Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered an efficient and totally safe method to turn adult blood cells “all the way back to the way [they were] when that person was a 6-day-old embryo.” The discovery could be the key to cure the incurable—from heart attacks to severed spinal cord to cancer—and open the door, some day, to eternal youth. More »
The Indian government has not gotten into the good books of its people in the past, and it seems as though the latest development is going to help it nudge towards that direction either. In fact, the government of the day faced a potential backlash of angry Twitter users after they ordered Internet service providers to block approximately 20 accounts which, according to officials, claim had spread scare-mongering material which had the potential to threaten national security. The Indian government threatened “appropriate and suitable action” against Twitter if it failed to remove the accounts as soon as possible.
According to several Indian newspapers, this might eventually lead to an entire ban on Twitter access in India, but this rather drastic step in theory has yet to be confirmed of happening. In fact, Twitter has not come up with a statement on their part either, never mind that there are 16 million Twitter users in India itself. One user tweeted, “Dear GOI (Government of India), Keep youre Hands Off My Internet. Else face protest”, after over 300 Web pages were blocked in the process. It is difficult to regulate what is happening online though, so it would be interesting to see just how India’s government works to contain the situation.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: India wants to monitor Google and Skype as well, Final moments tweeted could help solve mystery of Baltimore coal train derailment,
Those who cover the gadget and technology universe in news know that Microsoft is more than ready for a face change – they’re ready for a whole nip and tuck age reduction. With the logo they’ve released today, they’ve made it clear that they’re willing to make their way into the post-PC age – or perhaps the mobile age, if you want to call it that. While many companies flounder with fabulous software and hardware because they don’t want to see their precious graphic design change, Microsoft has hired Pentagram to make it work.
With the new logo, Microsoft takes their lovely equilateral square grid and flattens it out, letting you know that they’re not messing around with frills here in 2012. The logo that came before this one had a faux-3D effect to it with the same flag, extra shadows, and a logotype addition below – and sometimes beside – with italics and a chip taken out of the mark. It was a very well-traveled mess.
Back when it was introduced, of course, it was a masterpiece. With a bit of help from Neatorama you’ll see that the first Micro-Soft logo had them working in the Atari age with lots and lots of lines. Another iteration that existed for just about 12 years had the company keeping with the strange love of shutter-lines in the center O and cutting out the junk in the rest of the now-lovely simple letters.
Then came the italics and the chip – the chip was added by designer Scott Baker who has been reported quite a few times as having added it so it would look like Pac-man. We’ve since evolved way, way past simple silly cuts such as that. Microsoft’s new design will look like a “I could have done that with Photoshop” sort of situation, but it’s no joke.
Machines are getting more and more complex as they’re getting smaller, more portable, and more powerful. We do not see the complexities, we only see the simplicity and the effortless implementation that manufacturers and developers across the board are pushing as their representation to the world. We have as few steps as we’ve ever had now between our wallet and the final product.
Watch the company evolve now perfectly in-sync with their renewed brand power. We’re glad to see this legend in the software business keep up with the times behind the scenes as well as on the surface.
Microsoft’s logo update tells us they’re ready for new era is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Imagine a reality TV show that’s starring you, recorded by you and directed by Microsoft? That’s the principle behind its most recently disclosed patent application, dreaming up a method to transmit data from a “life recorder” to a target device for safe keeping. The company pictures you using your smartphone (or other device — just a shame the ideal one is Google’s) to document your life, before it automatically catalogs, tags and uploads it to elsewhere for friends and family to enjoy. We’re not sure if we want our friends from the Hockey Club seeing us freak out at Kelly Clarkson gigs, but hopefully there’s an off switch.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Wireless
Microsoft wants to patent ‘life streaming,’ turn your whole life into Jersey Shore originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
USPTO | Email this | Comments
Infinity Blade developer Chair Entertainment has a new game it would like you to check out, but this one is quite a bit different than the games we’re used to seeing from Chair. Dubbed Vote!!! the Game, this new iOS title allows players to assume the role of their preferred presidential candidate and the proceed to beat the tar out of their opponent. The presidency apparently won’t be determined by who is the better orator, but rather by who is more skilled with an ice cream cone or a rubber chicken.
As silly as it sounds, the game does tie-in to the actual election, which is coming up here in just a few short months. Chair has announced that it will be giving a portion of the proceeds to the Rock the Vote organization, and indeed, this game is geared toward getting more citizens registered to cast their vote when November rolls around. In fact, players can even get registered right from the home screen of the game, which will no doubt come in handy.
Vote!!! is built on the engine that Chair used to build Infinity Blade, and the goal is to knock your opponent down without taking a hit. You rack up more points the longer you go without being hit, which in turn leads to more virtual votes you can cast for your preferred candidate. As a fun little play on the actual election, Chair will keep a running tally of each candidate’s votes so players can see who’s ahead and who’s lagging behind with the user base. Have a look at the game’s official trailer below to get a better idea of how the game plays.
Like Infinity Blade, players will swipe the screen to attack and use buttons to defend or dodge. Players can earn coins to unlock new weapons and outfits for Obama and Romney, with coins also being available to purchase with real world money. Vote!!! is available for free right this very minute on the iOS App Store, so if you’re a politics junkie, be sure to give it a spin.
[via Polygon]
‘Vote!!! the Game’ lets you beat up presidential candidates is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Last week, we saw what could very well be the Nokia Phi smartphone, and earlier this morning, we read about the Windows Phone 8 specifications of the Nokia Phi being “confirmed” by Eldar Murtazin. Right now, what you see above could very well be a design patent from Nokia for the Nokia Phi, although there is a very strong case you could argue for it looking more like the Nokia Lumia 800 or Lumia 900. I guess it is the speaker’s location as well as the width of the screen’s edge that shows off the possibility of it being the actual Nokia Phi, but until something more official crops up, we will just have to take the image above with a grain of salt, and a very large one at that.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia Phi Windows Phone 8 specs “confirmed” by Eldar Murtazin, Nokia N9 runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean,
The video above demonstrates the second prototype of the Med Sensation breast exam glove. Developed by, er, students at Singularity University, the glove is stacked with sensors, which are supposed to give doctors unprecedented feedback while performing breast exams. In theory that could lead to better results and saved lives. Except a lot of people might not show up to exams at all. Look at this freaking thing: More »
Apple revolutionized the world of touch screens. Between the Touch, Phone and Pad – and many other brands of devices that followed – we have become a swiping, pinching, tapping sort of society. Yet the foundational product in Apple’s collection is still “touch free.” Think about it – the iMac lacks this functionality that we associate with their product brethren. Zorro Macsk, by TMDTouch, proves to change that simple fact and give you a touchscreen iMac.
Zorro Macsk, available at Amazon for just $199, is a frame-like surface you attach to your iMac and in less than 10 seconds you have a touchscreen. Once applied, connect the frame’s USB cable to a port on the computer. Since it supports PNP in Mac OS no driver is required to run the Zorro Macsk. Using infrared technology the users input/touches are then detected. And voila! You are pinching, swiping and tapping just as you do on your other Apple products. The height of the frame is just 4mm, and the unit is specifically tailored to match the contours of the iMac. Currently the Zorro Macsk is available for the 21.5” screen, with 27” in development. It is available in pink, silver and black and also provides a nice option to protect the monitor bezel from dust and scratches. Take the convenience of touchscreen to your iMac and enjoy a whole new experience.
[ Touchscreen iMac? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Netflix will be expanding its streaming offerings a bit next year, thanks to a content deal struck with the Weinstein Company’s Radius-TWC distribution label. The multi-year deal will be bringing films like the Sundance “sensation” The Bachelorette and the Tobey Maguire / Elizabeth Banks movie The Details to the service, along with Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refn’s followup to Drive. The fruits of the deal will hit Netflix’s watch instantly early 2013. More information, meanwhile, can be found in the press release after the break.
Netflix inks deal with Weinstein Co.-owned Radius-TWC, films coming to watch instantly next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
If you happen to have a typical five month old infant, or at least had one, you would realize that your infant might find it rather difficult to sit up at that age, while the crawling milestone is still months away, but a few babies already have an idea on how to get around by steering their very own mobile robots. These robots were specially designed to enable babies with disabilities to get around independently, so that parents need not worry about their little one falling behind in development compared to their peers. Well, with this baby-driven robot, kids with cerebral palsy or other movement disorders will not miss out on their mental development.
Carole Dennis, a professor occupational therapy at Ithaca College in New York, said, “We think that babies with disabilities are missing an opportunity for learning that typically developing babies have.”
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Solar-powered Wave Glider robot tracks down sharks, Desperate Debra simulator for budding doctors to train with,
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
