Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Brain Injury Researchers Watch YouTube Videos for Trauma Research]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/brain-injury-researchers-watch-youtube-videos-for-trauma-researc/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/brain-injury-researchers-watch-youtube-videos-for-trauma-researc/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/brain-injury-researchers-watch-youtube-videos-for-trauma-researc/#comments
YouTube's vast repository of videos offers video of just about anything imaginable -- from rare concert footage to gadget reviews. But, according to a report from the University of Kentucky posted on LabSpaces, brain injury researchers are using the site for something more noble: head trauma research. Best of all, they've actually made some concrete findings that could help coaches make safer decisions for their injured players.

The findings revolve around what Jonathon Lifshitz, assistant professor at the University of Kentucky Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, calls the "fencing response." After watching hundreds of hours of YouTube videos showcasing various head impacts, Lifshitz and his team noticed that, after a player suffered a severe blow to the head, his forearm would involuntary assume an "en garde" fencing position -- sometimes before he even hit the ground. (One of the videos watched is shown above.) Believe it or not, this behavior was noticed in rats as well.

Such a physical response indicates trauma to a part of the brainstem that controls balance. If left untreated, such an injury can lead to permanent brain damage and death. Internal damage is hard to assess by simply looking at a person, so if a player displays the fencing response after an impact, a coach should have her treated immediately instead of sending her back onto the field. Score one for YouTube! [From: U.K./LabSpaces]

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Brain Injury Researchers Watch YouTube Videos for Trauma Research originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> healthinjurymedicalonline videoOnlineVideoresearchsportsyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:08:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nielsen: More Americans Watching TV While Surfing the Net]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/nielsen-more-americans-watching-tv-while-surfing-the-net/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/nielsen-more-americans-watching-tv-while-surfing-the-net/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/07/nielsen-more-americans-watching-tv-while-surfing-the-net/#comments
As the Internet has become more accessible and essential to our lives, it's natural that we find ourselves online more than ever -- even when we're watching television. According to a new quarterly report (PDF link) by Nielsen, 57-percent of Americans watch television while surfing the Net at least once a month. (We'll admit, we do this on a daily basis.)

The report also contains some other interesting trends and numbers. One of our favorites notes that 28-percent of respondent's Internet time is spent simultaneously watching TV, while only 3-percent of their TV time is spent simultaneously surfing the Web. Did you get that?

What's most interesting is that the time spent watching videos on any platform (Internet, television, mobile devices) has gone up. Rather than killing traditional television, it seems online videos are actually complementing it. [From: Nielsen (PDF link), via Ars Technica]

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Nielsen: More Americans Watching TV While Surfing the Net originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> internetmultitaskingnielsenonline videoOnlineVideoratingstoptv switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Virtual Gnome Police Crack Down on Spammer Hucksters in 'EverQuest']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/09/05/virtual-gnome-police-crack-down-on-spammer-hucksters-in-everque/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/05/virtual-gnome-police-crack-down-on-spammer-hucksters-in-everque/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/05/virtual-gnome-police-crack-down-on-spammer-hucksters-in-everque/#comments
When playing massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, the typical player must spend tens, if not hundreds, of hours fully developing his character, earning a significant amount of in-game currency, and obtaining powerful, rare items and weapons. This often lengthy grind has encouraged some players to buy virtual items and characters from others, via real money transactions -- an act that is explicitly banned in almost all MMO end-user license agreements. Making matters worse for both players and publishers, these virtual salesmen spam other players so much that it sometimes discourages honest gamers from playing, thus depriving publishers of a game's requisite monthly fees.

To help combat this illegal spamming, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), a game publisher that runs such MMOs as 'EverQuest' and 'Star Wars Galaxies,' has formed the Norathian Underground Gnome Investigation Team. (Norath is the name of the fictional universe in which 'EverQuest' takes place.) According to Reuters, this nine-member group roams the various virtual worlds, finds spammers and their associates, and permanently bans their online accounts.

The team has already closed nearly 300,000 accounts since its founding, though many challenges still remain. Brad Wilcox, director of customer support at SOE, had this to say about the spammers: "A lot of them are offshore. It's very difficult to stop somebody that's in another country, particularly one where the laws aren't friendly to the United States and it can be very challenging." [From: Reuters]

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Virtual Gnome Police Crack Down on Spammer Hucksters in 'EverQuest' originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> everquestmmoscamsecuritysony-online-entertainmentspamtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:36:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Apple's List of Software Incompatible With Snow Leopard]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/apple-releases-list-of-software-incompatible-with-snow-leopard/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/apple-releases-list-of-software-incompatible-with-snow-leopard/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/apple-releases-list-of-software-incompatible-with-snow-leopard/#comments Upgrading a computer's operating system often means you'll be left with software and devices that are simply incompatible with the new version due to the removal of legacy code, and/or outdated drivers and software. We've seen this happen in every major operating system (OS) update, from Vista to Leopard, and we're seeing it once again with Snow Leopard, Apple's most recent OS X point update (10.6), released just days ago.

While it's impossible for Apple to test every application and hardware device with its OS, the company has posted a list of software that it knows to be incompatible with the 10.6 update. The big names include Parallels Desktop and Norton AntiVirus, though even Apple's own Airport Admin Utility for Graphite and Snow makes the list.

If you're thinking about jumping on the Snow Leopard bandwagon, we suggest you check the official sites for any critical software you use before doing so to look for any potential issues. It might also be helpful to check various Apple forums for user-generated lists of incompatible software, like this one from popular Apple site MacRumors. [From: TUAW]

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Apple's List of Software Incompatible With Snow Leopard originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applenewproductsosxsnow leopardSnowLeopardtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:36:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Is Wikipedia Too Big for Its Own Good?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/is-wikipedia-too-big-for-its-own-good/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/is-wikipedia-too-big-for-its-own-good/ http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/is-wikipedia-too-big-for-its-own-good/#comments
In a blog post for the New York Times, writer Noam Cohen reflects on the challenges that Wikipedia faces in the coming years, as brought up at last week's Wikimania conference in Buenos Aires. One of the major points of discussion was the incredible growth the site had, and why it's currently slowing down. One of the theories offered suggests that most general topics have entries now, and future growth will be more dependent on "specialized articles, maintenance and news, both events and ideas and products."

Perhaps the greatest issue of all, though, is the very concept of the site itself: an encyclopedia that anyone can edit. As the site has grown over the years, pages have become more difficult to edit due to complex layouts, and "bots" that make edits on a mass scale. Page vandalism has also become a problem, and there is rising controversy on how to manage and maintain quality page edits.

The bigger Wikipedia becomes, the more potential it has to become an invaluable part of our lives -- but at what price? Does the site abandon it's very own motto of democratic and open contributions? Should they open the floodgates and hope we, the public, can sort it all out? Tell us what you think in the comments below! [From: The New York Times]

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Is Wikipedia Too Big for Its Own Good? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> democracytopwikiwikipedia switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/the-olympus-e-p1-is-sexy-but-is-it-worth-the-hype/#comments

What it is: The Olympus PEN E-P1 is the company's first Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera -- a miniaturized alternative to a digital SLR (DSLR) based on a tech standard developed in cooperation with Panasonic. The physical design and name are throwbacks to the half-frame film cameras Olympus produced from the '50s through the '80s. The E-P1, priced at $799, includes a 14-42-millimeter, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens (equivalent to 28-84 mm on a traditional film camera).

Why it's different: The E-P1's retro styling stands out among other DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras. The compact body is a result of the MFT system, which reduces bulk by forgoing an SLR's internal mirror and prism for through-the-lens viewing. The result is a camera significantly smaller and lighter than a DSLR, but with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and the photo quality that comes from a large image sensor. The only other MFT cameras on the market are Panasonic's G1 and GH1, which boast similar size reductions, but have a traditional DSLR shape.

Continue reading The Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype?

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The Olympus E-P1 Is Sexy, But Is It Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featureshypecheckmftmicro four thirdsMicroFourThirdsolympusolympus e-p1OlympusE-p1photographytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Mother of Autistic U.K. Hacker Calls on Obama for Help]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/mother-of-autistic-u-k-hacker-calls-on-obama-for-help/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/mother-of-autistic-u-k-hacker-calls-on-obama-for-help/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/mother-of-autistic-u-k-hacker-calls-on-obama-for-help/#comments Forty-three-year-old Londoner Gary McKinnon is facing extradition to the U.S. (as well as up to 60 years in a U.S. prison) if convicted of hacking into government computers, reports the BBC. He also has Asperger's syndrome, a type of autism disorder. After numerous failed attempts to have her son tried in the U.K., McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp (pictured) is pleading directly to President Obama for help, having sent him a letter signed by 40 Members of British Parliament asking him to "bring this shameful episode to an end." Speaking outside the High Court last week, she added, "I'm just praying, please hear us, Obama, because I know you would do the right thing."

McKinnon claims he was simply looking for suppressed UFO-related documents, and that the attacks were in no way malicious. Still, laws were broken, and two judges found that extradition was the proper response, but also admitted that extradition and prison in the U.S. for the handicapped McKinnon might be "very difficult indeed." With the U.S.-U.K. extradition treaty recently failing to get a revision, it's unknown exactly what Obama's choices are in the matter. But Sharp is hopeful. Outside the High Court, she told reporters, "Obama wouldn't have this. He doesn't want the first guy extradited for computer misuse to be a guy with Asperger's, a UFO guy." [From: BBC News]

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Mother of Autistic U.K. Hacker Calls on Obama for Help originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aspergersgovernmenthackinternational lawInternationalLawlawtopufouk switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Cell Phones Boost Saucy Manga Comics Sales in Japan (Among Women)]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/cell-phones-boost-saucy-manga-comics-sales-in-japan-among-women/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/cell-phones-boost-saucy-manga-comics-sales-in-japan-among-women/ http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/cell-phones-boost-saucy-manga-comics-sales-in-japan-among-women/#comments

The manga (Japanese comics) industry in Japan has been in steady decline for the past decade, but it seems an unlikely savior has finally arrived: the cell phone. The New York Times is reporting that direct-to-cell sales of manga have jumped up 43-percent from last year -- a significant jump in and of itself, but even more impressive given the cell phone manga market's typical slow yearly growth. Reasons given for the sudden surge in business include fast cellular networks, good prices with convenient payment processes (charges simply show up on one's monthly phone bill), and the fact that manga simply looks gorgeous on a high resolution back-lit screen.

Continue reading Cell Phones Boost Saucy Manga Comics Sales in Japan (Among Women)

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Cell Phones Boost Saucy Manga Comics Sales in Japan (Among Women) originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> comicsdigital distributionDigitalDistributionmangamobileappsmobilecomicstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[No Wi-Fi on Your Phone? New MicroSD Card Changes That in a Flash]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/26/new-microsd-card-brings-wi-fi-to-compatible-phones/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/26/new-microsd-card-brings-wi-fi-to-compatible-phones/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/26/new-microsd-card-brings-wi-fi-to-compatible-phones/#comments Believe it or not, there are a number of data-equipped cell phones that lack integrated Wi-Fi (like the new BlackBerry Tour). If you own one of these phones and it has a microSD slot, you may now be able to retroactively add Wi-Fi to it, thanks to a new card developed by KDDI Corp. Similar to wireless network-accessing camera memory cards, these cards can instantly (and hopefully cheaply) add network access to phones and other devices.

Unveiled at the Wireless Japan 2009 expo, the tiny 11 x 16 x 0.7mm card is equipped with an 802.11 b/g antenna. The card was demonstrated at the show with a laptop, (which makes it one of the smallest Wi-Fi dongles out there), but you can bet that smartphones are the desired target here. There's no word yet on pricing, or what phones will be compatible with the card, but it could make Web browsing on your old school flip phone a tolerable experience. [From: TechOn via CNET]

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No Wi-Fi on Your Phone? New MicroSD Card Changes That in a Flash originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cellphonemicrosdtopwifi switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Use a Custom Gmail Setup to Get Things Done]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/25/use-a-custom-gmail-setup-to-get-things-done/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/25/use-a-custom-gmail-setup-to-get-things-done/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/25/use-a-custom-gmail-setup-to-get-things-done/#comments If your Gmail inbox is turning into a ginormous vat of unanswered e-mails and confusing labels, Lifehacker has a good template you can use to get your to-do list back on track. Their method involves a clever mix of a couple Google Labs features, some informative labels, and even optional search bookmarklets for quick access to various e-mails. If you follow every step they have listed, your inbox should look and function more like a slim and efficient Getting Things Done (GTD) application than an e-mail repository.

Keep in mind that this system won't do you a speck of good if you're not disciplined enough to follow and use the rules you set. After all, one of the ideas behind the GTD philosophy is to proactively, well, get things done. We haven't given the system a go for ourselves yet, but the logic and convenience of it all (especially for heavy Gmail users) seems pretty sound. [From: Lifehacker]

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Use a Custom Gmail Setup to Get Things Done originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> getting things doneGettingThingsDonegmailgooglegtdmainnewstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Facebook Piles on the Guilt Before You Deactivate Your Account]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/facebook-piles-on-the-guilt-before-you-deactivate-your-account/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/facebook-piles-on-the-guilt-before-you-deactivate-your-account/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/facebook-piles-on-the-guilt-before-you-deactivate-your-account/#comments One of the biggest challenges social networking sites face is retaining users. While Facebook seems to be doing just fine with its roughly 250 million current members, the site has a pretty sly trick up its sleeve for those considering deactivating their account. If you head to the deactivation page, you'll be shown five photos of your friends with a message saying they'll miss you. The page also notes how many friends you have and how they'll no longer be able to keep in touch with you, as well as providing a direct link to send a message to your displayed friends.

While we have no plans of deactivating our own accounts, we hit up the page to see which of our friends appeared in the photos. Surprisingly, every photo was of us with a friend. It's likely the algorithm first chooses photos that have both you and your friends in them to deepen the emotional connection. Sneaky. We have to admit, tugging at our heart strings to keep us on the site is clever, and damned if we didn't feel a pang of guilt when their sad eyes stared accusingly at us for trying to leave. [From: Mashable]

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Facebook Piles on the Guilt Before You Deactivate Your Account originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookguilttop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Amazon Buys Zappos for $920M]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/amazon-buys-zappos-for-920m/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/amazon-buys-zappos-for-920m/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/23/amazon-buys-zappos-for-920m/#comments
Amazon is one of the world's largest online retailers for everything from books to electronics. Zappos is another one of the world's largest online retailers, but more specifically for shoes and clothes. If you think the two are a match made in heaven, you're not the only one: According to TechCrunch, Amazon has just purchased Zappos for a cool $920 million in shares and cash.

Zappos has built a strong reputation among the public for great customer service, stellar prices, and fantastic shipping deals, and thankfully, there are no plans to change that. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh wrote a letter to his employees saying, "We plan to continue to run Zappos the way we have always run Zappos -- continuing to do what we believe is best for our brand, our culture, and our business." Amazon head honcho Jeff Bezos also had a few words to say the Zappos employees, which you can catch in the video posted above. [From: TechCrunch]

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Amazon Buys Zappos for $920M originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amazonbusinessbuyoutretailshoesshoppingtopzappos switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Dark Flash' Eliminates Annoying Light From Picture-Taking Process]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/dark-flash-shows-impressive-photographic-results/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/dark-flash-shows-impressive-photographic-results/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/dark-flash-shows-impressive-photographic-results/#comments Flash photography lets us, among other things, take pictures in dimly lit situations. Unfortunately, when taking pictures of people, it often leads to the dreaded red eye and/or the deer-in-headlights effect, with blown out highlights and harsh shadows. The light itself can also be distracting, hence its exile from many museums, concerts, and public performances. But if NYU student Dilip Krishnan and assistant professor Rob Fergus's "dark flash" concept can iron out some wrinkles, all those problems may soon be a thing of the past.

According to New Scientist, this innovative flash works by emitting light in a wide range of frequencies, and then by filtering out the frequencies that wind up being visible. The result is a sharp, but oddly tinted image. To compensate for distorted colors, a second, flash-free image is taken immediately afterward, and the two are combined in software to produce a naturally toned, well lit image (see example above). Because the invisible flash depends upon ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light, objects or materials that absorb said kinds of light won't appear in the photos. Even with that caveat, though, we could be looking at the biggest thing in cameras since, well, the flash. [From: New Scientist via Engadget]

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'Dark Flash' Eliminates Annoying Light From Picture-Taking Process originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cameraflashlightphotographyphotostop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[NSA Whistleblower Gets Ignored by Everyone]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/nsa-whistleblower-gets-ignored-by-everyone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/nsa-whistleblower-gets-ignored-by-everyone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/nsa-whistleblower-gets-ignored-by-everyone/#comments
When the New York Times revealed in December of 2005 that the U.S. government was eavesdropping on citizens' telephone and e-mail conversations without warrants, a retired AT&T technician named Mark Klein knew he had physical evidence showing how the feds had been stealing information from AT&T's network.

Strangely, though, nobody gave him the time of day.

According to Klein, even the LA Times, which had been set to run his story in early 2006, mysteriously killed it after speaking with the government. After January of 2006, though, when Klein met Kevin Bankston of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, his story began to get the publicity it deserved.

Continue reading NSA Whistleblower Gets Ignored by Everyone

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NSA Whistleblower Gets Ignored by Everyone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attbig brotherBigBrotherbookgovernmentnsasecurityspyingtopwire tapWireTap switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Stix Cell Phone Only Charges When You Exercise]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/stix-cell-phone-only-charges-when-you-exercise/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/stix-cell-phone-only-charges-when-you-exercise/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/stix-cell-phone-only-charges-when-you-exercise/#comments A phone that encourages you to lose weight? That's the novel idea behind the Stix concept phone.

You can hook the phone, thanks to its pliable body, to a belt loop or wrap it around your wrist. As the phone can only be charged by kinetic energy, you'll have to walk, run, or otherwise work out if you plan on talking to your friends and loved ones via the phone. It also has a built-in pedometer and heart-rate meter to help you keep track of just how well you're exercising.

It's a fascinating concept, for sure, but something tells us most of you will be holding onto your iPhones and BlackBerrys for the time being. [From: Textually]

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Stix Cell Phone Only Charges When You Exercise originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cell phoneCellPhoneexercisegreenkinetic energyKineticEnergystixtopworkout switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:42:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Casual' Pirates Courted by Legal Music Streaming Sites]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/casual-pirates-courted-by-legal-music-streaming-sites/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/casual-pirates-courted-by-legal-music-streaming-sites/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/20/casual-pirates-courted-by-legal-music-streaming-sites/#comments The Internet made pirating music as simple as clicking a few buttons in a program, much to the dismay of record companies around the world. Those same companies tried to control the music through the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM), but failed miserably. Only now are the record companies realizing that a large majority of people only pirate music because it's simply the easiest and most accessible way to find and listen to music. These "dinner party pirates" are not out to prove themselves to anyone, or stick it to the man -- they just want to listen to music. Give them a good solution, and, in theory, piracy will drop while revenue increases.

According to the New York Times, that's exactly what's happening in Britain with young music-streaming start-ups like Spotify and We7, which stream music for free and make revenue through site advertising. These sites have found immense growth in a fairly short amount of time (Spotify's revenues have doubled every month since launching this past February), while studies conducted by research firms Music Ally and Leading Question show that piracy among British teens has dropped almost in half since December 2007. While in no way a full solution to music piracy, the results so far are promising.

Continue reading 'Casual' Pirates Courted by Legal Music Streaming Sites

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'Casual' Pirates Courted by Legal Music Streaming Sites originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> drmmp3musicpiracyspotifytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nike Chalkbot Prints Your Messages on Tour de France]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/nike-chalkbot-prints-your-messages-on-tour-de-france/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/nike-chalkbot-prints-your-messages-on-tour-de-france/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/nike-chalkbot-prints-your-messages-on-tour-de-france/#comments
Lance Armstrong's Livestrong campaign, which focuses on inspiring and assisting cancer patients, has teamed up with Nike and software developer Deeplocal to develop the Chalkbot. This robot is programmed to paint text messages in yellow chalk along the 2,200 mile route of the Tour de France bicycle race. Up to 100,000 messages of "courage, hope and action" will be chalked along the route, Nike expects. You can submit your very own message by texting "LIVESTRONG," followed by your message, to 36453, or by visiting the official site.

In the video above, the creators elaborate on the creation of the robot, noting that people tend to better associate with physical, real things. By printing the messages on roads, the idea is that each inspiring message will be that much more effective. It's a great idea, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the Chalkbot used in future promotions and events. Let's just hope advertisers don't exploit it for the worst. [From: Trend Hunter]

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Nike Chalkbot Prints Your Messages on Tour de France originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cancercancer preventionCancerPreventionlance armstrongLanceArmstronglivestrongrobotsportstoptour de franceTourDeFrance switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Vacationers Prime Targets for Cybercriminals]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/vacationers-prime-targets-for-cybercriminals/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/vacationers-prime-targets-for-cybercriminals/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/vacationers-prime-targets-for-cybercriminals/#comments With more and more people using Wi-Fi-enabled devices -- from iPhones to netbooks to standard laptops -- the need for public Internet access is steadily growing. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are very aware of this fact and, according to Fox News, are exploiting it to the best of their ability. By creating phony Wi-Fi networks in places such as hotels and airports, crooks target carefree vacationers who are more more worried about hitting the beach than they are network security. This nonchalance can often find travelers the victims of identity theft.

Wireless security company AirTight Networks conducted a study last year in 27 airports around the world, and the results are borderline horrifying. For instance, the baggage-handling system at JFK International was being run on an insecure network. Other airports' ticketing systems were similarly run on insecure networks. Of the airports that did use encryption, 80-percent of them used the easily cracked WEP standard, as opposed to the more secure WPA and WPA2 protocols. AirTight contacted several airlines regarding the loose security in early 2009, and thankfully, airlines such as American and JetBlue have been swift to remedy the situation.

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Vacationers Prime Targets for Cybercriminals originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> free wifiFreeWifiidentity theftIdentityTheftnetworkingphishingsecuritytoptravelwifi switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Pentagon Making Cyborg Crickets]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/pentagon-making-cyborg-crickets/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/pentagon-making-cyborg-crickets/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/pentagon-making-cyborg-crickets/#comments
Using animals as sentinels is nothing new, such as when miners used canaries to detect carbon monoxide and methane in coal mines. As the New Scientist reports, the Pentagon plans to use cyborg crickets for very much the same purpose, only for detecting chemical and biological agents on the battlefield. By equipping the crickets with small electronics to control their muscle movements, and hence the sounds created by their wing movements, a living communications network (OrthopterNets) can be created to relay specific warning signals when the cricket is in proximity of certain chemicals. Similarly, the equipment can be modified to detect human scents, possibly helping to locate survivors in earthquake rubble or other disasters.

Because they communicate using wing-beats, crickets, cicadas, and katydids are all possible subjects. The idea first came about when Ben Epstein of high-tech company OpCoast was visiting China and noticed how the cicada were changing their calls to each other. OpCoast was later awarded a six-month contract to develop a mobile communications network for insects by the Pentagon. If you find all of this hard to believe, check out the video above from New Scientist showcasing human-controlled moths and beetles. [From: New Scientist]

Pentagon Making Cyborg Crickets originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cyborggovernmentinsectsmilitarynetworkrobotstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Lasers and Electrical Outlets Can Be Used to Steal Stuff Off Computers]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/lasers-and-electrical-outlets-can-be-used-to-steal-stuff-off-com/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/lasers-and-electrical-outlets-can-be-used-to-steal-stuff-off-com/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/13/lasers-and-electrical-outlets-can-be-used-to-steal-stuff-off-com/#comments
Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco, two researchers from network security company Inverse Path, will soon be demonstrating how to power lines and off-the-shelf lasers to capture a user's keystrokes at the Black Hat 2009 security conference in Las Vegas. Both methods are similar in that each uses different fluctuations to determine what keys are being pressed: The first uses voltage differences and leaked keyboard signals, while the latter measures the vibrations made when a particular key is hit. It took the two no more than a week to produce verified results, according to a paper published by the two researchers.

The components to create the power line and laser hacks can cost as little as $100 to $500 according to Barisani, with the only essential things needed being the power grid, and a distant line of sight, respectively. The two also bring up a good point saying, "If our small research was able to accomplish acceptable results in a brief development time and with cheap hardware, consider what a dedicated team or government agency can accomplish with more expensive equipment and effort." Head on over to Network World for the nitty-gritty on how each hack works. [From: Network World]

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Lasers and Electrical Outlets Can Be Used to Steal Stuff Off Computers originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackhat2009hacklaserlaserssecuritytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:23:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Jay Leno Replaces Old Car Parts Using 3-D Printer]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/12/jay-leno-replaces-old-car-parts-using-3-d-printer/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/12/jay-leno-replaces-old-car-parts-using-3-d-printer/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/12/jay-leno-replaces-old-car-parts-using-3-d-printer/#comments
Though still not priced at a mass consumer level, 3-D printing is a real technology that's currently being used by everyone from military surgeons to architects. The ability to produce rapid physical prototypes of just about any object is particularly useful for car collector Jay Leno, because broken parts of old cars are impossible to replace due to their age. A machinist could attempt to craft a new piece by hand, but the process is not only costly, it's also lacks the precision needed for such parts.

In a story for Popular Mechanics, Leno details the process and benefits of printing new car parts and molds, and made a video with a live demonstration. What's more fascinating than printed, unmoving car parts, though, is the crescent wrench that Jay makes: the wheel that closes and opens the wrench actually moves and works just like it should, straight from the printer.

If you want to print your own car parts, or perhaps some 'World of Warcraft' figurines, you'll need both a 3D scanner and the printer itself. The models used by Leno are the NextEngine 3D Scanner and the Dimension uPrint Personal 3D Printer, and cost $2995 and $15,000, respectively. Sure, it's still pretty pricey, but when you consider the fact that this technology cost hundreds of thousands of dollars just a few years ago, it shouldn't be too long before we see 3D printers at our local Best Buy. [From: Popular Mechanics]

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Jay Leno Replaces Old Car Parts Using 3-D Printer originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 3dprintercelebritydesignjaylenoprintertop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:38:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[10 Nerdiest Cakes Ever]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/ten-of-the-nerdiest-cakes-ever/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/ten-of-the-nerdiest-cakes-ever/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/ten-of-the-nerdiest-cakes-ever/#comments If you're a fan of the Food Network, chances are you've seen one of the cable channel's many cake-related shows that air daily, from the crazy cake challenges to the one and only 'Ace of Cakes.' Now imagine if all of those cake makers were actually 'Star Trek,' 'Metroid,' and 'Dungeons & Dragons' fanatics. Just take a moment to picture what kind of cakes they would make in their free time....

Having trouble? The folks over at Streetlevel has you covered. They've scoured the Web and have found ten incredibly nerdy (cool?) cakes for your viewing pleasure. If you doubt how nerdy a cake can actually be, just take one look at the Twitter Fail Whale cake pictured above. Yes, that's real. Hit the link for nine more cakes that will either make you cringe, or yell "Awesome!" (complete with a fist pump). [From: Streetlevel]

10 Nerdiest Cakes Ever originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cakecookingfoodgeekgeekculturehumornerdytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Internet Video Makes Fun of Internet Videos]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/internet-video-makes-fun-of-internet-videos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/internet-video-makes-fun-of-internet-videos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/11/internet-video-makes-fun-of-internet-videos/#comments
Ever get sent a link to, say, a YouTube video, and, after watching it, think, "I can't believe I just sat through that whole video." Yeah, us too. Well, the folks at College Humor have whipped up an original video based on those all too frequent moments entitled "Five Minutes Back." We don't want to spoil anything for you, but after watching the video, the double-entendre should give you a chuckle. There's also plenty of recursive meta elements to the video, if you're into that kinda thing. Just make sure to watch the whole thing to catch the punchline. [From: BuzzFeed]

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Internet Video Makes Fun of Internet Videos originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humortopvideoyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Soviets Made Last Ditch Effort to Beat U.S. With Moon Samples]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/10/russians-made-last-ditch-effort-to-beat-u-s-with-moon-samples/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/10/russians-made-last-ditch-effort-to-beat-u-s-with-moon-samples/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/10/russians-made-last-ditch-effort-to-beat-u-s-with-moon-samples/#comments
A newly released recording reveals that the Soviet Union made a last minute attempt to beat the United States back to Earth with the first samples of the Moon's surface. The recording, made by astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, has Lovell tracking and narrating the unmanned Russian craft Luna 15's journey and eventual crash onto the Moon's surface, just hours before Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and 'Buzz' Aldrin were scheduled to head back to Earth. The Apollo 11 astronauts can also be heard on the recording, as well as others in the room, with Lovell shouting "it's landing" and "it's going down much too fast" as Luna 15 made its fatal landing.

This attempt by the Russians to steal a off-Earth victory took place during the infamous space race between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s-1970s. It also took place right in the middle of yet another conflict between the two nations: the Cold War. The era was rife with fierce competition, and as the recording shows, there was no lack of effort on the Soviet Union's part to come out on top. An anonymous voice at the end of the recording sums it up best when it says, "I say, this has really been drama of the highest order." [From: Telegraph via Neatorama]

Soviets Made Last Ditch Effort to Beat U.S. With Moon Samples originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> coldwarmoonspacespaceracetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[New Blog Highlights Creative and Ridiculous Hacks ]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/#comments If there's one universal truth in the world, it's that things break. From the latest and greatest gadgets to your home's water pipes, nothing is quite immune from the realities of wear-and-tear and/or human error. And while there are things like warranties and repairmen to take care of such issues, nothing beats human imagination and some elbow grease, as showcased by site There, I Fixed It.

Featuring a wide assortment of user-submitted hacks, you'll find a gallery of the most absurd solutions to everyday problems. Smoke alarm busted? Stick a bag of popcorn on your wall. Out of spoons? Nothing a zip tie and some duct tape can't fix (check out the pic above). Some of the entries suggest incredible thriftiness, while others are clearly Photoshop jobs, but they're all definitely hilarious. Click on over for your moment of DIY Zen. [From: Wired]

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New Blog Highlights Creative and Ridiculous Hacks originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> diyhackhumortop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Court: MySpace Not Responsible for Assaults on Victims]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/#comments The Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles earlier this week ruled that "Internet servers" (read: Web sites) like MySpace cannot be found liable in cases where a minor is sexually assaulted by someone they met on the site. Tuesday's ruling comes from the case Julie Doe II et al v. MySpace Inc, in which several female victims of sexual assault and their families blamed MySpace for not properly verifying the girls' ages or defaulting their MySpace profile pages to "private." A particular section of the Communications Decency Act was found by the courts to free the popular social networking site of any wrongdoing.

With cases like the Craigslist killer and "MySpace Mom" Lori Drew capturing the public attention, this ruling comes at a crucial time for big social networking sites. Right now, there is no perfect balance of safety, freedom, and responsibility on the Web's most communal entities, but that's part of what makes them such useful tools. The decision of how to police and manage users should be left up to the Web site, and not decided in arbitration. [From: Reuters]

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Court: MySpace Not Responsible for Assaults on Victims originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> courtcrimemyspacerulingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:07:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[U2 Takes Massive Transforming Screen on Tour]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/#comments Twenty years ago, as one of the world's biggest rock bands, U2 could appease their fans by simply playing "Where the Streets Have No Name" on a building rooftop. Twenty years later, U2 is still huge, and their live performance has evolved into a gargantuan show of lights, screens, and over-the-top stage props. Don't believe us? Check out the band's expanding screen currently in use on the U2 360° tour.

The display, made by Hoberman Associates and Innovative Designs (also responsible for the mammoth screen used on U2's PopMart tour), contains 888 individual screens for a total of 500,000 LED pixels. By using hundreds of small screens that expand and contract in their distance to one another, the screen can literally change its shape. And because the space between each screen is adjustable, it can also take on a transparent quality that allows fans to see images projected in 360 degrees without blocking the view of the band. To see the monstrous screen in action, check out the video here. [From: Core77]

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U2 Takes Massive Transforming Screen on Tour originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> displayledmusicscreensu2 switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:22:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[There's Nothing Casual About 'Casual Games']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/06/15/theres-nothing-casual-about-casual-games/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/15/theres-nothing-casual-about-casual-games/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/15/theres-nothing-casual-about-casual-games/#comments
This year's E3 has come and gone, and one of the overriding themes of the annual video game convention earlier this month was the use of motion controls in games to further immerse the player, but more importantly, to make games simpler, more intuitive, and less intimidating for "non-gamers." Nintendo entered this space several years ago with its monstrously popular Wii console, and both Microsoft and Sony debuted their camera-based systems last week. While each company's technology is impressive for its own reasons, the more significant trend to us is simply how physical games are becoming.

For instance, Microsoft's presentation for its Project Natal motion system showed players driving cars, riding a skateboard, and painting pictures on a wall sans controller -- the player simply makes the appropriate physical movements with his or her body. Sony's presentation for its yet-unnamed motion technology was quite similar, with the same emphasis on physical movement as player input. Of course, the Nintendo Wii has been doing this for the last several years, and the company is further enhancing the Wii Remote's accuracy with 1:1 motion tracking through the use of add-on peripheral called Wii MotionPlus.

Continue reading There's Nothing Casual About 'Casual Games'

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There's Nothing Casual About 'Casual Games' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> casualgamese32009topwii switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:24:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Top 10 Things Seen at Maker Faire 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/06/04/top-10-things-seen-at-maker-faire-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/04/top-10-things-seen-at-maker-faire-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/06/04/top-10-things-seen-at-maker-faire-2009/#comments

Maker Faire 2009 is the world's largest DIY festival, celebrating everything from food to arts and crafts to cutting-edge technology. Organized by the folks behind the fantastic Make magazine, this year's festival, held last weekend in San Mateo, California, featured over 600 different "Makers" and their inventions/creations. We stopped by San Mateo Event Center where it was taking place, and saw robots, art cars, tofu-making demonstrations, and much, much more. Click on through to see our ten favorite things from the fair.

Gallery: Maker Faire 2009

The Incredible Quarter ShrinkerFluid FashionJellyfish AquariumRobotic Solar Electric ChariotMiniature Segway

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Top 10 Things Seen at Maker Faire 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> diydo it yourselfDoItYourselfmakemakemagazinemaker faireMakerFairetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Pampering Your Pets Online]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/pampering-your-pets-online/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/pampering-your-pets-online/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/pampering-your-pets-online/#comments
Apparently there is no recession at Pets Palace, an Australian pet store that specializes in high-end pet products such as plush beds, denim sneakers, and "doggy bling." Launched only two months ago, Reuters is reporting that the site's business has skyrocketed all the way up to at least 15 orders a day. Say what?

Diana Costa, marketing director and founder of the site, attributes this success to love: "Australians love their animals, they're becoming more a part the of the family so I think that's why they don't mind spending on their pets during this time" According to Reuters, one of the most popular products is Bellaqua, a sparkling mineral water for dogs that is presented in a jewel-encrusted handmade crystal bottle and costs roughly $8 USD a bottle. No, we didn't make that up.

Continue reading Pampering Your Pets Online

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Pampering Your Pets Online originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 May 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> economyluxurypetstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 21 May 2009 09:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Doctors and Med Students Embrace Smartphones]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/doctors-and-med-students-embrace-smartphones/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/doctors-and-med-students-embrace-smartphones/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/doctors-and-med-students-embrace-smartphones/#comments Even though smartphones have been around for years, the exploding application scene (started by Apple's App Store) has transformed what was typically a business communication device into much, much more. Despite the surge in mobile entertainment apps, it's not all games: According to the Washington Post, roughly 64-percent of doctors in the U.S. use a smartphone, and many are using devices like the iPhone to look up drug interactions, view X-rays, and even stream music during a surgery.

Med school students are also getting in on the action, with Georgetown's medical school requiring students to own either an iPhone or iPod Touch (sound familiar?). Similarly, Ohio State University has promised to give each and every one of its 1,400 students an iPod Touch by this Fall. Catherine Lucey, Vice Dean for Education at OSU told the Washington Post, "It allows the residents and the students to ask questions at the bedside, and not rely on memory and not guess. They can actually sit with the patient if they wish and use a number of online sources."

There's pretty much an infinite number of uses a device like the iPhone could offer the medical field. With over 25 pages of medical-related apps on the App Store alone -- and the ability to link specialized hardware to the yet-to-be-released iPhone 3.0 -- you have to wonder if Apple had this planned all along. [From: The Washington Post]

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Doctors and Med Students Embrace Smartphones originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 May 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> educationiphoneipod touchIpodTouchmedicalmedicinesmartphonestudentstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 21 May 2009 06:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Is the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/#comments
Welcome to another edition of Hype Check, where we give much-anticipated new gadgets or services a test drive and tell you whether or not they live up to the hype. Today, we set our critical eyes on the Viliv S5.

What it is: The Viliv S5 is a handheld UMPC -- ultra mobile PC -- that runs Windows XP and has specs comparable to that of most current netbooks, but also includes a touch screen and GPS.

Why it's different: UMPCs have been around for a few years now, but almost all of them have failed to capture mainstream success due to high prices, sluggish performance, and/or wretched battery life. The Viliv S5, on the other hand, costs $599, runs XP like a champ, and has six hours of battery life (200 hours on standby) -- all in a sleek black chassis that fits comfortably in the hand.

Continue reading Is the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype?

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Is the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featureshypechecktop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 18 May 2009 10:26:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Denmark to Allow Internet Use During Exams]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/denmark-to-allow-internet-use-during-exams/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/denmark-to-allow-internet-use-during-exams/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/denmark-to-allow-internet-use-during-exams/#comments
Politiken is reporting that several high schools in Denmark will be allowing 'A' level students to have Internet access during their written exams. If the experiment goes well, the system will be implemented across the country for the 2011 high school exams.

According to Politiken, the Ministry of Education will require that papers be handed in digitally, and administrators will carry out random site checks to curb plagiarism and cheating.

We love this idea. Before you cry foul, remember that there was a time when calculators weren't allowed to be used in tests. School is about preparing students for the real world, and these days the Internet allows information to be obtained at the blink of an eye. Plus, we think this is excellent training for an entirely new generation of bloggers. Long live the hyperlink! [From: Politiken]

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Denmark to Allow Internet Use During Exams originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> educationlaptopschoolstudentstestingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Fri, 15 May 2009 09:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Mizzou Makes iPod Touch/iPhones in Class a Requirement]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/mizzou-makes-ipod-touch-iphones-in-class-a-requirement/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/mizzou-makes-ipod-touch-iphones-in-class-a-requirement/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/mizzou-makes-ipod-touch-iphones-in-class-a-requirement/#comments

Starting this fall, The University of Missouri will be requiring all journalism majors to own an iPod Touch or iPhone. The idea is that, by making these devices mandatory and posting class lectures and other course materials online, students will absorb the information better. The flimsy pretext for this claim? According to Fox News, Associate Dean Brian S. Brooks told the Missourian, "there's been some research done that shows if a student can hear that lecture a second time, they retain three times as much of that lecture." Brooks failed to mention which "some research" he was referencing.

Still, there's some merit to what Brooks said -- like when you watch a movie for the second time and notice details you missed before -- but whether the plan will actually work is up in the air. Thankfully, because the gadgets are required supplies, students will be able to claim them in their financial aid estimates. Students who don't rely on financial aid are kind of left out in the cold on this one, and may be left digging into student loans to cover the cost of such high-tech educational gadgetry.

Continue reading Mizzou Makes iPod Touch/iPhones in Class a Requirement

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Mizzou Makes iPod Touch/iPhones in Class a Requirement originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> educationmissourimizzoutoptrends switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 11 May 2009 12:56:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Faulty Breathalyzer May Void Some Minnesota DUIs]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/faulty-breathalyzer-may-void-some-minnesota-duis/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/faulty-breathalyzer-may-void-some-minnesota-duis/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/11/faulty-breathalyzer-may-void-some-minnesota-duis/#comments

Thousands of Minnesota drunk driving convictions may soon be voided, thanks to an obstinate company's refusal to turn over the (allegedly faulty) source code of its breath-testing device. In light of exposed innacuracies in such devices, a Minnesota court recently issued a ruling allowing defendants in DUI cases to request that the prosecution turn over the source code for the CMI Intoxilyzer 5000, the primary breath-testing device used by Minnesota police. CMI has refused to comply to such requests, stating that the code is a protected trade secret.

Actually, this is the second time that the Kentucky-based CMI has refused such a request: The first time was in January of this year, at the request of a Florida judge. Either CMI believes that it can be competitively compromised if the code is turned over (since it already owes millions of dollars in court fines for not doing so), or its code is just faulty. At this point, it's impossible to know the truth, but given the reports that state the inaccuracy of breathalyzer machines, you can bet that both sides will fight this one to the very end. It's a very gray battle to be sure. While we'd hate to see drunk drivers go free, we think everyone would agree that a court decision based on potentially false evidence is much worse. [From: ScienceBlogs]

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Faulty Breathalyzer May Void Some Minnesota DUIs originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 May 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alcoholbreathalyzercourtlawpolicetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 11 May 2009 10:27:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Internet to Become Self-Aware Within the Decade?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/internet-to-become-self-aware-within-the-decade/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/internet-to-become-self-aware-within-the-decade/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/internet-to-become-self-aware-within-the-decade/#comments

Does the name Francis Heylighen ring a bell? Didn't think so. But the research professor at the Free University of Brussels has some interesting things to say about artificial intelligence and consciousness in regards to the Internet. Speaking with New Scientist, Heylighen says that "adding consciousness is more a matter of fine-tuning and increasing control... than [it is] a jump to a wholly different level," suggesting that consciousness is simply the brain's ability to prioritize mental resources on the fly. And if you think about it, he makes a good point.

Each and every day that we're online, we have some sort of general interaction with an artificial mind, however basic it may be. Even Googling a term brings up thousands of possible links related to a search query, all without direct human interaction (though the search algorithm is, of course, human-generated). Heylighen points to the challenge, though, of making the Internet truly self-aware and able to address its own needs and deficiencies -- learning, so to speak, autonomously. Heylighen notes that, if the effort to bring the Net to life progresses as has the development of social networks, we could see a baby Skynet within 10 years. [From: New Scientist]

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Internet to Become Self-Aware Within the Decade? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 May 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencefuture techFutureTechinternet switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 04 May 2009 14:52:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Hotmail Used by Al Qaeda in Planning Post-9/11 Attacks]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/hotmail-used-by-al-qaeda-in-planning-attacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/hotmail-used-by-al-qaeda-in-planning-attacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/hotmail-used-by-al-qaeda-in-planning-attacks/#comments
The Internet, with its vast amount of information and myriad services, has undeniably changed the way we live. It makes communicating across the world, finding a nearby restaurant, or getting directions to just about anywhere as simple as typing a few words and clicking a few buttons. But the open nature of the Web makes it just as useful for terrorists as it does us normal folk.

AP reported Friday that, in the wake of September 11th, Al Qaeda member Khalid Sheikh Mohammed planned on using his Hotmail account to communicate with Al Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a U.S.-based operative, and to plan attacks on U.S. dams, waterways, and tunnels. In the e-mails, al-Marri used a simple 10-digit code to encrypt pertinent cell phone numbers.

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Hotmail Used by Al Qaeda in Planning Post-9/11 Attacks originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 May 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> al qaedaAlQaedacyberterrorisme-mailemailseptember 11September11terrorismtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 04 May 2009 12:56:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Rumored Xbox 360 Add-On to Allow Full Body Motion Control]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rumored-xbox-360-add-on-to-allow-full-body-motion-control/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rumored-xbox-360-add-on-to-allow-full-body-motion-control/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rumored-xbox-360-add-on-to-allow-full-body-motion-control/#comments
Since the introduction of the Nintendo Wii and its continuously phenomenal financial success, rumors of similarly motion-controlled add-ons for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have repeatedly found their ways online. The latest news, coming from a tipster supposedly in the know, says that Microsoft will enter the motion arena not with a remote-like device such as that found on the Wii, but with a sensor bar that can detect full body movements as well as sound. This sensor bar is said to allow for broad movements, like kicking and punching, to more minuscule hand gestures, including pinching, scrolling, and grabbing. Video-conferencing capabilities are also said to be available, using the sensor bar's included camera.

Ironically, many of these rumored features, as forward-thinking as they sound, are quite old in concept. Sony actually implemented many of them with its EyeToy camera on the PlayStation 2, and refined them slightly for the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Eye. Fully-body detection with onscreen interaction, a camera for conferencing, and a built-in microphone are standard features with the EyeToy. What Sony's past venture lacks, though, is overall precision (particularly in uneven lighting situations) and compelling software. If Microsoft is able to dial the accuracy to Wii-like levels, and avoid producing simple novelty software, it might just have a chance at chipping away at Nintendo's market share. Head on over to Engadget for the full details. [From: Engadget]

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Rumored Xbox 360 Add-On to Allow Full Body Motion Control originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> microsoftmicrosoft game studiosMicrosoftGameStudiosmotion sensingMotionSensingplaystation3topupcomingwiixbox360 switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 04 May 2009 10:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Rejected, Racy iPhone App Accepted After '12+' Rating Stamp]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rejected-racy-iphone-app-accepted-after-12-rating-stamp/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rejected-racy-iphone-app-accepted-after-12-rating-stamp/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/04/rejected-racy-iphone-app-accepted-after-12-rating-stamp/#comments
It's no secret that the iPhone App Store's approval process is ambiguous at best and fundamentally flawed at worst. From the iFarts of the world to questionable baby-shaking apps, no one really knows why an app gets accepted or rejected from the store. But, in the case of the once-rejected Peekababe, developer Alan Bigio suspects that slapping an adolescent-friendly, '12+' rating on the app may have been just what it needed for approval, reports TechCrunch.

What made the app's initial rejection puzzling is that there are many approved apps just like it. Peekababe shows various photos of sexy women and includes the option to "undress" them (check out the video above), right down to their skimpy lingerie. There's no nudity, and, really, even network television gets more risque. While the more age-inclusive rating stamp hasn't been officially confirmed as the reason the app was accepted, it was likely a factor. Bigio told TechCrunch, "My rating was based on the guidelines that they have for the iTunes store. Better to be safe than sorry." [From: TechCrunch]

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Rejected, Racy iPhone App Accepted After '12+' Rating Stamp originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 May 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appsIphoneAppsipod touchIpodTouchsextop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 04 May 2009 09:41:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[DailyFinance iPhone App Dazzles With Design, Features]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/dailyfinance-iphone-app-impresses-with-design-and-features/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/dailyfinance-iphone-app-impresses-with-design-and-features/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/dailyfinance-iphone-app-impresses-with-design-and-features/#comments Do you find the iPhone's stock widget a bit anemic on features? Tired of shuffling through multiple apps for finance news, stock reports, and keeping track of personal portfolios? Then we highly suggest you download the just released DailyFinance (iTunes link) app. This one-stop application culls the best features of various finance apps, and presents them in an exceptionally handsome interface on par with some of the best we've seen on the iPhone/iPod Touch.

In terms of features, DailyFinance presents a plethora of financial information ranging from general market changes to currency adjustments to commodity prices. Best of all, all the stats are updated in real time, giving you a live view of the world markets in flux. You can, of course, drill down further and view highly detailed facts and figures for any given stock. For instance, a quick search for Apple's stock (AAPL) immediately shows today's low and high price (as well as yesterday's), the company's volume and market cap, and current earnings.

Switching over to the News tab shows any AAPL-related news stories aggregated from over 3,000 sources, and clicking on one opens the corresponding news story within the app itself rather than launching the Safari browser, providing a seamless user experience. Each stock also has a Charts tab that produces an easy-to-read graph of a stock's performance over a set amount of time, from one day up to five years. Even these charts show a fine attention to detail, with lows and highs marked by red and green lines on the x-axis, giving you an easy color-based way to analyze a stock's overall trend.

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DailyFinance iPhone App Dazzles With Design, Features originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> financefreehands-oniphone appsIphoneAppsmoneynewpersonal financePersonalFinanceswitcheddownloadtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:22:00 EST Switched