains to be seen how European mobile obsessives will react to the handset.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 9:24 am

Think About it. Do You Really Want An HD Camera In Your Phone?

There's some buzz right now about the iPhone 3GS and other phones being capable of 720p recording, or perhaps even 1080p if they use the newest sensors. Wow! The future is here! 720p video built right into your phone! But here's the thing: would you rather have HD video recording implemented very badly, as it must be with the limitations of mobile phones, or would you rather not have it at all and have capacity for more battery life or RAM? Because there's no way that video is going to be watchable, except as a low-bandwidth stream, and if that's your idea of 720p... come on now. Look, I'm excited about the prospect too, but consider that today's compact camcorders like the Webbie, Zx1, and MinoHD produce only passable video, and it's the only thing they do. The lens, sensor, and encoder (in these low-end camcorders as they will be in the iPhone) are all going to be absolutely bargain bin. Everything that compromises them is going to be worse on a mobile phone. And no iPhone-specific lens set is going to change that.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 9:20 am

Incandescent Bulbs Return To the Cutting Edge

lee1 writes "A law in the US that is due to take effect in 2012 mandates such tough efficiency standards for lightbulbs that it has been assumed, until recently, that it would kill off the incandescent bulb. Instead, the law has become a case study of the way government regulation can inspire technical innovation. For example, new incandescent technology from Philips that seals the traditional filament inside a small capsule (which itself is contained within the familiar bulb). The capsule has a coating that reflects heat back to the filament, where it is partially converted to light. The sophisticated ($5.00) bulbs are about 30% more efficient than the old-fashioned ($0.25) kind, and should last about three times as long. So they are less economical than compact fluorescents, but should emit a more pleasing spectrum, not contain mercury, and, one supposes, present the utility company with a more desirable power factor."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 7 Jul 2009 | 9:09 am

Fallout cosplay scene in Russia

Check out the astounding, elaborate Russian cosplay scene for the game Fallout II (mangled Google Translate text below Thanks to Denisvi in the comments for a much-improved translation; you do indeed pass the Turing Test!)!

On June 21st, 2009, at one of the abandoned air-defense bases in St. Petersburg region, a game based on "Fallout 2" universe took place, organized by "Albion" workshop. Some 300 people participated in the game, working with workshop group, tech support group and emergency/medical services. And, of course, the players themselves, who prepared for the game over the course of many months. Much was accomplished by the workshop crew: sealed military bases, including the memorable Sierra from Fallout II, were built; plot and game coordination accomplished, including rapid response by the creators to changes in game environment. Players were hard at work as well. They made authentic costumes, modified airsoft guns to the point of being unrecognizable, outfitted a special car, operated establishments such as cinema, working radio station, few bars, hospital, casino and much more. Combined efforts of workshop people and players made the world come to life for two short days.

Fallout 2009 «Ничто человеческое» (Thanks, Bill!)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 8:38 am

ZooLoo Is A Social Network That Basically Never Wants You To Leave

Since you see it every time you open your web browser, a good start page is key. Google has a pretty good option with iGoogle, which is highly customizable. But as social networking continues to rise in popularity, an increasing number of people just have something like Facebook as their main page. ZooLoo is kind of like iGoogle meets Facebook.

When you set up your ZooLoo account, you are given a dashboard which contains customizable widgets just like iGoogle. But you’ll see along both the top and bottom of the site elements that lead you to the more social aspects. Along the bottom, is your Facebook-style chat bar and options area. At the top of the main page you’ll find the tools to control your site and manage your media (pictures and videos).

And the key two words in there are “your site.” ZooLoo clearly wants to give you everything you want, so you never have to leave your ZooLoo. You want to watch YouTube videos? You can browse and watch them from in ZooLoo. Hulu videos? Same thing. Maybe you want to go read some news on popular tech blogs like this one? Again there’s a series of widgets you can install so you can do all of that without leaving.

Obviously, it’s a good idea in theory as users spending more time on the site means more ads that can be shown to them. And ZooLoo has plenty of those — big ones at the bottom and sides of the site. It’s the same line of thinking that Facebook has, in that it wants to be your central hub for everything on the web.

The problem with that for ZooLoo is that Facebook has about a 200 million user head start on their social graph. For a service like this, that is all that really matters. That’s not to say that ZooLoo can’t woo some of those users with some nice features, but it’s hard to teach 200 million users new tricks. And while it’s not a “there can be only one”-type situation, if ZooLoo is trying to do the same thing that Facebook is, which one do you think will win?

And obviously it’s not just Facebook in this game as well, they’re just the big guys right now. But Google is still trying to get more social too, and continues to take iGoogle in that direction. Again, the choice between Google or ZooLoo as your main hub, doesn’t seem like too tough of one right now.

But ZooLoo is smart to play off of the vanity URL thing. Its slogan, “Your name. Your domain. Your life.” doesn’t seem to be an accident. As we saw from the users flocking to Facebook on a Friday night to secure their own vanity names, users clearly want domains that are easy to remember. And ZooLoo offers that up with the slightly different XXXXX.zooloo.com naming structure.

But its real hidden weapon may be letting users pick any domain to use with the service, not just a zooloo.com one. That’s an option if you sign up for the paid version of the service, ZooLoo Plus. For $29.99, you get to select a .com, .net or .info domain (.me names are available too for slightly more money).

The freemium model hasn’t exactly taken off in the traditional social networking market. But ZooLoo gives you some things that are a bit more like an online office service, such as calendaring.

There’s no shortage of options on ZooLoo, but you have to wonder if it can possibly meet such lofty goals with going up against Facebook and Google. Of course, they used to say that about Facebook going up against MySpace. And MySpace against Friendster, before that.

ZooLoo should be live at some point later today.

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 8:25 am

What The Hell Happened To The Free Version Of Google Apps?

The free version of Google Apps is history. The current sign up page makes no mention of the previously free Standard edition. Instead, new users get a 14 day free trial, and then must pay $50 per user per year after that trial. Google Apps is a suite of online applications like gmail, Google calendar, Google Docs, etc. that are packaged and tailored for business use.

Earlier this year we reported that the usage caps were being squeezed by Google over time for Google Apps, from 200 users down to just 50. When the service first launched in August 2006 it was free and described as “a service available at no cost to organizations of all shapes and sizes.” A paid version first appeared in 2007.

Dave Girouard, Google’s President of Enterprise, commented on our post that talked about the decreasing number of users allowed for the free version, saying that the cap reductions were needed to keep resellers happy, adding “There’s no reason to believe that the cap will continue to “move down” - we have no plans whatsoever to do that.”

I guess not. They didn’t move the cap down, they just killed the Standard product entirely. No mention of this change was made at a Google Apps press event held last month.

You can actually still see the free version at this page. But it doesn’t appear to be linked to from any Google page at this point. We’re emailing Google for comment. Update: It turns out Google didn’t kill the free Standard edition yet, they just made it really hard to find. You can still sign up for it here (quick, before they move it again!).

The old version of Google Apps had a comparison chart of the Standard and Premier versions that looked like this:

Crunch Network: MobileCrunch Mobile Gadgets and Applications, Delivered Daily.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 8:01 am

Growing Presence In The Courtroom: Cellphone Data As Witness [Voices]

By Anne Barnard, Writer, The New York Times

Mikhail Mallayev, who was convicted in March of murdering an orthodontist whose wife wanted him killed during a bitter custody battle, stayed off his cellphone the morning of the shooting in Queens. But afterward, he chatted away, unaware that his phone was acting like a tracking device and would disprove his alibi — that he was not in New York the day of the killing.

Read the rest of this post on the original post

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2009 | 7:05 am

4chan Versus Twitter: Round One [Voices]

By Stan Schroeder, Features Editor, Mashable

Internet pranksters, gathered around the popular anonymous Internet forum 4chan, have seemingly orchestrated an attack on Twitter, creating a number of fake accounts and pushing the hashtag #gorillapenis to the trending topics.

The attack now seems to be under control, as that particular hashtag is no longer visible in Twitter trends, but coupled with the recent problem with the suspension of several real accounts–which might have been partly due to the 4chan attack–it once again shows that Twitter is going to have a hard time controlling spammers, pranksters and hackers whose number will inevitably increase with the rise of Twitter’s popularity.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2009 | 7:04 am

Craigslist, EBay Fighting Michael Jackson Scalpers [Voices]

By Chris Matyszczyk, CNET Blog Network Author

Humanity knows no depths.

On Monday, Craigslist and other sites were adorned with many of those lucky to have won tickets to Tuesday’s Michael Jackson memorial service celebrating their good fortune–by trying to sell the free tickets.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

Municipal Complaint? There’s An App For That [Voices]

By Michael Levenson, Staff Writer, Boston Globe

Boston City Hall, a drab concrete monument to 1960s Brutalism run by a self-described urban mechanic who despises voice mail, isn’t exactly known as a hotbed of technological innovation.

But within, a few young, tech-savvy aides are trying to drag municipal government into the age of mobile gadgetry.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2009 | 7:02 am

Daily Crunch: Refraction Edition

Darth Vader clock: Know when it’s time to wake up alone
Michael Jackson’s sad, sad toy barn
Review: Klonoa for the Wii
Review: Let’s Tap for the Wii
Video: A Nintendo Wii tune put to dance

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

Cardboard Tube Fighting League comes to NYC, Philly

Ravin sez, "Hello, I'm Ravin Pierre, I'm not an actor but I portray one on the television. I'm co-founder of Cardboard Tube Fighting League out of Seattle. One weekend only, I'm traveling to the east coast (again, Tube Fight - Washington DC 2008) to seed new groups in Philly and NYC. I'm big into DIY and creative costume enthusiasm, as most Boing Boing readers are, I'm hoping they will show up in their best cardboard costume and battle."

7/12: Cardboard Tube Fighting League Tournament - New York City, NY (McCarren Park)

7/11: Cardboard Tube Fighting League Tournament - Philadelphia, PA (Near Philly Art Museum, Rocky Steps)

(Thanks, Ravin!)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:52 am

Get-together July 9 in Chicago

I'll be in Chicago on July 9 to see a production of the highly praised theatrical adaptation of my novel Little Brother. The July 9 show is sold out (performances run until July 18), but Bill Massolia, who wrote the play and runs the company, has organized a get-together beforehand. If you're in Chicago, I'd love to see you and say hi!

Meet Cory Doctorow before the show.
July 9, 5:45pm to 7:00pm.

Jack's Bar & Grill/404 Wine Bar
2856 North Southport Ave. Chicago
773-404-8400

I love the name of the Wine Bar -- though I worry about it being not found.

Jack's 404

Little Brother, the play


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:41 am

Pirate Party comes to Canada

Robbo sez, "With the CRTC [ed: Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Canada, analogous to Ofcom or FCC] holding hearings on network management, the arrival of the Pirate Party movement in Canada can only be welcome news to those of us participating in the copyfight. While it's not likely they will have much clout within the halls of parliament, the conventional rules of *mis*representation don't apply when a party, political or cultural movement is driven by such a focused issue. It is enough to acheive the means by which it can be raised in debate - not just in parliament but also the media and the streets - so as to ensure public awareness of the actions of elected representatives and to subsequently steer them to the public's will and not be merely (and silently) beholden to the influence of corporate lobbies. Arrrrr, eh?"

Pirate Party of Canada

Free music, movies for all? Copyright-fighting Pirate Party comes to Canada. (Thanks, Robbo!)

Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:36 am

Spherical pocket watch

Watchismo's got a freakish and wonderful new pocket watch, the Eris:

Either way, this watch, designed by students from l'Ecole d'Arts Appliqués Genèva is a 100 % Swiss made product by Pierre Junod Switzerland and can be worn as a pocket watch, pendant or used as a small desk clock. The Materials are white hour hand & orange minute hand, anthracite anodized aluminum case, laser engraved figures, mineral glass, Swiss quartz movement, each watch is sold with a natural rubber strap to hang from your neck, a wall, anything you wish to have time fly by.

The time is displayed with two pointers (extended from hidden hands) floating around the "equator" of the globe. The minutes indicated on the upper hemisphere and the hours highlighted down below.

Eris Planetary Sphere Watch (Thanks, Mitch!)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:31 am

Famous and obscure musicians benefit from free downloads

"Shot in the Back of the Head," the top-selling iTunes track off Moby's new, self-released album "Wait for Me," is also the song he released as a free download, which has been available for months and remains available as a free download.

In related news, Henrik sez, "Imagiro explains why they released their debut album What to Do and How to Do It (yes, the title is inspired by an old BoingBoing post) on a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license and made it freely available at the same time as they market it through the ordinary channels of music distribution. They did this with the blessing of KODA, the Danish rights-holders society. It is available in mp3, ogg and flac formats, the latter of which via bittorrent."

First of all, releasing What to Do and How to Do It on a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license is a very clear way of communicating to the users of the album what uses we think are fair. We love when people make remixes and mash-ups and thus combine old works to create new ones. By allowing non-commercial uses and derivatives everyone can use our music, e.g. as background for a Youtube-video or post remixes on a blog. However, if you want to use the music for a commercial or release the remix commercially, you'll have to ask us first and agree to a contract.

Free Download an iTunes Shot In The Arm For Moby

Why Creative Commons?

(Thank, CF and Henrik!)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:28 am

Don't Copy That Floppy sequel promises prison beatings for copying

The sequel to the venerable Don't Copy That Floppy video (an embarrassing 1992 rap video about the evils of software piracy, produced by the Business Software Alliance) is apparently ready to ship, and it's a doozy. Taking a page out of The IT Crowd's playbook, suggesting that copying your friends' music, movies and code will lead to you being imprisoned and then forced into brutal slavery by other cons (seriously).

The BSA are, of course, big proponents of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which would require signatories to send noncommercial copiers to prison, so I suppose that there's something to this threat.

I wonder if anyone at the BSA ever sits down and says, "You know, if we keep making stuff like this, eventually people are going to start thinking that giving us money for software only funds more efforts to imprison their loved ones, and thus they should really pirate stuff, if only to starve us of cash for these batshit excursions into private law."

Don't Copy That 2 - COMING SOON! (via /.)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:23 am

Friends promote debut novel of writer who has post-stroke aphasia

Greg sez, "Albert Borris' debut novel, a YA book called Crash Into Me, comes out today... but back in December, Albert suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to get words out on paper or verbally in the proper order. He's a writer unable to write... and currently unable to help promote his own book. Fellow young adult and middle grade debut authors in the Class of 2K9 of which Albert had been co-president, are working together along with others to help spread the word so that Albert's novel gets the attention it deserves... and which he is unable to help generate."

When Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens mak e a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides...and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living--or if there's no turning back.

Crash Into Me

Press Release -- Albert Borris, Crash Into Me

Albert Borris

(Thanks, Greg!)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2009 | 6:22 am

Jammie Thomas Moves To Strike RIAA $1.92M Verdict

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Jammie Thomas-Rasset has made a motion for a new trial, seeking to vacate the $1.92 million judgment entered against her for infringement of 24 MP3 files, in Capitol Records v. Thomas-Rasset. Her attorneys' brief (PDF) argues, among other things, that the 'monstrous' sized verdict violates the Due Process Clause, consistent with 100 years of SCOTUS jurisprudence, since it is grossly disproportionate to any actual damages sustained. It further argues that, since the RIAA elected to offer no evidence of actual damages, either as an alternative to statutory damages, or to buttress the fairness of a statutory damages award, the verdict, if it is to be reduced, must be reduced to zero."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 7 Jul 2009 | 5:56 am

More cool summer for U.S. northeast

Cooler than average weather patterns in the U.S.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:34 am

Gallery: Low-Tech Computers From Prehistory to Today

Humans have probably been calculating since the moment that Paleolithic hunters first used a scorched stick to scratch a record of their kills on the limestone walls of a cave.

“Rrrr! Og kill four! More than Zog!”

Fast forward a few millennia to July 7, 1752, when Joseph Marie Jacquard is born. His automated loom, controlled by punch cards that encoded the complex fabric patterns it was to weave, led the way for many subsequent calculating and computing machines.

But Jacquard was hardly the first to conceive of using machinery to enhance the human brain’s computing power.

People have built calculating and computing tools for thousands of years. Let’s take a look at a few of the non-electronic predecessors to today’s silicon circuits.

This page: Babylonian clay tablets

In fact, archeologists still debate the meaning of cave paintings such as those at Lascaux. But there’s less dispute about the meaning of Babylonian clay-tablet writing, which was clearly used to record stores of grain and of beer, circa 2500 BC. It might be a stretch to call these clay tablets “computers,” but their role in tabulating and storing data is clear. Think of them as the ancient world’s first data banks.

This image, from the University of Chicago, is an administrative record of the payout of at least 600 quarts of an as-yet unidentified commodity at five villages near Persepolis in about 500 B.C.

Photo: University of Chicago

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

July 7, 1752: Jacquard's Loom Will Weave Enduring Web

He was only trying to make it easier to weave pretty silks, but the idea of the punch card caused lasting changes in the technological fabric.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Lightweight Cyclocross Bike Pulls Double Duty

Looking for a bike that's equally at home on a dirt trail or a city street? Take a ride on the Kona Major Jake.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Photo Gallery: Low-Tech Computers From Prehistory to Today

Our inventive ancestors devised all sorts of techniques to increase their power to calculate and compute. Take a look.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Photo Gallery: Low-Tech Computers From Prehistory to Today

Our inventive ancestors devised all sorts of techniques to increase their power to calculate and compute. Take a look.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Lightweight Cyclocross Bike Pulls Double Duty

Looking for a bike that's equally at home on a dirt trail or a city street? Take a ride on the Kona Major Jake.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 7 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

OWLE: A Mount That Turns Your iPhone 3GS Into A Mobile Video Workhorse

We’ve made no secret of our admiration of the iPhone 3GS’s video capabilities — Apple has managed to integrate a video camera that’s both easy to use and surprisingly high quality into an already-stellar device. But for all its merits, the iPhone 3GS suffers from being, well, a phone. No matter how good the phone’s video quality is, it’s still prone to shakiness as its director moves around. And while the microphone may be high quality, its position at the bottom of the phone definitely isn’t ideal recording whatever you’re pointing the camera lens at.

Fortunately, an answer is on the way for all you mobile videographers. A new startup called OWLE (Optical Widgets For Life Enhancement), is currently working on a mount that should resolve most of these issues. The mount, which you can see in the images and videos below, gives you a much more stable way to hold the phone, making it much less prone to bumps and shakes. The mount also improves your recording quality by including a 37mm camcorder lens and a front facing microphone, which plugs into the phone’s headphone/mic jack. There’s also planned support for external lighting and power. All in a package that could slip easily into a backpack or laptop case. In short, this is exactly what you need if you frequently use the iPhone for video.

Unfortunately, it will still be a while before you can get your hands on one. OWLE plans to have a limited production run completed by late August, which it will distribute to bloggers and other press to help get the word out. A full production run is currently slated to be completed by Christmas, at a retail pricepoint in the $30-50 range, including the accessories. There are also a few shortcomings from the hardware side: because the included microphone plugs into the phone’s mic jack, it only supports mono. The company is planning another version that will plug into the phone’s 30-pin adapter (which would enable stereo recording) but that won’t make this model.

In the demo video below, OWLE also pleads with Apple to begin fully supporting Qik on the iPhone 3GS — something that we’ve also been hoping for, and would make the device even more appealing. You can sign their petition here.

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2009 | 3:02 am

Trailer: 2012: It's a Disaster!

A spot-on parody that does nothing to diminish the fact that I'll be watching this Day 0, high as a DEA surveillance kite.

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 7 Jul 2009 | 2:56 am

Review: Punch Entertainment kills it with Reign of Swords: Episode 2

Reign of Swords: Episode 2 won’t reinvent a genre, but it will leave you wondering why more games aren’t made with the same artful precision as this is. Brought to you by Punch Entertainment, Reign of Swords 2 is a rock-solid turn-based strategy (TBS) game for the iPhone, and will provide you with hours upon hours of stimulation (no, not that kind) and entertainment. The game is masterfully designed, and you can really tell the game’s makers knew what they were doing. I guess they had to after producing the wildly successful original Reign of Swords, right? Well, they sure showed their stuff on this one - and made it bigger, badder, and better than it’s predecessor.

Honestly, Reign of Swords didn’t wow me at first. The premise is what you would expect from a traditional TBS game such as Advanced Wars: you have an army, and you move each unit forward and then your opponent does the same. When your unit gets close enough to the enemy’s, you attack it; it attacks back on the next turn, and so on until you’re left with a battlefield of blood and the few battered infantrymen of the victorious army. You’ve got some units that are stronger, others that are faster; some that can shoot from a distance, and some have magical powers.

Yet as I continued playing the game, it was abundantly clear why Reign of Swords was such a powerful mobile franchise. Punch Entertainment mastered the mix. In a turn-based strategy game, developers often make the game either too easy or too hard. If you make one character (or one special ability) too powerful, then the player just has to figure out which one and he can beat any level. If you position the enemy in an overly advantageous spot, then the player gets frustrated because the level is impossible to beat. If the landscapes are too treacherous then you don’t enjoy navigating them. There are so many ways to screw up. Just one extra olive or an extra splash of grenadine, and the game doesn’t taste quite right. Fortunately, Punch Entertainment mixed this drink to perfection, and delivered a killer cocktail of characters, setting and gameplay.

In the story mode, you are the leader of an army and your goal is to destroy your arch-nemesis, Lord Landower. You walk through a series of missions–15 in all. Each mission presents you with a different quandary: one mission you may be tasked with protecting a castle from an onslaught of enemies, while the next may require you to traverse a hazardous path through the desert as you escort some villagers to their homes. I found almost every mission extremely challenging. It took two, maybe three times to beat most levels, while one or two were even more difficult. Regardless, it was damn fun to do it so I didn’t mind replaying a level a few times.

Variety, variety, variety. This game was all about switching things up so that even the most attention-deficient user never got bored. With 36 different units, you always saw a different combination of friends and foes: you could play the same mission with two entirely different armies if you wanted. And then there were environmental features like castles, which protected the defender from an incoming rush of enemy units, or teleport portals, which allowed you to dart from one side of the map to the other in an effort to flank your opponent. All of these feature came together in an extremely dynamic game that will surely encapsulate any TBS fan.

One of the most widely touted features of Reign of Swords 2 is online play. You can play against computer or iPhone opponents in one of 9 battle scenarios. You have what is essentially an ongoing battle in which you move and then wait for your opponent to move. They can take as long as they wish to play their turn, so you aren’t supposed to play in real time. Instead, you take a turn, forget about it, and then come back awhile later and play another. To me, the waiting just killed it. I enjoy real-time online battles in which I can trash talk (to myself) my opponent and develop a competitive environment around the game. You can’t do that when you go 12 hours between moves.

Regardless, even the single player version of Reign of Swords 2 is well worth the $4.99. In fact, any TBS fan (or not) will enjoy its well-brewed gameplay and carefully constructed environments. Though it doesn’t ignite a genre, it sure will stimulate your strategic senses and inspire you to creatively master the difficult levels in a quest to defeat the elusive Lord Landower.

What we like:

• The Cocktail. The developers stitch together all of the aspects of a turn-based strategy game beautifully.
• The Variety. 32 different units, 3 worlds, 15 levels and 9 online battles.
• The Strategy. Story mode is a series of daunting yet beatable levels, and I loved the creativity and forward thinking necessary to get past each mission.

What we don’t like:

• Online play. Might be a big selling point for some, but I just can’t get into a head-to-head match that lasts 4 days.
• Lack of originality. You shouldn’t expect it, but if you did, you didn’t get it. It’s a straightforward turn-based strategy game that is simply well-crafted. No major twists or inventions in this one.

Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies

Source: MobileCrunch | 7 Jul 2009 | 2:45 am

Don't Copy That Floppy! Gets a Sequel

theodp writes "Back in 1992, the SIIA released Don't Copy That Floppy!, a goofy video in which anti-piracy rapper MC Double Def DP convinces a young lad not to copy a game by appealing to his sense of right and wrong. Now, to address what it calls 'new generations and new temptations,' the SIIA has uploaded a trailer for a new anti-piracy rap video — Don't Copy That 2 — that will be released this summer. To underscore the video's it's-not-just-a-copy-it's-a-crime message, the new film is a tad darker than the original. A smug teen who's downloading files from 'Pirates Palace' and 'Tune Weasel' finds his world turned upside down when automatic weapons-toting government agents break down the door and take his Mom away in handcuffs. The teen finds himself in a prison jumpsuit forced to tattoo shirtless adult inmates who eventually turn on him, physically attack him, and make him run for his life back to his jail cell (image summarizing his plight)."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 7 Jul 2009 | 2:40 am

A Cat Who Knows How To Handle a Mouse

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 7 Jul 2009 | 12:36 am

iPhone 3GS: Adequate Filmmaking Tool?

Videos shot using the new iPhone 3GS are piling up on YouTube, which has reportedly experienced a massive surge in mobile uploads since the phone hit the market last month. Exciting, but not nearly as exciting as the idea of someone using the phone to shoot an entire music video.

Xeni posted about the video for Reyna Perez's "Love Love Love," which was shot by m ss ng p eces using only the 3GS. The team wrapped shooting and completed the video one week after the iPhone 3GS debuted in stores.

There are, of course, other music vids purportedly shot with only the 3GS. Below is "Love Love Love" followed by others I've found. Got a favorite? Got another one to share?

*Not a music video technically, but close enough.

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 7 Jul 2009 | 12:20 am

Data Center Power Failures Mount

1sockchuck writes "It was a bad week to be a piece of electrical equipment inside a major data center. There have been five major incidents in the past week in which generator or UPS failures have caused data center power outages that left customers offline. Generators were apparently the culprit in a Rackspace outage in Dallas and a fire at Fisher Plaza in Seattle (which disrupted e-commerce Friday), while UPS units were cited in brief outages at Equinix data centers in Sydney and Paris on Thursday and a fire at 151 Front Street in Toronto early Sunday. Google App Engine also had a lengthy outage Thursday, but it was attributed to a data store failure."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2009 | 11:58 pm

Magellan announces new Maestro 4700 with 4.7 inch display

Section: Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation

Recently, Magellan announced a new GPS for their Maestro lineup, the 4700.  This new GPS comes with many features designed to make traveling easier and more efficient. 

To begin with, it features a color 4.7 inch touch screen, Magellan’s OneTouch UI, voice commands, Bluetooth connectivity, and AAA partnership to give users roadside assistance if need be.  In addition, Magellan preloaded the device with many other unique features.

Its OneTouch Favorites Menu allows you to search through favorite destinations, and navigate around the town using its database of POIs.  Remember to program popular routes or places for quick guidance.  As previously mentioned, it features Bluetooth so users can make hands-free calls while driving.  A neat feature within the GPS is the fact that the microphone comes with noise canceling technology to cut down on annoying noise from traffic, etc. 

Be sure to use Predictive Traffic when driving as it will help search for any traffic jams and navigate around any problems.  The partnership with AAA serves another purpose as you can navigate through their TourBook Guide as well as the POI database to find interesting places. 

The POI and TourBook Guide is laid out in an easy-to-understand manner.  Finding your car can be annoying if you parked in a mall or a large facility.  The GPS features a “Find Your Car” application that will remember where you parked and can navigate to your car.  With 3D Landmarks, you can better understand the map because it would be more realistic looking. 

According to Amazon, the GPS is available for pre-order now, and it will start shipping July 15.  It is selling for $299. 

Read [Magellan Press Release]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 11:32 pm

Social Security Numbers Can Be Guessed

BotScout writes "The nation's Social Security numbering scheme has left millions of citizens vulnerable to privacy breaches, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, who for the first time have used statistical techniques to predict Social Security numbers solely from an individual's date and location of birth. The researchers used the information they gleaned to predict, in one try, the first five digits of a person's Social Security number 44 percent of the time for 160,000 people born between 1989 and 2003. A Social Security Administration spokesman said the government has long cautioned the private sector against using a social security number as a personal identifier, even as it insists 'there is no fool-proof method for predicting a person's Social Security Number.'" Update: 07/07 00:01 GMT by T : Reader angrytuna links to Wired's coverage of the SSN deduction system, and links to the researchers' FAQ at Carnegie Mellon, which says that the research paper will be presented at BlackHat Las Vegas later this month.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2009 | 11:14 pm

Magnetic brain stimulation helps learning

Canadian scientists say they've determined the use of magnetic brain stimulation results in an improved ability to learn a skilled motor task. University of British Columbia scientists said they studied transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsal premotor cortex region of the brain.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pm

Largest Dinosaurs Ate Often, Exercised Little

Some of the largest dinosaurs reached their great size by spending the bulk of their time eating.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 10:40 pm

Laser Treatment Could Save the Sight of Millions

BotScout writes "British experts claim that a new laser treatment could save the sight of millions of people. The process is said to stop the onset of age-related macular degeneration, one of the most common forms of blindness, which leaves victims unable to read, drive or live independently. The technique rejuvenates the Bruch's membrane — a thin layer that lies behind the retina. The process takes just ten to 15 minutes and could be done by any ophthalmologist. While it does not cure sight loss, its inventor, Professor John Marshall, says it could prevent a generation from having to put up with declining vision in old age."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2009 | 10:30 pm

ZAGG picks up Sony Walkman pioneer

Section: Business News, Audio, Portable Audio

ZAGG, the company that makes a variety of portable electronics accessories like headphones and its very popular invisibleSHIELD, just picked up some wisdom.  Their Board of Directors will be joined by Mr. Shu Ueyama.  You may not know his name, but you will probably know his work.

He was behind the branding of the Sony Walkman back in 1979.  Don’t forget that before the Apple iPod, the Sony Walkman brand was king.  The name “Walkman” was pretty much the generic term for a tape or CD player.  Mr. Ueyama also has some other impressive credentials such as being the personal advisor for Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson and was the representative for Lady Margaret Thatcher for ten years. 

Right now, ZAGG is far from a household name, although their invisibleSHIELD is quite popular in geek circles.  We’ve tested out some of their headphones and they’re pretty good.  With the addition of Mr. Ueyama, ZAGG will be able to expand its market by using his connections.  Don’t be surprised to see ZAGG products prominently displayed in Virgin Megastores sometime soon.

Company site: [ZAGG]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 10:18 pm

Review: Stars' Chemistry Ignites Sci-Fi Antics in 'Warehouse 13'

Wisecracking investigators use their wits and an array of steampunk gadgetry to track down weird artifacts in Syfy's refreshingly lighthearted new series.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2009 | 10:07 pm

UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News

970M chemicals are potential new drugs BERNE, Switzerland, July 6 (UPI) -- Swiss scientists say they have determined there are more than 970 million chemicals suitable for study as potential new drugs. Professor Jean-Louis Reymond and researcher Lorenz Blum, both of the University of Berne, said their study has produced the largest publicly available database of virtual molecules ever reported. The researchers said the rules of chemical bonding allow simple elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and fluorine to potentially form millions of different molecules.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 9:44 pm

SoundCloud Threatens MySpace as Music Destination for Twitter Era

After a few short months, SoundCloud is giving mighty MySpace a run for the hearts and minds of recording artists eager to interact more nimbly with their fans.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2009 | 9:20 pm

Sci Fi Channel Reboots as Syfy With Eye on Expanding Empire

After weathering a wave of fan grumbling over the network's name change, Syfy rolls into a rebranded era with new shows and a growing galaxy of web properties.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2009 | 9:18 pm

Wife of British spy chief makes Facebook blunder

Section: Computers, Security, Web, Web 2.0

This sounds almost unbelievable but it’s true.  Lady Shelly Sawers created a Facebook account for herself and filled it with family photos, info about her children and where her family lived, and other assorted tidbits of personal information.

Why is it unbelievable?  Because her husband just so happens to be Sir John Sawers who just got a new job as the head of MI6, Britain’s equivalent of our CIA.  Not too smart to be posting large amounts of personal and identifying information when your husband is more or less the chief spy for the United Kingdom!

What made the blunder worse was that Lady Sawers ignored all the privacy tools Facebook provides to its users and left her profile completely public, which meant the info was available to anyone who happened to wander by.

When the media alerted the British Foreign Office of the Lady’s account it was abruptly and immediately deleted from the service.  Neither Sir Sawers or his wife have had any comment on the matter.

The moral of the story?  Don’t put anything on your FB page you would be uncomfortable seeing on the front page of the New York Times, and use the privacy tools they offer to keep your page private and secure.

Read [Cnet]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 9:15 pm

Social Security Numbers Gleaned From Public Data

Using publicly available data from the Social Security Administration and social networking sites, Social Security numbers can be extrapolated with an alarming degree of accuracy.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2009 | 9:05 pm

Rare sheep may aid medical diagnostics

U.S. scientists say rare sheep called hair sheep could be a key to improving medical diagnostic tests conducted in the developing world. Hair sheep, the scientists said, do not have long, woolly coats that require shearing.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:28 pm

Robotic Trash Collector Prowls Italian Streets

A group of Italian researchers are testing a way to replace the garbage truck with a cute robot that can collect trash on demand. The robot called DustCart has been zipping through the streets of the city of Peccioli in the Tuscany region of Italy.

DustCart is part of a $3.9 million research program called DustBot  that aims to use robotics to improve urban hygiene. DustCart can not only collect trash but also gather data with on-board sensors that can monitor atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide. The DustBot project started in 2006 is expected to end later this year.

The DustCart robot vacuums streets and parks and collects trash from citizen’s doors. In a demonstration by the scientists, a quick call summoned the DustCart to the door, where it asked for the personal ID number that identifies the user and tracks the garbage. The robot also asked to classify the trash as organic, recyclable or waste. It then opened its belly bin, collected the trash and zoomed out, according to this story in the Global Post.

The robot can avoid fixed obstacles since it has pre-loaded maps about its environment and sensors that can help avoid collision with other objects.

So far, DustCart is still in the prototype stage. The robot does not have the kind of rapid response time that will make it truly effective on crowded streets, say the researchers.

The DustBot has a pear-shaped body and zips around on two wheels. Remind you of anyone?

Check out a gallery of the DustCart at work.

See also:
Hobbyists Rebuild Wall-E, One PVC Pipe at a Time

Photo:  DustCart Robot (Fulvio Paolocci/Global Post)

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:24 pm

DNA variations linked to brain tumors

Mayo Clinic and University of California-San Francisco medical researchers say they have found a connection between DNA alterations and brain cancer. The scientists say they found a linkage between DNA variations on human chromosome 9 and aggressive brain cancer known as glioblastoma. The study, conducted with different patient populations at each institution, looked for genome-wide associations.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:11 pm

Teaching Young Scientists In Tahiti

 A University of California, Berkeley, project to catalog nearly every living thing on the Polynesian island of Moorea is enlisting the help of the island's 5th graders and showing them that science is not for foreigners only.While conducting research for his thesis and for the Moorea Biocode Project, UC Berkeley graduate student Brad Balukjian has been teaching 5th graders at the Paopao Primary School about biodiversity and introducing them to the scientific study of the plants and animals they see every day.Balukjian's Tahitian students amid the natural splendor of their South Pacific island home.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:10 pm

Tougher Controls Sought For DNA Ancestry Testing

As the popularity of take-home DNA kits to trace ancestry or calculate the risk for serious medical conditions grows, there is an increasingly critical need for federal oversight of "direct-to consumer" genetic testing, as well as of the use of DNA samples for research, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and several other academic institutions.In the past year, scientists, sociologists and bioethicists, among others, have come to agree that the technology of these direct-to-consumer tests, which run between $100 and $1,000 apiece, is problematic and that the test results can be misleading and lead to problems including skewed ethnic data and questionable membership claims to Native American tribes.But while organizations such as the American Society of Human Genetics have issued guidelines to curb the unintended consequences and misuses of DNA testing, federal agencies need to step in and help shape a "gold standard" in genetic ancestry testing, according to a policy paper published in the July 3 issue of the journal Science and coauthored by researchers from UC Berkeley, Stanford University, the University of Texas, University of Wisconsin and New York University."We encourage regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control to help set industry standards for responsible and accountable practices in genetic ancestry testing," said coauthor Kimberly TallBear, assistant professor of science, technology and environmental policy at UC Berkeley.The article in Science is a direct response to the American Society of Human Genetics guidelines, which recommend increased accountability, transparency and collaboration among consumers, scientists and the companies selling take-home genetic ancestry kits."We take the position that overcoming the most difficult ethical challenges of genetic ancestry testing will depend on the political will of federal agencies to prioritize values of transparency, responsibility and communication," said Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, a medical anthropologist at the Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford University and lead author of the policy paper.Lee and other authors argue that voluntary collaboration and transparency are unlikely to succeed because of the proprietary nature of companies' and institutions' genetic databases; the power disparity between scientists and their research subjects; and the diverse and possibly conflicting interests of stakeholders who don't even share a common language.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:06 pm

Internal projectors coming to the iPhone/iPod touch?

FROM APPLETELL - A company involved with manufacturing the iPhone, Foxconn, is rumored to be developing its own micro projection system that could feature in the next generation iPhone or iPod touch.
MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 8:06 pm

iPhone 3GS Discoloration Might Be Symptom of Faulty Cases

A small number of iPhone 3GS owners have reported browning of their handsets presumably due to overheating. However, a report suggests the problem is tied to third-party cases.

iPhone blog FrenchiPhone cites an Apple technician who laid blame at the covers of some iPhone 3GS units.

“After numerous calls to Apple technical service and maintenance of contact with a level 3 (engineer) the problem seems to come not from a hot 3GS but contact with some covers!” FrenchiPhone reports. “This was evident by ourselves on a device with a small sticker (a warning not to listen to music too loud) remained stuck, part of the hull below remained white.”

According to FrenchiPhone, the discoloration can be resolved by wiping the back of the iPhone with alcohol.

Last week, Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair, which performs teardowns of iPhones and iPods, told Wired.com that discoloration is likely due to overheating — an issue related to faulty battery cells. He noted that the browning reveals the outline of the battery. FrenchiPhone’s report suggests the discoloration is not due to high temperature of the iPhone. But there is still a possibility that some iPhones are overheating and the browning is a symptom only for hot iPhones with certain cases.

If FrenchiPhone’s source is accurate, it still remains unclear which iPhone cases are affected and how they can be identified. Apple has not issued an official statement regarding iPhone discoloration or overheating.

Several customers insist there’s an issue with the iPhone 3GS’s heat. Eleven readers e-mailed Wired.com reporting their iPhones are reaching oddly high temperatures.

“Whenever I browse internet using 3G the phone starts to get hotter and hotter to the point of being uncomfortable holding it,” said Jesus Arenas, who recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G to the new iPhone 3GS.

Arenas and several other readers noted, however, that the new iPhone 3.0 operating system seems to make even the previous iPhone 3G run hotter than it did on the earlier iPhone 2.0 OS. That would suggest the issue is with power management, which can be fixed with a software update.

We’re continuing to investigate consumer reports regarding the iPhone 3GS battery. Have a story to share? Send an e-mail to Brian_Chen [at] Wired [dot] com.

See Also:

• IPhone 3GS Handsets Overheat, Turn Brown
• Gallery: iPhone 3GS Teardowns Reveal Underclocked CPU, More …
• T-Mobile Accidentally Posts Secret iPhone 3G S Specs
• iPhone 3GS Picks Up the Pace With New Features - Video - Wired
• Review: The iPhone 3GS By Steven Levy
• iPhone 3GS Trounces Predecessors, Rivals in Web Browser Speed Test

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2009 | 7:51 pm

Samsung breaking Intel’s rules with their new netbook

Section: Computers, Netbooks

It seems that Samsung is going all wild and daring with their upcoming netbook offering.  It’s going to be Nvidia Ion platform based, with an Intel Atom N-series CPU and an 11.6-inch display. 

By having the screen be that size, Samsung breaks Intel’s restrictions on netbook panel size, which maintains that they must be 10.2-inches or smaller.  The rebels.  Lenovo also broke the rules when they launched their 12-inch Intel Atom N270-based netbook last month.  Lenovo also used the Nvidia Ion graphics chipset.

As a slap on the hand for breaking the rules, Intel has canceled the vendors’ preferential pricing for the Intel Atom N270 CPUs, sources revealed.  Intel would not comment on the situation, citing “customer confidentiality,” but they did say that “it has long been pro-competitive.” 

Hmmm…now is Intel actual doing all this punishing because of screen size or because of the whole competition to Intel’s own low-power graphic chipset that is sometimes used in netbooks, and here the Nvidia Ion was used instead in these machines?

Come on, it’s a netbook.  It’s a difference of not even an inch and a half in Samsung’s case.  Let’s find bigger things to argue about, kids.

Read: [digitimes]

Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 7:17 pm

LG Watch Phone Likely to Launch in August

Remember the LG watch phone, a slim touchscreen gizmo that switches between being a digital watch and a communication device? The phone created quite a stir at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year.

Now reports suggest it is ready to make its debut in U.K. in August. The phone will be exclusive to telecom carrier Orange and could cost £1,000, says T3, a gadgets news and reviews site. The LG watch phone is likely to be priced with a ‘pay as you go scheme,” says the site. No word yet on if the watch phone will ever be available in North America with telecom carrier support.

The LG watch phone has a camera that can take photos and do short videos. It also has 3G and Bluetooth capabilities. But with its quirky design and hefty price tag, we think this device is likely to be in the hands of just a few.

Photo: LG watch phone at CES 2009/Priya Ganapati

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2009 | 6:18 pm

Traveling to Florida? Avis wants you to rent a car with a TV

Section: Video, Content, Gadgets / Other, Transportation

Way back during January 2009, Avis was talking about bringing television to your car using AT&T CruiseCast.  Well, the time has come and the service is now available in Florida starting today.  What does it cost to get the kids in the back to shut up and watch Hannah Montana?  $62.65 per week or $8.95 per day.  You can pick up one of these television equipped cars at any of the following airports: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or West Palm Beach.

AT&T CruiseCast has a bunch of different channels including AccuWeather, Cartoon Network Mobile, Discovery, Disney, ESPN Mobile, and Lifetime.  That is not the complete list, but you can see that CruiseCast has a variety of content partners that ought to keep any backseat passenger entertained for minutes. 

Read: [Press Release]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 6:10 pm

Sony Ericsson time travels to 1997, returns with “Twiggy”

Do you miss the good ol’ days of mobile phones? There was none of this touchscreen nonsense going on, and getting applications onto your phone was like solving Section 4 of Kryptos. Better yet, the number pads on many candy bar phones came shrouded by a plastic cover, allowing you all the benefits of a flip phone without actually having to own a flip phone. Because there are a ton of benefits for owning a flip phone, you know. You get discounts.

Don’t worry - you’re not alone. Sony Ericsson and roughly 16 other people around the world miss this design too, so they’ve gone ahead and brought it back. The handset, codenamed “Twiggy”, originally debuted in some old press materials surrounding a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth device. Realizing they hadn’t actually announced this thing yet, the details were pulled and all was mum. Now a handful of real world pictures have made their way out, indicating that it’s either going to be announced soon or it has been canned, and thus no one at Sony Ericsson cares to keep it a semi-secret any longer.

[Via JustAMP ViaEng]

Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2009 | 5:54 pm

Best Buy to start selling electric vehicles

Section: Business News, Gadgets / Other, Transportation

Best Buy has now entered into the electric vehicle market by offering customers the chance to buy electric motorcycles, scooters, and Segways.  These products have slowly been introduced into various Best Buy locations since the spring.  Over twenty west coast Best Buy stores now carry these products.

To expand even more on their electric vehicle inventory, Best Buy plans to start selling the Brammo Enertia this month. The Brammo Enertia is a compact electric motorcycle with the ability to charge in less than three hours.  It gets approximately 373 miles per gallon of gasoline and can reach speeds as high as 50 miles per hour.  It also has an on board web server.  The bike retails for close to $12,000 so it is unlikely that Best Buy will bring in big bucks from the venture.

The CEO of Best Buy has stated that the new electric vehicle line is the company’s chance to further diversify their product line and to offer consumers the chance to access the latest technologies.

Read: [CNET]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 5:15 pm

Landmark Buildings Find New Life by Going Green

Landmark buildings across the United States are being revitalized by going green.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm

Celebrity-Shielding Flashgun Handbag Defeats Paparazzi

Adam Harvey’s Anti-Paparazzi Clutch Bag is a slave flash, an extra-bright LED light with a light detector. When it sees the flashgun pop on the photographer’s camera it fires a burst of its own, right back in the moron’s face and lens, flaring out the picture and in theory erasing the defender’s face.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:42 pm

Prepare Yourself For iPod Video

Like most people who've had an iPhone 3GS in their hands, we've been extremely impressed with the video capabilities of this little device. Not only Does it take near-HD video, it has excellent basic editing software and video can be uploaded to YouTube over Wifi or the cell networks. Among other things, it is the most useful video camera in the world today. No wonder the video camera market is shaking in its collective boots. Thank God those iPhones are so expensive, and Apple will only sell 20 million or so of them in 2009. If Apple added cameras to its line of iPods, there would be another 3+million of them hitting the market per month, and the low end of the digital video camera market could be crushed. Uh oh. That's exactly what we're hearing is going to happen. One of our sources in Asia say that Apple has placed an order for a massive number of camera modules of the type that they include in the iPhone. These are inexpensive cameras, in the $10 range. And the size of the order, our source says, means they can only be used for one thing - the iPods.

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:21 pm

Internet Explorer loses 11.4 percent market share in four months

Section: Web, Web Browsers

The past month has seen a lot of Internet browser upgrades.  Just about every major browser has been updated recently, each getting faster, supporting newer standards and adding features that might now seem standard.  Given that, each browser underwent an upgrade, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see the numbers for the market share to fluctuate a bite, but ultimately they stay roughly the same.  The good news is that hasn’t happened.

Internet Explorer, much to the dismay of web developers, has long been the reigning leader in market share, with over half of all measured users using Microsoft’s built-in browser.  With the added pressure of others such as Firefox 3.0 and 3.5, Safari 4 and Chrome 2 it looks like Microsoft could be having trouble keeping that lead.  Since March 2009 IE across all currently used version (going back to even IE6) has lost 11.4 percent of the market share to the other competitors.  What’s unclear, however, is how the numbers break down since the latest version of the other main three are all added together in one “Other Browsers” measurement.  It’s more likely that Firefox 3.5 is the leader among them.

While Internet Explorer losing market share is a big deal, there’s also the fact that Firefox 3.0 alone has 26.7 percent of the market share according to the StatCounter stats.  It’s a bit interesting that among all the talk recently of trying to get as many people as possible using WebKit browsers, that Firefox is in the lead.  Though it isn’t surprising, given that even those who aren’t the least bit tech-savvy know to use Firefox.  Either way, the more browsers that fully support the latest standards like HTML 5, the better.

Read [TechCrunch]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:11 pm

Japanese cell phones for all: NEC and Panasonic plot overseas sales plans

Japan, the world’s second largest economy with the third biggest Internet population, and the many, many early adopters of technology inhabiting this nation could be heaven for the domestic cell phone industry. And it was for years, until sales started slowing dangerously (minus 30% last fiscal year), and the overall population is poised to shrink and age dramatically in the future.

These two developments made a handful of Japanese cell phone makers think about moving away from creating all those fancy Nippon-only phones they’ve been producing for years. Now NEC and Panasonic seem to be finally ready to export some models - as early as next fiscal year, according to Japan’s biggest business newspaper Nikkei.

It’s more of a comeback in both cases. NEC stopped international cell phone sales in 2006, but apparently wants to enter Europe in the third or fourth quarter next year. And they have quite big plans: Priced between $200 and $300, one million phones are expected to be sold in the first 12 months  (Nokia sells 1.26 million phones per day, but still, this doesn’t sound bad).

The NEC 931N pictured above may be one sexy candidate, for example (it’s a Wi-Fi cell-phone featuring a maximum performance of 54MBps, a rotating 3-inch touch screen and an 8MP camera).

Panasonic Mobile Communications is now also rumored to try offsetting shrinking demand in Japan with stepped up sales overseas, even though the company hasn’t made official announcements yet. And as I blogged earlier this year, Sharp entered China in 2008 and plans to increase sales of cell phones outside Japan by 150% to 4 million units next year.

Via Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:08 pm

BLOG: Elephants at Michael Jackson Memorial Site

Circus elephants will be allowed to enter Michael Jackson's Tuesday memorial.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 3:05 pm

BLOG: Smarter Energy Use With Micro-Curtailment

Micro-curtailing energy use offers a big opportunity for savings.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 2:45 pm

Community Genome Could Produce Biofuels

The genomes of 17 different ants, fungi and bacteria could provide a source of biofuels.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 2:00 pm

All the mobile Obama videos you can handle, courtesy of Clippz

Clippz, a fledgling video startup with offices in the UK and Princeton, NJ, offers a platform for mobile videos that eliminates the need for a carrier network. It's a very basic service: it essentially lets you select your current mobile phone on its website and based on your selection it allows you to download the most fitting version of any mobile video on its platform to your computer. You can then 'sideload' (transfer the data of) the video with the best quality for your mobile device directly onto the phone via USB, Bluetooth or simply by means of a swappable memory card. This morning, Clippz dedicated a channel to material from the Obama Administration. Aptly named, 'The White House' channel offers mobile-optimized videos from the official White House YouTube channel for download, free of charge.

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2009 | 1:47 pm

The Moon Landing: 40 Years On

Forty years after the moon landing, space experts weigh in on whether we need to go back.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pm