You’re Dead, Unless You Tweet Otherwise

Short version – a false report about renowned Dutch DJ Tiësto dying in a car accident spread via Twitter, was talked about so much that it ended up in trending topics, and was ultimately denied by the man himself via his own Twitter account.

I increasingly find it disturbing that false information can make the rounds so quickly these days, and I’ve sadly long realized this is an unstoppable, irreversible yet disheartening trend.

Somewhat longer version – At the risk of flogging a dead horse (pun intended), I’m saddened by the fact that this is the umpteenth case of a celebrity being declared dead on one or more social networking sites, without anyone seemingly being able to determine the actual source of the ‘news’ and thus unable to verify the information with absolute certainty.

Granted, most people seemed to be simply echoing the rumor – hitting the retweet or like button is oh so easy – and asking themselves and/or their Twitter followers whether it’s really true or not, seemingly in an attempt to locate a solid source for the news – in vain.

Meanwhile, I wonder how much longer this would have been kept going if Tiësto (né Tijs Michiel Verwest) didn’t have the chance to use his own presence on Twitter to squash down the rumors of his passing as swiftly as he did.

I wonder what his family and friends, assuming they’d pick up on this through Twitter or other media that base themselves on these false reports, go through if they wouldn’t be able to reach him instantaneously.

I wonder what the experience was and is like for him, seeing his fans, peers, close and less-close friends or even relatives disseminate and attempt to verify the false information of his tragic death. Emotional roller coasters abound, I can imagine, and all because somewhere, someone decided it’d be fun to trick people into believing he died in a car accident.

But most of all, I wonder if this is a trend, similar to the online mob phenomenon Michael talked about in the past, that is unequivocally here to stay. I fear it is, and I can’t think of a way to reverse or prevent it.

Actually, scratch that. I know it is, and I can’t think of a way to prevent it, and no longer believe it is possible at all.

Am I being a pessimist, or a realist?

(Image via nestland on Flickr)

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 4:05 am

YouTube to gather videos for 'Life in a Day' movie (AP)

AP - With the help of director Kevin Macdonald, producer Ridley Scott and a few hundred other filmmakers, YouTube is making a movie.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:49 am

Concept Case Adds Camera to iPad

The iPad clearly needs a camera. Maybe not the fancy 5-megapixel, hi-def-shooting camera in the iPhone 4 – after all, who wants to hold a big slab up to snap photos? – but something for grabbing basic images would make Apple’s tablet way more useful.

Unless you want to wait for v2.0 next year, a case would be the only way to add a camera, and that’s just how Chet Rosales has managed it with his iPad Cam-Case. The concept case has an ugly fat strip up the side which has a camera at its top. This camera flips in its mount to fire forward or back, depending on whether you are videoconferencing or just snapping pictures.

Just think for a moment how useful this would be. Apart from Skype (sometime the only time I still wake my MacBook at weekends is to chat to my parents) and the usual quick snapshots, the big-screen iPad is perfect for augmented-reality applications, scanning and organizing business receipts (I still didn’t do my expenses from this year’s CES. Maybe with this I would have) and general photocopy duties: Being able to snap pictures of, say, your mom’s best brownie recipe and read it back full sized would be great (and fattening).

Chet’s cam-case is a concept, but we see no reason why such a thing couldn’t work: Apple lets add-on GPS units talk to apps as if they were built-in, so why not this? Clean up that design and I’d buy one right away.

iPad Cam-Case Product Design & 3-D Renders [Coroflot via Yanko and Laorosa]

See Also:

• IPad to Get Two-Megapixel Camera This Year
• Ten Things Missing From the iPad
• iPad Camera Connector Clones Five-Year-Old iPod Version
• IPad Camera Connection Kit Supports External Hard Drives

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:45 am

UK editions of my novels; launch on July 20 with China Mieville

HarperVoyager, my UK publisher, have just published British editions of the three novels they didn't already have in print: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Eastern Standard Tribe, and Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. There's also a UK paperback edition of Makers out this week.

I'm going to be celebrating all these UK launches at Clerkenwell Tales in London on July 20, in an event with China Mieville, chaired by English PEN's Robert Sharp. The event's set for 7PM and space is limited (though attendance is free). Email Clerkenwell Tales to RSVP.


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:42 am

Finance columnist explains capitalism to children: take things without paying, then sell them

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Terry Savage happened upon two little girls giving away lemonade at their roadside lemonade stand. She was affronted at this economic illiteracy: after all, the raw materials for the lemonade had come out their parents' pockets, so they should be charging for the product! The mentality that leads to children giving away their parents' things (rather than selling them) is what has led to America's economic decline, according to Savage:

I pushed the button to roll down the window and stuck my head out to set them straight.

"You must charge something for the lemonade," I explained. "That's the whole point of a lemonade stand. You figure out your costs -- how much the lemonade costs, and the cups -- and then you charge a little more than what it costs you, so you can make money. Then you can buy more stuff, and make more lemonade, and sell it and make more money..."

No wonder America is getting it all wrong when it comes to government, and taxes, and policy. We all act as if the "lemonade" or benefits we're "giving away" is free.

Get that, kids? The correct thing to do with the stuff you appropriate from others is sell it, not give it away! Sounds about right -- companies take over our public aquifers and sell us the water they pump out of them; telcos get our rights of way for their infrastructure, then insist that they be able to tier their pricing without regard to the public interest. Corporatism in a nutshell, really.

There is no 'free' lemonade

Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:36 am

Finance columnist explains capitalism to children: take things without paying, then sell them

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Terry Savage happened upon two little girls giving away lemonade at their roadside lemonade stand. She was affronted at this economic illiteracy: after all, the raw materials...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:36 am

Android Fanboys Grab The Barf Bags, Cupidtino Is Getting Some Action

Two months ago, we unveiled Cupidtino to the world. Yes, a dating site for Apple fans. At the time, it seemed like a bit of a joke, but the creators were taking it seriously. Apparently, now so are the users.

The niche site has already attracted over 22,000 members since it launched last month, we’re told. Yes, 22,000 Apple fanboys/fangirls gathering in one spot to fall in love. Android fanboys everywhere must be puking their guts out.

And that’s not all, Cupidtino is actually bringing in some money. While they’re still playing around with the pricing plan, currently, they’re charging $4.79 a month if users want to exchange messages (signing up is free). As they note on the site, “Our membership costs the same as a venti Mocha but lasts longer than 20 oz.” Even that slogan will likely make people cringe — but thanks to that pricing scheme, they’ve already hit five-digit revenues. Sure, that’s nothing huge, but not bad for three weeks either.

They’ve also provided us with a breakdown of their usage by country:

• US 62%
• DE 8%
• CA 6%
• RU 5%
• GB 5%
• ES 4%
• FR 3%
• BR 3%
• AU 3%
• IT 2%

Clearly, the U.S. is dominating, but Germany, Canada, Russia, and Great Britain are all pretty strong as well.

So what’s next for Cupidtino? They’re starting the process to raise funds so they can hire up and scale to reach all the Mac lovers out there.

How long until we see an Android dating site? Androidgyny, perhaps?

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:23 am

Avoiding GM Foods? Monsanto Says You're Overly Fussy

blackbeak writes "The BBC today characterized those who avoid GM foods as overly fussy, the very same day that the Wall Street Journal announced that picky eating may be recognized in the 2013 DSM as a psychiatric disorder. The DSM item refers to something completely different, though I'm sure many will confuse the two. Of course, this was not done without subterfuge; the BBC's author, Professor Jonathan Jones, in no way indicates his close ties to Monsanto. Point by point Jones regurgitates the same pro-GM arguments debunked numerous times all over the net for years, while serving up some stale half facts too."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:18 am

UPDATE 1-Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

July 7 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0900 GMT on Wednesday. (For Reuters columns on deals, click on...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:03 am

Soho OS Lands $1M, Opens Business Management Suite To All Small Businesses

A couple of months ago we first covered Soho OS, describing its offering as a soup-to-nuts “hybrid of Quicken + Zoho + SalesForce”. Today, the company is announcing that it has secured $1 million in funding from The Time. This is on top of the $250K the company had raised in its pre-seed round.

In our initial post, the company offered 1000 beta invites to TechCrunch readers, and in response, 7000 signed-up. Today the company is removing the closed Beta gate, opening up the service to all. Soho OS is sweetening things up for TechCrunch readers with $20 towards communication services for all new TechCrunch registrants. Just follow this link: http://www.sohoos.com/welcome/techcrunch/

The company has already begun putting the money to good use. As noted in the initial post, “the interface could certainly use a UX overhaul,” and it got one, and a new logo to boot. With a new color scheme, layout and consolidation, the new interface’s look & feel is softer, more pleasant on the eye, and more convenient to use. A definite improvement on the interface we previously reviewed.

Soho OS also beefed up communications features with video chat, SMS, VOIP, voice messaging, as well as improved conference calling and broadcast emails.

I really like where Soho OS is going but would like to see them charging a tiered service fee rather than rely exclusively on cutting commissions off their 3rd party integrated services. There’s no shame in charging your customers kids, especially if you provide them with clear value. Tattoo that please.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:03 am

REFILE-BP CEO meets UAE sovereign wealth fund ADIA-source

ABU DHABI, July 7 (Reuters) - BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward has met with representatives of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, a UAE official...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 3:01 am

EMC plucks Greenplum - Register

TopNews New Zealand

EMC plucks Greenplum Register EMC is getting into the data warehousing / business intelligence (DW/BI) area by buying Greenplum. This takes it into direct competition with Oracle and its Exadata product line. ... EMC buys San Mateo-based GreenplumSan Jose Mercury News EMC to buy data analysis company GreenplumBusinessWeek EMC To Buy Data Warehousing Firm Greenplum For CashWall Street Journal ChannelWeb -V3.co.uk -Computerworld all 121 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:37 am

Spiritual Seating - The Chakra Chair Helps you Relax and Recharge (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Recharge your body and mind with the Chakra Chair. This chair was designed by Karim Rashid and features pads for each of the six physical Chakra points. Whether you know much about...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:26 am

CORRECTED - CORRECTED-(July 6)-UPDATE 1-FTI Consulting cuts 2010 outlook

(Corrects first bullet point and paragraph 1 to show the outlook cut was not for the second time this year. Also corrects company name in paragraph 3)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:21 am

Humanitarian Design Projects - 'Be a Biographer' Raises Awareness of Human Trafficking (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) 'Be a Biographer' brings awareness to one of the most horrendous acts occurring around the world: human trafficking. Spearheaded by the humanitarian group 'The Blind Project,' it is...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:11 am

Japan court convicts NZ anti-whaling activist

A Tokyo court on Wednesday convicted a New Zealand activist of assault and obstructing the Japanese whaling mission in the Antarctic Ocean, sentencing him to a suspended prison term. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:05 am

AU Optronics Corp. Reports June 2010 Consolidated Revenue

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 2:05 am

Volas Entertainment & Investro Group Launch MagoMovil on Tigo's Mobile Content Portal in Guatemala

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:59 am

Transportable Floor Lamps - The Harry Floor Light lets Users Take their Living Room Outdoors (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Finding decent lighting outside is a constant struggle, so the Harry Floor light may be the perfect solution to outdoor lighting predicaments. The floor lamp transforms from a basic...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:56 am

Making Fun of Prince Is Easy–Figuring Out How Talent Thrives in a Digital Age, Not So Much [BoomTown]

So, yes, the quote Prince said about the Internet being “completely over” made him sound like a Luddite idiot.

And adding that computers and other digital gadgets “just fill your head with numbers and that can’t be good for you” pushed the music superstar over the edge into seeming like that crazy ranting dude you often encounter on the street claiming the government has invaded his brain.

But–after spending several days here in Los Angeles this week, talking to execs, talent and others who toil in the entertainment industry–I can’t say what I am hearing is that much different in terms of the continuing frustration with the lack of decent business models to replace the ones that have worked for so long and been so lucrative for the entertainment and media industry.

From music to movies to television, the biggest minds here still sound perplexed as to what will finally be the golden ticket to carry them through to the inevitable next era of digital distribution.

Still, so many questions and so few answers.

Will consumers buy subscriptions to cloud-based content? Will advertising be enough to pay for broadcasting online? Who will pay for the high upfront production costs of most major entertainment projects? Can costs come down enough to make up the difference?

And while there is now a lot of interest around tablets, such as the Apple (AAPL) iPad, and Hollywood types seem to accept that their customers are shifting their buying and consumption habits around entertainment drastically, there still remains a level of outright hostility to it all that has not changed much.

“Why is the consumer always right?” said one exec to me this week in a typical statement. “You can’t have a business if there is no business model.”

Indeed. And, in fact, that’s just what Steve Levitan, co-creator of “Modern Family,” the ABC television hit, talked about cogently at the eighth D: All Things Digital last month, telling a largely tech-centric crowd some truths it much needed to hear.

(FYI: We’ll be posting the video of the entire interview session with Levitan and also longtime Hollywood player Lloyd Braun tomorrow here.)

As much as he himself loved tech products, Levitan noted that lack of a business plan or credit for consumption online made digital largely pointless to his work.

“At its core, 90 percent of my job is still sitting down in a room full of people, and breaking stories,” he said. “And that requires virtually no technology.”

It’s a salient point and not so different as Prince’s saying: “I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it.”

If you remove the sillier parts of his quote that preceded it, such a statement is not unreasonable from an artist who wants to be paid for his creative efforts.

Thus, instead of mocking that sentiment, perhaps it is time for tech leaders to figure out a way to keep talent from being dragged into the future without so much kicking and screaming.

Or, as Prince might sing–He was dreamin’ of being paid when he said the Internet was over, so sue him if he went 2 fast.

Speaking of which, Prince really deserves a little more respect, folks, if only for his classic, “1999,” seen here (jacked onto the Web, natch):

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:55 am

Apple previews new MobileMe Calendar beta (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - Early Wednesday morning, Apple previewed a new version of the MobileMe calendar Web app. It is now available as a beta on me.com.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:45 am

Shave-Aiding Shower Heads - The Reflect Shower Mirror is a Shower Head Ideal for Shaving (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The reflect shower mirror is a perfect shower accessory for men on the move. The idea behind the reflect shower mirror is to give men more optimized time in the mornings, allowing them...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:36 am

Fast Company Creatively Combines Link Baiting With A Pyramid Scheme.

Something tells me that Fast Company’s Comscore numbers are going to shoot way up in July. I’ve seen some audacious things before, but this is the most ingenious link bait pyramid scheme I’ve come across to date: The Influence Project.

It’s a contest to find the most influential people online. To compete you give them a picture of yourself and they give you a unique link to Fast Company. To win you get people to click on that link. The more clicks, the bigger your picture gets among the hordes of others:

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We started with a simple question: Who are the most influential people online right now?

That’s what The Influence Project is designed to answer. By participating, you will have your picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company magazine as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence you demonstrate, the bigger your picture will be.

You may discover that you’re more influential than you think.

Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. Real influence is about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. When you post a link or recommend a site, how many people actually bother to check it out? And what’s the likelihood of those people then forwarding it on? How far does your influence spread?

This is the type of influence we’re looking for. We want to find the most influential person online.
Who knows? It might even be you.

Yes, this is a contest to see who can send the most traffic to Fast Company. And the winner gets to have a big picture in the November print issue. I’m guessing the most influential person will also be on the cover.

The best part is the pyramid scheme bolted on top – you get extra influence if people sign up for the project after clicking your link.

HOW WE MEASURE INFLUENCE

The scale of your influence, and therefore the size of your photo, is based on two measures.

1. The number of people who directly click on your unique URL link. This is the primary measure of your influence, pure and simple.

2. You will receive partial “credit” for subsequent clicks generated by those who register as a result of your URL. In other words, anyone who comes to the site through your link and registers for their own account will be spreading your influence while they spread theirs. That way, you get some benefit from influencing people who are influential themselves. We will give a diminishing, fractional credit (1/2, ¼, 1/8 etc ) for clicks generated up to six degrees away from your original link.

I’ve accidentally nominated Chevy Chase from Fletch (video clip here) to be the most influential person online. It’s currently my Facebook picture (in honor of the Lakers winning the championship), and the handy Facebook Connect sign up form just made it all so easy. I don’t have any real hopes of winning, though. This Fast Company article from 2008 tells me all about how there’s no such thing as influencers anyway.

Err, what? Then why the contest? Yeah nevermind. We’ve got links to click. Join me in my quest to put Chevy Chase, with an afro, on the cover of Fast Company Magazine. My work will then be done here.

And join us next week at TechCrunch when we’ll hold a contest to see who can click the most ad units on our site. Winner gets called “The Most Awesome Person Online” and we’ll put their picture on our home page for a day! And a free tshirt!

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:25 am

Bulky Bulletproof Bags - The Booq Mamba Catch Bag Will Protect Your Stuff from Danger

(TrendHunter.com) Love your laptop so much that you want to protect it from any possible danger? You need the Booq Mamba Catch Bag then. Even though it is a bit bulky, the whole bag is actually bulletproof...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:21 am

Borders launches its own Kobo-powered e-book store

Borders has been rather marginalized in the e-book wars thus far, not having the primacy of Amazon nor the sexy Nookiness of B&N. I liked their official e-reader, the Kobo, but until my opinion counts for points in the market, that doesn’t really improve their position. As promised, Borders is at last rolling out their e-book store today; it’s “powered by Kobo,” which I believe translates to “is Kobo with a layer of paint on top.” The selection should be the same as the existing Kobobooks site, but Borders has their own look and is launching its own versions of the Kobo e-book app (now available for iPhone, Blackberry, and Android).

What will come of this? Well, competition is good, right? I say bring it on. John thinks the Kindle has already won, but Barnes & Noble is optimistic, and Borders isn’t looking for higher than 17% of the e-book market. Can’t they all just get along?

One thing to note: it’s Kobo-powered, but it’s not actually Kobo. If you have books you bought from Kobobooks, they won’t transfer to Borders. Query: if the selection is the same, and the apps are the same, why not just go to Kobo in the first place? I’m guessing Borders will have special pricing and promotions as well as some in-store promotions.

Here’s what it looks like — or you could just go to the site itself and see it live.

Here’s the full press release:

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:15 am

A Russian Billionaire, Jay-Z, And Gowalla Loom Large Over New York

For the past week or so, it seems that every sports talk radio program and just about every show on ESPN has been talking about a billboard that just got put up in New York City. Technically, it’s a giant mural painted on the site of a building on 34th & 8th in the city. Why are people talking about it? Two reasons. First, it features the giant faces of new New Jersey Nets owner (and Russian billionaire) Mikhail Prokhorov and Nets minority owner (and hip-hop star) Jay-Z. Second, it overlooks Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks basketball team.

So why are we talking about this on TechCrunch? Because the mural also prominently features a tech company. If I told you it was a tech company in the check-in space, you’d probably assume it was NY-based Foursquare. But it’s not. Instead, in huge letters at the bottom of the mural it reads, “Check in with Gowalla to get a special item.“

Yes, the Austin, Texas-based Gowalla is living large in the Big Apple. With this mural, they’re looming over New York, a town dominated by rival Foursquare — just as the New Jersey Nets are looming over New York, a town dominated by the Knicks.

This partnership was the work of VaynerMedia. The company, run by brothers Gary and AJ Vaynerchuk, does new media consulting for a wide range of clients, including the Nets. Gary Vaynerchuk also happens to be an investor in Gowalla, so the partnership was an obvious one.

And the mural isn’t all just for show. As it indicates, there’s actually a Nets’ Blueprint for Greatness venue on Gowalla (created at the spot of the billboard) that users can check-in to in order to receive a special collectable item. And because Gowalla, unlike Foursquare, requires you to position yourself with GPS when you check-in, it’s basically impossible to cheat in order to get the item — you have to actually go there.

As you can see on the page, Gowalla users are also taking advantage of that services’ features by posting multiple pictures of the mural to the venue page.

It seems unlikely that the 225 x 95 foot wall is going to help the Nets lure LeBron James to New Jersey (and eventually Brooklyn, where they hope to move in a few years). But it has certainly worked in generating buzz about the team. And Gowalla was smart to hitch a ride on that in a city that their rival owns.

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:14 am

Hitachi GST, Cooliris Change the Face of Personal Storage

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:10 am

Oil-Covered Shockvertising - The Crude Awakening BP Oil Spill/NWF Spec PSA is Extremely Effective (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) The Crude Awakening BP Oil Spill/NWF Spec PSA brings to the light the reality of living surrounded by oil. I am sure living in the midst of an oil spill is a concept that is hard to...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:06 am

The End of the iPod Era Part II: The Other Side of the Debate [Voices]

By Andy Zaky, Editor, Bullish Cross

I recently published an article arguing that the iPod’s importance to Apple’s overall quarterly revenue has diminished to the point of being almost irrelevant to Apple’s (AAPL) growth. Yet, this article seemed to hit the nerves of iPod aficionados who ardently contend that the iPhone is an iPod, and to say otherwise, would constitute the highest level of blasphemy to the Apple investment community.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am

For carbon sequestration to work, containers need to leak less than 1% per millennium

Carbon sequestration -- pumping the carbon emitted by coal and other "dirty" power plants underground -- is an attractively macho, big-engineering style solution to climate change. Rather than developing new kinds of power (which might favor new companies and regions) or new patterns of use (which might require effort on the part of individuals), we simply contract with firms who take all our carbon and lock it away underground for millennia. What could be simpler?

Carbon dioxide sequestration isn't a great global warming solution unless we develop less leaky equipment or commit to regular re-sequestering, according to a paper published in Nature Geoscience. If the containers used don't leak less than one percent every thousand years, atmospheric carbon would have to be monitored carefully and resequestered on a regular basis over tens of thousands of years in order to match the effects of reducing carbon emissions. Otherwise, sequestration would only slow the warming, not stop it.

Carbon sequestration too leaky to stop global warming


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am

For carbon sequestration to work, containers need to leak less than 1% per millennium

Carbon sequestration -- pumping the carbon emitted by coal and other "dirty" power plants underground -- is an attractively macho, big-engineering style solution to climate change. Rather than developing...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am

Where the Brillo box came from

Here's the secret history of the amazing, pop-art Brillo box:

At the time, Harvey was known, if at all, as a second-generation abstract expressionist painter who applied his oils so thickly that a 1961 New York Times review described him as "obviously having a love affair with his paint." (Washburn worked at the Graham Gallery, which had hosted several of Harvey's exhibitions.) But his day job was as a commercial artist for the industrial and package designers Stuart and Gunn, creating redesigns for companies like Philip Morris and Bristol-Myers. Three years before, Brillo implemented his drawings for a redesign of the company's packaging.

Shadow Boxer (via Dinosaurs and Robots)


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am

Where the Brillo box came from

Here's the secret history of the amazing, pop-art Brillo box: At the time, Harvey was known, if at all, as a second-generation abstract expressionist painter who applied his oils so thickly that a 1961...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am

War in the Fifth Domain [Voices]

By The Economist

At the height of the cold war, in June 1982, an American early-warning satellite detected a large blast in Siberia. A missile being fired? A nuclear test? It was, it seems, an explosion on a Soviet gas pipeline.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:04 am

The Origins of the Blink Tag [Voices]

By Louis J. Montulli II, Founding Engineer, Netscape

I am widely credited as the inventor of the tag. For those of you who are relatively new to the Web, the tag is an HTML command that causes text to blink, and many, many people find its behavior to be extremely annoying. I won’t deny the invention, but there is a bit more to the story than is widely known.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:03 am

CEOs Should Tell It Like It Is [Voices]

By Ben Horowitz, Co-founder and General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz

My single biggest personal improvement as CEO occurred on the day when I stopped being too positive.

As a young CEO, I felt the pressure—the pressure of employees depending on me, the pressure of not really knowing what I was doing, the pressure of being responsible for tens of millions of dollars of other people’s money. As a consequence of this pressure, I took losses extremely hard.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:02 am

Music's Misunderstood Genius [Voices]

By Peter Lauria, Senior Correspondent, Daily Beast

When Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun found out that Edgar Bronfman Jr., scion of the Seagram’s family fortune, had bought Warner Music Group in 2004 his first thought was, “I can’t believe the company is being sold to that snot-nosed kid.” Bronfman, it’s worth noting, was 49 years old at the time.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:01 am

Drinking Its Own Champagne - Amazon Moves Its Own Enterprise to the Cloud

The Amazon online retail service and Amazon Web Services have little or nothing to do with each other but the idea that the company's IT department would not use cloud computing almost seems implausible...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:01 am

Hands-on with the Hitachi Life Studio Mobile Plus

The Hitachi Life Studio is supposed to be the next generation of portable drives. Aside from the odd addition of a magnetic flash drive to the front of the case, this clever little drive includes media management software from Cooliris that essentially offers an “easier” way of browsing all the media on your computer.

The drive also includes Hitachi’s own back-up software, although you can simply format the drive and turn it into a Time Machine back-up volume.

What sticks in my craw, however, is the the Life Studio software. The software does two things specific to your life: it finds all of the images on your hard drive(s) and shows them to you using an odd spacial interface and it shows you all of your Facebook photos in one place. That’s basically it. The rest of the features are actually links out to web-based media services. It has some wonky music service feature as well as a direct line to Hulu. That’s right: Hitachi is basically flogging Hulu to “household memory managers” or whatever they’re calling soccer moms who are nominally in charge of going through all of the digital pictures of junior covered in chocolate pudding these days.

Generally, Life Studio is some sort of strange amalgam of media viewer and web services wrapper that is useful for only the most hopelessly bored Internet user. Considering the only time you would ever interact with the Life Studio software is after going through a bit of rigamarole to install it, I suspect it will reside, quietly, on thousands of hard drives, unused.

What’s the Music tab? Why that’s a collection of Michael Jackson videos. Glad you asked!

Generally, however, you’re dealing with an interesting hard drive product suffering from overreach. The detachable 2GB USB drive is a clever touch and the model we tested, a 500GB version, costs $139. A 1TB desktop versions cost $129 while the plus – including the little USB key – costs $20 more.

An added bonus? The Life Studio name reminds me of this song.

Hot Chip – I Feel Better

Hot Chip | MySpace Music Videos

These drives will be available mid-July.

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Daily Crunch: Planes and Gundam Edition

First pictures and video: Japan finally has its 60-foot Gundam statue back
In-flight WiFi being used much less than expected
Augmented reality demo: junaio takes advantage of iOS 4 camera access
DIY USB-powering generator for your bike
Amazon’s original Kindle patent could spell trouble for competitors

Source: CrunchGear | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Hands-on With the Hitachi Life Studio Mobile Plus

The Hitachi Life Studio is supposed to be the next generation of portable drives. Aside from the odd addition of a magnetic flash drive to the front of the case, this clever little drive includes media management software from Cooliris that essentially offers an “easier” way of browsing all the media on your computer.

The drive also includes Hitachi’s own back-up software, although you can simply format the drive and turn it into a Time Machine back-up volume.

Read more…

Source: TechCrunch | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Tapulous Investor Jeff Clavier On Casual Gaming "Explosion" [Voices]

By Timothy Hay, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Last week, the Walt Disney Co. (DIS) acquired Tapulous Inc., a game company whose first home was Palo Alto, Calif.-based SoftTech VC, a seed-stage venture firm headed by noted angel investor Jeff Clavier. Tapulous is behind the popular Tap Tap music games for the iPhone and other devices in a fast-growing and lucrative area known as casual, or social, gaming.

So how did Tapulous go from obscurity to gaming poster child in less than three years? We recently chatted with Clavier, an active investor in gaming companies, to get a better read on this emerging area. Here’s an edited excerpt of that interview:

Q: The casual gaming space is very lively and interesting these days. What is your assessment of this market?

A: We’re seeing an explosion of social games on Facebook and on Apple (AAPL) distribution platforms. Suddenly, games are the premium place for people to interact. What’s really fascinating with this new wave of social games is the wide footprint they’ve built, in terms of gamers.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Maven Research Announces Close of $1 million Seed Round to Expand 'Real-Time Research' Network

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

IN Media Announces !ROFL Integrated 3D and HD IPTV Set Top Box Set to Debut in World Market

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

MyProjectorLamps Goes Global for the World Cup

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 7 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

AU Band Men At Work Owes Royalties On 'Kookaburra'

neonsignal writes "Iconic Australian band Men at Work have been ordered to pay royalties for an instrumental riff in their song 'Down Under.' The notes were sampled from a well-known children's song 'Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree,' written in 1934 for a Girl Guide's Jamboree. The Justice found the claims of the copyright owner Larrikin to be excessive, but ordered the payment of royalties and a percentage of future profits. Let's hope the primary schools are up to date with their ARIA license fees!"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 7 Jul 2010 | 12:19 am

W00t! sends Associated Press a bill for quoting its blog

When W00t! posted its delightful notice about being acquired by Amazon, it was picked up and re-run by blogs all over the net. Not wanting to miss out on the action, the Associated Press ran the story and the text, too.

One problem: the AP has previously told bloggers that quotations -- however brief -- should be licensed before publication. They even offer these licenses. For a small fee, AP will generously allow you to quote one of its articles on your blog (provided that you don't do so in a way that criticizes the AP, of course, and they reserve the right to take the quote back at any time).

So W00t! sent the AP a bill for $17.50 for the quotation:

The AP, we can't thank you enough for looking our way. You see, when we showed off our good news on Wednesday afternoon, we expected we'd get a little bit of attention. But when we found your little newsy thing you do, we couldn't help but notice something important. And that something is this: you printed our web content in your article! The web content that came from our blog! Why, isn't that the very thing you've previously told nu-media bloggers they're not supposed to do?

So, The AP, here we are. Just to be fair about this, we've used your very own pricing scheme to calculate how much you owe us. By looking through the link above, and comparing your post with our original letter, we've figured you owe us roughly $17.50 for the content you borrowed from our blog post, which, by the way, we worked very very hard to create. But, hey. We're all friends here. And invoicing is such a hassle in today's paperless society, are we right? How about this: instead of cutting us a check for the web content you liberated from our site, all you'll need to do is show us your email receipt from today's two pack of Sennheiser MX400 In-Ear Headphones, and we'll call it even.

Woot To AP: You Owe Us $17.50 For Copying Our Content


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 12:11 am

Two-tone, 1937 Wrigley's ad

Love this dramatic, two-tone Wrigley's gum ad from 1937.

1937 Wrigley's Double Mint Chewing Gum


Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 12:09 am

Suitcase converts to a scooter, stroller and luggage-cart

Agent's Move-On wheeled luggage has a scooter board that unfolds from the back of the bag so that your kid can ride along behind you, or you can stack other pieces of luggage on it, turning your suitcase into a redcap's luggage cart. There's also a version that works like a stroller for babies and toddlers.

Agent's modern Move-On luggage design update

Source: Boing Boing | 7 Jul 2010 | 12:06 am

Google: still waiting for China licence decision (AFP)

AFP - Google's application for renewal of its licence to operate in China, the world's largest Internet market, is still under review, a company spokeswoman and a government official said Wednesday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:59 pm

Parenting makes you miserable, but you think it makes you happy

Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter. Even when -- as last night -- she refuses to go to bed for two hours and then gets up at 3AM and refuses to go back to bed for two hours.

But it's somehow reassuring to know that it's supposed to be miserable at times:

The economist Andrew Oswald, who's compared tens of thousands of Britons with children to those without, is at least inclined to view his data in a more positive light: "The broad message is not that children make you less happy; it's just that children don't make you more happy." That is, he tells me, unless you have more than one. "Then the studies show a more negative impact." As a rule, most studies show that mothers are less happy than fathers, that single parents are less happy still, that babies and toddlers are the hardest, and that each successive child produces diminishing returns. But some of the studies are grimmer than others. Robin Simon, a sociologist at Wake Forest University, says parents are more depressed than nonparents no matter what their circumstances--whether they're single or married, whether they have one child or four.

All Joy and No Fun: Why parents hate parenting. (via Kottke)


Source: Boing Boing | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:47 pm

The e-book reader price war continues, with Sony joining the fray

With the prices finally starting to drop on e-books, it’s not a surprise that Sony has decided to jump in as well. Recent changes to the Sony website show price changes across their product line. This fits in with Amazon’s dropping the price on the Kindle, and B&N dropping the price on the Nook.

The price drop is across the board, with Sony’s “Daily Reader” dropping from $349 to $299, the Touch dropped from $249 to $169, and the Pocket Edition dropped to $149 from $169. Of course, this whole thing started when the iPad came out and, let’s be honest, kind of shook things up from Amazon and B&N. Sony of course, was silent about the changes.

[via Reuters]

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:45 pm

Apple Says 400 ITunes Accounts Hit With Fraudulent Purchases - PC World

Sky News

Apple Says 400 ITunes Accounts Hit With Fraudulent Purchases PC World Apple has banned a developer from its App Store after fraudulent purchases of his applications were made from around 400 accounts, it said in a statement. Thuat Nguyen and his apps, which at one point over the weekend ... Apple Blocks App DeveloperNew York Times Apple bans developer who allegedly scammed online iTunes storeLos Angeles Times Apple Confirms 400 iTunes Accounts HackedITProPortal The Associated Press -CNET -Telegraph.co.uk all 733 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:23 pm

IBM and European Union Join to Develop New Collaborative e-Business Model Extending Open Source and Cloud Technologies

HAIFA, Israel, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced, in collaboration with the European Union, industry and academia, the launch of a research consortium which aims to help businesses more easily take advantage of Internet-based services - or "e-services" - to create collaborative business operations and achieve shared business goals. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO ) The unique effort focuses on the development of a new computer science model that will enable organizations to greatly accelerate the typically time-intensive process around the coordination of e-services and increase the automation and efficiency around deploying new e-service blends. The research will enable even small to mid-sized businesses to create or join into flexible e-service blends, without investing in expensive IT expertise. The initiative will create open-source software to enable many organizations around the world take advantage of the technology. "Up until now, organizations have had to invest significant time and money in conventional, mostly manual blending and customizing efforts to enable their e-business service operations to communicate and work collaboratively," said Dr. Fabiana Fournier, consortium leader and scientist at IBM Research. "ACSI represents a new combination of computer science principles that are designed to enable businesses to retain a laser focus on operations and goals as they achieve new efficiencies in blending and interleaving e-services." In the consortium, IBM researchers are collaborating with experts from: Sapienza Universita degli Studi di Roma, Italy; Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy; Imperial College Of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK; Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands; University of Tartu, Estonia; Indra Software Labs SLU, Spain; Collibra NV, Belgium. Called Artifact-Centric Service Interoperation (ACSI), the project tackles the challenges faced by most e-businesses today in simplifying and streamlining the costly process of blending multiple, separately managed e-services into a dynamic, organic whole. The consortium plans to demonstrate that the new framework can reduce the cost of creating industry-specific service blends by 40% over conventional techniques. As governments and businesses across Europe increasingly rely on information and e-services from a myriad of industries and sectors -- from transportation, energy and water, to housing and health care -- there is a growing desire among them to have the ability to combine the core competencies their proprietary systems offer with core competencies of other organizations, to achieve greater results that transfer into enhanced, smarter, more cost-effective customer services. "Today, companies need to invest a considerable amount of time, expertise, and maintenance to develop ad hoc proprietary systems that coordinate these myriad e-services," explained Professor Guiseppe De Giacomo, University of Rome La Sapienza. "More often than not, these systems are application specific and do not have the flexibility to support variations that stem from different geographical regions or shifts in the marketplace, and are not able to scale up as the business grows." In addition to the researchers' projected aim to achieve at least 40% reduction in design and deployment time of e-services blends, the ACSI framework is anticipated to enable automation of about 90% of the data transformations needed to support them. Taken together, this translates into a dramatic savings over conventional approaches to designing, deploying, maintaining, and joining into environments that support e-service blends. ACSI is based on the fundamentally new notion of an "interoperation hub," which was introduced by IBM Research in 2009. Interoperation hubs provide intuitive, flexible environments around which e-service blends can form. A second pillar of the ACSI framework is provided by the concept of dynamic artifact or business entity. These artifacts represent business processes, and are based on a holistic combination of data and how that data changes as the artifact moves through its life cycle. Dynamic artifacts have already been used in dozens of IBM business transformation projects to enable new insights, efficiencies, and cost savings. Partners in the consortium will work together to develop rich extensions and applications for these basic concepts. ACSI interoperation hubs will be provided as SaaS - Software As A Service - and hosted in cloud environments. This will enable businesses to enjoy a pay-per-use model for data storage, task executions, and service integration costs. The scalability, simplicity, and flexibility of this approach makes the ACSI technology relevant for small and large organizations alike, bringing immediate benefit to broad segments of the marketplace. "We are pushing the frontiers of e-services by providing a highly data-centered approach to combine them, and we are pushing the frontiers of cloud computing by incorporating a semantically rich enabler of e-service blending into the cloud," explains Dr. Richard Hull, an IBM Research Manager and key scientist on the project. "We expect the ACSI interoperation hub framework to provide a paradigm shift in the way e-services, and more generally enterprises, can work together." According to consortium leader Fournier, the ACSI technology is relevant across a broad array of industries, including government, energy, healthcare, supply chain logistics, and heavy manufacturing. These industries face significant challenges when they are required to hand-off data and processes between various silos--even within their own organizations. ACSI interoperation hubs will provide a generic, yet highly customizable, solution for systematically handing off data and processing from one application or organization to another. About the ACSI consortium The consortium partners led by IBM Research in Haifa, Israel, include: Sapienza Universita degli Studi di Roma, Italy; Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy; Imperial College Of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK; Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands; University of Tartu, Estonia; Indra Software Labs SLU, Spain; Collibra NV, Belgium. ACSI's consortium combines world-class researchers in all of the key technical areas needed for this research, including experts on business process management, artifact-centric business operations, verification, data integration and ontologies, process mining, and services architectures. For more information about ACSI, please visit http://www.acsi-project.eu/. For more information about IBM Research, please visit http://www.research.ibm.com/. Contact: Chani Sacharen IBM Haifa Research Lab 972 52-299 6291 sacharen@il.ibm.com Kendra Collins IBM TJ Watson Research Lab 914-945-1801 collinsk@us.ibm.com SOURCE IBM
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:00 pm

Leaked photo of Motorola Charm surfaces

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones

A lot of information about the Motorola Charm has been leaked, but we still have yet to hear official confirmation from T-Mobile about the phone.  The latest information we heard was about the Motorola Charm being a part of a back-to-school promotion and available for free.  Today, an image of the Motorola Charm in action has surfaced, but unfortunately, no word on what version of Android it will launch with.  If it launches with Android 2.2, that would be awesome, however, it will probably launch with Android 2.1.  In addition, there is supposedly a touchpad on the back of the phone similar to the Backflip. Rumor has it the touch screen measures out at 3 inches, but that is an approximation.  According to the tipster, T-Mobile retail chains have started to receive information about the Charm in packages marked Motorola Basil Project.  All that’s left now is the official word from T-Mobile confirming the availability date and pricing of the candybar Android phone. 

Via [TmoNews]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:39 pm

Microsoft plans small job cuts: report (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp is planning to cut a small number of jobs as early as this week, the Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:33 pm

Life in a Day

Every day, 6.7 billion people view the world through their own unique lens. Imagine if there was a way to collect all of these perspectives, to aggregate and mold them into the cohesive story of a single day on earth.

Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of “Life in a Day,” a historic cinematic experiment that will attempt to do just that: document one day, as seen through the eyes of people around the world. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a snapshot of your life on camera. You can film the ordinary -- a sunrise, the commute to work, a neighborhood soccer match, or the extraordinary -- a baby’s first steps, your reaction to the passing of a loved one, or even a marriage.

Kevin Macdonald, the Oscar-winning director of films such as The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void and One Day in September, will then edit the most compelling footage into a feature documentary film, to be executive-produced by Ridley Scott, the director behind films like Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Thelma & Louise, Blade Runner and Robin Hood. LG Electronics is supporting "Life in a Day" as a key part of its long-standing "Life’s Good" campaign and to support the creation of quality online content that can be shared and enjoyed by all.

The film will premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and if your footage makes it into the final cut, you’ll be credited as a co-director and may be one of 20 contributors selected to attend the premiere.



Want to take part? Here’s what to do.

1. Visit the “Life in a Day” channel and learn more about the project. Be sure to read through the steps you need to take to participate and the guidelines for creating your video(s). Also check out some of the sample videos for inspirational ideas.

2. On July 24, capture your day on camera.

3. Upload your footage to the “Life in a Day” channel any time before July 31.

Regardless of whether your footage makes it into the final film, your video(s) will live on on the “Life in a Day” channel as a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on July 24, 2010.

Posted by Tim Partridge, Product Marketing Manager, watching "Life in a Day" trailer
Source: The Official Google Blog | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:14 pm

Gateway launches LT32 Netbook line

Gateway announced their latest line on netbook machines today, using AMD’s NEO processors and and ATI graphics. Gateway is looking to make netbooks capable of handling HD video, while maintaining the small size and weight of an ultra-portable system.

The new LT32 runs with an 11.6 inch screen, and enough power to run HD video, something that most netbooks are forced to struggle with. For full details and specifications check out the press release below, but expect the LT32 to retail for $450, and be available from your local retailer in the near future.

From the press release:

Improved Netbook Performance, Graphics Boost Enhanced by Large HD Display

The Gateway LT32 netbook line uses an AMD Athlon II Neo K125 processor backed by 2GB of DDR3 system memory for speedy web-browsing, music downloads, moving through applications, and handling multiple tasks. Plus, the ATI Radeon HD 4225 Graphics with 384MB of dedicated system memory provides superb graphics and visuals. The result is sharper high definition images, richer color, and smooth video and games.

Video and digital media look vibrant on the Gateway LT32’s impressive Ultrabright high-definition 11.6″ LED-backlit display. The screen’s 1366 x 768 resolution boosts the detail and clarity while the screen’s 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio is great for enjoying Internet video including Flash video and watching movies. The large screen reduces customers’ need to scroll right and left through applications and websites, while also making room for a full-size keyboard for comfortable typing.

Customers can take all the photos, video, music and documents they want on the go with a large 250GB(2) hard disk drive.

Ready to Stay in Touch with 3G, WiFi, One-Touch Social Networking

Staying in touch with the new Gateway LT32 netbooks is easy and fun. All models have Wi-Fi® b/g/n for connecting at wireless home networks and hotspots. The integrated HD webcam in the Gateway LT32 netbook line gives consumers an easy way to capture photos and video, record video emails and take part in video-conferencing. Plus, the built-in digital microphone conveys excellent voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

The Gateway LT32 netbook easily connects to peripherals such as printers, displays and digital cameras. It has an impressive three USB 2.0 ports for connecting multiple devices simultaneously as well as Gigabit Ethernet and VGA ports. Plus, it features a multi-in-one digital card reader for accepting popular digital media cards.

Like the rest of Gateway’s new notebook and netbook lines, the new Gateway LT32 Series features dedicated “social networking,” accessed through a function key to launch today’s most popular social networking sites – Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. With it, customers have a constant connection that is easy to access and will help them stay up-to-date with contacts on news and the latest posts.

Enjoyable to Use, Stylish Designs

The Gateway LT32 netbook line gives customers a boost in productivity with the multi-gesture touchpad that lets customers intuitively move through their applications and digital media. For example, customers can make a pinching motion to zoom in and out on documents, photos and websites, and a flipping motion to move quickly through photos, web pages and PDF documents.

The LT32 netbook’s look is sleek and modern, and features a matte chassis cover that resists fingerprints with a wave pattern that is subtle yet distinctive.

Pricing, Availability and Configurations

The new Gateway LT32 will be available at a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $449.99.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:01 pm

July 7, 1550: Europeans Discover Chocolate

Chocolate arrives in Europe for the first time ... maybe.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:00 pm

Companies Should Complete Systems to Automate Growth, Says Frost & Sullivan

SINGAPORE, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- 2009 saw many projects put on hold or slowed down due to the economic slowdown across many countries in the region. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia were the hardest hit, registering -9.5%, -7.1% and -6.2% GDP in the first quarter of 2009 respectively. Although the economy improved in the later part of the year, the ASEAN GDP was still at -0.3% in 2009. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO) Still, automation companies in the region managed to see the year through, with the effects of government stimulus packages, low interest rates, low commodity prices, and tamed inflation. There was better political stability in the region as well, the exception being Thailand. According to Frost & Sullivan's Asia Pacific Industrial Technologies Vice President Satish Lele, most companies have prepared themselves for the rebound. A strong first quarter performance in 2010 was seen for the region even as forecasts show the ASEAN GDP to grow 3.7% in 2010. "As the economy recovers, automation companies need to watch the market closely to track opportunities as end users begin cautious investment. With the easing of the stimulus packages, the private sector is now expected to drive the growth. However the trends for a sustained growth continue to be weak, mainly because of the effect of Europe and North America on Asian markets," he says. In terms of industry specifics, Frost & Sullivan have identified Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) as the major components of Automation systems, and together they form three-fourths of the automation revenues. The DCS market was estimated at USD270 million in 2009 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% until 2013. "Although the high start-up cost of DCS and the lack of ease of integration between manufacturers is a challenge, the increased focus on efficiency and wider range of functionality are encouraging manufacturers to invest in these systems," Satish says. He adds, "The growth of the oil & gas industry continues to drive sales for DCS. This sector constitutes more than half of the investments of DCS. Malaysia dominates the oil & gas sector although ANZ is showing surprisingly huge growth in this area with new projects in the pipeline. Vietnam is potentially the fastest growing market with large expectations for new projects." On the other hand, the PLC market was estimated at USD306 million in 2009 and is expected to have a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% over the next 5 years. The PLC market is largely dominated by Australia and New Zealand, contributing 47% of the total revenues for the PLC market. Satish continues, "The lack of a large OEM sector in Asia Pacific combined with the slow economic recovery and price sensitivity in the market will be the major restraint for the PLC market. Still, PLC's low maintenance cost, ease of operation with high reliability and more functionality combined with the increasing need for efficient factory automation will continue to drive the market forward." "The power sector will also continue to attract investment in the current year with existing and planned projects," he says. "Other key industries with the potential for growth are the Food & Beverage and Water & Wastewater sectors." Regarding the need from end users, Satish says, "Automation companies should continue to focus on providing complete solutions to end-users. They need to adopt the concept of Main Automation Contractor (MAC), a term that is becoming increasingly common in the procurement of process control systems or automation systems, to meet the increasing demand for services and solution-based offerings from end-user companies." "End users are also concerned about the after-sales service and local representation. Automation companies should strive to have a wider distribution network to be nearer to their customers to achieve better growth," Satish continues. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Donna Jeremiah Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific P: +603 6204 5832 F: +603 6201 7402 E: djeremiah@frost.com Carrie Low Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific P: +603 6204 5910 E: carrie.low@frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:50 pm

Apple says developer booted from app store (AP)

AP - Apple Inc. has booted a developer and his apps from its applications store after hundreds of hijacked user accounts were used to push his titles to best sellers over the weekend.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:45 pm

MeeGo, Zero To VT320 In Seventeen Seconds

muirhead writes "Installing MeeGo on an Eee PC 1000 netbook is quick, slick, and easy. The user interface is colorful and stylish with many quirky animations. MeeGo's features are easy to discover and it is fast and responsive. Underneath it all though there is still just a netbook. That means it's got a display screen that has no significant weight behind it. That means typing on an undersized keyboard that has no life. All of these undesirable features can, however, be fixed by adding 9kg (~20lbs) of VT320 video terminal."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:27 pm

HTC enjoys 33% profit increase in Q2

Section: Business News, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones

HTC executives are surely celebrating after the totals for Q2 were tallied up.  The Taiwanese based company enjoyed unprecedented success, largely because of a booming smartphone industry catalyzed by quality HTC smartphones.  In terms of profit year-to-year, it grew by 33% making investors and stockholders of the company extremely happy.  Last year, the total profit was $202 million and this year the profit equaled $268 million.  Total revenue equaled $1.88 billion and sales were up 58%.  Android’s popularity from last year to this year definitely helped increase the overall profit for HTC as HTC is a major manufacturer for quality Android phones.  The Q2 results even beat HTC’s own expectations for the Quarter - just to show you how good of a quarter it was for the “quietly brilliant” company.

Via [HTC]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:22 pm

Mobile Web Application Helps Boost Local Business in NYC Community

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Local business is on the rise in Brooklyn, thanks to a new mobile-optimized website created by Mobile Meteor for the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District (BID). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100705/MOBILEMETEORLOGO ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100705/MOBILEMETEORLOGO ) The new site enables visitors to easily get information about the many stores, restaurants and bars on Fifth - like addresses, phone numbers and URLs. It also links to the BID's Twitter feed and displays its blog entries. And, the site can be bookmarked and saved to smartphones' homescreens - just like an iPhone app - so that it can be used time and again: http://parkslopefifthavenuebid.com Formed largely to bring more business to Fifth Avenue, the decision to optimize the BID's site for smartphones was a "no brainer" according to BID Consultant, Mark Caserta. "I knew our site was almost illegible on iPhones, and when I heard about Mobile Meteor, I immediately thought it could bring our business directory right into the hands of consumers who were walking Fifth Avenue," says Mark. "Now, our site and business directory is simple and easy to use on a smartphone." Denis Hurley, founder of Mobile Meteor (MobileMeteor.com), says making a site reader-friendly and interactive on smartphones is key to driving local business. "You can walk down any street in Brooklyn and see the increasing popularity of smartphones. That's why it's so important to ensure your business can connect with those who use them," explains Denis. "This is the crux of what we do. Our mobile web application goes into action whenever a smartphone user visits the BID's own site, and it works on all of the smartphones out there. It offers a rich, interactive experience...all on the go. And, our social media integration makes it easy for the BID to connect with new customers, get them into local businesses, and keep them coming back." After a difficult couple of years, Mark thinks the BID's new mobile-optimized site will make a difference. "2009 was hard for businesses in the city, but the small, independent bars, stores and restaurants on Fifth really felt the pain. Our job is to do everything we can to bring more business to Fifth, and we're confident our new mobile-optimized site will help." Mobile Meteor provides a service that helps small businesses develop and maintain a presence on the mobile web. See the BID's site in action: http://bit.ly/5thAve SOURCE Mobile Meteor
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:18 pm

Best Buy sells white HTC EVO 4G early

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones

Last we heard, the white version of the HTC EVO 4G wasn’t supposed to launch in Best Buy stores until July 11.  For all you white EVO 4G fanatics, you’ll be happy to know that your phone came in five days early!  Best Buy stores have reportedly already received shipment of the white device and are already fulfilling pre-orders of the first 4G phone on the Sprint network.  I’m sure white iPhone fans are seething with envy since the Android counterpart is already available in both colors.  Now let’s just hope Best buy can keep enough white HTC EVO 4G’s in stock.

Via [Engadget]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 8:17 pm

Cathay Pacific Plans In-flight Broadband, Live TV From 2012 (PC World)

PC World - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways plans to offer in-flight broadband, cell-phone service and live television on its aircraft from early 2012, it said Wednesday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 8:10 pm

WakeMate’s Long Delays May Finally Be Coming To An End

WakeMate’s quest to help you kiss your groggy mornings goodbye continues. The Y Combinator-funded startup has become something of a poster child for the mantra “Hardware is hard” — when the company debuted its gadget in November, it promised to start shipping devices the following January. That didn’t happen, and the company didn’t have a concrete date for when the first batch might ship. A few units shipped in April, but the company wouldn’t say how many, so it probably wasn’t a very encouraging figure. Now, it looks like there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel.

WakeMate has posted an update to its blog that indicates that it’s optimistic about having a large chunk of orders out close to the end of the month (though it sounds like that may slip a bit). From their post:

A lot has happened since April, besides what we’ve shown on the blog. To highlight, we’ve:
Lined up a local manufacturing partner for faster turnaround
Designed and implemented a new board layout that gives vastly improved Bluetooth performance as well as battery life
Sourced all parts for said board
Designed and prototyped a new wristband, currently in its final production revision
Expanded and improved phone support
Iterated on the Analytics site, making it more useful and eye-catching
Dealt with regulation, Apple approval, packaging, etc.

So where does this leave us in terms of shipping by the end of July? We remain optimistic—if we don’t make it by month’s end, we’ll definitely get close. We’re addressing a couple minor snags but the hard problems have been solved and it’s now a matter of urging the gears of industry to turn more quickly; something they’re not accustomed to doing. In April, we felt it extremely conservative to say we’d be shipping by July 30th; as any new company can tell you, things never happen the way you think they will and we were no exception.

WakeMate’s product consists of a $50 wristband that you wear while you’re sleeping, which can analyze your sleeping patterns and wake you up at the opportune time so that you can beat morning grogginess (also see the pricier Zeo Sleep Coach and Fitbit, which can track your sleep but doesn’t have the wake-up alarm). Data from the wristband is relayed to your phone — WakeMate is developing companion applications for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry. WakeMate’s delays have resulted in plenty of frustrated users, in part because WakeMate collected a five dollar downpayment for its pre-orders.

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:24 pm

SSDs vs. Hard Drives In Value Comparison

EconolineCrush writes "SSDs hardly offer compelling value on the cost-per-gigabyte basis. But what if one considers performance per dollar? This article takes a closer look at the value proposition offered by today's most common SSDs, mixing raw performance data with each drive's cost, both per gigabyte and as a component of a complete system. A dozen SSD configurations are compared, and results from a collection of mechanical hard drives provide additional context. The data are laid out in detailed scatter plots clearly illustrating the most favorable intersections of price and performance, and you might be surprised to see just how well the SSDs fare versus traditional hard drives. A few of the SSDs offer much better value than their solid-state competitors, too."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:23 pm

AdSafe Media Raises $7.25 Million For Brand Verification Platform

AdSafe Media, a brand verification platform, has raised $7.25 Million in Series B funding, led by Atlas Venture with participation from existing investors Founder Collective and others participating.

Launched in May 2009, AdSafe Media uses algorithmic modeling and human verification to rate and verify the brand safety of content on commercially supported Web pages via a proprietary system. The rating then allow advertisers to properly place display advertising campaigns of sites.

AdSafe plans to open its Content Rating API late this year to integrate with real-
time-bidding and demand-side ad platforms, giving advertisers information and data about the brand safety of every impression available for purchase.

The company recently released a report that provided an analysis of the key display advertising brand safety metrics and industry insights, which shows that 47% of traffic was served by exchanges, real-time-bidding (RTB) or demand-side (DSP) platforms. According to the report, premium brand advertisers seem to be shifting a larger percentage of their display adverting spending to exchanges, RTB and DSP platforms because of increased media efficiency and broader reach afforded by these channels.

AsSafe faces competition from DoubleVerify, AdXpose and others.

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:15 pm

Mozilla Launches Firefox 4 Beta (PC World)

PC World - Don't look now, but here comes the newest version of Firefox. Today, Mozilla launched Firefox 4 Beta, which introduces a new look and a sizable pile of new features.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:10 pm

Judges order 2 Pa. newspapers to delete stories (AP)

AP - Two newspapers want a state judge to overturn an order requiring them to delete archived stories and other information about two defendants, cases that touch on the potential for media censorship.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:07 pm

Jeff Ma’s Keys To Success In Business: Blackjack And Sports

In terms of interesting backgrounds among people in the tech space, Jeff Ma has one of the most interesting. If you’ve read the book Bringing Down The House or seen the movie 21, the main character is based on Ma — yes, in the movie he’s a white guy, but still, that’s him. He was a member of MIT’s now famous blackjack team for seven years. From there, he went on to co-founder a sports startup, Citizen Sports, which Yahoo acquired this past March.

Ma is actually the only one of Citizen Sports 30-some employees that didn’t go over to Yahoo with the deal. Instead, he decided to take some time off to help promote his new book, The House Advantage: Playing the Odds to Win Big In Business. The book is an extension of talks Ma has given around the country relating risk-taking (or rather, calculated risk-taking) in both gambling and sports to advantageous moves in business.

Below, find a conversation I had with Ma on TechCrunch TV today. We talk about everything from blackjack, to the new Facebook movie (based on a book written by the same author who wrote Bringing Down The House, Ben Mezrich, whom Ma knows well), to Yahoo, to Ma’s own book, to where LeBron may be going.

You can find The House Advantage on Amazon here.

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:05 pm

Verizon shows off new Motorola Droid X video

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Web, Websites, Online Music/Video

Before making a smartphone purchase, it’s important to do some research beforehand.  However, with new phones, it’s hard to find good reviews mainly because not many people have the phone yet.  Therefore, it is a good idea to check out the carrier’s video for the phone, even if it is biased to show only its strong points.  Today, a little more than a week before the Droid X launches, Verizon uploaded a video review of the latest Droid smartphone from Motorola to their YouTube channel.  As you would probably expect, the video highlights all the key features that makes the phone great.  With the HTC Droid Incredible being repeatedly delayed, maybe the video will persuade you to switch your pre-order to a Droid X. 

Check out the video in its entirety below:

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:01 pm

Farewell, Rainbow Warrior

Jim Bohlen, Quaker, peace activist, and co-founder of Greenpeace, died on Monday. He was 84.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:01 pm

Yet another roundup shows that a good SSD is still hard to find (for cheap)

I keep looking at SSDs, and then I keep changing my mind. The right combination of price, performance, and storage capacity just hasn’t hit yet. Another roundup done by yet another technology blog reviewed the latest generation of SSD products, only to come to the same conclusion: the performance hit at the low end price point continues to make going to SSD too impractical for many users.

Sure, you can get a drive with great capacity, and high speed and reliability, but the cost per megabyte is quite high. At the lower end of the spectrum, you get smaller capacity, slower access speeds, and the potential for data loss. It’s still a crap shoot, so be careful what you pick up when you’re at looking at SSDs.

Read the whole roundup at The Tech Report. It’s pretty thorough and there are lots of graphs. You like graphs.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:00 pm

Drilling for Oil Has Begun In Greenland

The first oil wells are being drilled in Greenland. What does this mean for our future?
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:47 pm

Indie, downloadable games to the rescue - msnbc.com

msnbc.com

Indie, downloadable games to the rescue msnbc.com On July 21st, "Limbo" will kick off Microsoft's Summer of Arcade program, which shines the spotlight on independent and downloadable games during the summer months. by Winda Benedetti Citizen Gamer Summertime can be a difficult time for gamers. ... Microsoft dates Summer of Arcade lineupGameSpot Xbox 'Summer of Arcade' schedule and sale revealedGamePro.com Microsoft To Launch Alternate Xbox Live Arcade Browser This MonthGamasutra Computerandvideogames.com -GamersDailyNews -Ars Technica all 104 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:47 pm

Magellan’s new iPhone car kit does pretty much everything you can think of

When I hear “car kit,” I usually think cigarette lighter adapter and a rickety dash mount. Magellan’s new Premium Car Kit (creative name, there) costs a bundle but it’s got a pretty complete set of features and is mercifully back-compatible. If you’re looking to adapt your iPhone to your car and don’t want to buy more than one package, this would be a good one to go for. (Banana man added for emphasis)

The key features are:

• Back-compatible (iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS and iPod touch 2G)
• Adjustable dash mount (portrait/landscape/etc)
• GPS receiver for boosting phone’s signal
• Built-in speaker and noise-canceling microphone (or connect to your stereo)
• Works with “all iPhone/iPod GPS navigation applications” – certainly the major ones, anyway
• Accommodates most cases

The whole kaboodle costs $130, and yeah, you can get a dash mount for $10, but it’s just a piece of plastic. This practically turns your car into KITT. Personally, I tend to just put my phone in my pocket and forget about it when I get in the car, but if you’re a car kit kind of person, this thing might be up your alley.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:39 pm

Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed - Wired News

ShutterVoice

Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed Wired News Apple might be cooking up a do-over with its TV set-top box using a key ingredient: the iOS platform powering the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It might just work. Both The New York Times and Engadget recently published independent ... Fast Contacts for iPhoneBusinessWeek Apple Releases Updates for IDisk, IMovie Mobile AppsPC World Special Report: The end of Apple's iPod era part IIApple Insider Toronto Star -Mediapost.com -NetworkWorld.com all 93 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:23 pm

Motorola's Droid X Is a Massive Dose of Madcap Multimedia - Wired News

Product Reviews (blog)

Motorola's Droid X Is a Massive Dose of Madcap Multimedia Wired News It's only been eight months since the original Droid hit like a wrecking ball. Now, the mother of all (Lucas-licensed) droids is upon us with the July 15 arrival of the feature-packed Droid X.* At 5 x 2.6 x .04 inches, the X is unapologetically large ... Verizon mocks Apple's iPhone 4 antenna issue with full-page NYT adApple Insider 10 More Smartphones That Will Fade Away Before 2011eWeek Magid on Tech: Droid X a worthy contenderSan Jose Mercury News NetworkWorld.com -Twice -PC World all 160 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:23 pm

Twitter gets into deal alerts with '@earlybird' - CNET

The Guardian (blog)

Twitter gets into deal alerts with '@earlybird' CNET Twitter is getting into the online shopping business--or at least pointing to places where deals can be had. The company's new service, aptly named @earlybird, is an official Twitter account that the company plans to feed with deals ... Twitter launches latest monetization planTG Daily Twitter dips its feathers into flash sales with EarlyBirdVentureBeat Twitter Gets Into E-CommerceNew York Times (blog) TAXI Design Network -Los Angeles Times (blog) -Adelaidenow all 89 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:11 pm

Shah Jo Raag fakirs on Coke Studios (video: traditional Pakistani music)

On Sundays, most Pakistanis will turn away from their usual Indian TV consumption and catch Coke Studios on one of the many Pakistani channels that have syndicated it. I blogged about the show last year.

I wanted to share a new song that was in the second episode of the new season. The song is called Moomal Rano. I'm not familiar with the Sindhi poets and singers, so here's the description from the Coke Studios website:

Shah Jo Raag fakirs from Bhit Shah take centre stage with 'Moomal Rano', a sur from Shah Jo Raag Risalo. As they sing and chant 'Moomal Rano', the fakirs also mark a monumental first of collaborating their unique five-stringed dhamboora with western instruments.

The singers are natives to Bhit Shah, an area in the Sindh province that is known for the great poet Abdul Latif Bhithai. The men singing the sur are known as fakirs. The term fakir means many things. In colloquial Urdu, it can be used as a derogatory term for a street beggar. In the best sense, a fakir is someone who dedicated his/her time for the worship of God and lives a fairly ascetic life. From what I'm told, you can catch the fakirs performing at the tomb of Abdul Latif Bhitai.

The sur and translation follow...

O mian, Allah mian...
O God, my Lord

(repeat)

Russ ma russan ghoryo

Even if you are upset with me, I am still willing to lay down my life for you

Chudd raana raida-ee

My lord, speak to me once again

Lapay tij latif chay, kamil khachaie

My lord, forgive your Latif for all his faults and mistakes



Oooooo kar maaf madai

Forgive all the mistakes

Ta sodha sukhiyani theeyaanm mian

I will only be at peace when my Lord will reciprocate my love

O Allah, kar maaf madai

My lord, forgive all my faults

Waee (Vai)

Ao rana ruh raat tunjhi chaangul khay chandan chariyaan

My lord, stay with me tonight and I'll make sure that the Beast (camel) you ride is taken care of as well

Raatiyaan deehaan rooh-a mein tann tunhinjhi taat

My lips move all the time remembering you, be it day or night

Waithi nit niharyaan

I sit, gazing into the distance waiting for your return

Acheen jay pirbhaat

Waiting till the wee hours of the morning

Mookhay aeen mehndra waee tuhjhi waat

It is only the song of your remembrance (waee) that I have on my lips, my Lord

Adyun, Abdul Latif chaee daatar deedum daat

O sisters, the Lord will be forgiving and will shower his blessings on Latif


(Shah Jo Risalo by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai)

(Lyrics and translation by Mohammad Qasim Maka, professor and director Institute of Sindhology)

Coke Studios

Source: Boing Boing | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:05 pm

TF2’s Engineer update continues with something insane

I know not all of you out there are avid TF2 players, but this is too nutty not to post. The latest TF2 update reveals the Wrangler, a way for the Engineer to control his sentry, at the same time protecting it from damage and increasing its fire rate. The only downside (other than replacing your pistol) is that the sentry is inactive for three seconds afterwards. Overpowered much?!

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:03 pm

Fetish: B&O's BeoLab 11 Subwoofer Is a Boom in Bloom

Despite its nickname — Tulip — this subwoofer would do any La Brea low-rider proud. Even with all that bass it sits eerily still, with its two drivers set precisely across from one another to create push in opposite directions and prevent vibration.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm

Conan O'Brien's Kamikaze Comedy Debacle

Comedian Conan O'Brien died for Big Media's sins and then, rose up more powerful than NBC or anyone else could possibly have imagined.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm

Fetish: B&O's BeoLab 11 Subwoofer Is a Boom in Bloom

Despite its nickname — Tulip — this subwoofer would do any La Brea low-rider proud. Even with all that bass it sits eerily still, with its two drivers set precisely across from one another to create push in opposite directions and prevent vibration.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm

12 Wonderful Wagons We Want

With the always-awesome station wagon enjoying a renaissance, we look at dozen of the best ever.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm

Queen Elizabeth II Visits RIM, Walks Out With A Shiny New Blackberry

Section: Communications, Cellphones

While everyone in America was celebrating the 4th of July, the Queen of England was getting her geek on at a tour of Research in Motion. And, after being shown around by RIM founder and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis (and after receiving one awesome lab coat), she was presented with a brand new White Blackberry Bold 9700. So is that all I have to be to get free gadgets? Being the next King should be no big deal.

Read [Crackberry via Mobile Crunch]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:58 pm

Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed

Recent independent reports suggest that Apple is planning to expand its iOS mobile platform to the Apple TV. Here's why we think it could make Apple TV a hit.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:55 pm

Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed

Recent independent reports suggest that Apple is planning to expand its iOS mobile platform to the Apple TV. Here's why we think it could make Apple TV a hit.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:55 pm

US will press criminal charges against Manning, alleged Wikileaks source

"Charge sheet" for Pfc. Bradley E. Manning lists 8 federal criminal violations, including one of espionage. PDF Link, or view JPEGs at the end of this post.

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UPDATE: Read Boing Boing's interview with an Army spokesperson with more on the charges filed, and possible penalties: Manning faces up to 52 years in prison.

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The U.S. military has announced that it will press criminal charges against 22 year old Pfc. Bradley E. Manning for allegedly transferring classified military information to his personal computer, "wrongfully adding unauthorized software to a Secret Internet Protocol Router network computer," obtaining "more than 150,000 classified U.S. State Department cables," and transmitting data to unauthorized persons.

The charge sheet published at the end of this post reveals that he will be charged with eight federal criminal law violations including one count of transmitting classified information to an unauthorized third party, a violation of the Espionage Act.

Manning is believed to be the person who leaked the so-called "Collateral Murder" video to Wikileaks. The 2007 video, edited before release by Wikileaks, shows an Apache helicopter strike that killed 12 civilians in Baghdad, including two Reuters photojournalists.

Manning has been detained at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait since May, when he was arrested by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. According to reports, Manning "confessed" to ex-hacker Adrian Lamo that he leaked the "Collateral Murder" video, a video of the Granai airstrike in Afghanistan, and 260,000 diplomatic cables, to Wikileaks. Lamo is said to have then turned Manning over to authorities.

According to the U.S. Armed Forces Rules for Courts-Martial, Manning is entitled to a trial within 120 days after having been restrained. Word on Manning's case has been all but silent, but some of his supporters noted that charges were imminent, given that deadline.

Lt. Col. Eric Bloom, a spokesman for U.S. Division-Center—the Army headquarters that oversees security in central Iraq—told Bloomberg News, "The initial investigation is still ongoing because there are additional items to sift through." In today's statement, the Army said the question of whether Manning must face court-martial will be determined by a military version of a grand jury hearing.

Charge sheet: PDF Link, and JPEGs in the body of this post, below.

Source: Boing Boing | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:49 pm

Texas Instruments continues to lead Bluetooth(R) low energy technology advancements

DALLAS, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) today announced adoption of Bluetooth® low energy technology, the hallmark feature of the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0. In conjunction, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced full qualification of the Bluetooth low energy stack supporting the BlueLink(TM) and WiLink(TM) connectivity combo solutions. TI also achieved complete Bluetooth v4.0 controller qualification on the CC2540 low-power, single-mode system-on-chip (SoC) running both protocol stack and application software. TI has now certified the full set of components, including ATT, GATT, GAP and SMP that encompass Bluetooth protocol implementation. Today's milestone delivers on TI's December 2009 promise to drive single- and dual-mode Bluetooth low energy technology support - bridging the gap between the mobile and sensor worlds. This success makes TI one of the first to achieve Bluetooth v4.0 controller and host stack certification. "We are pleased to see full qualification of TI's Bluetooth v4.0 stack and controller, as TI continues to play an active role in advancements around Bluetooth Core Specifications," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "This milestone further reinforces TI's commitment to the Bluetooth marketplace, and to bringing dual- and single-mode low energy devices to life across various markets." "Inclusion of the Bluetooth low energy specification is a foundational step in extending manufacturer and consumer connection capabilities in markets like mobile health and wellness," said Rick Cnossen, president and board chair, Continua Health Alliance. "We selected Bluetooth low energy for our Continua Version Two Design Guidelines as a result of the promise behind this technology, and believe TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions will deliver exciting use cases within Continua's ecosystem." What makes TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions unique: Legacy expertise in creating robust single- and dual-mode solutionsBluetooth low energy technology support added to proven WiLink and BlueLink connectivity combo solutions, with drop-in replacement for existing combo products On-chip coexistence for combo solutions, which yield size, cost, performance and power advantagesCC2540 single-mode SoC capable of running both protocol stack and application software More information about TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions: TI's Bluetooth low energy technology blog: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-blog-pr TI's Bluetooth low energy technology solutions: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-lowenergy-pr TI's wireless connectivity solutions: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-wireless-prTI's related Mobile Momentum post: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-mobile-prAvailability TI's Bluetooth low energy dual-mode devices are available today. TI's CC2540 single-mode Bluetooth low energy technology solution will be widely available in fall 2010. Bluetooth v4.0-based products are expected to debut in the first half of 2011. About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go to www.ti.com Trademarks The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., BlueLink, WiLink and NaviLink are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:45 pm

New Effectology Episode: Turning a git-fiddle into a bass

Bill Ruppert is back with more cool EHX gear. This time he turns a guitar into a string bass using only pedals and he adds a slow snare drum by rubbing the strings with a warranty card.

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:38 pm

Best Buy Issues Reprieve For Employee Behind Videos — But He Declines Reinstatement

Last week, we noted that Best Buy was looking into firing the employee that made the hilarious EVO versus iPhone 4 video (and the rebuttal video). The employee, 25-year-old Brian Maupin, was placed on suspension as Best Buy decided what they wanted to do. Today brings some good news: they’ve decided not to fire Maupin. But Maupin has decided not to return to work just yet, as he’s not sure he’s comfortable with the situation.

In their statement about the situation (below), Best Buy humorously refers to Maupin as “the aspiring film-maker.” The company notes that they took their time coming to a decision about what to do because they wanted to ensure they were maintaing a supportive environment for employees, while also making sure employees couldn’t openly disparage customers, vendor partners, and other employees.

Best Buy says that three video in particular caught their attention, and that those videos have now been taken down. What’s interesting here is that the three videos apparently don’t include the two most popular ones. Maupin originally told us that there were a “couple other videos” on his account that did reference Best Buy in a comical manner and that he took those down immediately when the company asked. He said they were also asking him to take down the more popular videos, but he refused to do that, as they don’t mention Best Buy in any way (but do mention brands Best Buy carries).

But Best Buy is now apparently doing a 180 on what they initially told Maupin. Now, they’re indicating they only cared about the other videos in question (which, again, mentioned Best Buy specifically). But that wasn’t the case last week, according to Maupin. “According to the statement BBY issued, the videos they were offended over are gone, but 2 of them they took issue with are up, so maybe they’ve realized those two don’t mention Best Buy or maybe they’re just settling, considering the spotlight on them,” Maupin tells us.

Undoubtedly, without the two popular videos, which now have nearly 4 million views combined on YouTube, none of this would have been brought to Best Buy’s attention in the first place.

At the end of their statement, Best Buy notes that Maupin is scheduled to return to work on Friday. Unfortunately, they apparently didn’t clear that with Maupin himself. “I’m not planning on returning to work — immediately, anyway. Honestly, I don’t know how I could return considering some of the things that were said to me and not have a lot of awkwardness on the job. I’m looking at possible jobs in graphic art — nothing definite yet, but I’m searching,” he tells us.

Below, find Best Buy’s full statement on the matter and then Maupin’s official one. And, of course, the videos below that.

Best Buy:

We have completed our investigation into the videos created and posted by Brian Maupin, the aspiring film-maker and Best Buy employee.  This is an important situation for us because it involved balancing our social media guidelines with a commitment to creating a supportive environment for our employees.  It’s important to note that our investigation involved three videos that were posted in late June because they were openly disparaging of our employees, our customers and our vendor partners.  Our investigation is over, and these videos are no longer on the web.  Contrary to rumors, Brian has not been fired, and is scheduled to return to his job at Best Buy this Friday

Maupin:

Right now I’m planning on taking a leave of absence so I may survey my current career plans and the future. I’m not sure if it would be comfortable returning to Best Buy considering the circumstances, but I will definitely consider all options

Source: TechCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:35 pm

Review: 'Crackdown 2' Stumbles With Boring Gameplay

With its emphasis on co-op play, this misguided sequel sucks all the wind out of the high-flying, power-punching original.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:30 pm

Ethernet to replace HDMI as standard TV cable? (Christopher Null)

Christopher Null - If you’re like me, your office closet is packed to the gills with cables — ones you bought but no longer use, and ones that come free with computer and home-theater equipment.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:28 pm

Study Hints Ambient Radio Waves May Affect Plant Growth

dwguenther writes "A Lyons (Colorado) area woman with no academic pedigree has published a scientific paper in the International Journal of Forestry Research about the adverse effects of radio waves on aspen seedlings. Katie Haggerty, who lives north of Steamboat Mountain, found in a preliminary experiment done near her house that aspens shielded from electromagnetic radiation were healthier than those that were not. 'I found that the shielded seedlings produced more growth, longer shoots, bigger leaves, and more total leaf area. The shielded group produced 60 percent more leaf area and 74 percent more shoot length than a mock-shielded group,' she said." This was not a definitive study, as its author readily admits — it's hard to see how a double-blind study could even be designed in this area — but it was refereed.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:24 pm

Apple iTunes reportedly hacked by malicious app developers (Christopher Null)

Christopher Null - How do you get your application to the top of the iTunes App Store sales chart?
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:22 pm

Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed

Apple might be cooking up a do-over with its TV set-top box using a key ingredient: the iOS platform powering the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It might just work.

Both The New York Times and Engadget recently published independent reports claiming that Apple would upgrade its set-top box with an iOS-based software overhaul. There’s a possibility the upgrade could also involve an expensive piece of hardware — $100, according to Engadget.

Apple declined to comment on the rumor, but Wired.com did discover on LinkedIn a few new hires on Apple’s interfacedesign team who have backgrounds in home entertainment and TV broadcasting, which might hint that something major is in the works.

It seems likely and feasible that Apple will expand the iOS platform to the Apple TV. Apple frequently refers to the Apple TV as a “hobby,” because it has been a modest performer. The video-entertainment industry has been a challenging environment for the company to swing a home run, because it’s packed with competitors offering a multitude of methods to watch TV and movies. Also, cable providers often subsidize set-top boxes, which sometimes include a DVR.

But iOS could be the weapon that enables Apple to invade home entertainment. Here are five reasons an iOS-based Apple TV could be a hit.

The Connected Living Room

As Altimeter analyst Michael Gartenberg said, “The TV remains one of the last disconnected devices in the household, and everyone is trying to figure it out.”

A large number of TVs include built-in internet connectivity, and Google recently announced its plans to share its Google TV software platform with TV manufacturers. While this strategy sounds promising, Apple’s iOS could still succeed with the same strategy that allows the iPhone to compete with Android phones — an elegant operating system tightly integrated with other Apple hardware versus a one-size-fits-all platform from Google, which will undoubtedly take a long time to refine.

While TV makers have been busy pimping out expensive 3-D televisions, Apple has been gradually iterating an extremely successful platform allowing customers to easily expand their devices with downloadable apps, while enabling third-party software developers to make money.

Huge User Base

The iOS user base includes more than 100 million users. It’s likely that Apple would include a cheap basic remote with a new Apple TV while upselling the device to the gigantic audience of iOS customers. In this scenario, people who own an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch would receive special benefits and more-seamless control when using an Apple TV.

From a strategic perspective, Apple would be pinning its “hobby” device on its blockbuster products, and that would be a wise move.

TV Apps? Yes, Please

In addition to a huge customer base, the iOS platform already has more than 200,000 apps. It wouldn’t be easy to repurpose apps made for the iPhone or iPad to display nicely on a big-screen HDTV, but a number of apps would provide interesting utility for television and living-room entertainment systems.

Imagine getting internet-streaming radio, video conferencing or the Hulu app playing on a TV. Plus, an Apple TV App Store could introduce new apps to calibrate the picture of your television, adjust your sound levels, turn an iPhone into a a slick, touch-based universal remote, and more.

Thanks to the introduction of Apple’s iAd mobile-advertising platform combined with the already large iOS user base, third-party developers would have strong incentive to produce apps to make Apple’s TV product unique and innovative like the iPhone.

Motion-Based Gaming

Gaming would be even be more interesting. Apple is already in a good position to more directly compete with console makers, and expanding iOS gaming to the TV would be a compelling move. Independent game developers would likely price games considerably lower than console games. We’d also see a host of innovative games made for all types of customers: children, teenagers, adults and even grandmothers — as opposed to the tired 3-D shooters aimed at nerdy Xbox 360 or PS3 players. Plus, the iPhone 4, which includes a gyroscope, is already better than Nintendo’s Wii controller.

In 2009, iOS already grabbed 5 percent of the videogame software market, quadruple the number in 2008. That seems like a small chunk, but it’s substantial when you consider that gaming is only a partial purpose of iOS, and that the platform is only two years old. Imagine how much that number could grow if iOS extended its reach to television gaming.

Alternatives to Cable

Apple is rumored to be preparing a cloud-based iTunes for streaming media, which could provide an attractive alternative to pricey cable subscriptions. Also, iOS apps such as Hulu+, the ABC TV app and Netflix offer additional flexibility for internet-savvy customers who are looking for ways to reduce or even eliminate their monthly cable bills.

We’re already seeing a slow decline in the money spent on cable TV and a growing interest in internet TV. According to research from Centris, digital-cable spending dropped from $79 a month in the third quarter of 2008 to $70 per month in the third quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, more and more TV content is becoming freely available online: Avner Ronen, CEO of internet TV startup Boxee, estimates that 60 percent of broadcast TV is available free online, along with 10 percent of cable TV.

See Also:

• Rumor Repeat: Apple TV to Gain iOS-Based Overhaul
• Rumor: New $100 Apple TV Takes Aim at the Cloud
• 5 Reasons Why Apple TV Rules, 5 Reasons Why it Sucks
• Why Apple TV Must Evolve to Avoid Extinction

Mock-up illustration of a networked Apple TV: rcmarz/Flickr

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:04 pm

“Major” update to Xbox Live Arcade next week

Get ready for Xbox Live Arcade to become a bit more useful. Microsoft’s Major Nelson announced today that there is a significant update to Xbox Live Arcade, including a new recommendation engine and visual browser system.

Major Nelson indicated that the update, due to launch next week, will also allow you to see what games your friends like, which games are the highest rated overall, and what games are similar to the ones that you enjoy. There’s also some visual changes, but the real story is the new usability features. Major Nelson posted some screen shots to his Flickr account, and it looks pretty good.

[via 1up]

Source: CrunchGear | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:00 pm

Whales Scream Over Noise Pollution

Since communication is tied to mating, feeding and more, these critical aspects of whale life may be impacted.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:00 pm

Peer into Firefox's future in latest beta - CNET

Tech Pinger (blog)

Peer into Firefox's future in latest beta CNET Mozilla released the first beta for Firefox 4 on Tuesday, introducing a new interface design to a wider Windows audience, support for multiple technologies that aim to be essential to Web browsing in the future, and a plan for ... Mozilla Releases Firefox 4.0 BetaTechtree.com Google Rekindles Browser WarWall Street Journal Mozilla Launches Firefox 4 BetaPC World Inquirer -Computerworld (blog) -TrustedReviews all 164 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:57 pm

Tracking the Tour de France With Tech [Voices]

By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

The 2010 Tour de France got under way this weekend, and technologically inclined cycling fans have plenty of options for getting their fix even when they’re away from the television.

The length of the race and the time difference between the U.S. and France mean even the most dedicated U.S. cycling enthusiasts can have a tough time watching all stages.

But on the iPhone, users can see video of the event on the official Tour de France application from the Versus channel, which is showing the Tour in the U.S. At $14.99, the program is pricier than many iPhone apps, but it offers something many applications don’t — live video. Highlights, weather and detailed tracking also are available, and the app alerts users during important parts of the race. As of Tuesday, it was the third highest-grossing app in the iTunes store. Versus also is showing live video on the Web, with a service that costs $29.99.

Free Tour de France options are more limited.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:54 pm

iPhone 4 reception problems, apologies and a better idea

FROM APPLETELL - Late last week, Apple released a statement regarding reports of poor iPhone 4 reception. Their explanation? Basically, your reception always sucked, you just didn’t know it.
MORE »

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:47 pm

Microsoft Out of Favor With Young, Hip Developers

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft's failures with the KIN phone (only two months on the market, less than 10,000 phones sold) are well-known to this community. Now the NY Times goes farther, quoting Tim O'Reilly: 'Microsoft is totally off the radar of the cool, hip, cutting-edge software developers.' Microsoft has acknowledged that they have lost young developers to the lures of free software. 'We did not get access to kids as they were going through college,' acknowledged Bob Muglia, the president of Microsoft's business software group, in an interview last year. 'And then, when people, particularly younger people, wanted to build a start-up, and they were generally under-capitalized, the idea of buying Microsoft software was a really problematic idea for them.' Microsoft's program to seed start-ups with its software for free requires the fledgling companies to meet certain guidelines and jump through hoops to receive software — while its free competitors simply allow anyone to download products off a website with the click of a button."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:42 pm

Twitter Throttling Takes Toll on Tools

Twitter users are finding it tough to use software on their mobile phones and PCs to stay up-to-date on the latest bons mots, because Twitter is limiting how often the software can ask for details. But is throttling to keep the service up just as annoying as it being perpetually on the fritz?

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:40 pm

Mark H. Griesbaum Named President of TCS Online, a New Service Affiliate of TCS Education System

CHICAGO, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mark H. Griesbaum, a veteran IT executive in business and higher education, has been named president of TCS Online, a service affiliate of TCS Education System (TCS ES). In his new role, Griesbaum will oversee instructional design, enrollment management, student services, financial aid, and learning management systems for online-blended programs of TCS ES affiliates, which include The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100706/DC31289LOGO) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100706/DC31289LOGO) "Mark brings a perfect blend of expertise and leadership to the team of specialists who serve students enrolled in the online-blended programs across all of our higher education affiliates," said Dr. Michael Horowitz, president and CEO of TCS ES. "Our mission is to provide a transformative education to individuals seeking engaged and purposeful careers. Mark, working with TCS Online, will help us further support those of all ages, locations, and backgrounds who chose the online-blended path to their degree of choice." Before joining TCS ES, Griesbaum served as executive vice president and chief information officer for Cardean Learning Group. From 2000-2008, he was CIO of Career Education Corporation (CEC) where he led a staff of more than 220 professionals that served 80+ schools across the globe, putting in place a common worldwide infrastructure and business applications, and regularly managing integration of acquisitions and new start-ups. Prior to CEC, Griesbaum worked at Acxiom Corporation, Heller Financial, and Continental Bank, integrating and managing technology for major, mission-critical financial systems. He holds an M.B.A. in Finance from DePaul University, and a B.S. in Finance and Management from the University of Dayton. "I am extremely fortunate to join an organization with a mission as focused as TCS Education System and TCS Online," said Griesbaum. "I look forward to working with the System's current and future affiliates to provide online access to TCS Education System's model of education with an emphasis on engagement, applied and practical applications, while providing excellent service and outcomes to all students." About TCS Online: TCS Online was founded in 2009 as a service affiliate of TCS Education System. Its team of dedicated specialists provides focused attention to the needs of students enrolled in online-blended programs at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. It also provides support for online instructional and curriculum design and the learning management system used by all affiliates. About TCS Education System: TCS Education System (TCS ES) was founded in 2009 as a not-for-profit organization with a mission of preparing innovative, engaged, purposeful agents of change who serve our global community. TCS ES features a network of specialized institutions, which are backed by a model of education that prepares socially responsible, culturally competent professionals in applied fields such as psychology, health and human services, and education. TCS ES' affiliated colleges and graduate schools -- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, and Pacific Oaks College -- each offer scholarship, training, and service opportunities directed to a specific career path while providing a transformative educational experience that ensures that the students' personal, academic, and professional needs are met. Other System affiliates include Garfield Park Preparatory Academy, a K-8 elementary school on Chicago's West Side devoted to delivering a progressive, evidence-based curriculum; Pacific Oaks Children's School in Pasadena, Calif., which provides experiential early childhood learning and daycare; TCS Online, an online education delivery and services affiliate; and TCS Foundation, which cultivates grants and charitable contributions to support community based student-learning opportunities throughout TCS ES. For more information, visit www.tcsedsystem.org. For a photo of TCS Online President Mark Griesbaum, visit www.tcsedsystem.org/images/mark_griesbaum.jpg. CONTACT: Matt Nehmer, 312-329-6672, mnehmer@tcsedsystem.org SOURCE TCS Education System
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:34 pm

Motorola's Droid X Is a Massive Dose of Madcap Multimedia

The followup to Motorola's Droid is bigger, faster and even a touch more capable than its predecessor.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm

Motorola's Droid X Is a Massive Dose of Madcap Multimedia

The followup to Motorola's Droid is bigger, faster and even a touch more capable than its predecessor.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 6 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm

Parasite Correlated With World Cup Success

mahiskali writes "A parasite commonly found in cats, Toxoplasma gondii , has an unnerving relation to World Cup victories by country. (This parasite was discussed here twice in 2006.) Toxo can be found in almost every type of mammal, from rats to humans. The overall goal of the parasite is to end up in a feline stomach, which is the only place it can reproduce. In other mammals, humans for example, the parasite heads for the brain. It is estimated that nearly 1/3 of the human population has a latent Toxo infection, with individual countries having infection rates varying from 6% (Korea) to 92% (Ghana). Countries with greater incidence of this parasitic infection in their populations tend to win more World Cups than those without. The article, writtem by a Stanford University neuroscientist, goes on to try out various rationales for such a correlation, ranging from increased testosterone to increased dissent of authority — all symptoms of a Toxo infection. Now we just need to find a parasite that causes an inability to referee properly, and we'll have this whole World Cup business all sorted out."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:56 pm

Restore Files for Free - EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Data loss is an embarrassing and bad experience lots of people have, even when you have the habit to back-up the files regularly. The habit to hit Shift-Del and immediately press Enter afterwards - or accidentally format the whole partition - would bring you a disaster. It is good to know data is likely not entirely lost and using the right tool to restore files must be the first thing you do; so how to recover files? No matter whether you are professional or not, the highly recommended solution is to turn to data recovery software. Be thankful that EASEUS Software released EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition - it is just such a powerful and comprehensive files restore freeware. This free solution allows you to freely recover files from almost all kinds of data loss issues like formatting, partition loss, and virus infection; or, the dreaded accidental deletion. Having almost all of the features that traditionally only commercial file recovery software has had, EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition is totally free and the first now-widespread restore files freeware to save your data. It will walk you through with a handy wizard-mode interface to put you on the path to restoration of your deleted files, restore formatted files, recover deleted or lost partitions and do raw recovery from any hard drive, external USB drive or other storage media. Just as one committed user said: "Google for software to try and recover files, but all of them are 'Free Downloads', but then in order to recover data, you have to buy it. While EASEUS offers their EASEUS data recovery software free edition (really free) to recover lost files. This really saved the day for me." "Users no longer worry about their data loss problems," says Mr. Liu, CEO of EASEUS. "EASEUS is now the first choice to restore files easily and without charge." Pricing and Availability: EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition 5.0.1 runs under Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7 and is totally free for everyone. More information and free download is available from http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm . About CHENGDU YIWO Tech Development Co., Ltd. The company specializes in data recovery, partition manager and backup software for Windows. Its major products are Data Recovery Wizard, Partition Table Doctor, EASEUS Partition Master and Todo Backup. For more information, please visit http://www.easeus.com . *(LOGO 72dpi: www.send2press.com/mediaboom/10-0510-easeus_72dpi.jpg) This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE EASEUS Software
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:51 pm

Foursquare Location Layers: Shared Tips for Shared Sensibilities [Voices]

By John Murrell

Check-in king Foursquare is now giving Web publishers like the Huffington Post and the Independent Film Channel a way to reach fans with curated tips and reviews crowdsourced from their readership, all keyed to the user’s location. Do Yelp and its ilk need to worry?

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:49 pm

Medical E-Waste and Equipment Gets a Second Chance

Several determined doctors have started bringing modern medical devices into the environmental fold.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:39 pm

AT&T capping 3G upload speeds in select areas?

Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Mobile

AT&T claims to have the fastest 3G network nationwide, despite all the issues it might have with all the iPhone users out there using the network.  With it’s newer HSUPA network, the carrier should have 3G upload speeds up to about 1 Mbps.  It looks like in some markets that number dropped this past weekend.

It seems in some markets, AT&T’s 3G upload speeds may be capped at just about 100 kbps, only 10 percent of what the network should be capable of.  The caps seem to have started this past weekend, with no warning or statement about what was happening.  The areas affected are:

NYC, Central Jersey, Boston, Orlando, Seattle, South Jersey/Philly, Columbus, Cleveland, West Houston, Phoenix, Northern Colorado, St. Paul/Minesota, Suffolk County/Long Island, Quad Cities, South Jersey, Denver, Detroit Metro, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Fairfax, Minneapolis

Living in one of the affected areas, I’ve been able to confirm that the upload speeds are, in fact clocked at lower than 100 kbps (see image above).  The download speeds are typical, ranging between 1 and 2 Mbps, but upload speeds drop dramatically to somewhere between 82 and 98 kbps.

It is possible that there could just be a temporary service update that’s bringing the upload speeds down.  Or it could be just a simple error somewhere.  Either way, there has been no statement by AT&T warning that the speeds would be dropping, or that there is something causing the issues.  It looks like an official statement could be coming soon, but that doesn’t change the fact that the upload speeds were far lower than expected on a weekend when many would be uploading pictures of fireworks or Fourth of July parties.

Read [Gizmodo]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:31 pm

The Nation's First Electric Highway

About 15,000 charge stations will be introduced in four states and the District of Columbia.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:14 pm

Quantum Physics For Everybody

fiziko writes in with a self-described "blatant self-promotion" of a worthwhile service for those wishing to go beyond Khan Academy physics: namely Bureau 42's Summer School. "As those who subscribe to the 'Sci-Fi News' slashbox may know, Bureau 42 has launched its first Summer School. This year we're doing a nine-part series (every Monday in July and August) taking readers from high school physics to graduate level physics, with no particular mathematical background required. Follow the link for part 1."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:11 pm

NII Holdings to Host Conference Call

RESTON, Va., July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NII Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NIHD), will host its 2010 second quarter financial results conference call with its senior management. When: Thursday, July 29, 2010 Time: 8:30AM - 9:15 AM EDT Phone: Domestic 866 3188620 pass-code: NII Holdings International +1 617 3995139 pass-code: NII Holdings All participants are asked to dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. If you are unable to participate, a rebroadcast of the conference call will be available for two weeks following the call. The rebroadcast numbers are as follows: Updated Replay: Domestic 888-286-8010 pass-code 12118706 International +1 617-801-6888 pass-code 12118706 About NII Holdings, Inc. NII Holdings, Inc., a publicly held company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of mobile communications for business customers in Latin America. NII Holdings, Inc. has operations in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile offering a fully integrated wireless communications tool with digital cellular voice services, data services, wireless Internet access and Nextel Direct Connect® and International Direct Connect(TM), a digital two-way radio feature. NII Holdings, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol NIHD and is a member of the NASDAQ 100 Index. Visit the Company's website at http://www.nii.com Nextel, the Nextel logo, Nextel Online, Nextel Business Networks and Nextel Direct Connect are trademarks and/or service marks of Nextel Communications, Inc. iDEN is a registered trademark of Motorola. Contacts: Investor Relations: Tim Perrott (703) 390-5113 tim.perrott@nii.com Media Relations: Claudia E. Restrepo (786) 251-7020 claudia.restrepo@nii.com SOURCE NII Holdings, Inc.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:10 pm

Blue Jeans for Solar Panels

Blue jean dye molecules have the potential to revolutionize the solar panel industry.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:06 pm

Tesla Stock: Well, the Brakes Work [Digital Daily]

After a few ebullient days in the left lane, Tesla Motors’ stock has careened to the right, dropping well below its offering price after an impressive IPO.

Shares in the electric-car company, which spiked to $30.42 before closing Friday at $19.20, slipped more than 15 percent Tuesday, falling to about $16–a dollar below the initial offering price of $17.

Quite the round-trip journey–and completed in just a week. Seems investors are slowly awakening to Tesla’s (TSLA) fundamentals, which, as I’ve noted here before, don’t exactly inspire the same confidence as its technology.

Source: All Things Digital | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:02 pm

Ocean Acidification Gives Young Fish a Death Wish

Changing ocean chemistry could turn some fish species into easy meals, with senses of smell so scrambled they're actually attracted to their predators.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:00 pm

Web prank sends Justin Bieber to North Korea - msnbc.com

msnbc.com

Web prank sends Justin Bieber to North Korea msnbc.com Mike Dembeck / AP Justin Bieber: The face that launched a thousand death threats ... or at least a whole lot. by Helen AS Popkin There have been many valiant attempts to rid the adult Internet of YouTube-born baby star Justin Bieber. ... Justin Bieber tops 'most searched' internet listTelegraph.co.uk YouTube Squashes Justin Bieber Death, Porn BugPC Magazine Google acts to fix YouTube flawBBC News ABC News -CNET -TIME all 468 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:51 pm

Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies is Awarded Contract for US Marine Corps Program

WALLINGFORD, Conn., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies has been awarded a contract by General Dynamics C4 Systems for the US Marine Corps Tactical Data Network-Data Distribution System-Modular (TDN-DDS-M) program. The TDN-DDS-M is a modular, scalable communications and networking system based on Internet Protocol (IP). General Dynamics C4 Systems was awarded the $375M indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract in March 2008. Ultra-DNE's CV-MCU2 is used in the system to convert data signals for transmission over the extended distances that can be found in tactical military applications. Ultra-DNE has been supplying General Dynamics C4 Systems with CV-MCU2 protocol converters since the initial ID/IQ contract award in 2008 and in March 2010, was awarded a contract for an additional 407 CV-MCU2 units. This contract is the first production buy of DNE Technologies equipment for the TDN-DDS-M program. About Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies For over fifty years, Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies has provided communications devices to the US Department of Defense, Homeland Security and other government agencies. Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies manufactures networking equipment that assures quality and predictability of IP services and extends the drive distances of tactical communications devices. This equipment is used throughout the US Department of Defense and other government agencies to support the transition to IP networking, particularly in areas where network traffic is restricted by a single satellite or radio signal. Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies manufactures the AN/FCC-100, the TAC Multiservice Access Concentrator series, PacketAssure Service Delivery Managers and NRZ/CDI/FOM converters, including the CV-MCU2 converter/multiplexer. ISO 9001:2008 Registered Ultra Electronics DNE TECHNOLOGIES 50 Barnes Park North Wallingford, CT 06492 Toll Free (800) 370-4485 Tel (203) 265-7151 Fax (203) 265-9101 www.ultra-dne.com SOURCE Ultra Electronics DNE Technologies
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:50 pm

In the Salons of Tehran, Fashion Is an Ideology

The Iranian regime's latest attempt to purge the vestiges of the Green Movement from the hearts of dissatisfied Iranian youth strikes directly at the kids' unfortunately frosted tips.

Source: Wired Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:40 pm

Long Lost Michelangelo Sculpture Found?

A sandstone sculpture of a kneeling man sharpening a knife could be a long forgotten work by Michelangelo, according to an Italian scholar who has rediscovered the statue in a private collection. Measuring 111 centimeters (3.65 feet), the statue is ...
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:33 pm

Twidroid bought by TweetUp, renamed to avoid lawsuit

Section: Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking

Chances are if you have an Android phone and use Twitter, you’ve at least tried out Twidroid.  Many use it as their Twitter client of choice, both before and after the release of Twitter for Android.  It looks as if the app will become even more popular, or at least more widely-known.

Twidroid has been acquired by TweetUp, and the name of the application to Twidroyd.  The reason for the name change is to avoid any potential legal issues with Lucasfilms, which owns the Droid trademark (Verizon licensed the name for it’s smartphone line).  It didn’t seem to be an issue before, but now that TweetUp owns the app there is always the possibility.  There is an even greater chance given that Twidroyd will now be bundled with phones from “5 leading manufacturers.”

The interesting bit here is that TweetUp already had an agreement with Twidroyd to bring the service to the app.  TweetUp has similar deals with Seesmic and Tweetdeck, two of the more popular desktop, web and mobile Twitter clients.  How each of them fare in relation to the official Twitter apps isn’t exactly known, but this could pose another threat to Seesmic and Tweetdeck.  Both apps companies were effected by the Twitter purchase of Tweetie, and the creation of the official Twitter for Android app, and now a service they each have deals with has bought its own app.  Seems this could be a common trend among apps built for social networks.

Read [Engadget]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:27 pm

NASA Launches Moonbase Alpha

Several readers have sent word that today NASA launched Moonbase Alpha, an online game with single- and multi-player capability that "allows participants to step into the role of an exploration team member in a futuristic 3-D lunar settlement." The game is available now through Steam for free. Moonbase Alpha was built as a precursor to an upcoming NASA MMO called Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, and they hope it will be "a proof of concept to show how NASA content can be combined with a cutting-edge game engine to inspire, engage and educate students about agency technologies, job opportunities and the future of space exploration."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:26 pm

PandaLabs Offers Security Tips to Stay Safe This Summer; Advises Using Caution With Travel Planning and Geolocation Applications

ORLANDO, Fla., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- PandaLabs, the anti-malware laboratory of Panda Security, The Cloud Security Company, today published its annual security tips for consumers to stay safe and prevent falling victim to computer fraud this summer. In addition to the usual security measures, "This year we ask users to take particular care with the information they share across social networks. This applies particularly to applications used to plan vacations or to locate people geographically through GPS devices, as this information could easily be used to break into homes," says Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. These types of applications have become highly popular over the last year. Facebook applications such as Dopplr and TripAdvisor (which show messages describing where you are or where and when you are planning to go); the Twitter geolocation utility (displaying where tweets have been sent from); or services for locating mobile devices through GPS (now widely employed by iPhone or Android users) are just a few examples. "Such programs are interesting and fun, but the problem lies in how criminals could exploit this information. We have already seen both the emergence and closure of services like PleaseRobMe, which as its name suggests, connects with applications and popular social networks to offer information about who is not at home at any moment. This underlines how careless people can be when offering personal information publicly," adds Corrons. Security Tips for Your Summer Vacation PandaLabs is continually analyzing the latest Internet trends, and with this in mind, offers the following advice to help safeguard users' security this season: If you take your computer on vacation with you: Before you do anything else, back up all your information. You never know what might happen (accidents, theft, etc.).Make sure that you have reliable, up-to-date protection and all necessary security patches are installed. If you do not have an anti-malware product, you can download one for free at http://www.cloudantivirus.com. To mitigate the consequences of anyone stealing your computer, encrypt the information on your hard disk. This prevents anyone accessing your data without the right password.Clean out temporary files, logs, cookies and any password reminders or auto-complete features you use with your browser. This prevents anyone using your computer, without your permission, from automatically accessing your webmail, social networks, bank account or favorite online stores. Don't connect to unprotected Wi-Fi networks, as you could be hooking up to a network set up by hackers to steal any information that you share across the Internet. Even if you have to pay for it, it is always better to use secure, trusted networks.Take care with e-mail. Phishing attacks and spam are becoming increasingly sophisticated. If you use a computer other than your own during the holidays: If you can avoid it, never use a shared computer. You never know what could be installed on a shared PC. Using PCs in cyber-cafes, for example, or systems in hotels or airports to access your bank account, could have serious consequences if a Trojan or other dangerous malware has been installed. If you really have no choice, and you have to enter websites requiring your personal credentials, make sure that any website you log in to uses SSL (HTTPS) so that your login information is transmitted securely. In addition, you should change your credentials as soon as possible afterward to minimize your risk.Avoid making any transactions or purchases online. Remember that any information you enter could well be recovered later by another user.Don't accept any of the prompts to save personal data offered by many browsers.When you have finished, delete all temporary files, the browser history, cookies, log files and any other information that may have been saved on the computer. If you download anything onto the local computer, remember to delete it before closing, to ensure this information is not available to other users. And always, on social networks or similar sites: Never use applications for planning journeys offered by social networks to ensure that you can't be located. Don't accept the geolocation function in Twitter, and don't use this technology on your cell phone.Don't proactively share your holiday plans in chatrooms, IRCs, communities, etc.If you do spend time in chatrooms while on holiday, don't reveal any personal or confidential details to anyone you don't know. Share these recommendations with your children.If you observe any suspicious behavior on social networks (strangers with too much of an interest in your holiday destination, dates, etc.) contact the police. "In addition to the above, it is worth remembering some of the basic security measures to follow this time of year. Turn off your router when you leave home, be wary of holiday-themed phishing, and take care with sharing personal information via websites. Putting these measures into place and being proactive about your computer security will provide you with peace of mind for a more enjoyable summer," concludes Corrons. About PandaLabs Since 1990, PandaLabs' mission has been to detect and eliminate new threats as rapidly as possible to offer our clients maximum security. To do so, PandaLabs has an innovative automated system that analyzes and classifies thousands of new samples a day and returns automatic verdicts (malware or goodware). This system is the basis of collective intelligence, Panda Security's new security model which can even detect malware that has evaded other security solutions. Currently, 99.4 percent of malware detected by PandaLabs is analyzed through this system of collective intelligence. This is complemented through the work of several teams, each specialized in a specific type of malware (viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing, spam, etc), who work 24/7 to provide global coverage. This translates into more secure, simpler and more resource-friendly solutions for clients. More information is available in the PandaLabs blog: http://www.pandalabs.com. SOURCE Panda Security
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:23 pm

EMC to Acquire Greenplum

HOPKINTON, Mass., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC), the world's leading provider of information infrastructure solutions, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire California-based Greenplum, Inc. Greenplum is a privately-held, fast-growing provider of disruptive data warehousing technology, a key enabler of "big data" clouds and self-service analytics. Upon completion of the acquisition, Greenplum will form the foundation of a new data computing product division within EMC's Information Infrastructure business. Today, new forms of data -- massive amounts of it -- are emerging more quickly than ever before thanks to always-on networks, the Web, a flood of consumer content, surveillance systems, sensors and the like. In a recent report, IDC predicted that over the next 10 years the amount of digital data created annually will grow 44 fold. Companies are increasingly turning to new architectures and new tools to help make sense of this "big data" phenomenon. Regarded by industry experts as a visionary leader, Greenplum utilizes a "shared-nothing" massively parallel processing (MPP) architecture that has been designed from the ground up for analytical processing using virtualized x86 infrastructure. Greenplum is capable of delivering 10 to 100 times the performance of traditional database software at a dramatically lower cost. Data-driven businesses around the world, including NASDAQ OMX, NYSE Euronext, Skype, Equifax, T-Mobile and Fox Interactive Media have adopted Greenplum for sophisticated, high-performance data analytics. Pat Gelsinger, President and Chief Operating Officer, EMC Information Infrastructure Products, said, "The data warehousing world is about to change. Greenplum's massively-parallel, scale-out architecture, along with its self-service consumption model, has enabled it to separate itself from the incumbent players and emerge as the leader in this industry shift toward 'big data' analytics. Greenplum's market-leading technology combined with EMC's virtualized Private Cloud infrastructure provides customers, today, with a best-of-breed solution for tomorrow's 'big-data' challenges." Bill Cook, Greenplum CEO, said, "EMC and Greenplum bring extraordinary potential to customers at the intersection of 'big data' and sophisticated analytics. As technology and business partners, EMC and Greenplum witness daily the enthusiasm with which customers embrace how together we impact their businesses in very tangible, positive and meaningful ways. The technology speaks for itself. What energizes us most now is EMC's ability to open new doors of opportunity and accelerate delivery of our joint vision for the future." Scott McNealy, executive advisor to Greenplum, said, "EMC's strength in the enterprise, and Greenplum's push to fully transform data warehousing and business analytics, makes for a perfect fit. Together they are brilliantly bringing together the power of cloud computing, virtualization, and social collaboration to help customers as they venture into the next phase of computing and business analytics." Jeff Wiggin, Vice President of Enterprise Systems at T-Mobile USA, said, "Greenplum and EMC have the potential to be a powerful and transformational combination. It could present many opportunities for T-Mobile USA to deliver new innovative technology solutions that have an impact on our ability to be more efficient, effective and provide better service to our customers." The acquisition of Greenplum will be an all-cash transaction and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2010, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact to EMC GAAP and non-GAAP EPS for the full 2010 fiscal year. Upon close, Bill Cook will lead the new data computing product division and report to Pat Gelsinger. EMC will continue to offer Greenplum's full product portfolio to customers and plans to deliver new EMC Proven reference architectures as well as an integrated hardware and software offering designed to improve performance and drive down implementation costs. About EMC EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) is the world's leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC's products and services can be found at www.EMC.com. EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation in the United States and other countries. Greenplum is a registered trademark of Greenplum, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (iv) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (v) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vi) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (viii) component and product quality and availability; (ix) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) war or acts of terrorism; (xii) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xiii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; (xiv) litigation that we may be involved in; and (xv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release. SOURCE EMC Corporation
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 6 Jul 2010 | 2:15 pm

Is El Nino's Cool Sister Around the Corner?

El Nino is gone, and Pacific Ocean temperatures point to the arrival of La Nina, which could help hurricanes form in the Atlantic.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:53 pm

Why Arduino Is a Hit With Hardware Hackers

For electronics hobbyists, the open source chipset BeagleBoard that packs as much punch as a smartphone processor might seem like the key to paradise.

Yet it is the relatively underpowered 8-bit microcontroller Arduino that has captured the attention of DIYers.

Arduino began as a project in Italy in 2005 and since then has turned into an open source hardware movement. There are thousands of Arduino projects today such as electric meters, guitar amplifiers and Arduino-based gadgets that can tell you when your plants need water.

The Arduino community is at least 100,000 users strong.  But it is not alone.

Other open source projects like the BeagleBoard, which is shepherded by Texas Instruments, are trying to win Arduino fans over.

The Beagleboard is a low-power, single-board computer, whose latest version is based on the same 1-GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor that drives the most sophisticated smartphones today. That gives it far more processing power than the Arduino. Yet the BeagleBoard hasn’t hit the same kind of chord with hardware hackers that the Arduino has.

“The BeagleBoard is not for a novice,” says Phil Torrone, senior editor at Make magazine and creative director at Adafruit, a company that sells DIY electronics and kits. “With an Arduino, you can get an LED light blinking in minutes.”

Fundamentally, BeagleBoard and Arduino are two different systems: The former is a single-board computer, while the Arduino is just an  8-bit microcontroller. The BeagleBoard-xM includes a 1-GHz processor, on-board ethernet, five USB 2.0 ports and 512 MB of memory.

What they do have in common is that both represent possibilities: the potential to use your technical and creative skills to make a concept come alive.

Here are five reasons why the Arduino is more popular than the BeagleBoard:

Starter Projects

Editing and rewriting is often easier than writing from scratch. It’s the same with electronics. It’s easier to mod an idea than start with a blank slate.

That’s where the BeagleBoard falls short. “It has virtually no example application that you can just copy and hack to learn from,” says Massimo Banzi, one of the co-founders of the Arduino project.

The Arduino has hundreds of projects and ideas that are cooked up and shared by its users. For instance, check out this list of 40 Arduino projects that includes ideas such as a Wiimote-controlled Espresso machine, a biking jacket that flashes a turn signal and a wireless electricity monitor that tweets your power usage.

It’s a chicken-and-egg problem for the BeagleBoard. Unless there are more example codes out there, it is difficult to draw in the audience. And without the audience it is challenging to get enough sample projects into the community.

Cost and Durability

At $30 a piece, an Arduino is an inexpensive investment for someone who wants to try it out. “It’s the price of a few sandwiches,” says Torrone.

Compare that to the BeagleBoard-xM, which costs $180.

One reason why the Arduino is so cheap is because it is easy to clone. The microcontroller is completely open source so the “components are all commodity,” says Torrone.

With the BeagleBoard, hobbyists don’t have the same amount of freedom. They have to work closely with Texas Instruments or its partners, says Torrone.

Arduino is also very resilient. Drop it, smash it and it still stays alive. Add to that its low-power requirement, and the product becomes a must-have for DIYers. An Arduino can run on a 9V-battery for days.

“The BeagleBoard is fast and powerful but that also means lots of energy is needed, which makes it difficult for simple projects,” says Torrone.

A Thriving Community

Arduino’s popularity means it’s easy to get started. Companies such as Adafruit, SparkFun and Liquidware not only sell chips, but they also host blogs that suggest ideas on how to use your Arduino while providing extensive project plans to guide you in completing your creations.

Will Chellman, a student who has played with Arduino for years, says he’s now experimenting with the BeagleBoard. But finding documentation and information to work off is not easy, he says.

The lack of well-documented projects done with the BeagleBoard can be intimidating to new users as well, says Banzi.

“There’s lots of of interesting stuff (about the BeagleBoard) but it is very technical,” he wrote in a comment recently on Gadget Lab in response to the launch of BeagleBoard-xM.

Banzi says BeagleBoard documentation is also scattered and fragmented.

“Parts of it have aged and you spend quite a bit of time jumping from wikis to mailing list to track which specific bit of documentation applies to your board, bootloader etc.,” he says.

Maturity Is the Key

Arduino has had a head start on the BeagleBoard. By October 2008, about 50,000 Arduino boards had already been shipped. That year, the first BeagleBoards started making their way into the hands of hardware enthusiasts.

“The BeagleBoard is just two years old. Since it hasn’t been around long enough, there’s not enough people building apps based on it,” says Chellman.

That’s not to say that BeagleBoard isn’t catching up. Earlier this month, we showed five projects ranging from a videowall to the iPad of ham radios that use the BeagleBoard. There’s also a build-your-own tablet kit that is based off the BeagleBoard.

If DIYers take a shine to it, expect to see more ideas like these.

Simple Is Attractive

With its single-board computer configuration, 1-GHz processing power and the choice of accessories, the BeagleBoard is a creative engineer’s dream come true.

But the same reasons make it intimidating to those who want to geek out on a DIY project but don’t have the technical know-how.

Arduino users point out that it is simple to connect external sensors to the board, and the example codes out there make it easy to get started quickly.

Arduino is a simple system designed for creative people with little or “no prior knowledge of electronics,” says Banzi. “It’s cheap and open source with lots of documentation written in a not too technical language. Above all, it has a very welcoming attitude towards beginners and tries not to scare them too much.”

Photo: pt/Flickr

See Also:

• BeagleBoard Gives New Power to Open Source Gadgets
• Build Your Own Tablet for $400
• Build It. Share It. Profit. Can Open Source Hardware Work?
• DIYers Get a Treat With Top 40 Arduino Projects
• Android Phone Grows Up, Becomes Brain for Real Robot

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:45 pm

Why Arduino Is a Hit With Hardware Hackers

Here are five reasons why the relatively underpowered 8-bit microcontroller Arduino is more popular than another powerful open source chipset, the BeagleBoard.

Source: Wired: Gadgets | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:45 pm

More Trouble In Apple's App Store

quickOnTheUptake writes in to update the story of foul play in Apple's App Store, which we talked over yesterday. The Next Web, which broke the story, now provides evidence of rampant App Farms used for theft in the store. Here is a summary of the problems TNW has seen, which include large-scale breakins of the App Store accounts of users worldwide. Apple has responded to the initial reports, has disabled the account of the initially fingered rogue developer, and has called on those whose accounts were misused to change their password and credit card. Both TNW and Engadget, at least, believe the problems go far deeper than Apple is admitting.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:43 pm

Qualcomm’s New Vision-based Augmented Reality Platform Will Knock Your Block Off

Vision-based augmented reality — that is, pulling in data from a device’s camera and using it to position and rotate 3D models drawn on top of an on-screen view of the real world — isn’t really anything new. We started seeing tech demos of the concept 5+ years ago, and games like Sony’s Eye of Judgment have been doing it for nearly as long. More recently, the concept has been moving to mobile phones — a perfect fit, given that the camera and display are built into one unit.

Up until this point, however, the idea has been more or less exclusive to those with gobs of cash or manpower to spare. Anyone who built up their own Vision-based AR tech generally kept it pretty close to their chest, so building a Vision-based AR app meant rebuilding things from the ground up.

It looks like the endless reinvention of the same wheel is coming to a close. At Qualcomm’s recent Uplinq conference, they announced their plans to release a free Vision-based AR platform to mobile developers. Why? To sell more phones, of course.

How does a free platform like this sell phones? It all makes sense when you consider the first (and only confirmed) OS they’ll be supporting: Android. You see, all this image parsing and model rendering requires some pretty beefy hardware. Most of the “beefier” Android handsets out there are running Snapdragon processors — which just so happen to be made by Qualcomm. Get developers to make apps with this platform, convince people they need faster phones, sell more Snapdragon phones. More phones sold = more chipsets ordered, and more royalties paid per sale.

Before we dive any deeper, check out the demo video:

Here’s how it works: the user obtains a gameboard, be it by printing it at home, pulling it out of a cereal box, whatever. This gameboard — or, more accurately, the unique pattern on the gameboard — serves as the item that the AR app looks for. The AR app identifies the board, calculates its size/orientation on the fly, and then renders objects on top. Rotate around the board, and the objects on screen rotate accordingly; move in closer, and the objects get larger relative to your movements. In time, this platform will grow to support multiple objects, and handle the identification of non-flat objects.

Even if you only brain storm for a few seconds, the idea bin seems pretty limitless. A chess board could have rendered, fully animated chess pieces dancing on top. Medical students could point it at a skeleton, and look at and around each part of the body, layer by layer, before ever touching a cadaver. A laptop repair parts company could show you exactly where your new hard drive should go, with a 3D exploded-view.

Qualcomm pulled in toy-maker Mattel as one of their first pre-launch partners, allowing them to build the Rock’em Sock’em Robots demo up above. The framerate wasn’t fantastic and there was a bit of obvious control lag — but given that they built this thing in a matter of a few weeks for the sake of the presentation, they get some slack.

More excitingly, however, is Qualcomm’s other partner: Unity. Unity is a rather fantastic multi-platform game development tool — in other words, you build a game in their SDK, and it’ll auto-port to iPhone, Xbox 360, PC, and a slew of other platforms with minimal tweakage. They’re launching the Android arm of their product in the coming weeks –and when they do, it’ll support Qualcomm’s AR platform.

Vision-based AR just went from mostly untouchable to something that just about any developer worth their weight in semi-colons should be able to dive into.

Disclosure: I was a moderator on a panel at Qualcomm’s Uplinq conference, where this was announced. I don’t believe this in any way determined my decision to cover this, but I’m mentioning this because transparency = a good thing.

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:41 pm

Is Global Warming Causing the Heatwave?

As the eastern U.S. sizzles, climate data are piling up that the heatwave is a directly result of global warming.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:36 pm

Are The Elderly More Easily Scammed?

Contrary to popular belief, simply being old does not make a person more vulnerable to scams.
Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:16 pm

Virtual-Worlds Researcher's Advice To Retailers: Go With The 'Flow'

As recession-weary consumers learn to make do with less in this, the real world, there is one area where they're still willing to spend freely: in online, "virtual" ones. A Florida State University researcher is studying the growing market for virtual products, particularly in Internet virtual worlds, and has identified several factors that appear to increase the likelihood that people will make these types of purchases.Rob Hooker completed his doctorate in business administration from Florida State's College of Business (www.cob.fsu.edu) this past April. Both in his dissertation and in independent research conducted for an international producer of virtual world environments, he has studied virtual worlds and concluded that they might hold important lessons for companies seeking to market real-world products and services."Essentially, the more immersive the role-playing experience a virtual world provides, the more likely it is that participants will have positive attitudes toward specific product brands featured in the activity — and the more willing they will be to spend money," Hooker said.In studying a control group of 348 participants on Planet Calypso (http://www.planetcalypso.com/planet-calypso/), a state-of-the-art role-playing environment set on an alien planet, Hooker and Robin Teigland, a researcher from the Stockholm School of Economics, documented how the psychological states of the participants affected the likelihood that they would purchase virtual products such as clothing to adorn their avatars. (Avatars are digital characters, typically created and designed by the participants themselves, that represent them as they take part in a competition or participate in an adventure.)"There is a cognitive state known as 'flow' that Planet Calypso participants would enter when they became immersed in the experience," Hooker said. "This virtual world became so real to them that they would completely lose themselves in the activity. They would have no sense of the passage of time; hours might pass by without their realizing it. The outside world would simply melt away, and they would in effect 'become' their avatar during their time online."Previous research has shown that the state of flow is intrinsically pleasurable for people experiencing it, he said. They become less self-conscious, less aware of the world aroundthem, and generally feel more relaxed. And — perhaps most significantly for sellers of products, both real and virtual — this psychological state appears to be associated with the formation of positive attitudes toward specific brands, as well as an increased desire to purchase those brands."This has enormous significance for companies looking for ways to increase their profit margins," Hooker said. "It strongly suggests that if you can create the sorts of immersive, pleasurable experiences that enable consumers to reach a state of flow, you'll have a greater likelihood of selling them your products."While Hooker's research has focused more on virtual marketing, he sees a potential upside for more traditional product makers as well."If I'm a major retailer such as Nike or Adidas, then I want to make sure my products are available in role-playing activities like Planet Calypso," he said. "I want the participants to feel so good about my brand that they're willing to spend a buck, say, to outfit their avatar with one of my hats or T-shirts. And then I want that positive brand association to carry over into their daily lives as well, so that when they're done playing they'll go to the mall and buy my products in the real world."Sales of virtual products are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise struggling economy. The market for such products reached about $1 billion in 2009 and is forecast to grow to around $1.6 billion this year. It's a trend that is likely to increase in popularity as people become more comfortable with online environments, said Molly Wasko, formerly an associate professor in FSU's Department of Management, who worked with Hooker on much of his research involving Internet-based virtual environments. (Wasko recently accepted a position at the University of Alabama-Birmingham as chair of the Department of Management, Information Systems & Quantitative Methods.)"The virtual economy is only going to get bigger with time," Wasko said. "Rob's research is innovative in that it offers new insights into the mind of the consumer and suggests ways that retailers can utilize this emerging technology to market themselves more effectively. Both retailers and consumers would do well to take note."---On the Net:Florida State University
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:10 pm

Reversible Watermarking For Digital Images

Safeguarding the integrity of digital images with a virtual watermarkEvery picture tells a story, but how do you know that a digital photo has not been manipulated to change the tale being told? A new approach to adding an encrypted watermark to digital images allows the an image to be validated against a pass key, according to research published in the International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering.Visible watermarks are routinely added to digital images as a form of copy protection, but their presence essentially destroys the picture, obliterating information within altered pixels in a way that cannot be reversed. Now, Dakshinamurthi Sivakumar and Govindarajan Yamuna of Annamalai University, in Tamil Nadu, India, have developed a new, reversible watermarking scheme. The system could be used initially for the authentication of military images.Inexpensive image editing software is now available that can be used to make essentially undetectable "photo realistic" changes to almost any photograph, the team explains. In a military setting it is important to prevent unauthorized manipulation of digital images and to be able to demonstrate credibility and provenance."Traditionally, source authentication and integrity verification of digital data have been carried out with digital signatures and encrypted watermarks," the team says, "Unfortunately, watermarking techniques modify original data as a modulation of the watermark information and unavoidably cause permanent distortion to the original data." Reversible, or lossless, watermarking is therefore required for many highly sensitive applications.The team has now developed a reversible watermarking system based on calculating the parameters of every pixel in the image but nevertheless at low computer power. This information is converted into a code, a Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC), of the image where distinct pixel values are selected for embedding watermark bits and the preferred pixel values are stored as a key. The key thus generated is used for both the watermark extraction and restoration of the original image. The extracted HMAC and the HMAC of the restored image can be compared to verify that the received image is authentic and has not been altered. ---On the Net:Inderscience PublishersInternational Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 1:05 pm

Research Helps Predict Future Impact Of Climate Change

A new study, involving academics at the University of Sheffield, has accurately measured for the first time the current carbon cycles in the world. The research will enable scientists to make more accurate predictions concerning the impact of climate change in the future.The paper, which will be published today (5 July 2010) in the journal Science, used large amounts of remote sensing, climate and carbon data from around the world to assess Gross Primary Production. This is the process which drives all plant growth, food production, eco-system services and fluxes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.The new approach measures for the first term the quantity and uncertainty of this large annual flux in carbon dioxide, from the atmosphere into plants, at 123 plus or minus 8 billion tonnes per year. The research also highlighted that uptake of carbon dioxide is most pronounced in the planet's tropical forests, which are responsible for 34% of the inhalation of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition, savannahs account for 26% of the global uptake, although they also occupy almost twice as much surface area as tropical forests.It was also found that precipitation plays a significant role in determining the gross global carbon dioxide uptake on more than 40% of vegetated lands, a discovery that stresses the importance of water availability for food security. According to this study, Earth System models can show great variation and some of them overestimate the influence of rainfall on global carbon dioxide uptake.The researchers used data from FLUXNET, an international initiative established more than 10 years ago to monitor exchanges of carbon dioxide between the Earth's ecosystems and the atmosphere, along with remote sensing and climate data from around the world to calculate the spatial distribution of mean annual Gross Primary Production between 1998 and 2006.The international collaboration involved Dr Mark Lomas and Professor Ian Woodward, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, and was led by Christian Beer and Markus Reichstein from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. The Sheffield-based researchers used a global vegetation model developed in the city to simulate global scale productivity. The model concurred with independent data and a key result was the global scale mapping of precipitation limitations of productivity.Professor Ian Woodward said: "This model indicates that these limitations of productivity will become more intense with global warming, while at the same time indicating that some areas which are temperature limited at high latitudes will show increased productivity."---On the Net:University of SheffieldScience
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 12:48 pm

Back to the Future Power Laces Made a Reality - PC World

Telegraph.co.uk

Back to the Future Power Laces Made a Reality PC World Time travelling science-fiction flick Back To The Future recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. To commemorate the event one fan set to work on recreating the second movies Hyperdunk shoes, power laces included. The working proof-of-concept sneakers ... Marty McFly, your Power Laces have arrivedCNET The Breakdown: Back to the FutureSummit Daily News Uber-cool power laces take us Back to the FutureTG Daily NetworkWorld.com -Telegraph.co.uk -NEWS.com.au all 71 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 12:42 pm

Avian Influenza Risk In US Wild Songbirds Mapped

Results are first to track avian influenza virus in passerinesScientists have discovered that 22 species of passerines--songbirds and perching birds--in the contiguous U.S. are carriers of low-pathogenicity avian influenza. Pathogenicity is the ability of a germ to produce an infectious disease in an organism.The researchers report their results today in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases.The research is supported by the joint National Institutes of Health (NIH)-National Science Foundation (NSF) Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) Program. At NSF, EID is co-funded by the Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences.The prevalence of influenza in waterfowl has long been known.But the researchers' analysis of samples taken from 225 passerine species in 41 U.S. states indicates that the number of songbird species with low-pathogenicity avian influenza is greater than the number in eight other avian orders, including waterfowl."Avian influenza virus [AIV] is an important public health issue because pandemic influenza viruses in people have contained genes from viruses that infect birds," says Trevon Fuller, lead author of the paper and a biologist at the Center for Tropical Research at UCLA."Some AIV subtypes have periodically mutated from low pathogenicity to high pathogenicity forms that are lethal, for example, to poultry."Since passerines share the same habitat as poultry, they may be more effective transmitters of this disease than aquatic birds to humans, Fuller says.Analysis of the geographic distribution of AIV, says Thomas Smith, also a biologist at the Center for Tropical Research at UCLA and a co-author of the paper, "can identify areas where such 'reassortment' events might occur, and how high pathogenicity might travel if it enters wild bird populations in the U.S."Modelling the number of AIV cases is important, says Sam Scheiner, NSF program director for EID, "because the rate of co-infection with multiple AIV subtypes increases with the number of cases."Hotspots in the contiguous U.S. for AIV cases include the Mississippi River basin, with its shallow pools of water and wetlands conducive to the spread of the virus.On a state scale, Minnesota is predicted to have the most cases of AIV. The virus has been introduced to Minnesota turkey farms by wild birds--some 135 times since 1968.Emily Curd, a graduate student at the UCLA Center for Tropical Research, developed a technique to detect short fragments of influenza. It proved crucial to the research, says Smith.Her efforts, he says, "made it possible to find the virus in the many samples collected by volunteer bird-banders."The scientists also investigated the association between AIV cases in wild birds and 12 predictor variables--some of which measured agricultural and commercial activity--and climate.Significant predictors of the number of AIV cases in wild birds per county were thaw date in spring; the percent of the county that is harvested cropland; and minimum temperature.Thaw date explains the number of AIV cases because if a site thaws earlier, waterfowl may occupy an area sooner.  More opportunities exist for adults to infect juveniles than if the site were covered by snow and ice until later.The amount of harvest cropland was "highly significant," the biologists found.  "Agricultural activity reduces the amount of natural habitat available to avian migrants," says Fuller. The birds become crowded together in smaller areas.Minimum temperature also emerged as important for predicting AIV cases. AIV is known to survive for a longer time in colder conditions.During a cool-weather 1984 outbreak in Pennsylvania, for example, the virus survived in barns for as long as 105 days.---Image 1: The golden-crowned kinglet is among the top songbirds infected with influenza. Credit: State of WisconsinImage 2: Sites where wild birds were tested for avian influenza virus in North and Central America. Credit: Thomas B. SmithImage 3: Predicted number of cases of avian influenza in wild birds in the U.S. at the state scale. Credit: Thomas B. Smith---On the Net:National Science FoundationBMC Infectious Diseases
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 12:22 pm

Tar Balls Wash Up On Texas Shoreline

More obstacles have stepped into BP's oil spill fight as tar balls have been found along Texas beaches.Tar balls found in the surf on Galveston Island in Texas were tested and determined to be from the BP spill. However, officials stressed in a statement that it was not clear if they drifted hundreds of miles from the site of the well, or if they fell or leaked from a ship carrying collected oil to Texas for processing. About 492 miles of U.S. shoreline across the five Gulf states have been oiled by the disaster. Oil sheen and tar balls were also spotted on Monday near the mouth of Lake Pontchartrain, the lake near New Orleans that flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The oil prompted crews to unfurl 600 feet of boom to prevent more oil from sullying the estuary. Nearly a week after Hurricane Alex swept through the Gulf, bad weather still continues to slow down the clean-up efforts. A giant Taiwanese ship deployed to try and help the clean-up efforts remained in testing, with initial results inconclusive because of choppy waters, and bad weather. The tanker cruised by the spill but Bob Grantham, a spokesman for TMT Shipping, told AFP news that the results were "inconclusive in light of the rough sea state we are encountering."Grantham said the company would continue to test the ship "to make operational and technological adjustments" for the supertanker. The ship is believed to be able to suck up to 500,000 barrels of oily water a day through a series of vents on the side of the ship. The ruptured well is estimated to have spilled somewhere between two and four million barrels of oil into the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center warranted Tuesday that a new low-pressure system over the Yucatan peninsula and the Caribbean Sea and heading into the Gulf of Mexico had a 30-percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours. ---Image Caption: Tar balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil as they were collected East Beach on Galveston Island July 4, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo. ---On the Net:BPDeepwater Horizon ResponseUS Coast GuardWhite HouseLive video links from the ROVs monitoring the damaged riser
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 12:05 pm

LG Promises Two New Android Phones, Tablet

LG has been slow to hop on to the Android bandwagon but the company hopes to make up for lost time with the launch of two new phones and a tablet over the next few months.

The devices will be part of a new portfolio called Optimus and are LG’s idea of an “aggressive strategy” to grow market share in the global smartphone business.

The two Android-powered smartphones in the pipeline are called LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic. The phones will run Google’s latest version of Android, Android 2.2 or Froyo.

LG will also be introducing its first tablet device running Android later this year, says the company.

“LG’s tablet will deliver vastly superior performance than other similar devices currently on the market while still managing to be thinner and lighter than competing devices,” the company said in a statement.

Since Google introduced Android in 2008 as an open source mobile operating system, LG’s rivals such as Motorola and HTC have bet big on the platform. So far, Motorola has launched at least 11 smartphones using Android and the company’s Motorola Droid is the most popular phone among Android users.  Meanwhile,  HTC has also used Android to churn out new smartphones that have put it at the top of the pack. Last week Samsung introduced its first 4G Android handset called the Samsung Epic on Sprint’s network.

LG says with new Android phone launches this year, it will catch up. So far, it has not offered any details about specs, pricing or availability for these devices.

See Also:

• LG Shows its First Android Phone
• 20 Android Phones You Can Buy Today (or Soon)
• DIYers Hack Windows Mobile Phones to Run Android
• Strapped to Android, HTC Takes a Dizzying Ride to the Top

Photo: LG Optimus Chic/LG

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:55 am

Salmon In Hot Water

Rearing juvenile salmon at the relatively high temperature of 16°C causes skeletal deformities in the fish. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Physiology investigated both the magnitude and mechanisms of this effect, which occurs when salmon farmers use warmed water to increase fish growth rates.Harald Takle worked with a team of researchers from NOFIMA (the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research), Norway, to carry out the studies. He said, "The data presented here indicate that both production of bone and cartilage were disrupted when promoting fast growth using elevated temperature. It is very likely that higher temperatures result in the increased rate of deformities observed in the 16°C group".The researchers reared 400 fish in 10°C water and another 400 at 16°C. The fish in the 16°C water grew faster, but 28% were found to show some signs of skeletal deformity, compared to 8% of the fish reared in the cooler tank. Takle said, "Our results strongly indicate that temperature induced fast growth is severely affecting gene transcription in osteoblasts and chondrocyte bone cells, leading to a change in the tissue structure and composition".In a second related study, fish with vertebral deformities were studied in detail. Takle said, "The deformity process involves molecular regulation and cellular changes similar to those found in mammalian intervertebral disc degeneration".---On the Net:BioMed CentralBMC Physiology
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:16 am

Video: Adobe shows off Flash for Android running on the Droid X

For the remaining chunk of the world that refuses to let go of the garbage platform that is Flash, this video should be pretty exciting.

Motorola/Adobe weren’t ready to show off Flash functionality when we checked out the device last week — but by the looks of this video, they’ve got a pretty-dang-functional Beta version of it under lock and key somewhere.

It’s important to keep a few caveats in mind whilst watching the video — and of course, these things go unmentioned: No matter what Adobe implies, not all Flash is going to work on Android. Even if they manage to get the platform efficient enough to handle even the most vector-hungry game on the relatively weak (relative to the CPUs/GPUs of full-blown computers that choke on them), a big ol’ chunk of the Flash content out there simply wasn’t designed for touch. Mice can hover and move about the screen without ever clicking — your touchscreen can’t. Note the casual passing mention that the content you’re seeing is “mobile optimized”.

With that said, Flash running smooth and seemingly fully functioned is still exciting. Enjoy the video:

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:05 am

Renewables Account For 62 Percent Of The New Electricity Generation Capacity Installed In The EU In 2009

Cautious optimismIn 2009, and in absolute terms, about 19.9% (608 TWh) of Europe's total electricity consumption (3042 TWh) came from renewable energy sources. Hydro power contributed with the largest share (11.6%), followed by wind (4.2%), biomass (3.5%), and solar (0.4%).With regards to the new capacity constructed that same year (27.5 GW), among the renewable sources, 37.1% was wind power, 21% photovoltaics (PV), 2.1% biomass, 1.4% hydro and 0.4% concentrated solar power, whereas the rest were gas fired power stations (24%), coal fired power stations (8.7%), oil (2.1%), waste incineration (1.6%) and nuclear (1.6%) (see figure1).As not all installed technologies operate continuously 24 hours a day, figure 2 shows the expected yearly energy output (TWh) from the new capacity. The new gas-fired electricity plants will deliver yearly 28 TWh, followed by wind and PV with 20 TWh and 5.6 TWh, respectively.If current growth rates are maintained, in 2020 up to 1400 TWh of electricity could be generated from renewable sources, the report concludes. This would account for approximately 35-40% of overall electricity consumption in the EU, depending on the success of community policies on electricity efficiency, and would contribute significantly to the fulfilment of the 20% target for energy generation from renewables.However, it also advises that some issues need to be resolved if the targets are to be met. Particular areas of focus include ensuring fair access to grids, substantial public R&D support, and the adaptation of current electricity systems to accommodate renewable electricity. The study highlights that cost reduction and accelerated implementation will depend on the production volume and not on time.Summary of 2010 snapshot findingsWind energy: with more than 74 GW of total installed capacity in 2009, it has already exceeded the 2010 white paper target of 40 GW by more than 80%. The European Wind Association's new target aims for 230 GW of installed capacity (40 GW offshore) by 2020, capable of providing about 20% of Europe's electricity demand.Biomass: if current growth continues, electricity output from biomass could double from 2008 to 2010 (from 108 TWh to 200 TWh). However, other energy uses such as heat and transport fuels compete for this particular source, which could potentially hinder the development of bioelectricity. Being storable for use on demand increases its importance as a source of electricity.Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): installed capacity is still relatively small in Europe: 0.430 GW in May 2010, about 0.5% of the total, but is steadily increasing. An estimated 30 GW could be installed by 2020 if the European Solar Industry Initiative ESII is realised. Most CSP projects currently under construction are located in Spain.Solar Photovoltaic: since 2003, the total installed capacity has doubled each year. In 2009 it reached 16 GW, which represents 2% of the overall capacity. The growth will continue, as for 2010, installations of up to 10 GW are expected. Solar photovoltaic has also exceeded the capacity predictions formulated by in the EU white paper on renewable sources of energy.Other sources of power: technologies such as geothermal, tidal and wave power are still at the R&D stage, so they have not yet been included in the Renewable Energy Snapshots. Yet, they are likely to be introduced to the market within the next decade. As far as hydro generation is concerned, no major increase is expected, as most of the resources are already in use. However, pumped hydro will play an increasingly important role as in a storage capacity for the other renewable energy resources.---On the Net:European Commission Joint Research Centre
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 11:02 am

WSU Researchers Use Super-High Pressures To Create Super Battery

'Most condensed form of energy storage outside of nuclear energy'The world's biggest Roman candle has got nothing on this.Using super-high pressures similar to those found deep in the Earth or on a giant planet, Washington State University researchers have created a compact, never-before-seen material capable of storing vast amounts of energy."If you think about it, it is the most condensed form of energy storage outside of nuclear energy," says Choong-Shik Yoo, a WSU chemistry professor and lead author of results published in the journal Nature Chemistry.The research is basic science, but Yoo says it shows it is possible to store mechanical energy into the chemical energy of a material with such strong chemical bonds. Possible future applications include creating a new class of energetic materials or fuels, an energy storage device, super-oxidizing materials for destroying chemical and biological agents, and high-temperature superconductors.The researchers created the material on the Pullman campus in a diamond anvil cell, a small, two-inch by three-inch-diameter device capable of producing extremely high pressures in a small space. The cell contained xenon difluoride (XeF2), a white crystal used to etch silicon conductors, squeezed between two small diamond anvils. At normal atmospheric pressure, the material's molecules stay relatively far apart from each other. But as researchers increased the pressure inside the chamber, the material became a two-dimensional graphite-like semiconductor. The researchers eventually increased the pressure to more than a million atmospheres, comparable to what would be found halfway to the center of the earth. All this "squeezing," as Yoo calls it, forced the molecules to make tightly bound three-dimensional metallic "network structures." In the process, the huge amount of mechanical energy of compression was stored as chemical energy in the molecules' bonds. ---On the Net:Washington State UniversityNature Chemistry
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:56 am

HTC Q2 profits soar on the back of Android OS - Fortune

Pocket-lint.com

HTC Q2 profits soar on the back of Android OS Fortune With Windows Mobile device sales on the decline, HTC more than makes up with Android. The Wall Street Journal points out (subscription required) that HTC posted a profit of $268 million for Q2 2010. That's up 33% year over year from $202 million in Q2 ... Gadgets HTC Rakes in Record $268M USD for Q2DailyTech Thanks to Android, HTC sales go through the roofTG Daily Taiwan's HTC Q2 profit up about 33 pct y/yReuters San Francisco Chronicle -ZDNet (blog) -Siliconrepublic.com all 216 news articles »

Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:55 am

Recyclable Plastic Ship On Last Leg Of Its Journey

Organizers said Tuesday that a boat made from 12,500 plastic bottles will leave New Caledonia for Sydney this week on the final leg of a voyage across the Pacific to raise environmental awareness. The "Plastiki" has already sailed 6,944 nautical miles in 108 days from San Francisco to the French Pacific territory. The voyage, inspired by the 1947 Kon-Tiki raft expedition, is said to highlight the dangers of plastic pollution, over-fishing and climate change to the world's oceans.  It is expected to start its last and most challenging leg on Wednesday after arriving in New Caledonia last week. "It looks like tomorrow they will be leaving," a spokeswoman told the AFP news agency."They just watch the weather patterns basically, and plan their journey around the weather patterns so that's why they're leaving tomorrow, good sailing conditions (are forecast)."British adventurer and ecologist David de Rothschild, the youngest heir to Britain's Rothschild family banking fortune, came up with the idea of a fully recyclable ship after reading a UN report on ocean ecosystems. He said that the idea was partly inspired by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl's trans-Pacific Kon-Tiki expedition from South America to Polynesia on a raft that was entirely made from balsa husks. The Plastiki is held together with fully recyclable plastic called Seretex and an organic glue made from cashew nut husks and sugarcane.  Its sails are made from recycled plastic. The Plastiki's recyclable materials are packed together in a "pomegranate-like" structure that is fixed to pontoons, which gives it 68 percent of its buoyancy.  The vessel uses fully renewable energy sources including solar, wind and sea turbines. The spokeswoman told AFP that the ship has already stopped in the Line Islands and Western Samoa, and its final stretch to Sydney is expected to take about 10 days. "The Plastiki crew hope to inspire the world to reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink and ultimately refuse our use of wasteful disposable plastics such as bags, styrene foam and bottles," she said.---Image Caption: Plastiki sailing out of the harbor as it departs on it journey through the south pacific. Courtesy of Luca Babini/Plastiki---On the Net:Plastiki
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:55 am

Terrorist De-Radicalization Shows Promise: Comprehensive Study

Prison-based programs to de-radicalize terrorists show promise, if well-run, says a new joint report from U.S. and British researchers. Their initial findings - the most comprehensive to date, based on programs in 15 nations - were presented at a conference this week.Prisons and Terrorism: Radicalization and De-radicalization in Countries is a joint report of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), based at the University of Maryland, and the International Center for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR), based at Kings College in London.The report concludes that individual de-radicalization and disengagement programs, such as those in Saudi-Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia and other nations, "can make a difference." The researchers say their work could have policy implications for prisoners detained at Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq."This is a much bigger issue than most people appreciate," says University of Maryland professor and START Director Gary LaFree. "It's a classic problem really. Prisons change behavior for both good and for bad. It's difficult to detain prisoners forever, but when is it safe to let them go?"The final report will be presented in Washington, D.C. this fall."Initial results indicate that the programs can work, though probably not 100 percent of the time," LaFree adds. "Just as with regular criminals, individual and community supports help combat recidivism. But with terrorism and ideology there's an added dimension. In general, it's easier to de-radicalize when a movement is on the decline, when the battle seems lost."KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSThe report identifies principles and best practices to help governments and policymakers avoid costly and counterproductive mistakes. These include:    * Prison services should be more ambitious in promoting positive influences inside prison, and develop more innovative approaches to facilitate extremists' transition back into mainstream society. The current emphasis on security and containment of terrorists leads to missed opportunities to promote reform.    * Over-crowding and under-staffing amplify the conditions that lend themselves to radicalization. Badly run prisons make the detection of radicalization difficult, and they also create the physical and ideological space in which extremist recruiters can operate freely.    * Religious conversion is not the same as radicalization. Good counter-radicalization policies - whether in or outside prison - never fail to distinguish between legitimate expression of faith and extremist ideologies. Prison services should invest more in staff training and consider sharing specialized resources.    * Individual de-radicalization and disengagement programs - such as those in Saudi-Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, and other countries - can make a difference. Their positive and outward-looking approach should serve as an inspiration for governments and policymakers everywhere.    * Even in the best circumstances, de-radicalization and disengagement programs complement rather than replace other instruments in the fight against terrorism. They work best when the political momentum is no longer with the terrorists or insurgents.The report was made possible by funding from the governments of Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It is based on research by 16 of the world's leading terrorism experts. START is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is based at the University of Maryland.---On the Net:University of Maryland
Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:53 am

Appletell reviews Springpad for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

FROM APPLETELL - Springpad is a free service meant to give users complete control of the information, plans, and tasks they come across in their daily lives. It’s web based, but a companion app is available.
MORE »

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:45 am

Is AT&T now capping iPhone 4 uploads?

Poor AT&T. A new conspiracy theory is suggesting that AT&T is now capping iPhone 4 upload speeds in multiple cities including:

NYC, Central Jersey, Boston, Orlando, Seattle, South Jersey/Philly, Columbus, Cleveland, West Houston, Phoenix, Northern Colorado, St. Paul/Minesota, Suffolk County/Long Island, Quad Cities, South Jersey, Denver, Detroit Metro, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Fairfax, Minneapolis

It looks to me like folks at AT&T realized how much bandwidth the new Apple product is able to consume, and immediately capped the upload speed at 100kbs !!!!! This MURDERS the latency, and ofcourse slows down the download speed. I went out last night to the exact same location where exactly a week ago I was constantly getting almost 5mbps down and 1.7mbps up, with latency under 300ms, tested under the exact same circumstances. I should also mention that I did my testing in midtown Manhattan, at about 11pm on a Saturday night (i work in midtown ’till 10:30.. I DO have a life LOL), when pretty much noone was on the cell tower plant’s load.

MacRumors noticed great upload speeds a few days ago and, this weekend, noticed a drastic fall in speeds overall. We have a line in at AT&T to get to the bottom of this. Anyone notice anything?

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 10:04 am

Wipe your date remotely with Samsung Dive

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones

Losing your cell phone can be a frustrating ordeal, especially if you have valuable data stored on your phone.  Smartphones are excellent candidates to be stolen because they are expensive and almost always contain important information.  Samsung wants to help lessen the ordeal in case your Samsung Galaxy S or Samsung Wave phone gets stolen or lost where it could end up in the wrong hands. 

Enter Samsung Dive.  This nifty piece of software is an extension of Mobile Tracker and allows you to remotely wipe all of the phone’s memory and even lock the phone.  In addition, alerts can be set up online to inform you when the SIM card is changed and can alert you of the phone’s location.  Best of all, the feature is available free and you need to enable Mobile Tracker on your device and make sure your phone is linked to your online Samsung account. 

This service is only available in Germany and the United Kingdom because of legal issues in other countries.  However, Samsung has plans to roll out the service to other undisclosed countries. 

Via [Samsung Hub]

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

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Source: Gadgetell | 6 Jul 2010 | 9:28 am

Follow Team HTC-Columbia on Google Maps

As a former professional cyclist, nothing beats the thrill of being in the peloton and racing towards the finish line. Although I’ve traded in my cycling career for life as a Googler, I’m still a fan and enjoy watching my former teammates and friends battle in races like the Tour de France, which started on Saturday. While the cyclists were preparing to tackle the pave of Arrenberg and the Cols in the Alps, I got to thinking about ways that we can bring that experience to the hundreds of millions of fans who will be following the Tour de France over the next few weeks. Google is home to many other cycling enthusiasts, so we got together to work on ways to build a My Tracks-based gadget that will allow all the other fans to follow the action like never before.

The My Tracks application for Android phones lets you record and share your own outdoor activities, and now Team HTC-Columbia will use a special version of the app with SRM to transmit their telemetry and location in real-time as they make their way through the 3,642 kilometers of the Tour de France. The nine riders (sadly, now eight, as Adam Hanson was injured on Sunday) on Team HTC-Columbia are carrying HTC Legend phones with ANT+ that use My Tracks to capture their location along with their power, heart rate, cadence and speed. On www.google.com/mytrackstour, you’ll see a Google Map showing the team members’ location on the course and a detailed telemetry report. You can observe how Michael Rogers’ heart rate spikes as he attacks the climbs in the Alps on Stage 9, see how many watts Mark Cavendish puts out in the sprint on the famous sprinters’ stage into Bordeaux, and see just how fast riders climb the famous Col du Tourmalet.


From the image above, you can see how Maxime Monfort took the lead during Stage 2 between Bruxelles and Spa yesterday. Right now, the riders are racing in Stage 3, which takes them across the border into France and you can follow all the latest action on our website or directly on your own iGoogle page.

The team also built a map gadget that is available for you to embed on your own website or blog. We’re also publishing an API that any web developer or broadcaster can use to build their own custom application or use to enhance the live television coverage. I'm excited about the potential for web developers and broadcasters to make use of the API and data in creative ways to help all the Tour de France followers (myself included!) get even closer to the action.

This project was the work of many Googlers in their 20% time, and as cycling fans ourselves, we’re happy to be able to share it with the world. We hope you enjoy this unique way of following Team HTC-Columbia over the next few weeks.

Posted by Dylan Casey, Product Manager
Source: The Official Google Blog | 6 Jul 2010 | 8:38 am

RIM gets the Royal treatment: gets a visit from Queen Elizabeth II, gives her a white Bold 9700

When I think of RIM, I usually think of business suits and corporate power, not Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Nevertheless, from this day forth, the two shall forever be linked in my mind: Lizzie has had her first tour of Waterloo’s most recognisable factory complex.

Not one to shy from diplomatic gifts, RIM even presented Her Majesty with a white BlackBerry Bold 9700 displaying an image of a girl presenting flowers to her. Awww… it’s like two presents in one.

This got me thinking… is she a BlackBerry fan? Was this trip arranged because ol’ Queeny has been dying to see the factory where her favourite toy is produced, like some kind of modern-day, role-reversed Charlie Bucket? Will she use it? Did she want it? Could she sell it on eBay for a cool profit? Am I thinking about this too much?

If you could win a golden ticket to any factory in the world, what factory would you go to? And would you take the queen?

[via CrackBerry]

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 8:32 am

A few solutions for the iPhone 4 proximity sensor problem

As you are no doubt aware, the recent iPhone 4 launch hasn’t been without its “bumps” including reception issues, yellow screens, the availability of white… and now talk of bung proximity sensors.

Y’see, all iPhones use a proximity sensor to turn the touch screen off when you’re on a call, preventing you from accidentally hanging up on your mother-in-law. Every time she calls you.

And she keeps on calling, doesn’t she? No matter what the time, she’ll call! Even if she has nothing to say, she’ll call! All she does is talk talk talk talk … and where was I?

Oh yes, the proximity sensor.

Some users are reporting that the sensor is getting stuck, either “off” — making the screen stay on when making calls — or “on” — preventing the screen from turning back on after a phone call is finished.

If you are one of the unlucky few (and there does only seem to be a few of you) experiencing a misbehaving proximity sensor, a few fixes have popped up, each with various degrees of success.

And here they are, in order of increasing severity:

• Perform a soft reboot by holding the Sleep button, then sliding the on-screen slider.
• Perform a hard reboot by holding the Sleep button and the Home button at the same time.
• Reset the network settings by opening the Settings app, then going to General -> Reset, and choosing “Network Settings”.
• Reset all settings by opening the Settings app, then going to General -> Reset, and choosing “All Settings” (note that this won’t wipe your apps and data: it only resets your preferences to their defaults).

Like I said before, not all these fixes work for all users, so don’t expect miracles. Hopefully it’s just a software issue, and will be fixed with an update some time soon.

If you find something else that works, please let us (and everyone else) know about it in the comments.

[via Macworld]

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 8:07 am

Rainbow Apple Sticker: The Ultimate iPad Accessory

This is the sticker your iPad was made for: The iconic rainbow-colored Apple designed by Rob Janoff back in 1976, reproduced in self-adhesive vinyl.

Due to all that battery packed inside the iPad’s slim frame, no light reaches the rear case, so we are deprived of the glowing apple found on the lids of MacBooks. The black plastic apple that sits there instead provides a welcome textural difference for the fingers to fondle while reading, but it lacks glitz. Still, it’s a lot better that the almost impossibly lame original Apple logo, which featured ragged scrolls and a picture of Isaac Newton under an apple tree. That logo, swiftly replaced, would have looked more at home on a Lynyrd Skynyrd album cover than on a piece of consumer electronics.

This multi-hued sticker will cost you just $3.50 from the Etsy store. If you buy any other, larger vinyl design from the same seller’s store, they’ll throw this one in free. Not bad. If Apple was in any way nostalgia-minded, it should include these stickers in the boxes of its products instead of those awful, thin white stickers that we throw away by their thousands every day. Or worse, find stuck on the back of a Toyota Prius, like I saw once on a visit to – you guessed it – San Francisco.

Retro Apple Logo Decal for iPad [Etsy/CoolDecal]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 7:44 am

Three-In-One Retro-Console Uses Original Game-Controllers

The RetroN 3 Video Gaming System is a piece of hardware that gets almost everything right. The red (or black, thankfully) box houses chips capable of playing any NES, SNES or Genesis (Megadrive) games you may still have lying around. Simply slot the cart into the correct top-hole and you can play anything from Streets of Rage through Super Mario Anything to, erm, Top Gun: The Second Mission.

Output is via S-video or composite AV, and input is via a pair of wireless game-pads. But here’s the clincher, the feature that makes this probably the greatest retro-gaming rig we’ve seen: You don’t have to use the supplied controllers. The box has six extra sockets so you can hook up two each of your original joypads for all three consoles.

The box is quite reasonably priced, too, considering the amount of kit that you get, at just $70. Sure, it doesn’t have the old-school, chunky plastic good-looks of the originals, but so what? It’s retro-gaming heaven.

RetroN 3 Video Gaming System [Hyperkin via Oh Gizmo! and Gadget Review]

See Also:

• Video: SNES for iPad, Controlled by iPhone
• Wiimote-Controlled SNES Emulator on iPad
• Flash-Cart Lets You Play SNES ROMs on Original Console
• Awesomeness
• The a320 Handheld Emulator is a Pocketful of Gaming History …
• Portable Megadrive/Genesis Puts Sega In Your Pocket

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 6:48 am

Strobe Pro Adds Motion-Stopping Flash to iPhone 4

Just last week I wished for a pulsing strobe-light application for the iPhone 4’s LED lamp: “I’m hoping that somebody makes a strobing photo and video app that allows for some cool, stuttering image effects,” I wrote, breathless and giddy with the possibilities of making people look like herky-jerky robots as they moved in the dark.

This week, my incessant prayers have been answered by a 15-year-old boy. That boy is John H. Meyer, a developer who has made Strobe Pro, a soon-to-be-available app which will fire the iPhone’s rear-facing flash in staccato bursts. See it in action in this video:

Pretty slick stuff, you’ll probably agree. You might also agree that Meyer has an impressively deep voice for a teenager.

The real utility in this app will probably show itself in combination with a proper camera. As you will have noticed in the video, the iPhone’s camera has trouble keeping up with the flashing lights, but if you were to fire a burst of flashes as a subject moves through the dark in front of the open shutter of your SLR, you’d get a sequence of images not unlike a nocturnal version of Eadweard Muybridge’s famous motion-stopping photos.

Strobe Pro is awaiting App-store approval.

Real Strobe Light for iPhone 4 [YouTube. Thanks, John!]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:39 am

Axe Sling: The Most Awesome Accessory You’ll See Today

Sure, you could spend your $165 on testosterone and Old Spice, and it might make you look (and smell) like a man. But to really show off your Y-chromosome, you need this awesome handmade leather axe-sling, fashioned by Rilleau Leather of Vermont. You should also grow a bushy mustache.

Forget those little-girls’ guns, with their easy-to-squeeze triggers and their purse-friendly dimensions. Real men use real tools to get the job done, and if stylish murder is on your mind, this brass-buckled chopper-holster will get you through it in elegant comfort. Fakerjacks need not apply.

$165, available now. Axe not included.

THE AXE SLING [Best Made via Twitter]

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 5:15 am

Home-Made Kid-Carrying Cargo-Bike

Take one old bike, a big ol’ box and a whole lot of steel tubes and welding gear and what do you get? A cheap, stable cargo-carrying trike with enough space to haul the kids or carry groceries to feed the family for a week.

Over in Vienna, Austria, Instructables member Carkat took a crappy old mountain-bike and turned it into the handsome beast you see above, which will actually be used to carry kids – up front is both more fun for the child and less scary for the rider, who can see that his offspring are safe. The construction is straightforward, although Carkat had some headaches.

The first “draft” was a meter wide, and the pivot that allows you to steer the front-section (like a headset, but underneath the box) just wouldn’t turn. Once the box was slimmed down to an Austrian street-legal 80cm and the pivot replaced with another, welded in at a better angle, Carkat’s bike was good to go. A pair of caliper brakes on the front wheels, with a customized lever to trigger both at once, made sure that it could stop, too.

The resulting load-carrier is way cheaper than buying a proper delivery bike, and with a lick of paint looks almost as good. I’d probably upgrade those brakes to v-brakes or even disks if I was to, say, load this up with beer and ice, but Carkat’s DIY project is pretty fantastic. And I bet his kids totally love it, too.

How to build a cargo bike [Carkat/Instructables]

See Also:

• Home-Made Cargo Bike Is Cheap, Easy Rider
• Bullitt Bike is Cool, Cargo-Carrying Cruiser
• Zaftig Cargo Fork: Lowriding Load-Lifter
• Bucket Bike: 40 Gallon Cargo-Carrying Cycle
• Euro-Style Cargo Bikes Made in America

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:56 am

Notebook Dock Costs Almost as Much as Desktop Computer

Laptop or desktop? Desktop or laptop? The choice is nowhere near as clear as it once was, now we have smartphones and tablets do do most portable work for us. Now, a fast-running, big-screen desktop machine is looking like a great alternative to powerful but still limited notebooks.

Or you could keep your little computer and grab this dock, the DeskBook Pro from Zemno. Style-wise it fits the MacBooks, but it’ll work with any computer (even a desktop).

Drop the MacBook on top and plug in its FireWire and USB ports. Now, you have expanded your connections to 6 x USB, 2 x FireWire 800 and 1 x FireWire 400. You also get separate line in and out jacks, an ethernet jack and a couple of surprises:

Most obvious are those hatches on the front, which let you slot in a battery and a spare 500GB hard drive (or two of either). The battery won’t supply extra juice for the notebook: instead it just allows socket-free use of the dock for a couple hours.

Weirdest (or handiest?) of all is the DVI-out port, which allows connection of a third monitor. It’s not hooked up to your MacBook’s video-out: rather it works like a USB monitor adapter, so is best used for less demanding tasks.

The price for this giant USB-hub is the biggest shock, though. Empty, it’ll cost you $600, or the same price as the old Mac Mini. Add in a hard drive ($180) and a battery pack ($150) and you’ve just reached $1030, which is enough for a MacBook, and only a few dollars shy of a proper desktop, the iMac.

It really is almost unbelievably expensive. You can buy one now.

DeskBook Pro [Zemno. Thanks, Gregg!]

See Also:

• Warpia Wireless Notebook Dock Cuts Cable Clutter
• Kensington Wireless USB Docking Station
• Henge: A Slide-in Docking-Station for Your MacBook

Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:27 am

Japan’s NTT Docomo to make all of its cell phones SIM-free from April 2011

Big shake up in Japan’s cell phone industry (100 million mobile subscribers) today: NTT Docomo, the country’s leading carrier (55 million customers), is planning to make all of its cell phones SIM free as early as April 2011 (the start of the new fiscal year in most Japanese companies).

Docomo’s president Ryuji Yamada told Japanese daily The Nikkei in an interview that all that customers will need to do is to simply replace SIM cards when switching to another carrier. The move is a reaction to guidelines released by Japan’s Communications Ministry in June, according to which the country’s leading cell phone carriers (Docomo, KDDI au, and SoftBank Mobile) should “consider” selling just unlocked handsets in the future.

Docomo offers the best cell phone network in Japan, which is why the company has good chances of getting the most out of such a scenario (even though Docomo’s fee plan is also considered to be relatively costly). The company’s stock at the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbed 2,600 yen from Monday to 139,600 yen.

Source: MobileCrunch | 6 Jul 2010 | 3:10 am