RALEIGH, North Carolina - What do Jigsaw from "Saw," Freddy Krueger, and Jason from "Friday the 13th" all have in common, besides serial killing? Video games, if the horror stars' latest round of promotions are to be believed.
Friday, October 30, 2009
How does Yovia work?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The PC World 100: Best Products of 2009
PC World looked at many outstanding hardware, software, sites, and services this year, evaluating each one on its design, functionality, performance, and impact. Here is the cream of the crop, the 100 best of 2009. (Note that we chose not to rate products specifically on their price or value, focusing instead on their overall quality.) Microsoft Cuts the Crud on New PCs
Whenever anybody asks me for my take on Windows 7, I share my largely positive reaction, but am careful to insert a note of necessary gloom: If PC manufacturers lard up Windows 7 machines with adware, demoware, and various other forms of unwantedware, they're going to ruin a good thing.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
7 Surefire Ways To Increase Your Traffic
Internet. Business. Profit. To fully integrate all of these words into a successful merging you will need another word. Traffic. Every article you will find about making your site or company successful would always include the importance of generating traffic.
What is Niche Marketing
If you are one of many people who are trying to get on the Internet and try to make money out of it, you probably might be asking the same thing, "What is Niche Marketing?".
As I am sure you have encountered that phrase a lot of times now, when you are in the Internet Marketing field, it is highly common for you to see questions, see articles about Niche Marketing, but if you are still unsure of the real meaning of Niche Marketing, let me tell you something about it.
Niche Marketing is a term used by a lot Affilliate marketers, it is a process done by getting a partial segment of a wide market, and then focusing on that particular segment to reach maximum profits, or atleast a steady flow of income.
When you go into Affiliate Marketing, you sign up for an account, let's say Amazon. Having signed up for that affiliate account you are greeted with a whole bunch of different merchandise to sell, and now you will be confused of what to choose, now by using the principles of Niche Marketing, you can focus on just one particular type of merchandize in order for you to have a more clear desicion on what product to sell, for example you choose technology, of course there are a whole lot of different sorts of technology stuff, there are watches, there are cellphones, Tv's, cameras, and so on and so forth, but if you choose just one particular product let's say cameras, and focus on it, build a website only for cameras, promote it, then the people who are more likely to look at your site, browse your pages, will be targeted audience or possible buyers, resulting in having a steady group of audience and a steady group of buyers.
Then you can start selling, accessories for cameras, lenses or stuff that is related to cameras. You build a world for cameras, you build a reliable looking site, professional looking site, a site that would make your audience feel as if you are the camera authority.
People will go looking for you in the Internet, people will start to notice as you as the person to look for when it comes to cameras. They will start to look for your opinions, they will be eager to have your opinions about cameras.
But before you choose a specific niche to market, you must have a passion for that product, or for that specific niche.
In essence, niche marketing is selling a product or service to those who want or need the product the most.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Is it Safe to Download Computer Software from the Internet?
I used to ask myself this question a lot of times before, having a computer at home being so “techie” can somewhat be a problem sometimes.
In my own opinion, there are quite a few things that you have to consider before sticking your USB device and begin downloading files over the Internet. There is only one thing I can tell you, BE CAREFUL!
I have had bad experiences with it before, when I had my laptop, of course I was too eager to put a lot of software in my device that I didn't bother to check if those were malwares or if there is a virus hidden underneath that software. I would get a software that is empty, or there were software that like, said contained malicious contents (malwares) and there were some that were really to obvious, that you'd have to be stupid to download it.
Before you start to download, check the site, look if it is reliable, if it is updated, or if it is a big website like ZDnet, Cnet (download.com), freedownloadcenter. Now, I mentioned this sites because I have tried downloading softwares from these sites before.
What I like about these sites is that they have a concern for the users who download from their site, you can see software reviews, you can see if it is freeware or if they would charge you if you download a particular software.
So, my answer to that question is NO, it is not safe to download computer softwares from the Internet, that is if you yourself is complacent about it, then you would be likely to get computer viruses from the Internet, and believe me, you will be having a hard time getting rid of that virus if it gets into your computer.
I would say it is not SAFE to download stuff from the computer if:
Your computer doesn't have a reliable Antivirus installed on it.
Your antivirus is not set on active, you should put your antivirus on active status all the time.
You download software from an unknown host, or from a malicious server.
You don't check for reviews, always look for comments about the software, there is always a comment, if it is a good software, people will gonna comment on it, if it is not then nobody has tried it downloading it, if it is a virus, then you are most likely to see negative comments about it. SO CHECK!
If you don't see a thumbnail on it, and it is not rated, then it is most likely to be a malware, or a virus for that matter.
(And when you find such, then you found out it is ok, then leave a comment, help other users, let them know that it is a good software, better yet make a review about it.)
So there you go, you might be thinking, so "it isn't that scary to download software from the Internet after all". Of course it is not scary, if you follow certain procedures, it's all up to you if you will not be cautious with it.
How to Start an Online Business for $100
Starting your own business doesn't have to mean spending thousands of dollars on setup costs before you ever open your doors.Today's economy isn't doing anyone any favors, and if you're one of the unfortunate folks to have been served a layoff notice, you might be facing a long haul when it comes to searching for another job. Is now the right moment to put your long-lingering business idea into practice? While times may be tight for many larger enterprises, in many cases smaller, more nimble companies are better able to withstand market uncertainty and weather downturns.
The best way to stick it to The Man? Start working for yourself by founding your own company. Working for yourself has some serious and obvious advantages over job hunting. Not only do you determine your own hours and decide where you set up your office, but you keep all the profits, too.
Starting your own business doesn't have to mean spending thousands of dollars on setup costs before you ever open your doors. Don't get suckered into spending loads of money on services that you don't need or that have far cheaper alternatives. Seriously: With $100, you can obtain everything you require to start just about any business online, with only minimal need to get up from your desk. Here's how to do it.
Find an affordable Web host
The Web site for your new business has to reside somewhere. How do you pick a Web host that won't leave you high and dry?
Most hosting plans for small companies offer similar features: basically unlimited storage space, support for common databases and publishing systems, and anywhere from a few gigabytes to 2 terabytes of data transfer per month. Expect to pay between $5 and $15 a month for the service, with a one- or two-year upfront contract.
How to pick one from the dozens out there? Look for reviews from recent users, with a particular focus on how quickly the host resolves problems and how often the service goes down. If you expect sudden, big influxes of traffic due to promotions or Digg-like flooding, you'll want to ensure that the host can handle it. Ask about these issues if the company doesn't have written policies.
If your business is blog-centric, you can get started for free with a hosted service such as one from WordPress. You can always move to your own Web host later when you outgrow it or are ready for more.
Get logos and design work
Numerous Web sites, such as Logo Ease and LogoMaker, will design a free logo for you based on options you set via a Web interface. The quality varies, but generally you can get the logo for free for online use. The services make money if you want to download the logo in EPS format, which is more suitable for printing on T-shirts and coffee mugs. A Web search for "free logo" will turn up dozens of additional alternatives.
Another, possibly better, approach is to seek out an independent designer to work on your logo. If you don't need anything fancy, you can find someone to do the job for $50 or less through a simple Craigslist ad. The advantage is that you get to work with a live person (with genuine artistic skills) to create something unique for you rather than a cold, computer-generated logo.
As for Web design, you're unlikely to encounter someone who can create an original site for you for a fee within our $100 budget range. If you can't afford a real designer from the start, begin with a simple layout and customize it as you go -- but try to avoid making incremental changes every day or week. When it's time to redesign, do all the work at once to avoid confusing and alienating your readers for a protracted time.
Build an e-commerce site on the cheap
If you're planning to sell a lot of physical goods, you'll need a service that can handle e-commerce transactions, process credit cards and provide security for both. Setting all of this up on your own server is an expensive, time-consuming task laden with security risks. It's best to outsource the functions to a hosted service targeted at merchants. Such services can be surprisingly affordable. Yahoo's popular Merchant Solutions start at $40 a month. E-commerce sites at Netfirms start at a mere $15 a month. You can customize both extensively to match your desired look and feel.
Find a big sales partner
Thousands of merchants use Amazon to promote their goods, giving Amazon a cut when items sell. The big advantage: You don't need a Web site at all to sell there. You can sell just about anything that Amazon stocks by registering as a merchant, finding the product page for the item you're selling and clicking Sell yours here. Merchants must pay $40 a month, plus a sliding scale of closing fees (6 to 20 percent). Individual sellers can sign up to sell with no monthly fees but must pay an extra 99 cent closing fee.
You'll find similar services (though less of a selection) at Half.com (part of eBay), and of course you can always try your hand at dealing on eBay itself, which is still a popular venue for selling new and used merchandise, though one drowning in noise.
Think SEO, all the time
Don't underestimate the value of optimizing your Web site for Google. But you don't need to pay an expert thousands of dollars to optimize your site for you: Check out the expert advice from SEOmoz and other search engine optimization writers to learn the basics of SEO, and instill your site with good SEO habits from day one. It takes time for the engines to get to know your site, so be patient. (Just make sure you've submitted your URL to all of them!)
Get bonus income with Google AdSense
Unless you're selling physical merchandise, try adding Google AdSense ads to your site. You might pull in only a few dollars a month while your site is small, but that's more than nothing -- plus, it opens the door for bigger ad opportunities down the road.
Constantly promote your business
How do one-person businesses get big? They're always promoting themselves -- always. Add your URL to your e-mail signature. Create a Facebook group for your business. Write a humorous blog about your product or industry (check out Chris Lindland's Cordarounds blog for ideas). Submit your gems to Digg, Reddit and StumbleUpon. Comment on online stories in your field and cast yourself as an expert. Meet and greet at trade shows. Make T-shirts, stickers and business cards. Give away products to charity events in exchange for an ad. Hold contests for freebies and make people work for the prizes. Above all: Don't let anyone forget about your new enterprise.
File for a fictitious business name
Unless you intend to receive all incoming payments under your real, legal name (as, say, with a personal consultancy) you need a fictitious business name for your company, also known as a DBA ("doing business as"). You need one because of your bank's policies: If you receive a check for Acme Widgets, you won't be able to cash it unless you can prove that Acme is really you.
To make that connection, get a DBA. This is one of the few actions described in this article that you often can't do on the Web. The specifics of obtaining a fictitious business name vary from city to city and county to county, so you'll need to check with your municipality. In my city, you must make filings in person at the city hall (after you've ensured that no other businesses have the same name), and you must place a notice in a paper of record indicating that you've opened up shop. In some cities -- Little Rock, Ark., for example -- you can do the whole thing online. Some regions require county filings, too.
Check with your official city and county Web sites for specific instructions. Fees will range from nothing to about $50 to have any DBA and relevant licensing (see below) taken care of. Just make certain you go directly to the municipality to do the task: Intermediaries claiming to file forms on your behalf are often expensive scams.
What about additional licenses?
Again, this is a locale-specific issue. Some cities make you file for a special license if you're going to be working from home (the city doesn't want you snarling traffic if you open a cookie shop in your kitchen, for example). Others require certain types of businesses to file additional paperwork to get a license. Again, the rules vary dramatically from place to place, but usually you can take care of it all while you're filing for a DBA (and, in fact, usually the city won't give you a DBA unless you've handled any other relevant licensing issues already).
Also, if you're selling physical goods, you'll have to collect sales taxes if your state requires it (as most do). Check your state's Web site to learn about collection and filing procedures. Usually you won't have to pay any upfront fee.
Incorporate? Skip it
Many "starting a business" guides will encourage you to incorporate, citing the legal protections that such a move offers. Their assertions are true, but unless your new venture is selling herbal Viagra online, your risk of facing a serious legal headache while your business is in its infancy is minimal. It's far cheaper, easier and faster to operate as a sole proprietorship, especially in dealing with finances and taxes. If things grow complicated, you can always incorporate later.
The simple business bank account
You can open a second bank account if you'd like, but if you're a proprietorship and have a DBA, you can use your personal bank account for business and not have to worry about multiple accounts. Your bank will even print your DBA on personal checks, making them suitable for business use.
If you really need a second account, ask your current bank if it has any special deals for small businesses. Many banks, for example, offer free business checking if you maintain a certain minimum balance.
Set up a switchboard
If you're expecting a lot of incoming phone calls, an answering service might be worth the investment: You'll seem more professional to customers, and you won't be roused from bed at the crack of dawn by callers who don't understand what time zones are.
You can have a live answering service (similar to the one your doctor uses) for $20 a month -- or less, if you have minimal incoming calls. Another option is to do it virtually: For about $10 a month, you can get an 800-number-based system such as RingCentral that answers calls with an automated greeting, routing calls to you (or other employees or contractors) or to voice mail depending on button presses.
If phone calls aren't a big deal, consider a second landline or a dedicated cell phone that you can use for business: Adding a line to either is easy, and with a cell phone you can even share minutes under a family plan.
For a little more: Get a virtual office
The world doesn't need to know you're working in your basement, so many business owners turn to a P.O. box for the official address of their company. A bare P.O. box, however, doesn't seem all that professional, and you can't receive UPS or FedEx shipments there.
Another option is a virtual mailbox service, such as that of Regus. With a virtual mailbox, you get a physical mailing address and someone who will sign for packages from other carriers. The catch is that people sending you mail still have to put the abbreviation PMB (for "personal mail box") on the envelope, though it's less conspicuous than with a regular post office box. You pick up the mail once a week, or the service forwards it to you at cost. The plans cost $100 to $150 per month.
You can step up from there to a more serious arrangement: A virtual office setup gets you not just mail service but a live receptionist who answers the phone however you like, plus access to a physical space with offices, conference rooms and even videoconferencing facilities. Fees can range from $250 to $325 a month.
These costs are admittedly beyond our $100 budget, so consider whether you really need them before signing a contract. With so much business conducted online and via phone, you may never deal with visitors at all.
For a little more: Offload fulfillment and shipping
Selling physical goods online often means long hours spent in your garage packing up orders to ship to buyers, and then standing in long lines at the post office to mail it all off. Another option exists, thanks to the wonders of e-fulfillment: You pay someone else to do all the inventory handling and order shipping for you. Fees can be pricey unless you have the volume to mandate it: Efulfillment Service costs $70 a month flat, along with $1.85 per order processed and 25 cents per cubic foot per month for inventory stored, plus actual shipping fees.
Alternatively, you could hire a student or other temporary help to do the work for you a few days a week, but you'll still have to find somewhere else to park your car.
By now your business should be up and running -- but that, alas, was the easy part. Now get out there and publish, promote and sell, sell, sell. And remember that even if, in the worst case, your business fails, "CEO" always looks good on your resume!
By Christopher Null, PC World
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Two Verizon Android phones coming in 2009
Google and Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced what would have once seemed a very unlikely partnership, pledging to "advance the discussion" in the mobile computing market with a family of jointly designed devices to appear over the next few years.
Verizon has joined T-Mobile and Sprint in support of Google's Android software, with plans to release two new Android phones this year.
Eric Schmidt and Lowell McAdam, CEOs of Google and Verizon Wireless respectively, worked on this partnership for 18 months before they were ready to officially bring it to light, they said Tuesday morning in a Webcast press conference. Two mobile phones running Google's Android mobile operating system will launch on Verizon's network by the end of the year, and that's just the start of a joint road map that will include other Android-based devices beyond phones, the companies said.
Verizon is known for the strong performance of its data network, but has not historically been known for its mobile software, at least not in a good way. The carrier was perhaps most emblematic of the wireless industry's desire to control the software that ran on its devices, and that left Verizon customers with a stable network but relatively unpopular applications.
However, ever since Apple's iPhone shook up the mobile industry in 2007, Verizon has pledged to improve the quality of the software that runs on its phones by scaling back its control over that software to allow outside developers a greater say over what software is available on Verizon phones.
The Android devices that emerge from this partnership will have Google's Android Market pre-installed on the phones, said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless parent company Verizon Communications. Verizon also pledged to support applications such as Google Voice, currently at the center of a controversy among Google, Apple, AT&T, and the Federal Communications Commission over Apple's decision to prevent Google Voice from reaching the iPhone.
The companies declined to name hardware partners for the initial devices, but Motorola and HTC have been rumored for months as the initial phone makers expected to work with Verizon. Beyond that, it sounds like Verizon and Google expect to release other devices, such as Netbooks or perhaps an ebook reader that will run on Verizon's network.
Verizon will become the third U.S. carrier to support Android, with the notable exception of iPhone carrier AT&T. T-Mobile has been perhaps the most vocal Android backer in the U.S. to date, although Sprint has also pledged its support for Android.
>Verizon, however, is playing in a different league than T-Mobile or Sprint. With 87 million customers, Verizon has more subscribers than Sprint and T-Mobile combined.
Schmidt spoke several times during the call about Google's eagerness to team up with a network of that scale and implied that developers should like that combination as well. "Developers need the kind of data network that is the base of what Verizon offers," he said.
McAdam and Stratton deflected several questions about what this partnership would mean for Verizon's existing partners, of whom Research in Motion and Microsoft are perhaps most prominent. Verizon chose to make this announcement on the eve of the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment conference in San Diego, overshadowing the debut of Windows Mobile 6.5.
Stratton did say that Verizon sees room for multiple partners on its network. The carrier is still expected to bring the Palm Pre to its network next year, according to analysts.
A few years ago, smartphones made up around 10 percent of Verizon's devices, he said. Now, it's more like 40 percent and the growth has not stopped amid a global recession that has hurt demand for many consumer electronics products.
Google and Verizon have pledged to create services and applications that may or may not be exclusive to Verizon Android handsets. Partnerships are a dime a dozen in the tech industry, but the combination of two giants of Verizon and Google's size has to be taken seriously by the rest of the mobile industry.
Source: Tom Krazit of Cnet October 6, 2009 Post
Verizon has joined T-Mobile and Sprint in support of Google's Android software, with plans to release two new Android phones this year.
Eric Schmidt and Lowell McAdam, CEOs of Google and Verizon Wireless respectively, worked on this partnership for 18 months before they were ready to officially bring it to light, they said Tuesday morning in a Webcast press conference. Two mobile phones running Google's Android mobile operating system will launch on Verizon's network by the end of the year, and that's just the start of a joint road map that will include other Android-based devices beyond phones, the companies said.
Verizon is known for the strong performance of its data network, but has not historically been known for its mobile software, at least not in a good way. The carrier was perhaps most emblematic of the wireless industry's desire to control the software that ran on its devices, and that left Verizon customers with a stable network but relatively unpopular applications.
However, ever since Apple's iPhone shook up the mobile industry in 2007, Verizon has pledged to improve the quality of the software that runs on its phones by scaling back its control over that software to allow outside developers a greater say over what software is available on Verizon phones.
The Android devices that emerge from this partnership will have Google's Android Market pre-installed on the phones, said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless parent company Verizon Communications. Verizon also pledged to support applications such as Google Voice, currently at the center of a controversy among Google, Apple, AT&T, and the Federal Communications Commission over Apple's decision to prevent Google Voice from reaching the iPhone.
The companies declined to name hardware partners for the initial devices, but Motorola and HTC have been rumored for months as the initial phone makers expected to work with Verizon. Beyond that, it sounds like Verizon and Google expect to release other devices, such as Netbooks or perhaps an ebook reader that will run on Verizon's network.
Verizon will become the third U.S. carrier to support Android, with the notable exception of iPhone carrier AT&T. T-Mobile has been perhaps the most vocal Android backer in the U.S. to date, although Sprint has also pledged its support for Android.
>Verizon, however, is playing in a different league than T-Mobile or Sprint. With 87 million customers, Verizon has more subscribers than Sprint and T-Mobile combined.
Schmidt spoke several times during the call about Google's eagerness to team up with a network of that scale and implied that developers should like that combination as well. "Developers need the kind of data network that is the base of what Verizon offers," he said.
McAdam and Stratton deflected several questions about what this partnership would mean for Verizon's existing partners, of whom Research in Motion and Microsoft are perhaps most prominent. Verizon chose to make this announcement on the eve of the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment conference in San Diego, overshadowing the debut of Windows Mobile 6.5.
Stratton did say that Verizon sees room for multiple partners on its network. The carrier is still expected to bring the Palm Pre to its network next year, according to analysts.
A few years ago, smartphones made up around 10 percent of Verizon's devices, he said. Now, it's more like 40 percent and the growth has not stopped amid a global recession that has hurt demand for many consumer electronics products.
Google and Verizon have pledged to create services and applications that may or may not be exclusive to Verizon Android handsets. Partnerships are a dime a dozen in the tech industry, but the combination of two giants of Verizon and Google's size has to be taken seriously by the rest of the mobile industry.
Source: Tom Krazit of Cnet October 6, 2009 Post
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Samsung B2100 Waterproof Phone
This phone has by far the meanest features ever to be placed on a cellphone, thought water-proof were just for cameras and watches? Well, you thought wrong, Samsung has created a phone that can be used underwater, get this, this phone works even underwater! A phone that is submersible for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
Not only is it water-proof! It is also shock resistant! Like I said perfect for outdoor recreation activities, and extreme adventure! Compliant with the Military Standard 810F (MIL-STD-810F), it is designed to hold up against blowing rain, dust, shock, humidity, water immersion, solar radiation, vibration, and extreme temperature, it is the HUMVEE of cellphones.
Other features this phone is packed with:
Specs:
Monday, October 5, 2009
Electric Fish Equipped With 'dimmer' Switch
Fish that generates electric fields to navigate, fight and attract mates are equipped with a dimmer switch of sorts that can turn their signals to save energy, a new study finds.
Electric fish, such as some sharks and eels, emit weak electrical signals from a battery like organ in their tails. The fish studies, called Sternopygus macrurus, are active at night and must avoid predators, such as catfish, that can sense their electric feild.
Generating such impulses can be ergetically costly.
Now, researchers have located a dimmer switch in the membranes of cells called electrolytes within this electric organ. The switch takes a form of sodium channels that the fish can insert and remove from the electrolytes membranes. More sodium channels mean a stronger electric impulse.
The fish can turn their electric bursts up or down at a moment's notice. That's likely because a reservoir of sodium channels is stored in the electric cells. When serotonin is released in the fish brain, it initiates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary gland, This triggers the mechanism that puts more sodium channels in the membrane.
"This is happening within a matter of two or three minutes," said study researcher Michael Markham of the University of Texas at Austin. " The mahinery is there to make this dramatic remodeling of the cell, and it does so within minutes from the time that some sort of stimulus is introduced in the environment."
When the fish are inactive, they remove the sodium channels from the cell membranes to reduce the intensity of the electric impulse.
"By adding new ion channels to the electrolyte membrane only during periods of activity or social encounters and removing these channels during inactive periods, these animals can save energy and reduce predation risks associated with communication," the researchers write in Sept. 29 issue of the journal PloS Biology.
Source: Sun Star Post Friday, October 2, 2009
Electric fish, such as some sharks and eels, emit weak electrical signals from a battery like organ in their tails. The fish studies, called Sternopygus macrurus, are active at night and must avoid predators, such as catfish, that can sense their electric feild.
Generating such impulses can be ergetically costly.
Now, researchers have located a dimmer switch in the membranes of cells called electrolytes within this electric organ. The switch takes a form of sodium channels that the fish can insert and remove from the electrolytes membranes. More sodium channels mean a stronger electric impulse.
The fish can turn their electric bursts up or down at a moment's notice. That's likely because a reservoir of sodium channels is stored in the electric cells. When serotonin is released in the fish brain, it initiates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary gland, This triggers the mechanism that puts more sodium channels in the membrane.
"This is happening within a matter of two or three minutes," said study researcher Michael Markham of the University of Texas at Austin. " The mahinery is there to make this dramatic remodeling of the cell, and it does so within minutes from the time that some sort of stimulus is introduced in the environment."
When the fish are inactive, they remove the sodium channels from the cell membranes to reduce the intensity of the electric impulse.
"By adding new ion channels to the electrolyte membrane only during periods of activity or social encounters and removing these channels during inactive periods, these animals can save energy and reduce predation risks associated with communication," the researchers write in Sept. 29 issue of the journal PloS Biology.
Source: Sun Star Post Friday, October 2, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Nissan's robot cars mimic fish to avoid crashing
The Eporo, Nissan says, is the first robot car designed to move in a group by sharing its position and other information. The aim is to incorporate the technology into passenger cars to reduce accidents and traffic jams.
Although a group of Eporos may look like a gang of cybernetic Jawa, Nissan says the cars' design was inspired by the way fish move in schools.
An evolution of the bumblebee-inspired BR23C robot car unveiled last year, the Eporo uses Nissan's collision avoidance technology to travel in groups. Check out BR23C trying to get away from a Japanese lady in this video.
Eporo can dodge obstacles just like fish.
The automaker studied how large schools of fish can move without colliding. It says Eporo imitates three rules of fish movement: avoiding crashes, traveling side by side, and keeping close to other members of the school.
The robots use laser range finders and ultra-wideband radio to determine distance to obstacles. They also communicate with each other to form the most efficient group formation to maneuver through tight spots.
Eporo stands for "Episode O (Zero) Robot." That zinger of a mouthful means zero episodes, as in zero accidents and zero emissions.
Nissan intends to show off Eporo at the Ceatec trade show next week in Tokyo.
Credit Tim Hornyak of Cnet.com
Friday, October 2, 2009
Week in review: Net theft, under your nose
The bank Trojan, dubbed URLZone, has features designed to thwart fraud detection systems that are triggered by unusual transactions. For instance, the software is programmed to calculate on-the-fly how much money to steal from an account based on how much money is available.
The Trojan, which exploits a hole in Firefox, Internet Explorer 6, IE7, IE8, and Opera, was responsible of the theft of nearly $438,000 during a 22-day span in August.
This is reportedly the first Trojan that hijacks a victim's browser session, steals the money while the victim is doing online banking, and then covers its tracks by modifying information displayed to the victim, all in real time.
Meanwhile, Payroll processor PayChoice said it is investigating a breach in which customers received targeted e-mails purporting to be from the company but were designed to trick people into downloading malware. Workers received e-mails last week that directed them to download a browser plug-in or visit a Web site so they could continue accessing the Onlineemployer.com PayChoice portal.
The e-mails were targeted to individuals and included their user names, log-in IDs and partial passwords, thus increasing the chance that recipients would be likely to fall for the ruse.
Read Complete Story at Cnet.com.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Curious things appear in Google Earth images
At a first glance, these landscapes of Google Earth to play some may seem alien humorous. But in reality, are only the result of the trained eyes of the fans of this Internet service free of satellite images over the Internet.
The images shown are real, but look like faces or world-famous icons such as aerial photo of a labyrinth in the U.S.state of Arizona that is reminiscent of TV presenter Oprah Winfrey. Or,the image of a shadow on sand dunes in Peru that resembles the face of Jesus Christ.
Actual photos and their supposed similarities,presented Wednesday at the site of the Daily Mail, also come with afield of Massachusetts seems to have been carved in the shape of the symbol of Halloween, the pumpkin for Halloween or a photo of Rockies that resembles the image of a Canadian Indian wearing headphones.
The famous gardens of Versailles in France, seen from above, may suggest the image of the little robot Johnny Five. Or, a field in Poland that resembles the face of former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
Creepy isn't it?
The images shown are real, but look like faces or world-famous icons such as aerial photo of a labyrinth in the U.S.state of Arizona that is reminiscent of TV presenter Oprah Winfrey. Or,the image of a shadow on sand dunes in Peru that resembles the face of Jesus Christ.
Actual photos and their supposed similarities,presented Wednesday at the site of the Daily Mail, also come with afield of Massachusetts seems to have been carved in the shape of the symbol of Halloween, the pumpkin for Halloween or a photo of Rockies that resembles the image of a Canadian Indian wearing headphones.
The famous gardens of Versailles in France, seen from above, may suggest the image of the little robot Johnny Five. Or, a field in Poland that resembles the face of former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
Creepy isn't it?
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