No More Green Light for Microsoft's 'Project Green'
Microsoft has reportedly re-assigned some 130 developers who were working on its futuristic business suit, code-named "Project Green" (as in the color of money) and move the ship date from late 2004 to 2008.
IDG Launches 'Digital World' in Wake of ZD 'Sync' Launch
IDG has launched a spin-off from PC World called "Digital World," a monthly print publication devoted to gadgets that will debut with an October 2004 issue. PC World Editor-in-Chief Harry McCracken will also edit Digital World.
Champlain College in Vermont announced an online Computer and Digital Forensics program to train students to apprehend criminals who use the Internet to commit crimes. The program targets "cyberforensics" -- the forensic analysis and procedures of digital crime. Online students can earn a professional certificate, associates degree or bachelor's degree entirely online.
Rise of the Machines: Researchers Creating Sentient Brain for Spacecraft
Eggheads at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are working on "machine-learning" and pattern-recognition software for satellites and other spacecraft. This smart software can be used on all kinds of spacecraft, including orbiters, landers and rovers. It's purpose is to enable spacecraft to recognize relevant data and send to Earth only what they decide is important. It will also be useful to intelligent robots when they rise up and destroy mankind.
First Ever Ruggedized Satellite Glove Phone Unveiled
Network Anatomy has revealed that they're working on a multimedia communication system built into a ruggedized, waterproof glove for emergency workers. Called CommanderGauntlet, the glove is powered by Microsoft Windows CE and will feature wireless data, satellite phone, video and text messaging. It will even support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and feature an optional fold-out keyboard, according to published specs.
Kowa Prominar will release in July its massive and scary $2,000 TD-1 super camera -- a 3.14-megapixel digital camera with 30x zoom lens! (Babelfish translation)
Internet Hoax Draws Muslims to German Hospital In Search of Messiah
An Internet hoax that said the messiah had been born to a Turkish woman in a German hospital drew hundreds of Muslims from all over Europe who traveled to Germany and demanded to see the miracle child.
The world's first (and possibly last) Linux retail computer store opens this week. Sub500.com in Toronto, Canada, will open Saturday and feature Linspire-based laptops, desktops and software.
Porn Blocking Software Knows Dirty Pictures When It Sees Them
Elex Technologies has released the badly named product Photo No-No! version 1.4, which blocks adult images in browsers and e-mail. The software uses artificial intelligence to view and recognize adult images, blocking them before innocent eyes can see them. The same technology could presumably be used to FIND adult images for those who want them....
Proof You Can Buy Anything On the Web: Autographed Copy of Clinton's 'Life'
Dozens of autographed copies of former president Bill Clinton's memoirs, "My Life" -- some signed just yesterday in New York City, others not even signed yet (sellers are planning to attend future book signings) -- have already appeared on eBay. Large numbers of signed books have even sparked an online price war.
The "Mother of All Computer Trade Shows," Fall Comdex in Las Vegas, has been canceled, er, "postponed" while a newly appointed advisory board figures out what to do with the dying beast.
Machine Converts Loose Change to Starbucks Card Cash
Coinstar, which makes those coin-counting machines you've seen in supermarkets, is adding a new feature: It will spit out Starbucks debit cards with the full value of your change (they won't deduct their usual fee) in Seattle, Las Vegas and Philadelphia stores.
Merrill Lynch & Co. has dropped out of the upcoming $2.7 billion Google IPO, saying the deal would not bring in the kinds of fees that would make it worthwhile. Google's unusual "auction" system of selling shares -- just one step above offering them on eBay -- are likely to generate very low fees, even for the lead underwriters. Let's all feel sorry for the money guys, who won't make their usual millions as the useless middleman.
An article in tomorrow's New York Times says Google revised its prospectus to clarify the risks involved in its unusual (or, as they say on Wall Street, "wacky") auction scheme planned for the company's long awaited IPO. Everyone declined to comment.
Nextel Communications announced NextMail, which allows users to send a streaming mp3 voice message from their phone to any e-mail address by simply pressing the Direct Connect button on the side of every Nextel phone. It's just like voice-mail, but with the added risk of having your message get lost in the spam folder.
Proof You Can Buy Anything On the Web: Old Fashioned Bluetooth Headset
Some telephone tinkerer is selling his custom-made traditional phone headset, which he has outfitted with Bluetooth capability, enabling the buyer to use the heavy and ugly headset with his Bluetooth-capable cell phone.
MTI MicroFuel Cells announced the introduction of the MTI Mobion, PDA fuel-cell technology that gives gadgets 2 to 10 times the battery life of regular PDAs, according to the company. They plan to ship a fuel cell PDA later this year. The two concept models include one PDA/smart phone.
The Syrian government has given a man named Abdel Rahman al-Shaghouri a prison sentence of two and a half years for e-mailing information from a banned web site run by expatriot Syrians. And it wasn't even spam.
Marvel Comics & Gotham Entertainment Group, the Indian publishing licensee of Marvel Comics, have announced the launch of an Indian Spiderman. Instead of New Yorker Peter Parker, Spiderman India is Pavitr Prabhakar, who puts on a somewhat more modest Spiderman costume and fights crimes on the mean streets of Mumbai.
UK defense contractor BAE Systems has invented a kind of wallpaper that blocks wireless communication. The technology enables radio and cell phone traffic but blocks Wi-Fi data. When commercialized, the company expects customers to use it to prevent wardrivers and other wireless hackers from gaining illegal access to corporate wireless networks. Plus, it looks faaaaabulous with maroon curtains!
