MicroMoneyPipe

Stocks struggle in wake of China sell-off

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:46:51 -0800

Global Markets Overview: Global stock markets struggled to make headway on Tuesday after a sharp drop in Chinese shares and a steady dollar again raised fears the multi-month rally might be over.

At Iraqi Museum, Google Chief Announces Plan to Put Artifacts Online

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:31:51 -0800

Google’s C.E.O., Eric Schmidt, said his company would create a virtual copy of the museum’s collections at its own expense and make the images available online by early 2010.

Koenigesgg Saab purchase in doubt

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:31:18 -0800

Decision by Koenigsegg to end the deal means that a wind-down of the Swedish brand is now likely

Advertising: Shows Online, Brought to You by ...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:30:20 -0800

Web series, or webisodes, are being created specifically for advertisers.

US GDP growth revised down to 2.8%

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:27:32 -0800

The US economy grew at a revised rate of 2.8 per cent in the third quarter, as consumer spending proved to be weaker than previously thought due to stubbornly high unemployment.

Giving Touch-Screen Buttons Depth and Height With Pneumatics

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:14:00 -0800

blee37 writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon demonstrate 'popping out' touch screen buttons to become physical buttons using pneumatics. The idea is to combine the dynamic reconfigurability of touch screen buttons with the tactile feedback of real buttons. The technology could be applied where tactile feedback is currently lacking, such as in car navigation systems, ATMs, or cell phones."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Reports on consumer confidence, GDP tug at stocks

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:11:00 -0800

NEW YORK -- Stocks retreated from 13-month highs after a lackluster reading on consumer confidence and a report showing slower economic growth sapped the market's optimism.

News Corp. Weighs an Exclusive Alliance With Bing

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:01:03 -0800

A deal to block Google searches from News Corporation content would erect uncustomary barriers and could scramble the landscape of the Web.

Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:59:00 -0800

The Vaio X, aside from being thin and light, is notoriously difficult to mod -- simply put, there's not much room in there to play around! Besides, when you've spent well over a grand for a machine, you're not necessarily going to be gung-ho about digging in with your soldering gun. Still, when InsanelyMac forum member Asama was struck by inspiration (in the form of a Vaio P OS X image) he followed his heart -- and, much to the world's amusement, it installed on the Vaio X with few complications. Sure, it wasn't a flawless operation: the WiFi card is unsupported (as you probably guessed) but, that said, this is definitely an item of note for all the Hackintosh freaks in attendance. Indeed we're looking forward to seeing Psystar get sued over a similar hack at some future junction. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment

Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GadgetMix | InsanelyMac | Email this | Comments

Three things to remember when connecting Snow Leopard users to Exchange 2007

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:57:05 -0800

Erik Eckel takes a look at the business improvements made in Mac's Snow Leopard release. Better compatibility with Microsoft Exchange make it not only enterprise-ready, but enterprise-friendly. by Erik Eckel

Courtroom First: Brain Scan Used in Murder Sentencing

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:51:00 -0800

An fMRI brain scan has been introduced into evidence for the first time, in the penalty phase in the trial of a man convicted of raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl. The defense was attempting to show their client was psychopathic to mitigate his sentence.

Brewers Tread Carefully to Raise Sales in Malaysia

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:50:00 -0800

How do you sell beer in a country where about 60 percent of the population is Muslim and thus forbidden by authorities from buying it? Very carefully.

Lloyds Plans Britain's Biggest Rights Offering

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:50:00 -0800

The troubled British lender plans to raise $22.3 billion to keep the government from taking a controlling stake.

Index shows moderate gain in home prices in September

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:48:00 -0800

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index is up 0.3% from August in 20 U.S. cities. The index is down 9.4% from September 2008.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities ticked up modestly in September, marking the fifth consecutive month of improvement, according to a closely watched national index released this morning.

Ciena buys Nortel's Metro Ethernet business

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:47:16 -0800

Nortel Networks will sell another piece of its business for $769 million as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, which require it to dismantle its business.

U.S. Fund for Bank Deposit Insurance Falls Into the Red

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:45:13 -0800

It was the first time the F.D.I.C. fund’s balance has been negative since the early 1990s as the pace of bank failures accelerated in the third quarter.

Milo, a Site to Help People Shop Offline, Attracts Investors

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:41:24 -0800

Milo, a start-up Web site, helps people figure out where to buy things at stores in their neighborhoods instead of online.

Third-Quarter U.S. Growth Revised Lower

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:38:18 -0800

The government said the economy grew at a 2.8 percent pace, instead of the 3.5 percent growth rate it estimated a month ago.

New standard lets browsers get a grip on files

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:38:00 -0800

The Files interface, now a draft at the World Wide Web Consortium, could lead to better uploading and other chores. It's largely built into Firefox 3.6.

Earnings rise in U.S. banking industry even as list of 'problem' institutions grows

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:36:00 -0800

The FDIC says net income grew $2.8 billion in the third quarter, reversing a loss in the previous period and up from year-ago earnings. But the number of troubled banks -- 552 -- is at a 16-year high.

The financial health of the U.S. banking industry improved during the third quarter, with commercial banks and savings and loans posting an increase in net income of $2.8 billion, but the number of institutions in danger of failing continued to rise, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said today.

Mary's shoebox2

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:34:57 -0800

Assorted images for blogs. by Mary Weilage

Would You Use a Free Netbook From Google?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:33:00 -0800

Glyn Moody writes "The response to Google's Chromium OS has been rather lukewarm. But suppose it's just part of something much bigger: a netbook computer from Google that would cost absolutely nothing. Because all the apps and data are stored in the cloud, storage requirements would be minimal; screens are getting cheaper, and the emphasis on lean code means that a low-cost processor could be used. Those relatively small hardware costs could then be covered by advertising in the apps — after all, they are just Web pages. Interestingly, Google has not only rolled out advertising to more of its services recently, it has also started running AdSense ads in the desktop application Google Earth. Would you accept a free Google netbook — or is the price you would pay in terms of the company knowing even more about what you do on an hour-by-hour basis just too high?"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Sony Ericsson already working on second version of Xperia Pureness, possibly Xperia Pureness 2?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:32:00 -0800

Electric Pig is reporting that Sony Ericsson's already working on a followup to the Xperia Pureness. The designer of the original handset, Daniel Mauritzson, says that the second version of the Pureness will pack even fewer "features" than its predecessor, to hone in even further on the contrast between the handset and available smartphones. There's also been some murmuring of removing the buttons, apparently -- which makes us wonder if the next Pureness might not just be a four-inch long piece of black plastic we'll only be able to pretend to make calls on. Regardless, it sounds like the next Pureness is only in the very earliest stages of design, so don't get too excited yet -- it'll be a while.

Sony Ericsson already working on second version of Xperia Pureness, possibly Xperia Pureness 2? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Home Prices Rise at a Slower Pace

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:22:22 -0800

The S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices in 20 metropolitan areas rose a less-than-expected 0.3 percent in September.

Nokia trims R&D staff in Japan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:12:38 -0800

Continuing the realignment of its research & development operation, Nokia is eliminating 220 positions in Japan, or about 1 percent of the company's global R&D staff.

Wall Street Slips After G.D.P. Revised Lower

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:05:20 -0800

Investors were cautious after the government reported that the U.S. economy grew at a slower pace in the third quarter than first anticipated.

Nintendo DSi LL sells 103k in two days, ripped open in two minutes

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:04:00 -0800

The newer, embiggened Nintendo DSi LL (as it's known in Tokyo Town) has been available to the kids in Japan since the beginning of the week, and Enterbrain, Inc. is reporting that Nintendo has pushed 103,524 units in its first two days. To perspectivize things, the DSi was snatched up to the tune of about 170,000 units in the same time period, while the PSPgo sold around 28,000 units. To celebrate, the kids at PC Watch have ripped one of these bad boys -- and you'll never guess what they found! (OK, maybe you will.) Check out the link below for the hardcore details -- and don't say we didn't warn you.

Nintendo DSi LL sells 103k in two days, ripped open in two minutes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | PC Watch, Kotaku | Email this | Comments

eBay launches holiday deals app for iPhone

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:51:00 -0800

App is designed to steer holiday shoppers to the best buys on the auction site. App lets you browse pre-selected deals or search for your own.

A Skeptical Reaction To IBM's Cat Brain Simulation Claims

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:49:00 -0800

kreyszig writes "The recent story of a cat brain simulation from IBM had me wondering if this was really possible as described. Now a senior researcher in the same field has publicly denounced IBM's claims." More optimisticaly, dontmakemethink points out an "astounding article about new 'Neurogrid' computer chips which offer brain-like computing with extremely low power consumption. In a simulation of 55 million neurons on a traditional supercomputer, 320,000 watts of power was required, while a 1-million neuron Neurogrid chip array is expected to consume less than one watt."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

CERN's collider sees first collisions

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:45:23 -0800

Four days after its restart, the scientific work at the Large Hadron Collider has headed "into new territory. It's been going quite remarkably fast."

Five guidelines for secure customer communication

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:42:14 -0800

Make sure your communications with customers and clients are secure. Chad Perrin outlines five guidelines to secure the sensitive data of your customers. by Chad Perrin

Heinz Posts Lower Profit but Raises Its Full-Year Forecast

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:41:30 -0800

The food company was hurt by sales declines in North America and Europe, but said it is optimistic about its sales momentum heading into the second half of its fiscal year.

Five security news items that should get your attention

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:33:09 -0800

A mix of good and bad news caught Chad Perrin's eye in the second half of 2009. These are the five that he thinks you shouldn't miss. by Chad Perrin

ArcherMind shows off 'world's first' Android-based in-car nav system

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:33:00 -0800

One could argue that the Motorola Droid is in fact the first-ever Android-based in-car navigation solution, but we're surmising that ArcherMind would disagree. Over at the Embedded Technology 2009 trade show in Yokohama, the outfit has demonstrated an Android-laden navigation system that could actually be inserted as a factory option; curiously enough, it looks an awful lot like the AutoLinQ initiative that hit our radar back in June. The outfit is reportedly shopping the system -- which includes a 7-inch, 800 x 480 display -- to a variety of Chinese automakers, and given that it can browse the web via WiFi or 3G, connect with music players and phones over Bluetooth and even play back audio files stored on the HDD or SD slot, we can't imagine it being a tough sell.

ArcherMind shows off 'world's first' Android-based in-car nav system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Poland | ArcherMind [PDF] | Email this | Comments

First evidence heard in UK’s Iraq inquiry

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:29:50 -0800

The hearings open with a senior figure in the UK foreign office saying that US officials were discussing ‘regime change’ some two years before the 2003 invasion

Obama to reveal Afghan surge numbers

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:25:27 -0800

US allies expect him to announce next week that he favours sending more than 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, in perhaps the biggest decision of his presidency to date

Installing VMware vCenter prerequisites on Windows Server 2008 R2

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:18:48 -0800

Scott Lowe explains how to prepare a Windows Server 2008 R2 server for VMware vCenter and how to tackle two problems that are sure to arise during the installation process. by Scott Lowe

Norway opens world's first osmotic power plant

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:05:52 -0800

Plant, which produces emissions-free electricity by mixing fresh water and sea water through a special membrane, could someday create enough energy to power 30,000 households.

Is a Warranty on Laptops Warranted?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:03:33 -0800

A fifth of laptops fail over three years, according to a study by a company that sells extended warranties for laptops.

Intelsat Launches Hardware For Internet Routing From Space

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:01:00 -0800

coondoggie writes "A radiation-proof Cisco router was sent into space today aboard an Intelsat satellite with the goal of setting up military communications from space. The router/satellite combo is a key part of the US Department of Defense's Internet Routing In Space (IRIS) project, which aims to route IP voice, video and data traffic between satellites in space in much the same way packets are moved on the ground, reducing delays, saving on capacity and offering greater network flexibility, Cisco stated."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Google Documents Iraqi Museum Treasures

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:59:01 -0800

Google is documenting Iraq’s national museum, which was ransacked in the aftermath of the ouster of Saddam Hussein, and will post photos of its treasures on the Internet next year.

Twelve South's BassJump subwoofer improves your MacBook experience via USB, not parachute

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:56:00 -0800

The speakers on the MacBook line are generally quite good -- for a laptop. Rock your world they won't, but Twelve South's BassJump might just add that low-frequency kick your unibody workhorse has been missing. The solitary speaker connects via USB and, through an analog-styled tuning app, augments the built-in speakers of the laptop with much-needed bass. If the styling didn't clue you in this is only for MacBooks and, at $80, seems to come at quite a premium over your average set of portable speakers. It's certainly nicer looking.

Gallery: Twelve South BassJump subwoofer for MacBook

Twelve South's BassJump subwoofer improves your MacBook experience via USB, not parachute originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Yahoo! News | Twelve South | Email this | Comments

Commerce Department says economy grew only 2.8%

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:47:00 -0800

The figure is lower than last month's estimate of 3.5% and indicates that recovery from the recession is likely to be lethargic.

The economy grew at a 2.8% pace last quarter, as the recovery got off to a slower start than first thought.

G.M. to Present Unions With Strategy for Opel

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:24:22 -0800

The carmaker will meet with workers on Wednesday to present a restructuring plan that could cut up to 9,500 jobs.

G.M. Seeks Assistance From Europe for Opel

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:22:05 -0800

The chief of G.M.’s European operations is seeking German help in restructuring Opel, but the country’s economics minister said taxpayers should not be expected to play “the rich uncle.”

Olympus Pen E-P1 spoiled by Swarovski

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:20:00 -0800

You know how to ruin a luxurious shooter already steeped in fine retro-styling? Slather on the Swarovski crystal, that's how. This £1,999 CrystalRoc bastardization of Olympus' E-P1 Micro Four Thirds wundercam more than doubles the price of the de-iced original. So sad... then again, maybe you like it.

Olympus Pen E-P1 spoiled by Swarovski originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Pocket-lint | Email this | Comments

China banks prepare to raise capital

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:18:13 -0800

China’s banks are preparing to raise tens of billions of dollars in additional capital to meet regulatory requirements following an unprecedented expansion of new loans

New Virginia IT Systems Lack Network Backup

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:17:00 -0800

1sockchuck writes "Virginia's new state IT system is experiencing downtime in key services because of a mind-boggling oversight: the state apparently neglected to require network backup in a 10-year, $2.3 billion outsourcing deal with Northrop Grumman. The issue is causing serious downtime for state services. This fall the Virginia DMV has suffered 12 system outages spanning a total of more than 100 hours, and downtime hampered the state transportation department when a state of emergency was declared during the Nov. 11 Northeaster."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Restructuring costs dent Warner Music earnings

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:05:39 -0800

Strong releases in international markets, coupled with a steady US market share helped Warner report higher-than-expected revenues for its fourth fiscal quarter

Russia Cuts Rates to Record Low to Stimulate Lending

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:03:55 -0800

The central bank, in its ninth rate reduction since April, is seeking to deter speculative bets on the ruble and ease credit flows to households and businesses.

Bank of England bailed out RBS and HBOS

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:52:28 -0800

The Bank of England extended billions of pounds in emergency finance to RBS and to what was then HBOS last October, suggesting that both were on the verge of collapse

Splitting Time from Space--The Evidence

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:50:00 -0800

You'll go ga ga ga ga ga over Elecom's Like a Spoon mouse

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:46:00 -0800

Travel mice don't tend to be fashionable things. Tiny? Yes. Lookers? No. Elecom's latest, the Like a Spoon mouse, bucks that trend, following in a long line of tidily designed gadgets from the company. In terms of buttons it's got nuffin' on the OpenOfficeMouse, but it looks to fall to hand much more comfortably, with a soft effects coating on top and a stainless steel rim 'round the edge. The price is set at a somewhat steep ￥8,000 in Japan, which equates to about about $90, though sadly we doubt this one will be making the transference to America.

Gallery: Elecom's 'Like a Spoon' mouse

You'll go ga ga ga ga ga over Elecom's Like a Spoon mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News | Elecom | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu LifeBook MH380 netbook becomes the latest climber on Intel's Pine Trail

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:13:00 -0800

We still have nothing but leaked roadmaps and insider information about the details of Intel's Pineview processor and Pine Trail platform at this point, but that's not stopping a number of manufacturers from prepping their products for the supposedly upcoming unveiling. There was a nettop last month, Lenovo's latest IdeaPad last week, and now, thanks again to the FCC, we know there's a new netbook coming from Fujitsu packing the 1.6GHz Atom N450 processor. The LifeBook MH380 sports a 10.1-inch LCD with a resolution of 1366 x 768, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and, well, that's all our government-funded spies have revealed so far. We're guessing CES will be a time of great knowing.

[Thanks, Matt]

Fujitsu LifeBook MH380 netbook becomes the latest climber on Intel's Pine Trail originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Netbook Reviews | FCC | Email this | Comments

Let the battle for holiday gadget shoppers begin

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Retailers try different strategies for competing with behemoths like Amazon and Wal-Mart in the cutthroat competition to lure those giving electronics as gifts.

Firefox hopes to one-up IE with fast graphics

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Windows 7 features called Direct2D and DirectWrite will speed up Internet Explorer 9 performance. But Firefox hopes it might retool for the same benefit first.

Major Intel chip upgrade coming to new Netbooks

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Chipmaker is set to announce the biggest makeover for its Atom processor since it was introduced back in the spring of 2008.

Tips on choosing a programming language to learn

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:42:35 -0800

If you're interested in learning a new programming language, Justin James suggests asking yourself five questions that will help you pick the one that best suits your needs. by Justin James

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:41:00 -0800

Good news, kids -- the solar-powered jet with globetrotting ambitions has started sneaking out of the hangar and onto the runway for some mild exercise in the form of landing gear and taxi testing. Captained by Bertrand Piccard -- a real person -- the Solar Impulse project is still on track for a 2012 globe circumnavigation attempt powered only by the sun's rays from above and the well-wishes from below. The humongous bird is described as having "the wingspan of an Airbus and the weight of a car," and its recent outdoorsy jaunts have done nothing to dampen spirits, making that roadmap for its first flight early next year seem entirely viable. We've got no less than three videos for you after the break, but we won't mind if you only watch one.

Continue reading Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Inhabitat, Wired | Solar Impulse | Email this | Comments

Sony Ericsson Satio sales suspended after bugs discovered

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:02:00 -0800

Adding insult to Sony Ericsson's injurious bottom line, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U shops (the UK's largest mobile phone retailers) have halted sales of the SE's Symbian-powered Satio handset after a high number of customer returns and complaints. A "software glitch" reportedly causes Sony Ericsson's flagship device to power down when users try to access certain applications -- unfortunately, the issue can't be patched via an over-the-air update. A little digging into CPW discussion forums reveals multiple complaints of freezes, crashes, under-performing batteries, and bizarre interface behavior. Both the Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U will offer "new phones" to customers fed up with their Satio. Richard Dorman, senior marketing manager at Sony Ericsson, concedes the issue and assures us that it should be sorted by Christmas. Until then, you can still purchase the handset directly from Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile... but really, why would you? The Satio's not the only dubiously-speced 12 megapixel cameraphone on the market.

[Thanks, ugotamesij]

Sony Ericsson Satio sales suspended after bugs discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Times Online | Email this | Comments

Price War Brews Between Amazon and Wal-Mart

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:01:44 -0800

For now, it’s a battle of discounts, but Wal-Mart and Amazon are also fighting over the future of retailing.

Brussels drops Qualcomm antitrust probe

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:48:49 -0800

European regulators have dropped an antitrust investigation over patent royalty rates against Qualcomm after leading companies in the case withdrew their complaint

Geek Travel To London From the US — Tips?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:30:00 -0800

Audrey23 writes "I am traveling to London from Washington state for two weeks in December for pleasure (use-it-or-lose-it vacation scenario) and was wondering if I should bother bringing my laptop. I know that I would have to change the region code on my wireless amongst other things and the power cord would have to be changed for a UK outlet. Would I be better off not bringing my laptop and just using Internet kiosks (do they exist in London?) or would having my laptop be a better choice to keep in touch, off-load my digital images etc? I plan on hitting the British Museum but was wondering what geeky things to do that are in London that might be worth going to and any tips hints on overseas travel for geeks? I travel quite a bit in the states but this will be my first trip overseas and want to make the best of my stay in merry old England. What words of advice do you travel seasoned geeks have for me?"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Datel sues Microsoft, wants its Xbox 360 market back

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:19:00 -0800

Seems like we just can't go a week without some corporate power plays or mudslinging making our pages. Back in October, Datel promised it would "remedy" the situation created by Microsoft's forthcoming (now present) Dashboard update locking out its higher capacity memory modules. The accessory company was the first (and only) third-party supplier of memory cards for the Xbox 360, but it seems that MS took a dislike to the MicroSD-expandable Max Memory units and has since taken the unusual step of downgrading the console to being able to read only chips up to 512MB, essentially taking Datel's 2GB+ wares out of commission. Yeah, classy. Datel's retaliation is in the finest Anglo-Saxon legal tradition, namely to assert antitrust concerns and to claim its right to act as a competitor to Microsoft in the memory market for Redmond's own console. It all sounds rather silly to us too, and could probably have been avoided by a rational compromise, but what's the fun in that?

Datel sues Microsoft, wants its Xbox 360 market back originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq | Howard, Rice et al | Email this | Comments

Large Hadron Collider reboots, makes first protonic bang!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:42:00 -0800

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that most epic triumph of human engineering and physics research has finally taken place, and strangely enough our planet's still in one piece too. The search for the Higgs boson particle resumed yesterday, somewhere under the Franco-Swiss border, with the CERN research team successfully executing what the LHC was built to do -- accelerating proton beams to nearly the speed of light, then filming the wreckage as they crash into each other. Having encountered a number of bumps in the road, the researchers have had to significantly scale down the energy at which their early collisions will take place, with the very first ones said to have happened at 900 billion electron volts. Still, plans are afoot for an imminent shift up to 1.2 trillion electron volts (TeV), which would be the highest energy level any particle accelerator has achieved yet, before a ramp up to 7 TeV over the coming year if all goes well.

Large Hadron Collider reboots, makes first protonic bang! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:51:00 -0800

Even though Broadcom, Atheros, and Qualcomm have all been sampling phone-ready draft 802.11n chipsets for some time now, you're still not seeing the tech swiftly overtake 802.11g in the mobile arena -- in fact, we dare you to find a single phone in your carrier's store that can do it. Odds are you can't, but HTC HD2 owners can win a few quid off their skeptical (non-Engadget-reading) friends by enabling support after the fact. Looks like draft-n support got buried in the company's WinMo monster -- a fitting device to add such a rare display of raw, savage wireless power, if we do say so ourselves -- but it got turned off in the shipping firmware for some reason, possibly concerns over increased battery draw, flakiness, or a stark realization that the benefits of 802.11n might not be fully appreciated in a device hamstrung more by a crappy browser than by slow WiFi. If you want to live on the edge anyway and flip the switch, xda-developers has the registry hack you need -- and if you're using an HD2 in the States without 3G right now, let's be honest: you kinda need all the speed-boosting wireless hacks you can dig up.

HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MoDaCo | xda-developers | Email this | Comments

Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:35:00 -0800

If you like your software homebrewed with just a hint of alpha then boy do we have an app for you. The WebOS homebrew community just released Precorder; an app that lets your Palm Pre record audio and 30fps 480x320 pixel video in H.264/AVC format -- you can can even control the built-in LED for recording in low-light situations. Unfortunately, there's no video preview presented while recording but hey, it's alpha software bro... and it's free. Check a video sample after the break.

Continue reading Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre

Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Palm Infocenter, WebOS Internals (Precorder) | Email this | Comments

Home Sales in October Rose to a 2-Year High

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:31:10 -0800

Existing home-sales surged to the highest level in 2.5 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit.

Frequent Flier: A Nonbeliever Makes a Case Against Tempting Fate

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:30:54 -0800

The president of the Syfy network says he isn’t superstitious, but his track record on business flights is bad enough that his boss won’t fly with him.

Itineraries: Some Rediscover the Benefits of Business Travel

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:30:31 -0800

While most companies have cut their business travel budgets, a few have decided to travel more, and are profiting.

On the Road: For the Hotel Industry, Recovery is a Long Way Off

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:30:01 -0800

Travelers and investors should exercise caution in evaluating small recent indicators that might mean better times ahead for the still-troubled hotel industry.

China Seeks to Slow Rapid Growth of Lending

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:29:20 -0800

Chinese regulators are pressuring banks to raise more capital and slow lending in a clear sign of official concern about the sustainability of the nation’s credit boom.

Chinese Drywall Linked to Corrosion

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:28:59 -0800

Federal investigators reported a “strong association” between chemicals in Chinese drywall and complaints by homeowners of metal and electrical corrosion.

Hewlett-Packard’s Profit Increases

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:28:10 -0800

The technology company tripled its share repurchase program to $12 billion, as a strong performance in China and improved margins in its services business helped lift quarterly earnings.

Rising Bill in Unwinding of Madoff’s Assets

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:27:39 -0800

If new bills submitted by lawyers and consultants are approved, the tab for the liquidation will rise to almost $40 million, paid for by an agency called SIPC.

U.S. Says Lockheed Must Pay Part of F-35 Cost Overruns

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:27:09 -0800

A Pentagon official acted after a report said the F-35 fighter jet was so far behind schedule that it could cost $16.6 billion more than expected.

Public Database Is Urged to Monitor Drug Safety

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:26:34 -0800

A study proposes a broad model for monitoring drug safety that would consist of detailed publicly available data that independent researchers could freely analyze.

Dealbook: Beware the Result of Outrage

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:25:13 -0800

A proposal that would force a company’s creditors to take less than they are owed if a bailout is necessary could have the result of making credit harder to get.

Start Date Is Critical in Ponzi Plan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:23:41 -0800

A court motion contends that Bernard L. Madoff’s investors cannot calculate their losses until it is determined whether any of their original profits were legitimate.

Regulators Push Safety Standards for A.T.V.’s

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:23:13 -0800

An influx of faulty Chinese-made all-terrain vehicles is challenging the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Office challenge: How can you get Word to print both Portrait and Landscape in the same document?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:50 -0800

Test your Word skills in this week's challege and learn a few ways to improve performance in Excel. by Susan Harkins

Loan funds feel cash squeeze