FlexBeta

Not so fast: Loose wire led to stunning, faster-than-light particle finding

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:00:02 +0000

A loose connection between a timer and a computer led some of the world’s smartest particle physicists to conclude that certain tiny particles called neutrinos moved faster than the speed of light — a declaration that shocked the science world and would have called into questions Einstein’s theories.

FOXNews.com

Quad the green tech Tamagotchi toy for kids

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:20:02 +0000

Here’s a new toy concept that can help instill green values in your kids when it comes to using renewable energy. A toy designed by Endrit Hanjo, called the Quad, works like the Tamagotchi toys of yesteryears but it comes with a catch. For the toy to be kept alive, your kids will need to [...]
SlashGear

Google Docs for Android gets real-time collaboration

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:02 +0000

One of Google Docs’ most useful features has just gone mobile.
[Read more]
CNET News

A ‘Transparency Grenade’ for Would-Be Bradley Mannings

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:40:02 +0000

Conceptual art meets hacking.

In our post-WikiLeaks era, the image evoked by the phrase “whistle blower” isn’t dramatic enough. Bradley Manning did something more than merely blow a whistle. He kind of blew stuff up.

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Amazon cloud service automates business processes

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:20:02 +0000

Amazon's newest offering, announced Wednesday, is designed to ease application development and automate business processes.
Computerworld News

MWC 2012 Smartphone Pre-Show Rundown

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:02 +0000

This week we’re getting one major influx of tips, previews, and leaks of information on the smartphone wave that’s about to be crashing down upon us at Mobile World Congress 2012, and it’s time you got a round-up! Everyone from Fujitsu to HTC and back to Nokia will be bringing some powerful combinations to the [...]
SlashGear

Rapportive Announces Acquisition By LinkedIn, (Basically) Confirms $15M Price

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:40:01 +0000

After reports earlier this month that LinkedIn was buying contact management service Rapportive, the startup just published a blog post confirming that yes, it has been acquired.

For those of you who don’t use it, Rapportive is a Gmail plugin that shows you the latest social network updates from whoever you’re corresponding with. (I’ve gotten so used to seeing the Rapportive window next to my emails that I sometimes forget that it’s not a default part of Gmail.) And if you’re a Rapportive user who’s worried that the deal will follow the pattern of so many other startup acquisitions, it sounds like LinkedIn won’t be shutting Rapportive down.
TechCrunch

PSVita Released In the USA and Europe

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:20:02 +0000

YokimaSun writes “Sony have today released the PSVita in the USA and Europe, the console comes with features such as dual touch pads at the front and rear, dual cameras at the front and rear, dual analog sticks, a 5-inch OLED screen, GPS, six-axis motion sensors and a three-axis electronic compass. The PSVita is Sony’s attempt at stealing the thunder away from the 3DS but also bringing back the gamers lost to the likes of Android and IOS Devices. The PSVita in japan sold massively on its first release week but since has struggled and sold less than the PSP. With this in mind sites like Amazon have been offering many different deals to entice people to buy the console. Can Sony stop homebrewers from taking over this console?”

Google’s Diversifying Display Ad Business Could Pass Facebook’s, eMarketer Guesses

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:00:01 +0000

Research firm eMarketer has put together a few interesting data points that show Google doing better in display ads than you might have realized. That is, by growing this business across properties that it at some point acquired – YouTube, DoubleClick, and mobile (AdMob) – it’s set to pass Facebook’s own display business.

The social network had the highest online ad sales of any company in the US last year, at $ 1.73 billion. But that was a mere $ 200 million or so above Google. This year, eMarketer expects a similar story, with Facebook bringing in $ 2.58 billion versus Google’s $ 2.54 billion. Things change in 2013 and 2014, further off from what the data can tell us accurately.
TechCrunch

Sync Your Data without the Cloud

Gsurface — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:40:01 +0000

New software lets you rouse a sleeping PC to retrieve data remotely.

Files on a home computer could soon be accessible from anywhere, even when the computer holding them is switched off, thanks to a prototype file-synching system developed at Microsoft’s research labs.

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