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.
Mashable » Facebook to Meet With LGBT Community Over 'Real Names' Policy
Facebook has agreed to meet with San Francisco city officials and activists following criticism that its naming policy discriminates against the LGBT community. The social network's policy, which requires users use their legal name on profiles, is not new — but has recently come under new scrutiny after a number of transgender people and drag performers reported being locked out of … [Link]
Mashable » U.S.-Backed Fighters in Syria May Be Difficult to Control
A key part of the White House's plan to fight the Islamic State includes vetting, training and arming a group of fighters willing to wage a ground war in Syria that the United States doesn't want for itself The problem is, military and security experts said, that militants in Syria have shown that no amount of U.S. influence will stop them … [Link]
Mashable » Tim McGraw's Live-Streamed Show Will Feature New Music
Country behemoth Tim McGraw will show off new music from his just-released 13th studio album, Sundown Heaven Town, on Tuesday night during a live-streamed concert. Joining the "Live Like You Were Dying" singer for the live stream, which starts Sept. 16 at 9 p.m., will be Faith Hill. Together, the married couple will perform "Meanwhile Back At Mama’s," their slow duet … [Link]
Slashdot » What To Expect With Windows 9
snydeq writes: Two weeks before the its official unveiling, this article provides a roundup of what to expect and the open questions around Windows 9, given Build 9834 leaks and confirmations springing up all over the Web. The desktop's Start Menu, Metro apps running in resizable windows on the desktop, virtual desktops, Notification Center, and Storage Sense, are among the … [Link]
Mashable » Updated Google Maps Gallery Lets You Add Your Personal Adventures
If you've ever created a map using Google Maps, you might not consider yourself an amateur cartographer, but that's basically what you are (gold star, you) Now the Google Maps team has made a change aimed at getting even more would-be mappers contributing to its maps database by updating My Maps (renamed today from the former Google Maps Engine Lite) and … [Link]
Mashable » Whitney Houston's Legacy Gets a Tune-Up With New Album
Whitney Houston's incomparable voice will make a comeback in a new album of live performances from throughout her illustrious career. Music mogul Clive Davis announced the live album Tuesday, describing the "I Will Always Love You" singer, who died in February 2012, as "the greatest vocalist in the world." See also: Sam Smith Turns Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know' Into … [Link]
Mashable » The Story Behind Those Nude-Looking Women's Cycling Uniforms
The pubis-flaunting, almost pornographic-looking uniforms worn by a women's cycling team from Colombia in a race last weekend have now become a topic of widespread and incredulous Internet mockery — and they were reportedly designed by a member of the team itself. It appears the uniforms, which were rebuked online by the head of the international governing body for competitive cycling, … [Link]
Mashable » Nasim Pedrad Reveals Her Uncanny Aziz Ansari Impression
Nasim Pedrad may be known for her spot-on impression of Kim Kardashian, but she also has another well-known A-Lister in her repertoire Pedrad stopped by Conan to chat about her role on FOX's upcoming comedy show Mulaney. During the interview, Conan revealed a previously unaired Saturday Night Live sketch where Pedrad played comedian Aziz Ansari. See also: Aziz Ansari's Parents Took … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Comcast: Using Tor Is Fine With Us
Comcast has flatly denied it has ordered customers to stop using the Tor browser, or that it has taken any action to enforce such a ban. The statement follows a report at DeepDotWeb, a site specializing in the darknet — a term that can cover both darknet filesharing (a form of peer-to-peer with a restricted audience) and the deep Internet … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Simple urine test detects cervical cancer virus
It is not as accurate as sampling HPV DNA from the cervix itself, but the test might benefit women who are too scared to have a conventional smear test 
[Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2047: Worst. Thing. Ever.
iTunes users, we can get through this! If you enJoyed, please retweet, Like, or share the URL! [Link]
Slashdot » Digia Spins Off Qt As Subsidiary
DeviceGuru writes: Following through on an announcement from August, Digia has spun off a subsidiary called The Qt Company to unify Qt's commercial and open source efforts, and debuted a low-cost plan for mobile developers. The Linux-oriented Qt cross-platform development framework has had a tumultuous career, having been passed around Scandinavia over the years from Trolltech to Nokia and then … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Today in APIs: Microsoft Upgrades Azure's API Management
Microsoft's Azure opens path to creating API portals. Facebook to hold its first hackathon in Africa. Plus: Nexmo looks to accelerate revenues, and five reasons to adopt APIs.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Zetta Wants to Connect Your Devices to Make the IoT Vision Real
The connected devices world that is emerging is not the Internet of Things, Apigee VP Brian Mulloy says. Mulloy spoke to ProgrammableWeb about the difficulties and next steps of enabling a true IoT environment following the launch of Zetta, Apigee’s IoT platform technology announced at the I Love APIs conference last week.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » iPhone NFC Limitations A Lost Opportunity For Apple Developers
NFC is among the many features Apple added to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Near-field communications is a short-range radio technology that has a handful of use cases. The initial excitement about having NFC in the iPhone faded a bit this week upon learning that Apple has restricted what the NFC radio can do. This is a big downer … [Link]
Mashable » Tiny Hamster Eating Tiny Hot Dogs Takes On Kobayashi
By now, you've witnessed the magic that is a tiny hamster eating tiny burritos. Now, prepare your hearts for its much anticipated sequel: Tiny Hamster versus Kobayashi Yes, that's the Takeru Kobayashi, known for his world record-breaking eating abilities. Dancing Traffic Light Helps Pedestrians Moonwalk Safely You're Knot Ready for Ylvis' New Song, 'The Trucker's Hitch' Kristen Wiig and Ellen … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Princess Robin and Batman [Pic]
I’m dedicating a post to this picture because after featuring another photo of these guys in our second picture gallery for Montreal Comic con 2014, I got a few emails and Facebook comments asking if it would be possible to see these guys from head to toes. So here you go. You’re welcome. 😉 I was also planning to only … [Link]
Slashdot » NASA's Manned Rocket Contract: $4.2 Billion To Boeing, $2.6 Billion To SpaceX
schwit1 writes NASA has chosen two companies to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, and those companies are Boeing and SpaceX. This decision confirms that SpaceX is ready to go and gives the company the opportunity to finish the job, while also giving Boeing the chance to show that it can still compete. After NASA has certified … [Link]
Mashable » You're Knot Ready for Ylvis' New Song, 'The Trucker's Hitch'
What does the knot say? Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis has released another snappy tune, entitled "The Trucker's Hitch." It comes almost exactly one year after they met immense viral fame for "What Does the Fox Say?" The song is about different different types of knots, namely the struggle with mastering the "trucker's hitch" knot. Yes, really — welcome to the … [Link]
Mashable » Apple Strengthens iCloud Security in Wake of Celeb Nude Photo Hack
Apple is making good on CEO Tim Cook's promise to beef up iCloud security in the wake of the recent celebrity photo hack. Now, if you log into iCloud on a web browser, you will be prompted for a code if you have enabled two-factor authentication on your Apple account. Previously, two-factor authentication on iCloud only applied to purchases. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Tony Stewart Isn't in the Clear Yet; Case Headed to Grand Jury
Police are done investigating the death of sprint car driver Kevin Ward, Jr., who was struck and killed by Tony Stewart's car in August when he walked onto the track. But Stewart isn't out of the woods just yet. SEE ALSO: The Sound of Racing Silence: Get Ready for an Electric Formula One The case is headed to a grand jury, … [Link]
Slashdot » FBI Completes New Face Recognition System
Advocatus Diaboli writes: According to a report from Gizmodo, "After six years and over one billion dollars in development, the FBI has just announced that its new biometric facial recognition software system is finally complete. Meaning that, starting soon, photos of tens of millions of U.S. citizen's faces will be captured by the national system on a daily basis. The … [Link]
Mashable » Ripping a Business on Yelp? This Congressman Has Your Back
The rise of online review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor have forced businesses to take action to maintain their digital reputations. Some bolster service or improve products; others hire lawyers and sue. See also: Yelp Translator Takes the Guesswork Out of Foreign Reviews To combat the rise in businesses suing over bad online ratings, a congressman is introducing a bill that … [Link]
Mashable » Fame Is Hard: Why Minecraft's Creator Is Opting to Disappear
“I’m not doing this for the money. I'm doing it for my sanity." Those were the final words of Markus Persson's blog post explaining why he wouldn't be going on with Mojang after it was purchased by Microsoft. Persson, better known as "Notch," is responsible for creating Minecraft, a game which skyrocketed to popularity through every demographic. Now Microsoft owns Minecraft, … [Link]
Mashable » Panic! at the Disco Nails Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in Rowdy Cover
A shirtless Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco channeled his best Freddie Mercury in the rock band's superb live cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody." Urie, whose range lends itself well to taking on Mercury's vocal acrobatics, performed the Queen classic with the rest of the group during its Gospel Tour, which ended in August. See also: Miley Cyrus Covers Led … [Link]
Mashable » Dancing Traffic Light Helps Pedestrians Moonwalk Safely
Cities can be dangerous places if you don't have the right directions. Smart, the company behind the original smart car, has devised a clever way to help pedestrians wait for the walk signal and keep the streets safer — a dancing traffic light. By projecting real movements from people nearby, the dancing traffic light entertains people at the intersection until … [Link]
Mashable » 'When White People Fight' Guy Disapproves of Everything, Basically
Earlier this week, a video surfaced on YouTube called "When White People Fight." (Warning: It contains strong language and mild violence.) The video documents an apparent fraternity brawl as the person filming flashes a disapproving selfie — apparently, unimpressed by the mayhem behind him See also: You Don't Say: The Origins of the Internet's Favorite Memes Turns out, there's really … [Link]
Slashdot » Micron Releases 16nm-Process SSDs With Dynamic Flash Programming
Lucas123 writes: Micron's newest client flash drive line, the M600, uses its first 16nm process technology and dynamic write acceleration firmware that allows the flash to be programmed as SLC or MLC instead of using overprovisioning or reserving a permanent pool of flash cache to accelerate writes. The ability to dynamically program the flash reduces power use and improves write … [Link]
Mashable » Mobli Media Buys Social Media Platform Pheed
Mobli Media has purchased Pheed, the fledgling social media network, the companies announced Tuesday. The companies didn't disclose a price for the cash and stock deal, though a source close to the transaction says Pheed went for around $20 million. Mobli also said it plans to invest $10 million in the reintroduction of Pheed, which will remain a standalone platform. See … [Link]
Mashable » Netflix Falls For New Judd Apatow Series 'Love'
Netflix and Judd Apatow have fallen madly in Love. The streaming network has picked up two seasons of Love, a new half-hour comedy series about modern relationships created and written by the creator of Girls and writer/producer of countless films including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, in 2016. See also: Will Arnett: More 'Arrested Development' Is Coming to Netflix The original series will star … [Link]
Mashable » Misfit Flash Is the First True Fitness Tracker Under $50
There is no shortage of fitness trackers on the market today, but a new one from Misfit is the most affordable option we've seen yet. The company announced the Misfit Flash on Tuesday, which monitors your steps, tracks your sleep cycle and does everything you'd expect from a fitness tracker. However, at $49, it's far cheaper than competing models in the … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » MyJobHelper API Provides Job Search Content for Third-Party Apps
The world of digital job hunting is peppered with job sites, all offering a quick and easy way to search for work opportunities. Employees want a list of talented candidates to choose from, and job seekers want a list of exciting roles to apply for. The two come together in easy-to-use applications that offer this information instantly. It's a big … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » WaveMaker Launches aPaaS Environment Based on Docker Containers
WaveMaker today announced the rollout of an application platform-as-a-service (aPaaS) environment based on Docker containers, which are rapidly being adopted as an alternative to virtual machines.
[Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » HP Unfurls Load Testing Service in the Cloud
Hewlett-Packard has a history of offering load testing software that goes all the way back to its acquisition of Mercury Interactive in 2006. Now HP is extending the reach of those offerings into the cloud via its HP StormRunner Load testing service, which was launched this week.
[Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » GENBAND offers new PaaS, Kandy
Today, GENBAND launches Kandy: a real-time communications software development platform. Kandy aims to combine the simplicity of web and mobile app development with enterprise grade real-time communications features.
[Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Shadow Of Mordor [Short Live Action Movie]
A short film based the game “Shadow of Mordor” by the folks over at Corridor Digital. Krimp the Orc is about to have a very bad day. Like, Wraith bad. [Corridor Digital] [Link]
Mashable » Top-Ranked U.S. General Says American Troops May Fight ISIS on the Ground
The U.S. military's top-ranked officer believes American ground forces could join Iraqi and Kurdish troops on the ground in the fight against the Islamic State. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said as much at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that was designed to discuss the specifics of America's plan to … [Link]
Slashdot » Astronomers Find Star-Within-a-Star, 40 Years After First Theorized
derekmead writes: After 40 years, astronomers have likely found a rather strange celestial body known as a Thorne–Zytkow object (TZO), in which a neutron star is absorbed by a red supergiant. Originally predicted in the 1970s, the first non-theoretical TZO was found earlier this year, based on calculations presented in a paper forthcoming in MNRAS. TZOs were predicted by astronomer … [Link]
Mashable » Photographer Stunned by Family Placing Baby on a Cliff Edge in Norway
Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, is one of the most popular destinations in southern Norway: The cliff rises about 2,000 feet above a long and narrow fjord. Hiker Fred Sirevåg was taking in the view when he saw parents let their baby get so close to the edge it made him nervous. See also: Glass Cracks Below Tourists in Chicago … [Link]
Mashable » A State Ablaze: Wildfires Tear Through California, Leveling Homes
This story was updated on Sept. 16 at 3:47 p.m. PT Two new wildfires swept through northern California on Monday and Tuesday, destroying homes and forcing hundreds to evacuate, according to local fire agencies. Extremely dry conditions have expedited the spread of the two blazes, the Courtney Fire and the Boles Fire. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire … [Link]
Mashable » NASA Is Outsourcing 'Space Taxi' Service to SpaceX, Boeing
We finally have a replacement for the Space Shuttle — or rather, two replacements. And neither of them will be built by NASA. SpaceX and Boeing will both be awarded contracts for a "space taxi" rocket launch system that will deliver up to four NASA astronauts to the International Space Station at a time, with an eye to full NASA certification … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Avengers: Age of Ultron – Official Synopsis
There’s still 8 months left before “Avengers: Age of Ultron” comes out, but in the meantime, you can always read the just released official synopsis: Marvel Studios presents Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest … [Link]
Slashdot » Apple Edits iPhone 6's Protruding Camera Out of Official Photos
Sockatume writes: If you've been browsing Apple's site leading up to the iPhone 6 launch, you might've noticed something a little odd. Apple has edited the handset's protruding camera out of every single side-on view of the phone. (The camera is, necessarily, retained for images showing the back of the device.) The absence is particularly conspicuous given the number of … [Link]
Mashable » Lupita Nyong’o and Elmo Are Comfortable in Their Skin
Lupita Nyong’o visited Sesame Street to talk with Elmo about skin and self-love Before meeting the Oscar winner, Elmo wasn't even aware he had skin underneath his red fur. See also: Oscar the Grouch and Grumpy Cat Finally Meet in Epic Face-Off Nyong'o says that her favorite thing about skin is that it comes in all different shades — a … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Star Wars Denial [Comic]
[Source: Fowl Language | Fowl Language on Facebook] [Link]
Mashable » Kristen Wiig and Ellen DeGeneres Have No Idea How 'Let It Go' Goes
Kristen Wiig and Ellen Degeneres have somehow managed to skate along in 2014 without knowing the words to Frozen's "Let It Go." But yesterday on Ellen, that ended. We lost two great souls to the "Let It Go" cover epidemic. Dancing Traffic Light Helps Pedestrians Moonwalk Safely Tiny Hamster Eating Tiny Hot Dogs Takes On Kobayashi You're Knot Ready for … [Link]
Slashdot » New Global Plan Would Crack Down On Corporate Tax Avoidance
HughPickens.com writes: Reuters reports that plans for a major rewriting of international tax rules have been unveiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that could eliminate structures that have allowed companies like Google and Amazon to shave billions of dollars off their tax bills. For more than 50 years, the OECD's work on international taxation has been … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Everything Wrong With Frozen In Ten Minutes or Less [Video]
From CinemaSins: Someone said we don’t do animated movies. That’s only true in that, until today, we hadn’t done one… yet. Today, of course, that all changes, as we finally do your damned bidding (demanding) and go looking for sins in Disney’s icy sensation, Frozen. Surprise, surprise… in a movie about a magical ice princess, we found a few sins. … [Link]
New Scientist – News » The war for our attention in a land of infinite choice
With more content than ever before, its hard to extract what's preferred from what's promoted. Two books explore the effect digital media has on us 
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Slashdot » Developing the First Law of Robotics
wabrandsma sends this article from New Scientist: In an experiment, Alan Winfield and his colleagues programmed a robot to prevent other automatons – acting as proxies for humans – from falling into a hole. This is a simplified version of Isaac Asimov's fictional First Law of Robotics – a robot must not allow a human being to come to harm. … [Link]
Mashable » Ex-Auschwitz Guard Charged With 300,000 Counts of Accessory to Murder
BERLIN — A 93-year-old man has been charged with 300,000 counts of accessory to murder for serving as an SS guard at the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp, prosecutors said Monday. Oskar Groening is accused of helping operate the death camp in occupied Poland between May and June 1944, when some 425,000 Jews from Hungary were brought there and at least 300,000 … [Link]
Mashable » Sony Is Stalking a Reboot of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
It’s been 17 summers since Jennifer Love Hewitt was on the run from her past and a murderous stalker seeking revenge in I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Sony knows what the low-budget slasher did at the box office ($125 million worldwide). And so comes news of a possible reboot: Though Sony isn't confirming it, Deadline reports that the studio … [Link]
Mashable » It's Not Too Late to Make Plans for This Year's Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, the annual festival that gives beer and food lovers the chance to indulge in traditional German fare, is upon us. The celebration, which began in Munich in 1810 at the royal wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese, became a worldwide festival in the mid-20th century. See also: 11 Beer Vacations You're Going to Want to Remember The original Oktoberfest … [Link]
Mashable » Butterfly That Just Wanted a Kiss Lands on Flutist's Nose Mid-Performance
Wooed by the beautiful sound of Yukie Ota's flute during the Carl Nielsen International Flute Competition, a majestic butterfly wanted a front row seat So it did what butterflies do — fluttering its wings, then landed directly on Ota's nose. The Japanese flutist wasn't fazed in the least, embracing the butterfly's magnificent landing — only to usher it gently away … [Link]
Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Any Place For Liberal Arts Degrees In Tech?
Nerval's Lobster (2598977) writes A new article in Fast Company suggests tech CEOs want employees with liberal arts degrees, because those graduates have critical thinking skills. Meanwhile, a new article on Dice (yes, yes, we know) posits that STEM degrees such as data science, IT admin, and electrical engineering are what science-and-tech companies are going to want for the foreseeable … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » OMG THEY EXIST: Officially Licensed Back to the Future 2 Light Up Shoes
Yep, these are totally real and they’re currently for sale right here. (size 6 to 14 available!) The shoes you wear say a lot about who you are. Marty McFly’s shoes say, “I’m a time jumping adventurer with style that’s literally ahead of my time.” You used to have to borrow a DeLorean time machine from Doc Brown just to … [Link]
Mashable » Lazarus, the Cleft Palate Cat Who Went From Rescue to Vine Superstardom
You don't need to be classically beautiful to be a star Rescue cat Lazarus was born with a cleft palate. The physical deformity leaves him without the appearance of a nose and overexposes his lower teeth, but he still manages to charm thousands of fans on Vine. See also: Griffin von Porkchop: The Snaggletoothed Cat That Will Steal Your Candy According … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: Socrates among the psychopaths, putting a "language gene" into mice, students saved by stress-detecting app and more 
[Link]
Mashable » Russian Email Giant Takes Over VKontakte, 'Russia's Facebook'
Russian mail provider Mail.Ru, which is majority owned by Russia's richest man and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has taken full control of the country's Facebook equivalent VKontakte on Tuesday. Mail.Ru announced the acquisition of the remaining 48% of VKontakte (also known as VK) — the part which it still didn't control — for $1.47 billion. The deal gives … [Link]
Slashdot » Tim Cook Says Apple Can't Read Users' Emails, That iCloud Wasn't Hacked
Apple CEO Tim Cook insists that Apple doesn't read — in fact, says Cook, cannot read — user's emails, and that the company's iCloud service wasn't hacked. ZDNet presents highlights from Cook's lengthy, two-part interview with Charlie Rose. One selection of particular interest: Apple previously said that even it can't access iMessage and FaceTime communications, stating that such messages and … [Link]
Mashable » World’s First 3D Printed Car Took Years to Design, But Only 44 Hours to Print
One day, in the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to walk into a car dealership, choose a design — including the number of seats — and have a 3D printed car by the end of the day This is Jay Rogers’ vision. Rogers is the CEO of Local Motors, the company that just built the world's first 3D printed car known … [Link]
Mashable » This Is It: The Next 15 Years Will Seal the Fate of Earth's Climate
A major new report finds that if infrastructure investments during the next 15 years follow the current path of high carbon dioxide emissions, the world will sail well past the threshold of what world leaders consider to be dangerous amounts of global warming. But the report also argues that it's possible to foster economic growth and tackle climate change at the … [Link]
Mashable » Everything You Need to Know About Touch ID
In our latest Ask a Dev video, iOS engineer Chris Gibbs discusses how to use Touch ID for authentication. With the big news of Apple Pay, Touch ID will be a big safety feature worth incorporating. Using Touch ID is easy for developers, as iOS handles presenting the user with a prompt to authenticate with it. The only part of … [Link]
Slashdot » Quickflix Wants Netflix To Drop Australian VPN Users
ashshy writes 200,000 Australian residents reportedly use Netflix today, tunneling their video traffic to the US, UK, and other Netflix markets via VPN connections. A proper Netflix Down Under service isn't expected to launch until 2015. Last week, Aussie video streaming company Quickflix told Netflix to stop this practice, so Australian viewers can return to Quickflix and other local alternatives. … [Link]
Mashable » Subway Launching Massive Mobile Payments Plan Next Month
Subway has inked a deal with Softcard to offer NFC-based mobile payments in its 26,000 locations starting Oct. 1, making it perhaps the biggest mobile payment retail program to date in the United States. As part of the deal, Softcard users will get $1 back on each purchase more than $1 made with the American Express Serve card through the end … [Link]
Mashable » Report: NFC on iPhone 6 Will Only Work With Apple Pay
One of the key new features of the iPhone 6 and the larger-screened iPhone 6 Plus is the inclusion of NFC (near-field communication) technology, which powers Apple Pay. In many phones, NFC not only enables mobile payments, but also allows users to quickly pair speakers and apps. But according to a Cult of Mac report, Apple is restricting the use of … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Signals from Velocity New York 2014
Practitioners and experts from the web operations and performance worlds are coming together in New York City this week for Velocity New York 2014. Below you’ll find a handful of keynotes and interviews from the event that we found particularly … [Link]
Mashable » The Greatest Disney Villains Ever
Disney villains are almost more infamous than the heroes YouTube stars Lee Newton and Shannon Coffey join Monumental host Elliott Morgan to debate which villains are the greatest in Disney's history See also: If Michael Bay Ruined 'Up' Every Tuesday on Monumental, a rotating group of panelists will debate and decide the top four — or "Mount Rushmore— of a … [Link]
Slashdot » Say Goodbye To That Unwanted U2 Album
Ronin Developer writes Apple has listened to the complaints of those who object to having received a pushed copy of U2's latest album as part of their recent campaign. While nobody has been charged for the download, some objected to having it show up in their purchases and, in some cases, pushed down to their devices. While it is possible … [Link]
Mashable » Motorcycle-Riding Trash Vigilante Serves Dirty Justice
Beware, litterbugs of the world. This vigilante biker has had it up to *here* of people openly throwing trash from their vehicles, so she chucks garbage right back at the offenders before speeding away on her motorcycle Badass? Yes. Kristen Wiig and Ellen DeGeneres Have No Idea How 'Let It Go' Goes Butterfly That Just Wanted a Kiss Lands on … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft Debuts an Xbox Controller for Windows
Microsoft is launching a slew of new hardware accessories on Tuesday, including an Xbox controller built specifically for Windows. Other devices include new mice and a keyboard made for any kind of tablet, including an iPad. The Xbox controller for Windows is distinct from the original in one very obvious respect: the long USB cable that stems from it to connect … [Link]
Slashdot » Browser To Facilitate Text Browsing In Emergencies
Rambo Tribble (1273454) writes "Programmers at Fast Company are developing the Cosmos browser to allow text browsing from Android phones when networks are buckling under the load of local disasters. A common phenomenon when disaster strikes is the overloading of cell and data networks by massively increased traffic. The Cosmos browser is intended to facilitate using SMS text messages, which … [Link]
Mashable » Dial Into the Social Good Summit From Anywhere in the World
The goal of the Social Good Summit is to bring together world leaders, grassroots activists and change-makers to engage in a discussion about how the tools of today can create a better future. Yet this conversation does not end with the speaker sessions and panelists on the stage in New York City. Through global meetups and live-streaming capabilities in seven languages, … [Link]
Mashable » CBS Pulls Rihanna Song From All NFL Games — and She's Not Happy About It
CBS announced last week that its Thursday night pregame coverage would no longer feature Rihanna's song "Run This Town" in light of recent NFL controversies, namely the Ray Rice and Janay Palmer domestic violence incident Then, on Tuesday, Rihanna responded — very frankly — on Twitter, cursing at the network and calling them "sad" for penalizing her for the actions of … [Link]
Mashable » End of an Era: Clear Channel Rebrands as iHeartMedia
Clear Channel has finally tuned in to the need to rethink its brand. Clear Channel, the radio conglomerate that operates more than 1,200 stations around the United States, announced Tuesday that it is rebranding as iHeartMedia, drawing on the success of its online radio service iHeartRadio See also: Goodbye i? What a Missing Letter Means for Apple "iHeartMedia reflects both the … [Link]
Mashable » Dial Back: 7 Ways the Phone Call Has Evolved
Consider the history of the telephone call. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell secured a patent that would go on to define the device for the majority of its commercial life. To say we've come a long way since then is an understatement that probably warrants its own busy signal. Close to 140 years after Bell first spoke to Watson over a … [Link]
Mashable » MIT's Robot Cheetah Is No Longer Bound to the Treadmill
Two years ago, MIT researchers showcased the first run of its cheetah-inspired robot, which could run 5.1 miles per hour, but only on a treadmill Now, the team there has significantly improved the robot's capabilities. It can run twice as fast (10 mph), jump over 13-inch obstacles, and is no longer tethered to the treadmill See also: 13 Robots Who … [Link]
Slashdot » New Release of MINIX 3 For x86 and ARM Is NetBSD Compatible
An anonymous reader writes MINIX 3 is a small POSIX-compliant operating system aimed at high reliability (embedded) applications. A major new version of MINIX 3 (3.3.0) is now available for download at www.minix3.org. In addition to the x86, the ARM Cortex A8 is now supported, with ports to the BeagleBoard and BeagleBones available. Finally, the entire userland has been redone … [Link]
Mashable » PayPal Takes a Swipe at Apple in New Ad
The team at PayPal is clearly not impressed with Apple Pay. PayPal took a swipe at Apple and its new payment platform in a new print ad that appeared in the New York Times, USA Today and San Francisco Chronicle this week See also: 5 Reasons Why Apple Pay Is the Sleeper Hit of the Apple Event "We the people want … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Where Are They Now? – The Cartoon Edition [Video]
A short story looking at the life of cartoon characters facing reality long after their heyday prime. [Steve Cutts] [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 60% off Select Logitech Products (Mice, Keyboards, Bluetooth Speakers + MORE!)
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers up to 60% off on select Logitech products including mice, keyboards, Bluetooth speakers and more! [Up to 60% off Select Logitech Products] [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dorkly Comic: The Surest Sign Winter Is Coming
A sure-fire way to predict the coming of Winter. Comic by Julia Lepetit and Andrew Bridgman from Dorkly. 
[Source: Dorkly] [Link]
Slashdot » WSJ Reports Boeing To Beat SpaceX For Manned Taxi To ISS
PvtVoid writes The Wall Street Journal reports (paywalled) that NASA is poised to award a key contract for manned transport to the International Space Station to Boeing over rival SpaceX: "Recent signals from the Obama administration, according to the officials, indicate that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's leadership has concluded on a preliminary basis that Boeing's proposed capsule offers … [Link]
Mashable » Roku Has Sold 10 Million Devices in the U.S.
Roku announced on Tuesday it has sold 10 million of its set-top boxes in the United States, meaning about 8.6% of the country's 115 million households own — or have owned — the device. Roku, which launched in May 2008, was the first device to stream Netflix on TV. Since then, others including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Prepare for change now, and youll be ready for it later
Companies and developers have plenty of mobile development challenges — OS platforms, the growing number of devices and screen sizes, and the myriad requirements of browsers, to name a few. Soon — or already — the Internet of Things is … [Link]
Mashable » The 40 Most Musical Universities in the U.S.
College is a time for getting your act together, both academically and socially. And the soundtrack to your college experience is just as important as whatever it is you're actually doing, whether it's finishing your paper at 7 a.m. or sidestepping puddles of vomit at the nearest frat party. See also: 24 Musical Tattoos That Strike the Right Chord Spotify combed … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Giant Pendulum Wave Machine Made with Bowling Balls [Video]
From Maria Ikenberry: The length of time it takes a ball to swing back and forth one time to return to its starting position is dependent on the length of the pendulum, not the mass of the ball. A longer pendulum will take longer to complete one cycle than a shorter pendulum. The lengths of the pendula in this demonstration … [Link]
Slashdot » Industry-Based ToDo Alliance Wants To Guide FOSS Development
jralls (537436) writes The New York Times broke a story [Monday] (paywalled if you look at more than 10 stories a month) about ToDo, "an open group of companies who run open source programs" who are seeking to "committed to working together in order to overcome" the challenges of using FOSS, "including ensuring high-quality and frequent releases, engaging with developer … [Link]
Mashable » Australians Create Life-Saving Water Purifier From a Chip Packet
SYDNEY — A group of Australian engineering students have designed a water purifier that can be created from an empty packet of chips. Harrison Evans, Anthony Liew, Mark Padovan and Michael Watchman from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide created a potentially life-saving water treatment system using a glass tube and a metal chip packet See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Slave to Terror: One Woman Sold to ISIS Tells the Story of Her Escape
DUHOK, Iraq — When the young woman, who had been taken as war treasure by an Islamic State leader, returned to her family recently after a harrowing escape, it was as if she had risen from the dead. “We had no hope,” said her father, one of the Yazidis who escaped slaughter at the hands of fighters from the militant group … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Nostalgia Overload: Coca-Cola Surge is Back!
After being removed from the shelves in 2003, the citrus-flavored beverage is back… but only for a limited time. It seems that fan requests was so numerous that the company decided to resurrect the soft drink. According to Wendy Clark, President of sparkling and strategic marketing for Coca-Cola North America, “Future plans for the brand will depend on the level … [Link]
Slashdot » AT&T Proposes Net Neutrality Compromise
An anonymous reader writes: The net neutrality debate has been pretty binary: ISPs want the ability to create so-called "fast lanes," and consumers want all traffic to be treated equally. Now, AT&T is proposing an alternative: fast lanes under consumer control. Their idea would "allow individual consumers to ask that some applications, such as Netflix, receive priority treatment over other … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Failing students saved by stress-detecting app
Smartphone sensors can record students' stress, depression and loneliness, and compare them to academic performance 
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Mashable » Cat Stevens Announces First U.S. Concert Tour Since 1976
NEW YORK — New Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Cat Stevens is taking the "Peace Train" back on the road. He announced Monday that he will make a six-city concert tour in North America this December, his first series of shows in the U.S. since 1976. His conversion to Islam followed, putting his music career on hold for a … [Link]
Mashable » The 6 Worst Things About iTunes
iTunes can be, in a word, frustrating. As much as we would love to ditch the glitchy music service, we can't seem to live without it. After all, it's how we download our favorite songs and movies, back up our go-to apps, and more. See also: Top 25 Free iPhone Apps of All Time But with continuous updates and slow reaction … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Portraits of the adorable creatures of the night
My, what big eyes you have! These photographs of nocturnal animals reveal the faces we rarely get to see 
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Mashable » Artificial Intelligence Is Doomed if We Don't Control Our Data
Machine learning is what's taking place with our personal data while we're passive players in the process. Personalization algorithms designed to know our intentions before we do form the backbone of the Internet Economy. And while these algorithmic systems may not fit all the criteria of genuine Artificial Intelligence (AI), their artifice is firmly in place in terms of their bias. … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 16 September 2014
The Epic Struggle of the Internet of Things — a Bruce Sterling Kindle single, a powerfully-written challenge to the presumed-benevolent technology-pervaded universe that we label “the Internet of Things”. The Internet of Things is not about a talking refrigerator, because … [Link]
Mashable » 8 Awkward Times the Media Tried to Explain the Internet
It’s easy to forget that the Internet is only 25 years old. In a short period of time, we've quickly grown accustomed to online jargon and all things in cyberspace. But when the World Wide Web was first introduced in 1989, many found it particularly puzzling. As the Internet has evolved, its meaning and descriptions have changed See also: 20 Searches … [Link]
Mashable » Mind-Bending Photo Series Blends Models Into NYC Landscapes
Thousands of New Yorkers hustle all over the city, never noticing the sights, sounds or other people around them. Take a second look and you might find you've missed something important. Every human being is a part of their environment, especially when it comes to the models in artist Trina Merry's series, New York City Camouflage. Her models are painted from … [Link]
Slashdot » NSW Police Named as FinFisher Spyware Users
Bismillah writes Wikileaks' latest release of documents shows that the Australian New South Wales police force has spent millions on licenses for the FinFisher set of law enforcement spy- and malware tools — and still has active licenses. What it uses FinFisher, which has been deployed against dissidents by oppressive regimes, for is yet to be revealed. NSW Police spokesperson … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. to Send 3,000 Military Personnel to Fight Ebola
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is ramping up its response to West Africa's Ebola crisis, preparing to assign 3,000 U.S. military personnel to the afflicted region to supply medical and logistical support to overwhelmed local health care systems and to boost the number of beds needed to isolate and treat victims of the epidemic. President Barack Obama planned to announce the … [Link]
Mashable » Queen of Scots: What Does Her Majesty Think of Independence?
The Queen imparted her one intervention in the Scottish referendum debate as she came out of the little church on her vast Balmoral Estate in the north of Scotland recently: She wants the Scots to think very carefully before voting See also: Scotland Decides: The Economics of the Unknown That Estate has been the escape of Britain’s Royal Family ever since … [Link]
Mashable » Jimmy Fallon Sings a Duet With Barbra Streisand on The Tonight Show
The last time Barbra Streisand appeared on The Tonight Show was in 1963, with Johnny Carson, when she was just 21 years old, and after she had won two grammies for her first album — The Barbra Streisand Album. It's quite amazing that she returned to the show 51 years later with a new album, Partners, a collection of duets … [Link]
Slashdot » Why Apple Should Open-Source Swift — But Won't
snydeq writes: Faster innovation, better security, new markets — the case for opening Swift might be more compelling than Apple will admit, writes Peter Wayner. "In recent years, creators of programming languages have gone out of their way to get their code running on as many different computers as possible. This has meant open-sourcing their tools and doing everything they … [Link]
Mashable » Which 'Dancing With the Stars' Pair Is Your Early Favorite?
There were changes of note on the Season 19 premiere of Dancing with the Stars — not the least of which is Tom Burgeron’s full head of grey hair. Along with three new pros, there was another new (yet familiar) face: Julianne Hough and her ample bosom took a seat at the judges' panel this year in a move that … [Link]
Mashable » Australian Goldfish Called George Undergoes Surgery To Save His Life
SYDNEY — A goldfish named George has had life-saving surgery in Melbourne, Australia. The 10-year-old fish underwent $A200 emergency surgery for a large head tumour at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital on Thursday after his "quite attached" owner decided she couldn't let go of her beloved pet. See also: Australia, This Is What Plastic Is Doing To Our Beautiful Beaches George … [Link]
Slashdot » MIT's Cheetah Robot Runs Untethered
An anonymous reader writes: It's easy to make a robot walk, but hard to keep it from falling over. We've seen a number of crazy robot prototypes, but they're usually tethered and/or stuck on a treadmill. Now, researchers from MIT have developed an algorithm that allows their giant robot cheetah to run around outdoors at up to 10mph. They expect … [Link]
Mashable » Dear Scotland: You Gave Us Britishness. Please Don't Take It Away
Dear Scotland, I never thought of myself as particularly English. I was born in Liverpool, the port city where the Irish and the Scottish and representatives of just about everyone else mingled and jostled and flavored everything, adding vital Scouse spice to a stodgy recipe of basic Englishness It's no coincidence that one of the main thoroughfares in Liverpool is called … [Link]
Mashable » Australia's Best Professional Photographer Is a Wedding Photographer
SYDNEY — This is the work of Australia's best professional photographer. On Monday night, Western Australian wedding photographer James Simmons won the photographic industry’s most anticipated accolade – Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year See also: Artist Quit University to Draw — Now Kanye West Wants Her Work “I work really hard for what I do but I never … [Link]
Mashable » 4 Months and 3 Million Comments Later, the Public Has Spoken on Net Neutrality
After four months and more than 3 million comments, the public input period for the Federal Communications Commission's Internet regulations is coming to a close. The sheer numbers could be lauded as a victory for democracy in which the Internet came together to save itself, with studies showing overwhelming support for net neutrality. But the Internet does not decide on regulation … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Go low-carbon for the money, says high-profile report
A low-carbon economy will deliver fast economic growth, better lives and save the environment to boot, claims an audacious report from top economists 
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Slashdot » The Growing Illusion of Single Player Gaming
An anonymous reader writes: Multiplayer modes used to be an extra part of most games — an optional addition that the developers could build (or not) as they saw fit. These days, it's different: many games are marketed under the illusion of being single-player, when their focus has shifted to an almost mandatory multiplayer mode. (Think always-online DRM, and games … [Link]
Mashable » Artist Quit University to Draw — Now Kanye West Wants Her Work
SYDNEY — Despite dropping out of university, it seems Australian artist Cj Hendry has made it On Monday night, the 26-year old from Brisbane handed over one of her prized drawings to American rapper Kanye West. The image, titled Kash Kurrency, is a hyper-realistic pen drawing of West's face on a $100 U.S. note. Hendry is already on her way to … [Link]
Mashable » Water Everywhere After Napa Quake — But It's no Drought Solution for California
The Napa 6.0-magnitude earthquake has released tens of thousands of gallons of groundwater into the area's drought-dry creek beds Locals are thrilled — but a geologist warns the babbling brooks could deplete scarce water supplies rather than add to them Three Sonoma Valley creeks, and two in the counties of Solano and Napa, saw increases in water flow after the quake, … [Link]
Slashdot » Schizophrenia Is Not a Single Disease
An anonymous reader writes: New research from Washington University has found that the condition known as schizophrenia is not just a single disease, but instead a collection of eight different disorders. For years, researchers struggled to understand the genetic basis of schizophrenia. This new method was able to isolate and identify the different conditions (each with its own symptoms) currently … [Link]
Mashable » Snowden: Even New Zealand Is Spying on its Citizens
SYDNEY — Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has claimed for the first time that even the New Zealand government is spying on its citizens. In an article published on The Intercept Monday, Snowden claimed the country's government was directly involved in surveillance via deep-sea cable to monitor personal communication. See also: WikiLeaks Exposes Countries That Use Controversial 'FinFisher' Surveillance … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Today in APIs: Microsoft Creates the "Hackfest"
Microsoft tweaks the hackathon format to create "hackfests" for individual companies. Women Coders Prominent at Hackathon in Myanmar. Plus: Google offers $100,000 in credits for its Cloud Platform service, and the relationship between interfaces and successful API design. Microsoft Offers New Coding Development Format in Hackfests Microsoft has started conducting "Hackfests" where coders meet with businesses to solve problems. Sound … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Zend Z-Ray Enhances Productivity For Developers Using JetBrain PhpStorm
This article is a company-provided press release and ProgrammableWeb cannot vouch for the accuracy of the statements within. If you have questions regarding the information below, please contact the company that issued the press release.
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Mashable » Mind-Blowing 'Game of Thrones' Theory Shakes Up Westeros
The following post contains spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen seasons 1-4 of HBO's Game of Thrones. It also makes references to material found only in the A Song of Ice and Fire books. Just when you thought you had the Westerosi family tree all mapped out, Game of Thrones fans are here to throw you for a loop A fan … [Link]
Mashable » America Rules at Hoops! Top Moments From the Basketball World Cup
The FIBA Basketball World Cup came and went quietly, and hoop-heads' big dreams for an epic gold-medal showdown proved to be nothing but wishful thinking Host Spain went out in the quarterfinals, which thwarted the final match-up against America everyone anticipated. In the end, Team USA waltzed to the title with an average victory-margin of 33 points through nine games as … [Link]
Slashdot » Sci-Fi Authors and Scientists Predict an Optimistic Future
An anonymous reader writes: A few years ago, author Neal Stephenson argued that sci-fi had forgotten how to inspire people to do great things. Indeed, much of recent science fiction has been pessimistic and skeptical, focusing on all the ways our inventions could go wrong, and how hostile the universe is to humankind. Now, a group of scientists, engineers, and … [Link]
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