Microsoft Showing Off Some Awesome Futuristic Tech

I didn't read the words, but it was nice of extreme tech to put the youtube videos in one place. Microsoft has a great start on a lot of 3d technologies including interfaces, gesture controls, and more. If their marketing team doesn't screw it up they might have a good jump on the competition, if there is any.

Check it out here: http://www.extremetech.com/computing/120293-microsoft-research-shows-off-see-through-3d-display-holoreflector-illumishare

Nvidia Builds A Dream Machine (Supercomputer)

I think projects like these should be funded, if not by grants then by loans, by governments. Imagine how much economic capital will be gained by the first country to control an exa-flop computer.  Not too mention the kinds of discoveries this kind of processing power could churn out, and with all these new findings comes jobs.

Come on USA build one these mega super computers and give it a power source.

Before China does!


Read More: http://www.forbes.com/sites/briancaulfield/2012/02/28/nvidia-builds-a-dream-machinenvidia-builds-a-dream-machine-nvidia-builds-a-dream-machine-nvidia-builds-a-dream-machine-nvidia-builds-a-dream-machine-nvidia-builds-a-dream-machine-nvidia-builds-a-dream/

Amazon Prime Members Spend More

Make things easier to do while giving people an experience they enjoy and they'll spend more money. Costco did the same thing 30 years ago in brick and mortar. Interestingly Costco offers two levels of membership and ends up making more profit off the member's with the more expensive membership. I've always thought amazon, netflix, and hulu, should offer several levels of service.

Read More: http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1508

€1 Billion to Model the Entire Human Brain

A lot of people seem concerned that this isn't the right solution, it's probably not, but its a great a start. Why not try something,even if it fails. The vast amount of things we stand to learn from this amazing project will be worth however much gets spent on it. I would bet that discoveries would not be limited to neuroscience but we would make huge findings in technology, computer science, and probably things we wouldn't even imagine.

I'm for any scientific project that is gigantic and ground breaking, it's how societies advance, even if the projects fail.

It's also good for the economy.

Read More: http://www.nature.com/news/computer-modelling-brain-in-a-box-1.10066

Caterina Fake: Fast Growth for a New Social App Is a Very Bad Thing

Huh, A social network is more than just a set of bits that allows people to communicate? It's an evolving community of people that develop social norms and practices that enable the community to thrive? Imagine that.


Read More: Caterina Fake: Fast Growth for a New Social App Is a Very Bad Thing

What’s the waiter doing with the computer screen?

An interesting look at how real people are using software in their businesses, apparently writing on computer monitors with whiteboard markers. I think this behavior is indicative of two things, software creators inabilities or unwillingness to address consumers needs and consumers inability or unwillingness to pay for what they need.

Would the restaurant in this article pay an additional $10-$15 k for the solution they actually need or continue writing on a LCD monitor with a whiteboard marker?

I would bet the marker

Then again maybe this shows an inability in the market place for supply to meet demand in a way that satisfies everyone.

http://javlaskitsystem.se/2012/02/whats-the-waiter-doing-with-the-computer-screen/

(Scientific) Journals Warned to Keep a Tight Lid on Diesel Exposure Data

Lobbying/pr firms are threatening scientific publications for publishing information, in an attempt to delay or squash information that may damage their cause. This sort of thing is highly unethical and should be a crime.

I doubt this is the first time this has happened and it won't be the last, but the good of both individuals and the greater public is being eviscerated in order to make a few people a little richer.

It should be a crime to not publish scientific information in a timely manner, much less trying to stop others from publishing.

Disgusting. 

Read More: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/02/journals-warned-to-keep-a-tight.html

Microsoft's Biggest Miss

The hyperbole is a bit thick, but I agree with the idea. Also, I do not approve of the word 'kill', gigantic multi-national corporations don't just keel over from a single point of failure. It takes tons of problems, a lack of innovation, and years for a company this big to go under. If it ever does. Most likely a company like Microsoft will manage to find a  way to keep running for dozens if not hundreds of years, not that it will be a


Read More: http://minimalmac.com/post/17758177061/microsofts-biggest-miss

One OS to Rule Them All (IOS)

I could not disagree more, although many of the features of IOS and OS X are converging, the OS's are not. Apple is taking the best concepts from each OS and cross pollinating them into the other, while at the same unifying features that already do the same thing. This will make both OS's better and the experience of moving between the two better, while still maintaining the distinct advantages that both platforms offer.

As for his predictions that everything will be everywhere, sure why not? All the built-in apple IOS apps cover basic functionality you would want on any computer, and same goes for their services.

However, the input methods for OS X and IOS will always be different which requires different work flows and methodologies. Mouse/Keyboard and Touch interfaces are not interchangeable, and never will be.

Read More: http://benparr.com/2012/02/one-os-to-rule-them-all/

Depressing: News Sites Are Their Own Biggest Advertisers

This explain a lot, I was wondering how these websites continue to lose money despite having some of the best content, tons of experience, and outstanding talent. It appears that the people making decisions are terrible at it.

From the article,

" On the other hand, it’s hard to see how publishers are ever going to persuade marketers to spend real money on their websites as long as those advertisers can see those publishers treating their own web inventory as next to worthless."

It brings up a good point, as premier bloggers and writers are reducing their ad space and doing a better job of putting their advertisers first, its only going to get more and more difficult for these major publishers. Take a note for daringfireball.net , have few advertisers and treat them like kings.

Read More: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2012/02/13/depressing-news-sites-are-their-own-biggest-advertisers/

Europe's 'Right To Be Forgotten' Threatens Online Free Speech

Yet another great example of politicians attempting to legislate things that they know nothing about, and putting the burden of their whimsies on the backs of others. Don't get me wrong, their are a lot of great concepts here. There are also plenty of laws that need to be created to protect consumers from unscrupulous companies, but it must be within reason.

 It needs to be technologically and economically feasible on a large scale at the very least, and these laws also need to take into consideration the effects on the common good of all people. Information is power after all.

A good quote that sums up the legislation from the source article,

" The right to be forgotten could make Facebook and Google, for example, liable for up to two percent of their global income if they fail to remove photos that people post about themselves and later regret, even if the photos have been widely distributed already."

Catch that?  "even if the photos have been widely distributed" meaning reshared by dozens, hundreds, even thousands. This is true for google is well who would essentially have to black every page with the offending content. 

Read More: http://slashdot.org/story/12/02/13/2156214/europes-right-to-be-forgotten-threatens-online-free-speech

A Great Read Source: http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/privacy-paradox/right-to-be-forgotten

Brain Pickings: 10 Tips on Writing from David Ogilvy

You may remember from an earlier post, that David Ogilvy is one the original 'Mad Men', or works in advertising. His list of ten writing tips sent to employees or colleagues is generally meant for business, but holds up pretty well in any context.

It would be nice to see more of this type of thing coming from bosses within companies right here in the 21st century. Most of the stuff I've seen given as workplace advice is generally garbage.

A few of my favorites,

3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.
7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.


Read More: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/07/david-ogilvy-on-writing/

Daring Fireball: The ‘Apple Should Be Worried If Anyone Else Has Any Success Whatsoever’ School of Thought

I'm not sure why the Gruber is even bothering to engage on this issue. The tactic of saying, "Apple should be worried about x", is clearly a strategy to somehow include Apple in a post to get more hits. Anyone who thinks rationally can't possibly believe the assertions made by the majority of these stories.

This is just like when every android phone made was an "iPhone Killer". It's just a dumb strategy to drum up undeserved page views, by people who have nothing worth while to write about.

Read More: http://daringfireball.net/2012/02/apple_should_be_worried

Collectors Weekly: Does Facebook Have a Secret Paper Fetish?

A fascinating look at a person and the corporate culture he helps create within Facebook. His strategies get at the root of the problem that most corporate propaganda strategies experience. They feel fake and impersonal and largely go unnoticed, if not mocked, by the employees they are meant to inspire. These campaigns are usually created by a team of execs who have little or no passion for the art or the message. This is corporate propaganda done right and should be a model for large companies everywhere.


Read More: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/facebook-secret-paper-fetish/

Cool Hunting: Eau Good ( A way fancy filtration water bottle )

Seems a bit first world to buy a device to make drinking tap water a better experience. People die everyday from horrible drinking water. But it's still true that in many cities the tap water tastes terrible and people only drink bottled water. If this actually works it might be a good investment.

I especially like the cork lid.

Read More: http://www.coolhunting.com/design/eau-good.php

The Verge: Kodak to cease production of digital cameras to focus on more profitable products

The Kodak ship has been sinking for quite a long time, and while you can't blame a company for cutting costs and capitalizing on their most profitable products, they will be taking their flagship product out of the view of consumers. Cameras are Kodaks last direct connection to consumers and while they plan to license their name to others manufactures, I can't imagine who would want it. The name Kodak has become synonymous with low quality in the digital camera market. I can only imagine that nothing good will come of this.

The article does say they plan to focus on their commercial ventures, lets see how that goes...

Read More: http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/9/2786810/kodak-digital-camera-photo-frame-production-ending

Dorkly: How to Succeed in Hero Academy Without Really Trying ( Comic )

The dark elves are way over-powered. Their ability to regenerate and ghost people gives them a wicked huge advantage. I think unbalanced game play is one of the worst things that can happen to a game, either you get unfairly stomped on, or you're unfairly stomping. I don't find either fun.

Read The Comic: http://www.dorkly.com/comic/31212/how-to-succeed-in-hero-academy-without-really-trying

Inside Higher Ed: Rice University Announces Open Source Text Books

Although this is not the first time open source textbooks have been attempted, this is a major university working in tandem with a 3rd party, and the texts are peer reviewed.

It's a new approach to an old problem, hopefully it will work this time. Who knows what opensource actually means in this context, other than free to read on the web, but I would bet these texts appear on the iPad and Android tablets quickly.  

Hopefully between Apple and Rice some real market disruption can start taking place.

Read more: Rice University announces open-source textbooks | Inside Higher Ed

Rueters: Hackers sought $50,000 from Symantec for anti-virus blueprint

It's amazing to see how wrong the governments, corporations, and media are getting hackers. Continuing to lump them into a group having only terroristic motivations. Many hack for fun, profit, terrorism, boredom, and a number of other causes. Characterizing the real root cause is the start to addressing the problem.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-symantec-hackers-idUSTRE8160KB20120207

Bram Cohen: Never Make Counter Offers

This is an insanely fantastic post, that covers the intricacies of employees and employers trying to use leverage against each other to make or save money. It also covers the many reasons why this is damaging and good sign that the relationship is beyond repair. I agree wholeheartedly, but he did fail to recognize, as if often the case, that many people don't have infinite job mobility and sometimes companies don't have the luxury of turnover either.

Read More: http://bramcohen.com/2011/12/04/never-make-counter-offers

Yahoo News: Sugar Should Be Regulated As Toxin, Researchers Say

This sounds insane and compelling at the same time. When it comes to our bodies I have a libertarian mindset, I think we should all be responsible for own choices. However, stronger education would provide a huge a benefit maybe pushing this in the direction that sugar is more like a drug than a food group would be a good thing.

I think it's clear that prohibition has never worked against anything, so why try it with sugar as well?

Read More: http://news.yahoo.com/sugar-regulated-toxin-researchers-180605186.html

CNN: 50 new tech tools you should know about

Mainly a list of IOS apps with a few web services. There are some good recommendations, and some interesting items I've never heard of. There also lots that are already very popular.... Worth a skim though.

Read More: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/25/tech/web/50-tech-tools/index.html

Daring Fireball: Comparison of First Seven Quarters: iPod, iPhone, iPod

Although Mr. Gruber didn't say a whole lot about the statistics, I do want to analyze this statement, 

"I suspect many Apple watchers consider the iPad an iPhone-like success — but it’s far bigger."

I take this to mean that the iPad and iPhone successes are separate incidences. I think the most important implication of the graph is that there has been a direct correlation between each device and it's successor, and how they build on the success of the last generation.

This graph also shows the significant impact that customer trust has on future sales. The hard work that Apple has done to gain the trust of iPod and then iPhone users is paying off in iPad sales.

Read More: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/02/02/ipod-iphone-ipad
Graph By Horace: https://twitter.com/#!/asymco/status/165132406456729600

Ad Week: Cat Fight: Microsoft Ads Attack Google's Privacy Policy

This strategy of attack ads seems highly mis-guided, while it will surely knock google down a notch in the eyes of many, it does nothing to lift Microsoft. I think if anyone gains an advantage from these types of exchanges its the small up and comers, who are either now or will be in the future competing against google, also bloggers.



Read More:http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/cat-fight-microsoft-ads-attack-googles-privacy-policy-137926

WashingtonPost:Scientists close to entering Vostok, Antarctica’s biggest subglacial lake

Thoughts:
    My first thought is that some sort of sea monster( dinosaur) is going to mess some fools up. This has all the makings of a B rate horror film. Upon further examination this has someoutstanding scientific implications. Assuming new species of animals are found we could learn a ton about evolution and biology, and just having an empty 20 million year old lake could provide tons of info about the history of the earth, chemistry, climatology, etc.

Read More:http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-close-to-entering-vostok-antarcticas-biggest-subglacial-lake/2012/01/27/gIQAbGX0fQ_story.html

WolfGnards: Comic Book Manifesto

What:

   Basically Five Things That Suck in Comics

Thoughts:
   Although I'm not a huge comic reader, I absolutely hate the multi-verse. It's just a way to expand a story with out the characters actually having to pay a cost. Often times they go to the multi-verse and a character you love gets killed there and then they come home and nothing has changed in the 'real' universe. The story is rarely advanced by this. I guess the X-men did bring home a dragon from the multi-verse.

Anywho, I agree with everything in this manifesto and found the comics code to be new info, what a terrible idea.

Read More: http://www.wolfgnards.com/index.php/2010/07/07/my-comic-book-manifesto