Source: Gizmodo | 14 Oct 2009 | 8:52 pm

AT&T Slams Google Over Call Blocking - Wall Street Journal

Ars Technica

AT&T Slams Google Over Call Blocking Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON—AT&T Inc. accused Google Inc. of blocking calls to Benedictine nuns, a congressman's campaign office and a myriad of small businesses in rural areas, in the latest escalation of the battle between the two over Internet network ... AT&T says Google Voice won't connect to nuns, doctor, CongressSan Jose Mercury News AT&T exec continues attacking Google in FCC iPhone probeAfterdawn.com AT&T to FCC: Close loopholes and write rules that apply to Google, tooZDNet (blog) Washington Post -TG Daily -Ars Technica all 152 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 14 Oct 2009 | 8:51 pm

Researchers Discover "Magnetic Current"

fsouto writes "Researchers have discovered a magnetic equivalent to electricity. From the article, 'The phenomenon, dubbed "magnetricity," could be used in magnetic storage or in computing. Magnetic monopoles were first predicted to exist over a century ago, as a perfect analogue to electric charges. Although there are protons and electrons with net positive and negative electric charges, there were no particles in existence which carry magnetic charges. Rather, every magnet has a "north" and "south" pole.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 8:23 pm

Oracle's Larry Ellison to IBM: "make our day" (AP)

AP - Larry Ellison ratcheted up his rhetoric against IBM Corp. on Wednesday, challenging Oracle Corp.'s longtime partner and rival to "make our day" in a battle over business software performance.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:55 pm

Meet the men and women behind the drones

Photo credit: Dan Winters

So everyone knows now that the military uses UAVs for actions in the Middle East. What isn’t as commonly known, is that the men and women who pilot the remote controlled aircraft do so from the relative comfort of a top secret facility in the Nevada desert. In some ways, it’s the ultimate video game.

It’s a bit surreal. A soldier assigned to the Reaper and Predator program may see combat at 2:00pm, and then go home at 5:30pm and stop for Taco Bell on the way home. Esquire managed to get some really excellent access at the site, and spent some time with the the people responsible for helping defend the ground troops in Afghanistan.

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:30 pm

ClearOne Reports Fiscal 2009 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Financial Results

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ClearOne Communications, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:11 pm

The CLIQ, Storm2 Join Long Parade of iPhone Threats [Personal Technology]

(See Correction & Amplification below.)

It’s raining smart phones. No, make that super-smart phones, the type of hand-held computer, like Apple’s iPhone or the models powered by Google’s Android software, that browse the Web well, have sophisticated communication functions and are made to run a wide variety of modern third-party apps. This holiday season, new super-smart phone models seem to be appearing weekly.

So far, the king of this new field, in my view, remains its pioneer, the iPhone. Apple’s phone has its limitations, but its design, usability and versatility have kept it ahead. There’s a well-equipped iPhone model available for as little as $99, and the platform offers a staggering 85,000 downloadable apps. By comparison, there are around 10,000 apps for Android, 3,000 for the newer models of the Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry, a few hundred modern apps for phones running the latest versions of Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Mobile software, and even fewer than that for Palm’s (PALM) Pre and its soon-to-be released little sibling, the Pixi.

But nobody is conceding the game to Apple (AAPL). A flood of new Android models is upon us, and RIM, which has a fanatical following for its BlackBerry models, is still potent despite the disappointment surrounding its first touch-screen model, the Storm.

I’ve been testing two new contenders, and both represent second chances of sorts. One is the revised version of the BlackBerry Storm, called the Storm2, from Verizon (VZ). The other is the first super-smart phone from Motorola, the fading former phone leader. It’s an Android-based model called the CLIQ, which will be offered by T-Mobile.

Here’s a quick look at these two new pocket computers.

Motorola CLIQ

The CLIQ is a hefty slider phone, with a touch screen on top and a slide-out physical keyboard underneath. It has a smaller screen than the iPhone or Storm, and comes with just two gigabytes of memory versus 16 gigabytes for the $199 iPhone. But the CLIQ claims six hours of talk time, an hour more than Apple’s device, and, unlike the iPhone, it has a removable battery and expandable memory. It also has a higher-resolution camera—five megapixels versus three megapixels.

It boasts all of the standard Android features. But what sets the CLIQ apart is that it’s built around the idea of consolidating all your communications and social networking, and making them easy to access. Motorola (MOT) does this with special software called Blur, part of which exists on the device itself and part on a special Motorola-run server.

Blur takes the form of special on-screen widgets. One constantly displays your own status on various services, such as Facebook and Twitter. Another, called Happenings, shows your friends’ latest updates on social-networking services, without requiring you to enter separate apps. A third, called Messages, offers a quick snapshot of current emails and text messages from all your accounts. Each entry in your address book also displays the person’s social-networking status and information.

In my tests, all of these Blur features worked nicely and proved handy, except that I couldn’t get it to consolidate both of my Gmail accounts.

My biggest gripe was with the physical keyboard, which I found cramped and hard to use. The top row is too close to the bottom of the screen and, on the bottom row, I kept hitting the symbols key when I was aiming for “M” or “N.” So I found myself constantly resorting to the virtual on-screen keyboard, which worked pretty well.

BlackBerry Storm2

The original Storm, RIM’s first phone without a physical keyboard, didn’t convert droves of traditional BlackBerry lovers. This was partly because it had an odd typing mechanism where the whole screen moved with each tap on the virtual keyboard. Also, the phone lacked Wi-Fi and, when held vertically, the device offered only a cramped on-screen keyboard with multiple letters on each key.

The Storm2 fixes all those flaws. The screen now stays still when tapped, providing tactile feedback electronically instead of mechanically. This allows for faster, smoother typing. The new model also has Wi-Fi. And you can now use a full, albeit squeezed, virtual keyboard in vertical mode.

In addition, while the dimensions haven’t changed, the Storm2 looks sleeker and has a few user interface refinements, like an on-screen Send button.

Overall, I found the Storm2 worked well in my tests. Battery life was decent, with 5.5 hours of claimed talk time, and typing was much improved, though I doubt it will satisfy lovers of physical keyboards.

The browser is still inferior to Apple’s, Google’s and Palm’s. And the traditional BlackBerry interface cries out for a major overhaul in a touch device like this, especially when you add a lot of apps. RIM’s menu and folder metaphor seems tired on this device.

Verizon hasn’t set a launch date or price for the Storm2, but it’s likely to appear in November at around $200.

The super-smart-phone war is still in its early stages. There are more and even better devices on the way, and Apple will have plenty of clever competition.

Corrections & Amplifications

The Motorola CLIQ comes with two gigabytes of memory and the $199 iPhone comes with 16 gigabytes. A previous version of this column incorrectly expressed these figures as megabytes, not gigabytes. An earlier version of this column also mistakenly stated, based on a BlackBerry fact sheet, that the Storm2 will ship with two gigabytes of memory. Wednesday night, after the column was published, the company said the Storm2 will actually ship with 18 gigabytes of memory.

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 | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:02 pm

Ellison: Fusion Applications in 2010 (PC World)

PC World - Oracle plans to launch its long-awaited Fusion Applications in 2010, and they will be deployable both on-premises and as SaaS (software as a service), CEO Larry Ellison said Wednesday during a keynote address at the OpenWorld conference in San Francisco.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:00 pm

Arizona Leads as Foreclosure Rates Rise Countrywide

NEW YORK, Oct.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:58 pm

Apple performance update weighs in at around 300… kilobytes? That can’t be right

Oh Snow Leopard, you have made my day. Remember when updates used to be in the hundreds of megabytes? Your unified architecture has slimmed down apps and updates so much that they are only a thousandth the size now.

Or it could be that it’s just a tiny patch to fix an uncommon but problematic hard drive error (since it’s only 22KB more for Leopard). Either way, the update is there. Been having hard drive issues? This may just fix it.

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:44 pm

T-shirt design contest for Fender

Connie Choe is a health and culture writer by day and a professional kimchimonger by night.

The Fender Music Foundation is seeking a rockstar-worthy t-shirt design. The winning artist gets $300 cash money and a Squier by Fender Deluxe Hot Rails Strat Electric Guitar (whew!) with a decal of their winning design on it. Submissions are due by October 30^th. Last I checked they had fewer than 15 entries, so even if your art skills are a little rusty, you're still roughly eleventybillion times more likely to win this than the lottery.

Goodjoe Design for a Greater Good Presents The Fender Music Foundation

Image courtesy of tskdesign via Flickr / CC 2.0


Source: Boing Boing | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:40 pm

With Botnets Everywhere, DDoS Attacks Get Cheaper (PC World)

PC World - Cyber-crime just doesn't pay like it used to.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:40 pm

MySpace Fills Out Executive Roster With New Hires, iLike Execs

MySpace has just announced the appointment of four new members to its executive team, which saw a major shakeup last April. The new hires include Nada Stirratt, who will serve as Chief Revenue Officer and Dustin Finer, who is now Chief People Officer. Joining them will be iLike founders (and brothers) Ali Partovi, who is now SVP of Business Development based in San Francisco, and Hadi Partovi as SVP of Technology, based out of Seattle.

MySpace acquired streaming music service iLike in August for $20 million.

Other recent MySpace hires include Mark Rosenbaum as CFO and Alex Maghen as CTO (he was formerly CTO of MySpace Music, now he heads technology at MySpace proper as well).

Below is MySpace’s bio about Stirratt, who served as EVP of Digital Advertising at MTV before joining MySpace:

Prior to MySpace, Stirratt served as Executive Vice President of Digital Advertising at MTV Networks where she oversaw advertising sales and strategy, ad operations, Digital Fusion-integrated marketing, and Tribes, the company’s third-party vertical affiliate network. Before MTV, Nada served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of advertising sales at Advertising.com. Earlier in her career, Stirratt worked in ad sales and business development for such entertainment brands as AOL-Time Warner, Moviefone, Allure and Cosmopolitan.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:38 pm

The Plot Thickens: Barnes & Noble Teams with Google Android for eReader - PC World

CNET News

The Plot Thickens: Barnes & Noble Teams with Google Android for eReader PC World Pictures have emerged of what is allegedly the Barnes & Noble eReader device slated to be available next month in time for the holiday season. Barnes & Noble's entry into the eReader fray adds another major player to the mix-- and one that has its own ... Barnes & Noble Taps Kindle Designer For Its Athena e-Book ReaderBusinessWeek Photos: First glance at Barnes & Noble's e-readerCNET News Barnes and Noble E-Reader Info and Images Leaked Online, Say ReportseWeek Slippery Brick -Wall Street Journal -Wired (blog) all 93 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:31 pm

Yoko Ono Embraces Creative Commons? O Yes!

When a rep for Yoko Ono pinged me last week about a new crowdsourced remix project the legendary artist was launching, my first question was, "Will the resulting fan-remixes be made available under a Creative Commons license? And if not, would you consider talking to the CC folks to learn more about why that's a good idea?"

Well, I am very excited to share that after some good conversations between Ms. Ono's camp and the Creative Commons folks (specifically Creative Director Eric Steuer), the answer is YES.

This is so awesome! Brava to Ms. Ono for introducing her work into the realm of "open culture," this is a brave and significant step. It makes me very happy to see this kind of dialogue and risk-taking happen with artists whose legacies and cultural influence are as broad as hers. I also think the remix project in question sounds like a lot of fun, and I encourage you to go check it out -- and participate! Here's the announcement from her team:

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - The Sun Is Down (remix) competition.

We're very pleased to announce that thanks to the helpful advice of Xeni Jardin at BoingBoing and Eric Steuer at Creative Commons, the audio elements for Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - The Sun Is Down (remix) are now being released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License. We firmly believe that releasing the elements under a CC license embodies the true spirit of the competition.

In light of this, we have extended the competition deadline to 12 December 2009 to allow time for those who may now wish to contribute under the revised terms. In addition, artists interested in permissions beyond the scope of the CC license can email us at remix@yopob.com.

Long live the remix. Here's a post about this cool news on the Creative Commons blog.


Source: Boing Boing | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:15 pm

Digg Triples Revenue Forecast, Says Ad-Commenting to Come [Voices]

By Andrew LaVallee, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Digg is known for drumming up traffic to the sites that are linked from its popular home page. Can it perform for online advertisers too?

According to three of its executives, its recent forays into ads that play along with its vocal, tech-savvy audience are making gains. One major push involves what the San Francisco company calls Digg Ads, which look like the articles that Digg users submit and vote to promote to the home page.

If they like the ad, they can vote it up, which increases the number of times it will appear. If they don’t, they can “bury” it.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:15 pm

Digital Open Winners: "Hybrid Airship," by teen robotic blimp builders.

(Download MP4 video or Watch on YouTube, or view with subtitles on Dotsub).

Institute for the Future teamed up with Sun Microsystems and Boing Boing Video to co-host the Digital Open, an online tech expo for teens 17 and under around the world.

In today's episode, you'll meet the "Funky Shiitake Mushrooms," a group of young people from a Fremont, CA high school who build robotic blimps. The one you see in this video also doubles as a fashionable hat, as you can see from the photo inset at left (that's me with the headgear).

The blimp in this episode is named "Skittles the Second," after the popular, cartoon-colored candy. They'd made an earlier version of "Skittles," but that one floated away. In fact, it floated all the way to a farm near Yosemite. The farmer found an ID tag on the floataway airship, and phoned a teacher at the high school to advise. The teen makers were eager to road trip out there and pick it up, but only one of them was old enough to drive.

Their energy and inventiveness was inspiring. I hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed making it.

Read more about the youth competition in IFTF's press release announcing Digital Open winners. And you can visit team Funky Shiitake Mushrooms online, here.

Source: Boing Boing | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:11 pm

Barnes & Noble jumps into e-Book market, reveals e-Reader

Section: Business News, Gadgets / Other, ebooks

Many big companies have already entered into the e-Reader department, most notably Amazon and Sony.  Apparently Barnes & Noble have been working on e-Reader designs for quite some time now, and images and product information are finally beginning to surface.  Barnes & Noble has already announced a product event slated for next Tuesday, October 20.  All reports indicate that B&N will announce the anticipated e-Reader. 

At first, it was thought the device would contain special e-ink color technology, but all text and images will still be in black and white, similar to the Amazon Kindle.  However, the reader will contain multi-touch technology, similar to that of the iPhone.  Now, you have to imagine that B&N would not be just creating an e-Reader without having other ways of creating revenue.  They will be offering the books they publish for deeper discounts, probably to sway on-the-fence e-Reader customers towards the B&N device.  Why not throw Google Books into the mix?  The e-Reader should also have unlimited access to books in the Google Books database, which aren’t current, but better than nothing. 

Based on the images provided, the device looks to have a fairly big screen, with the virtual QWERTY keyboard only taking up about 20%-30% of the actual device.  Interestingly enough, it has a physical light on the top which can be turned on or off by a switch.  I suppose additional light plus the backlight would definitely ensure readers will not have to strain their eyes to see the text. 

The obvious advantage B&N would have over the Amazon Kindle is the fact that they have many physical brick-and-mortar stores over the United States.  In fact, where I live, everyone knows of B&N, as they have a high distinction.  They can use this to their advantage to encourage people to purchase books from within their stores for cheaper, as well as through 3G/WiFi.  Maybe they could even institute monthly fees that allows a for a certain amount of books to be “checked out” from their physical stores.  Of course, we will only learn more information when their event rolls around next week. 

Read [Gizmodo]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:09 pm

Wired.com's Crazy Flyer Survives With Mental Health Intact — Mostly

Wired.com's Terminal Man, who flew JetBlue for a month without ever leaving the airports, managed to stay relatively sane, we think.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:00 pm

1Mb Broadband Access Becomes Legal Right In Finland

An anonymous reader writes "Starting next July, every person in Finland will have the right to a one-megabit broadband connection, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Finland is the world's first country to create laws guaranteeing broadband access. The Finnish people are also legally guaranteed a 100Mb broadband connection by the end of 2015."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:59 pm

Performance Update fixes a hard drive stalling issue (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - If you’ve been feeling like your Mac’s performance hasn’t been up to par of late, you may be thinking that Apple’s just-released Performance Update 1.0 will solve your problems. Alas, that’s not the case—Performance Update 1.0 only addresses intermittent hard drive related pauses in certain Macs.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:50 pm

The worst job of the 19th Century: nipple pinchers vs. anal tobacco blowers vs. tongue pullers in reviving the dead

John Ptak, a dealer in rare science books, writes about all the different ways that people in days of yore used to make sure dead people really were dead.

Perhaps the most spectacularly extension of the nipple-pincher was the tongue-pulling idea of Dr. J.-V. Laborde (1830-1903), a research physician with wide credentials, who reasoned that a continued regimen of advanced and strenuous pulling of a patient's tongue would over time bring them back to life if alive. This is what leads us to the point of this post: Laborde established a mortuary, and in this mortuary, where the dead were waiting to die, he employed a man whose job it was to pull the tongues of these bodies. In the misty picture of all of this that is painted in my mind's eye, the fellow working his way from body to body pulling their tongues with a heavy pincer seems far worse than nipple squeezing or even being an anal smoke blower, though to choose between the three in a twisted Purgatorial mandate would be hard to so. Although the nipple pincher wasn't replaced by anything mechanical, the smoke blower was (by a powerful bellows), and so was our friend the tongue puller, who after complaining of the boredom of his task was pushed aside by an electrical device. I am loathe to report that I cannot find a picture of the machine.

The Worst Job of the 19th Century? Tongue-Pullers, Nipple-Pinchers & Anal Tobacco Blowers Try to Revive the Dead.


Source: Boing Boing | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:38 pm

This is why Apple’s iFrame is a bad idea

Yesterday, word got out of Apple’s new iFrame standard, which purports to expedite video editing by keeping the video in “the same format used on a computer.” Really, it’s nothing but a resolution and wrapper. So why am I losing my mind over it? Because the way iFrame is being positioned and propagated is misleading and harmful to consumers. Oh I know, what an alarmist, right? It’s just a video format! But with personal video becoming more and more ubiquitous and invading class after class of gadgets, these former trivialities are becoming more important by the day.

And for once, we are actually gravitating towards a couple unified standards in both encoding and resolution — and then Apple butts in with this ugly stepchild of a format.

Let me drop a few background truth bombs here first, and please do read this part, because it’s important, and math is fun.

Every new TV out there supports 720p. This is because it is an evolution from the VGA standard 640×480, recently employed by Apple for its Nano and iPhone video. VGA is perfectly good. But it’s also 4:3, which is something we’ve been moving away from for a while. It’s getting hard to find 4:3 screens; the new standard is 16:9. So to make a VGA-related HD standard, just double the horizontal pixels (you get 1280) and extend it downwards until you have a 16:9 aspect ratio — 720p, or 1280×720, appears as if by magic. It’s a good size, a good standard, and perfectly easy to work with. Cheap camcorders can record to it, and until recently it was even used (with better equipment of course) by Hollywood. Then you’ve got 1080p, which is 720p extended by 640 pixels horizontally and 360 pixels vertically (640×360 is VGA reduced to 16:9). These formats were chosen for a reason.

So between VGA, 720p, and 1080p, you have provided for mobile/medium-quality, high-quality consumer, and prosumer video needs. Dueling legacy codecs and wrappers notwithstanding (video editor compatibility still isn’t there), it’s actually a pretty picture, so to speak. There are a few weird resolutions out there for sure, but they are for things like 8-inch netbook screens or professional HD footage like that from a RED. For 99% of consumers, the three standards I’ve just mentioned are everything they’ll need for years (we’re sort of plateauing as Blu-ray and digital distribution duke it out). You can buy a computer for the price of the camcorder that will edit 720p handily.

Now perhaps you understand my consternation some time ago when I found that iMovie ‘09 didn’t like to support the HD formats used all over the world. Sure, if you’re an expert you can get around the barrier’s they’ve put in your way, but the world isn’t full of experts and the result is that the average Joe’s footage gets re-encoded and he isn’t getting the HD quality he paid for. Fortunately, they fixed that and you can now export in true HD. So imagine my shock yesterday when Apple decided to pull an about-face and institutionalize this ridiculous limitation.

iFrame, and we can talk about the name in another post, sets in stone a size of video which has no place in this world. The idea is that it keeps the format homogenous from camera to editor. Really? Because that’s what all regular video editors do already. The only reason iMovie needs a special format is because of the limitations Apple placed on it. The size and workflow differences between iFrame and 720p are really not very significant. What’s my objection, then? I’ll tell you. Apple is ignoring the galaxy of products out there that already support a perfectly good format. Can you think of a single device, display, web page, or anything that has a 960×540 resolution?

Your TV is 720p or 1080p. You’ll have to stretch the video to make up the difference, and despite what you’ve heard about upscaling (it’s nice), more resolution is always better for definition. The first cameras to support iFrame, from Sanyo, look great. They shoot to 1080p, will do 12FPS stills, super-slow-motion video, and are all-around decent camcorders. And yet they default to iFrame. Let me say that again. Thousands will buy cameras capable of (and designed for) shooting 1080p, and Apple will have them defaulting to shooting at a quarter of that resolution. Joe Consumer won’t question it, and he’s not getting his money’s worth. Besides, with all the choice currently available, and the devices already far too complicated for the average user to utilize fully, adding yet another option (and suggesting it’s better when it’s not) is just irresponsible.

And before your mouth starts frothing in anticipation of a 960×540 resolution iTablet, rest assured that’s not the case. They’d be foolish not to support 720p since they’re going to capitalize on renting out HD TV shows, which are broadcast in 720p or 1080p.

In the end, I’m forced to accuse Apple of pure egotism. While simply having a 960×540 resolution option is in no way an issue — it’s just a resolution, after all — it’s attempting to make it a standard that’s a problem. There is nothing better, or indeed much different at all, about iFrame, save that it is slightly lower in quality than 720p and takes up somewhat less space (even that is questionable, as cameras differ widely in bitrates). By emphasizing its own format, which is inferior to the existing and popular standards, Apple only solving a problem of their own creation. Instead of fixing iMovie to work with the world, they’re trying to change the world to work with iMovie. I guess that’s kind of how Apple does things, but still.

Oh, I realize this is a bit of a mountain/molehill situation here, but I couldn’t let this ridiculous move pass without comment, and video format lunacy is a pet peeve of mine (hence the disproportionate rant you just skipped over). As much as I love Apple, this is indefensible, silly even. Even if it’s only a sort of technical quibble, it indicates a serious lack of reality checking on Apple’s part.

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:33 pm

800,000 Doctors Warned About Stolen Personal Information [Voices]

By Jacob Goldstein, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Hey, docs: Someone stole your data.

The Blue Cross Blue and Blue Shield Association is warning about 800,000 doctors (nearly every practicing physician in the country) that a laptop containing some of their personal information was stolen, the Chicago Tribune reports.

No patient information was stored on the computer. But the database does include the social security numbers of more than 100,000 of the docs. The database also contains addresses and other information.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:06 pm

Samsung adds Blockbuster, Amazon video to HDTVs and Blu-Ray players

Section: Video, Content, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray, HDTV, Video Providers

It seems like no set top box is safe from getting Internet video options lately.  Amazon, Blockbuster and Netflix have been hard at work to get their respective video stores on as many boxes as possible.  We’ve seen a number of companies add the functionality through new hardware and firmware updates, and now we can add Samsung to that list of companies.

Samsung is now rolling out firmware updates to Blu-Ray players and Internet@TV displays that will feature two of the three major video services.  Blockbuster On Demand and Amazon will now be available through the updates, allowing users two more ways to get movies and TV shows instantly.  However, only Amazon video actually supports HD content, so it will probably be more preferable.  To bring Blockbuster back in, however, Samsung Blu-ray players will now be available at Blockbuster stores, which, assuming people still use the store, should hopefully bring in a few sales.

With all these companies adding all these services, eventually it seems we’ll all have a large number of boxes that support Internet video.  Not even just the boxes, but also HDTVs.  Soon there will be no excuse to not at least know of movie streaming services, if you don’t already use them.  Having a wide range of products that have the features is nice, but it can also become confusing and annoying.  Different services could have different stream qualities for specific content, and some devices could produce better video or audio assuming the user has no home theater surround sound setup.  Surely consumers will be able to figure it out, but for now, do we really need to have Netflix, Blockbuster and Amazon on every box that connects to a TV?

Read [Engadget]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:04 pm

Delta Air Lines Sued Over Alleged E-mail Hacking

alphadogg writes "Delta Air Lines is being sued for allegedly hacking the e-mail account of a passenger rights advocate supporting legislation that would allow access to food, water and toilets during long delays on the tarmac. Kathleen Hanni, executive director of Flyersrights.org, alleges Delta obtained sensitive e-mails and files and used the material in an attempt to derail the 'Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights of 2009,' of which four versions are pending before Congress. The suit was filed on Tuesday in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas and seeks a minimum of $11 million in damages. Flyersrights.org, a nonprofit organization founded in 2007, had been investigating surface delays in air travel."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:52 pm

Hands-On: Nokia Booklet 3G Promises Monster Battery Life

The netbook market is red-hot, and it’s no surprise that it’s attracting new entrants. The Booklet 3G is a shot from Nokia, the world’s largest handset manufacturer.

Nokia is trying to blur the line between smartphones and notebooks. While the Booklet 3G is a late entrant to an overcrowded party, it has a few things going for it including the design and its promise of an epic 12-hour battery life.

The Booklet 3G is the first PC from Nokia, and it’s a head-turner. Smooth as silk, the netbook has an aluminum chassis and a glossy mirrorlike finish. The device is slim (about 20mm thick) and weighs just 2.76 pounds. It has nicely rounded edges that give it a sleek, polished look and comes in three colors: blue, black and white.

The Booklet’s keyboard is well laid-out with keys that offer excellent tactile feedback and a trackpad that’s not overly sensitive.

But here’s the real stand-out feature. The Booklet has a 16-cell battery, which means a whopping 12 hours of usage time — enough for a round-trip flight between San Francisco and New York.

The battery is where, Nokia says, it has brought its design expertise. Sixteen cells is the most we have seen in a netbook so far, and on the Booklet the extra heft doesn’t show. The user-removable battery is slim and blends into the netbook beautifully.

The Booklet 3G is one of the few netbooks available on contract with a telecom carrier. AT&T will offer it for $300 with a $60-per-month data contract for two years. If that’s too much for you, Best Buy plans to offer an unlocked, unsubsidized version for $600.

Under the hood, the Booklet runs an Intel Atom Z530 1.6-GHz processor on a Windows 7 operating system. That will make it one of the first few netbooks to ship with Microsoft’s latest OS.

The Booklet 3G also comes with 1 GB RAM, a 120-GB hard disk drive and a 10-inch display. For connectivity, the netbook features an HDMI port, three USB ports, a headphone/microphone jack and a slot for SD card readers.

Since it runs the Windows 7 operating system, which launches Oct. 22, it’s likely the netbook will release around then. The Booklet also includes Nokia’s Ovi software for easy synchronization between Nokia phones and the netbook.

Overall, we would say Nokia nailed the design and the battery life. But the cost makes it more expensive than Dell, HP, MSI and Asus or any of the other devices out there.

Top photo: Nokia. Additional photos: Priya Ganapati.

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:50 pm

Hands-On: Nokia Booklet 3G Promises Monster Battery Life

We get some hands-on time with Nokia's first netbook, the Booklet 3G, and it's a head-turner. Its design and monster battery life make it stand out from the competition.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:50 pm

California County Hoarding Map Data Ordered to Pay $500,000

A California county's three-year battle to prevent a nonprofit group from obtaining public mapping data has ended disastrously for the county after it was ordered by a court to pay the group $500,000 in legal costs. The county had once tried to charge the group $250,000 for the data.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:45 pm

Deal of the Week: Pay whatever you want for World of Goo

FROM GAMERTELL - 2D Boy Games is celebrating World of Goo’s first birthday by offering to sell the game for whatever we think it’s worth. This offer will end on October 19, 2009…
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:42 pm

Verizon officially confirms they’re getting the Moto Sholes/Droid via Twitter

Considering that this thing has been spotted rocking the VZW branding countless times and Big Red’s own execs have been seen with them in hand, there should be all of zero doubt in anyone’s mind that the Motorola Droid (otherwise known as Tao, or Sholes) is destined for the carrier. With that said, it’s always nice to see official confirmation, and it just came. Was there a big announcement? Nope. Press Release? Nuh uh. Random tweet from VZW? Yep.

The good word came after our friend Dylan Oliver tweet-ranted that the handset’s impending launch being the only thing keeping him from hurling his BlackBerry Pearl into a wall. VZW was quick to respond:

no hurling please:-) you will have the phone very soon. @Meefle so are we…stay in touch.

There you have it, folks – straight out of the Big Red Horse’s mouth. We can only hope that “very soon” actually means “very soon”.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:33 pm

Pick up your Wii controllers in white or black

FROM GAMERTELL - Nintendo has announced that it will start releasing black Wii controllers on November 16, 2009. Black remotes, motionplus adapters and nunchuks will be available.
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:18 pm

Nikon's D5000 Takes 2 Steps Back

Nikon's D90 was awesome, but the D5000 not so much. It's a star at capturing photos, but even your freshest movie is going to look faded.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:15 pm

Augmented reality telescreen harasses onlookers

Hand from Above from Chris O'Shea on Vimeo.

This commissioned work by artist Chris O’Shea has an enormous hand alternately crushing, picking up, and tickling passersby. It certainly is reminiscent of the Kids in the Hall sketch with the head crusher (which I have embedded below for your convenience). It appears to work more or less automatically, effacing people it picks up or shrinking them. Not the hardest thing to do (especially with a decent background image) but, I imagine, difficult to do dynamically like that. All in good fun, though.

If you’re in Cardiff or Liverpool during the next couple weeks, check this thing out.

[via Neatorama and Make]

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

Road Trip! GM Sends the Volt Out Into the World

Eight range-extended electric vehicles hit the road for a three-day shakedown cruise to see how they perform in the real world.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

Plant Siblings Play Nice, Share Dirt

Mustard seedlings are able to recognize siblings from the same mother plant using chemical signals, and they try not to compete with each other for soil and water like they would with unrelated plants.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

Acer to Overtake Dell "Very Soon," All Right [Digital Daily]

There was more truth than braggadocio to Acer President Gianfranco Lanci’s claim earlier today that his company would soon overtake Dell as the second-largest PC maker in the world. Because according to new reports from both Gartner and IDC, Acer is indeed the No. 2 producer of PCs in the world.

Gartner (IT) figures Acer sold 12.5 million PCs in the quarter, a year-over-year increase of 23.6 percent from last-year’s third quarter and 15.4 percent of the global market. By contrast, it says Dell (DELL) sold 10.3 million PCs–6.7 percent fewer than it sold a year ago–for a 12.8 percent market share. Meanwhile, IDC pegs Acer at 14 percent global market share and Dell at 12.7 percent.

Both research houses put Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) on top, with Gartner showing the company at 19.9 percent of PCs shipped and IDC at 20.2 percent.

Source: All Things Digital | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:55 pm

Equis International Announces Partnership With TechniTrader

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:54 pm

Augmented reality browser Layar now available for the iPhone

Half an hour ago, I just had an iPhone 3GS. Now, I have an iPhone 3GS with Layar installed. It was one of the main questions I had for the Dutch company, which markets an augmented reality browser, when they launched at the Mobile 2.0 Europe event in Barcelona last year. When would they be complementing their Android program with an application for the iPhone? They said it'd come in the fall of this year, and while there have been a number of AR applications made available on the App Store in the meantime, Layar's finally arrived a couple of hours ago and it's worth a second look. (iTunes link)

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:50 pm

Comparing Performance and Power Use For Vista vs. Windows 7 WIth Clarksfield Chip

crazipper writes "Back when Intel launched its Core i5/i7 'Lynnfield' CPUs, Tom's Hardware ran some tests in Windows 7 versus Vista to gauge the benefits of the core parking and ideal core optimizations, said to cut power consumption in the new OS. It turned out that Win7 shifted the Nehalem-based CPUs in and out of Turbo Boost mode faster, resulting in higher power draw under load, while idle power was a slight bit lower. The mobile version of the architecture was claimed (at the time) to show a greater improvement in moving to Win7. Today there's a follow-up with the flagship Clarksfield processor that shows the same aggressive P-state promotion policies giving Win7 a significant performance advantage with Core i7 Mobile. However, power consumption is higher as well."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:38 pm

Houston-Based ThinAir Wireless Widens Family Safety Net by Expanding Into Android Market

HOUSTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The P.O.M.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:35 pm

Colo5 Data Center Achieves Industry Certification Milestone

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Colo5, a leading independent data operator headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, today announced the successful completion of its first Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) 70 Type I audit.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:30 pm

Augment Your Reality With Layar for iPhone

Layar, which has been the poster child for augmented reality smartphone apps, just arrived in the iPhone’s App Store.

The Layar augmented reality browser looks at an environment through the phone’s camera and overlays data on top of points of interest such as restaurants, shops and tourist attractions.

The app retrieves information from third-party developers who contribute their “layers” to the Layar platform. For example, there’s a layer called iMetro, and when that’s selected and you’re standing outside, Layar will display digital overlays of nearby bus stops and the time the next bus is arriving.

Get what we mean? Layers are similar to plug-ins that customize desktop browsers. There are also layers for Yellow Pages, Las Vegas casinos and Wikipedia. The layers are free, as is the Layar app. Based in Amsterdam, Layar told Wired.com that after the platform generates enough interest, it might begin charging users for premium layers. For now, Layar appears to be in a stage of experimentation, and it’s a good start.

Wired.com’s Rose Roark last week wrote a hands-on about the Android version of Layar. Check that out for some more insight into the app.

Download Link [iTunes]

See Also:

• Hands-On: Android App ‘Layar’ Brings Reality’s Unique Snowflakes …
• If You’re Not Seeing Data, You’re Not Seeing
• Digital Contacts Will Keep an Eye on Your Vital Signs

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:24 pm

Augment Your Reality With Layar for iPhone

Layar, a popular augmented reality smartphone app, has finally arrived on the iPhone, and it's free.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:24 pm

Comcast to begin alerting customers that they may have a virus

Section: Computers, Security

Comcast has announced a new program that will alert customers when suspicious activity is detected coming from their computers.  The alerts will pop up on the homepage and be triggered by such things a sudden and sharp spike in traffic coming from a customer’s IP, known bot behavior and customer IPs showing up on blacklists such as the one kept by Spamhaus.

Alissa Cooper, chief computer scientist for the Center for Democracy and Technology, said the organization welcomes Comcast’s initiative. “ISPs have a helpful role to play in helping subscribers mitigate these kinds of security threats,” she said. “The challenge is…when users get these notices, do they understand them? Do they trust that they are real? Do they follow through to the point where they clean up their computers?”

The program, called Constant Guard, will begin today with a trial in the Denver area.  Customers that may be infected will be presented with the pop up and a link to a Comcast site with instruction on how to clean their systems.  Comcast customers are also given access to a free download of McAfee Security Suite (but I don’t recommend it.  It’s bloatware, hogs system resources and tends to create conflicts with other programs.  Stick to AVG or Avast instead).

This is an excellent idea, but more needs to be done.  Since many people rarely if ever visit their ISP’s homepage, perhaps sending email alerts also would be helpful.  There would have to be some kind of system implemented that would assure users that those alerts were legit correspondence and not spam though.  There’s also the question about what to do about the inevitable false alarms, and if the suspicious activity continues, should they follow Quest’s lead and throw up a warning page blocking them from browsing the web and directing them to clean the infection?

Comcast will presumably be launching the program nationwide if the test in Denver goes well.  It will be interesting to see if it is effective at fighting malware and viruses.

Read [CNet]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pm

BIG PIC: Could Observatory Lasers Damage Satellites?

Observatories that use powerful lasers are at odds with the U.S. Air Force.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pm

Guerrillas Help Scientists Study Literacy

Scientists have located the parts of the brain involved in literacy by studying former guerrillas.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pm

Man builds Vespa rocking horse for grandchild, jealousy for everyone else

 

Here is a photo of the luckiest kid in the world. Look at that cute little face. He seems to be saying “I have a Vespa rocking horse. Do you have a Vespa rocking horse? Where do you keep your Vespa rocking horse? I’m but a small child so I can only assume that all other children have a Vespa rocking horse just like mine.”

While I’ve got news for you, Diego. My childhood rocking horse consisted of little more than some cheap springs, a whole lot of ass splinters, and general disappointment.

Aw, I’m just jealous. That’s why I’ve been so moody lately. It’s not Diego’s fault, he clearly has an awesome grandpa. And to be fair, my grandpa did buy me Castle Grayskull no questions asked when I was five. Can your Vespa rocking horse travel to Eternia, Diego? Oh, it just stays in one place? I see. Hmm, that’s unfortunate.

[via Likecool]

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pm

Incapital Introduces New Structured Investments Online Resource for Financial Professionals

CHICAGO, Oct.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:54 pm

Road To Riches Doesn't Run Through the App Store

Etienne Steward writes "Turns out that while a few fortunes can be made with Apple, Steve Demeter made most of his money by buying Palm (of all companies) at $1.76 and selling at $12. Apparently, there aren't as many iPhone App millionaires as we would like to be believe. From the article: 'In almost a dozen interviews conducted by NEWSWEEK, Apple consultants and programmers jettison the idea that the App Store is a world of easy opportunity, or a fast track to quitting the rat race. Instead they describe an anxiety-wracked marketplace full of bewildering rules, long odds, and little sense of control over one's success or failure. "It's kind of a crapshoot," says Demeter, who spent the last two weekends partying in Las Vegas and New York. "I think we've reached a point where people are thinking I shouldn't quit my day job for this."'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:47 pm

Bing Continues Steady Growth

Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, has increased its share of the US search market for the fourth month in a row, according to new figures released by comScore on Wednesday.The tracking firm reported that Bing’s market share rose from 9.3 percent in August to 9.4 percent in September.Microsoft’s search engine has witnessed steady growth in its market share since its unveiling in May.ComScore also noted that Yahoo’s market share dropped by half of a point to 18.8 percent in September, while market leader Google saw its share increase to 64.9 percent in September from 64.4 percent in August.In July, Microsoft and Yahoo announced a 10-year alliance on Internet search that would give Bing access to the search queries entered on Yahoo, while Yahoo would handle the responsibility of selling ads that appear alongside search results.The Microsoft, Yahoo agreement is still under review by anti-trust regulators.“Bing continues to nibble away at Yahoo,” said Youssef Squali, an analyst with Jefferies & Co.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:40 pm

New Hire Supports CRM manager's Commitment to Cloud Computing

MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- CRM manager, a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) implementation and integration firm, today announced that veteran technology executive Gopal Gorthi has joined the company as its Chief Technology Officer. Mr.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:34 pm

Sanyo’s new camcorders are iFrame-compatible, and I say again, DO NOT WANT iFrame

Yesterday I lamented Apple’s decision to establish its own video standard, which, while little more than a suggested resolution and bitrate, does not fit will with any devices anywhere. The steady progression of VGA or WVGA, 720p, and 1080p are perfectly fine for the moment. That’s why every camera in the world shoots to one of them. 1080p is too much for most people to work with, but 720p isn’t that bad (though render times can be long), and VGA is really not that bad at all (Doug swears by it). So why the hell put a new one in there between WVGA and 720p? I don’t like the idea of Apple bullying companies like Sanyo, who make perfectly good camcorders already, to add an option which needlessly complicates things.

But let’s just get these camcorders out of the way, because they’re worth taking a look at. The two cameras are almost the same spec-wise except the horizontally-oriented FH1 has a 3-inch LCD as opposed to the pistol grip HD2000’s 2.7-inch. They appear to be quite versatile camcorders, able to take 12 stills a second or shoot up to 600FPS video at reduced resolution, something which was until recently the exclusive ability of Casio Exilims. They’ll shoot 1080p video at 60FPS, which is pretty amazing, though I don’t recommend you do it. Interestingly, they won’t shoot 720p or 640×480 at 60FPS — a bit odd. SD cards are the medium you record to, and both cameras have a 10x optical zoom. Quite a neat little package for $500! Or $600 if you want the pistol grip.

But to return to the rant. These cameras will also shoot, and in fact will default to, the 960×540 iFrame format. Come on. It can do so much and you’re defaulting it to this random format?

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:30 pm

Alp Glacier Melts Reveal Once Frozen Chemical Compounds

Researchers have reported that the melting Alpine glaciers are letting off harmful pollutants once captured by the ice, which could result in a "dire environmental impact" for the region.In a study of sediment from an Alpine lake, Swiss researchers found trace amounts of now banned chemicals such as dioxins and pesticides like DDT."We can confirm with the help of these layers that, in the 1960s and 1970s, POPs (Persistant Organic Pollutants) were produced in great quantities and were also deposited in this Alpine lake," Christian Bogdal, of the Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research, said in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.Researchers studied a sediment core from the glacier-fed Lake Oberaar in Switzerland.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:28 pm

MSI's All-in-One PC Is One for All

MSI's latest single-serving PC makes some strides in the power department, but not in its price.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:13 pm

Opinion: Sony’s silence concerning PSPgo sales data speaks volumes

FROM GAMERTELL - The PSPgo has been in stores for two weeks and Sony has yet to release any exact sales figures. This leaves the world to wonder whether or not the PSPgo is tanking…
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:08 pm

Improving China's Acid Rain Control Strategy

Image Caption: A new study urges China to take steps to reduce nitrogen emissions, which contribute to acid rain that can damage soil and plants like these trees. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:03 pm

Today on the CrunchGear Live Podcast

Here are some of the topics from today’s podcast…

• Devin hates Apple’s new iFrame video format
• Barnes and Noble’s impending e-book reader
• Android is everywhere — at CTIA, at CEATAC — everywhere!
• Rebirth of Polaroid
• The Motorola Cliq
• An uncomfortable discussion about weird $40 sex jars from Japan

LISTEN: Show Link | RSS Feed | iTunes Link

Source: CrunchGear | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm

3D Fingerprinting — Touchless, More Accurate, and Faster

kkleiner writes "For all the glory it gets, the fingerprint has evolved very little in the last 60 years. They’re still two dimensional. The US Department of Homeland Security and the National Institute of Justice are hoping to change that. They've given grants to dozens of companies to perfect touchless 3D fingerprinting. Two universities (University of Kentucky and Carnegie Mellon) and their two respective start-up companies (Flashscan 3D and TBS Holdings) have succeeded. Fingerprints have reached the third dimension and they are faster, more accurate, and touchless."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm

Heat Forms Harmful Substance In High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Image Caption: A new study shows that heat can produce a potentially toxic substance in high-fructose corn syrup that can kill honeybees and may also threaten human health. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:57 pm

Verizon’s BlackBerry Storm2 Competitive Comparison chart leaks out

Man, you’ve gotta love these things. I’ve yet to see one of these leak out showing any shortcomings for the primary device – but I guess that’s really the point. It’s not so much a comparison chart as it is a “You should probably avoid talking about stuff outside of this list” chart.

Anyway – the chart up above is purported to be the one that VZW employees will be studying for the sake of pitching the Storm2. There’s some interesting stuff going on; for example, they chose to compare the Storm2 to an iPhone 3G, rather than a 3GS – which is weird, considering that the only difference that would reflect in this list is that the 3GS’ camera is 3 megapixels rather than 2. At 3.2 megapixels (with flash), the Storm2 would still have it beat.

Good job diggin’ this one up, CrackBerry.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:54 pm

Walmart wants to give it to you straight, introduces their new Straight Talk cell phone plan.

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Mobile

With the economy the way it is today, more and more people are looking around for ways to pinch pennies and save a buck.  Carpooling, being sure to turn off all the lights, and less needless spending are becoming much more of the norm.  One big area that many are looking at to try to cut down on is on their cell phone bill.  More people are abandoning the high costs of a “regular” cell phone plan that racks them anywhere from an average of $78 and up a month*, and turning to a pay-as-you-go or no contract cell plan.  With this in mind, enter Walmart’s latest way to try to offer up the goofy big yellow smiley face to their customers.

Just announced today is Walmart’s plan to offer up a no-contract wireless service to their customers at two different pre-paid price ranges.  The plan is called “Straight Talk,” and so far has received good reviews from customers in the pilot program across over 200 hundred different Wal-Mart stores, according to Walmart’s VP of Media Relations, Greg Hall.  The launch will begin at over 3,200 Walmart stores on October 18, 2009.

So what is this going to cost you and what does it offer?  You can pick from either a $30 or $45 a month pre-paid plan.  The $30 a month “All You Need” plan gets you 1,000 minutes, 1,000 text messages, and 30 MB of web access.  You also get free 411 calls and nationwide coverage.  If you think you don’t want to limit yourself with your minutes and messages, you could choose to upgrade to the $45 a month Unlimited 30-day plan, which gives you (obviously enough) unlimited calls, text messages and mobile web access, as well as free 411 and nationwide coverage. 

Considering that the average US adult plunks down almost $80 a month for their cellular service to get 1,000 minutes a month, this is a rather good deal.  But, the question comes in to play, how’s the service?  The biggest complaint with this type of deal is that, yeah, you save money..but you also get what you pay for.  One of the names splashed around a lot anymore is Boost.  But many users of this service give awful reviews stating they lose messages, constantly have problems connecting to the network and lose calls all the time.  Yet others claim to love it.  Where you live probably plays a huge role in what kind of service you receive due to coverage.

Before going out and signing up for any pre-paid plan, I’d recommend finding someone in your area that has it and ask how they like it.  How does it work for them?  It may work spectacularly for someone in Chicago, and never connect for someone in Podunk.  Or it may have a problem of losing text messages left and right, but the calls go through somehow (which many people claim for some services).  If this is the case, if texting isn’t a major issue for you, it may still be more than worth it for you to save that $50 a month on a plan like “Straight Talk.”

Straight Talk customers can refill their balance one of two ways - buy a refill card at the store, or register online at either the Walmart website or StraightTalk.com.  You can also pick up your phone for the plan at your local store.  Phones range from the LG 220 flip ($39.98) all the way up to the Samsung 451 QWERTY keyboard phone ($99.88).

You can get more information on the plan at Walmart.com or StraightTalk.com.

* Source: Nielsen Mobile Bill Panel Data

Read: [PRNewswire]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:39 pm

Colombian Guerrillas Help Scientists Locate Literacy In The Brain

A unique study of former guerrillas in Colombia has helped scientists redefine their understanding of the key regions of the brain involved in literacy.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:28 pm

Rutgers Physicists Discover Novel Electronic Properties In Two-Dimensional Carbon Structure

Previously predicted but unobserved interactions between massless particles may lead to speedy, powerful electronic devicesRutgers researchers have discovered novel electronic properties in two-dimensional sheets of carbon atoms called graphene that could one day be the heart of speedy and powerful electronic devices.The new findings, previously considered possible by physicists but only now being seen in the laboratory, show that electrons in graphene can interact strongly with each other.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:23 pm

UM School Of Medicine Researchers Find Extreme Genetic Variability In Malaria Parasite

Study in Mali, West Africa indicates possibility of vaccine-resistant malariaResearchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) have charted the extreme genetic differences that occur over time in the most dangerous malaria parasite in the world.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:18 pm

Device Protects Day Traders From Emotional Trading

Philips Electronics, a Netherlands based company, has come up with a device designed to protect day traders from emotionally based trading decisions. The Rationalizer measures your galvanic skin response and lets you know when you are under stress. An online trader can then take a "time-out, wind down and re-consider their actions," according to the company. This may have come too late for us, but at least future generations won't have to live through the horror of angry day trading.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:17 pm

Apple Unresponsive to iPhone IM App ‘Trillian’

The makers of Trillian, a popular desktop instant-messaging client, say their iPhone app is stuck in limbo with Apple’s App Store reviewers. The developers submitted the Trillian app two months ago and have not received notice of approval or rejection.

“We’ve been getting more and more questions from customers wondering where the heck our iPhone App is,” Trillian developer Cerulean Studios wrote in a blog post. “Unfortunately, we have no idea.”

The Trillian client allows users to connect to multiple IM services, including AIM, ICQ, Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger. A special feature of the software is automatic synchronization between devices. Thus, if you change your AIM avatar on Trillian on your desktop system, for example, that change will be reflected in the Trillian iPhone app.

Apple’s App Store approval policy has been notoriously questionable and inconsistent. For example, Apple rejected Eucalytpus, an e-book reader, because it was able to retrieve the Kama Sutra. In response to widespread scrutiny, Apple later approved the app.

Cases like Trillian’s — where Apple will neither approve nor reject an app — can be even more mysterious. In March, FreedomVoice Systems told Wired.com it was tabling development of its voice app Newber, because Apple ignored the app for six months, giving it neither the red nor the green light. The developer claimed Apple’s negligence amounted in a loss of approximately $600,000 invested in Newber. Today, Newber is still not for sale in the App Store.

Will Trillian meet the same fate as Newber? It seems unlikely Apple would reject an IM app, considering there are several similar apps available in the App Store. More likely this case suggests Apple is overburdened with apps. According to Apple, the App Store review team consists of 40 reviewers, and two reviewers evaluate each app. On average, they review 8,500 apps a week; the App Store currently serves over 85,000 apps.

See Also:

• Apple Rejects Google Voice App, Invites Regulation
• Developer: Apple Denied Health Care App for Political Reasons …
• Apple Told Us in July That ‘Voice’ App Would be Rejected, Google …
• Apple’s Delays Could Cost iPhone Developer $600K
• Rejected By Apple, iPhone Developers Go Underground

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:01 pm

Scientists Make Desktop Black Hole

Chinese scientists have created an artifiical black hole in the lab. No, the world hasn't ended.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 14 Oct 2009 | 1:00 pm

Carnegie Mellon Researchers Save Electricity With Low-Power Processors And Flash Memory

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Intel Labs Pittsburgh (ILP) have combined low-power, embedded processors typically used in netbooks with flash memory to create a server architecture that is fast, but far more energy efficient for data-intensive applications than the systems now used by major Internet services.An experimental computing cluster based on this so-called Fast Array of Wimpy Nodes (FAWN) architecture was able to handle 10 to 100 times as many queries for the same amount of energy as a conventional, disk-based cluster.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:43 pm

Is the HTC HD2 heading for T-Mobile?

Windows Mobile 6.5 or not, we’re still pretty pumped about the HTC HD2. It’s just so damn pretty. We’ve known since early last week that the HD2 would find its way stateside by the first quarter of next year – and now we’ve got a good idea of which carrier might be nabbing it.

TmoNews just got tipped a photo showing the HTC HD2 flying high on a T-Mobile slide. It’s a bit unconventional to see the slide printed out and either taped to a wall or sitting on a desk – but it certainly isn’t the first time. The slide makes no mention of any names, indicating that T-Mobile hasn’t decided what to call this thing on their end yet – but with a 4.3″ screen, snapdragon processor, and that lovely product shot, we’re definitely looking at the HD2 here.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:35 pm

Identifying ID Theft And Fraud

If the wife of FBI boss Robert Mueller has warned him not to use internet banking because of the threat of online fraud, then what hope is there for the average Jo? The results of research published in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics suggests that more of us are no longer entrusting our finances to virtual accounts.According to Susan Sproule and Norm Archer of McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, identity theft and fraud are an increasing concern to consumers who interact with online businesses routinely.Phishing for logins is not the only problem.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:32 pm

“Family Guy” goes wild for Windows - at least for a night

Section: Video, Content, Computers, Software / Applications, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Web, Online Music/Video

You’d have to be blind not to see Microsoft trying to shove Windows 7 into the living rooms of America through TV commercials.  The most recent—the gaggy sweet little girl making rainbow and flower pages though, is in my opinion, not their best effort.  But, that effort is now veering in a new direction with their latest venture.  Microsoft has just signed a deal with Fox to sponsor a show produced by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane.

And get this, the show isn’t even going to have any commercials!  That’s because it is kind of one big long commercial in itself.  It is going to be a plethora of Windows programming throughout the show.  The title is “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show,” and will be a mix-up mashup of animated shorts, live-action “Family Guy” musical performances, as well as celebrity guest appearances.

No one would talk about the specifics of how they are gonna slip Windows 7 in throughout the show, but we are told it is going to be well integrated into the content.  According to general manager of consumer engagement and advertising at Microsoft, Gayle Troberman, “You’ll see us deeply integrated into the content ... you’ll hear a lot about how Windows 7 can help you simplify your PC—it’s simple, fast and easy to use,”  She continued by saying, “Think about metaphors and examples we might use, talking about how simple things are. We’ll be evoking the cast of ‘Family Guy’ in some interesting ways that integrate the product messages.”  Hmmm….maybe stressing it is so easy to use, even a bright bulb like the family guy can use it.

Troberman maintains that branded entertainment with content integration and programming offered up “phenomenal results” when they used it for launching the search engine Bing.  She says that is why they are going that route for Windows 7 as well.  “Consumers exposed to both branded entertainment and advertising have more positive reactions,” she said.  But, working in to use an OS isn’t quite as simple as promoting a candy bar, or even a search engine.  I’m curious to see just how they manage to do it.  The show is scheduled to air on November 8 at 8:30 PM Eastern.

Read: adage

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:30 pm

Scientists Uncover Trampled Dinosaur Bones In Utah

Image Caption: The diagonal fracture in the ischium bone of a Venenosaurus suggests the break occurred when the bone was still fresh. Credit: Brooks Britt / BYU
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:20 pm

Milestone Discovery In Cell Behaviors

A team of international molecular scientists, led by a Monash University researcher has discovered a new, fast mechanism by which cells communicate change – for example their location during spreading of a cancer in the human body – to adjacent cells.The discovery sheds new light on cell behavior and could lead to the development on new drugs to combat diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.The team led by Monash University Associate Professor Martin Lackmann found that for one particular communicator between cells, an enzyme known as A-Disintegrin-And-Metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10), a change in the shape of its contender (communication partner) will start the communication process.Scientists are interested in ADAM10 - and the proteins that are split by this protease – because it is critical in cellular mechanisms that underlie several major diseases."This communication process between cells forms the basis for the way in which certain diseases progress.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 14 Oct 2009 | 12:12 pm

Rumor: Apple to ‘unlock’ Radio.app for iPhone and iPod touch?

9 to 5 Mac has received word that Apple is working on bringing FM radio capabilities to its iPhone and iPod touch lines. More specifically, Radio.app (as it is known) will purportedly have permission to operate in the background (because Apple’s apps are better than the 80,000 other apps that don’t get to run in the background, or something) and “will offer the same functionality as the FM radio in the new iPod Nanos.”

Thanks to our friendly neighborhood tear-down enthusiasts, we’ve known that the iPhone 3G S and the iPod touch (2G and 3G) have included a FM receiver (which is part of the chipset used for Nike+) for quite a while. We’re sort of doubting that Apple would share the FM-radio-wealth (at least not with those who’ve already purchased their iPhones/touches) without asking for a buck or two in return – but even so, the addition of FM is so frequently requested that it’s just nice to see happen. According to the knowledgeable tipster:

The holdup on this app is that Apple is trying to integrate the Mobile iTunes Store purchases into the functionality of the program. For instance, if you like a song you are listening to on the radio (and that station supports tagging and you are in the US), you will be able to push a button and see the song (and all of the information around it) in the iTunes Mobile store. With another click, you’ll be able to make a purchase. This is an extension of the Song Tagging feature used in the iPod Nanos.

Come on, Apple. Make the right call here and unleash the incredible technology that is FM radio. Or, if you prefer to let the Zune HD (and others) maintain a slight edge with its integrated FM capabilities, so be it. The ball is in your court.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 11:35 am

BIG PIC: Andromeda Seen in New Light

NASA's Swift Satellite captured a stunning image of our galactic neighbor: Andromeda.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 11:25 am

Digi introduces new 3G router with GPS, Wi-Fi and more

Section: Computers, Hardware, Networking

Digi has announced their launch of a mobile hotspot 3G router, the Digi TransPort WR44.  This router will include Wi-Fi capabilities, GPS functionality as well as security features that promise to keep your data safe.  The router is designed for businesses that work in the transportation and sales industries or have a remote office.

You can install the Digi TransPort WR44 in public safety vehicles, buses, trains and vans.  It comes with a mounting system and has a rugged design meant to protect it from any rough handling.  The network is a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, so users can feel secure about processing payments through the router.  It also has multiple serial ports available, including a GPS module, four Ethernet ports and a USB port.  You can configure and edit your router settings with the included Remote Manager software.

The current retail price is $895 and you get a five year manufacturer’s warranty with your purchase.  Buying information is available through the Digi website. 

Site: [Digi]
Image Source: Digi

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 11:01 am

Leaked Photos: Is This the Barnes & Noble E-Book Reader?

Leaked photos have surfaced on the web purporting to reveal Barnes & Noble’s e-book reader, and the device looks a lot like Amazon’s Kindle.

In the images, the Barnes & Noble e-reader appears to have a 6-inch monochrome E-Ink display and wireless connectivity (telecom carrier undetermined). The device’s square form factor with its white frame is reminiscent of the Kindle’s design.

But what separates the Barnes & Noble e-reader from the Kindle is a secondary touch-capable LCD screen, says Gizmodo, which published the photos. Otherwise unremarkable, the e-reader will have the usual set of buttons for next page, previous page, search, home, book store, and user profile.

The e-reader is likely to be unveiled at an event Barnes & Noble plans to host Oct. 20, according to Gizmodo.

E-book readers are expected to be a hot gadget this holiday season and electronics retailer Best Buy has said it will dedicate a section for these devices. But Barnes & Noble’s e-reader will join a crowded market. In the past six months alone, companies such as Sony and iRex have announced newer models.

Barnes & Noble hopes its clout as a publisher and books retailer will give it a leg up on the competition. The company reportedly plans to sell the books it publishes at a deep discount for its e-reader customers. Pricing for the Barnes & Noble e-reader is unknown though most industry experts believe it will be lower than the Kindle ($260).

Check out Gizmodo’s gallery of photos of the Barnes & Noble e-reader.

See Also:

• LG’s Solar-Powered E-Book Reader
• Why E-Books Look So Ugly
• Why E-Books Are Stuck in a Black-and-White World
• Kindle Readers Ignite Protest Over E-Book Prices

Photo: Barnes & Noble e-reader/Gizmodo

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 10:39 am

Acer introduces new ‘Liquid’ Android + Snapdragon smartphone

Starting all the way back in December of 2008, Acer let it be known that it was working on a self-branded smartphone. Then, this past June, Acer up and joined the Open Handset Alliance and said that it would release its first Android device by Q4 of 2009. Well what do you know. Q4 is here and Acer has actually put its money where its mouth was with the announcement of its first Android-based, Snapdragon-powered smartphone, Liquid.

Acer is touting its new Liquid mobile (previously known as the A1) as “the world’s first Snapdragon and Android 1.6 smartphone” and who are we to disagree. Along with its powerful 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor and Android 1.6, the Liquid features a “high definition” 800×480 wide VGA capacitive touch screen display and comes in either red, white, or black. According to Acer:

[The Liquid] is the ideal solution for users demanding the best from their devices, and in particular outstanding multimedia, web browsing, social media integration and video streaming. It also brings smartphone product design forward with its unique and modern style.

This platform brings to market unique benefits for the end users and paves the way for a new wave of innovations from the developer community:

* With its High Definition capacitive touch screen (Wide VGA), Acer Liquid offers today an unparalleled experience when watching pictures or videos. But it also holds a promise for the future: the promise of an abundance of new applications on Android™ Smart Handhelds – games, professional applications and web applets that will enrich the end user experience. Now developers can be assured that their investment will build upon a standard resolution for the years to come;
* Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, Acer Liquid provides instant access to web pages, smooth streaming of videos or music , and instant response from popular mail, maps and search applications. The high-speed processing capability and high-speed internet access (HSPA) of Snapdragon™ brings to life the Android™ experience: no idle-time, almost instant uploads of web pages and downloads of rich multimedia contents. The developer community can now take full advantage of these capabilities to bring to market innovative applications that demand raw computing power and superior handling of 3D graphics.

The Liquid also includes HSPA connectivity, a 5MP camera with auto-focus, geo-tagging, ISO and a self-timer, and “a slim body shape…that fits well in the hand, and displays a smooth finish.” Oh, and we cannot forget the Liquid’s “unique software enhancements” including:

* Improved power management to help achieve longer battery autonomy for intense users;
* A new user interface with easy access to entertainment and web bookmarks;
* An optimized camera with geo-tagging, ISO, self-timer options and accelerated auto-focus performance;
* Exclusive Spinlets™ application providing free streaming of worldwide music and video, that can be shared with friends and family through web-posting or e-mail;
* Smart integration of Facebook™, Twitter™, Youtube™, Picasa™ and Flickr™ in the address book, with realtime notification of status or content updates.

Acer conveniently left out all the juicy pricing and availability details. But hey, they said they’d drop a ‘droid in Q4, and gosh darn it…they meant it!

[via IntoMobile]

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 10:15 am

Walmart launching own pre-paid cell plans

Look out Virgin Mobile and Cricket, Walmart is coming for you. The infamous retailer announced today that they are launching their own no-contract cellular service on the 18th, called Straight Talk.

The retail giant has teamed up with TracFone, and is going to be offering two plans: The “All you need” $30 a month version with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 30mb of mobile web access, or the $45 a month, unlimited voice, data, and texting option.

There doesn’t appear to be an activation fee, but you will have to purchase a phone from Walmart in order to make the service work. There are currently three different phones listed on their site, a bare bones LG200C, a Motorola W285, and a MOTORAZR V3A. Price vary by phone, and by the plan you select of course.

I do have one question however. If you use a Walmart phone to send a picture to people of Walmart, will the network crash?

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 10:00 am

Possible New Da Vinci Painting Found

A fingerprint suggests a 19th-century painting of a young woman may be by Leonardo.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:40 am

Dinosaur 'Stomping Ground' Found in Utah

Crushed bones reveal that some dinosaurs were trampled by their own kind.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:20 am

PowerPak wall charger doubles as portable backup battery

Here's an interesting idea: what if the part of the cell phone charger that you plug into the wall doubled as a rechargeable extended battery pack? That's actually coming in November with the $50 PowerPak from Technocel.

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:05 am

Natural Nukes May Have Crippled Early Life

Ancient nuclear reactors may have cooked microbes trying to get a foothold on Earth.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:05 am

Acer unveils the 15.6-inch touchscreen capable Aspire notebook

Section: Computers, Laptops

Acer has recently unveiled the AS5738PG, which is the latest model in the Aspire notebook lineup and also the companies first to offer multi-touch capabilities.

The Aspire AS5738PG is going to be sporting a 15.6-inch display with a 1366 x 768 resolution.  But a little more specifically, that display will be an “HD CineCrystal LED Backlit Multi-Touch” display and in turn the notebook will be able to take advantage of the touch functionality that will come along with Windows 7.

Other features of the Aspire AS5738PG include a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, an 8x DVD-Super Multi optical drive and for graphics an ATI Radeon HD 4570 card with 512MB of dedicated DDR3 VRAM.  Additionally, you will also find a dedicated numeric keypad, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n, four USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, 6-cell battery and built-in stereo speakers with Dolby.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, the notebook will be running Windows 7, but more specifically it will be the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Home Premium.  And as you would imagine due to the installed operating system, the AS5738PG is not going to be available immediately.  Instead those wanting to make a purchase will have to wait until October 22.  As far as pricing, expect to find a starting price of $799.99.

Keep reading to check out the full press release…

Launching with Windows 7, the new Aspire AS5738PG multi-touch screen notebook delivers incredible new functionality, high-performance features, and mobile entertainment

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company(1) today debuts its new Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook PC – the company’s first notebook with multi-touch screen capabilities that offer a natural and enhanced way to interact with the PC, applications and digital data.

The Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook launches with Windows 7 Home Premium and will be available starting October 22 at select retailers.

The Acer Aspire 5738PG’s high-quality multi-touch screen display and Windows 7 multi-touch support makes entertainment and multimedia experiences more intuitive and interactive. As a result, customers can touch anywhere on the screen using one or two fingertips to play movies, zoom in and out on websites, edit photos and video, handwrite notes, resize windows, launch entertainment applications and more.

Also, customers can use the multi-touch screen for a variety of gestures directly on the screen for intuitive and accurate access and control. For example, customers can pinch inward or outward to zoom in and out of photos, flick the screen to turn the page and browse through media and documents, as well as swirl their finger for quick and simple navigation of lists.

“Customers will experience an incredible level of flexibility and control in the multi-touch screen interface, as it frees them to interact with their digital world in a way that is familiar yet also new and exciting,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “The Acer Aspire 5738PG’s multi-touch experience takes advantage of the many new capabilities in Windows 7 and provides incredibly powerful first-rate technology such as ATI Radeon graphics and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor.”

Sawall continued, “Until now, touch notebooks have been limited in capabilities and available only at a substantial price premium. The new Acer Aspire 5738PG changes all this with multi-touch screen capabilities and a price that is affordable for a wide range of customers.”

Impressive Mobile Theater Entertainment

More than the sum of its touch points, the Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook combines first-rate technologies that deliver excellent performance for mobile theater entertainment and mainstream games.

The display was designed to provide an extraordinary cinematic experience that is immersive and incredibly realistic. The vibrant HD display is a 16:9 widescreen size that’s ideal for enjoying movies and online entertainment. Plus, it’s LED-backlit, which reduces energy usage compared to traditional laptop displays. Along with the 1366×768-resolution, the LED-backlit display contributes to the display’s crisp clear visuals and is ideal for enjoying HD movies.  Plus, the touch-control is remarkably precise.

Complementing the HD display, the system’s Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides the horsepower to drive demanding applications with ease.  In addition the high-definition ATI Radeon HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM enhances imagery with vivid color and crisp detail. Dolby Home Theater Audio Enhancement with built-in speakers and 5.1-channel surround sound output bring these incredible visuals to life with vibrant crisp audio.

Technology and Extras for On-the-Go Productivity and Fun

Customers will have plenty of ways to access, store, share and enjoy their digital media files. The spacious 320GB hard drive can store a vast library of music, video, photos, spreadsheets and email. An integrated multi-in-one media reader enables connection to peripherals and electronic devices, while an HDMI port allows the system to support any PC, TV or other device with an HDMI port via a single cable.  The four USB 2.0 ports provide ample connections to peripherals and consumer electronics.

Staying in touch is fun and convenient with the notebook’s integrated 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless technology and Gigabit Ethernet. The Acer Crystal Eye webcam enables high-quality video chats and VoIP with friends, family and work associates. It can also capture still pictures and videos for sharing with others.

Hardware and Design Enhance the Touch Experience

The overall multi-touch screen experience is further enhanced by giving customers more ways to interact with their notebook through the multi-gesture touchpad. Affording easy PC navigation, the new Aspire 5738PG’s multi-gesture touchpad lets users access their applications and media with the same sort of natural, intuitive gestures they can use on the touch screen, including pinch, flick and swirl. The convenient touchpad lock can be set to prevent unintended cursor movement.

The new Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook also comes with helpful and easy-to-use one-touch buttons:  the Acer Backup Manager for backing-up important files and information, and the PowerSmart button for maximizing battery life. In addition, the notebook is Energy Star qualified.

Availability, Configurations and Pricing

The Acer Aspire AS5738PG-6306 notebook is the first model available in the line. It will be available for U.S. customers with Windows 7 Home Premium beginning Oct. 22 at leading retailers.  Specifications and pricing follow.

The Acer Aspire AS5738PG-6306 is available in Acer’s popular Gemstone Blue color.

Acer® Aspire AS5738PG-6306 Multi-Touch Screen Notebook PC

  · 15.6-Inch HD CineCrystal™ LED-Backlit Multi-Touch Screen Display (Widescreen 16.9 Aspect Ratio, 1366×768 Resolution)

  · Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

  · Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.2GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)

  · ATI Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM

  · 4GB DDR2 667MHz Dual Channel Memory

  · 320GB SATA Hard Drive(2)

  · 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive

  · Dedicated Numeric Keypad

  · Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Network Connection, Featuring MIMO Technology, Supporting Acer SignalUp™ With Nplify™3, 4 Wireless Technology

  · Two Built-In Stereo Speakers With Dolby®10-Optimized Surround Sound System

  · Acer Crystal Eye Webcam With 640 x 480 Supporting Acer PrimaLite™ Technology

  · HDMI Port and Four USB 2.0 Ports

  · Energy Star

  · 6.16 lbs with 6-Cell Battery

  · MSRP: $799.99

 

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:01 am

One-stop shop: Buy Promoted Videos in AdWords

We first launched Promoted Videos as a search advertising program on YouTube, allowing content creators to drive viewership of their videos by targeting the hundreds of millions of searches that happen on YouTube every day. But in the past year Promoted Videos has evolved into a much broader discovery vehicle, appearing on search, the YouTube homepage, video watch pages and recently across the AdSense network. We've also built better conversion opportunities via Call-to-Action overlays. As a result, Promoted Videos is now driving millions of video views per week, with clicks having increased 500% since January. In a world where 20 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, Promoted Videos has become a critical way for creators to get their content in front of viewers across the web.

Now that it's easier than ever to drive views of your video, we also wanted to make it easier to run these campaigns in the first place. Starting today you can buy Promoted Videos directly in AdWords. Any AdWords advertiser with video content — from a small business looking to promote a product, to a movie studio premiering a new trailer — can use Promoted Videos to make sure their videos find a larger audience. This integration will provide a single destination for your overall Google ad buy, and will give YouTube advertisers access to campaign tools in AdWords.

AdWords is a global platform, so we're excited to use this integration as a way to start rolling out Promoted Videos internationally. With this launch, Promoted Videos are now available in Canada, the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. We hope our international users, partners and advertisers will take full advantage of this new opportunity to ensure their videos are more easily discovered around the world, and we look forward to expanding to other countries in the coming weeks.

Posted by Jonathan Goldman, YouTube Software Engineer
Source: The Official Google Blog | 14 Oct 2009 | 9:00 am

Theory: Danger’s Sidekick data explosion was (DUDUNT! DUDUNT!) sabotage?

I can’t stand it, i know you planned it
Ima set it straight, this Watergate
I can’t stop textin’ when i’m in there
’cause your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear
So, while you sit back and wonder why
I’m missing my pics when I slide my ‘Kick
Oh my god, it’s a mirage
I’m tellin’ y’all it’s sabotage

So,so,so, so listen up ’cause you can’t say nothin’
You shut me down with a push of your button
But AppleInsider knows why your data’s gone
I’ll tell you now I keep it on and on:

…someone with access to the servers at the datacenter must have inserted a time bomb to wipe out not just all of the data, but also all of the backup tapes, and finally, I suspect, reformatting the server hard drives so that the service itself could not be restarted with a simple reboot (and to erase any traces of the time bomb itself)… If this was an ordinary sort of failure, the service would have come back within a day, so once again, all signs point to sabotage.

’cause what you see you might not get
And we can bet, so don’t you get backed-up yet
Scheming on a thing that’s a mirage
I’m tryin’ to tell you now it’s sabotage

In all honesty, I have a problem with this theory. A three-pronged attack on servers like this is pretty difficult, especially from afar. While it’s obvious that a laid-off employee could have planted this during Danger’s move to Microsoft, Danger’s IT people must be pretty stupid to fall for something of this magnitude, y’all.

via Giz

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 14 Oct 2009 | 8:25 am

Temperature Spike Detected From Lunar Crash

After a lunar impact, instruments picked up an intriguingly big temperature spike.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:30 am

Dino-Eating Pterosaur Evolved in Unusual Way

A prehistoric, flying reptile provides fresh evidence for a controversial type of evolution.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 14 Oct 2009 | 7:00 am

Remote Control Your Car With Your iPhone

Now you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch to kill the environment by firing up your car from afar and leaving the engine to idle whilst either warming or cooling your ride while you wait inside. This alternative to a scarf and gloves comes from Viper in the form of the SmartStart, a module which is wired into your car and lets you lock, unlock and start your car from any distance.

The remote unit isn’t new — Viper has sold the SmartStart for some time. The fancy part this time is the iPhone (or iPod Touch) integration, which comes by way of an iPhone app and a $300 add-on for your SmartStart device (you can opt for the $500 all-in-one if you are starting from scratch). This box has inside it a GSM cell radio, with which you communicate via the internet using the companion application.

Because it uses the cellular network, you’ll need to pay a $30-a-year subscription (year one is included in the cost of the device) and, because it has something to do with cars, you’ll have to pay somebody to install it — there is no DIY kit version. I guess only you, reader, can decide if it’s worth burning extra gas instead of just sitting in a cold car for five minutes. On the other hand, having the car report status info — triggered alarms, for example — direct to your phone is pretty handy stuff.

Product page [iTunes]

Product page [Viper]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 6:29 am

USB Craziness: Bus-Powered Soldering Iron

Good Lord, is there anything you can’t plug into a USB port? Now it’s the turn of the soldering iron, something you’d think likely to need a lot more than the paltry five volts a USB bus can offer.

But Thanko’s latest novelty actually manages to muster a scalding 300ºC from two USB ports, enough to melt lead-based solder. If you prefer lead-free, you can opt to hook the iron up to a 9v battery via the included adapter cable to heat things up to 500ºC.

If portability is your thing, though, we’d advise a gas-powered soldering iron that refills from a bottle of cigarette-lighter butane. They’re instant-on, cable free and better, you don’t have to wave a hot metal stick around right next to your valuable and delicate laptop. $30.

Product page [Thanko via Everything USB]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:42 am

New Flip Mino HD Doubles Memory, Shrugs Off iPod Nano

Flip’s new Mino HD camcorder was just announced, and it is a firm answer to the threat of the new iPod Nano with video camera.

Of course, the HD camera can’t really be compared to the inferior camera inside the iPod, but that won’t stop shoppers going for the cheaper option. The new Mino HD, though, extends the distance between them. The brushed aluminum case now holds more memory (8GB up from 4GB), has a transflective screen (which means it works well in direct sunlight as well as indoors) and an HDMI-out socket for hooking up to hi-def TVs.

The new camera will cost $230, and the old one will still be kept around and sell for $200. The regular standard-def Mino with 2GB of memory is $150, or the same price as the 8GB Nano.

Product page [Flip. Thanks, Jamie!]

See Also:

• Apple iPod Nano With Video
• Apple Unveils Flip-Killing iPod Nano, Revamped iTunes, No Beatles …
• Pure Digital Flip Mino HD

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 5:06 am

Wii Exercise Bike: Biggest Game Controller Ever?

Exercise bikes are dull. Unless it is raining, there is no excuse not to just go outside on a real bike: it’s both better exercise and way more fun. There would be one exception. Say you were playing a video-game so good you didn’t want to stop, but at the same time felt the need to get the blood pumping. That would surely be the ideal time to use this stationary bike controller for the Wii and its companion game, Cyberbike.

Sadly, the game itself looks horrible, little more than an afterthought tagged on to justify buying a giant plastic bike to further clutter your home. In it, according to the gamers at Kotaku, you save the planet, cleaning up pollution by flying your bike over things. Wake me up when you’re done.

The controller is at least compatible with Mario Kart. Alternatively, go down to the basement and dig out the exercise bike you already have and sit on that while playing Mario Kart with a normal WiiMote. The price of the Cyberbike has yet to be announced ahead of its 2010 launch, but you can be sure that it will be more than the zero dollars my solution will cost you.

This Could Be The Biggest Wii Pack Shot Ever [Kotaku]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 4:18 am

Rumor: Apple To Switch On Sleeping FM Radio in iPhone, iPod Touch

Rumor site 9to5Mac reports that Apple is on the cusp of releasing an FM radio application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. And get this: it will be for the current models, not for some new hardware revision. According to the rumor, Apple will awaken the slumbering FM transceiver already dormant within the devices, currently only used to talk to the Nike+ widget.

This speculation seems to fit in with Apple’s switching on of the Bluetooth functionality inside the second-gen iPod Touch with the 3.0 software update, but the rumor then gets a little weird:

The holdup on this app is that Apple is trying to integrate the Mobile iTunes Store purchases into the functionality of the program.

Yes. Apple, which has already managed to put tune-tagging into the iPod Nano, is apparently having trouble doing it with the way-more-powerful iPhone platform. This sounds like nonsense, but it doesn’t mean we won’t see a radio app. What great news. Now there will be, along with the stocks application, yet another app that I will never use yet cannot remove from my iPod.

In-house Radio.app in the works for iPhone and iPod touch [9to5Mac]

Image credit: 9to5Mac

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 14 Oct 2009 | 3:38 am