Have you ever been watching a movie on your computer and been slightly agitated that you had to occasionally move the mouse a bit to prevent your screen saver from coming on and interrupting your movie, because you forgot to turn your screen saver off and you don’t want to pause your movie to do so? Well your problems are over now, thanks to Wiebetech’s Mouse Jiggler, a $29.95 device which will constanly jiggle your mouse for you, available in fast and slow varieties.
This seems to me a colossally ill-conceived product, and I doubt very many people will pay $30 for one instead of manually jiggling the mouse or simply turning off their screen saver when they don’t want it to interfere with what they’re doing.
Through Wiebetech
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April 21 2007 | Technology | 2 Comments »
For the of you who have not heard of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), it is when bee hives lose all their inhabitants save the Queen (no pun intended), eggs, and a few workers. No one knows why this is happening but since last autumn the west coast has lost 60% of it’s bee population and the east coast missing 70%. There is a new theory stating that the radiation from cell phones interfere with bees’ navigation systems.
Although I do recognize that this is CCD is a huge deal in that most of the worlds crops depend on bees, I do not think that it is caused by cell phone signals. For one, although it started in the US it is also stretching through Europe, who uses different broadcasting frequencies for their cell phones. But that could also be in agreement with CCD because although the frequencies of Europe and US are different, they are a lot more similar then those of Asian countries where CCD is non-existent. But also, although we haven’t been using cell phones forever, the frequencies we use today have been in use for a years now, and if they did interfere with bees’ navigation, wouldn’t it take effect instantly rather than over time?
Through The Independent
::Update::
Stefan Kimme, a graduate student who co-authored last years study states that the media misinterpreted the research and Independent wrote the article without ever calling on it. Kimmel says “This is a horror story for every researcher to have your study reduced to this. Now we are trying to force things back to normal.”
Brought to attention by Dr. Doug Yanega of UC Riverside
Through International Herald Tribune,
Do cellphones signals disrupt bee’s navigation
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April 17 2007 | Science and Technology | 3 Comments »
I was thinking about my contacts and how I love them so much more than glasses because it seems like I can see more space at better quality. It made me think why people even use glasses. Besides the obvious discomforts and difficulties of using contacts I think practice and design would eventually over come that. Then I thought about LASIK and it seeming to become infinitely more affordable each day and wondered if that will ever over put out glasses and contacts. The fact that I came to realize is that glasses are a style accessory and I don’t think they will ever go out. Even if LASIK becomes more affordable than glasses (which it eventually will do) people will still wear them don’t you think?
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April 15 2007 | Science | 4 Comments »
Zune 2.0 and the Flash Zune will be out this year.- Zune 2.0 is like Gen 1 but thinner.
- Larger HDD, same doubleshot finish.
- Flash Zune is 3 by 1 1/4 by 1/4.
- Flash Zune is video capable
- Flash Zune’s Screen covers 75% of the front
- Flash Zune will have WiFi
- Flash Zune will have doubleshot
- Design phase is over, but some tweaks to hardware will occur.
- 2.4 million next gen Zunes will be made before 2007’s holiday season, and that 2/3 of em are the Flash Zune players.
The Microsoft Zune did not perform very well when released against the iPod. Most people think that this was due to the lack of content on the Zune Marketplace. While I do agree with that, and think that they should have developed the marketplace more before release, I also did not expect them to perform much better than they did, because of the grip/reputation the iPod has on the market. I think that Zune 2.0 and flash may be able to put a bigger scratch in apples winnings because the market place is developed, and the Zune flash seems to be pretty promising with video play back, wireless, and a (relatively) large screen.
Through Zune Scene
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April 11 2007 | Technology | No Comments »
Michigan’s government has put forth a bill which proposes to spend $38 million to purchase an iPod or other mp3 player for every student in the state. The bill is in response to the reported benefits of Universities being allowed to put lectures and other educational materials on iTunes.
While an iPod could be used as a valuable educational tool, it is probable that only a small precentage of students would actually use one as such. Rather than enhancing its educational system, free iPods for every student are more likely to increase distractions in classes which will only cause negative effects. When the cost is taken into consideration as well, it is clear that this bill will not pass.
Through iLounge
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April 09 2007 | Technology | 2 Comments »
In addition to the Xbox 360 Dashboard update, Microsoft will be releasing a QWERTY keyboard attachment to go along with the new features in the update. Pricing and release date is unknown but expect it in the summer.
Although I was always disappointed at the thought of a keyboard being added to console gaming, this attachment does seem to be more of a sigh of relief for me. I like how they’re leaving the keyboards to PC gaming, but adding an accessory where typing can be necessary (and beautiful).
Through Gear Live
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April 09 2007 | Technology | No Comments »
FCC has considered lifting the ban on cellphones in airplanes since 2004 but has yet to do so. The FCC’s reasoning is that they think it interferes with cellphone signals on the ground, although they say they have insufficient technical information to prove this.
It’s interesting how cellphones used to be blocked on planes for interfering with the planes navigational equipment, but now their thought to interfere with other cellphones. I don’t understand how it messes with other cellphone signals, but I remember seeing a myth busters showed how cellphone signals use a different frequency than that of the navigational equipment. I also see people on their laptops hooked up to a cellphone providers broadband card… does this count as a cellphone? But then again, some of the biggest complaints with allowing cellphones on airplanes is that frustration will be caused with the constant badgering of dim-wit.
Through CNN
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April 08 2007 | Technology | No Comments »
As of yesterday, billionaire Richard Branson (owner of virgin records, virgin mobile, etc) can now start building his Space Port in New Mexico. The company, Virgin Galactic, will move its headquarters (and 200 employees) from London to New Mexico after a narrow vote in the Doña Ana County. Virgin Galactic will start offering a 2.5 hour flight (6 minutes of weightlessness) for 200k in 2009.
I am completely thrilled in the thought that it is very probable that I will fly to space before I die. It’s amazing to me that this stuff is actually happening, and at the same time, keeping all the cool names that we love, such as, “Galactic” and “Spaceport.” But I also wonder how much more money it would cost to send a flight in to an orbital flight rather than suborbital.
Through CNET
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April 06 2007 | Science and Technology | 1 Comment »
After my start in blogging a little while ago I decided I was going to fully embrace the community and see what new people I would meet through this experience. Although I have not met John Chow, his site Make Money Online, has shown me how to branch out and meet the very people I intended in meeting in this venture. His money making blueprints have shown me what what to do and can show you to. He will also give you hits to your blog, if you review his blog. His knowledge is clear with last months income from his blog at over 8.5k. So check out his blog, you will definitely learn something!
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April 04 2007 | Misc | 3 Comments »
For those of you who don’t know CCTV (closed circuit television) is a surveillance network throughout England. There are approximately 4.2 million CCTV cameras in England constantly monitoring everyone. Now the cameras will be able to talk to anti-socials, litterers, etc.
If you haven’t heard of CCTV before it would sound like something straight out of a British dystopia novel. I personally think that CCTV cameras are good and are not intended for invasion of privacy, but really just to make life safer, cleaner, healthier, etc. If these cameras can direct someone to through away a soda can, I think that is amazing.
Through BBC
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April 04 2007 | Technology | No Comments »
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