Techno-News Blog

By ANNE EISENBERG, New York Times

Smartphones are getting smarter. Now some new models even offer games or television broadcasts in three dimensions — and you don’t need special glasses to see the show. Traditional 3-D technology used for movie screens and television superimposes or alternates two views, using filters or shutters in the glasses to select a view for each eye. This creates an illusion of depth. But a new generation of devices, many of them hand-held and now in prototype, dispense with the pesky glasses. Instead, they use optics and other technology built into the display to steer one view directly to the left eye, and the other view to the right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/technology/04novel.html?_r=1&src=busln

by Dan Dahler, WCBS

New technology is making it easier for thieves to pull off ATM scams. With crooks growing savvier, you might not know you’re a victim until it’s too late. Some people don’t even use the money machines anymore because of skimmer scams. But others have never even heard of them. “I didn’t realize people were already up to that level, steal people’s information from ATM machines themselves,” one man said.

http://wcbstv.com/technology/atm.scams.skimmer.2.1785877.html

by One India

Taking a step nearer to quantum computers, University of Maryland researchers have used a unique hybrid nanostructure to show a new type of light-matter interaction. They also demonstrated the first full quantum control of qubit spin within very tiny colloidal nanostructures (a few nanometers)- a feat that brings them closer in efforts to create a quantum computer. According to the authors and outside experts, the new findings further advance the promise these new nanostructures hold for quantum computing and for new, more efficient, energy generation technologies (such as photovoltaic cells), as well as for other technologies that are based on light-matter interactions like biomarkers.

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/07/03/newdiscovery-takes-scientists-a-step-closer-toqua.html

by BBC

Throughout the tournament, the Kenya Field of Dreams project – with the help of a giant inflatable outdoor TV screen – has been showing World Cup matches in the remotest of Kenyan communities, including areas without televisions or even electricity. “We’ve got a rear projection screen that is about 4.5 metres wide and about 3.5 metres tall,” explained volunteer Alex Goodey. “It’s suspended in an inflatable frame which is made from the same material as a bouncy castle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10542870.stm

by BBC

Mobile phones have taken the world by storm More than a billion mobile phone connections have been added to the global tally in just 18 months, according to Wireless Intelligence. There are now more than five billion connections worldwide. In many regions, penetration exceeds 100%, where there is more than one connection per person in the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10569081.stm

by BBC

The Chinese government has been in a long-running dispute with Google The Chinese government has renewed Google’s licence to operate in China, the internet giant has said, ending a long-running stand-off between the two. Google gave no details of the licence renewal. There had been speculation China would revoke the licence after Google began redirecting Chinese users to its unfiltered search site in Hong Kong.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10566318.stm

By Rachel King, ZD Net

Apple has stated that anyone unhappy with their copy of the iPhone 4 could return the smartphone “within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.” Usually, it’s not a full refund as there’s often a 10% restocking fee, but it looks like that has been lifted for the time being.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/apple-nixing-iphone-4-restocking-feesfor-now/16157

By Alex Hinojosa, El Paso Times

Cory Stone, planetarium astronomer at the El Paso Independent School District’s Gene Roddenberry Planetarium at the console of the new Digistar 3 digital projection system. The $165,000 upgrade was purchased through Department of Defense funds and vastly improves the quality and brightness of projected objects on the planetarium’s dome ceiling. EL PASO — The Gene Roddenberry Planetarium has jumped light-years ahead and into the digital age with its new planetarium projector — the Digistar 3. “There was a lot of things that we could show the younger students, but they couldn’t get the feeling of being immersed in the universe,” planetarium astronomer Cory Stone said of the previous projector. “With this new technology, we can project an accurate image of the planet because of the three-dimensional images the new system has.”

http://www.elpasotimes.com/education/ci_15440522

Dan Tynan, PC World

These obsolete technologies didn’t get the memo–maybe because someone wrote it on a typewriter and faxed it to them. Got an urgent message you need to transmit immediately? Sending a telegram is likely not the first option that comes to mind. And when it’s time to boogie down, you probably don’t shove a cassette into your 8-track player or slap an LP onto your phonograph. These technologies served their purpose for a while, then either evolved into cheaper, faster, better forms or simply disappeared. Yet other technologies–such as fax machines, landline phones, and instant cameras–just refuse to die, despite better digital alternatives.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200325/10_technologies_that_should_be_extinct_but_arent.html?&tk=hp_fv

By Gus G. Sentementes, The Baltimore Sun

In Baltimore, one of our TV stations — Fox 45 (WBFF) — is already broadcasting the signal, while in Washington DC, there’s a little consumer trial going on among TV stations there. (That’s Mark Aitken, VP of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of WBFF, demonstrating the devices to me.) Basically, if a group of broadcasters and other big tech companies have their way, you’ll be able to watch HD TV on your cell phone, lap top or other mobile device. Now, some of you uber-geeks will say: Gus, but we can already watch HD TV on our laptops using a plug-in dongle that catches the HD signal. To that, I say, mobile HD TV is actually a whole new standard that allows for interactivity and for picking up the signal while you’re traveling in a speeding car or train. It’s designed for users in the mobile world.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2010/07/mobile_hd_tv_just_around_the_c.html

By Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek

Intel has launched a research lab dedicated to developing technology that can weave computing into people’s lives, so the interaction is far more seamless than what exists today. The new Interaction and Experience Research division is focused on taking the user experience way beyond the mouse and keyboard used in most homes and businesses today. In the future, Intel envisions more natural interfaces, such as touch, gesture and voice, will be the norm, Justin Rattner, chief technology officer for the chipmaker, said Wednesday.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/client/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225702022&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

by Nick Eaton, Seattle PI

Microsoft will be incorporating InstaLoad into its own hardware, but none is in production yet, the spokesperson said. The Redmond company also is offering royalty-free licensing to businesses that make accessibility devices for people with hearing, vision or learning disabilities. So, how does it work? Simply by the physics of the battery itself. InstaLoad takes advantage of the fact that a battery’s positive-polarity node sticks out. When the positive end of a battery is inserted into the InstaLoad port, the battery touches the positive contact but doesn’t reach the negative contacts. And when the negative end is inserted, the metal doesn’t reach InstaLoad’s indented positive contact.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/213187.asp

by Mark LaPedus, EE Times

For some time, Qualcomm Inc. has been pushing this technology as possibly the ”next big thing” in mobile and other platforms. ”Augmented reality allows computer-generated content to be superimposed over a live camera view of the real world,” according to the cell-phone chip giant. ”The concept has seen growing interest among developers for its potential to create applications that are more intuitive and interactive.” It is also based on computer vision technology recently acquired from Imagination Computer Services GmbH.

 http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225701995

by KSBW

Santa Cruz County grand jury stated in its annual report that leaders of the county library system are failing to address long-term problems as the system’s finances continue to suffer. The grand jury’s report for 2009 to 2010 did not directly recommend closing the smallest of the system’s 10 branches, but it urged that local communities consider taking over some branches with volunteers until the library system can afford new technology and develop a much-needed cash reserve.

http://www.ksbw.com/news/24087510/detail.html

by Elizabeth Montalbano, InformationWeek

A former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) division chief will return to the agency in late July to take on a new role as chief technologist. Douglas C. Sicker will replace Jon Peha, who is moving to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). As chief technologist, Sicker will advise the FCC on technological issues as part of its FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.  Peha is leaving the agency next month to lend his expertise to issues such as broadband spectrum that are of concern to both the FCC and the OSTP.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/leadership/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225702004&subSection=Infrastructure

By Lucas Mearian, Computer World

Seagate Technologies today announced the first 3TB external desktop hard drive, which is capable of using USB 2.0, 3.0 or FireWire 800 connectivity. The 3.5-inch 3TB FreeAgent GoFlex Desk external hard drive is compatable with both Windows and Mac OS X systems because it includes a New Technology File System (NTFS) driver for Mac. NTFS allows the drive to store and access files from both Windows and Mac OS X computers without reformatting.

http://bit.ly/9foWX3

by Bryan Edge-Salois, AMPC Game Examiner

GUNNAR Optiks today announced the official release of its circular, polarized 3D eyewear collection — basically, comfortable, practical 3D-compatible glasses that look like normal eye glasses so you can wear them regularly (and not like a huge dork). All GUNNAR Optiks glasses are designed to reduce eyestrain and enhance clarity when you’re working (or playing) in front of a monitor. (We fell in love with GUNNAR glasses at PAX 2009 last year, and we’ve been wearing prescription GUNNARs ever since.)

http://www.examiner.com/x-892-PC-Game-Examiner~y2010m6d29-New-glasses-add-3D-technology-to-standard-eyewear

 Al Preser, Design News

With mechatronic solutions combining information and physical activity, more robots are finding their way into warehousing, order fulfillment, health care and, potentially, as service robots in automotive assembly plants. With costs coming down for sensor-based technologies, vision and tactile feedback robotic systems are becoming increasingly more intelligent, people-aware, and are converging on a new paradigm and set of robotic applications.

http://www.designnews.com/article/509614-Robotics_Make_a_Move_Toward_Autonomous_Service.php

By NICK BILTON, New York Times

What if you woke up every morning to find a customized newspaper on your doorstep? Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, wrote about a similar concept in his 1995 book “Being Digital.” Mr. Negroponte called it “The Daily Me.” Google is aiming for something like that with an upgrade to its Google News product.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/google-offers-the-daily-you/

By BRAD STONE, New York Times

Amazon.com is not giving up on its large-screen Kindle DX. The company introduced a new version of the black and white e-reader on Thursday morning, dropping the price to $379, from $489. The device encloses the 9.7 inch display in a striking dark graphite frame. The company says the DX uses a new e-ink screen with 50 percent improved contrast for clearer text and sharp images.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/amazon-introduces-a-new-kindle-dx-with-lower-price/

By NICK BILTON, New York Times

According to several people familiar with Apple’s television-related efforts, the company is working on an update to its television software, and will offer a completely redesigned interface for it. These people refused to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly about Apple’s upcoming products. And company officials declined to comment about any plans for the Apple TV or for other television-related products.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/apple-hopes-to-re-enter-the-living-room/