Technology - OrlandoSentinel.com

Mysterious 'cramming' charges anger cellphone users

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:27:00 GMT

Monique Eigenbauer said a mystery company charged her cellphone nearly $60 during five months for "long life love tips" — a service she never requested or authorized.

Venture capital, Florida get reacquainted after dull patch

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:35:00 GMT

In a boost to Florida's national ranking, companies here attracted nearly $300 million in venture capital last year, an indication that investment firms are taking notice of the Sunshine State during the nation's slow economic recovery, according to a new survey.

Smaller companies seen as key to regaining high-paying manufacturing jobs in Orlando

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:36:00 GMT

After years of lab work, Dan Rini is finally setting up a factory to make high-tech, air-conditioned uniforms for the military. But unlike many U.S. factories of recent decades, it's not in China, India or, for that matter, South Carolina or Alabama. It's tucked in an Oviedo office park with his company's headquarters.

Lockheed's Orlando unit would take hit from proposed defense cuts

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

From guided-missiles to stealth fighter jet systems, Lockheed Martin Corp.'s work in Orlando would take a direct, though non-lethal, hit from proposed defense cuts in the Obama administration's 2013 budget, officials said Tuesday.

Remade missile may survive budget cuts

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:02:00 GMT

The Joint Air to Ground Missile appears to be a weapon with nine lives.

Talking With ... Philip Holt: Orlando gaming company makes a play for users of Facebook

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT

Philip Holt is the CEO of Orlando-based Row Sham Bow gaming studio, which in October launched Woodland Heroes, a Facebook strategy game featuring furry creatures. Holt and his team of developers and designers now are brainstorming something "quite different" as a follow-up game. Holt, 41, spoke recently with reporter Walter Pacheco .

UCF 'Pain Game' helps nursing students gauge patients' discomfort

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:41:00 GMT

Mary Anderson lies in her hospital bed after abdominal surgery. She's swollen, frustrated and in pain.

Worry about $4 gas? How about $18 per gallon?

By Kevin Spear , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:20:00 GMT

A writer complained Wednesday in the Orlando Sentinel's Ticked off! feature that the "price of gas at the pump has gone from $3.25 to $3.65 per gallon."

Biodiesel fuels fast truck, cool motorcycle

By Kevin Spear , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:29:00 GMT

It's often said the tailpipe exhaust from a type of diesel fuel made from vegetable and animal fats smells like French fries.

3-D technology helps autistic kids learn to read

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:42:00 GMT

A menagerie of virtual 3-D animals that swim, eat bugs and fly are building crucial reading skills in autistic children at Audubon Park Elementary in Orlando.

Resources that can help

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:42:00 GMT

Local and national autism experts recommend the following mobile and web resources to help autistic students:

Apps drive Central Florida businesses, schools

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:43:00 GMT

Mark Hawks has sold Apple products for the past 20 years, but the popularity of mobile applications has his career heading in a different direction.

State's biggest research park hopes for smooth sailing through Pentagon's budget turbulence

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:27:00 GMT

Buttressed by a substantial contingent of military agencies and contractors, Central Florida Research Park has made it through the recession and subsequent slow recovery relatively unscathed, picking up only a few nicks along the way.

Lower defense spending dings Harris Corp., but profit still beats forecast

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Citing lower government defense spending, Harris Corp. posted lower quarterly profit and flat revenues Tuesday – a mixed report that beat the consensus Wall Street profit forecast, but fell short of the sales estimate.

Lockheed's sim unit wins $66 million deal for medical lab logistics work

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:33:00 GMT

Lockheed Martin Corp.'s training-simulation division has won a $66 million contract to help set up a new medical-research lab for the Army at Fort Detrick, Md., the company said Tuesday.

Telecom tax sails through committee

By Jason Garcia , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:05:07 GMT

TALLAHASSEE — A tax bill sought by Verizon Communications Inc. and other big telecom companies sailed through another legislative committee Wednesday, despite uncertainty about the measure's long-term financial effect on state and local governments' revenue.

OUC to cut fuel surcharge 11 percent

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:01:00 GMT

For the first time in five years, Orlando Utilities Commission plans to cut its fuel surcharge, a move that could save residential and commercial customers a combined $30 million this year, the utility said Monday.

Telecom companies seek tax changes that some say could rip big holes in state and local budgets

By Jason Garcia , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:25:00 GMT

Verizon Communications Inc., Comcast Corp. and other big telecom companies are lobbying Florida lawmakers to exempt a host of digital items from the state's communications tax, in an overhaul the industry says is needed to adapt to rapidly evolving technology but which some others warn could eventually rip a huge hole in government finances.

New work for Harris may offset any cuts

By Richard Burnett , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:31:00 GMT

Central Florida's largest locally based defense contractor, Harris Corp. , has lined up some lucrative military work so far this year, which should provide added cushion against possible defense-budget cuts.

Year later, Amway Center cellphone coverage still hit-or-miss

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:25:00 GMT

A wireless black hole is still churning in the center of Orlando at the Amway Center.

Ex-Pentagon official: Cuts not that dire

By , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:09:04 GMT

The Obama administration's new defense strategy, which could mean even deeper budget cuts than those already in the works, has poured fuel on the election year's politically charged flames.

Activists push politics on Facebook, Twitter

By , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:11:58 GMT

Deploying a new weapon for the 2012 election, political activists are reaching out directly to rally their friends and followers through the social-media world of Facebook and Twitter.

Quiet year for area utilities, aside from Duke merger

By , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:22:00 GMT

Central Florida's three biggest electric utilities will pursue very different goals in 2012.

Defense: Region braces for spending cuts

By , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:20:00 GMT

Already nicked by the military-budget cuts of recent years, Central Florida's defense industry is bracing for what could be the mother of all cutbacks in 2012.

Big F-15 fighter sale to benefit Lockheed Orlando

By , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:24:57 GMT

A multibillion-dollar deal involving the sale of F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia will generate some lucrative work for at least one of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Orlando units.