Comment ARM, perhaps? (Score 1) 175
I've never used it for robotics (used Stamps and 68hc11s before, though), ARM is a pretty sweet architecture. They're low cost, low power, and have really nice assembly code.
Bill Gates on Robots 198
mstaj noted that Bill Gates has an article in January edition of Scientific American A Robot in Every Home."Imagine being present at the birth of a new industry. It is an industry based on groundbreaking new technologies, wherein a handful of well-established corporations sell highly specialized devices for business use and a fast-growing number of start-up companies produce innovative toys, gadgets for hobbyists and other interesting niche products. But it is also a highly fragmented industry with few common standards or platforms. Projects are complex, progress is slow, and practical applications are relatively rare. In fact, for all the excitement and promise, no one can say with any certainty when — or even if — this industry will achieve critical mass. If it does, though, it may well change the world."
IE7 Released and Available for Download 586
Luis Escalante writes "After over a year and a half, IE7 has been released to the public as of Monday afternoon. Download it directly here. Word hit the streets after several mangers of the IE division posted on the IE blog."
Inkscape 0.44 - Faster, Bigger, Better 226
bbyakk writes "After 6 months of development, Inkscape 0.44 is out. This version of the
SVG-based vector graphics editor brings improved performance and tons of new features:
Layers dialog, docked color palette, clipping and masking, native PDF export with
transparency, configurable keyboard (including Xara emulation), Outline mode for
complex drawings, innovative 'node sculpting' and lots more. Check out the full
release notes, enjoy the screenshots, or download your
package for Windows, Linux or Mac OS X."
Design Software Weakens Classic Drawing Skills 268
mosel-saar-ruwer writes "A recent conference, hosted by UC-Berkeley's College of Environmental Design, sought to 'examin[e] the need and role for drawing today in the design professions and fine arts'. In this Reuters summary, via C-NET, the participants seem to agree that the emergence of sophisticated graphics software has coincided with a startling decline in the basic drawing skills of university students. Apparently teenaged boys don't need to practice drawing their nudes when they can just download them off the web."
Microsoft Launches Linux Labs Website 275
mjdroner writes "ZDNet is reporting that Microsoft is launching a website to 'share the activities of its internal Linux laboratories.' Microsoft says its goal is to foster communication with those who use open-source. The article also mentions that Microsoft runs a 300-server Linux installation to test open-source products." From the article: "Customers will be able to submit requests to Microsoft employees. For example, a person could ask how to best test the use of Linux desktops working with Microsoft's directory software.
In addition, Port 25 will do video interviews with Microsoft employees with experience in the open-source or Unix world, Hilf said."
