Fujitsu Labs has invented a way to embed "invisible" data into printed images. Their technology can add up to 12 numbers into a 1x1 centimeters into a regular picture. The numbers could replace barcodes or be read by camera phones with special software. One application would be magazine ads that, when you take their pictures, auto-dials your phone or takes your phone to a web site.
When Headline Writers Don't Read the Story -- 'Orkut.com Sues Google'?
Everyone is runninng the story of Affinity's lawsuit against Google, which reports that the company's socicial network, Orkut, uses code developed by Affinity. But the Billings Gazette ran the story under a headline obviously written by someone who didn't read it. Headline: "Orkut.com sues Google claiming theft".
China has started censoring SMS messages, ostensibly to curb pornographic content but in reality to prevent free speech and political dissent. Messages that criticize the government or communicate logistics for protest are deleted and the sender jailed. In keeping with China's schizophrenic dual system of capitalist markets and communist government, Beijing has contracted the censorship work out to 10 companies who are collectively employing 30,000 people to monitor and sensor the text messages. If that's not enough people to do the job, maybe they can outsource some of the work to India.
Drudge reports that assumed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will announce his pick for vice presidential running mate first via e-mail. Kerry loves the Internet and the Internet loves Kerry. Update: Here's the e-mail.
Google Moves to Suppress Black Market Gmail Addresses
Google isn't thrilled with the spontaneous black market in Gmail addresses. The company is trying to limit the number of addresses available, and has allowed beta testers to invite a limited number of people to join. But by manufacturing scarcity, they're creating value. People are selling their invites. So Google has added to its "Program Policies" a ban on selling Gmail invites.
Microsoft Patent of the Day: Grouped Taskbar Buttons
Microsoft has been on a holy jihad lately to patent everything in sight. The most recent patent granted by the U.S. Patent Office is patent # 6,756,999 -- the idea of grouping minimized Taskbar icons into a single menu, as is the case with Windows XP. Brilliant!
Researchers Invent Video Projector for Mobile Phones, PDAs
Researchers at Cambridge and Light Blue Optics have invented a small, battery-powered video projector system small enough for mobile phones and PDAs. The system creates a projection by displaying a hologram on a display and shinging laser light through it.
New Technology Lets You See Through Walls in Stunning 3-D
An Israeli start-up has created technology that allows the user to see through walls. It's actually a radar system based on ultra wideband technology that can generate a fairly high-resolution 3-D view of what's happening behind a wall at a distance of up to 20 meters -- even if that wall is steel-reinforced and made of concrete. The technology will likely be of value to the military, rescue workers and peeping toms.
Sony announced its new $1,300 DCR-PC350 MiniDV Handycam camcorder, which sports a 3.31-megapixel CCD, excellent Carl Zeiss lens and a weight of just one pound. The downside is that it uses Memory Stick media.
Australian Navy Gets Underwater Wireless Windows PCs
Australian Navy clearance divers are being issued underwater PCs. British multinational Nautronix will supply the presumably water-cooled Windows machines, complete with GPS or sonar peripherals and the ability to do "underwater SMS."
Student Kimberly Yeo, 23, typed 26-word message on her phone in 43.66 seconds, shattering the speed record. The new record bid will be submitted to Guinness World Records. She must be very popular at school.
Hungarian researchers reportedly plan to announce their findings at an international conference this week that carrying cell phones can lower men's sperm counts by as much as 30 percent. Other researchers, contacted by cell phone, said in high falsetto voices that they're skeptical about the Hungarian claims.
New Service Offers 'World's Longest' E-Mail Address
Enjoy the many benefits of an impossibly long e-mail address: nobody can remember it; spammer databases can't handle it; e-mail thieves can't use it in most e-mail applications; and more! (And it's free!)
Don't Try This At Home: Building a UNIX-Based Motorcycle
An enthusiastic two-wheeled geek named Ben has built UNIX into his motorcycle, mainly to run his helmet cam. It's either a very cool motorcycle upgrade or the ultimate case mod.
