Featured Stories

Apple Takes iPad Secrecy All the Way to 11

Mashable!  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 06:19 PM EST   [*New!*]

In order to have access to iPad testing units, developers and testers had to agree to keep the device tethered to a fixed object in an isolated room with blacked-out windows, according to a report by BusinessWeek . That’s pretty hardcore. It’s unclear from BusinessWeek’s report if that was a condition enforced before the iPad was unveiled to the public or if it’s something that will be kept up until the April 3 launch date. Apple is a notoriously secretive company, especially when it comes to new products. Outside of partnerships with content publishers like The New York Times, Wired and The Wall Street Journal who have either confirmed interest or already shown demonstrations of their applications, the few developers that do have access to the iPad are keeping their mouths shut. It also appears that...

Jesse James' alleged mistress is a 'tattoo model.' What does that mean

Slate Magazine - Explainer  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 06:03 PM EST   [*New!*]

Michelle McGee, the woman who allegedly had an affair with Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James, is identified in news stories as a 'tattoo model.' Is that a real profession? [ more ... ]

QOTD [Digital Daily]

All Things Digital  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 06:01 PM EST   [*New!*]

QOTD [Digital Daily] “[They've] burnt bridges and they’ve burnt the Google brand in China. There is no way Google can ever come back. It’s over for Google in China.” – Peter Lui, Google’s former chief financial controller for the Asia Pacific region

Mosquitos of the future may vaccinate against malaria, instead of spread it

CrunchGear  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 06:00 PM EST   [*New!*]

Mosquitos are one of the major ways that malaria is spread, causing an estimated two million deaths per year. Wouldn't it be cool if those mosquitos could be genetically modified to spread a malaria vaccination instead of the disease itself? Scientists have theorized about just such a solution for years, but recent work from Jichi Medical University in Japan proves that it's actually possible , not just theoretically possible.

Turbulence tamed in water pipes

MSNBC - Top Headlines  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:58 PM EST   [*New!*]

In an effort to help lower the cost of pumping fluids through pipelines, scientists have discovered an unlikely solution: adding more turbulence, research that could have huge implications in a wide variety of fields.

Report: Vodafone says 3,000 phones exposed to virus

CNET News.com  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:58 PM EST   [*New!*]

Malware found in HTC Magic phones has been traced back to memory cards that shipped in about 3,000 phones, according to report citing Vodafone.

Cloak of invisibility becomes more foreseeable

CNET News.com  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:49 PM EST

Scientists in Germany successfully cloak a bump in a layer of gold. The new cloaking device, made of seemingly light-bending crystals, even works in three dimensions.

Amazon and Apple in eBook fight ahead of iPad launch

TECH.BLORGE.com  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:47 PM EST

A battle over eBook pricing is about to kick off, with Amazon facing a sizable opponent in the shape of Apple. But it isn’t about to give up without a fight, apparently playing hardball with publishers. Amazon has had the eBook market pretty much to itself up to now, with no competitors having anywhere near the [...] Related posts: Google to launch ebook store Amazon pulls Macmillan publications from the Kindle over price dispute Amazon upping its e-book royalties to authors in effort to fight off Apple

Palm Drops 29% on Revenue Forecast; Analysts Debate Viability

Business Week - Technology  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:46 PM EST

Palm Inc., maker of the Pre smartphone, fell the most in two years after predicting sales this quarter will be less than half of Wall Street estimates, prompting some analysts to question the company’s viability.

Intel Labs unveils PC power plans

The Register - Enterprise  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:42 PM EST

'Humongous' savings, tiny batteries Engineers at Intel Labs are toiling away at a 'holistic approach' to energy savings that could result in lower-power processors, shrunken power bricks and batteries, and worldwide power bills shrinking by billions of dollars.…

Google Releases Free Web Security Scanner

InformationWeek  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:38 PM EST

The open-source skipfish software can be used as preparation for a professional Web application security evaluation.

Ex-MySQL chief Marten Mickos lands new CEO job

Computerworld Software News  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:38 PM EST

Marten Mickos, the longtime CEO of MySQL who eventually sold the open-source database company to Sun Microsystems for US$1 billion, has taken a new job as CEO of Eucalyptus Systems, the company said Friday.

FCC seeks comment on rules for TV-cable talks

Mercury News  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:37 PM EST

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are seeking public comment on a petition by cable, satellite and phone companies that want more clout in negotiations with TV broadcasters over programming.

Brightkite’s GroupText Is a Text Messaging Party Line

GigaOM  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:30 PM EST

The lowly text message gains even more social networking and location-based group functionality courtesy of Brightkite's new GroupText feature. Up to 25 friends can participate in the conversation or use the service to plan an impromptu gathering without signing up for a BrightKite account.

Warren Lich concept trailer

CrunchGear  | Links  | Related | Mar 19, 2010 05:30 PM EST

Loyal readers, I give you a Steampunk Sin City concept made on 1000 Euros. Now if one of you could kindly tell me what in the world is going on in it? via [Dvorak Uncensored]