RIP STEVE JOBS

1955 - 2011

Scientific breakthrough: Physicists at CERN have recorded particles moving faster than light

Scientific breakthrough: Physicists at CERN have recorded particles moving faster than light: "Looks like Einstein may have been wrong — An international team of scientists at CERN has recorded neutrino particles traveling faster than the speed of light.
According to Reuters:

Antonio Ereditato, who works at the CERN particle physics center on the Franco-Swiss border, told Reuters that measurements over three years showed the neutrinos moving 60 nanoseconds quicker than light over a distance of 730 km between Geneva and Gran Sasso, Italy.

"We have high confidence in our results. But we need other colleagues to do their tests and confirm them," he said.

If confirmed, the discovery would overturn a key part of Albert Einstein's 1905 theory of special relativity, which says that nothing in the universe can travel faster than light."

'God particle' goes missing: Higgs boson 'may not exist' say Hadron Collider scientists

'God particle' goes missing: Higgs boson 'may not exist' say Hadron Collider scientists | Mail Online:

Signals reported in July seemed to indicate that the Higgs boson - a long-theorised particle seen as a missing link in our current understanding of physics - might have been detected among data the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva.

But since then, those signals - hinting that the theoretical 'God' particle might have a mass between 120 and 140GeV - looked much less conclusive among new statistics received from the experiment.

Guido Tonelli, spokesman for the Compact Muon Solenoid Detector, a huge particle detector at CERN employing 3,600 scientists, told the BBC's Today programme this week, 'If we exclude the existence of the Higgs this will be a major discovery - it would completely review our vision of nature.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2037722/God-particle-goes-missing-Higgs-boson-exist-say-Hadron-Collider-scientists.html#ixzz1Y30J6Gjj

Star pummeling alien planet with X-ray attack

Star pummeling alien planet with X-ray attack| MNN - Mother Nature Network

A nearby star is drubbing its close-orbiting planet with a barrage of X-rays 100,000 times more powerful than what the Earth receives from the sun, a new study has found.

That intense, high-energy radiation is blasting about 5 million tons of matter from the gigantic planet into space every second, researchers said. They made the observations using NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

"This planet is being absolutely fried by its star," said study lead author Sebastian Schroeter, of the University of Hamburg in Germany, in a statement. "What may be even stranger is that this planet may be affecting the behavior of the star that is blasting it."

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon roadmap, 2.5GHz CPUs coming early next year

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon roadmap, 2.5GHz CPUs coming early next year -- Engadget:

Speaking at the Innovation Qualcomm event in Istanbul yesterday, Senior Vice President of Product Management Cristiano Amon confirmed that the chipmaker's S4 line of silicon will be shipped to manufacturers by the end of this year and should appear in consumer products by the beginning of 2012. Available in single-, dual- or quad-core models, the new, 28nm additions to the Snapdragon family will also support Adreno graphics, 3D and 1080p HD, in addition to 3G and LTE connectivity.

3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker

3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video) -- Engadget

You know what's pleasing about this plastic drone, aside from the fact it flies? It took just a week to design and build from scratch, thanks to the labor-saving wonders of 3D printing. Each component was formed in ultra-thin layers by a laser beam trained on a bed of raw material -- either plastic, steel or titanium powder depending on the required part. If designers at the University of Southampton wanted to experiment with elliptical wings, they simply printed them out. If they thought a particular brand of WWII nose cone might reduce drag, they pressed Ctrl-P. And if they reckoned they could invent a wingless flying steamroller... Er, too late. Anyway, as the video after the break reveals, there's never been a better time for the work-shy to become aeronautical engineers.

The Complete History of Android In Infograph Form – The Android Story

Apple may launch cheaper iPad 3 this year according to report

Apple may launch cheaper iPad 3 this year according to report

Apple has inked deals with numerous additional parts suppliers for its upcoming iPad refresh according to a new report from DigiTimes, further supporting the notion that the tech giant plans to unveil a new version of its market-leading tablet later this year. Citing industry sources, the report claims Taiwan-based component manufacturers including Novatek Microelectronics, Richtek Technology, Capella Microsystems and Integrated Memory Logic have been awarded contracts to supply integrated circuits for the iPad 3. Contrary to previous speculation that Apple’s next iPad would be a high-end “Pro” model, DigiTimes states that Apple is seeking to utilize lower cost parts from Taiwanese suppliers in order to “compete with an array of tablet PCs to be launched by rivals in the second half of 2011.” A more likely scenario, however, is that Apple may simply be looking to offset the added expense of the upcoming iPad’s Retina Display with cheaper circuits. Such a move could allow the Cupertino-based company to launch its next-generation iPad at the iPad 2′s current price points. Apple is expected to unveil its new iPad this fall alongside the iPhone 5.

Are you threatening me? Beavis and Butt-head are Back!

Get More: Beavis and Butt-Head, MTV Shows

Guitar Oscillations Captured with iPhone 4

Pretty cool to see the standing waves caused by the different harmonics being produced by each string.  According to the author of the video, they used a bright back light to force the iphone4 to capture at a high frame rate.  

Angry Birds on a physics exam

Just when you thought Angry Birds had invaded everything known to man, our fine feathered friends are now being slung around in your physics exam. Believe it or not, this is actually quite real.

Well if the initial vertical velocity is 13.05 m/s then it will be up 2m after 2.5 seconds. The horizontal component is obviously 22 m/s, so the launch angle is:  atan(13.05/22) or 30.68 degrees ... Nevermind!  Back to the game!

It's here! Spotify lands in the US

It's here! Spotify lands in the US (video) -- Engadget

We knew it was coming, but Europe's beloved music service just officially launched stateside, bringing with it 15 million tracks with on-demand access, MP3 import, an offline mode, and social media integration. The streaming music service is currently in an invite-only beta phase, but you can sign up for an invitation or jump the queue right into the service's Unlimited ($5) or Premium ($10) monthly subscription tiers. Groove on over to the source link to sign up, and start piping millions of free tunes directly to your desktop -- once Spotify sends the welcome nod to your inbox, of course.

Spotify

Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate

Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate -- Engadget

8GHz (with the help of liquid nitrogen) not quick enough? Leave it to the folks at MIT to make sure your zaniest desires are well taken care of. As research forges ahead on graphene, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs (remember those?), gurus at the university have discovered a breakthrough that could eventually lead to microchips that make existing silicon-based CPUs weep. In fact, the research could lead to practical systems in the 500 to 1,000 gigahertz range. The magic all ties back to advancements on a graphene chip known as a frequency multiplier, and while the nitty-gritty of all this is far too complicated for the layperson to grasp, all you really need to know is this: finally, you can rest assured that you'll one day own a chip capable of handling Duke Nukem Forever.

Arizona Dust Storm: Amazing Videos

Arizona Dust Storm: Amazing Time-Lapse of Phoenix 'Haboob'





Driving into AZ Haboob Dust Storm

This Case Lets You Attach An SLR Lens To Your iPhone

This Case Lets You Attach An SLR Lens To Your iPhone

Why would you want to take a super huge telescoping SLR lens and attach it to your iPhone?Because You Can!

Well, you can now that this crazy iPhone SLR Lens mounting kit exists.

Sure, the tiny sensor in your iPhone can’t really take advantage of all of the benefits of a high quality lens — and sure, the size difference between a kit with an iPhone and a kit with a proper body is relatively small once you’ve brought any decent-sized lens into the picture.. but hey, lets see your SLR upload your awesome Desert Safari pictures to Dropbox with nothing but an EDGE connection and a prayer.

The lens mount comes in two flavors: one for Canon EOS lenses, and one for Nikon tubes. Both can be found for the sticker-shock-tastic price of $190 $249 over at Photojojo.

US Army Bans Toe Shoes for Looking Goofy

US Army Bans Toe Shoes for Looking Goofy

FiveFingers running shoes and the rest of the quasi-barefoot movement are a pretty zealous bunch—they wear a pretty polarizing shoe. But the debate is now quashed in the military, with an official ban. Why? They look too silly.

According to an official Army memo, GearJunkie reports, FiveFingers and any similar shoes "that feature five separate, individual compartments for the toes" are banished from military footsies on the grounds that they "detract from a professional military image."

Facebook Vibes outed in video calling code, related music service seems a lock

Facebook Vibes outed in video calling code, related music service seems a lock -- Engadget

You never really know what you're onto until you look, but who knew "looking" involved "digging through source code?" Software guru Jeff Rose had his curiosity piqued yesterday with the proper launch of Facebook Video Calling, and rather than just being satisfied with things working, he took it upon himself to see how exactly things were coming together under the hood. Turns out, the program grabs a startlingly small download link called FacebookVideoCalling.jar, which in turn uses LiveConnect to allow the Java applet to fetch a few other things. This enables the program to source your Facebook user ID (as well as an application ID), and from there, the installer has permission to use two things: a video chat plugin called "peep," and something else dubbed "vibes." Curiously enough, only one of those two were launched to the world, so logical skeptics are obviously opining that Facebook has a connected music service up its sleeve. 'Course, there's no indication that said service will actually use the Vibes moniker, but we could definitely ponder worse titles.

EVO 3D Overclocked to 1.7GHz, Sensation 4G to follow soon

EVO 3D Overclocked to 1.7GHz, Sensation 4G to follow soon | Android Central

Here's something to whet the appetites of EVO 3D and Sensation 4G owners alike, an overclock to 1.7GHz! Michael Huang, the developer of SetCPU, posted this picture to Twitter of the EVO 3D running his application and clocked at 1728MHz. Yes, the EVO 3D is still S-ON and still only has temporary root (no custom ROMs or kernels) but this was accomplished with a loadable kernel module.

For those of you who may not know, the Qualcomm MSM8660 utilized by the EVO 3D and Sensation 4G is a dual-core chip clocked at 1.2GHz out of the box, so this is a healthy increase over stock. Huang promises it's coming soon, so you'll have to hold your horses for a little bit longer. With S-OFF, full root, custom ROMs and kernels, is it possible we'll see 2GHz in the near future for these devices?

Hackers expose flaw in Apple iPad, iPhone software

Hackers expose flaw in Apple iPad, iPhone software | Reuters

Hackers have disclosed a bug in software from Apple Inc that security experts said could be exploited by criminals looking to gain remote control over iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

The security flaw in Apple's iOS operating system came to light on Wednesday as the website www.jailbreakme.com released code that Apple customers can use to modify the iOS operating system through a process known as 'jail breaking.'

Some Apple customers choose to jail break their devices so they can download and run applications that are not approved by Apple or use iPhone phones on networks of carriers that are not approved by Apple.

Security experts warned that criminal hackers could download that code, reverse engineer it to identify a hole in iOS security and build a piece of malicious software within a few days.

Apple has yet to release an update to iOS that protects customers against malicious software that exploits the flaw.

Facebook Gets Video Calling and Group Chat

Facebook Gets Video Calling and Group Chat

As a kind of reaction to Google+, Facebook just rolled out two features today: group text chat and integrated video chat courtesy of Skype.

The video chat is interesting, because you don't need to download a Skype client—all you do is log in to your Facebook account and start a video chat with anyone on your friends list. It's unclear whether or not you can call an actual Skype user, even though the underlying technology is Skype.

Scientists drag light by slowing it to speed of sound

Scientists drag light by slowing it to speed of sound

Most people may think the speed of light is constant, but this is only the case in a vacuum, such as space, where it travels at 671million mph.  However, when it travels through different substances, such as water or solids, its speed is reduced, with different wavelengths (colours) travelling at different speeds.

Scientists at the University of Glasgow have, for the first time, been able to drag light by slowing it down to the speed of sound and sending it through a rotating crystal.

Spotify is coming to the US, invites are open now

Spotify is coming to the US, invites are open now -- Engadget:

It's happening. The music streaming service that has won over the collective heart of Europe is finallymaking the puddle jump that we've been waiting for. Spotify just threw up a US landing spot, inviting eager Americans to jump in line for a table at the party. Meanwhile, we just received confirmation on our own end that things are finalizing for testing here in the States, and we'll be sure to report back just as soon as our credentials clear. We should note, however, that there's still no definitive time table to report, but it's fairly obvious that those final record deals are close enough to done to call this thing a victory. Now, the real question: are you signing up in the source link below, or are any of those other guys still tugging at your heartstrings?

Spotify

WTO says China's rare earths export controls violate international rules, US applauds

WTO says China's rare earths export controls violate international rules, US applauds -- Engadget


China's monopolistic approach to the rare earths market is in violation of international trade regulations, according to a new ruling from the WTO. The verdict, issued yesterday, covers exports of nine minerals -- including zinc, manganese and magnesium -- that are used to produce a wide variety of smartphones, tablets and other gadgets. China, which controls about 95-percent of the world's rare earth supply, had previously argued that its export restrictions were needed to prevent overproduction and to conserve natural resources, but the WTO determined that the country was "unable to demonstrate" these environmental benefits.

The investigation was originally spurred 18 months ago, after the US and other countries complained that China's quotas and tariffs unfairly favored domestic manufacturers, while distorting global prices. Experts expect Beijing to appeal the ruling, but this extra international pressure, combined with shifting supply chains and newfound deposits, may bring about the changes many have been calling for.

Vain Monkey Steals Cam to Take These Adorable Self-Portraits

Vain Monkey Steals Cam to Take These Adorable Self-Portraits

If you need any further proof that we're related to monkeys, behold: they're just as cunning and self-obsessed as we are! British photog David Slater was snapping some Indonesian macaques, when they nabbed his camera. And one started photographing itself.

Slater tells The Telegraph that the little guy was probably captivated by its own image, reflected in the camera's lens. This sufficiently freaked out the tiny primates: "They were quite mischievous jumping all over my equipment, and it looked like they were already posing for the camera when one hit the button." And then everything changed. "The sound got his attention and he kept pressing it. At first it scared the rest of them away but they soon came back—it was amazing to watch." This 2001: A Space Odyssey moment yielded hundred of self-shots, although most were too blurry to keep (amateur!). Unfortunately the macaques were a few evolutionary steps short of changing their default Facebook photos. [Telegraph, Photo by Photo: David Slater/Caters]

How Do I Tell If a Mushroom Is Safe to Eat?

How Do I Tell If a Mushroom Is Safe to Eat?

If you spend any time outdoors, you've probably seen mushrooms growing under trees or in your yard, but if you're out camping or just enjoy foraging, here are some ways to tell if the mushroom you're looking at is edible.

Google's Chrome web browser now has 20.7% of web browser global market share at cost of IE, Firefox

Google's Chrome web browser now has 20.7% of web browser global market share at cost of IE, Firefox

According to the analytics firm StatCounter, Google’s Chrome web browser now has a 20.7% grip of the web browser market — seven times more than it had just two years ago. The boost comes at the cost of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser, which now has less than a 50% hold on the market. Mozilla’s Firefox web browser has a 28% share of the browser market, down from 30% two years ago, and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer share fell to 44% from 59% two years ago. According to Reuters, StatCounter gathers its data from more than 3 million websites with more than 15 billion page views.

Meet NASA’s next Mars rover: Curiosity

Meet NASA’s next Mars rover: Curiosity. It has a plutonium-powered laser. | ExtremeTech

After a series of moderately successful Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), NASA is about to take its game to the next level. Say hello to Curiosity, which is 10 feet (3m) long and weighs almost a ton, four times more than Spirit and Opportunity. It is expected to launch in November or December, and arrive on Mars about eight months later.

Not only is Curiosity huge, but it’s also equipped with a robot arm, a laser that can vaporize rocks at seven meters, and a percussive drill for boring into Mars’ surface. The machine itself is powered by the heat given off by 4.8kg plutonium dioxide, meaning it won’t rely on solar power, which has caused issues with older space craft. It’s not just the rover itself that’s cool cool, though: because it’s so heavy, Curiosity can’t use the highly scientific approach of “airbagging” to soften its landing — instead, it will descend through the Mars atmosphere using a retrorocket jet pack.

Apple Orders 15 Million iPhone 5s For September

Apple Orders 15 Million iPhone 5s For September

Apple has placed an order for 15 million iPhone 5s to ship in September to netbook-maker Pegatron Technologies, a supplier, according to DigiTimes sources.

The sources also said that the iPhone 5 isn't very different from the iPhone 4.

Pegatron is a big Apple supplier, and worked with them on the iPhone 4, which allowed them to expand their plants. We wrote yesterday about how Apple uses its cash to help its suppliers expand plant and equipment, and get exclusivity and discounts on components in exchange.

Picasa, Blogger to get renamed: now with more Google?

Picasa, Blogger to get renamed: now with more Google? -- Engadget

Google's reportedly trying to put all of its product eggs into one self-branded basket. According to Mashable, two of its most popular services -- Picasa and Blogger -- may go under the branding knife and come out the other side looking like 'Google Photos' and 'Google Blogs.' With the exception of the latter's planned UI overhaul, both services should function exactly the same. The move -- alleged to take place within the next six weeks -- would unify the search king's user offerings ahead of the public launch of Google+. And if that social service's rumored July 31st launch date pans out, we could be seeing this overhaul very soon.

What happens in the brain when we experience a panic attack?

What happens in the brain when we experience a panic attack?: Scientific American


Recently researchers have identified certain regions of the brain that become hyperactive during a panic attack. These regions include the amygdala, which is the fear center of the brain, and parts of the midbrain that control a range of functions, including our experience of pain. A study performed by scientists at the Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at University College London used functional MRI to locate which specific brain regions kick in when a person senses an imminent threat. They found activity in an area of the midbrain called the periaqueductal gray, a region that provokes the body’s defensive responses, such as freezing or running. Dean Mobbs, the lead author on the study, wrote: “When our defense mechanisms malfunction, this may result in an overexaggeration of the threat, leading to increased anxiety and, in extreme cases, panic.”

A half-million Android devices activated every day, Andy Rubin says | Android Central

A half-million Android devices activated every day, Andy Rubin says | Android Central:

Wow. Let there be no doubt that Android's taking over, folks. Andy Rubin (he's the cat in charge of the whole thing, if you didn't know), tweeted this morning that 'There are now over 500,000 Android devices activated every day.) Plus, he said, that rate's growing at 4 percent week over week.

Think about it: That's 3.5 million Android devices activated every week. Twenty thousand an hour. Some 347 devices activated every minute. Nearly six devices activated every second.

Boom.

OS X Lion Allows Running Multiple Copies on the Same Machine (Virtualization)

OS X Lion Allows Running Multiple Copies on the Same Machine (Virtualization) - Mac Rumors


For the first time, Apple is allowing owners of OS X (client version) to run multiple virtual copies on the same machine. Previously, Apple extended this ability to Mac OS X Server only. Running separate instances of Mac OS X should be possible under virtualization solutions such as VMware Fusion and Parallels. This functionality allows you to deploy different sandboxed installations of OS X, typically for enterprise purposes.

Happy Independence Day

I know there will be countless fireworks displays to enjoy and even hot dog eating contests to marvel at, but let's all take a moment to reflect and give thanks to all who came before us and sacrificed to make this great country what it is today.

Happy Birthday Americia!!!

Where to Get the Best Fireworks in America

Where to Get the Best Fireworks in America

If you're really into fireworks, maybe you should move your butt to any square state. But whatever you do, don't move to New York, New Jersey, Delaware or Massachusetts. They have a total ban. The awesomerest state is South Carolina.  There they have prohibited any small rockets less than 3 inches long and half an inch thick. That's right: They have a ban on ridiculously sized fireworks.

How to Block Unwanted Ads in All Applications and Speed Up Web Browsing with the Hosts File

How to Block Unwanted Ads in All Applications and Speed Up Web Browsing with the Hosts File

Ad-blocking extensions like Adblock Plus are wildly popular among web power users, whether used to kill distracting ads or to make the most of a slow connection. Their weakness: These extensions only work with the browser you've installed them on. If you're interested in blocking advertising from specific domains globally, you can edit your computer's (or, better yet, your router's) hosts file to stop your browser, your phone's browser, or any other application from visiting that advertising server completely.

A preview of Gmail’s new look

A preview of Gmail’s new look - Official Gmail Blog


Gmail's getting a makeover.

According to a post on the Gmail Blog, Google's popular email service will soon roll out updates to the Gmail interface that are designed to streamline the appearance of the tool to make it easier for users to manage their mail.

Facebook To Unveil Skype-Powered Video Chat Next Week [CONFIRMED]

Facebook To Unveil Skype-Powered Video Chat Next Week [CONFIRMED]

Facebook’s “awesome” announcement next week has been spoiled. The social network will reportedly be unveiling a Skype-powered video chat platform.

Facebook’s Seattle team was behind the new feature, according toTechCrunch. Skype and Facebook already have a serious partnershipthat integrated Facebook social data directly into the Skype client. Now it looks like Skype will be coming to Facebook.

Adobe lures disgruntled Final Cut Pro users with 50 percent Premiere Pro discount

Adobe lures disgruntled Final Cut Pro users with 50 percent Premiere Pro discount | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence

Well, we were kinda expecting Adobe to make a move following the Final Cut Pro X outrage and today the company formally announced the “switcher program” that offers a cool 50 percent discount to Final Cut Pro or Avid Media users who defect to Adobe Premiere Pro (the offer ends September 30, 2011).

The promotion arrives on the heels of recent success stories Adobe has been promoting on its website and applies to any Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer purchase. The 50 percent discount can be redeemed against any purchased of Adobe Creative Suite CS5.5 Production Premium or Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5.

Robert Morris, man who helped develop Unix, dies at 78

Robert Morris, man who helped develop Unix, dies at 78 -- Engadget:

We have some somber news to bring you this morning: Robert Morris, the cryptographer who helped create Unix, has died at the age of 78. Morris began his work on the groundbreaking OS back in 1970 at AT&T's Bell Laboratories, where he played a major role in developing Unix's math library, password structure and encryption functions. His cryptographic exploration continued into the late 1970s, when he began writing a paper on an early encryption tool from Germany. But the paper would never see the light of day, thanks to a request from the NSA, which was concerned about potential security ramifications. Instead, the agency brought Morris on board as a computer security expert in 1986.

Much of what he did for Uncle Sam remains classified, though he was involved in internet surveillance projects and cyber warfare -- including what might have been America's first cyberattack in 1991, when the US crippled Saddam Hussein's control capabilities during the first Gulf War. Morris stayed with the NSA until 1994, when he retired to New Hampshire. He's survived by his wife, three children and one, massive digital fingerprint.

OS X Lion Golden Master seeded to developers ahead of July launch

OS X Lion Golden Master seeded to developers ahead of July launch | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence

Apple has seeded the golden master version of OS X Lion to developers ahead of its public release sometime this month (July). The golden master download is available from Apple’s Mac Developer website. The build number is 11A511. In addition, Apple has seeded Developer Preview 7 of Xcode 4.1.

Chrome OS and Chromebooks explained

Chrome OS and Chromebooks explained | Android Central: "A little while back at Google I/O Google introduced the world to Chromebooks. Svelte machines that run Google's own OS, Chrome OS. Chrome OS is unlike any other OS that's hit the shelves. It's fast, lean, and easy to use. Chromebooks look to continue that theme. They are fast (relatively), lean, and easy to use."

Proof: Super Mario Dies On The Cover Of His First Home Console Game

Samsung says it's competing with Apple, not copying it

Samsung says it's competing with Apple, not copying it | PhoneDog

Remember in the middle of last month when Apple added more patents to its suit against Samsung and alleged that Samsung made "products that blatantly imitate the appearance of Apple's products?" Well Samsung has finally responded to the amended complaint, adding more patents of its own and defending its devices against Apple's claims. In its answer, Samsung repeatedly states "The Samsung Defendants admit that they have not ceased competing with Apple notwithstanding Apple's efforts to avoid such competition" and explains that it's competing with, not copying, Apple. Samsung also points to its patent portfolio as well as its position in the market ("During the last half of 2010, Samsung sold more Android-based devices worldwide than any other company.") to defend itself. Finally, Samsung dropped two patents from its countersuit against Apple and added four patents relating to things like displaying data on a "portable telephone."

Developer API for Google+: It's coming

Developer API for Google+: It's coming | CNET News

Google's new social network, Google+, has only been public for two days, and developers are already interested in access to the service so they can roll out add-ons and improvements.

Fortunately for them, and ultimately for Google+ users, developer access is coming. It's simply a matter of time. As Vic Gundotra, senior vice president of social for Google, told me at a Web 2.0 Summit cocktail party tonight, "I'm a developer guy at the core. It is inconceivable I would build something without a platform."

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20075974-250/developer-api-for-google-its-coming/#ixzz1QrjidfLC

Dramatic Sunrise Over Moon’s Tycho Crater Mountains

Dramatic Sunrise Over Moon’s Tycho Crater Mountains

A spacecraft circling the moon snapped this dramatic image of the sun rising on the mountains in the middle of Tycho crater.

The 51-mile-wide depression is all that remains of a catastrophic asteroid impact 108 million years ago. Planetary scientists think the guilty asteroid was a fragment from a larger space rock, another piece of which wiped out the dinosaurs.

A robot gets sensitive skin

iPhone 5 and iPad 3 reveal in September tips supply chain

iPhone 5 and iPad 3 reveal in September tips supply chain - SlashGear

Another day, another Apple production rumor, and as the whispers in Taiwan would have us believe that Apple’s suppliers are already gathering together materials for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 manufacture, ahead of an official unveil in September and commercial release in October. Your favorite component gossip source, DigiTimes, has it on anonymous authority that Foxconn – which will be slapping all the parts together – will be making a single fifth-gen iPhone, rather than both a cut-price iPhone 4S and flagship iPhone 5.

Infancy of Universe Seen in Brightest Quasar Yet | Wired Science | Wired.com

Infancy of Universe Seen in Brightest Quasar Yet | Wired Science | Wired.com



Meet ULAS J1120+0641, the most distant quasar ever found. A team of European astronomers have used a number of telescopes, data from The European UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) and five years of searching to find it.

A quasar is a very bright, very distant galaxy that is juiced up by asupermassive black hole at its center. The black hole in the middle of ULAS J11 has a mass 2 billion times that of our sun, and the overall galaxy is the brightest object in the early Universe.

Droid 3 accessories leaked, Moto's new slider gets wireless charging back plate and more -- Engadget

Droid 3 accessories leaked, Moto's new slider gets wireless charging back plate and more -- Engadget

So, you've read the rumors, scoped out the leaks, and circled multiple dates on your calendar -- just to cover all of your Droid 3 bases. You can now add a catalog of accessories to the stack of intel for this Motorola slider, including an inductive battery door (most likely harnessing the power of Qi), and a smattering of cases and screen protectors. Also thrown in the mix is a 1930mAh extended battery so you can fuel a marathon of South Park reruns and take full advantage of the last week of unlimited data from Verizon. Although knowing about the accessories is nice, we'd prefer to find out the important stuff... ya know, like how much Big Red's new Droid will cost.

SleepWell smart WiFi tech could double smartphone battery life - SlashGear

SleepWell smart WiFi tech could double smartphone battery life - SlashGear

A new system for intelligently power-cycling WiFi connections could see smartphone battery life doubled, by cooperating with nearby wireless devices rather than competing with them. SleepWell is the handiwork of Duke University graduate student Justin Manweiler: whereas in congested WiFi environments devices like smartphones and tablets have to stay awake in order to snatch their moment of connection, SleepWell allows devices to enter wireless sleep mode until their turn to get online.

Dial-up Sound Slowed Down 700%

Most if us have been on broadband so long that the sound of dial-up is terrifying regardless what speed it is played at. This is still pretty nifty:

Anonymous Launches A WikiLeaks For Hackers: HackerLeaks - Andy Greenberg - The Firewall - Forbes

Anonymous Launches A WikiLeaks For Hackers: HackerLeaks

Despite countless WikiLeaks copycats popping up since the secret-spilling site first dumped its cache of State Department cables last year, the new generation of leaking sites has produced few WikiLeaks-sized scoops. So instead of waiting for insider whistleblowers, the hacker movement Anonymous hopes that a few outside intruders might start the leaks flowing.

A peek inside the new Apple Thunderbolt cable

The new Apple Thunderbolt cable comes with a $49 price tag, which is a bit pricey, and the first Thunderbolt accessories available require you to buy one separately. Teardown company iFixit took a peek inside one of the new cables and came up with a good reason why Thunderbolt costs so much.
http://gigaom.com/apple/a-peek-inside-the-new-apple-thunderbolt-cable/