Flash Technology Info

Trends & Innovations - Tuesday (Investor's Business Daily)

2009-11-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

Investor's Business Daily - Coughing into your cell phone may soon save you a trip to the doctor, says a Discovery News report citing new research by U.S. and Aussie scientists. The scientists hope to diagnose cold, flu, pneumonia or other respiratory diseases by analyzing coughs via phone-based software. The Gates Foundation has awarded grants to create such software for use in developing nations to the scientists based at Star Analytical Services, a Mass. firm, and Australia's Univ. of Queensland.

Read on » Trends & Innovations - Tuesday
(Investor's Business Daily)

Windows 7 May Be Secure, but Are Windows Users Safe? (PC World)

2009-11-10T21:16:00.001-08:00

PC World - Windows 7 users got a nice surprise on Tuesday when Microsoft released its first set of security patches since unveiling the new operating system last month. Of the 15 bugs patched, none affected Windows 7.

Read on » Windows 7 May Be Secure, but Are Windows Users Safe?
(PC World)

Microsoft's monthly security fixes spare Windows 7

2009-11-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

(AP) -- Microsoft's newest computer operating system has survived its first few weeks on the market without needing any security fixes.

Read on » Microsoft's monthly security fixes spare Windows 7

Amazon delivers Kindle books to PCs

2009-11-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com on Tuesday released free software that lets people read the online retail titan's electronic Kindle books on personal computers.

Read on » Amazon delivers Kindle books to PCs

Snow Leopard Smashes Atom

2009-11-10T21:14:00.001-08:00

Apple on Monday issued its latest update to its Snow Leopard operating system. Mac OS X 10.6.2 fixes a slew of bugs and glitches that users had been complaining about. It also froze out Intel's Atom chip, leaving 'hackintosh' users -- people who use do-it-yourself methods to run Mac OS X on Intel-powered netbooks -- out in the cold. Mac OS X 10.6.2 includes general operating system fixes, font fixes, graphics fixes, mail fixes, MobileMe fixes, and Safari browser fixes.

Read on » Snow Leopard Smashes Atom

Kindle for PC: A Good Preview for E-Reader Fence-Sitters

2009-11-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

The scales of justice definitely don't tip in grayscale's favor when it comes to the overall e-reader device experience for consumers. Whether it's an Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader or Barnes & Noble Nook, 16-level grayscale means nothing more than a digital version of the weather in Seattle between November and April: different shades of gray. I realize that for the most part we're talking about black words on a white "page," and having test-driven all but the Nook, I'm well aware of the advantages of storing the equivalent of a home library in an 8-inch long, 10-ounch tablet.

Read on » Kindle for PC: A Good Preview for E-Reader Fence-Sitters

Firefox turns 5, faces new challenges

2009-11-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

The first version of the popular Firefox browser was released five years ago this week. Firefox accounts for almost a quarter of browser usage today but faces new challenges from Google and Microsoft.

Read on » Firefox turns 5, faces new challenges

Protesters hijack more than 200 Facebook groups

2009-11-10T21:12:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of Facebook groups have been hijacked in recent days by users pointing out what they say is a weakness in how the social-networking site handles the administration of its groups.

Read on » Protesters hijack more than 200 Facebook groups

Vaz v Watson - Modern Warfare 2

2009-11-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

It's the biggest games launch of the year, possibly of all time, a title which is expected to sell 3 million copies in the UK alone over the coming days. It's the subject of feverish interest from fans, and great expectations from retailers, with stores opening at midnight, and a price war launched by one major supermarket chain. But Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 has also sparked off a battle between two prominent Labour MPs with very different views of digital culture.

Read on » Vaz v Watson - Modern Warfare 2

Droid Battery Life Requires New Charging Habits (PC World)

2009-11-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

PC World - The Droid invasion landed on Friday and so far the iPhone comparisons haven't stopped. Customers showed up for midnight launches to be first to get the new Android 2.0 device, and Verizon stores haven't had any issue burning through their inventory of the new phone. There is at least one other iPhone comparison that bears noticing, though--battery life.

Read on » Droid Battery Life Requires New Charging Habits
(PC World)

A Smartphone Owners Bill of Rights (PC World)

2009-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

PC World - Many smartphone owners are frustrated with the high prices they pay to wireless service providers, as well as the treatment they get from providers once they're locked into a two-year service contract. Americans have limited choices in mobile broadband devices and services, and mobile operators in the United States currently enjoy relative freedom from regulation.

Read on » A Smartphone Owners Bill of Rights
(PC World)

Is Antivirus Software Dead?

2009-11-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

Always-on Internet connectivity is keeping malware concerns alive and well. We examine whether antivirus software is up to the task, or whether it's a security solution of the past.

Read on » Is Antivirus Software Dead?

Japan eyes solar station in space as new energy source

2009-11-08T20:15:00.001-08:00

It may sound like a sci-fi vision, but Japan's space agency is dead serious: by 2030 it wants to collect solar power in space and zap it down to Earth, using laser beams or microwaves.

Read on » Japan eyes solar station in space as new energy source

The Media Equation: News Erupts, and So Does a Web Debut

2009-11-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

As major news erupted in Texas, a brand new 12-person Web-based newsroom had its debut as a nonprofit covering state government.

Read on » The Media Equation: News Erupts, and So Does a Web Debut

Confusion on Where Money Lent via Kiva Goes

2009-11-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

Kiva’s home page once promoted lending “to a specific entrepreneur,” but the fine print shows that members’ $25 checks go to microfinance organizations, not individuals.

Read on » Confusion on Where Money Lent via Kiva Goes

The Modern PC: Lighter, Touchier, More Mobile

2009-11-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

Personal computers are changing -- and not just because of the recent launch of Windows 7. Visit an electronics store and you might also find laptops are missing a familiar component. You could experiment with new ways of controlling some computers, and you'll see portable PCs slimming down. Even with all the attention lavished on Apple's iPhone and Amazon.com's Kindle this year, your PC likely is still the center of your digital universe. Here's a look at what the season's computer trends mean for you.

Read on » The Modern PC: Lighter, Touchier, More Mobile

Security, Speed and the Trouble With Transparency

2009-11-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

The key selling point for Windows 7, as emphasized in a concerted advertising campaign that stretches across both TV and the Web, is that it's leaner, simpler and faster. It doesn't have to complete the phrase 'faster than ...' because we all know how to complete that phrase. Microsoft's bet for Windows 7 is that users smart enough to complete that phrase, care. So if some of the comments Betanews has been receiving about Internet Explorer's recent problems being a non-event, or a 'YAWN,' really did reflect reality, then Microsoft has already lost the bet."

Read on » Security, Speed and the Trouble With Transparency

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

2009-11-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

Investor's Business Daily - U.S. Verizon stores opened their doors at 7 a.m. Friday for the launch of Motorola's Droid handset, which many observers see as a credible threat to the Apple iPhone.

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

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

2009-11-06T17:59:00.002-08:00

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

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

Black Friday Starts Now for Savvy Shoppers (PC World)

2009-11-06T17:59:00.001-08:00

PC World - If you love Black Friday bargains, but hate the idea of pre-dawn lines, surly shoppers, and the risk of bodily harm just to score a bargain Blu-ray player or Xbox console, major U.S. retailers have an alternative: Why not shop early? Some pre-Black Friday sales start Saturday, Nov. 7. Start brewing the coffee now.

Read on » Black Friday Starts Now for Savvy Shoppers
(PC World)

SaaS Provider Oco Unveils Customer, Sales Analytics

2009-11-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Oco's new product integrates data from various sources into a single data warehouse to provide a 'comprehensive view of the customer' through interactive scorecards, what-if dashboards, multi-dimensional reports, and adhoc analysis tools.

Read on » SaaS Provider Oco Unveils Customer, Sales Analytics

eStadium application brings multimedia sports features to smartphones

2009-11-06T17:58:00.001-08:00

The intimate and spirited quarters of a stadium offer perhaps the most ideal venues to experience an athletic event. Or do they?

Read on » eStadium application brings multimedia sports features to smartphones

F.D.A. Fighting False Online Claims About Swine Flu Treatments

2009-11-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Food and Drug Administration has identified 140 different dubious products sold online and has sent letters to 75 manufacturers.

Read on » F.D.A. Fighting False Online Claims About Swine Flu Treatments

Droid Lurches to Life

2009-11-06T17:57:00.001-08:00

Today is the day of the Droid. The Motorola smartphone touches down today in what's shaping up to be one of the biggest handset launches in recent memory. Of course Verizon is going all-in as far as advertising is concerned, but there's more to the Droid's story than a marketing campaign. First, there's Motorola. Droid is it's big jump back into the smartphone market, a place where it's been at best lame and at worst absent over the past few years. It's got a lot of chips on the table with this one.

Read on » Droid Lurches to Life

Verizon Launches a Droid of a Different Color

2009-11-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

Amid the frenzy Friday surrounding the launch of Verizon Wireless's Motorola Droid smartphone, another Verizon Android handset also made its debut -- the HTC Droid Eris. The Eris is essentially a slightly modified version of the HTC Hero, a phone Sprint started selling last month. The one-two punch powered by the Droid and Droid Eris mark the beginning of a new Android line of phones from Verizon. The Eris has a seven-panel home screen that users can customize with a variety of widgets, according to Verizon.

Read on » Verizon Launches a Droid of a Different Color

Q&A: How design can change the world

2009-11-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

The title of Warren Berger's recently published book -- 'Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life and Maybe Even the World' -- is ambitious.

Read on » Q&A: How design can change the world

Going to the office . . . in Second Life

2009-11-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

As recession-minded businesses cut back on travel for employees, online communities such as Second Life are filling the void. More than 1,400 companies and agencies now use Second Life avatars to hold virtual meetings and conduct training.

Read on » Going to the office . . . in Second Life

Beyonce preps live discs, ABC special (Reuters)

2009-11-03T19:30:00.001-08:00

: "

Reuters - Beyonce will later this month release a live concert DVD and companion CD, and a new song, 'Video Phone' featuring Lady Gaga.

"

Read on » Beyonce preps live discs, ABC special
(Reuters)

PayPal courts outside developers (AFP)

2009-11-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

AFP - PayPal has opened its software platform to outside developers in a move designed to unleash a flood of creative uses for the online financial transaction service.

"

Read on » PayPal courts outside developers
(AFP)

NEWS FROM BAI: Firethorn, CashEdge Team for P2P Payments

2009-11-03T19:29:00.001-08:00

Firethorn's financial institution clients can now allow customers to transfer money to other people via e-mail and mobile phone.

Read on » NEWS FROM BAI: Firethorn, CashEdge Team for P2P Payments

Protecting your virtual privacy

2009-11-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

The details of your personal life, such as grocery purchases and pizza topping preferences, are collected every day ― online and by club and discount cards from the gym, department store and supermarket. Though this data seems innocent enough, when it's put together it can tell a whole lot about your health, finances and behavior. That information, a Tel Aviv University researcher reminds us, could eventually be used against you.

Read on » Protecting your virtual privacy

Firefox 3.6 Tweaks Are Mostly Under the Hood

2009-11-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Promising faster performance and a bevy of new features, Mozilla on Friday released the first beta version of its Firefox 3.6 browser. Built on the Gecko 1.9.2 Web rendering engine, the new version contains numerous improvements for developers and users, Mozilla said, including support for what it calls 'personas,' improved responsiveness and faster startup time. The free, open source Web browser is available for download in versions for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux in 53 different languages."

Read on » Firefox 3.6 Tweaks Are Mostly Under the Hood

New Bill Would Ban Personal Gadgets From Cockpits

2009-11-03T19:27:00.002-08:00

Lawmakers are moving to ban the use of computer laptops and other personal electronic devices in airline cockpits to prevent another incident like the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles. Sen. Byron Dorgan, chairman of the aviation subcommittee, said in an interview that his staff is working on a bill that he expects to introduce in about a week. He said he was surprised to learn after the Oct. 21 incident that the FAA doesn't specifically prohibit pilots from using personal devices during flight except below 10,000 feet while the plane is taking off or landing."

Read on » New Bill Would Ban Personal Gadgets From Cockpits

ISF Panelists Spar Over Security vs. Anonymity

2009-11-03T19:27:00.001-08:00

Can the Web's big-time masters of malware really be tracked down? How risky is cloud computing to network security? And what challenges await the Obama administration's plans to lock down the nation's electronic infrastructure -- while at the same time creating a 'smart grid?' An experienced panel of computer security experts representing industry, governments and law enforcement batted around possible answers to those questions Monday during a 'guru fireside' session that was a highlight of the Information Security Forum's 20th World Congress."

Read on » ISF Panelists Spar Over Security vs. Anonymity

Sony Ericsson Starts Some Early Buzz for a Late Android

2009-11-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

Handset maker Sony Ericsson on Tuesday announced the new Xperia X10 smartphone. It will run on the Android 1.6 mobile operating system, also known as 'Donut.' The Xperia X10 will begin shipping to select markets next year. In announcing the Xperia X10, Sony Ericsson named the handset as the flagship device of a family of phones coming to market during the first half of 2010. The device will have a new UX platform that will let users organize everything on the smartphone with what the company calls the 'most open, human and intuitive user experience yet.'"

Read on » Sony Ericsson Starts Some Early Buzz for a Late Android

Do digital diaries mess up your brain?

2009-11-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

The meal you ate the first day you started working. The first exam you aced in high school. The shoes you wore to the prom.

Read on » Do digital diaries mess up your brain?

Orange's 'unlimited' iPhone

2009-11-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

Remember the price war that was supposed to break out once O2 lost its exclusive contract to sell the iPhone in Britain?

Well, the price plans that Orange has published for the phone show little sign of an eagerness for hand-to-hand combat.

Apart from an entry-level £30 tariff which promises twice as many minutes as O2's deal, the two firms' offers look virtually identical.

Look at what's likely to be among the most popular tariffs, a 24-month contract for a 16GB iPhone 3GS at £34.26 a month, where you pay £87 for the device.

That's identical in every respect to the O2 deal, except for the cost of the device - which is £87.11.

As we suspected, the high price that Apple extracts from operators leaves them little margin to undercut their rivals - about 11p in fact.

But what does stand out when you examine Orange's price card more closely is what it says about the unlimited data that has been an essential part of the iPhone's appeal.

An asterisk next to the 'unlimited' leads to a note saying 'Fair Usage policy of 750MB/ month applies.' Cue plenty of grumbling from potential customers, particularly on Twitter.

The cap appeared to apply to data downloaded via wi-fi as well as via the 3g network, so some concluded that Orange was planning to curb their customers' use of their own home networks.

I called Orange to check this out - and found the company slightly confused about its own fair usage policy. More than four hours later, the press office finally returned with chapter and verse.

There was a 750MB cap for 3g mobile data, and a separate 750MB for data downloaded with their wi-fi partner BT Openzone - you are free to do what you want on your own network.

So how does this compare with O2? That company came back with its own statement, confirming that its 'unlimited' data policy did in fact have its limits.

'We reserve the right... to contact customers about their usage if we believe it adversely affects the service of our other customers, eg if a customer uses their SIM in another device for which it is not intended.'

So O2 looks to be a little less restrictive than Orange.

But will many really run up against Orange's limit? At first 750MB may seem an awful lot of data to use on a phone - I reckon I get through about 200MB in a heavy month.

But what we've seen so far is that once you offer people 'unlimited' data, they rush to use it, and software developers provide them with new data-rich applications.

Streaming audio and video are increasingly popular on the iPhone, and they can chew up your data allowance at an alarming rate.

Last night someone pointed me towards this clause in Orange's Terms and Conditions:

'Not to be used for other activities (eg using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video). Should such use be detected notice may be given and Network protection controls applied to all services which Orange does not believe constitutes mobile browsing.'

It sounds as though services like Spotify, AudioBoo, Ustream and even Facebook messaging - increasingly popular with O2 iPhone customers - will be out of bounds for Orange users.

The operator is caught between a rock and a hard place. With little room for manoeuvre on prices, it will be hoping that better network coverage will be one factor winning over iPhone customers from O2.

But if too many power users start streaming TV and playing online games on their phones, the Orange network may buckle under the strain - hence the need for a fair usage limit.

Just hours after publishing its price list, Orange appeared to be having second thoughts about that 750MB cap, admitting that plenty of e-mails had been coming in and that it had noticed the rising tide of Twitter comments.

A spokesman told me the cap would be 'reviewed' to make sure that it was at the right level.

The problem for the operators is that users no longer see the iPhone and similar devices as phones but as small computers. And who wants to be told 25 days into each month that they must now stop playing around with their computer and just use it to make calls?

Update, 17:20: Orange has been in touch to clarify their iPhone terms and conditions. Here's the company's statement:

"We do recognise that iPhone customers will use popular streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify etc. As a result we do not intend to apply network protection controls to anyone, as long as they are within their usage allowance. The T&Cs are in place to reserve the right to restrict access should they continue to exceed our Fair Usage policy, and our other Mobile data users suffer a reduced data experience as a result."

"

Source » Orange's 'unlimited' iPhone

Yahoo begins "journey back to respect": CEO (Reuters)

2009-10-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Reuters - Yahoo Inc vowed to triple its operating profit margin in the next three years as the Internet company seeks to reignite its growth and regain investor confidence.

Read on » Yahoo begins "journey back to respect": CEO
(Reuters)

Leaked video game footage shows terrorist attack (AP)

2009-10-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

AP - Footage leaked from 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' reveals that players of the upcoming video game can shoot innocent civilians in an airport in a realistic rendering of a terrorist attack.

Read on » Leaked video game footage shows terrorist attack
(AP)

Finding Hidden Dangers in Spreadsheets

2009-10-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

So much valuable information on Wall Street is stored in Excel spreadsheets, it's worth keeping an eye on them to spot fraud and errors before auditors do, says Ralph Baxter, CEO of ClusterSeven.

Read on » Finding Hidden Dangers in Spreadsheets

Yahoo!, Microsoft extend talks on Web search agreement

2009-10-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! and Microsoft have extended the deadline to finalize an agreement on their Internet search and advertising partnership, Yahoo! said Wednesday.

Read on » Yahoo!, Microsoft extend talks on Web search agreement

Google puts songs a click away in search

2009-10-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

(AP) -- A new music feature rolled out by Google Inc. Wednesday will bring its U.S. searchers one click away from listening to a full-length song.

Read on » Google puts songs a click away in search

State of the Art: New Models From Motorola, HTC and BlackBerry

2009-10-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

All three companies are back with much more impressive, much more refined new smartphones.

Read on » State of the Art: New Models From Motorola, HTC and BlackBerry

Germany Looks at Ways to Protect Online Journalism

2009-10-28T18:54:00.001-07:00

Berlin plans a new kind of copyright to protect online journalism in an attempt to level the playing field with companies like Google.

Read on » Germany Looks at Ways to Protect Online Journalism

Lala Plans to Open Music-Streaming Dime Store on iPhone

2009-10-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Online music retailer Lala is preparing to launch an iPhone application that its cofounder says paves the way for the end of downloading songs in the MP3 format. The app allows users to buy the right to stream songs from a digital locker forever for just 10 US cents each. The song quality is lower than what Apple's iTunes offers, but 'intelligent caching' lets the tracks load and play in seconds, with playback possible even outside of cellphone coverage. An existing iTunes library can be synchronized with one's Lala account."

Read on » Lala Plans to Open Music-Streaming Dime Store on iPhone

Droid Steps Out of the Shadows

2009-10-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Following a spate of rumors, leaked specifications, and an ad campaign explicitly challenging the iPhone, Verizon and Motorola on Wednesday officially announced Droid, the first smartphone based on Android 2.0. Featuring high-speed Web browsing, voice-activated search, a customizable large screen, plus access to thousands of applications and hundreds of widgets through the Android Market, the new Droid device will be available online and in Verizon stores for $199.99 with a new two-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate."

Read on » Droid Steps Out of the Shadows

Android 2.0 Phones Get New Google Nav App

2009-10-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

Google on Wednesday announced the beta release of a GPS navigation application for Android 2.0 devices. The application is part of Google Maps for mobile. Android version 2.0 will appear on the upcoming Droid handset from Motorola and Verizon, and other manufacturers also plan to release handsets carrying the updated, Google-backed mobile OS. Although Google makes other mobile applications that work on a variety of mobile platforms, it's unclear when or if its new nav app will make its way to Android rivals like the iPhone or Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices."

Read on » Android 2.0 Phones Get New Google Nav App

5 gadgets from the near future

2009-10-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

A radio without any knobs. A bathroom where a clear display wirelessly streams vital statistics on your health. And a user interface that takes brain waves and translates them into commands for a computer. Check out these sweet products of the future, some of which may actually hit retail shelves soon.

Read on » 5 gadgets from the near future

Google tries to improve music searches

2009-10-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

The Internet's most popular search engine should get smarter about music, as Google updates the algorithms that power its searches this week, a company spokesman said.

Read on » Google tries to improve music searches

Internet Phone Systems Become the Fraudster's Tool (PC World)

2009-10-28T04:11:00.000-07:00

PC World - Cybercriminals have found a new launching pad for their scams: the phone systems of small and medium-sized businesses across the U.S.

Read on » Internet Phone Systems Become the Fraudster's Tool
(PC World)

Jive Brings Workgroup Collaboration to Microsoft Office (PC World)

2009-10-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

PC World - Jive has given its enterprise social-networking software what it calls its biggest overhaul yet, giving users the ability to collaborate on Microsoft Office files and to use the product from mobile devices, including an application built specifically for the iPhone.

Read on » Jive Brings Workgroup Collaboration to Microsoft Office
(PC World)

Microsoft extends Windows 7 and Azure to open source developers (InfoWorld)

2009-10-28T04:09:00.000-07:00

InfoWorld - Microsoft will unveil on Wednesday several open source initiatives to boost interoperability between Microsoft technologies, such as Windows 7, Windows Azure, and Silverlight, and open source technologies, including the Eclipse tools platform and Java.

Read on » Microsoft extends Windows 7 and Azure to open source developers
(InfoWorld)

Google Launches Social Search

2009-10-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

With Google Social Search enabled, searchers are more likely to find what friends and associates have to say about things.

Read on » Google Launches Social Search

Windows 7 Boosts Laptop Battery Life

2009-10-28T04:07:00.001-07:00

Collaboration between Intel and Microsoft means at least an extra hour of power, vendors claim.

Read on » Windows 7 Boosts Laptop Battery Life

Symbian Kick Starts Developer Program

2009-10-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

Developers in the Horizon program will be able to more efficiently distribute applications for Symbian, the most widely used mobile OS.

Read on » Symbian Kick Starts Developer Program

Hybrid automaker Fisker to buy shuttered GM plant

2009-10-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Budding US hybrid car maker Fisker Automotive will reopen a shuttered General Motors plant in Delaware to build fuel-efficient, plug-in cars, the White House announced Tuesday.

Read on » Hybrid automaker Fisker to buy shuttered GM plant

Researchers bring noise to virtual worlds

2009-10-28T04:04:00.000-07:00

(PhysOrg.com) -- Computer scientists have developed a method to synthesize the sounds of cymbals, falling garbage cans and lids, and plastic water-cooler bottles and recycling bins.

Read on » Researchers bring noise to virtual worlds

Tilera Taunts Intel With a 100-Core Chip

2009-10-28T03:50:00.000-07:00

The start-up Tilera has picked a daunting path by opting to tackle Intel in the server chip market with a new product that it claims is the fastest chip ever built.

Read on » Tilera Taunts Intel With a 100-Core Chip

Cisco to Buy ScanSafe for $183 Million

2009-10-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

Cisco Systems is buying privately held Web security company ScanSafe for about $183 million, a move that will intensify its battle with security giants Symantec Corp and McAfee.

Read on » Cisco to Buy ScanSafe for $183 Million

What Can Google Social Search Actually Find?

2009-10-28T03:45:00.001-07:00

For Google, the recent effort to mix social media with traditional search results is all about relevance -- thus its efforts such as Google Social Search, which the company rolled out in experimental form late Monday. However, can the results really be that effective if they don't include the full participation of the world's largest social network, Facebook? Social Search, according to Google, begins that hunt for relevance with the 'social circle' chosen by you, the user."

Read on » What Can Google Social Search Actually Find?

ICANN to Give Web Addresses International Flavor

2009-10-28T03:45:00.000-07:00

The board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers may vote to allow internationalized domain names at the association's ongoing meeting in Seoul. Assuming the proposal is adopted, countries can apply to test country-code top level domains beginning in mid-November. IDNs are domain names that can use characters other than Latin scripts. ICANN's rationale behind the move is simple: 'The Internet is accessed by more people who do not use Latin languages and scripts than those who do.'"

Read on » ICANN to Give Web Addresses International Flavor

The genius brothers behind Google Wave

2009-10-28T03:43:00.000-07:00

The brothers who grew up to invent Google Maps have a new product: Google Wave. But will the Rasmussens live up to the hype surrounding their effort to kill e-mail? Or will they be one-hit wonders?

Read on » The genius brothers behind Google Wave

Want NASA news? There's an app for that!

2009-10-28T03:39:00.000-07:00

Space buffs can now keep up with NASA's mission launches by launching an app.

Read on » Want NASA news? There's an app for that!

Nintendo to launch new DSi handheld in Japan: report (Reuters)

2009-10-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

Reuters - Nintendo Co plans to launch a new version of its DSi hand-held videogame player with a larger screen in Japan as early as this year to kick-start sluggish demand, the Nikkei business daily said on Tuesday.

Read on » Nintendo to launch new DSi handheld in Japan: report
(Reuters)

Metallica debuts finger-tapping app in iPhone (AP)

2009-10-26T20:53:00.001-07:00

AP - Headbangers will have a reason to steady their gaze a bit starting Tuesday, when rock band Metallica makes its way onto iPhones with a finger-tapping music app called 'Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica.'
Read on » Metallica debuts finger-tapping app in iPhone
(AP)

NASA 'Mars Rocket' Set For Test Flight

2009-10-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ares I-X will lift off from Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday—weather permitting.

Read on » NASA 'Mars Rocket' Set For Test Flight

Google Custom Search Engine Gets Tune-Up

2009-10-26T20:52:00.001-07:00

Web site owners can now take advantage of custom themes and improved metadata support for their Google Custom Search Engines.

Read on » Google Custom Search Engine Gets Tune-Up

Tiny Train Model May be World's Smallest (w/ Video)

2009-10-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

(PhysOrg.com) -- David Smith, who has been building model railroads since 1965, has always had a preference for the smaller scale train models. His most recent project is a five-car train that runs through a scene of mountains, a tunnel, trees, buildings, and a cloud-studded sky - the whole thing measuring just 0.125 x 0.2 inches (0.3 x 0.5 cm). The train's modeling scale is 1:35,200.

Read on » Tiny Train Model May be World's Smallest (w/ Video)

Yahoo! shuts down GeoCities

2009-10-26T20:51:00.001-07:00

Yahoo! on Monday closed GeoCities, a free Web hosting service that it purchased for over three billion dollars at the height of the dot-com boom.

Read on » Yahoo! shuts down GeoCities

Charge your cell phone using light, courtesy SunCore

2009-10-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

SunCore is a little known Irvine, Calif.-based company that's on the cusp of shipping some potentially revolutionary technology.

Read on » Charge your cell phone using light, courtesy SunCore

What Do You Think of Facebook's Latest Changes?

2009-10-26T20:50:00.002-07:00

Once again overhauling the home page seen by its users, Facebook takes a step back from the live Web and aims to present a more selective batch of information.

Read on » What Do You Think of Facebook's Latest Changes?

New Private Equity Firm Focuses on 'Green Tech'

2009-10-26T20:50:00.001-07:00

The race to cash in on the environmental technology wave just got a little more crowded on Monday with the founding of the New World Capital Group, a private equity firm focused on investing in companies in the nascent 'green tech' sector.

Read on » New Private Equity Firm Focuses on 'Green Tech'

Microsoft Launches a Revolution, Apple Launches a Mouse

2009-10-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

I really was anticipating a battle royal between Microsoft and Apple and thought both companies would come to the mat with their best stuff. It felt like Apple was so focused on maintaining high margins last quarter that it gave up a huge chance to grow share, and its stealth launch of a couple of PCs and a multitouch mouse just seemed lame next to the massive rollout of Windows boxes. I'll share my observations on the Windows 7 launch and some of the things I got from several of the customers who were either trying out or deploying the product.

Read on » Microsoft Launches a Revolution, Apple Launches a Mouse

Adobe Elements Buffs Up for Mac

2009-10-26T20:49:00.001-07:00

Mac jocks miffed at Adobe for releasing Windows versions of its Photoshop Elements photo editing and organizing application before getting around to its OS X editions of the software should be pleased with the simultaneous release of the product's new version for both operating systems this month. Better yet, the Mac installment contains some excellent additions and improvements bound to juice the creativity of its advanced amateur audience. With this issue of Elements, Adobe is aiming to make the program easier to use than ever for its target audience.

Read on » Adobe Elements Buffs Up for Mac

Windows 7 Gets Rid of the Gimmicks

2009-10-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Is it damning with faint praise to say that Windows 7 is definitely not Windows Vista? Probably. After the misfire that was Microsoft's previous operating system, those words alone may be enough to push consumers off the computer-buying fence -- when you couple them with the bargain-basement deals that await PC shoppers over the next few weeks. However, it just so happens that after seeing demonstrations from Microsoft officials and getting a couple of days alone to play with the software, I've decided that Windows 7 is a better operating system than Vista.

Read on » Windows 7 Gets Rid of the Gimmicks

Tilera Crams 100 Cores Into Next-Gen Processors

2009-10-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

Multicore processor specialist Tilera has announced a new family of processors which includes what the company says is the first-ever 100-core processor. The TILE-Gx family will have four processors, with 16, 36, 64 and 100 cores. It is aimed at cloud computing, enterprise networking, multimedia and wireless infrastructure. Tilera's processors are based on its iMesh architecture, which can scale to hundreds of RISC-based cores or more on a single chip. RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing."

Read on » Tilera Crams 100 Cores Into Next-Gen Processors

Facebook Users Balk at New Dual-Feed Design

2009-10-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Facebook has tweaked its home page once again -- this time offering users two different feeds: The News Feed features updates ranked according to what Facebook determines to be the most enjoyable or important content posted by a user's friends. The Live Feed, which consists of all of the real-time updates from the users' network, includes a larger assortment of information, such as notifications when friends add friends. When users initially log on, they are now presented with the News Feed; they have the option of toggling to the Live Feed if they so choose."

Read on » Facebook Users Balk at New Dual-Feed Design

NASA's Ares rocket set for test flight

2009-10-26T20:46:00.001-07:00

For the first time in decades, a rocket instead of a space shuttle is occupying launchpad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Read on » NASA's Ares rocket set for test flight

Facebook debuts live news feed

2009-10-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Facebook members will start to see a new look for their home page 'news feeds' on Friday, with the design now featuring a toggle view between a main view, featuring the top stories from their friends list based on their Facebooking habits, and a 'live feed' featuring real-time updates from the whole network.

Read on » Facebook debuts live news feed

Facebook Makeover: The Good, the Bad, and the Backlash (PC World)

2009-10-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

PC World - Facebook gave its homepage a makeover ...again. Last Friday the social networking site quietly rolled out some fairly significant changes to the way information is displayed on your homepage. The updates make the default feed more like it was before the last major homepage overhaul, but the changes aren't without some issues, and they have sparked some backlash among Facebook users.

Read on » Facebook Makeover: The Good, the Bad, and the Backlash
(PC World)

Windows 7 And You: Wait For The Service Pack? (PC World)

2009-10-25T20:27:00.001-07:00

PC World - For many, the official release of a new Microsoft operating system--such as Windows 7--is just the starting of a clock. They will not buy the new OS until Service Pack 1 is released.

Read on » Windows 7 And You: Wait For The Service Pack?
(PC World)

Mobile Service Tracks Alzheimer's Patients

2009-10-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

The Comfort Zone service combines GPS and wireless technologies to enable caregivers to monitor Alzheimer's patients.

Read on » Mobile Service Tracks Alzheimer's Patients

Young entrepreneurs get tips from Facebook-Twitter

2009-10-25T20:26:00.001-07:00

Facebook and Twitter stars shared lessons learned with young entrepreneurs aspiring to be the next hot technology firm.

Read on » Young entrepreneurs get tips from Facebook-Twitter

Internet 'a teenager' at 40

2009-10-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Leonard Kleinrock never imagined Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube that day 40 years ago when his team gave birth to what is now taken for granted as the Internet.

Read on » Internet 'a teenager' at 40

Big Cellphone Makers Shifting to Android System

2009-10-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has been making operating system software for cellphones since 1996, but it is losing users to Android.

Read on » Big Cellphone Makers Shifting to Android System

Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers

2009-10-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Twitter is “smart enough, or lucky enough” to let its users create new features for it, says an M.I.T. professor.

Read on » Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers

Windows 7 Draws New PC Designs Out of the Woodwork

2009-10-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

Although no one waits in long lines for a new edition of Windows anymore, the debut of Microsoft's latest software that runs PCs is part of why buying a computer is starting to feel fun for the first time in years. Windows 7 is expected to work better than its predecessor, Vista. At the same time, Microsoft's marketing has gotten savvier, and PC makers have followed Apple's lead by improving hardware design. Computers with the Windows operating system suddenly seem a lot less utilitarian.

Read on » Windows 7 Draws New PC Designs Out of the Woodwork

Review: 'Halo 3' and 'Dead Space'

2009-10-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

Two new sci-fi video games cast you in the futuristic role of a space marine who must face off against deadly creatures.

Read on » Review: 'Halo 3' and 'Dead Space'

Smartphone security threats likely to rise

2009-10-25T20:19:00.001-07:00

Worms, spam, viruses and hackers -- they're not just for your desktop or laptop anymore. According to internet security experts they could be well on their way into your pocket or purse.

Read on » Smartphone security threats likely to rise

Lenovo expects big PC sales boost from Windows 7 (Reuters)

2009-10-24T19:56:00.001-07:00

Reuters - Lenovo (0992.HK), the world's fourth-biggest personal computer maker, expects a boost in its PC sales from the launch of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7, its chairman said on Saturday.

Read on » Lenovo expects big PC sales boost from Windows 7
(Reuters)

Verizon Droid FAQ: What We Know So Far (PC World)

2009-10-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

PC World - Whether it's because of Apple-bashing commercials, brief appearances on vanishing Web sites or hints and hype about features, the Verizon Droid has been attracting a lot of attention over the past few days. Here is a breakdown of what we know so far...

Read on » Verizon Droid FAQ: What We Know So Far
(PC World)

How To Install Microsoft Windows 7

2009-10-24T19:55:00.001-07:00

Say goodbye to Vista and XP, and let us walk you through the installation of your new operating system, step-by-step.

Read on » How To Install Microsoft Windows 7

This Week In Healthcare Information Technology: Oct. 18 - 24

2009-10-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Our roundup of InformationWeek's coverage includes federal CTO Aneesh Chopra on cost savings, GE's handheld ultrasound device, government prep work for stimulus funding, and a look at where the healthcare IT jobs are.

Read on » This Week In Healthcare Information Technology: Oct. 18 - 24

Icahn resigns from Yahoo's board on friendly terms

2009-10-24T19:54:00.002-07:00

(AP) -- Activist investor Carl Icahn has decided his work is done at Yahoo Inc. after muscling his way on to the slumping Internet company's board nearly 15 months ago.

Read on » Icahn resigns from Yahoo's board on friendly terms

The Count: Swimming, or Just Wading, in Technology

2009-10-24T19:54:00.001-07:00

A survey by Forrester Research shows that many information workers are using new technology only selectively.

Read on » The Count: Swimming, or Just Wading, in Technology

The Young and the Twitterless

2009-10-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

They think it's pointless, narcissistic. Some don't even know what it is. Even so, more young adults and teens -- normally at the cutting edge of technology -- are finally coming around to Twitter, using it for class or work, monitoring the minutiae of celebrities' lives. It's not always love at first tweet, though. Many of them are doing it grudgingly, perhaps because a friend pressures them or a teacher or boss makes them try the 140-character microblogging site."

Read on » The Young and the Twitterless

Two-faced gadget is e-reader plus netbook

2009-10-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Like Harvey 'Two-Face' Dent, a new dual-screen device has two faces to match its double identity: It promises to be an electronic book reader and a netbook at the same time.

Read on » Two-faced gadget is e-reader plus netbook

Seven things to know about Windows 7

2009-10-24T19:52:00.001-07:00

OK, so after eight years and a lot of grumbling -- Vista, anyone? -- Microsoft has finally released a new operating system that people seem excited about. But it is right for you? We offer some advice.

Read on » Seven things to know about Windows 7

Windows 7: Early Sales Strong

2009-10-23T18:50:00.001-07:00

Online shoppers rush to purchase Microsoft's new operating system.

Read on » Windows 7: Early Sales Strong

Windows 7 Driving Touchscreen Evolution

2009-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

Acer, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Sony are scrambling to build PCs that capitalize on the tactile interface.

Read on » Windows 7 Driving Touchscreen Evolution