Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Design Concepts: Enliven Valentine's With Imaginative, Intimate Devices]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/design-concepts-enliven-valentines-with-imaginative-intimate/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/design-concepts-enliven-valentines-with-imaginative-intimate/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/design-concepts-enliven-valentines-with-imaginative-intimate/#comments
The Web is teeming with the unrealized ideas of both students and established designers who set out to produce astonishing renderings and prototypes for unusual products. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, money, or technology, many of those products never progress from the planning stages to the mass market. But that doesn't mean we can't salivate over them, nevertheless.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we've rounded up some of the year's best concepts in sex toys. While the (familiar?) landscape of sex toy design leaves a lot to be desired, some gifted creatives have taken it upon themselves to address carnal pleasures. One of the main reasons people hide their sex gadgets is that they are embarrassed by the connotations of owning such paraphernalia. The other reason is that you cannot, in good taste, perch an electric pink penetrator next to your stack of Mies van der Rohe monographs. Sex toys ought not be hidden, say some designers -- and they needn't look tacky, either. While nearly all the designs listed here are for more... receptive pleasures, dudes shouldn't diss the science.

Continue reading Design Concepts: Enliven Valentine's With Imaginative, Intimate Devices

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Design Concepts: Enliven Valentine's With Imaginative, Intimate Devices originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aloe is a toyAloeIsAToyarik levyArikLevybastian kochBastianKochdesigndesign conceptDesignConceptfeaturesfluid interfaces groupFluidInterfacesGroupimaginarteJimmyjanejonas lonborgJonasLonborgpupsamrenderingsexsex toysSexToystop switchedtips@gmail.com (Matthew Zuras) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[David Lynch to Text You Movies, 'Madden' Coming to Facebook]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/david-lynch-to-text-you-movies-madden-coming-to-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/david-lynch-to-text-you-movies-madden-coming-to-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/david-lynch-to-text-you-movies-madden-coming-to-facebook/#comments
Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • The Mogreet mobile video firm focuses on MMS, particularly the development of text messaging and the incorporation of phone-to-phone video sharing. The company has now drafted Hollywood icon David Lynch to help share its new technology, as it has introduced a texting program through which subscribers can receive exclusive David Lynch Television Foundation video material. [From: Mashable]
  • Games like 'Mafia Wars' and 'Farmville' have exploded in popularity on Facebook, so it seems only natural that an actual video game manufacturer would want to get in on that social networking marketplace. EA is reportedly considering such a move, and all indications point toward its 'Madden' franchise as being the first title in development. [From: CNET]
  • One of the primary complaints about Google's Nexus One phone has been that the company offers inadequate tech support. Google is apparently addressing that area of need by introducing an entirely new support line that will feature (gasp!) real, live humans. [From: Engadget]
  • Foursquare, the social networking app that promotes outside, real world interaction, has partnered with Zagat to create a restaurant reward game. With the program, players can receive "foodie" badges when they dine at selected Zagat establishments. [From: The New York Times]
  • Specific details are still sketchy, but Motorola has announced that it will release the Android 2.1 upgrade for its Droid smartphone this week. Motorola's press release, which was actually issued through Facebook, said that the company will "have more information to share on other device upgrades later." [From: Engadget]
  • Somehow, the Unites States lags behind numerous other nations in terms of Internet access and speed. Google wants to help the FCC address those issues, and one of the company's policy analysts recently discussed with CNN how the nation can implement a faster, universally available Web. [From: CNN]

David Lynch to Text You Movies, 'Madden' Coming to Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> David LynchDavidLynchdroidEAFCCgooglemaddenmmsmorningxtraMotorolanexus oneNexusOnetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Google Gets Glam With a Makeover From Fashion's Brightest]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/google-gets-glam-with-a-makeover-from-fashions-brightest/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/google-gets-glam-with-a-makeover-from-fashions-brightest/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/google-gets-glam-with-a-makeover-from-fashions-brightest/#comments A good designer can find inspiration in anything. Similarly, a good search engine can be used to find everything.Yet, beware of Google, good readers. While the super-company has conquered all things virtual from e-mail to maps, the world of high fashion is a tough one to master.

Teaming up with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (which basically picks and chooses, based on talent, hype and creativity, what fashion designers we'll be adoring in about four years), Google challenged designers to produce sartorial search engine gear. Young hopefuls, like Patrik Ervell or Sophie Theallet, interpreted Google, creating homepage themes and prints, and then created a garment or accessory infused with The Big G.

Google's three favorites were released last week, and, while the simple search box doesn't exactly scream 'The Devil Wears Prada,' the three creations are actually decently wearable. A tee, by womenswear designer Gary Graham, is a vintage-y shirt with a red Google marker emblazoned on the front. Duo Ohne Titel imbued a cardigan with the Goog's signature primary colors (with a similar scarf for sale), and House of Waris fabricated an antiqued magnifying glass for old-fashioned 'search.'

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Google Gets Glam With a Makeover From Fashion's Brightest originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> CFDACFDA-awardsfashionGary GrahamGaryGrahamgeek chicGeekChicgooglehouse of warisHouseOfWarisOhne-Titeltopvogue switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:08:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nickelback Vs. a Pickle: Latest Facebook Meme Asks the Tough Questions]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/nickelback-vs-a-pickle-latest-facebook-meme-asks-the-tough-que/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/nickelback-vs-a-pickle-latest-facebook-meme-asks-the-tough-que/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/nickelback-vs-a-pickle-latest-facebook-meme-asks-the-tough-que/#comments Because these are the kinds of things that curious minds ponder, we're sure you've spent many a wee hour asking yourself if Nickelback sucks and how they could've ever accrued over 1 million fans on Facebook. That's twice the size of Boston, for Scott Stapp's sake! Well, the citizens of Facebook have heard your cry of confusion, and they've devised a brand new meme to finally answer the question, once and for all -- random object by random object. Because doppelgangers are sooo last week, the newest trend to take over Facebook mini-feeds has users asking each other questions like: "Is nondescript, everyday household item 'x' more popular than inexplicably popular public figure 'y'?"

As Mashable reports, the latest victim is Justin Bieber, pop singer extraordinaire. According to a recently created fan page, Bieber is less popular than your average onion ring (although, considering how delicious onion rings are, that may not have been a very fair fight). The Bieber v. Onion Ring online tribunal page was created at the beginning of the month, and, before you start feeling sorry for the 16-year-old, you should know that he may stand to make some cash off of his popular unpopularity; several businesses have reportedly approached him about advertising on the platform.

Similar sites have already been set up to take aim at other polarizing pop culture figures, like Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (who, by the way, also lost to this apparently unbeatable onion ring). As for Nickelback? Well, they're still pretty far ahead of their dill pickle opponent. We'd like to see them take on someone their own size, though -- someone like the onion ring. [From: Mashable]

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Nickelback Vs. a Pickle: Latest Facebook Meme Asks the Tough Questions originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookFacebookMemefunnyjustin bieberJustinBiebermemenickelbacksocialnetworkingstephen harperStephenHarpertop switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:18:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Are the Health Hazards of Cell Phones Being Covered Up?]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/are-the-health-hazards-of-cell-phones-being-covered-up/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/are-the-health-hazards-of-cell-phones-being-covered-up/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/are-the-health-hazards-of-cell-phones-being-covered-up/#comments Grab your tinfoil hats everyone. We're going on a wild ride through the world of cell phone radiation, industry cover-ups, and government complicity.

If you've been following Switched, or tech news at all, you know that one of the most contentious debates right now is over wireless technology and its effects on the human body. Studies come out nearly every week, alternately declaring cell phone and Wi-Fi radiation safe and announcing its responsibility for countless health issues. GQ's Christopher Ketcham did some digging and turned out one of the most thought-provoking (if slightly alarmist) articles on the physiological effects of wireless radiation we've ever read.

According to Ketcham's article, the lack of a scientific consensus doesn't spring from the difficulty of observing subtle shifts in biochemistry, or from maintaining viable documentation of the long-term effects. Instead, Ketcham, and his sources, most notably neuroscientist Allan Frey, accuse both the communications industry and the Defense Department of actively covering up the truth, and exerting influence over government agencies and the scientific community here in the U.S.

While that might sound like the ramblings of a paranoid Fox Mulder type, it's not as insane as it seems. Private industry has a long and proud history of covering up its own health hazards, while convincing the government to turn a blind eye. The tobacco industry, asbestos manufacturers, and the makers of both DDT and Agent Orange long denied and actively hid overwhelming evidence that their products caused cancer and other health problems.

Continue reading Are the Health Hazards of Cell Phones Being Covered Up?

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Are the Health Hazards of Cell Phones Being Covered Up? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cancercell phone radiationCellPhoneRadiationconspiracycoverDepartment of DefenseDepartmentOfDefensedodgeelectromagnetic radiationElectromagneticRadiationhealthradiationsciencetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Your Choice of Search Engine Says a Lot About You]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/your-choice-of-search-engine-says-a-lot-about-you/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/your-choice-of-search-engine-says-a-lot-about-you/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/your-choice-of-search-engine-says-a-lot-about-you/#comments What does your search engine say about you? Well, if you believe a new study from a group of marketing agencies, it says a lot. A group that included Wunderman, BrandAsset Consulting, Zaaz, and Compete set out to learn about the shopping habits and brand preferences of search users. Google users tend towards Target and Amazon, while Bing users (despite apparently being "early adopters") are more likely to go to Walmart. Oddest of all, Yahoo! users showed a "strong preference" for Sprint and AT&T over Verizon or T-Mobile.

The study claims that your favorite search engine doesn't merely indicate a preference for JetBue or a tendency to buy Toyotas. The companies believe they were able to build complex psychological profiles of the various engines' average users. Google customers are "the average Internet Joe" -- conventional, yet open to trying new things. Yahoo! users, on the other hand, tend to be older, lack imagination, and feel like they can't control their future.

Continue reading Your Choice of Search Engine Says a Lot About You

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Your Choice of Search Engine Says a Lot About You originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aolbinggooglemarket researchMarketResearchsearch enginesSearchEnginestopyahoo switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Even Fictional Characters and TV Shows Need Social Networks]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/even-fictional-characters-and-tv-shows-need-social-networks/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/even-fictional-characters-and-tv-shows-need-social-networks/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/even-fictional-characters-and-tv-shows-need-social-networks/#comments Even Fictional Characters Need Social Networks
The real world has more than enough social networking sites to keep us occupied for decades. The TV world doesn't have the time to address the differences between Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and DoggySpace, though -- not to mention the potential legal issues with placing MySpace at the center of a plot about a child molester. Often, TV shows and movies create catch-all fictional social networks that serve whatever purpose the plot demands.

'Law and Order: SVU' has FaceUnion, '30 Rock' has YouFace, and the novel 'Snow Crash' has the Metaverse. All of these are included in Geekosystem's 'Pocket Guide to Fictional Social Networks'. Our favorite, and perhaps strangest, entry on the list is YouTwitFace; from its beginnings as a one-liner in Conan O'Brien's 'In the Year 3000' sketch, it has spawned a mock developer blog.

Continue reading Even Fictional Characters and TV Shows Need Social Networks

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Even Fictional Characters and TV Shows Need Social Networks originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Faceunionfictionsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopyoufaceyoutwitface switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Impressive 'Siri' App Makes Your iPhone a Virtual Assistant]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/impressive-siri-app-makes-your-iphone-a-virtual-assistant/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/impressive-siri-app-makes-your-iphone-a-virtual-assistant/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/09/impressive-siri-app-makes-your-iphone-a-virtual-assistant/#comments Siri is an Impressive
Siri is a new voice search and "virtual assistant" application for the iPhone that takes "natural language" requests and turns them into actionable results. For example, ask Siri "where can I get the best sushi," and it will, using the iPhone's GPS, search Yelp to find recommended sushi restaurants near you.

Using Nuance, the same speech-to-text engine that powers popular tools like Jott and the Dragon, Siri converts your requests to text, parses them to determine your intent, and then pulls appropriate content from its partners such as Yelp, Eventful and Taxi Magic. What makes Siri unique, and particularly useful, is that once you've found a restaurant, or a movie, you can reserve a table or purchase tickets right from the app. Siri can also look up weather forecasts, business locations and concerts, and can even book you a taxi.

Continue reading Impressive 'Siri' App Makes Your iPhone a Virtual Assistant

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Impressive 'Siri' App Makes Your iPhone a Virtual Assistant originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> apprevieweventfulfeaturesgpsiphone appIphoneAppsiritaxi magicTaxiMagictopvirtual assistantVirtualAssistantvoice searchvoice to textVoiceSearchVoiceToTextyelp switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Remixing Violence in Super Bowl Ads, Web Celebs Celebrate the Internet]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/remixing-violence-in-super-bowl-ads-web-celebs-celebrate-the-in/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/remixing-violence-in-super-bowl-ads-web-celebs-celebrate-the-in/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/remixing-violence-in-super-bowl-ads-web-celebs-celebrate-the-in/#comments There's a load of great tech news happening out there every day, and, unfortunately, we just can't cover it all. Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.
  • whirled interactive flexed its video slicing skills with this insane video mashing up every violent act, and there were tons, from all of the 2010 Super Bowl ads. [From: BoingBoing]
  • On a less gruesome note, but ComputerWorld gathered the top 10 techie Super Bowl ads of all time, including Apple's iconic '1984' ad and the absurd Intel 'Play That Funky Music' dance party from '97. [From: Computer World]
  • The Internet can be a pretty lonely place during the deep, dark winter, but fortunately Neil Gaiman, Google, Wil Wheaton, Jason Kottke, Cory Doctorow and many more Net celebs come together to express their love for the Web and the best comic, xkcd, in a meta-song about The Discovery Channel. [From: LaughingSquid]
Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our Tumblr blog.

Remixing Violence in Super Bowl Ads, Web Celebs Celebrate the Internet originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bestoftherestsuper bowlsuper bowl adssuper bowl commercialsSuperBowlSuperBowlAdsSuperBowlCommercialsthe discovery channelTheDiscoveryChanneltopxkcd switchedtips@gmail.com (Thomas Houston) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Keg on Wheels: 'Heineken Bot' Rolls Around and Pours Beer for You]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/keg-on-wheels-heineken-bot-rolls-around-and-pours-beer-for-yo/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/keg-on-wheels-heineken-bot-rolls-around-and-pours-beer-for-yo/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/keg-on-wheels-heineken-bot-rolls-around-and-pours-beer-for-yo/#comments It's not too often that we get to write two of our favorite words -- beer and robot -- in the same sentence. So when suds and bots combine to form some unholy creation, it's a good day at the office. Enter the latest amalgamation, the brand-specific "Heineken Bot," which is basically a miniature keg on wheels. Think of it as a Roomba, but way cooler and more drunk. According to Engadget, there's a sensor mounted on top of the keg. When you wave your hand above it, the robot stops and waits to pour your drink. Just place a cup in the arm, and the bot will fill it to the brim with the frothy lager (video after the break).

The "Heineken Bot" recently appeared at London's Kinetica Art Fair. It's the work of some folks from Middlesex University. Of course, it took the college crowd to come up with this idea. If they could program the bot to be controlled via remote control, it'd be a huge seller in frat houses across America. Except, they might have to replace the Heineken keg with a Natty Light keg. [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Keg on Wheels: 'Heineken Bot' Rolls Around and Pours Beer for You

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Keg on Wheels: 'Heineken Bot' Rolls Around and Pours Beer for You originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> beerbeerbotbrewdrinkheinekenkegrobottop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Hunchback of Cupertino: Will the iPad Kill Your Back?]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/the-hunchback-of-cupertino-will-the-ipad-kill-your-back/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/the-hunchback-of-cupertino-will-the-ipad-kill-your-back/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/the-hunchback-of-cupertino-will-the-ipad-kill-your-back/#comments It's only been a couple of weeks since Steve Jobs revealed the iPad to the world and the naysayers are crawling out of the woodwork. But it's not a bunch of nerds that are criticizing the new tablet's features. Rather, it's scientists who say the iPad could be hazardous to your health.

According to Live Science, the iPad's design (and that of some other mobile devices) encourages users to sit in a hunched over position called "airport posture," which can lead to serious back and neck problems. That's right, prolonged periods of poor posture are bad. Anthony Andre, founder of Interface Analysis Associates (IAA), says the problematic posture is a result of the keyboard and monitor being located in the same area, which encourages users to bend over while typing. Combine that with the device's thinness and portability -- meaning you'll be using it more often in more places -- and you've got a recipe for aches and pains.

Continue reading The Hunchback of Cupertino: Will the iPad Kill Your Back?

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The Hunchback of Cupertino: Will the iPad Kill Your Back? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applebackpaindoctorhealthipadposturetablettop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:55:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Googlemobile Got By German GPS Pranksters]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/german-artists-tag-googlemobile-with-gps-tracker/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/german-artists-tag-googlemobile-with-gps-tracker/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/german-artists-tag-googlemobile-with-gps-tracker/#comments Remember when Google rolled out its Street View feature and everybody was suddenly up-in-arms about their privacy? Well, the tables were recently turned for a day in Germany. According to Mashable, some Berlin artists known as the Free Art & Technology (F.A.T.) group secretly attached a GPS device to one of Google's Street View cars over the weekend. In a hilarious bit of irony, the pranksters posted a Google map on their site, which tracked the car's movements around the city. The map updated every two minutes so that Berlin residents could check it and avoid being caught on camera. But somebody from Google must have pretty quickly noticed that the company car was being tracked, because the device went offline the same day it was planted. Nonetheless, you can still check out the map and see where the car went.

At least now, a few Google employees know how it feels to be watched. We're sure it won't make the company rethink its voyeuristic ways, but it might make folks who've been caught in compromising situations by Street View feel a little better. [From: Mashable]

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Googlemobile Got By German GPS Pranksters originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> funnygooglegooglemobilegpsmapsprankprivacystreetviewtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Barnes and Noble Nook Finally in Stock, Still Not That Compelling]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/barnes-and-noble-nook-finally-in-stock-still-not-that-compellin/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/barnes-and-noble-nook-finally-in-stock-still-not-that-compellin/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/barnes-and-noble-nook-finally-in-stock-still-not-that-compellin/#comments Nook Finally In Stock, Still Not Compelling While the Kindle has been met with nearly universal (and, at least in this writer's opinion, undeserved) praise, its most visible competitor -- the Nook -- has been dogged by issues including a generally lukewarm reception and an almost complete lack of availability.

Well, Barnes and Noble has finally ramped up production and removed the "out of stock" label on its Web site. Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Nook is available from BarnesandNoble.com for the usual list price of $259. If you want to check one out before dropping more than two bills on it, the company says that the devices will be in most Barnes and Noble stores by mid-week, as well.

Continue reading Barnes and Noble Nook Finally in Stock, Still Not That Compelling

Barnes and Noble Nook Finally in Stock, Still Not That Compelling originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> barnes and nobleBarnesAndNoblee-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readereReaderkindlenooktop switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[15 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $15]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/15-valentines-day-gifts-under-15/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/15-valentines-day-gifts-under-15/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/15-valentines-day-gifts-under-15/#comments
A yearly expression of love. The Hallmark holiday. An easy excuse to munch chocolates and watch 'Mermaids.' Whatever Valentine's Day is for you, it certainly is coming up. We, for one, look at the day of hearts and cupids as another excuse to put together a world-famous gift guide for the geeky, a frugal but festive selection of booty that is guaranteed to get your some. From bling boomboxes to tiny dinosaurs, we're presenting quite a selection of inexpensive, but still romantic, nerd presents on the Net.

Continue reading 15 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $15

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15 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $15 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> etsyfeaturesgeek cardsGeekCardsholidaylovemini boombox ipod speaker plushMiniBoomboxIpodSpeakerPlushplush beating heartPlushBeatingHeartrobot toothbrush holdersRobotToothbrushHoldersswarovskitopvalentines dayValentinesDay switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Google's Super Bowl Ad Is Sticky Sweet, Makes Us Puke a Little]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/googles-super-bowl-ad-is-sticky-sweet-makes-us-puke-a-little/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/googles-super-bowl-ad-is-sticky-sweet-makes-us-puke-a-little/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/googles-super-bowl-ad-is-sticky-sweet-makes-us-puke-a-little/#comments Despite (or perhaps due to) the fact that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, we find ourselves a bit soured on the idea of love. Can we help but admit that we found Google's Super Bowl commercial last night a bit...saccharine? (Video after the break.) It plays off of every sappy romance trope: American boy meets French girl, falls in love, gets married, babies, etc. And he was able to become a cinematic stereotype all with the help of Google! (We assume that the incorporeal protagonist is indeed male, since gay marriage is still illegal in France.) And, while most of the other Super Bowl ads were fairly lackluster compared to those of years past, this is perhaps the most unoriginal way to sell people on a search engine that basically everyone already uses.

This is the first Super Bowl ad for market leader Google, but, interestingly, the ad is not new. 'Parisian Love' is part of a YouTube series called 'Search Stories,' which has been viewed 1.2 million times since November. That's odd, since the commercial features some ethereal being searching for things. That's what we all do with Google every day, and yet we're not being chased by Parisian paramours. The ad's earnestness somehow comes across as disingenuous. So, go ahead, and call us heartless. We prefer The New Yorker's take on transatlantic love, anyhow. [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Google's Super Bowl Ad Is Sticky Sweet, Makes Us Puke a Little

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Google's Super Bowl Ad Is Sticky Sweet, Makes Us Puke a Little originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> googleloveparisromancesuper bowl adsSuperBowlAdstopyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Matthew Zuras) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Homophobic Tweet Lands Vodafone Rep on 'Indefinite' Suspension]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/homophobic-tweet-lands-vodafone-rep-on-indefinite-suspension/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/homophobic-tweet-lands-vodafone-rep-on-indefinite-suspension/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/homophobic-tweet-lands-vodafone-rep-on-indefinite-suspension/#comments There's biting the hand that feeds you, and then there's severing the hand that feeds you. The line separating the two, as one Vodafone employee recently proved, is pretty clearly defined.

On Friday afternoon, Vodafone's nearly 9,000 Twitter followers were left scratching their heads after reading a tweet on the company's page that read: "VodafoneUK is fed up of dirty homo's and is going after beaver." The tweet, as The Guardian reports, was apparently the work of a bored (and bigoted) customer service rep based in Stoke, where the mobile company employs people to use Twitter and other social networking media to communicate with users. After receiving complaints within minutes, Vodafone deleted the Tweet and promptly set about doing damage control. Word, however, spread pretty fast, and the company has been forced to apologize and engage in a prolonged mea culpa. In a series of direct messages to its followers, Vodafone reassured its customers that they weren't hacked, as many had suspected, and said simply, "An inappropriate message. Severe breach of rules by staff in our building, dealing with that internally. We're extremely sorry."

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Homophobic Tweet Lands Vodafone Rep on 'Indefinite' Suspension originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> customerservicehomophobiasocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwittervodafoneweb switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Beyonce and Megan Fox Do Techie Super Bowl Ads, Verizon Blocks 4chan]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/beyonce-and-megan-fox-do-techie-super-bowl-ads-verizon-blocks-4/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/beyonce-and-megan-fox-do-techie-super-bowl-ads-verizon-blocks-4/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/beyonce-and-megan-fox-do-techie-super-bowl-ads-verizon-blocks-4/#comments Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • With the constant ads for beer, erectile dysfunction cures, and bladder pills, it's glaringly obvious who advertising firms target during the Super Bowl. Motorola tapped into that testosterone well yesterday with its new spot for the Devour with "motoblur." The company has also released "bonus footage" from the commercial, which featured a seemingly nude Megan Fox taking pictures of herself in the bathtub. [From: Engadget]
  • Vizio also debuted an ad during the Super Bowl, and, shockingly, didn't even resort to gratuitous nudity or flatulence jokes. To market its new Internet Apps program, which aims to bring "the best of the Internet" to television screens, Vizio compiled a montage of the Web's top memes. We could have done with a little less 'Chocolate Rain,' and a little more Keyboard Cat. [From: Engadget HD]
  • 4chan is often characterized as the Mos Eisley of the Internet, a "wretched hive of scum and villainy," but it may in fact represent the last bastion of true freedom on the Web. Verizon has blocked the site from its network but has yet to offer a statement why. The company should probably provide some sort of official reason soon, because if there's one Web community you don't want to cross, it's the folks at 4chan. [From: Read Write Web]
  • Hacking has developed into a serious conflict in China, with perpetrators acting both on behalf of the government and against it. The nation claimed a significant "victory" in its campaign against Web dissidents, as it shut down a hacker training Web site known as the Black Hawk Safety Net. The clandestine online organization had attracted over 12,000 paying subscribers and another 170,000 free members. [From: The BBC]
  • Popular legend holds that all human races once shared a common language until the construction of a so-called Tower of Babel. Google is apparently trying to dismantle that figurative tower with the creation of voice recognition software that could immediately, and accurately, translate spoken language into text. Developer Franz Och said that the service will hopefully be functional and ready for release "in a few years' time." [From: The Next Web]

Beyonce and Megan Fox Do Techie Super Bowl Ads, Verizon Blocks 4chan originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 4chandevourmorningxtrasuper bowlSuperBowltopverizonvizio switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:55:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Pentagon to Breed 'Immortal' Army of Synthetic Organisms]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/pentagon-to-breed-immortal-army-of-synthetic-organisms/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/pentagon-to-breed-immortal-army-of-synthetic-organisms/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/pentagon-to-breed-immortal-army-of-synthetic-organisms/#comments What better way to fight the dangers of biological warfare than with... biological warfare? As Wired's Danger Room reports, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is set on investing a full $6 million in a project called "BioDesign," an ambitious plan that, if successful, would spawn a whole army of genetically engineered organisms programmed to fight the good fight -- until the end of time. Researchers are reportedly intent upon creating a new breed of species implanted with death-resistant molecules and "tamper proof" cells. In the event that one of their programmed pawns decides to go rogue, however, engineers can simply activate a so-called "self-destruct" option, which would facilitate the "nefarious removal" of any treasonous organism.

There are, of course, several hurdles that DARPA has yet to clear, technical and ethical alike. Death may be not proud, but it's certainly a major obstacle for geneticists to overcome. Gene therapy techniques are about as cutting edge as life-extension science gets, but so far that's only proven to extend lab rats' lives by about 20-percent. Limitless life logistics aside, the project will still probably face major controversy from ethicists who already question whether or not humans are going a bit too far in their attempts to manipulate millions of years of evolutionary history. Hearing those naysayers, DARPA retorts, "The concern that humans might be overreaching... returns us to disagreements about what is our proper role in the natural world (a debate largely about non-physical harms or harms to well-being)."

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Pentagon to Breed 'Immortal' Army of Synthetic Organisms originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biologydarpaDefense Advanced Research Projects AgencyDefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgencygenetic engineeringGeneticEngineeringgeneticsorganismsorwellpentagonscarytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Facebook to Battle Gmail in the E-mail Game?]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/facebook-to-battle-gmail-in-the-e-mail-game/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/facebook-to-battle-gmail-in-the-e-mail-game/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/facebook-to-battle-gmail-in-the-e-mail-game/#comments Google and Facebook are apparently engaged in a heated race to store, save, and own every aspect of their members' private activities and personal information. With the massive popularity of Gmail, though, Google has remained one Big Brother step ahead of Facebook.

Michael Arrington at TechCrunch claims that Facebook is challenging Gmail's market dominance, though, with the development of its very own e-mail service. The progression definitely seems like a logical step, as Facebook has already revolutionized the way people communicate, interact, and share information with one another online. The social networking pioneer also allows for chatting, or instant messaging, so incorporating a fully functional e-mail service makes perfect sense, particularly since the massively popular site has already attracted over 350 million users.

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Facebook to Battle Gmail in the E-mail Game? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> e-mailFacebookGmailGooglesocial networkingSocialNetworkingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:18:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[MIT Grad Uses MS Paint to Build Interactive Resume]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/mit-grad-uses-ms-paint-to-build-interactive-resume/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/mit-grad-uses-ms-paint-to-build-interactive-resume/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/mit-grad-uses-ms-paint-to-build-interactive-resume/#comments
While the rest of the job-seeking world is busy uploading pristine, video-enhanced resumes or marketing themselves on Twitter, one brainiac at MIT has decided to set his CV apart from the self-marketing masses -- with a little help from Microsoft Paint. Flagrantly disregarding all ladder-climbing protocol, computer science PhD grad Eugene Hsu recently created a surprisingly coherent resume entirely on Paint. In addition to the typical work experience and education background info, Hsu delves far deeper into the details and quirks of his personal life. For example, when potential employers peruse his credentials, they'll know all about his aversion to carrot juice, as well as his extensive collection of (presumably American Apparel) hoodies -- each detail, quite fittingly, punctuated with several exclamation points.

It's certainly a way to stand out from the crowd, and we applaud Hsu's child-like spirit and creativity. But we're still not entirely convinced that turning our body of work into a seven-year old's art class project will necessarily give us a better shot at landing our dream job. It's still a welcomed respite, however, from the other notoriously "alternative" resumes that have cropped up over the years. [From: Squicky.org, via: Neatorama]

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MIT Grad Uses MS Paint to Build Interactive Resume originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cvEugene HsuEugeneHsujobapplicationjobsmitmspaintpaintresumetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Popcorn Tweets Lets You Eat While You Tweet]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/popcorn-tweets-lets-you-eat-while-you-tweet/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/popcorn-tweets-lets-you-eat-while-you-tweet/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/popcorn-tweets-lets-you-eat-while-you-tweet/#comments If you consider pushing a button on a microwave one too many steps between you and a bowl of popcorn, a new invention may allow you to cook up a steaming pile of Orville Redenbacher from the comfort of your own Twitter account.

Created by Dave Britt and Justin Goeres, Popcorn Tweets is a new device that creates fluffy balloons of popcorn deliciousness at the click of a mouse. Whenever anyone posts a '#popcorn' tweet to their Twitter page, the Archimedes screw-powered robot sends an ugly duckling corn kernel into the literally named "Chamber of Blistering Heat", where it's turned into the beautiful swan that is popcorn. You can see a demo video after the break -- although you should probably be warned that the kitschiness quotient is pretty, prett-ay high. And even though we still don't really condone eating while tweeting, if these guys can somehow figure out a way to incorporate '#butter' and '#salt' triggers into their contraption, we might be willing to reconsider. [From: Engadget]

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Popcorn Tweets Lets You Eat While You Tweet originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> popcornpopcorn tweetsPopcornTweetssocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwitterweb switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:24:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[WIND System Could Change How We Control Robots]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/wind-system-could-change-how-we-control-robots/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/wind-system-could-change-how-we-control-robots/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/wind-system-could-change-how-we-control-robots/#comments We think it goes without saying that Japan loves robots. Japanese pop culture has had a love affair with our metallic friends since the '50s, and slowly but surely science is catching up to their imagination. fuRo, a Japanese robotic research & development firm, has taken their first tentative steps towards realizing a glorious future of wirelessly controlled robotic surrogates.

fuRo's WIND (Wireless Intelligent Networked Device) Robot System uses a vest-mounted series of System in Package (SiP) chips (the same all-in-one chips used in MP3 players and cell phones) and positional sensors to allow the user to wirelessly control a robot through bodily movement. These wireless robots may one day be used in environments too hazardous for ordinary humans to operate in, such as mines, disaster zones, and Anthrocon.

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WIND System Could Change How We Control Robots originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> astro boyAstroBoyavatarsJapanremote controlrobotrobotssurrogatestopwireless switchedtips@gmail.com (Ben Deitz) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Cops Nail Criminal After He Posted His Location on Facebook]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/cops-nail-criminal-after-he-posted-his-location-on-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/cops-nail-criminal-after-he-posted-his-location-on-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/08/cops-nail-criminal-after-he-posted-his-location-on-facebook/#comments When will criminals learn that using Facebook while they're on the lam is a terrible idea? If you really want to stay out of jail, those friend requests, status updates and application invites can probably wait. But once again, a fugitive wasn't able to resist the temptation of the social-networking site, and he's paying for it.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. marshals busted 39-year-old Christopher Crego on Wednesday, who'd skipped out on a sentencing hearing for a long list of charges, while he was at work. Just how did authorities know where he worked? Apparently, Crego posted the name and location of his employer (a Terre Haute, Indiana tattoo parlor) on both his Facebook and MySpace page. Lockport, New York police logged on and saw the information, and then they passed it on to federal authorities. Just to rub it in, the Lockport cops posted this message on Crego's wall: "It was due to your diligence in keeping us informed that now you are under arrest."

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Cops Nail Criminal After He Posted His Location on Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dumbcriminalfacebookfunnypolicesocialnetworkingstupidcriminalstopweb switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Fashion Week Tempts Teens Who Hack Their Way Into an Invite]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/fashion-week-tempts-teens-who-hack-their-way-into-an-invite/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/fashion-week-tempts-teens-who-hack-their-way-into-an-invite/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/fashion-week-tempts-teens-who-hack-their-way-into-an-invite/#comments Getting invited to New York Fashion Week shows is hard enough, trust us (i.e. me).Moreover, getting the invites to haute designers like Cushnie et Ochs, Alexander Wang and Erin Fetherston is practically impossible, and requires a minor amount of celebrity to accomplish. But two Vermont high school seniors who have over-indulged in a little too much 'Gossip Girl' have decided to take matters into their own hands, by hacking into one of New York's most prestigious PR firms to add their own names to highly coveted guest lists.

Becca Shumlin (whose father is apparently running for governor in Vermont) and her best friend, and designer, Remy Renzullo, wrote to request tickets to Alexander Herchcovitch's show being put on by PR team BPCM. Using the gubernatorial plug and the mention of a magazine that Becca 'edits' (we can't find evidence of it online), the pair wrote in and were discovered as guests on some of BPCM's most guarded lists. Gawker reports no one knew how the pair got there and that they were added somewhere in Vermont. Hrm.

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Fashion Week Tempts Teens Who Hack Their Way Into an Invite originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bpcmfashionhackerhackinghaute coutureHauteCoutureNew York Fashion WeekNewYorkFashionWeekscandaltop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[AdBlitz Lets You Watch Super Bowl Commercials... on YouTube]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/adblitz-lets-you-watch-super-bowl-commercials-on-youtube/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/adblitz-lets-you-watch-super-bowl-commercials-on-youtube/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/adblitz-lets-you-watch-super-bowl-commercials-on-youtube/#comments For some of us, the Super Bowl is nothing more than a string of witty commercials interrupted by snippets of football. Now, though, you won't even have to tune in to the big game to watch the world famous ads, thanks to a new YouTube channel devoted solely to Super Bowl commercials. As Mashable reports, the site recently announced the launch of the new channel, which will allow users to rate the ads immediately after they air on TV. The spot that gets the highest user rating will even be featured on the YouTube homepage as of Feb. 19th. Given the millions of dollars that corporations dish out for 30 seconds of time on Super Bowl Sunday, it's kinda empowering to think that your individual opinion could directly effect the viral shelf-life of a particular spot. And in a game whose starring actor has about as much star power as an oak tree, we'll take any extra entertainment we can get. [From: YouTube; via: Mashable]

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AdBlitz Lets You Watch Super Bowl Commercials... on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> coltspeyton manningPeytonManningsaintssuper bowlsuper bowl adssuper bowl commercialsSuperBowlSuperBowlAdsSuperBowlCommercialstopyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Silence Site Comments with Shutup.css]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/silence-site-comments-with-shutup-css/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/silence-site-comments-with-shutup-css/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/silence-site-comments-with-shutup-css/#comments Greetings to all of our devoted readers who steer clear of the comments section! We have a special gift in store for you today. We know that blog comments can frequently get out of hand, stray off-topic, or metastasize into book-length arguments between Internet polemicists. Sometimes you just want a mute button for all the garbage, and programmer Steven Frank has heard our plaintive cries. His shutup.css is a much-needed style sheet that will remove comments from your view, effectively decreasing load time and putting a stopper in the blogosphere chatterbox.
Thankfully, using it requires no prior knowledge of CSS -- but we'll give you some background anyway. Cascading Style Sheets basically tell your Web browser how to format bits of HTML, which are frequently organized by "IDs" and "classes." For example, if a Web designer wants to make every blog post title appear bright green in Helvetica Bold 24-point font, they can simply code that in a style sheet instead of individually augmenting every post title with HTML tags. Shutup.css looks for IDs called "comments" and simply tells your browser not to display them. This can, of course, interfere with some sites that name bits of source code as "comments" when they actually refer to something else, but Shutup should work for the majority of comment-enabled sites.

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Silence Site Comments with Shutup.css originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commentscssdialoguehumorsteven frankStevenFranktop switchedtips@gmail.com (Matthew Zuras) Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Seismologist Robot Can Predict Earthquakes Hours Early]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/seismologist-robot-can-predict-earthquakes-hours-early/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/seismologist-robot-can-predict-earthquakes-hours-early/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/seismologist-robot-can-predict-earthquakes-hours-early/#comments As Monday morning quarterbacks around the world continue to discuss the structural, long-term steps that could've been taken to mitigate the enormous damage inflicted upon Haiti, a group of engineering students in India have designed a new robot that may help dampen the effects of an earthquake in the short-term. Inspired by the horror they saw unfurl in Haiti, students from JT Engineering College in Surat, India went about designing a robot capable of sensing earthquakes before they happen, and sounding the alarm bells. As student Hiran Patel explains, the so-called Earthquake Detector Robot senses "when the Earth starts vibrating," and "informs about the danger in advance."

It does so with the help of two transmitters and one receiver that have been attached to the robot. The transmitters are wirelessly connected to a sensor underground, which monitors the earth's temperature and water levels. When the sensor picks up on seismic trouble approaching, it sends out a signal to the robot via microwave frequencies. As DVice reports, the bot can pick up on earthquakes a full three hours before they hit, which to us, seems pretty amazing. We've gotta admit, though, that we don't really understand why this kind of detection service has to be implemented in a robot, per se. Unless the system's effectiveness is somehow dependent upon being mobile, we're a bit puzzled by the choice to go bot--especially when there are a few smaller, non-cyborg detection devices already on the market. But robotics aside, the underlying technology seems pretty sound, and if it can help people get out of Dodge and save lives, that's all that really matters, anyway. [From: OneIndia; via: DVice]

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Seismologist Robot Can Predict Earthquakes Hours Early originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> detectionearthquakeearthquake detector robotEarthquakeDetectorRobothaitirobotstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[ChIMERA Bot Slithers and Slides Using Slippery Silicone Skin]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/chimera-bot-slithers-and-slides-using-slippery-silicone-skin/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/chimera-bot-slithers-and-slides-using-slippery-silicone-skin/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/07/chimera-bot-slithers-and-slides-using-slippery-silicone-skin/#comments Throughout the years, we've seen our fair share of creepy robots, from kits that let you build a girlfriend to bizarre looking, big-eyed dancing robots. But after watching a recent video from Virginia Tech's RoMeLa Lab, we're still cringing. Why? Well, one of their latest robots, dubbed ChIMERA (Chemically Induced Motion Everting Robotic Amoeba), looks like a slug and uses a mechanism charmingly called Whole Skin Locomotion (WSL) to scoot across the floor.

According to Engadget, this amoeba-inspired bot moves using its silicone skin, can squeeze through holes that measure less than half its diameter and travels at about half a meter per-second. Dr. Dennis Hong, one of the scientists behind this robot (amongst many, many others you can see in the video after the break), says the team began by using kinetic energy that was stored in an interior spring to make the bot move. But now, they've developed ways to apply a chemical to the robot's outer layer that makes it crawl across the floor.

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ChIMERA Bot Slithers and Slides Using Slippery Silicone Skin originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amoebachimeracoolenergyresearchrobotrobotstopvirginia techVirginiaTechweirdwhole skin locomotionWholeSkinLocomotion switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Madden' Video Games Give Athletes a Year-Round Field Advantage]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/#comments Today's football players, from high school to the NFL, have a distinct advantage over players from long ago. No, it's not just the advances in medicine or equipment (although, those don't hurt). Instead, it's the advances in sports video games that make athletes more prepared to play than ever.

Wired magazine calls it the 'Madden effect.' Essentially, as the gameplay becomes more realistic, players are taking what they learn while playing football simulations (whether that's recognizing a cover two defense or memorizing offensive plays) and incorporating it into how they play on the actual field. For example, Wired mentions a play from this NFL season where Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley drained precious seconds off the clock by cutting across the field at a 90-degree angle before walking into the end zone for a touchdown.

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'Madden' Video Games Give Athletes a Year-Round Field Advantage originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Brandon StokleyBrandonStokleyfootballmaddenMadden NFLMaddenNflnflsportstopvideogames switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:06:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Google Earth Adds WWII-Era Photos to European Database]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/google-earth-adds-wwii-era-photos-to-european-database/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/google-earth-adds-wwii-era-photos-to-european-database/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/google-earth-adds-wwii-era-photos-to-european-database/#comments Earlier this week Google released an updated version of Google Earth, with a new feature that allows users to look at its database of historic aerial photography. One of the more interesting aspects of this feature is to see the European Theater before and immediately after the destruction of World War II.

The available World War II-era cities include Warsaw, Poland, Lyon, France, Naples, Italy, and Stuttgart, Germany. These cities saw some of the heaviest urban destruction during the six year conflict, and comparing their pre- and post-war images with current photos is breathtaking -- if not a strong case for the anti-war movement. The most remarkable facet of these images is the ability to see how Europe was reconstructed after years of heavy bombing by the Allies and ground level terror by the Axis powers.

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Google Earth Adds WWII-Era Photos to European Database originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aerial photographyAerialPhotographygoogle earthGoogleEarthhistorytopwarsaw ghettoWarsawGhettoworld war iiWorldWarIi switchedtips@gmail.com (Matthew Zuras) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Judge Rules Students Can Be Suspended for Fake MySpace Pages]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/#comments A U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday that schools can legally suspend students for creating fake MySpace profiles, but only if the fabricated online personas poses some sort of school disruption. A three judge panel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania came to their decision after a student posted a sexually explicit parody of her principal on her fake MySpace page. The panel ruled that the school could legitimately expect the post to disrupt normal school activities, and thus granted authorities the right to suspend the student. As HuffPo reports, though, another Pennsylvania court in Mercer County ruled, in a nearly identical case, that high schools don't have the right to regulate a student's digital activity at home, arguing that a child's MySpace posts fell under the umbrella of his or her right to free speech.
As social networking has become more prevalent in middle and high schools around the country, school authorities have been seeking some sort of definitive ruling on whether or not they have the right to police students on the Internet. As Witold Walczak of the ACLU tells the Washington Post, "The law was unclear and now it's in a state of chaos." To make matters worse, a case of this nature hasn't yet reached the Supreme Court, so lower courts are forced to use older high court rulings on the boundaries of school jurisdiction as their only legal compass.

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Judge Rules Students Can Be Suspended for Fake MySpace Pages originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> free speechfreespeechlawmyspaceschoolsocial networkingSocialNetworkingweb switchedtips@gmail.com (Amar Toor) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Xbox Live Shuttered on Original Microsoft Console]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/#comments For those video game traditionalists (or cheapskates, depending on how you look at it) who still proudly fire up a big, black Xbox console and play the first 'Halo' with their online friends, we have some bad news. According to a press release, Microsoft will discontinue Xbox LIVE service for all original consoles and games on April 15th (giving us yet another reason to hate that day. It's the end of an era. But why has Microsoft finally decided to make this move? Well, the company says it wants to make changes and upgrades to the online gaming service that just simply aren't compatible with the original console or games. Call it evolution -- a virtual version of survival of the fittest.

Microsoft says it will e-mail Xbox LIVE members who will be directly impacted by the change. Although, we're not sure what they'll say, except, "Buy an Xbox 360 or else lose online capabilities." After all, there's no software update that'll fix this. Now, we can understand folks being upset by not being able to play some original Xbox games online anymore. Some were the foundation of online gaming as we know it. But if you're still playing on the original, bulky console, we have no sympathy for you. Pony up some cash for an Xbox 360 (you can get one for $200), or be left in the cyberdust. [From: Gamerscore]

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Xbox Live Shuttered on Original Microsoft Console originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> internetmicrosofttopvideo gamesvideogamesxboxxbox360xboxlive switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Is Google Street View Taking Its Cameras Indoors?]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/is-google-street-view-taking-its-cameras-indoors/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/is-google-street-view-taking-its-cameras-indoors/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/is-google-street-view-taking-its-cameras-indoors/#comments Google Street View is Taking Its Cameras Indoors? Google Street View can take you down almost any street in America, and through just about every major city worldwide. But Street View stops right where its name implies -- in the street. That might be changing though, if a source that e-mailed the blog, Search Engine Land, is to be believed.

New York City nut and candy shop, Oh Nuts, e-mailed Search Engine Land claiming a representative from Google came in and took photos of the store and its products for a new feature tentatively called Google Store Views. The store provided images from the security camera showing a person moving around the shop taking photos with a tripod, but all that proves is that someone was moving a camera around the store.

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Is Google Street View Taking Its Cameras Indoors? originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> google mapsgoogle store viewgoogle store viewsgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleStoreViewGoogleStoreViewsGoogleStreetViewstreet viewStreetViewtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Building a New Instrument a Day, Droid Gets Multitouch (in Google Maps)]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/building-a-new-instrument-a-day-droid-gets-multitouch-in-googl/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/building-a-new-instrument-a-day-droid-gets-multitouch-in-googl/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/building-a-new-instrument-a-day-droid-gets-multitouch-in-googl/#comments There's a load of great tech news happening out there every day, and, unfortunately, we just can't cover it all. Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.
  • DIY-er Ranjit Bhatnagar is building a new instrument from scratch every day during the month of February. Check out his progress, and pick up some tips. [From: Make]
  • Multitouch is spreading on Android! Earlier this week, Google's Nexus One received support for multi-finger input with a software update, and this afternoon the Moto Droid got its very own pinch-to-zoom capability in Google Maps. [From: Engadget]
  • 'One Button Bob,' a retro 8-bit styled flash game, is the perfect game to play while stuck on that two-hour conference call. You control Bob through a side-scrolling world with the simple click of a button. [From: ClockWorkMonster]
Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our Tumblr blog.

Building a New Instrument a Day, Droid Gets Multitouch (in Google Maps) originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bestoftherestflash gamesFlashGamesinstrumentmotorola droidMotorolaDroidone button bobOneButtonBobranjit bhatnagarRanjitBhatnagartop switchedtips@gmail.com (Thomas Houston) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[17-Year-Old Windows Bug Surfaces, Squashed by Microsoft]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/17-year-old-windows-bug-surfaces-squashed-by-microsoft/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/17-year-old-windows-bug-surfaces-squashed-by-microsoft/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/17-year-old-windows-bug-surfaces-squashed-by-microsoft/#comments Usually, Microsoft is pretty good about patching up any gaps in security. But with technology changing at breakneck speeds, some mistakes are bound to go unnoticed. According to BBC News, a man recently discovered a bug in Windows that's been around for 17 years. How does a vulnerability go unnoticed long enough for three different presidents to occupy the White House? Honestly, we're not sure. But Tavis Ormandy, the Google security researcher who discovered the bug, found it in a utility that lets newer versions of Windows run programs from the DOS era. Basically, the loophole could allow hackers to hijack a users PC. The bug has been hiding in every version of the operating system since Windows NT 3.1 -- when some of you were just a twinkle in your daddy's eye.
Since Ormandy enlightened the folks at Microsoft about the bug, the company announced it will fix it with a patch that'll be released this month. With this patch, Microsoft will also fix 25 other bugs -- five of which are rated "critical" by security experts. With all this recent bad publicity surrounding Microsoft's security, it doesn't seem like 2010 is starting out how the company would like. [From: BBC News]

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17-Year-Old Windows Bug Surfaces, Squashed by Microsoft originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> buggooglemicrosoftoperating systemOperatingSystempatchsecuritytopwindows switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Your Big Screen Super Bowl Party May Be Illegal]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/your-big-screen-super-bowl-party-may-be-illegal/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/your-big-screen-super-bowl-party-may-be-illegal/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/your-big-screen-super-bowl-party-may-be-illegal/#comments Everyone and their mama's mama will be tuning in this Sunday for the big game, and to that end, you might be planning a get-together with some buddies involving a few six-packs, snacks and of course, the TV. But is that Super Bowl shindig infringing upon copyright law?
That's what one Ars Technica writer wondered aloud after a friend mentioned he couldn't watch the Super Bowl on a TV 55-inches or larger without committing a federal offense. Turns out, to some extent, the friend was right. TV broadcasts and movies can only be displayed if "no such audiovisual device has a diagonal screen size greater than 55 inches, and any audio portion of the performance or display is communicated by means of a total of not more than 6 loudspeakers."

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Your Big Screen Super Bowl Party May Be Illegal originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> copyrightcopyright infringementCopyrightInfringementlegalsportssuper bowlSuperBowltop switchedtips@gmail.com (JP Mangalindan) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Android Gets Ridiculously Cute Figurines]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/android-gets-ridiculously-cute-figurines/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/android-gets-ridiculously-cute-figurines/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/android-gets-ridiculously-cute-figurines/#comments
Because we're fans of all things Google and its Android platform (and designer toys, too), we'll put this in the stack of things so freakishly adorable we've got to get them all.

Artist Andrew Bell and Google have partnered up to release a limited run of 12 standard Android figurines, with super-rare editions to follow. Each stands 3-inches tall and features articulating head and arms. The catch? These little bots will be blind-boxed, so you'll have no idea which design you're getting until you've actually opened it, unless you pony up for the case of 16. There's no price yet, but they start dropping the 10th of this month, so start saving, Google-philes. [From: Dyzplastic, via: dvice]

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Android Gets Ridiculously Cute Figurines originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> androidcollectiblesdesigner toyDesignerToygoogletoptoys switchedtips@gmail.com (JP Mangalindan) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Repo Men' $10K Contest Will Have You Doing the 'Running Man']]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/repo-men-10k-contest-will-have-you-doing-the-running-man/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/repo-men-10k-contest-will-have-you-doing-the-running-man/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/repo-men-10k-contest-will-have-you-doing-the-running-man/#comments In a constantly connected world, where our every embarrassing photo and unfortunate blunder can be quickly archived and disseminated throughout the Internet, the thought of cutting all our ties, disconnecting from the world and starting over is an enticing one.

Universal Studios seems to think so as well. To promote its new film 'Repo Men' (sadly not a follow up to cult-classic 'Repo Man') about futuristic organ re-possessors hunting down defaulting payments, Universal, Wired Magazine, and Loneshark Games are asking a few individuals to try and disappear for a month. The promotion is inspired by Evan Ratliff's Wired article about people who attempt to leave their old lives behind and vanish, and Mr. Ratliff's subsequent experiment in doing so himself.

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'Repo Men' $10K Contest Will Have You Doing the 'Running Man' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> disappearevan ratliffEvanRatliffmoviemovie promotionsMoviePromotionsprivacyrepo manrepo menRepoManRepoMentopuniversalWired MagazineWiredMagazine switchedtips@gmail.com (Ben Deitz) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[What's the Best Android Phone on Each Carrier?]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/whats-the-best-android-phone-on-each-carrier/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/whats-the-best-android-phone-on-each-carrier/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/whats-the-best-android-phone-on-each-carrier/#comments A reader writes: These Android smartphones look pretty hot. It seems they can do everything the iPhone does, but they come in more flavors, from more companies. So what's the best one to get?

Dear Reader: The Android operating system may be the first serious competitor to the iPhone platform -- with a slick interface and tons of cool applications. Unlike Apple's tightly policed Apps Store, Google's Android Market lets you download any program written by any developer.

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What's the Best Android Phone on Each Carrier? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> androiddroid erisDroidErisfeaturesjusttellmewhattogetmotomotorolamotorola droidMotorolaDroidsamsung momentSamsungMomentsprintt-mobiletopverizon switchedtips@gmail.com (Sean Captain) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Latest Internet Explorer Flaw Exposes Any File on Your PC]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/latest-internet-explorer-flaw-exposes-any-file-on-your-pc/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/latest-internet-explorer-flaw-exposes-any-file-on-your-pc/ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/05/latest-internet-explorer-flaw-exposes-any-file-on-your-pc/#comments Latest IE Flaw Exposes Any File on Your PC Internet Explorer is no stranger to security vulnerabilities, but a flaw revealed by Microsoft on Wednesday is one of the most stunning we've ever seen. The flaw affects IE6, IE7, and IE8 on Windows XP as well as IE7 and IE8 on Vista and Windows 7 if protected mode has been disabled (though protected mode is turned on by default).

The exploit would allow a hacker to access any file on your system by forcing IE to incorrectly render data from local files, exposing it to outside parties. The flaw, which is actually several smaller security holes combined in an ingenious way, would require tricking a victim into visiting a Web site through e-mail or IM, and then the attacker know the location and name of the file they'd wish to access. Unfortunately, many programs store sensitive data using a standardized structure that would be easy to find though guesswork.

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Latest Internet Explorer Flaw Exposes Any File on Your PC originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ieie6ie7ie8internet explorerInternetExplorerMicrosoftsafetysecuritytopWindows MobileWindowsMobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Switched