Andrew

An Indiegogo project that aims to deliver the first gadget capable of translating a dog’s thoughts into the English language has reached its funding goal with 50 days left to go in the money-raising campaign, Fox News reports. The “No More Woof” (NMW) project developed by Scandinavian Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery (NSID) organization has surpassed its $10,000 funding goal by almost $5,000, and aims to deliver the first devices that will translate dogs' thoughts into English and other languages at some point in April.

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Android: There are a good number of office suites for Android. None of them can outright replace the office software on your desktop, though. AndrOpen doesn't need to, as it's a full port of OpenOffice.

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Sometimes, when you open a folder in Windows Explorer, it takes seemingly forever to open—and you get that slow-moving green bar at the top while everything grinds to a halt. TechSpot has a solution to this problem: turn off folder optimization.

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The feature in most navigation apps that offers at estimated time of arrival is a nice add-on that gives drivers a general idea of when they might arrive at their destination. Of course, some services are better than others at estimating your ETA and as is often the case when it comes to anything involving crunching large amounts of data with numerous variables, Google is better than most. While the exact science Google uses to calculate its projected arrival times remains a mystery to those outside the Maps team, a former Google engineer recently offered a good general explanation of how Google Maps calculates your ETA.

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Making phone calls from 35,000 feet in the air has been a hot-button topic of late, spurred on by recent comments made by Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The agency is investigating whether or not it should lift its long-standing ban on making phone calls from a plane, following its recent decision to allow passengers to use portable electronics below 10,000 feet.

In fact, the FCC is already at the point where it is asking for the public’s opinion on the topic, which will be factored in if and when the commission does make a decision on the matter. A number of citizens and airlines have spoken up against allowing cellphone use in airplanes, citing the inevitable nuisances and uncomfortable...

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Just incase @29_JL @hullcityteam your not sure the ball is the yellow thing…. not the £6k camera (photo al walter) pic.twitter.com/op6zGrUBVX

— Richard Heathcote (@rheathcote) December 21, 2013

Professional sports photographers know their equipment is always at risk, but British Getty Images shooter Richard Heathcote was still surprised and more than a bit miffed when his DSLR bit the dust at Saturday’s Hull-vs.-West Bromwich Premiere League soccer match.

That’s because his DSLR (looks like a Canon 1D?) — which was staked down behind the goal and remotely triggered — survived Hull player Jake Livermore’s opening goal just fine. It was afterward, when the player went on a celebration stampede and apparently decided to try and score a second goal with the camera, that the rig took a severe beating.

Dear @29_JL where do you want me to send the repair bill ? pic.twitter.com/Z6wRFQzaeN

— Richard Heathcote (@rheathcote) December 21, 2013

Heathcote took to Twitter with an image of the fractured rig and a ding to Livermore asking, “Where do you want me to send the repair bill?”

To his credit, Livermore stepped up right away with an apology, a promise to pay the estimated $10,000 to replace the camera and an additional vow to donate a like amount to cancer research. Heathcote’s response: “Thanks, jump next time … looks much better in photos …”

(via Bleacher Report)

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Thanks for sending in the tip, Ant!

It's been a rough month for Samsung's Knox initiative, which has been hit with complaints from customers about delays and major reported security holes. One longtime veteran in the mobile security space thinks that these sorts of issues are part and parcel when it comes to launching your own mobile security platform for the first time, however. The bigger issue Samsung faces, he says, is that the company's business model for Knox is inherently too limited to make it attractive enough for widespread corporate adoption.

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It's conventional wisdom that to really kill germs and disinfect your hands, you should be using water as hot as you can stand it and antibacterial soap, right? Not so, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University. In fact, cold water and regular soap can be just as effective. Here's why.

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Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "SF writer Charles Stross writes on his blog that like all currency systems, Bitcoin comes with an implicit political agenda attached and although our current global system is pretty crap, Bitcoin is worse. For starters, BtC is inherently deflationary. There is an upper limit on the number of bitcoins that can ever be created so the cost of generating new Bitcoins rises over time, and the value of Bitcoins rise relative to the available goods and services in the market. Libertarians love it because it pushes the same buttons as their gold fetish and it doesn't look like a "Fiat currency". You can visualize it as some kind of scarce precious data resource, sort of a digital equivalent of gold. However there are a number of huge down-sides to Bitcoin says Stross: Mining BtC has a carbon footprint from hell as they get more computationally expensive to generate, electricity consumption soars; Bitcoin mining software is now being distributed as malware because using someone else's computer to mine BitCoins is easier than buying a farm of your own mining hardware; Bitcoin's utter lack of regulation permits really hideous markets to emerge, in commodities like assassination and drugs and child pornography; and finally Bitcoin is inherently damaging to the fabric of civil society because it is pretty much designed for tax evasion. "BitCoin looks like it was designed as a weapon intended to damage central banking and money issuing banks, with a Libertarian political agenda in mind—to damage states ability to collect tax and monitor their citizens financial transactions," concludes Stross. "The current banking industry and late-period capitalism may suck, but replacing it with Bitcoin would be like swapping out a hangnail for Fournier's gangrene.""

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

What would you wanna do? Let us know here.

An anonymous reader writes "It looks like AI-powered weapons systems could soon be outlawed before they're even built. While discussing whether robots should be allowed to kill might like an obscure debate, robots (and artificial intelligence) are playing ever-larger roles in society and we are figuring out piecemeal what is acceptable and what isn't. If killer robots are immoral, then what about the other uses we've got planned for androids? Asimov's three laws don't seem to cut it, as this story explains: 'As we consider the ethical implications of having robots in our society, it becomes obvious that robots themselves are not where responsibility lies.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

A decade ago the Internet looked vastly different from how it does today. Torrent sites such as The Pirate Bay and Torrentz were only a few months old, while Facebook and YouTube didn’t even exist.

Back then BitTorrent was a relatively unknown technology that, for the first time in history, allowed users to share large videos with groups of people all over the world.

One of the torrents that gained quite a bit of traction in the early days is an ASCII version of The Matrix. This piece of fan art is a re-coded version of the original movie in green text on a black background, resulting in a rather unique viewing experience.

Thanks to BitTorrent, the creator of The Matrix ASCII was able to share his work with thousands of people. Exactly 10 years ago today on December 20, 2003, the torrent for this release was created.

A few weeks later the torrent file was first shared online, along with an ASCII DVD cover and insert. In the months and years that followed thousands of copies of the film were downloaded worldwide, and even today it is still being shared by a dozen people every day.

To the best of our knowledge, this means that The Matrix ASCII is the oldest torrent that’s still being actively shared.

The.Matrix-ASCII screencap

Perhaps worried that Hollywood wouldn’t appreciate the effort, the DVD file comes with a small disclaimer.

“This work is a parody. As such I do not believe that this DVD has any possibility of competing with the original in any market. It is not for sale,” the disclaimer reads.

Prospective downloaders have very little to worry about though, as Warner Bros. is not known to go after this type of fan-art that’s created for non-commercial use.

The people who’ve downloaded a copy of The Matrix thus far responded mostly positively after watching the ASCII movie. That is, those who knew what to expect.

“This is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! EASILY one of the coolest things I’ve EVER seen! Where’d you get the notion to do something like this!?!?!?!” one person noted in a comment highlighted on The Matrix ASCII website.

Others, who assumed that they had downloaded a copy of the original Matrix movie, were less happy with the ASCII version.

“Dude, tell me what to do with this Matrix ASCII, cause the picture is all green n stuff, can’t even see what’s going on. And, its in 4 VOB files, but why?” was the response of an unhappy downloader.

All in all it’s safe to say that The Matrix ASCII has become a fine piece of Internet history. The tale of its survival in itself has now become a reason for people to download it as a collectors’ item.

The question is, however, will it survive another decade?

Source: TorrentFreak, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing and VPN services.

Apple’s 64-bit A7 chip found inside the iPhone 5s, but also the 2013 family of iPads, is the feature that surprised the competition, setting off "panic in the industry,” according to an unnamed Qualcomm employee interviewed by Dan Lyons. “The 64-bit Apple chip hit us in the gut. Not just us but everyone, really,” the employee said. “We were slack-jawed, and stunned, and unprepared. It’s not that big a performance difference right now, since most current software won’t benefit. But in 'Spinal Tap' terms it’s like, 32 more, and now everyone wants it.”

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An anonymous reader writes "The Free Software Foundation announced today the first laptop they have been able to certify as-is that respects the user's freedoms. The laptop is free down to using Coreboot in place of a proprietary BIOS. The OS shipped on the laptop is Trisquel, the Ubuntu derived Linux OS that removes all traces of proprietary firmware, patented formats, etc. The only issue though for new customers is this endorsed laptop comes down to being a refurbished 2006 ThinkPad X60 with single or dual-core Intel CPU, 1GB+ of RAM, 60GB+ HDD, 1024x768 12.1-inch screen while costing $320+ USD (200 GBP). The FSF-certified refurbished laptops are only offered for sale through the Gluglug UK shop. Are these outdated specs worth your privacy and freedom?"

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judgecorp writes "A new remotely-programmable embedded SIM design from the GSMA operators' group means that devices can be operated on the Internet of things and won't have to be opened up to have their SIM card changed if they move to a different operator. The design could speed up embedded applications."

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mdsolar tips this report: "Teams of lawmakers are working hard on bills to cut corn-based ethanol out of the country's biofuel mandate entirely, according to National Journal. It's the latest twist in America's fraught relationship with biofuels, which started in 2005 when Congress first mandated that a certain amount of biofuel be mixed into the country's fuel supply. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was then expanded in 2007, with separate requirements for standard biofuel on the one hand and cellulosic and advanced biofuels on the other. The latter are produced from non-food products like cornstalks, agricultural waste, and timber industry cuttings. The RFS originally called for 100 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol in 2010, 250 million in 2011, and 500 million in 2012. Instead, the cellulosic industry failed to get off the ground. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was forced to revise the mandate down to 6.5 million in 2010, and all the way down to zero in 2012. The cellulosic mandate has started to slowly creep back up, and 2014 may be the year when domestic production of cellulosic ethanol finally takes off. But then last month EPA did something else for the first time: it cut down the 2014 mandate for standard biofuel, produced mainly from corn. And now Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) have teamed up on legislation that would eliminate the standard biofuel mandate entirely."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Meshach writes "The FBI has caught the student who called in a bomb threat at Harvard University on December 16. The student used a temporary anonymous email account routed through Tor, but the FBI was able to trace it (PDF) because it originated from the Harvard wireless network. He could face as long as five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He made the threat to get out of an exam."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The original iPhone ushered in a new way to play games. With no control input other than a touchscreen and gyroscope, developers were forced to use touch and tilt in inventive and clever ways. It lead to wonderful games like Ridiculous Fishing and The Room 2, but all along many developers continued to strive for something different — a console-style game you could play on your phone or tablet. Without physical controls, however, those experiences never worked quite right. Even when the games looked the part, on-screen buttons and other touchscreen concessions just couldn't match the precision of an analog stick and some physical buttons.

But with iOS 7, it seemed like that might finally change. "Ten years from now, we may look back...

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To the relief of frequent flyers everywhere, Delta CEO Richard Anderson has made it abundantly clear that his airline won't be allowing in-flight calls via cellphone or VoIP services anytime soon. In a memo to his employees, Anderson said such calls would be "a disruption to the travel experience." The FCC is considering policy changes that would legalize in-flight cellphone use, but the idea has swiftly drawn criticism from travelers and airline employees alike. Consumers point to the annoyance of hearing other passengers gabbing endlessly on a cellphone during lengthy flights as one reason to dismiss the idea. The commission has emphasized from day one that, even if the practice is eventually permitted, airlines will be making the...

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Photographs of galaxies far far away rarely convey just how large what you’re looking at really is — after all, how can you even fathom something that is measured in light years across. But these photos of the cosmos do an even worse job. By applying the tilt-shift effect in post, these photos show galaxies and nebulae look like they could fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.

Credit for the idea belongs to Imgur user ScienceLlama, who took photographs from ESA, NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team and altered them by applying a tilt-shift effect in post. By narrowing the depth of field, ScienceLlama makes you feel like you’re staring at a little puff of pink smoke when, in reality, what you see is a nebula that is multiple light years across.

Here’s a look at some of the images he altered:

You can see much higher resolution versions of all of these images by visiting ScienceLlama’s original Imgur gallery here. Or, if you want to browse through many more images like this, just minus the tilt-shift, head over to any of the source links above for more spectacular photographs of the cosmos.

(via Fstoppers)

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Image credits: Photo credits included in captions, altered by ScienceLlama

Most of us never get a crash course in how to cook or find our way around the kitchen. We learn from others: friends, parents, cooking shows, or cookbooks. That means it's easy for there to be gaps in our knowledge, like things we really should know, have been doing wrong, or just never had to learn. Let's take a look at some of them.

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Client: I need it to arouse the customer’s attention.

Me: To be clear, when you say arouse the customer’s attention -

Client: I mean, if they got an erection, the ad is doing its job.

Me: Got it. 

After months of waiting, Motorola today announced the first of its "natural" Moto Maker customization options: bamboo. The company's flagship Moto X can now be ordered with a bamboo rear case, though the option comes at a premium. Picking a natural back color adds $100 to your order total, and Motorola is attaching a "delayed shipping" warning to the Bamboo choice. Early orders won't be delivered until January, according to the company. But it may be worth the wait for interested buyers. "Since each back is made from real Bamboo, no two devices will ever be the same," Motorola says. The natural configurations (bamboo is technically a type of grass) were announced alongside all of the other Moto X colors earlier this year, but have...

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When it comes to Apple apparel, nobody can stop talking about the rumored iWatch that may or may not make its debut in 2014, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time the company got into the wearable business. If we rewind time a few decades, we ...

Airplane travelers may soon have to pay more for the privilege of the TSA's oft-invasive (but apparently ineffective) security measures. According to the AP, travelers will have to pay more than double the current TSA fee that's baked into the price of an airplane ticket starting on July 1st. That's assuming the new budget deal (approved by the House last night) passes the Senate in a vote next week.

The budget is expected to pass, which means that the TSA's current $2.50 security fee for a non-stop, one way flight will increase to $5.60. Under the current deal, fees were capped at $5 per trip if a traveler had a connection — now, it'll be $5.60 per flight regardless.

Unsurprisingly, it sounds like airlines are going to pass this...

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Governments worldwide are trying to solidify their positions on Bitcoin. Chinese regulators banned financial institutions from using Bitcoin earlier this month, while in July, Thailand's government declared the virtual currency's use illegal due to a lack of applicable laws. Now Bitcoin has taken another hit to its legitimacy: Norway — Scandinavia's richest nation — has said that the currency doesn't qualify as real money.

Norway's director general of taxation, Hans Christian Holte, said the currency "doesn't fall under the usual definition of money." The Norwegian government instead decreed Bitcoin to be an asset upon which capital gains tax can be charged. Bloomberg says profits from Bitcoin will fall under the wealth tax,...

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Millions of Americans rely on soaps and body washes labeled "antibacterial" or "antimicrobial" to kill germs and prevent illnesses. But the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) isn't convinced that the products do what they claim — and says they might pose longterm health risks that outweigh any potential benefits.

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On Sunday I covered what was easily the hardest football game I’ve ever been asked to shoot. In turn it was the most fun I’ve ever had on an assignment.

The forecast for Sunday called for a “dusting” of snow. About an inch was supposed to fall, starting right around 1pm, the same time as kickoff. It sounded perfect: I’ve always wanted to shoot a game in the snow and we’d get just enough to add some flare to the photos.

Around 11am I walked out from the photo workroom to shoot players warming up, and the flurries had already started. Jason Avant laughed as he tossed a ball around with DeSean Jackson. It seemed most though were hiding from the cold in the locker room, so I retreated too so I could send a few photos to the newsroom.

It was only 20 minutes later when another photographer walked in and said, “it’s really coming down out there.”

I figured it was an overreaction to the first snow storm of the season, but at least a few more players might be out warming up. When I walked outside it seemed like blizzard had appeared out of nowhere. Conditions went to full white-out in a matter of minutes.

While shooting football in the snow makes for fantastic photos, it’s also the most challenging scenario a modern photojournalist can find themselves in. Cameras today rely so heavily on autofocus for sports that snow renders them functionally useless. Imagine trying to photograph someone standing behind a waterfall. Even if you can see them clearly, no matter what you do your camera focuses only the water. The same went for every thick snowflake between me and the players on the field, and when you consider there were thousands falling every second the challenge was daunting.

Some photographers coped by abandoning their long glass and switching to a 70-200. While plays in the middle of the field would be hard to capture, you could document features on the sidelines and hope the storm let up soon enough to bring the long glass back.

I went a different route.

About midway through the first quarter, with the snow falling so hard it was beginning to accumulate inside my lens hood, I decided to switch my 400mm lens to manual focus, and literally try my hand at focusing on my own. I’ve never shot football on full manual but it was the only way I’d come back with something different.

As I mentioned before, cameras today are heavily built on their autofocus abilities. Ask any photographer about the drawbacks of a particular sports-built body and their first critique is bound to be a complaint about the autofocus system. Lenses aren’t built to be relied on for manual focus anymore either. In the golden era of film photography when legends like Neil Leifer and Walter Looss were documenting football games from the sidelines they knew the feel of exactly how far to roll the focus dial to get the shot. They weren’t spoiled by AI Servo Tracking AutoFocus technology like we are today.

As far as I can compare it to anything, it’s like taking power steering out of your car, or trying to fly the space shuttle without autopilot. But, I tried it anyway. If you don’t dare to fail you’ll never succeed. (I don’t know if someone famous said that before, but if they didn’t I’m claiming it.)

I have to say, the photos I came back with are some of the best I’ve ever made at a football game, and when the snow let up in the second half, I had a new appreciation for the autofocus button I could finally flip back to “on” mode.

The Eagles didn’t disappoint me either. With an offensive surge in the second half, they ran over the Lions and on to another home win. I only wish players had stuck around after the game was over to play in the snow. That would have made for some great photos.

To see more photos from Sunday’s game, check out the full gallery by clicking here.

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About the author: Kyle Grantham is an award-winning staff photographer with The News Journal in Wilmington, DE. Before joining The News Journal in January of this year, he worked for the Casper Star-Tribune in Casper, WY from March 2012 until January 2013, and the Evansville Courier & Press from November 2010 to December 2011. You can find him on his website, Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared here.