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Robotics

What Robots Do For Christmas 31

Posted by timothy from the merry-christmas dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Several robotics labs in the US and Europe have decided to make themed Christmas/New Years videos. The subject was left open but in the end it should have had a) something to do with the robotics research in each lab and b) a connection to the holidays. Here's the official announcement on the IEEE Spectrum blog. The videos, including a computer-controlled quadrocopter attempting to play jingle bells on a Yamaha keyboard, are available on the Robotics Podcast YouTube channel. (Disclaimer: I made one of the videos!)"

Comment Re:Why support companies that pull crap like this? (Score 4, Insightful) 97

by kalpaha (#33008534) Attached to: Droid X Gets Rooted

As far as I can tell, the real problem with the American phone market (maybe even in general?) is corporations assraping the consumer, gouging for money on features (tethering, ring tones, incoming calls/msgs etc. etc.) that are free and open to use with any sane provider (or sane country, where the gouging is regulated). So no argument there.

But really, against apple, a cheap shot it was not. Your bookstore analogy does not hold water, because bookstores in general do not set themselves up to be guardians of people's morals. I use a Mac both at work and at home and was a fanboy when most people were predicting the death of Apple, but jesus fucken christ is it ever hypocritical to allow apps with recorded speeches of a fascist, and at the same time ban:

  • satire (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/apple-bans-satire/)
  • flash
  • nudity
  • the word "Android" (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/188760/apples_bans_go_way_too_far.html)
  • wifi hotspot tools (http://www.iphonehacks.com/2010/03/apple-bans-wifi-stumbler-iphone-apps-blames-use-of-private-apis.html)
  • facebook (http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/04/07/apple-bans-unofficial-facebook-app-for-ipad/)
  • any apps competing with them
  • jailbreakers (http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/02/16/160241/Apple-Bans-Jailbreakers-From-the-App-Store?from=rss)
  • Dalai Lama in China (http://techie-buzz.com/tech-news/apple-bans-dalai-lama-apps-in-china.html)

They set themselves up for criticism because seemingly they apply a ban policy that is both very stringent and basically a "if we don't like it, we don't accept it". So without ever owing an iPhone or ever using the app store, going by the news coverage alone, Apple seems to like:

  • fascist speeches
  • farting sounds
  • making money

Ok, so they probably do not attempt to advance a fascist ideology, but it is totally perverted nonetheless. I'd get rid of my Macs if only they weren't so damn good products. Ironically, it is Adobe products on a hassle free Unixy platform that keep me locked to Macs. Luckily, with cell phones, there's ample choice.

Comment Why support companies that pull crap like this? (Score 0, Troll) 97

by kalpaha (#33007800) Attached to: Droid X Gets Rooted
Why do people support companies that treat you like a criminal? We all know Apple is a fascist company (down to selling Mussolini speeches in app store) and know to expect this shit from them, but I thought Android was about openness? In comparison, this is how you root Nokia N900: http://techie-buzz.com/mobile-news/rooting-n900.html
Programming

Open Source Usability — Joomla! Vs. WordPress 240

Posted by kdawson from the apples-and-orange-trees dept.
An anonymous reader writes "PlayingWithWire profiles two open source tools for Web development, comparing Joomla! and WordPress through the lens of usability. The article has apparently upset a few people at the Joomla! forum, but it does bring up a good point. Many open source projects are developed by engineers for engineers — should they focus more on usability? PlayingWithWire makes a bold analogy: 'If Joomla! is Linux, then WordPress is Mac OS X. WordPress might offer only 90% of the features of Joomla!, but in most cases WordPress is both easier to use and faster to get up and running.'" The article repeatedly stresses that blogging platform WordPress and CMS harness Joomla! occupy different levels of the content hierarchy. How fair is it to twit Joomla! on usability?
Cellphones

Google Dev Phone 1 Banned From Paid Apps 134

Posted by timothy from the please-contradict-this-claim dept.
ScrewMaster points out an short article according to which purchasers of the G1 Android phone's developer-oriented variant will be out of luck if they want to buy apps from Google's application store. "Google is not going to allow programmers who have purchased the Dev Phone 1 to purchase paid apps from the Android Market. I just signed up as a G1 developer, and was about to plunk down the $399 for a Dev Phone 1, but now I'm going to have to think about it. I know that Google is interested in preventing (cough) 'piracy,' but does this seem like the right way to go? I know the Dev Phone 1 is primarily a developer's tool, but I would like to actually use the thing, and not have to spend another $180 from T-Mobile for a regular G1 just for the privilege of buying software." I hope this isn't true; the unlocked G1 looked like a pretty cool phone, especially (being unlocked) for travel to countries where pre-paid SIM cards are the norm.
Medicine

Court Rules Autism Not Caused By Childhood Vaccine 1056

Posted by timothy from the thanks-court dept.
wiredog writes "From The Washington Post comes word that three special masters have decided that MMR vaccines do not cause autism. 'Special master George Hastings said the parents ... had "been misled by physicians who are guilty, in my view, of gross medical misjudgment." ... "the evidence advanced by the petitioners has fallen far short of demonstrating ... a link."'
Businesses

How Long Should Companies Make E-Bills Available? 299

Posted by samzenpus from the forever-billed dept.
theodp writes "If you say goodbye to paper and hello to green, you may learn first-hand that no good deed goes unpunished. Try to pay your final Verizon Wireless bill online after switching carriers, for example, and don't be surprised if you get a sorry-Dave-I'm-afraid-I-can't-do-that reply. Other vendors may curtail e-Bill services 30 days after you end service. And a promise of access to up to seven years of paperless statements is somewhat empty if you'll be cutoff as soon as you no longer have an account. With more-and-more companies enticing consumers to go paperless, how long a period of time should the records be made available online? Should it extend beyond the life of an account?"

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