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Google Avoids Turning Over User Info To The US Government
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet,
A federal judge has ruled allowing the government a peek into Google’s search engine, but dramatically scaled back from the list of personal information and specific search requests that the government originally requested. Instead, they’ll provide the government with a list of 50,000 randomly selected websites indexed by the search engine. A victory for advocates of personal privacy and freedom of information, Google will not have to disclose specific search terms or personal information.
“This is a clear victory for our users,” Nicole Wong, Google’s associate general counsel said in a statement Friday.
Read More 
| ABC News
Motorola Q vs. Motorola SLVR Size Comparison
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Handhelds,
We have received a few messages over the past month or so where you readers have been asking about the thinness of the Motorola Q. We know that telling you the dimensions, which happen to be 4.57” x 2.52” x 0.47”, may not exactly make it easy to visualize in your head. To compare it to a phone that is out and available, we took the Motorola Q that we went hands-on with and put it next to the Motorola SLVR. Now, the SLVR is insanely thin, but as you can see in the image above, the Q definitely holds its own in the size area. We will give you more on the Q and the SLVR soon on The Bleeding Edge.
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MIT $100 Laptop Program Features Innovative Design for the World
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Design, Google, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop,
The One Laptop Per Child program was started at MIT and features truly innovative and inexpensive designs, meant to make technology accessible to everyone, and put laptops in the hands of children and communities in developing countries, and rural areas all over the world. The program, backed by Red Hat and Google, would make use of bleeding edge innovations in the technology world, including wireless broadband, DVD capability, and flash memory instead of a hard drive. And, it’s electricity-optional, since it charges with a manual crank, not unlike some emergency flashlights and similar items.
The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, with a dual-mode display—both a full-color, transmissive DVD mode, and a second display option that is black and white reflective and sunlight-readable at 3× the resolution. The laptop will have a 500MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, with 500MB of Flash memory; it will not have a hard disk, but it will have four USB ports. The laptops will have wireless broadband that, among other things, allows them to work as a mesh network; each laptop will be able to talk to its nearest neighbors, creating an ad hoc, local area network. The laptops will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data.
This project should be one to watch - it’s great to see technology being put to a use that can contribute to the greater good.
Read More | One Laptop Per Child
Latest Gear Live Videos
On March 14th, Google boldly went where no search engine has gone before: to Mars. With the launch of Google Mars, they extend their Google Maps service to interplanetary lengths, allowing you to search and discover Mars all on your own. Want to play astronaut? You can zoom, pan, and switch between elevation, infrared and photographic views of the Martian landscape. Cool!
Read More | Google Mars
United States Senators Mark Pryor (Arkansas, Democrat) and Max Baucus (Montana, Democrat) have proposed a new top-level domain for sexually explicit or racy websites - and called to banish said content from established domains such as .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov and others.
Pryor said he believes a separate domain on the Internet for pornography will help parents filter their children’s access to inappropriate materials. Pryor and Baucus’ legislation, the Cyber Safety for Kids Act, would require the Secretary of Commerce to negotiate with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to develop a special domain name for websites containing adult content. ICANN, an international Nongovernmental Organization, is charged with selecting domain names, such as .com, .org, .net., edu. and .gov. Under the legislation, companies that fail to register with the new domain within 6 months would be subject to civil penalties.
In the eyes of many, such a move would be a blatant attempt at crushing free expression on the Internet, and allow the US Government too much governing power over something as global as the Internet. The issue is sure to raise a lot of eyebrows, a lot of questions, and a lot of heated emotional debate. Where is the line to be drawn? What is “too racy” for the existing top-level domains? Anything with “adult content?” Or just “porn company” sites? It doesn’t sit very well, really.
Read More | Mark Pryor
Read More | Max Baucus
EA Games announced today a new expansion pack for Black & White 2, called The Battle of the Gods. Apparently, the wonderful Aztecs are very upset that you defeated them with your Wonderful (or evil) god, and are out to get revenge. After many human sacrifices, they have managed to raise their own evil deity, calling you out to protect your glory. Now, just because your opponent is evil doesn’t mean you have to be as well. The expansion follows the standard gameplay and you are given the option to defeat the deity with good or evil. Battle of the Gods will feature a brand new creature, two new lands and four new miracles. An all new enemy unit AI system enhances the battle experience but players will have to watch out for two new enemy armies and their ultimate weapon: the new enemy creature. There will also be six new challenges and other new content for players to explore. Black and White 2: The Battle of The Gods is slated for an April ‘06 release.
Vaja iVod Video SP iPod Case
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Portable Audio / Video,
Vaja has just announced their new iVod Video SP case for the 5G iPod and iPod nano. The only difference between the SP and the standard iVod Video case is the color scheme layout. The standard version allows you to have two different colors for the front and back of the case. On the SP, the front and back are the same color, but you get to choose an alternate color to use as a racing stripe that goes down the front of the product. Yeah, it’s sporty, but is it worth the extra $20 USD above the standard version? There lies your conundrum.
Read More | Vaja Choice
Vaja iVod Video Crystal iPod Case
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Design, Portable Audio / Video,
The iVod Video Crystal is the latest high-end iPod case from our friends over at Vaja. Available in ten unique color combinations (for both the leather and the crystals,) the iVod Video Crystal is a sturdy leather case for your 5G iPod or iPod nano. These cases feature Swarovski crystals encrusted into the leather, a leather strap with silver appliques, padded interior, and access cutouts enabling the usage of all ports and touch functions. Of course, glamor does come at a price - in this case, $340 USD.
Read More | iVod Video Crystal Customization Page
Scientists Create Superstrong Artificial Muscles
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,
Life imitating sci-fi: University of Texas at Dallas nanotechnologists have created super strong artificial muscles, capable of superhuman feats.
University of Texas at Dallas nanotechnologists have made alcohol- and hydrogen-powered artificial muscles that are 100 times stronger than natural muscles, able to do 100 times greater work per cycle and produce, at reduced strengths, larger contractions than natural muscles.
The buff synthetic muscles could be used in many situations, including autonomous robotics. The muscles, like real muscles, convert chemical fuel to mechanical energy, getting rid of the need for batteries or wired power.
Read More | Physics Org
Astronauts working at the International Space Station depend on their space suits to keep them alive, but some innovators in Europe are looking to adapt the technology for activities closer to home. Firefighters, industrial workers and other people subjected to extreme temperatures could benefit from the built-in cooling and protective systems integrated into a space suit.
“The main goal is to keep the temperature and humidity levels inside [work] suits at a comfortable level when operating in harsh environments,” Stefano Carosio, Safe&Cool project manager for ESA at the Italian firm D’Appolonia, told SPACE.com. “We used in particular the concept of cooling vests worn by astronauts for thermal management.”
Part of the appeal of the suit is the ability to not only keep the wearer cool and comfortable, but to manage humidity and keep the wearer from losing concentration or ability to perform during strenuous tasks in extreme conditions.
Read More | Space.com
