Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

How Are 20% of Human Genes Patented? [Factoid]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811899/how-are-20-of-human-genes-patented

How Are 20% of Human Genes Patented? John Sulston, along with Sarah Chan and John Harris, write that scientific process is being stymied due to excessive ownership of scientific intellectual property. One of the more troubling statistics? Private companies have patented nearly 20% of human genes.

For example, it is estimated that some 20% of individual human genes have been patented already or have been filed for patenting. As a result, research on certain genes is largely restricted to the companies that hold the patents, and tests involving them are marketed at prohibitive prices. We believe that this poses a very real danger to the development of science for the public good.

Essentially, if any group wants to conduct research on certain types of genes, they have to pay the patent holder to formally carry out the experiment. And then, of course, there are the pharmaceutical companies, who will buy up expiring patents to prevent potential competitors from infringing on the market territory of their status quo drug.

All of this, according to Sulston and co., means we're limiting the best possible scientific breakthroughs. Instead, we're stuck waiting for the ones which prove most profitable. That sucks. [Guardian via Open Science]

Image via Shutterstock

Hackers Broke Into Citigroup and It Was Easy [Security]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811949/why-hacking-citigroup-was-a-cinch

In one of the ballsiest bank break-ins in recent memory, a team of hackers based in Eastern Europe managed to crack open Citigroup's massive store of their customers' personal financial data. Just by hacking Citi's customer website.

The hackers broke in by impersonating legitimate credit card holders on the Citibank website:

Once inside, they leapfrogged between the accounts of different Citi customers by inserting vari-ous account numbers into a string of text located in the browser's address bar. The hackers' code systems automatically repeated this exercise tens of thousands of times - allowing them to capture the confidential private data.

As per usual, it's not clear just how much damage the hackers did. Citi is resolute in stating that the mess was "rectified immediately." However, what is know is that the ill-gotten credit card information was most likely taken from one of the many illegal "online bazaars" that have risen in Eastern Europe. In hacker communities like HackZone.ru, cyber criminals broker for stolen credit cards to buy merchandise and rake in profits. A Citi security expert even confirmed the breach originated in the region.

The demand for stolen credit card information is also on the rise, resulting in in thieves getting bolder in the search for new accounts. Banks will have to improve their security practices, if only to keep up. [NYT, Image via Shutterstock]

23-Inch NEC MultiSync EX231Wp makes desktop displays a little bit greener

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/23-inch-nec-multisync-ex231wp-makes-desktop-displays-a-little-bi/

NEC EX231Wp

If you remember last year's EX231W (note the lack of "p") then you pretty much know all you need to about the company's latest business-class 23-incher, the EX231Wp. It's got the same 14.6mm bezel, 250-nit brightness, 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 1920 x 1080 resolution. It even kept the pair of sensors for measuring ambient light and detecting meatbags sitting in front of it, which allow the screen to adjust its brightness and conserve energy. Really, the only big difference is that NEC has managed to trim the power consumption from an already respectable 31W to just 27W under normal use. The display will start shipping in July for $319 and you'll find more spec fun in the PR after the break.

Continue reading 23-Inch NEC MultiSync EX231Wp makes desktop displays a little bit greener

23-Inch NEC MultiSync EX231Wp makes desktop displays a little bit greener originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brando's iPad 2 telescope is perfect for watching the next Apple keynote

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/brandos-ipad-2-telescope-is-perfect-for-your-next-apple-keynote/

If you're like us, you've spent entirely too much time wondering how the movie Rear Window might have played out differently, had someone just handed Jimmy Stewart's character an iPad to play with. With the introduction of the Super Gear Telescope, it seems that the plot would've been mostly the same, just as soon as he finished beating Angry Birds. The Brando add-on brings 6x zoom to the iPad 2 and generally looks far less awkward than its iPhone predecessor. All in all, $26 seems like a small price to pay to see what the neighbors are looking at on their own iPads.

Brando's iPad 2 telescope is perfect for watching the next Apple keynote originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gizmodo | source

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D-Link MainStage WiDi 2.0 adapter puts your laptop on the TV, is less dangerous than it sounds

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/d-link-mainstage-widi-2-0-adapter-puts-your-laptop-on-the-tv-is/

D-Link MainStage

It was only a matter of time before D-Link entered the WiDi fray. Even though Intel is pushing manufacturers to pack the wireless display tech into practically every laptop (and even a few tablets), options for actually getting that feed on your TV have been scarce. The decidedly nondescript MainStage adapter gives you at least one more choice and, since it boasts WiDi 2.0, you can beam 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound to your home theater from up to 33 feet away -- all while you continue to browse and chat on the small screen. You can find them now in all the usual places (Newegg, Best Buy, Amazon, etc...) for $129.99, but our neighbors to the north in Canada will have to wait till July to get their hockey-loving mittens on one. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading D-Link MainStage WiDi 2.0 adapter puts your laptop on the TV, is less dangerous than it sounds

D-Link MainStage WiDi 2.0 adapter puts your laptop on the TV, is less dangerous than it sounds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii U console shown off in its bright, minimalistic entirety

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/nintendo-wii-u-console-shown-off-in-its-bright-minimalistic-ent/

Nintendo hasn't been too keen on letting us mere mortals stroke the Wii U, as no amount of coins could unlock the console's cabinet at E3. Surprisingly though, Inside Games managed to get up close and personal to this white box outside its little cave, and then came home alive with a few clear shots. Mind you, there's hardly anything exciting here: we're just gazing at some air vents on the side and back, plus a few ports -- including HDMI -- on the latter. As pointed out by our brethren over at Joystiq, only time will tell whether this curvy Wii U will come with an attachment to imitate its predecessor's vertical standing. Check out the backside after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo Wii U console shown off in its bright, minimalistic entirety

Nintendo Wii U console shown off in its bright, minimalistic entirety originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

#ExperientialMarketing Like I said here - http://bit.ly/lEvdt8; Tiffany & Co. Suite at St. Regis - http://bit.ly/lwlTcA

Google announces Search by Image and Voice Search for desktop, revamped mobile search

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/google-announces-search-by-image-search-by-voice-for-desktop/

Google's done a ton of talking about search at its Inside Search event today, and two of the biggest new developments are on the desktop. It's just announced that Android-style Voice Search is headed to Chrome (with support for English only, initially), and that it will be joined by a new Search by Image feature (also available in Chrome, or Firefox with an extension). To use that latter feature, you simply drag and drop an image or cut and paste an image URL in the search box, and then Google tries its best to recognize it and deliver relevant results -- including identifying the location in an old vacation photo, for instance (though Google notes it isn't doing face recognition). Both features will be rolling out over the next few days, but you can get a glimpse of them now in the demo videos after the break.

In other news, Google's announced Instant Pages (also demoed after the break), which promises to speed up browsing by prerendering results when its "confident you're going to click them." It's available in the latest developer version of Chrome today, and will also be included in the next public beta. Lastly, Google took the wraps off a number of revisions to its mobile search offerings, including a new set of icons and enhanced local features when browsing on a phone, as well as some revamped search and image results that have been specifically tailored to tablets -- all of which are also rolling out today.

Continue reading Google announces Search by Image and Voice Search for desktop, revamped mobile search

Google announces Search by Image and Voice Search for desktop, revamped mobile search originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sustainable Mercedes Roadster

Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/06/14/sustainable-mercedes-roadster/

Combine modern power with classic Mercedes styling reminiscent of the 1930s Silver Arrow and you’ve got this dynamic electric concept sports car, the latest from designer Ali Khanzadi. The lightweight modern roadster’s body is formed using a composite of recycled plastic & carbon fiber & the chassis a composite of carbon fiber & aluminum. Lacking traditional brakes, it utilizes the same electricity & magnetic system in braking that is used to propel the vehicle.

Designer: Ali Khanzadi

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Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Yanko Design Store - We are about more than just concepts. See what's hot at the YD Store!

Here's Every 3D Movie Ever Made [Image Cache]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811506/heres-every-3d-movie-ever-made

Some day in the not-so-distant future, there's going to be a bizarro Criterion Collection that goes about destroying the very worst that Hollywood has provided us. They'd be wise to start with this (gigundo) graphic that lays out every single 3D movie ever. BURN IT. BURN IT ALL.

It looks as though Sony made this chart in an effort to promote 3D, but my goodness, what a rogue's gallery of terrible. Which is fine if we're talking the intentionally terrible B-movies that 3D was made for. But how many of these movies, other than maybe Avatar, can you say was genuinely improved by slapping an extra dimension on there? [Electropig UK, Graphic credit: Sony Professional; via The High Definite]

NVIDIA Can Soon Build Its Own All-In-One Chipsets With Icera Purchase [Blip]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811573/nvidia-can-soon-build-its-own-all+in+one-chipsets-with-icera-purchase

NVIDIA completed its purchase of Icera, a wireless modem company. With this technology under its belt, NVIDIA can build a mobile processor with a cellular radio and a baseband applications processor. Icera already develops a product that combines NVIDIA's Tegra processor with an HSPA+ radio and support for Android. The perfect combination for the next generation Android tablet and the main reason NVIDIA shelled out $367 million for this UK-based company. [Betanews]

Google Wants to Make Internet Faster...Again [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811579/google-wants-to-make-internet-fasteragain

Last year, Google launched their own DNS servers in an attempt to speed up internet load times for those who trusted them enough to handle their web routing. Now, they want to speed up those load times again using SPDY, a new optimization protocol.

According to Technology Review, SPDY has been around since late 2009. But now, Google is making the protocol, which negotiates and optimizes data transfer between a server and browser, available as a commercial product.

Website optimization company Strangeloop has built SPDY into its flagship product Site Optimizer, software that sits in between a website and its users, and adjusts the site's code to make pages load more quickly. Strangeloop's customers will have the ability to turn the protocol on easily; in tests, the protocol has sped up websites by 10 to 20 percent.

Technology Review also raises a good point that Google wants the entire internet to speed up in the interest of their Chrome OS, which runs almost entirely on web apps. It also has the ability make mobile browsers that support the protocol faster as well. But for now, it's only compatible with desktop versions of Chrome. And as we wait for the new tech to trickle down, we just sit and play the waiting game. [Google via Technology Review]

New Cable Technology Promises 4.5 Gbps Download, 575 Mbps Upload Speeds [Internet]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811629/new-cable-technology-promises-45-gbps-download-575-mbps-upload-speeds

Watch out DSL providers, your fancy, schmancy fiber optic technology is about to be blown away by a cable telecommunications company from Suwanee, Georgia.

At the Cable Show 2011 conference in Chicago, ARRIS is demoing a new technology that delivers 4.5 Gbps download and 575 Mbps upload speeds over a cable connection. The system steals its bandwidth from DOCSIS cable channels, about 128 channels are pilfered for the downstream and 24 for the upstream connection.

Yes, that means you will receive 848 channels instead of 1,000, but who's complaining. By the time this proof of concept technology makes it to your cable router, most of us will be watching all our TV on Hulu, Netflix or some other IPTV provider anyway. [MaximumPC]

Apple Is Now Selling Unlocked iPhone 4 Handsets From $650 [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5811673/apple-is-now-selling-unlocked-iphone-4s-from-650

Can you believe that an iRumor has come true, for once—and early? Apple's started selling unlocked iPhone 4 phones in the US, with the 16GB model (in both black and white) costing $650, and the 32GB models coming in at $750.

While this is a step forward in the right direction for Apple (after they started selling unlocked iPhones in the UK last year), US customers can still only use them for 3G on the AT&T network. They can, however, use them with T-Mobile microSIMs, but only on EDGE. Business-travellers will now also be able to pop a microSIM in there if abroad, and take advantage of their host country's new rates. [Apple via SlashGear]

Moneta Onyx phase-change memory prototype can write some data 7x faster than traditional SSDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/moneta-onyx-phase-change-memory-prototype-can-write-some-data-7x/

As file sizes for many data types continue to grow, smaller chunks are also becoming more ubiquitous, particularly on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and search tools like Google. These high-volume, small-size blocks of data may soon be served up from a specific type of SSD, like the Moneta Onyx prototype developed by a team at the University of California, San Diego. Onyx uses phase-change memory (PCM), which can rewrite single bits of data (1s and 0s) on demand, rather than rewriting data in larger chunks, yielding sustained 327 megabyte per second (MB/s) reads and 91MB/s writes with smaller file types -- two to seven times faster than the most efficient commercial SSDs. PCM specifically benefits granular data, rather than large files that must be transferred completely (like photos and documents), so the tech is more likely to appear on devices serving up short text-based messages. Traditional SSDs can write larger files faster than the Onyx prototype, though the new drive offers speedier read speeds across the board. It'll be at least a couple years before PCM becomes commercially available, but once (and if) it does, you'll be reading about your coworker's breakfast or college buddy's traffic jam milliseconds faster than before.

Moneta Onyx phase-change memory prototype can write some data 7x faster than traditional SSDs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MIT Technology Review | source

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