John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

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 » Watch 'Gangnam Style' break YouTube at 2.15 billion views

Wednesday 3 December 23:59:32 UTC 2014

Psy-gangnam-style-youtubeFeed-tw Feed-fbgangnam-style-broken-view-counter Image: Mashable GIFNever mind Kim Kardashian. Psy's unstoppable K-Pop hit "Gangnam Style" actually broke the Internet this week See also: Songs of the Summer on YouTube: 'Fancy' Wins, 'Gangnam Style' Is No. 5 More than two years after the Korean dance hit's video debuted, it reached the maximum possible view count on YouTube. Keep your eyes on the view counter, … [Link]

Mashable » Grumpy Cat TV movie ratings not great; we doubt Grumpy Cat cares

Wednesday 3 December 23:52:15 UTC 2014

GrumpycatfixedFeed-tw Feed-fbGrumpy Cat may know how to carry a meme well past its prime, but everyone's favorite sour puss isn't exactly a TV star, it seems The Saturday night airing of Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever , the cat's big movie debut, bowed to a stale 1.8 million viewers, according to numbers provided by the network See also: 15 Grumpy Cat-inspired scowls … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Leia and Galadriel face off in princess rap battle

Wednesday 3 December 23:38:30 UTC 2014

PrincessbattlesFeed-tw Feed-fb Princess Leia from Star Wars is probably better off living in a galaxy far, far away from Lord of the Rings' Galadriel. In Whitney Avalon's second "Princess Rap Battle" video, we learn that the female protagonists clearly have some issues to sort through as they ruthlessly spit angry rhymes at each other In the presence of Leia, the Lady of … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series (Episode 1) [Trailer]

Wednesday 3 December 23:30:46 UTC 2014

From Telltale Games: Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series is a new six part episodic game series set in the world of HBO’s groundbreaking TV show. This new story tells of House Forrester, a noble family from the north of Westeros, loyal to the Starks of Winterfell. Caught up in the events surrounding the War of the Five Kings, … [Link]

Mashable » Google to offer kid-friendly versions of its products

Wednesday 3 December 23:27:44 UTC 2014

KidsFeed-tw Feed-fbThere may soon be a special version of YouTube optimized for kids 12 and younger as Google is readying kid-friendly versions of some of its most popular products, the company's vice president of engineering Pavni Diwanji, tells USA Today. Diwanji did not identify which products Google is eyeing for a kid-friendly makeover but, as USA Today notes, it's likely the company … [Link]

Slashdot » Fraudulent Apps Found In Apple's Store

Wednesday 3 December 23:25:00 UTC 2014

snydeq writes Angry support queries citing problems with mystery iOS apps has led InfoWorld's Simon Phipps to discover the existence of several scamware apps in Apple's App Store. "If you're a scammer looking to make a fast buck, it appears that [Apple's App Store] process can be defeated," Phipps reports. "The questions originated from a support link for a $2.99 … [Link]

Mashable » 3 new Bill Cosby accusers describe sexual assault at press conference

Wednesday 3 December 23:24:58 UTC 2014

Bill-cosby-accusersFeed-tw Feed-fbFlanked by reporters in a jam-packed office in Los Angeles, three women told three different stories about Bill Cosby on Wednesday, but each had an all-too-familiar ring: that Cosby sexually assaulted them, decades ago, using drugs and alcohol Beth Ferrier, Helen Hayes and a third woman named Chelan cried and spoke in detail at the Wednesday press conference organized by Gloria … [Link]

Slashdot » Gangnam Style Surpasses YouTube's 32-bit View Counter

Wednesday 3 December 23:00:00 UTC 2014

First time accepted submitter neoritter writes "The Korean pop star PSY's viral music video "Gangnam Style" has reached the limit of YouTube's view counter. According to YouTube's Google+ account, "We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32-bit integer (=2,147,483,647 views), but that was before we met PSY. 'Gangnam Style' has been viewed so many … [Link]

Mashable » 'Zombie' protesters demand Ukraine stop airing Russian TV shows

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:18 UTC 2014

KievzombiesFeed-tw Feed-fbZombie protesters did their best Walking Dead impressions in Kiev on Wednesday, while demonstrating against Russian shows being broadcast in Ukraine A group of protesters splattered with fake blood gathered outside Ukraine's National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council, calling on Ukrainian stations to stop airing all Russian programming See also: Scenes from Ukraine, then and now The "zombie" protesters held signs … [Link]

Mashable » Did North Korea really hack Sony Pictures? Some experts aren't so sure

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:17 UTC 2014

North-koreaFeed-tw Feed-fbLast week, a dreadful message appeared on the computers of some Sony Pictures employees. "Hacked by #GOP," the text read, referring to a group calling itself Guardians of Peace. "Obey us," they wrote in the message, plastered over a drawing of a skull that seemed to be lifted from children's horror book cover See also: Egyptian Cyber Army: The hacker group … [Link]

Mashable » 6 golf gadgets to up your game on the green

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:16 UTC 2014

Bubba-hover-cart1Feed-tw Feed-fbFrom hitting the links with potential clients to meeting up with your friends for a leisurely game on the weekends, golf is one of those sports that constantly challenges you and pushes you to be better. For both serious golfers and those who lose their ball more often than not, having a new gadget to play around with takes some of … [Link]

Mashable » Dude loses fantasy football bet, recreates 'Chandelier' music video

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:15 UTC 2014

Chandelier_siaFeed-tw Feed-fb One man's loss is the Internet's major win Chuck Jose lost a fantasy football bet with his cruel friends and was forced to recreate Sia's "Chandelier" music video shot-for-shot, complete with blonde wig, eccentric dance moves and nude leotard. Sia's original video starred 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler performing some impressive choreography, which Jose — a digital operation specialist for PlayStation from … [Link]

Mashable » 5 techie accessories to upgrade your stodgy cubicle

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:14 UTC 2014

CubicleFeed-tw Feed-fbWe’ve all seen Office Space — cubicles can be awfully dreary. With three walls and a monotone fabric cover, these structures can suck the creativity/productivity/soul out of any worker. Yet somehow, spending the day in a 6 feet x 6 feet box has become the workplace norm in most countries. These dismal structures can be almost impossible to avoid. See also: How to Trick … [Link]

Mashable » Indiegogo is testing an insurance fee that could give backers peace of mind

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:13 UTC 2014

Indiegogo-insurance-thumbnailFeed-tw Feed-fbCrowdfunding websites don't always have the best reputation. There's no real guarantee that backers will ever receive the items they've supported, and we've seen this time and time again with failed, fully-funded projects across various platforms. It's widely believed that Indiegogo is the less reliable rival to Kickstarter, but now, the site is testing out an insurance option on a specific … [Link]

Mashable » Capture the beauty of bends in this week's photo challenge

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:12 UTC 2014

1920x1080mashable-daniel_rueda-drcuerda-hp-bendtherules.1Feed-tw Feed-fbThe world is filled with curves and bends, whether it's the natural fall of a shadow across the snow or the delicate arch of an icy doorway. For this week's Mashable Photo Challenge Guest Series, we're partnering with HP to challenge you to capture creative "bends" — be they turns in a snowy road in the distance or the strange tilt … [Link]

Mashable » Super Typhoon Hagupit may try for a near-repeat of deadly Typhoon Haiyan

Wednesday 3 December 22:53:11 UTC 2014

Cat4or5Feed-tw Feed-fbUpdate: 5:15 p.m. ET: Typhoon Hagupit has been upgraded to super typhoon status, with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour as of 5 p.m. ET. The storm is forecast to intensify further, potentially reaching high-end Category 5 status with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour on Thursday The latest storm track forecast from the U.S. Joint Typhoon … [Link]

Mashable » The White House's super hip 3D-printed holiday ornaments

Wednesday 3 December 22:34:47 UTC 2014

Winter_snowflakes_er21Feed-tw Feed-fb The White House is pretty hip, you guys — its cool factor even shows in the ornaments In an effort to prove it's in touch with the modern times, the White House (in partnership with the Smithsonian) organized a holiday ornaments 3D printing contest and the winners were announced on Wednesday. See also: 18 tacky Christmas sweaters to warm your … [Link]

Mashable » AOL CEO Tim Armstrong says HuffPo brings in 'hundreds of millions' of dollars

Wednesday 3 December 22:11:37 UTC 2014

Tim-armstrong-2Feed-tw Feed-fbThe Huffington Post generates "hundreds of millions" of dollars in annual revenue, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said on Wednesday at the Business Insider Ignition conference. BI editor-in-chief Henry Blodget floated the figure of $200 million, which Armstrong did not dispute. That number would be impressive since AOL bought the news website in 2011 for $350 million. AOL declined to further elaborate … [Link]

Mashable » Philadelphia police test body cameras amid nationwide cop controversy

Wednesday 3 December 22:06:08 UTC 2014

Body-cameraFeed-tw Feed-fb Police in Philadelphia are testing out body cameras on the heels of several high-profile police brutality cases in the U.S., including the Michael Brown shooting and Eric Garner's death in New York. See also: Obama proposes $263 million for community policing reforms after Ferguson meeting The cameras are part of new practices police departments are testing out across the country. … [Link]

Mashable » You can now edit Microsoft Office files from Gmail

Wednesday 3 December 22:05:28 UTC 2014

Edit-microsoft-docs-inside-gmail-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbGmail just made it easier to edit Microsoft Office documents from within your inbox. Google updated Gmail with a new feature that allows users to automatically open and edit Office files with Google Drive. See also: 10 Ways You're Using Gmail Wrong "We realize that as a Docs user, you still sometimes have to work with different file types, so we … [Link]

Mashable » Vine bug that crashed Chrome has been resolved

Wednesday 3 December 21:58:20 UTC 2014

AwwsnapFeed-tw Feed-fbUPDATE, Dec. 3, 5:17 p.m. ET: Vine has informed Mashable that this bug has been resolved. Vine searches on Twitter.com work now and embeds appear to be working. It's not you, it's them: Embedded Vine videos are crashing your Chrome browser. As of 4:40 p.m. ET, Mashable has discovered — and other users are reporting on Twitter — that any webpages … [Link]

Slashdot » Comcast Forgets To Delete Revealing Note From Blog Post

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:44 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader notes that Comcast inadvertently posted a bit too much in a blog post today. Earlier today, Comcast published a blog post to criticize the newly announced coalition opposing its merger with Time Warner Cable and to cheer about the FCC's decision to restart the "shot clock" on that deal. But someone at Kabletown is probably getting a … [Link]

Slashdot » Android Policy For Nexus and Google Play Devices Updated To Excuse Carrier Delay

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:38 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Google has quietly updated its Android update policy for both Nexus and Google Play edition devices. In short, if you bought either type of smartphone or tablet from a carrier, you may experience delays that result in waiting longer than two weeks to get the latest version. Google has tweaked the "Android updates: Nexus & Google … [Link]

Slashdot » Openwashing: Users and Adopters Beware

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:37 UTC 2014

jenwike writes: With the success of open source software today, we are seeing organizations undertake more egregious marketing and promotion schemes that exaggerate their participation in, contributions to, and/or licensing of open source software. Their hope is to capitalize on the label of 'open source' and the success that goes along with it. The reality is that the responsibility is … [Link]

Slashdot » The PlayStation Turns 20

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:36 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: The 3rd of December marks an auspicious date in gaming history: 20 years ago today, the very first PlayStation went on sale in Japan. In that time, Sony has successfully muscled its way into the gaming scene, and seen off a few rivals as well. In a new retrospective, a writer looks back at how Sony's … [Link]

Slashdot » Mathematical Trick Helps Smash Record For the Largest Quantum Factorization

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:35 UTC 2014

KentuckyFC writes: One of the big applications for quantum computers is finding the prime factors of large numbers, a technique that can help break most modern cryptographic codes. Back in 2012, a team of Chinese physicists used a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer with 4 qubits to factor the number 143 (11 x 13), the largest quantum factorization ever performed. … [Link]

Slashdot » IoT Is the Third Big Technology 'Wave' In the Last 50 Years, Says Harvard

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:34 UTC 2014

dcblogs writes: The Internet of Things (IoT) may be more significant in reshaping the competitive landscape than the arrival of the Internet. Its productivity potential is so powerful it will deliver a new era of prosperity. That's the argument put forth by Michael Porter, an economist at the Harvard Business School and James Heppelmann, president and CEO of PTC, in … [Link]

Slashdot » UK Announces 'Google Tax'

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:33 UTC 2014

mrspoonsi points out that the UK has announced a "Google tax" on corporations that send a significant portion of their profits overseas to avoid local taxation. Any "economic activity" that is pushed to another country would face a 25% tax. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer [said], "We will make sure multinationals pay their fair share of tax. We … [Link]

Slashdot » Valve Rolls Out Game Broadcasting Service For Steam

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:32 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Streaming live video game footage has become increasingly popular over the past several years — popular enough that Amazon was willing to shell out $970 million for Twitch.tv. Now, Valve has announced a rival: Steam Broadcasting. Users signing up for the beta test have the option to broadcast the game they're playing. They have several options … [Link]

Slashdot » The Moment of Truth For BICEP2

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:31 UTC 2014

StartsWithABang writes: Earlier this year, the BICEP2 team shook up the world by announcing the discovery of primordial gravitational waves: a signal from the earliest stages of the Universe, going all the way back to before the Big Bang! By looking at the photon polarization data, they claimed to have surpassed the gold "5 Sigma" standard for announcing a discovery … [Link]

Slashdot » Practical Magnetic Levitating Transmission Gear System Loses Its Teeth

Wednesday 3 December 21:56:30 UTC 2014

Zothecula writes: A new transmission device that uses magnetic levitation to almost completely eliminate friction and wear has been developed as part of the MAGDRIVE research project, a collaboration of seven European nations. The creation of the unit entailed the development of a magnetic gear reducer and corresponding frictionless magnetic axles. Aimed primarily for use in spacecraft due to its … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Why the data center needs an operating system

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:09 UTC 2014

Developers today are building a new class of applications. These applications no longer fit on a single server, but instead run across a fleet of servers in a data center. Examples include analytics frameworks like Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark, … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Decoding bitcoin and the blockchain

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:08 UTC 2014

When the creators of bitcoin solved the double spend problem in a decentralized manner, they introduced techniques that have implications far beyond digital currency. Our newly announced one-day event Bitcoin & the Blockchain: An OReilly Radar Summit is … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » A programming language for biology

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:07 UTC 2014

Editor’s note: This is part of our investigation into synthetic biology and bioengineering. For more, download the new BioCoder Fall 2014 issue here. In a couple of recent posts, I’ve written about the need for a high-level programming language for … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » How browsers get to know you in milliseconds

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:06 UTC 2014

A small technological marvel occurs on almost every visit to a web page. In the seconds that elapse between the user’s click and the display of the page, an ad auction takes place in which hundreds of bidders gather whatever … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » MVPs and experiments inform design decisions

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:05 UTC 2014

Editors note: This is an excerpt from our recent book Lean UX; it is part of a free curated collection of chapters from the OReilly Design library. Download a free copy of the Experience Design ebook here. Lean UX makes … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 3 December 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:04 UTC 2014

Visual Guide to NoSQL Systems — not quite accurate in the “pick any two”, but still a useful frame for understanding the landscape. The QA Mindset (Michael Lopp) — Humans do strange shit to software that we could never predict … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Web by default

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:03 UTC 2014

With the rise of native apps and the Internet of Things (IoT), you might think we’re leaving the web behind. We’re not. The web continues to be the easiest way for developers to connect people and computers. Whether you think … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Fast data calls for new ways to manage its flow

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:02 UTC 2014

Like CPU caches, which tend to be arranged in multiple levels, modern organizations direct their data into different data stores under the principle that a small amount is needed for real-time decisions and the rest for long-range business decisions. This … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 2 December 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:01 UTC 2014

FES Watch — e-paper watch, including strap. Beautiful, crowdfunded, made by a Sony subsidiary that’s looking at e-ink for wearables and more. (via The Verge) Probabilistic Data Structures for Go — introduction to the go-probably library for when you can’t … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Unit Testing Java 8 Lambda Expressions and Streams

Wednesday 3 December 21:49:00 UTC 2014

Over the past 18 months or so Ive been talking to a lot of people about lambda expressions in Java 8. This isnt that unusual when youve written a book on Java 8 and also run a training course on … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Designers can do anything

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:59 UTC 2014

Design principles are being applied in all aspects of business today — they are no longer limited to graphic design, product design, web design, or even experience design. I recently spoke with Jon Kolko, vice president of consumer design at … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 1 December 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:58 UTC 2014

Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding — sidesteps the myths and chromobollocks, and gives the simplest pictorial views of some basic colour choice systems that I found v. useful. Brain Time (David Eagleman) — the visual system is a … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Bitcoins road to democratization lies in decentralization

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:57 UTC 2014

Conrad Barski, a medical doctor, a cartoonist, programmer, and author of Land of Lisp, has been experimenting with bitcoin since 2011. In a recent interview, Barski talked about the bitcoin and blockchain landscape and noted the potential of decentralization: “We’re … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 28 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:56 UTC 2014

Material Up — material design inspiration. MD is a physics engine for UI. Flafka (Cloudera) — Flume plus Kafka, offers sub-second-latency event processing without the need for dedicated infrastructure. (via Abishek Tiwari) terraform.io — open source package providing a common … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 27 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:55 UTC 2014

Stumbleupon’s Big Data Architecture Using Open Source Software (PDF) — not just the list of tools but the functions they implement. Useful! Innovega — making a contact lens with a tiny bump that acts as a microscope for content shown … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Privacy is a concept, not a regime

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:53 UTC 2014

Editor’s note: you can subscribe to the O’Reilly Radar Podcast through iTunes, SoundCloud, or directly through our podcast’s RSS feed. In this podcast episode, I catch up with Dr. Gilad Rosner, a visiting researcher at the Horizon Digital Economy Research … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Bitcoin and blockchain use cases wont be sexy, but will be essential

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:52 UTC 2014

Researcher and author Tim Swanson originally built bitcoin mining equipment in China a couple of years ago, but as he explained in a recent interview, he’s moved beyond the trading aspects of bitcoin and now focuses on research and use … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Designing a brand story is not optional

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:51 UTC 2014

Editors note: this is an excerpt from our recent book Lean Branding ; it is part of a free curated collection of chapters from the OReilly Design library. Download a free copy of the Experience Design ebook here. Throughout this … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 26 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:50 UTC 2014

Metastable Failure State (Facebook) — very nice story about working together to discover the cause of one of those persistently weird problems. Bandit — static security analysis of Python code. Quantum OS — Linux desktop based on Google’s Material Design. … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Copyrightability of Java APIs revisited

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:49 UTC 2014

Editor’s note: this is a forthcoming article for the March 2015 issue of Communications of the ACM (CACM); it is published here with permission. For more than 20 years, the prevailing view has been that application program interfaces (APIs) are … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 25 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:48 UTC 2014

Michael Ossman and the NSA Playlist — the guy who read the leaked descriptions of the NSA’s toolchest, built them, and open-sourced the designs. One device, dubbed TWILIGHTVEGETABLE, is a knock off of an NSA-built GSM cell phone that’s designed … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Interaction and industrial design team up to serve the IoT

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:47 UTC 2014

Industrial designers and interaction designers are joining forces to create the best services for Internet of Things (IoT). I sat down with Martin Charlier, a design strategist with a unique distinction of having both interaction and industrial design experience to … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 24 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:46 UTC 2014

How Magic Leap is Secretly Creating a New Alternate Reality (Gizmodo) — amazing piece of investigative tech journalism. Better All The Time (New Yorker) — What were seeing is, in part, the mainstreaming of excellent habits. […] Everyone works hard. … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Todays designers are solving business problems

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:45 UTC 2014

Its no secret that design is playing a more prominent role within many organizations. Designers are becoming fundamentally linked to the development and success of products and services versus their more historical role polishing the appearance of those products and … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 21 November 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:44 UTC 2014

Wearable Power Assist Device Goes on Sale in Japan (WSJ, Paywall) — The Muscle Suit, which weighs 5.5 kilograms (12 pounds), can be worn knapsack-style and uses a mouthpiece as its control. Unlike other similar suits that rely on motors, … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Signals from Strata + Hadoop World in Barcelona 2014

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:43 UTC 2014

Experts from across the big data world are coming together this week for Strata + Hadoop World in Barcelona 2014. We’ve gathered insights from the event below. #IoTH: The Internet of Things and Humans “If we could start over with … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » The science of moving dots: the OReilly Data Show Podcast

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:42 UTC 2014

Editors note: you can subscribe to the OReilly Data Show Podcast through SoundCloud. Many data scientists are comfortable working with structured operational data and unstructured text. Newer techniques like deep learning have opened up data types like images, video, and … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Uber is breaking bad

Wednesday 3 December 21:48:41 UTC 2014

Tim O’Reilly has said that Uber is an example of designing for how the world ought to be. Their app works well, their cars are clean, their drivers are pleasant, and they usually arrive quickly. But more goes into the … [Link]

Slashdot » Pizza Hut Tests New "Subconscious Menu" That Reads Your Mind

Wednesday 3 December 21:28:00 UTC 2014

HughPickens.com writes Allison Griswold reports at Slate that Pizza Hut wants to help you order your food subconsciously with a new product that is being tested at 300 locations across the UK that uses eye-tracking technology to allow diners to order within seconds using only their eyes. The digital menu shows diners a canvas of 20 toppings and builds their … [Link]

Mashable » Women directed a third of the Sundance 2015 competition films

Wednesday 3 December 21:25:45 UTC 2014

Marielle.hellerFeed-tw Feed-fbLOS ANGELES — The 16 films in the 2015 Sundance Film Festival's marquee dramatic competition lineup announced Wednesday include five that were directed by women — slightly better than last year's four, but nowhere near the watershed year of 2013, when the field was split evenly along gender lines. Sundance organizers maintained even then that they gave no thought to the … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google reCAPTCHA API Solves Identity Verification Puzzle

Wednesday 3 December 21:23:17 UTC 2014

Google has announced a new [Link]

Mashable » 4 security takeaways from the epic Sony hack

Wednesday 3 December 21:19:28 UTC 2014

Sony-leaksFeed-tw Feed-fbMore than a week after Sony Picture's massive data hack, things continue to look ugly. North Korea's involvement is looking more and more likely and the FBI's involvement makes it clear that this is a significant attack See also: Movie leaks are just the beginning of Sony's security woes The details of how much was data was compromised and how that … [Link]

Mashable » NYPD says #WeHearYou as cop avoids charges; tweet promptly backfires

Wednesday 3 December 21:15:49 UTC 2014

StatenislandcourtFeed-tw Feed-fbThe New York Police Department was hit with a barrage of criticism on Wednesday after its community affairs account sent a seemingly tone-deaf tweet following a grand jury's decision not to indict an NYPD officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. See also: 'Fault in Our Stars' author sends books to Ferguson library after director's AMA The tweet was sent … [Link]

Mashable » City of Dallas paid $27K to take care of Bentley, the Ebola nurse's dog

Wednesday 3 December 21:13:04 UTC 2014

Bentley-reunion-16-x-9Feed-tw Feed-fbThe City of Dallas released a list of its Ebola-related expenses incurred during the city's encounter with the deadly virus — and care for Bentley, the dog of now Ebola-free nurse Nina Pham, made up nearly a fifth of the overall costs. City spokesperson Sana Syed said the total Ebola-related costs incurred was about $155,000, which went to patient care, security … [Link]

Mashable » Underwater footage of the boat that became a tomb for fleeing migrants

Wednesday 3 December 21:06:10 UTC 2014

Underwater-footageFeed-tw Feed-fbOn October 3, 2013, a small fishing boat carrying 518 migrants capsized less than half a mile from the Italian island of Lampedusa, killing 368 people. See also: The Deadly Mediterranean Crossing That Migrants Risk Every Day The migrants, mostly Eritrean and Somalian, were traveling to Europe in search of a better life. Known as the "Lampedusa Tragedy," it brought into … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Locked-on lasers burn through leaves on train lines

Wednesday 3 December 21:00:00 UTC 2014

If they won't budge, zap 'em! Train-mounted lasers could cut through the annual annoyance of leaves on the line – the trick is in the focusing [Link]

Mashable » Verizon quietly shutters controversial tech news site

Wednesday 3 December 20:50:23 UTC 2014

Vrzonlgo9870Feed-tw Feed-fbUPDATE: 4:11 p.m. ET: A Verizon spokesperson has confirmed that the site was taken offline on Monday. "We’ve always said this was a pilot project; and as with any pilot project, we evaluate, take our learnings, improve our execution and move forward," the spokesperson told Mashable. "That’s what we’ve decided to do here." SugarString, the controversial would-be tech site launched by … [Link]

Slashdot » Twitter Should Use Random Sample Voting For Abuse Reports

Wednesday 3 December 20:45:00 UTC 2014

Bennett Haselton writes: Twitter has announced new protocols for filing and handling abuse reports, making it easier to flag specific types of content (e.g. violence or suicide threats). But with the volume of abusive tweets being reported to the company every day, the internal review process will always be a bottleneck. The company could handle more abuse reports properly by … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Architecting High Performing, Scalable and Available Ente… – $29.98 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 3 December 20:40:21 UTC 2014

Get "Architecting High Performing, Scalable and Available Enterprise Web Applications" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2014-11-27 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” Trailer Done Spaceballs Style

Wednesday 3 December 20:39:29 UTC 2014

Here’s what would happen if you made a “Star Wars: Episode VII” trailer using footage from Mel Brooks’ sci-fi parody, “Spaceballs.” Thanks Blake! [filmgeekery] [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 2 – $12.75 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 3 December 20:24:21 UTC 2014

Get "Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 2" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2014-12-04 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Verrado Drift Trike is the awesome toy your parents wouldn’t let you ride

Wednesday 3 December 20:20:27 UTC 2014

Lance_on_verradoFeed-tw Feed-fbThe Verrado Electric Drift Trike is not a kids’ toy. It’s a shockingly powerful three-wheel vehicle that has about as much in common with a tot’s tricycle as a real Humvee does with a pint-sized Power Wheels version of the same thing. The #LocalMotors Verrado is going to get me into a lot of trouble at the Mashable office. A photo … [Link]

Mashable » Wendell eyes possible new love interest in 'Bones' sneak peek

Wednesday 3 December 20:11:49 UTC 2014

Bonesclip-wendellFeed-tw Feed-fbOn the mend after a battle with cancer, squintern Wendell is ready to get back into the dating game. In an exclusive sneak peek from Thursday's episode, the fan favorite strikes up a convo with his chemotherapy nurse, and ends up snagging himself a date See also: Brennan and Booth prep for arrival of Daisy's baby in 'Bones' sneak peek Way … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung's Open Source Group Is Growing, Hiring Developers

Wednesday 3 December 20:03:00 UTC 2014

jones_supa writes Almost two years ago, Samsung's open source team was just one person: Linux and FOSS advocate Ibrahim Haddad, head of the open source group at Samsung Research America. The new Open Source Innovation Group at Samsung is now 40 people strong, including 30 developers, devoted full-time to working on upstream projects and shepherding open source development into the … [Link]

Mashable » The 24 most memorable TV deaths of 2014

Wednesday 3 December 20:00:09 UTC 2014

Jon-snowFeed-tw Feed-fbWARNING: This article talks about TV deaths, including two from a series that aired Tuesday night. Proceed with caution and with the knowledge that we have warned you of impending spoilers appropriately. It was a deadly year for TV characters. Some of them were somewhat expected — looking in your general direction Mother from How I Met Your Mother — and, … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This “Defective” Samus Amiibo Figure Got Sold for a Fortune on Ebay [Pic]

Wednesday 3 December 20:00:05 UTC 2014

def This so called “defective” Samus Amiibo figure was shipped with two arm cannons instead of just one, and the man who got it was able to sell it for $2500 on eBay. And here’s yet another proof that defective toys are often the most valuable ones. [*Nintendo Factory Sealed Defect Samus Amiibo (Dual Cannons)* | Via Kotaku] [Link]

New Scientist – News » Root intelligence: Plants can think, feel and learn

Wednesday 3 December 20:00:00 UTC 2014

With an underground "brain network" and the ability to react and remember, plants have their own kind of intelligence – and may even cry out in pain (full text available to subscribers) [Link]

Mashable » Unlocking the power of video storytelling at the Media Summit

Wednesday 3 December 19:59:50 UTC 2014

Psjss3Feed-tw Feed-fbOne of the major trends in the media industry over the past several years has been the growing emphasis on using video to tell stories. At the Mashable Media Summit, we've added a session to help you get better results out of your video strategy. Buy tickets to Mashable Media SummitIn this session, "Victory Over Video Woes: Creating Compelling Video Content That Scales," innovators in the video … [Link]

Mashable » 7 ways to instill work-life balance at your startup

Wednesday 3 December 19:56:20 UTC 2014

Balance2Feed-tw Feed-fbThis article is part of DBA, a new series on Mashable about running a business that features insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, venture capital and management. When I started AppLovin, creating a strong family culture that instilled a good work-life balance was a priority for me and my co-founders. I have three young daughters, so balance and family is of the … [Link]

Mashable » Ashton Carter reportedly Obama's pick for U.S. defense secretary

Wednesday 3 December 19:49:26 UTC 2014

Ashton-carterFeed-tw Feed-fbFormer United States Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is reportedly President Barack Obama's choice to replace Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense, though the White House will not announce the decision until the vetting process is complete. Carter has never served in the military, but has a long history with the PentagonThe New York Times reported his forthcoming selection on … [Link]

Mashable » U.S. will investigate NYC chokehold death after cop avoids indictment

Wednesday 3 December 19:44:58 UTC 2014

Times-square-protestFeed-tw Feed-fbA Staten Island grand jury has decided not to indict a white New York City police officer in the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died in July after the officer put him in a chokehold. But Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday night that the Justice Department would open a federal civil rights investigation into Garner's death. … [Link]

Mashable » It has arrived: DJ Earworm's epic mashup of 2014's biggest pop songs

Wednesday 3 December 19:37:31 UTC 2014

Mash-upFeed-tw Feed-fb DJ Earworm — like Black Friday sales or the TBS 24-hour marathon of Love Actually — emerges every December to usher in the closing of another year. You'll try to ignore it, but the epic mashup of the year's greatest hits will, appropriately, earworm its way into your brain until the Spring Equinox This year's eighth installment "United States of … [Link]

Mashable » Customizable accessories to add flair to your gadgets

Wednesday 3 December 19:34:51 UTC 2014

JewelheadphonesFeed-tw Feed-fbIf you're looking for a present for a one-of-a-kind special someone this holiday season, don't just gift another hum-drum device. Cases, stands, decals and other customizable accessories add pizzazz and flair to the devices that you hold near and dear. See also: 10 gifts to make your home a 'smart home' For ambitious gift-givers, custom-designed presents are always stand-outs under the … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Google and NASA ride D-Wave to a quantum future

Wednesday 3 December 19:30:00 UTC 2014

A New Scientist investigation reveals Google's grand plans for its quantum computer, as well as the first hints about what's really going on under its hood [Link]

Mashable » Top 25 viral Tumblr pages of 2014

Wednesday 3 December 19:29:56 UTC 2014

TumblrFeed-tw Feed-fbTumblr in 2014 was full of art, social activism and many, many GIFs of Taylor Swift The pop star's personal Tumblr page, beloved among the hoards of blog-dwelling teens, was just one of the top 25 most viral blogs of the year See also: What your brand can learn from Taylor Swift's Tumblr From laughably silly to heartbreakingly serious, these are … [Link]

Mashable » Top 25 viral Tumblr blogs of 2014

Wednesday 3 December 19:29:56 UTC 2014

TumblrFeed-tw Feed-fbTumblr in 2014 was full of art, social activism and many, many GIFs of Taylor Swift The pop star's personal Tumblr page, beloved among the hoards of blog-dwelling teens, was just one of the top 25 most viral blogs of the year See also: What your brand can learn from Taylor Swift's Tumblr From laughably silly to heartbreakingly serious, these are … [Link]

Mashable » Why financial inclusion matters

Wednesday 3 December 19:28:41 UTC 2014

Mastercard-financial-inclusionFeed-tw Feed-fbTake out your wallet. Put your card in the ATM. Deposit your check and withdraw some cash. It's typically safe, the fees are usually reasonable, and nearly everyone can do it — simple actions, and all part of a routine that millions of us take for granted Across whole regions of the globe, however, these very basics of banking are not … [Link]

Mashable » Why financial inclusion matters

Wednesday 3 December 19:28:41 UTC 2014

Mastercard-financial-inclusionFeed-tw Feed-fbTake out your wallet. Put your card in the ATM. Deposit your check and withdraw some cash. It's typically safe, the fees are usually reasonable, and nearly everyone can do it — simple actions, and all part of a routine that millions of us take for granted Across whole regions of the globe, however, these very basics of banking are not … [Link]

Slashdot » Interviews: Malcolm Gladwell Answers Your Questions

Wednesday 3 December 19:20:00 UTC 2014

A few weeks ago, you had a chance to ask Malcolm Gladwell about his writing and social science research. Below you'll find his answers to your questions. Share on Google+ Read more of this story at Slashdot. [Link]

Mashable » 'Zombie' protesters demand Ukraine to stop airing Russian TV shows

Wednesday 3 December 19:15:48 UTC 2014

KievzombiesFeed-tw Feed-fbZombie protesters did their best Walking Dead impressions in Kiev on Wednesday, while demonstrating against Russian shows being broadcast in Ukraine A group of protesters splattered with fake blood gathered outside Ukraine's National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council, calling on Ukrainian stations to stop airing all Russian programming See also: Scenes from Ukraine, then and now The "zombie" protesters held signs … [Link]

Mashable » Did North Korea really hack Sony Pictures? Some experts aren't so sure

Wednesday 3 December 19:14:23 UTC 2014

Sony-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbLast week, a dreadful message appeared on the computers of some Sony Pictures employees. "Hacked by #GOP," the text read, referring to a group calling itself Guardians of Peace. "Obey us," they wrote in the message, plastered over a drawing of a skull that seemed to be lifted from children's horror book cover See also: Egyptian Cyber Army: The hacker group … [Link]

Mashable » 6 golf gadgets to up your game on the green

Wednesday 3 December 19:11:19 UTC 2014

Bubba-hover-cart1Feed-tw Feed-fbFrom hitting the links with potential clients to meeting up with your friends for a leisurely game on the weekends, golf is one of those sports that constantly challenges you and pushes you to be better. For both serious golfers and those who lose their ball more often than not, having a new gadget to play around with takes some of … [Link]

Mashable » Dude loses fantasy football bet, recreates 'Chandelier' music video

Wednesday 3 December 19:10:37 UTC 2014

Chandelier_siaFeed-tw Feed-fb One man's loss is the Internet's major win Chuck Jose lost a fantasy football bet with his cruel friends and was forced to recreate Sia's "Chandelier" music video shot-for-shot, complete with blonde wig, eccentric dance moves and nude leotard. Sia's original video starred 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler performing some impressive choreography, which Jose — a digital operation specialist for PlayStation from … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Terminator: Genisys is Bringing Back the T-1000 [Video]

Wednesday 3 December 19:02:40 UTC 2014

The Terminator Genisys trailer will hit the web tomorrow, but in the meantime, check out this short video featuring a T-1000. For a teaser, I guess it isn’t all that bad, but it’s no Star Wars. [Terminator Genisys] [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: The Honest Trailer [Video]

Wednesday 3 December 19:00:55 UTC 2014

Audiences went bananas over the latest film in cinema’s wordiest-titled franchise, so relive this summer’s blockbuster hit, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Or is it Rise? We can never remember. [Screen Junkies] [Link]

New Scientist – News » Cleaning bot operators get censored view of your home

Wednesday 3 December 19:00:00 UTC 2014

Will blurring the video feed recorded by a cleaning robot be enough for us to let strangers on the internet operate them remotely in our homes? [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » SnapLogic Extends Integration Reach with Updated Connections

Wednesday 3 December 18:57:00 UTC 2014

The winter 2015 release of the SnapLogic Elastic Integration Platform announced today adds support for connectors to the Salesforce Analytics Cloud, Sumo Logic log management service and SAP HANA environments, in addition to making S [Link]

Mashable » 5 techie accessories to upgrade your stodgy cubicle

Wednesday 3 December 18:55:16 UTC 2014

Office-spaceFeed-tw Feed-fbWe’ve all seen Office Space — cubicles can be awfully dreary. With three walls and a monotone fabric cover, these structures can suck the creativity/productivity/soul out of any worker. Yet somehow, spending the day in a 6 feet x 6 feet box has become the workplace norm in most countries. These dismal structures can be almost impossible to avoid. See also: How to Trick … [Link]

Mashable » Indiegogo is testing an insurance fee that could give backers peace of mind

Wednesday 3 December 18:49:23 UTC 2014

Indiegogo-insurance-thumbnailFeed-tw Feed-fbCrowdfunding websites don't always have the best reputation. There's no real guarantee that backers will ever receive the items they've supported, and we've seen this time and time again with failed, fully-funded projects across various platforms. It's widely believed that Indiegogo is the less reliable rival to Kickstarter, but now, the site is testing out an insurance option on a specific … [Link]

Mashable » Capture the beauty of bends in this week's photo challenge

Wednesday 3 December 18:41:07 UTC 2014

1920x1080mashable-daniel_rueda-drcuerda-hp-bendtherules.1Feed-tw Feed-fbThe world is filled with curves and bends, whether it's the natural fall of a shadow across the snow or the delicate arch of an icy doorway. For this week's Mashable Photo Challenge Guest Series, we're partnering with HP to challenge you to capture creative "bends" — be they turns in a snowy road in the distance or the strange tilt … [Link]

Slashdot » Which Programming Language Pays the Best? Probably Python

Wednesday 3 December 18:38:00 UTC 2014

Nerval's Lobster writes: What programming language will earn you the biggest salary over the long run? According to Quartz, which relied partially on data compiled by employment-analytics firm Burning Glass and a Brookings Institution economist, Ruby on Rails, Objective-C, and Python are all programming skills that will earn you more than $100,000 per year. But salary doesn't necessarily correlate with … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Alien life arrested by climate catch-22

Wednesday 3 December 18:30:00 UTC 2014

Other Earth-like planets may be caught in a dilemma – they need stable, warm climates to support complex life, but a lack of life may preclude this [Link]

New Scientist – News » Spotted: First quadruple star image produced by gravity

Wednesday 3 December 18:25:00 UTC 2014

A newly discovered supernova and its four gravitationally lensed images may give researchers a way to pin down the universe's expansion rate [Link]

Mashable » Typhoon Hagupit may try for a near-repeat of deadly Super Typhoon Haiyan

Wednesday 3 December 18:14:52 UTC 2014

WatervaporhagupitFeed-tw Feed-fbTyphoon Hagupit is currently intensifying over the western tropical Pacific Ocean, about three days (or 800 miles) away from a potential landfall in the central Philippines. The storm is forecast to intensify to Super Typhoon status, with maximum sustained winds of about 150 miles per hour But there's just one major problem with the storm forecast: Computer models are diverging dramatically … [Link]

Slashdot » Android Policy For Nexus and Google Play Devices Updated To Excuse Carrier Delay

Wednesday 3 December 18:10:22 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Google has quietly updated its Android update policy for both Nexus and Google Play edition devices. In short, if you bought either type of smartphone or tablet from a carrier, you may experience delays that result in waiting longer than two weeks to get the latest version. Google has tweaked the "Android updates: Nexus & Google … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The World’s Cutest Dogs Cosplay as Rocket Raccoon and Groot + Thor and Loki [Pics]

Wednesday 3 December 18:00:52 UTC 2014

This might very well be the world’s cutest and most awesome dog costumes ever. This was for this year’s Halloween. Want to see what the owner did last year? Check it out. OMG. [Source: tomato_sauce on Reddit | Via] [Link]

New Scientist – News » Shell 'art' made 300,000 years before humans evolved

Wednesday 3 December 18:00:00 UTC 2014

A shell etched by Homo erectus is by far the oldest engraving ever found, challenging what we know about the origin of art and complex human thought [Link]

Slashdot » Openwashing: Users and Adopters Beware

Wednesday 3 December 17:45:00 UTC 2014

jenwike writes: With the success of open source software today, we are seeing organizations undertake more egregious marketing and promotion schemes that exaggerate their participation in, contributions to, and/or licensing of open source software. Their hope is to capitalize on the label of 'open source' and the success that goes along with it. The reality is that the responsibility is … [Link]

Mashable » Humans had the genes to drink alcohol before brewing began

Wednesday 3 December 17:35:10 UTC 2014

ToastingFeed-tw Feed-fbHuman ancestors may have begun evolving the knack for consuming alcohol about 10 million years ago, long before modern humans began brewing booze, researchers say. The ability to break down alcohol likely helped human ancestors make the most out of rotting, fermented fruit that fell onto the forest floor, the researchers said. Therefore, knowing when this ability developed could help researchers … [Link]

Mashable » Former driver takes on UPS in Supreme Court pregnancy discrimination case

Wednesday 3 December 17:32:42 UTC 2014

Peggy-youngFeed-tw Feed-fbIn 2006, United Parcel Service driver Peggy Young was put on unpaid leave because she got pregnant. Now, Young is suing her former employer because she believes UPS violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear the case. The basic facts of the case are not disputed: When Young became pregnant, UPS' company nurse asked … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist

Wednesday 3 December 17:30:00 UTC 2014

All the latest on newscientist.com: the roots of violence in morality, brain maps, Richard III, New York's ant army, Japan's nuclear restart and more [Link]

Slashdot » The PlayStation Turns 20

Wednesday 3 December 17:24:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: The 3rd of December marks an auspicious date in gaming history: 20 years ago today, the very first PlayStation went on sale in Japan. In that time, Sony has successfully muscled its way into the gaming scene, and seen off a few rivals as well. In a new retrospective, a writer looks back at how Sony's … [Link]

Mashable » 5 Google Inbox features that will make email suck less

Wednesday 3 December 17:15:25 UTC 2014

Inbox-thumb-1Feed-tw Feed-fbWe all love to hate on email. For good reason: It's time-consuming, dull and requires constant attention. But while email isn't going to disappear in the foreseeable future, your worst email woes might. Last month, Google rolled out Inbox, a new email interface. It's like Gmail's younger, hipper sister — clean, sleek and loaded with lots of productivity-boosting features designed to … [Link]

Mashable » 14 of Earth's hottest 15 years have occurred in this century

Wednesday 3 December 17:10:48 UTC 2014

Heat-waveFeed-tw Feed-fbWith 2014 headed toward a record for one of the warmest years since instrument records began in 1880, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Wednesday that 14 of the planet's warmest 15 years have all occurred since the year 2000 The WMO report, which includes data on increasing heat content in the oceans, rising greenhouse gases, and melting Arctic sea ice … [Link]

Mashable » King of Spotify: Ed Sheeran beat out these major artists to rule 2014

Wednesday 3 December 17:10:25 UTC 2014

Ed-sheeran-spotify-kingFeed-tw Feed-fbEd Sheeran has won the world over, claiming the throne as Spotify's most-streamed artist this year, with 860 million listens in the 58 global markets where the service is available. The English singer-songwriter held off stiff competition from Eminem, who is Spotify's all-time most-popular musician, Coldplay, Calvin Harris and Katy Perry See also: Billboard's albums chart shakeup to include streaming music … [Link]

Mashable » Google: Why don't you just tell me you're not a robot?

Wednesday 3 December 17:00:17 UTC 2014

RobotFeed-tw Feed-fbSpelling out those annoying distorted words on websites may soon be a thing of the past — at least as far as Google is concerned. The search giant revealed a new, simplified Captcha on Wednesday, one that reduces the process to merely clicking a box that says, "I am not a robot." It sounds great, but what's to stop bots from … [Link]

Mashable » Ariana Grande's face at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is your new spirit meme

Wednesday 3 December 16:59:36 UTC 2014

Ariana_vs_thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbAriana Grande is clearly the everyman's pop star. Her name sounds like a Starbucks drink, she wears cat ears on stage and her voice registers on a pitch that should only be attainable by Disney characters So it only follows that the singer was traumatized while performing Tuesday at the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, as any of we plebeians would … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert has the best, nerdiest explanation for the new lightsaber

Wednesday 3 December 16:55:20 UTC 2014

ColbertstarwarsFeed-tw Feed-fbIt’s official: Stephen Colbert is a Jedi master. The new lightsaber featured in the trailer for Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens has whipped up a frenzy of controversy amongst fans online. Naturally, Star Wars über-nerd Stephen Colbert had to put the debate to rest at last on The Colbert Report. See also: New 'Star Wars' lightsaber awakens dark side of … [Link]

Mashable » 11 things you need to know from Britain's Autumn Statement

Wednesday 3 December 16:52:10 UTC 2014

George-osbourne-autumn-statement-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — The Autumn Statement has landed. It's one of the two biggest indicators every year about how the UK economy is doing, and what changes the government might introduce to hinder or help people's finances. See also: British MPs freak out after David Cameron's incredible 'masosadism' gaffe Delivered Wednesday by Chancellor George Osbourne in the House of Commons, the message … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » “Gangnam Style” Breaks Youtube’s 32-Bit Barrier

Wednesday 3 December 16:48:45 UTC 2014

Psy’s Gangnam Style video has long been the most watched clip on YouTube. Now it’s forced a rethink of the site’s “hit counter.” The video recently passed the 2,147,483,647-view mark. Maths and computing geeks among us may already have spotted the significance of that, but for the rest of us, it’s all down to that fact that YouTube was set … [Link]

Mashable » Arby's forgot to include Pepsi in a commercial, and fessed up to it

Wednesday 3 December 16:47:37 UTC 2014

PepsiFeed-tw Feed-fb The relationship between Arby's and Pepsi is mutually beneficial. Arby's needs a refreshing beverage for people to wash down their meat sandwiches, and Pepsi wants people to wash down food with their product. The deal also requires Arby's to feature Pepsi in two commercials per year, but apparently, somebody at Arby's forgot. Due to this oversight, Arby's released a 30-second … [Link]

Mashable » Aliens in the valley: The complete and chaotic history of Reddit

Wednesday 3 December 16:38:23 UTC 2014

Reddit_thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbFor months leading up to his resignation, Yishan Wong looked beat down. Employees say he was noticeably stressed and no longer enjoying his work. One business associate who stopped by the office in October thought Yishan was just having a bad day, but the bad day never seemed to end. Running any company is stressful; running Reddit is stressful on another … [Link]

Mashable » 'All I Want For Christmas' decked out in 20 styles

Wednesday 3 December 16:30:34 UTC 2014

Mariah-careyFeed-tw Feed-fb All you'll want for Christmas is to hear a metal Santa perform Mariah Carey in 20 different musical stylings. Anthony Vincent, known on YouTube as Ten Second Songs, shows off his vocal range with a cover of Carey's classic Christmas tune that incorporates the voices of Billy Joel, the Chipmunks and other very non-Mariah artists. Mary (Poppins) Christmas! Disney characters … [Link]

New Scientist – News » 'Hug' brain test could diagnose disorders like autism

Wednesday 3 December 16:21:00 UTC 2014

Mmmm hugs! Having people think about emotion-laden actions as their brain is scanned could become one of the first evidence-based tests for mental condition [Link]

Mashable » Sony unveils a 20th anniversary PlayStation 4 reminiscent of its first console

Wednesday 3 December 16:19:11 UTC 2014

Og-playstation-4Feed-tw Feed-fbIn honor of the PlayStation's 20th anniversary, Sony is selling a PlayStation 4 especially for fans of the original console. The special 20th anniversary edition of the PlayStation 4 is the same gray as the first PlayStation console, which was released in Japan on Dec. 3, 1994. It's also adorned with the original PlayStation logo: a red P planted atop a … [Link]

Slashdot » Mathematical Trick Helps Smash Record For the Largest Quantum Factorization

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:53 UTC 2014

KentuckyFC writes: One of the big applications for quantum computers is finding the prime factors of large numbers, a technique that can help break most modern cryptographic codes. Back in 2012, a team of Chinese physicists used a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer with 4 qubits to factor the number 143 (11 x 13), the largest quantum factorization ever performed. … [Link]

Slashdot » Is Chernobyl Still Dangerous? Was 60 Minutes Pushing Propaganda?

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:47 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: This article has an interesting take on how the media is presenting the current Chernobyl situation. Its author, Ron Adams, is a long time nuclear advocate, so read with that in mind. Adams critiques a recent CBS 60 Minutes broadcast that took pains to show how dangerous the area still is. He writes, "The show is … [Link]

Slashdot » UK Authorities Launching Massive Child Abuse Database

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:46 UTC 2014

mrspoonsi sends news that "Data taken from tens of millions of child abuse photos and videos will shortly be used as part of a new police system to aid investigations into suspected pedophiles across the UK." The Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) will be available to authorities starting December 11th. It's been populated with data seized in earlier investigations. The … [Link]

Slashdot » MasterCard Rails Against Bitcoin's (Semi-)Anonymity

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:45 UTC 2014

angry tapir writes: MasterCard has used a submission (PDF) to an Australian Senate inquiry to argue for financial regulators to move against the pseudonymity of digital currencies such as Bitcoin. "Any regulation adopted in Australia should address the anonymity that digital currency provides to each party in a transaction," the company's told the inquiry into digital currencies. MasterCard believes that … [Link]

Slashdot » FBI Seizes Los Angeles Schools' iPad Documents

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:44 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: The Los Angeles Unified School District had a bold (and expensive) plan to outfit its students with top-of-the-line technology: its 650,000 students will be given Apple iPads to use for school work. The cost? $1 billion. Unfortunately for them, the project has been plagued with problems. Now, the FBI has seized 20 boxes of documents regarding … [Link]

Slashdot » You're Doing It All Wrong: Solar Panels Should Face West, Not South

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:43 UTC 2014

HughPickens.com writes In the U.S., a new solar project is installed every 3.2 minutes and the number of cumulative installations now stands at more than 500,000. For years, homeowners who bought solar panels were advised to mount them on the roof facing south to capture the most solar energy over the course of the day. Now Matthew L. Wald writes … [Link]

Slashdot » Iranian Hackers Compromised Airlines, Critical Infrastructure Companies

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:42 UTC 2014

itwbennett writes: For the past two years, a team of Iranian hackers has compromised computers and networks belonging to over 50 organizations in 16 countries, including airlines, defense contractors, universities, military installations, hospitals, airports, telecommunications firms, government agencies, and energy and gas companies, researchers from IT security firm Cylance said in an extensive report released Tuesday (PDF). According to the … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Mirage Earth' Exoplanets May Have Burned Away Chances For Life

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:41 UTC 2014

vinces99 writes: Planets orbiting close to low-mass stars — easily the most common stars in the universe — are prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. But new research led by an astronomy graduate student at the University of Washington indicates some such planets may have long since lost their chance at hosting life because of intense heat during … [Link]

Slashdot » Is a "Wikipedia For News" Feasible?

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:40 UTC 2014

Larry Sanger writes: Online news has become ridiculously confusing. Interesting bits are scattered among repetitive articles, clickbait, and other noise. Besides, there's so much interesting news, but we just don't have time for it all. Automated tools help a little, but give us only an unreliable selection; we still feel like we're missing out. Y'know, back in the 1990s, we … [Link]

Slashdot » Stephen Hawking's New Speech System Is Free and Open-source

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:39 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Stephen Hawking and Intel have worked together for the past several years to build a new communication system for those suffering from diseases that severely impair motor function. The system is called ACAT (Assistive Context Aware Toolkit), and it will be free and open source. Hawking's previous system had been in use for over 20 years, … [Link]

Slashdot » Celebrated Russian Hacker Now In Exile

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:38 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: VKontakte is a Russian social network, more popular there than even Facebook. Its founder, Pavel Durov, was a celebrity for his entrepreneurial skills, much like Mark Zuckerberg elsewhere. But as Russia has cracked down on internet freedoms, 30-year-old Durov had to relinquish control of the social network. He eventually fled the country when the government pressured … [Link]

Slashdot » Ben Harris Shows off the Electric Vehicle Challenge Simulator (Video)

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:37 UTC 2014

EVChallenge is a high school student project that converts gas cars to electric. This isn't a "someday" thing. It's already happening, and Ben has worked hard to make it so in N. Carolina. There are other people around the world doing EVChallenge, and Ben does a number of things besides EVChallenge. His Kickstarter project, for instance, was called Help Bring … [Link]

Slashdot » Study: HIV Becoming Less Deadly, Less Infectious

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:36 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: A new study (abstract) from Oxford University shows HIV is weakening as it evolves in response to our immune system. When the virus encounters somebody with a particularly strong immune system, it sacrifices efficiency in replication to gradually overcome those defenses. This causes it to take more time for the infection to cause AIDS. Professor Philip … [Link]

Slashdot » FBI: Wiper Malware Has Korean Language Packs, Hard Coded Targets

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:35 UTC 2014

chicksdaddy sends news that the FBI has issued a warning to U.S. businesses over a "destructive" malware campaign using advanced tools. They don't name specific targets, but the information fits with the details from last week's attack on Sony Pictures, which led to the leak of several unreleased movies. A copy of the FBI's recent five-page FLASH alert reveals that … [Link]

Slashdot » 18th Century Law Dredged Up To Force Decryption of Devices

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:34 UTC 2014

Cognitive Dissident writes The Register has a story about federal prosecutors using a law signed by George Washington to force manufacturers to help law enforcement access encrypted data on devices they manufacture. The All Writs Act is a broad statute simply authorizing courts to issue any order necessary to obtain information within their jurisdiction. Quoting the Register article: "Last month, … [Link]

Mashable » Tumblr experiments with a 'Buy' button

Wednesday 3 December 16:13:04 UTC 2014

TumblrFeed-tw Feed-fbAlmost two years after it introduced advertising, Tumblr is taking a baby step toward offering e-commerce by letting users post content from Etsy with a "Buy" button. The blogging platform has also rolled out a "Browse" button for content posted Artsy, "Pledge" for Kickstarter and "Get Involved" for DoSomething.org. The Etsy button is designed to support artists. A company spokesperson declined … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Oracle V Google API Copyright Case, Court Rulings Reviewed

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:29 UTC 2014

In May 2014, the Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit (CAFC) ruled in the Oracle v. Google hearing that Oracle's Java APIs are copyrightable. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » APIdays Keynotes Envision the Future, Encourage API use for Social Good

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:28 UTC 2014

APIdays’ annual signature event began in Paris today with a rallying call to be inspired. Opening keynote speakers aimed to encourage audience members to strive for world domination or the betterment of humankind, with the end-user experience always highlighted as the way to win hearts, minds and wallets. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Dropbox for Business API Aims for the Enterprise

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:27 UTC 2014

[Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » DBMaestro Announces API for Database Release Management

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:26 UTC 2014

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. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » HP RESTful APIs Turn Vertica Database into a Service

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:25 UTC 2014

Hewlett-Packard at the Discover 2014 conference in Barcelona today launched a database-as-a-service (DBaaS) offering that relies on RESTful APIs to give developers access to both its Vertica columnar database and Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL) software running as a cloud service. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » SmartBear Demos New Plugin Capability With 3scale

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:24 UTC 2014

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. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Transit App Adds Uber API For Comparing Routes

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:23 UTC 2014

Transit App today said it has integrated Uber's API to make it even easier for urban dwellers to plan travel in and around cities. By adding the Uber API to Transit App, users will be able to compare the cost and estimated time of arrival (ETA) of an Uber directly to those of public transportation. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Temasys Unveils WebRTC Platform Running on AWS

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:22 UTC 2014

Temasys has formally launched Skylink, a platform running on Amazon Web Services (AWS) that makes it simpler to build WebRTC applications that can run inside almost any browser. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Spotify Mobile App Monetization Opens with Restrictions

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:21 UTC 2014

Spotify today relaxed some restrictions it placed on developers who use the Spotify iOS SDK and Spotify Android SDK. The result of the looser rules is that some third-party apps with Spotify built in can now make some money through the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store. There's a pretty big catch, though. Here's the scoop. … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » SOA Software Releases EnVision Big Data API Analytics Platform

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:20 UTC 2014

API management provider SOA Software today released EnVision, a suite of advanced analytics features that extends its current API analytics offerings for those businesses wanting to take a more nuanced look at the business impact of their API strategies. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » How to Write Effective API Sample Code

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:19 UTC 2014

This article was prepared by a guest contributor to ProgrammableWeb. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of ProgrammableWeb or its editorial staff. Developers rate working sample code high on API documentation priority lists. (See API Documentation Survey Results.) [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Chrome To Disable NPAPI Plugin Support

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:18 UTC 2014

Google has announced a timeline to drop support for the Netscape Plugin API (NPAPI). The decision has been made to erase code complexities, and to increase overall browser stability, speed, and security. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » How To Make Sense of the WatchKit for Apple Watch

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:17 UTC 2014

Apple has finally released the much-anticipated WatchKit SDK, giving developers time to start experimenting and prototyping in anticipation of the early-2015 debut of the Apple Watch itself. Apple has also released the Apple Watch Human Interface Guidelines to provide recommendations for adhering to its UX standards. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » 5 Reasons Why Marketing Executives Should Embrace APIs

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:16 UTC 2014

According to Denise Persson, a marketing expert at Apigee, digital marketing channels and apps are relying more and more on the power of APIs. This burgeoning digital global economy involves the exchange of digital assets, and marketing executives are beginning to understand and implement their transformative power in innovative ways. Perrson believes that CMOs can use APIs to grow an … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Trade.gov Simplifies Denied Party Screening with the CSL API

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:15 UTC 2014

The Consolidated Screening List (CSL) API has launched to streamline Denied Party Screening (DPS) searches. The CSL API consolidates data from nine different screening lists maintained by multiple U.S. Federal Government agencies (e.g. the State Department, the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department, etc.). [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Red Hat Updates FeedHenry 3 MADP

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:14 UTC 2014

After earlier this year acquiring FeedHenry, the provider of a mobile application development platform based on a Node.js framework, Red Hat has announced its first significant FeedHenry 3 updates. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Buddy Launches Platform for IoT Telemetry Data

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:13 UTC 2014

Buddy Platform recently launched a comprehensive Internet of Things platform that enables companies to easily capture, store and make use of the telemetry data their connected devices are capable of generating. Buddy's platform consists of three major components: [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Twilio Launches Network Traversal Service for WebRTC

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:12 UTC 2014

Last week at the WebRTC World conference in San Jose, California, Twilio unveiled a Network Traversal Service that enables developers to build their own WebRTC signaling solution without also having to implement a media relay solution. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Apple CloudKit Brings Remote Data Storage to Your Apps

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:11 UTC 2014

Welcome to the second of a three-part series on iOS 8, where we will dive into the world of CloudKit. (We introduced you to HealthKit in an earlier article.) [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Code Your Smart Home with Apple HomeKit

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:10 UTC 2014

The smart home is no longer the stuff of science fiction, and Apple is hoping its HomeKit will be the brains behind it. HomeKit is an iOS 8 framework for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user’s home. ProgrammableWeb has been putting HomeKit through its paces, including working with the HomeKit Simulator. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » How To Get Started with Apple HomeKit

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:09 UTC 2014

HomeKit is Apple’s entry into the smart-home arena. Following in the footsteps of Google’s recently acquired Nest system (as well as Google’s seemingly forgotten Android @Home initiative), Apple now provides an SDK as well as certification for smart devices in a more contextually aware home. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Should You Develop for Android or iOS First?

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:08 UTC 2014

[Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Hack.Summit() Conference Tackles Inequality in Tech

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:07 UTC 2014

Hack.Summit() is a virtual programming conference being held Dec. 1-4. It's already the largest virtual programming conference in the world, with more than 27,000 registrations, but ProgrammableWeb readers still have time to sign up and participate. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Transitions API for Chrome to Animate the Web

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:06 UTC 2014

Google is looking to create an enhanced user experience via a Navigation Transitions API that provides seamless transitions in browsers and apps. The above video from Google's Chrome Dev Summit provides a sneak peak. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Printchomp Print API Brings Scalable Print Functionality to Apps

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:05 UTC 2014

Despite the rise of the digital age, print has stood its ground. Take the humble business card, for example, or 3-D prints, photo books and product labels, to name a few. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Optimal Payments Launches Developer Center and New APIs

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:04 UTC 2014

Optimal Payments, a leading online and mobile payment processing services provider, has announced the launch of a Developer Center and a suite of REST-based APIs. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Apple iAd API Released for Programmatic Advertising

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:03 UTC 2014

[Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Maps Offers Developer Access To Street View

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:02 UTC 2014

Google's Street View and Photo Sphere viewing tools offer users a pretty cool way to get as up close and personal with a place as is digitally possible. Having a 360-degree perspective of a specific location means they can really have a good look around. The problem that arose with sharing these images in the past was that recipients would … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Embed Custom Timelines Using Lifestreams Open API Portal

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:01 UTC 2014

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. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Outbrain Amplify API Opens Discovery Platform to Developers

Wednesday 3 December 16:09:00 UTC 2014

Outbrain, a leading content discovery platform, has announced the launch of the new Outbrain Amplify API which allows company approved partners programmatic access to the Outbrain platform. [Link]

Mashable » Everything the first half of the 'Flash'/'Arrow' crossover got right

Wednesday 3 December 16:03:47 UTC 2014

FlashvarrowFeed-tw Feed-fbIn the first half of The Flash/Arrow crossover event, Barry Allen and Oliver Queen went toe-to-toe, after an encounter with a mind-altering metahuman left Barry dealing with a little bit of a rage problem Spoiler: The battle, which in quality was worthy of the big screen, ended in a tie. But without a doubt, the episode as a whole was a … [Link]

Mashable » How to donate your computer's processing time to fight Ebola

Wednesday 3 December 15:54:20 UTC 2014

ComputerFeed-tw Feed-fbOAKLAND, Calif. — IBM has engineered a way for everyone to join the fight against Ebola — by donating processing time on their personal computers, phones or tablets to researchers. IBM has teamed with scientists at Scripps Research Institute in southern California on a project that aims to combine the power of thousands of small computers, to each attack tiny pieces … [Link]

Slashdot » IoT Is the Third Big Technology 'Wave' In the Last 50 Years, Says Harvard

Wednesday 3 December 15:50:00 UTC 2014

dcblogs writes: The Internet of Things (IoT) may be more significant in reshaping the competitive landscape than the arrival of the Internet. Its productivity potential is so powerful it will deliver a new era of prosperity. That's the argument put forth by Michael Porter, an economist at the Harvard Business School and James Heppelmann, president and CEO of PTC, in … [Link]

Mashable » Woman demonstrates 100 years of beauty in 1 minute

Wednesday 3 December 15:45:40 UTC 2014

Beauty-in-100-yearsFeed-tw Feed-fb Beauty trends change. In 100 years, women's makeup and hair routines have evolved from pin-curls and doll lips to soft waves and a subtle glow Model Nina Carduner sat through prodding makeup artists and hair stylists for a time-lapse video that shows a century of beauty, from 1910 to 2010. Let's never go back to 1986 — ok, ladies? Makeup 100 Years Image: … [Link]

Mashable » 10 iPhone accessories that will put your old case to shame

Wednesday 3 December 15:37:16 UTC 2014

Surfacepad_iphone_case-19Feed-tw Feed-fbThose looking to spruce up their iPhones with more than just a new no-frills case, look no further. From speakers to camera attachments, these neat iPhone companion pieces can be stuffed in stockings or wrapped for gifting See also: iPhone Photo Accessories Are Not a Waste of Time Whether you're on a budget or looking to splurge, here are some of … [Link]

Mashable » Giving Tuesday sets record in online donations this year

Wednesday 3 December 15:31:34 UTC 2014

Heart_2Feed-tw Feed-fbGiving Tuesday, the global movement of giving back after consumer-driven holidays Black Friday and Cyber Monday, saw its most successful year yet on Tuesday, according to early metrics. Nonprofit solutions firm Blackbaud, which has provided the Giving Tuesday partners with donation data since the day was founded in 2012, processed $26,183,217.42 in online donations from 4,396 unique nonprofit organizations in the … [Link]

Mashable » DNA confirms remains of King Richard III

Wednesday 3 December 15:30:30 UTC 2014

RichardFeed-tw Feed-fbBattled-scarred bones found under an English parking lot two years ago really do belong to the medieval King Richard III, according to a new analysis of genetic and genealogical evidence. "The evidence is overwhelming that these are indeed the remains of Richard III," University of Leicester geneticist Turi King said during a press conference. Just how overwhelming? King and colleagues put … [Link]

Mashable » World's most famous machine gun maker rebrands itself as 'Weapon of Peace'

Wednesday 3 December 15:28:53 UTC 2014

Ak-pinkFeed-tw Feed-fbThe maker of the AK-47 assault rifle wants to be known as a kinder, gentler Russian arms manufacturer. Kalashnikov Concern has embarked on an effort to rebrand itself as "protecting peace" through its production of armaments. To do so, the company has brought in a Russian marketing agency and added a new logo. "The modern image of the 'weapon of peace,'" … [Link]

Mashable » Google's next project for girl coders: Lighting White House Christmas trees

Wednesday 3 December 15:17:39 UTC 2014

Christmas-tree-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbGoogle is getting into the holiday spirit by inspiring girls to code. The tech giant's Made With Code initiative, which launched earlier this year to get young girls interested in computer science, is inviting aspiring female coders to light up trees in President's Park, home of the White House. See also: 10 Excellent Platforms for Building Mobile Apps Starting Wednesday, girls … [Link]

Mashable » If Michael Bay directed 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

Wednesday 3 December 15:08:58 UTC 2014

Michaelbay_starwarsFeed-tw Feed-fb J.J. Abrams was awarded the honor- pressure-filled task of directing Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, and while some fans already overanalyzed the film's first trailer, others understood that it could've been a whole lot worse Take, for instance, if Michael Bay was given the job YouTube user RageNineteen re-edited The Force Awakens trailer in true Bay fashion … [Link]

Slashdot » UK Announces 'Google Tax'

Wednesday 3 December 15:08:00 UTC 2014

mrspoonsi points out that the UK has announced a "Google tax" on corporations that send a significant portion of their profits overseas to avoid local taxation. Any "economic activity" that is pushed to another country would face a 25% tax. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer [said], "We will make sure multinationals pay their fair share of tax. We … [Link]

Mashable » Brian Williams explains immigration debate with sexy slow jam

Wednesday 3 December 15:05:24 UTC 2014

Brianwilliams_slowjamFeed-tw Feed-fb Immigration has never been so … sexy? Brian Williams joined Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday's Tonight Show to slow jam to the recent debate over immigration policy — proving once and for all that news anchors just wanna have fun Williams mostly played the straight man to Fallon until the newsman broke out into a "Baby Got Back" rap, which we … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: HUMONGOUS Saving on Downloadable Games + More!

Wednesday 3 December 14:52:52 UTC 2014

For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers some HUGE savings on various downloadable games for pc. Check ‘em out! -Tomb Raider (Newest Release) – $19.99 $7.99 (60% Off) -Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City – $29.99 $5.99 (80% Off) -Max Payne 3 – $19.99 $4 (80% Off) -Hitman: Absolution – $19.99 $4.99 (75% Off) … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » For the Honor of Greyskull! I am She-Ra! [Cosplay Pics]

Wednesday 3 December 14:51:15 UTC 2014

Since She-Ra was one of Désirée Cosplay‘s favorite childhood cartoon, she created this fantastic costume to pay homage to the character. She makes a very convincing She-Ra, don’t you think? If you like what Désirée does, be sure to check her out and follow her on her Facebook page right here! [Cosplayer and Costume: Désirée Cosplay | Photo: Mirage Images … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Things That Are Bad For You [Comic]

Wednesday 3 December 14:50:27 UTC 2014

[Source: Corinne Mucha Illustration | Corinne Mucha on Tumblr] [Link]

Mashable » London Mayor Boris Johnson caught up in flight drama with 'off his head' passenger

Wednesday 3 December 14:46:46 UTC 2014

Bojo_cabin_cFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — Mayor Boris Johnson has been caught up in drama with a deranged passenger on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to London. The unnamed man, who was described by a member of Johnson's entourage as "off his head," was held down by cabin crew, and arrested upon arrival in the capital. See also: There's a better way to board an … [Link]

Mashable » Sports stars on Instagram: Top 11 moments of 2014

Wednesday 3 December 14:35:08 UTC 2014

LbjthumbFeed-tw Feed-fbLet’s be real: Nothing validates our pathetic human existences like a popular Instagram post Sports stars are, contrary to popular belief, humans as well — so you know they fiend for likes just the same as the rest of us See also: 10 Unforgettable Sports Moments From 2014 Instagram — the company, not the app — tracked down the year's most … [Link]

Slashdot » Valve Rolls Out Game Broadcasting Service For Steam

Wednesday 3 December 14:26:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Streaming live video game footage has become increasingly popular over the past several years — popular enough that Amazon was willing to shell out $970 million for Twitch.tv. Now, Valve has announced a rival: Steam Broadcasting. Users signing up for the beta test have the option to broadcast the game they're playing. They have several options … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Armies of ants keep New York squeaky clean

Wednesday 3 December 14:24:00 UTC 2014

Urban insects gorge on food litter, cleaning streets and competing with pests such as rats [Link]

Mashable » Japan launches asteroid mission to blow up a space rock

Wednesday 3 December 14:21:31 UTC 2014

Hayabusa-2Feed-tw Feed-fb Japan Aerospace Agency JAXA’s asteroid-exploring Hayabusa2 probe successfully blasted off on Wednesday. The spacecraft will study the asteroid's surface before blowing up a portion of the space rock. Hayabusa2 will collect material from an asteroid called 1999 JU3. JAXA says the asteroid is C-type (carbonaceous) — a rocky asteroid whose rocks might contain organic matter and water. Hayabusa2 is expected … [Link]

Mashable » Jeff Bridges narrates Bob Dylan's road to Big Pink and 'Basement Tapes'

Wednesday 3 December 14:14:13 UTC 2014

Bob-dylan-basement-tapesFeed-tw Feed-fbInside a pink house in tiny West Saugerties in 1967, Bob Dylan recorded The Basement Tapes. To get there, Dylan and The Band drove from a Manhattan hotel to that upstate New York house, known to music lovers simply as Big Pink. Now, fans can take a virtual ride of the route they traveled in a new short time-lapse film, From … [Link]

Mashable » British MPs freak out after David Cameron's incredible 'masosadism' gaffe

Wednesday 3 December 14:09:12 UTC 2014

CameronFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — David Cameron got his masochisms mixed with his sadisms at Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions session. The PM tortured the English language while trying to spank shadow chancellor Ed Balls for his recent comments that Labour would be "tough on the deficit and tough on the causes of the deficit." He joked that it would be the "first example of … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Adventures of Business Cat: Sensitivity [Comic]

Wednesday 3 December 14:00:18 UTC 2014

[Source Business Cat – Happy Jar] [Link]

Mashable » Greek anarchists torch cars, clash with Athens police

Wednesday 3 December 13:46:05 UTC 2014

Greece-anarchistFeed-tw Feed-fb Anarchists set fire to a public transport bus and several cars in central Athens during clashes with police on Tuesday evening. The violence followed a large demonstration that was in support of a jailed anarchist who is on hunger strike in an effort to leave prison to attend university. See also: The dirty, dangerous job that powers Greece Riot police … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Hayabusa 2 probe begins journey to land on an asteroid

Wednesday 3 December 13:44:58 UTC 2014

Japanese space agency JAXA has successfully launched Hayabusa 2, which will land on asteroid 1993 JU3 in 2018 [Link]

Slashdot » The Moment of Truth For BICEP2

Wednesday 3 December 13:44:00 UTC 2014

StartsWithABang writes: Earlier this year, the BICEP2 team shook up the world by announcing the discovery of primordial gravitational waves: a signal from the earliest stages of the Universe, going all the way back to before the Big Bang! By looking at the photon polarization data, they claimed to have surpassed the gold "5 Sigma" standard for announcing a discovery … [Link]

Mashable » Rolling blackouts in Ukraine after nuclear plant accident

Wednesday 3 December 13:35:24 UTC 2014

UkrainepowerFeed-tw Feed-fbKIEV, Ukraine — In Ukraine, the words “nuclear accident” conjure up memories of Chernobyl — the world's worst nuclear catastrophe. But those were the words Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk chose on Wednesday when describing problems at the Zaporizhye nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine, without giving further details. See also: Drone reveals haunting view of Chernobyl's 'ghost city' from the … [Link]

Mashable » Bluetooth 4.2 aims to shield your smartphone from prying beacons

Wednesday 3 December 13:12:21 UTC 2014

BluetoothFeed-tw Feed-fbBluetooth is getting a big upgrade. The organization in charge of the spec just announced Bluetooth 4.2, which brings more features: faster connections, more privacy controls and better Internet connectivity. We take Bluetooth for granted these days — the tech is present in virtually every device that connects wirelessly. That ubiquity has occasionally been a vulnerability, however, and the term "bluesnarfing," … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Genetic analysis confirms Richard III skeleton find

Wednesday 3 December 13:10:00 UTC 2014

A raft of evidence, including DNA tests, concludes the skeleton found beneath a car park in Leicester, UK in 2012 is indeed that of King Richard III [Link]

Mashable » The politicians who are pushing for another government shutdown

Wednesday 3 December 12:51:15 UTC 2014

ShutdownFeed-tw Feed-fbCongress has to pass a government funding bill before Dec. 11 in order to stop the second government shutdown in two years. But not everyone thinks that's such a bad idea. Some Republican politicians want to withhold money from the upcoming funding bill that would finance President Barack Obama's immigration policies. This would force the president to either sign a bill … [Link]

Mashable » 17 scaredy-cats that are completely unprepared for life

Wednesday 3 December 12:30:42 UTC 2014

CatscaredFeed-tw Feed-fbThere are some things in life that you will never be prepared for — if you're a cat, that's basically everything While felines aren't known for their preparedness, they're certainly known for their reflexes, curiosity and ability to scare easily. Combine those three qualities and you're left with an extremely startled cat, as Reddit would say See also: This adorable tiny … [Link]

Mashable » 7 social media resolutions for 2015

Wednesday 3 December 12:06:58 UTC 2014

Social-media-resolutions-new-year-2015Feed-tw Feed-fbDon’t go to bed with Twitter in 2015 With the new year comes a new you — on social media, at least. As 2015 rolls around, it's time to once again come up with resolutions you absolutely, definitely, totally will not break. When it comes to social media, there are probably a million new things we could all be working on … [Link]

Mashable » 20 of the best PlayStation commercials to celebrate its 20th birthday

Wednesday 3 December 12:00:27 UTC 2014

Playstation_4_stock-18Feed-tw Feed-fbHappy birthday to the PlayStation brand, which turns 20 years old on Wednesday. As we look back on the PlayStation's history — from the first launch in Japan on Dec. 3, 1994, to the PlayStation 4's first anniversary this year — the gaming brand's quirky advertisements are always a constant. Whether they are epic, weird or even a little creepy, these … [Link]

Mashable » Clear some time in your 2015 calendar for Asteroid Awareness Day

Wednesday 3 December 11:52:24 UTC 2014

AsteroidFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — How do you increase awareness about large bodies of rock from Space that could strike Earth at any point? The answer doesn't involve a Bruce Willis movie. See also: The Debris From a London-Sized Asteroid Strike Would Block Out the Sun Astronauts, Nobel Laureates, technologists and even Queen's Brian May are coming together in simultaneous press conferences in London … [Link]

Mashable » The top 27 GoPro videos of 2014

Wednesday 3 December 11:30:55 UTC 2014

GoprothumbFeed-tw Feed-fbEverything is better through a GoPro persepective. The small and versatile fisheye cameras have logged countless hours of footage. While it is still loved by the extreme sports community, it has also been used in a variety of different applications — selfies, controversial campaigns and puppies just being puppies. See also: The 19 best drone photos of 2014 The popularity of … [Link]

Mashable » Seth Rogen and James Franco call the shots in 'Freaks and Geeks' game

Wednesday 3 December 11:26:41 UTC 2014

FreaksandgeeksFeed-tw Feed-fb Sadly, the cast of Freaks and Geeks aren't really passing as teenagers these days, so a reunion seems unlikely and potentially bizarre. To fill the void, fans of the prematurely canceled TV show are finding creative ways to bring it back to life, including a choose your own adventure online gameJames Franco and Seth Rogen give it a spin, and … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Meet the most complete stegosaurus ever found

Wednesday 3 December 11:17:00 UTC 2014

A stunning stegosaurus the size of an SUV could soon steal the limelight from the famous diplodocus at the entrance of London's Natural History Museum [Link]

Mashable » 5 smart ways students can use Google Scholar

Wednesday 3 December 11:04:54 UTC 2014

ScholarleadFeed-tw Feed-fbHere’s something that's happened to most college students: It's 20 minutes before your final paper is due, and you haven't written a bibliography yet. This situation, and everything that precedes it, is going to be more difficult if you don't know about Google Scholar. Google's customized search engine and tool for students and academics of all stripes was created by Anurag … [Link]

Mashable » Dual-screen smartphone YotaPhone 2 is coming in December

Wednesday 3 December 10:57:57 UTC 2014

Yotaphone-2Feed-tw Feed-fbRemember YotaPhone, a dual-screen phone with an LCD screen on one side and an e-ink one on the other? Russia's Yota announced its successor, the YotaPhone 2, back in February 2014, but now it finally has a release date — December 2014 While the company's website currently only sports the aforementioned date and an image of the phone (we had a … [Link]

Mashable » New Assassin's Creed gameplay leaked, and it's set in London

Wednesday 3 December 10:49:09 UTC 2014

Ac_screenshot_cFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — The 2015 edition of Assassin's Creed could be called Assassin's Creed: Victory, and will be set in Victorian London, according to a gameplay trailer leaked by Kotaku. See also: 'Assassin's Creed Unity': Glitches and microtransactions mar a pretty Paris The game will be released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC, the site believes. It's thought to be the first … [Link]

Slashdot » Practical Magnetic Levitating Transmission Gear System Loses Its Teeth

Wednesday 3 December 10:44:00 UTC 2014

Zothecula writes: A new transmission device that uses magnetic levitation to almost completely eliminate friction and wear has been developed as part of the MAGDRIVE research project, a collaboration of seven European nations. The creation of the unit entailed the development of a magnetic gear reducer and corresponding frictionless magnetic axles. Aimed primarily for use in spacecraft due to its … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Oracle V Google API Copyright Case, Court Rulings Reviewed

Wednesday 3 December 9:13:29 UTC 2014

In May 2014, the Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit (CAFC) ruled in the Oracle v. Google hearing that Oracle's Java APIs are copyrightable. [Link]

Mashable » 15 tips on turning your finances around in 2015

Wednesday 3 December 9:04:30 UTC 2014

New_years_savingsFeed-tw Feed-fbThe standard advice to twentysomethings looking to turn their finances around is to skip those $5 lattes at Starbucks and put that money in a bank somewhere Adam Nash, the president and CEO of Wealthfront, isn't about to give up his well-known Starbucks habit, though. "To me, the $5 latte is secondary to the more important questions to take control of … [Link]

Mashable » Police investigating Michael Brown's stepfather for comments to crowd

Wednesday 3 December 8:20:37 UTC 2014

Ferguson_ches_cFeed-tw Feed-fbPolice are investigating Michael Brown's stepfather for angry comments on the streets of Ferguson after a grand jury decided not to indict the police officer who fatally shot his stepson, a spokesman said Tuesday. Officials are looking into Louis Head's comments as part of a broader investigation into the arson, vandalism and looting that followed the Nov. 24 grand jury announcement, … [Link]

Mashable » Woman sues Bill Cosby, claiming underage abuse

Wednesday 3 December 7:59:37 UTC 2014

Bill-cosby-lawsuit_ches_cFeed-tw Feed-fbBill Cosby was sued Tuesday by a Southern California woman who claims the comedian molested her in a bedroom of the Playboy Mansion around 1974 when she was 15 years old. Judy Huth's sexual battery lawsuit does not specify how much she is seeking from Cosby, who has in recent weeks faced renewed accusations that he drugged and sexually assaulted more … [Link]

Mashable » iHeartRadio debuts an all-holiday music station hosted by Santa Claus

Wednesday 3 December 7:41:22 UTC 2014

Dj_santaFeed-tw Feed-fbWhen you need the perfect DJ to rock around your Christmas tree, look no further than jolly old St. Nick himself. Launched on Nov. 28, iHeartRadio is hosting a radio station that will only play holiday music called North Pole Radio. As an added bonus, the station has the ultimate holiday DJ: Santa Claus. See also: 28 songs for your holiday … [Link]

Slashdot » Is Chernobyl Still Dangerous? Was 60 Minutes Pushing Propaganda?

Wednesday 3 December 7:40:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: This article has an interesting take on how the media is presenting the current Chernobyl situation. Its author, Ron Adams, is a long time nuclear advocate, so read with that in mind. Adams critiques a recent CBS 60 Minutes broadcast that took pains to show how dangerous the area still is. He writes, "The show is … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » APIdays Keynotes Envision the Future, Encourage API use for Social Good

Wednesday 3 December 7:34:16 UTC 2014

APIdays’ annual signature event began in Paris today with a rallying call to be inspired. Opening keynote speakers aimed to encourage audience members to strive for world domination or the betterment of humankind, with the end-user experience always highlighted as the way to win hearts, minds and wallets. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Dropbox for Business API Aims for the Enterprise

Wednesday 3 December 6:58:37 UTC 2014

[Link]

Mashable » Heartbreaking moments as Australia bids farewell to cricketer Phillip Hughes

Wednesday 3 December 6:06:28 UTC 2014

PhilhughesFeed-tw Feed-fbAustralian cricketer Phillip Hughes died on Nov. 27, three days before his 26th birthday, after being hit by a cricket ball in a freak accident. Hughes was memorialized today at a funeral service in his hometown of Macksvile, in New South Wales, where he grew up on a banana farm before he played cricket for South Australia, New South Wales and … [Link]

Mashable » The top 20 most shared ads of November

Wednesday 3 December 5:43:29 UTC 2014

Screenshot-2014-12-01-at-4.31.59-pm-croppedFeed-tw Feed-fbNovember advertising was all about birds and pre-Christmas hype SaveOurDucks.com was responsible for the No. 1 most-shared ad, which reminds us that "being kind is awesome." The ad was part of an effort to get the the Labor Party to seriously consider the treatment of wildlife and the ethics behind duck hunting in the Nov. 29 Victorian state election. The video … [Link]

Slashdot » UK Authorities Launching Massive Child Abuse Database

Wednesday 3 December 5:34:00 UTC 2014

mrspoonsi sends news that "Data taken from tens of millions of child abuse photos and videos will shortly be used as part of a new police system to aid investigations into suspected pedophiles across the UK." The Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) will be available to authorities starting December 11th. It's been populated with data seized in earlier investigations. The … [Link]

Mashable » Pandora redesigns apps to emphasize customization

Wednesday 3 December 5:31:08 UTC 2014

AppFeed-tw Feed-fbPandora stations are about to get easier to customize. The company previewed an upcoming update to its iOS and Android app Tuesday that will give users more ways to personalize the music in their radio stations. See also: 23 Freaking Rad Spotify Playlists for Every Mood The update, which is still in beta, is focused on improving the way users can … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2078: Letter to Santa

Wednesday 3 December 5:30:16 UTC 2014

JoT thumbWho brings kids the goodies these days? If you enJoyed the comic, please retweet or share the URL. Thanks! [Link]

Mashable » California rain causes chaos, but won't end drought

Wednesday 3 December 5:10:16 UTC 2014

SurferFeed-tw Feed-fbAfter painfully parched months, California's getting soaked by a rainstorm. But although the rainfall's heavy enough to cause mudslides and flooding, it won't be enough to end the state's devastating drought Over the past 24 hours, around 1.5 inches of rain fell in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Rainfall broke daily records in Southern California, according to the National Weather … [Link]

Mashable » This week on 'The Voice': Did the last female singer make it to the final 5?

Wednesday 3 December 5:01:16 UTC 2014

Nup_166029_1061Feed-tw Feed-fbThis is one of the toughest parts of the season. Three singers must go. Three. And it's pretty tight race between some of these performers. Honestly, it's all very dependent on who is watching the show live, and who will actually live tweet to save their favorite singer This week on The Voice we're going to lose some quality singers, but … [Link]

Mashable » Apple cannot trademark the term 'app store' in Australia, Federal Court rules

Wednesday 3 December 4:33:34 UTC 2014

AppleFeed-tw Feed-fbApple can not exclusively use the term "app store" in Australia after a ruling in the Federal Court on Wednesday. Apple was appealing a 2013 decision by the Australian Registrar of Trade Marks, that rejected an application to trademark the use of the term, which was filed by the tech giant in 2008. The appeal was dismissed by Justice David Yates … [Link]

Mashable » All the hit songs of 2014 covered in under 3 minutes

Wednesday 3 December 4:00:59 UTC 2014

UstheduoFeed-tw Feed-fb Michael and Carissa Alvarado, who go by Us The Duo on Vine, have made quite a name for themselves in 2014 by covering other artists' music As the year comes to a close, the two harmonized some of the year's biggest hits in classic #6secondcovers fashion This time around, they need at least 2:30 to fit in all that bass. … [Link]

Slashdot » MasterCard Rails Against Bitcoin's (Semi-)Anonymity

Wednesday 3 December 3:30:00 UTC 2014

angry tapir writes: MasterCard has used a submission (PDF) to an Australian Senate inquiry to argue for financial regulators to move against the pseudonymity of digital currencies such as Bitcoin. "Any regulation adopted in Australia should address the anonymity that digital currency provides to each party in a transaction," the company's told the inquiry into digital currencies. MasterCard believes that … [Link]

Mashable » Ultrasonics may soon let you touch what you see in virtual reality

Wednesday 3 December 3:17:59 UTC 2014

2hptc87098Feed-tw Feed-fbAt this point it seems like it's just a matter of time before every device shown on Star Trek becomes a reality and, thanks to a new innovation, the holodeck could be next A UK company called Ultrahaptics has developed a method of providing haptic feedback for holographic imagery by using ultrasonic technology Originally developed in the research labs at the … [Link]

Mashable » Pizza Hut menu picks toppings for you by tracking eye movements

Wednesday 3 December 3:08:23 UTC 2014

Pizza-hut-finalFeed-tw Feed-fbIf we really do eat with our eyes first, then this new high-tech Pizza Hut menu might just be the future of ordering in restaurants. The chain is calling it the first "subconscious menu," and it acts as a stand-in for the paper menu you'd usually get when dining at a Pizza Hut. It tracks your eye movements and selects toppings … [Link]

Mashable » How the Smithsonian made Obama's historic 3D-printed bust

Wednesday 3 December 2:56:05 UTC 2014

Dpo_obamabust_3views_1Feed-tw Feed-fb Museums are replete with exquisite, lifelike busts of U.S. presidents and heads of state. Many were made when their subjects, such as George Washington and Ben Franklin, were still alive Yet, for all their verisimilitude, they’re still artists’ interpretations of what these historical figures looked like. President Barack Obama’s bust, by contrast, is a kind of facsimile never seen before … [Link]

Mashable » 14 Vines that take food art to another level of yum

Wednesday 3 December 2:49:57 UTC 2014

Thanksgiving_vineFeed-tw Feed-fbDid someone say pumpkin pie? We'll take a slice. Last week's Mashable Vine Challenge was the perfect match for chefs and foodies. We asked you to share videos of your meals, whether in-the-making or on the dinner table. Baking guru and food art extraordinaire Erik Larsen, better known as TheCupcakeDude on Vine, was our guest host See also: From palate to … [Link]

Slashdot » Stephen Hawking's New Speech System Is Free and Open-source

Wednesday 3 December 2:47:21 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: Stephen Hawking and Intel have worked together for the past several years to build a new communication system for those suffering from diseases that severely impair motor function. The system is called ACAT (Assistive Context Aware Toolkit), and it will be free and open source. Hawking's previous system had been in use for over 20 years, … [Link]

Mashable » Stop overthinking the 'Star Wars' trailer

Wednesday 3 December 2:37:18 UTC 2014

Millennium-falcon-imax-force-awakensFeed-tw Feed-fb It's now five days since the 88-second teaser trailer for Star Wars: the Force Awakens exploded across a sleepy post-Thanksgiving Internet like irradiated chunks of Alderaan Since then, according to a YouTube partner company called Zefr, the trailer has been viewed an astonishing 63 million times across various online video versions — putting it far ahead of some recent stiff … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » DBMaestro Announces API for Database Release Management

Wednesday 3 December 2:30:08 UTC 2014

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. [Link]

Mashable » ShotTracker: The wearable that counts your hoops makes and misses

Wednesday 3 December 2:27:34 UTC 2014

Netsensor-1Feed-tw Feed-fbI made a decision back in the summer before eighth grade: Become as good at basketball as my 13-year-old body would allow. I did the Air Alert jump-training program, familiar to all longtime subscribers of Slam magazine. I ran sprints and drills in ankle-weights. I hoisted hundreds of jumpers each day in my parents' backyard, recording each make and miss with … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Suicide Squad' cast of supervillains is the hottest thing in Hollywood

Wednesday 3 December 2:09:07 UTC 2014

Hardy.as_.rick_.flagg_1Feed-tw Feed-fbLOS ANGELES — Gee whiz, Warner Bros., leave something for the rest of the superhero movies, eh? The Suicide Squad cast, which the studio confirmed Tuesday in a press release, is a who's-who of young Hollywood (hey, Will Smith still looks pretty good for 46) In this glorious nuclear-arms-race of superhero movies, anything less would be a disappointment. Warner Bros./DC shot … [Link]

Mashable » 21 foodie photos to curb your holiday cravings

Wednesday 3 December 2:04:37 UTC 2014

Starwars-mealFeed-tw Feed-fbPull out those stretchy pants — the joyous season of overeating is officially upon us As we round out the final weeks of 2014 with family, friends and lots and lots of feasting, we're reminded to pause and appreciate all the good company and all the great grub. See also: 14 recipes that make tasteful holiday gifts Last week, we asked … [Link]

Mashable » LA schools' beleaguered, billion dollar iPad project under FBI investigation

Wednesday 3 December 1:47:35 UTC 2014

Coding-for-kindergartenersFeed-tw Feed-fbLOS ANGELES — FBI agents seized 20 boxes of documents related to Los Angeles Unified School District's beleaguered $1 billion iPad project, officials confirmed Tuesday. Agents confiscated documents at the district's offices Monday regarding procurement practices involving the Common Core Technology project, LAUSD's plan to equip all schools with 21st century learning devices, during a surprise visit. The FBI confirmed an … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter's photo filters just got more like Instagram's

Wednesday 3 December 1:22:00 UTC 2014

Twitter-filterFeed-tw Feed-fbTwitter just tweaked its photo editing features in an update that makes it feel a lot more like Instagram. The company updated its iOS and Android app Tuesday with new adjustable photo filters to give users more control over how filtered images look See also: 10 most clichéd hashtags you're still overusing Filters can be enabled after a photo is added … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » HP RESTful APIs Turn Vertica Database into a Service

Wednesday 3 December 1:14:04 UTC 2014

Hewlett-Packard at the Discover 2014 conference in Barcelona today launched a database-as-a-service (DBaaS) offering that relies on RESTful APIs to give developers access to both its Vertica columnar database and Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL) software running as a cloud service. [Link]

Slashdot » FBI Seizes Los Angeles Schools' iPad Documents

Wednesday 3 December 0:57:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes: The Los Angeles Unified School District had a bold (and expensive) plan to outfit its students with top-of-the-line technology: its 650,000 students will be given Apple iPads to use for school work. The cost? $1 billion. Unfortunately for them, the project has been plagued with problems. Now, the FBI has seized 20 boxes of documents regarding … [Link]

Mashable » This Kickstarter project lets you spice up your meals with art

Wednesday 3 December 0:46:59 UTC 2014

SpicepenFeed-tw Feed-fbLatte art isn't just for the barista pros anymore CinniBird, which is being dubbed as “the world’s first and only spice pen,” is rapidly approaching its modest Kickstarter goal of $5,000. So in no time, everyday people will be able to add some creative flair to their food preparations See also: This Kickstarter will deliver a pepperoni pizza bed to your … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Total safety an illusion for Japan's nuclear restart

Wednesday 3 December 0:31:00 UTC 2014

Some Japanese nuclear reactors, mothballed since the 2011 Tohoku quake, may soon restart. But nature can outpace new safety precautions, warns a geophysicist [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » SmartBear Demos New Plugin Capability With 3scale

Wednesday 3 December 0:15:27 UTC 2014

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. [Link]

Mashable » Human cells make mouse brains 4 times smarter, scientists say

Wednesday 3 December 0:15:18 UTC 2014

LabmouseFeed-tw Feed-fbPop culture is full of anthropomorphized mice that can drive boats, fall in love and hatch diabolical plans. None of them are real, but a mouse that thinks more like a person seems like a tantalizing possibility now that scientists have boosted rodents' brain power by infusing their noggins with human brain cells. According to a recent report in New Scientist, … [Link]

Slashdot » You're Doing It All Wrong: Solar Panels Should Face West, Not South

Wednesday 3 December 0:00:00 UTC 2014

HughPickens.com writes In the U.S., a new solar project is installed every 3.2 minutes and the number of cumulative installations now stands at more than 500,000. For years, homeowners who bought solar panels were advised to mount them on the roof facing south to capture the most solar energy over the course of the day. Now Matthew L. Wald writes … [Link]

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