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 » New Seagate Shingled Hard Drive Teardown
New submitter Peter Desnoyers writes: Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) drives are starting to hit the market, promising larger drives without heroic (and expensive) measures such as helium fill, but at a cost — data can no longer be over-written in place, requiring SSD-like algorithms to handle random writes. At the USENIX File and Storage Technologies conference in February, researchers from … [Link]
Mashable » Apple Watch Power Reserve feature will save battery life, report says
In the days leading up to Apple's big event next week, which is rumored to be focused on the Apple Watch, a new detail about the company's first wearable has been leaked Along with all other features mentioned during Tim Cook's unveiling of the smartwatch in September, the device will also come with a feature called Power Reserve, according to The … [Link]
Mashable » How Apple is drowning out Mobile World Congress
Apple has a history of overshadowing entire tech industry events with the slightest gesture. Year after year, Apple shuns the big technology trade shows — such as CES in Las Vegas in January, and the one going on right now in Barcelona, Mobile World Congress In keeping with its "think different" philosophy, Apple has long refused to be seen as one … [Link]
Mashable » The Internet really, really, really likes Carly Rae Jepsen's sugary new single
Lest non-believers think "Call Me Maybe" would be the pinnacle of Carly Rae Jepsen's career, the pop singer is back with a really, really, really, really, really, really (sorry) catchy new single: "I Really Like You." Jepsen dropped her new earworm on Sunday and performed the single on Good Morning America on Monday. It's bubblegum pop in its purest form, … [Link]
Slashdot » Marissa Mayer On Turning Around Yahoo
An anonymous reader writes For the 20th anniversary of Yahoo, Marissa Mayer discusses how she's trying to reinvent the company. In a wide-ranging interview, Mayer shares her vision for fixing the company's past mistakes, including a major investment in mobile and a new ad platform. Yet she's been dogged by critics who see her as an imperious micromanager, who criticize … [Link]
Mashable » Danny Espinosa's mustache has already won the World Series
That’s it. No need to play the games. We can just call this whole thing now Danny Espinosa's mustache already won the 2015 Major League Baseball season, which hasn't even officially started yet See also: Is this the funniest photo in baseball history? The Washington Nationals second baseman showed up for his team's recent picture day looking like this: 
Image: Chris … [Link]
Mashable » Abused pit bull finds healing with cute outfits
After suffering years of abuse, Diamond the pit bull was rescued into a loving home and a killer wardrobe. Before finding her forever home, Diamond had been in and out of Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta for years and was in danger of being put down if no one adopted her See also: A-to-Z dog facts about your favorite breeds … [Link]
Mashable » Rebekah Brooks is back with Rupert Murdoch, and this time it's digital
“This one." Those were the words of Rupert Murdoch when asked about his top priority following the 2011 fall of News of the World in a phone hacking scandal. He was referring to Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp. At the time, Brooks had just been cleared of all charges stemming from … [Link]
Slashdot » Google Prepares To Enter Wireless Market As an MVNO
jfruh writes Google is getting into the wireless connectivity business, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to use them as your wireless connectivity provider any time soon. The company isn't building its own cell network, but will rather be a "mobile virtual network operator" offering services over existing networks. Google says it won't be a full-service mobile network in … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » IKEA Builds Wireless Charging Into Desktops
If you use a wireless charger, chances are you keep it on a desk or bedside table. IKEA now has an alternative though: furniture with a charging pad built-in. The range will include tables, desks and lamps. The charging pad is built into the top of the table or desk, and into either the base of a desktop lamp, or … [Link]
Mashable » Let us Airbnb that for you: Startup offers fixed income for short-term rentals
Managing a short-term rental, even on services such as Airbnb, VRBO and Homeaway, isn't effortless. It takes an average of 8.4 hours per week according to one study. Now there are companies that want to take that work off your hands, for a price. Pillow is one such company which promises to make it "effortless" to host on Airbnb and its … [Link]
Mashable » Cancel your summer plans. 'OITNB' has a Season 3 premiere date.
Prepare to spend the entire summer on your couch curled up with your BFF Netflix The streaming network announced a slew of premiere dates on Monday, including those for Orange Is the New Black Season 3 (June 12) and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (July 17) See also: New Emmys rules will make it harder for 'Orange is … [Link]
Mashable » Watch 'House of Cards' while you shop its best costumes
Now’s your chance to start channeling the thrilling and powerful lives of Frank and Claire Underwood. You know, besides extorting and threatening people. With the start of Season 3 of House of Cards, LookLive, an interactive website and app set to launch in April, allows you to stream popular television shows while shopping their wardrobes See also: 5 Amazon Sex Toy … [Link]
Mashable » China gripped by smog documentary 'Under the Dome'
A documentary examining the deadly effects of smog on China's population gripped the country after its release online this weekend. The 104-minute film, Under the Dome, explores how China's noxious smog problem is harming urban residents. It has already been viewed tens of millions of times online See also: China’s pollution crisis inspires smog mask fashion show Chai Jing, a Chinese … [Link]
Slashdot » Photo First: Light Captured As Both Particle and Wave
mpicpp sends word that scientists have succeeded in capturing the first-ever snapshot of the dual behavior of light. "It's one of those enduring Zen koans of science that we've all grown up with: Light behaves as both a particle and a wave—at the same time. Einstein taught us that, so we're all generally on board, but to actually understand what … [Link]
Mashable » Nasdaq closes above 5,000 for the first time since dot-com bubble collapse
The Nasdaq closed at 5,008.1 on Monday, the first time in 15 years it surpassed 5,000 The index, which is heavily focused on technology companies, gained 44 points, or 0.9%, on Monday See also: We've just reached the logical extreme of the 'Uber for X' economy It was only the third time the index has closed above 5,000 in its 44-year … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » PubNub, IBM Partnership Highlights IoT Emphasis
Looking to extend the reach of its real-time data communications network, PubNub this week announced a partnership with IBM through which its software will be integrated with the Bluemix cloud integra
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Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Thing IT People NEVER Say! [Video]
The Blue Screen of Life! YES! [Admin PDS | Via FailDesk] The post Thing IT People NEVER Say! [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Government Agencies Turn to IFTTT to Make APIs Accessible
The release of a government-focused terms of use (TOU) aims to enable government agencies to make APIs available as "channels" on the IFTTT platform.
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Slashdot » Blackphone 2 Caters To the Enterprise, the Security-Minded and the Paranoid
Mark Wilson writes While much of the news coming out of MWC 2015 has been dominated by Microsoft's Lumia 640, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, and tablets from Sony, there's always room for something a little different. Following on from the security-focused Blackphone, Silent Circle used the Barcelona event to announce the follow-up — the Blackphone 2. The privacy-centric company … [Link]
Mashable » Didga the skateboarding cat is back to shred
Didga, most famously known for shredding the streets, is back with a new video to make you feel bad about your motor skills The skater cat is actually a rescue, who just so happened to be adopted by a cat trainer with a remote-controlled skateboard Their YouTube channel is filled with tutorials on training cats to do tricks, like how … [Link]
Slashdot » Unreal Engine 4 Is Now Free
jones_supa writes In 2014, Epic Games took the step of making Unreal Engine 4 available to everyone by subscription for $19 per month. Today, this general-purpose game engine is available to everyone for free. This includes future updates, the full C++ source code of the engine, documentation, and all sorts of bonus material. You can download the engine and use … [Link]
Slashdot » NASA's Spitzer Team Releases Highest-resolution View of the Full Galactic Plane
StartsWithABang writes From our vantage point within the Milky Way, most of our 200-400 billion stars are obscured by the dust lanes present within. But thanks to its views in infrared light, the Spitzer Space Telescope can glimpse not only all of the stars and the dust simultaneously, it can do it at an alarming resolution. Recently, NASA has put … [Link]
Mashable » There's a way to scam Apple Pay and identity thieves are starting to use it
Apple Pay has been touted as perhaps the most-secure method of payment available. But scammers have still found a way around the platform's strong encryption and biometrics, according to a report from The Guardian Instead of breaking Apple Pay's built-in security, identity thieves are taking advantage of lax rules for card activation from banks. In other words, crooks are loading stolen … [Link]
Mashable » Android users will soon be able to use their phones to play games on Android TV
Gaming on Android TV is about to get a lot better. Google announced a new feature that will allow users to play multiplayer games on Android TV while using their Android smartphones and tablets as controllers. The update is powered through a new Nearby Connection API, which allows developers to add the feature to their games. It's part of a larger … [Link]
Mashable » NASA releases new photos showing strange lights on dwarf planet Ceres
A NASA spacecraft that's nearing dwarf planet Ceres has returned new images showing the mysterious lights that have scientists scratching their heads. See also: Strange lights on dwarf planet Ceres have scientists perplexed The images, released in the form of a GIF on the website for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, show at least two strange lights shining brightly as Ceres rotates. … [Link]
Mashable » Global warming helped trigger Syria's civil war
Manmade global warming helped spark the brutal civil war in Syria by doubling to tripling the odds that a crippling drought in the Fertile Crescent would occur shortly before the fighting broke out, according to a groundbreaking new study published on March 2. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to attribute the … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Clever Parrot Adjusts Water Temp During Sink Bath
People sometimes give birds a bad rep as pets, but as you can see from the parrot in this video, that isn’t quite fair. This is the pet equivalent of coming home from work to find your dog prepping dinner for itself by making sure the salt and pepper levels were ‘just right’. This parrot is nothing if not slightly … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Droughts in Syria and California linked to climate change
The two regions have recently suffered their worst droughts on record. And Syria's may have helped to trigger its civil war 
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New Scientist – News » Suez superhighway: Stopping the tide of alien invaders
We're creating a thoroughfare for invasive species to pour into the Mediterranean from the Red Sea – but for once there is a way to stem the flow (full text available to subscribers) 
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Mashable » Twitter launches embeddable video
Twitter on Monday began giving publishers the ability to embed Twitter video on their sites, meaning YouTube and Facebook now have some new competition in the category YouTube has let publishers embed videos for years, but starting Monday, tweets on twitter.com began sporting an embedded video market generator that publishers can copy and paste into their stories. The feature is under … [Link]
Slashdot » Doomsday Vault: First Tree Samples Arrive At Underground Seed Store
An anonymous reader writes "The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, built into an Arctic mountain, received its first delivery of tree seeds. Opened in 2008, the vault is designed to withstand all natural and human disasters. From the article: "The 'doomsday' vault built into an Arctic mountain, which stores seeds for food crops in case of a natural disaster, has received … [Link]
Mashable » Mic drop: Maple Leafs fan zings team with ultimate Twitter comeback
Fans of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs are frustrated. They're fed up. They're sick and tired of being sick and tired of mediocrity in supporting a team that's only made the playoffs once in the past nine years and looks headed for yet another cruddy season When one fan expressed his displeasure with the Leafs this weekend on Twitter, the team … [Link]
Mashable » February was one of the most bipolar months in U.S. weather history
At least no one can accuse Mother Nature of being boring this February To the east of the Rocky Mountains, one Arctic blast after another whipped through the streets of cities from Chicago to Bangor, Maine, and points in between with far below average temperatures and heavy snow See also: Global warming helped trigger Syria's civil war Snow piled up from … [Link]
Mashable » NASA astronaut somersaults in space for Michelle Obama
NASA's Expedition 42 commander Barry Wilmore is flipping out for Michelle Obama. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, the FLOTUS launched #GimmeFive, a call for everyone to find five ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle According to NASA's video description, Obama personally challenged Wilmore to “GimmeFive zero gravity somersaults.” The Expedition 42 commander heard Obama's call … [Link]
Mashable » Man takes explosive bubble bath with Mentos and Coke
There's nothing like a nice soak after a long day. An old video started resurfacing this week of a young man carelessly attaching Mentos to his body, and slipping into a tub filled with Coke Zero. As most amateur scientists know, mixing cola and Mentos is a recipe for sticky disaster. The longer original video was uploaded in July of … [Link]
Mashable » This TIE Interceptor drone is cooler than Hoth
No one can trick out their drone quite like YouTuber Oliver C. Known for his remote-controlled Millennium Falcon, the newest addition to his drone fleet is a Star Wars-themed TIE Interceptor. Oliver published a photo timeline of his model being built, which features a pack of LEDs for thrusters and flashing orange lights for blasters. See also: Lego's new 'Star … [Link]
Mashable » Boko Haram execution video is latest nod to gruesome ISIS tactics
A video shared by social media accounts linked to Boko Haram on Monday depict the execution of two men by members of the extremist Islamist group, mirroring the gruesome tactic that has become synonymous with ISIS. This is the latest move by Boko Haram in an attempt to more closely align itself with ISIS, which controls swathes of land in Iraq … [Link]
Mashable » Why millennials are increasingly cutting the cord
A family of six sits crouched over a tiny 13-inch screen. Ed Sullivan — charming and poised — speaks directly to what felt to be all of America. Television programming was conceived to bring families together. And at the time, that was exactly what we needed. It was revolutionary for millions of households across the country to feel like a single, … [Link]
Mashable » Tinder launches premium service that costs twice as much for people over 30
You might want to check your bank account before swiping right on Tinder. The dating app is officially launching its suite of premium features, the cost of which vary based on how old you are. In the U.S., users under 30 will pay $9.99 per month, while those 30 and older will pay $19.99 for the same service, the company announced … [Link]
Mashable » Colorado sold 148,238 pounds of marijuana in 2014
The report is in: Colorado sold 66 tons of marijuana in 2014 The Colorado Department of Revenue's Marijuana Enforcement Division released its annual report on Friday, which highlighted data surrounding the state's decision to legalize marijuana both for medical and recreational purposes According to its website, the organization is "tasked with licensing and regulating the Medical and Retail Marijuana industries in … [Link]
Mashable » All you need to own the town is a fake Oscar
This man knows what you can get with a fake Oscar and little bit of moxie. Mark David Christenson, an improv actor living in Los Angeles, bought a fake Oscar, dressed himself to the nines and recorded a fake acceptance speech all in the name of fraudulent fame and free bar food. See also: Jesus-lookalike Jared Leto photobombed Patricia Arquette … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Zombie simulator lets you plan your own apocalypse
The first model of a zombie epidemic to use real US census data lets you choose where the plague begins and how fast it spreads 
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Slashdot » Feds Admit Stingray Can Disrupt Bystanders' Communications
linuxwrangler writes The government has fought hard to keep details about use and effects of the controversial Stingray device secret. But this Wired article points to recently released documents in which the government admits that the device can cause collateral damage to other network users. The controversy has heated to the point that Florida senator Bill Nelson has made statements … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » When You’re Done Checking The Internet [Comic]
Yep, that about sums it up! [Source: The Doghouse Diaries] The post When You’re Done Checking The Internet [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Best News EVER: ‘Adventure Time’ Is Getting Movie From ‘Lego Movie’ Creators
In what may amount to the greatest news ever of all time, seems it has been confirmed that Adventure Time is being made into a full length feature film by the same guys who did the awesometastic Lego Movie. To try to wrap your brain around how fantastic this is will be all but impossible. Just the fact that they … [Link]
Mashable » Meerkat app shows the potential for live streaming on Twitter
Many already use Twitter as a platform to broadcast their lives. Now, Meerkat is trying to take that concept to the next level. Meerkat, an app that launched quietly on Friday, gained traction over the weekend, thanks in part to a push from the influential tech community Product Hunt, for its effortless approach to turning Twitter into a live streaming platform. … [Link]
Mashable » Bill Clinton's portrait has a secret Monica Lewinsky reference
The artist who painted the Bill Clinton portrait that hangs in The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery added an easter egg that contains a veiled reference to the president's infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky. If you look closely at the portrait, you'll notice a dark shadow that appears on the mantel in the Oval Office just behind Bill Clinton's right shoulder. See … [Link]
Mashable » In 'Sharknado 3,' Mark Cuban and Ann Coulter run the country
Flying sharks are apparently the least of America's troubles in Sharknado 3 Syfy announced Monday that the third installment of its flying shark franchise has enlisted Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who also (fittingly) appears on ABC's Shark Tank, and Ann Coulter for guest roles See also: It's a Twitter Feeding Frenzy: Internet Reacts to 'Sharknado 2' The parts? Cuban will … [Link]
Slashdot » World's First Lagoon Power Plants Unveiled In UK
AmiMoJo writes Plans to generate electricity from the world's first series of tidal lagoons have been unveiled in the UK. The six lagoons — four in Wales and one each in Somerset and Cumbria — will capture incoming and outgoing tides behind giant sea walls, and use the weight of the water to power turbines. The series of six lagoons … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Maps API Checker Uncovers Mapping API Problems
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New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: Google rankings, how life on Earth took off, iron rain, and more 
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Slashdot » Interactive Edition of the Nuclear Notebook
Lasrick writes The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has just launched a very cool interactive graphic to go with their famed Nuclear Notebook, the feature that tracks the world's nuclear arsenals. Now you can see at a glance who has nuclear weapons, when they got them, and how those numbers compare to each other. A short introductory video gives some … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Ancient customer-feedback technology lasts millennia
In the days before Amazon and TripAdvisor, how could you express your consumer outrage? For ancient Mesopotamians, it was seethe, stamp and bake 
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New Scientist – News » Hungry insects may halve forest carbon sink capacity
Forests may only achieve half of their predicted increase in carbon sink capacity because insects munch more when CO2 levels rise 
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Slashdot » Secret Memo Slams Canadian Police On Inaccurate ISP Request Records
An anonymous reader writes Last fall, Daniel Therrien, the government's newly appointed Privacy Commissioner of Canada, released the annual report on the Privacy Act, the legislation that governs how government collects, uses, and discloses personal information. The lead story from the report was the result of an audit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police practices regarding warrantless requests for telecom … [Link]
Mashable » Qualcomm's fingerprint scanner will work even if your hands are sweaty
Qualcomm unveiled its new fingerprint scanner on Monday, and if everything it has promised comes to pass, it should be even better than Apple's Touch ID Sense ID could pick up fingerprints even if your hands are a bit sweaty, dirty or wet. A common complaint with Touch ID is that the fingerprint sensor fails to work with less-than-pristine fingertips See … [Link]
Mashable » 14 dinosaurs that will terrify Chris Pratt in ‘Jurassic World’
Sure, everyone loves Chris Pratt, but the upcoming Jurassic World movie would be nothing without his ferocious prehistoric co-stars. The Jurassic World website — a real site for a fictional park — is unveiling the dinosaurs that will be featured in the upcoming movie and giving some background information on each species. The "aggression index" is an especially useful resource for … [Link]
Mashable » Michael Jordan and Evan Spiegal make their debut on Forbes Billionaires List
Travis Kalanick rode Uber's success all the way to the 2015 Forbes Billionaires List, joining other newcomers like Evan Spiegel and Michael Jordan. In all, there were 290 new entrants to the list of 1,826 billionaires, including 71 from China, 57 from the Unied States, 28 from India and 23 from Germany See also: Forget Microsoft: Gates is Bullish on John … [Link]
Slashdot » Jolla Partners With SSH To Create Sailfish Secure
First time accepted submitter muckracer writes Finnish mobile company Jolla will be working with Finland's SSH Communications to offer another version of its SailfishOS platform with stronger security credentials. The partnership was announced today at Jolla's press conference in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress trade show. SSH will be providing comms encryption and key management to Sailfish Secure. 
Read … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Banksy In Gaza
The unknown but highly respected street artist brought some of his eye-opening and mind-awakening art to the powerless of Gaza. The results are quite staggering. [Video and Image Via Devour] The post Banksy In Gaza appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » That mysterious 30-foot long tunnel in Canada was just a 'man cave,' police say
A mysterious 30-foot long tunnel discovered in Toronto in January was created by two men for "personal reasons," according to police. Toronto Police Const. Victor Kwong told local news organization CP24 that the tunnel was intended to be used as a "man cave" and that no criminal intent was involved. See also: Toronto police perplexed by mystery tunnel found under city … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » In Honor of Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek – An Accoustic Tribute [Video]
An absolutely beautiful musical tribute paying homage to Leonard Nimoy by [GAS] friend GC Johnson of Acoustic Labs. A musical farewell to Leonard Nimoy and other Star Trek greats, Gene Roddenberry, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, and more. Thank you for creating beautiful worlds and inspiring this one. [AcousticLabs] The post In Honor of Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek – An Accoustic … [Link]
Mashable » 'Sound of Music' in 8-bit should be one of your new favorite things
The hills are alive with the sound of 8-bit music Fifty years ago, Sister Maria broke free from the abbey to make clothing out of curtains and bring harmony (both musical and otherwise) to the Von Trapp family in the film adaption of The Sound of Music. To mark a half-century of "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favorite Things," we created a … [Link]
Mashable » Sen. Barbara Mikulski, longest serving woman in Congress, will retire
WASHINGTON — Sen. Barbara Mikulski, the longest serving woman in Congress, says she won't seek re-election to a sixth term. The 78-year-old Maryland Democrat made the announcement Monday in Baltimore. See also: The Lego Senate has all you need to know about the GOP's big win Mikulski is known as a tough, no-nonsense lawmaker who rose to the leadership of the … [Link]
Mashable » New Zealanders are taking safe driving (and tourists' keys) into their own hands
New Zealanders have become wary of tourist drivers after several deadly accidents involving foreigners in the past month, and now they're taking enforcement into their own hands. In the past week, about one driver a day has confronted another driver and confiscated his or her keys, according to The New Zealand Herald. See also: Photographer highlights New Zealand's beauty on 3-month … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Virtual reality film revolution puts you in the scene
The virtual reality boom is about more than just gaming. Total immersion could radically change how we watch and interact with films 
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Mashable » LAPD tells its version of fatal shooting of homeless man
The Los Angeles Police Department says a homeless man killed by an officer on Sunday afternoon resisted arrest and "struggled over one of the officer's handguns" before he was shot. See also: Facebook video shows LAPD shooting of homeless man during street scuffle The LAPD's statement on the shooting, portions of which were tweeted on the official LAPD Headquarters-Media Relations & … [Link]
Mashable » Why Google+ is splitting into photos and streams
The Google+ brand may be dead. Long live Google's Photos and Streams. Bradley Horowitz, a longtime product VP at Google, confirmed late Sunday that he had taken over as head of Google+ following a report that the section's previous leader, David Bresbis, was out of the role after less than a year. See also: The lesser-known member of Facebook's original team … [Link]
Slashdot » That U2 Apple Stunt Wasn't the Disaster You Might Think It Was
journovampire writes with this interesting bit about the fallout of U2's partnership with Apple. "Remember U2's album giveway with Apple at the end of last summer? And how the world seemed to become very annoyed that its contents had been "pushed" to their devices without permission? Well, the naysayers might have been loud – but that hasn't stopped the stunt … [Link]
Mashable » Life imitates art. Art imitates selfies.
While museums around the world are putting a lockdown on selfie sticks, a museum in the Philippines wants visitors to be part of the art on display. Art in Island, located at a former bus station in Manila, capitalizes on the city's reputation as the selfie capital of the world with modified versions of famous works of art. The idea … [Link]
Mashable » Malaysia tourism strong despite airplane tragedies
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Two airplane catastrophes put Malaysia on the map in a bad way in 2014. But they didn't hurt the country's tourism, and the higher visibility may even have helped: Visitor numbers had their strongest growth in years. For the past decade, Malaysia has run an elaborate campaign to market itself abroad as an ideal Asian destination, touting … [Link]
Slashdot » Intel Announces Atom x3, x5 and x7, First SOCs With Integrated 3G and LTE Modems
MojoKid writes Intel is unleashing a new family of Atom processors today, taking a cue from its highly successful Core series with model branding. Similar to the Good, Better, Best strategy with the Core i3, i5 and i7, Intel is renaming its Atom family with x3, x5, and x7 designations. The biggest news comes from the low-end Atom x3, which … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Weather forecast for early Earth involved iron rain
Put iron under pressure and it vaporises – much more readily than previously thought. This means meteorite impacts on early Earth could have created iron rain 
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Slashdot » Statistical Mechanics Finds Best Places To Hide During Zombie Apocalypse
HughPickens.com writes Eric Mack reports at Cnet that a team of researchers at Cornell University, inspired by the book "World War Z" by Max Brooks, have used statistical-mechanics to model how an actual zombie outbreak might unfold and determined the best long-term strategy for surviving the walking dead: Head for the hills. Specifically, you should probably get familiar now with … [Link]
Mashable » N 'Sync lyrics written by Shakespeare are all thou ever wanted
N 'Sync was the Shakespeare of our generation. Argue all you want, but Justin, Joey, JC, Chris and Lance brought charismatic storytelling and poetry of word to the public in a way only rivaled by The Bard himself. The two entities may have been separated by hundreds of years but that separation is really the only difference between the two. (Well, … [Link]
Mashable » Live long and eat Spock pancakes
Because losing Spock already has us eating our feelings, why not cook foods exclusively made in his likeness? Car thief throws brick at window, knocks himself out Dad builds awesome backyard sledding track for his kids The ladies of 'SNL' think you should 'say what you wanna say' Dakota Johnson literally can't even with her coworkers right now in 'SNL' … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Ultra-cold mirrors could reveal gravity's quantum side
The quantum Casimir effect is a slight attraction between two metal plates. Superconducting versions could finally show us quantum gravity at work 
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Mashable » Alibaba to put $316 million behind Taiwanese startups
Alibaba is spreading its wealth with a planned $316 million fund for Taiwanese startups The company announced the planned fund on Monday, which comprises 10 billion New Taiwan Dollars, according to The Wall Street Journal See also: Alibaba: What You Should Know About the Most-Hyped IPO of the Year The announcement follows the February introduction of a $129 million fund for … [Link]
Mashable » 13 times nature had absolutely no chill
Simmer down, nature — we all know you're the boss. You cause blizzards, earthquakes and wildfires But nature, sometimes you just need to take a chill pill See also: Force of nature: Behold the mighty microburst Send out some rainbows once in a while, give us some sunshine. There's no need go about puffing your chest and antagonizing the world into … [Link]
Slashdot » Google+ Divided Into Photos and Streams, With New Boss
An anonymous reader writes It seems Google+ will see some significant changes under new boss Bradley Horowitz. Google+ will be separated into different products: Photos and Hangouts will be split out, and the social part is now called "the stream". From the article: "Google+ has taken a lot of criticism — notably the infamous 'ghost town' knock that it's devoid … [Link]
Mashable » Always invite Neil Patrick Harris to a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed party
LOS ANGELES — All aboard the express train to crazy town, where Neil Patrick Harris commemorates Thomas the Tank Engine's 70th anniversary in a Funny or Die video during which he basically just shouts at children. "Since I’m morally obligated to not do that in my real life, I thought it’d be potentially cathartic to shout at paid professional child actors … [Link]
Mashable » You can check out — and into — the Bates Motel at SXSW
A&E’s Bates Motel might take place in Oregon, but the network is bringing the full Bates experience to Texas for SXSW During the festival in Austin this month, A&E will open the doors to a replica of the iconic hotel that will feature props and decor from the show, a Bates-themed GIF booth and a few other surprises. See also: Gordon … [Link]
Mashable » The New Republic's investment arm buys up a piece of analytics startup Parse.ly
The New Republic's investment arm has made its first move in buying a piece of web analytics firm Parse.ly The deal is a part of the magazine's larger effort to develop its digital tools by finding existing startups that mirror the publication's goals. Guy Vidra, TNR's CEO, said that the investment is the first of many See also: Disrupting a Republic: … [Link]
Mashable » 5 essential books that broke racial barriers
Seventy-five years later, Native Son is still iconic Richard Wright's novel, which was published on March 1, 1940, was a groundbreaking work about racial identity. It tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young, poor African-American man living in Chicago, who accidentally kills a white woman. It was the first best-selling novel by a black American author and greatly impacted the … [Link]
Slashdot » SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Dual Satellite Mission
JoeSilva writes SpaceX successfully launched two satellites towards Geosynchronous Orbit. There's already a video of one deployment. Word is the launch went very smoothly and bodes well for their next launch in three weeks, as they work to fulfill what is now a very full launch manifest. In addition Elon had one more thing to share: "Upgrades in the works … [Link]
Mashable » 6 spring break alternatives to help you change the world
Spring break is a time-honored college tradition that isn't complete without the beach, booze and bumming around, right? Not necessarily. If you're looking to spend your week off making a difference in the world, there are plenty of social justice-focused programs that will help foster positive change with your plane ticket. See also: How to find volunteer work online Whether you … [Link]
Mashable » Nemtsov's girlfriend on murder: 'I didn't see anything'
KIEV, Ukraine — The girlfriend of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, shot to death in the shadow of the Kremlin Friday night, said in her first interview since the killing that everything happened so quickly and she recalls very little. See also: Somber Russians fear for their country's future after Boris Nemtsov's murder The main witness to the murder, Anna … [Link]
New Scientist – News » A travel guide to touch
Touching each other is an important part of social interaction around the world – but it's a case of different strokes for different folks (full text available to subscribers) 
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Mashable » Google confirms it wants to be a wireless carrier
BARCELONA — Following nearly a year of rumors, Google confirmed on Monday that it plans to offer talk and data plans to customers. Sundar Pichai, senior VP at Google, said on stage at Mobile World Congress during a presentation that the company is working on a wireless service on a "small scale." See also: Google will soon send solar-powered drones into … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » What experts do: Curse of the intermediate
We all know the Curse of Expertise — that thing that makes most experts awful at imagining what it’s like to be a novice. The Curse of Expertise makes tech editors weep and readers seethe. Wheres the empathy?! we say, … [Link]
Mashable » Maggie Gyllenhaal on actresses she loves and why social media can be overwhelming
LOS ANGELES — Clutching her Golden Globe statuette after winning for her role in The Honourable Woman last month, Maggie Gyllenhaal devoted some of her acceptance speech to the "wealth of roles for actual women in television and in film," not just "powerful women" Mashable caught up with Gyllenhaal last week to find out who is on her list of current … [Link]
Slashdot » Valve and HTC Reveal "Vive" SteamVR Headset
An anonymous reader writes Today Valve and HTC revealed the "Vive" SteamVR headset which is designed to compete with Oculus and others, which aim for a high-end VR experience on PC. The Vive headset uses dual 1200×1080 displays at 90Hz and a "laser position sensor" to provide positional tracking (head movement through 3D space), and also includes a pair of … [Link]
Mashable » Google will soon send solar-powered drones into the sky
BARCELONA — Google is getting closer to officially launching its solar-powered drone program Project Titan and will send its first fleet into the sky sometime this year. Sundar Pichai, senior VP at Google who oversees Android, Chrome and Google apps, took to the stage Monday at Mobile World Congress to outline how the company is working on three big programs aimed … [Link]
Mashable » Jihadi John: A 'bullied' loner and model employee before ISIS
LONDON — Those who knew Mohammed Emwazi, the Islamic State (ISIS) militant known as "Jihadi John," have been coming forward in the days since his identity was revealed to talk about the man they once knew. A head teacher at his former school, an employer and an ex-ISIS associate have all spoken out about the man who appears in several videos … [Link]
Mashable » Fake a handwritten note with these 4 online services
We all know the importance and impact a handwritten note has, just like we know that homemade bread tastes better and hand-knitted socks are 10 times more comfortable The trouble is, no one (except Emma Watson) has time to find the perfect card-stock notepaper, wait for bread to rise or knit a heal flap and gusset. The answer is outsourcing, daaahling. … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Germ-killing molecules identified in alligator blood
Over more than 37 million years, alligators have developed a formidable defence against infections that we might be able to harness 
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Mashable » Conflicting reports about CCTV footage of Boris Nemtsov's murder
The investigation into the killing of Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was gunned down not far from the Kremlin, faced conflicting reports Monday about possible surveillance footage of his slaying. See also: 'Heroes never die!': Russians honor opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in massive rally No suspects have been arrested since Nemtsov was shot dead Friday … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » HEY IT PEOPLE: Send In Your IT Horror Stories + Big Giveaway! #getthroughit [Sponsored by Canon]
IT horror stories: we’ve all heard about (or experienced firsthand) helpdesk tickets that provide absolutely no logical explanation to system admins. They provide fodder for stories that get retold again and again and make the whole IT community laugh and learn. They help us become better at what we do by teaching us valuable lessons about what and what NOT … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 50% Off Select PC Components and Accessories
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers up to 50% off on select PC components and Accessories. There’s plenty of awesome components in the sale, so be sure to check the sale out! Today only, get started on your next PC build or give your existing machine an overdue upgrade with savings of up to 50% on … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Life has Infinite Possibilities [Comic]
[Source: Pie Comic] The post Life has Infinite Possibilities [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Cool Tee: Necronomicook
The Necronomicook will drive your dinner guests mad with delight! Available in sizes S to 2XL. The designer of this shirt also has PLENTY of other really cool shirt designs, so be sure to check ‘em all out! [Cool Tee: Necronomicook] The post Cool Tee: Necronomicook appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
New Scientist – News » My drug-filled nanospheres heal at the speed of light
Our bodies have a habit of scattering medicine to the wrong places, so Adah Almutairi is targeting diseases with light-activated nanotechnology 
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O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 2 March 2015
User Onboarding Teardowns — the UX of new users. (via Andy Baio) Microsoft’s Productivity Vision — always-on thinged-up Internet everywhere, with predictions and magic by the dozen. Machine Learning Done Wrong — When dealing with small amounts of data, its … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Hadoop: The Definitive Guide – $21.49 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Hadoop: The Definitive Guide" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2015-03-03 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » Blackphone 2 wants to be your super secure work phone
BARCELONA – Security-oriented smartphone maker Silent Circle came out all guns blazing at Mobile World Congress 2015, announcing a new smartphone, a tablet, a new version of its secure smartphone OS and several key apps for the platform Monday First things first: The company followed up the Blackphone, unveiled at MWC 2014, with a much improved version, the Blackphone 2. It … [Link]
Mashable » Judd Apatow channels inner emoji for 'Sick In The Head' book cover
This is 30…years of comedy wisdom. Producer and director Judd Apatow is back with a new release, this time on page instead of the big screen. His new book Sick In The Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy hits shelves June 16Mashable received an exclusive first look at Sick In The Head's emoji-inspired cover art. See also: 12 Comedian Quotes for … [Link]
Mashable » Car thief throws brick at window, knocks himself out
Rule #1 when throwing bricks at cars: stand clear and make sure they don't bounce back and hit you in the face. Clearly ignored by this man outside a pub in Ireland. This would-be car thief was caught on CCTV throwing stones at a car window, before disappearing and returning with a brick. Unfortunately, for him, the car's window withstood … [Link]
Mashable » The Huawei Watch is really, believe it or not, elegant
BARCELONA – There's an old mantra that if a chair looks and feels sturdy, you're likely to think it's worth more than a lighter one. We rely so much on determining quality by holding something in our hands and if it doesn’t feel right, why even bother? While smartwatches have been the budding belle of the tech world for a good … [Link]
Slashdot » AVG Announces Invisibility Glasses
BrianFagioli writes So what do these glasses from AVG Innovation Labs actually do? The security firm claims it can protect your identity in this new era of cameras everywhere. From the article: "'Through a mixture of technology and specialist materials, privacy wearables such as invisibility glasses can make it difficult for cameras or other facial recognition technologies to get a … [Link]
Mashable » Student signs contract for part-time job, owns it like a football superstar
LONDON — Signing a contract to stack shelves, check out groceries and answer customer queries is probably not up there with signing a major sports contract but this student's big moment has been retweeted like it was Scottish student Andrew Paterson recently re-signed to his weekend job at his local Asda supermarket and won Twitter in the process Very happy to … [Link]
Mashable » Iraq begins major operation to retake Saddam Hussein's hometown from ISIS
Backed by allied Shiite and Sunni fighters, Iraqi security forces on Monday began a large-scale military operation to recapture Saddam Hussein's hometown from the Islamic State extremist group, state TV said, a major step in a campaign to reclaim a large swath of territory in northern Iraq controlled by the militants. See also: Why children of the west are drawn to … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft's new Lumia phones come with a free year of Office 365
Microsoft is kind of in limbo with regard to mobile: The company is eager to revamp its lineup — it hasn't had a new flagship since the Lumia 930 — but it can'tWindows 10 doesn't launch until the fall, and it needs to save its top smartphone (whatever it may be) for that debut. That doesn't mean it showed up to … [Link]
Mashable » Return of 'Once Upon a Time' featured an epic villain team up
It’s been a long winter without the Once Upon a Time gang, but we were reunited in a big way after the show's three-month hiatus. The episode — aptly titled "Darkness on the Edge of Town" — not only brought two-thirds of the Queens of Darkness (Ursula and Cruella de Vil, with Maleficent to be brought back from the dead soon) … [Link]
Slashdot » Spock and the Legacy of Star Trek
StartsWithABang writes While the nerd/geek world mourns the death of Leonard Nimoy in its own way, it's important to remember the legacy that Star Trek — and that Spock and alien characters like him — left on our world. Unlike any other series, Star Trek used a futuristic, nearly utopian world to explore our own moral battles and failings, and … [Link]
Mashable » The gang was showered with good news on 'The Walking Dead'
The Alexandria Safe Zone might eventually prove be too good to be true, but until it is, Rick and Co. are choosing to enjoy all of the luxuries it has to offer — like showers, video games and haircuts Yes, Rick got a haircut. And holy Love, Actually, people, he looked good See also: The end of 'House of Cards' Season … [Link]
Mashable » Fish drying is the livelihood of thousands in West Bengal
For generations, fish drying in the Sundarbans islands, located in Indian state of West Bengal, has been an essential source of livelihood for thousands. Concerns surrounding environmental damage and smuggling lead to a ban in 1996 on fishing and fish-drying activities on Jambudwip and other surrounding islands. See also: Bolivian grandmas handball so hard to stay healthy Seasonal fishing and fish … [Link]
Mashable » Google’s latest Street View project uses ziplines to showcase Brazilian rainforests
Google just added zipline to the growing list of ways it's captured Street View images from far-flung locations around the world. The company's newest collection of Street View photography used a zipline to help document the upper canopy of an Amazon rainforest. See also: 10 Famous Film Locations Revisited in Google Street View The latest images, the result of a partnership … [Link]
Mashable » Xperia Z4 Tablet is incredibly slim and light
BARCELONA — Sony did not bring a new flagship smartphone to Mobile World Congress this year, but it did show us its lightest and slimmest 10.1-inch tablet yet — the Xperia Z4 Tablet With this device, Sony actually skipped a number. The last 10.1-inch tablet it launched was the Xperia Z2 Tablet, which was followed by the smaller, 8-inch Xperia Z3 … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook video shows LAPD shooting of homeless man during street scuffle
A man was shot dead by a local police officer during an altercation in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon In disturbing footage posted on Facebook by Anthony Blackburn, who witnessed the incident, a group of police officers can be seen in a scuffle with two people near what appears to be makeshift tents and sleeping pallets on the sidewalk See … [Link]
Mashable » Australian 'Wellness Warrior' dies from cancer at age 29
A self-described "Wellness Warrior," who attempted to battle a rare form of cancer with alternative therapies, died on Thursday the age of 29. Seven years ago, Australian Jessica Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma, a slow growing soft tissue tumour in her left arm. The survival rate of this form of cancer for is 68% at five years and 61% at … [Link]
Slashdot » ISIS Threatens Life of Twitter Founder After Thousands of Account Suspensions
Patrick O'Neill writes After a wave of account bannings that marks Twitter's most aggressive move ever against ISIS, new images circulated from militants shows founder Jack Dorsey in crosshairs with the caption "Twitter, you started this war." The famously tech-savy ISIS has met a number of defeats on American-built social media recently with sites like Twitter and YouTube banning the … [Link]
Mashable » 'The Good Wife' is back to business as usual in the spring premiere
After a long, long hiatus, The Good Wife came back this week with "Dark Money" — a satisfying hour of its usual legal battles and political maneuvers. In the Good Wife universe this means that Colin Sweeney is defending himself against the charge of murdering his wife (again), Lemond Bishop is lurking menacingly on the periphery and Alicia is getting another … [Link]
Mashable » 'Downton Abbey' Season 5 conclusion warmed our hearts
Editor’s note: The following recap was originally published in December 2014, in conjunction with the UK airing of the Downton Abbey Christmas special. The festive Christmas episode of Downton Abbey , which is the last new episode of the season, was full of surprises, thrills, and a whole range of emotions. Structured in two acts — the first of which was … [Link]
Mashable » Job hunting? Your dream role may be closer than you think
In case you missed it, a major change is taking shape in workplaces across the country: The idea of "the long-term career" is coming to an end. American employees are increasingly known job hoppers. Today, 91% of millennials expect to stay at a job for fewer than three years, and the nationwide average for job tenure lies at around 4.6 years … [Link]
Mashable » Australian politicians are reportedly using top-secret messaging app Wickr
Australian politicians are reportedly using the secret messenging app Wickr to communicate with each other on the sly. According to The Australian, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison have been using the service to communicate about their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the ongoing leadership crisis. See also: Familiar-looking poster declares the Australian prime … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2112: The new not-normal!
Alone is the new creepy! If you enJoyed the comic, please retweet or share the URL… thanks! [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Majora’s Mask Made With Chainsaws [Video]
AMAZING WORK! From Griffon Ramsey: By popular request, here is a life-sized Majora’s Mask from Legend of Zelda carved with chainsaws and other tools. Watch the process! [Griffon Ramsey] The post Majora’s Mask Made With Chainsaws [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » 'Last Man on Earth' is network TV's big risk that paid off
Note: This post discusses the first episode of Fox's Last Man on Earth in detail. Read with caution. What if the only thing worse than being the last person on Earth is being one of the last two people on Earth — and you hate the other one? From the Midas-like hands of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller — the comedic … [Link]
Mashable » Scenes from the World Gander Fighting Championship
Every year, in a small village north of Belgrade, Serbians take to the streets to cheer on fighting fowl at the World Gander Fighting Championship. Gander owners and their pets from across the country flock to the village of Mokrin each February to compete in the traditional — and nonviolent — event. Gander fighting is considered to be a part of … [Link]
Mashable » 'Girls' Season 4, episode 7 recap: Hannah + Mimi-Rose = BFF?
Girls returns to its roots in "Ask Me My Name," reviving the honest emotions and devil-may-care atmosphere of earlier seasons that were sorely missed from a largely gloomy Season 4. Even better, the welcome change in tone is thanks to an unlikely duo: Hannah and Mimi-Rose Howard See also: 'Girls' Season 4, episode 6 recap: 'I don't need you' What begins … [Link]
Mashable » B&O BeoPlay H8: Fancy wireless headphones with slick gesture controls
If you know anything about B&O (Bang & Olufsen), you know that the Danish company takes design very, very seriously All of B&O's products are statement pieces. They look fantastic in magazine spreads, where everything inside of the mock living room is impeccably clean. I can't recall ever looking at a B&O product and not lusting after it. See also: … [Link]
Slashdot » How Do You Handle the Discovery of a Web Site Disclosing Private Data?
An anonymous reader writes I recently discovered that a partner web site of a financial institution I do business with makes it trivially easy to view documents that do not belong to me. As in, change the document ID in a URL and view someone else's financial documents. This requires no authentication, only a document URL. (Think along the lines … [Link]
Mashable » Is John Legend a hypocrite? Human rights activists in Bahrain think so
LOS ANGELES — John Legend is under fire from human rights activists for his scheduled performance at Bahrain's government-sponsored Spring of Culture festival, but despite the criticism, the 36-year-old Oscar winner still plans to perform at Monday's event. "The solution to every human rights concern is not always to boycott," Legend, who most recently championed human rights at the Oscars, told … [Link]
Mashable » Rebekah Brooks returns to Rupert Murdoch's media empire to lead Storyful, report says
The long and scandalous phone hacking saga of former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has ended with her media resurrection in the U.S., thanks to her biggest champion: News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch Brooks' new role, according to reports, will include heading up the social media news agency Storyful as well as developing new Internet startups See also: Murdoch's … [Link]
Slashdot » Ikea Unveils Furniture That Charges Your Smartphone Wirelessly
pbahra writes Swedish furniture maker Ikea unveiled a new range of furniture that it says can wirelessly charge some mobile devices. The Swedish furniture giant made the announcement on Sunday at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Ikea's introduction of wireless charging functionality on some of its new furniture heats up the battle for a global wireless charging standard, of which … [Link]
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