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Submission + - DeviceHive: M2M Framework Built on Java EE7 (dataart.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: DataArt’s embedded development center of competence has recently launched DeviceHive developed in Java with the aspiration to meet the needs of the huge open-source community. Previously, this framework was available only for .NET and MSSQL, meanwhile JAVA version was highly demanded.

Submission + - Investigating the Security of the Firefox OS

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Firefox OS is Mozilla’s foray into the mobile operating system field and promises a more adaptive mobile OS. But as mobile threats, in particular in the Android platform, has gained momentum, the question in everyone’s mind is – how safe is it? The Firefox OS uses uses a Linux kernel and boots into a Gecko-based runtime engine, which lets users run apps developed entirely using HTML, JavaScript, and other open web technologies. Overall, Firefox possesses good app permission management, but core processes (with more privileges) may become a target for exploits. In addition, HTML5 features may become sources of potential vulnerabilities.

Submission + - Kickstarter campaign - from Special effects dudes behind the Matrix films & (kickstarter.com)

Submitted by ateloh
ateloh writes: Nick Nicolaou of Makeup Effects Group (MEG) — has launched a kickstarter campaign to make a promo trailer for his truly epic zombie film. If you haven't heard of MEG, they have done awesome makeup effects work on so many films including the Matrix films, the Narnia films, and the list goes on.

"MARY DOE is a Horror/Thriller feature film project, in the vein of films such as: Alien, The Thing, Dawn of the Dead and The Terminator. It will blend state of the art "old school" practical effects, thrills and chills, within an exciting and intelligent story."

Their kickstarter pages puts forward a very interesting read, even if you do not pledge.

Submission + - DARPA's XS-1 Sets Goal of Space Launches With One-Day Turnaround (gizmag.com)

Submitted by Zothecula
Zothecula writes: Currently, launching satellites is an involved and expensive process. DARPA’s Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program hopes to make this a thing of the past, by developing a shuttle-like resuable launch system that can turn around from landing to relaunch in one day, and bring down the cost of launching by a factor of 10.

Submission + - Metadata Equals Surveillance

Submitted by Hugh Pickens DOT Com
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes: Bruce Schneier writes that lots of people discount the seriousness of the NSA's actions by saying that it's just metadata — after all the NSA isn't really listening in on everybody's calls — they're just keeping track of who you call. "Imagine you hired a detective to eavesdrop on someone," writes Schneier. "He might plant a bug in their office. He might tap their phone." That's the data. "Now imagine you hired that same detective to surveil that person. The result would be details of what he did: where he went, who he talked to, what he looked at, what he purchased — how he spent his day. That's all metadata." When the government collects metadata on the entire country, they put everyone under surveillance says Schneier. "Metadata equals surveillance; it's that simple."

Submission + - Sandia Harnessing Solar Energy With Tiny Particles (cleantechnica.com)

Submitted by mdsolar
mdsolar writes: Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories, along with partner institutions Georgia Tech, Bucknell University, King Saud University and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), are using a falling particle receiver to more efficiently convert the sun’s energy to electricity in large-scale, concentrating solar power plants.

Falling particle receiver technology is attractive because it can cost-effectively capture and store heat at higher temperatures without breaking down, which is an issue for conventional molten salts. The falling particle receiver developed at Sandia drops sand-like ceramic particles through a beam of concentrated sunlight, and captures and stores the heated particles in an insulated container below. The technique enables operating temperatures of nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius. Such high temperatures translate into greater availability of energy and cheaper storage costs because at higher temperatures, less heat-transfer material is needed.

Central receiver systems use mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a target, typically a fluid, to generate heat, which powers a turbine and generator to produce electricity. Currently, such systems offer about 40 percent thermal-to-electric efficiency. The falling particle receiver enables higher temperatures and can work with higher-temperature power cycles that can achieve efficiencies of 50 percent or more.

Submission + - Odeon wants its audiences to play multiplayer video games on the big screen (theinquirer.net)

Submitted by llebeel
llebeel writes: Odeon Cinemas wants to create a multi-player video gaming experience in its filming screens and has challenged developers to produce an app that will allow audiences to play against one another via their smartphones projected onto the big screen while they wait for the film to start.

Theorised alongside British film studios Pinewood Studios, the project — if successful — will encourage audience attendance at cinemas in either the 20 minutes of pre-screening before the film starts or when screens are not being used to show films.

Submission + - Learning to Code: Are We Having Fun Yet? 1

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: Nate West has a nice essay on the importance of whimsy in learning to program. "It wasn’t until I was writing Ruby that I found learning to program to be fun," recalls West. "What’s funny is it really doesn’t take much effort to be more enjoyable than the C++ examples from earlier...just getting to write gets.chomp and puts over cout > made all the difference. Ruby examples kept me engaged just long enough that I could find Why’s Poignant Guide to Ruby." So, does the future of introductory computer programming books and MOOCs lie in professional, business-like presentations, or does a less-polished production with some genuine goofy enthusiasm help the programming medicine go down?

Submission + - Ultimaker Debuts Ultimaker 2 3D Printer With Open Source Cura Software (hothardware.com)

Submitted by MojoKid
MojoKid writes: 3D Printing start-up Ultimaker announced its second generation printer, the Ultimaker 2. The new printer features significant redesigns from the first iteration of the Ultimaker. The company says that the new machine is more accurate, more efficient, and it’s even quieter at 49dB. Specifically, the Ultimaker 2 has a new CNC-milled case (that’s all white with glowing sidewalls) with an OLED display, and its glass and aluminum build platform is designed to cool quickly so you can peel completed projects off more easily. The Ultimaker 2 can print with multiple materials, including PLA, ABS, and PVA, and is WiFi-compatible so you can print from a mobile device or computer. Ultimaker is also launching its Cura open source software, which the company claims can pre-process 3D files some 60 times faster than other open source applications and makes it easy to load and work with 3D files.

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