PC World - Legal tussles, format wars, and (of course) the iPhone dominated technology news in 2007. Here are the biggest tech headlines of the year–including some we’d like to forget.
Archive for December 25th, 2007
Dec25
The Top 10 New Organisms of 2007
Wired News runs down the 10 most interesting new organisms created through genetic engineering in 2007, from poison-sensing yeast to schizophrenic mice.
Filed in: Personal Tech
Dec25
Dec. 26, 1982: Time’s Top Man? The Personal Computer
The computer age for the rest of us may have officially begun with the news magazine’s unusual choice for its “Man of the Year” award.
Filed in: Personal Tech
Dec25
Confessions of an Online Scrabble Cheat
Getting involved with a cheater spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e. (27 points!)
Filed in: Personal Tech
Dec25
Don’t take your iPhone to a hot yoga class?
How many iPhone and MacBook users are aware that high temperatures, such as those found in a hot yoga class or in a car on a spring day, could kill their lithium-ion battery? The technology is somewhat temperamental, according to Apple and battery experts.
Filed in: Apple/Mac
Dec25
Robots To Control Oil Drilling Platforms
Roland Piquepaille writes “In 2015, and if everything goes well, oil drilling platforms located offshore Norway will be controlled by robots. Even today, these platforms don’t use many people. But the idea behind the new platform concept is to install large modular process sections in unmanned areas to allow access by one or more robotic manipulators. In a few years, operators should be able to remain on land and to remotely control the oil drilling platforms. Obviously, this should reduce risks and costs. Tests have already started in a new laboratory in Trondheim. According to the plans, the researchers have 8 years in front of them to deliver the robotic tools able to control these very expensive platforms. But read more for additional references and pictures.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filed in: Hardware
Dec25
The LCD Panel vs. The Crossbow
Ev!LOnE was one of several readers to point out an interesting LCD stress test: “ASUS recently came out with Asus LS201 — a TFT monitor with a protective panel made of crystal-sapphire. What I didn’t imagine was the amount of punishment that thing can take. Apparently some Ukrainians shared the same concern and went for a test.” Translation not necessary, but some clues about the narration would be appreciated in comments.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filed in: Hardware
Dec25
Python + Motion detection = Fweemote
jedie writes “After reading about different Wiimote hacks on Slashdot I decided to make a video with some demos of my motion-detection library. You can watch the video here. There’s a link to the sourcecode (GPL) as well, but the demo is win32 only. It’s basically a webcam and some software in python to track LEDs (preferrably IRs). In the demo video, you see the software (albeit badly because of the webcam’s IR filter being removed) tracking two differently colored LEDs, so multiplayer is possible. The software can track multiple points easily, and when combined with IR-LEDs, it’s easy to simulate one Wiimote (i.e. calculating the distance and angle between two IR-LEDs to determine where the remote is relative to the webcam). I want the code to get some publicity, because I don’t have time to work on it (dissertation, blabla) but I don’t want the code (however messy it is) to go to waste.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filed in: Hardware
Dec25
Heathkit Reincarnates the Hero Robot
DeviceGuru writes “Heathkit, which produced and sold mobile robots aimed at hobbyists and students back in the 1980s, is about to reenter the educational robot business. Heathkit’s new HE-RObot incorporates an onboard computer running Windows XP Professional on a Core 2 Duo Processor. It stands 21 inches tall, weighs 55 pounds, and has a built-in 80 GB hard drive, IR sensors, bright LED headlights, and lots of space for custom project circuitry.” As robots go, it also looks very much like certain models of SGI workstation. Now I’ll need to update my 1980 Christmas wishlist — it’s probably lost between pages of Popular Mechanics.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filed in: Hardware
Dec25
Apple and Google Are Telecom’s Newest Stars
In looking back at 2007, CNet views the smash entrance of Google and Apple onto the telecom scene as a major formative factor for 2008’s tech scene. Google in particular is going to be a huge factor in the much-anticipated wireless auction. “Google was instrumental in getting the FCC to adopt auction rules that would ultimately give consumers more choice in the devices they use on these new networks. And in November, Google CEO Eric Schmidt committed the company to bidding in the auction, promising to spend at least $4.6 billion on licenses. Exactly what Google plans to do with the spectrum if it wins licenses is still unknown. But its participation raises the stakes, especially for traditional telephony players.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filed in: Apple/Mac
Recent Posts
- Microsoft reorg season begins: Muglia gets the presidential nod
5th Jan | 0 Comments - Keeping up with the Microsoft confabs
2nd Jan | 0 Comments - 2009 first minutes UFOS
31st Dec | 0 Comments - Users reporting 30 GB Zune failures
31st Dec | 0 Comments - Microsoft and pay-as-you-go: Been there, done that
30th Dec | 0 Comments - What will — and won’t — Microsoft do in 2009?
30th Dec | 0 Comments - Windows 7: What does ‘feature complete’ mean?
30th Dec | 0 Comments
Popular Categories
About
BitterSense.com is bringing you news about technology and entertainment. Contact us news[at]bittersense.com
