http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/links Latest links, updated every five minutes http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17781 You wouldn’t expect much engineering effort to be poured into software for a task as simple as arranging photos into a collage, but Microsoft has taken the concept to its logical extreme with AutoCollage 2008, released Thursday. The advanced program from Microsoft Research Cambridge takes combining images to a new level of automation with object recognition, face detection, image blending, and other computer graphics wizardry.While the products of AutoCollage look like something a Photoshop pro could cook up fairRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17774 The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) organization has signed a deal with Amazon to sell its low-cost laptops under the Give 1 Get 1 (G1G1) program from November through the end of the year, the BBC reports.OLPC had run the program, under which people pay for two laptops at a total cost of $398, receiving one with the other going to a schoolchild in a developing nation, but it had run into problems with production delays, which it hopes the partnership with Amazon will overcome.The deal will only be open to US residents, as comes as OLPC announces that it will introduce a new generation of the computer in 2Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/512334.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:42:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1009_3-10032592-83.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Supporters of Gary McKinnon protest his upcoming extradition to the U.S., where he will face trial for his self-confessed hacks into defense computer systems. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:27:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17761 Sony, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a voluntary recall for about 74,000 Sony Vaio TZ-series notebook computers amid concerns the units could overheat, potentially causing property damage or harming users. The recall applies to the VAIO VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-Z300, and VGN-TZ2000 series with 11.1-inch screens sold from July 2007 through last month.Sony is blaming a wiring problem, and is offering users free inspection and, if necessary, repair of their Vaio notebook. The company encourages customers toRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17758 The Information and Communication Technology Ministry (ICT) in Thailand is taking drastic action against a large number of web sites that it claims "disturbed the peaceful social order and morality of the people, and/or which were considered detrimental to national security" and contravened the Computer Crime Act, according to the Bangkok Post.It’s seeking court orders to close 400 sites and advising ISPs to block 1200 others, and has asked the police to help “bring all the violators to trial.”Among them are sites deemed to carry obscene content and over 300 the ICT claims are contemptuous of the Thai Royal family.This comRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/4660-3121_7-6910037.html?part=ecoustics-cnet&part=ecoustics-cnet&subj=video The computer giant gets in on the tiny laptop action with a new Netbook. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/512163.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:58:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/512162.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:56:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/512159.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:48:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/512158.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:45:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/reviews/5533 Logitech’s Nano leeches onto the lid of your notebook with a special dock when you’re not using it. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:56:26 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17753 Peripheral and accessories maker LaCie has introduced a USB, bus-powered version of its Neil Poulton-designs external speakers for desktop and notebook PCs. Previously available as a FireWire device, the USB Speakers are designed to be portable, offer decent low-level sound quality, and they work with either Macs or PCs without any additional software."The new USB Speakers provide universal flexibility to all USB-enabled computers without the need for additional power cables, electrical sockets, or batteries," said LaCie accessories product manager AlRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17742 Gamers love those vibrating handsets that simulate the feel of explosions and actions. In just a few years they might be able to go one better by reaching out their hands and feeling objects on the screen. At least that will be the way if the commercial development of a new Japanese process happens.So far the field of haptics has required special gloves to create the sensation of feeling objects on a computer screen. But new research is using focused ultrasound to create the same effect, the BBC reports.Researcher Takayuki Iwamoto and others from the University of Tokyo have demonstrated the device that employs a cameraRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17741 He could face life in jail. That’s the possible sentence hacker Gary McKinnon could face if found guilty in the US of illegally accessing 97 government computers.The 42-year-old Scots-born Londoner has exhausted all possible legal appeals, including one to the European Court of Human Rights, and his lawyer has now appeal to the British Home Secretary to intervene and obtain an assurance from American authorities that McKinnon will be allowed to serve his sentence in the UK if convicted.The lawyer, Karen Todner, told the BBC:"It is standard practice for both the Dutch and Israeli governments to seek this assurance on behalf of their nationals whoRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17739 Every day seems to bring a new announcement from Google. No sooner was its new Chrome browser out of the block than the company announced a public beta of Picasa 3.0, its photo management system, along with a redesign of Picasa Web Albums.According to a blog by product manager Mike Horowitz, Picasa 3.0 includes a “new 'sync to web' feature that automatically updates online albums when you add or edit photos on your computer.” There will also now be tools to edit and retouch photos.As to Picasa Web albums, it now includes “a new 'Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-11386_3-10030884-76.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Computer scientists at Stanford University develop artificial intelligence software for a helicopter so that it can learn and perform its own aerobatic maneuvers. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:13:35 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17729 Sony Computer Entertainment announced today that its revamped PlayStation Portable gaming unit, the PSP-3000, will go on sale in Japan on October 16 for ¥16,800 ($182), the same price as the current PSP model. However, the PSP-3000 features a number of improvements, including better performance, a greatly enhanced LCD display that improves video display and is more usable outdoors thanks to a glare-free design, plus a built-in microphone. The Japanese launch of the PSP-3000 will be buoyed by the release of Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and marks Sony's latest move in its efforts to capture Japan's portable gaming market from Nintendo. In recent months, the PSP has managed to outsell the Nintendo DS, spurredRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:15:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/Fujitsu_LifeBook_A6120_2_26GHz_Intel_Core_2_Duo_P8400/4505-3121_7-33229266.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Though it's slightly bulky for a midsize laptop, the feature-packed Fujitsu LifeBook A6210 does double duty as both a computer and a portable Blu-ray player. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:43:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/Fujitsu_LifeBook_A6210_2_26GHz_Intel_Core_2_Duo_P8400/4505-3121_7-33229266.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Though it's slightly bulky for a midsize laptop, the feature-packed Fujitsu LifeBook A6210 does double duty as both a computer and a portable Blu-ray player. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:43:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17714 Remember when upstart computer maker Psystar began offering inexpensive Macintosh clones based on everyday PC hardware, and Apple finally got around to suing them, alleging copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair compeition? Well, now Psystar has counter-sued Apple, alleging Apple is engaging in restraint of trade, unfair competition, and violating antitrust aw. The suit is being handled by antitrust specialists Carr &ampRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/tl/23648/ I travel some and have a hard time hearing my music and videos on the airplanes. What I have found is that with a simple Portable Audio Amplifier I can amplify and enhance the sound quality to a much better level. There are a couple of different options when it comes to Portable Headphone Audio Amplifiers. One is the Boostaroo , which has the ability to will double the available volume from your audio player and separate the audio signal into individual stereo channels to drive 3 separate sets of headphones or speakers. Naturally it will depend on the ohm rating of your headphones, but the Boostaroo can increase the volume of your player by 100% with no more than a 0.3% harmonic distortion. If you are watching or listening to something that two or tree people want to hear I highly recommend the Boostaroo . If you are looking for something that improves the sound quality for MP3 MP4 Players Computers or Mobile Phones when using earphones or headphones and not so much into sharing the audio with others and are wanting a more quality for an awesome personal listening experience right between your ears I recommend the FiiO... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:45:09 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17710 Microsoft is getting close to owning 10,000 patents, and the latest is one for the Page Up and Page Down keys on your computer keyboard. Yes, really.They first applied for the patent in 2005 and were finally granted it last week, according to ZDNet, although the service showed a 1981 IBM keyboard with those keys.In the patent application the invention of the keys is credited to Timothy Sellers, Heather Grantham and Joshua Dersch and described as "in one implementation, pressing a Page Down or Page Up keyboard key/button allows a user to begin at any starting vertical location within a page, andRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17707 In one of those Mark Twain moments, the news of Steve Jobs’ death has been greatly exaggerated. His obituary was accidentally sent out to clients by Bloomberg News wire, marked “Hold for release – Do not use.”But the Apple boss, who was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004, is still very much alive.The 2,500 word piece, which left the age and cause of death blank, described Job as a man who “helped make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music and refashioned the mobile phone.”The obituaRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13554_3-10027754-33.html?tag=rsspr.6246142&part=ecoustics-cnet Featured links from the CNET Blog Network Be safer than NASA and disable autorun--A computer worm infected machines on the International Space Station. Is anybody using the LimeWire Store?--Lime Wire announces a deal with The Orchard that will double the number of songs available through its online store. But if you're using LimeWire P2P software, are you going to buy music? Console gaming, digital distribution and the "video game defense"--Video game distribution is changing. Experts say that the industry needs to stay flexible and aware. The problem with open-source revenue models--Open source still needs to figure out the best ways to get paid without sacrificing the ideals that make it so powerful. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:14:00 -0400