Source: Gizmodo | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:45 am

A Few Questions

Jason Torchinsky is a guest blogger on Boing Boing. Jason has a book out now, Ad Nauseam: A Survivor's Guide to American Consumer Culture. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is a tinkerer and artist, started a webcasting company, and writes for the Onion News Network. He lives with a common-law wife, five animals, too many old cars, and a shed full of crap.

1. You just got change, and you have a Canadian penny. What do you do?
a. Demand a real penny, damn it, not one of these cheap knock-offs

b. Check with those nearby to see if you really are in Canada, and if so, find out why

c. Swallow it, quick, before they find you

d. Unwrap it and eat the chocolate

2. You find an eclair in your sock drawer. You:

a. Put on a pair of socks

b. Put on the eclair

c. Look for the other eclair, cause there must be a pair

d. Pinch yourself cuz you must be dreaming

3. What can I say to God to get into heaven?

a. Do you have any idea who I am?

b. I just need to get in for a minute I want to see if my friends are there.

c. I can make your life very difficult

d. Come on god, be cool, man, be cool



4. If you were a tree, where would you go out to eat?

a. Miracle-Gro Casino Sunday Morning Champagne Brunch Buffet

b. Taco Bell because trees always seem to be broke

c. Tree food court at the tree mall

d. Red Lobster

e. Anything off the trunk of a $1000-a-night tree hooker



5. You catch your lover in bed with C-3P0. You:

a. Congratulate the better man.

b. Ask for a C-3some-0.

c. Get really C-3P.O.'ed.

d. Ask him to autograph the VCR.

e. May as well watch, because it's hard to picture how this goes down


(Thanks, Van Gogh-Goghs)


Source: Boing Boing | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:09 am

Disney CEO: Hulu could charge for content (AP)

AP - Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger said Wednesday the Hulu online video streaming site that it now co-owns could one day charge for its content instead of just offering free streams and selling advertising.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:06 am

For Some, Move To Windows 7 Will Be Tough [Personal Technology]

On October 22, Microsoft will finally release a new version of Windows that will be as good as the deeply disappointing Windows Vista should have been when it came out in January 2007. The new edition, called Windows 7, is a big improvement over both Vista and the sturdy, 2001-vintage Windows XP still widely in use. It will give Apple’s (AAPL) long-superior Mac OS X operating system a run for its money (though Apple might maintain its edge with a new version, called Snow Leopard, due in September).

But how will Windows users transition their current computers to the new Windows 7? While this latest operating system stresses simplicity, the upgrade process will be anything but simple for the huge base of average consumers still using XP, who likely outnumber Vista users. It will be frustrating, tedious and labor-intensive.

In fact, the process will be so painful that, for many XP users, the easiest solution may be to buy a new PC preloaded with Windows 7, if they can afford such a purchase in these dire economic times. In fact, that’s the option Microsoft (MSFT) recommends for XP users. (Conveniently, this option also helps Microsoft’s partners that make PCs.)

By contrast, if you’re using Vista, the upgrade to Windows 7 should be a fairly easy, straightforward process. Because the new version shares most of the underlying guts of Vista, it installs itself on your current machine relatively quickly and smoothly, preserving all your files, folders, settings and programs. In a test of this process earlier this year, using a pre-release version of Windows 7, I upgraded a Vista laptop with no problems and little effort in about an hour.

But Windows XP users, including the millions who have recently snapped up cheap, XP-powered netbooks, will first have to wipe out everything on their hard disks in order to install Windows 7. on their current machines. In fact, Microsoft doesn’t even call migrating to Windows 7 from XP an “upgrade.” It refers to it as a “clean install,” or a “custom installation.” This disk wipeout can be performed manually, or automatically during the Windows 7 installation process.

If you’re an XP user, the disk-wiping will cause you to lose your current file and folder organization, and all your programs, though not necessarily your personal data files themselves.

However, in order to preserve these personal files, like documents and photos, you will have to undertake a long, multi-step process, typically requiring the use of an external hard disk, to which all these files will have to be temporarily moved and then moved back.

That means you’ll have to buy or borrow an external hard disk, or clean out enough room on one you already own, to hold all your files.

And the pain doesn’t end there. If you’re an XP user, moving to Windows 7 on your current computer means you will also have to re-install all your programs and restore all the software drivers for your printers and other add-on hardware. That could require locating the original program disks, or downloaded program installers, and then re-downloading and re-installing the numerous updates that have been issued since these original disks or installers came out.

And, there’s another problem: XP hardware drivers won’t work in Windows 7. Microsoft says it can automatically replace thousands of common older drivers with newer Windows 7-compatible versions, but admits that there may be some for which it doesn’t have replacements. The company specifically warns that some netbooks may include obsolete drivers.

Netbook owners face another problem. Even though Microsoft says Windows 7 will work fine on netbooks, most of them lack a DVD drive, which is needed to run the Windows 7 installation disk. So they’ll have to buy or borrow an external DVD drive.

Microsoft has taken some steps to make this easier. It plans to offer a free “Easy Transfer” program (explained at http://bit.ly/M5Il7) that will automate the process of moving your personal files to an external drive, and then restoring them to your computer after Windows 7 is installed. But this program won’t transfer your programs, only your personal data.

Also, if you don’t want to use an external hard disk to temporarily store your files, you can transfer them over a cable or network to another computer. The company even has an alternative where it will stow your personal data in a special folder called windows.old, on the transformed PC. But you’ll then have to manually move all of these files back to their normal locations.

Finally, Microsoft officials point out that this XP migration issue may be moot for many owners of older XP computers, because their ancient machines lack enough memory, hard disk space, or graphics power to accommodate Windows 7 anyway.

And, even if a really old machine is marginally capable of running Windows 7, it’s a mistake to try and cram a new OS into it and expect a great experience.

But if you do own an otherwise capable computer that happens to be running Windows XP, you’re likely facing a painful process should you choose to transition it to Windows 7.

Find Walt Mossberg’s columns and videos online, free, at the All Things Digital Web site, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

Source: All Things Digital | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:02 am

The Prime-8 Action Robot

The Prime-8 is a cute robot from Bossa Nova that can shoot missiles and pound you and your loved ones into submission. It is based on the HREX robot.

Here we see it wandering around then we see Red Whittaker of the CMU Robot Lab - the guy who led the team that built the FastNav project that led to the winning of the X Prize. Then we see it shoot some missiles.

The robot will be available on Amazon for about $100.

Source: CrunchGear | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:00 am

Google Wave Reviewed

Michael_Curator writes "Developers are finally getting their hands on the developer preview of Google's Wave, which means we can finally get some first-hand accounts of what it's really like to use, unfiltered by Google's own programmers. Ben Rometsch, a developer with U.K. Web development firm Solid State, blogged that, it's 'probably the most advanced application in a browser that I've seen.' Wave is like giant Web page onto which users can drag and drop any kind of object, including instant messaging and IRC [Internet Relay Client] clients, e-mail, and wikis, as well as gadgets like maps and video. All conversations, work product and applications are stored on remote servers — presumably forever. 'It's like real time email. On crack,' he wrote. And unlike the typically minimalist Google UI, 'It feels a lot more like a desktop application that just so happens to live in your browser.'" User molex333 has already written a Slashdot app and shares his initial reactions here.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:46 am

Yahoo Confirms Xoopit Purchase [BoomTown]

Yahoo confirmed the news–first reported by BoomTown and in The Wall Street Journal last night–that it was buying Xoopit, the San Francisco-based social email company.

And it did so in both a blog post and on Twitter, as you can see here:

@karaswisher @jvascellaro Your scoops confirmed http://bit.ly/gpOT2

Well, thanks! But we are already onto new scoops, so try to keep up!

The price for the acquisition, which Yahoo (YHOO) did not reveal, was about $20 million, according to sources.

In its blog post, titled “Xoopit + Yahoo! Mail = Moving beyond that massive digital shoebox,” Yahoo’s SVP of Application Products Bryan Lamkin wrote, in part:

With the integration of Xoopit’s platform technology and capabilities, the task of sending photos via email will be as easy as it should be and sharing photo albums with friends and family members will also be a cinch. You’ll be able to share your pictures among a group of friends or family like never before–combining pictures from numerous sources into a single album for a private group to view. And soon your inbox will become an organized photo index as well. Just imagine having a tool that collects all the photos you’ve sent and received over the years into that scrapbook you’ve never had time to assemble.

In short, Xoopit will bring phenomenal photo organization, improved photo sharing, and the serendipity of discovering forgotten photos to Yahoo! Mail.

Why is this such a big deal? Yahoo! Mail is actually home to one of the largest online photo repositories in the world. And every day, millions of you use Yahoo! Mail as your primary way to share the photos of important moments in your lives. While social networks and community sites are great for sharing photos with everyone you know, we realize it’s not for everyone or every occasion. For many, email is still best for sharing photos among a more select group of friends or family. And now we’re making it all that much easier for you.

Xoopit finds photos, videos, links and other files in email so that users can surface and then share them on many sites, such as social networking giant Facebook. It also has other products that essentially enliven email.

Xoopit’s investors–Accel Partners and Foundation Capital, along with several angel investors–have pumped about $6.5 million into the company since 2006.

As I previously reported, sources said Yahoo was first impressed with its innovative plug-in that works with Gmail from Google (GOOG), and has been looking at the company for a while, previously offering about $10 million for it.

Xoopit also makes a similar photo-sharing application for Yahoo Mail, which it launched late last year.

The opening up of its popular email product to a variety of third-party applications in order to make it more robust has been a goal of Yahoo recently as it seeks to socialize one of its most popular products.

Interestingly, in the Yahoo blog, Lamkin said Xoopit was Yahoo Mail’s most popular third-party app.

Here is a screen shot of Xoopit in action in Yahoo’s email offering (click on the image to make it larger):

Source: All Things Digital | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:44 am

Grupo Iusacell Announces Revenue of Ps.2,785 Million in 2Q09

Second Quarter Results Net revenue was Ps.2,785 million, compared to Ps.2,659 million in the same period in 2008. Cost and expenses during the quarter were Ps.2,303 million, compared to Ps.2,182 million in the same period of the previous year. As a result, Grupo Iusacell reported EBITDA of Ps.482 million, compared to Ps.477 million in the second quarter of 2008.The company registered a net income of Ps.285 million, compared to net loss of Ps.228 million for the same period of the previous year. Net RevenueNet revenue for the quarter increased 5% as compared with the previous year. Net revenue this period came mainly from postpaid rent of cellular services, roaming revenue, CPP and long distance services.Subscriber Base
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:36 am

RHEX: The hexapod robot

The RHEX is a general purpose six-legged robot that can right itself and climb stairs. It can walk, run, and creep at almost any speed and it’s shown here clattering around on the floor and then climbing stairs. It appears the RHEX has been in the works for years but recently he’s been modified for use in toys and military applications.

In short this is probably even scarier than Big Dog. Imagine a swarm of these guys led by BigDog heading into your house in search of your juices. I, for one, welcome our robotic overlords.

This video was taken at Carnegie Mellon University and is part of a robotic movement project.

Source: CrunchGear | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:30 am

Economy keeps hurting eBay as 2Q profit falls (AP)

AP - The recession continued to hurt eBay Inc. in the second quarter, as earnings and revenue fell amid a sales decline in the main online marketplace, overshadowing growth in its payments and Skype communications units.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:07 am

Airlines begin to understand we don’t want crappy in-flight entertainment

Flying United the other day, I was treated to an episode of Top Chef on a stained 10″ CRT with wonky colors, listening to crackly audio on garbage headphones, unable to rewind, fast forward, or choose anything else. What a fun flight it was!

It’s essentially the same thing as it was 30 years ago. Several revolutions in content distribution and they’re still probably using Beta tapes. Of course, nimbler and more progressive airlines like Ryanair and Singapore are able to change with the times, and are outfitting their planes with plugs and USB cords rather than weak screens playing bad copies of bad movies.

Virgin’s Red system is another path to take, but it’s got to be insanely expensive and airlines are looking to decrease costs. Think about it: adding to an entire fleet hundreds of screens with built-in computers, video servers, licensing content, and keeping everything running has to be insanely expensive.

People would be just as happy with a plug and a USB port at every seat. Toss a little wireless in there, too, and people will happily while away the hours twittering, checking their Facebook page, and doing god knows what.

Here’s an idea: have a locally stored webpage we can navigate to that has streaming shows that go over the plane’s WLAN. Oh my god, I’m a genius.

Obviously the transformation of an entire industry takes time, but this is analogous to the music industry, where they should have seen it coming a long way off and prepared for it, instead of scrambling and pointing the finger at the last moment.

Source: CrunchGear | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:00 am

Inside S.T.A.R. Labs, Chaotic Skunkworks of 'DC Universe Online'

Mutant monstrosities and technological marvels dreamed up in the fictional scientific outpost will drive the action in the upcoming superhero MMO from DC Comics and Sony.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:00 am

IPhone App Predicts IPv4 Doomsday (PC World)

PC World - If you're the kind of person who walks down the street worrying about the depletion of IPv4 addresses, the iPhone can now tell you how long you have until that happens.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:40 pm

Girls in Tech Announces Partnership with Qtask

July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls in Tech, the premier social network enterprise focused on the empowerment of women in technology, today unveiled details of a partnership with Qtask, the developer of a unified collaboration and project management environment that increases productivity and eliminates the communication and organization problems that hinder successful results. Under terms of the agreement, Qtask will be the exclusive SaaS sponsor to the Girls in Tech (GIT) organization in exchange for speaking and co-marketing opportunities at GIT conferences, events and functions. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090219/AQTH548LOGO)"Our organization has experienced rapid growth in the past few months, and we've been searching for a partner that could help us better communicate and collaborate across our 35 chapters. As the premier SaaS collaboration solution available today, Qtask was our first choice," said Adriana Gascoigne, founder, Girls in Tech. "We are excited to offer our members the best in collaboration and project management tools, which will enable us to work better as an organization and, in turn, reach more women interested in the field of technology."With the partnership, Qtask will provide its collaboration and project management environment to the Girls in Tech staff and each of its 35 chapters globally, and will also be available to GIT members at a 20 percent discount. The partnership will also provide Qtask the opportunity to speak, exhibit and co-market at Girls in Tech's numerous events, giving Qtask exposure to a diverse audience of technology professionals."Girls in Tech attracts the best and the brightest professionals interested in staying on the leading edge of technology and business to its events, so we are pleased to be partnered with such a top networking organization," said Russell Mix, CEO and co-founder of Qtask.One of the primary goals in adopting Qtask is to streamline communications by moving away from a reliance on emails with attachments to a collaborative workspace that provides threaded discussions, file sharing and wikis. With Qtask's support, Girls in Tech has already begun the process of staff training and implementing Qtask within their corporate management, transforming the way they work and get things done. Qualified Girls in Tech members can receive a 20% discount on a Qtask subscription by clicking on the Qtask banner on the Girls in Tech member site.About Girls in TechGirls in Tech is a social network enterprise focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and influential women in technology. Founded in February 2007 by Adriana Gascoigne, Girls in Tech offers a variety of resources and tools for women to supplement and further enhance their professional careers and aspirations in technology, including educational workshops and lectures, networking functions, round table discussions, conferences, social engagements, and recruitment events. Visit us at http://girlsintech.net/. About Qtask
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:33 pm

'Power Capping' the Datacenter

snydeq writes "Datacenter operators seeking increased server density may soon turn to power capping, an emerging technology that limits the amount of electricity a server can consume, InfoWorld reports. The practice, which can be applied at the rack level, ensures that no server draws above a set power level, thereby increasing datacenter capacity within a rack-level power envelope by as much as 20 percent, according to a proof-of-concept study at Baidu, China's largest search company. As with powering down servers during off hours, of course, power capping incurs calculated risk, as those in charge of business-critical applications may be reluctant to set power limits below maximum utilization. Yet given IT's need to contend with the permanent energy crisis, the notion of power capping the datacenter could prove advantageous."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:32 pm

iLuv updates its all-purpose audio system for this modern age

iLuv’s been making iPod accessories for a while now, and while it doesn’t look like they’re in the mood to innovate (the thing is almost identical to similar items from years past), this versatile little audio system is perfect for apartment living. Radio, four CD/MP3-CD slots, SD card and USB drive, and of course iPod and iPhone support. Just run a cassette player through the Aux-in and you’ll have audio devices covered all the way back to the 80s.

The old version.

I just realized I still have my MP3-CDs from my iRiver days… probably filled with the weird stuff I was listening to in college.

$250 is a bit pricey, I’d say, and if you’re sure you’re not going to be using a few of those inputs, you can probably get more power for less price. Might be really nice in a shared area, though; housemates or family members can have their own SD cards or thumb drives with their selections for dinner music. How domestic I’m becoming!

Source: CrunchGear | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:30 pm

Comcast’s promised bandwith usage tool delayed once again

Section: Web

Comcast customers, already frustrated by the bandwidth cap put in place back in October have been further frustrated by the company’s complete lack of tools to help them monitor their usage and stay within the cap.  A web based usage monitor was supposed to be released in January but that date came and passed.  Now a representative of the broadband provider says it’s still “not ready for primetime” and will not be released to the public anytime soon.

The 250GB cap was put in place by the company to fight back against the tiny percentage of customers who abused the formerly unlimited service by running torrents or otherwise hogging huge amounts of bandwidth.  This slowed down the service for everyone else. The new rules state that going over the cap once will result in a warning, and if it is exceeded again the user’s account will be terminated.

It’s pretty outrageous that nearly a year after putting the cap in place, the company has refused to provide users with a monitoring tool.  There are third party solutions available but having one from Comcast itself is much more desirable.  The company hasn’t given any reasons for the constant delays and foot dragging, but some may speculate that they don’t want to help potential bandwidth hogs stay just under the cap.

Comcast isn’t the only provider to put caps in place.  Many others, including Time Warner and Cox, have also introduced caps and/or tiered pricing plans.

Read [CNet]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:17 pm

Expressions trump bananas for chimps

A person is more likely to catch a chimp's attention through facial expressions than by bananas, a Japanese research team reported Wednesday. The findings indicate chimps are as likely to respond in to faces in a similar manner as humans, researchers at the Primate Research Institute at Japan's Kyoto University said. It is well known that faces are processed in a different manner from other types of complex visual stimuli, Japanese researchers Masaki Tomonaga and Tomoko Imura said in their paper.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pm

White-Sided Jackrabbit Under Threat

Although rabbits are known for their numbers, the white-sided jackrabbit struggles to survive.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 10:30 pm

Cable Management To Defeat Clutter?

igny writes "I have just recently cleaned up my home office, reducing the clutter, but I could not come up with a neat solution to my cable problem. I believe my cable usage is even below average for a slashdotter, but still I have three computers with a bunch of ethernet and power cables, two cellphones, video and photo cables, with several proprietary chargers/AC adapters, printer, two NASes with a couple of external drives, phone, audio system, routers/switches, modem ... Everything requires cables of different kinds. I believe that AC adapters still draw some power even with no device hooked to it. So I organized my power cables by usage with several power strips to turn off adapters which I use less frequently. I am asking for advice from experienced slashdotters. How do you cope with your cable problem? Do you use dedicated tables, shelves, armoire for the cables? I am still looking for a neat, efficient, and safe (I have small kids) solution."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jul 2009 | 10:26 pm

Scientists Determine That Ancient Maya Practiced Forest Conservation

“From our research we have learned that the Maya were deliberately conserving forest resources,” says David Lentz, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati and executive director of the Cincinnati Center for Field Studies.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 10:25 pm

Cell Phones and Driving: Unsafe at Any Speed - PC World

ABC News

Cell Phones and Driving: Unsafe at Any Speed PC World Analysis: The federal government has had proof of the relationship between cell phones and "accidents" for a very long time, but, obviously for political reasons, sat on this evidence. I've been saying it for a long time: cell phones and driving do not ... The Truth About Cars and CellphonesNew York Times US Traffic Safety Administration hid cellphone dangerTG Daily Hands-free cell phones still riskyHonolulu Star-Bulletin MiamiHerald.com -ABC News -msnbc.com all 434 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:58 pm

A New Method To Cleaner And More Efficient CO2 Capture

Separating carbon dioxide from its polluting source, such as the flue gas from a coal-fired power plant, may soon become cleaner and more efficient.A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researcher has developed a screening method that would use ionic liquids — a special type of molten salt that becomes liquid under the boiling point of water (100 degrees Celsius) — to separate carbon dioxide from its source, making it a There are major efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuel, but before it can be sequestered, it must first be separated from its source, a step known as "capture." This new technique could significantly enhance the efficiency of the CO2 capture process.Currently, the few coal plants with commercial CO2 capture capability all use processes based on chemical absorption with monoethanolamine (MEA), a general-purpose solvent developed by chemists some 75 years ago.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:50 pm

Windows 7 Hits RTM At Build 7600.16385

An anonymous reader links to Ars Technica's report that (quoting) "Microsoft today announced that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have hit the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone. The software giant still has a lot of work to do, but the bigger responsibility now falls to OEMs that must get PCs ready, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) that are testing their new apps, and Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) that are preparing their new hardware. The RTM build is 7600, but it is not the same one that leaked less than two weeks ago (7600.16384). We speculated that Microsoft may end up recompiling build 7600 until it is satisfied, but it only took the company one more shot to get it right: 7600.16385 is the final build number. Microsoft refused to share the full build string, but if you trust leaks from a few days ago, it's '6.1.7600.16385.090713-1255,' which indicates that the final build was compiled over a week ago: July 13, 2009, at 12:45pm. This would be in line with the rumored RTM date but it is also the day Microsoft stated that Windows 7 had not yet hit RTM. Although the final build had been compiled, Microsoft still had to put it through testing before christening it as RTM."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:41 pm

92% of Wired.com’s Mobile Visitors Use iPhone OS

Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch are the overwhelming favorites for mobile access to Wired.com.

Color us surprised.

While we knew that our readers use and are interested in iPhones, we weren’t prepared for just how drastically the logfile numbers skewed towards Apple’s mobile platform. Taken together, the iPhone and iPod Touch represent 91.6% of the mobile devices accessing Wired.com during June, 2009.

The next closest runner-up, the T-Mobile G1, commands just 1.6% of the mobile device total (based on number of visits to Wired.com), and the Nintendo Wii — bizarrely — is the fourth most popule “mobile” device, with 0.7% of our site visits. (We assume that our logfile analysis software, Omniture, is just confused about how mobile the Wii really is.) The RIM BlackBerry 9000 and Palm Pre also have about 0.7% of total visits.

Grouping by manufacturer gives a slightly different picture: Apple, as before, holds 91.6%, but Nokia comes in second, with 1.7% of the total visits. T-Mobile has 1.6%, while RIM takes 1.5% and HTC 0.9%.

We know from previous logfile analyses that Wired.com readers are more likely to use Macs and Firefox than the general population. But when it comes to mobile access to Wired.com, the massive skew towards iPhones is a little surprising.

One reason is surely that our site is poorly optimized for most mobile devices, so phones that render websites pretty much as desktop browsers do — like the iPhone — are more likely to work well with Wired.com. If your phone doesn’t render ordinary websites well, you’re not likely to come here often.

Also, with 40 million iPhones and iPod Touches in the world, there are a lot of people using them to browse the web.

And as previous studies have suggested, people are much more likely to browse the web on an iPhone than on other smartphones, even if those other phones have comparably featured browsers. That’s probably due to the iPhone’s super-easy (or dumbed-down, depending on your point of view) interface. For instance, Nokia’s latest S60-based phones, like the E71 and the N79, have browsers capable of rendering web pages faithfully. But the interface is clunkier: It just takes more steps to scroll, zoom, and click on links than it does on the iPhone.

The result is plain: Far more people actually use the iPhone’s browser, at least when it comes to visiting Wired.com.

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:14 pm

Prankster tracks down Verizon CEO, yells at his house

When John Hargrave of Zug.com (otherwise known as “that one site that allegedly pranked the SuperBowl“) found out that the wireless carriers were doing a whole lot of nothing to keep the data store in cellular customer accounts safe, he decided to do what any good angry person does: grab a bullhorn. Rather than camping out on a soapbox and spitting his spite to random passersby, however, John took it to someone who really should care: the CEO of Verizon, Ivan Seidenberg.

After digging up Seidenberg’s home address by way of one of those scammy-looking “cell phone record search” sites, Hargrave headed out armed with nothing but the aforementioned megaphone… and an amp. While we’re not sure if Seidenberg actually got the message (it didn’t appear as if anyone was home), he’s sure to hear about it every day for sometime.

[Via PhoneDog]

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:10 pm

Olympus announces three new digital cameras

Section: Imaging, Digital Cameras

Olympus recently announced a few new digital cameras for the FE lineup of cameras.  The new digital cameras include the FE-5020, FE-4000 (shown above), and FE-26.  Each share some common features and will begin shipping next month.

FE-5020

Let’s take a look at each camera and see what special features they contain.  To start, we have the FE-5020, which is the headline camera featuring 12MP capabilities, sporting a 5x super wide zoom, 2.7 inch LCD screen, and various Magic Filters to make the pictures it takes supposedly better in quality.  In addition, it features advanced face detection technology, i-Auto mode, and AF tracking.  It is set to be available in white, gray, brown, and blue. 

FE-4000

Moving on, we have the FE-4000 digital camera, which also features 12MP and a 2.7 inch LCD viewing screen, but only a 4x wide zoom.  Similar to the 5020, it features AF tracking and i-Auto, which should help in maintaining sharp and focused pictures.  Users can take advantage of the Magic Filters whenever taking shots to add interesting twists to images and make them unique.  The 4000 will be available in slightly more colors including white, gray, blue, orange, and magenta. 

FE-26

The last camera is the FE-26, which also features 12MP, 3x zoom and the common 2.7 inch LCD viewing screen.  Like the other two cameras, it comes with AF tracking, i-Auto mode, digital image stabilization, and advanced face detection.  The FE-26 comes in a few less colors including pink, blue, and black.  Unfortunately, the FE-26 runs on AA batteries, while the other two cameras feature internal rechargeable batteries. 

All three cameras support microSD memory expansion to store even more photos.  The FE-5020 has onboard memory of 48MB, while the last two cameras only have 19MB of onboard memory.  Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a microSD card, just so you can take more than 10 pictures. 

Expect all cameras to begin shipping within August-September for under $200. 

Via [DPReview]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:09 pm

The Largest Parity Violations Ever Measured In An Atom

Ytterbium was discovered in 1878, but until it recently became useful in atomic clocks, the soft metal rarely made the news. Now ytterbium has a new claim to scientific fame.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:55 pm

Registrars Still Ignoring ICANN Rules

stry_cat writes "Over a year ago ICANN moved to clean up misbehaving registrars like GoDaddy. They released this scary sounding advisory. However, over a year later, problems remain. One company is now publicly complaining. Some of the biggest registrars are slammed for their actions. 'Register.com is one frustrating company. The ICANN policy clearly prohibits blocking a transfer of a domain name that has expired but not yet been deleted. Despite that, a customer trying to transfer a three-day-expired Register.com domain name told us last week that they refused to give him the necessary code to allow him to transfer — unless he pays them to renew it first. ... GoDaddy (and their reseller arm, Wild West Domains) have a different problem: They still block transfers for 60 days after a registrant's contact update, even after the ICANN update specifically prohibited doing so. They freely admit it, too. ... We see a similar problem with many transfers from Network Solutions.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:53 pm

Bad Mitochondria Could Actually Be Good For You

Mice with a defective mitochondrial protein called MCLK1 produce elevated amounts of reactive oxygen when young; that should spell disaster, yet according to a study in this week's JBC these mice actually age at a slower rate and live longer than normal mice.Mitochondrial oxidative stress is a popular theory explaining the aging process; over time, reactive oxygen species produced by mitochondria while they make energy slowly accumulate and begin damaging cells, including the mitochondria.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:51 pm

New Windows Opened On Cell-To-Cell Interactions

Applying biological molecules from cell membranes to the surfaces of artificial materials is opening peepholes on the very basics of cell-to-cell interaction.Two recently published papers by a University of Oregon biophysicist and colleagues suggest that putting lipids and other cell membrane components on manufactured surfaces could lead to new classes of self-assembling materials for use in precision optics, nanotechnology, electronics and pharmaceuticals.Though the findings are basic, they provide new directions for research to help understand nature at nanotechnological scales where the orientation of minuscule proteins is crucial, said Raghuveer Parthasarathy, who is a member of the UO's Material Science Institute, the Institute of Molecular Biology and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI).(Parthasarathy discusses his research at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGOmp_fNVXQ, and he summarizes the studies described below at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvd7f6qYYro.)Controlling interactions between colloidal materialsIn the May issue of Soft Matter, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UO doctoral student Yupeng Kong and Parthasarathy applied biological material -- a thin layer of membrane lipids -- onto to tiny glass spheres about one-millionth of a meter in diameter to closely study colloidal interaction.Colloids are tiny particles found dispersed in liquids: in milk, paints, many food stuffs, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:40 pm

Ecologists Consider the Causes and Consequences

Consider the case of the three-spine stickleback.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:25 pm

Study Offers Principles For Maintaining The Integrity And Accessibility Of Research Data

 Though digital technologies and high-speed communications have significantly expanded the capabilities of scientists -- allowing them to analyze and share vast amounts of data -- these technologies are also raising difficult questions for researchers, institutions, and journals.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:20 pm

Modu Phone Comes to Life With Interchangeable Casings

Israeli company Modu has been promising a tiny phone with interchangeable casings that can give the device a new set of features such as music player or GPS navigation. Modu was also billed as the lightest phone and one that would offer a truly innovative experience.

Now that the first few Modu phones are out, web site Mobo has done a hands-on with the device. The phone comes with four “jackets” or casings. The device itself is rather basic, says the site, with a 1.3-inch OLED screen,  Bluetooth capability but no Wi-Fi. It doesn’t support 3G either. Modu has said it will offer a music jacket with JBL speaker and maybe a touchscreen jacket.

At 1.41 oz, Modu lives up to its pitch as the lightest and smallest phone. The device has five navigation keys and the two standard green and red call buttons. But the overall experience is disappointing, says Mobo.

“The UI (user interface) design looks a little tired,” says the site in its review. “The screen on our set showed a distinctive green tint which didn’t make things any better.”

Overall, the verdict seems to be that Modu is an very interesting concept but one that doesn’t deliver yet on its promise.

The basic phone and one jacket is available for around $130 outside the U.S.

Read Mobo’s complete hands-on with the Modu phone

(Thanks Matty!)

See Also:

• Modu Is The World’s Lightest Cellphone
• Hands On With the Modu
• Modu Announces Phone Jackets

Photo: Modu phone (Charlie Sorrel /Wired.com)

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:15 pm

Tuna Ranch Hormone Cocktail Could Save Bluefin

The extremely popular, highly endangered bluefin tuna has never successfully spawned in captivity until now. A new breed of fish farms could save the species.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:00 pm

Shield Law Overturns Warrant for Student Photographer

A San Francisco Superior Court recognizes journalistic entitlements of a student photojournalist who invoked shield law. The decision strengthens support for freelance photographers and journalists who want to protect their sources and notes.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:00 pm

7 Women Who Will Rock Comic-Con

From old-school ass-kickers to a new generation of heroines, these fightin' females will dominate the annual geek convention in San Diego.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:30 pm

Missing AIDS Link Found in Chimps

An HIV-related virus is killing wild chimps and could lead to better AIDS treatments.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:30 pm

HTC going 50% Android in 2010?

Its taken a bit longer than we all might have hoped, but it seems that Android is really starting to pick up the steam it deserves. Be it Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson.. if they’re a big gun in the mobile manufacturing world (Well, outside of certain obvious exclusions), they’re probably working on an Android handset or two. The first off the bat and the most dedicated so far has been HTC - and if the latest rumors hold true, they might be looking to throw even more weight behind it.

According to the Digitimes, HTC may be looking to put the Droid onto as much as fifty percent of their handsets. Now, HTC doesn’t push’em out as fast as some other manufacturers (by the way, Samsung, we’re totally talking about you), but they still pump out a good number of’em each year. And of their lineup, almost the entirety is Windows Mobile. Digitimes also adds that HTC is aiming for around 30% of their handsets this year to be Android-based. We can think of about 5 or 6 we’re expecting to see by years end (including those that have launched already) -f it that’s 30% and HTC continues to make around as many total devices next year, we can probably expect at least 9 or 10 Droidphones from them next year. Fuzzy math? Absolutely. But we can hope, can’t we?

[Via EngadgetMobile]

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:27 pm

WATCH: Why Is Sea Water So Salty?

Ever get a mouthful of water while swimming and wonder why the ocean is so salty?
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:15 pm

MySpace coming out with their own email

Section: Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Websites

photo credit: AP images

Starting tomorrow, MySpace plans to start use of its own webmail.  They already have IM and a messaging service when you are actually logged into the site, but now users will have their own email address ending in “@myspace.com.”  I can see younger demographics, and artists/bands really liking the new concept, as it will give them an email that also links people right to their MySpace page.

Granted, many think MySpace is so yesterday.  But for some demographics, it is still the social networking site of choice.  With their latest venture they may be playing the vanity card even more.  Since MySpace reports 130 million members globally, should most of the users begin making use of the email, it could feasibly end up being one of the top email providers out there.

It is set to be a soft launch with full roll out slated by the year’s end.  A limited number of members already have use of the email, as part of testing for the service, and it is being tweaked according to their feedback. 

No word on what, if anything, sets this mail apart from anything else out there other than the fact that it’s got a vanity name going for it.  Personally, I’m not on board the MySpace train anymore, so I can’t see myself running to sign up for my handy-dandy new MySpace email.  Plus, it also seems to me like a hacker or spammer’s dream.  They will now know email addresses for every MySpace user out there (assuming that the address does in fact match your username on MySpace, since, if it doesn’t what’s the point?)

Read: [PaidContent]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:03 pm

Apollo 11 Moon Landing Delivered 40 Years Of Spin-Off Tech - ChannelWeb

guardian.co.uk

Apollo 11 Moon Landing Delivered 40 Years Of Spin-Off Tech ChannelWeb Who says government can't ever do anything right? As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this week, we're also commemorating the entire NASA-led project to send Neil Armstrong and Buzz ... Everything I Know About Parenting I Learned from the Apollo ProgramWired Blogs New challenge to explore space is neededLivonia Observer Armstrong on Apollo: 'It was a good thing to do'CNET News Ars Technica -Register -National Geographic all 5,274 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:47 pm

Seven-Month Investigation Turns up 15 Incidents of Fiery iPods

For seven months, a reporter fought Apple’s lawyers to obtain documents concerning iPod media players. The end result? An 800-page report including 15 burn and fire-related incidents with iPods.

KIRO-TV reporter Amy Clancy requested the report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Apple lawyers attempted to block her from accessing it, filing exemption after exemption. With the Freedom of Information Act, Clancy eventually won the battle and posted her findings Wednesday.

The document includes incidents involving iPod Shuffles, iPod Nanos and iPod Classics. In one case in 2006, an iPod even caught fire on a ship with over 2,000 people on-board.

Apple hasn’t completely glossed over battery issues: The company in August 2008 issued a recall for a small number of iPod Nanos (0.001 percent) containing defective, potentially hazardous batteries. Also, in 2006, Apple issued a recall for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 notebooks, because their batteries contained cells manufactured by Sony, which were causing batteries to explode.

It’s debatable whether 15 incidents is an alarming number, as it’s small compared to the millions of iPods that have been sold. However, it’s worth nothing these are only the number of reported iPod incidents, as opposed to the number of iPods that have actually caught fire.

See Also:

• Defective iPod Nanos Caused Fires in Japan
• Man Killed by Cellphone Explosion
• PowerBook Explosion Prompts Office Evacuation

Photo: nebarnix/Flickr

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:41 pm

Chinese authorities probe iPhone worker's death - CNET News

Telegraph.co.uk

Chinese authorities probe iPhone worker's death CNET News A Foxconn security official has been suspended and the case involving the apparent suicide of a worker who reportedly lost a prototype iPhone 4G has been handed over to Chinese authorities, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday. ... Plot thickens in the case of Apple worker 'suicide'Inquirer Employee's Suicide Puts Hon Hai, Apple in SpotlightWall Street Journal Suicide Ignites Apple Culture DebatePC World Register -Reuters -CNNMoney.com all 637 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:31 pm

Watch: Author of Torture Memos Pranked in Classroom

Torture memo author turned law professor John Yoo is confronted by an Australian comedian posing as a torture victim in the middle of his class.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:30 pm

Unboxing: Samsung T559 Comeback for T-Mobile

The FedEx guy just stopped by MobileCrunch HQ with a box full o’ Samsung Comeback, so we figured we’d go ahead and give it the ceremonial undressing.

It’ll be a day or two before we’re ready to really talk about this thing, but our first impressions aren’t the best. While the handset feels absolutely outstanding when held in the flipped out, QWERTY-exposed position, actually typing on this thing seems like a game of Operation. The keys are nearly twice as tall as they are wide, making things feel a bit foreign. We’ll tinker with it for a while and see if we get used to it. Be on the look out for a review later this week.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:23 pm

SLIDE SHOW: Solar Eclipse Blankets Asia

View the longest total solar eclipse of the century, as it was visible across Asia.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:05 pm

Synaptics Offers Ten-Finger Multi-touch Sensors

Touchscreens are set to go beyond just the two-finger scroll as Synaptics announced a new multi-touch sensor that has the ability to distinguish up to ten simultaneous finger touches. That means instead of using just the index and the middle finger on touchscreens to pinch or zoom, consumers can use any of their fingers to communicate with the display and scribble on the screen.

Multi-touch, popularized by Apple’s iPhone, has become an important way for consumers to go beyond the keyboard and interact with their devices. Research firm DisplaySearch says the market for touchscreens with multi-touch capability will grow from $800 million in 2008 to more than $4 billion in 2015.

Synaptics’ latest product called the ClearPad 3000 Series uses 48 sensing channels and has advanced power management that allows for screen sizes of up to 8-inches diagonally. But the real innovation is in the sensor’s ability to offer high accuracy and low power consumption at the same time, says Synaptics. The sensors have an accuracy of ±1 mm (millimeters), are about 0.3 mm thick and have a power consumption with 5 mA in full active mode and 12 µA in deep sleep mode.

Synaptics hopes the touchscreen sensors will be integrated into mobile phones and other consumer electronics products especially in gaming and GPS-based navigation devices.

The ClearPad 3000 engineering samples will be available in November and could make their way into products early next year.

Check out the video link above for a demo of Synaptics latest sensor.

See Also:

• Synaptics Waves Around New Touchpad Gestures
• Can Apple Patent the Pinch? Experts Say It’s Possible
• Taiwanese Company Slaps Apple With Touchscreen Lawsuit

Video: Synaptics

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 5:53 pm

Antifreeze Could Keep Saturn Moon Wet

The Cassini spacecraft detects ammonia, a common antifreeze ingredient, in a plume emanating from Saturn's moon Enceladus. Ammonia could help maintain an ocean of liquid water beneath the moon's icy crust, making life on the moon more likely.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 22 Jul 2009 | 5:40 pm

Digital activism on YouTube

(This is the second of a series of posts from YouTube's news and politics blog, Citizentube. -Ed.)

Activism today isn't limited to picket lines and marches on the Mall — people have taken their movements to the web, and YouTube has become an important platform for exposure. Every day, people use YouTube to fight for causes, whether they're hunger-striking celebrities like Mia Farrow, or 9-year-olds trying to save the neighborhood kickball lot from destruction. On Citizentube, our YouTube blog that chronicles the way people use video to change the world, we've seen digital activists use YouTube in three basic ways: to shine a light on issues that need more exposure, to drive action around causes they care about, and to create connections between people and organizations that share their desire to make a difference.

Some of the most compelling videos we see are those that spotlight important issues that aren't being covered in the mainstream media. Witness, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to document human rights abuses around the world through video, offers an excellent example — this video from their YouTube channel chronicles the clashes between the Burmese military and rural ethnic minorities. Invisiblepeople.tv, a relative newcomer to YouTube, is taking a similar approach by tackling a more domestic issue: homelessness. This summer, the group is traveling across America to document the real, unedited stories of people living on the streets, in tent communes and in cars — and posting all of the footage to their YouTube channel. And of course we've seen protesters in Iran, China and elsewhere use YouTube to amplify their causes far beyond national borders.

Other individuals and nonprofits are using YouTube as a direct advocacy tool, experimenting with ways to drive action from their videos to a particular cause. And we're building new products to make it even easier for them to do this effectively. For example, in March, we launched a tool called "Call to Action," which allows nonprofit organizations to drive traffic from an in-video overlay to an off-site page where they can collect donations, signatures or email addresses. Shortly after launch, to commemorate World Water Day, we featured a video from charity:water on the YouTube homepage that used a call-to-action overlay to encourage YouTube users to donate money to build wells and provide clean, safe drinking water for those who don't have it. Through YouTube, charity:water was able to raise over $10,000 in one day — enough to build two brand-new wells in the Central African Republic and give over 150 people clean drinking water for 20 years.

Yet some of the most innovative uses of YouTube for digital activism are those that leverage the communities that exist on YouTube around particular causes. YouTube is inherently a social experience and many of our users are hungry to partner and collaborate with others who share their passions. Last December, popular YouTube users the Vlogbrothers launched the "Project for Awesome," a campaign which asked fellow budding change-makers to make videos about their favorite charities. Over 1,200 people joined the effort to promote their cause of choice. And just a few weeks ago, in partnership with President Obama's launch of serve.gov, we created "Video Volunteers", a new platform on YouTube which connects nonprofits that lack video resources with proven video-makers who want to use their skills to do good. There are already hundreds of posts from nonprofits seeking help on the Video Volunteers YouTube channel, so if you're interested in creating a video for an organization, head over to the channel now and find a cause you care about.

Activism is constantly evolving on YouTube, so we'll keep posting fresh accounts of how citizens and nonprofits are changing the world, one video at a time, on Citizentube.

Posted by Ramya Raghavan, YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

Source: The Official Google Blog | 22 Jul 2009 | 5:40 pm

Dell lowers Adamo pricing, now $500 less expensive

Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops

Without making much in terms of an announcement, Dell has lowered the pricing on their Adamo ultraportable notebook lineup.  The price is now $500 lower and has the low-end Adamo coming in at the same pricing as the MacBook Air.

Now for $1,499 you can get a Dell Adamo that features a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD.  Of course, on the high-end, the Dell Adamo will still set you back $2,299 for a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.  Additionally, the high-end model also comes with built-in 3G.

Other features of the Dell Adamo ultraportable include a 13.4-inch display, a full-size keyboard, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, Display Port, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi 80.211n as well as up to 5 hours of battery from a single charge.

As I mentioned earlier, Dell has lowered this pricing without any real announcement, so no clear reason was given, but it seems to be fair to say that they have been listening to the (in this case) potential customers because as the Adamo pricing stood before it was just a little to expensive.

Product [Dell]  Via [electronista]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 5:12 pm

Quake Nudges New Zealand Closer to Australia

A massive earthquake has made New Zealand a bit bigger -- and closer to Australia.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 4:35 pm

New SPOT GPS Tracker: Lighter, Smaller, Silver!

SPOT, maker of the life-saving GPS device, is upgrading its hardware. The next iteration is advertised as 30% smaller and lighter than the og SPOT. It will also be available in silver. Which is nice, cause pretty much everything clashes with orange.

Considering the new SPOT weighs just 5.2 ounces and takes up only 3.7×2.6×1 inches of packspace, you have no reason not to carry one when you go walkabout.

Unless, of course, you don't want to spend the money. The service is $100/year. The current box is $160. Expect the new model to either be the same w/a price drop for the old one. Or, more likely, the new one will retail for ~$229.95.

OK, I'm totally guessing.

[via GearJunkie]

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 4:18 pm

Designer thermometer looks like a clock

Japanese design firm Plus Minus Zero has this interesting new thermometer coming out in September. It looks like a clock, except the hands indicate temperature and humidity instead of time. I like it!

[Plus Minus Zero main page via Dezeen]

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 3:53 pm

Review: BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Verizon)

Short Version: As it stands, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is the best smartphone available for Verizon Wireless customers. It’s a mash-up of the AT&T BlackBerry Bold and T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900. One would think that this would lead to the perfect BlackBerry, but it has one glaring flaw and it isn’t one that you can get over quickly, if ever.

Review:

I hate to say it, but the Tour feels good in the hand. It has the weight (4.7 ounces) of the old 8800 series but the looks of the newfangled chrome and black motif BlackBerrys you see today (re: Storm, Bold, Curve 8900). Even the carbon fiber-like back plate is gorgeous. It’s visually stunning.

But then you get to the keyboard. At first, I thought it was the greatest keyboard to ever come out of Waterloo, but that reaction quickly subsided once I started to peck away. Notice those chrome-like bands in between the row of keys? They suck. The height of said bands are almost the same height as the keys themselves, leaving you little to no feedback when typing. If I closed my eyes and tried to type I have no idea what my fingers are tapping on. There’s no separation between the keys like the Curve 8900 and they feel like the Bold’s keyboard, but they’re squished together with very little distinction. It’s a shame, really.

The trackball is recessed a tad more than the Curve 8900, but its not burrowing into the device, so that’s a plus.

Call quality is what you’d expect from a BlackBerry device: great. A hint of background noise can be heard from whomever you’re speaking with, but it’s tolerable and barely noticeable. I managed to squeak out over six hours of talk time, which is pretty good for any device. Verizon does boast the largest 3G network in the country. Calls over Bluetooth were just as good.

RIM has nailed down the screens as of late but the Tour’s screen, while bright and gorgeous, is uber sensitive to the slightest amount of finger-on-screen action. But it’s no more sensitive than the Curve 8900, which I also noted had a sensitive screen. I worry about my keys easily puncturing the screen. You may want to invest in a screen protector of some sort just in case.

Equipped with the same 3.2-megapixel auto-focusing camera as the Curve 8900, the Tour differs from that model with the shutter sound. It’s more DSLR-like whereas the Curve 8900’s shutter sounds like a point-and-shoot. Picture quality is what you’ve come to expect: it’s not great, but it’s far from terrible.

Like the Storm and past 8800 series devices, the Tour is also a world phone. That means it comes equipped with a Verizon/Vodafone branded SIM card. Buyer beware: the Tour has no Wi-Fi so it can’t roam from wireless network to wireless network like T-Mobile BlackBerrys. You’ll have a hefty bill when you get back from your trip overseas. You can, however, get it unlocked after your initial 60 days with the Tour on Verizon.

The web browser still sucks. But you already knew that.

Video playback is simple and the high-res screen is impeccable as it is on the Curve 8900. You can download music tracks via V Cast and Rhapsody if that’s your thing. With a straight out of the box Tour there’s roughly 115MB of onboard storage but it accepts up to a 16GB microSD card and comes with a 2GB to get things going.

As a long time BlackBerry user I can tell you that there’s very little difference between the 4.6 OS and 4.7 OS. BlackBerry Messenger looks a little better with updated emoticons but little else.

And yes the GPS is ‘unlocked’ as Verizon has been notorious for locking customers into using VZ Navigator. You can download Google Maps and be on your merry way.

Conclusion

Shortcomings aside, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is the best smartphone available on the Verizon Wireless network. However, as I pointed out earlier, the keyboard is a bit janky. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 is available now from Verizon Wireless for $200 with or without the camera.

Tour 9630

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 3:42 pm

Recently on Offworld: rapid prototyping time lapse, Experimental Gameplay Wii-bound, headbanging for love

Recently on Offworld, Crayon Physics creator Petri Purho showed us a fantastic time lapse video of what it looks like to rapid prototype a game in seven days (including Team Fortress breaks), watched the latest footage of the multi-part harmonizing in Rock Band: Beatles with newly confirmed tracks, and saw Sega announce a new Wii Fit Balance Board enabled Super Monkey Ball.

We also watched Namco's bizarre puppet show video for PS3 collection Katamari Forever, and saw Katamari's Prince -- as well as the PS3's PixelJunk series -- coming to Sony's Home virtual space (above), and found an unofficially fashionable Tetris T-shirt.

Finally, we saw the World of Goo and Henry Hatsworth devs behind Experimental Gameplay Project collaborating on a new WiiWare game, and our 'one shot's for the day: soft-shaded 3D pixelcrafter Dotter Dotter does more Super Mario, and Die Gute Fabrik tease a game where a couple, by "synchronising their headbanging, reach new planes of heavy metal love."

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 3:31 pm

Modular Snake Robot

If you've ever thought to yourself, gosh, I wish I had a modular snake robot with which to inspect these pipe joints I've just welded, well -- you're gonna love this video. Modular Snake Robot: Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute. This robot also has him a website. (Thanks, Katrina Corley)

Previously:

• The snakebots are coming

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 3:22 pm

BlackBerry Thunder appears in VZW’s system

Everyone, even your mom probably, knows that there is a new BlackBerry Storm coming soon from Verizon. It’s only a matter of time before RIM or VZW announces the updated 9550. CrackBerry just got a screenshot showing a curiously unannounced BlackBerry Thunder. Could this be the next Storm?

A new name would make since as the Storm namesake doesn’t exactly have a good reputation and RIM has been known to switch up names before the launch. The 9630 Tour was once called the Niagara. We’ll just have to wait and see when either RIM or Verizon finally announces the phone.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pm

Winter Heat Threatens Calif. Fruit, Nut Crops

Fruit and nut crops in California are in danger of collapse as winters warm.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 2:35 pm

Fujifilm Real3D Cam To Release in September

Gosh, it seems like it was only yesterday that I wondered outloud when we'd have Fujifilm's long-awaited, Real3D camera in our hands. A few weeks ago, we wrote that it'd be out in 2010. Well, we were wrong.

The point and shoot will be available here and in the U.S. come September 2009. While a price for the U.S. hasn't been confirmed, according to the Telegragh, the dual-lenser will likely retail for about £570 in the UK, so you know, do the math... OK, I'll tell you: That's ~$935, which is $300 more than Time's estimate. Ooof!

As we've explained previously, the camera uses two lenses to capture images that are combined to display either on one composite 3-D pic (below) or via a special 8-inch digi picture frame.

More details at Fujifilm, provided you read Japanese.

Or in Americanese at DPReview [link via Gizmodo].

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 2:31 pm

NAVIGON releases subscription free iPhone GPS navigation

Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation

When Apple showed off it’s iPhone 3.0 software at WWDC, one of the more interesting presentations came from TomTom with their GPS app.  It was finally a an iPhone app that actually replaced another expensive gadget.  The TomTom app has yet to debut, and so far the GPS apps we have seen require a monthly subscription, which seems a bit overkill.  That is until now, at least, with the first major GPS navigation company releasing their app, free of monthly subscription.

The first major GPS app comes from NAVIGON, a Germany-based company, whose European app has been available since June 18.  Today it’s North American app (which includes USA and Canada, sorry Mexico) has been approved and pushed to the App Store.  One o the first major draws of the NAVIGON app is that all of it’s maps are included in the original 1.29 GB download, so there’s no having to wait for AT&T’s 3G network to download the maps you need.  It also features standard iPhone features, like the option for the traditional landscape view or “photo-realistic” 3D portrait view, multi-touch zoom pinching, and uninterrupted use after a phone call is made.

As the first major GPS navigation app in the App Store NAVIGON’s MobileNavigator looks to be as good as any other choice.  The iPhone seems like a great idea for these kind of apps, being able to set the destination as one that of one of your contacts seems like a no-brainer.  There’s also less chance of your car getting broken into to take it, since chances are you wouldn’t be leaving your iPhone 3G or 3GS in your car for any extended period of time.  At the introduction price of $69.99 (going up to $99.99 after August 15) it’s far from an impulse buy, but if you’re in the market for a new GPS unit, and already have an iPhone it might just be worth it.  Now if only there was a nifty way of attaching your iPhone to the dashboard to charge it like any other GPS unit.

Read [NAVIGON]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 2:29 pm

Spy shot reveals Motorola Morrison: Android for the masses?

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

According to a leaked road map from T-Mobile, this is the Motorola Morrison.  The once unstoppable Motorola is working its way back into the phone fight with this new device running Google’s Android.  The slide out keyboard suggests teens are going to love it, but will anyone else?

This spy shot shows a couple of new things: the colors are muted to a black and blue, three buttons and a touch screen will help you navigate this phone.  Earlier spy shots showed a blue and white phone that was too loud a mix to get excited about. 

Presumably, this is just one of the many new Android-based phones headed out of Motorola this year.  So far, they look good.  Let’s hope Motorola stays in gear.

The leaked roadmap says the T-Mobile phone will be here before the holidays.  No pricing yet, but I’d expect this one to be very affordable.

Source: [Phandroid]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 1:19 pm

Bye Bye Black Sheep: Warming Dooms Dark Wool

The numbers of black sheep are dwindling thanks to climate change.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 1:12 pm

Tin Can Lids Turn Trash into Treasure

Some concept designs are worth a look because they solve a problem at both a practical and and intellectual level. And some are ridiculously frustrating, simple, gorgeous product ideas which we would buy today if we could. Jack Bresnahan’s Tin Can Lids manage to be both.

The set of nine lids all snap onto the top of an old, used tin-can, itself rather a beautiful object with its shiny metal ribs. There’s a toothbrush holder, a soap dispenser, tea and coffee jar lids and a sugar dispenser, and a less useful pen-holder (you don’t really need a lid to do that).

This is the kind of thing that should be in every dime store, although by the time it gets there it’ll probably be available in a range of gaudy shades instead of the minimalist white we see here. On the other hand, you could stick the set in a fancy box and sell them in an upscale department store for $50. I’d buy them either way.

Tin Can Lids by Jack Bresnahan [Dezeen]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 1:05 pm

MoGo Talk integrated folding Bluetooth headset line expands to BlackBerry models, we’re giving 50 away

If you watched in agony as the very-cool MoGo Talk Bluetooth iPhone headset was announced and given away here on CrunchGear while your BlackBerry sat idly on your desk, take heart. The BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Javelin versions are coming and we're giving 50 of the Curve models away.

Source: MobileCrunch | 22 Jul 2009 | 12:52 pm

Gadget Lab Fixie Project Update: Things Are Going Slowly, But They Are Going

One thing that we learned right off when we decided to build a Gadget Lab fixed-gear bike was that our readers are awesome. 95 comments and counting and most of them are full of very helpful, practical advice. We say most. Here’s one that wasn’t: “Loser!” Thanks, Matt.

The advice boiled down to this:

Frame

Something with horizontal dropouts (or track-ends). Drop-out are where the wheel bolts to the frame, and as the chain on a fixed is not tensioned by a derailleur, you need to be able to adjust it horizontally.

Second was that, if using a road bike built for gears, you need to use spacers to make sure the back and front chainrings line up perfectly.

Crank, Chain-Ring, Wheels

You said not to worry about ratios, and to just use the crank that comes with the bike. Likewise the front wheel, which, on a found or cheap second-hand bike, should be fine. The back wheel needs to be strong enough to handle the extra strain of braking with the feet and chain, and also needs a fixed chain-ring. Use of superglue and a normal free-wheel was definitely not recommended.

Brakes

One on the front, at least.

There was a lot more in there, and you should go back and read the comments on the original post for those, but this list gives the gist of all the great advice.

So why has it taken so long? A lack of donor bikes. Although Barcelona, Spain is full of cyclists and second-hand bikes, almost none of them seem to be track or road bikes. At least not the ones for sale. After lots of searching, I picked up a cheap, and crappy, ready-made fixed, which you saw in yesterday’s post on making a saddlebag. It looks awesome, but the 24-spoke wheels, the heavy hi-ten steel frame and seemingly tin-foil pedals (already replaced) don’t make for the safest bike.

But it’s fun. Amazing fun, and the upright, semi-track geometry and fairly easy gear-ratio it comes with means shooting around town is a blast. But bit by bit things started to go wrong with this cheap bike. The spokes kept coming loose, the brakes don’t really toe-in properly, and the chains are knows to be rather fragile.

In an effort to stop sweaty, chafed buttocks, I grabbed a new Brooks saddle a few weeks ago, like the old one I have on my other bike. And then I thought, why not just upgrade bit by bit until the right frame comes along? The frame of my dreams. The frame I am meant to spend the rest of my life with?

The wheels are the most obviously poor part. The frame, although heavy, is built like a tank (it’s also “wasabe” green and looks lovely). I ordered a pair of Velocity Deep V wheels from Espai Bici, a local bike shop, and they were ready today, strung taut with spokes and a couple of BLB (Brick Lane Bikes) hubs. The front wheel is machined to work with a brake, and the new chain (pink) is designed for a BMX and should be almost unbreakable. The rear chainring has 16 teeth, if you’re counting, the same as the one it replaces, and the front, following your advice of not bothering about ratios, remains uncounted.

These parts will go onto the bike this afternoon, and I’ll post some pics and first impressions tomorrow. The search for a donor frame will continue. And if there are any fixed-gear riders in Barcelona, get in touch.

See Also:

• The Great Gadget Lab Fixie Project: Help Us Build a Better Bike …
• Bianchi to Launch Retro-Styled Fixie in 2010
• Fixed-Gear Bikes an Urban Fixture
• Beer Meets Bike in Limited Edition Pabst Blue Ribbon Fixie …

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 22 Jul 2009 | 12:43 pm

BIG PIC: White Sand Dunes For Miles

Hundreds of miles of white sand dunes blanket the Chihuanhuan Desert.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 12:12 pm

Mystery Blob Leaves Scientists Puzzled

The appearance of an oily blob in Alaskan waters has raised a slew of questions.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 22 Jul 2009 | 12:09 pm

RunKeeper Works for Data-Obsessed Cyclists, Runners

RunKeeper, an iPhone app, provides a wealth of data for tracking runs and bike rides.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 22 Jul 2009 | 11:00 am

For better or worse, the Plastic Logic ebook reader will be tied to AT&T’s 3G network

Section: Gadgets / Other, Miscellaneous

Just yesterday we saw the announcement in regards to how the Plastic Logic ebook reader will be used with the Barnes and Noble Bookstore.  Of course, at the time there was still some key information that was not yet available—namely which service provider would be handling the connectivity.

Well, for good or bad, Plastic Logic has announced that AT&T has taken on that role.  So, yes, the Plastic Logic ebook reader along with the Barnes and Noble Bookstore are going to be powered by AT&T’s 3G network—think iPhone network.

“We’re extremely proud to be able to offer the Plastic Logic Reader with the nation’s fastest 3G network through AT&T. This alliance is a pillar in our strategy to provide mobile business professionals with a device that delivers a great reading experience, and is fully connected through 3G and Wi-Fi to deliver easy access to digital content,” said Richard Archuleta, CEO of Plastic Logic.

Additionally, the Plastic Logic ebook reader will also include Wi-Fi, however it has not yet been announced as to whether it will be able to take advantage of AT&T’s widespread hotspot network.  That said, it seems pretty logical that it will be granted access.  As for pricing and availability, unfortunately we are still waiting to hear more in terms of price, however the Plastic Logic Reader will begin shipping sometime in early 2010.

Read [Market Watch]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 22 Jul 2009 | 10:44 am

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