Source: Gizmodo | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:40 pm

Judge Orders BlueBeat.com to Pull Down Beatles Songs, Other Music; the Psycho-Acoustic Simulation Defense [Voices]

By Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron’s, Tech Trader Daily

You should not be surprised to learn that a federal judge yesterday ordered BlueBeat.com to immediately stop selling Beatles songs and other music from its site, rejecting a goofy assertion that the company had copyrights on the songs via the use of something called “psycho-acoustic simulation.”

The company had been sued by EMI earlier in the week, after it came to light that BlueBeat had been selling Beatles tracks and other music for 25 cents a track, and offering free streaming of albums from the Fab Four and other groups. To date, no online music site has the rights to sell or stream the Beatles music.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: Gizmodo | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:20 pm

Verizon iPhone Could Arrive Next Year After All

After Verizon aired advertisements bashing the iPhone, many tech observers agreed it was unimaginable that Apple could be considering sharing the popular smartphone with Verizon. But a new report suggests the contrary.

Apple is indeed delivering a Verizon iPhone in the third quarter of 2010, claims research firm OTR Global. The firm cites sources who say Apple is working on a “worldmode” iPhone compatible with Verizon’s CDMA network. (Apple’s current iPhones only work on the GSM standard, which AT&T’s network is part of.)

The firm’s report, which was provided to AppleInsider, also claims the handset will have a smaller screen — 2.8 inches, significantly smaller than the current iPhone’s 3.5-inch display.

Whispers of a different iPhone being developed for Verizon were exchanged back in April. BusinessWeek cited two sources “familiar with the matter” saying Apple and Verizon were working to offer two new iPhone-like devices: a smaller, less-expensive calling device (perhaps an “iPhone lite”), and a more expensive, unnamed media pad, which can place calls over Wi-Fi, display photos, and play music as well as high-definition video.

Apple’s exclusive contract with AT&T will reportedly end in 2010, and many observers speculated that the Cupertino, California company would then share the iPhone with Verizon. However, the consensus quickly reversed when Verizon aired its Droid TV ads ruthlessly attacking the shortcomings of the iPhone.

See Also:

• Verizon iPhone? Don’t Hold Your Breath
• Verizon iPhone Could be Here Next Year
• Verizon Attacks the iPhone, Hints at Upcoming Droid
• 4 Reasons Apple Should Share the iPhone With Verizon
• Rumor: Apple Developing Two New iPhones for Verizon

Photo: Fr3d.org/Flickr

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:17 pm

Apple Store announces Reserve And Pick Up program for the holidays (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - For you pre-Thanksgiving shoppers, the Apple retail store on Friday announced a way to get a jump on your holiday list.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:12 pm

AMD Graphics Chip Shortage Hits PC Vendors

CWmike writes "An offshore AMD foundry is having trouble ramping up production of a new 40-nanometer GPU, forcing PC makers to delay shipments of desktop and laptop computers, AMD confirmed today. TSMC is struggling to get up to speed manufacturing AMD's 5800 series, 40-nm GPUs, according to Jim McGregor, an analyst at In-Stat. He added that the foundry is in full production, but so far yields are below expectation. Matt Davis, a spokesman for AMD, confirmed that TSMC is having issues with production of the chips. He added that it's not clear how far behind the foundry is on production expectations. 'The design is sound. It's just a matter of trying to get TSMC to a point where they can yield. They're feeling the manufacturing crunch,' said Davis. 'We're a little bit under yield but we're working back into a manufacturing schedule we want for these parts. TSMC can only kick them out so fast at this point.' He said that PC vendors are being affected but declined to say how many vendors are feeling the pinch or which ones. 'It's the end of the whip,' he added. '[The vendors] are going to have a hard time.'" A post at Anandtech suggests we'll see price hikes for the 5800-series Radeons until this situation sorts itself out.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:10 pm

MagnaChip Semiconductor Emerges from Chapter 11

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:07 pm

The OpenOffice Mouse

It supports Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems, will retail for $74.99, and is not a joke. [OpenOfficeMouse]


Source: Boing Boing | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:03 pm

2010 Superfly Will Make You Say 'My Oh My'

Conventional wisdom says a mountain bike with 29-inch tires is an ungainly ride. Conventional wisdom can suck it. Meet the 2010 Superfly.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

The OpenOffice Mouse

It supports Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems, will retail for $74.99, and is not a joke. [OpenOfficeMouse]

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 pm

Ingram Micro Expands Motorola Relationship, Adds Wireless Broadband Portfolio

SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Offering channel partners one of the industry's broadest and most complete selection of technology solutions, Ingram Micro Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:54 pm

Sun's Business in Shambles Thanks to "Uncertainty Associated With the Proposed Acquisition by Oracle" [Digital Daily]

“The decrease in _____ revenue was primarily due to _____” and “uncertainty associated with the proposed acquisition by Oracle and increased competition.” That refrain is repeated over and over again in Sun’s latest grim earnings report, which was filed without much in the way of announcement Friday afternoon.

According to a 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sun (JAVA) lost $120 million, or 16 cents a share, on revenue of $2.24 billion in its first quarter. During the same period a year ago, Sun lost $1.68 billion, or $2.24 a share, on $2.99 billion in sales. Analysts had been expecting earnings of 25 cents a share on revenue of $2.31 billion.

Oracle (ORCL) CEO Larry Ellison recently said that Sun is losing about $100 million a month as it waits for European antitrust regulators to approve its acquisition by Oracle. Looks like he’s about right.

Below, excerpts from the 10-Q:

Server Products Revenue
The decrease in Server Products revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, as compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2009, was primarily due to the economic downturn and consolidation of our customer base, specifically in the financial services sector, as projects were scaled back, delayed or canceled, in addition to the uncertainty associated with the proposed acquisition by Oracle and increased competition.

Storage Products Revenue
The decrease in Storage Products revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, as compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2009, was primarily attributable to the economic downturn as projects were scaled back, delayed or canceled, in addition to the uncertainty associated with our proposed acquisition by Oracle and increased competition.

North America
The decrease in revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, as compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2009, was primarily due to decreased sales of our enterprise Server Products, storage disk products and Services. We are still seeing the results of IT budget cuts instituted last year by our largest customers due to the economic downturn, especially in the financial services sector, in addition to the consolidation of our customer base. Across all sectors, non-critical projects are on hold. Revenue was also negatively impacted by the uncertainty associated with our proposed acquisition by Oracle and increased competition.

PREVIOUSLY:

• European Union Mulling Objection to Oracle-Sun Deal
• Q: What’s the Difference Between Neelie Kroes and Larry Ellison?
• Sun to Sack 3,000
• Former MySQL Boss to EC: Approve Oracle-Sun Deal
• Ellison: Oracle Is the New IBM
• Mr. Ellison Asks That His Burgers Be Served With Freedom Fries Until Further Notice

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pm

Stealthy anti-whaling powerboat

That is not Batman's boat but rather Earthrace, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's ultraslick bio-diesel-powered anti-whaling speedboat. It's 80-feet long and very stealthy. Next month, it will head out to the seas around Japan to, er, protest the country's whaling industry. Life magazine has photos of Earthrace currently docked in Auckland, New Zealand. (Click image to see full photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images.) "Superbad Anti-Whaling Stealth Boat"


Source: Boing Boing | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:50 pm

New IBM Consulting Unit Geared To Analytics Field (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - IBM is betting big on analytics, and Fred Balboni is leading the charge.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:30 pm

Droid Smart Phone Attracts Early Buyers (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - U.S. Verizon stores opened their doors at 7 a.m. Friday for the launch of Motorola's Droid handset, which many observers see as a credible threat to the Apple iPhone.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:30 pm

After 5 Years on Web, Firefox Preps for Next Round

The Firefox web browser celebrates the fifth anniversary of its debut Monday. With IE humbled and Chrome on the rise, the next five years are going to look totally different than the first five.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:30 pm

He's in the Family Business [Voices]

By Nitrozac and Snaggy

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:21 pm

China Bans Physical Punishment For Net Addicts

gimmebeer writes to tell us that months after a teen was beaten to death in an Internet boot camp, China has banned the use of physical punishment to help teens kick their net addiction. "The death of 15-year-old Deng Senshan, just hours after he checked into an Internet bootcamp in the southwestern Guangxi region in early August, caused a media storm in China. Days later, another teenager, Pu Liang, was taken to hospital with water in the lungs and kidney failure after a similar attack in Sichuan Province. The government in July had already banned electroshock therapy as a treatment for Internet addiction, after media reports about a controversial psychiatrist who administered electric currents to nearly 3,000 teenagers. The latest guidelines suggest officials in Beijing do not think that those with unhealthy Internet habits should be forced offline permanently."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:17 pm

Sales Boycott over Modern Warfare 2 with Steam 'Trojan Horse' (PC World)

PC World - Steam, it seems, may finally have tromped across the proverbial bridge too far. The online PC games storefront with the sales leverage of a lion but the transparency of a two-way mirror reportedly signed a deal with Activision to load its Steamworks technology into retail and digitally distributed PC copies of Modern Warfare 2, and online sales competitors are bristling.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:06 pm

Stealthy anti-whaling powerboat

That is not Batman's boat but rather Earthrace, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's ultraslick bio-diesel-powered anti-whaling speedboat. It's 80-feet long and very stealthy. Next month, it will head out to the seas around Japan to, er, protest the country's whaling industry. Life magazine has photos of Earthrace currently docked in Auckland, New Zealand. (Click image to see full photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images.) "Superbad Anti-Whaling Stealth Boat"

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:01 pm

CardioNet reports 3Q loss as it restructures (AP)

AP - Wireless heart-monitoring device maker CardioNet Inc. fell to a loss in the third quarter, as it had ramped up marketing spending after Medicare lowered reimbursement rates on the company's products.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:53 pm

Come on, everyone, of course Nintendo is working on the Wii HD

Nintendo’s generally vocal president, Reggie Fils-Aime, made headlines today when again he denied that Nintendo was working on the Wii HD. He said, “I don’t know how forcefully we can say there is no Wii HD.” That’s pretty clear, but it’s also mostly a lie. What do you expect the man to say two months before Christmas? “Psst, don’t buy the $200 Wii for your kid this year. We’ve got something real special coming in a few months. You’re going to want that instead.”

Does anyone seriously think that Nintendo is not building a high-def capable system? You can’t even buy a SD TV larger than 20 inches anymore. Reggie probably told the truth when he said “there is no Wii HD” as it’s probably not named Wii HD, but there has to be some sort of high-def gaming system in the works. If there isn’t, Nintendo is in trouble.

Nintendo made the right decision to make the original Wii not powerful enough to run HD graphics and therefore less expensive. It became an instant success because of not only the novel motion controller and easy-to-like bundled game, but also the relatively low starting price of $250 when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3. If Nintendo had built a more powerful system, one of those points would have given way and events might have been a tad different.

Plus, back when the Wii came out, HDTVs were still a luxury. They were only available in larger sizes and a higher prices. Now tube TVs are all but gone and increasingly small LCDs are reaching 720p resolutions. By next year, 1080p will probably be the standard resolution for 32-inch or larger screens and every TV will be at least 720p; Nintendo will need to put out a system accordingly.

Of course this next-generation system will employ a motion control scheme. It’s not like Nintendo is going to take a step backwards. This system might not be called the Wii HD, but it’ll follow the Wii philosophy and be high-definition.

Even if Nintendo outs a system next year that’s as powerful and cheap as a nettop today, it will be able to handle at least 720p graphics with a good graphics driver. Nintendo has proved that gameplay and accessibility are more important in the marketplace than graphics, but as time passes and more households upgrade to high definition, it’s becoming the standard, and Nintendo will have to work within those parameters.

Reggie would never tell us a lie. He’s not like that. However, you can bet that Nintendo is working on a low-cost, but also high-def capable, Wii successor as we speak.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:49 pm

Telecoms Announce "One Voice" Initiative To Promote LTE Wireless Broadband Stand

suraj.sun writes to mention that Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks may have just gotten a boost over WiMax in the battle for wireless broadband dominance. A group of telecom companies has created the "One Voice" initiative, designed to promote a standard that will provide interoperability for broadband voice and SMS. "LTE has been fine at supporting data, which uses IP-based packet switching. But it's faced challenges trying to incorporate traditional circuit-based switching voice and SMS services onto IP-based networks. One Voice is the group's attempt to resolve that issue. The new specification will use existing functionality known as IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which already defines how to provide data, voice, and other content over an IP-based network. IMS was established by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a group comprised of telecom industry associations trying to set standards for 3G mobile networks."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:33 pm

National Data Breach Laws Move Through Senate

The nation is closer to a national data-breach notification law and setting security standards for handling sensitive data. After legislation aimed at the problem languishes on Capitol Hill for four years, two bills make it out of Senate committee.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 pm

Replace Your MacBook's Hard Drive Yourself

It may not seem like it, but your MacBook hard drive is no different than that of any other laptop. Replacing it without Apple's help might void your warranty, but it sure is a lot cheaper if you do it yourself.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 pm

Review: Military Dudes Abide in Funny 'The Men Who Stare at Goats'

George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey play psychic "Jedi Warriors" in a movie improbably inspired by a real Army program.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:20 pm

New Mexico Women Honored at Technology Event

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New Mexico Technology Council is pleased to announce the 2009 Women in Technology leadership and scholarship winners.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:18 pm

Netflix Instant Streaming for PS3 works, is shown on YouTube

Well, Netflix streaming on the PS3 works. Of course, you need to use the special disc (can’t just download the software eh? how quaint). But it appears to be working correctly. Check out the video above, which demonstrates that it’s working, and working smoothly.

I’m actually glad that the PS3 has Netflix streaming now. It’s a nice addition to a really great Blu-ray player. If I owned a PS3, I’d totally get the disc and stream my heart out…

You know, like I have been doing since 2008 on my 360.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:17 pm

Lawsuit Accuses Facebook of Conspiring to Break Video-Privacy Law

A lawsuit filed in Texas accuses Facebook of conspiring with Blockbuster to violate a federal law protecting records related to the sale and rental of videos.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:15 pm

Asure Software Announces Receipt of Notice of Non-Compliance and Subsequent Notice of Regained Compliance Related to Filing of its Form 10K

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:08 pm

Verizon launches LG Chocolate Touch

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Mobile

As if the new Droid phone from Motorola wasn’t enough, Verizon Wireless has announced the launch of the LG Chocolate Touch.  The Chocolate Touch has a 3 inch touch screen, a 3.2MP camera, full HTML browser, 1GB of memory with additional memory up to 16GB easily added via the SD slot, a music player that plays back MP3, WMA and ACC files, a built in FM radio, Bluetooth, EVDO Rev. 0 connectivity and easy access to social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Verizon is offering the Chocolate Touch for just $80 with a 2 year contract and after a $50 mail in rebate.  Be warned however that the rebate will come in the form of a prepaid debit card, not a check.  The Chocolate Touch looks to be a big seller this holiday season and is just the first in a line of hot new phones being introduced by the big 4 cell providers.  T-Mobile will be offering the My Touch 3G Fender Limited Edition and Samsung Behold II while Sprint will offer the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment and AT&T will have the Pantech Reveal.

Sprint and AT&T are also said to be working on a nationwide launch of new netbooks. Sprint will offer the Dell Mini 10 while AT&T will offer the Nokia Booklet 3G, which will be a Best Buy exclusive over the holidays.  The netbook boasts a 10 inch display, 12hr battery life and Windows 7.  It will be offered for $299 with a data plan or a whopping $599 without.

Read [PR Newswire]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:07 pm

Verizon's Droid: 10 Apps to Get You Started - PC World

New Zealand Herald

Verizon's Droid: 10 Apps to Get You Started PC World We've compiled a list of 10 top-notch Android apps to help get you going with your Android experience. These are all highly ranked programs that'll be strong starting points as you work to make the most of your new Droid device. ... Sesame Street, Droid get Google's loveCNET News Google Advertises Motorola Droid on its Home PageeWeek Verizon Droid buzz muted in BostonSan Francisco Chronicle Computerworld -Washington Post -PC Magazine all 1,353 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:06 pm

My Not-So-Epic Quest To Find The Elusive Verizon Droid Line

Today is Droid day — an event that I, like many tech bloggers, have been looking forward to for quite some time. Unlike some people, I wasn’t graced with a test Droid last week, so I was forced to go out and get one the old fashioned way: by getting to the store as early as possible, before the precious devices sold out. And while I was concerned about falling prey to a supply shortage, a part of me still hoped there would be many others like me, helping justify my early morning rise. These are my notes as I searched for the unexpectedly elusive Verizon Droid line.

5:30 AM. I woke up this morning to the soothing chimes of my over-priced alarm clock, took a look at the ungodly hour, and immediately sank back into my pillow. It wasn’t until my second alarm (strategically positioned far out of arm’s reach) kicked in that I remembered the task at hand: Droid day.

Ah yes, the phone that seemingly came out of nowhere — at least to those who haven’t had their ear to the ground on Android phone news, which until now has largely been a steady stream of mediocracy, fueled by underpowered CPUs and generic UIs. But Droid has something special. Mostly, it’s the phone’s heavy duty processor, but there’s also its brilliant screen, much-improved operating system, and the fact that it runs on a network that doesn’t leave people screaming profanities (at least until they get their monthly bill).

So I embarked this morning to the Palo Alto Verizon store, hoping to use a Qik live stream to capture the festive line of Droid fans sure to be present. After all, Verizon customers have plenty to celebrate — though they’re on the nation’s best network, they’ve long been burdened with an underwhelming selection of phones. This is the first time they’ve had a chance to pick up a device that’s a viable alternative to the iPhone. And with Verizon’s marketing onslaught over the last few weeks, not to mention the generally very positive reviews, I expected the turnout to be good. Not Apple good mind you — no marketing push can match Steve Jobs’ mystical mind control over a rabid fanbase of millions. But this was the heart of Silicon Valley, where gadget geeks flourish.

Alas, it seems that my expectations were unwarranted. I walked up to the Verizon store no later than 6:20 AM, forty minutes before the 7:00 AM opening time (three hours earlier than usual in light of the big day). But no sooner had I arrived than I began to question my still-groggy mental state. The Verizon sign was directly above my head. There were five or six employees buzzing around the well-lit store, two of whom were decked out in bizarre Droid-branded outfits, complete with black leather vests. But the street could not have been more empty.

The door cracked open. One of the employees, perhaps concerned by my confused expression or excited that someone had actually shown up, had come to talk to me. Yes, I was in the right place. Yes, they were due to open in a little more than half an hour. And yes, they too had expected more than one person to be standing in front of the store at this point. The door closed again.

A few minutes later I was joined by two new Droid fans. Unfortunately, my excitement over my new friends was rather shortlived — the newcomers turned down my offer of free TechCrunch T-shirts, and informed me that they weren’t actually waiting in line, but had come to witness it for themselves too. As it turned out, they were members of the Android team, who were also apparently let down by the sad turn out. But, as they quickly pointed out, the line was not actually as empty as it seemed! For I had neglected to take into account the three cars parked at the side of the road, each of which was occupied by one future Droid customer. And we were also joined by one other person, who was officially the first person in line, a mere 30 minutes before the store opened. You can relive this moment in the poorly shot video below.

Over the course of the next half hour we were joined by perhaps four more people. I was cheered up by the fact that many of them accepted my offers of free TechCrunch T-shirts (the Android team members eventually caved and asked for some too). But the atmosphere was oddly solemn as we tried to brainstorm where everyone else could possibly be. We eventually arrived at the conclusion that people may have decided to head to the nearby Best Buy, which actually offers a better deal because they take care of the Droid’s $100 mail-in rebate for you (Verizon makes you go through rebate hell). It was time to look elsewhere for a line. You can see our heartfelt goodbyes in the video below.

Thus, I set out on part two of my journey, which was even more boring than part one. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice to say, there wasn’t a single person in front of the Best Buy. Not even an Android team member. My quest was a failure. There are lines being reported in places — dozens of them —  across the country, and I was unable to find one.

All of this would bother me more, were it not for the fact that I now have a Droid sitting on my desk. Over the course of the last few hours, I’ve gradually come to the conclusion that this thing rocks, plain and simple. I’ll always have a soft spot for the iPhone, but for this generation of smart phones, at least, I’ve made my choice.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:06 pm

MSNBC Having A Bad Friday (NSFW)

I think it’s safe to assume their Twitter account has been hacked.

Update: Yep. Now suspended.

Update 2: MSNBC is now saying that the account was never in their control in the first place. It was previously sending out MSNBC headlines, but then today went off the deep end, obviously. So I guess this is a lesson in controlling your online brand.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm

Europe’s Biggest Paper Blocks iPhone Browsers To Force Sales Of Its App

So much for the coming mobile nirvana of free mobile content – at least for iPhone users in Germany. Today Europe’s biggest newspaper, BILD-Zeitung, intends to use, in effect, brute force to compel users buy its new iPhone app. The paper tabloid is to block anyone using an iPhone browser from accessing its website.

Now, readers will not only have to pay for the dedicated BILD iPhone app, but they also need to pony-up recurring fees for new articles. The same is planned for Axel Springer’s quality paper Die Welt. Users of Nokia, Blackberry, HTC or other smartphone brands will not be blocked – but only for as long as it takes for Springer to develop an app for each device.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:01 pm

Chomp Eats Up Some Seed Funding. Next, Will Bite Into The Mobile Space.

It’s not yet clear what Chomp exactly is, but we do know that it’s a rather hot property right now. It took the still stealth start up just 10 days to raise a nice seed round from Ron Conway and a few other big name angel investors, we hear.

So what do we know? Well, the company is definitely in the mobile space. In fact, it’s a “BIG mobile play,” founder Ben Keighran tells us. Keighran, who in 2006 started Bluepulse, a mobile messaging app, has most recently served as the lead advisor to Aardvark for their mobile strategy. There’s apparently no website for the company yet, but they do have a Twitter account, which features one tweet: “Working on something sekret… ”

We managed to squeeze a logo out of Keighran, but that’s about it. He also told us that we should hear more about Chomp early next year, but for now, they will remain shrouded in secret. Still, someone must have liked something they heard about Chomp if they were able to in just 10 days get a seed round of around $500,000 – $550,000, which is what we’re hearing.

We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

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

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

Strikeforce will be the ‘premier’ MMA league in EA Sports MMA

Strikeforce (UFC’s closest competitor here in the U.S.) promotes one of the bigger fights of the year tomorrow in Fedor vs. Brett Rogers. It takes place in Chicago, which explains why EA Sports just held a press conference there to reveal more details of its upcoming MMA game, entitled EA Sports MMA. EA Sports says that Strikeforce will be the “premier” mixed martial arts league in the game, and that well-known referee “Big” John McCarthy will be in the game.

The game, which is due out for the Xbox 360 and PS3 next year, will, as such, feature Brett Rogers and other Strikeforce fighters.

In-game commentary will be provided by Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo. I haven’t played an EA Sports game in three years, so I have no idea who good the commentary is these days.

Other fighters confirmed to be in the game include current UFC star Randy Couture, Gegard Mousasi, Renato Sobral, and Cung Le. (Check Wikipediafor the full list of confirmed and rumored fighters. Hopefully Alistair Overeem makes the cut. You’d think he would, being that he’s the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, even if he hasn’t defended the belt in two years.)

Presumably EA Sports MMA will now be colloquially referred to as “the Strikeforce game.” Hopefully EA can work in plenty of Dream fighters, as well as the Dream arenas.

Oh, the first trailer of the game will debut during tomorrow night’s Strikeforce show that airs on CBS at 9pm. And if you’re interested in a little backstory, check out Showtime’s 30-minute documentary on both Fedor and Rogers. Fun stuff.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

Glow-in-the-Dark Shark Turned on by Hormones

Scientists discover how the lantern shark controls its luminescent glow.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

Epic Games offers Unreal Engine 3 Development Kit for free

FROM GAMERTELL - The UDK offers advanced tools including a physics engine, video encoding, particle effects, destructible environments, audio encoding and an AI system. Find out how to get your copy…
MORE »

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:57 pm

Infosys Collaborates with Oracle to Launch the Infosys Business Platform for HR

BANGALORE, India, Nov.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:52 pm

Drupal Multimedia

coder4hire writes "Of the leading content management systems used by developers for creating websites, Drupal is highly regarded for many characteristics, including a much smaller initial footprint, compared to Joomla and other CMSs. Yet some developers find this a disadvantage as well, because one of the most common criticisms leveled against Drupal is its lack of built-in support for images and multimedia elements — thereby forcing new Drupal developers to choose from the thousands of contributed Drupal modules those that would be optimal for implementing their websites' multimedia functionality. Aaron Winborn's book Drupal Multimedia is intended as a guide to help such developers." Keep reading for the rest of Michael's review.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:50 pm

Savvis to Participate in Cloud Computing Panel Discussion at Goldman Sachs Data Center Techtonics Conference 2009

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Savvis, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:47 pm

Creepy, Cool Ghosts of 'Christmas Carols' Past

From Patrick Stewart to Vincent Price, an odd array of actors and directors have tackled Charles Dickens' holiday classic. Disney's 3-D animated version hits theaters this weekend, prompting a head-trip down memory lane.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:44 pm

CoSine Communications Announces Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2009

LOS GATOS, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CoSine Communications, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:40 pm

SuperNet Launches IDT - VoIP Simplified

CINCINNATI, Nov.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:39 pm

Exclusive Video Of The Litl Webbook

When news of the Litl Webbook broke out on Wednesday, I was pleased to learn that the company is located here in Boston, since there aren't nearly as many people in this area making actual hardware devices, as opposed to software and web companies. I got a chance to sit down with CEO John Chuang for a thorough overview of the Webbook, so check out the video inside for some information about the design philosophy and user interface behind the $699 transforming internet computer.
Source: TechCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:37 pm

This week in search 11/6/09

This week we brought out some new search tools for the phone and for the web. We also enhanced our universal search with a better interface for product results.

Multiple pictures of products in Universal Search
We've added multiple images to product results in Universal Search. On broader queries, this helps you get a sense of the range of products available to you for the query. Here's what it looks like:


Example searches: digital cameras, pin nailer, glider, bouncy house, outdoor dining set

Search Options panel now has page previews and is live in more languages
We have added a new tool to the Search Options panel called page previews, currently available in English, Japanese and Korean. Page previews allow you to see additional text as well as an image preview of the page. This is a new way to summarize web pages that show up in the search results list. In the interest of keeping the Search Options panel interface simple, we've combined page previews with the earlier tool for longer snippets — both serve a very similar purpose and, we feel, work well together. Here you can see a screenshot of the new feature at work:


The Search Options panel is also now available in 11 new languages: Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Turkish.

Google search by voice for Nokia S60 phones in English and Mandarin Chinese
On Monday we announced that Google search by voice is available for Nokia S60 phones in English and Mandarin Chinese. The new version of Google Mobile App places a shortcut to Google search on your Nokia phone's home screen, allowing you to search using your voice or by typing. You can search for anything — from "movie times" to "fish 'n chips" to "masala dosa." And Google Mobile App shows search results in the application, so you don't have to wait for a web browser to launch to get an answer. This feature is available in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

Sesame Street doodle
In honor of Sesame Street's 40th anniversary on November 10th, the Google homepage has had a daily sequence of doodles created in partnership with Sesame Street around the favorite characters on the show — starting, of course, with Big Bird.

Hope you enjoyed this week's new features. Stay tuned for next week!

Posted by Ben Gomes, Distinguished Engineer
Source: The Official Google Blog | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:35 pm

You are not worthy of the 18-button OpenOfficeMouse (and it has an analog stick)

You may recall our incredulity when SteelSeries announced their 15-button MMO Mouse. Not one to be passed by, Razer shortly thereafter came out with the 17-button Naga, which we’ll be reviewing soon. But unknown to them, a small team was working in obscurity to create an 18-button mouse… with an analog stick for your thumb, to boot.

The OpenOfficeMouse, or OOMouse, isn’t exactly the most attractive piece of hardware, but its creator claims that “16 buttons divided into two 8-button halves were the maximum number of buttons that could be efficiently used by feel alone.” I guess if you take the thumb out of the equation with the analog stick, which Razer nor SteelSeries had the wherewithal to do, that’s probably true. They’ve set up profiles to make the OOMouse work with WoW, 3D Studio Max, Firefox, and many others — including, of course, the whole OpenOffice suite.

Personally I’m not a mega-mouse kind of person; ergonomics are far more important for me considering the amount of mousing i have to do, which is why I’m considering the Microsoft Natural as an alternative to the G500 and Mamba, which I switch between to keep things interesting. And while this OOMouse may look ridiculous, I’m sure there are some people who will find it a joy.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pm

4 Ways Live and Digital Music Are Teaming Up

Music webcasting is setting the stage for an online live-music renaissance.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pm

Chinese Michael Jackson phone is no Thriller

♪It’s close to midnight and something cheesy’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a phone that almost makes you barf♪

Man. Just last weekend, I was looking at my boring ol’ phone and thinking to myself: if only this were covered in faux-gold and diamonds and molded to look vaguely like Michael Jackson’s torso!

Some of the main features, according to the only available pictures, are “High-definition Camera”, “Ebook”, and “Calling leave word”. SOLD.

[Shanzhai Via Engadget Mobile]

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

Droid Has Landed All Right–Right on Google's Homepage [Digital Daily]

“There will be no banner ads on the Google homepage or web search results pages. There will not be crazy, flashy, graphical doodads flying and popping up all over the Google site. Ever.”

– Google Vice President of Search Product and User Experience Marissa Mayer

“People wouldn’t like [ads on the homepage]. We prioritize the end user over the advertiser.”

– Google CEO Eric Schmidt, August 2009

Well, this is a first, I think: Google is promoting a consumer electronics device on its front page. Surf over to Google.com right now and you’ll find this pitch plugging Droid, Motorola’s (MOT) new Android smart phone: “The Droid is on sale now. Learn more.”

The text is simple and at just 42 characters, it jibes well with Google’s (GOOG) minimalist design ethic. Click on that “learn more” link and you’re taken to a mobile partners page that touts Droid’s Google-enabled search prowess. Only then are you presented with a big “Get the Verizon Droid Now” button that takes you to Verizon Wireless (VZ), where you can purchase the device.

So is it an ad? Google will almost certainly argue that it is not. But clearly, it commercializes the page. Droid is a consumer product sold by another company and Google is branding it on its most prominent page. Wonder how much that spot is worth.

Furthermore, it’s interesting to see Google leveraging search–a product in which it enjoys a de facto monopoly–to promote a second product that isn’t yet dominant (Android). More so, given this remark from CEO Eric Schmidt, made just yesterday:

“Hopefully, we won’t repeat the mistakes that Microsoft made 10 years ago that ultimately led to all these things that happened to them.”

I’ve asked Google for comment and will update this post if and when I receive a reply.

UPDATE Here’s Google’s comment on the Droid promotion via company spokesperson Gabriel Stricker:

We are currently running a homepage promotion for Droid. From time to time we include a link on the Google home page that points users to exciting and important information, whether it be relief opportunities in the wake of a tsunami or hurricane, awareness about an important cause, or information about a new product. The Droid is a hardware collaboration that we’ve been very active and involved with, so it makes sense that Google has an interest in getting the word out.

UPDATE Turns out this is not the first Google has promoted a handset on its homepage. Last October it plugged another Android device there, the T-Mobile G1.

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:09 pm

Multi-Button OpenOfficeMouse At OOoCon 2009

An anonymous reader writes "WarMouse has announced their new multi-button OpenOfficeMouse for OpenOffice.org at the 2009 OOoCon in Orvieto, Italy. The mouse, which features 18 buttons, a scroll wheel, and an analog joystick, has double-click functionality on every button and stores up to 63 application and game profiles in its 512k of flash memory. The OpenOfficeMouse runs on Windows, Linux, and OS/X; its customization software will be released as free and open source software." We couldn't decide if this was a protest against Apple's new magic mouse, an elaborate practical joke, or just plain insanity run amok. In any case, it is hard to imagine a world in which so many tiny buttons on a mouse make sense.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:05 pm

Activision Gives Videogame Stocks A Boost >ATV - Wall Street Journal

PC World

Activision Gives Videogame Stocks A Boost >ATV Wall Street Journal Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) shares rose Friday after reporting third-quarter results and maintaining its fourth-quarter forecast, encouraging investors who had grown worried about holiday game sales. The shares recently rose 37 ... Activision not worried about 'Modern Warfare 2' PC complaintsUSA Today Neoseeker : News : Modern Warfare 2 PC lacks many common PC FPS featuresNeoseeker Select Blockbusters to host Modern Warfare 2 launchesDestructoid CNET News -Ars Technica -1UP.com all 621 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

Rumor: Next iPhone to Gain Radio-Frequency Powers

Apple is rumored to be testing a prototype of its fourth-generation iPhone with a radio-frequency identification chip, which could greatly enhance the handset’s capabilities for business and scientific applications.

Business news publication Near Field Communications World cites a “highly reliable source” claiming to have seen the next-generation iPhone in action with an RFID scanner.

“It’s not full NFC, but it’s a start for real service discovery, and I’m told that the reaction was very positive [and] that we can expect this in the next-gen iPhone,” the source told Near Field Communications.

The rumor comes in line with a patent Apple filed in July, which described an RFID antenna being placed in the iPhone’s touch sensor panel.

An RFID reader would scan RFID tags, which consist of a computer chip coupled with an antenna. Data stored on the chip transmits wirelessly through the antenna to an RFID reader operating on the same frequency as the antenna. Many retailers use RFID tags to track products in transit; libraries use RFID tags to track books. RFID tags are also used to track humans or animals for scientific and medical purposes.

Clearly, an RFID scanner in an iPhone would immediately impact the enterprise segment and the science community, but it could move beyond that, too. The video above demonstrates a modified iPhone with an RFID scanner attached. An iPhone scans objects containing RFID tags, which triggers the handset to play a specific video. Thus, an iPhone with an RFID scanner could have augmented-reality applications for general consumers as well.

See Also:

• RFID-Enabled Phones Could Let Credit Card Companies Track Users …
• 10 Best Uses for RFID Tags

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pm

Rumor: White BlackBerry Curve 8900 headed to AT&T

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

It looks like AT&T users may soon have one more BlackBerry to choose from, that is assuming we can believe the latest rumor. Sadly, though aside from the above image there are little to no details as to when this is expected to be available. Price wise, it would be safe to think that it would drop at the same price as the existing Curve 8900 in black, which is currently $149.99.

That said, I am not sure I really like this model. Which is a change because I am typically a fan of white phones, but this one sort of looks a little toy like. Maybe it is just because of the image.

Of course, a white BlackBerry Curve 8900 would fit the pattern. After all the black Curve 8900 has been out for a little while now, and it has also been reasonable successful.

Via [BGR]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:25 pm

Why I’m Not Getting a Droid Today

I’ve been testing the Verizon Droid for the past few days, and it’s an awesome phone.

But even though I’m eager to ditch my iPhone and eighty-six AT&T, I’m not going to switch to Verizon for the Droid.

Don’t get me wrong: I am very impressed with what Motorola has built. In my mind, the Droid and the iPhone are the two best smartphones on the market today. The Droid can compete with the iPhone in almost every respect.

In some features, such as the screen, it comes out way ahead: The Droid’s vivid, high-resolution 854 x 440 pixel display blows away the iPhone’s 480 x 320 screen. It’s simply crisper, clearer, and easier to read. (Note: The photo above does not do it justice.)

Voice-call quality is much better than on the iPhone. Callers sounded crisp and clear. And I was able to set up Google Voice to work with both incoming and outgoing calls and SMS messages — something you cannot do with the iPhone.

For that matter, since all of my contacts, calendars and e-mails are hosted by Google now, setting up the Droid to work with my information took me less than five minutes. Because I have more than 3,000 contacts it took the Droid nearly an hour to sync them all to the phone over the 3G network (and during that time, the phone got alarmingly warm), but I never had to install desktop software or even plug in any cables.

It was hands-down the easiest and fastest setup process of any phone I’ve used, and when it was done, the phone had everything I needed. (By contrast, getting the iPhone to sync with Google was a tricky and time-consuming process — and you need to install iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer by USB in any event.)

The Droid also uses Verizon’s 3G network, which in my ad hoc testing came out ahead of AT&T’s. Downloads seemed faster, and the data connections were generally more reliable. It still dropped one of my calls, as I was riding the commuter train, in almost exactly the same spot where AT&T inevitably drops my iPhone calls. Without further side-by-side testing I can’t definitively state whether the Droid on Verizon’s network trumps the iPhone on AT&T’s, but my sense is that it generally does.

In terms of interface and features, the Droid is the first phone that’s truly comparable to the iPhone in terms of power and ease of use. There are interface differences, but for the most part they’re not better or worse, just different.

Multitouch is the most glaring omission, which means you can’t pinch to zoom the screen. But, like the iPhone, you can double-tap to zoom in, and the Droid is similarly smart about sizing the screen to fit whatever column of text you want to read.

Its onscreen keyboard works almost exactly like the iPhone’s, and is even superior in that you can choose among multiple type-ahead suggestions rather than just waiting for the phone to suggest the one you really want.

And while there are only about 10,000 Android apps, compared with the iPhone’s 100,000, there seems to be plenty of selection. The Android Market should be more than enough to keep me happy, with a couple of exceptions.

The reason I’m not switching to the Droid is twofold. First, the hardware keyboard troubles me. It’s not especially good, and I worry that the slide-out mechanism could be prone to failure. There’s no way to confirm that other than heavy use for three to six months, but it’s a risk I’m not quite ready to take — especially because the onscreen, virtual keyboard is so good.

With such a good virtual keyboard, the hardware keyboard seems like an unnecessary and even dangerous, trouble-prone appendage, like an appendix or a vestigial tail: It can only cause problems.

Plus, it adds weight; the Droid, at 6 ounces, is about 2 ounces heavier than the iPhone. So I’d rather wait for a lighter, keyboard-less version of the Droid.

The second big reason is that I’ve grown dependent on two iPhone apps: Instapaper Pro and Tweetie. I also occasionally use RunKeeper, Stanza, Pandora and a handful of games, but Instapaper and Tweetie are the killer apps. They’re the things that, together with e-mail capability, make the iPhone useful to me.

Tweetie I could probably learn to live without: There are plenty of Twitter apps for Android, and the most popular one, Twidroid, seems to work fine, even if it lacks Tweetie’s elegance and speed. But Instapaper’s ability to collect, reformat and display news articles and blog posts I want to read — even if I’m offline — has made it an indispensable commuter and downtime companion. I would sorely miss it.

So while I’m no fan of AT&T or Apple, I’ll be sticking with the iPhone now. It’s one of the two best smartphones on the market, and it’s the only one that has the apps I depend on.

See Also:

• Product Review: Yes, This Is the Droid You’ve Been Looking For
• Verizon May Charge Motorola Droid Users for Exchange Access
• First Look: Motorola’s Droid Is Memorable, But Won’t Make You Forget the iPhone

Photo credit: Jonathan Snyder/Wired.com

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

TELUS amends dividend reinvestment program

Implementing 3% discount and share issuance from Treasury VANCOUVER, Nov.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:19 pm

Jimmy Wales on Wikipedia Quality and Tips for Contributors [Voices]

By Andrew LaVallee, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said Friday that the online encyclopedia aspires to be a higher-quality source of information but added that mainstream publications could learn from its disclaimers and community features.

“Our goal is to make Wikipedia as high-quality as possible. Britannica or better quality is the goal,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the ad:tech conference in New York.

One of the site’s strengths, however, is that contested entries–ones whose neutrality has been disputed, or that are lacking citations–are identified as such, Mr. Wales said. He wished that controversial New York Times (NYT) articles, for example, noted when they had prompted arguments among editors, he said.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

Windows 7: Putting Early Sales Figures in Perspective (PC World)

PC World - Initial sales numbers for Windows 7 are in and it seems that the operating system is delivering the redemption for Windows Vista that Microsoft was hoping for. Lower revenue and lower PC hardware sales figures related to Windows 7 hint at issues, but those figures have to be put in perspective.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:07 pm

Large Snakes On The Loose In Florida

Officials in Florida say they are seeing more invasive species of snakes entering into the warm semi-tropic climate."Compounding their risk to native species and ecosystems is that these snakes mature early, produce large numbers of offspring, travel long distances, and have broad diets
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:41 pm

UN Climate Treaty Could Take More Time

Climate officials at a UN meeting on Thursday said it could take an additional year to form a new climate treaty.Delegates from 175 nations gathered in Spain this week to discuss plans going into a UN meeting in Copenhagen next month.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:35 pm

Got friends? Now you can thank Facebook - Computerworld

The Money Times

Got friends? Now you can thank Facebook Computerworld Computerworld - Despite a widespread belief that social networks like Facebook and Myspace are isolating people from other humans, a new study found that the social networks are more likely helping to expand social circles. ... Technology doesn't isolate people: US studyReuters Cell phones and Internet don't increase isolation: StudyThe Money Times Study: Internet Users Aren't Isolated (Thank Facebook)PC World Register -NewsFactor Network -Atlantic Online (blog) all 314 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pm

Appletell reviews the BookArc Desktop Stand for MacBooks

FROM APPLETELL - The BookArc allows you to rest your MacBook in its closed position while in use. Why would you need that? You wouldn’t be asking if you use an external monitor and keyboard.
MORE »

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:31 pm

All Is Forgiven: "It's a Clean Slate," Says Andreessen About Lawsuit-Mad Skype Co-Founders [BoomTown]

Silicon Valley legend and now VC Marc Andreessen was making the interview rounds after the settlement between the litigation-addled co-founders of Skype and all the various people they were suing was announced this morning.

He has been tight-lipped until now, due to the morass of lawsuits.

But, as Andreessen told BoomTown in a phone interview about the aggressive legal tactics of Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis that resulted in them finally seizing a stake in the Internet telephony giant by suing him and many other Silicon Valley players:

“We did not take it personally. It’s a clean sheet of paper.”

Well, it is actually a torn, stained and very worn out piece of paper, due to all the various machinations, but bygones!

Andreessen–who knows a thing or two about legal tussles, if you recall Netscape-Microsoft (MSFT)–said the real point is that it is time to focus on the business of Skype rather than fighting over who controls Skype.

“It’s really good to have everyone lined up and rowing in the same direction. We have to capitalize on the opportunity, because Skype is poised for a new wave of growth,” said Andreessen. “They have an amazing head of steam, because the logical way for voice and video communications to be conducted will be over the Web.”

Thus, Zennström and Friis now join the winning buyout group, Silver Lake Partners, Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, along with eBay, in owning Skype.

But Index Ventures, which was in, is–as Heidi Klum might say–out!

Under the terms of the agreement, Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis will take a 14 percent stake in the company they founded and then sold to eBay (EBAY), which will include an undisclosed investment by them.

I reported yesterday that the total was 13 percent–10 percent for the rights to key Skype technology held by the co-founders and the option to invest $83 million for three percent more.

In exchange, the pair will give Skype software essential to its operation and drop their various lawsuits against eBay and Skype’s buyers.

As for Zennström and Friis’s egregious use of the courts to grab their 14 percent stake in Skype, litigation they waged after losing their bid to buy Skype back from eBay, Andreessen was being very politic.

“We love working with aggressive founders and are in favor of founders being involved in their companies,” he said. “Great founders are not known for being shy and reserved. Look at Bill Gates. It’s not a question of personality, but of accomplishment.”

Noting that he had not worked with the pair before, Andreessen (pictured here) said, “We have a lot of respect for them. We think they’re geniuses.”

But, I queried, would he have used such tactics?

“It’s not a book club, it’s a super-serious, high-stakes game,” said Andreessen. “I don’t know; I’ve not been in the situation they’re in. If your goal in life is to avoid drama, this is probably the wrong industry for you.”

Perhaps, but I told him that I doubted even a battle-hardened entrepreneur like Andreessen would use the courts in such a manner to achieve business goals.

To each his own, said Andreessen!

“One of our investing mottos is that we invest in strength, not lack of weakness,” he said. “The question is how big is the opportunity.”

And, apparently, it is big enough to overlook all the drama that has gone on.

Andreessen said he expects to be more involved at Skype–which, with his $50 million investment, is the biggest deal in his $300 million fund–than other board members, noting different directors have different roles.

It’s a big board of 23, as I had previously reported. Zennström and Friis are each getting a seat.

“We are going to be helpful,” Andreessen said about his fund’s role at Skype. “We’re a company picker, looking for those that have the greatest potential.”

Andreessen, ever the diplomat, made sure to add that that also means doing business with Index, the member of his Skype consortium that departed as Friis and Zennström (pictured here) entered, due to stark tensions between the two sides.

“I have a lot of respect for [Index partners Danny Rimer and Mike Volpi] and expect to work with them a lot in the future,” said Andreessen. “In fact, I am talking to them today about two other deals.”

In other words, in Silicon Valley, the big wheel just keeps on turning.

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:28 pm

Android Developer Challenge 2 Finalists Posted, Final Judging Begins

Early this morning, 200 Android developers woke up to one hell of an e-mail: they’d made it into the final round of the second Android Developer Challenge, and were thus one giant step closer to as much as $250,000.

Android Developer Challenge 2 officially began way back in May, though the actual voting didn’t begin until some time in September. The votes were split amongst Android users and Googlers (with the latter getting a 55% say), with all voting taking place in a special, custom-made application. To be eligible, applications had to be completely fresh to the Android Market (read: no updates allowed) as of August 1st, couldn’t have been a part of the first Challenge, and had to play friendly with Android v1.5.

In the end of round 1, 20 applications across 10 categories would go onto a second round of voting – and that’s where we stand today. Google’s big ol’ list of finalists has just gone live, and round 2 has begun. The top 3 winners from each category will take home $100,000, $50,000, or $25,000 respectively, with 3 overall winners walking away with $150,000, $50,000, or $25,000 in tow.

You can see the full list of finalists here, and (though we can’t seem to find it right now) play with and vote for them by downloading the “Android Developer Challenge 2″ application from the Market. Oh, and just in case you’ve ever wanted to roleplay as an ADC2 finalist (and really, who wouldn’t?), we’ve obtained a copy of the aforementioned notification e-mail:

From: ADC 2 Support
Date:
Subject: ADC 2 Round 1 Results for ‘App Name’
To:

Congratulations! Your application ‘App Name’ was selected by Android users as one of the top 20 in the ‘ ‘ category! We’re excited that you chose to participate in the ADC 2 and wish you luck in the final round as your application is evaluated by users and a panel of judges.

For full information on the challenge, please see our official site: http://code.google.com/android/adc/

Thanks,
ADC 2 Support

Update: We can’t get the voting application to work on our Droid (presumably because it’s running Android 2.0 and these apps are only tested against 1.5, so unforeseen 2.0 issues might skew votes), but we’re told that scanning this QR code with the Android Barcode Scanner app should take you right to the download:

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:19 pm

Is Verizon's New Early-Termination Fee Anti-Consumer? [Digital Daily]

Beginning Nov. 15, Verizon subscribers looking to get out of their smart-phone contracts early will pay $350 for the privilege. That early-termination fee is double the current one, but Verizon insists it’s justified because of the higher prices of today’s phones.

“The cost of smart phones is considerably higher than feature phones for which the early termination fees were created years ago at $175,” said Verizon spokesman Jim Gerace. He added that the new $350 ETF declines by $10 per month through the life of the contract and customers can avoid it by buying their devices off contract and paying full retail price.

An interesting move for Verizon (VZ), which just last year agreed to pay $21 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by California consumers over the very early-termination fees it is now increasing. The plaintiffs in the suit alleged that Verizon’s ETFs were illegal under California law and that they were designed to unfairly lock consumers into long-term contracts and prevent them from switching carriers. When Verizon settled the suit, it denied any wrongdoing, insisting that early-termination fees are simply a means of recovering legitimate costs. And to some extent Verizon does have a point.

Full retail price for the Motorola’s (MOT) new Droid is $559.99. With a two-year contract, Verizon sells the handset for $199.99. Theoretically, that’s a $359.99 subsidy (I have no idea at what price Verizon purchases Droid from Motorola). So if Verizon allowed subscribers to break their contract after a month without paying an early-termination fee, the company would stand to lose money. And subscribers who did so could subsequently sell the device online and potentially make a profit, though a small one.

So it’s certainly understandable that Verizon and other carriers want to protect the subsidies they dole out for these new smart phones. And as noted earlier, Verizon’s new ETF drops by $10 each month a subscriber remains under contract. But at this rate, subscribers are still bound to pay a $110 termination fee in the 23rd month of a two-year contract. The contract is nearly over, the subscriber obligation to Verizon almost fulfilled, yet the company can still slap its customers with nearly a third of the full ETF if they break it at that time.

By month 23 of a two-year contract, does Verizon really stand to lose $110 if subscribers decide to switch carriers? Doesn’t seem likely if subscribers can walk away just a month later without consequence, taking their handsets with them.

Since Verizon is pro-rating the ETF, why isn’t it doing so in such a way that it zeroes out by the end of the contract?

And isn’t the fast pace of innovation in the smart-phone sector such that prices–for both component and device–are dropping so quickly that high ETFs aren’t really justified? Remember, you can get Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone for $99 today. When the iPhone debuted in 2007, it commanded a price of $499/$599, depending on model.

I’ve put those same questions to Verizon and will update here when I hear back. In the meantime, here’s what Consumers Union policy analyst Joel Kelsey has to say on the matter: “When people want to switch wireless services, the biggest cost they face is early termination fees. These fees are designed to lock people into long-term contracts and stop them from getting better deals. Early-termination fees make the marketplace less competitive. Verizon’s move is painful proof that it’s time for lawmakers to crack down on these fees.”

UPDATE: Verizon Wireless spokesperson Nancy Stark offers the following answers to the questions I posed above:

Your first question regarding the balance at month 23 or 24 assumes that, at that point, we have recovered all of our subsidy and up-front costs for every device. That simply is not so.

On your second question, while the pace of innovation plays a role in prices coming down somewhat, it also plays a role in driving up costs as more and more complexity that customers want is added to phones–from premium HTML browsers to high-resolution MP cameras with optical zoom; videoplayers; music players; dual processor chipsets; WiFi; very high display resolution, operating systems such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Android–ALL with the added value (vs a desktop) of mobility, and ALL in one tiny device that ALSO allows you to talk to anyone from anywhere. phew! (by comparison, I recently paid $200 for a camera and all it can do is take pictures, and it has only middle of the road capabilities.)

But getting back to ETFs specifically. The most important point is that Verizon Wireless customers do not have to have an ETF at all if they do not want to. ETFs allow customers to have it either way: They can have no ETF and pay full retail for their device. OR, they can get a greatly discounted device by having an ETF.

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pm

Video: iPhone Apps for Shutterbugs

Let’s face it: The iPhone’s camera kind of stinks. And if you suck at photography, it really makes it obvious. Fortunately, there’s a host of iPhone apps out there to beautify your shots. The ones I like most maintain the iPhone’s principle of keeping things simple.

In this episode of the Gadget Lab video podcast, I demonstrate two iPhone apps that make image editing easy and one app that lets you quickly post photos on the web. CameraBag is a $2 app that automatically applies effects filters to your photos, TiltShift creates a depth-of-field effect to make photos look professional and Flick It is a free app that uploads shots straight to Flickr.

This episode of the Gadget Lab podcast was produced by Annaliza Savage, with camera work by Michael Lennon, and audio engineering and video editing by Fernando Cardoso.

Camera Bag Download Link [iTunes]

TiltShift Download Link [iTunes]

Flick It Download Link [iTunes]

See Also:

• Video: iPhone App 'Postman' Saves Trees
• Gadget Lab Video: iPhone Game TowerMadness Is Addictive, Time …

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

Pathogen Protection And Virulence: Dark Side Of Fungal Membrane Protein Revealed

Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech and Montana State University have discovered a fungal protein that plays a key role in causing disease in plants and animals and which also shields the pathogen from oxidative stress.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

Newborns Pick Up Language in the Womb

A baby's first cry is audibly shaped by the language heard while in the womb.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

DNA Molecules In Moss Open Door To New Biotechnology

Plasmids, which are DNA molecules capable of independent replication in cells, have played an important role in gene technology.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:27 am

Verizon to Offer Tethering For Motorola Droid

Verizon Wireless is set to inaugurate tethering on the newly released Motorola Droid phone next year — at a price. Most consumers will have to pay an additional $30 a month to use the feature.

“Tethering will not be available at launch, but it is scheduled,” says Brenda Raney, spokesperson for Verizon Wireless.

Tethering allows users to connect their laptops or other devices to the internet through their smartphones and its data connection. Verizon rival AT&T has also promised tethering for the iPhone, but it is yet to offer any details on availability or how much it will cost iPhone users.

Tethering on the Droid will be part of Verizon’s ‘Mobile Broadband Connect‘ service. Droid, which runs the latest Android 2.0 operating system, costs $200 with a 2 year-contract. Users must also pay $30 a month for a data plan for the device. The device went on sale in retail stores nationwide Friday.

The $30-a-month tethering plan will cap data transfer at 5 GB. Verizon will charge 5 cents for each megabyte over that limit. Business users who pay $45 for data service will pay $15 more for tethering. Droid users who only have a voice plan will pay $50 a month for tethering.

See Also:

• First Look: Motorola’s Droid Is Memorable
• Video: Hands-On With Motorola’s Droid
• Verizon Attacks the iPhone, Hints at Upcoming Droid
• Verizon, Motorola Unleash the Droid - Video

Photo: (tnkgrl/Flickr)

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am

Computer Predicts Reactions Between Molecules And Surfaces, With ‘Chemical Precision’

Hydrogen on copperThe team developed a new method of modeling what happens when hydrogen molecules separate on a copper surface. The way is now open for calculating the interaction between more complex molecules and surfaces.Chemical processes on surfacesKroes: 'It's amazing how little we actually know about chemical processes on surfaces. Processes that take place openly and under our very noses.' Even the interaction between hydrogen – with its two atoms, the simplest of all molecules – and metal surfaces is so complex that it has so far never been possible to describe what happens with quantitative precision.Catalytic convertersYet at the same time the reaction of molecules with surfaces is highly important for society. Their interaction plays a crucial role in heterogeneous catalysis whereby surfaces function as an intermediary allowing two other substances to react with one another. This is what happens with catalysers in cars, for example, and also in the production of the majority of synthetic compounds.Storage of hydrogenIn the specific case of hydrogen, the interaction between a metal surface and hydrogen molecules also has an important function in the storage of hydrogen, in its turn one of the mainstays in the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel. Separation of hydrogen molecules into two atoms is generally the first step in chemical hydrogen storage methods.ForcefieldResearch into chemical reactions is no longer restricted to the lab; complex computer calculations have become an essential element of this research. Since the sixties, theoreticians have tried to find methods of calculating the forcefield between the atoms of the molecules that are involved in the reactions of molecules with surfaces. The forces between the atoms and therefore the barriers for the activation of energy exert an exponential influence on reaction speed.Different subsystemsThe more precise the calculations of the inter-atomic forcefield, the more precise the prediction of the reactions that take place between molecules and surface. However, it is very difficult to calculate the force field, because it calls for an accurate description of two totally different subsystems: that of individual molecules and that of complete metal surfaces.Chemical precisionKroes and his team members have now developed a method of making computer models of an important class of molecule-surface reactions, namely the dissociation of hydrogen on a metal surface, with so-called chemical precision.Margin of error: 1 kilocalorie per molKroes: ' "Chemical precision" means that we can calculate the energy of the interaction between molecules and surface with a margin of error not greater than 1 kilocalorie per mol. The kilocalorie is the unit of energy familiar to us from diet lists, and a mol is the unit that expresses the number of molecules. There are about 6 x 1023 molecules in one mol. To give you an idea: 1 mol of water weights approximately 18 grams.'The method
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:20 am

Gamertell Review: Opticon and IntelliScanner Mini handheld laser barcode scanners

FROM GAMERTELL - The only differences between the products are tiny cosmetics, the accompanying accessories and the prices. But are the worth it?
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:18 am

SNM Applauds House Action To Build Medical Isotopes Reactor In The US

American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009 will ensure reliable medical isotope supplySNM applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage of H.R.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am

New Statement Outlines ATS Positions On Research, Education, Advocacy

The ATS has issued an official statement that outlines the Society's position on research, training, education, patient care and advocacy.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:09 am

Using Online Tools to Save Time During the Search [Voices]

By Jon Gray, Contributor, Laid Off and Looking, The Wall Street Journal

Jon Gray was manager of planning and analysis at Xsigo Systems, a San Jose-based technology start-up. He was laid off in November 2008, after almost two years with the company. Previously, Mr. Gray, 34, spent seven years in various finance roles at Symantec Corp. (SYMC), a security software maker. He lives in Los Gatos, Calif.

My productivity lapses don’t come from Facebook. My problem is a combination of world news sites and Twitter. Using RescueTime, an online time management tool, I’ve named two productivity goals for myself. One goal sets my unproductive time at less than 90 minutes per day. The other sets my highly productive time at greater than five hours per day. After setting up these goals, I’ve been able to monitor what applications I use, what internet sites I visit, and the exact duration of both. It quickly becomes painfully clear how easily I can become distracted and miss these goals. As I only report to myself, this tool is obviously self-policing, but it has been extremely useful to see when I’m not being as focused as I need to be. For example, I’ve adjusted my morning time with a cup of coffee and reading the news from 45 minutes down to about 15.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:07 am

Even more music for you to find with Google search

Last week, we launched a new music search feature, which helps you search and discover millions of songs with a simple Google search. When you search for an artist, song, album or even a few lyrics, you'll find links to our partner sites — putting you just one click away from listening to and purchasing the music you're looking for.

To celebrate our launch, MySpace and Lala are hosting exclusive, never-before-heard tracks from a variety of artists — and we're helping people to find those tracks through a simple Google search. So if you're a Lady Gaga fan looking for a new remix, in love with the Arctic Monkeys and looking for something extra or hunting for a new acoustic track from YouTube sensation Zee Avi, just search for it. You'll find links to these tracks right in your regular search results. And when you click the links, you'll be able to hear the songs directly from MySpace and Lala.

We know how much you care about music, and we're excited to partner with Lala and MySpace to help you discover more music from artists you love, using Google. To see the full list of tracks and read more, check out the blogposts on Lala and MySpace. We hope you enjoy the music.

Posted by R.J. Pittman, Director, Product Management
Source: The Official Google Blog | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:06 am

Genomes Of Biofuel Yeasts Reveal Clues That Could Boost Fuel Ethanol Production Worldwide

As global temperatures and energy costs continue to soar, renewable sources of energy will be key to a sustainable future.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:55 am

Cooler Temperatures Spare Many Coral Reefs

Scientists said Thursday that lower-than-feared sea temperatures this summer gave a break to fragile coral reefs across the Caribbean and the central Gulf of Mexico that were damaged in recent years, the Associated Press reported.Many of the creatures that make up coral have had to expel the colorful algae they live with, creating a bleached color due to the unusually warm water in recent years.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am

All Dressed-Up And Nowhere To Go

Inappropriate clothing prevents children playing outsideParents who dress their children in inappropriate clothing could be inadvertently hampering their child's physical activity in childcare settings.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:49 am

So Hot Right Now: Top 10 Gadgetell posts for the week of November 01, 2009

Section:

Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• Walmart’s $298 pre-Black Friday laptop is real, and not all that bad
  ” Yesterday, fellow Gadgetell writer JG told us about Walmart’s pre-Black Friday sale and one of the items up for sale is a $298 laptop from HP.…” MORE »
• Office Max Black Friday deals leaked
  ” It’s that time of year again.  The holidays are coming, and that means Black Friday.  The Black Friday ads are starting to leak and one of the first is from OfficeMax.  As many experts predicted, the shaky economy is causing many consumers to…” MORE »
• Wal-Mart’s Pre-Black Friday sale - Xbox and cheap laptops
  ” What’s better than a Black Friday sale?  A desperate Pre-Black Friday sale in hopes to get all the dollars you would have spent on the actual Black Friday.  Wal-Mart delivers with a sale this Saturday, Novermber…” MORE »
• BlackBerry admitting it is losing the browsing war?
  ” I am loathe to use job posting info on what a company is thinking but it is worth mentioning that RIM is looking for a webkit developer presumably to help out with Blackberry’s browser.  In addition to their recent Torch Mobile purchase it seems clear RIM is…” MORE »
• Droid Eris looks to come same day as Droid
  ” By now we all know that the Motorola Droid is coming to Verizon this Friday, November 6th.  Verizon hasn’t been keeping many secrets about the Droid, aside from maybe the fact that Droid is looking to be a full brand rather…” MORE »
• Rogers officially lists the BlackBerry Bold 9700, available for $299.99 on contract
  ” We have recently seen reports of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 begin delayed here with T-Mobile in the US, but that is not the case north…” MORE »
• Tag Heuer releases luxury Lamborghini mobile phone
  ” Tag Heuer has teamed up with Automobili Lamborghini to create a new luxury limited edition phone, known as the MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini.  In a tribute to the year Lamborghini was launched, only 1963 phones will be available for sale.   The…” MORE »
• Droid’s dirty little secret - no monkey business?
  ”  We knew it was too good to be true.  We knew Verizon couldn’t keep it’s mitts off the phone and tweak something to make it less fun. The good news is unlike most of Verizon’s disabled phone, this one can be fixed by throwing money…” MORE »
• Google Voice has 1.419 million users, but only 570,000 are regularly using the service
  “I have been a Google Voice user since before it was Google Voice. That was before Google had purchased the service, which was once called Grand Central. Of course, I did not really begin using and taking full advantage of the service until after…” MORE »
• You didn’t listen: Conficker worm now infects 7 million computers - one year later
  ” Back in November 2008, security experts became aware of Conficker, a worm that adds as many computers to its botnet as possible. Then in April of 2009 fear spread that April Fools Day, 4/1/09 would be dooms day, but it never came.  Instead, the worm has…” MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:09 am

BLOG: Shooting Violence: A Reason Why?

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, shot and killed 13 people at Fort Hood Army base.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

High Hopes for Tackling Terror [Voices]

By Yukari Iwatani Kane, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Blowing away terrorists, apparently, never gets old.

The new videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, set to hit stores Tuesday, is a sequel spawned by sequels. But rather than following the frequent pattern of franchises fading as they age, Modern Warfare 2 is the most highly anticipated game of the season.

“It’s the biggest launch in our history, bigger than Halo 3,” said Tony Bartel, merchandising and marketing chief for videogame retailer GameStop, which has been taking pre-orders since April.

The manufacturer, Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI), has been advertising the first-person shooter game since March.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

Sprint: No plans to increase early termination fees

Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Mobile

We have been seeing some talk about increasing Early Termination Fees (ETF’s), most recently from Verizon Wireless. With that and perhaps in an effort to get the word out, Sprint has come out and stated that they will not be increasing their ETF’s. The message came short and sweet via the official Sprint Twitter account.

One more tweet on ETF policy. We won’t be following suit as other carriers increase fees.

Of course, they then linked to their existing policy in regards to ETF’s. Nothing has changed and the fees are still being prorated depending on what is left on your contract. Which means those looking to cancel an agreement with Sprint can expect to pay an ETF as high as $200 or as low as $50 if you are in month 19 or higher in your two year agreement.

So, basically nothing is new with the policy, but at the same time it is nice to see that there will not be any ripple coming down from the recent Verizon Wireless announcement.

Read [Sprint]  Via [Twitter]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 8:36 am

Silly Skype Soap Opera Finally Canceled [Digital Daily]

The fight for Skype has ended. After weeks of nasty legal sparring, the Internet telephony service’s founders agreed to join the investor group purchasing it from EBay (EBAY) and dropped the lawsuit that had threatened to bollocks the deal.

“Skype will be well positioned to move forward under new owners with ownership and control over its core technology,” said eBay chief executive John Donahoe in a statement. “We look forward to closing the deal and focusing on growing our core e-commerce and payments businesses.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Skype founders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis will take a 14 percent stake in the company they founded and then sold to eBay, which will include an investment by them.

BoomTown’s Kara Swisher reported yesterday that the total was 13 percent–10 percent for the rights to key Skype technology held by the founders and the option to invest $83 million for three percent more.

In exchange, the pair will give Skype software essential to its operation and drop their various lawsuits against eBay and Skype buyers.

Interestingly, Index Ventures, which helped orchestrate the deal, is leaving the consortium of investors taking a majority stake in the company–as BoomTown reported earlier this week. Index partner Michelangelo Volpi, a former employee of Skype’s founders, had been at the center of one the suits that threatened to ruin the deal. Said Index partner Danny Rimer: “The deal terms changed for Index such that it no longer matches our investment criteria and thus we have decided not to participate in the transaction.”

PREVIOUSLY:

• Volpi and Index Ventures Out of Skype Deal, the Lawsuit-Happy Founder Twins In
• I Love the Smell of Settlement in the Morning: Skype Founders Set to Get 10 Percent, Option to Buy Three Percent More and Two Board Seats
• Volpi and Index Smack Back at Skype Founders With Motion to Dismiss (Plus Filings!)
• When Entrepreneurs Attack! All 10 New Skype Lawsuit Filings!
• Dueling Skype Sides Hire Big Communications Guns
• Skype Actually a “Voice Over IP Litigation” Service

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Nov 2009 | 8:22 am

Tech support!

Tech support says 64% of the men and 24% of the women who call didn't read the manual before doing so. Caveat: tech support is actually a "gadget helpline" that costs $3 a month. [BBC]

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am

Google Dashboard: Good -- But More Explanation, Please - PC World

PC World

Google Dashboard: Good -- But More Explanation, Please PC World Google's Dashboard utility is a great first step toward transparency, but it doesn't go far enough. Just how much Google do you have in your life? Now Google is giving you a tool to help answer that question: Google Dashboard, which puts personal ... Analysis: Google's Dashboard Tackles TransparencyPC Magazine Google Dashboard: Triva tabulator for my Google lifeComputerworld Google privacy controls: Most people won't careCNET News BusinessWeek -Register -FOXNews all 529 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:27 am

How To Get the iPhone Kindle App Outside the U.S.

One of the Kindle’s sweetest features is Whispersync, which lets you put down one device and keep right on reading on another, just from where you left off. This means that you can read at home on the Kindle itself, but when you find yourself in a long queue at the store, you can keep reading on your iPhone. This idea of the “book” existing independent of the device is a rather forward thinking one. If you live in the United States.

Along with the crippled, half-baked international launch of the Kindle, Amazon has still not made the “Kindle for iPhone” application available for its overseas customers. The only place to find it is in the US app store. Since I used my iPod Touch almost exclusively to read books for the past year, this is pretty annoying. Perhaps there is a workaround?

It turns out there is. Thanks to the iTunes Store option to choose “none” as a payment method, you can sign up for a US iTunes account with nothing more than an e-mail address (not the one you normally use), a real address and a cellphone number. Any free applications are then available to download, and best of all, when you hook up your iPhone or iPod Touch the application just syncs.

So does it work? Yes. I launched Kindle for iPhone and input my Amazon login. All my purchased books were there, at exactly the place I had left off on the Kindle itself. And while this is a rather big deal for any foreign Kindle and iPhone owners, this experiment shows that US travelers will have access to Whispersync via their cellphones whilst abroad.

None of my newspapers showed up, and neither did any books or documents I had loaded on there myself, so this is limited to the books bought from the Kindle store. But hey, it’s free. If you know how to get it.

Product page [iTunes]

See Also:

• Crippleware Alert! International Kindle Gets No Web Access Outside …
• Hands-On With the International Kindle and Its Surprise Web Access …
• Amazon Kills U.S. Kindle, Cuts International Price
• Amazon Dumps Sprint for Kindle 2, Embraces AT&T
• International Kindle Now Shipping: The Good, the Bad and the …

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

Slacker releases mobile app for Android

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile

This latest release by Slacker seems to be following in the path of their recent decision to phase out of the hardware business—the good news is that there is now a Slacker app available in the Android Market.

The Android app, similar to the one for the iPhone and BlackBerry will allow you to enjoy Slacker as well as your customized music experience on the go. I will say that I downloaded, installed and began using the Slacker app yesterday and at least on my HTC Hero, it seems to run much nicer than Pandora. Of course, that was just in my unscientific testing.

Anyway, like I said the app runs well and is very nice. In fact the only drawback that I see is that it does not allow you to cache music for offline use. Which is something that you can do with the BlackBerry app. Possibly that is coming in a future version.

Additionally, Slacker will allow you to listen for free. Of course, there is a paid version available. The free version however is pretty nice, as long as you do not mind the occasional advertisement and being limited to skipping only 6 songs per hour. Those interested will be able to find the Slacker app in the Android Market.

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:05 am

Bright Bacteria Wins Synthetic Biology Competition

An undergrad team modified E. Coli to make it bright enough to see with the naked eye.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

8GB iPhone 3G soon to gain an S?

FROM APPLETELL - Unconfirmed tips and pics seem to confirm that Rogers in Canada is draining their 8GB iPhone 3G stock to make way for the new 8GB iPhone 3GS.
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:26 am

WATCH: Swine Flu: A Look Inside

Find out where H1N1 originated and what happens to the virus once it gets inside our bodies.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

Can Humans Infect Pets With H1N1?

The case of an Iowa cat that contracted swine flu has experts re-thinking the disease.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:45 am

Flawed Bike Concept for Danger-Loving Hipsters

It’s hard to imagine a bike less comfortable than this concept design, but it does at least look cool.

The “Inner City Bike” was inspired by the cafe racer (check out those handlebars) and the roll-along hobby horse. The most obvious design feature is the lack of a chain. Instead, the crank and pedals are fixed directly to the rear wheel, meaning that the poor rider will be always leaning forward putting his weight on both his hands and his crotch — not ideal.

Further, the compact design puts the wheels very close together. This should mean tight turns are possible, but when combined with the weight-forward stance and the rather effective-looking front disk-brake, it looks like a recipe for over-the-handlebar disaster. And while the cafe-racer handlebars certainly look cool, putting them down low only makes this imbalance worse. Not that you’d be able to get up much speed anyway — those cranks look distressingly short compared to the big wheels they have to drive without any gearing.

One last point. Without the support of a down-tube, seat-tube or even a rear chain-stay, those two joints are going to be taking a hell of a lot of stress. It’s a good thing that the Inner City Bike is designed from non-riding urban hipsters, and therefore “more about fashion and culture than speed and performance.”

Product page [J Ruiter via Toxel]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:55 am

The Five Thousand Volt Soda Can Crusher

Bob Davis picked up a five thousand volt power supply on Ebay. Not having many things around the house which required that kind of power, he turned it to more fun uses.

Bob stripped the unit down to the supply itself, a huge 100 microfarad capacitor and a (broken) meter. After hooking the thing up to a pumpkin (no effect) and an apple (blown to pieces) he turned his sights on an innocent soda can.

The can went into a coil on the outside of the box and, like Marty McFly powering up Doc Brown’s giant amp and speaker, Bob flicked the switches one by one. After a brief dalliance with the broken meter, he threw the switch. Krrzzzzzt! Dumping all that juice into the can chopped it in half, a few shards of tattered aluminum the only things keeping the crushed pieces together. This wonderfully whimsical (and probably very dangerous) use of Bob’s $100 Ebay score rendered the zapping unit itself non-functional. Bob says “I tried to use it again but discovered that the power transformer was shorted and the diode was blown to bits”.

A shame, but if you’re going to go, then go with a bang, we guess.

5 KV Soda Can Crusher [Bob Davis via L]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:54 am

Beatles Catalog Goes Digital, Inside a Plastic Apple

For The Beatles, getting to digital downloads is a long and winding road. A new special limited edition release, though, brings us a step closer. On December 7th, the entire remastered Beatles catalog will be available to buy on a USB stick shaped like an apple.

Yes, you heard right. EMI is hawking a plastic apple, out of which slides a stick of flash memory containing 14 albums, documentary films, photos, cover art and liner notes. All this can be yours for under $300.

Of course, The Beatles’ music has been available digitally since it came out on CD, and of course those CDs were ripped and scattered to the four corners of the internet long ago. But this novelty box-set is actually a rather good deal for the fan. Not only does the music come in DRM free, lossless FLAC format, it is 24-bit, better than CD. 320 Kbps MP3s are also included so you don’t have to rip them yourself (tip: convert the FLAC to Apple Lossless for, well, lossless audio that will play on an iPod). The whole lot fits on a 16GB USB stick, inside the aforementioned apple.

I was cynical to begin with, but this actually looks great, and the fact that there are “only” 30,000 of them, along with the December release date, should mean they sell out in hours. I’m starting to think that The Beatles shouldn’t even bother moving in to the iTunes Store. After all, anyone who likes the music surely has it all already.

Product page [The Beatles]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:27 am

Sofa modelled on brainwaves

The Brainwave Sofa is a sofa modelled on your very own brainwaves. Stop thinking spiky thoughts. Try to think, you know, cushy. Soft. Inviting. That's it. Right there. Hold it now. Print!

Dutch industrial designer Lucas Maassen, co-designer of the Brainwave Sofa with Belgian designer Dries Verbruggen (of Unfold), had his brain activity measured at the EPI (Eindhoven Psychology Institute) while he closed his eyes for 3 seconds. The moment a person closes his eyes, during this measurement, the Alpha-activity becomes 8 to 12 Hertz larger. This Alpha-activity prepares the brain for multiplication of the visual stimuli when the eyes are opened again. Such a measurement creates a 3D Landscape of (brain)waves, which looks different with every measurement. This three dimensional form, in other words is a unique display.

Brainwave sofa by Unfold & Lucas Maassen

(via Medgadget)

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 am

Sweet Revenge: Phone-Jack Powered Lamp Rips Off Telcos

A lamp this cheap and ugly would never usually get a mention here at the Lab, but as you will have guessed, there is a clever twist. Instead of hooking up to the mains or even a USB port to get its power, this 8-LED reading light plugs into the telephone socket.

Yes, at last you have a use for your abandoned landline socket, something for the person whose phone never rings. The cord ends with an RJ11 jack and takes power from the phone company, the supplier of the trickle of electricity to your phone. And remember, this power stays on even when your regular power is out.

Which leads us to the question: Is this legal? I know that in the UK, anything that you can hook up to a phone jack need to be certified for that use. It’s hard to see telcos being happy about this freeloading lamp, so we guess you should grab one of these pink plastic monstrosities while you can. The price? An almost-free €3.18 ($4.73).

Product page [UXSight via Oh Gizmo!]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:43 am