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 » Tips and tricks for CES beginners from conference veterans
Being a first-time attendee at the world’s largest consumer electronics show can be a lot to handle. And the fact that it's held in Las Vegas makes it all the more overwhelming Luckily, conference veterans have plenty of tips for packing, getting around Sin City and surviving the chaos that is CES. See also: TV, TiVo, OTT: How television-watching has … [Link]
Mashable » Adebayo 'The Beast' Akinfenwa is a plus-sized soccer hero
The beauty of English soccer's FA Cup is that it matches Premier League giants like Liverpool against fourth-division minnows like AFC Wimbledon, so anything can happen "Anything," as the world learned on Monday, can even include Liverpool — one of the most storied clubs in soccer history — getting scored on by an awesomely plus-sized striker named Adebayo "The Beast" Akinfenwa. … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Venturesity Hosts Hackathons to Pinpoint Developer Talent
Venturesity takes a “hackathon approach” to finding developer talent for startups. Venturesity was created upon the notion that resumes cannot fully portray a candidate’s potential — or their shortcomings. Instead, a hackathon gives a real-world problem that candidates can solve to prove their talent and usefulness to a potential employer.
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Mashable » 2 U.S. Ski Team prospects killed in Austria avalanche
Two prospects from the U.S. Ski Team were killed in an avalanche Monday while skiing near their European training base in the Austrian Alps. The team said Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19, died in the incident near the Rettenbach glacier in the mountains over Sölden, the venue for the annual season-opening World Cup races. Berlack, from Franconia, New Hampshire, … [Link]
Mashable » 'X-Men' studio Fox smashed the world record for box office in 2014
LOS ANGELES — With $5.5 billion in 2014 worldwide box office grosses, 20th Century Fox just eclipsed Paramount Pictures to become king of the global box office mountain. With a mixture of home runs (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dawn of the Plane of the Apes), doubles and triples (The Fault in Our Stars, The Maze Runner) and plenty of other … [Link]
Mashable » 'Jurassic Parks and Rec' is the mashup Chris Pratt fans need
Treat yourselves, Chris Pratt fans. YouTube channel Thanks Mom Productions combines Parks and Recreation with the much-anticipated summer blockbuster, Jurassic World, for the ultimate pop-culture mashup. If Andy Dwyer didn't work in Pawnee, of course he'd jump at the chance to chase dinosaurs. 2014's 86 biggest movies summed up in 7 minutes Gaston destroys a confident Disney visitor in a … [Link]
Slashdot » Dish Introduces $20-a-Month Streaming-TV Service
wyattstorch516 writes "Dish Networks has unveiled Sling TV, its streaming service for customers who don't want to subscribe to Cable or Satellite. From the article: "For $20 a month — yes, twenty dollars — you get access to a lineup of cable networks that includes TNT, TBS, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, the Disney Channel, ESPN, and … [Link]
Mashable » Toyota releases fuel cell patents for royalty-free use to all
LAS VEGAS — Toyota just rocked the auto industry by announcing that it is opening to the public 5,680 of its patents related to fuel cell technology for royalty-free use. Bob Carter, the company's senior vice-president of automotive operations, delivered the news on Monday at CES, following an elaborate presentation that touted the strengths of its fuel cell vehicle, the Toyota … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » PlayStation Now Gets Monthly Subscription Option
Sony is launching an “all you can play” monthly subscription deal for its streaming service Playstation Now. It hopes the move will attract players put off by the current confusing and often expensive per-game pricing. The service was announced this time last year and launched as an “open beta” in July. It lets player access games through an Internet-connected PS3, … [Link]
Mashable » Full speed ahead: An evolution of car technology
Tech Time Machine:Car TechBy James O'Brienpresented by 
Cars can mean a lot of different things to different people. Over time, they've been thought of as everything from horseless carriages to hot rods, and now we're starting to think of them as smart, connected, and even someday, autonomous ways to get aroundYet another way to consider the automobile is to think of it … [Link]
Mashable » Aboard the ghost ship abandoned off the Italian coast
ISTANBUL — Abdo al Jawabrah knew the journey was dangerous His cousins were among more than 3,000 migrants killed crossing the Mediterranean last year — the sea's deadliest year on record Yet, like so many before him, Jawabrah decided he'd risk dying at sea for the chance to get his family a better life in Europe. See also: The Deadly Mediterranean … [Link]
Mashable » SpaceX will try to land a rocket on a floating platform after Tuesday's launch
SpaceX will attempt one of the boldest maneuvers in the history of rocketry early Tuesday morning (Jan. 6) during a supply mission to the International Space Station for NASA, and you can watch the attempt live online. The California-based private spaceflight company will try to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating platform in the Atlantic … [Link]
Slashdot » Intel Unveils 5th Gen Core Series Broadwell-U CPUs and Cherry Trail Atom
MojoKid writes Intel has officially taken the wraps off its 5th generation Core Series notebook processor, code named Broadwell-U. This new SoC is a "tick" in Intel's tick-tock plan, which means it's mostly a die shrink of the existing Haswell architecture, at least on the CPU side. On the GPU side, there's a bevy of improvements and advances, and the … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung Milk expands beyond Galaxy devices and adds virtual reality
Samsung’s Milk platform, which allows users to listen to music and watch videos on Samsung Galaxy devices, is about to get a lot more versatile. The company announced on Monday at CES that Milk Video and Milk Music are expanding beyond beyond Galaxy devices. See also: 30 Funny YouTube Videos Shorter Than Your Attention Span Milk Video is moving to a … [Link]
Mashable » Gaston destroys a confident Disney visitor in a push-up contest
As one Disney visitor discovered the hard way, the character actors strolling the parks can really walk the walk. A muscular patron challenged Beauty and the Beast's egomaniacal Gaston to a push-up contest, assuming the actor (or in Disney parlance, cast member) wasn't as strong as his padded suit exhibited. In just a few seconds, however, he was proven wrong. … [Link]
Mashable » An NBA team is hosting a Tinder night so fans can swipe right
While the players on the court try to put it in the hole, aspiring players in the stands will look to score, as well The NBA's Atlanta Hawks are hosting "Swipe Right Night" for fans of the team and users of Tinder, the ever-popular dating (read: hooking up) app See also: Express yourself: NBA's Mike Scott explains his sweet emoji tattoos … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » AT&T Pitches IoT as Developers' Next Money Maker
AT&T had a lot to say to developers today during its annual Developer Summit at the Consumer Electronics Show. AT&T highlighted a number of avenues for developers to target the Internet of Things, the connected car, the connected home and, of course, machine-to-machine.
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Mashable » This year's CES MashBash will be amazing, but tickets are selling out fast
Trust us on this one Nothing's worse than hearing all about a party you missed because you didn't grab tickets soon enough Here at Mashable, we always do CES big, but this year's MashBash in Las Vegas is going to be on a whole other level. Our team, along with DJ Jonathan Toubin and a few hundred of our closest friends, … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook buys Wit.ai, a speech recognition startup
Facebook may soon be able to understand you a bit better — or at least your voice Facebook has agreed to acquire Wit.ai, a speech recognition and natural language processing service. The deal could help the social networking company develop voice features for Messenger and help the Facebook developer community See also: Facebook in 2015: Drones, messaging and virtual reality, oh … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung upgrades the 4K experience with SUHD TVs
LAS VEGAS — Samsung is taking its 4K Ultra HD TVs to the next level. UHD is out, and SUHD is in. What does the "S" stand for? It officially doesn't stand for anything (although "Samsung" is a pretty good guess), it's mainly a rebranding of the company's line of LCD UHD TVs for 2015. There are upgrades however. Quantum-dot technology, … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung's massive 105-inch bendable TV gets real
LAS VEGAS — Samsung was the first to show off a bendable TV at last year's CES, then unveiled a mammoth 105-inch model last September. Now that big guy is becoming a real product — a very, very big real product. See also: New Dish set-top box is made for 4K television The UN105S9B TV joins Samsung's line of SUHD … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The International Guide to Shutting People Up [Comic]
[Source: James Chapman] The post The International Guide to Shutting People Up [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Samsung packs performance and security into its tiny T1 portable SSD
For a portable storage drive, speed, capacity and price used to be the only things you looked at. But after the past hack-filled year, you can add security to that list, and that's something Samsung's new T1 drive addresses. Like any drive, the T1 can be password-protected, but it also includes embedded security software and supports AES 256-bit data encryption — … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung's Curved Monitor: Total immersion while you work
LAS VEGAS — We know Samsung loves curved screens; now we know how much. The company is launching a 34-inch curved monitor at CES 2015 with a screen so wide you'll feel fully immersed whenever you're in front of it. See also: Samsung debuts an all-in-one PC with a curved screen The Samsung SE790C Curved Monitor has a 21:9 ultra-wide aspect … [Link]
Lifehacker » The Financial Moves You Should Make in January
The countdown is over, the champagne glasses are empty—and holiday sweaters are selling at huge discounts. It's 2015! And you know what that means? It's time to start working on all those lofty resolutions you made.Read more… [Link]
Slashdot » Who's Responsible When Your Semi-Autonomous Shopping Bot Purchases Drugs Online?
Nerval's Lobster writes Who's responsible when a bot breaks the law? A collective of Swiss artists faced that very question when they coded the Random Darknet Shopper, an online shopping bot, to purchase random items from a marketplace located on the Deep Web, an area of the World Wide Web not indexed by search engines. While many of the 16,000 … [Link]
Mashable » The selfie stick has taken over CES 2015
If 2014 was the year of the selfie stick, then CES 2015 may be the event where the product hits peak saturation. This year's International CES is still in its infancy, yet many people are already overwhelmed by them. I've lost track of how many selfie sticks I've seen at #CES2015 so far #MashCES — Sam Murphy Kelly (@HeySamantha) January 5, … [Link]
Mashable » Photographer captures gorgeous side-by-side portraits of transgender people in Cuba
Photographer Claudia González captures side-by-side portraits of transgender men and women as they transition through gender reassignment in Cuba for her ongoing series, Reassign. While she also works internationally in the fashion and publishing industries, this series is a personal project as well as a professional one. González said she conceived of the series after learning about Cenesex, the Cuban National … [Link]
Mashable » Monster reveals super-thin wireless headphones and waterproof speaker
LAS VEGAS — Monster kicked off its launch of several new products on Monday at CES by first bringing musician and actor Nick Cannon, the company's self-described "entrepretainer" spokesperson, on stage to talk about how his collaboration with the company has developed Much of the event was focused on reviewing Monster's most recent line of products, but following Cannon's brief comments, … [Link]
Slashdot » FCC Revamps Customer Complaint System
blottsie writes The FCC has heard your complaints, and it's finally going to make it easier to file more complaints. The Federal Communications Commission on Monday announced the launch of its Consumer Help Center, which according to a press release will feature a "streamlined, user-friendly complaint filing system," the "ability for consumers to monitor complaints, 24 hours a day, 7 … [Link]
Mashable » The financier, the prince and the underage sex claims: Inside UK's royal scandal
LONDON — Prince Andrew, the Duke of York who is fifth in line to the British throne, was recently named in court documents in the United States, alleging that he had sex with a 17 year old in three separate locations See also: Palace denies allegations about Prince Andrew in U.S. underage sex lawsuit While the Prince and Buckingham Palace have … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Smithsonian Launches Open F|S Initiative
The Smithsonian Institution has launched unprecedented access to American and Asian art collections with its Open F|S initiative. Open F|S provides full access to two Smithsonian collections: the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Open F|S offers a free public resource where anyone can explore 40,000 works of art, most in high resolution with no copyright … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » 33 Real Life Lessons from ‘Harry Potter’
[Via Geekxgirls] The post 33 Real Life Lessons from ‘Harry Potter’ appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » German landmarks go dark to protest anti-Islam rallies
Local landmarks throughout Germany went dark on Monday in protest of a group staging weekly rallies against the perceived "Islamization of the West." See also: Before the Berlin Wall, people escaped through a wire fence Anti-Islam rallies have been spreading across the country since December, but thousands took to the streets in Cologne, Berlin and Stuttgart to urge tolerance while landmarks … [Link]
Slashdot » How Long Will It Take Streaming To Dominate the Music Business?
journovampire writes with this story about the booming music streaming business. "Streaming is on course to make more money for the U.S. music business than downloads and physical sales combined within the next three years. The U.S. appears poised for streaming to become its most valuable music format in either 2016 or 2017, according to MBW forecasts – so long … [Link]
Mashable » NYC mayor says crime dropped to 'unimaginable' levels in 2014
New York City crime was way down in 2014 Major crime dropped 4.6% from 2013 to 2014, and major crime on the subway fell 15% over the same period, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said on Monday. Last year saw 2,600 fewer robberies than the year before, and there were only two homicides on the city's subway … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Wind riders: Amazing albatross flight inspires drones
Albatrosses fly fast for huge distances, barely flapping a wing. Can they teach us to build drones that will stay aloft for months or even years? (full text available to subscribers) 
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Slashdot » Inside Amsterdam's Efforts To Become a Smart City
First time accepted submitter MollsEisley writes Throughout Amsterdam there are "Living Labs," or communities that act as petri dishes for ideas and initiatives to be tested before scaling them across the city. In IJburg, Amsterdam's youngest neighborhood, projects like free Wi-Fi and a new Fiber network, personalized television and transportation services, and a coworking space allow residents to experiment and … [Link]
Mashable » NYT reporter refuses to answer questions in CIA leak case
A New York Times reporter will be of little assistance to prosecutors as they put a former CIA officer on trial for allegedly leaking classified information about a botched operation in Iran. Journalist James Risen testified Monday at an unusual pretrial hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, where former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling goes on trial next week on charges … [Link]
Mashable » New Dish set-top box is made for 4K television
Dish announced a new Ultra HD set-top box at CES on Monday: the 4K Joey. The box will be compatible with HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 ports and will allow users to stream 4K content to their televisions. It's one of the latest additions to Dish's DVR Hopper system See also: 120 Sports Wants to Be ESPN for Cord Cutters 
Image: DishThe 4K … [Link]
Mashable » E! picks up TV show from YouTube star Grace Helbig
YouTuber Grace Helbig is headed for the mainstream E! announced Monday it has picked up a weekly "hybrid comedy show" from the 29-year-old personality, tentatively titled The Grace Helbig Project See also: 18 new shows we can't wait to see in 2015 Set to debut in April, the show will feature talk of pop culture and celebrity interviews in an improvisational … [Link]
Mashable » Baby playing with python is equal parts adorable and terrifying
Babies playing with animals is adorable — but what if it's not a puppy or a kitten, but a 13-foot Burmese Python? Snake handler Jamie Guarino thinks pythons make pretty good family pets, so he lets his baby play with one To his credit, things seem to be going alright so far and the duo do seem to be enjoying … [Link]
Mashable » HP isn't stopping at curved or 4K monitors; it's going for 5K
Not content with showing off a virtual reality display, HP upped its monitor game at CES 2015 by unveiling a number of curved and 4K monitors — and even a 5K display. Like LG, HP is dipping its toes into curved displays with a 27-inch model and a 34-inch model. See also: Sharp raises the 4K game with 'virtual 8K' TV … [Link]
Mashable » Lenovo Yoga 3: Convertibles get faster, lighter and cheaper
LAS VEGAS — Lenovo's Yoga laptop/tablet hybrid was one of the few success stories among Windows "convertible" PCs. It wasn't just because it was equipped with a keyboard that swung a full 360 degrees around to become a tablet — it was also a well-made, well-designed laptop. The Lenovo Yoga 3 (not to be confused with the previously launched Yoga 3 … [Link]
Mashable » Wearables everywhere, but few under $100. Enter Lenovo's Vibe Band VB10.
Lenovo Vibe Band VB10 is nothing fancy, but it won't cost you much. Lenovo hopped onto the wearable bandwagon back in October with its Smartband SW-B100. On Monday at CES, the company announced its Vibe Band VB10, which the company's latest go at a smartwatch/fitness tracker. See also: 14 health and fitness wearables and gadgets worth giving The device has an … [Link]
Mashable » A jam session on kid-sized instruments is more powerful than you'd think
Big sound can come from small instruments, if the right musicians sit behind the drum kit. Musician Frank Pasquale and a friend hooked up a child-sized electric guitar and a miniature drum kit for a quick jam session Proof that when it comes to heavy metal, adult instruments are not required. Baby playing with python is equal parts adorable and … [Link]
Mashable » Intel edges further into mobile with Lenovo's P90 smartphone
Even though Intel is known for its processors found in most PCs, the company holds just a teeny-tiny share of the smartphone market. Apple uses its own custom chips in the iPhone, and almost all non-Apple phones have processors from companies like Qualcomm. Lenovo's P90 smartphone, which the electronics manufacturer unveiled at International CES on Monday, is giving Intel a little … [Link]
Mashable » Lenovo gadget will brighten up your selfie, with the right phone
Taking selfies in the dark is hazardous business, but Lenovo's Vibe X2 Pro smartphone has a solution. The phone, which Lenovo unveiled at CES 2015 on Monday, comes with a flash extension that plugs right into the device's audio jack. It syncs with the phone's shutter to automatically flash any time a photo's taken. See also: 21 greatest selfies of 2014 … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How Building a Black Hole for ‘Interstellar’ Led To an Amazing Scientific Discovery
As I am sure many of you have heard by now, the black hole seen in the Christopher Nolan movie Interstellar is considered the most realistic portrayal of a black hole ever put on film. But did you know, in creating it (and ensuring it was accurate), they also discovered elements to the appearance of a black hole they would’ve … [Link]
Mashable » Asus' new Transformer Chi books are lightweight PC-tablet hybrids
Asus revealed its latest line of Transformer devices, the Chi series of tablet-laptop hybrids, at CES on Monday. The Windows Chi books — which can be used as tablets, or docked to keyboards — are fairly thin and lightweight and come in three different sizes. The hybrid is nothing new, but the Chi books offer a nice variety for customers to … [Link]
Mashable » Asus' new ZenFones are all about Intel chips and optical zooms
LAS VEGAS — Asus launched its new flagship smartphone, the ZenFone 2, which has something different inside: a 64-bit Intel chip. The ZenFone 2 packs one of Intel's newest quad-core 2.3GHz Atom processors, setting it apart from the vast majority of smartphones that opt for an ARM-based chip. The Intel chip, which can be paired with a whopping 4GB of RAM, … [Link]
Slashdot » Writers Say They Feel Censored By Surveillance
schwit1 writes with news about the impact of government surveillance on authors and their work worldwide . A survey of writers around the world by the PEN American Center has found that a significant majority said they were deeply concerned with government surveillance, with many reporting that they have avoided, or have considered avoiding, controversial topics in their work or … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Why Exposed API Keys and Sensitive Data are Growing Cause for Concern
Internet security is a subject that is being covered more and more frequently by technology blogs and with good reason: the number of high profile internet security breaches has gone up substantially in the last few years. According to Semantec, 2013 saw a 62-percent increase in the number of breaches, a 91-percent increase in targeted attack campaigns, over 552M identities … [Link]
Mashable » When Shaq smacks your butt and tells you to dance, you dance.
Sometimes, letting loose and dancing in front of a crowd can take a little coaxing. Especially if you're on stage during a press conference at the biggest electronics trade show in the United States. Monster unveiled a slew of new products during CES in Las Vegas on Monday. To help introduce its new waterproof, floatable Bluetooth speaker, the company asked … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Books to look forward to in 2015
A sneak preview of what's due to be published in the coming year suggests a promising crop 
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Mashable » Beloved '90s mall brand Wet Seal gets mauled on social media
Several former Wet Seal employees are exacting revenge on the retailer for its recent layoffs by sparking a protest on social media that has led to widespread bashing of the '90s brand. A handwritten poster penned by ex-employees of a now-shuttered Seattle location soared to the top of Reddit on Monday. According to the sign, workers were cheated out of an … [Link]
Mashable » Ferguson grand juror sues for right to tell what happened
A grand juror who served on a St. Louis grand jury that investigated the shooting death of Michael Brown wants to discuss the case that led to no charges for Ferguson officer Darren Wilson. However, it is illegal to discuss the case without permission from the court, so the grand juror is suing St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch, who was … [Link]
Slashdot » In Daring Plan, Tomorrow SpaceX To Land a Rocket On Floating Platform
HughPickens.com writes "The cost of getting to orbit is exorbitant, because the rocket, with its multimillion-dollar engines, ends up as trash in the ocean after one launching, something Elon Musk likens to throwing away a 747 jet after a single transcontinental flight. That's why tomorrow morning at 620 am his company hopes to upend the economics of space travel in … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » New Year’s Resolutions from Middle Earth [Pic]
These new year resolutions are totally worth keeping! [Source: G. D. Falksen on Twitter] The post New Year’s Resolutions from Middle Earth [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Melo Mind wants to train your brain to chill out
LAS VEGAS — The music playing in my ear is not pleasant, the headgear looks ridiculous, but the makers of myBrain Technologies insist their invention, Melo Mind, can help me chill out –- even among the madness that is CES 2015. Unveiled here Sunday night, the Melo Mind headset reads neural activity and attempts to translate it in the language of … [Link]
Slashdot » Nest Will Now Work With Your Door Locks, Light Bulbs and More
An anonymous reader writes with news about 15 new brand partnerships Nest announced today. "When Google purchased Nest Labs – the maker of Internet-connected thermostats and smoke detectors – the search engine giant saw the potential to create a software platform for controlling the myriad everyday devices and gadgets in consumers' homes, a central hub for the so-called "Internet of … [Link]
Mashable » HP's virtual reality display lets you manipulate 3D images
HP is showing off its Zvr Virtual Reality Display, a monitor that allows users to manipulate and toy with 3D images on the screen by using glasses in a stylus. With the technology, someone could virtually dissect a frog, for example, explore an office building or even poke at the insides of the human heart, according to HP. See also: 5 … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Map a room by shining a laser through the keyhole
An imaging technique that measures the path of a laser can build up a three-dimensional picture and could let spies map an entire room 
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Mashable » Two U.S. citizens charged after trying to overthrow Gambian government
Two U.S. citizens have been arrested and charged with conspiring to stage a coup last month in the west African nation of Gambia The two men are now in custody after returning to the U.S. following their participation in the failed attempt to overthrow the Gambian government on Dec. 30, the U.S. Justice Department said on Monday. See also: Access and … [Link]
Mashable » Mysterious bombing rocks Ukrainian port city of Odessa
The Ukrainian seaside city of Odessa was rocked overnight by blast that ripped through a volunteer center helping Ukraine's soldiers on the front lines of the country's war-torn eastern conflict zone. See also: Two dead after Ukraine rocked by series of blasts The blast, which occurred late Sunday night, was the latest in a spate of explosions around the country, and … [Link]
Slashdot » Interviews: Ask Alexander Stepanov and Daniel E. Rose a Question
An anonymous reader writes "Alexander Stepanov studied mathematics at Moscow State University and has been programming since 1972. His work on foundations of programming has been supported by GE, Brooklyn Polytechnic, AT&T, HP, SGI, and, since 2002, Adobe. In 1995 he received the Dr. Dobb's Journal Excellence in Programming Award for the design of the C++ Standard Template Library. Currently, … [Link]
Mashable » What £1,000 in rent gets you across the UK
LONDON — As millions return to work this week, new research has revealed that public opinion on rent controls — which would limit what landlords can charge — has shifted dramatically. Shelter, a housing and homelessness charity, warns that 60% of people are struggling to meet their housing costs. See also: What $1,500 in Rent Gets You in 11 U.S. Cities … [Link]
Mashable » Japan confirms 2014 was Earth's warmest year
The first official temperature monitoring institution to report 2014's climate data has now confirmed what climatologists widely expected: 2014 was the planet's warmest year since thermometers began monitoring temperatures in the late 19th century Other studies, using data from ice cores, tree rings, corals and other so-called "proxy" data shows the planet has not been this warm in at least 4,000 … [Link]
Mashable » Thick woods and a broken wrist no match for 7-year-old girl who survives deadly plane crash
Forty minutes after a small plane lost contact with air traffic controllers over southwestern Kentucky on Saturday, a bloodied and barefoot 7-year-old girl emerged from the woods and knocked on Larry Wilkins' door. See also: 13 unsolved mysteries that still need answers in 2015 "I come to the door and there's a little girl, 7 years old, bloody nose, bloody arms, … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Valkyrie Cosplayer Seems to be Coming Right Out of Asgard [Cosplay Pics]
If you’ve ever seen Valkyrie as a comic book character, then I’m pretty sure you’ve already noticed that Maid of Might Cosplay looks just like her. I just love her costume, it is very close from perfection. Photography by the excellent Manny Llanura of Manny Llanura Photography. 
[Costume and Model: Maid of Might Cosplay | Photo: Manny Llanura Photography] The … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: dating apps and disease, world-scale megaprojects, drones for wildlife, how iron blocked life and more 
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Mashable » 4 oddball gadgets that could soon be in your home
There are some strange gadgets floating around CES 2015, from a self-watering plant to a helmet that measures your brainwaves. Cat can't control his supreme hatred for olives Aussie guys drink from a beer fountain made with thongs If adults argued like adorable kids, the world would be a better place Fisher-Price brings the tears in ad starring 2015's first … [Link]
Mashable » Thousands of Facebook users share dog photos to cheer up sick kid
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/~ fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Those dog pics fueling your Facebook feed may be for good. Thousands of people around the world are posting their pups to cheer up an Arizona teen in treatment for cancer. Sixteen-year-old Anthony Lyons was … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Red Hat Sees Docker Containers Driving More BaaS Flexibility
The arrival of 2015 should bring with it a more disciplined approach to building mobile computing applications in the enterprise by relying more on back-end-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms that, thanks to Docker containers, will soon be more portable between different operating systems.
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Mashable » Dish makes a big splash into web TV with $20/month for ESPN (and more)
Another major domino has fallen for cord cutters The first real Internet-only television subscription package has been introduced by DISH Network, marking an important milestone in the transition of TV from cable to the web. See also: Cord cutting accelerates as 150,000 cancel TV service DISH's service, called Sling TV, offers customers $20-a-month option for a limited batch of channels. It … [Link]
Slashdot » Tumblr Co-Founder: Apple's Software Is In a Nosedive
mrspoonsi writes Respected developer Marco Arment is worried about Apple's future. In a blog post, he writes, "Apple's hardware today is amazing — it has never been better. But the software quality has taken such a nosedive in the last few years that I'm deeply concerned for its future." Arment was CTO at Tumblr, before he left to start Instapaper. … [Link]
Mashable » Wobbly polar vortex: Who's facing brutal cold this week
One year ago this week, temperatures across most of the lower 48 states were plunging to the lowest levels seen in about three decades, spawning the rise of the weather term of 2014: "polar vortex." Exactly a year later, it's happening again See also: Polar vortex redux? Bone-chilling cold to envelop Midwest, East Coast However, there are important differences between … [Link]
Mashable » Netflix will tell you the best TV to stream online video
LAS VEGAS — Netflix is going to start telling people whether or not a particular TV is good for streaming. Its new initiative, the Recommended TV program, was announced by Netflix's chief of streaming and partnerships, Greg Peters, at CES 2015. He said Netflix would point users to specific TVs based on the content they're looking for, meaning that if a … [Link]
Mashable » Kickstarter pledges topped $500 million in 2014
It took Kickstarter nearly five years to top $1 billion in total pledges. Last year alone, it did more than half that amount Kickstarter announced Monday that 3.3 million backers pledged more than $500 million (about $529 million, according to a rep) to projects on the site throughout 2014. All in all, 22,252 projects were funded successfully on the crowdfunding platform … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Volcanic iron delayed explosion of life on Earth
Ancient microbes churned out oxygen for half a billion years before it reached levels adequate for complex life. A glut of iron may explain why it took so long 
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Mashable » Sharp raises the 4K game with 'virtual 8K' TV
LAS VEGAS — 4K is everywhere at CES 2015, but that makes it common, not cool. You know what's cool? 8K — a screen with four times the pixels of 4K, and Sharp just announced a TV that can display it… more or less. On the spec sheet, Sharp's set is a 4K TV. Indeed, the company calls it the Sharp … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » WANT: This Darth Vader Sixth Scale Figure is Unbelievably Gorgeous
This highly-detailed and amazingly crafted Darth Vader sixth scale figure (35cm) comes from the folks over at Hot Toys and features an “intricately-constructed Darth Vader armor and helmet, specially tailored suit, built-in sound effect function with Darth Vader’s breathing sound, LED-lighted lightsaber and belt, a finely made Interrogator Droid, and a specially designed figure stand.” A must-have for Star Wars … [Link]
Mashable » Most Snapchat users don't mind the ads, per a Snapchat-funded study
Most Snapchat users don't wish that ads in their feeds would disappear, according to a third-party survey of 600 people commissioned by the company Millward Brown Digital, a global branding consultancy established in 1973, analyzed Snapchat's first ad products. "Our Stories" and "Brand Stories" went over well with Snapchat's audience; 60% of users reported they enjoyed Our Stories, and 44% said … [Link]
Slashdot » Project Ryptide Drone Flies Life-Rings To Distressed Swimmers
Zothecula writes The speed that drones can be deployed makes them ideal for delivering items when time is of the essence. The Ambulance Drone and Defikopter, for example, are used for transporting defibrillators to those in need. Now, Project Ryptide plans to use drones to deliver life-rings to swimmers in distress. From the article: "The project, which is at pre-production … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Extreme bushfires consume South Australian homes
Many properties have been lost as the worst bushfires to hit the region in 30 years continue to blaze 
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Mashable » LG launches the G Flex2, doubles down on the curved smartphone
LAS VEGAS — LG Electronics revealed what had become an open secret at CES by Monday morning: It's launching the G Flex2, the second in its line of curiously curved Android smartphones with supposedly scratch-resistant rears The Korean electronics giant is heavily promoting the device as an extra-tough "self-healing" smartphone, even more so than its predecessor. LG boasts that its own … [Link]
Mashable » Cat can't control his supreme hatred for olives
This cat is the spirit animal of olive haters everywhere When presented with the fruit's sickening scent, he behaves much the way humans do when a rogue olive slice ruins a good forkful of Greek salad. Hopefully we can hold it together better than this little guy did. 4 oddball gadgets that could soon be in your home Aussie guys … [Link]
Mashable » LG's 4K OLED TV can bend on command
LAS VEGAS — We saw the world's first "bendable" TVs at last year's show, but CES 2015 sees them leap to a new levelLG's first flexible set combines all the top features of today's premium TVs — 4K resolution, OLED tech, and a visual smart TV interface — and throws in the ability to curve on demand. The EG9900 is a … [Link]
Mashable » A car can drive itself during traffic jams with new Bosch system
LAS VEGAS — Google's self-driving car may be the belle of the automated vehicle world right now, but Bosch just announced a new automated system that allows a car to drive itself during traffic jams Bosch is adding the system to Jeep Cherokee models at the 2015 International CES to show how manufacturers can help drivers navigate through traffic jams. The … [Link]
Mashable » LG's quantum-dot TV gets real
LAS VEGAS — As promised, LG has unveiled its quantum-dot TV The UF9400, unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, is one of the first TVs to incorporate the tech, which is said to enhance color greatly. See also: Roku to be built into more TVs in 2015 — including 4K TVs The 65-inch TV is fundamentally an LCD panel, but it … [Link]
Mashable » LG goes all-in on 4K with 7 new OLED TVs
Sure, there's the more eye-catching flexible TV and the quantom-dot one, too, but LG also revealed a batch of new (and presumably quite expensive) TVs at CES on Monday. In addition the EG9900 — which can flex on demand — LG is rolling out six more OLED TVs. In all, the TVs range in size from 55- to 77-inch displays. And … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » 10 (Somewhat) Honest Video Game Descriptions
[Via GeekXGirls] The post 10 (Somewhat) Honest Video Game Descriptions appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Personal streaming just got easier for hardcore audiophiles
LAS VEGAS — Hardcore audiophiles still transitioning into the age of digital just got another tool designed to make personal streaming easier with the introduction of Cambridge Audio's new CX Series of audio devices The foundation of the new set of offerings is the CXN Upsampling Network Music Player See also: 8 Best Speakers for iPhone Not only does the network … [Link]
Mashable » Keen Home smart vent lets you customize heating in individual rooms
LAS VEGAS — A heating vent might not be the sexiest home accessory to update, but a new high-tech option lets you control each room individually and save big on energy costs along the way. A new smart vent from Keen Home on display at the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas lets you control each vent, so you're not wasting … [Link]
Mashable » New Google Cast speakers will stream audio from the cloud
LAS VEGAS — Google's foray into the world of streaming media with Chromecast for video just expanded with the announcement of Google Cast, a tool designed around the same concept — but focused on audio Using Google Cast-enabled speakers, users can simply tap the Google Cast button in Android, iOS or on the web, and their music and other audio instantly … [Link]
Slashdot » Bitstamp Bitcoin Exchange Suspended Due To "Compromised Wallet"
twitnutttt writes Customers of Bistamp, the successor (until recently) to MtGox as the highest-volume dollar-denominated Bitcoin exchange, and still the preferred source of trading data for many technical analysts, sent an email at about 4:00 UTC today warning that, "Today our transaction processing server detected problems with our hot wallet and stopped processing withdrawals." They also instructed users to stop … [Link]
Mashable » Sony's PlayStation Now gets all-you-can-play subscription
Sony's streaming game service PlayStation Now is getting an all-you-can-game subscription on Jan. 13 in the U.S. and Canada. PlayStation 4 owners can pay $19.99 a month to stream games, or $44.99 for a three-month pass. PlayStation Now allows gamers to stream more than 100 PlayStation 3 titles to PlayStation 4, the PlayStation TV and other Sony connected devices. Users … [Link]
Mashable » Putin critic Alexei Navalny defies ‘illegal’ house arrest
Russian opposition leader, Kremlin critic and prominent political blogger Alexei Navalny said on Monday that he would no longer abide by the terms of his ‘illegal’ house arrest, defiantly cutting off his monitoring bracelet. See also: Russia jails brother of opposition leader who exposed Kremlin corruption "I refuse to comply with the requirements of my illegal detention under house arrest," Navalny … [Link]
Mashable » Passenger dies on Etihad flight that was delayed for 13 hours
“Unprecedented fog" in Abu Dhabi caused several nightmarish delays for plane passengers, according to Etihad Airways. Etihad Flight 183 from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco was held on the tarmac for 12 hours on Saturday, turning a 16-hour flight into 28 hours of misery. And Flight 23 to Dusseldorf, Germany, was delayed for 13 hours because of the same fog. After … [Link]
Mashable » Indian airports tighten security after hijack threat
Indian airports are on high alert after a threat was made over the weekend to hijack a state-run Air India flight. The anonymous caller phoned in the threat to the Kolkata office of Air India, according to NDTV. The brief call was allegedly made in Bengali, but the caller did not specify which flight would be targeted. See also: 10 Startups … [Link]
Slashdot » WSJ Refused To Publish Lawrence Krauss' Response To "Science Proves Religion"
First time accepted submitter Kubla Kahhhn! writes Recently, the WSJ posted a controversial piece "Science Increasingly Makes a Case for God", written by non-scientist Eric Metaxas. Noted astrophysicist Lawrence Krauss wrote a simple and clear retort in a letter to the editor, which the WSJ declined to publish, but Richard Dawkins did. 
Read more of this story at Slashdot. 
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O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 5 January 2015
Lincoln Gallery Reuse — UK gallery placed 3d models of their works online, and are sharing what people did with them. Some beautiful art in here! (via BoingBoing) Kesihif — open source browser for faceted data. 2014 Robotics IPOs, Acquisitions, … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: High Performance Parallelism Pearls – $39.98 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "High Performance Parallelism Pearls" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2015-01-06 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
New Scientist – News » NASA's Messenger probe ready for final tour of Mercury
With the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury about to fire its booster one last time, NASA is holding a public contest to name five of the planet's craters 
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Mashable » 'Take me to the nearest donut shop' — GM to launch commerce to OnStar
General Motors is about to roll out a sweet new feature to its OnStar system. The car manufacturer is preparing to launch AtYourService, a program that will bring discounts and information on nearby businesses to its OnStar subscription service. GM has already struck deals with Dunkin' Donuts and travel booking site Priceline.com, the latter of which will allow users to book … [Link]
Slashdot » Netflix Denies There Was a Policy Change With VPNs
Dangerous_Minds writes "The other day, Slashdot linked to a TorrentFreak story saying that Netflix was cracking down on VPN users. But PCMag has a story that quotes a Netflix spokesperson saying that there was no change in their policy on VPNs. Freezenet also did some digging around and found very few reports saying there were VPN access issues and even … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Unveils Nokia 215, a $29 Phone With Internet Access
An anonymous reader sends word of the Nokia 215, Microsoft's $29 internet-ready phone. "Smartphones may be more affordable than ever, but, for quite a few people, they are still too expensive. And they offer short battery life, pretty much across the board. It is not a winning combination, especially for those living in developing markets, looking to be connected to … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Flying high: Drones keep tabs on wildlife from above
Cheap, quiet and much safer than planes, researchers are turning to drones to help monitor animals at risk 
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New Scientist – News » Old Scientist: 50 years of deadly transport
From the January archives of New Scientist: we call for black boxes, ask if the Channel Tunnel is safe and worry about cosmic rays 
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Mashable » The scooter that could be the future of electric vehicles
LAS VEGAS — Electric vehicles may be getting more mainstream, but the logistics of the recharging process make them impractical for many, even in larger cities Energy startup Gogoro aims to solve this problem by creating a system that allows people to quickly swap their electric vehicles' batteries rather than waiting to recharge. The company unveiled its plan for a network … [Link]
Mashable » Canon unveils NFC camera hub for wireless photo sharing
LAS VEGAS — The magic of NFC has been with us for some time now, but now that it's finally going a bit more mainstream in the U.S., device makers are getting more aggressive about harnessing the technology Following this trend in the realm of cameras is Canon, which just unveiled its new line of affordable, NFC-enabled PowerShot point and shoots … [Link]
Mashable » With the new 3Doodler pen, drawing in midair isn't just make-believe
LAS VEGAS — Drawing in mid-air is about to become a thing. Over the past two years, two companies have developed two different ways of creating 3D objects simply by drawing in the air with oversized pens. Now, one of those companies, WobbleWorks, LLC., is ready to take the nascent creative platform to the next level with a smaller pen that … [Link]
Mashable » Smartwatch heart rate trackers can turn you on from miles away
LAS VEGAS — Smartwatches are about to get a lot sexier, and we're not talking about sleekness and design. Sex toy company OhMiBod's smartwatch app allows users to remotely control "massagers" (more commonly known as vibrators). So if you own a smartwatch (like the Moto 360 or the Apple Watch when it debuts), you'll be able to tap away on the … [Link]
Mashable » The best fitness tracker on the market just got even better
LAS VEGAS — Garmin might not be as well known as Fitbit or Jawbone in the fitness tracker category, but when it comes to usability for true fitness fanatics, its vívofit is widely considered the best on the market. On the heels of that success, the company, which is more commonly associated with its GPS products, introduced on Monday the second … [Link]
Mashable » Philips speaker is designed to stream Spotify music
Consumers may be increasingly unwilling to, you know, buy music — but maybe they'll be willing to a buy a speaker to stream free music. Philips unveiled a Spotify-specific speaker at CES on Monday, and it allows users to seamlessly move music from the app to the loudspeaker See also: 9 Spotify tools for hardcore music fans So say a user … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Deep bacteria may evolve even without passing genes on
Genetic changes found in mysterious bacteria living deep under the sea may have let them survive for millions of years without passing genes on to offspring 
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Slashdot » NVIDIA Announces Tegra X1 Chip and Drive CX and PX Automotive Platforms
MojoKid writes For the last few years, NVIDIA has taken advantage of the lead-up to the Consumer Electronics Show to announce new Tegra-powered mobile architectures and this year we're being treated to more of the same. Today, NVIDIA unveiled its upcoming Tegra X1 system on a chip (SoC) and a few automotive computer systems leveraging the chip. Tegra X1 is … [Link]
Mashable » Four anti-drone protestors arrested at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire
LONDON — Four anti-drone protestors have been arrested after cutting through a wire fence at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. See also: An animated history of drones The group, calling itself End The Drone Wars, were protesting against the use of armed drones operated from the base. This morning at 8 am 4 activists entered RAF Waddington to call for an end … [Link]
Slashdot » Ancient Planes and Other Claims Spark Controversy at Indian Science Congress
An anonymous reader writes A paper presented at the 102nd Indian Science Congress on Sunday claims that Indians had mastered aviation thousands of years before the Wright brothers. India's science and technology minister Mr. Harsh Vardhan who was present at the conference claimed that ancient Indian mathematicians discovered the Pythagorean theorem but that the Greeks got the credit. These startling … [Link]
Mashable » HP Pavilion Mini and Stream Mini shrink the desktop PC
LAS VEGAS — You might think it's a little last-minute to be coming out with a Mac mini clone, but HP thinks it's better late than never. At CES 2015, the PC maker unveiled the Pavilion Mini and Stream Mini PCs, which shrink the desktop computer down to the size of a cereal bowl. Make no mistake, though, the Pavilion Mini … [Link]
Mashable » Scanify helps you create 3D selfies — for a price
LAS VEGAS — Selfies are as hot as ever, but the concept is getting a little stale. Turn your noggin, smile impishly at the camera, make a duck face, grab a few friends –- whatever you do, the results will look pretty much like all other selfies. Fuel3D’s handheld 3D scanner, however, aims to put a new face on selfies by … [Link]
Mashable » Everything this extreme Garmin fitness watch can do will stress you out
LAS VEGAS — True fitness fanatics are probably familiar with Garmin's line of sports watches and fitness trackers, but non-extremists need not apply for this new wearable. The company announced on Monday two new fitness watches at the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas. First, there's the fenix 3, which users would want to take on a serious climb; just hearing … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 67% Off Select MEElectronics Fitness & Fashion Headphones
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers up to 67% off on select MEElectronics fitness and fashion headphones, starting from as low as $10.99. Today only and while supplies last, select MEElectronics headphones are up to 67% off list price. Building off of their best-selling Sport-Fi M6 Noise Isolating Memory Wire Headphones, MEElectronics is proud to feature … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How to Feel Like You Joined a Gym (Without Actually Joining One) [Comic]
Here’s a surefire way to help make you feel like you joined a gym without actually joining one. Getting “ripped” has never been easier! This is the perfect way to start 2015 without giving too much effort! [Source: Fowl Language | Like Fowl Language on Facebook] —————~ The post How to Feel Like You Joined a Gym (Without Actually Joining … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Twelfth Doctor “Shut Up” Supercut [Video]
All the previous doctors had their catchphrases: Ninth had “Fantastic!,” Tenth had “Allons-y!,” Eleventh, “Geronimo,” and even though Peter Capaldi seems to be saying that his Doctor doesn’t have one, this supercut of twelfth saying “Shut Up” seems to be indicating that this isn’t the case. -Buy Doctor Who Season 8 on Blu-Ray [Blogtor Who | Via IO9] The post … [Link]
Mashable » Nine people choke to death in Japan after eating New Year's rice cakes
At least nine people have reportedly choked to death on New Year's rice cakes in Japan, and officials are urging people to chew slowly on the treats. See also: Japan wants to resume its whale hunt Sticky rice cakes, or "mochi," are an essential part of the Japanese New Year's holiday menu. But the glutinous mochi, grilled or cooked in broth … [Link]
Mashable » Angry Etihad passengers stuck on San Francisco-bound plane for 28 hours
Hundreds of air travelers landed in San Francisco, safe but irritated after a 28-hour overseas flight they say included 12 hours on a tarmac in the Middle East without food or accurate flight information. See also: Passenger uses emergency slide 'to get off the plane quicker' Tempers grew short on Etihad Airways Flight 183 when fog in the city of Abu … [Link]
Mashable » Indonesia announces crackdown on aviation industry after AirAsia crash
Highlighting the depth of Indonesia's air safety problems, the transportation ministry announced harsh measures Monday against everyone who allowed AirAsia Flight 8501 to take off without proper permits — including the suspension of the airport's operator and officials in the control tower. See also: Missing AirAsia flight puts pressure on aircraft tracking debate The routing permits of all airlines flying in … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » How to Better Promote Your API at Hackathons
At Hackathons, teams are working with a limited amount of time. With that in mind, when given a choice between multiple APIs at an event it makes sense that developers will naturally gravitate to the most developer-friendly environments that offer the best tools for quickly onboarding consumers.
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Mashable » Brad Pitt leads sing-along to pronounce British actor David Oyelowo's name
Brad Pitt led a somewhat, shall we say unique, sing-along at the Palm Springs Film Festival Saturday as he taught the assembled audience how to say David Oyelowo's name. See also: Brad Pitt on Sony hack coverage: 'It's more of an indictment on us' Pitt was onstage at the ceremony to present Oyelowo with the Breakthrough Performance Award for his … [Link]
Mashable » Swarovski bling comes to Misfit's fitness tracker collection
LAS VEGAS — Here's what I tend to say when I get my hands on a new fitness tracker: it works great, but I'd never leave it on for a fancy dinner Now Misfit's assortment of bejeweled accessories will have me way overdressed for the gym. Misfit, known for its fitness and sleep tracking gadgets, is partnering up with crystal giant … [Link]
Mashable » David Cameron reveals Barack Obama calls him 'Bro'
LONDON — David Cameron says his relationship with President Barack Obama is so close that the Commander in Chief calls him "bro". See also: David Cameron Loses Himself in Eminem Rap The admission came in an interview with the Mail on Sunday when the Prime Minister was asked about his relationship with Washington "The President has said the special relationship is … [Link]
Slashdot » "Disco Clam" Lights Up To Scare Predators Away
sciencehabit writes When predators get close, the bright, orange-lipped "disco clam" flashes them to scare them off. But it's not just the light that's important. Researchers have found that the clam has sulfur in its fleshy lips and tentacles and suspect that, like another clam species that drop tentacles laden with sulfuric acid to deter predators, the disco clam's sulfur … [Link]
Mashable » Dramatic footage: Cargo ship capsizes off English coast
LONDON — Footage captured Sunday from a drone and a jetskier shows a 51,000-tonne car transporter leaning by 52 degrees on a sandbank between Southampton and the Isle of Wight The Höegh Osaka was deliberately run aground Saturday evening after it began to list shortly after it left the Port of Southampton bound for Germany. The 25 crew members onboard the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Keep science at the heart of new push to end poverty
Science and technology have proved the key to prosperity for poor nations. The 2030 development goals must enshrine this, says journalist Curtis Abraham 
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Mashable » Nest continues quest for smart home domination
LAS VEGAS – Google wants to be at the center of your future smart home, and its Nest thermostat is well on its way to becoming the control center. To encourage customers to join the smart-home bandwagon, Nest is pitching its products as a way to save on energy costs, and streamline at-home tasks by working with third-party products. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Aussie guys drink from a beer fountain made with thongs
There are moments when it is hard to admit that you are Australian. This includes when a bunch of lads decide to embarrass the entire country by using the country's preferred footwear as a beer fountain. A YouTube account under the name Benji Damas posted a video showing a bunch of Aussie guys at a caravan park lining up their … [Link]
Mashable » Chevy reveals 2016 Volt, doubles down on electric hybrid cars
LAS VEGAS — We just took the wraps off 2015, but General Motors already has its eyes on next year with its sneak peak of its 2016 version of the Chevy Volt electric hybrid vehicle The new Volt was teased on Sunday at CES, where global chief marketing officer Tim Mahoney took to the stage and gave a small group of … [Link]
Slashdot » Finnish Bank OP Under Persistent DDoS Attack
An anonymous reader writes The Finnish bank OP Pohjola Group has been a target of a dedicated DDoS attack for days. The attack, which investigators said was launched from both Finland and abroad, began on New Year's Eve. OP was forced to open a helpline for customers unable to confirm payments or transfer money because of jammed systems. On Saturday … [Link]
Mashable » Nvidia unveils its most powerful chip ever — and it's for cars
LAS VEGAS — Chipmaker Nvidia just introduced its most powerful mobile processor ever, the Tegra X1 — which is capable of doing teraflops, or trillions of calculations every second. But it isn't for necessarily phones, tablets or even gaming, at least for now No, the target market appears to be cars. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang took the stage at CES 2015 … [Link]
Mashable » San Francisco officers kill man near police station, authorities say
SAN FRANCISCO — Authorities say officers shot and killed a man near a San Francisco police station who held what appeared to be a handgun. Police spokesman Albie Esparza says police opened fire Sunday evening after the man pulled what was later determined to be a type of air gun. He says the 32-year-old man, who was not further identified, was … [Link]
Mashable » KFC is going hipster and wants to serve you beer with your chicken
Nothing is more Australian than washing a feast down with an iced cold beer, and KFC wants to make this an in-store reality. The fried chicken store has applied for a liquor license for a new concept store in Parramatta in Western Sydney, which will be known as KFC Urban, Fairfax Media reported. The store will be fitted out to appear … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2089: Zuck goes book-zerk!
At least he's not book clubbing! If you enJoyed the comic, please retweet or share the URL, rather than wait for the book. Thanks! [Link]
Mashable » This smart baby bottle holder monitors food intake
LAS VEGAS — From the company that brought us the much-hyped smart fork comes a new food tracking gadget: a smart baby bottle holder. At CES 2015, French company Slow Control showed off its Baby GiGL, which helps parents keep track of how much and how fast a baby is drinking. See also: This chair is an invisible gym for your … [Link]
Mashable » 'The Good Wife' returns with a thrilling race against the clock
Warning: this recap contains spoilers. Do not read if you haven't seen episode 11 of this season of The Good Wife The midseason premiere of The Good Wife came back just as strong as it left off, with the lawyers of Florrick/Agos/Lockhart racing to find a way to keep Cary from going to prison as the final hours of his freedom … [Link]
Slashdot » Better Learning Through Expensive Software? One Principal Thinks Not
theodp writes "Instead of improving the instructional practices of teachers," laments Chicago public school Principal Michael Beyer, "we are throwing vast sums of money and time at software and digital solutions that are largely untested, unproven and highly questionable." Ed-Tech vendors' so-called "weapons of mass instruction," argues Beyer, may show "gains" on the high-stakes tests because they mimic the targeted … [Link]
Mashable » A 'wearable' that could save a cyclist's life: The Visijax LED jacket
LAS VEGAS — The marriage of wearable technology and sports can often seem forced, but a cycling jacket on display at Sunday's CES Unveiled event offers one of the most practical — and surprisingly stylish — approaches to wearables we've seen yet. Visijax is a lightweight nylon jacket embedded with strategically placed LEDs that flash when the wearer signals a right … [Link]
Mashable » Photos show devastation as Australia bushfire burns out of control
Photographs show the charred countryside as a bushfire in the Adelaide Hills, Australia, continues to burn out of control. Firefighters fear extreme conditions over the next two days will cause even more devastation in the region — with temperatures expected to hit 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday and Wednesday. See also: Crocodile bites off zoo owner's thumb in … [Link]
Mashable » Connected snowboard bindings will help you ride smarter
LAS VEGAS — Snowboarding just got nerdier Japan-based Cerevo has introduced XON Snow-1, a set of sensor-enabled snowboard bindings that track your movements and weight distribution as you ride. (Bindings hold the rider's boots to the board.) See also: 5 ski and snowboard apps to help you slay the pow These bindings have sensors that monitor your weight distribution and the … [Link]
Mashable » Parrot Pot can water your plants for you
LAS VEGAS — It looks like a rather tall and not very interesting flower container, but Parrot's device — simply-named Pot — may be just what your plants crave. This Bluetooth device can tell when your plant is thirsty and then water it for you. Standing roughly a foot tall and introduced at CES 2015, the tall white pot has built-in … [Link]
Mashable » 'Downton Abbey' season premiere recap: A time for changes
Editor’s Note: The following recap was originally published in September 2014, in conjunction with the UK airing of Downton Abbey. Things are changing. Or, in the words of Carson, “I feel a shaking of the ground I stand on. That everything I believe in will be tested and held up for ridicule over the next few years." If the Season 5 … [Link]
Mashable » Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon gets a refresh for 2015
LAS VEGAS — Hard to believe, but Lenovo and IBM have sold more than 100 million ThinkPads since the first one was introduced in 1992. The line just got a refresh at CES 2015, led by the all-business ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Lenovo claims the new X1 Carbon is the world's lightest 14-inch "performance" Ultrabook. At 2.88 pounds, it's decently light, and … [Link]
Mashable » Smart belt loosens buckle when you've eaten too much
LAS VEGAS — It's common to loosen your belt buckle a little after a big meal. But a new product called the Belty takes that task out of your hands This smart belt automatically adjusts itself throughout the day, depending on how much you've eaten and how much exercise you've done to compensate It also keeps track of your overall health, … [Link]
Mashable » Drone Mobile is the closest thing to treating your car like a robot
Most recent smart car add-ons have relied on a car's OBD port (on-board diagnostics) to inject the vehicle with a bit more brain power. But a new app showcased at CES Sunday called Drone Mobile taps even more directly into your vehicle to give you new levels of control When a $550 Drone Mobile remote start module, telematics device and GPS … [Link]
Mashable » NFL drama: Dallas Cowboys' wild win feeds conspiracy theorists
Mix the NFL playoffs' Wild Card round, America's most divisive team and an epic botch job by game officials. What do you get? Sunday night's, um, eventful Dallas Cowboys win over the Detroit Lions, replete with a heaping side dish of outraged, the-fix-was-in conspiracy cries See also: Stuart Scott: Cool as the other side of the pillow During the fourth quarter … [Link]
Mashable » Crocodile bites off zoo owner's thumb in front of spectators
An Australian zoo owner has had his thumb bitten off by a crocodile called Macca in front of a live audience on Sunday. Ian Jenkins was feeding the saltwater beast a chicken at the Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo in Queensland when he was attacked. In front of shocked tourists including children, the hungry four-metre croc grabbed Jenkins by the … [Link]
Mashable » Smart pedals boost your bike's IQ
LAS VEGAS — Smart is everywhere. Smartwatches. Smartphones. Smart homes. The trend of giving just about every low-tech device in our lives a high-tech makeover is stronger than ever. Now it's time for our bike pedals to line up for their IQ boost. French startup Connected Cycle unveiled its smart pedals on Sunday at CES. The pedals automatically record how fast … [Link]
Mashable » CES Unveiled: An underwhelming display of electronics, but a great spread
LAS VEGAS — Every January, thousands of tech companies and journalists gather here to display the newest consumer products, and to get convention swag. Kicking off International CES is CES Unveiled on Sunday afternoon. The event is basically a pre-show for the larger events that are held throughout the week. Although the name sounds impressive, CES Unveiled is simply underwhelming — … [Link]
Mashable » Headband sensor warns of sports injuries in real time
LAS VEGAS — With sports concussions becoming deadlier than ever, athletes, coaches and parents are looking for ways to prevent what can be devastating head injuries Now a startup is offering a wearable sensor that alerts players, coaches and parents to head injuries as soon as they happen — bringing to light serious impacts that may otherwise go undetected. Monday at … [Link]
Slashdot » The Missing Piece of the Smart Home Revolution: The Operating System
An anonymous reader writes with this story about who will lead the IoT revolution, and whether it will follow in mobile's footsteps. "As these technologies sense and and react to changes in your environment, there are obvious parallels to computer operating systems, which receive input and return output. What does the 'operating system' for the smart home of the future … [Link]
Mashable » Quadrantids meteor shower illuminates the night sky
The annual Quadrantids meteor shower peaked on Saturday night, lighting up the sky with up to 80 meteors per hour in 2015's first meteor display. While the nearly full moon that night drowned out all but the most vivid meteors of what is usually one of the brightest and most intense celestial displays of the year, skywatching enthusiasts still managed to … [Link]
Mashable » Sound-isolating headphones let you really hear your own voice
LAS VEGAS — Have you ever worn noise-canceling headphones and wished they were, you know, not so noise-canceling? That's the idea behind OnVocal Mix360, a pair of behind-the-neck headphones that let you adjust exactly what you hear. See also: 5 tech trends that will dominate CES 2015 The headphones themselves are sound-isolating, passively blocking out most ambient noise. But the magic … [Link]
Mashable » Smart luggage lock lets you access your suitcase with a simple smartphone swipe
LAS VEGAS — Many travelers don’t lock up their luggage before they check it in at the airport, so all too often, items go missing. Of course, there are ways to fix this problem, typically by carrying around a key or using a conventional combination lock to keep everything secure. But considering how easy it is lose keys and forget passwords, … [Link]
Mashable » Chevrolet developing system that predicts car problems and notifies drivers
Cars already have ways of detecting when something isn't quite right with their mechanics. The "check your engine" light, for example, lets drivers know something is up. Now, Chevrolet aims to take that to the next level. The car manufacturer is developing technology for release in 2016 that can notify drivers when car parts need attention, it announced on Sunday as … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Man Uses 3D Printer To Make Perfect Arkham Origins Batman Costume
There are certain things that are just infinitely cool. Two of those things are 3D printers and Batman. But who would’ve ever thought they would be getting mentioned in the same article? Yet here we are, already proving 2015 will be chock full of awesome. Steven Dee of Crimson Coscrafts had the brilliant idea to use a 3D printer to … [Link]
Mashable » This chair is an invisible gym for your living room
LAS VEGAS — Most people dream of burning calories, as they power through episode after episode of their favorite Netflix show. And if you could do that while sitting down — without noticing that you're working out — then all the better. Enter the Tao Chair, a quirky, but useful product that acts like an invisible gym for your living room. … [Link]
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