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Apple

Submission + - Apple Switches (Mostly) to OpenStreetMap (osmfoundation.org)

Submitted by beelsebob
beelsebob writes: In the recent release of iPhoto for iOS it appears that Apple have started using OpenStreetMap's data. Unfortunately, there are still some problems. Apple are currently not applying the necessary attribution to OSM; they are using an old (from April 2010) dump of the data; and they are not using the data in the USA. Fingers crossed apple works through these issues quickly!

Apple are now one of a growing list (including geocaching, and foursquare) to Switch2OSM.
Power

Italian Scientists Demonstrate Cold Fusion? 815

Posted by CmdrTaco from the believe-it-when-it-powers-my-toaster dept.
Haffner quotes physorg which says "Italian scientists Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi of the University of Bologna announced that they developed a cold fusion device capable of producing 12,400 W of heat power with an input of just 400 W....when the atomic nuclei of nickel and hydrogen are fused in their reactor, the reaction produces copper and a large amount of energy. The reactor uses less than 1 gram of hydrogen and starts with about 1,000 W of electricity, which is reduced to 400 W after a few minutes. Every minute, the reaction can convert 292 grams of 20C water into dry steam at about 101C. Since raising the temperature of water by 80C and converting it to steam requires about 12,400 W of power, the experiment provides a power gain of 12,400/400 = 31."
Hardware

Thermal Nanotape Promises Cooler, Healthier Chips 48

Posted by CmdrTaco from the what's-wrong-with-grease dept.
Blacklaw writes "A team of researchers comprised of members from the Semiconductor Research Corporation and Stanford University has developed a new thermal nanotape which it claims will lead to chips that run cooler and last longer. The thermal nanotape, constructed of binder materials surrounding carbon nanotubes, promises to lead to the creation of semiconductors — including CPUs and GPUs — that don't suffer from the rigors of frequent temperature changes, known as thermal cycling."
The Matrix

The Matrix Re-Reloaded 640

Posted by CmdrTaco from the you-know-you'd-watch-it dept.
derGoldstein writes "According to Keanu Reeves: ' Matrix 4 and 5 are coming.' At an event that took place at the London International School of Performing Arts, 'Reeves revealed that he met with the Wachowskis around Christmas. They told him that they completed script treatments for two more Matrix installments. They are planning to make the films in 3D and have already met with James Cameron to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. Reeves added that he's excited to return as Neo and promised that the treatments will truly revolutionize the action genre like the first Matrix film did.'"
News

Artificial Retinas Can Balance a Pencil On Its End 165

Posted by samzenpus from the for-all-your-pencil-balancing-needs dept.
mikejuk writes "A team of researchers has built a neural information system that is good enough and fast enough to balance a pencil in real time. If you think it's an easy task, try it! The Institute of Neuroinformatics, ETH / University Zurich have used what look like video cameras to do the job but in fact they are analog silicon retinas. They work so fast that even with fairly basic hardware they can balance a pencil."

Comment Re:Hello? McFLY! YOU let the tech in already! (Score 2, Insightful) 545

by ohtani (#33104694) Attached to: Verizon Changing Users Router Passwords

Good job using so much caps dude. Calm down. Yelling doesn't make you look good. There's two ways to look at this:

- Verizon is doing people a favor by securing their routers a little more
- Verizon has a backdoor

FYI the option to backdoor isn't set by the tech per-se. The tech runs a program that executes several scripts. Whether the default firmware for these devices has this option on by default OR if the script does it I am not sure of. But it's normal practice for them to have this setup as is. The issue at hand is that they have a way back into your router. My guess is that, for the most part, it's there for maintenance, status checking (i.e. do you have an actual internet connection) or password resetting if the user forgets it. POSSIBLY for data monitoring, but I'm not going to say that's true, nor am I going to rule it out.

But Jesus, next time don't use such harsh words. Try thinking first.

Comment "Privacy" issue (Score 1) 301

by ohtani (#30552680) Attached to: Texas County Will Use Twitter To Publish Drunk Drivers' Names

Uhhh correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this kinda information already available on either the blotter or otherwise? If it's available for public consumption you can't call "invasion of privacy" on this cause then there WOULD be no invasion of privacy! And seriously, come on:

- I think the police have better things to do than claim somebody was drunk driving when they weren't. I'm sure there's false positives, but I'm pretty sure technology is down to a tee by now
- If you REALLY think they're out to get people and fake this, well, I'm sure you'd think there's a studio NASA used to fake the moon landing too ;)
- Do you think people who drive drunk really DESERVE respect?
Censorship

AU Senator Calls Scientology a "Criminal Organization" 511

Posted by kdawson from the can't-do-that-here-either dept.
An anonymous reader passes along news that an Australian senator, Nick Xenophon, has denounced the Church of Scientology as "a criminal organization" from the floor of Parliament. "Senator Xenophon used a speech in Parliament last night to raise allegations of widespread criminal conduct within the church, saying he had received letters from former followers detailing claims of abuse, false imprisonment, and forced abortion. He says he has passed on the letters to the police and is calling for a Senate inquiry into the religion and its tax-exempt status." It wasn't that long ago that the CoS was calling for Net censorship in Australia; a month later the organization was convicted of fraud in France.

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