Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.
Slashdot » Getting IT Talent In Government Will Take Culture Change, Says Google Engineer
dcblogs writes: Mikey Dickerson, a site reliability engineer at Google, who was appointed Monday by the White House as the deputy federal CIO, will lead efforts to improve U.S. Websites. Dickerson, who worked on the Healthcare.gov rescue last year, said that one issue the government needs to fix is its culture. In describing his experience on the Healthcare.gov effort, he … [Link]
Mashable » Lauren Bacall, Leading Lady of Film's Golden Age, Dead at 89
Lauren Bacall, the smoldering Golden Age actress and fashion model who was a central figure of the film noir genre with husband Humphrey Bogart, whom she met on the set of her first feature To Have and Have Not, has died. She was 89. Her death was first reported by MSNBC reporter Thomas Roberts, and shortly after was corroborated by TMZ, … [Link]
Mashable » 10 Things We Know About the Abandoned Baby With Down Syndrome
SYDNEY — It is the story taking Australians and the world on an emotional roller coaster. A couple from Bunbury near Perth in Western Australia abandoned their baby boy, born via surrogate in Thailand, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. They returned home only with his twin sister See also: In Pictures, the Life and Times of Robin Williams As the … [Link]
Mashable » Google Unveils Plans to Build Super-fast Undersea Cable From U.S. to Asia
The ties that bind Google to Asia are about to get a bit deeper, literally Google has announced plans to build a new undersea cable called FASTER in partnership with five Asia-based telecom companies See also: The Countries With the Fastest Internet Are All in Asia Included in the consortium are NEC, KDDI, China Telecom Global, SingTel, China Mobile International and … [Link]
Slashdot » Reversible Type-C USB Connector Ready For Production
orasio writes: One of the most frustrating first-world problems ever (trying to connect an upside-down Micro-USB connector) could disappear soon. The Type-C connector for USB has been declared ready for production by the USB Promoter Group (PDF). "With the Type-C spec finalized, it now comes down to the USB-IF to actually implement the sockets, plugs, cables, adapters, and devices. The … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Everything Wrong With Death Race 2000 [Video]
The Cinema Sins crew produce videos listing everything they consider wrong with a particular movie. Sometimes you can argue that it’s a needless nitpicking exercise, but not with their latest video. Death Race 2000 director Roger Corman challenged them to cast their eye over his movie and they’ve now responded. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Reversible USB Cables A Step Closer [Link]
The USB 3.0 Promoter group says it’s finalized the details of type C USB connectors, which will work no matter which way up you plug them in. It follows the announcement of the concept last year. The main news today is confirmation that there’ll be a degree of backwards compatibility: The new USB Type-C plug and receptacle will not directly … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Today in APIs: Google's SDK for Health and Fitness
Google releases a preview SDK for health and fitness. The ABA holds a lawyers hackathon. Plus: successful API strategies require eating your own dog food, and why APIs need speed.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Code for Change Myanmar to Host a Second Hackathon
Code for Change Myanmar, the organization responsible for Myanmar's first-ever hackathon, has announced a second hackathon to take place next month. The Business Solutions Hackathon tasks developers with finding solutions to problems that face local businesses. The two-day event will commence on Sept. 5 and last through the weekend.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Unveils Google Fit SDK Preview
Last week, Google continued gearing up for the fall launch of the next major version of Android, Android L, with the release of a preview SDK for Google Fit.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » API World and DataWeek Kick Off Fall Conference Season
This year’s DataWeek events will be held in San Francisco from Sept. 12-18, with the main conference and API World events held Sept. 16-17 at Hotel Kabuki. ProgrammableWeb spoke with organizer Geoff Domoracki, DataWeek award winner SwiftIQ and first-time attendee APIMatic, an API tools startup.
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Slashdot » Type 225 Words per Minute with a Stenographic Keyboard (Video)
Joshua Lifton says you can learn to type at 225 words per minute with his Stenosaurus, an open source stenography keyboard that has a not-there-yet website with nothing but the words, "Stenography is about to evolve," on it as of this writing. If you've heard of Joshua it's probably because he's part of the team behind Crowd Supply, which claims, … [Link]
Mashable » The Robin Williams Movie Matrix
Robin Williams pursued roles defined by both frenetic comedy and heartfelt drama, sometimes blurring the two. His expertise earned him a permanent place in the hearts of fans across generations The outpouring of grief on social media following the his death on Monday is a testament to his life and the impact he left on the world See also: 10 Robin … [Link]
Mashable » Uber and Lyft Are in One Big Pissing Match
Ride-sharing services Lyft and Uber are accusing one another of resorting to sketchy methods for an edge in the app-based transportation market. Over the course of one workday, Uber and Lyft exchanged a slew of snarky comments. Based on data that Lyft released to CNNMoney, Uber representatives have ordered and canceled more than 5,000 Lyft rides since October 2013. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Gawker Disables Photos on Its Comments to Stem Tide of Offensive GIFs
Gawker disabled image uploads in the comments sections of its websites on Tuesday due to an influx of offensive GIFs The move comes just a day after a Jezebel post criticized parent company Gawker Media's lack of action in removing "rape gifs" that often contained pornographic images See also: 9 Excellent Apps For Discovering New Things Joel Johnson, editorial director of … [Link]
Mashable » In Memory of Ian Fleming: James Bond Through the Decades
Ian Fleming, who wrote the James Bond series, died 50 years ago Tuesday — but his famous spy lives on, saving the day and downing martinis (shaken, not stirred, of course). To create the Bond character, Fleming reportedly pulled from his own military career; it was also rumored that he had a penchant for drinking, women and cigarettes, just like Bond, according to … [Link]
Slashdot » Maryam Mirzakhani Is the First Woman Fields Medalist
An anonymous reader sends news that the 2014 Fields Medals have been awarded for outstanding work in the field of mathematics. The winners are Artur Avila, Manjul Bhargava, Martin Hairer, and Maryam Mirzakhani. Quanta Magazine writes, Mirzakhani is the first woman to win a Fields Medal. The gender imbalance in mathematics is long-standing and pervasive, and the Fields Medal, in … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Star Wars Lightsaber Katana [Video]
The AWE Me team of blacksmiths, who’ve made numerous real-life versions of TV and movie weapons, are starting a new mash-up series. In their first instalment they combine a Star Wars lightsaber with a Japanese katana sword. See more at their Facebook page. [Link]
Mashable » 'New Horizons' Probe Captures Pluto and Its Moon Like Never Before
A NASA spacecraft hurtling toward a 2015 rendezvous with Pluto has captured an amazing video of the dwarf planet and its largest moon, Charon. The New Horizons probe used its onboard telescope to record a video of Charon and Pluto locked in their orbital dance. The movie is composed of 12 individual images taken from July 19 through July 24 — almost exactly … [Link]
Mashable » FAA Bans All Non-Emergency Aircraft Over Ferguson
The FAA on Tuesday imposed a temporary flight restriction over Ferguson, Missouri, where clashes between law enforcement and residents have been going on for days after a police officer shot and killed an unarmed teenager over the weekend. See also: The Unexplained Shooting of Michael Brown, Who Would Have Started College This Week 
A map released by the FAA shows the … [Link]
Slashdot » Gmail Now Rejects Emails With Misleading Combinations of Unicode Characters
An anonymous reader writes: Google today announced it is implementing a new effort to thwart spammers and scammers: the open standard known as Unicode Consortium's "Highly Restricted" specification. In short, Gmail now rejects emails from domains that use what the Unicode community has identified as potentially misleading combinations of letters. The news today follows Google's announcement last week that Gmail … [Link]
Mashable » 11 Great Game Trailers That Debuted at Gamescom
Gamers and game publishers occupy Germany this week for Gamescom, the world's largest game convention, which hosts more than 200,000 attendees. To kick off the week, both Microsoft and Sony held press conferences touting new titles and features for their respective consoles. Each had its own big exclusive games and shared releases to show off, so both press conferences were awash … [Link]
Mashable » 15 Lessons From Robin Williams Films to Make You a Better Human
Even in great sadness, the spirit found in Robin Williams' characters has the power to make us smile. The late actor was a warm, caring individual with an animated personality. In character, he played an abundance of imaginative and heartfelt characters that left lasting impacts on millions of fans who spanned nations and generations. See also: 10 Robin Williams Quotes From … [Link]
Mashable » Russell Peters: Good on Stage, Bad on Twitter
In show business, you need to pick between two mediums: The stage and Twitter Funny guy Russell Peters talked to us about mastering both See also: The Beginner's Guide to Twitter Which one do you prefer? BONUS: Kevin Bacon Explains the '80s to Millennials Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. Read more…More about Twitter, … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Xbox One News: Tomb Raider Exclusive, 1TB Bundle
Microsoft has unleashed a stream of announcements about the Xbox One, following hot on the heels of revelations that the console has lost $400 million to date. Among the key points: Rise of The Tomb Raider (the first reboot sequel) will be exclusive to the console — no word yet on whether that will be permanent or only for a … [Link]
Slashdot » Study: Firmware Plagued By Poor Encryption and Backdoors
itwbennett writes: The first large-scale analysis of firmware has revealed poor security practices that could present opportunities for hackers probing the Internet of Things. Researchers with Eurecom, a technology-focused graduate school in France, developed a web crawler that plucked more than 30,000 firmware images from the websites of manufacturers including Siemens, Xerox, Bosch, Philips, D-Link, Samsung, LG and Belkin. In … [Link]
Mashable » How to See Messages in the Facebook App Without Downloading Messenger
Good news, Facebook Messenger haters— there's a way to keep your messages in the main app without downloading Messenger. Facebook began moving messages out of the main app last week, but as it turns out, there's a surprisingly simple workaround that allows you to keep chatting without the extra app. See also: Don't Freak Out About the Facebook Messenger App When … [Link]
Mashable » 'Candy Crush' Maker's Stock Falls More Than 20% After Lowering Full Year Outlook
Candy Crush is getting crushed again by Wall Street. King Digital Entertainment, the company behind the hit game Candy Crush Saga, saw its stock plummet more than 20% in after hours trading following the release of its second quarter earnings results. See also: 'Candy Crush' Is Bigger Than Twitter, But Probably Not For Long King reported earnings of $0.59 a share, … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » New AWS-Zend Advanced Cloud Service Helps Developers Quickly Build Scalable API-Based Apps
Zend, the PHP company, has just announced that it is offering the latest version of Zend Server 7 featuring Z-Ray as an advanced cloud service on Amazon Web Services via the AWS Marketplace. The company has also launched brand-new Pay-As-You-Go developer plans for this new cloud service along with the Professional and Enterprise plans also available in the AWS Marketplace. … [Link]
Mashable » Polaroid Sets Sights on GoPro With Tiny, Water-Resistant Cube Camera
Polaroid, a company best known for its instant photographs, has launched the Cube, a tiny but durable full HD camera The Cube shoots 1080p video and captures 3MP photos with its 124-degree wide angle lens. The battery is built in and rechargeable using a USB cable (Micro SD card not included) See also: A LEGO Tribute to the Polaroid Camera … [Link]
Mashable » You, Too, Can Grow a Dancing Groot in Your Backyard
Using an old school "Movin' & Groovin'" flower, some model magic and a bit of paint, YouTube user Patrick Delahanty created a near-perfect replica of Groot from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. The one-of-a-kind sentient little tree is a reference to one of Guardians' post-credits scenes, in which a tiny Groot dances to Peter Quill's mix tape Our only question: … [Link]
Mashable » A Parched California Is Having Its Hottest Year on Record
Drought-plagued California set the record for the warmest first seven months of the year since records began there in 1895, according to data released Tuesday. The National Climatic Data Center found that the statewide average temperature was 60.9 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 4.6 degrees Fahrenheit above average. This beat the previous record warm January-to-July period by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is … [Link]
Mashable » Manchester United Bans iPads From Home Games
Bad news, Manchester United fans: You can no longer bring your iPads to home games Citing security advice, Manchester United announced Monday that large electronic items, "including laptops and tablets" have been added to an existing list of prohibited items for games played at the teams's Old Trafford stadium. Manchester United is one of the wealthiest and most valuable soccer clubs … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Iranian woman wins maths' top prize, the Fields medal
Maryam Mirzakhani of Stanford University is the first woman to win the Fields medal, alongside three male mathematicians receiving the award in Seoul 
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Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Change Poster [Pic]
And if you can’t figure it out right away, let’s just say it could also make a hulking big banner. [Buy it at Last Exit To Nowhere] [Link]
Mashable » Ryan Adams Lures Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, for Strange Music Video
"It's OK — my appearance is kind of a shock to everybody," Elvira assured us in her 1988 comedic horror film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. The big-haired, scantily-clad character, portrayed by Cassandra Peterson, could easily say that phrase again on Tuesday after making a surprise cameo in Ryan Adams' music video for "Gimme Something Good." With bleak lyrics such … [Link]
Mashable » Vine Challenge: Create Tricky Transformations
Even the most simple transformation can change the visual impact and meaning of an object. Water changing its structure under extreme temperatures is just as much a transformation as Heisenberg switching out from pork-pie hat to lab coat See also: Sit Back and Enjoy These 6-Second Remakes of Classic Movies We partnered with Hewlett-Packard to bring you this week's Mashable Vine … [Link]
Slashdot » Errata Prompts Intel To Disable TSX In Haswell, Early Broadwell CPUs
Dr. Damage writes: The TSX instructions built into Intel's Haswell CPU cores haven't become widely used by everyday software just yet, but they promise to make certain types of multithreaded applications run much faster than they can today. Some of the savviest software developers are likely building TSX-enabled software right about now. Unfortunately, that work may have to come to … [Link]
Mashable » Paris Hopes a Hashtag Can Keep Love Locks Off the Bridges
Paris is trying to convince tourists to not leave padlocks on the city's historic bridges — with a hashtag. While officials are stopping short of implementing an actual ban, they are starting to take the damage to the bridges done by the thousands of love locks seriously. The #LoveWithoutLocks campaign asks lovers to take a selfie and share the image with … [Link]
Mashable » Google Celebrates Perseid Meteor Shower With Starstruck Doodle
Tuesday’s Google Doodle illustrated the annual Perseid meteor shower, which has been taking place throughout the week. The animated illustration shows the phenomenon from various perspectives. Periodically, meteors dash across the screen as the different backgrounds move clockwise, accompanied by soft guitar instrumentals. The scene ends with Google's name spelled out in constellations. See also: Venn Diagram Google Doodle Will Overlap … [Link]
Mashable » Airports Test New Ways to Prevent Deadly Bird Collisions
When birds and planes collide, the results can be deadly. That's why airports around the world work hard to keep birds away, even resorting to shooting or poisoning large flocks. One Ohio airport is now experimenting with a new, gentler way to avoid bird strikes: planting tall prairie grass. See also: Where to Find Free Wi-Fi at U.S. and International Airports … [Link]
Slashdot » 3 Congressmen Trying To Tie Up SpaceX
An anonymous reader writes: Phil Plait reports that a trio of U.S. Congressmen are asking NASA to investigate what they call "an epidemic of anomalies" at SpaceX. They sent a memo (PDF) demanding that SpaceX be held accountable to taxpayers for mission delays stemming from the development of new rockets. Plait notes, "[A]s a contractor, the rules are different for … [Link]
Mashable » Coroner Releases Details on Robin Williams Suicide
Robin Williams committed suicide by hanging, and had been actively seeking treatment for depression, the Marin County coroner said at a press conference on Tuesday. Williams was found at his home in unincorporated Tiburon, California, around noon Monday and was declared dead minutes later. He was 63. SEE ALSO: 'I'll Try to Keep Looking Up': Zelda Williams Says Goodbye to Her … [Link]
Mashable » Apple Joins Google, Facebook and Reveals Diversity Report
Apple on Tuesday released a diversity report of its workforce. As with other technology companies, Apple is predominantly male In the report, Tim Cook writes that "As CEO, I'm not satisfied with the numbers on this page. They're not new to us, and we've been working hard for quite some time to improve them." See also: 9 Gay Leaders Making a … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Presenting the TMNT/NES Party Wagon [Pics]
There aren’t many things more reminiscent of the late 1980s than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the Nintendo Entertainment System. Now one fan has merged the two. Ryan Fitzpatrick has put a fully-functioning NES inside a TMNT Party Wagon toy: The head lights and passenger compartment light up, the guns, radar, and armored windshield are moveable and removable, new ‘glass’ … [Link]
Mashable » Rare Surviving Panda Triplets Are Impossibly Cute
What’s cuter than one baby panda? Three baby pandas that have the same birthday. A mother panda gave birth to baby triplets in China's Chimelong Zoo on July 29 — the only surviving panda triplets in the world. See also: 10 Wildlife Adventures You Must See Before They Go Extinct The two weeks that have passed since the triplets were delivered … [Link]
Mashable » Steve Ballmer Now Owns the $2 Billion Los Angeles Clippers
LOS ANGELES — Get your bids in now, West Side interior decorators: Steve Ballmer has taken control of the Los Angeles Clippers. In what was really a mere formality, the NBA announced Tuesday that the former Microsoft CEO's check had cleared — can you write a check for $2 billion? — and the new record sale for a U.S. sports team … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Meet your maker: Homing in on the ancestor of all life
What was the last shared ancestor of all life like? How did it make its living? A radical new answer could explain some of the most mysterious features of life (full text available to subscribers) 
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Mashable » 'Unprecedented' Flooding Event in Detroit Fits Global Warming Pattern
Detroit received 4.57 inches of rain in just a few hours on Monday, breaking its record for that date and coming in second place for the all-time wettest calendar day, behind a 4.74 inch deluge in July of 1925. The heavy rain — which included more than an inch of rain falling in just 24 minutes — led to some of … [Link]
Slashdot » Larry Rosen: A Case Study In Understanding (and Enforcing) the GPL
lrosen (attorney Lawrence Rosen) writes with a response to an article that appeared on Opensource.com late last month, detailing a court case that arose between Versata Software and Ameriprise Financial Services; part of the resulting dispute hinges on Versata's use of GPL'd software (parsing utility VTD-X, from Ximpleware), though without acknowledging the license. According to the article's author, attorney Aaron … [Link]
Mashable » What Robin Williams Hoped Heaven Would Be Like
At the end of the questions portion of Robin Williams' visit to Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio in 2001, host James Lipton asked what he would like to hear God say at the gates of heaven. Lipton asks every guest this question, but rarely does he receive an answer that so clearly cuts to the heart of an actor. The … [Link]
Mashable » Sony Has Sold 10 Million PlayStation 4 Consoles Since Launch
Sony has sold 10 million PlayStation 4 consoles worldwide since the console launched in November, the company announced at Gamescom on Tuesday in Cologne, Germany. The last time Sony had reported sales numbers was in April, when it had sold 7 million PlayStation 4 consoles. Based on Microsoft's Q2 earnings reports, Sony outsold Microsoft's two consoles — the Xbox One and … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Trailhead Labs Applies OpenTrails Data Standards to Create API and Platform
California startup Trailhead Labs creates and uses APIs to help city and state authorities publish their outdoor parks information in engaging formats, ready for use as maps, mobile and website content, and for applications. ProgrammableWeb spoke with CEO Ryan Branciforte about how the Code for America 2014 Accelerator participant is using APIs to help everyone have “amazing outdoor experiences.” … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » How To Search Videos on Vimeo Hosting Service
In our series on video APIs, we have so far examined YouTube and Dailymotion. In this post we provide a step-by-step guide to using the Vimeo API.
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Mashable » Barmageddon: Law Students Sue After Software Fail
PORTLAND, Ore. — Law students taking the bar exam have it tough: Three years hitting the books. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition. And all of it, potentially wasted with a few failed attempts at the dreaded state-administered test. So in late July, with one day of the grueling session behind them, thousands of law students were surprised to find … [Link]
Mashable » 10 Unscripted Moments That Showed the Real, Wonderful Robin Williams
Robin Williams' wit extended beyond his beloved characters in Mork and Mindy and Mrs. Doubtfire Over the years, the camera captured Williams' personality off the big screen — in interviews, speeches and other projects outside his movies. Even when he wasn't cracking a smile, he proved that his humor was an inherent part of his being See also: Remembering Robin Williams: … [Link]
Slashdot » Sniffing Out Billions In US Currency Smuggled Across the Border To Mexico
An anonymous reader writes "Criminals smuggle an estimated $30 billion in U.S. currency into Mexico each year from the United States, most of it laundered drug money. But researchers say help is on the way for border guards in the form of a portable device that identifies specific vapors given off by U.S. paper money. "We're developing a device that … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Cat’s DNA Completely Sequenced [Article]
We may never understand the mysterious ways of domestic cats. But a team of 25 researchers across three continents have completely sequenced one cat’s DNA. The cat in question is Cinammon, an Abyssinian cat for whom the University of Missouri in Columbia is home. It’s the first complete sequencing of a cat. The same researchers also carried out bilsulfite sequencing … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter Tests Promoted Video for Advertisers
First, promoted tweets; now, promoted video. Twitter has announced the beta launch of promoted video, a new advertising option that allows advertisers to upload videos and track user engagement. See also: 10 Must-Follow Breaking News Accounts on Twitter "Video is an incredible storytelling medium and we’re thrilled to be giving brands, publishers and a subset of verified users the ability to … [Link]
Geek Culture » Robin Williams at one of his many best…
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The Joy of Tech » JoT #2033: Search results…
Our comic pays tribute to a great comic… If you enjoyed the comic, please retweet, Like, or share the URL. [Link]
Mashable » This Is How America 'Wins' in Iraq
The United States last week started bombing radical Islamist positions in northern Iraq. But President Barack Obama had barely given the order before pundits began asking about the end game. That, of course, depends on what America wants to achieve in Iraq, and what U.S. officials think is possible See also: How Obama Helped Extremism Grow in Iraq For some, mission … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook Cuts iOS Crash Rate by 50% After Nabbing Mobile Bug
With half of its overall traffic now on mobile, Facebook is putting more time and resources into to making sure its main app isn't as buggy for users as it was in the past According to the company, its New York-based team of mobile engineers have been able to cut the crash rate on iOS by 50% over the past several … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: how to rescue Hubble, machine that predicts heart attacks, Dr Z the legal high designer, Iraq air drops and more 
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Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Why Are Online Job Applications So Badly Designed?
First time accepted submitter GreyViking (3606993) writes Over the past few years, I've witnessed a variety of my intelligent but largely non-technical nearest-and-dearest struggling to complete online job applications. The majority of these online forms are multiple screens long, and because they're invariably HTTPS, they'll time out after a finite time which isn't always made known to the user. Some … [Link]
Mashable » Levitating Speaker Is Like Your Own Bluetooth Audio Death Star
The field of audio is so mature and saturated that coming up with a genuinely novel approach to speakers is a rather steep challenge But a new product created by a team in Oakland, California, takes audiophiles into new territory by delivering a speaker that levitates — no, really, it levitates. Using the now well-known idea of magnetic levitation, the speaker … [Link]
Mashable » 49 Humpback Whales Were Spotted in NYC This Year, and the Season's Only Half Over
The photo of a humpback whale jumping out of water with the Empire State Building in the background is getting a lot of attention, but the sight may become more common as warmer, cleaner water attracts sea creatures of all kinds to New York City waters. At least 49 humpback whales have been seen in the waters surrounding the city's boroughs … [Link]
Mashable » Helicopter Delivering Aid to Stranded Iraqi Refugees Crashes
A Mi-17 helicopter that was delivering humanitarian aid to thousands of stranded Yazidi refugees in the Sinjar Mountain range has crashed, an official says. See also: 'We Left Hundreds Behind': Inside the Helicopter Rescue of Iraq's Stranded Yazidis "Today a [helicopter] delivering aid to the refugees in Shingal Mountain lost its balance and crashed," a source told a local Kurdish media … [Link]
Mashable » These Delectable Food Art Vines Are Top Notch, So Come Hungry
You don't have to be a chef to create a delightful dish. This week, we saw incredible food art by artists and animators on Vine We partnered with MasterCard for our latest Mashable Vine Challenge. You were asked to come up with creative ways to illustrate the idea of getting together, using none other than good ol' food See also: Imaginative … [Link]
Slashdot » Wikipedia Gets Critical Reception from UK Press at Wikimania 2014
metasonix (650947) writes On Sunday the 2014 Wikimania conference in London closed. Wikimania is the major annual event for Wikipedia editors, insiders and WMF employees to meet face-to-face, give presentations and submit papers. Usually they are full of "Wiki-Love" and good feelings; but this year, as the Wikipediocracy blog summarized, Wikipedia and its "god-king" Jimmy Wales came under considerable fire … [Link]
Mashable » Apple Looks for More HealthKit Partners Ahead of iPhone 6 Launch
When Apple announced HealthKit in June as its first big step into the health and fitness space, the company emphasized the need for developers to connect their apps and its data to its hub. Although HealthKit will pull in data from other third-party app, such as Nike, when it launches on iOS 8 (and presumably the iPhone 6) this fall, Apple … [Link]
Mashable » The Next 'Skylanders' Full Game Is Also Tablet-Sized
The next entry in the Skylanders franchise, which brings plastic toys to life in video game form, will also be playable on tablets when the game is released this holiday season. Skylanders developer Vicarious Visions is working with the Toys For Bob studio to create the same Skylanders: Trap Team experience for iOS, Android and Amazon Fire tablets. Vicarious Visions CEO … [Link]
Mashable » Yo App Now Does Much More Than Let You Say 'Yo'
Yo is about to expand its functionality and its vocabulary. The app, which gained a tremendous amount of attention in June when news broke that it had raised a seven-figure funding round just to let users say "yo" to one another, is attempting to offer a new set of features with its biggest update to date. See also: The Yo Copycats … [Link]
Slashdot » Chinese Researchers' 'Terror Cam' Could Scan Crowds, Looking for Stress
concertina226 (2447056) writes Scientists at China's Southwest University in Chongqing are working on a new type of camera that takes Big Brother to a whole new level – the camera is meant to detect highly stressed individuals so that police can catch them before they commit a crime. The camera makes use of hyperspectral imaging, i.e. a 'stress sensor' that … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Back to School T-Shirt Super Sale – THOUSANDS of Geeky Shirts for Just $14.95
Just a quick post this morning to let you guys know about the Neatoshop’s back to school t-shirt super sale, where you can get thousands of geeky t-shirts for just $14.95. Plus, get FREE worldwide shipping when you order 4 shirts or more! Here are a few of our favorites: 
[The Back to School T-Shirt Super Sale – Thousands of … [Link]
Mashable » Shocked Conan O'Brien Learns of Robin Williams' Death During His Show
Conan O'Brien was just wrapping up the taping of his show on Monday night as the sad and shocking news broke of Robin Williams' apparent suicide at age 63. In front of a live studio audience, some of whom were also learning of his death for the first time, the talk show host saluted the late comedian, along with Andy Richter … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Robots Lets You Browse Gallery After Hours [Video]
You’ll be able to explore the Tate Britain gallery in London after closing time this week thanks to the installation of four webcam-fitted robots that can be controlled by visitors to the gallery’s website. The BBC explains: Each machine will live-stream its footage to the Tate’s “After Dark” website, where viewers will be able to take turns to control the … [Link]
Mashable » How the Islamic State Lures Child Recruits to Fight in Syria and Iraq
ANKARA, Turkey—Yasar's son was only 14 when he left his home in Ankara, Turkey, to join the deadliest group in the Middle East. Telling his father he was going with his older brother to sell vegetables in a market outside the city, he instead hitched a ride with four friends to Syria, where he was inducted into the radical militant group, … [Link]
Slashdot » Comcast Drops Spurious Fees When Customer Reveals Recording
An anonymous reader writes In yet another example of the quality of Comcast's customer service, a story surfaced today of a Comcast customer who was over-charged for a service that was never provided. At first, the consumer seemed to be on the losing end of a customer service conversation, with Comcast insisting that the charges were fair. But then, the … [Link]
Mashable » White Xbox One Is Coming With 'Sunset Overdrive' Bundle
The Xbox One is getting a white edition this holiday, which Microsoft announced at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, on Tuesday. The white Xbox One is part of the Sunset Overdrive bundle, which comes with a code for a digital copy of the game, the white console and a white controller. See also: Here's Why MOBAs Are Taking Over the Gaming World … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Save BIG on Select HP Chromebooks with Free 4G for Life!* – $199 + FREE Shipping
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers some BIG savings on select HP Chromebooks with Free 4G for Life! (Just $199 + FREE Shipping!). These sleek, stylish Chromebooks will get you online in lightning-quick speed. Access your favorite websites and Google Chrome apps on the 14-inch diagonal HD display in seconds. No Wi-Fi? No problem. Enjoy free … [Link]
Mashable » Robin Williams Fans Leave Tributes at 'Good Will Hunting' Bench
Fans of the departed comedian Robin Williams are leaving tributes at real-world locations tied to film settings and landmarks from his illustrious career: the Mork and Mindy house, his Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and now, the Good Will Hunting bench. See also: Entertainers React to the Death of Robin Williams on Twitter Williams, as Sean Maguire, gave a stirring monologue … [Link]
Slashdot » The Fiercest Rivalry In Tech: Uber vs. Lyft
onehitwonder (1118559) writes WSJ looks at the cantankerous rivalry between two popular ride-sharing companies, Uber and Lyft, and the dirty tactics each employs to weaken its opponent. Lyft, for example, alleges that representatives from Uber frequently order short rides from Lyft just to slow down Lyft's service and to try to poach its drivers. WSJ points out that the rivalry … [Link]
Mashable » And the Most Popular Torrented TV Shows and Movies Are…
The United States goes to daring lengths to fulfill its Game of Thrones obsession. HBO's dramatic series about kingdoms and dragons is the most torrented show in the U.S. right nowMovoto, a real estate site, recently analyzed torrent downloading behavior from 4 million seeding nodes, and 3 million unique IP addresses. It also looked at the most popular torrents for games, … [Link]
Mashable » 'Such a Brilliant Human Being': Jeff Bridges Mourns Robin Williams
NEW YORK—In The Giver novel and film, citizens of a dystopian community are stripped of emotion The same could not be said at the movie's New York City premiere for the cast and creators, who were filled with mixed emotions Monday upon learning about the untimely death of Robin Williams. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. People relived their favorite memories See also: … [Link]
Mashable » 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' Only Coming to Xbox One
The next entry to the rebooted Tomb Raider will only be coming to Xbox One, eschewing other platforms like PC and PlayStation 4 The Rise of the Tomb Raider exclusivity was announced at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany Tuesday morning. The game follows 2013's gritty reboot of the franchise, putting a younger, less-experience Lara Croft on a dangerous tropical island. See also: … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Research Brings Kinect-Style Depth Perception to Ordinary Cameras
mrspoonsi (2955715) writes "Microsoft has been working on ways to make any regular 2D camera capture depth, meaning it could do some of the same things a Kinect does. As you can see in the video below the team managed to pull this off and we might see this tech all around in the near future. What's really impressive is … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Superhero Beer [Pics]
Thanks to reader and artist Butcher Billy who has sent along examples of his latest project, The Comic Book Super Drunk Hangout. As he explains: This collection of design concepts gather a distinctive line of heroes, antiheroes – or not heroes at all – that have in common a certain way of not being exactly the role model for your … [Link]
Mashable » 'I'll Try to Keep Looking Up': Zelda Williams Says Goodbye to Her Father
Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, posted just a screenshot of a quote from French poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry hours after the news broke that her father had died of an apparent suicide. "I love you. I miss you. I'll try to keep looking up," she added at the end of the quote, which is pulled from Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince." … [Link]
Mashable » Experimental Ebola Treatments Are Ethical, U.N. Says
The use of experimental, unproven drugs to treat the Ebola virus is ethical, a panel of medical ethicists convened by the World Health Organization found on Tuesday. The United Nations health agency's statement comes hours after a Spanish missionary priest, who was being treated for Ebola with the experimental drug ZMapp, died on Tuesday in a Madrid hospital. "In the particular … [Link]
Slashdot » DEA Paid Amtrak Employee To Pilfer Passenger Lists
Via Ars Technica comes news that an Amtrak employee was paid nearly $900,000 over the last ten years to give the DEA passenger lists outside of normal channels. Strangely enough, the DEA already had access to such information through official channels. From the article: The employee, described as a "secretary to a train and engine crew" in a summary obtained … [Link]
Mashable » 21 Powerhouse Ladies Who Ruled TV in the '90s
These ladies were going after the glass ceiling, not the glass slipper. Before Sheryl Sandberg published her book, Lean In, to help women achieve their workplace goals, these female characters from the '90s were the moms, doctors, lawyers, superheroes and typical teens who inspired us to be a kickass woman in the real world. See also: Peggy Olson's Guide to Leaning … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Air drops get water filters and chargers to Iraq refugees
Emergency supplies including food, power sources and water filters have been dropped over the Sinjar mountains of Iraq for the stranded Yazidi 
[Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Microsoft Shows Off ‘Hyperlapse’ Video
Microsoft has demonstrated the results of an algorithm its developed to produce hyperlapse video: first-person time-lapse videos without the shakiness. The idea is to solve two related problems: first-person videos from activities such as extreme bike riding can be a bit dull viewed in full in real time; but speeding them up to a timelapse video further exaggerates the shakiness … [Link]
Mashable » Robin Williams: The Last Front Pages
“Way Too Soon," "Fearless and Funny," "Laughter and Tears." This was how some papers in the U.S. put the death of a legend into words. Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died on Monday from an apparent suicide. He was 63 Here are the front pages America will wake up to this morning See also: In Pictures, the Life and Times … [Link]
Mashable » 100 Terrible Band Names That Should Never Leave the Garage
Let’s hope their sounds are more solid than their names. The Twitter account @pisspoorbands knows how to come up with the lamest and most awkward band names in themusic scene. These would-be rock gods dream of glory, but will probably never see the outside of their own garage. See also: 18 Cover Bands That Rock (Almost) Like the Real Thing Are … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Proof confirmed of 400-year-old fruit-stacking problem
A long-awaited computer-verified proof could unlock new human-computer maths collaborations 
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Brain regeneration: Crayfish turn blood into neurons
Crayfish have a "nursery" in their heads where blood cells transform into neurons – the process may one day help us to regenerate our own brain cells 
[Link]
Mashable » 19 Memoirs to Make You Laugh When Humidity Makes You Want to Cry
When the summer humidity has you sweaty and disillusioned, a memoir can be the perfect escape. This is especially true when the book happens to be penned by a poignant humorist who's found things to laugh about in even the darkest of places. See also: 15 Celebrity Memoirs We Can't Wait to Read By now, you've probably already read Bossypants cover … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 12 August 2014
US Digital Services Playbook — good sense from the US Govt’s latest “try not to cock up more Govt IT projects” brigade. Open Brain-Computer Interface — “open” as in “source”, not as in “cut”. Blockmarket — visibility into the in-game … [Link]
New Scientist – News » My recreational drugs can defeat organised crime
Drug designer Dr Z says prohibitionist policies don't work. Instead, we should provide legal mind-altering drugs to improve society (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
Mashable » How to Know If You'll Be Happy at Your New Job
You’re looking at a new job, and the salary is solid, the expectations are reasonable, the work is exciting and the location is stellar. The company is successful, there's lots of room for you to move up and ample opportunity for you make an impact along the way. But how do you know if you're going to be happy there? See … [Link]
Slashdot » NVIDIAs 64-bit Tegra K1: The Ghost of Transmeta Rides Again, Out of Order
MojoKid (1002251) writes Ever since Nvidia unveiled its 64-bit Project Denver CPU at CES last year, there's been discussion over what the core might be and what kind of performance it would offer. Visibly, the chip is huge, more than 2x the size of the Cortex-A15 that powers the 32-bit version of Tegra K1. Now we know a bit more … [Link]
Mashable » NASA Is Building the World's First 3D-Printed Satellite Camera
NASA is already using 3D printing to make rocket engine parts, a space pizza maker and even physical photos from the Hubble Space Telescope. But by the end of September, one NASA engineer expects to complete the first space cameras made almost entirely out of 3D-printed stuff. "As far as I know, we are the first to attempt to build an … [Link]
Mashable » Liberian Doctors to Get Experimental Ebola Drug
MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia announced Monday that it would soon receive doses of an experimental Ebola drug and give it to two sick doctors, making them the first Africans to receive some of the scarce treatment in a spiraling outbreak. The U.S. government confirmed that it had put Liberian officials in touch with the maker of ZMapp, and referred additional questions … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Snap-happy space fans deserve quick pics
Space agencies hoarding exciting new images from space probes doesn't help science 
[Link]
Slashdot » Is "Scorpion" Really a Genius?
An anonymous reader writes CBS's upcoming hacker show Scorpion is pitched as based on the real life of Irish 'eccentric genius' Walter O'Brien a.k.a. "Scorpion". Some of the claims made for the real Scorpion are extraordinary. A child prodigy with an IQ of 197, hacking Nasa at age 13, [supplying] Ireland with more Personal Computers than DELL and Gateway together. … [Link]
Mashable » On Walk of Fame, a Vet Remembers Robin Williams: 'He Brought Me Joy'
LOS ANGELES — Police barricades prevented traffic from flowing down Hollywood Blvd. on Monday night, as the famous Chinese Theatre played host to the premiere of Expendables 3. While Hollywood mourns the loss of Robin Williams, life on the famous block keeps moving, unlike the people — mostly tourists — lining the street, hoping for an eventual glimpse of a movie … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft Launches Celebrity News-Tracking App Snipp3t for iOS
When you think of Microsoft's mobile apps, you probably think of productivity apps such as Office, Outlook, OneNote or maybe even Bing — but the company's latest standalone app for iOS has nothing to do with productivity Snipp3t is a celebrity-tracking app that enables users to "subscribe" to news and updates about the stars they care about. See also: 15 Celebrities … [Link]
Mashable » #IfTheyGunnedMeDown Confronts How Minority Deaths Are Portrayed in Media
Following the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen on Saturday, and the ensuing media portrayal of his death, Twitter expressed outrage in the form of a hashtag. #IfTheyGunnedMeDown protests the depiction of minorities — especially African-Americans — who are often presented as "violent thugs with gang and drug affiliations," according to The Root. Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed … [Link]
Slashdot » Patents That Kill
wabrandsma (2551008) writes From The Economist: "The patent system, which was developed independently in 15th century Venice and then in 17th century England, gave entrepreneurs a monopoly to sell their inventions for a number of years. Yet by the 1860s the patent system came under attack, including from The Economist. Patents, critics argued, stifled future creativity by allowing inventors to … [Link]
Mashable » Police Use Tear Gas on Crowd Outside St. Louis
A black teenager who was fatally shot by a police officer had his hands raised when the officer approached with his weapon drawn and fired repeatedly, according to two men who said they witnessed the shooting that sparked two nights of unrest in suburban St. Louis. The FBI opened an investigation Monday into the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who police … [Link]
Mashable » 'World's Smartest Motorcycle Helmet' Raises More Than $800,000 in One Day
While the Skully AR-1 may look like a normal helmet, the self-proclaimed "world's smartest motorcycle helmet" will likely do more than protect your head — and the Internet is embracing it wholeheartedly. With a month remaining in its Indiegogo campaign, the AR-1 has raised more than three times its original funding goal, attracting $800,000 and counting. See also: Top 28 Google … [Link]
Mashable » 27 Acoustic Covers That Rival the Originals
While it's easy to create a basic acoustic cover of most pop songs, it's difficult to create a version unique enough to stand on its own. When done correctly, however, a great acoustic cover can give us an entirely new take on a melody we already know and love. See also: 21 Songs to Help You Keep Calm That's why we … [Link]
Mashable » The Unexplained Shooting of Michael Brown, Who Would Have Started College This Week
Tensions between law enforcement and residents of a St. Louis suburb ignited over the weekend after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a police officer — a story that, for many, seemed all too familiar to Trayvon Martin's. Anger over the death of Michael Brown, 18, spilled over into looting and vandalism Sunday night in Ferguson, a predominantly … [Link]
Mashable » 'And You May Contribute a Verse': Robin Williams' Poignant Apple Ad
Robin Williams may have been known as a fast-talking comedian with irrepressible energy, but Apple clearly remembered the dramatic power of his voice when it commissioned a TV ad for the iPad Air earlier this year. It included a sole passage of narration: the lesson on poetry and life delivered by Williams' character John Keating in the 1989 classic Dead … [Link]
Mashable » 10 Robin Williams Quotes From the Man Who Inspired Us With Laughter
The death of Robin Williams silenced one of Hollywood's most famous voices An animated and prolific performer, Williams was known for colorful and thoughtful personality. With more than 100 acting roles and charismatic personality out of character, the actor touched fans with his words. See also: Remembering Robin Williams: His Best Appearances on TV and Film Keep Williams' spirit alive through … [Link]
Mashable » 6 Tips for Managing People Who Are Older Than You
Like many other millennials hoping to break into the national security world, I hightailed it to Washington, D.C. the minute I had my master’s diploma in hand. Once there, I networked myself into a frenzy as I searched for a job that would satisfy my intellectual hunger. A few weeks later, a defense contractor hired me to run the operations for … [Link]
Mashable » Thank You, Robin Williams, the Comedy Giant Who Made Us Think
It was the smile that did it — that toasty-warm, utterly genuine smile. Watching it spread across his face, impossibly wide, bringing out the rose in his cheeks, setting those blue eyes to twinkling, was one of the greatest joys of watching Robin Williams perform When Williams smiled, you couldn't help but smile, too. That his jokes were likely to make … [Link]
Mashable » In Pictures, the Life and Times of Robin Williams
Robin Williams' work touched many lives. From his beginnings on the wildly successful Mork and Mindy television show through to classic comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, the respected comedian and actor has graced our screens for generations. Williams died of an apparent suicide at his home. He was 63. The comedian's longtime publicist said he had been been battling severe depression. "This is … [Link]
Slashdot » Injecting Liquid Metal Into Blood Vessels Could Help Kill Tumors
KentuckyFC (1144503) writes One of the most interesting emerging treatments for certain types of cancer aims to starve the tumor to death. The strategy involves destroying or blocking the blood vessels that supply a tumor with oxygen and nutrients. Without its lifeblood, the unwanted growth shrivels up and dies. This can be done by physically blocking the vessels with blood … [Link]
Slashdot » Chile Earthquake Triggered Icequakes In Antarctica
sciencehabit (1205606) writes In 2010, a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile, rocking much of the country and producing tremor as far away as Argentina and Peru. But a new study suggests its effects were felt even farther away—in Antarctica. In the wake of the Maule temblor, the scientists found, several seismic stations on the frozen … [Link]
Mashable » Remembering Robin Williams: His Best Appearances on TV and Film
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died on Monday at the age of 63. As a performer, Williams had the rare ability to make audiences laugh and cry. A skilled comedian adept with impressions, physical comedy and witty retorts, Williams kept audiences laughing on television, in his stand-up routines and in many of his feature films. Williams was also a … [Link]
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