Comment Re:For the internet age? (Score 1) 61
I hear he's a store greeter these days. Just imagine... 'Hi there, you look like you're trying to do some shopping...'.
Submission + - Higgs hunt enters final stage (nature.com)
gbrumfiel writes: "For forty years, the Higgs boson has remained a theoretical construct, but by Christmas, scientists may have a pretty good idea of whether it's real or not. Nature News reports that a new analysis has further narrowed the Higgs range, and data gathered this autumn at the LHC should be enough to show a faint signal from a Higgs, if it's there. (Already one signal has disappeared earlier in the year.) Physicists hope to finish their analysis of the autumn data by the year's end, but even if they come up empty-handed it won't be the end of the story. The Higgs is commonly referred to as the particle that endows others with mass, but its real appeal is the ability to unify the weak nuclear force with electromagnetism. If there is no Higgs, some other mechanism for creating a unified "electroweak" force should be found inside the LHC."
Submission + - Galaxy Explorer, an experimental HTML5 video game (galaxy-explorer.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The latest venture from the LABS team at NYC ad agency mcgarrybowen is Galaxy Explorer, an experimental video game powered by HTML5 and CSS3 that debuted at Google Creative Sandbox in late October.
There's a hamster superhero. An evil pirate and his band of Arrrgonauts. And, yes, a galaxy made of pancakes. But levity aside, the true hero of this side-scrolling adventure is the original technology pioneered by the mcgarrybowen LABS team. Experimenting with animation and the communication between multiple browsers, they were able to create "transparent" windows with each individual element in its own browser, but with all of them responding to one another to create a cohesive experience.
Strap on your jetpack and get ready to explore the galaxy: http://galaxy-explorer.com/
There's a hamster superhero. An evil pirate and his band of Arrrgonauts. And, yes, a galaxy made of pancakes. But levity aside, the true hero of this side-scrolling adventure is the original technology pioneered by the mcgarrybowen LABS team. Experimenting with animation and the communication between multiple browsers, they were able to create "transparent" windows with each individual element in its own browser, but with all of them responding to one another to create a cohesive experience.
Strap on your jetpack and get ready to explore the galaxy: http://galaxy-explorer.com/
Submission + - Google dodges $3.1 billion in US taxes and payes o (bloomberg.com)
MountainLogic writes: Google 2.4% Rate Shows How $60 Billion Lost to Tax Loopholes
Google Inc. cut its taxes by $3.1 billion in the last three years using a technique that moves most of its foreign profits through Ireland and the Netherlands to Bermuda.
Google's income shifting — involving strategies known to lawyers as the "Double Irish" and the "Dutch Sandwich" — helped reduce its overseas tax rate to 2.4 percent, the lowest of the top five U.S. technology companies by market capitalization, according to regulatory filings in six countries.
Even the Brookings Institute says the system needs reform: http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2007/06corporatetaxes_clausing.aspx
Salon has more discussion: http://www.salon.com/2011/11/11/corporate_tax_open2011/singleton/
Google Inc. cut its taxes by $3.1 billion in the last three years using a technique that moves most of its foreign profits through Ireland and the Netherlands to Bermuda.
Google's income shifting — involving strategies known to lawyers as the "Double Irish" and the "Dutch Sandwich" — helped reduce its overseas tax rate to 2.4 percent, the lowest of the top five U.S. technology companies by market capitalization, according to regulatory filings in six countries.
Even the Brookings Institute says the system needs reform: http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2007/06corporatetaxes_clausing.aspx
Salon has more discussion: http://www.salon.com/2011/11/11/corporate_tax_open2011/singleton/
Submission + - Facebook Undergoing Porn And Violent Image Attack (pcmag.com)
tetrahedrassface writes: User of Facebook have been besieged by graphic pornography and violent images on their walls for at least the last 24 hours.
Submission + - How much of your mobile data is yours? (geek.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Concerned about the security of your mobile data? It's being logged, processed, and possibly sold. This article explains how it works with Android devices and what you can do abou it. From the article, "Data is sent, stored, and used by these companies at every level of your user experience. The carriers, manufacturers, ad companies, law enforcement, all have access to this information. You do not have the ability to turn it off, and once they have the information they store it for as long as they determine it is relevant, which is likely forever."
Submission + - Raspberry Pi PCB layout and scale model available (geek.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Yesterday, the final Raspberry Pi printed circuit board (PCB) layout was revealed. The word “packed” comes to mind as this is one very complicated looking board. The reason for that is just how much Raspberry Pi has strived to save money on the machine by using complex routing to keep things small and cheap.
The Raspberry Pi team don’t believe the design is going to change again unless they missed something. With that in mind, they revealed the final board is exactly the same size as a credit card, measuring 85.65 x 53.98mm.
Raspberry Pi has a very active community on its forums, and it didn’t take long for someone to print a 1:1 scale copy of the final design on a sheet of card. The images below give you a good idea of just how small this PC is going to be. Although once the ports have been added the thickness is obviously going to increase.
The Raspberry Pi team don’t believe the design is going to change again unless they missed something. With that in mind, they revealed the final board is exactly the same size as a credit card, measuring 85.65 x 53.98mm.
Raspberry Pi has a very active community on its forums, and it didn’t take long for someone to print a 1:1 scale copy of the final design on a sheet of card. The images below give you a good idea of just how small this PC is going to be. Although once the ports have been added the thickness is obviously going to increase.
Submission + - True 3D Display Draws Pixels In Space (diginfo.tv)
Lokitoth writes: Burton demonstrated a technology to draw animated 3D images in space, rather than on a 2D screen, by exciting oxygen and nitrogen in the air to give off light. The developers say: "This system can create about 50,000 dots per second, and its frame rate is currently about 10-15 fps. But we're working to improve the frame rate to 24-30 fps." Maybe the Japanese proposal to project 3D players to soccer fields world-wide is not so far-fetched.
Submission + - Steve Jobs eyed building Wi-Fi network (networkworld.com)
alphadogg writes: Steve Jobs initially hoped to create his own network with the unlicensed spectrum that Wi-Fi uses rather than work with the mobile operators, said wireless industry legend John Stanton. Currently chairman at venture capital firm Trilogy Partners, Stanton said at a seminar in Seattle that Jobs "wanted to replace carriers... He and I spent a lot of time talking about whether synthetically you could create a carrier using Wi-Fi spectrum. That was part of his vision."
Submission + - Despite Audit, Facebook Holds Back Personal Data (itworld.com)
itwbennett writes: "Facebook has reduced the amount of personal data it releases to users as required by European Union law. Due to the volume of requests since Europe v. Facebook began its campaign, Facebook is no longer sending CDs to people. Facebook said in a statement that the CD mailout 'contains a level of detail that is less useful for the average user — it is a much rawer collection of data.' Instead, users are now directed to a page where they can download their personal 'archive,' which according to Facebook is a copy of 'all of the personal information you've shared on Facebook.' But rather than the 57 categories of data early data requesters received, the new tool downloads just 22 categories."
Submission + - Elevated levels of radiation detected over Europe; (nydailynews.com)
William_K_F writes: Higher than normal levels of radiation have been detected in the air in the Czech Republic and in other parts of the continent but officials said they don't believe the public is at risk.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement Friday that very low levels of Iodine-131 have been found in the atmosphere.
The IAEA said the cause of the radiation is unknown, but the increase in normal levels does not appear related to Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The EPA said Iodine-131 can get into the environment after leaking from cracked fuel rods in nuclear plants. But the radioisotope will lose much of its radiation in roughly eight days.
The AP quoted an unnamed official, who asked for anonymity, as saying that the release of radiation seems to be continuing. The IAEA said it is under investigation.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement Friday that very low levels of Iodine-131 have been found in the atmosphere.
The IAEA said the cause of the radiation is unknown, but the increase in normal levels does not appear related to Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The EPA said Iodine-131 can get into the environment after leaking from cracked fuel rods in nuclear plants. But the radioisotope will lose much of its radiation in roughly eight days.
The AP quoted an unnamed official, who asked for anonymity, as saying that the release of radiation seems to be continuing. The IAEA said it is under investigation.
Submission + - Calgary's sound-activated noise camera to automati (calgaryherald.com)
iH473 writes: Motorcycle riders and hotrod enthusiasts beware: the Noise Snare is one step closer to squelching your high-decibel expressions of mechanical masculinity. After spending months testing the accuracy of a new device that pairs a noise-reader with a camera, the city is confident they can reliably pinpoint bylaw breakers. The results will go to committee for review on Wednesday and will have to be approved by council. They are recommending a fine of $200.
Submission + - ReDigi sells used digital music, RIAA says no (arstechnica.com)
RobinEggs writes: ReDigi brokers the resale of your digital music to other people. They claim their service can distinguish music from iTunes and other legal sources, upload it to their server, delete your copy, and then sell the music to someone else. Only one copy exists before the sale, and only one exists after. ReDigi appears to believe this satisfies fair use and first sale privileges.
RIAA says the system makes copies in the process of transferring the music, and thus it is illegal whether or not first sale applies to digital goods: "[The Copyright Act]... does not permit the owner to make another copy, sell the second copy and destroy the original. Thus, even if ReDigi's software and system works as described by ReDigi (i.e. that it deletes the original copy before it makes the sale), ReDigi would still be liable for copyright infringement."
RIAA further requests that all music files currently on ReDigi's servers be quarantined, all likenesses of their artists be removed from ReDigi's website, and that ReDigi turn over all of their sales records so that RIAA can discuss a settlement with them.
RIAA says the system makes copies in the process of transferring the music, and thus it is illegal whether or not first sale applies to digital goods: "[The Copyright Act]... does not permit the owner to make another copy, sell the second copy and destroy the original. Thus, even if ReDigi's software and system works as described by ReDigi (i.e. that it deletes the original copy before it makes the sale), ReDigi would still be liable for copyright infringement."
RIAA further requests that all music files currently on ReDigi's servers be quarantined, all likenesses of their artists be removed from ReDigi's website, and that ReDigi turn over all of their sales records so that RIAA can discuss a settlement with them.
Barnes & Noble Names Microsoft's Disputed Android Patents 386
Julie188 writes "B&N is really blowing the lid off of what Microsoft is doing and how they are forcing money from Android. It has accused Microsoft of requiring overly restricted NDA agreements from those even entering into patent license talks. Because it is disputing Microsoft's claims, and the restrictions of its own NDA signed with Redmond, B&N has gone public. It has named in detail six patents that it says Microsoft is using to get Android device makers to pay up. Plus, B&N is also trying to force open Microsoft's other plans for stomping out Android, including the agreement Redmond made with Nokia, and Nokia's patent-troll MOSAID."
Submission + - Hiding Messages in VoIP Packets (net-security.org)
Orome1 writes: A group of researchers from the Warsaw University of Technology have devised a relatively simple way of hiding information within VoIP packets exchanged during a phone conversation. The called the method TranSteg, and they have proved its effectiveness by creating a proof-of-concept implementation that allowed them to send 2.2MB (in each direction) during a 9-minute call. IP telephony allows users to make phone calls through data networks that use an IP protocol. The actual conversation consists of two audio streams, and the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) is used to transport the voice data required for the communication to succeed. But, RTP can transport different kinds of data, and the TranSteg method takes advantage of this fact.
