...this Day...

The Pub
224

#158

June 5th

Belated…

The future of search looks bright

By Jane Wakefield BBC News website technology reporter

Last Updated: Friday, 3 June, 2005, 08:08 GMT 09:08 UK

Google’s dominant position in the land of search remains unchallenged despite innovations from competitors such as MSN, Yahoo and AskJeeves.

Search has become a hot topic as people spend more time online and become more demanding in their desire to find accurate information quickly.

 

HOW POPULAR IS SEARCH?

France - 81% of net users use search engine

UK - 80%

US - 79%

Spain - 77%

Italy - 74%

Germany - 74%

Switzerland - 73%

Sweden - 64%

Source - Nielsen/NetRatings

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4600287.stm

225

Thats surprising as New Zealand has the highest internet usage per capita.

226

Thats surprising as New Zealand has the highest internet usage per capita.

You may be right that New Zealand have the highest ratio of % using internet (although I would have guess for others like Sweden or Singapore)

 

hmm… different angle… the News is on the % who use search to those on line of a nation. Like “France - 81% of net users use search engine”… Just telling how curiosity are they.. Many other countries may be using more on commercial transaction (probably US ) … or chatting…or gaming (like Korea).

 

Guess what, almost right, I am!! Sweden is 2nd!!! lol (New Zealand = 13th)

Internet user per capita, Top 50.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/int_use_cap

227

#159

June 5th

Arrests ‘in Potter leak attempt’

Saturday, June 4, 2005 Posted: 8:27 AM EDT (1227 GMT)

LONDON, England – Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has won a court order to stop two men leaking details of her latest work after they were arrested in a dramatic operation to recover two copies of the book.

 

Spokesmen for The Sun and the Daily Mirror said both newspapers had been contacted by someone claiming to have copies of the book.

The Sun said that when its reporter attempted to leave the meeting carrying the book, one of the suspects put a gun next to his head and fired a shot over the journalist’s shoulder. The shooter said the gun was not real, but it made a loud bang when it went off, the newspaper reported.

 

The newspapers said one of the suspects worked at a distribution warehouse where copies of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” are being stored ahead of their release.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/06/04…rges/index.html

228

I concede!! I was surprised when I read that stat, but I think it was on a NZ site anyway so no doubt slightly biased!

229

#160

June 6th

Mirrors to Take BPC Park Out of Darkness

By Barry Owens

The future home of Teardrop Park South, which will sit in building shadows almost year-round and seemed destined to be the darkest of Battery Park City?s urban valleys, might have offered gloomy planting prospects. But tomorrow, there will be sun.

The disc-shaped mirrors, called heliostats, are eight feet in diameter and mounted on top of the 24-story Verdesian

building, which is under construction at Murray Street and North End Avenue. The computer-programmed and motorized mirrors, custom-manufactured by Bomin Solar, a German company, track the sun?s movement and reflect its rays like spotlights to the ground below. The heliostats were installed last month.

?Sunlight is escaping many of our neighborhoods,? said Tim Carey, president of the Battery Park City Authority. ?This is a technology whose time has come for New York City.?

http://www.tribecatrib.com/newsjune05/mirrors.htm

230

#161

June 7th

Microsoft Creates ‘Push’ E-Mail Capability

By BRUCE MEYERSON, AP Business Writer

2 hours, 17 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Microsoft Corp. weighed in Monday on the increasingly competitive market for real-time e-mail on mobile devices, introducing a software bridge between the company’s popular Exchange platform for corporate networks and its Windows Mobile operating system for cell phones and PDAs.

…

The new add-on for Windows Mobile is designed to enable the same continuous “push” of e-mail between devices and servers using BlackBerry and GoodLink.

The appeal of so-called “push” technology is real-time synchronization, which means that e-mails are sent instantly in both directions between the device and network. Likewise, a message that is deleted on a device or a desktop computer connected to the same e-mail account is instantly deleted in the other setting as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050607/ap_on_…WRqBHNlYwN0Yw–

 

 

 

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#162

June 7th

The machine that can copy anything

By Simon Hooper for CNN

Thursday, June 2, 2005 Posted: 10:48 AM EDT (1448 GMT)

LONDON, England (CNN) – A revolutionary machine that can copy itself and manufacture everyday objects quickly and cheaply could transform industry in the developing world, according to its creator.

The “self-replicating rapid prototyper,” or “RepRap” is the brainchild of Dr. Adrian Bowyer, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Bath in the UK.

It is based on rapid prototyping technology commonly used to manufacturer plastic components in industry from computer-generated blueprints – effectively a form of 3D printer.

 

The key feature of the RepRap is its ability to print electrical circuits by squirting a metal alloy with a low-melting point from a heated nozzle.

The machine could build items ranging in size from a few millimeters to around 30 centimeters, such as plates, dishes, combs and musical instruments.

Larger or more complicated items could be assembled from smaller parts, and by adding extra parts such as screws and microchips.

 

“The most interesting part of this is that we’re going to give it away,” said Bowyer.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/06/02/tech.reprap/index.html

232

#163

June 7th

 

Low-glycemic may be better than low-fat diet

By Alison McCook Mon Jun 6, 2:46 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Foods with a low-glycemic index, which are digested relatively slowly and cause smaller increases in blood sugar, may protect the heart and blood vessels better than low-fat fare, according to the findings of a small study.

 

Dieters who watched their glycemic indices also experienced a larger decrease in fatty substances in the blood linked to heart disease and had a drop in levels of a protein that interferes with the body’s ability to break down blood clots. In contrast, low-fat dieters had an increase in levels of the same protein, which may put them at higher risk of heart attack.

…

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2005.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/gindex_diet_dc;…HVjBHNlYwNtcA–[/b]****

233

#164

June 7th

 

Laptops Outsell Desktops for First Time

By GREG SANDOVAL, AP Technology Writer

28 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO - In a sure sign that the era of mobile computing has arrived, notebooks have for the first time outsold desktops in the United States in a calendar month, the research firm Current Analysis says.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050607/ap_on_…WRqBHNlYwN0Yw–

234

#165

June 7th

On this date:

 

In 1753, Britain’s King George II gave his assent to an Act of Parliament establishing the British Museum.

 

In 1848, French postimpressionist painter Paul Gauguin was born in Paris.

 

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president at his party’s convention in Baltimore.

 

In 1929, the sovereign state of Vatican City came into existence as copies of the Lateran Treaty were exchanged in Rome.

 

Ten years ago: President Clinton vetoed his first bill, striking down a Republican plan to cut $16.4 billion in spending. Two buses carrying 108 U.N. peacekeepers freed by the Bosnian Serbs crossed into Serbia.

 

Five years ago: U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ordered the breakup of Microsoft Corp., declaring the software giant should be split into two because it had “proved untrustworthy in the past.” Microsoft vowed to appeal. (An appeals court later threw out the breakup order; the Justice Department, under the Bush administration, said it would no longer seek a breakup of Microsoft.)

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#166

June 7th

The Blair Bush Project

By Dan Froomkin, Special to washingtonpost.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2005; 12:29 PM

President Bush’s most loyal and long-suffering ally comes calling today. Badly battered in his last election due to his unwavering support for Bush and the Iraq war, Prime Minister Tony Blair is hoping for a little payback.

 

Blair has newly staked his reputation in advancing a modern Marshall Plan for Africa, which calls for industrialized countries to massively increase aid and write off many debts.

He is also hoping to rally the heads of the G8 countries to fight global warming when they gather in Scotland in July.

 

But to accomplish his goals, Blair needs to work Bush off of his previously expressed resistance on both those counts – and that’s highly improbable.

…continued…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte…5060700709.html

236

#167

June 7th

Study: Genes Play Role in Women’s Orgasms

By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer 36 minutes ago

LONDON - A woman’s ability to have an orgasm is at least partly determined by her genes and can’t be blamed entirely on cultural influences, new research suggests. Experts say that’s likely to be interpreted as both good and bad news.

“It’ll be upsetting because some women will think, ‘Oh my God, maybe I just can’t.’ On the other hand it takes away a kind of guilt or pressure,” said Dr. Virginia Sadock, director of the human sexuality program at New York University Medical Center.

 

Either way, specialists say the findings don’t mean women who inherit an unfortunate gene package are doomed. They just mean that more work, or patience, is required.

 

The main benefit of discovering the genetic elements of sexual function, experts say, is to help scientists find better treatments for sexual problems. The study was reported this week in Biology Letters, a journal of the Royal Society, Britain’s independent academy of science.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050608/ap_on_…DI0BHNlYwNobA–

237

#168

June 7th

Computing Without Windows

Exclusive from PCworld.com: Thu Jun 2, 3:00 AM ET

Six months ago, …

…

For years there have been several operating systems to choose from, but the newest ones–those based on a Linux kernel–have actually been hard to use, at least for the average user. But times have definitely changed. Get your hands on something like the latest version of Xandros Desktop, a flavor of Linux, and you might swear you’ve used it before.

None of this means you’ll automatically dump Windows (unless you’ve simply grown tired of Microsoft, as some vocal computer users have). It does, however, mean you have choices. Do a little shopping around, and you may find an operating system that works better for you.

…

While there are scores of Linux distros, the most popular and prominent ones can be counted on two hands. Here’s a quick list, presented in order of ease of use.

 

Xandros Desktop : It’ll cost you 50 bucks, but the Standard Edition Xandros distro is astonishingly easy to install and use. Cheapskates (like me) can get the trimmed-down Open Circulation Edition free using BitTorrent.

 

Red Hat Desktop : The buttoned-down version of Linux most favored by corporations, Red Hat Linux is a polished, fee-based product that most resembles traditional software in its packaging and support.

 

Novell Linux Desktop : The Linux OS formerly known as SuSE should enjoy a healthy run with the suit-and-tie crowd now that Novell is working to make this client attractive to businesses.

 

Fedora Core : Also produced by Red Hat, Fedora Linux is a free distro that shares a great deal of technology with its Red Hat cousin. Fedora Linux often receives cutting-edge technology updates before Red Hat, since the company field-tests new code and features on Fedora first.

 

Mandriva (formerly Mandrake): Long regarded as the most user-friendly Linux distro, Mandriva can be a bit less stable than other distros.

 

Debian : Another popular distribution, Debian enjoys a reputation as the hacker’s Linux and offers comprehensive control over the system. Installation and setup are much easier today than in the past.

 

Slackware : A pioneering distro, Slackware remains a favorite among Linux experts for its compactness and speed.

 

Gentoo : A sleek and swift distro that caters to the technical crowd. If you’re just starting out with Linux, you probably won’t choose Slackware or Gentoo.

 

The good news is that the selection of Linux-based software continues to broaden and expand. See the accompanying article on new open-source software to read about Ubuntu Linux, a promising new distro.

 

You can also find terrific applications tuned for Linux, including OpenOffice.org (a free and very complete Microsoft Office clone), Firefox (the popular browser), the Gaim multiprotocol instant messaging client, and the Evolution mail, calendar, and contact-management software that integrates with Microsoft Exchange Server.

…

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/t…=1740&ncid=1729

 

 

238

w00t! to computing without windows!!

239

#169

June 8th

Atlas reveals global devastation

..belated…

Saturday, June 4, 2005 Posted: 2:06 PM EDT (1806 GMT)

LONDON, England (Reuters) – The devastating impact of mankind on the planet is dramatically illustrated in pictures published on Saturday showing explosive urban sprawl, major deforestation and the sucking dry of inland seas over less than three decades.

Page after page of the 300-page book illustrate in before-and-after pictures from space the disfigurement of the face of the planet wrought by human activities.

U.N. Environment Program chief Klaus Toepfer has chosen efforts to make cities greener as this year’s theme for World Environment Day on Sunday on the basis that the world is becoming increasingly urbanized. …

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/06/04…reut/index.html

240

#170

June 8th

Study links hair dyes to cancer

BBC; Last Updated: Wednesday, 8 June, 2005, 08:07 GMT 09:07 UK

Researchers have found more evidence that hair dyes may cause cancer.

 

Those who regularly dye their hair have a higher risk of developing lymphoma, a European study involving nearly 5,000 women found.

 

Experts stressed some agents were removed from dyes in the 1970s when they were found to be cancer causing.

However, they said people frequently exposed to dyes before this time, such as hair dressers, should be aware of the risk and check for abnormal lumps.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4071114.stm

241

#171

June 8th

Caught in the Windows to Mac rift

BBC, Monday, 6 June, 2005, 11:00 GMT 12:00 UK

If the computing industry was genuinely competitive then switching suppliers would be easy, argues technology analyst Bill Thompson

Last month I bought a shiny new Apple PowerBook to replace an ageing Windows laptop. It is faster, has a clearer screen, does a lot more and has much better battery life.

But four weeks on I am still lugging the old computer to meetings, wrestling with the appallingly complicated Windows 2000 network settings when I need to use a wi-fi connection and having to remember exactly where I put the documents I am working on.

“If Microsoft thinks its software is simply better and more usable than everyone else’s, they should have no reason to hold on to their customers by unfair means..”

…In a rational world Microsoft would provide me with a tool to do the conversion. And in fact it has released a program that will convert PST files into the format used by their new Macintosh mail program, Entourage.

Entourage is not so bad, and I could probably learn to live with it. Except that it will only read PST files that were originally created on a Mac, so it is no use for anyone like me who is trying to migrate from Windows.

 

Anyone with a suspicious mind would think that Microsoft wanted to make it hard for users to make the switch from Windows to Mac OS, and because they own the PST format they have decided to do this by failing to provide a migration tool.

…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4613331.stm

242

#172

June 8th

Eurotunnel plans cut-price boost

BBC, Tuesday, 7 June, 2005, 13:39 GMT 14:39 UK

Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, has cut its prices in an attempt to win back passengers lost to the budget airlines.

Travellers taking their cars on Eurotunnel can now pay as little as ?49 ($90) one-way if they book in advance and avoid peak times.

 

Eurotunnel has long blamed tough competition from low-cost airlines for its poor financial performance.

Its 2004 revenues were down 7% on 2003, while its losses stood at ?540m.

The Anglo-French company is now continuing efforts to try to secure a financial rescue package in order to avoid going into bankruptcy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4617699.stm

243

#173

June 9th

Google tinkerers make data come alive

Thursday, June 9, 2005 Posted: 10:41 AM EDT (1441 GMT)

Geeks, tinkerers and innovators are crashing the Google party, having discovered how to tinker with the search engine’s mapping service to graphically illustrate vital information that might otherwise be ignored, overlooked or not perceived as clearly.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/06/0…s.ap/index.html