CY.TALK News Blog

The 10 most absurd published scientific papers [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:56:32 PST

Not many grad students see the funny side of science. Meredith Carpenter and Lillian Fritz-Laylin, from the Molecular and Biology Department at UC Berkeley, not only see it but blog it. Their site, ncbirofl.com (National Center for Biotechnology Information, Rolling On the Floor Laughing), is a repository for absurd published scientific papers. Here is their top ten…

The 10 most absurd published scientific papers

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:51:49 +0000

Multitasking a go for iPhone 4.0, say sources [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:44:19 PST

The iPhone 4.0 firmware will definitely feature multitasking, claim several sources. Apple is said to have developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking, although no details have been leaked on how problems like battery life, memory use and processor consumption will be handled. The interface for switching between apps is also being kept in the dark, partly because it has a “way to go” before it nears final form.

Multitasking a go for iPhone 4.0, say sources

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:39:45 +0000

The iPhone 4.0 firmware will definitely feature multitasking, claim several sources. Apple is said to have developed a "full-on solution" to multitasking, although no details have been leaked on how problems like battery life, memory use and processor consumption will be handled. The interface for switching between apps is also being kept in the dark, partly because it has a "way to go" before it nears final form. It is nevertheless claimed by AppleInsider contacts that the task manager will be based on interface technology in Mac OS X, which could potentially refer to the basic Command-Tab switcher, or something like Expose.

Kaspersky: Apple is blocking iPhone security software [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:42:05 PST

Kaspersky: Apple is blocking iPhone security software

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:37:53 +0000

Eugene Kaspersky has claimed Apple is blocking attempts to bring third-party security software to the iPhone. Speaking exclusively to PC Pro, the CEO of Kaspersky Lab claimed Apple has repeatedly refused to deliver the software development kit (SDK) necessary to design security software for the phone. "We have been in contact for two years with Apple to develop our anti-theft software, [but] still we do not have permission," said Kaspersky.

Intel Core i7-980X Extreme 6-Core Processor Review [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:27:22 PST

Although they are not due to hit store shelves for a few more weeks, Intel is using the always exciting Game Developers Conference currently being held in San Francisco to officially unveil the new Core i7-980X Extreme processor. Intel’s Extreme Edition processors have always been targeted at enthusiasts and hardcore-gamers, so what better place to show off the fastest desktop processor for the PC to date? Unless of course you’re catching it here on the pages of HotHardware, that is.

Intel Core i7-980X Extreme 6-Core Processor Review

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:24:46 +0000

Although they are not due to hit store shelves for a few more weeks, Intel is using the always exciting Game Developers Conference currently being held in San Francisco to officially unveil the new Core i7-980X Extreme processor. Intel's Extreme Edition processors have always been targeted at enthusiasts and hardcore-gamers, so what better place to show off the fastest desktop processor for the PC to date? Unless of course you're catching it here on the pages of HotHardware, that is.

N.Y. health insurers to offer virtual doc visits [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:35:00 PST

Computerworld – Two BlueCross BlueShield insurance organizations in upstate New York announced today that they will offer their members and employers virtual physician visits beginning this summer, making New York the fourth state to provide these types of services.

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and technology services provider American Well Inc. said the Online Care service will allow members to talk with physicians in real time through a private online chat network or through a voice-over-IP phone call.

N.Y. health insurers to offer virtual doc visits

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:32:22 +0000

Computerworld - Two BlueCross BlueShield insurance organizations in upstate New York announced today that they will offer their members and employers virtual physician visits beginning this summer, making New York the fourth state to provide these types of services. BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and technology services provider American Well Inc. said the Online Care service will allow members to talk with physicians in real time through a private online chat network or through a voice-over-IP phone call.

Mobile that allows bosses to snoop on staff developed [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:19:46 PST

Japanese phone giant KDDI Corporation has developed technology that tracks even the tiniest movement of the user and beams the information back to HQ.

It works by analysing the movement of accelerometers, found in many handsets.

Activities such as walking, climbing stairs or even cleaning can be identified, the researchers say.

Mobile that allows bosses to snoop on staff developed

LateNight — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:16:00 +0000

Japanese phone giant KDDI Corporation has developed technology that tracks even the tiniest movement of the user and beams the information back to HQ. It works by analysing the movement of accelerometers, found in many handsets. Activities such as walking, climbing stairs or even cleaning can be identified, the researchers say. The company plans to sell the service to clients such as managers, foremen and employment agencies.

Digital mirror: fashion brands convey glamour online [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:54:13 PST

With videos of catwalk shows, pictures of glamorous models and a catalog of chic products, luxury brands are creating “digital mirrors” online as they turn to the internet to tap into growing e-commerce demand.

The traditional print advert in a glossy magazine is no longer the only way to communicate with the public and fashion houses are now reaching out to their consumers through websites, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and phone applications.

Digital mirror: fashion brands convey glamour online

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:44:20 +0000

With videos of catwalk shows, pictures of glamorous models and a catalog of chic products, luxury brands are creating "digital mirrors" online as they turn to the internet to tap into growing e-commerce demand. The traditional print advert in a glossy magazine is no longer the only way to communicate with the public and fashion houses are now reaching out to their consumers through websites, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and phone applications.

Virgin Media to trial broadband over telegraph poles [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:39:51 PST

British cable operator Virgin Media is testing a new technology to deliver ultrafast broadband over telegraph poles which could allow it to extend its reach to another 1 million homes.

Virgin, which is looking to cement its advantage in delivering faster broadband over slower copper-based rivals, said it was launching a trial in a Berkshire village to deliver 50 Mb broadband along with its television service.

Virgin Media to trial broadband over telegraph poles

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:36:58 +0000

British cable operator Virgin Media is testing a new technology to deliver ultrafast broadband over telegraph poles which could allow it to extend its reach to another 1 million homes. Virgin, which is looking to cement its advantage in delivering faster broadband over slower copper-based rivals, said it was launching a trial in a Berkshire village to deliver 50 Mb broadband along with its television service.

Motorola, Microsoft in deal to put Bing on phones [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:25:21 PST

Motorola Inc has reached a deal with Microsoft Corp that will put Bing search and mapping services on its phones that use Google’s Android operating system.

Motorola said the partnership with Microsoft means that a Bing bookmark and search widget will be loaded on cell phones, starting in the coming weeks with phones in China.

Motorola, Microsoft in deal to put Bing on phones

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:21:39 +0000

Motorola Inc has reached a deal with Microsoft Corp that will put Bing search and mapping services on its phones that use Google's Android operating system. Motorola said the partnership with Microsoft means that a Bing bookmark and search widget will be loaded on cell phones, starting in the coming weeks with phones in China.

Sony unveils new motion-controlled gaming system [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:12:56 PST

Sony Corp has unveiled its new motion-controlled video game system, pitching it to both casual and hard-core gamers alike, as the company looks to ride one of the hottest trends in gaming.

The new system will help Sony keep pace with rivals Nintendo Co Ltd, which pioneered gesture-based gaming, and Microsoft Corp, which is launching its system later this year.

Sony unveils new motion-controlled gaming system

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:06:15 +0000

Sony Corp has unveiled its new motion-controlled video game system, pitching it to both casual and hard-core gamers alike, as the company looks to ride one of the hottest trends in gaming. The new system will help Sony keep pace with rivals Nintendo Co Ltd, which pioneered gesture-based gaming, and Microsoft Corp, which is launching its system later this year.

Opera rolls out mobile browser for Android [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:57:50 PST

Opera Software unveiled on Thursday a version of its Mini mobile browser for use on cellphones running on Google’s Android software.

Opera Mini is the world’s most widely used browser on cellphones, ahead of Apple’s iPhone browser, as Opera benefits from its wide offering across all key platforms, according to web statistics firm Statcounter.

Opera rolls out mobile browser for Android

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:46:55 +0000

Opera Software unveiled on Thursday a version of its Mini mobile browser for use on cellphones running on Google's Android software. Opera Mini is the world's most widely used browser on cellphones, ahead of Apple's iPhone browser, as Opera benefits from its wide offering across all key platforms, according to web statistics firm Statcounter.

CDC uses shopper-card data to trace salmonella [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:58:35 PST

As they scrambled recently to trace the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds around the country, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention successfully used a new tool for the first time – the shopper cards that millions of Americans swipe every time they buy groceries.

With permission from the patients, investigators followed the trail of grocery purchases to a Rhode Island company that makes salami, then zeroed in on the pepper used to season the meat.

CDC uses shopper-card data to trace salmonella

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:55:42 +0000

As they scrambled recently to trace the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds around the country, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention successfully used a new tool for the first time - the shopper cards that millions of Americans swipe every time they buy groceries. With permission from the patients, investigators followed the trail of grocery purchases to a Rhode Island company that makes salami, then zeroed in on the pepper used to season the meat. Never before had the CDC successfully mined the mountain of data that supermarket chains compile.

Summary Box: Palm struggles in its phone comeback [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:41:06 PST

PALM’S PROBLEM: As smart phones have gotten more popular, Apple Inc.’s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerrys have benefited while Palm has fallen behind.

ITS SOLUTION: Sleek new phones, fresh operating software and a new CEO who helped Apple make the iPod a household name. But while the products have gotten positive reviews, consumers have been slow to pick them up.

Summary Box: Palm struggles in its phone comeback

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:38:02 +0000

PALM'S PROBLEM: As smart phones have gotten more popular, Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerrys have benefited while Palm has fallen behind. ITS SOLUTION: Sleek new phones, fresh operating software and a new CEO who helped Apple make the iPod a household name. But while the products have gotten positive reviews, consumers have been slow to pick them up.

Huge 'botnet' amputated, but criminals reconnect [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:39:36 PST

The sudden takedown of an Internet provider thought to be helping spread one of the most promiscuous pieces of malicious software out there appears to have cut off criminals from potentially millions of personal computers under their control.

But the victory was short-lived. Less than a day after a service known as “AS Troyak” was unplugged from the Internet, security researchers said Wednesday it apparently had found a way to get back online, and criminals were reconnecting with their unmoored machines.

Huge ‘botnet’ amputated, but criminals reconnect

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:36:48 +0000

The sudden takedown of an Internet provider thought to be helping spread one of the most promiscuous pieces of malicious software out there appears to have cut off criminals from potentially millions of personal computers under their control. But the victory was short-lived. Less than a day after a service known as "AS Troyak" was unplugged from the Internet, security researchers said Wednesday it apparently had found a way to get back online, and criminals were reconnecting with their unmoored machines.

Study: those who stay fit have longer sex lives [del.icio.us]

Cytalk — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:29:02 PST

Study: those who stay fit have longer sex lives

LateNight — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:26:23 +0000

Men are more likely than women to be interested in sex, have sex and enjoy sex, according to new scientific research, which also found people who stay active and healthy enjoy longer sex lives. Research by University of Chicago academics published online Wednesday in the British Medical Journal found that, across all age groups, men were more interested in sex than women - and the gap increased with age. The difference was most pronounced in the 75 to 85 age group, where 39 percent of men and 17 percent of women said they were sexually active, although the gender difference was smaller among people with a partner. Women of that age are more likely than men to be widowed.

China Mobile investing $5.8B in Chinese bank

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:08:23 +0000

China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest phone company by subscribers, said Wednesday it was investing $5.8 billion in a Chinese bank as part of a plan to develop mobile phone banking and business services. Under the agreement, China Mobile will pay 39.8 billion yuan ($5.8 billion) in cash for 20 percent of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, the cell phone company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The two companies plan to work together to develop mobile phone services involving customer payments, bank cards, money transfers and other so-called e-commerce businesses.

Google adds bike lane with latest mapping feature

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:36:58 +0000

Google is adding a bike lane with its latest online mapping option. The new bicycling directions available on Google Maps Wednesday supplement the guidance already provided to motorists and pedestrians. The biking directions initially will be available only for the United States. Google spent the past six months tweaking its mapping service so it could recommend routes that would steer bicyclists away from big hills and heavily congested streets.

Chinese group file complaint over faulty HP laptops

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:21:55 +0000

More than 100 Chinese consumers have filed an official complaint against Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N) over faulty laptop computers, leaving the door open for a lawsuit against the U.S. technology company, a lawyer for the group said on Wednesday. Jiang Suhua, a lawyer at Yingke Law Firm in Beijing, told Reuters the complaint centred on video cards which overheated and caused the laptop to malfunction.

U.S. weighing China Internet censorship case

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:20:07 +0000

The United States is studying whether it can legally challenge Chinese Internet restrictions that hurt Google and other U.S. companies operating in China, but direct talks with Beijing might yield faster results, the top U.S. trade official said on Tuesday. "We are still dialoguing not just with Google, but with other Internet providers, to make sure we fully understand what is happening in China," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in remarks at the National Press Club.

LG Elec launches Android-based smartphone

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:27:47 +0000

LG Electronics Inc, the world's No. 3 mobile phone maker, on Wednesday launched a smartphone based on Google's Android operating system in South Korea, as it seeks to boost its relatively weak smartphone line-ups. LG, which is fighting an uphill battle against leaders Nokia, Blackberry maker RIM and Apple, plans to boost smartphone offerings with some 20 models this year, half the offerings based on the most popular Android.

U.S. considers some free wireless broadband service

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:06:06 +0000

U.S. regulators may dedicate spectrum to free wireless Internet service for some Americans to increase affordable broadband service nationwide, the Federal Communications Commission said on Tuesday. The FCC provided few details about how it would carry out such a plan and who would qualify, but will make a recommendation under the National Broadband Plan set for release next week. The agency will determine details later.

MySpace readies site overhaul to rekindle growth

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:46:33 +0000

With shrinking audiences, deep layoffs and two management shake-ups, MySpace, the one-time leader in Internet social networking, has had a rocky year. Mike Jones, who took over as co-president last month with Jason Hirschhorn, said that even within MySpace some employees have lost the will to keep fighting.

Cable group wants U.S. FCC to end fee disputes

LateNight — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:33:09 +0000

A coalition of cable and satellite companies will this week call on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to create a new process to resolve increasingly bitter disputes over carriage fees paid to broadcasters. The group, which includes rival TV distributors such as Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC.N), DirecTV Group (DTV.O) and Dish Network Corp (DISH.O) serve more than 65 million U.S. homes. They will file a petition with the FCC, which argues the current retransmission consent regime is flawed.

British dog owners can be forced to microchip their dogs

Dana — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:40:02 +0000

LONDON - British dog owners may be forced to microchip their pets and take out insurance, part of a proposed crackdown on the country's dangerous canines. Postmen are delighted, but civil libertarians grumble that Britain's sprawling surveillance state now wants to track the nation's estimated 8 million dogs. Others complain that the insurance plan would impose a financial penalty on innocent pet owners - while criminals who own violent animals will simply shirk the law. "This is yet more surveillance and continuous data-grabbing by government who want to have as much information on us as it can possibly have," said Dylan Sharpe, a campaigner with privacy rights group Big Brother Watch. Opposition lawmaker Nick Herbert said the proposal risked "penalizing millions of law-abiding dog owners with the blunt instrument of a dog tax."

Cisco to introduce new heavy-duty Internet router

Dana — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:33:14 +0000

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Cisco is upgrading one of its biggest pieces of networking hardware, an router that's used to power the most trafficked parts of the Internet backbone. Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of computer networking gear, said Tuesday it is replacing its aging CRS-1 "core router," which was introduced in 2004. The new CRS-3 is three times faster. Cisco says it can handle 322 terabits of traffic per second, or simultaneous video calls for every person in China. Cisco competes in the core router market with Juniper Network Inc., which has updated its products more recently than Cisco. The CRS-3 will sell for $90,000 and up.

BlackBerry Slider Gets a Close Up With Clearer Images; Is It the Storm3 or a New Bold?

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:53:33 +0000

By now most people know that the BlackBerry Slider is no longer a myth and is in fact a real device. The first images were a bit blurry and hard to make out. Now you can end the squinting and look at these new higher resolution images of the first ever full QWERTY keyboard slider BlackBerry. More info and images after break. You are probably scratching your head at what exactly the BlackBerry Slider could be. Is it the 'Mr. T aka Talladega', otherwise known as the Storm3? Or, is it what Kevin from CrackBerry.comsuggests, "the slider berry will hit the market as part of the BlackBerry Bold line." Either way, we're still a bit unsure.

Sony to launch 3D TVs in June, rivals Samsung

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:02:08 +0000

The maker of Bravia flat TVs hopes 3D models to make up 10 percent of more than 25 million LCD TVs it aims to sell in the next financial year. Sony's Chief Executive Howard Stringer holds high hopes of a shift to 3D as it will likely give a boost to many of its business operations, which range from TVs, digital cameras and Blu-ray DVD players to video games. "Sony is a formidable competitor to Samsung because it is leading the game industry. It will likely be ardent game players who will first buy 3D TVs as an early adopter," said Alex Oh, an analyst at Hanwha Securities in Seoul.

Cyber-bullying cases put heat on Google, Facebook

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:42:50 +0000

The Internet was built on freedom of expression. Society wants someone held accountable when that freedom is abused. And major Internet companies like Google and Facebook are finding themselves caught between those ideals.

Word to youth: Texting, driving don’t mix

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:11:45 +0000

At 18, she could hold dinner conversations with her family while surreptitiously texting with friends, hiding her cellphone under the table. Everyone in the Rogers, Ark., high school senior's circle had warned her about texting while driving; they'd see her car swerve and know what she was doing. It cost her her life. Last May, on the day before graduation, Mariah was driving to a Minor League Baseball game in Springfield, Mo., texting with the player who'd invited her. As she was sending him a text, she lost control of the car, which clipped a bridge, skidded on its roof along the edge of the bridge and flipped back into oncoming traffic.

Flight attendants press for hand-to-hand combat training as anti-terror measure

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:55:18 +0000

The Association of Flight Attendants is pushing Congress to fund combat training as part of a four-point plan that the union says would improve security inside aircraft cabins. The Los Angeles Times reports the union "hopes that lawmakers will include money to put some of their ideas into action under an upcoming funding bill for the Federal Aviation Administration."

Lender putting www.sex.com domain on auction block

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:52:59 +0000

Sex.com, often touted as one of the most valuable Internet domain names, is due to head to the auction block next week. DOM Partners LLC, a New Jersey lender that backed a 2006 purchase of the domain name for a reported $14 million, is foreclosing on the Internet property, and is due to auction it on March 18 at New York law firm Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf LLP, according to legal notices.

Google, Dish testing new TV search service: report

LateNight — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:35:22 +0000

Google Inc and No. 2 U.S. satellite TV operator Dish Network Corp are jointly testing a television programing search service, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

IPad to hit stores April 3

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:21:35 +0000

Apple Inc said the first iPads will be in U.S. stores on April 3 and hit nine international markets later in the month, easing concerns that manufacturing constraints could delay launch. The news sent shares of Apple surging as much as 4.3 percent to an all-time high of $219.70 on the Nasdaq, as analysts said the speedy international rollout could help build sales momentum.

Google takes aim at Microsoft with acquisition

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:51:53 +0000

Google Inc stepped up its assault on Microsoft Corp's productivity software business with the acquisition of a small start-up company that allows Microsoft users to edit and share their documents on the Web. Google said on its company blog on Friday that it has acquired San Francisco-based DocVerse. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Scientists find why “sunshine” vitamin D is crucial

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:21:32 +0000

Vitamin D is vital in activating human defenses and low levels suffered by around half the world's population may mean their immune systems' killer T cells are poor at fighting infection, scientists said on Sunday. The findings by Danish researchers could help the fight against infectious diseases and global epidemics, they said, and could be particularly useful in the search for new vaccines.

Toyota secretive on ‘black box’ data

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:02:37 +0000

Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline "black boxes" that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts. The AP investigation found that Toyota has been inconsistent - and sometimes even contradictory - in revealing exactly what the devices record and don't record, including critical data about whether the brake or accelerator pedals were depressed at the time of a crash.

Premier Mike Rann pledges to ban repeat driving offenders for life

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:09:10 +0000

REPEAT drink-drivers and drug-drivers who are a "menace to society" will be banned from driving for life under reforms pledged by Premier Mike Rann. Mr Rann today announced the Police Commissioner would be given the power to suspend the licences of repeat offenders and branded cars "lethal weapons" in a similar class to guns. Mr Rann also pledged to increase penalties for hoon street racers who "use suburban roads as a racetrack".

Four in five believe Web access a fundamental right

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:48:09 +0000

Four in five adults believe access to the Internet is a fundamental right -- with those feelings particularly strong in South Korea and China -- and half believe it should never be regulated, according to a global survey. A poll of 27,000 adults in 26 countries for the BBC World Service showed 78 percent of Internet users believed the Web gave them greater freedom, while nine in 10 said it was a good place to learn.

Panasonic, Best Buy to tie up on 3D TV sales

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:53:34 +0000

Panasonic Corp will tie up with the top U.S. electronics chain Best Buy Co to market and boost the sales of its 3D TVs in the United States, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday. The report comes ahead of the world's fourth-largest flat TV maker's launch of its 3D TV in the United States this month amid rivalry with TV makers such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp.

China to punish hackers, says no Google complaint

LateNight — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:41:16 +0000

China has pledged to punish hackers who attacked Google if there is evidence to prove it, but said it has yet to receive any complaint from the world's top search engine. Google sent shockwaves across business and political circles in January when it declared it would stop censoring Chinese search results, and threatened to pull out of China -- the world's largest online community with 384 million users at the end of last year -- over hacking and censorship concerns. Google had never filed a report to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology over the cyber attacks or sought negotiations, Vice Minister Miao Wei was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua late on Saturday.

Egypt military court releases blogger in army case

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:22:38 +0000

A blogger, who had faced a military trial for an article critical of Egypt's armed forces, has been released without bail after apologising and on condition he removes the posting, his lawyer said on Sunday. Ahmed Moustafa, 20, an engineering student, had been charged by a military court with "disseminating false information" and "tarnishing the image of the military". He was detained in Kafr el-Sheikh, a city north of Cairo. "The military court retracted its position and released Ahmed without giving reasons," Moustafa's lawyer, Hamdi al-Assiuty, told Reuters. But he said the authorities had kept the case on file which meant it could be pulled out in future. A conviction could have resulted in a one-year jail term. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other rights groups had called on Egypt to drop charges against Moustafa and have criticised the treatment of Egyptian bloggers, who are often rounded up for posting anti-government articles.

Swiss voters reject giving abused animals a lawyer

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:06:14 +0000

GENEVA - The result was emphatic: Swiss voters don't think abused animals need to have their own lawyers. It's a proposal that would never even come near a referendum in other countries, but the measure's defeat Sunday disappointed animal rights advocates, who say Switzerland's elaborate animal welfare laws aren't being enforced. Opponents of the proposal, including key farmers' groups and the government, had argued that existing laws are sufficient and appointing special lawyers to act on behalf of animals would be unnecessarily expensive for taxpayers. "The Swiss people have clearly said our animal protection laws are so good we don't need animal lawyers," Jakob Buechler, a lawmaker for the centrist Christian People's Party, told Swiss television SF1. Official results showed that 70.5 percent of voters cast their ballot against the proposal to extend nationwide a system that has been in place in Zurich since 1992. Some 29.5 percent of voters backed the proposal, with turnout at just over 45 percent.

Woman allegedly stabs ex after looking at phone

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:59:29 +0000

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Las Cruces police said a woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her ex-husband. Police said a 27-year-old woman was charged with three counts of aggravated battery against a household member and one count of battery. She was being held on $15,000 bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center. The woman's ex-husband was taken to a hospital for treatment of his wounds after the Thursday night altercation. According to police, Shaw and her 29-year-old ex-husband were at her home late Thursday when she became upset after looking through his cell phone's call history. Detectives said Shaw pulled out a knife and started swinging at her ex-spouse, striking him at least three times. Authorities said his injuries were not life-threatening. The victim left the home and got a ride to the Las Cruces Police Department where he was interviewed by officers.

Sony’s Great Idea: Demos That Become Less Fun When Played

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:17:52 +0000

When a game developer releases a demo, it's typically intended to entice players into first trying and then purchasing the full version. In keeping with that goal, demo versions of a game are (usually) designed to be fun. This is the stuff of Game Design 101 for most of us, but a crack team of cutting-edge gaming researchers at Sony have applied for a patent based on a novel concept – game demos that become progressively less fun the more you play. Sony refers to this as "feature erosion"; the patent application can be viewed in full here.

Archiving Britain’s web: The legal nightmare explored

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:45:13 +0000

A proposal that could give select institutions the power to take snapshots of websites without their owners' permission is being ruminated by our Government. Civil servants at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport are now processing opinions on whether we should be archiving websites for future generations. While it is likely that any changes to the 2003 Legal Deposit Libraries Act won't be tackled by the present government, the public consultation has raised some interesting questions -- should we be treating websites as culturally important artefacts; should we be taking regular "snapshots" of websites and saving them in a searchable and accessible archive; whose responsibility is this; and most importantly, should copyright on websites be ignored so that their content can be saved?

More people sick on SC cruise ship that had virus

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:21:33 +0000

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Passengers have again fallen ill with a stomach bug aboard a cruise ship hit by a virus last month on its previous trip from South Carolina. Celebrity Cruise spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said Friday that 55 of the nearly 1,900 passengers on board the Celebrity Mercury were sick. More than 400 passengers and crew fell ill during a cruise that ended in Charleston on Feb. 26. The vessel sailed again last weekend after a one-day delay to allow a crew to sanitize the ship. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said tests showed last month's outbreak was caused by norovirus, which can spread quickly in closed quarters. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. South Carolina health officials have reported twice as many cases of norovirus as normal this winter. The virus may have come on board the ship with passengers, crew members or supplies. But it's almost impossible to pinpoint a specific cause in a closed place like a cruise liner, said Adam Myrick, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. "It's so ubiquitous. It's everywhere," he said. "There's no way you can say it came from this stairwell, this handrail in this stairwell."

Global climate battle plays out in World Bank

Dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:01:28 +0000

The United States and Britain are threatening to withhold support for a $3.75 billion World Bank loan for a coal-fired plant in South Africa, expanding the battleground in the global debate over who should pay for clean energy. The opposition by the bank's two largest members has raised eyebrows among those who note that the two advanced economies are allowing development of coal-powered plants in their own countries even as they raise concerns about those in poorer countries.

Google dangles ultrafast broadband and cities leap

Dana — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:01:52 +0000

DULUTH, Minn. - Wearing just a T-shirt and shorts, Mayor Don Ness strolled to the end of a dock jutting into frigid Lake Superior. He grinned, waved his arms to a cheering crowd, and jumped in. "I've laid down the gauntlet!" Ness cried, shivering and dripping as he emerged from the lake in a video posted on YouTube. "All right, you other mayors! You want Google Fiber, you jump in Lake Superior!" They may not be taking a lake plunge, but city leaders around the country are competing hard for Google's experimental fiber-optic network, which promises to be more than 100 times faster than the Internet connections currently available to most Americans. Topeka, Kan., informally renamed itself "Google, Kansas," for the month of March. A group in Baltimore launched a Web site that uses Google mapping to plot the location of more than 1,000 residents and gives their reasons for wanting the service. Other cities in pursuit include Cincinnati, Portland, Ore., Grand Rapids, Mich., Rochester, N.Y., Baton Rouge, La. More than 200 groups on Facebook are pushing different cities and counties for Google's broadband plan.

Waste watchers? UK group fears trash bin spies

Dana — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:54:38 +0000

LONDON - It's the new front in the nanny state: Microchips placed in garbage bins to monitor how much people throw away. A pro-privacy group warns in a new report that more than 2.6 million of the chips have been surreptitiously installed in what is seen as a first step toward charging those who toss too much. Proponents say it's a bid to push recycling. Opponents say it stinks. "They should mind their own business," said Terry Williams, an unemployed Londoner who thinks the government is meddling. "I believe they have gone too far. It's not like we are throwing away anything that is illegal." The advocacy group Big Brother Watch found through a series of Freedom of Information requests that many local governments, called councils in Britain, are installing the microchips in trash cans distributed to households, but in most cases have not yet activated them - in part because officials know the move would be unpopular. "They are waiting for the political climate to change before they start using them," said campaign director Dylan Sharpe, who predicted that families that produce large amounts of garbage would be fined. The trash microchips are now part of the British information grid, which already includes a heavy reliance on closed-circuit television surveillance and cameras to monitor the population, particularly on the crowded public transportation system. "This is yet another piece of surveillance that the councils are taking on in our daily life," said Sharpe. "With this information they can tell if we are home or not, and the information is stored on their database, which is not that secure." He said the "pay as you throw" policy councils are planning to implement would discriminate against large families that generate more waste and might encourage people to burn their refuse - or dump it illegally - rather than pay extra. "That's what's happened in Ireland, where they're tried this," he said. "Over the last 10 years we've seen a massive increase in CCTV, and the introduction of laws allowing police to search at random. There has been a general trend in this country toward gathering as much data as possible."

Airport body scanners spreading across US

Dana — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:46:23 +0000

BOSTON - The Transportation Security Administration on Friday announced nine more U.S. airports that will receive body-scanning technology, as the U.S. heightens its effort to detect hidden explosives and other weapons amid a threat highlighted by an attempted bombing on Christmas Day. TSA security director Lee Kair said units will be fielded in the coming months at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; San Jose, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; San Diego; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; and Kansas City. They will join three machines going online Monday at Boston's Logan International Airport, and one being deployed next week at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. All are among 150 machines bought with money from the federal stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama last year. They join 40 machines already in use at 19 airports nationwide.