AT&T also fixed a separate problem in which a customer in Atlanta was able to log into the wrong Facebook account on a mobile phone. In that "isolated" case, the problem was due to a misdirected cookie on the customer's phone, Coe said.

"We worked with the customer to resolve the issue," he said. "It is unclear how this cookie was set on the phone."

Asked for comment, a Facebook spokesman said: "We don't have anything more than what AT&T is saying."

The Associated press first reported on the problems this weekend.

Sony to sign deal with Simon Cowell: report

Click on the image for a closer look.

Geez. Still a bit confusing, isn't it? I'm just gonna keep hugging my old grandfathered plan nice and tight. [BillShrink]

Paul does say that the touchscreen still works and there's no change in the display. It just, well, looks like that. And even worse, he bought it unlocked and with a Best Buy credit card that doesn't have purchase protection. Sorry, Paul. [Thanks Paul!]

Source: Gizmodo | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:40 pm

CrunchDeals: A slightly-used NASA Space Shuttle

If you just so happen to be in the market for a second hand space craft, NASA has a deal for you, pal. The Space Shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour are currently for sale with a price tag of $28.2 m each. Just think, you could park one of these bad boys in your trailer park and relieve its glory days. It’s probably best that you take the shuttle to a qualified space ship mechanic before you commit though. The last thing you wanna do is drop that kind of cash on a lemon.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:32 pm

TokBox Rolls Out Paid Features

TokBox, the web-based video chat application, appears to be testing new paid features on its platform. Although the startup creates a great product that allows for multi-user video chat from the browser, TokBox faced hardships last year and was forced to fire 30% of the company’s total staff and shuffled the executive lineup.

TokBox is obviously looking to create a revenue stream with the paid features, allowing users to pay $9.99 per month to add moderation functionality for chats. So with the paid features, you can choose who can join your call, remove people from your call, silence the audio of participants, control who shares media on the chat, and distribute moderator controls to other members of a chat. It also appears that the startup will charge users if they want to add more than 20 people to an individual chat.

The startup recently added document collaboration powered by EtherPad, which was acquired by Google late last year. It looks like TokBox is formulating a business plan; which should make its investors happy. And this monetization comes at a time when the online video chat application space is heating up, with TinyChat (which offers all of TokBox’s paid features for free) and others gaining popularity.

We’ve contacted TokBox for comment and will update with a response.

UPDATE: TokBox has confirmed that it rolled out its first set of paid features today.

Source: TechCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:25 pm

Microsoft's Browser Under Fire In Europe - Wall Street Journal

BBC News (blog)

Microsoft's Browser Under Fire In Europe Wall Street Journal Microsoft Corp. challenged recommendations by European officials that people stop using its Internet Explorer browser because of a security hole that hackers exploited in the recent attack on Google Inc. and ... Internet Explorer 6 Dealt Another BlowPC World After Google hack, Microsoft asks users to abandon IE6, XPArs Technica Google sits pretty while Microsoft does damage controlZDNet (blog) CNET -BBC News -PC Magazine all 496 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:20 pm

YC-Funded MeetingMix Gets Your Co-Workers To Cut To The Chase

If you were to ask an employee of any company for a list of their biggest gripes, there’s a good chance “Meetings” would be near the top of the list. There are plenty of reasons why people don’t like meetings, but there’s usually one overarching theme: they’re inefficient. From longwinded tangents to ill-prepared presenters, many meetings could probably be held in a fraction of the time if everyone just got their act together. Cue MeetingMix, a new site launching today that hopes to help streamline meetings, helping you ensure that everyone involved is more prepared, time conscious, and on topic.

MeetingMix’s core functionality is to help you create and distribute an agenda for your meeting. First, you name a meeting and add a few bullet points outlining which topics you’d like to cover. Then you send your meeting outline to your coworkers, inviting them to tack on any topics they think need to be covered. The logic behind this is simple: everyone knows ahead of time what you’re going to talk about, so there’s less of a chance of off-topic tangents. You can also assign each meeting point to an employee, so everyone should know going in what they’re going to be responsible for.

MeetingMix also has a set of features you can use during and after the meeting. During the meeting, you can use a tool that helps you transcribe notes about each item on the agenda, which are later compiled into the meeting’s minutes and can be sent to all the attendees. You can project an agenda page in front of everyone, so your co-workers know exactly what topic you’re currently supposed to be talking about. This mode also includes a timer at the top of the screen that helps you keep track of how long you’ve spent on a given topic so that you don’t run over time.

MeetingMix charges meeting creators $4.95 a month, which allows you to make as many meetings as you’d like, each of which can have an unlimited number of attendees. Co-founder Shawn Gupta likens the model to 37Signals’ products, explaining that it’s a straightforward tool that anyone in a company can start using without any involvement from management or IT. To help build the product, he says that company consulted former SalesForce VP Todd McKinnon (who has played a part in plenty of meetings) and now serves as a MeetingMix advisor.

MeetingMix is intuitive and should be easy to pick up for just about anyone. But as with many services that offer simplicity as a core feature, I wonder if the product might be a little too basic. Given that the service revolves around collaboration, it would be nice if there was a way to collaboratively build a PowerPoint presentation to be shown during the meeting. I’d also like to see an easy way to make an audio recording of a meeting that’s synced up with the meeting minutes as you typed them.

MeetingMix was built by the founders behind IDidWork, a service for helping employees track their productivity. The Y Combinator-funded company is maintaining IDidWork, but they’ve switched to working full time on MeetingMix.

CrunchBase Information

ididwork

Information provided by CrunchBase

Source: TechCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:15 pm

Apple tablet computer expected at January 27 event (AFP)

AFP - Apple has announced it would show off its "latest creation" in San Francisco later this month, an event expected to feature the unveiling of a long-awaited tablet computer.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:55 pm

With Mobile Giving To Haiti Passing $20 Million, Text Fundraising Comes Of Age

As the tragedy from last week’s earthquake in Haiti continues to unfold, the Red Cross and other relief organizations have now raised more than $20 million via text message donations, which is about 10 percent of the $210 million total raised so far. The text donations have been doubling at a rapid pace, from $5 million last week to $10 million to more than $20 million today. As more and more people pick up their phones and text “HAITI” to the number 90999, not only is a $10 donation to the Red Cross be added to their phone bill, but many of them are also experiencing mobile SMS payments for the first time.

James Eberhard is the CEO of Mobile Accord, the company behind the mGive Foundation which is coordinating the text fundraising efforts for the Red Cross. Mobile Accord has been running cause marketing campaigns for non-profits since the 2008 SuperBowl. He’s never seen mobile giving at this scale. “It is the biggest,” he says “Previously the largest was during American Idol when Alicia keys made a call to action that raised $450,000 through two calls to action over the course of three minutes.”

There are many advantages to mobile giving. It’s probably the fastest way to make a donation. You don’t have to write a check. You don’t even have to turn on your computer. It lowers the barrier to giving and opens the door to w whole new class of donors. When someone decides they want to give, they can do it immediately and get billed later. (The carriers, for their part, are trying to release the money as quickly as possible to the relief organizations). Eberhard notes that there are 270 million cell phones in the U.S., and they all can send text messages. For the non-profits, they end up getting funds faster and can begin to establish a direct relationship with the people who give.

As text donations become more common, they may also pave the way for regular mobile commerce payments. It’s like Paypal: sending money via text message might seem unnatural at first, but once you do it, the next time the option comes up it won’t seem so strange. The people texting money to the Red Cross this week will be more likely to text money to a business down the road. But for now, keep texting “HAITI.”

Here’s a list of different ways to text to help Haiti:

ext HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross

* Text HAITI to 25383 to donate $5 to International Rescue Committee

* Text HAITI to 45678 to donate $5 to the Salvation Army in Canada

* Text YELE to 501501 to donation $5 to Yele

* Text RELIEF to 30644 to get automatically connected to Catholic Relief Services and donate money with your credit card

* Text HAITI to 864833 to donate $5 to The United Way

* Text CERF to 90999 to donate $5 to The United Nations Foundation

* Text DISASTER to 90999 to donate $10 to Compassion International

• Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross
• Text QUAKE to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
• Text HABITAT to 25383 to donate $10 to Habitat For Humanity
• Text OXFAM to 25383 to donate $10 to Oxfam A
• Text HAITI to 25383 to donate $5 to International Rescue Committee
• Text HAITI to 45678 to donate $5 to the Salvation Army in Canada
• Text YELE to 501501 to donation $5 to Yele
• Text RELIEF to 30644 to get automatically connected to Catholic Relief Services and donate money with your credit card
• Text HAITI to 864833 to donate $5 to The United Way
• Text CERF to 90999 to donate $5 to The United Nations Foundation
• Text DISASTER to 90999 to donate $10 to Compassion International

CrunchBase Information

Mobile Accord

mGive

Information provided by CrunchBase

Source: TechCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:53 pm

D-Link Warns of Vulnerable Routers

wiedzmin sends in news of a vulnerability in some D-Link home routers. The company has made new firmware available for download. "D-Link announced today that the problem, discovered by security researchers SourceSec, affects three of its wireless routers: DIR-855 (hardware version A2), DIR-655 (versions A1 to A4), and DIR-635 (version B). The problem lies in D-Link's implementation of Cisco's Home Network Administration Protocol, which allows remote router configuration. The scope of the vulnerability is greatly reduced by the fact that these router models were not shipped with the affected firmware by default, so only customers who updated their firmware are potentially affected. Or at least this was indicated in the company's response to the SourceSac claim that all D-Link routers sold since 2006 were affected." SourceSec apparently made their research available, including an exploitation tool, without ever contacting D-Link.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:53 pm

Everything you need to know about Windows Mobile 7

MWC is a few weeks away - it starts on February 15 - and we're expecting to see a new version of Windows Mobile, version 7, to be launched with hardware soon to follow. We've heard some rumors about potential improvements over the current 6.x codebase, but a developer has told us that this new version is so distant from the old WinMo that it is almost unrecognizable. The worst part? It is completely non-backwards compatible, meaning all WinMo apps are about go extinct.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:21 pm

Everything You Need to Know About Windows Mobile 7

MWC is a few weeks away - it starts on February 15 - and we're expecting to see a new version of Windows Mobile, version 7, to be launched with hardware soon to follow. We've heard some rumors about potential improvements over the current 6.x codebase, but a developer has told us that this new version is so distant from the old WinMo that it is almost unrecognizable. The worst part? It is completely non-backwards compatible, meaning all WinMo apps are about go extinct.

Source: TechCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:19 pm

Everything you need to know about Windows Mobile 7

MWC is a few weeks away – it starts on February 15 – and we’re expecting to see a new version of Windows Mobile, version 7, to be launched with hardware soon to follow. We’ve heard some rumors about potential improvements over the current 6.x codebase, but a developer has told us that this new version is so distant from the old WinMo that it is almost unrecognizable. The worst part? It is completely non-backwards compatible, meaning all WinMo apps are about go extinct.

First, WinMo 7 is essentially a copy of the Zune HD’s kernel. It comes in one screen size and will work best on OLED devices. Microsoft will give official specs to hardware makers and force them to comply or else refuse them access to the OS. This includes a regimented screen and RAM size as well as a minimum processor speed.

If you haven’t guessed, Microsoft is about to get all Apple up in this piece.

The UI looks just like the Zune HD’s with some phone controls built-in. The HD has defined the interface and the use case here, so expect a capacitive multi-touch screen with plenty of media controls.

Now for the nuts and bolts: WinMo 7 has no background processing and will use an Apple-like notification service. There is no system resource access and no threaded processes. In fact, there is no customization at all.

WinMo 7 will not run 6.x code. End of story. It is based on Silverlight and .Net. Everything save a few basic programs will not work under WinMo 7. There is no expectation that this will be a “business device” and the focus is currently on games including some XBox Live functionality for gaming and messaging. There will be a Microsoft App store with an easy approval process.

There is no visual voicemail, probably for patent reasons. As for developers, they’re kind of pissed. As far as we can tell they’re not quite sure they want to take the steps necessary to move over to the new platform. This is a Hail Mary pass and could mean huge changes in the WinMo ecosystem. This could also mean Zune sync software for the Mac, something that we expected when pigs flew.

Special thanks to our fearless tipster.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:17 pm

France says “non” to using Internet Explorer

Section: Computers, Security, Web, Web Browsers

Recently, the German Federal Office for Security in Information Technology had advised their citizens to stop using Internet Explorer.  Whether they had an older version or the latest, the German Federal Office discovered some severe vulnerabilities in the browser security.  Now France has taken similar measures and advised their citizens to switch from IE to a different browser.  Versions of Internet Explorer including 6, 7, and 8 each contain a security flaw allowing hackers to control the browser remotely.

The Centre d’Expertise Gouvernemental de Réponse et de Traitement des Attaques informatique (basically the Central Government Intelligence agency of Response and Treatment of computer attacks) reached about to the French claiming an alternative browser would be safer.  Alternatives such as Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Google Chrome have become popular at the expense of the once useful Internet Explorer.  It will be interesting to see if any other countries follow similar paths as Germany and France.

Via [Mashable]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:03 pm

Hearst’s Social Shopping Site Kaboodle Gets A Realtime Makeover

Social shopping site Kaboodle, which was acquired by Hearst Interactive Group in 2007 for $30 million or so, is re-launching its site to upgrade its product-discovery engine that allows online shoppers to discover, search for, browse, and interact with the more than six million products.

Kaboodle is a free social bookmarking service and search product that allows you to discover and share e-commerce content. With the re-launch and re-design of the site, Kaboodle is becoming less content centric and more realtime and product and people centric.

The new version of the product-discovery engine allows online shoppers to search and discover products according to normal search terms, but also according to popularity amongst other shoppers in the Kaboodle community and consumers. The platform has upgraded search to be realtime and lets users see products that are most popular right now based on specific filters, such as items from a specific store, within a specific category, related items, and more. For example, a user can see what are the most popular items being searched on Nordstrom.com.

Kaboodle’s bookmarklet functionality which allows users to add products from anywhere on the Web is staying the same, but the site has made it easier for retailers to incorporate the bookmarklet on their own sites. Manish Chandra, co-founder of Kaboodle, says that the site will continue to make realtime improvements in the coming year, hoping to become the go-to destination for product discovery and sharing. Chandra says the site has over 1 million registered users and is seeing 8 million unique visitors per month, according to comScore. Launched in 2005, Kaboodle faces competition from ThisNext, Like.com and Sugar’s ShopStyle.

Source: TechCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 7:00 pm

Nexus One is "Good" for Business - San Francisco Chronicle

PC World

Nexus One is "Good" for Business San Francisco Chronicle The Nexus One and the Droid prove that the Android invasion is fully underway, and the next battlefront will be the enterprise. Consumer gadgets often force their way into the corporate culture, and what is the point of having a smartphone--or a ... Nexus One: 'IPhone killer' or just some sad attempt?Daily Illini Google's Nexus One vs. the Droid: Two Phones DissectedPC World What we craved this week: Nexus One, Netflix to Wii, bear countryCNET Computerworld -eWeek -TMCnet all 160 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 18 Jan 2010 | 6:34 pm

York University Aims High With Altium

SYDNEY, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Altium continues to extend its partnerships with universities, with a new relationship secured with York University's School of Engineering to supply Altium Designer for use within its space engineering and computer engineering undergraduate programs.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 6:26 pm

WSJ: Apple in tablet talks with HarperCollins - CNET

The Business Insider

WSJ: Apple in tablet talks with HarperCollins CNET We had heard that Apple was pitching its yet to be launched (or even confirmed) tablet device to publishers, but a Wall Street Journal story posted Monday offers a few potential specifics. The story, citing unnamed sources familiar ... Report: Apple in Talks With Publisher on Tablet E-booksPC World HarperCollins in talks to offer content for Apple's tabletApple Insider Apple Tablet Pretty Much Promised For 1/27 IntroductionHot Hardware Slippery Brick -GeekSmack -The Business Insider all 43 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 18 Jan 2010 | 6:12 pm

Fox News "Confirms" Apple Tablet, iLife 2010 & Next iPhone OS (PC World)

PC World - Fox News posted an article Monday claiming that not only will next week's now-confirmed Apple event play host to the long-rumored tablet unveiling, but it will also see the next iteration of Apple's iLife software on show. Fox's report also claims that Apple will discuss the next iPhone OS update.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:56 pm

Fox News 'Confirms' Apple Tablet, iLife 2010, and Next iPhone OS (PC World)

PC World - Fox News posted an article Monday claiming that not only will next week's now-confirmed Apple event play host to the long-rumored tablet unveiling, but it will also see the next iteration of Apple's iLife software on show. Fox's report also claims that Apple will discuss the next iPhone OS update.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:56 pm

mGive's Text Message Donation Platform Raises More Than $22 Million for Red Cross to Help Earthquake Victims in Haiti

DENVER, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The American public continued to respond generously to the disaster in Haiti by donating funds to support the relief effort using their mobile phones.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:55 pm

Cowon W2 MID releasing in Korea on January 25th

Section: Computers, Mobile Computers

Cowon has recently announced that the product launch of the Cowon W2 Mobile Internet Device will take place in Korea on January 25th. The Cowon W2 is somewhat like a small tablet, it comes with a 4.8” LCD touch screen capable of displaying up to 1024x600 of resolution.

It runs on an Intel Atom 1.33 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR, and a TV-out slot. The Cowon W2 comes in 4 different versions, each varying in terms of its hard disk capacity, 60 GB, 80GB, 60GB Premium and 80GB Premium. It is still uncertain as to what “Premium” denotes, perhaps an SSD version of the hard disk? It will be sold in Korea for 599000 (approximately $534) to 739000 (approximately $659) Korean Won.

Via [SlashGear] Via [Akihabara News]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:54 pm

Raw Therapee 3 Is Now Free Software

kantier writes "The only (as far as I know) usable and free (as in beer) program for processing RAW photos outside Windows or OS X is now also free as in freedom. From version 3 onwards, the code is licensed under the GPL v3. The main developer's reasons for opening up the program are a lack of time/resources for full dedication, and a lack of interest in some parts of the program (likes to fiddle with image-processing algorithms, not so much the GUI part) — so the F/OSS model seems to be a perfect fit for this project."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:52 pm

Network Merchants Inc (NMI) Creates Three Step Redirect API, Providing Merchants Higher Security, More Flexibility, and Control.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Jan.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:51 pm

New Samsung point-and-shoots. Move along, people, nothing to see here

There are so many cameras out there that I just don’t see the point in reporting every time someone changes their lineup by adding one “x” to the optical zoom or subtracting a millimeter from the case size. I’m opting not to write up Samsung’s latest cameras because of the simple fact that there is nothing interesting about them. Furthermore, the PR company in charge of promoting them has locked the press releases inside >100MB files containing insanely high-resolution images.

We’re actually taking a post-CES day off here at CG and I’ll be damned if I’m going to spend half an hour extracting the relevant information from a few breathless 4000-word press releases and resizing 20-megapixel images just so our poor readers can be bored to tears by the lack of compelling features. Want to know which camera to buy? Here you go.

Update: Actually, this one has a nice AMOLED screen. Nice, but it’s only on that 15x zoom one, which will probably cost ~$450.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:40 pm

Apple to host event January 27, tablet expected (Reuters)

Reuters - Apple Inc will host a special event on January 27 where it is widely expected to unveil its tablet computer, as the company looks to extend its hot hand into a brand new product category.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:16 pm

Lens-mounted semicircle LED ring for lighting your macro subjects

It was just a day or two ago that I was recommending Brando’s flash accessory kit to someone. Among the many (many, many) products at that online shop, their photographic accessories are some of the best deals, because even the most basic softboxen and other photo extras are ridiculously expensive elsewhere. Sure, they may not be as high quality as the “real” versions, but they do 90% of the job for 50% of the price.

This LED kit is a bit specific in its applications, but if you take a lot of macro shots you know that lighting is hard to get right on tiny subjects, and having a one-sided light source like this can add some much-needed contrast to what might otherwise be a flat-lit shot.

It’s basically a donut flash like the one Dexter uses (that’s all I can think of, I’m catching up on the latest season) but not nearly as bright — up close, that could totally blow out a macro subject (or scare it off). You can control which side of the donut is lit, or have it fully on. There’s a diffuser so you don’t need to worry about bulb rings, and at $58 it’s cheaper than a flashlight with a comparable number of LEDs. Check it out over at Brando.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:10 pm

The Weird Science of Tossing Stones Into a Lake

Interoperable writes "Researchers in Spain and the Netherlands add another piece to a centuries-old puzzle in physics: the dynamics of an object falling into water. This common occurrence has a complex anatomy that includes a thin 'crown splash' around the perimeter of the impact, a deep cavity of air following the impactor, and a high, narrow jet of water that results from the collapse of the cavity. The new research, recently published in Physical Review Letters, demonstrates that airflow through the neck of the collapsing cavity reaches supersonic speeds despite low relative pressures between the air in the cavity and ambient pressure. Such an effect has no analogue in aerospace engineering or other sciences because of the highly dynamic nature of the collapsing nozzle structure." It's funny that the APS wants to charge non-subscribers $25 to download what is available for free on the arXiv.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:03 pm

WSJ: New York Times May Charge Core Readers Of Its Website - Wall Street Journal

TopNews United States

WSJ: New York Times May Charge Core Readers Of Its Website Wall Street Journal The New York Times is nearing a decision to charge its core online readers, a person familiar with the matter said, as the paper wraps up its assessment of the benefits and risks of restricting access to news ... Apple Tablet and NY Times Paywall: Rumors MergePC World New York Times reverting to 'paid' access to its WebsiteTopNews United States Report: New York Times to charge online readersCNET New York Magazine -Editor & Publisher -New York Post all 116 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:52 pm

Projection-screen is the new touchscreen. Or at least Dell seems to think so

Section: Computers, Desktops

Everyone wants a touchscreen right now. You’ve got your iTouch’s, phones, monitors, laptops, eReaders, tablets, etc… But Dell knows the future. And the future is projection.

Ok not really… Albeit being a cool idea, it’s also a unnecessary one; but Dell, with its Froot Concept, wants to show you anyway. The Froot sports two projectors, one on the front for the keyboard and another on the back for the display. Where this leaves the mouse, I’m not sure. Maybe the back projector will be able to sense your touches like the front one or maybe it will be able to read our minds, it is a concept after-all.

Besides the “interesting” design, it’s the keyboard that kills it for me. We’ve seen projection keyboards before and this one doesn’t change my feelings for them. Physical keyboards are elevated for a reason. Have you read that giant disclaimer on the back of your keyboard? Let me summarize, “something something something can cause physical injury if not used properly”; meaning, carpal tunnel syndrome in the more common cases. To prevent that, you elevate the keyboard, but you can’t do that when there is no keyboard to elevate.

It’s a cool idea. But it just isn’t working for me. I really hope that these projector keyboard ideas don’t go much farther or get more popular.

Read [Behance Network] Via [Gizmodo]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:45 pm

New clothes from store full of cooties, "butt flora," and microbes too gross for this headline

When you go out and buy new clothing, it is a very good idea to wash those new garments before wearing them. Or, maybe wear hazmat-undies.


Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:31 pm

Belzberg Announces Reorganization

TORONTO, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Belzberg Technologies Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:26 pm

Ralph Bakshi on Surviving in Tough Times

When I first posted this video a little over a year ago, it flew like wildfire through the animation community. But I think it has something to say to all creative people.

I had the opportunity to interview the legendary Ralph Bakshi at the San Diego Comic Con. Ralph was in "pitch mode" talking a mile a minute about all the things he was working on at the time. I got the chance to get one question in, and Ralph swung like Babe Ruth and hit it out of the park. Every once in a while, I watch this video again to remind myself what it means to be an artist.

More on Ralph Bakshi at the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive...
Ralph Bakshi at the Cartoon Hall of Fame
Bakshi on 2D vs 3D Animation
Bakshi Phone Doodles
RalphBakshi.com

Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:24 pm

Secret "Jesus" Bible codes inscribed on American military weapons

ABC News reports that high-powered rifle sights provided to the US Army and Marines by Michigan weapons maker Trijicon include coded references to Bible passages about Jesus Christ:

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious "Crusade" in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes (ABC News)
Trijicon (corporate website)


Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:18 pm

Iceland's Data Center Push Finally Gets Traction

miller60 writes "Iceland is poised for the completion of its first major international data center project, after years of marketing itself as a potential data center mecca. Iceland offers an ample supply of geothermal energy and an ideal environment for fresh air cooling, but its ambitions were slowed by the global financial collapse. But now the huge UK charity Wellcome Trust has provided funding to complete a new data center in a former NATO facility in Keflavik."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:15 pm

Ninjas unbox the Nexus One

Yes, ninjas. What’s next? The Predator unboxing the Moto CLIQ?

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:14 pm

Haiti-Relief Contributions From Verizon Foundation and Company Employees Top $600,000

NEW YORK, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Verizon Foundation and Verizon employees have pledged more than $600,000 in donations to support earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 4:04 pm

Argyle Security Announces Changes to Executive Management Team

SAN ANTONIO, Jan.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:50 pm

Photos of William Burroughs's belongings

In the 1970s, William S. Burroughs lived in New York City's Lower East Side in a former YMCA locker room, a windowless room affectionally referred to as The Bunker. Of course, Burroughs spent his later years in Lawrence, Kansas, but after his 1997 death, Burroughs's friend and landlord, avant-garde poet John Giorno kept the writer's Bunker bedroom intact. Photographer Peter Ross took a lovely series of photos of Uncle Bill's belongings. From an interview with Ross in The Morning News:

How did you choose what articles you wanted to photograph?

Most of the items just jumped out at me. How could I pull a book titled Medical Implications of Karate Blows out of a stack and not photograph it? Or the typewriter with his name on it? The blow darts and board that hang on the wall in his bedroom?

Well, how did you decide on the angle for each photograph--why the bottoms of the shoes, for example, instead of the tops?

I challenged myself to try and find what was unique to the items. I was looking for something historical and specific to their owner, and short of that I was pushing for an off-kilter angle or placement.

Shoes are just shoes, but only one man wore the holes into the bottoms of this pair. Just think of where these shoes have been, the conversations they have witnessed. These shoes likely have met many of my heroes of New York's 1970s and '80s culture.

"Burroughs" by Peter Ross (Thanks, Xeni!)


Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:45 pm

Apple Continues "Me-Too" Strategy in Patent Battle with Nokia - PC World

CNET

Apple Continues "Me-Too" Strategy in Patent Battle with Nokia PC World It seems like playing a game of chess with a novice. You move a pawn forward two spaces, they move a pawn forward two spaces. You move a bishop three spaces to capture a pawn, they move a bishop three spaces to capture a pawn. ... Apple wants Nokia's US imports blockedArs Technica SCENARIOS-What lies ahead in Nokia vs Apple legal battleReuters Nokia hits back at Apple patent claimBBC News The Mac Observer -CNET -V3.co.uk all 231 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:41 pm

Apple Continues "Me-Too" Strategy in Patent Battle with Nokia (PC World)

PC World - Apple has filed a complaint with the ITC (International Trade Commission) requesting a ban on imports of Nokia mobile phones alleged to infringe on Apple patents. If the scenario sounds familiar it's because it follows Nokia's request that the ITC ban imports of Apple devices alleged to infringe on Nokia patents.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:39 pm

Miles O'Brien: This Week in Space

Intrepid space and science reporter Miles O'Brien has come out with a new edition of "This Week In Space," his first new edition for 2010. Included in this episode...

The space nation awaits direction from President Obama, Endeavour gets ready to deliver a room with a view, how an abandoned McDonald's is being used to restore closeups of the Moon, a space telescope finds new planets, plus an interview with Hubble-Hugger-In-Chief John Grunsfeld.

Good stuff. Have a look, and there's more at Space Flight Now.

Previously:

• Boing Boing Video: Welcome, Miles O'Brien!
• Miles O'Brien: The Hubble Constant
• BB Video - Miles O'Brien Reports: An Astronaut Climbs Everest ...
• BB Video: This Week in Space, with Miles O'Brien
• BB Video: Miles O'Brien on Technology Questions in The Air France ...
• BB Video: This Week in Space And Aviation, with Miles O'Brien ...

Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:38 pm

Photo Essay: I Have Seen A Thousand Faces

I have known the rough-hewn face of time, tracing back to mend the frayed, unraveled thread of years. Though all reflection is an empty glass- replacing not one fragment dream, nor sealing off one avenue of fears.

Photo Essay: I Have Seen A Thousand Faces (Coronet/1949)

Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:37 pm

Asus DR-570 ebook reader to come sporting an OLED display and 122 hours of battery life

Section: Gadgets / Other, ebooks

Plenty of people were expecting Asus to show off some kind of ebook reader during CES, but unfortunately those people went away disappointed—but as of now there may still be a little hope.

The details, which are coming courtesy of Times Online InGear are suggesting that the Asus ebook reader will be coming as model number DR-570. Feature wise the reader will have a 6-inch color OLED display and have a battery life of up to 122 hours in “real world conditions.” As far as that goes, we can only hope that mention of real world conditions is accurate.

Other details of the DR-570 ebook reader include some of what it can do, well what it can do aside from read ebooks. The rumor has it that the DR-570 will be able to play Flash video.

Finally, other features include the seemingly now standard 3G and Wi-Fi.

Sadly nothing was mentioned in terms of pricing, but assuming these specs were accurate and the price was reasonable we may have a nice alternative reader on our hands.

Read [Times Online]  Via [Engadget]

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:36 pm

Video Game Music Recognition Gets a Boost

kghapa writes to tell us that for the first time ever, video game music is getting a much higher level of recognition through inclusion in this year's Ivor Novello Awards in London. "With the growing recognition of the immense detail and complex music compositions that are dedicated to video games, it seemed only a matter of time until game music was given some rightful spotlight. As the huge success and popularity of the fully orchestrated 'Video Games Live' concert has proved, modern and even classic games of days past have truly awe-inspiring musical scores. This concert alone has sold up to half a million tickets and featured music from a wide variety of games and gaming eras, from World of Warcraft to Zelda."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:32 pm

Karen Finley's *very* NSFW "Tales of Taboo"

On June 15, 1998, the US Supreme Court declared that the National Endowment for the Arts had the right to take "into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public" when determining whether artists are worthy of NEA funding. That landmark decision was the key moment in a case filed by four artists -- Karen Finley, Tim Miller, John Fleck, and Holly Hughes -- who lost their NEA funding because their work was deemed to be indecent. The artists sued the NEA for breach of promise and violation of their First Amendment rights, took it to the top, and lost. Eventually, the artists did get their grants reinstated, but the culture wars continued to rage and the NEA was essentially eviscerated. I was first exposed to Finley in 1986 through her infamous dance track, "Tales of Taboo," heard in this YouTube clip. The DJ at the alternative/punk/gay/freak club where I hung out would play it to either clear the dance floor, or fill it, depending on how many "bridge-and-tunnel" types had made the scene that night. NSFW. Listen with headphones. Trust me.

Karen Finley

"NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, ET AL., PETITIONERS v. KAREN FINLEY, ET AL."


Source: Boing Boing | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:16 pm

Tentative Prospects For US Climate Change Legislation

The chances of passing meaningful legislation dealing with the issue of global climate change are slim amid the current U.S. economic downturn and looming midterm congressional elections, experts say. Last month’s U.N.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:03 pm

The gaming cupcake game

FROM GAMERTELL - Can you guess the gaming cupcake?
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 3:02 pm

France Tells Its Citizens To Abandon IE, Others Disagree

Freistoss writes "Microsoft still has not released a patch for a major zero-day flaw in IE6 that was used by Chinese hackers to attack Google. After sample code was posted on a website, calls began for Microsoft to release an out-of-cycle patch. Now, France has joined Germany in recommending its citizens abandon IE altogether, rather than waiting for a patch. Microsoft still insists IE8 is the 'most secure browser on the market' and that they believe IE6 is the only browser susceptible to the flaw. However, security researchers warned that could soon change, and recommended considering alternative browsers as well." PCWorld seems to be taking the opposite stance arguing that blaming IE for attacks is a dangerous approach that could cause a false sense of security.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:49 pm

iStream Financial Services Processes Over $1 Billion and Over 1 Million Transactions in December.

BROOKFIELD, Wis., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- iStream Financial Services, Inc. (iStream), a vertically integrated payment processing company, processed over $1 billion in clearing volume and 1.2 million Remote Deposit, ACH and Direct Deposit transactions in December.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:46 pm

Tyco International to Acquire Broadview Security

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland and IRVING, Texas, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC) and Brink's Home Security Holdings, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:45 pm

EU Poised to Approve Oracle-Sun Deal [Digital Daily]

The European Commission’s approval of Oracle’s $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun is imminent. Though EU regulators have until late January to make their decision, sources close to both companies tell me they expect approval this week, perhaps even as early as Wednesday or Thursday. They caution, however, that the EC is nothing if not mercurial; there’s always a chance it could fail to reach a quorum, in which case, approval will fall closer to the review deadline of Jan 27.

Either way, the deal is likely to officially close in early February.  And when it does, Oracle (ORCL) and Sun (JAVA) will be well prepared. “The integration team have been working very hard to complete all of the planning and executives on both sides of the merger believe that deal will be approved,” one source told me. “The majority of the hiring decisions have been made and the bulk of the product decisions and organization structure is completed.”

As part of its preparation, Oracle has written three email announcements, which it plans to distribute to Sun employees. The first, a congratulatory note for employees who will keep their jobs after the transition. The second, a notice of termination alerting employees who will lose their jobs. The third, an offer of a temporary position working through the transition is most likely to be distributed to employees in finance and human resources.

For rank-and-file Sun employees, the second notice is obviously ugly news. Not so for executives: The cash payout at the VP and officer level for being let go is quite generous, and I’m told a certain number of “howls of whoopee” can be expected from those in senior positions hoping for a pink slip.

And just how many pink slips are to be distributed? That’s unclear. I’ve heard from some sources that a significant reduction in workforce is almost certain. Others tell me “layoffs are not going to be anywhere near predictions.”

For the sake of Sun’s long-suffering employees, let’s hope it’s the latter.

Reached for comment, Sun declined to offer on”. “Sorry, we do not comment on rumors or speculation,” a spokesperson told me.

Source: All Things Digital | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:30 pm

Haiti Relief Efforts Aided By TravelCell Rental Phone Services

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Jan.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:28 pm

And the Netflix / Warner Bros. DVD release delays begin

Section: Video, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray

Just like we heard earlier this month, Netflix has begun delaying the release of Warner Bros DVD titles. First up, or should I say first affected is The Invention of Lying and Whiteout. These titles are both scheduled to be available with Netflix as of February 16, 2010. Now for the part that is going to make Blockbuster Online seem like a good deal (at least for now). Both of these titles will be available with Blockbuster Online as of tomorrow. Its a sad day for Netflix, and now we can only hope that this 28 day delay cycle stays with Warner Bros and does not spread to other major studios. Honestly, if they really had a clue it would seem that they would want to speed these releases up, not slow them down.

Via [Hacking Netflix]

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:20 pm

Savvis Announces Time for Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Call

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAVVIS, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVVS), a global leader in IT infrastructure services, today announced that it plans to release its fourth quarter 2009 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:00 pm

Feet May Have Played Role In Hand Evolution

A group of scientists may have solved the mystery of how human hands became nimble enough to make and manipulate stone tools, according to BBC News. The team wrote in the journal Evolution that changes in the shape of our feet effected the changes in our hands and fingers.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 18 Jan 2010 | 1:35 pm

Leaders Encourage Clean Energy At Abu Dhabi Event

Foreign leaders warned at a four-day event in Abu Dhabi on Monday that international action must be taken to increase use of clean energy.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 18 Jan 2010 | 1:31 pm

Alpih debuts the Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset, complete with new look and app store

Section: Communications, Accessories, Mobile

I like Aliph and when I do use a Bluetooth headset it is a Jawbone, but I have to question the latest release here. Well, maybe not the headset itself, but the fact that it has come with an app store. Of course, while that may sound strange there may still be a good use, but more on that in a minute.

First things first, the latest Jawbone headset to come courtesy of Aliph is the Icon—the Jawbone Icon. And as they have done in the past, the design has been slightly modified and (according to me) improved. The Jawbone Icon is available in six different designs which are The Thinker, The Rogue, The Hero, The Ace, The Catch and The Bombshell.

Feature wise, the Jawbone Icon is also packing the ability to pair with two phones and the “AudioApp” which gives the user an audible alert for things like the battery life and caller ID. Of course, Jawbone is also going to have a few iPhone specific features also which include a battery status indicator that will display in the top corner of your iPhone display.

Other features include Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, up to 4.5 hours of talk time, up to 10 days of standby time, a weight of 8 grams, the ability to charge 80% in 35 minutes and 100% in less than 1 hour. In addition the Icon will also ship with 7 earbud sizes and 1 adjustable earloop.

As far as the apps, these will be handled via the MyTALK website which will offer other goodies such as apps that will allow you to get voice dialing, voice-to-SMS and even free directory assistance.

In terms of pricing and availability, the Jawbone Icon will retail for $99.99 and can be found in Verizon retail stores and online at www.jawbone.com.

Via [Engadget]

Keep reading to check out the full press release…

Aliph™ Introduces Jawbone ICON™,
The World’s First Truly Intelligent Bluetooth® Headset
“New Icon for Personal Expression” Is Now Accessible to Everyone

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 18, 2010 – Aliph—maker of the market-leading Jawbone® Bluetooth headset and inventor of NoiseAssassin®, the world’s first and only military-grade noise-eliminating technology—today unveiled its most sophisticated product yet, Jawbone ICON. Jawbone ICON offers unprecedented ease of use and audio quality as well as an industry-first software platform called MyTALK™ that lets users personalize and update their Jawbones via the web. Jawbone ICON will be available for $99.99 beginning January 18 in six unique design personas.

“In building the next generation of wearable computing, we focused maniacally on creating the world’s best customer experience. We incorporated significant intelligence into the headset and as a result this is the simplest-to-operate Jawbone ever created, with a rich array of design choices to suit any preference or lifestyle. We like to call it a new icon for personal expression,” said Hosain Rahman, Aliph’s CEO.

Industry-first intelligence makes Jawbone ICON easy, convenient and personal

Jawbone ICON offers built-in intelligence and the ability to personalize with the click of a mouse using the all-new MyTALK platform, currently in private beta at mytalk.jawbone.com.

“Each customer is an individual, with unique tastes and preferences. With this in mind, we invented MyTALK as a place where people could go to get a richer in-ear experience. MyTALK is just a hint of the exciting ways people will be able to breathe life into their Jawbones over time,” said Rahman.

“Customers also tell us they don’t want to reach for their phone when their hands and eyes need to be elsewhere, like on the steering wheel and on the road. So Jawbone ICON uses its brains to now whisper important information like caller ID and remaining battery life into the user’s ear,” he added.

New personalization and convenience features include:

• MyTALK AudioApps let users personalize the voice that conveys information into their ear. French, German and Spanish languages are also available.
• MyTALK DialApps let users customize an easy access button linking directly to services of their choice such as free directory assistance, voice-to-SMS and voice dial.
• Simultaneous Multipoint lets users switch seamlessly between two calls on different cell phones.
• On/Off slide switch and one-button control delivers radical simplicity.
• Visual battery meter displays remaining battery life at top of iPhone screen.

Six stunning designs and personas deliver rich set of consumer choices

Jawbone ICON is smaller and lighter than its predecessors, and comes in six designs with lush textures and finishes rarely seen in consumer electronics.

“Design and self-expression have been at the core of every generation Jawbone to date, and now we launch an unprecedented suite of choices to match that personal style that makes you who you are,” said Yves Behar, Chief Creative Officer of Aliph. “The materials, textures, colors and surfaces of the Jawbone ICON line produce rich and distinct watch-like or jewelry-like results. The six breakthrough Jawbone ICON designs need to be touched and seen in person to be fully appreciated.”

“Each Jawbone ICON is infused with a unique and exciting look. Like characters in a film, each captures a different fun-to-wear persona,” he added.

New leaps in sound technology sustain Jawbone’s lead in audio quality

Continuing Jawbone’s leadership in sound technology, Jawbone ICON provides improved inbound audio quality as well as upgrades to its battlefield-tested NoiseAssassin technology. Audio advancements include:

• NoiseAssassin 2.5 with wind reduction continues to provide the best noise elimination available.
• Innovative speaker design and signal processing improves inbound audio clarity and volume.
• Set-it-and-forget-it audio eliminates the need to adjust volume from one caller to the next.

Jawbone ICON Specifications

Talk Time: Up to 4.5 hours (varies by phone)
Standby Time: More than 10 days
Range: At least 33 feet (10 meters)
Charge: 80% charge in 35 minutes, 100% charge in less than 1 hour
Weight: 8 grams
Fit: 7 earbud sizes + 1 premium adjustable earloop
Accessories: AC power adaptor, micro-USB flex cable
Supports Multipoint: Pairs with up to 8 devices, 2 simultaneous connections
Supports Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), 2.0, 1.2, 1.1
Packaging: 100% recyclable

Pricing

The MSRP for Jawbone ICON is $99.99. There is no charge for MyTALK.

Availability

Jawbone ICON is available starting January 18 at Verizon ® stores and on Aliph’s website at www.jawbone.com. Distribution of Jawbone ICON will soon thereafter expand to Apple®, AT&T®, Best Buy Mobile® and other cellular carrier and retail stores nationwide. Jawbone ICON will be available internationally beginning in March.

Jawbone MyTALK is currently available at mytalk.jawbone.com as an invitation-only private beta. Jawbone MyTALK is expected to go into public beta soon.

About Aliph

Aliph is committed to creating personal technology products that deliver an unsurpassed user experience. The company’s flagship product, the award-winning Jawbone Bluetooth headset, first disrupted the industry in 2006 with its military-grade NoiseAssassin technology and instantly became recognized as the best Bluetooth headset available. In 2010, Jawbone ICON becomes the company’s most innovative Jawbone yet; introducing unmatched ease of use, personalization, sound quality and design into the consumer marketplace.

Co-founded by Alexander Asseily and Hosain Rahman, Aliph is a privately-held company headquartered in San Francisco.

Media Contact:

Remi Adams
Aliph PR
415.230.7670
press@aliph.com

For more information, images and product demo, please visit www.jawbone.com or press.jawbone.com.

Disclaimer: product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective trademark owners.

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 1:19 pm

It’s official - Apple event planned for January 27th

FROM APPLETELL - It was almost common knowledge that Apple had something planned for the 27th of January but finally, nine days before the date, they have confirmed it.
MORE »

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 1:03 pm

The ITG xpPhone gets officially priced

Its only been around 8 months since the xpPhone — a phone which, as the name implies, runs Windows XP — made its online debut, but its already caused quite the rift between the mega-geeks. One camp seems to think its the coolest thing since air-conditioned underpants; the other seems to think it’s a big pile of nonsense.

Throughout all of this dweeby disputing, one important item remained a mystery: the price. Consider that mystery solved.

Various elements of the phone (color, Windows XP/Windows 7, etc) are customizable, so the price varies a bit. But according to the manufacturer, the phone will always come in somewhere between 2999 and 4500 Chinese RMB; on this side of the pond, that works out to 400-650 bucks.

What say you, dear reader? Would you drop right around 500 bucks for a brick-sized handset that runs Windows XP?

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 12:30 pm

Apple Invitation Confirms Special Product Event for Jan. 27

Apple has sent out press invitations for a product event to be held at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater.

The invitation reads, “Come see our latest creation.” The event is scheduled to begin 10 a.m., Jan. 27.

In the past month, multiple independent reports have claimed Apple in late January will launch its highly anticipated tablet, which the company has reportedly been developing for several years. Many rumor reports have described Apple’s tablet as a 10-inch version of the iPhone with a strong focus on reading capability. Corroborating these rumors, The Wall Street Journal on Monday published a report that claimed Apple is negotiating with HarperCollins Publishers to produce e-book content for the introduction of the tablet.

Yours truly, along with Wired photographer Jon Snyder and senior editor Dylan Tweney, will provide live blog and news coverage from the event next week. Stay tuned.

While you wait, catch up on our previous reports regarding Apple’s rumored tablet. Our collection of stories is below.

The graphic accompanying the invitation (above) is unique compared with those we’ve received in the past. Perhaps the paint splats are related to a painting application that Apple plans to demonstrate with a tablet. What are your theories?

See Also:

• Approaching January, Apple Tablet Rumors Run Wild
• Everything We Know About Apple’s Touchscreen Tablet
• Why 2010 Will Be the Year of the Tablet
• Rumor: Back at Work, Jobs Cracks the Whip on Tablet Designers …
• In-App Sales and iTablet: The Killer Combo to Save Publishing …
• Large-Screen Kindle Won’t Mean Squat if Apple Tablet Arrives …
• iTablet Gains OLED Display, Delayed Until Late 2010
• Rumor: 10-Inch Apple Tablet Landing in Early 2010
• Apple Bought iSlate.com — Perhaps for a Tablet?
• iGuide and iSlate — Two Potential Name Candidates for an Apple …

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 18 Jan 2010 | 12:22 pm

Nokia to hold a press event this Thursday

Surprise! There I was, staring at my inbox, wondering when the invites to Apple’s may-or-may-not-be-happening tablet event would go out, when.. BAM! An invite appeared – but not from Apple.

Turns out, Nokia’s announcing something big — or at least big enough to hold a press event — this Thursday in San Francisco. The invite doesn’t offer much insight; it shows a couple of rocks lined up like some sort of trail, while the top reads “Join us to see what’s behind the bend”.

I think we just might, Nokia.. we just might.

Update: Nokia UK is also holding an event on the same day on the other side of the world, but they’re being pretty open about the topic of that one: Ovi. Will our announcement be a mirror of Nokia UK’s, or is this a whole different shindig? We’ll find out in just a few days.

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

Source: MobileCrunch | 18 Jan 2010 | 12:12 pm

No one hacks Swiss Army drive -  $100,000 prize goes unclaimed

Section: Gadgets / Other, Peripherals, Storage

At CES, Victorinox demonstrated their new Presentation Master featuring a finger print scanner in addition to data encryption for even more security.  The company put up a $100,000 prize for any attendee that could hack the device and break the code.  No one was able to claim the prize.

In fact, no one came close.  If they had, the “secret self-destruct mode” would have destroyed the drive before the hacker was able to get in.  Victorinox was mostly mum on the inner workings of this self-destruct mode but did show that the drive was destroyed.  It was explained that the drive would render itself useless if a hacker got “close”.

“We were so confident in the design and development of these devices, we were willing to put $100,000 on it,” Victorinox Swiss Army President, Rick Taggart, stated.  “The fact that no one was able to crack the code really demonstrates the unparalleled security of these new products.”

The Presentation Master is a pretty handy device, in true Swiss Army fashion.  In addition to a knife and scissors, it features an 8GB or 16GB Flash memory USB drive, laser pointer, Bluetooth connectivity for controlling a presentation via two button for forward and back on the unit.  Availability begins in April.

Each contestant was given 2 hours to attempt to beat the devices security.  In all, 45 CES attendees attempted and failed.

Product page: [Victorinox]

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 12:02 pm

Thanko’s Spy Watch with built-in video camera

For some reason, Toyko-based USB accessory maker Thanko is selling a wide range of “spy gadgets”, with a button camera and an HD video pen as the latest additions to the line-up. Today Thanko gives us a wrist watch [JP], which may look rather unassuming from the outside but actually sports a micro spy camera.

The so-called Video Camera Analog Watch is the updated version of a spy watch that Thanko started selling in late 2008. This new model has 4GB of internal memory, which is enough to store two to three hours of video in 640×480 resolution and at 30fps.

If you have a Windows machine (XP, Vista and 7 are supported), you can transfer the material via USB as AVI files to your computer. The micro camera is placed between 1 and 2 o’clock on the dial.

The watch (weight: 115g) is already available in Thanko’s Japanese online store and costs $85. If you’re interested in getting one but live outside Japan, I suggest to contact import/export specialist (and Thanko partner) Geek Stuff 4 U.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 12:00 pm

How Fast Are Himalayan Glaciers Really Melting?

A UN report that said climate change would melt most of the Himalayan glaciers by 2035 is likely to be retracted after new evidence that the claim was simply speculation, AFP reported.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned in 2007 that glaciers in the Himalayas were receding faster than in any other part of the world and could "disappear altogether by 2035 if not sooner".However, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported over the weekend that the 2035 claim was taken from an interview given by an Indian glaciologist to New Scientist magazine in 1999.The paper reported that the claim was of questionable scientific value and may not have been backed up by research, but the campaign group WWF used it before making its way into the IPCC's research in 2007.IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri said during comments broadcast on the CNN-IBN network that they would take a look into any misleading reports.The Hindustan Times newspaper quoted Pachauri as saying: "We are studying the new evidence." Meanwhile, the IPCC is likely to retract the figure, which would be a humiliation and a further boost for climate skeptics after a scandal last month dubbed "climategate,” the Sunday Times said.The IPCC is meant to provide a consensus of credible scientific evidence on climate change that can be used as a basis for international policymaking.Scientists at Britain's University of East Anglia, a top center for climate research, had e-mail hacked and stolen last month by climate change skeptics—who used it as evidence that experts twisted data in order to dramatize global warming.The IPCC warned in its fourth assessment in 2007 that the rivers of the Gangetic Basin, which supply hundreds of millions with water in northern India, could run dry once glaciers high in the Himalayas melt completely.“The 2035 forecast was an egregious error that may have originated in an older document predicting a massive melting of glaciers by 2350,” said J.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 18 Jan 2010 | 11:45 am

Rumored pricing: Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus to sell for $150 and $100

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

Although we do know that they will be available as of January 25, 2010 we have yet to see anything official come in regards to the pricing of the Palm Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus. That said, it does not hurt to see something unofficial, especially when that unofficial price seems likely. Basically what it comes down to is that the Pre Plus is going to retail for $149.99 and the Pixi Plus for $99.99.  And in addition to the pricing, it was also noted rumored that they will be available as BOGO phones.

Via [PhoneArena]

 

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Source: Gadgetell | 18 Jan 2010 | 11:11 am

Mystery Object Behaves Both Like a Comet and Asteroid

Something awfully curious is happening 250 million miles away in the asteroid belt. Astronomers think they may be witnessing a never-before-seen collision between two asteroids. The puzzle centers on a newly discovered object that superficially looks like a comet but ...
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 18 Jan 2010 | 10:41 am

Apple’s January 27 event invites just hit inboxes all over the world

Huzzahs and alarums! Apple’s January 27 event has just been announced to tech journos all over the world with a new invite reading “Come see our latest creation” hitting inboxes left and right. The event will happen on January 27 at 10am PST.

More as we get it. You can read all about our iSlate obsession here.

via Giz (Where’s our invite!)

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 10:22 am

Apple Announces Jan. 27 Special Event: "Come See Our Latest Creation" [Digital Daily]

Confirming a date first reported by Digital Daily, Apple (AAPL) this morning announced an invitation-only special event to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco on Jan. 27, a Wednesday. “Come see our latest creation,” the invitation reads.

Hmm. Wonder what that might be? The invitation, below.

Given the invite’s theme, one wonders if the “creation” to be unveiled is touch and pressure sensitive and might, perhaps, come accompanied by a stylus or other input tool that could be used by illustrators and designers. Wild speculation, I know. But worth mentioning.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Major Apple Product Announcement Set for Wednesday, Jan. 27
• Apple Pitching Tablet to Publishing Industry; Spring Launch Expected
• Time (Finally) for the Tablet? Apple Developers Supersizing Their Apps for January Event.
• The Apple Tablet Is Delayed? So What?
• $1.9 Billion in Capex? What’s Apple Planning?
• Apple’s Tablet: Read Different?
• Imaginary Demand for Mythical Apple Tablet Exceeds All Estimates
• Apple Tablet Coming to AT&T?
• New From Piper Jaffray Analyst Gene Munster: The Apple iPad
• Rumored Apple Netbook Actually an E-Book?
• iTablet: Apple’s Killer App for Higher Ed
• iFugly

Source: All Things Digital | 18 Jan 2010 | 10:05 am

All the iPhone4/iSlate rumors in one image

Good old Steve just put up a great graphic detailing all of the possible rumors about whatever the heck Apple is releasing whenever it will release it. Rumors include the “glowing Apple logo” as well as a “touch sensitive case.” I think the iSlate will also give worms to ex-girlfriends.

Click to embiggen.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 10:03 am

CrunchGear’s “Clean Out My Office” Contest

This week I’ll be running a “clean out my office” involving a whole bunch of stuff I can’t get rid of and is too valuable to potentially throw away. Today’s special treat? Lots of Plantronics Voice-Music-Gaming headsets with USB thinger for listening to stuff over USB and using Skype. I think I have like nine.

How do you win? Follow me and CrunchGear on Twitter or, if you’re not socially inclined, comment here and I’ll pick you randomly. I’ll give out three to commenters and six to Tweeples who re-Twoot something I post to the CG feed and my feed. I’ll have different contests during the week, so fear not.

Source: CrunchGear | 18 Jan 2010 | 9:17 am

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Calls PlayStation Games 'Poison' (PC World)

PC World - Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez won't spare a kind word for video games, calling them 'poison' and accusing them of being proxies for capitalist warmongering. According to AFP, the outspoken US critic who once notoriously referred to George W. Bush as "the devil", used his weekly radio-TV show 'Alo Presidente' to put a match to Sony's PlayStation games brand.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:45 am

Oracle-Sun Merger Foes Head East (PC World)

PC World - With the European Commission seen as virtually certain to approve Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems in just a week, those campaigning to prevent the deal encompassing Sun's MySQL database unit have shifted their efforts to regulators in Russia and China.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 18 Jan 2010 | 8:40 am

Earthquake, Tsunami Possible In Indonesia

Indonesia may be looking at a catastrophe as a huge tsunami-generating earthquake is possibly expected to hit the city of Padang and the island of Sumatra.A warning was issued by a scientist who miraculously predicted the quake that hit Sumatra in 2005.
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:40 am

He Had a Dream: So, Have an Inspiring MLK Jr. Day (and ATD Will Return Tomorrow) [BoomTown]

All Things Digital is not planning on publishing today, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthdate holiday.

Until we return tomorrow, please listen to the famous “I Have a Dream” speech that King delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, which is in its entirety below.

As you will see, it is as resonant today as it was when spoken on Aug. 28, 1963, so thank goodness you can see it instantly on the Web.

While there are more famous lines, here’s BoomTown’s favorite:

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.”

I also included Stevie Wonder’s ebullient song in tribute to King’s birthday, which is simply wonderful.

Here are the videos:

Source: All Things Digital | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:28 am

Century-Old Antarctic Station Shows Warming

Weather data from the past 107 years have revealed a warming trend since the 1950s.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 18 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am

Saving Energy Italian Style

Power engineers estimate that using smart meters saves Italy’s largest electric company $750 million a year and cuts customers’ energy bills by as much as half.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 18 Jan 2010 | 2:10 am

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