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The Courts

Submission + - Supreme Court Ruling May Hurt Internet Sales

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Without the costs associated with brick-and-mortar establishments, Internet retailers have been able to offer deep discounts to on-line consumers. But this may change. In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court today overruled a 96-year-old antitrust law that prevented the setting of 'price floors' by manufacturers. Under the ruling, manufacturers will be allowed to force price minimums upon distributers and retailers. This may make Internet discounts a thing of the past.

From Atty. Pete Barile:

Importantly, this case points a dagger at the heart of the most consumer-friendly aspects of the Internet. The Internet has shifted power to the consumer in two ways. First, it allows consumers to search for and gather information in a cost-effective, efficient manner. Second, it provides a low-cost means of retailing, making it easy for discounters to offer products to the public. This combination squeezes excess profits and inefficiencies out of product prices. Retail price maintenance seeks to short circuit this extremely consumer friendly process. By setting minimum prices, manufacturers can build in excess margins for themselves and for their favored retailers — prices that consumers have no choice but to pay.
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Will Linux Win the Next Presidential Election?

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Douglas Karr has posted an interesting breakdown, complete with bar charts, of the operating systems and server software used by the websites for 23 declared and undeclared presidential candidates. The breakdown shows that there is nearly an equal split between Linux and Windows servers among the whole candidate pool. More interesting, all of the Democratic candidates except for Hillary favor Linux or FreeBSD. 69% of the Republican candidates, in contrast, prefer Windows. Is this preference for OSS or Microsoft a true reflection of differing political philosophies? And, more importantly, will Linux win the next election?
Robotics

Submission + - Robotic Hands With Muscles Made of Air

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Squse, a Japanese Robotics firm, has developed lightweight robotic hands that safely pick up small and delicate objects such as pens and raw eggs. The breakthrough involves robotic fingers that use balloon type pneumatic actuators. The actuators are effective at low pressures, so human-sized fingers are possible. Because the finger muscles are 'made of air', the hands safe for human contact too. The AP has a summary and a creepy picture of a human-like hand.
Announcements

Submission + - Five-Foot Tall Penguins of Peru

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: In an article geared for publication in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists report on the discovery of the 40 million-year-old remains of a giant Peruvian penguin known as Icadyptes salasi. Standing at a height of about five feet (or about 1.5 meters), this is the third largest penguin known to have ever existed. In addition to its great stature, the finding is also surprising because giant penguins were thought to have lived only in colder climates. Quoting from an AP news story on the discovery, '... they reached equatorial regions much earlier than anyone previously thought.'
Announcements

Submission + - China Now Surpasses The U.S. In CO2 Emissions

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Researchers at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (NEAA) have been tracking global emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants for a number of years. In a just-released report, the NEAA concludes that China is now the top annual emitter of CO2. Although this change was expected to occur sometime before 2010, China was pushed over the top by their growing cement production industry. On a per capita basis, however, China still lags far behind the U.S. in CO2 emissions.
Input Devices

Submission + - Are keyboards dishwasher safe?

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Computer keyboards are a breeding ground for bacteria. Studies have shown that keyboards often contain more bacteria than toilet seats. Common cleaning methods, such as pressurized-air canisters and damp rags, help remove some of the dirt, but they also leave behind plenty of grime. National Public Radio describes a recent experiment by a reporter who used a dishwasher to clean her keyboard. Following the advice on Plastic Bugs, she placed her keyboard in the top rack, didn't use the heated dry cycle, and air dried the keyboard for a week afterwards. Her keyboard is now squeaky clean and functions perfectly. Has anyone else tried this or any other alternate keyboards cleaning methods? For those not willing to air dry for a week, dishwasher-safe keyboards are now available.
Input Devices

Submission + - Cleaning your keyboard in a dishwasher

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Computer keyboards are a breeding ground for bacteria. Studies have shown that keyboards often contain more bacteria than toilet seats. While the common cleaning methods of using pressurized-air canisters and damp rags help, they leave behind plenty of dirt and grime. As reported on NPR, an alternate technique that is starting to catch on is to clean your keyboard in the dishwasher. Plastic Bugs advises not to use the heated dry cycle, to pop off all of the keys, and to thoroughly air dry for a few days. For those not bold enough to try this with a standard keyboard, dishwasher-safe varieties are now available.
Sony

Submission + - Sony blames poor PS3 sales on Internet

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: During a recent interview with GamePro, Sony's PR head, Dave Karraker, responded candidly to questions about the negative consumer perceptions of the PS3. He responded, 'I think a lot of this goes back to the proliferation of the Internet, where a very vocal minority can make a lot of noise and potentially alter perceptions of the masses, whether they are accurate or not.'

He also replied: 'A lot of the perceptions are not justified and seem fueled by people who don't have all the facts or have some kind of axe to grind. It is funny how myopic people can be when a new system comes along.'

There you have it, Sony's biggest quarterly loss in four years is due to inept consumers and FUD.

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