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Games

Designer Warren Spector Has Two Games in the Works 52

Posted by Zonk from the deus-ex-again dept.
Eurogamer had the chance to speak with well known game designer Warren Spector (Deus Ex, Thief) about current plans for his new studio, Junction Point. In a detailed interview, Spector discusses the studio's current slate of two titles. He also makes some bold proclamations about his future in the industry: "He now wants to shake a bit of life back into the world of games, a market he believes is still too niche and enclosed, by delivering something new and original rather than a rehash of old experiences. He'd rather 'fail spectacularly' than create another sports game or driving simulation. 'I think that most of what passes for a game, even now, just sucks. It's hard for me not to talk, but I've seen the dangers of doing that. I'm hoping that in the next couple of months we'll have something to say.'"
Communications

Submission + - Cingular/ATT, Sprint, Quest Block Conference Calls

Submitted by
IAmTheDave
IAmTheDave writes: "Cingular/AT&T has blocked calling access to a free conference calling service, FreeConference.com, with varying stories as to why. With Sprint and Quest following Cingular/AT&T shortly thereafter, the CEO of FreeConference.com claims that the service carriers are blocking the free conference calling service to illegally stifle competitors of their similar pay-for services. An email mailed out to my employer — users of FreeConference.com — state that "This appears to be a coordinated effort to force you to use the paid services they provide, eliminating competition and blocking your right to use the conferencing services that work best for you." The email urges users to contact the FCC, state Attorney Generals, and their providers directly. On the flip side, Quest Communications filed a lawsuit in Iowa claiming that several companies in Iowa, FreeConference.com being one, (along with sister companies hotlivesexchat.com and callchinaforfree.com) are fraudulently and illegally routing calls that end up holding the carrier responsible for long distance fees. AT&T filed suit shortly thereafter as well."
Science

Yellowstone Supervolcano Making Strange Rumblings 411

Posted by Zonk from the if-you-need-me-i'll-be-in-the-netherlands dept.
Frosty Piss writes "Supervolcanoes can sleep for centuries or millennia before producing incredibly massive eruptions that can drop ash across an entire continent. One of the largest supervolcanoes in the world lies beneath Yellowstone National Park. Significant activity continues beneath the surface. And the activity has been increasing lately, scientists have discovered. In addition, the nearby Teton Range of mountains is somehow getting shorter. The findings, reported this month in the Journal of Journal of Geophysical Research, suggest that a slow and gradual movement of a volcano over time can shape a landscape more than a violent eruption."
Desktops (Apple)

Submission + - Pennsylvania university goes all-Mac

Submitted by jcatcw
jcatcw writes: Wilkes University is pulling the last PC plugs in its switch over to Macs. The school will save more than $150,000 on hardware according to the school's IT director. He also cited security and a better OS as benefits. Students and faculty will still be able run Windows applications.
Wireless Networking

Submission + - Military system offers worldwide cell phone access

Submitted by
coondoggie
coondoggie writes: "U.S. soldiers stationed in remote regions of Iraq and Afghanistan can flip open their Razr or LG mobile phones and place calls, thanks to a new portable cellular communications system from LGS, the U.S. government marketing arm of Alcatel-Lucent. LGS announced its Tactical Base Station Router (TacBSR), which was developed by Bell Laboratories, in February. The TacBSR is a single box that provides instant commercial cellular communications and serves as a gateway between cellular and VoIP networks. The TacBSR is available for U.S. government customers only. Applications include field deployments, disaster recovery, reverse 911, and search and rescue operations. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/031507-milit ary-systems-provide-instant-cell-phones.html"
Privacy

Submission + - The story of your life, now available online

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Juliet LaVia of Burbank, Calif., recently got a call from someone named John whose voice she couldn't place. After an awkward silence, she learned he was a college acquaintance from some 15 years ago who said he found her home phone number online. Since the dawn of the Internet, it's been possible to plug a name into a search engine to see what turns up. And for years, background-checking services have sold expensive online services for looking up personal information such as criminal records, marriage records, addresses and phone numbers. But now, directory companies and several start-ups are offering new people-search services that are more comprehensive and useful than the classic Google search at a fraction or none of the cost of a traditional background check.
Graphics

Submission + - 30 inch Monitor = More Productivity & Efficien

Submitted by Dogggis
Dogggis writes: Report shows how a 30 inch screen offers measurable productivity and efficiency gains.. As we have discussed many times before, the additional "screen real estate" is a very good way to boost overall productivity, even in very common tasks that have little or nothing to do with highly specialized professional applications....Productivity gains were present in not only professional design and publishing, digital imaging, and digital video, but also in general productivity and office applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. Cumulated productivity gains linked to a large, high-resolution display can lead to a return on investment (ROI) of several thousand dollars per year. http://www.gizmag.com/go/6972/

Feed Scientists Call Carmakers' Bluff (wired.com)

From feed by wiredfeed
The UCS unveils a minivan design that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than 40 percent, keep safety and performance intact, be cheaper to buy -- and it's not a hybrid. What's up automakers? In Autopia.


Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft launches the i'm Initiative

Submitted by
Khuffie
Khuffie writes: "Remember those stupid chain letters years ago, that claimed that Bill Gates will pay you for every person you forward the email to? Well, they've turned into reality...kind of. Microsoft has launched the i'm Initiative through Windows Live Messenger. Basically, you add an emoticon to your display name based on the charity you wish to support, and a portion of the advertising revenue generated from your usage of Messenger (remember, it has ads) will be donated to them. A neat idea, and they currently have nine charities to choose from, but unfortunately it is only available if you are in the United States."

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