Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Extreme Gear for 'Star Trek' Home Makeovers]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/extreme-gear-for-star-trek-home-makeovers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/extreme-gear-for-star-trek-home-makeovers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/extreme-gear-for-star-trek-home-makeovers/#commentsFiled under:

So, you just shelled out 2,700 big ones to relax in a replica of Captain's Kirk's space throne, but, as you bask in your geeky glory, you abruptly realize that the rest of the apartment is unacceptably barren of other 'Star Trek' accoutrements. Making your own paraphernalia is always an option, but in order to stand out from the hordes of amateur fans, hardcore Trekkies will seek out more realistic and authentic pieces.

To make that expedition a little easier, CNET UK has compiled an encyclopedia of 'Star Trek' gadgets and gizmos so fantastic that they would make Gene Rodenberry envious. Some of the offerings are pitiful, if playful, attempts to capitalize on the devoted fan base (e.g., the cologne and morbid urn), but even the most frugal die-hards would have difficulty dismissing the $1 million 'StarCave' holodeck. The list features a wide assortment of both inexpensive and luxurious devices, so pay attention and you'll no longer have to embarrass yourself, your family, or your pets with those cheap and shameful imitations. [From: CNET UK]

SwitchedExtreme Gear for 'Star Trek' Home Makeovers originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geek chicGeekChiclistsnoveltyStar TrekStarTrektoptrekkiesTue, 24 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook and 'South Park' Blamed for Anti-Redhead Assault]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/facebook-and-south-park-blamed-for-anti-redhead-assault/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/facebook-and-south-park-blamed-for-anti-redhead-assault/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/24/facebook-and-south-park-blamed-for-anti-redhead-assault/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Facebook and 'South Park' Blamed for Anti-Red-Head Assault
Police in Calabasas, California are investigating the assault of a 12-year-old boy that, they believe, may have been inspired by a Facebook post declaring this past Friday, November 20th "Kick a Ginger Day." "Kick a Ginger Day" began in 2008, borne out of a 'South Park' episode that satirically featured pale, redheaded, freckled children, or "gingers," as being singled out for abuse.

While the first, clearly tongue-in-cheek "Kick a Ginger Day" drew some criticism, it went largely unnoticed, due to a lack of any serious violence. This year's "celebration" was unfortunately not so uneventful, as a student at A.E. Wright Middle School found himself on the receiving end of punches and kicks from as many as 14 classmates, according to the Associated Press.

Continue reading Facebook and 'South Park' Blamed for Anti-Redhead Assault

SwitchedFacebook and 'South Park' Blamed for Anti-Redhead Assault originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookGinger KidsGingerKidskick a gingerkick a ginger dayKickAGingerKickAGingerDayprejudicesouth parkSouthParktopTue, 24 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Readability Bookmarklet Simplifies Your Web Reading, Saves Your Eyes]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/readability-bookmarklet-simplifies-your-web-reading-saves-your/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/readability-bookmarklet-simplifies-your-web-reading-saves-your/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/readability-bookmarklet-simplifies-your-web-reading-saves-your/#commentsFiled under:

Much of our Web perusal can be broken down into two distinct types: scanning and in-depth reading. Longer-form articles tend to be easier to read on a single, scrollable page, so the print/one-page option (if available) and some ninja-fast text-resizing can sometimes improve a piece's readability. Unfortunately, many sites no longer offer print-ready versions of articles.

Readability, a tool from arc90 labs, will take an article and reformat it for easier reading at the click of a mouse. Simply set up your reading settings on the Readability site (display style, text size, margin width), and add the bookmarklet to your browser bookmark bar. If you're reading an article for Thanksgiving, just click the new bookmarklet, and watch in wonder as ads, site navigation tools, and other extraneous information disappear.

Continue reading Readability Bookmarklet Simplifies Your Web Reading, Saves Your Eyes

SwitchedReadability Bookmarklet Simplifies Your Web Reading, Saves Your Eyes originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookmarkletreadabilityreadingsighttopvisionMon, 23 Nov 2009 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Your Friends' Tweets Could Actually Be Ads]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/your-friends-tweets-could-actually-be-ads/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/your-friends-tweets-could-actually-be-ads/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/your-friends-tweets-could-actually-be-ads/#commentsFiled under: ,

As part of the latest trend in online advertising, ad companies are paying normal people to pimp companies or products to their online friends or followers. According to the New York Times, companies think that consumers will be more likely to trust the opinions of their Facebook friends than they are a faceless commercial -- even if those "opinions" are formed with the promise of financial incentive. Ad agencies are willing to pay staggeringly high sums to not only celebrities, but to targeted civilian bloggers and tweeters, as well. One everyday guy interviewed for the article said he made $3,000 in October -- just from clicking a button on behalf of an agency. Amazon.com has also announced that it'll start paying customers who refer their friends to the site via Twitter.

The trend, not surprisingly, has been met with controversy. Technology blogger Robert Scoble told the Times that "[it] interferes with your relationship with your friends and your audience," and claims that he unfriends people who send him ads. Joey Caroni, co-founder of the Peer2, a division of a major Hollywood ad agency, insists that he and his peers aren't trying to "create an army of spammers" (although that's sort of what it seems like to us).

Continue reading Your Friends' Tweets Could Actually Be Ads

SwitchedYour Friends' Tweets Could Actually Be Ads originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingblogsendorsementsethicssocialnetworkingtoptwitterMon, 23 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[How Do You Say 'Twitter' in French?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/how-do-you-say-twitter-in-french/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/how-do-you-say-twitter-in-french/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/how-do-you-say-twitter-in-french/#commentsFiled under:

The mellifluous, oh-so-romantic French language may be dying a slow death throughout much of the world, but on Twitter, at least, it's as vivant as ever.

Just a few weeks after the site unveiled its new Spanish version, Twitter has now made itself available in French, as well. The site commemorated the latest achievement in its ongoing translation project with a French post on its blog. (You can find the English translation here.) If you don't live in a Francophone country, that doesn't mean you can't tweet in French. All you have to do is change your settings, and voila.

Continue reading How Do You Say 'Twitter' in French?

SwitchedHow Do You Say 'Twitter' in French? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frenchlanguagetoptranslationtwitterMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman Uses Facebook to Track Down Attacker]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/woman-uses-facebook-to-track-down-attacker/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/woman-uses-facebook-to-track-down-attacker/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/woman-uses-facebook-to-track-down-attacker/#commentsFiled under: ,

When regular old police forces can't hunt down an evildoer, Facebook, like Batman, is there.

The social networking site swept into crime-fighting action recently when the victim of a brutal attack used it to track down her assailant. The Telegraph reports that, on the night of March 20th, 20-year-old Jennifer Wilson, of Hertfordshire, England, was at a nightclub when another woman, Ashleigh Holliman, slammed a pint glass into her face for no apparent reason. Police who arrived at the scene found much of the evidence to have been cleared away by the club's staff members, and weren't able to sufficiently identify Holliman in security tapes. The club's bouncers had been unable to apprehend Holliman, who wasted no time in getting out of Dodge. Wilson, who got an inch-long scar from the incident, decided to take matters into her own hands -- with the help of Facebook.

Continue reading Woman Uses Facebook to Track Down Attacker

SwitchedWoman Uses Facebook to Track Down Attacker originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimefacebookpolicesocialnetworkingtopMon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Mussolini's Brain for Sale on eBay?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/mussolinis-brain-for-sale-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/mussolinis-brain-for-sale-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/mussolinis-brain-for-sale-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under:

Because the world will never be able to get enough of Benito Mussolini, some compassionate individual has done all of humanity a favor and put the Italian dictator's brain for auction on eBay.

The Telegraph reports that Alessandra Mussolini, the granddaughter of the man who led Italy into World War II, is furious about reports that her grandfather's brain had been stolen and put up for auction, along with vials of his blood. The asking price was originally 15,000 Euros (about $22,000), but eBay, which outlaws the selling of body parts, took down the post before anyone could place a bid. Ms. Mussolini, herself a right-wing politician in Italy (and former showgirl), is not satisfied, claiming that "This is very serious, these are the kinds of things we have to guard against." The Policlinico Hospital, however, which housed Mussolini's remains after his assassination, maintains that all samples were destroyed over 60 years ago.

Continue reading Mussolini's Brain for Sale on eBay?

SwitchedMussolini's Brain for Sale on eBay? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebaytopMon, 23 Nov 2009 08:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Net Vices: The Dark Truths Behind Twitter and Facebook]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/net-vices-the-dark-truths-behind-twitter-and-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/net-vices-the-dark-truths-behind-twitter-and-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/net-vices-the-dark-truths-behind-twitter-and-facebook/#commentsFiled under:

The Web may be a wonderful, always expanding source of fun and inspiration, but we probably spend more time connected than we prefer. We've probably spent entire days by now diving deep into the depths of YouTube in search of nothing in particular. You start out searching for a jazz video you heard about, and before you know it, you'll have gathered anyone within shouting distance to show them "the greatest thing ever," usually ranging from dogs parasailing to a clip showing every instance of "father" spoken in Stanley Kubrick's movies.

Illustrator Patrick Moberg (also known for that NYgirlofmydreams business) captures the essence of popular sites like Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo, MySpace, and more by comparing them to common vices. MySpace, of course, gets compared to huffing spray paint ("destroys any chance of looking credible. You will be perceived as having the mindset of a middle schooler..."), while tequila best captures YouTube's sense of entirely forgettable fun. And Google? Don't even want to touch that stuff. [From: Patrick Moberg via Urlesque]

SwitchedNet Vices: The Dark Truths Behind Twitter and Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artfacebookhumorillustrationtwitterSun, 22 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PETA Feasts on Brutalized Flesh When Lobster-Stunners Get Lost in Transit]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/peta-feasts-on-brutalized-flesh-when-lobster-stunners-get-lost-i/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/peta-feasts-on-brutalized-flesh-when-lobster-stunners-get-lost-i/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/peta-feasts-on-brutalized-flesh-when-lobster-stunners-get-lost-i/#commentsFiled under:

If Terrence O'Brien hadn't tipped us to this disturbing little number a few days ago (not for those with weak stomachs), we wouldn't hesitate to lambaste Simon Buckhaven and his "humane," lobster-stunning device. Well, we've hesitated. Let the lambasting begin.

In that grand old, absurdist tradition of animal rights crazies activists, the British entrepreneur sat down with Canada's Chronicle Herald to discuss his CrustaStun system. According to Buckhaven's claims, the device kills lobsters without causing them "pain or distress," and thus allows a chef to dump them into a pot of boiling water with a clear conscience. Unfortunately, since our calls to Sebastian have gone unanswered, we're not prepared to comment on lobsters' preferred form of execution.

Continue reading PETA Feasts on Brutalized Flesh When Lobster-Stunners Get Lost in Transit

SwitchedPETA Feasts on Brutalized Flesh When Lobster-Stunners Get Lost in Transit originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal rightsAnimalRightscrustastunfunnypetatopweirdSun, 22 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Photos Lead to Underage Drinking Fines]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/facebook-photos-lead-to-underage-drinking-fines/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/facebook-photos-lead-to-underage-drinking-fines/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/facebook-photos-lead-to-underage-drinking-fines/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've seen wives pose as teens to bust cheating husbands and collections agencies impersonate cute girls to catch debt dodgers, but this is the first time we've ever heard of police using their precious time to send teens friend requests on Facebook just to troll their photos for evidence of underage drinking.

Students at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse have found themselves on the wrong end of a seemingly major sting operation. According to the La Crosse Tribune, at least four students from the school have been invited to court and fined for underage drinking over the past few weeks. The pieces of evidence presented in all the cases have been photos taken from the students' Facebook pages. One of those in trouble, Adam Bauer, told the Tribune that he believes the photos were obtained by police who posed as a "good-looking" 19-year-old girl and sent him a friend request about a month ago. Shortly thereafter Bauer was asked to come into the local police precinct.

Continue reading Facebook Photos Lead to Underage Drinking Fines

SwitchedFacebook Photos Lead to Underage Drinking Fines originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimefacebooklawpoliceprivacytopunderage drinkingUnderageDrinkingSat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's New Permanent Search Sidebar Could Streamline Searches]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/googles-new-permanent-search-sidebar-could-streamline-searches/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/googles-new-permanent-search-sidebar-could-streamline-searches/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/21/googles-new-permanent-search-sidebar-could-streamline-searches/#commentsFiled under: ,


Despite Google's clean and simple design, users can still feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the freewheeling way in which search results appear on the site. To combat this problem, Marissa Meyer, Google's vice president of search product and user experience, told Mashable that the search giant will soon begin testing a new permanent sidebar on its results page, but only for a small number of users.

We know it's not often that Google changes anything, but before we get too excited, the feature is similar to the "Show options" sidebar. The new version, however, allows you to narrow a search to specific categories, and is simply more attractive. Plus, the sidebar will be, conveniently enough, permanently displayed on the left side of the page.

Continue reading Google's New Permanent Search Sidebar Could Streamline Searches

SwitchedGoogle's New Permanent Search Sidebar Could Streamline Searches originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlesearchsearch enginesSearchEngineswebSat, 21 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[N.Y. State Government to Interrupt Gaming With Emergency Bulletins]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/n-y-state-government-to-interrupt-gaming-with-emergency-bulleti/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/n-y-state-government-to-interrupt-gaming-with-emergency-bulleti/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/n-y-state-government-to-interrupt-gaming-with-emergency-bulleti/#commentsFiled under:


The Internet turned the big 4-0 this year, and the commercially available wireless phone celebrated its own quarter-century milestone. After all of that time, it seems that state and national governments are finally ready to accept the crazy notion that both modes of communication can be used to instantly disseminate urgent information during times of strife.

Japan introduced a cell phone earthquake notification system two years ago, an Iowa county recently launched the first 911-via-text service in the U.S., and Israel is currently developing a text-based rocket alert system. New York is now taking a huge leap forward with the announcement of the statewide 'Empire 2.0' program, which seeks to employ technology in creating a more "transparent, participatory, and collaborative" government.

Continue reading N.Y. State Government to Interrupt Gaming With Emergency Bulletins

SwitchedN.Y. State Government to Interrupt Gaming With Emergency Bulletins originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emergencyEmpire 2.0Empire2.0governmentnew yorkNew York StateNewYorkNewYorkStatetopFri, 20 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Webby Awards Lists the Millennium's Top 10 Web Moments]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/webby-awards-lists-the-milleniums-top-10-web-moments/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/webby-awards-lists-the-milleniums-top-10-web-moments/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/webby-awards-lists-the-milleniums-top-10-web-moments/#commentsFiled under:

With the decade coming to a close in less than two months, expect to see plenty of "Best of" lists. It's awful fun to think back on marquee moments from years past, especially when those moments occurred on our beloved Internet. Plus, it's shocking to recall just how much the Web has changed since the start of the millennium. In that spirit, the Webby Awards has released its list of "The Ten Most Influential Internet Moments of the Decade."

The moments, which are listed in chronological order, begin with Craigslist's 2000 expansion from a San Francisco exclusive service to the largest free classifieds site on the Web. From there, Napster met its demise in 2001, the same year Wikipedia launched and changed the way we got information. A few years later, in 2006, online video became cooler than sliced bread thanks to YouTube. Shortly thereafter, Facebook became open to non-college students in 2006 (much to our chagrin), and Twitter started its climb to the top of the social networking ladder.

Continue reading Webby Awards Lists the Millennium's Top 10 Web Moments

SwitchedWebby Awards Lists the Millennium's Top 10 Web Moments originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craigslistfacebookinternetlistnapstersocialnetworkingtopwebwebbywikipediayoutubeFri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Depressed Woman's Facebook Pics Ruin Her Insurance Benefits]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/womans-facebook-pics-lead-insurance-company-to-revoke-claim/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/womans-facebook-pics-lead-insurance-company-to-revoke-claim/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/womans-facebook-pics-lead-insurance-company-to-revoke-claim/#commentsFiled under: ,

It seems that placing privacy settings on your social networking profile isn't enough to keep snoops away. Nathalie Blanchard, of Quebec, Canada, learned that lesson when her long-term, sick-leave benefits were stripped from her because of photos on her Facebook account.

For the past year and a half, Blanchard had been on leave from her job at IBM as the result of being diagnosed with serious clinical depression. Since the diagnosis, she had been collecting a monthly check from Manulife, her insurance firm. But after Manulife investigators discovered photos on her private Facebook page that showed her out partying with friends at a bar and vacationing on sunny beaches, the company decided to cut off benefits. The insurer considered the photos evidence that Blanchard was no longer depressed, according to a report by the CBC.

Continue reading Depressed Woman's Facebook Pics Ruin Her Insurance Benefits

SwitchedDepressed Woman's Facebook Pics Ruin Her Insurance Benefits originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfacebookfacelosshealth insuranceHealthInsuranceprivacysocialnetworkingtopFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chrome OS: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud
Yesterday, Google finally took the cover off Chrome OS and, in so doing, gave a bunch of foamy-mouthed tech journalists an idea of what to expect once consumers are able to get their hands on it late next year. There weren't many surprises in the announcement. Chrome OS is a tweaked Chrome browser running on top of a streamlined version of Linux -- exactly what most were expecting. We can already play games, watch movies, create spreadsheets, and send IMs -- all without leaving the comfort of any number of browsers. Chrome OS just seeks to remove the middle man.

The highly customized version of Linux is designed to run on Google-certified hardware. By specifying what components can comprise a Chrome OS netbook, Google is able to strip away many "unessential" parts of the OS, making it boot and run faster. Even in this early stage (a year away from release), it only takes 10 seconds to go from pressing the power button to browsing the Web. There are some trade-offs to this design, however. Chrome OS will not support traditional hard drives, meaning you can forget about keeping your giant music collection on one of these babies. Instead, it will only feature smaller, faster, solid-state drives (SSD) and rely on the cloud to store documents and photos. It will, however, recognize and open whatever USB drives and cameras are plugged into it.

Continue reading Chrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud

SwitchedChrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome osChromeOscloudcloud computingCloudComputingNetBooktopFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:06:00 EST<![CDATA['Twilight' Content Leaves Scammers Thirsting for Your (Digital) Blood]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twilight-content-leaves-scammers-thirsting-for-your-digital/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twilight-content-leaves-scammers-thirsting-for-your-digital/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twilight-content-leaves-scammers-thirsting-for-your-digital/#commentsFiled under:

Malware Makers Cash-In on 'Twilight' Craze
As per usual, malware purveyors are hopping on the latest fad in order to lure unsuspecting Web surfers into their dens of digital evil. And what are the kids talking about right now? Well, 'Twilight,' of course.

With the new installment of the teen vampire saga set to hit theaters Friday, Web searches for interviews with cast members, for bootleg copies of the film, and for other content related to 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' have sky-rocketed. Using this buzz to their advantage, makers of viruses, trojans, and spyware are embedding malicious code in fake movie files and video streams, and posting the nefarious results.

Continue reading 'Twilight' Content Leaves Scammers Thirsting for Your (Digital) Blood

Switched'Twilight' Content Leaves Scammers Thirsting for Your (Digital) Blood originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>malwaresecuritytoptwilighttwilight new moonTwilightNewMoonvirusFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Now Asks, "What's Happening?"]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twitter-now-asks-whats-happening/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twitter-now-asks-whats-happening/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/twitter-now-asks-whats-happening/#commentsFiled under:


What's in a question? Twitter has long asked its users, "What are you doing?" This, of course, gave rise to the ubiquity of the status update, as people took Twitter's inquiry so literally that they would write about the most banal goings on -- from buying coffee to using the bathroom. But as Twitter's user base has grown exponentially, so have the style and content of tweets. Of late, substantive Twitter missives have become de rigeur, as tweets have chronicled the contested Iranian presidential election and disseminated other breaking news.

As such, Twitter decided yesterday to modify "What are you doing?" to the more appropriate "What's happening?" in order to reflect the open model of communication that tweeting now allows. Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, wrote on the company's blog, "People, organizations, and businesses quickly began leveraging the open nature of the network to share anything they wanted, completely ignoring the original question, seemingly on a quest to both ask and answer a different, more immediate question."

Continue reading Twitter Now Asks, "What's Happening?"

SwitchedTwitter Now Asks, "What's Happening?" originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linguisticssocialnetworkingtwitterwhats happeningWhatsHappeningFri, 20 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Previews Internet Explorer 9, Looks Like a Contender]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/microsoft-previews-internet-explorer-9-looks-like-a-contender/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/microsoft-previews-internet-explorer-9-looks-like-a-contender/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/microsoft-previews-internet-explorer-9-looks-like-a-contender/#commentsFiled under:

Microsoft Previews IE9, Looks Like a Contender
With Chrome chugging along toward version 4.0 and Firefox 3.6 just around the corner, Microsoft is in danger of falling even further behind in the browser wars. The boys in Redmond released Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) earlier this year, and while it was an improvement over IE7, we were generally disappointed with its stability. Plus, it still was far behind its competitors in raw speed.

Turns out that Microsoft is already hard at work on the next version of its browser, titled, chronologically, 'IE9.' There is no download available to consumers yet, but if the company's claims are to be trusted, IE9 represents not just an evolution of IE, but a complete redefinition of what should be expected of the Microsoft browser.

Continue reading Microsoft Previews Internet Explorer 9, Looks Like a Contender

SwitchedMicrosoft Previews Internet Explorer 9, Looks Like a Contender originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserieie9internet explorerinternet explorer 9InternetExplorerInternetExplorer9microsofttopweb browserWebBrowserFri, 20 Nov 2009 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese Military Web Site Battered With Attempted Cyber-Attacks]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chinese-military-web-site-battered-with-attempted-cyber-attacks/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chinese-military-web-site-battered-with-attempted-cyber-attacks/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chinese-military-web-site-battered-with-attempted-cyber-attacks/#commentsFiled under:


When China launched a Web site for its defense ministry in August, the whole world took notice. With both English and Chinese versions, the government hoped the site would prove it was serious about being more transparent when it came to the military. However, this attempt also attracted hackers.

According to BBC News, there have been about 2.3 million cyber-attacks on the site in its first month of operation alone. We thought Twitter was bombarded with a ridiculous number of attacks, but that's just a flat-out, mind-boggling number. There are no reports that any military information was compromised, but it seems that hackers aren't the only truth-seekers visiting the site. The site's editor, Ji Guilin, told the state-run newspaper that 1.25 billion people -- many from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Singapore, and Japan -- have visited the site to search topics like "military photos," "top military leaders," "high-level events," and "military power."

This can't be comforting news for the Chinese government, which is notorious for limiting its citizens' Web access. We can only hope that China won't step back from free-flowing information and shut down the site as a result of the attacks. Our more rational minds, though, are pretty sure that once a hacker successfully cracks the site (and one will), it will get yanked faster than an Olympic gymnast on her 16th birthday. [From: BBC News and Al Jazeera]

SwitchedChinese Military Web Site Battered With Attempted Cyber-Attacks originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinadefense militaryDefenseMilitaryhackhackersmilitarysecuritywebFri, 20 Nov 2009 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't Tread on Our Web! U.K. Reportedly Seeking Absolute Net Control]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/dont-tread-on-our-web-u-k-reportedly-seeking-absolute-net-con/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/dont-tread-on-our-web-u-k-reportedly-seeking-absolute-net-con/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/dont-tread-on-our-web-u-k-reportedly-seeking-absolute-net-con/#commentsFiled under:


For over a year, France has been considering plans to ban illegal downloaders from the Web. In the U.S., the FCC may actually begin regulating the Web by forcing providers to charge various fees. But neither of those disturbing developments compare at all to the rumors gathering momentum in England.

Various outlets are reporting that the U.K. Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, referred to as the "Pirate-Finder General," hopes to make harsh amendments to the nation's 'Copyrights, Designs, and Patents Act.' The disgusting affront to privacy rights and personal freedom would empower the Secretary to make a wide variety of decisions without any form of oversight. Among other frightening things, the totalitarian plan would allow the Net overseer to impose jail terms for file-sharing, and to create a "pirate-hunting militia" that could compel Internet service providers to divulge private user information, like the contents of e-mails.

Once a virtual New World of free and limitless information, the Net is increasingly becoming a tool controlled by power-hungry suits. These so-called representatives of the people are increasingly ignoring the rights of individuals in order to fatten their own bloated coffers with tainted money from multinational corporations.

The fledgling Pirate Party, which focuses on fighting exactly what England wants to enforce, recently claimed a second seat in the European Parliament. After this shocking and revolting Redcoat development, you can expect British party membership to skyrocket astronomically. [From: Download Squad, via BoingBoing]

SwitchedDon't Tread on Our Web! U.K. Reportedly Seeking Absolute Net Control originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrights designs and patents actCopyrightsDesignsAndPatentsActgovernmentnet neutralityNetNeutralitypeter mandelsonPeterMandelsonpiracypirate partyPiratePartytopukThu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:00 EST