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Input Devices

Brain-Control Gaming Headset Launching Dec. 21 112

Posted by Soulskill from the oh-hey-it's-real dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Controlling computers with our minds may sound like science fiction, but one Australian company claims to be able to let you do just that. The Emotiv device has been garnering attention at trade shows and conferences for several years, and now the company says it is set to launch the Emotiv EPOC headset on December 21. PC Authority spoke to co-founder Nam Do about the Emotiv technology and its potential as a mainstream gaming interface." One wonders what kind of adoption they expect with a $299 price tag.
Wireless Networking

Submission + - AT&T Slammed by Consumer Reports (allthingsd.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The annual survey of wireless customer satisfaction from Consumer Reports hits the streets this week and it doesn’t have much good to say about AT&T. In a canvass of more than 50,000 readers spanning 26 U.S. cities, the organization found the carrier had the lowest customer-satisfaction rating in 19 cities surveyed. The reason? iPhone overload.
Security

Submission + - SarBox Lawsuit Could Rewrite IT Compliance Rules (channelinsider.com) 3

Submitted by dasButcher
dasButcher writes: The Supreme Court will hear arguments next week brought by a Nevada accounting firm that asserts the oversight board for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is unconstitutional. If the plaintiffs are successful, it could force Congress to rewrite or abandon the law used by many companies to validate tech investments for security and compliance.
Technology

Submission + - SPAM: Tech companies had lots to be sorry for in 2009

Submitted by alphadogg
alphadogg writes: Kanye West, President Obama and David Letterman grabbed headlines this year when they apologized for assorted ill-advised acts or rash statements. But they more than met their match in the high tech industry, where big names from Amazon to Apple to Microsoft were forced to issue mea culpas in the wake of bad and worse decisions. Here's a recap of what the tech industry has been most sorry about in 2009, including copies of their apology letters.
Link to Original Source

Submission + - Strong Evidence Of Martian Life (spaceflightnow.com)

Submitted by should_be_linear
should_be_linear writes: New research on meteorite Allen Hills ALH 84001 using advanced High Resolution Electron Microscopy seems to bring strong chemical and fossil evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars. From the article: "Sources tell Spaceflight Now that the more detailed data on magnetite crystals and carbonate discs now available largely counter a wide range of opposing theories as to why the finding should not be supported as biological in origin. Now, 13 years after the Martian meteorite life story emerged, the science team finally feels vindicated. Their data shows the meteorite is no smoking gun but is full of evidence that supports the existence of life on the surface of Mars, or in subsurface water pools, early in the planet's history."
Games

Games Workshop Goes After Fan Site 174

Posted by Soulskill from the don't-anger-your-base dept.
mark.leaman writes "BoingBoing has a recent post regarding Games Workshop's aggressive posturing against fan sites featuring derivative work of their game products. 'Game publisher and miniature manufacturer Games Workshop just sent a cease and desist letter to boardgamegeek.com, telling them to remove all fan-made players' aids. This includes scenarios, rules summaries, inventory manifests, scans to help replace worn pieces — many of these created for long out of print, well-loved games...' As a lifelong hobby gamer of table, board, card and miniature games, I view this as pure heresy. It made me reject the idea of buying any Games Workshop (read Warhammer) products for my son this Christmas. Their fate was sealed, in terms of my wallet, after I Googled their shenanigans. In 2007 they forbid Warhammer fan films, this year they shut down Vassal Modules, and a while back they went after retailers as well. What ever happened to fair use?"
Image

Jetman Attempts Intercontinental Flight Screenshot-sm 140

Posted by samzenpus from the a-jetwing-and-a-prayer dept.
Last year we ran the story of Yves Rossy and his DIY jetwings. Yves spent $190,000 and countless hours building a set of jet-powered wings which he used to cross the English Channel. Rossy's next goal is to cross the Strait of Gibraltar, from Tangier in Morocco and Tarifa on the southwestern tip of Spain. From the article: "Using a four-cylinder jet pack and carbon fibre wings spanning over 8ft, he will jump out of a plane at 6,500 ft and cruise at 130 mph until he reaches the Spanish coast, when he will parachute to earth." Update 18:57 GMT: mytrip writes: "Yves Rossy took off from Tangiers but five minutes into an expected 15-minute flight he was obliged to ditch into the wind-swept waters."
Power

Submission + - Silicon-Nanotube Car Batteries Story 10x More (technologyreview.com)

Submitted by
TechReviewAl
TechReviewAl writes: "Researchers from Stanford University and Hanyang University in Korea have found that silicon-nanotube electrodes enable lithium-ion batteries to store up to 10 times more charge. The new electrodes, developed in colaboration with Korean battery company LG Chem, store more energy because they absorb much more lithium when charged. Since the lithium-ion batteries found in cars often only last for about 30 minutes, this type of breakthrough could prove vital if electric cars are to become common. The silicon nanotube anode looks like a bunch of hollow straws. While silicon nanowires can interact with lithium only on their surface, the nanotubes have more exposed surface area inside. The same researchers are also working with LG Chem to develop better cathodes."

Submission + - Facebook Sued for Patent Infringement (baltimoresun.com)

Submitted by
WhatDoIKnow
WhatDoIKnow writes: "A 5 person Baltimore company has brought suit against Facebook for infringing their patent that includes a method for ""facilitating communications between user members of an online network." The patent application was submitted in 2001, before Facebook existed, and approved in 2007"

Submission + - Why do we discrimate against the "A" and "B" Drive 1

Submitted by
bmerr71
bmerr71 writes: "Way back when, the "A" and "B" drives were reserved for floppy drives. When computers got more sophisticated A and B remained reserved for floppies and "C" became the designation for the for the hard drive where the OS resided. As computers evolved this drive designation arrangement became irrelevant. However, instead of utilizing drive A and drive B, people seem to intentionally avoid using them. Even 3.5" drives came shipped from the manufacturer as "Drive D". When we install additional hard drives we seem to instinctively work our way down the alphabet starting from C. New drives usually get the D or E or F designations, pushing all removable drives down the alphabet. Why such an aversion to using the A or B designation? Why did the hard drive not move into the A designation slot? Why do manufacturer's stick with Drive C as the default OS drive. Why won't anyone map a drive to either A or B anymore?"

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