Video Flickr Not Welcomed on the Web, Users Believe

A few days ago, the Sunnyvale-based company Yahoo made what seems to be Flickr's first step into the video sharing market: the implementation of video support
which allows users to upload their own clips on the famous photo sharing website. That's right, Flickr was actually a photo sharing webpage and the video support somehow changes its target. This is the reason why lots of people who were using Flickr on a daily basis considered the latest update unacceptable.

Just after the launch of the video function, a Flickr community formed the "We Say NO to Videos on Flickr," a special discussion group in which the members who dislike the update are invited to sign a petition in order to convince Flickr owners to remove video support. Their reason: Flickr was a photo sharing service and it should remain the same for the time being. "If Internet users want video sharing functions, they should go to YouTube," Flickr fans consider.

Romanians Will Bring Us the Next EA Games

It was last month when we told you about the brand new gaming studio opened by Electronic Arts in Romania – the first and only (at least for now) EA gaming studio in the Eastern Europe. And since the company announced that the production of video games will begin shortly, it only seems natural that they need proper work force.

The company already employed over 200 Romanian graphic designers, programmers and game testers and has no intentions to stop: it is planning to hire 150 more people by the end of October and, what really pleases us, it seems that students and generally younger persons are the main people Electronic Arts is looking for. This means two things and one of them really excites us: first, the next EA blockbusters might be developed and delivered from Romania and second, and the most important thing – Electronic Arts finally started to trust and believe that the younger and less experienced game developers might have something to say in the industry. And "brand new IPs", especially when it comes from Electronic Arts, is something that we'd love to hear as often as possible.

Windows Mobile 6.1

Windows Mobile 6.1, the newest version of Microsoft's OS for mobile devices, should have been launched at MWC 2008, at the beginning of February, but the giant software
company postponed its release for unknown reasons.

Now it looks like the new OS will be available starting April the 1st, and Pocket-Lint reports that reliable sources confirmed this. Sure, the date coincides with April Fools Day, but before you think it could all be a joke, you should know that this is also the date when CTIA Wireless 2008 debuts in Las Vegas. And since Microsoft will obviously be there, Windows Mobile 6.1 could indeed be released on the 1st of April.

If this turns out to be true, we can hope that all the handsets announced to run on WM 6.1 will be released earlier than everyone expects. Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1, for example, could even hit the market before the summer, so users who consider buying it should start preparing about 600 – 700 US dollars if they want to be among the first owners of the super-phone.

Windows Mobile 6.1 will not bring major improvements when compared to the 6.0 and 6.0 Professional versions, but it will surely be a welcomed upgrade. The new features of the mobile OS include a friendlier user interface, new homescreen and new fonts, as well as the ability to copy/paste content in Internet Explorer.

Self Aware Safari 3.1

"Earlier today, Apple released the Safari 3.1 Web browser for Mac OS and Windows XP/Vista. A couple hours later, Apple Software Update popped up on my daughter's Sony VAIO, offering Safari 3.1 for download," says Joe Wilcox of Microsoft Watch. "I didn't recall seeing an earlier version installed on the laptop. And I made no mistake: The Apple updater offered installation of new software, not something that had been there before. Whoa."

Most iPod owners use a PC. Not because they don't like Macs, but because most iPod owners are part of a huge population that uses PC. Not making myself clear yet? People mostly use PCs, OK?! It's hard for me to say this, but it's true. Moving on. As iPod owners, they need iTunes. iTunes needs to be installed on computers. And so users do it, thanks
to Apple who has brought its Software Update system on Windows so users are notified whenever there's an update for them. Using the same mechanism, version 3.1 of Safari has somehow made its way onto Windows-based platforms.

What is this "the rise of the web browsers...?"

Ultrasound Gun - A Weapon of the Future

Forget the rubber bullets and water jets. The weapon of the future for controlling the mob will employ sounds. Or you may use it against the little monsters of the Halloween or an annoying neighbor.

The handheld sonic gun, called Sonic Devestator, can emit intense ultrasonic
charges capable of causing intense pain and discomfort in humans and animals. The ultrasonic waves are headed in a 45-degree cone from the "muzzle" which keeps the user unaffected.The sounds of the sonic weapon can take about a minute to subside, but they do not induce any permanent harm or damage. The sonic gun also has a larger model, called Sonic Devestator Riot Control, which combines six smaller units into a single one.

"Our research has shown that by using these adjustment controls it is now possible to drastically increase the sonic output effect of the unit. It is possible to adjust the output for a maximizing effect on certain targets such as humans, dogs, unruly animals etc," explained its developing company, Future Horizons.

The powerful ultrasonic waves go much farther then normal sound waves and even pass through thick walls. But not all the sounds are in the ultrasonic range; some can actually be easily heard, and the user can shift the frequency of the sounds back and forth. What you hear is a very loud and painful screeching sound, causing that kind of irritation like a person scratching its fingernails on a chalkboard. Only one added detail: imagine that made at an intensity of 130 decibels, the same of the sound emitted by lifting-off jet planes. Much more than that caused by a rock concert or a pneumatic hammer, which can be unbearable.When the gear is properly tuned, it can induce intense nausea and headaches in the human victims, usually within less than 60 seconds of emission. In some cases, it can provoke intense pain and pressure on their eardrums. The weapon is active in a range of 20 ft (6 m), but some sensitive individuals can be impacted at even 50 ft (15 m) away. The victim requires about one hour to recover. Dogs are even more sensitive than humans, as their auditory range goes higher.

Google Asked to Join Exo-Planet Search Effort

After the success achieved in the last years in the collaboration with NASA's Ames Research Center, which included the mapping of stars and that of the surfaces of different bodies in the solar system, the Internet search giant Google is now showing interest in expanding its development towards providing other useful information such as maps of exo-planets. The Transiting Exoplanet Survery Satellite with its wide-field digital cameras will have the role of studying near bright stars, in the hope to find new exo-planets.

When it will be completed and launched into space in 2012, Google is expected to help process the massive amount of data generated by the satellite. MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research project leader, George R. Ricker, says that: "Decades, or even centuries after the TESS survery is completed, the new planetary systems it discovers will continue to be studied because they are both nerby and bright." Some of these new exo-planets we are discovering today, or which will be discovered in the near future, could one day become the new home to human colonists departing our solar system.

California Fashion

Fashion design is becoming a trend now a days. If you want to be a professional fashion designer one day then you need not worry as there are lots of fashion schools to make your dream come true . There are lots and lots of fashion schools in california which is the best for the fashion design studies. Fashion school finder is a great site which provides you all the information about the fashion schools in California and fashion schools in los angeles . As the famous Hollywood is there and so does fashion keeps flourishing always new trends start there at fashion school in california . It also provides you a list of schools in California and the details about them in a very easy understandable manner . For more information visit the site give it a try.

Codemasters Targets MMO Market

The Codemasters Online Gaming or COG division has already launched four MMO projects aimed at the PC market and there's another one in the pipeline, in the form of Jumpgate Evolution, from NetDevil. And as the PC market for MMO games is dominated by World of Warcraft, Codemasters thinks that success is now easier to achieve on consoles.

David Solari, who is the vice president and general manager of Codemasters Online Gaming, declared for GamesIndustry.biz that "The time is right for some good console MMO games. There's two titles that we're really interested in for taking to console right now and that's something I'd like to see happen in the next year or so, but it's got to be the right game."

Codemasters is prepared to reach out and touch someone. Or rather something, as its aim is in producing two MMOs targeted at the gaming consoles, especially the Xbox 360
and the PlayStation 3.

Power Options

As you all know i am very much interested in Stock market. We need to have more information in order to survive in this field. There are many sites which provide the relevant information about the stock options. But the Power options is one of the best sites in the web the provides the best stock options for its customers. The company is well known for its educational products. The option screener is very much useful for the beginners who want to make money in stock market. It is the easy and best way to find, compare, analyze and make money on stock market trading.

*This post is sponsored by blogitive

Bill Gates Wants Fresh Blood to Fuel Technology Innovation

Microsoft Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates has come up with a recipe to continue fueling technology innovation in the U.S., and it involves fresh blood, an education reform and additional financial resources. Gates is scheduled to present this perspective before the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, on the organization's 50th anniversary on March 12, 2008. With the country's competitiveness at stake, Gates is prepared to argue that the Congress, the administration as well as the president will have to take decisive measures in order to maintain the country's momentum as the center of innovation worldwide.

"I know we all want the United States to continue to be the world’s center
for innovation. But our position as the global leader in innovation is at risk," the Microsoft Chairman warned. The Redmond company as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have long been at the forefront of technology innovation. Microsoft alone invested in excess of $7 billion into Research and Development in 2007, with the philanthropic foundation focusing its efforts on educational aspects. But Gates stated that the U.S. government too has to get involved into improving education, overhauling the U.S. immigration policies and boosting the funding for basic research.

U.S. companies are already forced to joggle with what the Microsoft co-founder referred to as a severe shortfall of scientists and engineers. "If we don’t reverse these trends, our competitive advantage will continue to erode. Our ability to create new high-paying jobs will suffer," Gates added. The U.S. already made a step forward in this direction, by passing the necessary legislation designed to drive technological innovation via the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science Act from 2007. But at the same time, the educational initiatives of the legislation lack funding, and in this context fail to provide any results.