TechBit - an obsessive reader's view

NVIDIA snapping up PortalPlayer for $357 mil. - Engadget

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 3:51 PM EST (Engadget)

All the big-time chip kiddies are all about diversity, and now that NVIDIA seems bent on doing things for serious in the GPU, chipset and (most recently) CPU spaces, its next step was pretty natural: go small.

technology, nvidia, portalplayer

"Silent jet" will make airports quieter, prove dangerous to Superman

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 3:49 PM EST (Engadget)

In a breakthrough that's being touted as a potentially crushing blow to the noise-canceling headphone industry, researchers at MIT and Cambridge University have designed a unique passenger jet that reportedly sounds no louder than a washing machine from outside the confines of an …

technology, travel, airplanes

Traffic reports to derive from cellphone location data - Engadget

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 3:43 PM EST (Engadget)

Intelligent roadways and traffic monitoring systems have been available (albeit not always entirely accurate) for some time now, but if IntelliOne and AirSage have their way, finding out about real-time roadblocks (and voyeurism lawsuits) could become a more fleshed-out reality.

technology, privacy, transportation, cellphones

Finding a Wii where there is none - Engadget

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 9:52 AM EST (Engadget)

Let's be realistic here for a moment, shall we? If you didn't pre-order your PlayStation 3, your chances of getting one this holiday season are looking approximately slim to none -- but with the Wii, you may have a shot.

entertainment, target, nintendo, nintendo-wii

Report: Microsoft not down with third-party 360 wireless peripherals - Engadget

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 9:49 AM EST (Engadget)

Now since the 360 already ships with wireless technology on board, it would seem relatively simple to implement a cable-free controller for this particular deployment. Not so fast, says Red Octane.

entertainment, technology, microsoft, xbox-360

Power failure hits Europe

Seeded on Mon Nov 6, 2006 9:43 AM EST (wkyc.com)

BERLIN (AP) -- A German electric company says it may know the cause of yesterday's chain-reaction blackout that hit parts of Europe. The company says systems may have become overloaded after a high-voltage transmission line was shut down over a river to let a ship pass.

technology, energy, europe, power

Hands on with the Nintendo Wii and Excite Truck

Mon Nov 6, 2006 1:19 AM EST

After calling around to some of the Gamestops in my area, I found one that had recently acquired a working Nintendo Wii demo unit.

Continue reading this entry ...

technology, games, nintendo, videogames, nintendo-wii

Katrina rescuer is sued by boat owner

Seeded on Sun Sep 3, 2006 1:30 PM EDT (NOLA.com)

Mark Morice, who commandeered a boat during the Katrina disaster in New Orleans last year to help rescue hundreds of people, is being sued by the owner of the boat.

katrina, new-orleans, us-news, nola

Lockheed Martin Selected by NASA for Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle: Financial News - Yahoo!Finance

Seeded on Fri Sep 1, 2006 2:48 PM EDT (Yahoo! Finance)

Lockheed Martin has won the $4B contract from NASA to design and build the Orion craft - the new initiative by NASA to land on the moon.

nasa, science, moon, orion, space-programs

Vatican Critical of Stem Cell Creation

Seeded on Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:20 PM EDT (The Washington Post)

"VATICAN CITY -- A Vatican official on Saturday criticized a new method of making stem cells that does not require the destruction of embryos, calling it a "manipulation" that did not address the church's ethical concerns..."

vatican, science, stem-cell-research

U.S. Lags World in Grasp of Genetics and Acceptance of Evolution

Seeded on Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:46 PM EDT (Live Science)

"A comparison of peoples' views in 34 countries finds that the United States ranks near the bottom when it comes to public acceptance of evolution. Only Turkey ranked lower."

evolution, science

TiVo Wins Emmy, Deserves It - Gizmodo

Seeded on Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:42 PM EDT (Gizmodo)

TiVo has won the Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Enhanced Television Programming! Go TiVo!

entertainment, tivo, emmys, dvr

Philly Scouts Refuse To Go Quietly

Seeded on Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:53 PM EDT (365gay.com)

The BSA (Boy Scouts of America) is refusing to leave or pay rent on a building owned by the city of Philadelphia, after being told to do so by Philadelphia for not complying with human rights ordinances regarding homosexuals.

politics, philadelphia, gay-rights, boy-scouts, bsa

Gay Men Get Better Health Care Than Lesbians

Seeded on Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:38 PM EDT (365gay.com)

According to a study released in London, it seems healthcare providers have a more negative reaction from women coming out as lesbians than they do from men coming out as gay.

health, healthcare, gay-health

Washington Gay Marriage Ruling To Come Wednesday

Seeded on Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:35 PM EDT (365gay.com)

The Washington Supreme Court will render its ruling on same-sex marriage rights on Wednesday, after having heard arguments in March of 2005.

gay-marriage, marriage, politics, washington-state, gay-rights

Was the 2004 Election Stolen?

Seeded on Fri Jun 2, 2006 4:47 PM EDT (Rolling Stone)

An article regarding the statistical anomalies present in the 2004 elections, and how they point to wide spread voter fraud that favoured a Bush election.

bush, fraud, kerry, politics, statistics, 2004-election, exit-polls

Rubber highway to beat congestion

Seeded on Wed May 31, 2006 4:39 PM EDT (BBC News)

A company in the UK is developing rubber panels made from recycled tires that convert old railways into single lane roads for cars. I like the reusage of space.

science, cars, railroads, traffic, rubber, roads

Finally Feeling the Heat

Seeded on Mon May 29, 2006 12:48 PM EDT (The New York Times)

Gregg Easterbrook, long-time skeptic of global warming, has switched sides in the face of numerous studies concluding global warming is taking place, and major consensus in the scientific community.

global-warming, science, climate-change, greenhouse-effect

Deadline Set for Wireless Internet in Parks

Seeded on Tue May 16, 2006 3:54 PM EDT (The New York Times)

NYC has said that free wifi will be available in Central Park by July, joining other park sites providing free internet access. Seems NYC is trying to catch up with initiatives by Philadelphia and San Francisco.

technology, new-york-city, broadband, wifi, municipal-wifi

Patent Holder Sues Apple Over iPod Software

Seeded on Tue May 16, 2006 3:50 PM EDT (The New York Times)

Creative is suing Apple, claiming the iPod's software menus infringe on their Zen patent. Didn't iPods come before Zens?

technology, apple, ipod, patents, creative, creative-zen

More die in fresh Brazil violence

Seeded on Sun May 14, 2006 8:37 PM EDT (BBC News)

The stand offs in prisons across Sao Paulo have continued for a second night, with 52 deaths so far. The PCC (First Command of the Capital) criminal gang is said to be responsible.

brazil, world-news, riots, sao-paulo, pcc

Hooligan chants silenced by delayed echoes

Seeded on Sat May 13, 2006 12:12 PM EDT (newscientisttech.com)

A Team of Dutch scientists has developed a system whereby chants from an audience are played back at the audience with a delay, causing mass confusion and ending the chant. They propose using the system to stop racist chanting at football matches.

football, soccer, science

DOJ Drops Wiretap Investigation

Seeded on Sat May 13, 2006 11:57 AM EDT (Wired News)

The DOJ is saying they are dropping their investigation into the NSA's domestic wiretapping program "because OPR [Office of Professional Responsibility] has been denied security clearances for access to information about the NSA program."

congress, white-house, politics, wiretap, nsa, doj