IT News HeadLines (HardOCP) 08/08/2010

News Flash: Your Employees Are Wasting Time on the Internet
Well now, here's a shocker. The latest in a line of never ending studies on employee productivity reveals that the internet is the devil and Twitter and Facebook are his minions. What we really need is a study on how much time and revenue useless productivity studies cost the employer. The reality, of course, is that human beings will find ways to waste time regardless of whether or not they have Internet access, and regardless of whether they even have a computer on their desks. Daydreaming while looking out the office window has probably eaten up trillions of dollars worth of productive work-time as well, but no one calculates the economic cost of windows or sunshine. And then there are smoke breaks, lunch breaks, water-cooler chat, and the time workers spend standing around next to each others' desks talking about what they did on the weekend. The Internet didn't invent time-wasting, any more than Facebook or Twitter did. Comments
Read More ...

---

Microsoft to Release Most Patch Tuesday Bulletins Ever
Make a note. On Tuesday Microsoft will be releasing a total of 14 security bulletins to patch multiple vulnerabilities. The bulletins will cover 34 vulnerabilities across multiple products, including Windows, Internet Explorer, Silverlight and Microsoft Office. Eight of the bulletins are rated critical, while the six remaining bulletins are rated important. Comments
Read More ...

---

Why Steve Jobs Couldn't Get a Slice of Pizza
Being one of the most influential people on the planet doesn't hold much sway these days it seems. Steve Jobs may have jumped the line to get a liver transplant, but he isn't about to be seated in this restaurant without a reservation. Passmore emphasized that Jobs "wasn't snubbed" and noted the celebrity CEO had received no preferential treatment, "nor did he ask for any. Steve Jobs is a guy who has impacted the world in the last 10-15 years in ways most of us can only dream of. He's survived pancreatic cancer and a liver transplant and there's no doubt in my mind he'll survive not getting into Flour + Water." Comments
Read More ...

---

Meet the First US Public Electric Vehicle Quick Charge Station
Congratulations, citizens of Portland! Specifically, citizens of Portland who own an electric car. You, my fine fellows, are the only persons in the country with the power to charge your lithium ion battery to 80% in under 30 minutes. Portland General Electric's installation of the Takasago Rapid Charging Station is the first of its kind in this country, though more are planned, and will be needed, as electric cars become more commonplace throughout the US. It's fitting, given that Oregon's already the start of our first electric highway. Comments
Read More ...

---

Scientists Tailor Metamaterial Invisibility Cloak
Purdue University scientists working with the Elves of Middle Earth and Professor Dumbledore have successfully developed a film that could be made into a 'cloak of invisibility'Â….no seriously, they have, theoretically. It's a metamaterial film that can be spun into a cloak which would absorb light, rendering the cloak invisible. How would you find it after you have made it? Other uses include advanced sensors, new types of "light concentrators" for more efficient solar collectors, improved transfer rates for computers and an invisibility cloak."What's really important is that the absorption coefficient can be as small as only one-millionth of what it was before using our approach. "We can even have amplification of light instead of its absorption. Here, for the first time, we showed that metamaterials can have a negative refractive index and [actually] amplify light." Comments
Read More ...

---

Final Peek at IE9 Preview Before September Beta
Microsoft has released another in a series of platform improvements featuring native JavaScript integration, hardware-accelerated HTML5 and much improved Acid3 scores, among other enhancements. The release is the last of 4, leading up to the September Beta release of IE9. Going by the progress Microsoft has made in its previous Platform Previews, you might expect to see enhancements to the company's "same markup" strategy, improved browser performance, greater compatibility and compliance with standards, enhanced HTML5 support, more test cases, and improved Acid3 test scores. With IE9 Platform Preview 4 you get all that and more. Yet perhaps the standout feature of the several new and improved ones is the integration of the IE9 JavaScript engine into the browser itself rather than being simply bolted on. Comments
Read More ...

---

6,000 Former NFL Players File Suit Against EA
Several thousand former National Football League players have filed a class-action lawsuit against Electronic Arts, claiming that the company has engaged in the "commercial exploitation" of using their likenesses in Madden NFL videogames without permission or due compensation. Calling EA's actions "blatant and prolific," the lawsuit, which was filed last week with the US District Court of Northern California, alleges that recent iterations of the best-selling Madden NFL franchise have appropriated former players' attributes to a nearly identical degree and that, in many cases, have made "trivial changes" in players' profiles in order to skirt licensing requirements from the NFL Players Association. Comments
Read More ...

---

Fastest School Bus in the World
A flame spouting school bus sporting a Phantom jet engine has been clocked at 367 mph. The flame-painted bus was custom built by Stender and his team at Indy Boys Inc in Indianapolis, USA, but it won't be getting students to school in record time as it's only for show.Stender's creation, dubbed 'The School Time Jet-Powered School Bus' fires out 80 foot flames from the back creating massive clouds of smoke.Stender, 43, said: 'I built the bus for two reasons. The first is to entertain people because, come on, it's a jet bus. 'The second, is to keep kids off drugs. Jets are hot, drugs are not. Comments
Read More ...

---

Blizzard Cracking Down On "Inappropriate" Starcraft 2 Maps
If you build it, they will comeÂ….Blizzard that is. If you are into Starcraft 2 and create your own maps, better take care as to its shape and content. Blizzard will pull the map at their discretion if it violates their policies, which are not made public. I would imagine that will make it rather hard to comply with the rules when you don't know the rules. According to Blizzard community manager Lylirra on the game's official message board:While players are encouraged to share the maps they create through Battle.net, published maps are subject to review to ensure that they promote a fun and safe environment for all players...If a map is found to contain inappropriate content, it will be removed from Battle.net and the map maker will be contacted via email. Comments
Read More ...

---

Tracking Your Car? Cops Need a Warrant
The US Court of Appeals issued a ruling that warrantless GPS tracking by police violates the Fourth Amendment and that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy when it comes to their movements over an extended period of time. Court Systems, welcome to the 21st century. Both the ACLU and EFF applauded the decision, saying that the Supreme Court had not considered location tracking in such depth and for such a long period of time. "GPS tracking enables the police to know when you visit your doctor, your lawyer, your church, or your lover," ACLU-NCA Legal Director Arthur Spitzer said in a statement. "And if many people are tracked, GPS data will show when and where they cross paths. Judicial supervision of this powerful technology is essential if we are to preserve individual liberty. Today's decision helps brings the Fourth Amendment into the 21st Century." Comments
Read More ...

---

The Video Game Capital of the World: Ottumwa, Iowa
A small town in Iowa is laying claim to be the International Video Capital of the World, hosting the Big Bang Festival this weekend. The festivities include Grand Induction Ceremonies into the Video Game Hall of Fame for video game creators, high score holders and one game. Pack your bags. The good folks of Ottumwa, Iowa, insist their town really is the video game capital of the world. And to prove it, they're inducting the first round of video game luminaries into their new International Video Game Hall of Fame. Key players in the town's gaming history include Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day, classic game champ Steve Sanders and Billy Mitchell , the first person to achieve a perfect "Pac-Man" score. Comments
Read More ...

---

Multi-Touch DJ
I'm not sure who this guy is but I like to call him DJ Jazzy Multi-Touch and the Fresh Prints! Get itÂ…because the multi-touchÂ…you knowÂ…he leaves fresh prints. BahÂ…never mind, it was funnier in my head. Comments
Read More ...

---

Apple Introduces Us To the Smart Bike
The US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from AppleÂ…awww, screw it, let's just jump straight to the "if you hold the bike wrong..." jokes. You know that's where this was headed anyway. Comments
Read More ...

---

HP CEO Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations
What is going on in the tech world with all this sexual harassment stuff? First it was Activision, now it is HP? Are we taking any bets on who is next? Hurd said: "As the investigation progressed, I realized there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career. After a number of discussions with members of the board, I will move aside and the board will search for new leadership. This is a painful decision for me to make after five years at HP, but I believe it would be difficult for me to continue as an effective leader at HP and I believe this is the only decision the board and I could make at this time. I want to stress that this in no way reflects on the operating performance or financial integrity of HP." Comments
Read More ...

---