Rise of the Machines: New Software Designs Electronics
New software actually designs the wiring of electronics. When the Internet gains self awareness, it will use software like to build giant robots that will rise up and crush the human race. Plus, the software reduces the cost of electronics assembly.
Commodore 64, Thought to be Extinct, Spotted In the Wild
OS News is reporting that a Commodore 64 computer, long thought extinct, is actually running at the MYER Centre main bus station terminal in Brisbane, Australia -- and they've posted rare pictures!
U.S. Army Builds World's Highest-Resolution Projector
The Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command has created what it says is the world's highest-resolution (40-inch, 3,840 x 2,400 pixel) large-screen projector display. They plan to use the device for displaying detailed maps during war or, if necessary, blinding the enemy with the projector's high-intensity bulb.
IBM, Gateway to Ship Fingerprint Recognition Notebooks
IBM and Gateway are preparing notebook PCs that are secured by fingerprint recognition technology. Now you can give your notebook the finger every time you boot up.
Toshiba to Ship Face Recognition System -- Under $10,000
Toshiba's FacePass VU-R710A is scheduled to ship April 1 -- no joke. The security gadget unlocks a door only when the face of the person standing in front of it matches one of the digital photos in its database. The product is considered a breakthrough because of its low price: just $9,259. Toshiba deserves a lot of recognition for that price point.
Rise of the Machines: Tiny Robot Crawls In Lab Powered By Living Muscle
UCLA Scientists have created a tiny robot, called a "MuscleBot," in their L.A. lab that crawls around on its own, powered by living heart muscle tissue taken from lab rats. The scientists hope one day their research will lead to implantable "nerve stimulators" that enable paralyzed people to breath, and also cyborg robots that can be sent back in time to destroy the human race.
Clear Channel yanked shock jock Howard Stern from its 1,200 stations today after he, well, did his normal offensive show. In the wake of the Janet Jackson breast-bearing Super Bowl publicity stunt, the FCC is cracking down on radio stations, and the radio stations are cracking down on offensive radio show hosts. The battle is even spilling over into U.S. Spanish-language stations. Clear Channel Radio Chief Executive John Hogan said "We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting" -- so it appears he's off that network for good. My prediction is that the King of All Media will actually become the King of All Media and move to the Internet with his show to reach a global audience (he's not even using his web site, even though smaller radio stations are trying to cash in on the Stern phenomenon).
Hitachi has unveiled a whopping 300-gigabyte hard drive called the Ultrastar 10K300 -- the world's first. "It's friggin' huge," said one industry analyst, in a statement. "It's very, very large," according to a company spokesman. Update: Fujitsu's gone one, too.
Intel Rolls Out Cell Phone PDA Gadget Called 'Carbando'
Intel hawked a "reference design" prototype convergence video player/cell phone/PDA gadget at the 3GSM conference in Cannes, France. The main benefit of the device, besides its groundbreaking design, is that it helps Intel sell more mobile processors.
Here's a crappy idea: Scientist Bruce Logan and others at Pennsylvania State University have invented a device that harvests electricity from the bacteria that feed on whatever is in your toilet water and other household waste water. The gadget includes a plastic tube and eight graphite rods running lengthwise through the tube that act as negative electrodes. As bacteria consume waste, they also gather electrons, which the device extracts from them and converts into usable electricity to power, say, the refrigerator that stores the food that becomes waste that produces more electricity for your refrigerator. It's the circle of life.
IBM Japan Invents Real PC That Fits In Your Pocket
The Register is reporting that IBM Japan has developed a prototype PC called the PC Core System that you plug into a slot at your desks at home and work for full PC functionality, but can carry around with you for use as a PDA. The gadget's dimensions are just 6.4 x 3.3 x 0.9 inches, and it weighs just 10.6 ounces. Here's an English translation of the release. Who says you can't take it with you?
Hitachi Announces 3-D Hologram Projection, Just Like In Star Wars
Hitachi announced a stereoscopic, 3-D projection system, just like the one R2-D2 had in the movie, Star Wars. The image can be viewed from 360 degrees and should eventually revolutionize pornography.
NEC and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology have created technology that enables camera phones to work like scanners. Simply start recording a video using the phone's video feature, then pass the phone's lens over whatever it is you want to scan, and the software does the rest.
Eminem, who's rhymes are mostly backed by "sampled" tracks "lifted" from other people's albums, is suing Apple and MTV over an iTunes commercial that features a young boy mimicking Eminem's song, "Lose Yourself."
Mugging people in the UK and stealing their mobile phones is so last year. The current trend, according to a piece in the "This Is London" newspaper is mugging people for their iPods! White headphones make you a target!
IDG is reporting that Microsoft is conducting a security review of the Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 source code leaked onto the Internet earlier to find any "risks to customers." The idea is to find out whether the code provides information for hackers to create viruses and bugs. The last thing anyone wants is for Windows to have viruses and bugs...
Mitsubishi Electric has developed what it calls a "reversable" LCD that shows images on both front and back. One obvious application is for clamshell cell phones that show data when the phone is both open and closed -- and for viewing downloaded pictures of supermodels from the front and back.
IBM Japan Invents Real PC That Fits In Your Pocket
Hitachi announced a stereoscopic, 3-D projection system, just like the one R2-D2 had in the movie, Star Wars. The image can be viewed from 360 degrees and should eventually 
