Source: Gizmodo | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:50 pm

Best Backup Server Option For University TV Station?

idk07002 writes 'I have been tasked with building an offsite backup server for my university's television station to back up our Final Cut Pro Server and our in-office file server (a Drobo), in case the studio spontaneously combusts. Total capacity between these two systems is ~12TB. Not at all full yet, but we would like the system to have the same capacity so that we can get maximum life out of it. It looks like it would be possible to get rack space somewhere on campus with Gigabit Ethernet and possibly fiber coming into our office. Would a Linux box with rsync work? What is the sweet spot between value and longevity? What solution would you use?'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Gizmodo | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:30 pm

Google Docs 'widely used' at 1-in-5 workplaces, reports survey - Computerworld

PC World

Google Docs 'widely used' at 1-in-5 workplaces, reports survey Computerworld The study's main finding is that about 1-in-5 companies reported that Google Docs is "widely used" in their workplace, however possibly as a compliment to Microsoft Office. IDC's survey of 262 people, a significant number of whom ... US Government Adopts Cloud Computing Through Apps.govITProPortal Feds' Heads in the Clouds -- FinallyPC World The good and bad of government in the cloudV3.co.uk CNET News -InformationWeek -PC Magazine all 234 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:26 pm

State of the Art Tuning In a Zippier Zune - New York Times

PC World

State of the Art Tuning In a Zippier Zune New York Times Over the years, mention of the word “Microsoft” has set off a variety of emotions. Some consider how Microsoft achieved its success, and feel anger. Some consider how Microsoft borrows other companies' ideas, and feel indignation. ... Microsoft Zune Still Playing Catch-UpPC World Are "other touch-screen Zune players" on the horizon?Ars Technica Zune HD Draws Mixed ReviewsInformationWeek Boston Globe -Gamasutra -Chicago Sun-Times all 430 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:13 pm

Correction: Jedi Mind, Inc. to Participate in Opening Bell Ceremony at NASDAQ Marketplace - Not Ring Bell

CARDIFF, Calif., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jedi Mind, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:00 pm

Mobile contacts backup solution IDrive Lite gets an upgrade

IDrive Lite is easily one of my favorite iPhone applications. It backs up my contacts to the cloud so I don't have to worry about losing that vital information were I to lose the device or accidentally drop it into a river (don't ask), it works like a charm and it's absolutely free. And today the company behind the app, Pro Softnet Corporation, made the tool even more useful. IDrive Lite for iPhone and Blackberry (links go to respective app stores) got upgraded with a number of reliability and performance fixes, and now allows you to restore contacts that you saved to a different device.

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:13 pm

IDrive Lite, A Contacts Backup App For iPhone And BlackBerry, Gets Even Better

IDrive Lite is easily one of my favorite iPhone applications.

It backs up my contacts to the cloud so I don’t have to worry about losing that vital information were I to lose the device or accidentally drop it into a river (don’t ask), it works like a charm and it’s absolutely free. And today the company behind the app, Pro Softnet Corporation, made the tool even more useful.

IDrive Lite for iPhone and Blackberry (links go to respective app stores) got upgraded with a number of reliability and performance fixes, and now allows you to restore contacts that you saved to a different device.

That means you can now backup your contacts from your BlackBerry and switch to the iPhone – or vice versa – and still be able to restore all the contact details you saved using the tool. The same goes for when you’re sticking with the same brand but switching from an earlier version to a newer model.

If you’d like to view and manage your contacts database online, you can head to idrivelite.com and log in with your IDrive account. The dashboard allows you to add, edit or delete contact information, import contacts from Facebook and view logs of the activities performed from the app and/or the website.

I’ll repeat it again: the mobile application is totally free.

For an alternative solution, check out My.Memova.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:10 pm

Apple's iTunes 9 Makes it Easier to Share, Organize [Personal Technology]

Apple’s iTunes program is one of the most popular software products in the world. The company says hundreds of millions of copies of iTunes have been downloaded, far exceeding the 220 million iPod music players it has sold. That’s because many people use iTunes to organize, play and buy music and videos on their computers, or to burn music CDs, even if they don’t own iPods or iPhones. Ironically, the vast majority of iTunes copies are on Windows PCs, not Apple’s own Macintosh computers, because Windows machines are much more numerous.

Last week, Apple released its ninth major version of iTunes — which first came out in January, 2001, before the iPod even existed — and I’ve been testing it. This release is the biggest overhaul of the familiar program in recent years, with improvements in the look and functionality of each of the software’s three main portions: the media jukebox, the built-in store and the synchronization features that move media and applications to and from iPods and iPhones.

In my tests, performed on multiple Windows PCs and Macs, iTunes 9 worked as advertised, and I found it to be less cluttered, more intelligent and easier to use than the prior version. It synced music and videos properly for me using both an iPod Nano and an iPhone. It’s available as a free download at apple.com/itunes.

To me, the two biggest new features in iTunes 9 are something called Home Sharing and a new, easier way to organize the apps on an iPhone or iPod Touch.

For years, iTunes users have been able to wirelessly stream music from nearby computers running iTunes whose owners chose to share their music. But Home Sharing takes this one step further, allowing users to actually copy the song files from one computer to another.

Right inside iTunes, you can simply peer into the shared library on another computer set up to allow this, and then select the song you want and drag it into your own library. It doesn’t delete the original from the other computer.

In my tests, this worked perfectly with music, as well as TV shows, movies and audiobooks, and it worked between any combination of my PCs and Macs. You can even configure Home Sharing to automatically transfer to your library new media purchased on another shared computer.

But Home Sharing has limitations. It only works with a maximum of five computers. These computers must be on the same local network, not connected over the Internet. And they must be the same computers authorized to play copy-protected media you buy from Apple.

With 75,000 apps available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it has been easy to download so many that your device becomes cluttered, with numerous icons scattered among numerous screens in a manner that isn’t optimal. There’s a way to move them around, or delete them, right on the device, but it’s clumsy, partly because you can’t see all the screens at once, and partly because it’s difficult to move an icon from a location on one screen to another location several screens away.

Now, in the new iTunes 9, when you plug in your device, the software displays an exact visual representation of your iPhone or Touch screens right on your computer, and allows you to rearrange them with your mouse. When you disconnect, the new arrangement is retained on the phone. It worked fine for me.

In iTunes 9, you also can create up to 12 automated “Genius Mixes” from your personal music library — essentially personal radio stations consisting of songs iTunes considers to be related, that play on and on. I enjoyed this feature, and found it generally made good choices.

There are also a number of small visual improvements throughout the program. In the jukebox, for instance, you can now locate all songs by a particular artist using a Column Browser — an optional left-hand column that lists the artists.

In the store, categories like music, movies and TV shows are now arrayed across the top, with drop-down menus for genres. The store also is generally better organized, with richer graphics, more white space and easier navigation.

A small touch of social networking, not exactly Apple’s historic strength, has been added to iTunes. From inside the store, you can post a link to a favorite title to either Facebook or Twitter, though this of course serves Apple by encouraging others to buy the title.

You can now buy special albums, called “iTunes LPs,” that attempt to replicate the experience of old vinyl albums by including lots of extra material. For instance, for one such title by the Doors, iTunes delivered to me liner notes, digital scans of old posters and set lists, plus photos and video interviews. Another, called Mayhem, by the singer/actor Tyrese Gibson, includes just one song, but also a vivid digital comic book with voiced dialogue.

However, these iTunes LPs take up a lot of space on your hard disk — about half a gigabyte each for the ones I tried.

Overall, iTunes 9 is a nice improvement on a much-used program.

Find all of 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 | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:04 pm

BELL DATA Selects Exar to Power BridgeSTOR Storage Appliance

FREMONT, Calif. and TOKYO, Sept.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:00 pm

Microsoft Announces Next-Generation Financial Messaging Solution to Simplify Payments Processing and Integration to SWIFTNet

HONG KONG, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the Financial Messaging Service Bus, a componentized financial services industry integration solution built upon the highly acclaimed Microsoft BizTalk Server 2009.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:00 pm

Skype sale hits hurdle as founders file copyright suit (AFP)

AFP - EBay's bid to sell Skype hit a potential hurdle as the founders of the Web communications company filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:58 pm

Skype founders file lawsuit against eBay (AP)

AP - A company owned by the founders of Skype has filed a copyright infringement suit against the Internet phone service and parent eBay Inc. — an action that could crimp eBay's plans to sell Skype for about $2 billion to a group of private investors.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:58 pm

Japanese company sells carports with solar panel roofs

Solar energy is being used in a number of applications already, but carports are something new. Japan-based Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium has begun selling carports [JP] with solar power generation systems installed on their tops. The main idea is to attract both customers who aren’t able to install solar panels in their homes and those who need to boost the amount of solar energy in their houses.

The so-called M.Shade carports can accommodate two cars maximum and come with extra-strong pillars that support the weight of the solar panels on top of them. Home owners get total of twelve solar panels (5.6×5.4m) that provide 2,235kW per year. Sankyo says this is enough to cover about 50% of what a typical household needs on a yearly basis.

The M.Shade sounds definitely like a good idea but comes at a pretty high price ($40,000 excluding installation costs). Sankyo does sell products internationally but hasn’t said anything yet about bringing its green carport to markets outside Japan.

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:41 pm

Gene Therapy Cures Color-Blind Monkeys

SpuriousLogic writes "After receiving injections of genes that produce color-detecting proteins, two color-blind monkeys have seen red and green for the first time. Except in its extreme forms, color blindness isn't a debilitating condition, but it's a convenient stand-in for other types of blindness that might be treated with gene therapy. The monkey success raises the possibility of reversing those diseases, in a manner that most scientists considered impossible. 'We said it was possible to give an adult monkey with a model of human red-green color blindness the retina of a person with normal color vision. Every single person I talked to said, absolutely not,' said study co-author Jay Neitz, a University of Washington ophthalmologist. 'And almost every unsolved vision defect out there has this component in one way or another, where the ability to translate light into a gene signal is involved.' The full-spectrum supplementation of the squirrel monkeys' sight, described Wednesday in Nature, comes just less than a year after researchers used gene therapy to restore light perception in people afflicted by Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a rare and untreatable form of blindness."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:22 pm

Rich Seattle suburbs install ubiquitous surveillance cameras, cops follow all "suspicious" vehicles

Jennie sez, "Two Seattle suburbs (of the super affluent persuasion) are monitoring and recording every vehicle that enter their town limits. If you happen to have had a past criminal infraction, you will be followed by police. Creepy and overzealous! By the way, residents of these towns are so community oriented that they also refuse to pay property tax to support their local county library system. But don't worry, they're 'not elitist at all,' according to a local council member."

In Medina, a new sign bears this warning: "You Are Entering a 24 Hour Video Surveillance Area..."

Medina -- a city of 3,100 with an average household income of $222,000 -- had discussed the idea for years as a way to discourage crime, city officials said.

Last year, there were 11 burglaries, Chen said.

"Some people think [that number of burglaries] is tolerable," he said. "But even one crime is intolerable."

Medina City Councilmember Lucius Biglow said crime prevention "outweighs concern over privacy."

"Privacy is considerably less nowadays than it was, say, 50 years ago," he said. "I think most of us are pretty well-documented by the federal government ... simply because of the Internet and credit cards."

Cameras keep track of all cars entering Medina (Thanks, Jennie!)

(Image: MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:11 pm

Jupiter's Magnetic Moon Generates Spectacular Light Show

Scientists discover that the auroral light shows on Jupiter are caused in part by magnetic forces radiating from its largest moon, Ganymede. Slight variations in the aurora's brightness give clues to how Ganymede is interacting with its mother planet.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:01 pm

5 Apps Tap the Internet's Infinite Playlist

It used to be you needed a ginormous hard drive to build and store your digital music collection. But now that most songs exist somewhere in the cloud—on YouTube, one-stop streaming sites like imeem, or blog aggregators like Hype Machine—services have emerged that help you squeeze the Internet for any track you need. Wherever music lives, you can now play, collect, and share it without downloading any audio files. None of these sites is pitch-perfect, and their fidelity isn't as high as your meticulously encoded lossless library. But in these lean times, free jams are sounding better by the minute.

5 Sites That Tap the Music in the Cloud

Fizy
This Turkish site compiles audio from around the Net into a database from which you can curate your own playlists. It's fast as blazes (for now, anyway) and boasts a fat catalog.
Wired Simple profile pages facilitate playlist-sharing. Reports recently played songs to FriendFeed, RSS, or just your profile. Shuffle function.
Tired Bare-bones user profiles limit social utility.

Muziic
Developed by high schooler David Nelson with help from his dad, this upstart accesses the songs on YouTube via an iTunes-like interface.
Wired Makes the music on YouTube feel local. Sharing feature helps you add your own MP3s to the cloud.
Tired Requires Windows XP or Vista. Seizure-inducing design. Catalog limited to what's on YouTube. Special software installation necessary.

Songza
Songza wraps the music of imeem and YouTube in a sweet, simple Web interface, the work of Scott Robbin and Aza Raskin—whose father, Jef Raskin, sired the Apple Macintosh.
Wired With a click, Play, Share, Rate, and Add to Playlist tools unfold like a clover. Can use services other than imeem and YouTube. Playlist appears on profile page and RSS feed.
Tired Only one playlist per user.

Spotify
A P2P streaming architecture lets users in supported countries create collections from a massive in-house music archive.
Wired Fast, free playback through an efficient interface that rivals iTunes. Smooth, robust streaming. Live tech support. $14 per month removes ads.
Tired Currently restricted to Europe (a US rollout is being negotiated). Requires software installation.

Twones
Prefer to use iTunes or other downloadable software for your local playback? Twones has you covered. It also tracks your activity on multiple online services and offline players through a single Web interface.
Wired Small-fry sites can sign up to be included in the search, theoretically giving you access to a wider variety of tracks.
Tired Limited playback on the site itself.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:00 pm

Zune Guy Considers a New Tattoo

If Microsoft’s new Zune HD can win this guy’s heart back, it might have a chance after all.

Steven Smith got known as the “Zune Tattoo Guy” for getting the logo of Microsoft’s music player inked on his shoulder. In fact, he didn’t stop there: Smith, aka “MSZuneFan,” got two other Zune-related tattoos, one showing the Microsoft catchphrase “Welcome to the Social” and another showing the Zune “Share Bunny.” He even considered changing his name to “Microsoft Zune.”

But after being disappointed with the quality of the second-generation 80GB and 120GB Zunes, Smith recanted, saying he was going to get his tattoo removed or covered up.

Now Microsoft has a new media player, the Zune HD, and Smith is cautiously optimistic about renewing his affections.

“All three tattoos were done in love of the Zune and I was never promised anything before getting any of the tattoos,” says Smith.

“The Zune HD seems to have the all the features I am looking for and might end up replacing my iPod Touch,” says Smith. “The Zune 80 and 120 felt like cheap plastic toys to me and so I would like to play with a Zune HD prior to making a purchase. I have read great reviews on it and it seems that Microsoft has learned and fixed a lot of their errors with the original Zunes. ”

He’s holding off for one more key feature, however: Xbox 360 integration.

“The one main thing that still hasn’t happened yet though is the integration with the Xbox 360. That needs to happen, on that day I very well could get a new Zune tattoo and become a fan once more.”

When he fell out with Microsoft, Smith didn’t get his Zune logo removed: Instead, he covered it up with a tattoo portraying Dick Cheney as a devil (right).

Meanwhile, Smith’s other two Zune logos remain, awaiting the day when Microsoft wins back his trust.

Photos courtesy Steven Smith

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:35 pm

Creeps tear down hundreds of handsome posters for African gay/lesbian film fest

Organizers of the "Out In Africa" gay and lesbian film festival in South Africa are seriously pissed: some homophobic jerks tore down all the posters for the fest, some 700 of 'em attached to poles and lamp-posts about town. There are two reasons this is upsetting: one, it is a clear message of intimidation and intolerance. Two: nobody should desecrate good graphic design, and these posters are really nice.

An outraged Out in Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival director Nodi Murphy has lodged a complaint with police. "Some stupid twits with more time on their hands than brains trashed our gorgeous posters. And for what?"

Our gorgeous posters have been trashed (Out In Africa, via Kalaya'an Mendoza)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:29 pm

Monkeys Cured of Color Blindness

Gene therapy can allow colorblind squirrel monkeys to see in full color.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:15 pm

Transforming Waste Plastic Into $10/Barrel Fuel

Mike writes "Today Washington DC-based company Envion opened a $5 million dollar facility that they claim will be able to efficiently transform plastic waste into a source of oil-like fuel. The technology uses infra-red energy to remove hydrocarbons from plastic without the use of a catalyst, transforming 82% of the original plastic material into fuel. According to Envion, the resulting fuel can then be blended with other components, providing a source for gasoline or diesel at as low as $10 per barrel."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:15 pm

AMD introduces $99 quad-core CPU

Section: Computers, Desktops, Hardware

With Windows 7 quickly approaching next month, now is the best time for new product announcements to coincide with the OS release.  Usually that would mean new desktops, laptops, and this time around, netbooks.  AMD is taking a different angle, however, and is going after those who build their own PCs.  What better way to do that than to put out a new CPU that’s cheaper than anything Intel is currently offering.

The new CPU, the AMD Athlon II X4, is the first quad-core chip to be introduced at a price of $99.  The chip is $50 less than the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, which should make it at least a bit more viable.  The Athlon II X4 may not be the fastest CPU available, AMD’s previous Phenom II X3 (with 3 cores) will more often be the faster chip, though it does cost $20 more.

It’s interesting that AMD would go after the desktop PC crowd with it’s new chip.  Laptops and netbooks seem to be the main segments of the PC market as of late.  Though it is true that desktops tend to be cheaper than laptops, and even cheaper when you build them yourself.  This market might be a good place to start to gain back some market, or even mind share in the industry.  Sure, when building an ultimate gaming machine the AMD Athlon II X4 simply doesn’t stack up to the Core i7, but for those looking to build cheaper desktops to run Windows 7, it’s certainly a good choice.  Even if it doesn’t turn out too well for AMD, or you really want Intel chips, it might convince Intel to put out a cheaper quad-core chip, or just go the current Apple route and keep the current models when they debut the next generation, but knock the price down to compete better.

Read [Cnet News]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:11 pm

Samsung Instinct HD coming to Sprint September 27

Sprint may not be the number one mobile carrier, but it sure does seem to be picking up the slack in the handset department recently. The Now Network is expected to get yet another new mobile in the form of the Samsung Instinct HD.

Looks like the rumor we noted back in August about a September launch window was correct. According to a “trusted” PhoneDog source, the Samsung Instinct HD should be arriving on Sprint’s shelves on September 27 and is expected to retail for something between $99 and $149.

Here’s the rest of the “leaked” info:

Short Description of Product:

The Samsung Instinct HD is the premium follow up to the award-winning, record-selling Samsung Instinct. The Samsung Instinct HD is designed for people who want a stylish and cutting edge touchscreen phone with enhanced multimedia features, accelerometer and a 5MP camera with Hi-Res viewing and TV out capability.

Full Description of Product:

The Samsung Instinct® HD is the fastest, most advanced model designed in the Instinct portfolio of Samsung touchscreen phones. The Instinct HD includes an accelerometer that syncs to the user’s movements to create an intuitive experience that engages the senses in an extraordinary way. The Instinct HD is equipped with a 5.0 megapixel camera to deliver razor-sharp clarity for pictures and video. The Instinct HD also possesses WiFi capabilities for fast Web and content access, no matter where the device is being used. With incredible multimedia and browsing performance, the new Instinct HD lets users watch movies, play games, surf the net, check out social networking sites, upload and download content, record and play videos in Hi-Res, and much more — even faster than before. The large 3.2″ HGVA display with accelerometer and improved web browser gives you a great PC-like experience so your favorite sites look and load just like they would at home. It also has WiFi and comes with a 5MP camera with TV out capability, so you enjoy viewing your photos and videos right on your home TV. This fully loaded, premium touch screen takes you to the cutting edge of technology.

Please describe what differentiates your product/service from competing products/services:

* Full Touchscreen with Accelerometer
* Record & Play Videos in Hi-Res
* PC-like Web experience
* WiFi Capable with 3.2″ sharp and clear display
* 5.0MP Camera & Camcorder with TV out

When was product launched? If not currently on the market, when is product launch date?:

9/26/2009

Is the product currently on the market?

No

If no, when will it be available?

9/27/2009

Where can the product be purchased?

Sprint retail stores, Sprint.com, select wireless

What is the product’s price range?

$99-$149

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:03 pm

Pentax K-x leaked: 12.4 megapixels, HDR mode, 720p video at 24FPS

I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this soon, but it looks like someone ate Pentax’s cake today by releasing some details about the upcoming K-x camera, an entry-level DSLR with HD video capability. There are a couple pics and all the vital statistics, but no samples of video or anything like that.

Here’s Pentax’s summary (there’s more at PhotoRumors):

• High resolution 12.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor features sensor-shift Shake Reduction for stabilized image and video capture up to 4 stops max.
• Large 2.7 inch LCD features Live View with contrast, phase difference, and Face Detection autofocus (up to 16 faces).
• Capture widescreen HD video in full 720p resolution (1280×720) at 24 FPS cinematic framerate, using any PENTAX 35mm lens.
• Highly compact DSLR body design allows for 1 handed operation and comfort when travelling.
• Powerful automatic modes, including PENTAX Auto Picture and scene modes, ensure the perfect shot in any situation, while helping new photographers learn DSLR photography.
• Creative processing and filter modes produce high quality finished images, while offering the ability to explore artistic freedom through unique special effects.
• True HDR image capture blends 3 bracketed images into a single picture with outstanding shadow, highlight, and midrange detail.
• Fast 4.7 FPS capture speed and 1/6000 second maximum shutter speeds are possible with the PENTAX PRIME II image processing engine.
• Responsive 11 point wide angle SAFOX VIII autofocus system focuses quickly and accurately, and can easily track moving subjects.
• Capture up to 1900 shots with universally available, easy-to-find AA lithium batteries (also compatible with AA NiMH rechargeable and alkaline batteries).
• Expanded ISO range covers sensitivities from 100-12800 for extreme low light photography.

AA batteries? Really? Well aside from that it looks pretty cool. The HDR mode may be useful or it may be terrible, there’s no way to tell for sure. I’ll be testing out a Fujifilm camera with a similar type of mode, so maybe we can have a showdown.

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:00 pm

Twitter Goes for Broke, if Broke Means "A Lot of Money": New Funding Round at $1 Billion Valuation [MediaMemo]

Is Twitter a billion-dollar company? It is now, according to its investors. People familiar with the company tell me it has raised around $50 million in a funding round that values the start-up, which has no real revenue to speak of, at about $1 billion.

TechCrunch, which first reported the funding, says CEO Evan Williams informed his employees about the new deal at a recent companywide meeting. I’m told the round is all but finished: “If the money isn’t in the bank yet, it will be soon,” a source tells me.

No word on who has invested in the company in this go-round, but it’s almost certain Twitter was able to entice new backers to join its existing investors: Silicon Valley logic dictates that each successive funding round should attract new money.

In February, Twitter raised approximately $35 million in a round led by Benchmark Capital and Institutional Venture Partners that valued it at $250 million.

And just to spell this out–Twitter’s new investors, along with older investors who have reupped, believe the company will ultimately be worth much more than $1 billion. In order to get a return on their money, they will expect it to hit $3 billion or more.

Feel free to debate the merits of Twitter’s growth prospects, and its chances of creating a real business out of all of those 140 character messages its users create.

But in retrospect, this funding round seems obvious: Twitter’s founders have insisted that they want to build the company on their own instead of selling it to the likes of a Google (GOOG) or Microsoft (MSFT), and they’ve already turned down Facebook. And if they weren’t going to sell, raising yet more money to give the company time and resources to build out a real business is the logical choice.

Here are Williams and co-founder Biz Stone talking to Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the D: All Things Digital conference in May. Discussion of the company’s future as a standalone business kicks in around the 31-minute mark.

Source: All Things Digital | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:00 pm

Put your Mac knowledge to the test (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - All work and no play makes for a dull Mac user. So when I need a few minutes decompression, I usually head over to Sporcle to while away the moments taking an online quiz or two.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:54 pm

Former Bebo CEO and AOL Top Exec Shields and Shine's Murdoch to Form Interactive Content Start-Up [BoomTown]

Former Bebo CEO Joanna Shields and Shine Group Chairman and CEO Elisabeth Murdoch have formed a content start-up to produce across media platforms, both online and offline, with a focus on social engagement, according to sources.

The new venture, which does not have a name, is being financially backed both by Shine and by Shields, who left AOL this summer after running its community and communications division.

Shields engineered the sale of social networking site Bebo to the Time Warner (TWX) online unit for $850 million in early 2008.

Sources said this new company, based in London, will invest, develop and partner to create a variety of content offerings that also incorporate interactive and social networking elements. It will also help the vast array of Shine content in interactive efforts.

Shields will be CEO of the start-up, which will operate under Shine, an independent and private television production company with programming in 24 countries.

In the U.S., for example, its Reveille unit is responsible for such shows as “Ugly Betty” and “The Biggest Loser.” (Both of which are BoomTown faves.)

Shine’s fast growth has been spearheaded by Murdoch, who is the daughter of News Corp. (NWS) head Rupert Murdoch.

But Elisabeth Murdoch has struck out on her own in forming Shine, which already has shown a strong interactive bent for a television company.

The combination of television and Web content is an arena that many are once again jumping into, aiming at creating branded interactive content, fueled by advertising.

Former NBC Universal exec Ben Silverman–who sold Reveille to Murdoch, in fact–has recently left his programming job at the television network to start a similar kind of company with longtime entertainment and Internet kingpin Barry Diller of IAC/InteractiveCorp (IACI).

And former ABC programming and Yahoo exec Lloyd Braun also runs a television and Internet production company with longtime Hollywood player Gail Berman, including recently creating the Wonderwall celebrity news site for Microsoft (MSFT).

In addition, Yahoo (YHOO) and a spate of small content start-ups, as well as big media companies, are all trying to figure out how to create and monetize content online in a multimedia effort that bridges all kinds of distribution vehicles and more deeply involves viewers.

Bebo was actually trying to do that too. Under Shields, it had been a pioneer in creating a variety of innovative online original content, including “KateModern” and “Sofia’s Diary.”

But new management at AOL, now headed by former Google (GOOG) exec Tim Armstrong, has sidelined Bebo to its new ventures division and is likely to try to sell it. Company execs at both Time Warner and AOL now say the purchase was a costly mistake.

That might be true, but it was clearly a financial coup for Shields–who has worked at both Google and RealNetworks (RNWK)–and Bebo investors.

And, given the track record of both Shields and Murdoch, it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Source: All Things Digital | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:53 pm

Why You Can’t Get a Good Phone With Verizon

Why does the U.S. carrier known for the best network have the worst smartphones?

Verizon gets plaudits for its coverage and call quality, but consistently loses out to AT&T, T-Mobile and even Sprint when it comes to getting the newest high-end handsets.

“They lack the star products that their competitors have,” says Avi Greengart, research director, consumer devices for Current Analysis. “They recognize they don’t have compelling devices right now but feel they can make up for it with network quality.”

Case in point: Last week when Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha proudly showed off the company’s much-talked about first Android phone, the Cliq, he had his arms rather awkwardly around T-Mobile executive Cole Brodman.

“We never considered another carrier for this phone,” Jha told Wired.com.

The Cliq, a coup for T-Mobile, reinforces the new pecking order among wireless carriers.  With the iPhone 3G and 3G S, AT&T is now at the top of the pack in its ability to attract new customers based willing to switch to the carrier’s network. Sprint and T-Mobile are trying to catch up: Sprint launched the Palm Pre on its network in June and plans to introduce the HTC Hero later this year. And T-Mobile has carved out a niche as an Android-specialist with last year’s launch of the first Android phone (the G1), the HTC myTouch earlier this year and now with the Moto Cliq.

As for Verizon? The company has the popular but critically panned BlackBerry Storm and the rather staid and Wi-Fi-less BlackBerry Tour. The carrier known for the best network now has the least attractive line up of smart phones.

It’s a puzzling situation for Verizon. The wireless carrier has had the most customers of any cellular operator in the country since its 2008 acquisition of Alltel, and it’s widely regarded as having the largest network coverage area. So the fact that it can’t offer its customers better smartphones is a bit of a mystery.

Verizon’s extremely conservative approach to new handsets, the company’s long and rigorous testing procedures and its emphasis on the network rather than the phone has created a portfolio that’s a complete buzz kill, say experts.

“Verizon doesn’t have too many options,” says Michael Mace, a former executive with Palm and Apple who runs a strategy and marketing consulting firm called Rubicon Consulting. “They can’t get the iPhone right now and they can’t take Nokia devices and start promoting them. All they can do all they can do is push the BlackBerry as hard as they can and hope for a new Motorola phone.” (Nokia largely makes GSM phones, which won’t work on Verizon’s CDMA network, though the Finnish phone manufacturer has created a select few devices to run on the Verizon network.)

Not surprisingly, Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney says the carrier would rather focus on its network than on the gadgets that use it.

“Keep in mind that for Verizon Wireless, it isn’t so much about the device as it is about the delivery,” she says. “We have the nation’s largest 3G network so when we offer devices on our network, customers can be assured that they will deliver as promised.”

It’s pretty clear that Verizon didn’t deliberately choose to be the boring-but-predictable, safe but unexciting choice. In some ways, it simply got overtaken by the technology.

Over the last two years, with the launch of the Apple iPhone, the smartphone business changed rapidly. There are conflicting reports on whether Apple ever offered the iPhone to Verizon; Verizon reportedly turned it down. But with AT&T as the official partner for Apple, the smartphone business took off in a new direction. With its extremely responsive touch screen, sleek, elegant interface, full PC-like browsing experience, the iPhone set a new standard. Customers flocked to AT&T, flooding (and sometimes overloading) its network. Along the way, they left a trail of broken contracts with other carriers.  In 2007, when Apple launched the iPhone, 25 percent of iPhone buyers had switched to AT&T from another carrier, according to an estimate from American Technology Research.

Meanwhile, as smaller handset makers scrambled to get competitive devices to market, they came up with some unexpectedly good alternatives — and Verizon lost out there, too. When Palm created the Palm Pre, a device that won praise for its compact hardware design and smart user interface, it offered the device to Sprint. Sprint had been a long-time partner of Palm, sticking with the company through years of increasingly lackluster Treos and the inexpensive but popular Centro, so it’s no surprise that Palm rewarded its partner’s loyalty.

Taiwanese phone maker HTC also grabbed center stage with the first Android phone, the G1. The G1 made its debut on T-Mobile’s network, largely because the carrier is more willing to take risks and experiment with new products than others.

Verizon may have been lulled into a false sense of security because of its relationship with BlackBerry maker Research In Motion. When RIM created its first touchscreen device, the Storm, it inked an exclusive deal with Verizon. Despite tepid reviews of the Storm, Verizon sold more than a million phones within weeks of its launch.

In June, Verizon, along with Sprint, offered the BlackBerry Tour, a Curve-like phone with QWERTY keyboard, 2.4-inch display, GPS and 3G. A well-designed device, the Tour failed to get smartphone enthusiasts excited because it lacked innovative and surprising new features.

Also, while Verizon had promised an ‘any apps, any device” open network program in 2007, it has reworked the idea to include just non-consumer devices such as routers, not consumer handsets. Instead, the company has focused on creating an app store for developers.

Meanwhile, it is trying to win customers through some extremely competitive pricing. Consider the HTC Touch Pro 2 phone, a smartphone running the Windows Mobile operating system and targeted at business users.  The device is available after a rebate and on contract with Sprint and T-Mobile for $350. On Verizon it costs $200. Verizon has also been running a ‘buy one get one free’ promotion for its BlackBerry phones.

“Most of Verizon’s current line up is below $100,” says Greengart. “If you go back a year this was not the case. Lately, Verizon has been very aggressive when it comes to pricing.”

Verizon isn’t willing to concede it may have lost ground to other carriers when it comes to attracting the newest phones. “We have a very robust portfolio of smartphones and will continue to add more in coming months,” says Raney. “We were the first to bring the BlackBerry Storm to market and just recently introduced the HTC Touch Pro 2.”

Though the company won’t talk about the devices it has planned for later this year, it is sure to introduce a successor to the BlackBerry Storm, a touchscreen phone dubbed the Storm 2. Industry watchers also expect Verizon to bag an upcoming Motorola device for its network. “We feel we will remain competitive,” says Raney.

But counting on a new BlackBerry device here or a Motorola phone there may not be enough for Verizon. The company will have to take a different road if it wants to get ahead, says Mace.

Verizon could work on offering attractive non-phone devices that connect to the network such as netbooks and tablets, he says.

“That market is not as developed as smartphones but it would be an interesting opportunity,” he says. “It will be logical place for them to go.”

See Also:

• Verizon Mifi: Personal Wi-Fi Coming this Month
• Verizon Drafts Developers Into Mobile Software War on Apple …
• Verizon Leads, AT&T Runs Last in Wired.com’s 3G Speed Test …
• Verizon Confirms Palm Pre, New Android Handset
• Sprint, Verizon to Include Wi-Fi in all Future Phones

Photo: (Phu Son/Flickr)

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:50 pm

Why You Can't Get a Good Phone With Verizon

Despite being the wireless carrier that wins raves for its network, Verizon's smartphone lineup stinks. Here's why the carrier is losing out to its rivals when it comes to attracting the most-talked about phones today.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:50 pm

Why You Can't Get a Good Phone With Verizon

Despite being the wireless carrier that wins raves for its network, Verizon's smartphone lineup stinks. Here's why the carrier is losing out to its rivals when it comes to attracting the most-talked about phones today.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:50 pm

AMD busts out a sub-$100 quad-core processor

AMD just revealed a processor for their “Mainstream Desktop Platform” that will be going for less than a bill. There are cheap processors out there already, but this is a full-featured, quad-core 45nm part, not some cut-rate piece of garbage. Sure, the Athlon II X4 620 isn’t going to set any speed records, but it’s part of the excellent AMD ecosystem. Paired with a similarly low-cost video card, you’ve got a really low-cost machine that’s capable of HD playback, upscaling, and all the stuff that were pie in the sky for budget setups not too long ago.

If you’re putting together a barebones or basic system, whether it’s for your mom or as a spare PC for the garage, AMD definitely has compelling reasons to go with them. Even with their lowest-cost components, you get a lot of the benefits provided by their ecosystem.

There’s more information here, but you’re more likely to find it as just part of a low-end pre-built system, or as a bargain piece at Newegg or Tigerdirect.

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:30 pm

Google Eyeing 10% Market Share For Chrome. Mac Version Due By The End Of The Year.

As we noted yesterday, version 3 of Google’s Chrome web browser is now available for PC users. But in an interview yesterday with Reuters, Google revealed a couple of interesting tidbits about the project.

The first is that while Chrome currently has just under 3 percent of the browser market currently, a year from now, they’re planning to have at least 5 percent. More importantly, 2 years from now, if Chrome doesn’t have at least 10 percent share, Google will be “exceptionally disappointed,” Chrome Engineering Director Linus Upson told Reuters. And Google’s own internal projections for the browser are even higher, apparently.

While I think I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like Chrome — a lot — this past year has proven that it may be hard for Google to hit such numbers. While plenty of people in the tech scene have posted their internal numbers (like Google’s own Matt Cutts) showing some pretty impressive Chrome share numbers from visitors coming to their sites, the general public is clearly not as quick to switch as the early-adopters in the tech scene. Just having a great browser may not be enough, Google will likely have to step up its advertising campaigns (mostly on the web) to get real gains.

But Google also has a big wildcard it has yet to play: Mac support. And in the same Reuters article, Google confirmed that it Chrome for Mac will be available before the end of this year.

So yes, sometime in the next 3 months, Google’s 3 percent share should see a fairly big bump from Mac users who will at least try it out. Right now, the majority of Mac users browse with Firefox or Apple’s own Safari. But Firefox is typically pretty slow, and Safari, while fast, has some quirks and doesn’t allow for the easy use of plug-ins. Chrome promises to bring a combination of both speed and plug-ins to the Mac. I’ve been using the developer builds of Chromium (the open source project behind Chrome) for months now, and it’s definitely getting really, really close to being ready for prime time.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:29 pm

Diller on AOL: No Thanks [Voices]

By Nat Worden, Reporter, Dow Jones & Co.

Barry Diller, IAC’s (IACI) chief executive, said Wednesday that he’s not interested in acquiring AOL after the Internet business is spun off from its parent company, Time Warner (TWX).

“I have no interest in purchasing AOL, but there are kinds of alliances that are possible for us,” Diller said at an investor conference in New York. “Those maybe will happen, or maybe they won’t happen.”

Time Warner–unable to sell AOL on favorable terms–is planning to spin it off as an independent public company, though it remains a source of acquisition speculation in media circles.

With its $1.6-billion cash pile, IAC is a potential buyer with a stable of Internet businesses that have clear overlap with AOL.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:23 pm

Volvo introduces world’s least-cool electric car

Okay, it’s actually a golf cart that just looks like a car, but it’s still pretty uncool. Volvos are nice cars, but I wouldn’t call them cool — and putting the nose of one on a little cart takes it from not cool to actively ridiculous.

Of course, I’d still love to race one around the course. Unfortunately they’re Europe-only right now, and possibly even Sweden-only. If you want one, you’ll have to go to one of the Volvo-sponsored matches going on.

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:22 pm

Large planet found outside solar system

A rocky planet, five times larger than Earth, has been found outside the solar system, researchers reported Wednesday at a meeting in Spain. Astronomer Artie Hatzes told CNN the planet has a composition that is similar to Earth but is much hotter because it is so close to the star it orbits. Project leader Didier Queloz of Geneva Observatory in Switzerland said the place may well look like Dante's Inferno, with a probable temperature on its 'day face' above 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit (2,000 degrees Celsius) and minus-328 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-200 degrees Celsius) on its night face. The planet, known as CoRoT-7b is about 500 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn, the report said.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:18 pm

Hackers Hone in on Jailbreak Solutions for iPhone OS 3.1

Last week Wired.com provided an overview on iPhone OS 3.1, the latest upgrade for the iPhone operating system. As is always the case with iPhone software updates, this one removed unauthorized apps for jailbroken (i.e., hacked devices). We also forewarned iPhone 3GS owners of a major loss: After upgrading to 3.1, they cannot downgrade to an earlier version of the OS to jailbreak again and regain access to their unauthorized apps. Fortunately that problem has already been fixed.

Jay Freeman, creator of the unauthorized Cydia app store for jailbroken iPhones, has posted instructions on how iPhone 3GS owners can downgrade from iPhone OS 3.1 to 3.0. The process is actually pretty sneaky.

For the new iPhone 3GS, Freeman explains, Apple now verifies the authenticity of the software whenever you attempt to restore the device to factory settings (i.e., format the iPhone and reinstall the OS). Apple stopped signing 3.0, so iPhone 3GS owners could not downgrade from 3.1. Now Freeman has launched a method to trick iTunes into signing from his own servers. The instructions for downgrading are listed on his personal site. Even if you didn’t upgrade to iPhone OS 3.1, Freeman recommends you follow these steps anyway to “future proof” your iPhone 3GS through future updates.

Meanwhile, owners of the first- and second-generation iPhones are in luck: Dev-Team, the famous group of iPhone hackers, has released a tool to jailbreak and unlock iPhone 3.1 for their devices. So they need not worry about losing access to their precious unauthorized apps. It’s unclear when iPhone 3GS owners will get a jailbreak solution, but it appears the Dev-Team is hard at work.

See Also:

• Everything You Wanted to Know About iPhone 3.1 But Were Afraid to …
• Video: Unlocking the iPhone 3GS
• 6 Reasons to Jailbreak Your iPhone
• iPhone Jailbreaking Could Crash Cellphone Towers, Apple Claims …
• Rejected By Apple, iPhone Developers Go Underground

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:16 pm

New York's Video-Game-Based Public School

An anonymous reader writes "In Manhattan this fall, a batch of lucky sixth-graders will start at Quest To Learn, the first public school in the US with a curriculum built around playing games. They'll play Spore and Civilization, board games such as Settlers of Catan, and learn 3D modeling in Maya and Google Earth as well. Each semester concludes with a two-week 'Boss Level.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 4:14 pm

Implanted tooth helps restore vision

A 60-year-old woman says she can see again after a tooth was implanted into her eye in a Miami surgery. Though the process has long been used in Asia and Europe, the procedure had never been performed in the United States before, CNN reported Wednesday. Kay Thornton of Smithdale, Miss., became blind in 2000 after getting Stevens-Johnson syndrome, apparently caused by medication, CNN said.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:56 pm

Kanye West Disrespects Our Website

This is pretty awesome. You’ve probably heard about hip hop artist Kanye West’s antics on Sunday night during MTV’s VMA awards. If not, watch this. Basically, West interrupted country singer Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to say that Beyonce deserved the award. It seems like no one will shut up about it. While West later apologized, his name has been a top trending topic on Twitter ever since the incident. And now any website can suffer the same disrespect at the hands of West.

Kanyelicio.us is a site with one purpose: To make Kanye West insult your own site. Simply type in the URL “http://kanyelicio.us/” and after the final “/” put in your own domain. For example, here’s Kanye insulting TechCrunch.

Hours of endless fun.

You may recall that back in May, West wrote a long, capitalized, rant against Twitter. He was mad about people pretending to be him on the service. I’m not sure if he ever got his own name, but that account is now suspended. Poor Kanye.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:49 pm

Storyboard Podcast: Placebo Problems, the 'Good Enough' Revolution

Sugar pills get more effective -- why? High tech pushes the envelope of shoddiness -- what? Get behind the scenes with two stories from the September issue of Wired magazine.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:40 pm

Fashion: Rodarte Spring 2010, "Death Valley, Vultures, Goth Tribal Tats."

Images from the Rodarte Spring 2010 collection. The models were literally "kept under wraps" during smoking breaks before the runway show. "Every model had her arms painted with makeup to appear like tribal tattoes, goth lips, and their hair wrapped in webbed wool." The official Rodarte site is here, but it's a slow-loading Flashblob. There's always Wikipedia. (via @reversecowpie)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:31 pm

Case-mod: Stargate Pyramid HTPC

There’s an interesting correlation between computer hobbyists and science fiction fans. That’s never more obvious then when you see some of the custom case mods that people produce. Case in point, today we have a Stargate Goa’uld Ha’tak inspired modification. Whomever built this thing obviously spent an enormous amount of time on it, and it really shows in their trousers.

PC modder “Gup” built this project by hand, and while he doesn’t reveal exactly how long it took him to build it, or how much he spent, it’s truly a labor of love. The case opens via a motor driven cover, and reveals a custom interface on an LCD monitor. It’s not powerhouse of a computer, but obviously it’s designed as a HTPC and not a gaming rig.

Here’s the full spec:
Intel T7200 Core2Duo
Mini-ITX Commell LV-677
2Gb DDR2
160Gb HDD
Gforce 9400GT

Obviously, this is a one off design, and won’t be available at a retailer any time soon. I definitely encourage you to watch the video, “Gup” did a really good job and you can get a better idea of exactly how he had to hand craft every part.

[via Slashgear]

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:30 pm

In Britain, Better Not Call It Bogus Science

Geoffrey.landis writes 'In Britain, libel laws are censoring the ability of journalists to write stories about bogus science. Simon Singh, a Ph.D. physicist and author of several best-selling popular-science books, is currently being sued by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for saying that there is no evidence for claims that visiting a chiropractor has health benefits. A year earlier, writer Ben Goldacre faced a libel suit for an article critical of Matthias Rath, who claimed that vitamin supplements can treat HIV and AIDS in place of conventional drugs like anti-retrovirals. In Britain, libel laws don't have any presumption of innocence — any statement made is assumed to be false unless you prove it's true. Journalists are running scared.'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:25 pm

Ribcage pulled out by a bear? There’s an app for that.

You know, we don't often post comics on MobileCrunch. We're big web comic dorks around here - but they don't usually fall within the scope of our content. Plus, people always threaten to e-break up with us by deleting us from their feeds every time we post something wonky. But you know what? Today's Cyanide and Happiness is just too damned perfect. The fact that we're a wee bit hung over from last night's TC50 parties has absolutely nothing* to do with us posting this. Enjoy. * This is a lie

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:20 pm

Ribcage pulled out by a bear? Theres an app for that.

You know, we don’t often post comics here on MobileCrunch. We’re big web comic dorks around here – but they don’t usually fall within the scope of our content. Plus, people always threaten to e-break up with us by deleting us from their feeds every time we post something wonky.

But you know what? Today’s Cyanide and Happiness is just too damned perfect. The fact that we’re a wee bit hung over from last night’s TC50 parties has absolutely nothing* to do with us posting this. Enjoy.

* This is a lie

If you don’t mind a bit of stick figure gore, be sure to check out the rest of C&H.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:15 pm

Audi and Aston Martin add in Bang & Olufsen sound systems

Section: Audio, Car Audio, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Transportation

Super-premium electronics manufacturer Bang & Olufsen is partnering up with super-premium automotive brands Aston Martin and Audi to bring custom sound systems to some fancy cars.  The Aston Martin Rapide (Rapide - because it’s a sports car, get it?) will pick up a Bang & Olufsen designed BeoSound system.  What distinguishes the 15 speaker, 1000 watt amp B&O system?  B&O says the system has “smoothly contoured, aluminum loudspeaker grilles that integrate seamlessly into the hand crafted interior.”  The car costs only $260,000, so it’s a nice bonus to get a decent audio system in it. 

Audi’s R8 Spyder gets a custom Bang & Olufsen sound system as well.  This system is also supposed to match the R8 Spyder in design (see picture below).  B&O says that the 12 speaker, 465 watt audio system can detect when the Spyder’s roof is closed or open and will adjust the audio to the conditions so you have a pleasant audio experience. 

Audi R8 Spyder Interior

Company Site: [Bang & Olufsen]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:12 pm

Carmakers count down to green car targets - Reuters

Boston Globe

Carmakers count down to green car targets Reuters FRANKFURT (Reuters) - From major automakers to niche manufacturers, the race is on to get green cars on the road in the coming years, but one question lingers: after many false starts, are drivers finally ready ... FOCUS: Size Of Electric Vehicle Market Is a Guessing GameWall Street Journal Ghosn holding fire on 'crash-gate' reactionMotorsport.com Start Your Engines: Frankfurt Gets Revved Up for Auto ShowABC News New York Times -CNET News -BusinessWeek all 472 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:04 pm

Raiders of the Lost Ark as a 1951 adventure movie

This trailer for a notional 1951 version of Raiders of the Lost Ark has my head nigh-exploding with recursive delight: a retro movie that hearkens to 1950s adventure serials remade as a 1950s adventure serial!

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1951) Trailer (via Neatorama)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:02 pm

After the big LA fires, terrain looks like a post-war moonscape: death, charred remains.

Video: "Angeles Crest Highway after the Station Fire," by Hal and Susan McAlister, who were joining staff at the Mount Wilson Observatory.

We were escorted by LA County Sheriff's deputies. We were stunned by what we saw, and inattentive to keeping the little Flip video camera stable and accurately pointed. The devastation speaks for itself.

(via YouTube user Lndacurtss)

Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

Steampunk leather mask with porthole

Ukrainian steampunk maskmaking collective Bob Basset has just posted their latest: a sweet, fetishy little number with glass-and-brass portholes. I own two of their earlier efforts now, and they're among my most favorite objects.

Steampunk mask. Leather, cuprum, glass. Стимпанк маска. Кожа, медь, стекло.

Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

Sony Ericsson will change *everything* with a headset that automatically turns on

As armas e os barões assinalados,
Que da ocidental praia Lusitana,
Por mares nunca de antes navegados,
Passaram ainda além da Taprobana,
Em perigos e guerras esforçados,
Mais do que prometia a força humana,
E entre gente remota edificaram
Novo Reino, que tanto sublimaram;

E também as memórias gloriosas
Daqueles Reis, que foram dilatando
A Fé, o Império, e as terras viciosas
De África e de Ásia andaram devastando;
E aqueles, que por obras valerosas
Se vão da lei da morte libertando;
Cantando espalharei por toda parte,
Se a tanto me ajudar o engenho e arte.

Cessem do sábio Grego e do Troiano
As navegações grandes que fizeram;
Cale-se de Alexandro e de Trajano
A fama das vitórias que tiveram;
Que eu canto o peito ilustre Lusitano,
A quem Neptuno e Marte obedeceram:
Cesse tudo o que a Musa antígua canta,
Que outro valor mais alto se alevanta.

E vós, Tágides minhas, pois criado
Tendes em mim um novo engenho ardente,
Se sempre em verso humilde celebrado
Foi de mim vosso rio alegremente,
Dai-me agora um som alto e sublimado,
Um estilo grandíloquo e corrente,
Porque de vossas águas, Febo ordene
Que não tenham inveja às de Hipoerene.

Oh, I almost forgot: that Sony Ericsson thing that was gonna change the world? Yeah, apparently it’s a headset that turns on automatically. I hope your jaw didn’t hit the ground too hard.

Source: CrunchGear | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

BLOG: Military Robot Leaps Over Walls

The Precision Urban Hopper, a robotic military vehicle, can jump over walls in a single bound.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

Did Venus Once Hold Water?

Venus, often characterized as the planet from hell, may have been lush with water.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

Working handcuff keys printed on a 3D printer

German hacker Ray has shown that he can print working Dutch police handcuff keys from plastic on his 3D printers, and has released the 3D files so you can print your own:

He used a 3D printer to print handcuff keys. And not just any ordinary handcuff key ... no, it's the official handcuff key from the Dutch police! At first the police officers at HAR were a little reluctant to event try out the plastic key he printed. But he found another way to verify the key he printed was the correct one. I guess these officers never thought about wearing keys concealed, especially when talking with Mr. Handcuff himself. Given the megapixel camera's on the market today it was not so difficult to verify the key he printed was the correct one.

At the end of the day he talked the officers into trying the key on their handcuffs and ... it did work! At least the Dutch Police now knows there is a plastic key on the market that will open their handcuffs. A plastic key undetectable by metal detectors....

Printing police handcuff keys ... (via Schneier)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:58 pm

Study seeks high blood pressure origins

U.S.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:56 pm

Twitter’s Next Headache: API Name Squatting

Twitter continues to work through username squatting issues by reassigning trademarked and even non-trademarked user names to their more appropriate owners. It’s a manual process that sometimes takes weeks, but with Twitter’s growing importance more and more brands are trying to lock up their usernames. Now, though, Twitter has a new headache, and poor organization and planning around Twitter’s third party developer platform is to blame.

When Tweets are published there is an additional layer of information below the main message that says when the message was posted, and how it was posted. Here’s an example message Michael Arrington just posted from the Seesmic Twitter web app. If you click on “Seesmic” in that Tweet it takes you to Seesmic.com.

But there’s a problem. Twitter’s API allows developers to register any application name, and Twitter messages posted from that third party application will show that name and will link to anything the developer wants. Only names that contain “twitter” or “tweet” are filtered out. Everything else is fair game.

Robert Robb from TweetBorder emailed us about this, and show this test Twitter message that was posted from “Windows.” He also registered the Microsoft name but deleted it to avoid any legal trouble.

We’ve checked, and the TechCrunch name has already been taken by someone.

This isn’t a big issue yet, but we expect to become one shortly. And if you want to avoid the hassle of trying to get your name back from the Twitter API, we recommend you take steps to register your name and application now.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:55 pm

XKCD book is out

The first-ever XKCD book, "xkcd: volume 0" is now officially out and available. Part of the profits go build schools in Laos. XKCD is my favorite geeky webcomic of all time, and Randall Munroe, its creator, is a swell guy. I'm very glad about this indeed.

It's been fun putting it all together. It was neat to go back through various huge stacks of old drawings, some on the back of school assignments, and scan them at print resolution. I also had fun with the marginal notes. I'm really excited to finally have it in print, and I'm looking forward to seeing people and signing copies at the release events this weekend. I'm also excited about getting back to work on some other projects which have been on hold for a bit, at least one of which will involve lakes and a recently-acquired Arduino.

xkcd: volume 0 (Thanks, Arbitrary Aardvark!)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:51 pm

Terrifying huge breakfast is free if you eat it in 20 minutes

Here's an unparalleled gluttony opportunity in the UK:

Mario's Cafe in Westhoughton do a big breakfast for £10! Eat it all in 20 mins without a drink to wash it down with and you get it free!

It's 10 eggs, 10 bacon, 10 sausage, 10 toast, 5 black puddings, tomatoes, beans and mushrooms.

The £10 Breakfast!!! (via Making Light)


Source: Boing Boing | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:48 pm

Rome, Built In a Day

spmallick writes "Researchers at the University of Washington, in collaboration with Microsoft, have recreated the city of Rome in 3D using images obtained from Flickr. The data set consists of 150,000 images from Flickr.com associated with the tags 'Rome' or 'Roma,' and it took 21 hours on 496 compute cores to create a 3D digital model. Unlike Photosynth / Photo Tourism, the goal was to reconstruct an entire city and not just individual landmarks. Previous versions of the Photo Tourism software matched each photo to every other photo in the set. But as the number of photos increases the number of matches explodes, increasing with the square of the number of photos. A set of 250,000 images would take at least a year for 500 computers to process... A million photos would take more than a decade! The newly developed code works more than a hundred times faster than the previous version. It first establishes likely matches and then concentrates on those parts."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:37 pm

5th-Gen iPod Nano Is No Flip Killer

Happiness is not a warm gun, it's a new iPod Nano. A Nano that has a pedometer, connects to FM radio and (gasp!) takes video.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:30 pm

5th-Gen iPod Nano Is No Flip Killer

Happiness is not a warm gun, it's a new iPod Nano. A Nano that has a pedometer, connects to FM radio and (gasp!) takes video.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:30 pm

New sequencing may improve cancer research

Canadian scientists say they've developed a cheaper, faster way to compile draft genome sequences that could improve cancer research. University of British Columbia Associate Professor Steve Jones and colleagues at Simon Fraser University say they have combined cutting edge hardware with novel software to compile genome sequences at a fraction of the cost of current methods. Using their new approach, the research team compiled the first complete genome sequence of a fungus (Grosmannia clavigera) that is key to the mountain pine beetle infestation process. The infestation has affected 10 to 14 million hectares of pine forests in British Columbia.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:21 pm

New AdWords bidding tutorial

(Cross-posted from the Inside AdWords Blog)

Last month we launched a new feature of AdWords called Bid Simulator. Bid Simulator takes some of the guess work out of cost per click (CPC) bidding by estimating the number of clicks or impressions you could have received if you had used a different maximum CPC bid. Today, I thought I would take the opportunity to help you make the most of this new feature by explaining how to use the data from Bid Simulator to maximize the profit from your marketing investment.

In general, when you increase your maximum CPC bid for keywords on search you are able to generate more clicks to your site. This may be because your new bid qualifies you to appear higher up in the Sponsored Links on the search results page, or because your higher bid qualifies your ad to appear in new, more expensive auctions. The goal for you as an advertiser is to decide whether or not these additional clicks come at a cost that is still profitable for you.

To make this decision, you need to compare your expected value per click to your incremental cost per click. Your value per click is how much a click for a particular keyword is worth to you, on average. Your incremental cost per click is how much extra you are paying, on average, for the extra clicks you are getting from your higher bid. When your value per click is higher than your incremental cost per click it makes sense to increase your bid. On the other hand, if your value per click is lower than your incremental cost per click, you probably want to decrease your bid.

To learn more, you can watch the tutorial video below. In the video, I'll show you how to calculate these values, how to interpret them and how to use the data to maximize the profit from your marketing investment. My team and I are always looking for ways to help make the AdWords auction easier to understand so if you have other topics that you'd like us to address, please leave a comment on the video and we may be able to make it a topic for a future video.



Watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRx7AMb6rZ0

Posted by Hal Varian, Chief Economist
Source: The Official Google Blog | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:18 pm

Volvo's First EV Is a Glorified Golf Cart

The Swedish automaker proves the old saw.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:05 pm

Twitter Closing New Venture Round At $1 Billion Valuation

Fast growing startup Twitter will soon be joining a select group of startups with private venture round valuations of $1 billion, we’ve heard from multiple sources. CEO Evan Williams disclosed the round to employees at a recent all hands meeting.

The company will raise around $50 million, we’ve heard, although the final amount of the raise is apparently not yet locked down.

Twitter raised $35+ million earlier this year in a round led by Benchmark Capital and Institutional Venture Partners. That round valued the company at $250 million.

The company has raised a total of around $55 million to date, and sources tell us they have approximately $30 million left in the bank.

Update: A source tells us that New York based Insight Venture Partners is the primary investor in this round.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 2:02 pm

Therapy cures colorblindness in monkeys

U.S.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:55 pm

Professor Posts "Illegal Copy" of Guide To Oregon Public Record Laws

An anonymous reader writes "Copyright law has previously been used by some states to try to prevent people from passing around copies of their own government's laws. But in a new level of meta-absurdity, the attorney general of Oregon is claiming copyright over a state-produced guide to using public-records laws. That isn't sitting well with one frequent user of the laws, who has posted a copy of the guide to his website and is daring the AG to respond. The AG, who previously pledged to improve responses to public-records requests, has not responded yet." The challenger here is University of Oregon Professor Bill Harbaugh.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:48 pm

High chloride levels found in 19 states

A U.S. Geological Survey study has found levels of chloride are elevated in groundwater and in many urban streams across northern U.S.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:47 pm

Opera Mini Grows Up: New Beta Looks and Acts Like Desktop Browser

A new beta version of Opera Mini has been released for Java-powered phones. Opera Mini 5 Beta is easier to use than its predecessor, especially thanks to new tab behaviors, better bookmarking and improved support for touchscreens.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:30 pm

Study may lead to new neuro therapies

An Israeli study finds the simple act of closing one's eyes might lead to new neurological treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Tel Aviv University Professor Talma Hendler, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist, says it's no surprise scary music is scarier with your eyes closed.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:24 pm

Greenland Ice Sheet Melting Mapped

Image 1: This is a map of the ice core drilling locations discussed in the article. Credit: Center for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, University of CopenhagenImage 2: The ice is approximately 3 km thick in central Greenland and by analyzing every single annual layer in the kilometers-long ice cores researchers can get detailed information about the climate of the past. Credit: Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:13 pm

Watershed moment?  Dan Brown’s “Lost Symbol” ebook outselling hardcover

Section: Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Imaging, Accessories

Take it with some salt, but over at Amazon the ebook version of “Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown is outselling the hardcover.  Could this be the watershed moment for publishers looking to cut back on production costs of books?  Could it be consumers have finally fallen for the diminutive ebook readers like the Kindle?

Maybe, maybe not.  Amazon, while being the world’s largest book retailer, isn’t the end all, be all on this.  Their numbers surely include presales and if the Kindle version stays a number one much longer, it won’t be when the dust settles.  Why?  There just are not enough Kindles out there.  Kindle’s high price has stunted growth and while other manufacturers have tried to bring the costs down, it just isn’t happening quickly.

This is noteworthy no matter who ends up on top.  The fact that the Kindle version is selling better at any point in time is enough to make publishers take note.  Future releases will most assuredly include clever Kindle and other ereader tie-ins and will become part of their marketing strategy.  This will be known as the Kindle shot heard around the world.

Read: [Kindle Nation Daily] and [Fast Company]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:05 pm

WinMo 6.5 coming to the Samsung Omnia i900?

Mobile phone manufacturers are usually not the most generous when it comes to providing OS updates for older smartphones. That fact didn’t stop a curious Samsung Omnia i900 owner in the Netherlands from contacting his local Samsung branch about the upcoming release of WinMo 6.5.

Lo and behold, a representative from Samsung Netherlands replied with surprisingly good news:

In your email you ask the question if windows mobile 6.5 will be released for the Omnia. We can confirm that this is coming, however the exact release date isn’t known yet, we therefore advice you to keep an eye on www.samsungmobile.com.

As positive as this sounds, its definitely far from certain. Omnia i900 owners probably shouldn’t hold their collective breathes, especially outside of the NL. But you never know; hopefully Samsung takes the high road here.

via Samsung Hub

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:04 pm

Genetic Sex Determination Allowed Ancient Species To Adapt To Ocean Life

Live birth -- key to much marine life -- depends upon evolution of chromosomal sex determinationA new analysis of extinct sea creatures suggests that the transition from egg-laying to live-born young opened up evolutionary pathways that allowed these ancient species to adapt to and thrive in open oceans.The evolutionary sleuthing is described this week in the journal Nature by scientists at Harvard University and the University of Reading who also report that the evolution of live-born young depended crucially on the advent of genes -- rather than incubation temperature -- as the primary determinant of offspring sex.Having drawn this link in three lineages of extinct marine reptiles -- mosasaurs, sauropterygians, and ichthyosaurs -- the scientists say that genetic, or chromosomal, sex determination may have played a surprisingly strong role in adaptive radiations and the colonization of the world's oceans by a diverse array of species."Determining sex with genetic mechanisms allowed marine reptiles to give live birth, in the water, as opposed to laying eggs on a nesting beach," says Chris Organ, a research fellow in Harvard's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:04 pm

Photoswitches Shed Light On Spontaneous Free Swimming In Zebrafish

Technique targeting light-gated channels to enigmatic neurons proves role in burst swimmingA new way to select and switch on one cell type in an organism using light has helped answer a long-standing question about the function of one class of enigmatic nerve cells in the spinal cord.Through targeted insertion of light-sensitive switches into these cells in awake zebrafish larvae, University of California, Berkeley, and UC San Francisco scientists have found that these mysterious cells trigger burst swimming – the periodic tail twitching typical of larvae.While the finding could have implications for humans, because mammals have similar cells protruding into the spinal fluid, the discovery highlights the power of new techniques that employ photoswitches – light-gated ion channels – and gene targeting to non-invasively turn on small populations of cells as easily as flipping a light switch.Claire Wyart, post-doctoral fellow at UC Berkeley's Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, and UCSF post-doctoral fellow Filippo Del Bene are the joint first authors of a paper describing these results that appears in the Sept.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:01 pm

(Near) Constant Internet While RV'ing?

Neilio writes "What systems would Slashdotters recommend for staying connected while RV'ing across the US and Canada? While a 3G data plan seems obvious, the intrepid RV'er wants to get remote and into those parts of the coverage map that are usually gray (no coverage). But satellite can be expensive, includes high latency for VoIP and gaming, and requires a clear view of the southern sky. I've come across some intriguing products that use an amplified 2G/3G signal and bridge to WiFi, like WiFi In Motion, and CradlePoint's MBR1000 (I have no affiliation with either). Do folks have any experience with these, or can you recommend another approach (even homebrew)? While I am an electrical engineer by degree, you have to go back a few decades since I last expertly sported a soldering iron, so the less DIY the better. My wife and I now run a web-based business, so nearly daily connectivity is a must, no matter where we are."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 16 Sep 2009 | 1:00 pm

Video: iPod Nano Versus The Zune HD

Yes, yes we know these are two very different products. The Zune is a touchscreen spouting, 32GB touting, 720p outputting multimedia powerhouse. The new Nano is a diminutive sliver of plastic and aluminum with a VGA camera slapped onto it. But both gadgets were announced around the same time and both represent significant divergences for their respective companies. That’s why Mark McClusky and I sat down and sparred about the merits of each device. Don’t worry we’re not really pitting them head to head, just engaging in a friendly exchange of ideas. And besides, arguments are fun!

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 12:29 pm

Video: Zune HD vs. iPod Nano Smackdown

Wired editors Mark McClusky and Danny Dumas have a portable media device face-off. What will be the deciding factor: video camera or large 16 x 9 screen?

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 16 Sep 2009 | 12:00 pm

T-Mobile: Give us an old phone, we’ll give you a rebate

Let’s try a little something here: dig into your trousers and pull out your cell phone. Does it work? If the answer is “yes”, then congratulations — T-Mobile wants to give you a price break on a new phone.

According to a tweet put out by the folks in magenta, you could get up to $50 off a brand new BlackBerry Curve if you ship them a working phone to be recycled. The tweet and the actual promotion page don’t quite see eye-to-eye on some things, though: apparently, the promotion applies only to the Curve 8520, but that didn’t stop T-Mobile from slapping pictures of all current Curve models onto the page. What’s more, the tweet says (as you can see) you can get up to $50 back, while the promotion page says you’ll be getting at least that much.

Bad coordination aside, the effort comes much appreciated. If you’ve been dying to flip to a BlackBerry, by all means, go crazy.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 11:43 am

Sony Introduces its Thinnest Walkman

The spotlight may be on Microsoft’s newly released Zune media player but that didn’t deter Sony launching its thinnest Walkman players .

Sony introduced the NW-A840, a extremely thin device that has a 2.8-inch OLED screen, FM radio, noise canceling and TV-out features. The Walkmans will be released in Japan at the end of next month and are expected to be available in the U.S. later.

With the new super-slim media players, Sony hopes to sustain some of the momentum that it has seen in the last few weeks for its media players. Apple’s iPods dominate the U.S. market with more than 80 percent market share but internationally, they face a tougher battle.

Earlier this month, a study by  Japanese electronics research company BCN showed  that Sony Walkman outsold the iPod in Japan for the first time in more than four years. Sony’s market share for digital music players in Japan stood at about 43 percent, for the week ending August 30, compared to Apple’s 42.1 percent.

With Apple refreshing its iPods line, it was clear that Sony would launch new products.

The latest Sony Walkman is 7.2mm thick, compared to iPod Classic’s 10.5 mm thickness and Zune HD’s 8.9 mm thickness. It will be available in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB versions.  The company hasn’t disclosed the pricing for the products.

Sony claims the new Walkman will have a battery life of about 29 hours for music playback and 9 hours for video. There are a few features missing in the device. The lack of Wi-Fi connectivity and a touchscreen puts it behind the Zune HD.  But the Walkman’s real competition comes from iPods and it’s Apple that Sony hopes to beat back with its latest products.

[via OLED-Info]

See Also:

• Microsoft Zune HD: First Look
• Microsoft Sets Up Zune HD for Failure — Again
• First Look: The Zune HD
• Hands-On With the Zune HD

Photo: Sony

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 11:28 am

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 coming in January?

Go ahead – grab your bag of salt. Pull a grain out, and have it at the ready. While we’re still digging for independent confirmation of this, we just got it on good word that Sony Ericsson’s first big jump into Android, the XPERIA X3, is tentatively set for a launch in January.

This seemed a bit strange to us, at first, considering that the X3’s sequential predecessor, the X2, hasn’t launched yet. In fact, the only potential launch dates we’ve seen pop up for the X2 are in January as well. Then we realized: as far as we can tell, these things have been developed in parallel – so why not launch them together? The two handsets are running entirely different platforms (X2 is Windows Mobile, while the X3 is Android), so, if nothing else, they’ll have the bases covered.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 11:17 am

Access voice chat through Facebook with Vivox

Section: Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking, Web Apps, Websites

Voice chat is going to be available through Facebook in the upcoming weeks provided by the company Vivox.  Vivox already provides online voice services to other sites like Second Life and will now add Facebook functionality.  Vivox claims it will give users the chance to have high quality voice conversations with their Facebook friends either on a one on one basis or host group conversations.  People that are not on Facebook will also be able to use the service and communicate with members by calling in through a toll free number.

Developers are also going to have the ability to use the voice chat service and can add audio to their Facebook applications.  It can also benefit users that wish to play games simultaneously with other Facebook members.  Vivox has proven with their past projects that they have the ability to support thousands of users simultaneously on a single channel. 

The service has been in a closed beta and is expected to launch as soon as a few weeks.  To get the service when it comes available, you’ll need to download a plug-in. 

Read: [CNN]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 11:07 am

Swine Flu Near? Ask Your iPhone

Those worried about swine flu can track outbreaks through a new iPhone application.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 11:00 am

iTwinge tactile keyboard for iPhone

The $30 iTwinge keyboard may be able to grab some brand new iPhone owners who have a bit of trouble adjusting to the on-screen keyboard, but most people will tell you that you get used to it in about a week. Although with a potential customer base of however many bajillion iPhone owners there are out there, Mobile Mechatronics (the company behind the iTwinge) probably has a leg up by being first-to-market with this thing.

 

The extra bulk that it’ll add to your trouser pocket may be a bit off-putting, too, and let’s not fail to notice that it covers up half the screen when in use. So you’ll have to launch whatever program you’re going to use to do some typing, bring up the on-screen keyboard, and then plug your iPhone into the iTwinge.

Still, not a bad option (the only option, actually) for people who can’t stand to be without an actual tactile keyboard. It’s available for pre-order now ($30) and shipping out on November 19th – geez, maybe there’ll already be other options before then. That’s a long ways off.

[ChipChick via DVICE]

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 16 Sep 2009 | 10:40 am

Teaching computers to read: Google acquires reCAPTCHA

The image above is a CAPTCHA — you can read it, but computers have a harder time interpreting the letters. We tried to make it hard for computers to recognize because we wanted to give humans the scoop first, but we're happy to announce to everybody now that Google has acquired reCAPTCHA, a company that provides CAPTCHAs to help protect more than 100,000 websites from spam and fraud.

Since computers have trouble reading squiggly words like these, CAPTCHAs are designed to allow humans in but prevent malicious programs from scalping tickets or obtain millions of email accounts for spamming. But there’s a twist — the words in many of the CAPTCHAs provided by reCAPTCHA come from scanned archival newspapers and old books. Computers find it hard to recognize these words because the ink and paper have degraded over time, but by typing them in as a CAPTCHA, crowds teach computers to read the scanned text.

In this way, reCAPTCHA’s unique technology improves the process that converts scanned images into plain text, known as Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This technology also powers large scale text scanning projects like Google Books and Google News Archive Search. Having the text version of documents is important because plain text can be searched, easily rendered on mobile devices and displayed to visually impaired users. So we'll be applying the technology within Google not only to increase fraud and spam protection for Google products but also to improve our books and newspaper scanning process.

That's why we're excited to welcome the reCAPTCHA team to Google, and we're committed to delivering the same high level of performance that websites using reCAPTCHA have come to expect. Improving the availability and accessibility of all the information on the Internet is really important to us, so we're looking forward to advancing this technology with the reCAPTCHA team.

Posted by Luis von Ahn, co-founder of reCAPTCHA, and Will Cathcart, Google Product Manager
Source: The Official Google Blog | 16 Sep 2009 | 10:20 am

WATCH: Planets Collide in Cosmic Smash-Up

NASA uncovers evidence of a collision between two planets thousands of years ago.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 9:45 am

Dell pays up to settle New York fraud case

Section: Business News, Computers, Desktops, Mobile Computers, Hardware, Laptops, Netbooks

The New York Office of the Attorney General has announced Dell will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit the AG filed against it back in 2007.  The suit accused Dell of misleading customers by making false promises of cheap financing and refusing to honor rebates and warranties.  In May of last year, the New York State Supreme Court found the company guilty of fraud, false advertising, abusive debt collection practices, and deceptive business practices.

Along with the settlement, Dell is required to disclose detailed information about the level of service their customers will receive and the percentage of customers that qualify for low cost financing.

“Today’s announcement is the final step in ensuring New Yorkers harmed by Dell’s deceptive and illegal business practices are fully compensated,” said Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement announcing the settlement.

If you are a New York resident you can go online to the AG’s website and file an application for restitution.

Read [PCWorld]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 9:03 am

Rocky Planet Found Outside Solar System

Astronomers have just discovered the first extrasolar planet with a firm place to stand.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 9:00 am

SLIDE SHOW: Space Station Perks

Forget five stars; you can see thousands of them from this orbital destination.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:45 am

Arctic Geese Skip Migration as Planet Warms

An Arctic geese known to winter in sunny Mexico now stay put in Alaska during winter.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:19 am

Chef’s Travel Bag: A Kitchen On Your Back

This bag is either an itinerant chef’s dream, or simply the well thought out kit of a serial-killer.

Designed by three Carnegie Mellon students, the bag lets a cook carry everything he needs with him. Think of it as an OCD picnic basket. Much like a camera-bag, the Chef’s Bag has a place for everything: sleeves for knives, peelers, graters, books and of course Band-Aids. Unlike a camera bag, the Chef’s Bag is designed not only to protect the gear inside, but also to protect the carrier from the contents.

Why would you take so much with you? Pro chefs can be very precious about their kit. Watch a bartender trying to borrow a simple, cheap fruit-knife from the kitchen and you’ll see what I mean. Also, the tools become familiar. When I moved from England to Spain, I gave away most of my possessions. The bulk of gear that I shipped was kitchen equipment — after spending years to find the right peeler, knife or pan, you don’t want to use somebody else’s.

The bag is just a one-off student project right now, but we’d like to see it come to market. At the very least, it’s better than the awful chef’s briefcase, a plastic monstrosity full of knives that seems to be standard issue at catering college.

Project page [Core77 boards via Core77]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 8:13 am

LED Lightbulb Lasts 19 Years, Claims Right to Vote

How many 18-year olds does it take to change a Panasonic EverLED lightbulb? None, because they won’t be old enough — the bulb lasts for 19 years.

This is far from the first LED lightbulb (I have one in my bedroom, and it glows a hideous cold shade of white, giving everyone the pallor of Murnau’s Nosferatu), but that 19-year claim is irresistible to anyone who loves a good lightbulb joke (and is there any other kind of lightbulb joke?) Panasonic has increased the efficiency of the bulbs by making them run colder through better heat dissipation, and the 6.9 Watt version will put out as much light as a 60W incandescent for 40,000 hours, which means 19 years if used for 5.5 hours a day, and a respectable 4.5 years if run 24/7.

The EverLEDs also have the dubious boast of being the world’s lightest. We laughed at first, but then, in 19 years time, who knows what kind of shape you’ll be in? Maybe those few grams could make the difference between changing it yourself, with frail, weak hands, or calling on that awful young neighbor, the one who always walks across your lawn. $40, Japan only for now.

Product page [Panasonic via CNET]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:27 am

Facebook tops 300 million users and is becoming profitable

Section: Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking, Web Apps, Websites

Wow.  Not only did Facebook wow us with reaching 300 million active users today, but they also announced they are getting to a cash positive position.  That’s right, they are covering costs for keeping the monstrous social networking site going.  Impressive work, but they are not done yet.

As of today, Facebook now serves 300 million people across the world. It’s a large number, but the way we think about this is that we’re just getting started on our goal of connecting everyone.  - Mark Zuckerberg

Back in July, Facebook said they were at 250 million users and in the following 75 days added 265,000 users a day.  This number is interesting because back in July, the Chinese government began blocking China.  Sure enough, my quick test over at WebsitePulse.com, a site that checks to see if a web page is accessible from China, shows Facebook is still off limits.

Mark Zuckerberg said he expected his company to go cash positive in 2010.  To his credit, the company achieved this goal last quarter according to his blog post.  How is Facebook making money?  Inside Facebook says,

A combination of revenue streams: Facebook’s self-service ad business has been very strong lately, it continues to invest heavily in brand advertising efforts, and it also continues to release many experimental expansions to its virtual goods and virtual currency business, Facebook Credits. The company is also still deriving revenue from its advertising deal with Microsoft, signed when Microsoft invested in Facebook in 2007.

It isn’t clear which part of Facebook’s revenue is growing and company officials are not saying.  Perhaps they’ve found the right combo?

Read: [Facebook] via [Inside Facebook]

 

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 7:06 am

Killer Whales Die Without King Salmon

Killer whales die when abundance of their favorite prey, Chinook salmon, declines.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:54 am

Pogoplug partners with Seagate to power the FreeAgent DockStar, adds Facebook and Twitter sharing

Section: Computers, Hardware, Networking, Peripherals, Storage

The Pogoplug has been loved by several Gadgetell writers from the time we stumbled upon them during CES 2009 and since then they have only gotten better.  Now the latest announcement coming from Pogoplug has them partnering with Seagate.

The partnership means that the Pogoplug service is going to soon power the FreeAgent DockStar from Seagate.  That alone sounds good, especially for Seagate fans and even better is that the Pogoplug team was quick to point out that the “DockStar set up is as simple as the Pogoplug device.”  And for anyone that has not yet used a Pogoplug—it is about as simple as it could be.

Moving forward, FreeAgent DockStar users can expect to find the same features that we have come to love from Pogoplug which include full web access, sharing through email or RSS, local drive support as well as an iPhone application.

In addition to the current sharing through email and RSS, Pogoplug users will also soon be able to share using social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.  With this, users will be able to do things like publish links to their home hard drive which will allow friends and family members a direct look.  Of course, depending on who is or who you are following those links this feature should most likely be used with some caution.

Read [PogoPlug]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 6:00 am

GrandCentral will be shutting down as of today

Section: Communications, VoIP, Web, Google

Here is fair warning to any GrandCentral users who have not switched their account over to Google Voice. For those unfamiliar GrandCentral is the service that Google purchased and rolled into the Google Voice that we know today.

Anyway, for those that are still holding on to a GrandCentral account, pay attention because today is the last day to convert your account.

GrandCentral will be closing down tomorrow…please migrate to Google Voice if you haven’t done so already. Just login and follow the link.

Basically, it has come down to move it or lose it and as Google Voice is a free service it makes sense to take the few minutes that are required to convert your account so you will have it moving forward.  Especially since Google Voice is still in a closed status.

Via [Twitter @GoogleVoice]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 16 Sep 2009 | 5:08 am