41106373
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
After the disastrous Apple Maps replacement over Google Maps in September, Google made a Maps app on iOS approved and released by Apple today. The app includes turn-by-turn directions, vector-based graphics and live traffic data. It's available from the Apple Store for iPhone and iPod touch (and iPad — iPhone format). At least.
39883891
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
Sales of Microsoft’s Windows RT-based Surface tablet are off to a “modest” start according to chief executive Steve Ballmer.
Given the general dropping sales in the PC business coupled with Microsoft’s relatively small inventory of Surface machines, it’ll be interesting to see how soon Surface can hit Microsoft’s million milestone.
(Update originally from French Le Parisien)
39494003
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
The operator of a Japanese nuclear plant that went into a tsunami-triggered meltdown knew the risks from highly radioactive water at the site but sent in crews without adequate protection or warnings, a worker said in a legal complaint. He gave a rare public account of what happened at the plant during the accident, describing a harrowing scene of darkness and fear, wading with headlamps into a flooded basement through steaming radioactive water that felt warm even through workers' boots.
On Oct. 30, he filed a complaint with a labor standards office in Fukushima, asking authorities to confirm TEPCO's safety violations and issue improvement orders. He also is seeking penalties--up to six months in jail or fines of up to 500,000 yen ($6,250) under the Industrial Safety and Health Act--against the company that supervised him.
38948807
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
Airplanes use currently the (un)famous pitot tubes to get an estimate of their current speed. Unfortunately the tubes may suffer from the very low temperatures at high altitudes, and send wrong data to the captain — that may lead to a crash in the worst case scenario. Australian engineers offer a brand new technology to calculate the plane speed: two lasers beams are emitted in opposite direction, the difference in frequency gives the speed, thanks to the Doppler effect.
38556245
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
Apple started shipping the Lightning (iPhone 5 connector) to 30-pin adapters, that costs from $29 to $39. Some iPhone 5 owners complained about its new connector being incompatible with the previously well known 30 pin connectors (iPhone 4S and before, iPod, iPad, chargers, music combos...). And the adapter comes to the rescue...
However, considering the recent wave of disappointment engendered by the new Apple device (Maps, iOS6 bugs, lack of innovation, lack of staff motivation, etc...), some people may argue that what Apple really needs is a Cook to Jobs adapter...
36586497
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
Nikon announced the S800c — the first compact camera from a major manufacturer to openly use the Android mobile operating system. The S800c is a full Android 2.3 device, that can run any available apps an equivalent smartphone could offer. The Photoshop app for instance could be an obvious choice. But one may prefer to play a famous game on the camera, like Fruit Ninja. Compared to a classic smartphone, the Android powered device offers the advantages of a Nikon Coolpix camera — like a larger sensor and 16MP.
While smartphones cameras tend to get closer to compact cameras specs, it seems Nikon took the initiative and opened their camera to the Android world. So, in the end, will we have smartphones offering true-camera specs, or compact cameras offering all the smartphones features?
30716369
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
According to breaking news the French shootings suspect was found thanks to the IP address of his brother. The brother contacted one of the soldiers who was killed (March 15) to purchase his bike, and the police could trace that exchange and identify the buyer's IP address.
Fortunately, those killers are not IT experts and have no clue how they can be traced back thanks to the various logs they sow on the way.
24542420
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
It is reported that Sony bought the rights to a biopic on the life of Steve Jobs with the intent of making a movie. The biography on which the movie would be based was written by former CNN chairman and current managing editor of Time magazine, Walter Isaacson (biography to be released October 24).
There are discussions about what could be the best title, and which actor would fit the best for the main role.
While the biography was approved by Mr Jobs, what about some other people who crossed Steve's life and who may not have always been portrayed in a friendly way in his other biographies (the most famous one being probably Bill Gates).
Is Sony able to provide an unbiased work, without having Steve Jobs around to make sure they do?
24420332
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
According to a Japanese researcher, the electrons count escalation high in the atmosphere could indicate that a major earthquake is going to happen within 30~40 minutes.
That phenomenon was observed before three earthquakes since 2004.
If confirmed, the earthquake detection system could save thousands of lives.
22103808
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
A French court ordered a company to pay 25,000 Euros to a competitor which she had removed the name of a Wikipedia entry dedicated to her field. Google translation from French. Hi-Media, the defendant, was identified thanks to her IP address found from the Wikipedia page.
17930450
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
"A Japanese space probe on a £190 million mission to orbit Venus has missed the planet completely – but could be more successful when it next passes by in six years' time, scientists said."
While the reason of the failure is not confirmed, it is likely the probe didn't slow down enough when approaching Venus.
17621210
submission
hcs_$reboot writes:
Over in Sweden, it appears that a guy has been fined for linking to an online broadcast of a hockey game. We've heard stories of people getting in trouble merely for linking to unauthorized content, but this story is even more ridiculous. The guy wasn't linking to unauthorized content. He was linking to an online video feed from the official broadcaster, Canal Plus.
The issue was that Canal Plus was apparently technically incompetent in how they set up the feeds, and never intended to make the feeds public.
