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« Previous EntriesPortal Denial System: ElectroPlasmaLaser
Monday, May 21st, 2007
The way Hollywood tells the story, if you step through a laser beam then you should expect and alarm to go off and everybody laughs or something. But the way the defense company Ionatron tells the story, if you step through a laser beam things are a lot worse than some bells ringing in your ears.
That’s because this laser is really a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) that can conduct electricity. You break the stream and—ZAP—you wake up behind bars to the smell of burnt hair and another man’s aftershave. And that’s what we are calling a best case scenario.
For those interested in purchasing units for home use, remember that all the really cool technology is controlled by the US government…and to stay clear of their buildings after 5pm.
Hit the jump for some video of the PDS.
- Mark Wilson
Company Page [via scifitech]
Class Action Targets MacBook Displays
Monday, May 21st, 2007The quality of Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro screens has come under legal fire in a class action that charges Apple with false advertising. The lawsuit, filed May 3 in the San Diego Branch of the California Superior Court by Fred Greaves, Dave Gatley, and “all others similarly situated,” claims that Apple deceived customers about the quality of the displays.
The lawsuit states that various MacBook purchasers have “started complaining” that the MacBook display is substandard. “Many purchasers observed that the display was ‘grainy,’” the lawsuit said. “Others complained that the display was ’sparkly.’”
Some owners claim to have seen “distracting lines at different points on the display screen,” while others “noted in certain programs capable of displaying color spectra that banding appears in the display of gradients.”
Too Picky?
When these customers contacted Apple, the lawsuit claimed, they were “chastised” for being “too picky” or they were told they were “imagining.” The suit also said that Apple purged posts critical of the displays on a discussion forum it hosted.
The plaintiffs argue that users who rely on the accuracy of the displays, such as for the quality of photographs, find that they are unreliable “for editing purposes.”
Apple advertised that its MacBook and MacBook Pro can display “millions of colors,” the suit said, but, in fact, they are “only capable of displaying the illusion of millions of colors through” dithering. Dithering is a technique for simulating many colors with only a relative few.
The MacBook and MacBook Pro line can accommodate both Apple’s Mac OS and Microsoft’s Windows, the lawsuit said, but the display under Windows is, at all resolutions, “superior” to the display under Apple’s OS.
‘Very Surprising’
“If there had been a widespread, significant problem with the MacBooks,” said Laura DiDio, an analyst with industry research firm Yankee Group, “we would have heard…
MySpace To Share Sex Offender Data
Monday, May 21st, 2007MySpace.com will provide a number of state attorneys general with data on registered sex offenders who use the popular social networking Web site, the company said Monday.
Attorneys general from eight U.S. states demanded last week that the company provide data on how many registered sex offenders are using the site and where they live. MySpace initially refused, citing federal privacy laws.
MySpace obtained the data from Sentinel Tech Holding Corp., which the company partnered with in December to build a database with information on sex offenders.
“We developed ‘Sentinel Safe’ from scratch because there was no means to weed them out and get them off of our site,” said Mike Angus, MySpace’s executive vice president and general counsel.
Angus said the company, owned by media conglomerate News Corp. had always planned to share information on sex offenders it identified and has already removed about 7,000 profiles out of a total of about 180 million.
“This is no different than an offline community,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it safe.”
Angus said the company had also made arrangements to allow law enforcement to use the Sentinel software directly.
MySpace is owned by media conglomerate News Corp.
Attorneys general in North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania asked for the Sentinel data last week.
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office said in a statement the information could potentially be used to look for parole violations or help in investigations.
Sprint Brings EVDO Rev A to Rural Michigan
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
I have not been to my moms home since September last year and was expecting to be stuck on dial up again. But when I plugged in my Sprint EVDO card I was shocked to see it logged in as EVDO Rev A
Honestly I about fell out of my chair! The speed test is decent this is a significant achievement in that up to this point her only option has been Dial up. You can guess what I will be ordering for her before I go home.
Thank you Sprint for helping my mom get off dial up. Signal strength is around -85dbm which is pretty good.
Location: http://tinyurl.com/2gmgt7
Artificial Snot Enhances Electronic Nose
Monday, April 30th, 2007Researchers at The University of Warwick and Leicester University have used an artificial snot (nasal mucus) to significantly enhance the performance of electronic noses.
The researchers have coated the sensors used by odour sensing “electronic noses” with a mix of polymers that mimics the action of the mucus in the natural nose. This greatly improves the [...]
Philips Dishes Up New PC Peripherals
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Philips has released a host of new desktop peripherals with four wired and wireless mice and a wireless keyboard. The mice are designed with an ‘ergonomic feel’ – aren’t they all these days? – and sport high gloss finishes to prevent dirt build-up from your grubby mitts.
Shaped a little like a British World War One tank, the SPM8713 [pictured] is a wireless laser mouse for notebooks, with ’soft silicon cushions’ for prolonged use. It features Philips’ twin-eye laser sensor for more accurate positioning and has a 1600dpi resolution. Battery life is a year since the mouse turns itself off when not in use.
The SPM7711 is a desktop wireless version of the notebook mouse, also with one year battery life.
The SPM4701 is a cheaper wireless mouse with only 7-months battery life while the wired SPM4700 mouse has a 1000dpi resolution.
The keyboard, the SPT5701, has odd – but possibly useful - drainage holes that can resist some accidental spillage. That’s a drop of tea mind, not a pint of lager. It also includes a 4-way scroll wheel and a wireless mouse with 1000dpi resolution and a seven month battery life.
Out next month, but no prices yet.-Martin Lynch
PC notebook peripherals keyboard
Will the EU Topple Apple’s iTunes Empire?
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007The European Commission on Tuesday said it has launched an antitrust probe into Apple’s iTunes, its method of selling music over the Internet, and its agreements with major record labels.
Distribution agreements Apple has inked with record labels to sell their music on the iTunes Music Store in European Union countries “contain territorial sales restrictions which violate” EU competition rules, the Commission claimed, noting that consumers are restricted to downloading singles or albums from the iTunes site in their own countries. Prices vary from country to country.
“Consumers are thus restricted in their choice of where to buy music and consequently what music is available, and at what price,” the Commission said in a statement. “For example, in order to buy a music download from the iTunes’ Belgian online store, a consumer must use a credit card issued by a bank with an address in Belgium.”
The EU Demands
The Commission afforded Apple two months to answer questions in its letter. If Apple is found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules, the company could face fines up to 10 percent of the iPod maker’s worldwide annual revenues.
This is not the first time Apple has come under fire by EU interests. European consumer rights groups in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Nordic countries are actively working to force the company to change its rules.
Specifically, consumer advocates are insisting Apple remove limits that prevent consumers from playing the downloads they purchase at iTunes on competing MP3 players. Norway already moved to force Apple to remove its proprietary technology by October 1 or face legal action.
Bringing Down an Empire?
Apple has stated publicly that it wants to operate one site for the entire European bloc, but is forced to depend on the record labels to grant it those rights. Apple is maintaining that its actions do not…
Astronaut Runs Marathon In Space
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007
There are those uber-fit people out there who will be able to boast soon that they completed the 2007 Boston Marathon on April 16th but, how many of them will be able to say they did it from space?
You read correctly. Astronaut, Sunita Williams is currently on-board the International Space Station but has every intention of running the 26.2 mile race on a treadmill, 200 miles above our heads. She even has her bib number [14,000] having qualified for the marathon by posting a time of 3:29:57s in Houston last year.
The little problem of operating in zero-g will be handled by a specially designed treadmill with bungee cords. However, since she is on a six-month stint in space, it will be summer before she gets her medal.
If this doesn’t get her in the Guinness Book Of Records….-Martin Lynch
Microsoft Live Labs: Deepfish
Monday, April 2nd, 2007I just noticed that Microsoft Labs is working on a new browser for Windows Mobile devices and is accepting a small number of beta testers:
The Deepfish Technology Preview enhances existing mobile browsing technologies by displaying content in a view that is closer to the desktop experience. Our zoom-able interface and cue map allow you to [...]
Pop Art TV From HANNSpree
Thursday, March 29th, 2007
HANNSpree never fails to amuse, and even sometimes delight, with its wacky take on TV design.
From basketball and soccer ball-shaped sets, the company is the place to go for that weird second TV for your bedroom. However, in recent times, it’s been making a serious push for the living room pound, toning down the wackiness but retaining its flairfor distinctive design.
This is the latest offering, the HANNSvibewhite 32-inch LCD HDTV, sporting curvy, oval contours that owe much to the Pop Art style. The most interesting aspect though, are those sexy removable speakers which, when off, make the TV look even better. I also like that centrally placed control button.
Feature-wise, it has a resolution of 1366 x 768, a contrast ratio of 1200:1, a 500 cd/m2 brightness rating and a response time of 8ms. It also sports HDMI, component, composite and PC inputs. Thankfully, unlike many so-called designer TV makers, HANNSpree are easy on the pocket and the price for this – US-only so far – is £650. Check out another pic after the jump.-Martin Lynch
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