tagged w/ upstream_featured
-
SAN FRANCISCO — In a direct challenge to Microsoft, Google is expected to announce on Wednesday that it is developing an operating system for a personal computer based on its Chrome browser, according to two people briefed on Google’s plans.
The details of the technology could not be learned, but Google plans to make the announcement on a company blog on Wednesday afternoon, this person said.
Google did not immediately return calls and e-mail messages seeking comment.
The move would sharpen the already intense competition between Google and Microsoft, whose Windows operating system controls the basic functions of the vast majority of personal computers.
Google could well be hoping to capitalize on the rise of netbooks, the compact, low-cost computers that have turned the PC world on its head.
Google already has already developed an operating system called Android, that is used for mobile phones. The software is also being built into lightweight PCs called netbooks by several manufacturers.
---
OMG Awesome! See. I told you they would take over the world.SAN FRANCISCO — In a direct challenge to Microsoft, Google is expected to... more
-
-
Nettle
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
"Yu-Chan, a 20-year-old loggerhead sea turtle that lost her front flippers to a shark (left), tested the waters with her new limbs (right) in Japan in June 2009.
The Sea Turtle Association of Japan outfitted the reptile with sample flippers—made by the Kawamura Gishi Company—for a trial swim in a saltwater pond near the Kobe airport.
If Yu-Chan takes to her new limbs, she will be released back into the wild. Without them, the disabled turtle can move at only about 60 percent of her former speed, making her vulnerable to more shark attacks, the conservation group told the Mainichi Daily News.
The turtle's new limbs would be a "global first" if they work, conservationists say: The only other known attempt at turtle prosthetics was made last spring on a U.S. green sea turtle named Allison, whose stump was ultimately not big enough to hold a fake flipper.
From false fins to replacement beaks, see pictures of the various advanced prosthetics that have given injured animals new leases on life in recent years.""Yu-Chan, a 20-year-old loggerhead sea turtle that lost her front flippers to a... more
-
-
"Asexual creatures do not even need to find a partner. While that might not sound like much fun, it certainly is efficient, working out to twice the reproductive capacity for a given number of organisms. So why did pond scum eventually evolve to procreate as we know and love it?
It might have all been a reaction to parasites, one theory holds.
See, the bad thing about reproduction sans sex is you make clones, and clones, and more clones. Every organism has the same DNA, other than mutations that occur over time. If a parasite figures out how to exploit a vulnerability, the entire species can be doomed.
But with good ol' sex comes unique combinations of DNA and genetically unique individuals. A parasite may kill many, but it's likely that some organisms won't be vulnerable and the species will live on.
All this has been modeled before. But the true test for any theory is what actually happens in nature.
So for 10 years, scientists studied Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand freshwater snail that comes in a sexual and an asexual version. They counted the snails and the number of parasite infections for each variety.
Clones that were plentiful at the beginning of the study became more susceptible to parasites over time. As parasite infections increased, the once plentiful clones dwindled dramatically in number, the scientists write in the July issue of the journal American Naturalist. Some clonal types disappeared entirely.
Meanwhile, sexual snail populations remained more stable over time. This, the authors say, is exactly the pattern predicted by the parasite hypothesis.
"The rise and fall of these female-only lineages was surprisingly fast and consistent with the prediction of the parasite hypothesis for sex," said study team member Jukka Jokela of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. "These results suggest that sexual reproduction provides an evolutionary advantage in parasite rich environments.""Asexual creatures do not even need to find a partner. While that might not sound... more
-
-
The most interesting upgrades aren't for your computer, your car, or even the internet - they're for you. We've always tinkered with our own thought processes (using crude equipment like "alcohol" and "regular exercise") but now mankind has the tools and time to tune the system directly, and one team of scientists may make yellow sticky notes obsolete: they've found a way to boost visual memory.
A team of scientists at the Spanish University of Malaga were working with rat brains, because of the combination of ethics and wimpiness that prevents human trials. They found that a particular protein (RGS-14) boosted a region of the brain known as the "V2 secondary visual cortex", which makes rats sound significantly more like Terminators than you previously thought. (Nightmares resulting from that image are not our responsibility).
Increasing the levels of this protein upgraded the rats visual memory allowing them to remember things for fifteen hundred times longer than normal (two months instead of an hour). The interesting aspect is that this upgrade isn't a new property, but a re-routing of existing processes - the protein seems to cause the formation of long term memories instead of short term, gifting the rat with what could be a photographic visual memory. Which, considering that these are actual lab rats with needles being jabbed into their brains, probably sucks quite a lot. The team also found that destruction of the V2 region utterly eliminated all visual memory of the past - which you can view as research, cruel, or gifting the the rats with a Zen state that takes decades of meditation to achieve.
The potential applications are obvious, and enormous, but beware the hidden downsides - the human brain is the most incredibly sophisticated system ever even conceived of and any tinkering can have huge side effects. This doesn't mean don't do anything (we'd still be in caves otherwise), but be aware that you can't say "IF this THEN that" where neural networks are concerned. Intelligence-upgrades are an inevitable field, already in progress with prototype products like piracetam and caffeine, so it's time to make up your mind if you're going to make your own mind.The most interesting upgrades aren't for your computer, your car, or even the... more
-
-
The media is acting like the box office success of Transformers 2 is a surprise. It isn't. Ben Hoffman explains why.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.The media is acting like the box office success of Transformers 2 is a surprise. It... more
-
-
Now *these* are what was meant by home cinema!
There's a gallery of some of the coolest home movie theatres I've ever seen. My favourite is definitely the Batman 'Batcave,' but there's a whole heap of other great ones, taking inspiration from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Titanic and even the Nautilus.Now *these* are what was meant by home cinema!
There's a gallery of some of... more
-
-
Max Payne's new look is a bit of a departure from his former self. In place of his slicked-back haircut is a particularly brutal case of male pattern baldness; his suave, noir look got booted by trailer trash sensibilities; and, in an apparent effort to eliminate a film sequel starring Mark Wahlberg, a gnarly beard indicates that he hasn't shaved in the years since the events of Max Payne 2.
What you might not realize is the inspirations behind this celebrity makeover.Max Payne's new look is a bit of a departure from his former self. In place of... more
-
-
Ever wondered what it would be like to have video game characters in your Pokemon party? Why choose boring old Bulbasaur when you can have a beautiful Kasumi? Or a Sackboy?
We've given 21 game characters the Pokemon treatment, with four moves to fight with and some evolutionary states too.
Who would you choose?Ever wondered what it would be like to have video game characters in your Pokemon... more
-
-
KefKef
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
He'll never shake 'em now.
-
-
richjm
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
a) yes
b) certainly!
c) for sure!
-
-
richjm
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
Cos' if you do, you're in luck after it seems that Apple have allowed the first iPhone and iPod Touch app that includes nudity.
The company behind the app, released a statement saying:
"We uploaded nude topless pics today. This is the first app to have nudity."
And as Gizmodo points out, it isn't just an app that downloads softcore content from the web, "There is no censorship here, as this is truly an Apple approved app "rated 17+" for "frequent/intense sexual content or nudity" and "frequent/intense mature/suggestive theme."
Do people really need porn on the go?Cos' if you do, you're in luck after it seems that Apple have allowed the... more
-
-
If you had always wanted to wear Star Wars Darth Vader’s mask and did not know if it would be comfortable enough, here is how the inside of a Darth Vader mask looks.If you had always wanted to wear Star Wars Darth Vader’s mask and did not know... more
-
-
After a hard days work, ever wanted to just get home and jump right into a nice hot bath?
Well now you can with a new application for the iPhone.
Created by scientists this application allows you to run a bath when your not at home.
You can choose the temperature, the depth, the fragrance of the water and ever how many bubbles there are in your bath.
This all sounds great, you only need £4,000 to buy it too!
More at link.After a hard days work, ever wanted to just get home and jump right into a nice hot... more
-
-
Scientists have recently discovered evidence of water on the surface of Saturn's moon.
The moon is called Enceladus (en-SELL-uh-duss).
They found evidence of sodium indicating that there was water there some time in the past.
Read the whole story at the link.Scientists have recently discovered evidence of water on the surface of Saturn's... more
-
-
There's something exceptionally cool about growing up, the fact you can finally make the contraptions you could only dream of as a kid...
Creatively entitled the 'Rocket Board,' this DIY propeller-powered skateboard houses a 3.7 HP model airplane engine, which apparently 'packs quite a punch for an engine that weighs under 1kg.'
I can't describe how much I want one of these...There's something exceptionally cool about growing up, the fact you can finally... more
-
-
*drool drool drool*
Check this Gran Turismo inspired GT car by Citroen. It's not just a pretty face either, its 646 bhp engine got it from the Paris Motorshow to London's streets in time for some sight seeing.
..excuse me while I add this to the Christmas list...*drool drool drool*
Check this Gran Turismo inspired GT car by Citroen. It's... more
-
-
With most car manufacturers announcing electric and hybrid models recently it sems the tide is turning for the motor industry. The UK is now set to be at the forefront of the revolution with the world's largest trial of electric cars:
"The £25 million scheme was unveiled on Tuesday by Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, and Lord Drayson, the science minister. Three hundred and forty vehicles will be loaned to people in eight locations around the country, including London, Coventry, Birmingham and Newcastle. Each area's trial will be run by a consortium made up of car manufacturers, power companies and universities, to test and study hybrid and all-electric vehicles."
With any luck we might be seeing more on these on the streets, its about bloody time.With most car manufacturers announcing electric and hybrid models recently it sems the... more
-
-
JClem
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
I'm curious to know who you guys think best plays bad-ass characters in film? Below are a few of my favourites and the films they delivered them in.
- Gary Oldman as Stansfield in Leon (..or The Professional)
- Kathleen Byron as Sister Ruth in Black Narcissus
- Christopher Walken as Vinzo Coccotti in True Romance
- Tchéky Karyo as Sauveur Cristini in Dobermann
- De Niro as Neil McCauley in Heat
- Christopher Plummer as Arthur Case in Inside Man
And yours? Feel free to peg a clip in the thread below.I'm curious to know who you guys think best plays bad-ass characters in film?... more
-
-
"I know for a fact that Frank [Miller] is writing right now," says Snyder, who explains that the plan is for Miller to create the story as a comic book first, "[He's] drawing away and seems to be knee-deep in it. I think he's going to head back to Greece again and do another reconnaissance.""I know for a fact that Frank [Miller] is writing right now," says Snyder,... more
-
-
While Firefight has been the talk of ODST since E3, it's good to know that a co-op campaign mode is still in the works. There's also a nice video of the game in action and some screens.While Firefight has been the talk of ODST since E3, it's good to know that a... more
-
