Metro Signs Deal to Allow More Cellphone Firms to Build Networks Underground

Wind power helps ski resort during recession
Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts touts itself as the first ski resort in North America to be powered in part by a wind turbine, a 386-foot-high structure that towers over the slopes and has angered some neighbors.
Chomsky: Humanity's survival 'by no means a sure thing'

Catholics: What are you giving up for Lent? Here's a unique suggestion: instead of dropping chocolate, red meat, alcohol or any other frivolous comfort, why not think about how to eliminate global hegemony?

Metro Signs Deal to Allow More Cellphone Firms to Build Networks Underground
Metro riders will be able to receive and make more wireless calls underground under a deal announced yesterday by agency officials.

Study Says Mindless Doodling Improves Memory

Good news for college students and meeting-goers everywhere. A study released today, published in Applied Cognitive Psychology , suggests that mindless doodling might actually improve memory.

DNA, Cheerios And Laziness: Self-Assembly And Information Storage

10 tips on being a good Twitterer
This Twitter thing has been coming on like gangbusters. The messaging site has been around for a couple of years, but its popularity seems to have exploded just recently.
DNA, Cheerios And Laziness: Self-Assembly And Information Storage
The universe is a lazy place. If a system of particles can find a way exist in a lower-energy state, you’d better believe that the system will seek it out.

Modern lifestyle prevents tooth decay

New research has found that modern lifestyle habits may play a bigger role than food alone, when it comes to tooth decay.

Undersea bombs threatening marine life

Undersea bombs threatening marine life
Hundreds of corroding and unexploded Navy bombs litter the sea floor off the Puerto Rico island of Vieques, leaking toxins and taking a toll on nearby marine life. Scientists and military officials are trying to clean up these underwater graveyards, which exist in oceans around the world.

AYKM? Texting Improves Literacy

Galaxy may be full of 'Earths,' alien life
As NASA prepares to hunt for Earth-like planets in our corner of the Milky Way galaxy, there's new buzz that "Star Trek's" vision of a universe full of life may not be that far-fetched. Scientists are offering fresh insights into the possible existence of inhabited worlds and intelligent civilizations in space.
AYKM? Texting Improves Literacy
AYKM (are you kidding me)? No, contrary to popular belief, text message-speak or textisms actually improve language skills, according to a recent study. No, RLY (really).

Twitter first to publish dramatic crash pictures

Twitter first to publish dramatic crash pictures
The social networking site Twitter again stole a march on traditional media when it was the first outlet to publish dramatic pictures of the Turkish Airlines crash.

Galaxy may be full of 'Earths,' alien life

Galaxy may be full of 'Earths,' alien life
As NASA prepares to hunt for Earth-like planets in our corner of the Milky Way galaxy, there's new buzz that "Star Trek's" vision of a universe full of life may not be that far-fetched. Scientists are offering fresh insights into the possible existence of inhabited worlds and intelligent civilizations in space.
Security Fix Live
Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your questions about the latest computer security threats and offers ways to protect your personal information.

Tech expert: What should I get for my PS3?

Tech expert: What should I get for my PS3?
I already made the initial investment for the system about a year ago. I'm not super savvy about video-game consoles, but I want to maximize its usefulness.
Women And Minorities Prejudiced Against Themselves, Says Study

A A white guy has a tough time out there these days and that's a good thing for society because it means that America continues to be the least racist country in the world.

Satellite Crashes After Its Launch
NASA and climate researchers are weighing their options after yesterday's crash of a new satellite designed to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide with unprecedented accuracy. A malfunction during the rocket ride toward space sent the Orbiting Carbon Observatory plummeting into the Indian Ocean near...

Apple Releases "The World's Fastest Web Browser," Safari 4 Beta

On Tuesday Apple released a beta version of Safari 4, for both Windows and Mac OS X. The browser uses a new Javascript engine called Nitro, which Apple claims makes Safari 4 the world's "fastest" web browser.

NASA satellite in trouble just after launch

NASA satellite in trouble just after launch
A NASA satellite launched early Tuesday was having difficulties, NASA reported. The satellite, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, "did not separate as planned" and project crew members on the ground were trying to determine the cause, a statement on NASA's Web site said.

Diabetes Drug Linked To Alzheimer's

Research published today is suggesting that a commonly prescribed drug to control blood sugar might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Bloggers Are Changing the Way the Gay Rights Movement Communicates
Only the blogosphere, perhaps, has room for Pam Spaulding -- a black lesbian who lives in North Carolina, the only state in the South that has not banned same-sex marriage.

D.C. Police Believed Close to Arrest in Levy Case
Jeff Leen, Washington Post assistant managing editor of Investigations and Post reporters Sari Horwitz and Scott Higham discuss the Chandra Levy case and how the possible breakthrough came about.

Got a new space technology? Test it here

Got a new space technology? Test it here
In a cavernous testing facility called the "Incubator," special equipment recreates the rugged conditions of a journey into space -- from the violent shaking at liftoff to the complete vacuum and bitter cold. This is the home of eSpace, a nonprofit that helps fledgling aerospace companies try out new technology.

'Incubator' tests aerospace gadgetry for flight

'Incubator' tests aerospace gadgetry for flight
In a cavernous testing facility called the "Incubator," special equipment recreates the rugged conditions of a journey into space -- from the violent shaking at liftoff to the complete vacuum and bitter cold. This is the home of eSpace, a nonprofit that helps fledgling aerospace companies try out new gadgetry.

A Year After 'Tech Tax' Scare, Maryland Firms Follow Up With Lawmakers

Dinosaur BMI: Computer Model Decides Fattysaurus Versus Thinnysaurus
A team of biomechanical and paleontological researchers at University of Manchester are exploring a question that teenaged dinosaur girls have wondered for years: how thin should a dinosaur model be?
A Year After 'Tech Tax' Scare, Maryland Firms Follow Up With Lawmakers
A year ago, Maryland technology companies were holding rallies and pushing a last-minute lobbying campaign at the State House as they tried to persuade legislators not to impose a new tax on the industry.

MacChat: iAntiVirus for Mac, just in case …

WHILE the need for anti-virus software on the Mac remains debatable, developer PC Tools says the Mac community has been responsive to its iAntiVirus software, which recently came out of beta.

The beta version was downloaded 250,000 times, making it the No.1 Mac anti-virus utility on Download.com.

This could be partly due to the large number of former PC users still adjusting to the concept of using a computer without virus scanning. However it could also be due to the number of Mac security scares that have made headlines the past few years. These have later been debunked, but often the damage has already been done to the Mac’s virus-free image.

It remains true that at the moment, Mac users still have little to worry about security-wise. Due to OS X’s authentication process for installing software, viruses cannot self-install or self-propagate. However for those who are ultra-paranoid and want to cover all bases, iAntiVirus is worth a look.

iAntiVirus will scan for “proof of concept” viruses, which have only been demonstrated under laboratory conditions and which are highly unlikely to be encountered in the real world.

It is of more use for trojans, which trick users into authorising their installation. While common sense is often defence enough, you can never be 100 per cent sure if an e-mail attachment or download source is trustworthy. The trojan protection acts like a phishing filter, alerting a user to a potential threat before they install it.

There can also be security holes in Apple’s Safari browser or iTunes media player, and third-party applications such as Microsoft Office, that under very specific conditions (eg visiting a particular website) could pose a threat.

Interface-wise, iAntiVirus is as Mac-like as they come, with OS X’s trademark clean “smooth metal” interface and non-intrusive alerts when it’s doing its job.

iAntiVirus spares system resources by only scanning for the small amount of Mac malware on record. It does not look for the vast number of Windows viruses, worms and trojans circulating on the internet.

The downside of this is, without any scanning for Windows malware a Mac user could unwittingly pass on malicious code to a PC-using friend via e-mail, which is a much greater risk than the Mac itself getting infected.

Another disadvantage is that iAntiVirus only runs on Intel Macs running OS X Leopard. This shuts out a significant but shrinking proportion of Mac users.

If you’re still not convinced that you need iAntiVirus, it’s hard to argue with the pricetag: free for all malware scanning features. For $A29.95, however, you can get the business package which includes online and phone support.

Since the advent of the highly secure OS X, Apple has been shipping Macs with the firewall turned off by default, a measure of the company’s confidence in its operating system’s inherent security.

In December Apple even removed a recommendation for anti-virus software from its website, with spokesman Bill Evans telling Macworld magazine: “‘We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate. The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box.”

Some might argue this is tempting fate, and that with Mac use on the rise it’s only a matter of time before that security is breached. However with up to 10 per cent market share in the US and still no viruses, the evidence would seem to be on Apple’s side.

TealOS Gives Your Centro the Pre Experience
PalmOS is dead, right? No less than Palm president and CEO Ed Colligan said there will be no more PalmOS devices, except perhaps Centros on new carriers. But there are still plenty of PalmOS users (and lovers) out there, and a new app called TealOS can give them the Palm Pre "look" on their old devices.
FAST FORWARD'S HELP FILE Rob Pegoraro
QI'd like to use an old Logitech webcam with Skype on my iBook. But this camera's system requirements don't mention Mac use. Is this possible?

Congress Moves to Implement Nonsensical Data Retention Law

Nearly intact mammoth skeleton found in L.A.
He had a rough life during the Ice Age, walking around with a couple of broken ribs and a possibly cancerous lesion on his jaw before dying at a young age.
Congress Moves to Implement Nonsensical Data Retention Law
The bills (one in the Senate, one in the House) have nice names, but they would require you and I, assuming we have routers in our houses, as well as ISPs and hotspots, to maintain records on users for two years. Yes, you read that right, you and I, as well.

New Heart Attack Test Will Diagnose In Minutes

Researchers say they have a test that can tell if you're having a heart attack in just minutes rather than the current test that takes hours.

Bill would preserve Internet records for police

Bill would preserve Internet records for police
Republican politicians are seeking a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi spots -- even hotels, coffee shops and home users -- to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations.

Drink Coffee, Improve Plant And Animal Diversity

Drink Coffee, Improve Plant And Animal Diversity

Coffee shrubs can have a positive impact on plant and animal diversity in those parts of the landscape that are deforested and dominated by agriculture.

What constitutes a dilemma for consumers wishing to shop ecologically is that when coffee is grown in a forest, which is also common, the impact on diversity is negative...

Skepticism arises over rural broadband stimulus
WASHINGTON -- With the first concerted federal program to subsidize high-speed Internet services in rural areas, the new economic stimulus package will create some jobs and could get hundreds of thousands of households online.

Apple Crazily Buying Up Flash RAM for Next-Gen iPhone: Report
Many believe Apple is set for a June launch of a new iPhone model. Adding more substance to that rumor, new reports seem to indicate that Apple is snatching up as much NAND Flash RAM as it can get its hands on.

Protecting rare whales from deadly ships

Protecting rare whales from deadly ships
Only some 400 North Atlantic right whales exist, their numbers depleted by centuries of whaling and deadly collisions with ships. But births of right whale calves are up this winter off the coast of Florida, thanks to a protective network of scientists and volunteers.

2009 Franklin Medalists and Bower Award Winners Announced

The Franklin Institute has announced this years laureates, honoring the "best of the best" in science and technology.

Track your tax dollars on stimulus Web site

Track your tax dollars on stimulus Web site
In keeping with President Obama's pledge of an administration that is "transparent and accountable," the White House launched a site that explains where funding for the economic stimulus is going.
Vista-Capable Lawsuit Loses Class-Action Status
On Wednesday, Microsoft scored a major victory in the long-running "Vista-capable lawsuit," when U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman reversed her earlier decision granting class-action status to the lawsuit. Although Pechman denied Microsoft's request for a summary judgment, removing class-action status makes it much more difficult for consumers to pursue court action, as they would have to sue individually.

'Green burial' creates undersea home for fish

'Green burial' creates undersea home for fish
Carole Dunham, 69, loved the ocean. Last July, she was diagnosed with cancer and had only a few months to live. Dunham knew her last footprint had to be a green one, and she started looking into eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burial.

Facebook's Terms of Use Change Earns a Complaint to the FTC

Facebook backs down, reverses info policy
Under fire from tens of thousands of users, the social networking site Facebook said early Wednesday it is reverting to its old policy on user information -- for now.
Facebook's Terms of Use Change Earns a Complaint to the FTC
Facebook's Terms of Service (TOS) changed a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't noticed until brought to people's attention by the site Consumerist. Despite some fast tap-dancing by Facebook, the cat's out of the bag, and it's not going back in. In fact, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is preparing a formal complaint to be sent to the FTC.
Personal Tech
The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro discusses recent reviews and answers your personal tech questions.

CNET: Facebook's furor over content rights

CNET: Facebook's furor over content rights
On an otherwise placid holiday weekend, one blog's commentary on a change to Facebook's terms of service created a firestorm of banter on the Web: does the social network claim ownership to any user content on the site, even if the user deletes it?
GSMA Leads the "Charge" Toward a Universal Mobile Phone Charger
Tuesday at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, the GSMA and 17 leading mobile operators and manufacturers announced that they are committed to implementing a cross-industry standard for a universal charger for new mobile phones. Notably absent from the list: Apple.
Was Obama Misunderestimated?
When President Obama signs the mega-stimulus bill today, he will have either:

Sirius XM Radio Avoids Bankruptcy
Liberty Media has agreed to loan Sirius XM Radio $530 million to help save the satellite radio provider from bankruptcy.

The Persistent Divisiveness of Darwin

The Persistent Divisiveness of Darwin
Darwin divides because his discovery illuminates who we are as human beings. It's hard to overstate how the science of the last 500 years has shifted our relationship to the rest of the Universe, at least as that relationship has been seen in the West.
Was Obama Misunderestimated?
When President Obama signs the mega-stimulus bill today, he will have either:

Should motorists ever talk on the phone?

Should motorists ever talk on the phone?
Most of us know we shouldn't be talking on a handheld cell phone while driving. But recent studies suggest that hands-free devices are just as dangerous on the road. Chatting on a phone while driving -- even with both hands on the wheel -- distracts the brain and delays reaction times, experts say.

Lack of Standards Delay Electronic Medical Records

For many Chinese, literary dreams go online
If it weren't for the Internet, Murong Xuecun might still be working as a sales manager at a car company in the southern Chinese city of Chengdu. That is what he was doing when he started writing his first novel on his office's online bulletin board system back in 2001.
Adobe Set to Bring Full Flash Player to Smartphones in 2010
OK, make that most smartphones. Adobe announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Monday that a full version of their Flash Player will be available on smartphones running Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, and Palm Web OS, starting in early 2010.
Lack of Standards Delay Electronic Medical Records
The $19 billion prescribed in Congress's economic stimulus package to bring America's health-care records into the electronic age is a welcome opportunity for information technology firms seeking to build market share in a still-young industry.

MacChat: Why Windows still hasn’t caught up to Mac

IT’S the clash of the titans, part two. In one corner we have Apple, riding the success of the iPhone and iPod and the subsequent “halo effect” on its Mac computers. In the other is Microsoft, bloodied by its Vista debacle but enjoying rave reviews of its follow-up Windows 7. Apple might have won the Leopard-Vista match-up despite complaints on both sides, but this time out the tussle could be tighter.

With Windows 7 Microsoft’s aping of Apple has reached a new high. The Windows Taskbar now resembles the OS X Dock, with larger icons and more functionality. Windows 7 also introduces multi-touch controls, which Apple has been adding to OS X over the past couple of years. To the casual observer, there now seems less difference between the two operating systems than ever.

But appearances can be deceiving. What appears similar on the surface can be quite different when you actually start using it. So here are five reasons why OS X still has a considerable edge over Windows:

Interface design: The Mac’s main advantage has always been its clean, simplified, human interface, and this remains the case even when Microsoft assimilates Mac features. Windows, by contrast, remains crowded and cluttered, as Microsoft feels the need to serve up all possible options to the user at any one time. Also, Apple takes a more restrained, tasteful approach to eye candy.

Killer features: Speaking of eye candy, three features introduced in OS X Leopard showed how it can be functional. CoverFlow utilises an iTunes-style interface to flip through documents. QuickLook lets you preview a document’s contents without launching an application. And Time Machine lets you go “back in time” to recover documents using a slick 3D-style interface.

Virus-free: After eight years of use, OS X remains free of any self-propagating viruses. Apple even ships its Macs with the firewall turned off by default, and most Mac users don’t bother with anti-virus software. By contrast, Vista has slowed rather than stopped the flood of malware on Windows, and it remains to be seen if Windows 7 can do any better. Whether you subscribe to the “security via obscurity” myth or not, the bottom line is, computing is more secure on the Mac.

Core technologies: Since the advent of OS X, Apple has introduced several under-the-bonnet technologies that can be leveraged by itself and third-party application developers to create leading-edge applications. These include Core Image, Core Video and Core Animation. OS X Snow Leopard will introduce more core technologies, including Grand Central for fully utilising multicore processors, and OpenCL for tapping into the power of graphics processing units.

iLife and iWork: Apple’s “iApps” are a big part of the software value-add Apple uses to sell Macs, and the ‘09 versions of both have just been released. Key features include facial recognition and geotag support in iPhoto, music lessons with the stars in GarageBand, anti-shake and precision editing in iMovie, and new templates and effects in Pages and Keynote.

Study: Global warming shifting birds north

Study: Global warming shifting birds north

A new study says the purple finch, Carolina wren, snow geese and northern bobwhite are spending the winter farther north.

Nationals Hitting Coach Rick Eckstein Has Nick Johnson Back in the Swing of Things
VIERA, Fla., Feb. 14 -- Precisely seven days ago, 30-year-old Nick Johnson, veteran of 2,082 major league at-bats, creator and proprietor of a swing that has earned him more than $17 million, drove 90 minutes north to Sanford, Fla. Johnson pulled up to the home of Rick Eckstein, who, months earlier,...

Researchers say animals plan for the future
Monkeys perform mental math, pigeons can select the picture that doesn't belong. Humans may not be the only animals that plan for the future, say researchers reporting on the latest studies of animal mental ability. "I suggest we humans should keep our egos in check," Edward A. Wasserman of the University of Iowa said Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

High-tech scanner reveals mummy's face

High-tech scanner reveals mummy's face
The beautiful singer was about 30 years old when the world forgot about her. But now we know what she looks like for the first time in nearly 3,000 years.
Under the Sea 3D: Seas Under Siege

In this ScienCentral video, filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall discuss the amazing underwater wildlife they caught on film, as well as the problems faced by these creatures due to climate change.

New Web site helps wounded veterans

New Web site helps wounded veterans
Dave Mahler's resume includes an engineering degree, 13 years at Hewlett Packard and co-founding a start-up, but his latest venture is much more personal. Mahler is leading a group of Silicon Valley professionals in California to help U.S. troops hurt in the line of duty. The volunteers run a Craigslist-like Web site for wounded vets.
Microsoft, Security Firms Join Forces to Fight Conficker Worm
Microsoft and nearly 20 other organizations and firms have joined forces to formulate a coordinated, global response to the Conficker (AKA Downadup) worm. At the same time, Microsoft announced a $250,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of the hackers behind Conficker.

Using the Web to help veterans

Using the Web to help veterans
Dave Mahler's resume includes an engineering degree, 13 years at Hewlett Packard and co-founding a start-up, but his latest venture is much more personal. Mahler is leading a group of Silicon Valley professionals in California to help U.S. troops hurt in the line of duty. The volunteers run a Craigslist-like Web site for wounded vets.

$1B for NASA called a victory

$1B for NASA called a victory

Congressional leaders are expected to include $1 billion for NASA in the final version of the economic stimulus package.

Security Fix Live
Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your questions about the latest computer security threats and offers ways to protect your personal information.

Reports: Satellites collide in space

Reports: Satellites collide in space
Two satellites, one Russian and one American, have collided some 800 kilometers (500 miles) above Siberia, Russian news agencies reported Thursday, citing a NASA spokesman.

10 Evolution Videos Darwin Would Love

It's Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and ScienCentral has put together a collection of 10 video reports that highlight some unique new discoveries in evolution.

Reports: Satellites collide in space

Reports: Satellites collide in space
Two satellites, one Russian and one American, have collided some 800 kilometers (500 miles) above Siberia, Russian news agencies reported Thursday, citing a NASA spokesman.

Red Sways Men

It may be that red is the color of Valentine's Day because hearts are red. Or there may be more to it than that. Psychology researchers have found that the color red makes women more attractive to males.

Satellites Collide Above Siberia

Darwin still making waves 200 years later
Before there was an extensive fossil record, DNA sequencing or even a basic understanding of genetics, there was Charles Darwin.
Satellites Collide Above Siberia
Two large communications satellites, one American and one Russian, collided in space 490 miles over Siberia, NASA reported Wednesday. The collision involved an Iridium commercial satellite, launched in 1997, and a Russian satellite, Cosmos 2251, which was launched in 1993 and believed to be non-functioning.
A Little Economic Stimulus: Free Antivirus
Using Windows has traditionally required paying a tax of sorts. Not to Microsoft but to the vendor of the antivirus program you install to protect your PC.

Thousands of Congressional Reports Now Available Online
Open government groups scored a small but potentially decisive victory this week in a long-running battle to win publication of thousands of secret reports that Congress uses to fashion new laws.

How Seattle's airport prevents bird strikes

How Seattle's airport prevents bird strikes
The next time you land safely in Seattle, you may want to thank Steve Osmek. He's the wildlife biologist whose job is to make sure that birds don't get in the way of airplanes arriving and departing Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

Where Does The CO2 Go? The Mystery Of The Missing Sinks

Where Does The CO2 Go? The Mystery Of The Missing Sinks

Between 40 and 50 percent of CO2 remains in the atmosphere, according to measurements by about 100 ground-based carbon dioxide monitoring stations scattered across the globe. Another estimated 30 percent is dissolved into the ocean, the world's largest sink.

But what about the rest? The math doesn't add up.
FAA's Latest Security Challenge Is in Cyber Space, Not the Skies
The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration is "to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world."

Monitoring your kids on that pesky Internet

Monitoring your kids on that pesky Internet
The Internet, just like the real world, is filled with its upstanding citizens, lowlife greaseballs, civic centers, red light districts, libraries, dirty bookstores, video arcades, casinos, museums and bootleg kiosks.

Reminder: Windows 7 Beta Downloads End This Week
As I said earlier, Windows 7 beta downloads will be ending this week. In fact, if you haven't already signed up for the beta, it's already too late to sign up. You can, however, continue an in-progress download until Thursday.

Microsoft readies smartphone assault on Apple

Microsoft readies smartphone assault on Apple
Microsoft is gearing up to take on rival Apple in the smartphone market. The software giant is getting ready to launch an online marketplace akin to Apple's App Store and an upgraded version of its mobile operating system, according to reports.

Space Spotlight: New stars in the Milky Way

Space Spotlight: New stars in the Milky Way
Each week space agencies around the globe capture amazing photos of stars, planets and the galaxies beyond. Here are a few of our favorites.

Seeing color in sounds has genetic link

Seeing color in sounds has genetic link
When Julian Asher listens to an orchestra, he doesn't just hear music; he also sees it. The sounds of a violin make him see a rich burgundy color, shiny and fluid like a red wine, while a cello's music flows like honey in a golden yellow hue.
Science and the State: Reform or Jackboot?
In the United States, we have grown accustomed to thinking of the relationship between science and government as being antagonistic. During the most recent Bush administration, the general impression is that science has been marginalized.
MacChat: Bento 2 keeps it all together

DATABASE software is normally associated with long tedious hours of data entry. But if the data is your own personal contacts, appointments, to-do lists, and even your documents and photos, automatically gathered from your system, it gets a lot more interesting.

Bento 2 ($A79.95), the latest version of FileMaker’s personal database application, helps to centralise all the disparate but important personal stuff you have lying around your system. It combines your Address Book and iCal events, and adds compartments for project management, inventory tracking, recording hours worked, and files and photos related to events.

This addresses a common complaint among Mac users, that Apple’s solutions handle different types of personal information with different applications. It also extends functionality by letting you view multiple Address Book entries at once, and adding additional fields for Address Book and iCal entries (viewable only in Bento).

FileMaker is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, so it’s little wonder the much-vaunted Apple user experience has rubbed off on Bento. Like the playlist and smart playlist features in Apple’s own “iApps”, Bento 2 allows users to compile lists of related items and have them dynamically update according to set criteria.

It also lets you create a library for pretty much any type of data without prior knowledge of database terms and concepts, removing the usual steep learning curve. This means you can, for instance, keep track of your CD, DVD or book collection.

Bento has “relational database” capabilities, meaning you can create links between related items from different libraries, and quickly identify those links when required.

Quick upgrade cycles are becoming commonplace, and Bento 2 was released less than a year after the first version. The new version includes Mail integration, enabling you to drag and drop e-mail into related Bento items, creating a permanent link; import and export of spreadsheets to Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers, along with more spreadsheet-like behaviours; and 10 new themes give your forms that extra-professional edge.

If you’re comfortable with the way Mac OS X handles your personal information, and your needs don’t extend much beyond banging out e-mails or booking the odd social event, you might not have much use for Bento. However for centralising (but still compartmentalising) your data, and getting a handle on projects and collections, there isn’t an easier way out there.

The power of 10

ON the professional side, FileMaker has its long-standing eponymous application, whose 10th iteration was released at the recent Macworld Conference and Expo in San Francisco. In keeping with such a milestone version number, it contains some breakthrough new features.

FileMaker Pro 10 boasts a new status toolbar for easy navigation of key commands, saved searches, direct SMPT e-mailing of documents, and new themes and templates, among others.

Keep an eye on MacChat for a full overview.

Amazon.com Opens the Book on Kindle 2
As expected, at Monday's press event in New York City (at a library, no less), Amazon.com turned the final page on the original Kindle, and introduced Kindle 2. And the leaked images were absolutely correct, as was the leaked price ($359, same as the original).

Ringtones: The good, the bad and the ugly

Ringtones: The good, the bad and the ugly
These days, ringtones do much more than alert mobile phone users of a call. Ringtones have become fashion statements, a way for people to showcase their personalities and even their feelings about who is calling. But does anyone want to hear a co-worker's ringtone 10 times a day?
Steve Wozniak to Hoof It on Season 8 of "Dancing With the Stars"
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has been mostly quiet since his highly publicized break-up with comedienne Kathy Griffin (as shown on her "reality" show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List), but he's about to venture out onto the public airwaves again, as he will be a contestant on season 8 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

Facebook flashmob shuts down station

Facebook flashmob shuts down station
Thousands of dancers jammed a major London train station in a Facebook-driven "flashmob" mimicking an advertisement for a phone company. And the event last Friday evening was so successful that another is planned for next Friday in Trafalgar Square in central London.

Empathic Robotic Einstein Shows "Relativity" with Humans

Empathic Robotic Einstein Shows "Relativity" with Humans
Kansei was the first robot I wrote about with a sense of emotion, but last week at the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) 2009 conference, the fourth version of an Einstein robot was unveiled. This version exhibits empathy by being able to interact with people using smiles, frowns and eye movement.
Play Games With Your Resume
"Organized and led my 50-member guild through three successful back-to-back Nexus runs." You don't see that written on anyone's résumé, but apparently some folks do list the level and class of their World of Warcraft characters. This might seem a little far-fetched, but associate professor--and...

More Roadside Sign Hacking; Now the British are Coming
Earlier I wrote about hackers breaking into roadside signs in Austin, TX, modifying them to say "Zombies Ahead" and other zombified messages. Here we go again. I wouldn't be surprised if the same hackers were involved, as it's Texas again.
Putting the 'Cyber-' in Security Blanket
ST. LOUIS -- Any mommy or daddy whose child has lost a favorite blanket or stuffed animal knows the lengths they will go to make everything better again. But often, the well-worn blankie their child loves most is no longer found in stores.

Microsoft's Skybox Becomes My Phone
I wrote about Skybox earlier, which was supposed to be Microsoft's MobileMe knock-off, unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which runs Feb. 16 - 20. The beta signup site is already up, but it seems they've renamed the service; it's now My Phone. Unfortunately, it's really a teaser; there's no way to sign up yet.

Amazon.com to Release Kindle E-Reader Smartphone Software: Report

Whales act as yoga backdrop, inspiration
There's the cobra, the cat and the downward-facing dog.
Amazon.com to Release Kindle E-Reader Smartphone Software: Report
We're already aware that on Monday Amazon.com will most likely be announcing Kindle 2. But will they also be announcing software for smartphones that will allow users to download, buy, and read Kindle books?

Fears of Facebook impostors increase

Fears of Facebook impostors increase
While reports of extortion and false impersonation have been common in phony phone calls and fake e-mails, similar fraud hasn't been reported on Facebook until recently. Now a number of complaints are surfacing.

Microsoft Caves In To Windows 7 UAC Complaints
After two flaws were uncovered with the implementation of Windows 7 User Account Control in the last few days, Microsoft has confirmed that it will be changing the UAC behavior to actually closely align with the suggestions that had been made by many.

More turning to Web to watch TV, movies

More turning to Web to watch TV, movies
As Americans get used to watching video on their computers, Web sites are popping up to offer free movies and TV shows. Consumers are taking advantage of this to eliminate cable or satellite TV and integrate their home entertainment with the Web. And online video viewership is skyrocketing.

Gmail Adds Multiple Inboxes

Fears of impostors increase on Facebook
While reports of extortion and false impersonation have been common in phony phone calls and fake e-mails, similar fraud hasn't been reported on Facebook until recently. Now a number of complaints are surfacing.
Gmail Adds Multiple Inboxes
Gmail has added another Lab feature, just a few days after adding some more functionality to Labels which made them more folder-ish. The new feature is Multiple Inboxes, but it's really more like Multiple Panes.

Second Exploit Surfaces for Windows 7 UAC
I wrote earlier about a "hole" in Windows 7's new User Account Control (UAC) behavior which would allow malware to disable UAC without user notification. On Wednesday a new flaw was exposed, one in which malware could easily "elevate" themselves to full administrative privileges without UAC prompts or turning UAC off.

Scientists unearth 'monster snake' remains

Scientists unearth 'monster snake' remains
Scientists in Colombia have unearthed the remains of a true pre-historic monster believed to be the biggest snake ever to have lived on Earth.
Tech-Ex: Second Exploit Surfaces for Windows 7 UAC
I wrote earlier about a "hole" in Windows 7's new User Account Control (UAC) behavior which would allow malware to disable UAC without user notification. On Wednesday a new flaw was exposed, one in which malware could easily "elevate" themselves to full administrative privileges without UAC prompts or turning UAC off.

Not ready for the digital world

Not ready for the digital world
Sooner or later, James Richter knows the rabbit-ear antennas on his old-fashioned television will listen for a signal and hear nothing. On June 12, analog TV signals will end and only digital signals will remain. But are analog watchers like Richter ready for the transition?

Facebook turns 5 -- but can it survive?

Facebook turns 5 -- but can it survive?
A Web site started by a student as a way of staying in touch with friends which became a billion-dollar business and a global phenomenon celebrated its fifth birthday Wednesday.
A Letter To Darwin - Here's What Has Happened In The Last 150 Years
Let me introduce myself. I am one of thousands - maybe tens of thousands - of professional biologists who work full time on your scientific legacy. You'll be happy to know that Britain remains a powerhouse in what we nowadays call evolutionary biology, and your ideas now have wide currency across the entire planet.

Google Latitude tracks friends' locations

Google Latitude tracks friends' locations
Google on Wednesday is launching software called Latitude that lets mobile phone users share their location with close contacts. Google hopes it will help people find each other and keep track of loved ones.
Man Killed by Exploding Cell Phone Battery?

A report from a Chinese daily newspaper indicates that a man has been killed when his cell phone battery exploded, severing an artery in his neck.

Fingerprint study could aid robotics research

Fingerprint study could aid robotics research
Ever wonder how your fingers can tell that silk feels different from paper, which feels different from wood?
Bat-killing syndrome spreads in Northeast
A mysterious and deadly bat disorder discovered just two winters ago in a few New York caves has now spread to at least six northeastern states , and scientists are scrambling to find solutions before it spreads across the country.

House set to vote again on digital TV delay

House set to vote again on digital TV delay
The House is set to vote again Wednesday on postponing the country's transition to digital TV until June and the White House is optimistic the bill will pass.

Why the ocean matters . . . to Google

Why the ocean matters . . . to Google
The fact that you now can explore the ocean through Google Earth isn't going to make Google much money directly. But the move is nonetheless smart.
Microsoft to Offer Windows XP to Windows 7 Upgrades
Tacitly acknowledging the problems its had getting people to adopt Windows Vista vs. Windows XP, Microsoft said on Tuesday that it will be selling upgrade versions from Windows XP to Windows 7.
Personal Tech
The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro discusses recent reviews and answers your personal tech questions.

Ford Dates Its Plug-In Hybrid: 2012; Electrics: 2011
On Tuesday Ford became the latest automaker to "plug-in" (pun intended) a date for a plug-in hybrid vehicle of its own, announcing it will have plug-in hybrid vehicles, promising 30 miles on battery power before the gasoline engine kicks in, by 2012.

Smartphone Applications Include Health-Care and Fitness Options

Will volcano blow? Expert waits, ready to warn
It's 3 degrees and snowing outside the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage, but inside the operations center, things are heating up.
Thanks for the Ride, Mike

Silicon Valley fixture Mike Homer dies at 50

Mike Homer was many things to many people. To the people at Netscape and the myriad of start-ups that spun off afterward, he was their visionary and counselor. Nobody made a move without checking with Mike first. He was our close confidant and truest believer, always encouraging us to push forward and to never give up on our our biggest ideas.

Smartphone Applications Include Health-Care and Fitness Options
It was a hot, air-conditioner-worthy day last summer when Chester Marl came home from the hospital. The newborn slept remarkably well through the night.

Electric cars require teamwork, group says

Electric cars require teamwork, group says
Meeting the Obama Administration's goal of putting 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2015 will only happen with a coordinated set of policies and technology advances, according to an electric vehicle association.
India's $10 Laptop Set for Unveiling on Feb. 3rd: Reports
While the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program's XO-1 (pictured) has failed to meet its goal of a $100 laptop, India is set to unveil a prototype of the RS500, in Tirupati on February 3rd when the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Techology is launched.

The next frontier: 'Seasteading' the oceans

This chic, tree-lined California town might seem an unlikely place to begin the colonization of Earth's oceans. Palo Alto is known for expensive modernism, Stanford University, al fresco dining, and land prices so high a modest cottage still sells for well over $1 million.

If Patri Friedman gets his way, the area will also be remembered for birthing a political movement called seasteading. The concept is as simple to explain as it will be difficult to achieve: erecting permanent dwellings on the high seas outside the territorial waters claimed by the world's governments.

Flubbing Their Media Moment
Caroline Kennedy has been hiding from the press. Rod Blagojevich has been racing to every studio this side of Rachael Ray's kitchen. And Sarah Palin is accusing network anchors of blatant bias.

Adobe: Developing Flash for the iPhone is "Hard"

Adobe: Developing Flash for the iPhone is "Hard"
Well, duh. In a Bloomberg Television interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen admitted that developing Flash for the iPhone was "hard."
Business Brisk at Area Libraries
Nearly every study table is full with patrons sipping lattes and surfing the Web. Teens are curled up in easy chairs. In a worried knot by the doorway, job seekers gather around a sign-up station for the Internet, waiting for their turn.
MacChat: PocketMac moves beyond Windows

A FEW short years ago, when PocketPC (aka Windows CE, and more recently Windows Mobile) was the dominant force in handheld computing, a company called PocketMac was born to bring interoperability with PocketPC devices to Mac users.

With the rise of other hit devices such as the iPod, iPhone and BlackBerry, PocketMac’s focus has broadened to cater to these new markets, though the name has remained the same. And in addition to synchronising contacts and appointments, PocketMac is now dabbling in the multimedia side of handheld devices.

Let’s take a look at one-third of PocketMac’s 15 Mac utilities:

PocketMacRemote ($US9.95): This utility enables you to remotely control a presentation in Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint using an Apple Remote. Its functionality is basic, limited to play/pause and forward/back, and you have to launch the presentation on your Mac first. If you are after more advanced functionality, you may want to check out Apple’s own Keynote Remote for iPhone and iPod touch, or the third-party iPhone apps for remotely controlling PowerPoint. But if you want to keep things simple, and you happen to have an Apple Remote, PocketMacRemote is the way to go. Unfortunately it does not yet support Mac OS X Leopard, which will be a dealbreaker for many.

PocketMac RingtoneStudio ($US14.95): Again, there already are utilities that create ringtones for the iPhone, such as Apple’s own GarageBand. But if you want an app that does one thing, and does it well, give this one a shot. Simply drag and drop an audio or video file on to the iPhone-shaped window and it will convert it to iPhone ringtone format and add it to your iTunes library.

PocketMac AudioExtractor ($US9.95): This app makes it a snap to extract audio from any YouTube video. Simply load the video in Safari, and AudioExtractor will grab the soundtrack and export it to a special playlist in iTunes, ready for synching with your iPod or iPhone. Alas AudioExtractor quit on me when trying to install some additional video codecs, so your mileage may vary.

SecureNotes ($US29.95): Want a place to stash your jottings that’s locked away from prying eyes? SecureNotes has a simple browser interface that lets you add “cards” and “categories” with any notes you need to keep. It’s password-protected to keep sensitive information secure. Notes can be arranged in icon, list or column view, can use colours, and are fully searchable.

Safari Scrapbook ($US19.95): Ever wanted to find a website your visited days, weeks, even years ago? Safari Scrapbook might be the answer to your prayers. It works hand-in-hand with Apple’s web browser to not only keep track of all the sites you’ve visited, but catalogue their content in a fully searchable database. You can also nominate sites to be excluded from the record. Like PocketMacRemote, Safari Scrapbook does not yet support Mac OS X Leopard, leaving many users out in the cold.

Addressing The Growing Creationism Problem In Europe

The Department of Biology and Didactics of Biology at the TU Dortmund has organized an international conference addressing the issue, titled "Attitude and Knowledge concerning Evolution and Science in Europe" ...

Mark Warner Twitters? Tweet!
On the U.S. Senate floor, Mark Warner (D) is on Twitter . That means a 140-character limit. Can the gentleman even clear his throat?