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.

Slashdot » NSA Official: Supporting Backdoored Random Number Generator Was "Regrettable"

Wednesday 14 January 23:57:00 UTC 2015

Trailrunner7 writes In a new article in an academic math journal, the NSA's director of research says that the agency's decision not to withdraw its support of the Dual EC_DRBG random number generator after security researchers found weaknesses in it and questioned its provenance was a "regrettable" choice. Michael Wertheimer, the director of researcher at the National Security Agency, wrote … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » ​RichRelevance Launches API Suite for Retail Personalization

Wednesday 14 January 23:56:31 UTC 2015

Omnichannel personalization provider RichRelevance has unveiled a suite of APIs that enable retailers to integrate personalization into any of their applications. RichRelevance's new Build offering provides the company’s customers with “building blocks” that they can use based on the needs of each of their applications: [Link]

Mashable » Extreme athletes reach peak of historic Yosemite climb

Wednesday 14 January 23:26:55 UTC 2015

Yosemite1Feed-tw Feed-fbTwo climbers have made history by becoming the first to ever scale the notoriously difficult Dawn Wall of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan without using ropes and equipment for anything but safety. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the summit at 3:25 p.m. PST Wednesday afternoon after nearly 19 days spent on the wall. See also: Extreme athletes live-tweet one of … [Link]

Mashable » Mortal Kombat X gameplay trailer wants to know 'Who's Next?'

Wednesday 14 January 23:23:08 UTC 2015

Mortal-kombatFeed-tw Feed-fb Mortal Kombat X released its first gameplay trailer on Wednesday and boy does it look pretty. The latest Mortal Kombat installment is the first in the series to get the next-gen gaming console treatment. This means more ambitious (Read: insane) finishing moves, seamless fight graphics and tons of realistic gore (Can we talk about the 1:07 mark in the comments … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung In Talks To Acquire Troubled BlackBerry For $7.5 Billion

Wednesday 14 January 23:13:00 UTC 2015

MojoKid writes Shares of BlackBerry (BBRY) were up nearly thirty percent as the closing bell sounded this afternoon. What could possibly be behind this sudden spike in interest in shares of a smartphone company whose glory days faded years ago? Well, it turns out that BlackBerry may be ripe for the picking and Samsung is ready to make an offer … [Link]

Mashable » Mark Zuckerberg throws shade at Google Glass

Wednesday 14 January 23:10:37 UTC 2015

ZuckerbergFeed-tw Feed-fbYou probably won't see Mark Zuckerberg wearing smartglasses anytime soon During a live Q&A session in Bogota, Colombia Wednesday, the Facebook cofounder and CEO was asked by an audience member how he imagines Facebook may look in 10 years, with Google Glass mentioned in the question as one example of how technology is changing. While he didn't mention Glass specifically in … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk says Tesla Model 3 will be $35,000 — without tax incentives

Wednesday 14 January 22:50:57 UTC 2015

Ap230227635750Feed-tw Feed-fbTesla Motors CEO Elon Musk doesn't think everyone should be making the Chevy Bolt out to be a Tesla competitor The Bolt is a 200-mile-range electric concept car that Chevrolet prices at $30,000 after tax incentives. The upcoming Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, will be priced at $35,000 — before any kind of state or federal tax break for … [Link]

Mashable » Beautiful iMac concept design mixes past with present

Wednesday 14 January 22:46:29 UTC 2015

Imac-conceptFeed-tw Feed-fbThe fancy new Retina 5K iMac certainly is pretty to look at, but there's something about the simplicity of the past mixed with the latest technology to make something truly stand out. See also: These Kids Are Not Impressed by Ancient Apple Computers Case in point: This Apple computer design concept that combines the silver-sleek looks of new iMacs with the … [Link]

Mashable » What a night in New York City looks like from 7,500 feet

Wednesday 14 January 22:34:49 UTC 2015

Thumb3Feed-tw Feed-fbFor 15 years, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet has been participating in aerial photo missions around the world, putting his life in the hands of pilots and aircraft to make photographs nobody else can. And yet, he's never felt as vulnerable as he did on Nov. 8, 2014, harnessed into a helicopter 7,500-feet above New York City. See also: Photographers Take … [Link]

Slashdot » SystemD Gains New Networking Features

Wednesday 14 January 22:29:00 UTC 2015

jones_supa writes A lot of development work is happening on systemd with just the recent couple of weeks seeing over 200 commits. With the most recent work that has landed, the networkd component has been improved with new features. Among the additions are IP forwarding and masquerading support (patch). This is the minimal support needed and these settings get turned … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » New Star Wars #1 Comic Book Featuring an Exclusive Variant Cover!

Wednesday 14 January 22:18:38 UTC 2015

Here is the first issue of the whole new Star Wars comic book series from Marvel featuring an exclusive variant cover by artist Pasqual Ferry! Set directly after the events of Star Wars: Episode IV, the series (helmed by the all-star creative of team of writer Jason Aaron and artist John Cassaday) is going to be flagship of Marvel’s new … [Link]

Mashable » Costume magic turns toddlers into adorable Disney princesses

Wednesday 14 January 22:15:59 UTC 2015

DisneyprincessesFeed-tw Feed-fbMagic mirror on the wall, who's the cutest baby of them all? Good thing we don't ever have to actually answer that question because these toddler cousins would be stiff competition for the most adorable in the land. See also: Adorable corgi makes lots of new friends at Disney World 2-year-old Claire and 1-year-old Chloe posed as their favorite Disney princesses … [Link]

Mashable » VH1 is running a 19-day 'SNL' marathon

Wednesday 14 January 22:06:00 UTC 2015

SnlclassicFeed-tw Feed-fbFXX did the mega-marathon first, but VH1 wants to do it bigger On the heels of FXX's Simpsons mega-marathon, VH1 Classic has curated a a 19-day marathon of Saturday Night Live episodes starting Jan. 28 that will run across that network and sister VH1 Classics That's 433 hours of SNL See also: 'SNL' characters we'd like to see return before the … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Guardians of the Galaxy Gets 8-Bit Cinema Treatment

Wednesday 14 January 22:00:44 UTC 2015

The genius folks over at 8-Bit Cinema have decided to cave and finally give the people what they really want right now, Guardians of the Galaxy if it were an 8-bit game from the bygone Nintendo era. Everything from the chip-tune music to the perfect pixel representations of every character, all you will think after seeing this is: why isn’t … [Link]

Mashable » 'Avatar' sequels pushed back a year because writing is hard

Wednesday 14 January 22:00:03 UTC 2015

Avatar.thm_Feed-tw Feed-fbLOS ANGELES — An Avatar sequel in 2016 turned out to be unobtainable. James Cameron told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he's delaying the release of the first of three Avatar sequels, which will be shot simultaneously and released in three consecutive years, to 2017. See also: James Cameron on Oculus Rift: 'Just a yawn' The reason: Writing is hard. … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Pay a robot scribe to pen letters in your handwriting

Wednesday 14 January 22:00:00 UTC 2015

For a fee, a machine holding an ordinary pen will ink out your message – sent via app – in a deceptively human hand [Link]

Mashable » 9 celebrities you didn’t know hail from Las Vegas

Wednesday 14 January 21:52:24 UTC 2015

Vegas1Feed-tw Feed-fbLas Vegas is known for many things: High-end gambling, risqué nightclubs, poolside cocktails and the possibility of finding a tiger in your hotel suite. What Vegas isn’t known for, however, is producing the next generation of influencers and celebrities — a title usually reserved for cities like New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. But in addition to its many, flashy characteristics, … [Link]

Mashable » Dailymotion enters game-streaming market, competes against Twitch

Wednesday 14 January 21:51:29 UTC 2015

Gaming-on-couchFeed-tw Feed-fbVideo-sharing website Dailymotion announced on Wednesday that it's entering the game-streaming market, going head-to-head against industry leader Twitch in the process. Dailymotion Games will focus on the electronic-sports community, with "a custom-built environment for viewing, sharing, uploading and streaming personal gaming and gaming competitions," the company said on its website. See also: 'Twitch-speak': A Guide to the Secret Emoji Language of … [Link]

Slashdot » Tiny Fanless Mini-PC Runs Linux Or Windows On Quad-core AMD SoC

Wednesday 14 January 21:47:00 UTC 2015

DeviceGuru writes CompuLab has unveiled a tiny 'Fitlet' mini-PC that runs Linux or Windows on a dual- or quad-core 64-bit AMD x86 SoC (with integrated Radeon R3 or R2 GPU), clocked at up to 1.6GHz, and offering extensive I/O, along with modular internal expansion options. The rugged, reconfigurable 4.25 x 3.25 x 0.95 in. system will also form the basis … [Link]

Mashable » Bill Hader gets grouchy on 'Sesame Street'

Wednesday 14 January 21:31:21 UTC 2015

Sesame-street-bill-haderFeed-tw Feed-fb Bill Hader has a not-so-sunny history in dealing with puppets, and this time is no different. Known for being a cheerful, joke-cracking cast member of SNL, Hader is rarely without a smile. However, Sesame Street delved deep into Hader's pet peeves, and brought out a side of him that fans seldom see. Thankfully, it looks like he's learning to overcome some of … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Rome's military women have been hiding in plain sight

Wednesday 14 January 21:30:00 UTC 2015

Women were banned from Roman military life – so how come six are sculpted on one of the most-studied triumphal monuments in the world? [Link]

Mashable » BlackBerry's stock surged nearly 30% on report of Samsung takeover

Wednesday 14 January 21:24:12 UTC 2015

BlackberryFeed-tw Feed-fbUPDATE: Jan. 14, 5:37 PM BlackBerry has since denied the report, sending its stock down more than 13% in after-hours trading. BlackBerry's stock price jumped nearly 30% in late trading Wednesday after Reuters reported that Samsung approached the tech company with an offer to buy it for as much as $7.5 billion. The Reuters report, based on "a person familiar with … [Link]

Mashable » Zombie cookie: The tracking cookie that you can’t kill

Wednesday 14 January 21:07:20 UTC 2015

Zombie-cookie-thumbnailFeed-tw Feed-fbAn online advertising clearinghouse relied on by Google, Yahoo and Facebook is using controversial cookies that come back from the dead to track the web surfing of Verizon customers. The company, called Turn, is taking advantage of a hidden un-deletable number that Verizon uses to monitor customers’ habits on their smartphones and tablets. Turn uses the Verizon number to re-spawn tracking … [Link]

Mashable » Boko Haram's trail of destruction in Nigeria seen in satellite images

Wednesday 14 January 21:05:43 UTC 2015

NigeriaFeed-tw Feed-fbSatellite images show the widespread scale of destruction in two Nigerian towns that were recently attacked by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. The images, released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday offer new insights into series of attacks in early January that left scores dead in the country's north. See also: Survivors of Boko Haram Kidnappings Tell Their Stories In … [Link]

Mashable » Personal Robot wants to be the Alfred to your Batman

Wednesday 14 January 21:04:08 UTC 2015

Duy_robotFeed-tw Feed-fbIt’s no longer a question of if we’ll have personal robot assistants in the home, but when. A growing number of companies across the globe are now vying to be the first physical artificial intelligence-driven avatar in your home, including Robotbase and its simply-named Personal Robot. On the strength of a slickly produced and compelling Kickstarter video, the U.S.-based company recently … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung Launches Tizen Phone In India

Wednesday 14 January 21:03:00 UTC 2015

puddingebola notes that Samsung's first smartphones powered by its Tizen operating system have gone on sale in India. "After plenty of speculation and an abort launch in Russia last year, Samsung has finally managed to release its first phone powered by the Tizen operating system. The Samsung Z1 is coming to India initially, where it is available to buy for … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » God’s Gifts [Comic]

Wednesday 14 January 21:00:09 UTC 2015

[The Gentleman’s Armchair Comics] The post God’s Gifts [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

New Scientist – News » Pope to make moral case for action on climate change

Wednesday 14 January 21:00:00 UTC 2015

Catholics worldwide will hear Pope Francis's message – expected to plead for a climate deal that will protect the planet's three billion poorest [Link]

Mashable » Join us for the first-ever National Readathon Day on Jan. 24

Wednesday 14 January 20:45:26 UTC 2015

Kindle-Feed-tw Feed-fbNow that the post-holiday blues have set in, and the weather is getting cold and slushy, there's nothing quite as comforting as settling in for a long weekend of reading. We hope you will make #timetoread on National Readathon Day 1/24. Need book ideas? http://t.co/tlFMfWcMX9 pic.twitter.com/6ivsml4uzz — Penguin Random House (@PenguinRH_News) January 13, 2015 SEE ALSO: 10 authors of color to … [Link]

Mashable » Man's best friend was a late arrival in the Americas

Wednesday 14 January 20:45:18 UTC 2015

American-staffordshire-terrierFeed-tw Feed-fbDogs may have arrived in the Americas only about 10,000 years ago, thousands of years after humans first did, researchers say. This finding might shed light on patterns of human migration into the New World, scientists added. In the study, the researchers looked at DNA from 42 new samples taken from ancient dog remains and compared that DNA with 42 other … [Link]

Mashable » How a man used 3D printing to help treat his wife's brain tumor

Wednesday 14 January 20:33:52 UTC 2015

Shvaunandskull-1920Feed-tw Feed-fbIn the summer of 2013, Pamela Shavaun Scott started having "24/7 severe headaches" — so severe that she couldn't sleep. It wasn't before December that she heard for sure that it was a brain tumor Initially, when Scott had an MRI, radiologists seemed unconcerned when they discovered a mass over an inch in diameter. About three months later, after another MRI, … [Link]

Mashable » NimbleTV's Internet video service fades to black

Wednesday 14 January 20:32:20 UTC 2015

Nimbletv-interfaceFeed-tw Feed-fbNimbleTV will stop offering its service that allowed cable customers to access television content online after being acquired Synacor, a Buffalo, New York, company specializing in putting content and advertising on a variety of devices, bought NimbleTV, a move announced in a press release on Wednesday. Nimble's service had been shut down since Monday See also: Life After Aereo: TV Startups … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Adapt first, mutate later: Is evolution out of order?

Wednesday 14 January 20:30:00 UTC 2015

We used to think evolution had to start with random mutations, now walking fish and bipedal mice are turning our ideas on their head (full text available to subscribers) [Link]

Mashable » When to book your flight for that 2015 dream vacation

Wednesday 14 January 20:29:38 UTC 2015

Saint-martinFeed-tw Feed-fbIf one of your New Year's resolutions was to travel more, you aren't alone: "Taking a trip" is one of the most popular resolutions every year. As travelers plan for 2015, keeping in mind when to book for the best prices and flight options is important for getting the most adventure for the money. See also: Read This Before You Buy … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Aims To Be Your Universal Translator

Wednesday 14 January 20:20:00 UTC 2015

mpicpp sends word about Google's latest translate technology. "Google is beaming a bit closer to Star Trek's universal translator with the newest edition of its Translate app. Rolling out over the next few days for iOS and Android users, the latest version of Google Translate offers two key features — the ability to instantly converse with someone speaking in a … [Link]

Mashable » British comedian Al Murray's Pub Landlord to stand against UKIP's Nigel Farage

Wednesday 14 January 20:12:32 UTC 2015

10636637_10153588026729896_274487649341100290_oFeed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — British comedian Al Murray plans to give the leader of the Eurosceptic right-wing UK Independence Party Nigel Farage a run for his money in May's general election Murray said Wednesday he's running for the seat of Thanet South in Kent as "The Pub Landlord," his mock-xenophobic character See also: The 10 biggest Twitter blunders by UK politicians A spokesperson … [Link]

Mashable » A make-you-feel-old look back at 1998

Wednesday 14 January 20:01:41 UTC 2015

1998thumbFeed-tw Feed-fb Oh, how the world changes so quickly. Looking back, 1998 was a solid year filled with the likes of The Backstreet Boys, 1080° Snowboarding, Armageddon and the colorful iMac G3. And this 15-minute supercut jams the year's top pop culture moments into a clip of digestible nostalgia Watch it, then you really might know what it's like. Mortal Kombat X … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Force is Strong with This Rocking Ride-in X-Wing [Pics]

Wednesday 14 January 20:00:54 UTC 2015

This beautiful Rocking Ride-in X-Wing is entirely made from solid wood (pine, native macrocarpa and rimu) and features a removable wooden R2-D2 that sits in the back and removable wings “for ease of intergalactic travel in the back of a medium sized car.” Size: 1150mm long,1200mm wide, 650mm tall ( seating area is 280mm wide ) [Source: StevesWoodenToys on Deviantart] … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Romance algorithm predicts if you'll be lucky in love

Wednesday 14 January 20:00:00 UTC 2015

Single? Wonder if you can do better? The Nanaya service will tell you the chances of finding the mathematically ideal partner [Link]

Mashable » LinkedIn is working on two new products to help coworkers connect

Wednesday 14 January 19:55:44 UTC 2015

Ap232896674427Feed-tw Feed-fbLinkedIn is most known as a place to network or look for a new job, but now the career-oriented social network is working on some new tools to help users connect with their current coworkers. A source from LinkedIn told Mashable that the company is developing two products that can bring employers, employees and colleagues closer together. That way, the platform … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Targets Office Workers With Facebook At Work Service

Wednesday 14 January 19:36:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes "Facebook unveiled its rumored "at Work" service to a handful of partners today. Facebook at Work puts co-workers into a standalone social network and allows them to share posts and images appropriate for the workplace but looks and acts just like regular Facebook. "We have found that using Facebook as a work tool makes our work … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Galactic zombies roam the cosmos and refuse to die

Wednesday 14 January 19:30:00 UTC 2015

Cannibalism plays a big part in the life cycle of galaxies, but some rise from the dead as zombies – including one on a collision course with our own [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Logitech Harmony API Targets Home Automation

Wednesday 14 January 19:10:15 UTC 2015

[Link]

New Scientist – News » Free speech has to be for everyone, or not at all

Wednesday 14 January 19:00:00 UTC 2015

The UK government wants to curtail online communication between terrorists, but any attempt will restrict free speech for everyone [Link]

Slashdot » Cyber Attacks Demonstrated On Autonomous Ground Vehicles

Wednesday 14 January 18:53:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes As vehicles increasingly rely on automation, software and technology enhancements to run basic functionality, those systems serve as a potential safety risk when under cyber attack. Mission Secure uses a proprietary methodology developed by the University of Virginia with the Department of Defense for identifying the most consequential and easy to carry out cyber attacks on … [Link]

Mashable » You know that smell after it rains? Here's where it comes from

Wednesday 14 January 18:50:31 UTC 2015

RaindropsFeed-tw Feed-fbYou know how, when it rains, there's often a particular smell to the air? It's an earthy aroma that is usually most apparent at the beginning of a spring rain shower, for example. Apparently, scientists had not yet discovered the reason for this pleasant scent… until now. According to a new study published this week in the journal Nature Communications, when … [Link]

Mashable » Colorado church halts woman's funeral after photos show she was gay

Wednesday 14 January 18:41:30 UTC 2015

Vanessa-collierFeed-tw Feed-fbA Colorado church halted a woman's funeral mid-service on Saturday because a video of photos from her life showed she was married to a woman Many people were already seated at the service for Vanessa Collier, 33, at around 10 a.m. local time, Jose Silva, a family friend, told Mashable. But 15 minutes later, they were forced to pick up everything, … [Link]

Mashable » Profiteers look to capitalize on Charlie Hebdo attack, selling new issue for thousands of dollars

Wednesday 14 January 18:31:03 UTC 2015

Img_0954Feed-tw Feed-fbCopies of the new edition of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo are being sold on eBay for thousands of dollars, after they sold out in hours at news stands across France on Wednesday. Reporters Without Borders, a leading media watchdog group, blasted sellers looking to cash in on the huge demand for the magazine, condemning "reprehensible" profiteering off of last week's attack … [Link]

New Scientist – News » World's biggest magnet to power Indian neutrino hunter

Wednesday 14 January 18:30:00 UTC 2015

The green light has been given to build the India-based Neutrino Observatory, whose massive magnet will help study the subatomic particles [Link]

Mashable » Possibly crazy snowmobiler rides on water and through flames

Wednesday 14 January 18:25:33 UTC 2015

Snowmobile-go-proFeed-tw Feed-fb Snowmobiles are built for ice, but look more thrilling (and more dangerous) on water. A professional stuntman tested his luck when he took his snowmobile out for a ride across water, zooming past docks and under bridges while miraculously staying afloat. And because no absurd stunt should go undocumented, the rider captured the entire ride on his GoPro. Even Princes … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Cellphone Time Bug Causes Aussie Confusion

Wednesday 14 January 18:23:07 UTC 2015

Bleary-eyed Australian commuters confused by the dark turned out to be victims of a bug in local cellphone towers. Local radio stations reported numerous calls from drivers in Brisbane wondering why traffic was busier than usual before the traditional rush hour. Meanwhile coffee shops reported customers who seemed less amplified than normal, while one radio reporter admitted being baffled that … [Link]

Mashable » Even Princes William and Harry want a 'Friends' reunion

Wednesday 14 January 18:15:12 UTC 2015

Mattleblanc_friendsFeed-tw Feed-fb It seems even Prince William and Prince Harry are waiting with bated breath for the Friends cast to reunite Matt LeBlanc appeared on Tuesday's Conan, and explained that he once met the royal brothers at a polo match — as the British do — and all they cared about was what Joey has been up to in the last decade … [Link]

Mashable » 10 dead after prison bus slides off embankment and collides with train

Wednesday 14 January 18:13:01 UTC 2015

BusFeed-tw Feed-fbAt least 10 people were killed Wednesday when a bus carrying state prisoners skidded off an icy highway overpass in West Texas, slid down an embankment and collided with a passing train, a county sheriff said. The overpass on Interstate 20 was slick with ice Wednesday morning when the Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus left the roadway just west of … [Link]

Mashable » Piñatas hooked up to a zip line make it rain candy

Wednesday 14 January 18:10:50 UTC 2015

PinataFeed-tw Feed-fb Devin Super Tramp and his team of thrill-seekers have a strong track record for turning childhood pastimes into extreme adventures, and this time they're tackling the piñata So instead of whacking the candy-filled papier-mâché sculptures with a plastic bat, the team decided to use objects like swords and kayak paddles. Oh, and they rigged the whole thing up to a … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla To Produce 'a Few Million' Electric Cars a Year By 2025

Wednesday 14 January 18:10:00 UTC 2015

HughPickens.com writes: Reuters reports that Elon Musk, speaking at an industry conference in Detroit, said Tesla may not be profitable until 2020 but that Tesla plans to boost production of electric cars to "at least a few million a year" by 2025. Musk told attendees at the Automotive News World Congress that "we could make money now if we weren't … [Link]

Mashable » Satirical app helps Muslims 'condemn' Islamic extremism

Wednesday 14 January 18:06:43 UTC 2015

Ap974435192522Feed-tw Feed-fbIn the aftermath of last week's deadly attack on Paris-based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, some pundits and public figures are pointing fingers, and asking why Muslims aren't condemning Islamic extremism Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corp, tweeted last week that Muslims should "be held responsible" for "their growing jihadist cancer." Meanwhile, New York Times columnist Roger Cohen echoed Murdoch's words, … [Link]

Mashable » Google's modular Project Ara smartphones are coming to Puerto Rico

Wednesday 14 January 18:01:44 UTC 2015

Spiral_2Feed-tw Feed-fbGoogle is closer than ever to making modular smartphones a reality At the second Project Ara developer conference Wednesday, the company revealed its most advanced prototype yet for a modular phone, along with plans for a pilot program that will put its modular smartphones in the hands of consumers in Puerto Rico this year. See also: Google reveals first functional Project … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Plate Tectonics Explained [Science Video]

Wednesday 14 January 18:00:13 UTC 2015

A simple and quick explanation on how plate tectonics really work by the folks over at Minute Earth. [MinuteEarth] The post Plate Tectonics Explained [Science Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » A restaurant in China is offering free meals, but only for beautiful people

Wednesday 14 January 18:00:00 UTC 2015

ZhengzhouFeed-tw Feed-fbWelcome to the only place on earth where paying for your meal puts a dent in your wallet and your self-esteem. In Zhengzhou, China, the Jeju Island restaurant's latest promotion is part beauty contest, part early-bird special. The South Korean fare restaurant is currently offering free meals to the first 50 attractive customers to arrive at its doors each day. See … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Brain signature of emotion-linked pain is uncovered

Wednesday 14 January 18:00:00 UTC 2015

For the first time, scans have identified brain activity associated with pain linked to your state of mind. It could help treat conditions like fibromyalgia [Link]

New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist

Wednesday 14 January 18:00:00 UTC 2015

All the latest on newscientist.com: NASA chief scientist's plans for Mars, pain in the brain, whale culture, long hours and hard drinking, and more [Link]

Mashable » Nintendo bites at 'Candy Crush' with a free-to-play Pokémon game

Wednesday 14 January 17:51:58 UTC 2015

Pokemon-wallpaperFeed-tw Feed-fb Nintendo is diving head first into the free-to-play casual space with an announcement Wednesday morning that it is releasing a Pokémon-themed puzzle game similar to Candy Crush Saga for the 3DS in February. Pokémon Shuffle is a match-three puzzle game, a style that's as old as time. Matching three similar Pokémon on the game board will deal damage to a … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Microsoft Offers Virtual Academy for API Design Training

Wednesday 14 January 17:51:01 UTC 2015

Want to learn more about the ASP.NET Web API? Join an upcoming Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) on Feb. 4 to learn more about the framework from industry leaders. Join experts from Microsoft and iVision to learn more about API technology, API uses, and subtleties to streamline integration and implementation of APIs. [Link]

New Scientist – News » Ancient sea scorpion shows off its land legs

Wednesday 14 January 17:31:23 UTC 2015

The intact fossil of a new scorpion species shows that the animals could have evolved for life on land earlier than thought [Link]

Mashable » 2 Chainz and Nancy Grace debating marijuana legalization doesn't go well

Wednesday 14 January 17:30:26 UTC 2015

Nancygrace2chainzFeed-tw Feed-fb Rapper 2 Chainz stopped by Nancy Grace to discuss marijuana legalization with the television host. He's for it; she's against it 2 Chainz tries to make a few points about the tax dollars used up by the war on drugs, overcrowding in prisons and lives ruined by criminal records for minor drug offenses, but Grace talks over him for most … [Link]

Slashdot » Obama Planning New Rules For Oil and Gas Industry's Methane Emissions

Wednesday 14 January 17:27:00 UTC 2015

mdsolar sends this quote from the NY Times: In President Obama's latest move using executive authority to tackle climate change, administration officials will announce plans this week to impose new regulations on the oil and gas industry's emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, according to a person familiar with Mr. Obama's plans. The administration's goal is to cut methane … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Security comes from evolution, not revolution

Wednesday 14 January 17:25:36 UTC 2015

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 week’s O’Reilly Radar Podcast episode, I caught up with Mike Belshe, CTO and co-founder of BitGo, a company … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Poisoning Tibet's rabbit relatives may be a bad move

Wednesday 14 January 17:24:00 UTC 2015

The Chinese government is poisoning pikas for wrecking the ecosystem, but they could be essential to the survival of the Tibetan fox and for regulating rivers [Link]

Mashable » MEMS: The micro-machines inside your most beloved technologies

Wednesday 14 January 17:15:44 UTC 2015

MemsFeed-tw Feed-fbYou may not have heard about MEMS — microelectromechanical systems — before; it's not a particularly sexy or flashy technology, especially compared to some of the jaw-dropping devices and products that debuted at last week's CES. But if tech is a part of your life, you encounter these micro-machines far more often than you're likely aware. In fact, MEMS are the … [Link]

Mashable » Air France buys 20,000 copies of Charlie Hebdo for passengers

Wednesday 14 January 17:10:03 UTC 2015

CharlieFeed-tw Feed-fbAir France has purchased 20,000 copies of the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo — the first printed since the Jan. 7 attack — to distribute to passengers, an Air France spokesperson confirmed to Mashable. The paper sold out in minutes at some newsstands in Europe, even though the staff plans to print up to 5 million copies — an exponential increase … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Dragonslayer Society [Comic]

Wednesday 14 January 17:00:36 UTC 2015

You suck Dovahkiin! [Source: George Alexopoulos | Ultimate Game Database] The post The Dragonslayer Society [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » Another dangerous 'weatherbomb' storm threatens the United Kingdom

Wednesday 14 January 16:55:18 UTC 2015

UkstormsatellitethumbFeed-tw Feed-fbA rapidly intensifying North Atlantic storm system is taking aim at the United Kingdom, one day after Scotland and Northern Ireland were plastered by several inches of heavy, wet and disruptive snow from a separate storm. The snow and ice through early Wednesday caused school cancelations, as well as road, rail and ferry closures in northern Scotland and parts of Ireland, … [Link]

Slashdot » Man Saves Wife's Sight By 3D Printing Her Tumor

Wednesday 14 January 16:45:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes: Michael Balzer, a former software engineer and Air Force technical instructor, found himself unsatisfied with a doctor's diagnosis of a small tumor behind his wife's left eye. Balzer had recently become proficient at creating 3D models, so he asked the doctor for the raw medical imaging data and took a look himself. In addition to correcting … [Link]

Mashable » Don't freak out, but pork is in short supply at Chipotle

Wednesday 14 January 16:25:26 UTC 2015

ChipotleFeed-tw Feed-fbChipotle says it stopped serving pork at hundreds of its restaurants after suspending a supplier that violated its standards. Chris Arnold, a spokesman for the Mexican food chain, told The Associated Press it's the first time the company stopped serving a topping for its burritos and bowls. He said Chipotle learned of the violation by the supplier on Friday through a … [Link]

Mashable » Thousands in Paris line up before dawn for new Charlie Hebdo

Wednesday 14 January 16:23:06 UTC 2015

Ap681802880980Feed-tw Feed-fb Charlie Hebdo's defiant new issue sold out before dawn in Paris, but people are still lining up at kiosks in case there's a spare copy of the paper featuring an illustration of the Prophet Muhammad crying. See also: The hunt for Charlie Hebdo: Paper sells out in minutes across Paris Twelve were killed last week in a brutal attack on the offices … [Link]

Mashable » Turkey bans websites publishing Charlie Hebdo cover

Wednesday 14 January 16:12:40 UTC 2015

Turkey-charlie-hebdoFeed-tw Feed-fbA Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the telecommunications authority to ban access to websites showing Charlie Hebdo's front cover with the image of the Prophet Muhammad, a state-run news agency said. The Anadolu Agency said the ban, which would block access to the websites in Turkey, was ordered by a court in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, according to the Dogan … [Link]

Mashable » Notorious ISIS-linked British hacker could be behind CENTCOM hack

Wednesday 14 January 16:12:11 UTC 2015

Central_commandFeed-tw Feed-fbA 20-year-old British hacker who was once jailed for publishing former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's personal details, is said to be the leader of the group behind the hack of CENTCOM's Twitter account on Monday Investigators believe the hacker, whose real name is Junaid Hussain, heads up "Cyber Caliphate," a hacking group that supports the Islamic State, and is responsible … [Link]

Mashable » Charlie Hebdo would approve: Sarkozy mocked after pushing his way to front of Paris march

Wednesday 14 January 16:11:57 UTC 2015

SarkozyFeed-tw Feed-fbFormer French President Nicolas Sarkozy is making his way to the front of the pack, but not in the political sense that he might have hoped for. During Sunday's huge unity rally in Paris, as 1.5 million people honored the victims of last week's deadly attacks, Sarkozy caught some ridicule for strong-arming his way to the front line and sandwiching himself … [Link]

Slashdot » Ammonia Leak Alarm On the ISS Forces Evacuation of US Side: Crew Safe

Wednesday 14 January 16:04:00 UTC 2015

New submitter BabelBuilder writes: An alarm signaling a possible ammonia leak aboard the ISS this morning caused the crew to evacuate the U.S. side of the station. All crew aboard the station are safe. "Flight controllers in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston saw an increase in pressure in the station's water loop for thermal control system … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter built a fascinating interactive data map for NBA fans

Wednesday 14 January 16:00:21 UTC 2015

BirdmanbirdmanFeed-tw Feed-fbThe Jazz absolutely own Utah, the Golden State Warriors run the Bay Area and the Toronto Raptors have a stranglehold over most of Canada But the Los Angeles Lakers — mired in a laughably bad season — still dominate the NBA when it comes to fandom, according to a fascinating interactive data map released by Twitter Wednesday morning See also: Ohio … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » We Finally Have Subtitles for R2D2’s Beeps and Whistles Thanks to Eclectic Method

Wednesday 14 January 16:00:16 UTC 2015

Eclectic Method are an audio-visual team who just went and did something awesome (or hugely sacrilegious depending on how you view certain classics). They added subtitles to the various beeps and whistles of R2-D2 from the Star Wars films. While it may sound like a one-off joke, they give him a bubbling personality and it almost makes you wish the … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung to launch a 'flood' of Tizen devices this year

Wednesday 14 January 15:52:30 UTC 2015

Tizen1Feed-tw Feed-fbShortly after announcing its first Tizen phone ever — the low-end, India-bound Z1 — Samsung published another blog post about Tizen, outlining its strategy for the company's mobile OS, which already powers many of its smartwatches and smart TVs. In the post, Samsung claims it will introduce a "flood of devices" running Tizen in 2015, and that these devices are just … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Keystone XL pipeline inches closer – but may yet fail

Wednesday 14 January 15:28:00 UTC 2015

The controversial oil pipeline from Canada to Texas wins approval in the US House of Representatives, but a Senate vote and presidential veto may yet derail it [Link]

Slashdot » Where Cellular Networks Don't Exist, People Are Building Their Own

Wednesday 14 January 15:21:00 UTC 2015

New submitter TechCurmudgeon writes: According to a story at Wired, towns in Mexico that aren't served by the nation's telecom monopoly are taking matters in their own hands with the help of a non-profit and open source technology. "Strategically ignored by Mexico's major telecoms, Yaee is putting itself on the mobile communications grid with the help of a Oaxaca-based telecommunications … [Link]

Mashable » Nintendo's New 3DS XL will arrive in the U.S. in February

Wednesday 14 January 15:15:35 UTC 2015

New-3ds-xl-blueFeed-tw Feed-fbNintendo’s beefed-up handheld, the New 3DS XL, will be available in the United States starting on Feb. 13, the company announced Wednesday. The New 3DS XL has been available in Japan since October. It offers several upgrades, including improved processor, more buttons and improved 3D functionality. See also: 6 Tips To Excel at 'Super Smash Bros.' for 3DS The New 3DS … [Link]

Mashable » Chris Hemsworth's wet T-shirt dance is the best thing about today

Wednesday 14 January 15:15:02 UTC 2015

Chrishemsworth_fallonFeed-tw Feed-fb Um. Well. Ah We're experiencing a brief mental paralysis because of images of literally the "Sexiest Man Alive" Chris Hemsworth participating in a wet T-shirt contest. Okay, maybe it was a game of "Water Wars," but you know it was all a ruse set up by Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday's Tonight Show. Just watch, and don't get drool on your … [Link]

Mashable » Bitcoin prices collapse below $200 for first time since 2013

Wednesday 14 January 15:14:19 UTC 2015

BitcoinFeed-tw Feed-fbBitcoin prices are collapsing almost as quickly as they originally skyrocketed. The average price of Bitcoin fell below $200 on Wednesday, continuing a months-long decline that has pushed prices back down to the lowest level since October 2013 See also: These Startups Are Betting Everything on Bitcoin The recent drop comes on the heels of the news that Bitstamp, a bitcoin … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Save BIG on Battery Power Pack for Mobiles, Arrow: Season 2, Star-Lord Figure, Star Wars Toys, and More!

Wednesday 14 January 15:10:26 UTC 2015

Check out these awesome deals we stumbled on today! -PNY T2200 PowerPack – Universal Portable Rechargeable Battery Charger – $14.99 $5.39 (64% Off) -Arrow: Season 2 [Blu-ray] – $69.97 $19.99 (71% Off) -Marvel Guardians of The Galaxy Battle FX Star-Lord Figure, 12″ – $21.99 $9.12 (59% Off) -Save up to 50% on Star Wars by Hasbro -Up to 42% off … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » An Ode to Gamers: It’s Not Ridiculous, it’s Bullet-Time! [Video]

Wednesday 14 January 15:00:53 UTC 2015

These guys should get an Oscar for their performance, seriously. [OlanRogers] The post An Ode to Gamers: It’s Not Ridiculous, it’s Bullet-Time! [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » Facebook at Work is here — but only for a select few

Wednesday 14 January 14:57:43 UTC 2015

Facebook-group-pageFeed-tw Feed-fbFacebook at Work launched to a limited audience on Wednesday, teasing the social network's much-anticipated entry into the enterprise space The new app for Facebook at Work is slated to begin appearing in the app stores for iOS and Android, but will only be open to companies that have joined Facebook's pilot program See also: Facebook is making 'Facebook at Work,' … [Link]

Slashdot » The Legacy of CPU Features Since 1980s

Wednesday 14 January 14:39:00 UTC 2015

jones_supa writes: David Albert asked the following question: "My mental model of CPUs is stuck in the 1980s: basically boxes that do arithmetic, logic, bit twiddling and shifting, and loading and storing things in memory. I'm vaguely aware of various newer developments like vector instructions (SIMD) and the idea that newer CPUs have support for virtualization (though I have no … [Link]

Mashable » Sir Patrick Stewart perfectly demonstrates the most annoying people on planes

Wednesday 14 January 14:31:30 UTC 2015

Patrickstewart_planesFeed-tw Feed-fb It's 2015, and for some unknown reason, there are still humans out there oblivious to common plane courtesy Expedia recently conducted a poll to find out travelers' biggest airplane pet peeves, and Jimmy Kimmel — with the help of the one and only Sir Patrick Stewart — demonstrated these atrocious acts his show Tuesday. But, to be honest, if Stewart … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The 10 Most Monumentally Nerdy TV Moments of 2014

Wednesday 14 January 14:27:20 UTC 2015

It was a great year to be a geek in terms of TV. From Arrow to Agents of SHIELD, there was much geek fodder to be had and enjoyed by all. But what were the ULTIMATE nerdy moments from TV from last year? ToplessRobot put together this (SPOILER FILLED) list of the nerdiest TV moments from 2014, and I agree … [Link]

Mashable » Huge waves hitting coastal roads create dangerous driving conditions in Turkey

Wednesday 14 January 14:21:03 UTC 2015

TurkeyFeed-tw Feed-fb A strong storm stirred up high waves that pounded coastal roads in Turkey's southern province of Antalya on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to local media reports. The storm is the latest in a series of winter weather systems that have affected Greece, Turkey and the Middle East during the past two weeks According to Turkish news agency Cihan, the winds … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » LEGO Physics Brick Set [Video]

Wednesday 14 January 14:00:18 UTC 2015

LEGO Fan Kleinraum42 wants to make this LEGO set a reality. For those interested, vote the project up on LEGO Ideas and the company might take notice! This set brings you a lot of playability in form of an action packed marble run and brick build dominoes. It’s a challenge every time you set it up. And it’s rewarding to … [Link]

Slashdot » OpenBSD's Kernel Gets W^X Treatment On Amd64

Wednesday 14 January 13:56:00 UTC 2015

New submitter brynet tips this news from Theo de Raadt: Over the last two months Mike Larkin (mlarkin@) modified the amd64 kernel to follow the W^X principles. It started as a humble exercise to fix the .rodata segment, and kind of went crazy. As a result, no part of the kernel address space is writeable and executable simultaneously. At least … [Link]

Mashable » Far-right parties gain popularity in Europe after Paris attacks

Wednesday 14 January 13:45:44 UTC 2015

Ap586407046075Feed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — Across Europe, the far right has been given more fuel for its fight against what it calls "the Islamization of Europe" after last week's attacks in France that left 20 people dead. See also: Protests against 'Islamization of Europe' grow in Germany A day after Paris showed the world what unity looked like, an estimated 25,000 people poured into … [Link]

Slashdot » Obama Unveils Plan To Bring About Faster Internet In the US

Wednesday 14 January 13:14:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes: President Obama is rolling out a new plan to boost the speed of internet connections throughout the U.S. For one, he'll be asking the FCC for assistance in neutralizing state laws (PDF) that prevent cities from building municipal broadband services. "At speeds of 4 Mbps or less, 75 percent of consumers have a choice between two … [Link]

Mashable » Space station crew evacuate to Russian module after alarm triggered

Wednesday 14 January 12:46:46 UTC 2015

Space-station-earthFeed-tw Feed-fbAn alarm in a U.S. segment of the International Space Station prompted part of its crew to quickly lock up and move to a Russian module early Wednesday morning. The crew is not in danger, and NASA says it hasn't confirmed what prompted the alarm. See also: 7 Oddball Things Found on the Space Station The alarm that went off around … [Link]

Mashable » The hunt for Charlie Hebdo: Paper sells out in minutes across Paris

Wednesday 14 January 12:11:03 UTC 2015

Img_1082Feed-tw Feed-fbPARIS — It quickly became obvious on Tuesday night that the new edition of Charlie Hebdo would be in huge demand. Anxious Parisians crowded round kiosks and newsagents up and down the city at the end of the day, trying to place orders and find out how to grab a copy of the issue It's the first since the shooting last … [Link]

Mashable » 'Parks and Recreation' returns, proving it's the best sitcom today

Wednesday 14 January 11:58:28 UTC 2015

ParksFeed-tw Feed-fbAs many say the sitcom is dying, one beloved half-hour has started rolling out its swan song. And what a tune it is Parks and Recreation — known to our vernacular as Parks and Rec — has long been an arguable top five sitcom among the classics (see: Friends, Seinfeld, Cheers, etc.) Its final season premiere, which flashed forward to 2017, … [Link]

Mashable » Fuselage of crashed AirAsia plane located in Java Sea

Wednesday 14 January 11:46:38 UTC 2015

10922479_762393173853944_1753099390109117722_nFeed-tw Feed-fbA Singaporean navy ship has located the fuselage of the crashed AirAsia plane in the Java Sea, Singapore's defense minister said Wednesday. See also: Second black box retrieved from AirAsia crash site Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said on his Facebook page that images taken by a remote controlled vehicle from the ship showed parts of the plane's wing and words … [Link]

Mashable » Prince William and Kate now have an official Twitter account

Wednesday 14 January 11:43:50 UTC 2015

Ap285750446567Feed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — Kensington Palace, home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, sent its first tweet to the world Wednesday morning See also: Queen Elizabeth II Tweets for the First Time Within one hour of joining it had over 6,500 new followers. Hello from Kensington Palace! Welcome to our new Twitter account. — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) January 14, … [Link]

Mashable » Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch claims responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attack

Wednesday 14 January 11:34:21 UTC 2015

Ap3196380108681Feed-tw Feed-fbA video released Wednesday by Yemen's al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claims responsibility for the attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo that took place in Paris last week See also: Member of al-Qaeda's Yemen branch says group directed Paris attack On Jan. 7 two masked gunmen killed 12 people, including much of the weekly's editorial staff and two police officers … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 14 January 2015

Wednesday 14 January 11:25:38 UTC 2015

Internet of Things: Blackett Review — the British Government’s review of Internet of Things opportunities around government. Government and others can use expert commissioning to encourage participants in demonstrator programmes to develop standards that facilitate interoperable and secure systems. Government … [Link]

Mashable » Haunting photography series explores many versions of the self

Wednesday 14 January 10:30:39 UTC 2015

Monodramatic-1Feed-tw Feed-fbMaybe somewhere else in the universe, there's another version of you — someone completely different yet almost the same exists. Among all of us, alternative versions of the self could be lurking with a different past or future. The idea of multiple selves is explored by photographer and artist Daisuke Takakura in his latest photo series entitled "Monodramatic".  See also: 14 beautiful … [Link]

Slashdot » Ars: Samsung Gear VR Is Today's Best Virtual Reality

Wednesday 14 January 10:10:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes: Samsung took a distinctly different tack from Oculus VR in developing virtual reality tech. Whereas Oculus has a dedicated device, Samsung simply has a high-tech piece of headgear that you strap a Galaxy Note 4 phone into. A review popped up at Ars Technica after a month using the device, and they say it works surprisingly … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung launches Tizen-based Z1 in India

Wednesday 14 January 10:08:29 UTC 2015

Samsung-z1Feed-tw Feed-fbAfter years and years of delays, Samsung has finally announced the launch of its first Tizen smartphone: the Z1. The device will be available in India starting Jan. 14 We won't hold it against you if you forgot about Samsung and Intel's mobile OS Tizen — the company has been announcing Tizen devices since 2013, but no phones based on the … [Link]

Mashable » Beer truck crashes with tram; an entire country mourns

Wednesday 14 January 9:58:08 UTC 2015

BeertruckFeed-tw Feed-fbToday is a national day of mourning At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a tram carrying up to 30 people and a truck carrying beer collided in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville. It left 50 kegs of beer from Carlton & United Breweries strewn across the road and footpath in the terrible tragedy. See also: 'Hey Ya' becomes Australia's new national anthem … [Link]

Mashable » Huge demand for new Charlie Hebdo edition one week after attack

Wednesday 14 January 8:47:58 UTC 2015

Ap379131631248Feed-tw Feed-fbPARIS — The new edition of Charlie Hebdo went on sale Wednesday morning, with people lining up in Paris to buy the satirical publication See also: Speaking truth to children about the Paris attacks The front cover, which was revealed Monday, depicts a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad shedding a tear and holding a "Je Suis Charlie". Above the cartoon, the … [Link]

Mashable » DiCaprio, De Niro and Scorsese team up for a casino ad

Wednesday 14 January 8:12:20 UTC 2015

FilmFeed-tw Feed-fb Leo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Robert De Niro have finally worked together under acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, yet the blockbuster isn't a Hollywood film — it's an ad for a casino. The actors are rumored to have been paid US$13 million each for their work on the short film promoting City of Dreams Casino in Manilla and Studio City Casino … [Link]

Mashable » Google Translate gets smarter with language detection, Word Lens

Wednesday 14 January 8:01:14 UTC 2015

Google-translate-word-lensFeed-tw Feed-fbStar Trek's universal translator is here, and it's on your phone. Google is updating its Translate app on Wednesday, and, as rumored, the new version includes automatic language detection in conversation mode, so having a conversation between two people who don't speak the same language is actually possible. Once you've selected the two languages being spoken, Google Translate can now tell … [Link]

Slashdot » Uber Will Provide Transit Data To Cities

Wednesday 14 January 7:14:00 UTC 2015

mpicpp notes that transportation company Uber will be sharing the transit data it collects with city governments in order to "provide new insights to help manage urban growth, relieve traffic congestion, expand public transportation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." The company's first partnership will be with Boston, where Uber and other ridesharing services have been formally recognized by the state. … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2093: Social Media Deadbeats!

Wednesday 14 January 5:49:14 UTC 2015

JoT thumbWith all due respect, give credit its due! If you enJoyed the comic, please retweet or share the URL. Thanks! [Link]

Mashable » Australians can now get their cricket fix on Apple TV

Wednesday 14 January 5:24:16 UTC 2015

Apple-tv-2014-select-edits-11Feed-tw Feed-fbCricket Australia has launched an Apple TV channel in the middle of the Australian summer, giving fans access to extra content and information. It is the first Australian sport to launch on the platform. The exclusive Apple TV channel's content will include player interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and tutorials. Highlights from Test cricket matches will be available 90 minutes after a match. … [Link]

Slashdot » Human Language May Have Evolved To Help Our Ancestors Make Tools

Wednesday 14 January 5:17:00 UTC 2015

sciencehabit writes: If there's one thing that distinguishes humans from other animals, it's our ability to use language. But when and why did this trait evolve? A new study concludes that the art of conversation may have arisen early in human evolution, because it made it easier for our ancestors to teach each other how to make stone tools — … [Link]

Mashable » Adorable corgi makes lots of new friends at Disney World

Wednesday 14 January 4:43:23 UTC 2015

CorgidisneyFeed-tw Feed-fbCorgis are the unofficial mascots of pure joy, so it's weird that they aren't always at "The Happiest Place on Earth." A Tumblr user posted a friend's snaps of their corgi enjoying Disney World, and suddenly, everything was right in the world See also: 14 Stunning Photographs That Bridge Past and Present The smiley pup trotted around the park and posed … [Link]

Mashable » The Onion tries to sell Millennials on Obamacare—seriously

Wednesday 14 January 4:22:01 UTC 2015

Onion_healthFeed-tw Feed-fb Why shell out hard-earned money for health insurance when you can check your own blood pressure with a bicycle pump and water wings and score a free eye exam at the DMV? These and other health hacks –- make a neck brace out of bubble wrap! -– come from the Get Covered Illinois advertising campaign aimed at so-called “young invincibles,” … [Link]

Mashable » 'Hey Ya' becomes Australia's new national anthem with brilliant remix

Wednesday 14 January 4:11:19 UTC 2015

StrayaFeed-tw Feed-fb Australians love an anthem and as our national day on Jan. 26 rolls a little closer, a bit of well-edited patriotism is in order. Coach Bombay, the music brainchild of Melbourne songsmith Terry Mann, squashed a perfect compilation of Australian culture into a 2:34 music video titled: "National Anthem of STRAYA". The piece is a salute to everything the rest … [Link]

Slashdot » Authors Alarmed As Oxford Junior Dictionary Drops Nature Words

Wednesday 14 January 3:13:00 UTC 2015

Freshly Exhumed writes: Margaret Atwood, Andrew Motion, and Michael Morpurgo are among 28 authors criticizing Oxford University Press's decision to scrap a number of words associated with nature from its junior dictionary. In an open letter (PDF) released on Monday, the acclaimed writers said they are "profoundly alarmed" and urged the publisher to reinstate words cut since 2007 in the … [Link]

Mashable » Chris Christie's not resigning to run for president—yet

Wednesday 14 January 3:09:31 UTC 2015

ChristieFeed-tw Feed-fbNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said during his State of the State address in Trenton on Tuesday that he won't resign in 2015 to run for president, though he did spend a chunk of time speaking about what he called the United States' culture of anxiety and division. “We are a nation beset by anxiety," Christie said, which stems from a … [Link]

Mashable » With Billy Joel, is Bonnaroo's lineup 2015's best festival roster?

Wednesday 14 January 2:58:36 UTC 2015

Bonnaroo-2015Feed-tw Feed-fbWe’ll take you just the way you are, Bonnaroo lineup The incomparable Billy Joel will headline the Tennessee music festival June 11-14 just one year after his pal Elton John took the reigns on the stage there See also: Billy Joel Sings 'Uptown Girl' to Ex-Wife Christie Brinkley's Face in NYC The 65-year-old "Piano Man," busy performing monthly at his lifetime … [Link]

Mashable » Hockey player clotheslines himself in this painful Vine

Wednesday 14 January 2:37:10 UTC 2015

HockeyfansFeed-tw Feed-fbFor anyone who's ever performed an epic public fail then tried to play it off all cool like nothing happened: This is for you. In other words: This for all of us Mitchell Skiba is a junior hockey player for the Alpena Flyers in Alpena, Michigan. While skating off the ice after being ejected in a recent game, he — there's … [Link]

Mashable » New images illustrate how an iPhone app will control the Apple Watch

Wednesday 14 January 2:36:03 UTC 2015

Ap258024885875Feed-tw Feed-fbThe iOS 8.2 beta confirmed that the Apple Watch is — unsurprisingly — getting a specific app, but a new leak purports to show just how the iPhone will manage the device. 9to5Mac got access to the companion app and published screenshots from the interface. See also: I bought a fake Apple Watch for $27 at CES Here's an example of … [Link]

Mashable » Broncos GM John Elway opens press conference by thanking John Elway

Wednesday 14 January 2:26:49 UTC 2015

JohnelwayFeed-tw Feed-fbA day after the Denver Broncos and coach John Fox "agreed on a mutual decision to part ways," the team's general manager, John Elway, held a press conference Tuesday to address the "mutual decision." He opened the press conference by thanking … John Elway Of course, he meant to say "John Fox" — but if you harbor doubts about the mutuality … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking warn of artificial intelligence dangers

Wednesday 14 January 2:26:10 UTC 2015

MuskFeed-tw Feed-fbCall it preemptive extinction panic, smart people buying into Sci-Fi hype or simply a prudent stance on a possible future issue, but the fear around artificial intelligence is increasingly gaining traction among those with credentials to back up the distress. The latest example of this AI agita manifesting into real world action comes in the form of an open letter calling … [Link]

Mashable » Woody Allen, 'Transparent' make Amazon essential and wow TV is getting expensive

Wednesday 14 January 2:05:31 UTC 2015

Woody-allen-transparent-amazon-01Feed-tw Feed-fbLOS ANGELES — Everyone agrees that TV has never been better, and it better be, because the price just went up — again. Keeping up with all the buzziest and awards-worthy shows will cost you about $125 per month. But that's only after Amazon announced itself Sunday with two Golden Globes for Transparent and then, on Tuesday, declared it had signed … [Link]

Mashable » The beautiful moment: Ronaldo's young son starstruck by Messi at Ballon d'Or

Wednesday 14 January 2:01:41 UTC 2015

MessironaldoFeed-tw Feed-fb Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are undeniably soccer's two biggest stars. For many fans of the beautiful game, there's no compromise — you're either Team Messi or Team Ronaldo; simply acknowledging both of them as otherworldly talents who are blessings to spectators everywhere is all but impossible The two megastars are rivals on the pitch, too; Messi plays for controversy-shrouded … [Link]

Mashable » Alleged kingpin admits he created Silk Road — before it was an online drug marketplace

Wednesday 14 January 1:25:57 UTC 2015

Ap310132607448Feed-tw Feed-fbRoss Ulbricht has spent more than a year in a Brooklyn prison. Tuesday marked the official beginning of his trial, which will decide if he is, in fact, the mastermind responsible for Silk Road. For the first time, Ulbricht has admitted that he did indeed create Silk Road, according to reports. What he didn't admit, however, was that he had anything … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Indexed Database API Becomes a W3C Web Standard

Wednesday 14 January 1:25:46 UTC 2015

Originally proposed by database giant Oracle in 2009, the Indexed Database API “defines APIs for a database of records holding simple values and hierarchical objects” in browsers. Records are represented as key-value pairs that are indexed using a B-tree data structure. Records can be located by client-side browser applications using their keys or, alternatively, through the index. [Link]

Mashable » Australians woken up an hour early by technical glitch are tired and grumpy

Wednesday 14 January 1:08:47 UTC 2015

OptusFeed-tw Feed-fbSome Queenslanders got a first-hand experience with daylight savings time Wednesday morning due to a technical glitch by telecommunications company Optus. Those in southern Queensland woke up an hour earlier than expected due to the clocks on their mobile phones moving an hour forward. The glitch started early this morning and was resolved around 7 a.m. local time, an Optus spokesperson … [Link]

Slashdot » China's Engineering Mega-Projects Dwarf the Great Wall

Wednesday 14 January 1:05:00 UTC 2015

HughPickens.com writes: David Barboza has an interesting article in the NYT about China's engineering megaprojects. For example, there's the world's longest underwater tunnel, which will run twice the length of the one under the English Channel, and bore deep into one of Asia's active earthquake zones, creating a rail link between two northern port cities, Dalian and Yantai. Throughout China, … [Link]

Mashable » Social media isn't evil, but faulty security is bad for business

Wednesday 14 January 0:54:58 UTC 2015

Social-media-dangerous-for-business-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbOne of the discussions I’ve been having ever since CENTCOM’s Twitter and YouTube accounts were hacked by ISIS supporters is whether or not agencies like U.S. Central Command should even be on social media The short answer is, obviously, yes. At least it’s obvious to me. Like any innovation, social media is not without risks. Depending on what you use, it’s … [Link]

Mashable » Senate to vote on existence of manmade global warming, again

Wednesday 14 January 0:19:57 UTC 2015

GlobalwarminggenericthumbFeed-tw Feed-fbDuring the debate on a bill that would force the President to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, Senate Democrats plan to offer an amendment that would put senators on the record regarding their recognition of basic mainstream climate science findings In short, the amendment, offered by Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, asks senators to agree or disagree that "climate … [Link]

Slashdot » Is 'SimCity' Homelessness a Bug Or a Feature?

Wednesday 14 January 0:16:00 UTC 2015

sarahnaomi writes: SimCity players have discussed a variety of creative strategies for their virtual homelessness problem. They've suggested waiting for natural disasters like tornadoes to blow the vagrants away, bulldozing parks where they congregate, or creating such a woefully insufficient city infrastructure that the homeless would leave on their own. You can read all of these proposed final solutions in … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » smrtGRiPS: Bicycle Navigation GPS Tool Brings Good Vibrations

Wednesday 14 January 0:00:55 UTC 2015

A project looking for crowdfunding turns bicycle handlebars into a GPS navigation and security device. smrtGRiPS is designed to make it safer to use GPS and other mapping devices on a bike. The gadget comes in two parts: a pair of grips to replace the ones already on your handles, and a pair of waterproof, Bluetooth-enabled receivers that slot inside … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Long hours make people more likely to drink heavily

Wednesday 14 January 0:00:00 UTC 2015

The old adage is true. People who work hard are more likely to drink hard too, finds the largest ever study of working patterns and alcohol consumption [Link]

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