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Comcast Owes You Money [Digital Daily]
Get to it. Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 4:00 am Facebook in deal to sell site credits in Asia (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 3:56 am Shanghai welcomes China's second flagship Apple Store - The Tech Herald
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 9 Jul 2010 | 3:24 am Major ISPs Challenge UK's Digital Economy ActTechmeology writes "TalkTalk and BT, two of the UK's largest ISPs, seek to legally challenge the UK's Digital Economy Act, which was rushed through parliament during its last days prior to the election. TalkTalk and BT argue that the DEA infringes human rights and places large ISPs (with over 400,000 customers) at a disadvantage. They also believe the DEA could conflict with existing European Legislation such as the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive, and the E-Commerce Directive — the latter stating that ISPs are not responsible for the actions of their customers. The Act, which saw twenty thousand letters sent to MPs in protest, contains measures to see websites suspected of distributing illegal material blocked, and Internet users disconnected or reported to copyright holders."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 9 Jul 2010 | 3:02 am West uses e-networking to subvert China: study (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 3:01 am NSA: Secret 'Perfect Citizen' project does not spy on US - Register
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:59 am PROPERTY4EAST Sells One-of-a-Kind Real EstateLUXEMBOURG, July 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- PROPERTY4EAST is an international network of real estate agents who offer luxurious and unique residential properties to a selection of investors in Russia, Eastern European and the Middle East. After successful real estate projects for stars as Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Armani/Casa, PROPERTY4EAST now announces three new major sellings of high-class property. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/propertyforeast/44183/ Recently, three new real estate projects from the PROPERTY4EAST portfolio have been sold to wealthy investors. The first prestigious property is situated right across Sydney's famous Opera House, at The Rocks. This luxurious condo combines stunning architecture with comfort and high-quality materials. The name of the new owner still remains unknown, but sure is that he will enjoy a breathtaking view over Sydney Bay. Selling price for the property started at 6.7 million. Exotic anonymous investments The other two properties that have been sold via PROPERTY4EAST.com are La Perla Private Beach in Marrakech, Morocco, and a new investment project on Ile Aux Cerfs, Mauritius. La Perla Private Beach resort, covering 15,000 m2, is now owned by an investment group from the Middle East. Selling price for the property was 11 million euros. The buyer of the Ile Aux Cerfs property wishes to remain anonymous. Starting price here was 9.2 million euros. A star-lighted reputation PROPERTY4EAST connects real estate promoters with the wealthiest people from Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. On http://www.property4east.com, unique and extraordinary real estate for sale or rent can be promoted by means of video, photos and a discrete description of the property. The website has already established a strong reputation as efficient, dependable and discrete intermediary. This international platform played a roll of honour in prestigious real estate projects for stars such as Giorgio Armani and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Yearly, 350,000 potential buyers visit http://www.property4east.com. PROPERTY4EAST is a neutral online platform advertising unique high-level real estate for rent or sale. Its target audience is wealthy investors, bankers, embassies, asset managers and brokers from Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In order to reach this specific audience, PROPERTY4EAST uses all qualitative online communication channels: the website http://www.property4east.com, direct e-mailings to a selected database, innovative online applications and specialized advertisements on aljazeera.net, themoscowtimes.com, pravda.ru, gulfnews.com and forbesrussia.ru. PROPERTY4EAST is located in Luxemburg. SOURCE PROPERTY4EASTSource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:59 am 1000Memories: A Loved One Has Passed Away. What’s Your Digital Strategy?> A loved one dies. You get things under control by notifying family and friends, working with a funeral home for the physical remains, and generally getting everything done that needs to get done. You may even get the obituary taken care of for the newspaper, if you still have a local newspaper. But one thing that our culture hasn’t really figured out yet is how to celebrate a past life online. At some point soon we’ll start having an awful lot of dead people around. I’m very sure Google and other search engines will start to filter for deceased people search. It won’t be long at at until we have way more dead people online than live people online. Legacy.com has partnerships with newspapers to turn obituaries into online sites to commemorate the deceased, but they are more than a little cheesy in their cash extraction procedures. Other services like venture backed Respectance is less aggressive about getting money out of loved ones, but the site design is very dated and there’s still that leave-a-bad-taste-in-your-mouth feeling. 1000Memories launches today, a new service funded by Y Combinator that is trying to bring some dignity to the deceased online. There’s a big focus on design at 1000Memories. Here’s an example site, the great uncle of one of the founders. Visitors are first presented with a big picture of the deceased, presumably that one image that best captured his soul and personality. From there it’s easy to navigate to your next step as a reader, and sign a guest book. You can also invite others to the page at that time. But what makes each site really rich are the stories and pictures that loved ones add to the site. Some are silly. Others rip tears from your eyes. But it helps fill out the picture of a man, and it helps family and friends remember that man more richly. There’s also an area for projects – simple things like lighting candles for the deceased to setting up memorial funds for various causes. Best of all the company isn’t going to charge for the sites – they just don’t think that’s the right way. They’ll develop their business model over time, perhaps creating print books of the content that is left for an individual and letting people buy these books. They don’t need to make much per site, and it really doesn’t cost that much to keep these sites live in perpetuity. I wonder if, in a hundred and fifty or so years when I finally shuffle off this mortal coil, where I’ll end up being memorialized online. I hope it’s somewhere calm and serene like 1000Memories, and not somewhere that is just trying to gouge cash out of my family. I like this project, I hope it succeeds. Information provided by CrunchBase Information provided by CrunchBase      
Source: TechCrunch | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:49 am Android takes another bite from Apple's market share - TG Daily
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:29 am Embroidered Gothic Gowns - The Alexis Mabille Fall 2010 Haute Couture Collection is Scrumptious (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) Oh my word, skip the dresses and go straight to the shoes featured in the Alexis Mabille Fall 2010 haute couture collection. I've rubbed my eyes at least four times now and can't believe...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:20 am Lush Cityscape Prizes - The Green Corners Awards Search for Biodiversity in Urban Landscapes (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) The Green Corners Award, an initiative put on by London's Conservation Foundation, puts all city slickers on the hunt for some green beauty within a sometimes bleak urban landscape...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 2:00 am Is It Time to Stop Blogging and Start an Email Newsletter? [Voices]By Mathew Ingram, Senior Writer, GigaOm When entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shut down his blog in 2008 and replaced it with a subscription-only email newsletter, his move seemed to be more of a personal response to abusive reader comments rather than a leading indicator of a trend (although software guru Joel Spolsky also shut down his blog earlier this year). But now others have joined the blog exodus: Sam Lessin, the founder of streaming-media startup Drop.io, recently announced he was shutting down his blog and starting a subscription newsletter — one that charges readers a monthly fee. Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:50 am Australia: Google Street View broke privacy law (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:46 am Solar-Powered Designer Bags - Creators Come Together for The Elle Portable Light Project (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) The Elle Portable Light Project initiative involves nine top-notch fashion designers who have each created dapper solar-powered handbags. The participating designers are Diane von Furstenberg,...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:40 am Is Yahoo Dead? I Don't Think So. Who Else With This Scale Can Be Neutral? [Voices]By John Battelle, Founder and Chairman, Federated Media Publishing I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there’s a major battle underway for the hearts and minds of what we, in this industry, broadly call “developers.” Often the term is used quite strictly, to mean actual coders who build actual software-driven applications, services, or websites. Other times the term is more loosely applied, meaning “companies that build stuff” or “partners of platform X or service Y.” Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:39 am Viral Video: "Despicable" See [BoomTown]
It’s a geek’s dream: Lots of cool gadgets and wacky inventions wielded by nerdy villains. That would be “Despicable Me,” an animated movie opening this week and starring Steve Carrell as Gru. Enjoy the film’s trailer: Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:39 am Australia delays Internet filter to review content (AP)AP - Australia's widely criticized proposal to mandate a filter blocking child pornography and other objectionable Internet content has been delayed at least a year so the government can review what content should be restricted.Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:33 am Nearly One in Four Magazine Subs Sold Online [Voices]By Jason Fell, Group News Editor, Folio The Internet is proving to still be a significant source of subscription revenue and audience growth for magazine publishers. According to the results of a new survey conducted by the Magazine Publishers of America, 24 percent of the subscriptions sold by publishers will be generated from the Web. Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:29 am Solar-powered plane lands after round-the-clock flight - BBC News
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:27 am Does It Matter How Many Kins Microsoft Sold? [Voices]By Eric Zeman, Contributing Writer, InformationWeek Last week, Microsoft (MSFT) decided to kill off the Kin, a brand-new pair of phones aimed at the younger social networking crowd. Microsoft pulled the plug after the devices were in the market for less than two months. The reasons behind the product’s failure are becoming more numerous by the day, but I don’t think the sales figures were the only reason. Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:20 am Suspended Blue Cabins - The Offbeat 'House on a Tree' Public Installation in Warsaw (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) The art collective KONARSKA-KONARSKI has created the 'House on a Tree' art installation. The project is an offbeat way to draw attention to sustainable development. The Warsaw-located...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:20 am Where Are the Joysticks For Retro Gaming?Doctor O writes "With all those nice emulators for classic gaming around (such as MAME, VICE or Stella) I want to establish monthly retro gaming evenings with some friends. The problem is I can't find any good joysticks for that purpose. There's a new version of the legendary Competition Pro, but judging from the many one-star reviews on Amazon, it's terrible. I found the USB version of the classic Atari Joystick, but it doesn't seem to be available and would have prohibitive shipping costs to Germany anyway. So, Slashdot to the rescue — where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:12 am 7887 kHz, Your Home For Classic Cuban Espionage Radio [Voices]By Brett Sokol, Contributor, Slate The FBI documents that accompanied last week’s arrest of 10 alleged Russian spies are alternately creepy—who knew the Tribeca Barnes & Noble was a hotbed of espionage?—and comical—turns out even foreign spies wanted to cash in on suburban New Jersey’s real estate boom. With a nod to Boris and Natasha, the accused are also said to have used short-wave radio, a 1920s-era technology that, because of its particular place in the spectrum, can bounce off the atmosphere and travel across continents. Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:09 am Facebook in deal to sell site credits in AsiaFacebook is partnering with a Malaysian company to sell credits at retail outlets across Asia for the first time, aiming to make it easier for millions of people to purchase virtual goods...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:05 am Shell-Shaped Motorcycles - Allert Jacobs' Aerocycle is a Fuel-Efficient Bike With a Fiberglass Casin (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) Dutch designer Allert Jacobs spent three years creating the fuel-efficient and shell-encased Aerocycle bike. The Aerocycle is actually a modified version of a Honda Innova 125i that...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am .CO Internet Extends Deadline for 'Landrush' to Secure .CO Domain NamesMIAMI, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to extraordinary demand for the impending .CO domain launch, .CO Internet S.A.S. (www.COinternet.co), the registry operator of the .CO domain, today announced it has officially extended the deadline for people and companies to secure high-priority .CO domain names prior to their availability to the general public on July 20. The deadline for the "Landrush" phase will be extended through Friday, July 16th at 12:00 pm (Noon) EDT. The new .CO domain offering presents unprecedented opportunities for corporations, brands, web developers, agencies, entrepreneurs and others to secure high-priority, high-value domain names that have long been "unavailable" in the .com domain. To date, .CO Internet has registered or taken applications for more than 26,000 .CO domain names, many of which have been secured by the world's top global brands and Fortune 500 companies, such as: Amazon, American Express, Apple, BMW, Cartier, Canon, CNN, Coca-Cola, Disney, Ebay, Exxon, Facebook, Ford, Google, Hilton, Honda, IBM, IKEA, Kodak, McDonalds, Microsoft, MTV, Nestle, Nike, Nokia, Panasonic, Pfizer, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Toyota, Twitter, Unilever, Visa, Yahoo and many more. The company expects to receive several thousand more applications prior to the end of the Landrush period. "The response to the new .CO domain offering has been overwhelming. To keep up with the demand, our registrar partners have asked us to extend the deadline for the Landrush phase to give more people the opportunity to secure their desired domains before they are released to the general public," said Nicolai Bezsonoff, chief operating officer of .CO Internet. "July 16th will be the last opportunity for corporations, major brands, start-ups and individuals to secure their desired domains early. On July 20, all unclaimed domains will be added to the general pool and released on a first-come, first-served basis." Pricing and Availability During the Landrush phase, organizations and individuals wishing to secure early access to high-priority, high-value .CO domain names may do so - for a premium - through one of 10 .CO Accredited Registrar partners, including GoDaddy.com, Register.com, Network Solutions, eNom, InternetX, Dotster, Melbourne IT, OpenSRS, My.co, and Dominio Amigo, or any of the resellers within each registrar's extended networks. .CO domains registered during the Landrush phase are priced at a premium to reflect their high value and high demand, with prices averaging between $250 to $300, depending on the registrar. If more than one Landrush application is received for a particular domain name, it will be auctioned to the highest bidder. About .CO Internet S.A.S. .CO Internet S.A.S. is the Registry Operator for the .CO top-level domain. .CO Internet was formed by a strategic venture between Arcelandia S.A, and Neustar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR). The .CO domain offers individuals and businesses a truly global, recognizable and credible option in branding their online presence. Thanks to leading-edge technology, enhanced security and unprecedented rights protections for brand owners, the .CO domain is poised to become the world's next premier web address. For additional information, please visit www.COinternet.co. SOURCE .CO Internet S.A.S.Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 9 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am So You Want To Be A Time Traveler?While time dilation and quantum tunneling might help, relativity will always get in the way of your time-traveling dreams.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:44 am Four-Legged Pageants (UPDATE) - Goat Beauty Contest in Lithuania Marks 640th Anniversary of Ramygala (GALLERY)(TrendHunter.com) This year's iteration of Lithuania's goat beauty contest took place in a village called "Ramygala," which is Lithuania's capital of culture for 2010. A total of 13 goats entered the...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:40 am Self-Appointed Superheroes - 'The Viper' Defends a Town in Tennessee (VIDEO)(TrendHunter.com) A 20-year-old masked man patrols the town square in Columbia, Tennessee. He calls himself 'The Viper,' carries batons and ninja stars, and wears a face covering in defiance of the town's...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:19 am Frame Napkin Makes You Proud Of Your Complete Lack Of Table MannersBy Andrew Liszewski Instead of promoting civilized table manners like eating slowly with utensils and what-not, this Frame Napkin encourages you to eat with your fingers, drip food everywhere and essentially...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:17 am Fujitsu: acquisition targets include software firms (Reuters)Reuters - Fujitsu Ltd, Japan's biggest IT services provider, said on Friday it would seek more alliances and acquisitions to beef up its cloud-computing business, and that its main targets would include software firms.Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:17 am Australia halts web filter plan ahead of polls (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:12 am NextStop Deal Is All About Facebook’s Unquenchable Thirst For Top Talent
Facebook has been on a mission to scoop up as many smart management types as possible, we’ve heard from a few sources recently — some of whom have talked directly to Facebook. That may seem obvious — after all, who wouldn’t want the best talent? But Facebook is in the unique position now to have resources to simply acquire companies in order to get these people. And that’s exactly what they’re doing, we’re told. NextStop is just one of a few companies that Facebook has been sniffing around recently in order to bulk up the projects under Facebook Director of Product Blake Ross, we’re told. It’s well known that Ross is leading the charge on Facebook’s Questions product, but their new emphasis on local — including the upcoming Places area of the service — is likely a focus for these deals as well. The NextStop acquisition makes sense in both of those arenas. Two of NextStop co-founders, Carl Sjogreen and Adrian Graham, are former Googlers with impressive resumes. Sjogreen led the Google Calendar team at its launch (and was heavily involved in Google Maps), while Graham launched both Google Groups and Picasa. There are at least a few other members of the small team going over to Facebook as well, including one other former Googler. The team also had one employee who was formerly a member of the user operations team at Facebook. But Sjogreen and Graham seem to be the keys to this deal. At Facebook, both of them will be reporting directly to Ross, we’re hearing. It’s not entirely clear yet what exactly they’ll be working on (and Facebook won’t comment). But the aforementioned projects are good guesses, as is anything Facebook is working on around events. Facebook Questions has been pretty well covered both because the company is currently testing it with certain members and because some have dubbed it the next “killer app” of the service. But Facebook Places may end up being just as interesting. The service, which the company has yet to confirm but we’ve previously spotted, is believed to be a big part of Facebook’s entry into the location space. We’ve heard that Facebook has a deal in place with Localeze to fill out this Places area — similar to a deal Twitter signed with the company. This may explain why Facebook was okay with NextStop releasing their own built up database of places under Creative Commons license — they don’t need that data. Speculation aside, it’s pretty clear that the NextStop acquisition is the latest in a series of acquisitions Facebook has made to bring in high caliber talent. This dates back to Facebook’s first acquisition, Parakey, in 2007. And it includes their most high-profile buy, FriendFeed, last year. In both of those instances, Facebook hasn’t done anything with the actual product they acquired, and instead has used the talent behind them to further their own products and core team. Just look at the roster from those two deals. The Parakey deal brought in both Blake Ross and Joe Hewitt. Both worked at Netscape before they moved on to help found Mozilla, and create the Firefox web browser. Ross, as we’ve mentioned, is now the Director of Product at Facebook. Hewitt, meanwhile, created Facebook initial mobile web app (before there were native third-party applications on the iPhone) and went on to create the company’s excellent iPhone app (though he has since moved on to other projects). With the FriendFeed deal, Facebook picked up a number of ex-Googlers, but none more important than FriendFeed co-founders Paul Buchheit and Bret Taylor. Buchheit is often credited as being the creator of Gmail (and the Googler that coined the phrase “don’t be evil”) as well as the builder of an early prototype of AdSense (you know, that thing that makes Google all its money now). It’s not entirely clear what he’s working on at Facebook at the moment, but whatever it is, you can be sure it’s vital. Taylor, meanwhile, was the original manager behind Google Maps. He’s now Facebook’s CTO. So that’s the creators of Firefox, the creator of Gmail, the creator of Google Maps, the creator of Google Calendar, and the creator of Google Groups and Picasa that Facebook has picked up through acquisitions. Not bad. From what we’ve heard, Facebook got NextStop “cheap” as the company had done a couple rounds from a private investor, but never a big round. There had been some talk that they weren’t able to pull in a larger round and that’s why they went with the sale, but other sources say that’s not the case, it was just a good fit and good timing. Either way, Facebook is stocking up. They’re on a mission. [photo: flickr/popfatticus]      
Source: TechCrunch | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:12 am Volunteer at the Boing Boing Picnic!The Boing Boing Picnic is in two days, and we could really use some extra arms and legs and tentacles to help us make sure the event runs smoothly. If you're coming and can dedicate an hour or two to...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 9 Jul 2010 | 12:08 am Volunteer at the Boing Boing Picnic!
The Boing Boing Picnic is in two days, and we could really use some extra arms and legs and tentacles to help us make sure the event runs smoothly. If you're coming and can dedicate an hour or two to helping David, Xeni, Dean, and me in making sure things run smoothly, please send an email to mango [at] tokyomango [dot] com, subject line: Picnic Volunteer with your name and what time you're available between 11AM and 4PM. If you pre-sign up to volunteer we'll promise you a t-shirt and some extra happy mutant love. Thanks! Update: Thanks to all of you who volunteered to volunteer! I think we have enough people for now. If you show up the day of and still want to help out, just look for one of the people wearing a Happy Mutant Volunteer name tag and ask if they need help. Flying Tie Transportation - The People for Bikes Ad Campaign Promotes People-Powered Transit (VIDEO)(TrendHunter.com) A People for Bikes ad campaign that started in March 2010 is aimed at getting people out of their cars and onto bicycles as a primary means of transportation. Despite the lack of bike...Source: RSS feed - channel BNBlogTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 11:59 pm Australia Waters Down, Delays Internet Filter PolicyAn anonymous reader writes "Looks like Australia's government is running a bit scared of a population enraged by its controversial mandatory filtering project. The Government today announced a suite of measures designed to provide controls around the filter project, including independent oversight and a review of content which would be included. In addition, some Australian ISPs will voluntarily censor any child pornography URLs. But the whole project is still going ahead — it's just been delayed and slightly modified."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 11:53 pm Google Expects China License Renewal [Voices]By Jessica E. Vascellaro, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal Google Inc. (GOOG) Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said Thursday that Google believes it will resolve its ongoing fight with the Chinese government over operating in the country and dismissed a range of probes facing the company over privacy and regulatory issues. Addressing a topic that has been hanging over the company for months—the fate of its business in China, he said the company now expects to have its operating license from the Chinese government renewed, allowing it to continue to offer search services to Chinese users. His comments, during an informal briefing at the Allen & Co., conference here, come as the Mountain View, Calif., company has been restructuring its Chinese business for many months after deciding to stop censoring its Chinese-language search services earlier this year. After it stopped censoring, it began directing queries from mainland China to a version of its search service it doesn’t censor hosted off the mainland. But after the Chinese government indicated it wouldn’t renew its license if it continued that practice, Google stopped the automatic redirect, leading to the current standoff. Read the rest of this post on the original site Source: All Things Digital | 8 Jul 2010 | 11:43 pm Cavs Owner Goes Online To Rip LeBron A New One… In Comic Sans
A letter, posted in Comic Sans. Yes, Gilbert wrote the entire letter in probably the worst font ever to grace the computer screen. Normally a staple among six year old and grandmothers, Glibert for some reason decided to use the font to write what will undoubtedly be the most public message he will ever write. And it’s too bad, because the content of the message itself is quite good — very juicy. Gilbert’s use of quotes, capitalization, and bolded letters makes it very clear just how pissed off he is. And that’s good because all of Cleveland (incidentally, my hometown) is pissed off tonight as well. Gilbert’s letter should give some comfort, if for nothing else that he guarantees – yes, guarantees — that the Cavs will win a championship before LeBron does. This is a city that hasn’t won any major sports championship in nearly 50 years (and that was when the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship in 1964 before there were even Super Bowls). But again, all anyone can talk about is the damn Comic Sans faux pas. “Comic Sans” is currently a Trending Topic on Twitter thanks to the letter — just above “LeBron James”! Thomson Reuters’ Anthony De Rosa may have summed in up best in a tweet: ”The last time I saw a letter written in Comic Sans it was a chain email containing LOLcats from my mother.” Apparently, Gilbert doesn’t keep up too well with some of this here Internet stuff. I await a LeBron response in Wingdings.
     
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:57 pm Avatar to return to theaters August 27th
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:48 pm Netgear ReadyNas Ultra to transform local storage, but it’s not cheap
New from Netgear, this networked storage isn’t like your networked storage. While is does have all the standard features you’d imagine – redundant drives up to 12 terabytes – the ReadyNas Ultra also offers a multitude of ways to manage and store media files. Partnering with TiVo, designers sought to allow TiVo owners the ability to store thousands of hours of TV right on the unit. Another partnership with Orb allows files to get the streaming treatment to a bunch of different mobile devices. Finally, an easy way to store and share files in your home or office – if it works well anyways. Powering the storage device is Netgear’s first-ever installed PC chip, the Intel Atom. This makes the ReadyNas super fast; up to three times faster than other storage devices, says Netgear. However, you can’t just drop an Atom processor into a large storage device without moving higher up the price point. Look to spend $899 for dual 2-terabytes drives, $1349 for six 1-terrabyte drives, and between $300 and $450 less for diskless storage devices. Arriving this month and look for a two-bay system in October.
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:17 pm Get out your decoder ring; but don't get excited (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:13 pm Yahoo farms out for-sale home listings to ZillowYahoo Inc. is turning over its listings of homes for sale and other local real estate advertising to an online specialist in the field, Zillow.com. The alliance announced Friday calls...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:03 pm Sawbuck Expands to PhoenixSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:01 pm Sawbuck Expands to PhoenixWASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Online real estate broker Sawbuck Realty (www.sawbuck.com) today expanded into the Phoenix metropolitan area and partnered with Arizona residential real estate company Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty, bringing Sawbuck customers local expertise and unmatched customer service. Phoenix-area homebuyers now can use Sawbuck.com to search for homes for sale and research recent sales; and the company's mobile site (m.sawbuck.com) from any web-enabled smartphone when on the go. "Sawbuck delivers exactly what Phoenix real estate consumers need. Today's consumer starts their real estate search online, but the nuts and bolts of the transaction still must be done offline," said John Vatistas, co-owner of Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty. "Sawbuck recognizes this reality by giving consumers unfettered access to housing data on their website, and then connecting them with our leading, full-service agents when they are ready to start touring homes." Sawbuck simplifies the home buying and selling process, without asking customers to compromise on either service or cost. Consumers start their home search on Sawbuck.com, where they can search by property type, neighborhood or address to find homes for sale, local market stats and recently sold properties. In Phoenix, a Sawbuck advisor then connects buyers with experienced, local real estate agents at Russ Lyon Sotheby's, and streamlines their transactions. "We've been told we are crazy to continue to expand in this volatile real estate market. However, like any industry, the successful companies have the infrastructure in place to deliver in the interim and when demand heats up. With Russ Lyon Sotheby's we are confident we have the best partner for now and in the future," said Sawbuck CEO Guy Wolcott. Also today, Sawbuck launched a new version of its home page that highlights daily real estate changes for each metro area it covers, including: What Can You Buy for the Money: View a slide show of 15 similarly priced homes from around the city, with a different price point every day. Consumers easily can switch between cities to see what they can get for their money across the country.Top Five Lists: Check out a different list every day such as top five local markets with the lowest inventory, highest prices or fewest days on market.Most Popular Listings: Be in the know and find out which homes get the most daily views.How Sawbuck Works Sawbuck connects buyers and sellers with top local real estate agents, streamlines their transactions, and saves them thousands of dollars up front and hundreds more every year. Buyers who work with Sawbuck get a below-market mortgage from reputable lenders such as Bank of America. Sawbuck is the first real estate broker to establish mortgage alliances not to profit, but to save buyers money. The company subsidizes every mortgage, driving down the interest rate, and offers a $1,000 guarantee if a customer finds a better mortgage deal. Phoenix Buyers Save $14,870 with Sawbuck Throughout June 2010, Sawbuck compared the 30-year fixed mortgage rate available to its customers with the national average rate as reported in Bankrate.com's weekly survey of lenders, a reliable indicator of mortgage rates for the last 20 years. The average Sawbuck rate was 0.37 percent better. On a $400,000 mortgage, that's a savings of $91 per month, or $32,843 over the life of the loan. In June 2010, 9,063 Phoenix-area homes sold with an average sales price of $181,105. If those buyers used Sawbuck, they would have saved $41 a month, totaling $14,870 over the life of the loan. Sawbuck sellers receive a 20 percent refund of the listing commission at closing; for a $500,000 house that would normally pay a seller's agent commission of three percent, the savings would be $3,000. Since launching in January 2008, Sawbuck has completed more than $50 million in real estate transactions in the eight markets it serves. About Sawbuck Sawbuck Realty (www.sawbuck.com) is an online real estate broker that combines an industry-leading website with an award-winning, consumer-friendly business model. The company connects buyers and sellers with top local real estate agents, streamlines their transactions, and saves them money at every turn. Buyers who work with Sawbuck's agent partners get a below-market mortgage, saving thousands up front and hundreds every year. Sellers receive a 20 percent refund of the listing commission at closing. Sawbuck's site, service and model provide radical transparency and consumer value that is unique in the world of real estate. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Sawbuck currently serves the Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Providence, R.I., San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California and Washington, D.C. areas. The company will expand into Philadelphia and Houston in the coming months. To stay up to date on Sawbuck, visit our blog, http://www.sawbuck.com/blog, or follow us on Twitter, @sawbuck. SOURCE Sawbuck RealtySource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:01 pm July 9–10, 1856: Visionary Tesla Born at MidnightNikola Tesla, the eccentric genius who pioneered alternating current, continues to fascinate the geek imagination.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 10:00 pm Yahoo Outsources For-Sale Real Estate Listings To Zillow
Zillow’s will integrate its 4 million for-sale listings on Yahoo’s real estate site, where users will still be able to search for home listings by the same parameters as on Zillow’s site, such as by geography, price and other criteria. For-sale listings placed on Zillow will automatically appear on Yahoo Real Estate. But the partnership is more than just an outsourcing of listings. Zillow and Yahoo Real Estate will be coordinating sales efforts for the advertising network, so that advertisers who buy Showcase Ads or Featured Listings on either site will automatically have those placed on both Yahoo Real Estate and Zillow. Zillow’s Premier Agent program will be extended to Yahoo Real Estate, and current Zillow advertisers will be offered the first chance to purchase Premier Agent placement on Yahoo. This deal feels like deja vu of two months ago, when Yahoo announced that it was outsourcing personals to Match.com. Yahoo also outsources job listings to Monster, after it sold HotJobs to the job listing service for $225 million. Similar to the situation with Match.com a few months ago, Yahoo and Zillow have a history of working together. In 2006, Yahoo Real Estate integrated Zillow’s home valuation technology into its user experience. But it seems that yahoo isn’t completely handing over the keys to its real estate search to ZIllow. Zillow, which launched as a mortgage marketplace in 2008, also powers rentals, which Yahoo doesn’t appear to be aggregating. For now, at least. Still, it’s a good deal for Zillow, a startup that survived the real estate market implosion, and seems to be back on its feet. The site has seen record traffic over the past six months and has seen 1.75 million downloads of its mobile apps. In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time until Yahoo just outsources all real estate listings, including rentals, to Zillow.      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:56 pm comScore finds Android usage increased at the expense of other platformsSection: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones
comScore has an interesting report which compares three month average trends in the mobile world. In the three month average ending in May, comScore’s report finds RIM still atop the smartphone platform and Samsung the leading OEM manufacturer, but it is worth noting the growth Android experienced during this time. RIM went from 42.1% to 41.7% meaning a -.4 change. Apple went from 25.4% to 24.4% meaning a -1.0 change. Microsoft went from 15.1% to 13.2% meaning a -1.9 change. Google Android went from 9.0% to 13.0% meaning a 4.0 change. Lastly, Palm went from 5.4% to 4.8% meaning a -0.6 change. The increased success of Android can be attributed to the launch of the Droid Incredible on Verizon, continuing sales of other Android phones, and the surmounting hype of future Android handsets. However, it is important to note this statistic does not take into consideration the successful launch of the iPhone 4. For OEM’s, Samsung leads the charge by going from 21.4% to 22.4% meaning a 1.0 change. LG went from 21.7% to 21.5% meaning a -0.2 change. Motorola went from 22.3% to 21.2% meaning a -1.1 change. RIM went from 8.2% to 8.7% meaning a 0.5 change. Lastly, Nokia went from 8.7% to 8.1% meaning a -0.6 change. I expect Samsung and Motorola only to increase their numbers considering the impending launch of all four Galaxy S variants and the Droid X. Read [PR Newswire] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:49 pm Borders on Android and other top Android Apps of the Week (Appolicious)Appolicious - Things are really heating up with ebook readers for Android; a release from Borders makes this the third week in a row we’ve seen a major ebook reader launch a product in the Android Market.Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:49 pm There's Gold in Them Thar...Oceans!The Chinese government has announced its intent to start mining the ocean floor for valuable minerals. A new era in mineral exploitation on Earth is beginning.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:29 pm Flood of netbook models to ebb as Asus and Acer clear out inventory
The new Atom N550 dual-core netbooks should be showing up in August, so you’ve got a good month during which to relax, compare specs, and pick a color that matches your new drapes. What do we recommend? To be honest, the most important thing for all these netbooks isn’t really the specs; they’re all very similar hardware-wise. Instead, your major choice is between SSD and HDD, and between form factors and finishes. Go to your local electronics store and see what they’ve got — feel the weight difference between this one and that one, and see whether you can deal with a slightly petite keyboard. Personally, I’d go with SSD, 2GB of RAM, Windows XP, and a 6-cell battery.
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:20 pm The Pirate Bay hacked, 4 million users exposed
Now, with over 4 million usernames and emails in his possession, Russo has said that groups like the RIAA and the MPAA would be very interested in the data although he is not intending on selling it. Rather, he is more proving a point, exposing the flaws and weaknesses in the Pirate Bay’s security. Since the attack, the Pirate Bay has since been patched to prevent the flaws from being exploited again. Read [The Next Web] Image courtesy of Flickr Full Story » | Written by Hunter Clarke for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:18 pm YouTube's New Revenue Plan: Gouge Warren Buffett! [MediaMemo]Here’s the full text of a blog post titled “Announcing YouTube Pro *Wink*,” posted on the Google-owned (GOOG) site tonight:
Source: All Things Digital | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:48 pm OLPC's XO-1.75 Laptop To Have a Multitouch Screenangry tapir writes "One Laptop Per Child has revealed it is adding a multitouch screen to the upcoming XO-1.75 laptop and is modifying software to take advantage of the new hardware. The XO-1.75 with a touch-sensitive 8.9-inch screen will start shipping next year. The laptop will run on an Arm processor and is the successor to the current XO-1.5 laptop, which runs on a Via x86 processor. OLPC will also add a multitouch screen on the next-generation XO-3 tablet, which is due to ship in 2012. Fedora will continue to be the base Linux distribution for XO-1.75 as the laptop changes from the x86 to Arm architecture."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:35 pm Apple TV rumored to get $.99 TV show rentals, but will the iPad and iPhone get the service too?
The latest rumor states that Apple is in contract talks to bring TV show rentals to the platform. They would probably work like the movie rentals by giving users 30-days to start playing the show after downloading and then 24-hours after starting playback until it expires. Except there’s one big difference: the shows are said to be streamed. Combine that with the rumor that iOS will power the next-gen Apple TV for a cocktail of dreams and possibilities. Streaming is the latest hot entertainment trend and in a way the Apple TV paved the way by showing that a small amount of local storage limits the capabilities. By have the content streamed, unlike downloading it to a drive as the Apple TV currently does, it makes for quicker playback and doesn’t require as much storage, freeing up the space for other tasks. But more importantly it pushes Apple’s content into the cloud where it can be served to other devices just as easily. The iPad, and in short the iPhone/iPod, have been called the next step in TV viewing. What if — and it’s not that big of an if when you think about it — Apple’s plans are bigger than the Apple TV? What if this upcoming streaming service is for all the iTunes devices including the iPhone and iPad? What if you could rent TV show on a per-episode basis and watch it on your iPad or Apple TV whenever you want? Somewhere an Apple fanboy’s head just exploded as it all came together. It’s actually silly to think that Apple would keep this service off iDevices and only on the Apple TV. The portable devices have more than enough horsepower to run such tasks and Apple rarely builds a powerful application for just one device. Apple builds platforms, not devices anymore. Of course, the dream can continue by stating that the next Apple TV and your iPad could share accounts, allowing you to resume playback on either device. Since we’re in the cloud already, why not have the Apple TV link up to the iPhone for big screen viewing of pics and videos — even Facetime with a special camera. (Although logical steps, these items are just my thoughts and dreams, btw.) Apple is in a different place than when they originally launched the Apple TV. They could get away with half-assing projects in 2007, but not in 2010. Everything they touch is expected to be gold and anything less would be considered a flop even if it eventually made the company money. The next Apple TV will be big — or at least it better be or Google TV will eat it as snack.
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:34 pm AppBrain update allows instant downloads from web to phoneSection: Communications, Mobile, Web, Web Apps
While the browser interface and the ability to pick and choose applications that can then be installed on your phone through the AppBrain app was great, there was one thing missing to make the normal market app look like trash. The team over at AppBrain has solved this problem and has pushed an update that allows you to install applications without ever touching your phone. The site uses the Google login that is on your phone to access and install the application from the website. While this might seem a little on the sketchier side, Lifehacker is convinced that the site is secure. You can check out the process here: Read [Lifehacker]
Full Story » | Written by Hunter Clarke for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:31 pm Garmin tries to scare EU users away from smartphone navigation options
Garmin’s “study” showed that even a short trip could be expensive. Their example was from Calais to Paris, and Garmin suggested that trip could cost a phone user as much as $112 in data charges. Of course, it’ll depend on your phone, your plan, and Garmin is of course spinning it in their direction, but it is something to be aware of if you don’t have an unlimited data plan. I think they definitely see the change in the wind that PDA companies missed back in the day – their own extinction.
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:30 pm Finally, An Arrington We Can Stand. An Arrington We Can UnplugOkay, the future is officially here. A few days ago, the team from Mountain View-based startup Anybots swung by TechCrunch headquarters to deliver a special new addition to our office: Anybots robot model QB, which stands around five feet tall and can zip around the office at 3.5 miles per hour on a pair of sturdy wheels. It looks like a cross between a Segway and E.T., with some optical sensors and cameras making up its ‘face’. Oh, and it’s currently being controlled by my boss, Michael Arrington, who has been using it to remotely roam the TechCrunch office to make sure we’re working hard while he’s up in Seattle. At least, that’s what he’s supposed to be doing — he’s spending most of the time gleefully running over our feet as he blinds us with a green laser beam. The future really is amazing. In the video above, Mike takes control of QB via an internet browser to help me interview Anybots robotics engineer Daniel Casner. And by help, I mean he shows us what happens when you drive the robot directly into a wall and repeatedly bump into Daniel in an attempt to get him to spill Anybots secrets (it didn’t work). Note that the little wire hanging down from the robot’s head is actually a microphone that’s transmitting to our camera.
The Anybots robot has been in development for years — the company was started back in 2001 by Trevor Blackwell (who is also a Y Combinator partner), and the growing team has since iterated through several models. The flagship model QB, which is slated for release this fall, will sell for $15,000 per unit. That may sound a little steep, but keep in mind that the robot can be used by multiple people, though only one can be logged in at a time. And no, we don’t get to keep this one — it’s on loan for a week. Using the robot is actually remarkably easy: after creating account, you install a Firefox plugin and head over to the Anybots homepage, where you’ll see a list of the Anybots you’re authorized to control. Click on one, and you’re in the pilot’s seat — QB will stream a video feed of what it “sees” to your monitor, and it features a microphone and speaker so you can talk with people around the office. Moving around is intuitive, too: the up arrow moves the robot forward, left and right arrows to the side, and so on. You can also click anywhere on the video stream to activate and point a built in laser pointer. It took Mike all of two minutes to figure out how to weave between our office desks. Some other key stats: Anybots says that the robot lasts 6-8 hours on a single charge. When it dies or is powered off manually, a little kickstand will pop out of its rear to hold it upright. And the device only weighs 35 pounds, so it isn’t going to hurt anyone. Information provided by CrunchBase      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:23 pm Apple TV Rumored To Get $.99 TV Show Rentals, But Will The iPad And iPhone Get The Service Too?
The latest rumor states that Apple is in contract talks to bring TV show rentals to the platform. They would probably work like the movie rentals by giving users 30-days to start playing the show after downloading and then 24-hours after starting playback until it expires. Except there’s one big difference: the shows are said to be streamed. Combine that with the rumor that iOS will power the next-gen Apple TV for a cocktail of dreams and possibilities.      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:12 pm Sony announces world’s smallest 3-D shooting camera - $300 this fallSection: Imaging, Camcorders, Digital Cameras
Sony announced the addition of 3-D shooting to 2 cameras in their point and shoot collection (models DSC-TX9 and DSC-WX5). The cameras will start at $300 and be available this fall as part of the makers big push to get us all to buy 3-D TVs. Interestingly, these cameras capture 3-D through one lens instead of the more common dual lens. 3-D is accomplished in these cameras only in panorama mode, allowing users to capture vistas is stunning 3D. From the release, “The high-speed burst of frames is stitched together using innovative processing techniques to automatically create detail-packed 3D panoramas. These images can be enjoyed in 2D or stunning 3D on compatible 3D televisions (3D-compatible HDMI cables and 3D glasses are also required and are sold separately.)” The 3D can also be seen on the camera’s 3.5 LCD screen as well simulated of course, with the user tilts the camera back and forth. Best of all, I am not even making that up. I’ve been a skeptic of 3-D being pushed on us by the HDTV crowd. I still have issues with donning glasses to watch TV in my house. At the movie theater, it’s an experience and 3-D has certainly become a mainstay for hit movies. But in the supposed comfort of your own home, I am having trouble seeing mass adoption. I wasn’t kind in my Who’s on Crack post where I warned of 3-D videos becoming the rage: “The only thing worse than being forced to watch someone’s home movies are being forced to watch them will a silly pair of 3D glasses on. Seriously, I am out the door when I get handed a pair of 3D glasses, because only 1.2% of users of the 3D camera are going to use it on safari. The rest are taping Timmy’s 2nd birthday party (ooh, look at him ignore the presents!) who’s parents insist the movie is way better in 3D. Run. For. The. Door.” Now, these Sony cameras don’t do 3D video, yet anyway. So, only the panorama stills are 3D which are viewable only on a 3D TV or by moving the camera’s LCD screen like its a ViewMaster toy. No printing, just specific instances where you can view this. Cool if you’ve got the extra cash or need to impress someone, I guess. The camera’s other aspects are impressive, much more so than 3-D gimmickry. 12.2 megapixels, full HD video recording (1980x1020), slim style are all good reasons to give these cameras a chance. Check them out here. Pre Orders are not being accepted. Read: [http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/publicsiteContentFileAccess/333864/333864.html/?fileContentId=333864&fileName=333864.html&fromOtherPageToDisableHistory=Y] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:01 pm Self-cleaning road also purifies the air around it
The NOx gets gripped by Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) baked into the pavement, a photocatalytic material that uses sunlight to convert the NOx to nitrate, which is then washed away by rain. The road material also breaks down algae and dirt (don’t ask me how), so it stays clean. Sounds like a winner, right? Well, there are probably lots of long-term tests to be done, and even then, it’s 50% more expensive than regular road materials. So entire highways of this stuff are probably out of the question. But for places like a high-traffic downtown area or a residential area that prides itself on cleanliness, it might be worth the investment. [via ScienceDaily]
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:00 pm Google expects regulatory OK in China, for nowGoogle CEO Eric Schmidt says he expects Beijing to renew the license the company needs to continue operating its search engine in China. The renewal had been in doubt due to the tense...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:36 pm Samsung Wave officially available in Canada through Bell and RogersSection: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones
It looks like the rumor we saw in late July regarding the specs and release date of the Samsung Wave did pan out. According to press release, the Samsung Wave is available starting today through Bell and Rogers in Canada. Each carrier has different pricing plans, but before we get to that let’s talk about the specs first. The Samsung Wave features a 3.3 inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz processor, 5MP camera, 720p video recording, Bada OS, TouchWiz 3.0, pre-loaded with Dolphin Browser 2.0, 2GB on board memory expandable up to 32GB, and Samsung’s Social Hub. To encourage app development on the Bada OS, Samsung is sponsoring a the Bada Developer Challenge Contest, where the winner will walk away with $300,000. In terms of pricing, Rogers has prices for a three year contract, two year, one year, and contract free. For three years, the Wave is $99, for two years it is $374, for one year it is $424, and without a contract it costs $475. Fortunately, Bell is a bit cheaper as a three year contract will cost $29, a two year contract will cost $149, one year contract will cost $249, without a contract it is only $299. The hardware is certainly impressive on the Samsung Wave, the question is how well does the Bada OS perform and will there be a lot of apps for it? Via [CNW] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:20 pm Facebook To Close Its Virtual Giftshop August 1st
Those goofy ninja drawings, multicolored troll things, and birthday cakes adorning your Facebook wall are about to become collector’s items. Facebook has just announced that it is closing Facebook Gifts — a feature that launched back in early 2007 as the result of a Hackathon project and went on to seed the creation of Facebook Credits (it marked the first time Facebook users could actually pay for something). You’ll still be able to purchase gifts up through August 1st, and all the gifts you’ve received will remain on your profile and Facebook Wall after that point, but you won’t be able to buy new ones. The explanation Facebook gives for the change is a little odd — Facebook employee Jared Morgenstern writes that it will help Facebook focus on improving other products:
It makes sense for Facebook to trim away products that are adding clutter to the site, but these are pure profit and it’s hard to imagine they were draining too many resources. That said, Facebook has continued to evolve the feature since it launched, with the addition of celebrity gifts and the ability to gift Lala songs last year (the Lala feature was disabled after the music company was acquired by Apple). This also can’t be good news for RealGifts and the various eCard vendors that Facebook offered as part of its Gifts selection. If you still need your gift-giving fix, Facebook suggests third-party applications like Birthday Cards, Hallmark, Pieces of Flair, and someecards.
Information provided by CrunchBase      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:17 pm WiFi-enabled lock is a good idea, but the lock needs some work
And why does it need an EyeFi card? Why not just transmit a pre-arranged signal via a tiny but high-powered transmitter on the WiFi spectrum? Also: joints = weak points. A real lock has none. So – I expect we’ll see something like this soon (if there isn’t one for sale already via SkyMall) but it won’t be this one. Also, I don’t trust designers who don’t know their image formatting. You don’t downrez text and then save as a PNG! [via NotCot]
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:10 pm Hollywood's Steve Levitan and Lloyd Braun at D8: The Full, Uncut Video [D8 Conference]As promised, All Things Digital is posting the full videos from our eighth D: All Things Digital conference, held in early June. Today, we check in with BermanBraun’s Lloyd Braun and Steve Levitan, co-creator of “Modern Family.” Here’s the full video of the D8 session: [ See post to watch video ] Want to see it bigger? Click here. For BoomTown’s post of the full-length video, click here. Note: We’ll be posting full D8 videos on Mondays and Thursdays. Next up: Comcast (CMCSA) COO Steve Burke. Source: All Things Digital | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:54 pm BlackBerry making changes to work with FordSection: Communications, Cellphones, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Robots/AI, Transportation
“Text messaging has become the default communications method for consumers of all ages,” said John Schneider, chief engineer, Ford multimedia and infotainment engineering. “The power of SYNC voice control combined with Ford’s latest connectivity improvements will reduce the temptation to pick up the phone and take your eyes off the road, providing a safer solution for the use of mobile devices in the car.” Ford cites a new poll from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which shows approximately 1 in 4 (27%) American adults and teens (26%) admit to texting while driving. The statistic got Ford motivated to incorporate texting into their SYNC platform. Ford’s got a plan to deal with messages while driving and has signed BlackBerry up. “RIM plans to implement MAP on BlackBerry smartphones moving forward and we are pleased to work with Ford in an effort to foster industry-wide adoption and standardization,” said Andrew Bocking, Vice President, Handheld Software Product Management at Research In Motion. RIM is currently working with Ford and both are using a standard set by Bluetooth SIG, Special Interests Group who hopes to make the MAP standard universal. “Defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the MAP standard outlines a set of features and procedures used to exchange email, SMS, and MMS messages between devices. It is tailored to the automotive hands-free environment where an onboard terminal device – in this case, SYNC – takes advantage of the messaging capability of a communications device, such as a BlackBerry smartphone.” Essentially, SMS and MMS messages will be read aloud by the SYNC system and allow you to reply via voice. Ford is taking steps to reduce drivers distractions even more. The new 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will be first to offer a “do not disturb” button that will provide the driver with solace instead of ringing phones and text alerts - perfect for frantic drivers. Ford is also reworking their menus to keep choices while driving limited and focused only on tasks related to driving. Other data will be relegated to be accessed only when the car is immobile. Product page: [Ford] Press release: [VPO] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:50 pm U.S. eavesdropping agency says Private Citizen is purely R&D (Reuters)Reuters - A contract has been awarded for research to help counter computer-based threats to national-security networks, the chief U.S. code-cracking and eavesdropping agency said, amid mounting concern over cyber vulnerabilities.Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:44 pm New OLPC software to support multi-touch
Good news for OLPC users, the software engineering team announced today that they have built in multi-touch support into the next version of the OS. The new features are expected to appear on the XO-1.75 notebook. The new XO-1.75 is part of the new tablet generation of the OLPC program, and will be one of the first to use the MeeGo virtual keyboard. The new XO-3 tablet (expected at CES 2011) is expected to use the MeeGo and multi-touch exclusively. [via Electronista]
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:30 pm Video: Getting Up, Down, And Side-to-Side With Microsoft’s KinectWe recently got some hands on time playing Microsoft’s new motion based Kinect at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival. Just as Chris Kohler reported over at Game|Life, the interface definitely gets you off the couch causes some copious perspiration. And, yes it’s much like the Wii; your butt is no longer anchored to the futon and you’re actively engaging with your video games. But the lack of any sort of physical controller is extremely odd. (Your body is scanned and tracked as your avatar mimics the movements you make in meatspace.) The self-conscious weirdness of reaching out into the air and gripping a non-existent steering wheel is something I’m not sure folks who spent the better parts of their childhoods gripping a Nintendo controller will readily take to. And that’s a serious question that Kinect raises: is this active way of interacting with your video games sustainable? The fact that Wii Fit has sold over 22 million copies might seem to be a resounding “yes” but I’m not sure if it’s something that will translate over to games where you’re racing cars or blowing aliens up. Will you want to come home after working for eight hours, fire up Kinect and traipse around Reach, looking for the Covenant? Or would you rather gun down some Elites from the comfort of your couch? Unless it meant exercising Force powers, I think I’d rather have some sofa time. After playing Kinect Joy Ride and Kinectimals for the better part of a half hour, I was a tad tired physically, but mentally wiped out. At the end of the day I’m not entirely sure if people will want to shell out $60 for a game that demands so much active participation. I can see Kinect becoming a fun little silo of games you play at parties on multiplayer mode. But for solo campaigns, I seriously doubt gamers will be able to maintain steady interest. 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:24 pm Jury reaches verdict in BART police shooting caught on cellphones: involuntary manslaughter
Here in Los Angeles, crowds have gathered at the courthouse. Up in Oakland, trains and streets are packed with people trying to get out of the way of anticipated civil unrest in the event of a not guilty verdict. Update, 4:08pm PT: Mehserle has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Mehserle could get 2, 3 or 4 years for involuntary manslaughter plus 3, 4 or 10 years for using a gun. "That means the minimum total sentence that Judge Robert Perry could impose would be five years, and the maximum would be 14 years." Lots of police on the streets in Oakland tonight. Image below, courtesy L.A. County Superior Court: a cellphone photo which was taken, according to lawyers, by Oscar Grant of ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle, just before Mehserle shot Grant to death on New Year's Day, 2009.
 Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:17 pm Opera updates Opera Mini to 5.1, compatible with 3000 phonesSection: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Web Browsers
Touted as a browser for phones with low memory, the Opera Mini browser is compatible on over 3000 phones and boasts 61 million users. Today, Opera introduced Opera Mini 5.1 which is going to replace Opera Mini 5. For phone users of limited memory, it is probably to your advantage to upgrade to the latest Opera version because it will help your phone access the web quicker. If you have a smartphone or a high end device, upgrading to 5.1 is not necessary. The new update introduces a new skin which allows multiple pages to be open at once, increased scrolling speed, and overall a more efficient and faster browsing experience. Since Opera compresses all web data by 90% before delivering it to the phone, Opera Mini 5.1 would be quite useful with limited memory phones such as the Nokia S40 series. Data compression will also decrease the amount of megabytes you send and receiving, which is definitely helpful to users who have a data cap. Phones such as the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 6300 and Nokia 2700 are advised to upgrade the Opera Mini 5 browser. In addition, phones will smaller screen sizes such as the Sony Ericsson K550i and Sony Ericsson W810i are advised to upgrade as well. Via [Opera Press Release] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:11 pm Calling All Startups For TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco, September 27-29
Please join us at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco on September 27-29 2010. It started as an experiment in New York this past May. We sensed a fundamental shift taking place with technology and media—a shift in platforms, applications, revenue models and consumer behavior—and we wanted to talk about it. Appropriately, we found an old Merrill-Lynch office building and took it over for three days to test a new event format, TechCrunch Disrupt. We had 3 objectives: (1) gather the best minds to debate what’s changing now and what to do about it; (2) showcase the hottest new startups we could find and (3) have fun and meet a ton of new people. The response was more than we could have hoped for. Charlie Rose opened the show. Mayor Bloomberg stopped by for a surprise visit. Carol Bartz even made me blush (sort of). Twenty five new startups launched on stage. Over 100 other startups demo’ed their services in the wings. 1,700 tech enthusiasts showed up—rivaling our biggest events to date in San Francisco. So we’re going to keep blowing it out, and we hope you’ll join us for TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco, September 27-29 at the San Francisco Design Center Concourse. The main agenda will run 9 am – 6 pm, but save your evenings for after-parties and lots more networking fun. Disrupt SF will explore the Third Wave, a phrase coined by John Doerr in his interview with Charlie Rose. If the First Wave was the PC, and the Second Wave was the Internet, now the Third Wave is a combination of the social and mobile layers accelerating everything on the Internet once again from geo apps and tablet computing to social commerce. Disrupt SF will also feature our new startup competition, the Startup Battlefield, where approximately 25 new startups will participate in a tournament-style launch competition to demonstrate their technology, business and marketing disruptions. One lucky company will take home the grand prize Disrupt Cup trophy (passed on from last May’s winners, Soluto) and a $50,000 check, and others will receive special awards and accolades. So let the disruption begin. Startup applications are open today, hosted by Producteev, through midnight PST, August 8. We review applications on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you are ready for consideration. You can read all the fine print for rules and eligibility here. Just remember our motto: Create, Destroy, Repeat. The Disrupt SF list of speakers and agenda will be announced on over the coming months, but grab our extra early bird tickets asap (best prices through July 31 via Eventbrite.)      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:05 pm NSA to Spy on Critical Infrastructure, Says WSJThe NSA will soon monitor the networks of private companies that run critical infrastructure, according to The Wall Street Journal. The project makes an end run over prohibitions against domestic military action and capitalizes on recent fears of cyberwar.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:05 pm Crackdown 2 Pushes Xbox 360 to the Blasting PointCrackdown 2 mixes Grand Theft Auto's open-world environment with the weaponry, superhuman strength and agility of comic book characters.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm Factors for Predicting Phantom Traffic JamsEver wonder "WTF?" about a traffic jam? Researchers have devised a formula to explain (but not prevent) them.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm Gallery: These Cars Are Downright Un-American!We bring you 10 cars that are about as un-American as reusable shopping bags, learning a foreign language and drinking wine in the afternoon.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm Alt Text: Unlikely Anime Surgeries Create Living CartoonsContact lenses that give you giant, glistening eyes are just the beginning. A coming wave of radical and extremely invasive procedures will fuel the ultimate manga-style makeovers.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:00 pm LA's "Grim Sleeper" serial killer suspect nabbed by DNA and pizza; was he snapped on Google Street View? Here in Los Angeles, the big story today is the capture of a suspect in the "Grim Sleeper" serial killer case, so named because the killer apparently went dormant for a decade before resuming his murderous behavior.The suspect, Lonnie David Franklin Jr. (photo below), once worked for the LAPD. He was nabbed with "familial DNA". His son's DNA was a close, but not precise, match with DNA found at the scene of murders, and Franklin's DNA was later reportedly confirmed as a match when investigators swabbed traces left behind after he ate at a local pizza parlor.
There's an internet rumor floating around that this Google Street View link shows the suspect, who worked as a sort of freelance car repair guy around the neighborhood. Authorities have not confirmed that the address is Franklin's, but local TV and papers have reported it as such (after eavesdropping on LAPD scanner radio). The Street View link does snow a shot of someone in front of a green house working on a car at that address, but we don't know who that person is. The killer is said to have focused primarily on black women, specifically prostitutes and "party girls." As far as I know, this is the first "familial DNA" arrest in California. There are some concerning privacy implications, particularly when one combines physical data-gathering (collecting DNA not just from the suspect but from relatives or others in the suspect's social network) with the sort of ambient, online data-gathering manifest in services like Google Street View. No one will argue that a serial killer should roam free, or that all available technology shouldn't be used to solve violent crimes, particularly a case involving as many deaths over as many decades as this one does. But how might these technologies be mis-used in the future? Guess we'll find out. (thanks, Andrea James)
Update: The address shown in the Street View link (screengrab below) certainly does appear to be confirmed as belonging to the suspect jailed today. A public records property search shows: 1728 W. 81st St N/A Lonnie D Franklin Jr and Y Sylvia South Los Angeles.
Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:48 pm Gadgetell Review: Klipsch Image S4 in ear headphonesSection: Audio, Headphones, Reviews, Features
The S4 comes with a sleek aluminum storage case, 3 sizes of ear tips, and aa tool for cleaning them. You can chose from black and silver or white with black and silver accents. They retail for $79.99 and are worth every penny! They are a huge step up from the earphones that come with most devices. Read [Klipsch] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:48 pm [TechCrunch TV] Alleged Russian Phone Thief: “I Have No Phones”
In a slightly creepy post titled “one of our children is missing,” the cell phone giant has accused Russian blogger, Eldar Murtazin of stealing a prototype of its newest handset. The company also claims that Murtazin is refusing to respond to their letters and calls and so has had no alternative but to report him to the Russian authorities. In this week’s edition of “Too Long, Didn’t Watch” we continue our Russian obsession with an interview from Murtazin in which he says he did not steal the phone, he doesn’t have the phone, and what’s more he’s the one who has been trying to contact Nokia since his story months ago. We also check in with TechCrunch Europe editor Mike ‘From London With Love’ Butcher to get his take on this Nokia-said-he-said game of Russian intrigue.      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:31 pm Open Source Music Fingerprinter Gets Patent NastygramNushio writes "The code wasn't even released, and yet Roy van Rijn, a Music & Free Software enthusiast received a C&D from Landmark Digital Services, owners of Shazam, a music service that allows you to find a song, by listening to a part of it. And if that wasn't enough, they want him to take down his blog post (Google Cache) explaining how he did it because it 'may be viewed internationally. As a result, [it] may contribute to someone infringing our patents in any part of the world.'" Update: 07/09 00:31 GMT by T :Story updated to reflect that Shazam is multiplatform, not Android-only, as implied by the original phrasing.
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Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:30 pm Venezuela arrests two for banking rumor TweetsCARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan police said on Thursday they arrested two people for spreading false rumors on the micro-blogging site Twitter aimed at destabilizing the Latin American...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:20 pm SCO Appeals Ruling in Novell Case (PC World)PC World - Following a final ruling from a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah in June, SCO Group on Wednesday filed an appeal in its long-running legal battle with Novell.Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:10 pm New Samsung N150 netbook is available on Verizon We saw glimpses of Verizon’s newest netbook back in late April, and it looks like the Samsung N150 is officially available as of today. Available on Verizon, the Samsung N150 netbook will sell for $49.99 after a $100 MIR on a new two year contract. In terms of data plans, customers have a few options depending on usage tendencies. For low to moderate data usage, I’d suggest the $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and $0.10/MB overage. For high usage, I’d suggest the $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and $0.05/MB overage. There are a few prepaid options available for the N150 such as:
In terms of specs, the N150 features a 10.1 inch non-glare LCD WSVGA screen, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB HDD, six cell battery for seven hours of continuous usage on a single charge, and only weighs 2.73 pounds. The N150 allows you to charge devices via USB even when the netbook is powered off. It uses a Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz processor and operates on Windows 7 Starter edition. Again, it is available for purchase today at all Verizon stores. Via [PRNewswire] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:07 pm How Much Plastic is in the Ocean?The first estimate of how much plastic is in the global ocean has yielded some staggering numbers.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:01 pm Good idea, bad idea: bendable bike locks itself to poles
This guy’s clearly got a good noggin, though. Keep up the good work, chum.
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:00 pm Some fireflies flash in synch to woo the right mate: studyUS scientists have shed light on the mystery of why the males of some species of firefly flash in unison and in a pattern: it's to help females identify them as suitable mates. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:53 pm The Rules Of Swapping SpiesThe Justice Department announced today the United States will exchange the 10 Russians agents captured last month in a spy ring.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:52 pm Deposit at the Desk: Skyline's DirectFED to be the Remote Deposit Capture Provider for PayYourRent.comLOS ANGELES, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- PayYourRent.com announces Skyline's DirectFED as their official remote deposit capture provider. Now, PayYourRent.com users can quickly scan paper checks and have them quickly deposited without the hassle of going to a bank. The fusion will link the leading provider in online rent payments with the leading provider in remote deposit capture solutions, a collaboration that property managers can bank on. With online payments still at 25 percent, the majority of payments (75 percent) still rely on paper checks. Skyline's DirectFED offers a streamlined system that allows businesses to effectively scan paper checks and have them directly processed by PayYourRent.com. Boundaries are broken, as managers can consolidate their banking and supervise their business with a few clicks of a mouse. "No matter how popular online payments become, there will inevitably be a large percentage of paper checks coming in each month," says Kevin Eberly, CEO of PayYourRent.com. "In our efforts to continue to provide the best possible solution to our managers, it was inevitable that we partner with a remote deposit capture company to facilitate the paper check processing side of the business. Skyline's DirectFED was the obvious choice. Their software is second to none and their emphasis on customer service and timely payment processing is directly in line with PayYourRent." By partnering with Skyline's DirectFED, PayYourRent.com has once again made strides in aiding users in a more time efficient process when dealing with payments. Not only are managers saving time by not having to run to the bank to deposit paper checks, but they are also saving money. PayYourRent.com users are now paying close to half of what their competitors are charged. "Both PayYourRent.com and Skyline's DirectFED have the common goal of helping businesses to run smoothly and more efficiently," says CEO and founder of Skyline's DirectFED, Shai Stern. "The partnership seemed inevitable. We are so happy to provide an added option to PayYourRent.com users in an effort to complete their modernized approach to business management." PayYourRent.com users are finding the convenience afforded by the new addition of Skyline's DirectFED is freeing up time once spent juggling papers and deposit slips for more important matters. The collaboration is one to deposit a streamlined outlook and a greater sense of competence for property managers nationwide. Contact: Tyler Barnett Media Representative DirectFED Ph. 323.937.1951 Cel. 818.929.8166 SOURCE Skyline's DirectFEDSource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:44 pm Researcher cracks 'secret' code in US Cyber Command logo - Computerworld
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:42 pm Good Database Design Books?OneC0de writes "I am the Director of IT for a small/medium sized marketing company, where I personally write the code that runs our applications. We use a variety of technology at our office, the majority of which rely on MS-SQL and MySQL databases. I am familiar with tables, SQL queries, and have a general understanding of how the SQL databases work. What I'm looking for is a good book, particularly a newer book, to explain general database design techniques, and maybe explain some relational tables. We have some tables that have million of rows, and I'd like to know the best method of designing these tables."
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Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:39 pm Flaming iPhone 4 alert (you’re burning it wrong)
Source: CrunchGear | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm Flaming iPhone 4 alert (you’re burning it wrong)
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm Gadgetell Review: The iTech SolarCharge 906Section: Gadgets / Other, Green, Reviews, Features
I charged it via USB first as it instructed and then tried to set it up to soak up the sun. Unfortunately the suction cups provided were cheap and useless. They wouldn’t stick to anything. For a device retailing for $60 I expected better. I propped it up the best I could and hoped for the best. After the recommended 23 hours of sun I tried charging my Blackberry and it did work-but didn’t charge it all the way for some reason. It ran out of juice just after it had charged my Berry half way. I do have an extended capacity battery so that may be why. I’ve got mixed feelings about this device. I love that it’s solar powered but it’s still reliant on traditional electricity because if the battery isn’t charged enough the solar panel won’t work. The fact that it didn’t fully charge my Blackberry concerns me as well. I did try charging again while it was in the sun and it did work as promised. The useless suction cups and poorly written user manual were disappointing. All in all it’s usefulness does outweigh its frustrations. Read [iTech] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article » Source: Gadgetell | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm Licensed Real Estate Broker Commercial Property Services Launches VAB Compliance Watch for Florida Taxpayers Who Appeal Property Tax AssessmentsOCALA, Fla., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Important new protections for owners who appeal property taxes include State statutes, Department of Revenue Rules and Regulations, and Special Magistrate Training materials. It's all about fair and equitable taxation. So, do the 67 Florida Value Adjustment Boards (VAB) and all of their Special Magistrates comply with the many new State standards? Some, like Miami-Dade do comply. But, many VABs are not following the governing laws. To alert VAB petitioners, Commercial Property Services launched VAB Compliance Watch at www.floridapropertytaxappeals.com. To be assured of fair Hearings, taxpayers should know if: Clerks make sure Special Magistrates have complete, current copies of State laws, record all meetings with Special Magistrates, schedule sufficient time for hearings, comply with rescheduling rules, and use a random selection process to assign hearing officers.VAB Attorneys advise Clerks, Special Magistrates, and Value Adjustment Board members "in a manner that will promote and maintain a high level of public trust and confidence in the administrative review process".VAB Members or Magistrates comply with Sunshine requirements and follow VAB Training to ensure taxpayers receive what they pay for - lawful Hearings.Florida Department of Revenue adequately supervises VABs and enforces compliance with state laws.Governor, Florida Cabinet, and Auditor General use their resources so taxpayers' Due Process rights are protected.VAB Compliance Watch does not reflect all Petitioners experiences, but does try to help property owners know which VABs are observed following the laws, or observations suggest there may be need for enforcement. Value Adjustment Boards are Florida's only affordable and objective remedy for real estate and tangible property taxpayers. Assessments are based on values for taxation purposes as of January 1st and use retroactive data. Notices of Assessments and VAB petition filing deadlines (strictly enforced) are mailed in August to each taxpayer of record. Hearings usually begin in the fall, continuing until all matters are concluded. Commercial Property Services is a Florida licensed real estate broker, incorporated in 1992. CPS appeals property tax assessments statewide on the historic American principle that taxation must be "fair". We know the ropes, participated in drafting the State standards, and understand the VAB process and principles of assessment. For additional information, contact Realtor Sheila Anderson at 305-372-9200, or 352-245-7441 SOURCE Commercial Property Services, Inc.Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:30 pm Android Grows at a Blistering Pace
Google’s open source Android operating system ranks fourth in terms of market share among smartphone platforms in the U.S. but is growing at a faster pace than its rivals. About 13 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers used an Android phone in the quarter that ended May, up 4 percent from the previous quarter, according to comScore’s Mobilens service. Research In Motion’s BlackBerry remained the number one smartphone platform with 41.7 percent share among consumers. Apple ranked number two with 24.4 percent share and Microsoft third with 13.2 percent, while Palm rounded out the top five with 4.8 percent. Android’s growth should come as no surprise to mobile enthusiasts. More than 20 Android phones are available in the U.S. currently. Handset makers such as LG and Samsung that have been slower than rivals Motorola and HTC in adopting Android are now planning to launch new Android devices. Earlier this week, LG said it will have two Android smartphones and an Android-based tablet available by the end of the year. Samsung has already announced that its first 4G Android phone on Sprint will be available this summer. This focus on Android has taken its toll on other mobile operating systems. Almost all platforms, with the exception of Android, lost some market share in the quarter. BlackBerry market share was down 0.4 percent, while Apple lost about 1 percent. The data does not include the iPhone 4, which launched in June. Android’s growth doesn’t mean other smartphone systems are losing ground, says comScore. The number of people who own a smartphone in the U.S. grew 8.1 percent last quarter to 9.1 million people, which indicates that the overall pie is growing. See Also:
Photo: (bump/Flickr) 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:12 pm Apple’s Friend Bar: A Place Where Fanboys Can Talk At People All Day Long [Humor]The Onion has done it again. The satirical news outlet is generally great at parodying a wide range of topics — but they always seem to be especially good at parodying Apple topics. The latest victim? Apple’s Genius Bars. According to The Onion, Apple will soon unveil an extension of this idea called “Friend Bars” which Apple users can visit to find someone to “talk at” about their newest mundane Apple thoughts. What makes this video even funnier is that an idea like this really doesn’t seem all that far-fetched. I mean, there is already a dating site for Apple users that is growing quite nicely. Watch the full video below. The best part may be towards the end when an Apple fan gets on the phone with a Friend Bar call center employee. “Oh, yes!”
Information provided by CrunchBase      
Source: TechCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:12 pm Code Cracked! Cyber Command Logo Mystery SolvedIn short order, a Danger Room reader figures out that the odd string of letters and numbers in the logo of the U.S. military's new Cyber Command is actually its mission statement.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:10 pm Lawyers Who Won NSA Spy Case Demand $2.63 MillionLawyers behind the first lawsuit to successfully win a case against the Bush administration over its warrantless wiretapping program are demanding $2.63 million in legal fees.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:05 pm Soccer Refs Subconsciously Call More Fouls on Plays to the LeftReferees are more likely to make foul calls when they see the action moving from right to left, according to a new study by brain researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:00 pm Patriot Data Solutions Group Affirms Go To Market StrategyCARLSBAD, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Patriot Scientific Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: PTSC) today reported initial success of the go-to-market strategy for its wholly owned subsidiary, Patriot Data Solutions Group (PDSG). "With the assistance of strategic consultants at Attain, LLC, we have worked for several months to reposition PDSG through strategic planning and reorganization efforts, and to develop an effective go-to-market strategy for PDSG's Crossflo DataExchange® (CDX) solution set," said Cliff Flowers, interim CEO of Patriot Scientific. "I am pleased to announce that we are seeing early signs that validate our accomplishments to date. Previously, our ability to market mission critical infrastructure directly to end users was challenged by our small size and market presence. However, working with Attain we have gained access to channel partners that regularly market solutions and services to a broader target audience, and we are working to familiarize them with the CDX product line." With a go-to-market strategy that harnesses the market access of channel partners, PDSG is beginning to identify opportunities where it can jointly market data sharing solutions and services to the public safety marketplace. In addition to significantly increasing PDSG's pipeline of business opportunities and the size of systems integration projects it may pursue, the channel strategy also provides access to new markets, including Federal customers. "While I am convinced that the development of channel partners is critical for our ability to access the market, I must emphasize that we are in the early stages of this effort," said Mr. Flowers. "Expanding the number of engaged partners, integrating closely with their existing solutions and participating in end user proposals, etc. are all steps that we will be taking as we move forward to develop our business." "I am pleased with our assistance to Patriot in identifying the right approach to marketing its CDX solution set and broadening its access to both new and existing markets," said Greg Baroni, chairman and CEO of Attain. "We at Attain have always been impressed by CDX and have believed the market for such data sharing services has been underserved. We look forward to continuing to help deliver CDX to a larger market audience." About Patriot Scientific Corporation Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Patriot Scientific Corporation (PTSC) provides data sharing and secure data solutions for a connected world. These activities are funded with revenues generated, in a large part, from the Moore Microprocessor Patent(TM) Portfolio. For more information on Patriot Scientific Corporation, visit: www.ptsc.com. About Patriot Data Solutions Group Patriot Data Solutions Group, Inc. ("PDSG") provides products and solutions that enable mission-critical applications to significantly accelerate the time to value and reduce total cost of ownership for their data-sharing initiatives. The company's flagship product, the Crossflo DataExchange® solution, helps link systems together and facilitates secure data sharing for any information exchange initiative in the public safety and criminal justice markets. The solution has been designed to work directly with a number of national data sharing standards, including NIEM (National Information Exchange Model), and the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) and HL7 (Health Level 7). PDSG also offers Vigilys, a software product that leverages data accessed by CDX and provides a shared, map-based, common operating picture that allows field based first responders and office based emergency managers the ability to visualize incident responses and collaborate in real-time. PDSG's technological innovation is backed by subject matter expertise and proven methodologies, facilitating the rapid exchange of actionable data in mission-critical applications such as clinical quality improvement and emergency services response management. PDSG has been working with some of the nation's earliest and most innovative data exchange projects including one of the most advanced statewide data-sharing initiatives to be deployed in the United States. PDSG is the data-sharing group of Patriot Scientific Corporation, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, California (OTC BB: PTSC). For more information on Patriot Data Solutions Group, visit www.pdsg.com. About Attain Based in Vienna, Va., Attain is a professional services company comprised of innovative problem solvers who deliver tangible results to address today's complex public sector challenges. With approximately 200 employees, Attain delivers strategic, operational support, healthcare solutions, and IT security and application services to more than 125 customers in the Federal, state and local government, higher education and nonprofit markets. For more information about Attain, please visit www.attain.com. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this news release looking forward in time involve risks and uncertainties, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the products markets, variations in the company's cash flow, market acceptance risks, patent litigation, technical development risks, seasonality and other risk factors detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Contact: Patriot Investor Relations ir@ptsc.com 760-547-2700 ext. 102 SOURCE Patriot Scientific CorporationSource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:48 pm Skype Encryption (Partly) RevealedTSHTF writes "Just weeks after Skype unveiled a public API for the service, a group of cryptographers led by Sean O'Neill have successfully reverse engineered the encryption used by the Skype protocol. Source code is available under a non-commercial license which details Skype's implementation of the RC4 cipher." The linked article cautions, however, that "initial analysis suggests that O'Neill's publication does not mean that Skype's encryption can be considered 'cracked'. Further study will be needed to determine whether key expansion and initialisation vector generation are secure."
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Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:48 pm Patriot Data Solutions Group Affirms Go To Market StrategySource: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:48 pm U.K. Retailer Leaks New iPod Touch Details: Camera, FaceTime - Wired News
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:46 pm US Department of Labor launches online registry of H-2A jobsSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:40 pm Lawson Software's 4Q earnings hit by tax billLawson Software Inc. said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings plunged 70 percent as the business software maker swallowed a bigger tax bill and booked acquistion costs. The...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:39 pm Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Signs Agreement With Sprint Nextel to Offer Prepaid WirelessEDINBURG, Va., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) (Nasdaq: SHEN) announced today that its wireless subsidiary, Shenandoah Personal Communications Company, a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, has signed an amendment to the current contract with Sprint Nextel to allow Shentel to sell Virgin Mobile and Boost prepaid wireless services. Effective on July 11, 2010, Virgin Mobile and Boost prepaid products and services will be available in the Shentel wireless service area through Sprint stores operated by Shentel and hundreds of other locations. Shentel's Sprint Nextel customer count will now include approximately 50,000 current Virgin Mobile customers in the Shentel wireless service area, as well as future Virgin Mobile and Boost customers served on 1900 MHz within Shentel's wireless service area. Customers will not experience a change in services as a result of this agreement. About Shenandoah Telecommunications Shenandoah Telecommunications Company is a holding company that provides a broad range of telecommunications services through its operating subsidiaries. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SHEN." The Company's operating subsidiaries provide local and long distance telephone, Internet and data services, cable television, wireless voice and data services, alarm monitoring, and telecommunications equipment, along with many other associated solutions in the Mid-Atlantic United States. This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of unforeseen factors. A discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in the Company filings with the SEC. Those factors may include changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs, changes in regulation and other competitive factors. SOURCE Shenandoah Telecommunications CompanySource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:30 pm Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Signs Agreement With Sprint Nextel to Offer Prepaid WirelessSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsTech | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:30 pm CyberSource Announces Early Termination of HSR Waiting PeriodMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CyberSource Corporation (Nasdaq: CYBS) ("CyberSource"), a leading provider of electronic payment, risk management, and payment security solutions, announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended ("HSR Act"), with respect to the planned acquisition of CyberSource by Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) ("Visa"), which was announced on April 21, 2010. Accordingly, the requirement under the merger agreement for the expiration or termination of any waiting period under the HSR Act has been satisfied. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/19990513/CYBRSOURCELOGO) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990513/CYBRSOURCELOGO) The closing of the transaction still remains subject to other conditions in the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Visa, CyberSource and Market St. Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visa, including approval by CyberSource's stockholders at the Special Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled for July 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time, at CyberSource's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. About CyberSource CyberSource solutions enable electronic payment processing for Web, call center, and POS environments. CyberSource also offers industry-leading risk management and payment security solutions for merchants accepting card-not-present transactions. CyberSource Professional Services designs, integrates, and optimizes commerce transaction processing systems. Approximately 305,000 businesses use CyberSource solutions, including half the companies comprising the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has sales and service offices in Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and other locations in the United States including Bellevue, Washington and American Fork, Utah. For more information on CyberSource please visit www.cybersource.com or email info@cybersource.com. For more information on Authorize.Net small business solutions, please visit www.authorize.net or email sales@authorize.net. Cautionary Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, and these statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Visa and CyberSource. The forward-looking statements in this release address a variety of subjects including, for example, satisfaction of other conditions under the Merger Agreement and approval by CyberSource stockholders. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: the risk that CyberSource's business will not be successfully integrated with Visa's business; matters arising in connection with the parties' efforts to comply with and satisfy applicable closing conditions relating to the transaction; and other events that could adversely impact the completion of the transaction, including industry or economic conditions outside of our control. In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Visa's overall business, including those more fully described in Visa's filings with the SEC including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, and its quarterly report filed on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2010, and CyberSource's overall business and financial condition, including those more fully described in CyberSource's filings with the SEC including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and its quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal year. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed merger, CyberSource filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC on June 11, 2010 ("Proxy Statement"). Additionally, CyberSource will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the proposed acquisition of CyberSource by Visa pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Visa, CyberSource and Market St. Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visa. The materials to be filed by CyberSource with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Investors and stockholders also may obtain free copies of the proxy statement from CyberSource by contacting its investor relations department by telephone at (650) 965-6000 or by mail at CyberSource Corporation, Investor Relations, 1295 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. Investors and security holders of CyberSource are urged to read the Proxy Statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger because they will contain important information about the merger and the parties to the merger. CyberSource, Visa and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of CyberSource stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of CyberSource's executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading CyberSource's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 containing Part III information filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010, the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the merger when they become available. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Visa's executive officers and directors by reading Visa's proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2009. Information concerning the interests of CyberSource's participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of CyberSource's stockholders generally, is set forth in the Proxy Statement and may be supplemented by other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the merger when they become available. Additional information regarding CyberSource directors and executive officers is also included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, containing Part III information, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010. ©2010 CyberSource Corporation. All rights reserved. CyberSource and Authorize.Net are registered trademarks of CyberSource Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. SOURCE CyberSource CorporationSource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:21 pm Storyboard Podcast: Climb Inside the World's Coolest CockpitsFrom a fighter jet to a monster truck, Wired plops you into the operator's seat of some of the most amazing vehicles ever invented. This podcast takes you behind the scenes.
Source: Wired Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:17 pm Apple Implements the CalDAV Standard For MobileMeVermyndax writes "Apple announced the new MobileMe Calendar beta on July 6th. The mainstream press picked up the story and plugged the gorgeous new iPad-like interface for all devices. It seems, however, that they missed the real story: MobileMe's new Calendar application is an implementation of CalDAV, the proposed calendaring standard. This may be the same implementation that exists in Snow Leopard Server and is open sourced. The hidden gem in all of this is that Apple plans to bring this CalDAV connectivity to Outlook users on MobileMe. Where might they take it next?"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 3:00 pm New Batfish Species Found Under Gulf Oil SpilleDarwin writes "Researchers have discovered two previously unknown species of bottom-dwelling fish in the Gulf of Mexico, living right in the area affected by the BP oil spill. Researchers identified new species of pancake batfishes, a flat fish rarely seen because of the dark depths they favor. They are named for the clumsy way they 'walk' along the sea bottom, like a bat crawling."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:41 pm Blizzard Real ID system sparks controversy - CNET
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:26 pm Two teen developers snag the world’s first Windows Phone 7 handsets
When most people are 16, the extent of their programming knowledge — if there’s any to be spoken of — is pretty much limited to using conditional loops to print an endless stream of obscenities to the screen. These guys, however, are using their programming know-how to jetset around the world, rock competitions, and take home hardware unavailable to just about anyone else in the world. Meet Eric Lo, 16, and Christian Hood, 17. Armed with nothing but a few weeks worth of effort, the desire to build something cool, and a Wiimote they hacked to act as the accelerometer in place of the handset they didn’t have, they emerged with Droid Assault for Windows Phone 7. They submitted it to Microsoft’s Rockstar challenge — and they won. Beyond a free trip to Poland for the Awards Ceremony and a fat check, Microsoft surprised the guys with Windows Phone 7 handsets — the first of their kind, outside of Microsoft and Co.’s development labs — to take home. Turns out, all of the finalists (which, with around 103 teams named, works out to around 350 people) get handsets as well. You hear that ticking? Thats the countdown before these things start popping up on eBay. [Via Windows Team Blog]
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:21 pm Researchers Develop Drug Delivery System Using Nanoparticles Triggered By Electromagnetic FieldA new system for the controlled delivery of pharmaceutical drugs has been developed by a team of University of Rhode Island chemical engineers using nanoparticles embedded in a liposome that can be triggered by non-invasive electromagnetic fields.The discovery by URI professors Geoffrey Bothun and Arijit Bose and graduate student Yanjing Chen was published in the June issue of ACS Nano.According to Bothun, liposomes are tiny nanoscale spherical structures made of lipids that can trap different drug molecules inside them for use in delivering those drugs to targeted locations in the body. The superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles the researchers embed in the shell of the liposome release the drug by making the shell leaky when heat-activated in an alternating current electromagnetic field operating at radio frequencies."We've shown that we can control the rate and extent of the release of a model drug molecule by varying the nanoparticle loading and the magnetic field strength," explained Bothun. "We get a quick release of the drug with magnetic field heating in a matter of 30 to 40 minutes, and without heating there is minimal spontaneous leakage of the drug from the liposome."Bothun said that the liposomes self-assemble because portions of the lipids are hydrophilic – they have a strong affinity for water – and others are hydrophobic – they avoid water. When he mixes lipids and nanoparticles in a solvent, adds water and evaporates off the solvent, the materials automatically assemble themselves into liposomes. The hydrophobic nanoparticles and lipids join together to form the shell of the liposome, while the water-loving drug molecules are captured inside the spherical shell."The concept of loading nanoparticles within the hydrophobic shell to focus the activation is brand new," Bothun said. "It works because the leakiness of the shell is ultimately what controls the release of the drugs."The next step in the research is to design and optimize liposome/nanoparticle assemblies that can target cancer cells or other disease-causing cells. In vitro cancer cell studies are already underway in collaboration with URI pharmacy professor Matthew Stoner."We are functionalizing the liposomes by putting in different lipids to help stabilize and target them so they can seek out particular cancer cell types," he said. "We are building liposomes that will attach to particular cells or tumor regions."Bothun said that research on nanomedicine shows great promise, but there are still many challenges to overcome, and the targeting of appropriate cells may be the greatest challenge."Any ability to target the drug is better than a drug that goes everywhere in your system and generates off-target effects," he said, noting that the hair loss and nausea from anti-cancer drugs are the result of the high drug concentrations needed for treatment and the drug's affect on non-target cells. "If you can get an assembly to a targeted site without losing its contents in the process, that's the holy grail."---On the Net:University of Rhode IslandACS NanoSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:17 pm VLSI Standards Extends Solar Cell Certification ServiceMILPITAS, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- VLSI Standards, Inc. has announced that it has expanded its current portfolio of Solar Cell Certification Services to include ISO-17025 accredited certification of customer supplied production cells up to 156 mm x 156 mm in size. VLSI offers multiple traceability paths to globally recognize national metrology institutes and laboratories including the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) of Germany, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the U.S. These new offerings from VLSI allow solar cell manufacturers to meet the metrology quality requirements of their worldwide customers--speeding penetration into international markets. To help solar cell manufacturers validate targeted or claimed product performance for internal quality control, customer validation or marketing purposes, VLSI Standards' Solar Cell Certification Service offers traceable measurements of production cells of short circuit current (Isc), open circuit voltage (Voc), maximum power (Pmax), cell area, spectral response (or quantum efficiency), fill factor, and cell efficiency. These measurements will be conducted under Standard Test Conditions (STC.) As an option, temperature dependence measurements are also available (temperature coefficient at 25 degrees C and temperature dependence (between 15 degrees C and 50 degrees C) of Isc, Voc, and efficiency). "Our customers have asked for a better solar cell certification option," stated Larry Wagner, President of VLSI Standards. "The extension of VLSI Standards' Solar Cell Certification Service responds to our customers' desire for faster delivery times to help them act more quickly to market demands for their cells, localized support for prompt service and various convenient payment options." Production cell measurements will continue to be serviced from VLSI Standard's accredited solar calibration laboratory in Milpitas, Calif. For additional information on the full scope of available products, please see VLSI Standards' website at http://www.vlsistandards.com VLSI Standards, Inc. designs and manufactures calibration standards for stylus and optical profilers, solar simulators, surface and reticle contamination detectors, resistivity, film thickness and scanning probe monitors and critical dimension measurement tools. VLSI Standards also provides metrology-based services to the semiconductor, photovoltaic, disk drive manufacturing and flat panel display industries. Headquarters are located at Five Technology Dr., Milpitas, CA 95035-7916 with representatives located worldwide. Contact VLSI Standards by calling 800-228-8574, faxing us at 408-428-9555 or visit our website at www.vlsistandards.com. SOURCE VLSI Standards, Inc.Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:15 pm KLA-Tencor's ICOS Division Marks 1000th Shipment of Its Automated In-Line Inspection Products for Solar Wafers and CellsMILPITAS, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- KLA-Tencor Corporation® (Nasdaq: KLAC), the world's leading supplier of process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related industries, today announced the 1000th shipment of its automated in-line inspection products for solar wafers and cells. The rapid adoption of these products has been driven by the market's demand for technology to reduce the cost per watt of solar-generated electricity. These tools are currently installed at most of the major solar cell manufacturers around the globe. "KLA-Tencor is proud to announce this important milestone as it reflects our ongoing commitment to providing solar cell fabrication engineers with more accurate inspection and metrology tools--enabling improved yield and higher cell efficiency and quality," said Jeff Donnelly, group vice president of Growth and Emerging Markets at KLA-Tencor. "We remain firmly dedicated to advancing new technologies for the solar industry and providing reliable products that enable our customers to inspect solar wafers and cells faster and with increased accuracy." KLA-Tencor's PV inspection portfolio features the ICOS PVI-6(TM), which was introduced in March 2009 for optical in-line, dual-sided inspection of photovoltaic (PV) wafers and cells. The PVI-6, from KLA-Tencor's ICOS Division, a leader in metrology and inspection solutions for the PV industry, is now widely adopted in the market and installed at leading solar cell manufacturers worldwide. The ICOS PVI-6 offers a number of key technical benefits over the company's previous generation tools, including: Higher accuracy and repeatability of measurements, with up to a 4x measurement accuracy improvement, delivering higher yields and improved end-of-line cell classification Easier calibration and set-up, with calibration time decreased by approximately 80 percent to enable faster product ramp during initial installation Tool matching and central module management, offering consistent and easily attainable results in large production environments across multiple production lines Support from a global organization with dedicated solar inspection and metrology engineersKLA-Tencor's solar process control portfolio will be on display at the 2010 Intersolar North America Tradeshow, which will be held July 13 - 15 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., at Booth #9327. About KLA-Tencor: KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC), a leading provider of process control and yield management solutions, partners with customers around the world to develop state-of-the-art inspection and metrology technologies. These technologies serve the semiconductor, data storage, compound semiconductor, photovoltaic, and other related nanoelectronics industries. With a portfolio of industry-standard products and a team of world-class engineers and scientists, the company has created superior solutions for its customers for over 30 years. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, KLA-Tencor has dedicated customer operations and service centers around the world. Additional information may be found at www.kla-tencor.com. (KLAC-P) Forward Looking Statements: Statements in this press release other than historical facts, such as statements regarding KLA-Tencor's ability to successfully develop and market technology and products that will benefit customers in the solar industry, the PVI-6's expected performance, expected uses of the company's solar process control tools by customers, and the anticipated cost, operational and other benefits realizable by users of the PVI-6 and KLA-Tencor's other solar process control tools are forward-looking statements, and are subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including delays in the adoption of new technologies (whether due to cost or performance issues or otherwise), the introduction of competing products by other companies or unanticipated technological challenges or limitations that affect the implementation, performance or use of KLA-Tencor's products. SOURCE KLA-Tencor CorporationSource: RedOrbit News - Technology | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:15 pm Antibodies Kill Most Known HIV StrainsThis breakthrough could advance HIV vaccine design as well as therapy for other diseases.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:15 pm Intercellular Communication: From 'Cable-Phone' To 'Cell-Phone'?Secreted microRNAs (miRNAs) from cells to blood maybe the novel class of signaling molecules mediating intercellular/interorgan communication. A research article, published this week in Molecular Cell, reports that miRNA can be secreted from one type of cells and delivered into recipient cells, decreases targeted gene expression, thus, regulates recipient cell function.MiRNAs are a class of naturally occurring small non-coding RNAs that have been linked to biological possesses and diseases development. In the previous study, Chen-Yu Zhang and colleagues reported that expression profile of circulating miRNAs in human and other animals are the novel class of biomarkers for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. As the consequent work, the same research team has investigated the source of circulating miRMAs. Chen-Yu Zhang and colleagues demonstrate that cell selectively packages miRNA into microvesicles when cell responses to different stimuli. The selective packaging is an essential point of specificity of cellular secretion of miRNAs. The research team also demonstrates that these secreted miRNAs can be delivered into target cells and can modulate the biological functions of these cells via repression of miRNA target gene expression."Since their discovery in C. elegans 15 years ago, miRNAs have been implicated in a wide array of cellular and developmental processes. To date, more than 500 miRNAs are predicted to be expressed in humans and nearly 30% of genes are predicted to be regulated by miRNAs. The present study extends our understanding of the role of miRNAs by illustrating that miRNAs can be secreted and delivered into target cells and that these exogenous miRNAs can alter the cellular functions of the recipient cells by modulating the expression of their target genes," said Chen-Yu Zhang. "From this point of view, secreted miRNAs represent a novel class of signaling molecules that play an important role in mediating cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ communication." Moreover, the secretion and targeting of miRNAs establishes a highly regulated complex network under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions."Compared to classic cellular communications mediated by hormone/cytokine–receptor and antigen–antibody interactions that generally occur only in certain types of cells, involve a single or few molecules, and affect target cells in a "one-way" fashion, secreted miRNA–based cell communication has the potential to function for every type of cell, to deliver many types of miRNAs with each miRNA targeting multiple genes, and to affect target cells in "two-way" or "multi-way" fashion. Investigating this secreted miRNA–mediated shift of cell communication from a "cable telephone" to "cell phone" fashion would help us to further understand the nature of biological signaling, discover novel mechanisms of disease and develop new therapeutic strategies," added by co-author Ke Zen. ---On the Net:Nanjing University School of Life SciencesMolecular CellSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:14 pm Firefox 4 Beta 1 Shines On HTML5snydeq writes "InfoWorld's Peter Wayner takes a first look at Firefox 4 Beta 1 and sees several noteworthy HTML5 integrations that bring Firefox 4 'that much closer to taking over everything on the desktop.' Beyond the Chrome-like UI, Firefox 4 adds several new features that 'open up new opportunities for AJAX and JavaScript programmers to add more razzle-dazzle and catch up with Adobe Flash, Adobe AIR, Microsoft Silverlight, and other plug-ins,' Wayner writes. 'Firefox 4 also adds an implementation of the Websockets API, a tool for enabling the browser and the server to pass data back and forth as needed, making it unnecessary for the browser to keep asking the server if there's anything new to report.'"
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Source: Slashdot | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:13 pm Small Molecule Boosts Production Of Brain Cells, Protects New Cells From DyingUT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found a compound that preserves newly created brain cells and boosts learning and memory in an animal study.The study of this compound, which appears in the July 9 issue of Cell, springs from a $2.5 million National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award to Dr. Steven McKnight, chairman of biochemistry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study.Over a three-year period, the research team led by Dr. McKnight and Dr. Andrew Pieper, assistant professor of psychiatry and biochemistry at UT Southwestern, screened 1,000 individual molecules to see which ones might enhance the production of neurons in the adult mouse hippocampus, a region of the brain critical to learning and memory. The scientists found that one of the compounds, called P7C3, achieved this by protecting newborn neurons from dying.The researchers then administered P7C3 to "knockout" mice lacking a gene that controls the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Humans who lack this gene have a variety of learning disabilities, and the "knockout" rodents show related abnormalities as well as a poorly formed hippocampus. When the "knockout" mouse received P7C3, however, normal structure and function of the hippocampus were restored.In elderly rats, which characteristically show a decline in the birth and formation of hippocampal neurons, the researchers found that P7C3 increased both the birth and survival of new neurons, and the memory and learning capability of the aged rats."It's been a wonderful experience," Dr. Pieper said. "At first there was a lot of doubt, because we could have gone through the whole screen and found nothing."The researchers currently are studying the mechanism by which P7C3 protects cells from dying, and whether it might have any protective effect in other models of neurodegenerative disease."We don't know yet whether P7C3 can block the death of mature nerve cells, which is what occurs in humans with these conditions," Dr. McKnight said.Dr. McKnight was one of the first 12 recipients of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, which is designed to allow researchers to pursue risky experiments that have the potential for producing highly innovative results."When I received the award, I thought 'I'm not going to waste it on something safe – I'm going to go for it. That's what the NIH expected of me and my team,' " Dr. McKnight said. "I'd like to give the NIH credit for betting on 'cowboy' science. If this pans out, it will be the most useful contribution of my career."Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH, said Dr. McKnight's results exactly fit the award's purpose."The NIH Director's Pioneer Award gives highly innovative investigators the freedom to pursue bold new avenues of research. Such approaches can yield substantial payoffs, as in the case of the exciting clinical implications of Professor McKnight's basic neurobiological research discovery," Dr. Collins said.---On the Net:UT Southwestern Medical CenterCellSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:11 pm A Chemical To Make Brain Cells GrowScientists have identified a chemical that makes new neurons grow. The substance works specifically in a part of the brain that is integral to learning and memory.The discovery, made after researchers systematically and painstakingly infused each of 1,000 different chemicals into the brains of live mice, could point the way to a new type of neuroprotective drug for people with Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases, according to the report in the July 9th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication."We really didn't know if the screen would turn up a favorable compound or not," said Steven McKnight of the University of Texas Southwestern. "It was blind luck.""Our chances were slim," added Andrew Pieper, also of UT Southwestern. "But we knew if we did find something, we would already have evidence that it worked in a living animal." Promising candidates landed in cell culture too often don't pan out.McKnight and Pieper were inspired by evidence that the mammalian brain continues to add new neurons into adulthood. The question was whether there might be a way to encourage the growth of those cells in ways that could be beneficial.The researchers' initial drug screen in mice turned up eight contenders that appeared to support the formation of neurons specifically in a brain region (called the dentate gyrus) known to sprout new neurons in adulthood. Of those eight chemical candidates, they focused their attention on one called P7C3, based on its other favorable drug properties.To find out just how well P7C3 might work, the researchers put it to the test in mice carrying a mutation that renders them almost completely incapable of producing new neurons in the critical dentate gyrus region."These mice are bad at making new neurons," McKnight said. "The question was: Can you fix that? And the answer to that was yes."Not only did new neurons form, but electrophysiological recordings also showed that processing in the dentate gyrus had been restored. "Sure enough, we had evidence that you can actually create new neurons that work," McKnight said.Prolonged treatment of aged rats with P7C3 also enhanced the birth of new neurons. "Aged rats normally show a decline in neurogenesis associated with an inability to form new memories and learn tasks," Pieper explained.In their study, rats treated with P7C3 each day showed evidence of an increase in the formation of newborn neurons and significant improvements in their ability to swim to the location of a missing platform, a standardized test of learning and memory in rats.The key to the treatment's success is the protection of newborn neurons, the researchers report. In fact, they explained, the normal process by which newborn neurons are incorporated into the brain as mature cells is a long and perilous one."It takes a long time – two to four weeks -- from the birth of a new neuron until it becomes functional," McKnight said. "Most of them die along the way." P7C3 essentially seems to give newborn neurons better odds.Notably, they say that two other drugs (Dimebon and Serono compounds) – both of which bear structural similarities to P7C3 –also encourage the growth of new neurons. It's tempting to think that all three compounds work in the same way.In fact, Dimebon first came to the attention of researchers based on anecdotal reports by Russian physicians that the drug may ameliorate the symptoms of age-related cognitive decline. Unfortunately, unpublished reports from a phase 3 clinical trial have since failed to provide evidence that the drug could stave off the memory loss that comes with Alzheimer's disease.In light of the new findings, it may be worth another look. "The speculative idea that these chemicals share a common mode of action will only be rigorously tested upon identification of their molecular target(s),". Determining the molecular target of P7C3 is a question that the researchers are turning their sights on next.---On the Net:Cell PressCellSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:06 pm Housing Upgrade Shrinks Tumors In Mice With CancerWhen mice with cancer get a boost in their social life and an upgrade in living conditions, their tumors shrink, and their cancers more often go into spontaneous remission Reported in the July 9th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, these findings offer powerful new evidence of the critical role that social connection and an individual's mental state, may play in cancer."Animals' interaction with the environment has a profound influence on the growth of cancer – more than we knew was possible," said Matthew During of The Ohio State University.It's not as if the animals' usual housing was all that bad. Laboratory mice are typically housed in groups of five or so, where they can have all the food they want and play all day. The enriched environments in the new study expanded living groups to 15 or 20 animals and provided them with more space and more things to play with and do – including toys, hiding places and running wheels.When During and his colleague Lei Cao placed mice with cancer in that enriched environment, the animals tumor mass shrunk by an impressive 77 percent and the volume by 43 percent, the researchers report. Five percent of mice that had been given cancer showed no evidence of the disease after three weeks in their new home. That never happened in control animals kept in standard housing.During says that the more complex social dimension in the new living arrangements was apparently key. The same improvements weren't seen in animals who only exercised more, so physical activity in and of itself wasn't the answer.The animals did show lower levels of a hormone produced by fat called leptin, indicative of a significant shift in metabolism. Their immune systems also appeared to be "ramped up a bit," During said.During and his colleague ultimately traced the effect to an axis from the brain to fat driven by an increase in a growth factor expressed in the hypothalamus called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).Further study showed that manipulations designed to increase BDNF levels also reduced tumor burden. In animals lacking BDNF, the benefits of an enriched environment evaporated.The researchers say the findings lend favor to the view that low levels of stress, or certain kinds of stress, can be beneficial. "A lot of people think stress is bad, but our data show the animals aren't just happy. Antidepressants won't give you the same effect." In fact, the animals show higher levels of stress hormones known as glucocorticoids."The goal isn't to minimize stress, but to live a richer life, socially and physically," During said. "You want to be challenged."The findings could ultimately lead to clinical advances in the way we tackle cancer and perhaps other diseases as well, whether through environmental modifications that offer mental and social stimulation or perhaps via a drug that mimics those experiences on a molecular level. It will be important to find out what it takes in humans to turn BDNF on."We're really showing that you can't look at a disease like cancer in isolation," During said. "For too long, physicians and other have stuck to what they know – surgery, chemo, radiotherapy. Traditionally working on the area of lifestyle and the brain has been a 'soft area.' This paper really suggests if we look at people more in terms of their perceptions of disease, their social interactions and environment, we could realize a profound influence on cancer. There's no reason to suspect our findings [in mice] won't be generalizable."---On the Net:Cell PressCellSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:04 pm Citizen Journalism V. Legacy News: The Battle For News SupremacyMU researchers say citizen journalism does not match void left by legacy news organizationsA team of researchers from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and two other schools say that even the top 60 citizen websites and bloggers are not filling the information shortfall that has resulted from cutbacks in traditional media.“While many of the blogs and citizen journalism sites have done very interesting and positive things, they are not even close to providing the level of coverage that even financially stressed news organizations do today,” said Margaret Duffy, associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism. “Not only do these blogs and websites lack the staff to adequately cover stories, but most citizen journalism managers do not have the financial resources and business experience to make their websites viable over time.”Duffy collaborated with Esther Thorson, associate dean for graduate studies at the MU School of Journalism, and Mi Jangh, doctoral candidate at MU, along with others at Michigan State and North Carolina. The Pew and Knight foundations underwrote the research.The researchers identified a number of factors including how much linking each website included, how much public participation they allowed or invited, how frequently news and content were updated, and whether the citizen websites provided contact information for the public.Duffy says it is important to understand how citizen journalism and legacy news organizations co-exist. She believes it is critical that democracy have an effective journalistic presence. With many newspapers and broadcast news outlets struggling financially, she is concerned about the future of journalism. “A strong democracy depends on vibrant, robust news coverage with informed citizens and voting public,” Duffy said. “If news media have to cut back and are unable to provide the same level of coverage for their communities that they did in the past, citizen journalism may need to step in. That is why it is important to examine what these websites need to do to improve and survive. “ Elements of the study were published in the Newspaper Research Journal as well as presented at the International Communication Association conference June 24 in Singapore.---On the Net:University of MissouriSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 2:02 pm A Fateful PauseGenetic mechanism once thought rare may allow rapid cell productionWe take our blood for granted, but its creation requires a complicated series of steps, starting with the formation of blood stem cells during early embryonic development, followed by progressive differentiation into the progenitors of red cells, white cells and platelets, and ultimately the full set of blood cells. Now, in the July 9 issue of Cell, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston report a surprising twist in how mature red blood cells form – which may explain the body's ability to rapidly replenish them in response to injury.Previously, working with zebrafish – whose transparent bodies make it easy to watch blood formation -- the laboratory of Leonard Zon, MD, director of the Stem Cell Program at Children's, found a gene which, when mutated, left the embryonic fish bereft of red blood cells (this profoundly anemic strain was dubbed moonshine). Though the fish did form progenitors for red blood cells (called erythroid progenitors), these cells failed to become mature red blood cells, and instead died.But why? The new research, led by Xiaoying Bai, PhD, in Zon's lab, showed that when the gene, TIF1 gamma, is mutated, the machinery that allows red blood cells to form from their progenitors is left in suspended animation.In order for an erythroid progenitor to make a red blood cell, certain genes must be activated, or transcribed, to create templates for building the necessary proteins. Transcription involves an orchestrated series of events: tightly coiled DNA is unwrapped, unwound and its strands separated, then a portion of one strand is "read" down its length and used to make the template, cued by signals from the cell. But this reading process has been recently discovered to have built-in pauses, requiring another signal to tell transcription to resume.TIF1 gamma, Bai and colleagues show, regulates this process of resuming transcription, known as transcriptional elongation. When TIF1 gamma is mutated in zebrafish, Bai and colleagues found, transcriptional elongation never happens. As a result, the erythroid progenitors get stuck in "pause" and never make mature red blood cells.Further tests showed the same to be true in human cells – when erythroid progenitors were taken from patient blood samples and TIF1 gamma was blocked, red cells did not develop from them.The pausing/stalling of transcription was once thought rare. But Bai, Zon and colleagues think it may provide a way for the body to quickly switch on production of red cells, and perhaps – since TIF1 gamma is found all over the body -- other kinds of cells the body needs to make quickly. Rather than have to laboriously set up all transcription each time red cells are needed, the machinery can simply be left on pause."We think this is the fastest way to respond to stimulation," says Bai. "The transcription machinery is already in place, but it's arrested until the right signal tells it to go. When you need massive production that needs to be synchronized to respond to the environment, this is the best way to regulate it."Several recent genome-wide studies found a similar pausing/stalling to be common in the genome, suggesting it's a critical step in regulating gene activity. But this is one of the first studies to demonstrate a real-life application of stalling, in a live animal. "We think this is the first time anyone has shown genetically, and in vivo, that transcriptional elongation is involved in cell fate," says Bai.The findings may have implications for treating severe anemia, as well as leukemia. In a form of leukemia known as MLL, there is evidence that transcription elongation factors are involved in oncogene formation, presumably overriding the "pause" mechanism and causing transcription to be stuck on – so white blood cells (leukocytes) are made over and over.---On the Net:Children's Hospital BostonCellSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:59 pm FDA Approves Implantable Telescope for EyesThe visual prosthetic magnifies light and shines it onto healthy tissue in the back of the eye, promoting improved vision.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:55 pm Researchers Predict Oil Spill's Long Term Travel PlansScientists created a computer model that predicts how the BP oil spill could spread out over the course of the year.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:55 pm Gadget Lab Podcast: Dell’s New Tablet, Sluggish iPhone Uploads and Apple TVIn this week’s Gadget Lab video podcast, Brian X. Chen and Priya Ganapati touch on more wireless woes reported by iPhone users. Apparently in some cities, the iPhone’s upload speeds were slowing to a crawl. AT&T has responded and said the drop was due to a software bug that will be addressed — but not before angry conspiracy-theorist customers accused the telecom company of purposely capping speeds for the device.
In brighter news, Ganapati shares her hands-on experience with the Dell Streak, a 5-inch touchscreen tablet device that feels like a supersized smartphone. Perhaps Dell is aiming to offer a tablet that will actually fit in a woman’s purse, unlike the iPad? And looking further in the future, Chen talks about recent credible rumors that the Apple TV may be getting a software overhaul to run iOS, the same operating system that powers iPhones and iPads. Such a change would pose interesting implications for videogames, TV apps and more. Like the show? You can also get the Gadget Lab video podcast via iTunes, or if you don’t want to be distracted by our mugs, check out the Gadget Lab audio podcast. Prefer RSS? You can subscribe to the Gadget Lab video or audio podcast feeds. See Also:
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:53 pm Gadget Lab Podcast: Dell's New Tablet, Sluggish iPhone Uploads and Apple TVIn this week's Gadget Lab podcast, we discuss the slowdown in AT&T upload rates plaguing some wireless customers on the east coast, the new Dell Streak tablet and a rumor about a new Apple TV based on the iOS operating system.
Source: Wired: Gadgets | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:53 pm Musical Skill Reflects Working Memory Capacity In Addition To Practice TimePractice will help you play piano better – but it's not going to turn you into Liberace. A new study looks at the role that working memory capacity plays in piano players' ability to sight read a new piece of music, an important and complex skill for musicians.Scientists have debated the role of practice in developing expertise for over a century. Genius used to be thought of as coming from inherited ability. Now many researchers think practice is the key. In 2007, researchers proposed that it takes a decade of intense practice to become an expert. Elizabeth J. Meinz of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and David Z. Hambrick of Michigan State University wanted to look at working memory capacity, the ability to keep relevant pieces of information active in your mind. Pianists use working memory when they read music. They aren't reading the notes their fingers are currently playing; they're looking ahead to read the notes that are coming next. All musicians do this, but Meinz and Hambrick study pianists partly because they're convenient; they're easy to find and have a wide variety of levels of skill and experience.For the new study, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, pianists were asked to sight read six pieces from a book of sight-reading tests. The book was chosen because it's rarely used in the United States. Musicians have to do this kind of test routinely in auditions. They were given pieces with various levels of difficulty. Judges graded each pianist based on technical proficiency, musicality, and overall performance. The pianists were also asked about their piano-playing history, including how many hours per week they had practiced in each year they'd been playing, and took tasks that measured their working memory capacity.Practice was definitely important. The amount of time a person had spent practicing explained about 45 percent of the variance in sight-reading skill. But working memory capacity was important, too; when the researchers took out the effect of practice, another seven percent of variance in sight-reading skill was explained by working memory capacity. "Practice is absolutely important to performance," says Meinz. "But our study does suggest that cognitive abilities, particularly working memory capacity, might limit the ultimate level of performance that could be attained." ---On the Net:APSPsychological ScienceSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:52 pm SNM Cautions That Canada's Chalk River Coming Back Online Will Not Solve Long-Term Isotope ShortageLong-term solution still needed to remedy isotope shortage plaguing hospitals and patientsSNM is optimistic that the anticipated recommencement of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)-run National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Canada, will provide short-term relief to the isotope shortage that has been plaguing patients and the nuclear medicine community for more than one year. However, SNM cautions that the restart of this reactor will not solve the ongoing production and supply issues causing the crisis."We are cautiously optimistic that NRU going back online will alleviate some of the most pressing concerns facing the nuclear medicine community," said Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D., M.B.A., chair of SNM's Domestic Isotope Availability Work Group and past president of the society. "However, this is not a magic bullet, and NRU coming back online will not solve this crisis. As the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff are reported to have observed, gaps in the assessment of the reactor could have a serious impact on the reliability of the reactor's operation in the future."In a news conference held last month during SNM's Annual Meeting, Atcher asked Canadian officials to help put an end to this endemic crisis once and for all. "Several years ago, government and industrial parties in Canada assured the nuclear medicine community that Canada's MAPLE reactors could ensure the continued availability of Mo-99 in the U.S.," he said. In 2007, that project was canceled due to cost over-runs and technical problems.The NRU reactor at Chalk River was unexpectedly shut down in May 2009 after workers discovered a leak during a routine inspection. The NRU reactor supplied more than 35% of the world's supply of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99)—a critical medical isotope whose decay product, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is used for common imaging procedures to diagnose and detect heart disease, cancer and other conditions. More than 16 million procedures are conducted annually in the U.S. using that isotope.Over the past year, AECL announced additional repairs and maintenance issues that further delayed the start date of the NRU reactor. Coupled with scheduled outages at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten in the Netherlands—the world's only other major reactor that produces Mo-99—many hospitals around the world were forced to either delay or cancel patient procedures.Of major long-term concern is that the Canadian government has announced previously that they intend to shut down isotope production at the NRU reactor permanently in 2016, which will create another, much longer shortage in the worldwide supply of Mo-99."Creating and maintaining a sustainable delivery of radioisotopes is one of SNM's most critical priorities," said Dominique Delbeke, M.D., Ph.D., president of SNM. "We continue to work to advocate for a domestic supply of Mo-99 in the U.S. so that nuclear medicine physicians and technologists have a reliable supply of radioisotopes to perform critical imaging tests that patients need for high-quality care."At a hearing held July 7, the CNSC approved AECL's request to resume production of Mo-99 at its Chalk River facility. According to AECL officials, repairs have been completed and the reactor is ready to resume production. Production is expected to begin within 10 days of NRU coming back online. The reactor has to be refueled and brought back to power before isotope production can resume."In addition to the impact that the shortage has had on the job market for nuclear medicine technologists and the impact on patients, the latest series of setbacks shows that the U.S. needs a reliable domestic isotope supply now more than ever before," added Atcher. The Canadian government's response to the recent expert panel report on what path to take after NRU is shut down has been to retreat to only providing radioisotopes for the Canadian region. This underscores the severity of the problem for the U.S. market, which comprises 50% of the world demand for Mo-99, Atcher noted.The American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009 (H.R. 3276), which would provide funding for the production of a domestic isotope supply, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives this past fall. The bill is currently in the Senate. ---On the Net:Society of Nuclear MedicineSource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:47 pm Elderly Romanian wife suspects husband is faking death, keeps it secretA 72-year old Romanian woman kept her husband's death a secret for two weeks because she wanted to make sure he was really dead, and not just pretending to be dead so he could go be with his mistress.Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:45 pm Games Inspired by Music: Play the entries and vote!
A few weeks ago, we asked you to create Games Inspired by Music -- chip music, to be precise, the old-fashioned computer-generated audio that's come into its own as a creative medium. Safari Books Online provided 30 days free access to a selection of game development titles, which are still available for another week. In the last hours the entries came pouring in and we were in awe of the oldschool wonder! We've compiled a shortlist of finalists into a Boing Boing Arcade: try them all and then vote for who should take home the top prizes, provided by Safari Books Online, and goodies from Gama-Go. The poll will remain open until July 14 and we'll announce the winners on July 15! Many thanks go to the chiptune and electronic artists who allowed us to post their music as inspiration to the game developers. And, of course, to those who have dedicated time and energy to creating the games themselves. Shall we play a game? Play and vote
NASA: Robonauts on Moon By 2013
This week, NASA announced plans to "land an operational humanoid robot on the moon in 1,000 days." The contractor of choice? Armadillo Aerospace, founded by gaming godfather John D. Carmack (Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, etc.). The Dallas Observer has extensive coverage, including NASA's "Project M" whitepaper. Read more at the NASA robonautics website.
(thanks, Nick Rallo, image: NASA/GM) New Research Shows Why Some Communities Embrace Environmental Conservation And Others Don'tContinued support for off-shore oil drilling by Gulf Coast residents who are dealing with one of the most devastating environmental disasters in U.S. history might seem surprising, but new research from the University of New Hampshire shows that local factors such as unemployment and population growth influence views about the value of environmental conservation and regulation.The research is presented in the most recent issue of the journal Rural Sociology in the article "Place Effects on Environmental Views.""Our research shows that people who live in rural areas with high unemployment rates are less likely to support environmental regulations. Economic pressures help to understand why, in spite of the devastation caused by the BP oil spill, many residents of the Gulf Coast oppose a moratorium on off-shore drilling," said Larry Hamilton, professor of sociology, senior fellow at the Carsey Institute at UNH, and lead author of the study. The study is co-authored by Chris Colocousis, assistant professor at James Madison University, and Mil Duncan, director of the Carsey Institute at UNH.Researchers surveyed more than 7,800 people in 19 rural counties of nine states. The states consisted of seven geographic regions -- the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Midwestern farm country, Appalachia, Mississippi Delta, and Alabama's Black Belt – that represented four broad types of rural places characterized by resource and population decline, amenity-driven population growth, amenity-driven population growth and decline, and chronic poverty.People in rural areas with high unemployment rates are less likely to support conservation efforts and restrictive environmental regulations, the researchers found. "People living in areas with high unemployment rates may perceive environmental rules as a threat to their economic livelihood," Hamilton said.People in rural areas with high rates of population growth are more likely to support conservation efforts and environmental regulations. "In such places, population change could be altering the environment in visible ways and make it seem more in need of protection," Hamilton explained.Looking at other factors that influence views on conservation, the researchers confirmed classic patterns that show that Republicans, older respondents, and those who frequently attend religious services are less likely to favor conservation for future generations. Women, nonminority, and better-educated respondents are more likely to favor conservation.Similar to views on conservation, the researchers confirmed previous research that shows environmental regulations are supported more by younger, better educated, and less Republican respondents.Despite the results, the researchers say that rural areas do not adhere to one model and vary in countless respects besides rates of population growth and unemployment. Understanding the views of people in specific areas must take into consideration the shared context of a particular area."For example, in our Rocky Mountain counties, the growing economy based on recreation and natural amenities gives people less reason to perceive conflict between jobs and conservation. In Appalachia, on the other hand, coal mining interests have cast debates over mountaintop-removal mining as a choice between jobs and conservation," Hamilton says. ---On the Net:University of New HampshireRural SociologySource: RedOrbit News - Science | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:21 pm Greenpeace founder Jim Bohlen has died Jim Bohlen, a Greenpeace founder, died this week at age 84. He trained as a US naval radio operator, then obtained an engineering degree and worked for a defense contractor on Long Island, where he met R. Buckminster Fuller. He was a Quaker and a longtime peace activist. "Jim is survived by his wife Marie, a stepson, a son and daughter by his first wife Anna, and a global environmental organisation."Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 1:14 pm Germany goes after Facebook over claimed privacy violations The German Data Protection Authority in Hamburg has launched legal action against Facebook, following complaints from people "who had not signed up to Facebook, but whose details had been added to the site by friends." Facebook is accused of storing the private data of non-members without their permission, to be used for marketing purposes.Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 12:58 pm Hands On with YouTube Leanback - PC Magazine
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 8 Jul 2010 | 12:53 pm Inside the "Nitrous Mafia"Hippie crack: it's a familiar sight (and sound) at summer music festivals. Folks line up to drop $5 for a balloon of laughing gas. And then another. And another. For the dealers of N20, called the "Nitrous Mafia" by some, this is big business. But many jam bands and fans consider nitrous to be a big bummer. From this week's Village Voice cover story, titled "Tales of Hippie Crack":"Inside the Nitrous Mafia, an East Coast Hippie-Crack Ring" Source: Boing Boing | 8 Jul 2010 | 12:50 pm Shocking: Microsoft Kin did not sell well. At all.
Given that Microsoft nixed the Kin roughly 18 minutes after it launched, it should come as no surprise that the thing didnt, you know, sell very well. But just how bad was it?
DaringFireball’s John Gruber says a “well-placed little birdie” pinned the number at around 503 units during its two month lifespan. If that’s true, it’s an absolute trainwreck; I’m fairly confident in saying that even the lowliest, rattiest dumb phone that carriers only keep around in the backroom for the sake of the people who come in demanding a phone that does absolutely nothing besides call people sells more than 503 units in two months. It might not be quite that bad, though. PocketNow points out that the Kin Facebook app (an app which is automatically attached to a user when they sign on to Facebook from the Kin) has over 8,800 users. Unless 94% of the people using the Kin app installed it just for the hell of it (without buying a Kin), Microsoft sold quite a bit more than 503 units. Still – even 8,800 units is an… well, the word “embarrassment” doesn’t quite capture the scale properly. Even at the full, no-contract price of $329 for the Kin One, 8,800 units only works out to 2.8 million dollars. While 2.8 million would be an impressive pull for any small operation, this is Microsoft we’re talking about. There was a team of engineers hired, user interfaces designed and coded, expensive hardware prototyped and built, launch parties and press conferences thrown.. there is no way that 2.8 million even begins to cover it. It’s too bad, really. Some of the ideas — like the Kin Studio syncing service — were great. It’s too bad that nearly everything else about the handsets were garbage, as we’d predicted months before it was officially announced.
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 12:49 pm One-armed Chinese monkey kills 80 chickens Link. (Thanks, ting).
More like this. Fireflies Blink in SyncGroups of male fireflies will synchronize their flashes to attract the attention of females.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 12:01 pm Saber-Toothed Cat UnearthedThe discovery marks the first time the carnivore, with fangs half the length of its skull, had been seen in Australia.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 11:50 am Submarine Robots Learn TeamworkNew technology networks autonomous underwater vehicles so that they can travel farther and survey more ocean than ever before.Source: Discovery News - Top Stories | 8 Jul 2010 | 11:46 am AT&T’s Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S) launching on July 18th for $199
Remember the Captivate? It’s AT&T’s slightly modified version of Samsung’s Android-powered superphone, the Galaxy S. We already knew about the 4.0″ Super AMOLED display, the 1Ghz processor, and all the other specs. We even went hands on! What we didn’t have: a launch date or a price. Well, now we do.
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:46 am Tiny USB Mailbox Alerts You to ‘Deliveries’
I’m sure I’ll get slaughtered in the comments for posting about this piece of plastic junk, but it’s so damn cute I’m going to do it anyway. The plastic tat in question is the USB Mail Box Friends Alert from beloved crap-vendor Brando. The little dongle looks like a tiny red US-style mailbox, and hooks up to a free USB port. Companion software monitors you mail account, your Twitter or your Facebook and lights red or green up to tell you there is an update. You can even have your computer play a little sound at the same time, and the plastic flag on the side will actually raise. The software is Windows-only (Window 7, Vista and XP) but I’m sure some clever hacker can put together a plugin for the Growl notification system on the OS X. If I could have this hooked up to the Delivery Status app on my Mac dashboard, which monitors real, meatspace deliveries, and have it pop up a warning when a package arrives, then my $18 would already be on its way to Brando’s magic crap-factory. USB Mail Box Friends Alert [Brando via Oh Gizmo] See Also:
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 9:17 am Stereo Lens-in-a-Cap for 3D Digital Photography
Taking 3D photographs, or at least viewing 3D photographs, was ironically somewhat easier in the days of film: Load a camera with slide film, take two shots of the same subject, moving the camera sideways by the distance between your eyes, and send the film to the lab. Later, just hold a slide before each eye, preferably using a purpose-made holder, and you have lovely, hi-res 3D. The Loreo 3D-Lens-in-a-Cap brings this ease-of-use to your digicam. Pop the accessory onto the front of your SLR and it will split the incoming light into two images, setting them just the right distance apart. To view, you hold up the cardboard Parallel Format Print & Monitor Viewer to your monitor and enjoy the stereoscopic view. There are drawbacks, which are mitigated somewhat by the advantages of digital capture. The biggest problem is that the maximum aperture is ƒ11, so you’ll be shooting in sunlight or using a tripod. You can take advantage of the modern SLR’s high-ISO capabilities to combat this, and as you are taking both shots simultaneously rather than snapping two pictures “cha-cha style” (as the product page charmingly puts it), you can take pictures of fast moving subjects like flowing water, even allowing motion blur into the photos. The Loreo 3D-Lens-in-a-Cap is $150, and the viewer is just $1.70. For the frugal, “cha-cha style” shooting is currently free. 3D Snapshots with a Canon D30 Digital SLR [Loreo via Engadget] 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:45 am iPhone 4 Customers Have Limited Time and Limited Options - PC World
Source: Sci/Tech - Google News | 8 Jul 2010 | 8:14 am Video: Ubuntu running on a Nexus One
Well — pre-supposing you already own a Nexus One — you’ll be pleased to know that said phone can now run not just the geek’s choice of phone OS, but also the geek’s choice of PC OS: Linux. That’s right, you can now run Ubuntu on your Nexus One. People far more geeky (and intelligent) than I, can probably see a need to have a Linux distro in their pocket. It may even solve a problem that they have. If you’re one of those people, this one’s for you. But what if you’re one of those people and you own an EVO 4G? Well, lucky for you, work is under way on getting Ubuntu running on that, too. Ubuntu runs alongside Android, so you don’t have to worry about installing a new ROM or anything. In fact, you just run it like you would a normal app. But don’t take my word for it, check the video below. Keen to give it a whirl? Full instructions (and another video) are available at Nexus One Hacks. [via Talk Android]
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:49 am American Eagle: “Try on our jeans, get a free smartphone”
Look at your pants right now. No, really, look at them. If you’re anything at all like me (and if you are, you have my condolences), you’re probably rocking a ratty-yet-comfortable pair of jeans. Now, if your phone is looking as crummy as your pants, and you happen to fall into the center of that Venn diagram up there, then you’re in luck — American Eagle has got just the promotion for you! The Pittsburgh-based clothing company, known for doling out freebies by the truckload if you try on a pair of their jeans, are offering up free smartphones at six of their West Pennsylvania stores. Now I don’t know how many of you reading this fall into American Eagle’s target demographic (or would shop there even if you were), but this sounds like a pretty sweet deal. All you would have to do is schlep on down there, pop into a dressing room for five minutes, and receive a card with a URL that takes you to AE’s online phone selection. Only Android phones seem to be up for the offer, but somehow I don’t imagine most people would complain. What’s that? You don’t live in Pennsylvania? Well, fine, forget the jeans and just go to their website. Deals are to be had for both new and existing customers, so mosey on over and see what’s up for grabs. [via Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]
Source: MobileCrunch | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:34 am DIY Book Lamp’s Puns Don’t Stop with the Name
Since switching over to e-books for everything except cookbooks, I have a stack of dead-trees on my shelf doing nothing. As there are only so many iPad and Kindle cases I can make by gutting the hardback covers of their pages, I’m all fired up to try this great Book Lamp by Instructables member fungus amungus aka Ed Lewis. The project is dead simple: Chop some pages from a book (Ed used the appropriately-titled Illuminatus! Trilogy from Bob Shea and Robert Anton Wilson), cut a route for the cable and insert a light. The donor lamp in this case is the $5 Lampan from (where else?) Ikea. This light also comes with a 7 Watt compact fluorescent bulb, but you could also opt for a nice cold LED bulb (avoid incandescent, though, unless the book you’re using is Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451). Your chopping doesn’t have to be neat (look at Ed’s effort for a demonstration of just how raggedy edges can get) as it will all be hidden when you close the cover. The resulting light gives a pleasantly studious atmosphere to any shelf or side-table. I actually have a spare Lampan right here, with a broken shade. I think my weekend DIY project has just been decided upon. Book Lamp [Instructables via CrunchGear] 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 7:12 am IRiver Overprices New Wi-Fi Story E-Reader
IRiver, a loser in the war between the iPod and All Other MP3 Players, has added a Wi-Fi e-reader to its smart Story range. The new Story is now on sale at the UK bookstore WHSmith, and will link up with WHSmith’s own e-book store. Like iRiver’s old media players, the Story offers a lot of features not found elsewhere. In addition to decent format support (EPUB, PDF, TXT, FB2 and DJVU) it also displays comic-book sin the CBZ format, although of course you can’t view them in color on the grayscale 800 x 600 e-ink screen. You can also record voice-memos, listen to music (MP3, WMA and OGG) and slide in an SD card of up to 32GB (it also has 2GB on-board storage). The big problem is the price. In a world where you pay $150 for big-brand e-books from Sony and Barnes and Noble, and even the Kindle is under $200, the Story costs way too much. The RRP is £250, which translates to an astonishing $380, or the price of the new black Kindle DX. Good luck with that. Store page [WHSmith. Thanks, James!] See Also: 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:43 am U.K. Retailer Leaks New iPod Touch Details: Camera, FaceTimeBritish retail giant John Lewis releases details of a new iPod Touch. The company’s audio and telecoms buyer, Rob Hennessey, describes the new iPod in a Christmas sales presentation.
Source: Wired: Gadgets | 8 Jul 2010 | 6:00 am U.K. Retailer Leaks New iPod Touch Details: Camera, FaceTime
U.K. retail giant John Lewis has let out details of a new iPod Touch. The company’s audio and telecoms buyer, Rob Hennessey, described the new iPod in a Christmas sales presentation. The elements of the new iPod will come as no surprise to regular readers: It is essentially an iPhone 4 without the phone. But the fact that it has been revealed by somebody so high up in John Lewis makes this a little more juicy. The details: The new iPod will be announced in September (as always) and will have a 5-MP camera with a flash, a gyroscope (for gaming) and FaceTime over Wi-Fi (suggesting it’ll also get the front-facing camera from the iPhone 4). Oddly, there is no mention of the retina display. As I said, all of this was pretty obvious, but one of Hennessey’s points shows just how big the Wi-Fi-only FaceTime could get. The Touch will be targeted at kids and teenagers, and for them, FaceTime will be a way to talk to each other free (it will also be a pretty good way to cheat on tests). The report comes by way of U.K. tech blog Pocket Lint, which also managed to get hold of the picture above. We suspect Mr. Hennessey will be getting a call from Apple any time now. New Apple iPod in September — John Lewis spills the beans[Pocket Lint] 
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:55 am Will the iPad Make You Smarter?
A growing chorus of voices argue that the internet is making us dumber. Web-connected laptops, smartphones and videogame consoles have all been cast as distracting brain mushers. But there’s reason to believe some of the newest devices might not erode our minds. In fact, some scientists think they could even make us smarter. Could the cleaner and more modern interfaces that we see on iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones better suit the way our minds were meant to work? While doing research for my upcoming technoculture book titled Always On, I posed the question to Muhammet Demirbilek, an assistant professor of educational technology at Suleyman Demirel University, whose findings suggest newer mobile interfaces could foster focus and improve our ability to learn. “The interface of [the] iPad could work well for us,” Demirbilek told me. “We use our hands instead of a keyboard or mouse, and it fits exactly how we behave and think in real life. In addition, the iPad interface looks easier for us, because it has larger-size text and bigger icons. It is less likely to cause cognitive overload to the user, based on my studies.” This idea challenges the conclusions of web cynics like Nicholas Carr. In his new book, The Shallows, Carr draws on a plethora of studies that collectively conclude the internet is shattering our focus and rewiring our brains to make us shallower thinkers. However, these arguments may not apply to the newest wave of devices. Though scientists haven’t had a chance to study the implications of the cleaner and more modern interfaces that we see on iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones, we can draw some inferences from previous studies on computer interface and brain activity.
In 2004, Demirbilek conducted a study on 150 students at the University of Florida to examine the effects of different computer windows interfaces on learning. He compared two interfaces — a tiled-windows interface, in which windows were displayed next to each other in their entirety, versus an overlapping-windows interface, in which windows were laid on top of each other like a spread-out stack of paper. Inside a computer lab, the participants were split into two groups randomly assigned to work with the tiled-windows interface mode or the overlapping-windows mode. Each mode contained a multimedia learning environment requiring the students to complete certain tasks. Demirbilek measured the students’ disorientation — how likely they were to get lost in a document, and their cognitive load — the total amount of mental activity being taxed in the working memory. To measure disorientation, each student’s Internet Explorer history file recorded the number of informational “nodes” that were accessed to complete each task — in other words, the number of steps each user took before finishing an activity. For each task, a user was deemed either oriented or completely lost based on the number of nodes accessed. To measure cognitive load, the students were timed on how long they took to react to different interactions. For instance, in one part of the study, the participants were required to click a button as soon as the background color of a window changed. After completing his study, Demirbilek found that subjects using the tiled-windows interface were significantly less disoriented than subjects using an overlapping-windows interface. He also found that participants working with overlapping windows were substantially more likely to experience cognitive overload than those working with tiled windows. In conclusion, students using the tiled-windows interface were able to find specific information more easily and engage with it more deeply, whereas students working with overlapping windows struggled to see how parts of a knowledge base were related, and they often omitted large pieces of information. Students using the tiled-windows interface were able to learn considerably better than those working with overlapping windows. “The tiled-windows interface treatment provided help to users, enabling them to efficiently communicate with the hypermedia learning environment,” Demirbilek wrote in his research paper. Demirbilek’s conclusions don’t contradict Carr’s assertions, but they suggest that the gap where information is lost between short-term memory and long term-memory is not due solely to hyperlinking, but also to the disorienting nature of the interface used. Carr is correct that the traditional PC computing environment (such as Windows or Mac OS X), which uses an overlapping-windows interface, is conducive to shallower learning. However, Carr’s cited studies focus on interfaces that will soon be out-of-date. Newer mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones abolish the traditional graphical user interface we’re accustomed to. Gone are the mouse pointer and the mess of windows cluttering our desktop. On these mobile technologies — especially the iPad with its bigger 9.7-inch display — all the emphasis is placed on the content, and each launched app completely takes over the screen. The only pointers are our fingers. And going forward, we can expect future tablet computers competing with the iPad to replicate the single-screen interface. Additionally, as touchscreen tablet computer users continue to grow, more web developers will feel pressured to scrap the busy website interfaces we’re accustomed to today. The drab, cluttered websites with squint-inducing boxes will be refreshed with large, touchable icons. Demirbilek and I agree that the iPad-driven tablet revolution is poised to improve user orientation and learning. Of course, the iPad is less than a year old, and it has some work to do. By only displaying one app or one piece of content at a time, the iPad solves one problem while creating another. A 1999 experiment on windows interfaces conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota found that fourth-grade students using multiple windows were able to answer quiz questions more quickly and score significantly higher than students working with a single window. In conclusion, they found that multiple windows, displayed in their entirety, assisted in completing tasks where more than one source of information is needed to solve a problem. The iPad’s single-screen interface reduces elements of distraction and potentially enhances user orientation, but because of the lack of windows, it also eliminates the ability to read information from multiple sources simultaneously on a single screen to complete more complex tasks. This shortcoming is what makes the iPad lacking as a productivity device for doing work. But problems like this can be solved over time with software updates. And even though the iPad isn’t yet ideal for professionals, that’s just one audience for the device, Demirbilek said. He believes the iPad has already introduced an interface beneficial to learning, especially for children. “I think that the interface of [the] iPad could work well for young children because it maps onto how kids already do things in their daily life,” he said. “Sweeping things across the screen fits exactly with how very young children behave and think.” Brian X. Chen is author of a book about the always-connected mobile future titled Always On, publishing spring 2011 by Da Capo (Perseus Books Group).
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:00 am Will the iPad Make You Smarter?A growing chorus of voices contends the internet is making us dumber. But some studies suggest that the cleaner interfaces we see on the iPad and other mobile devices could be beneficial for learning.
Source: Wired: Gadgets | 8 Jul 2010 | 5:00 am Video: Flash Running on the iPadIOS hacker Comex has managed to get Flash up and running on the iPad. That’s right, now you can watch YouTube, Hulu and all the adult video you want. What? You can do that already? The hack is called Frash, and in its current form won’t play video. What it will do is let you play games and view Flash advertisements in all their annoying, animated glory. To use Frash, you’ll need to have a jailbroken iPad (that is, an iPad hacked to give you file-system access). Once done, you should navigate to the Cydia app (the jailbreak community’s App Store) and add the insanelyi repository to the list. From there you can install Frash. If you have ever used a Flash blocker in your browser, you already know how to use Frash. Instead of loading Flash content, Frash presents a big “F” in place of the animation. Click to load. I haven’t tested this (because I like not having to tolerate Flash on my iPad), but the video of Frash in action shows it running at pretty much full speed. I have no idea if this hacked version of Flash will drain the iPad’s battery as fast as real Flash drains my MacBook’s battery, but it’s a pretty safe bet that it might. Also, beware of browser plugins: there’s no guarantee that Frash doesn’t contain the same security holes as its official brother. Frash beta : Flash for iPad! [OSx86] ‘Frash’ Brings Adobe Flash to Apple iPad [PC World] See Also:
Source: Wired: Gadget Lab | 8 Jul 2010 | 4:47 am
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Were you a Comcast (CMCSA) subscriber between April 1, 2006, and December 31, 2008? Did the company’s 
Earlier today, 
The national distraction is over. NBA star LeBron James has chosen the team he’s going to play for: the Miami Heat. Of course, this means that he won’t be returning to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and owner Dan Gilbert is not too happy about that. And he made that very clear to everyone tonight in 
Yahoo is outsourcing yet another product to an outside company. Tonight, Yahoo is announcing an exclusive partnership with real estate listings and search site 
If you were waiting on buying a netbook because they keep putting out new ones with slightly tweaked specs, now might be a good time to buy. Acer and Asus, the two big netbook and ultraportable PC makers, are 
The controversial torrent hub and community ThePirateBay.com has been hit by a series of attacks led by malware researcher Ch Russo. The attack has led to the exposure of the user database for the site. 
I have long been a fan of 
Garmin is starting to feel the heat from smartphones with built in navigation, so they’d like you to know (at least if you live in Europe) that some phone plans will make using your phone expensive. Isn’t that thoughtful of them?
I’d wait for the other shoe to drop before getting too excited about this, but this self-cleaning, air-filtering road surface is pretty cool no matter what. 
RIM, the manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, will be making their devices compliant with Bluetooth Message Access Profile and enable Ford’s SYNC text messaging capabilities in upcoming devices. Ford is adding to it’s popular SYNC services and aims to get texting by voice under it’s umbrella. Ford plans to add other features to encourage riders to keep their eyes on the road, no on texts.
A Los Angeles jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Johannes Mehserle (shown in the photo at left), a white Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer who fatally shot Oscar J. Grant III, an unarmed black man who was lying face-down on an Oakland train platform. The event was captured on mobile phone photo and video by many bystanders—even by the shooting victim himself, just before his death—and much of that media made its way onto the internet.
I received a pair of these as as gift and I am beyond impressed! The Klipsch Image S4 are noise cancelling, great sounding earphones that are incredibly comfortable. Their specially angled design combined with three sizes of ear tips ensure a perfect fit. They claim they are so comfortable you can’t even feel them and they’re right! I wore them for a couple of hours while listening to my iPod and they just disappeared into my ears. The sound is crisp,rich, and clean. Klipsch says this is due to the use of a single moving coil driver per channel.
Nokia is determined to compete with Apple at every level – even in sending the authorities to 
When I heard about this gadget I was really excited about it and when I got one to review I couldn’t wait to try it. The Solarcharger 906 is touted as a solar powered charger that will work with almost any device-the package includes 10 different adapter tips. It claims to provide infinite talk time while the sun is up and up to 20 hours after dark. The device takes 3 hours to charge via USB and 23 via the solar panel on its front. It’s good that the device is relatively easy to figure out because the included user manual is poorly written with a lot of broken English.
Throughout the year, the Nitrous Mafia travels from state to state, selling balloons at concert sites. The scene in Williamsburg is only a small preview of what happens in summer, when the outdoor festival season kicks into gear. During these campground events, which last two to four days, the Mafia, which is divided into two rings, based in Boston and Philadelphia, can burn through hundreds of nitrous tanks. With the ability to fill up to 350 balloons per tank, which they sell for $5 and $10, they can bank more than $300,000 per festival, minus expenses. Year after year, security guards at these events attempt to crack down on the illicit business, but, in most cases, they're outmatched by a phalanx of menacing gas dealers who have little regard for unarmed concert personnel.
