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Barence writes "This week's IFA show has seen a flurry of Android-based alternatives to the iPad emerge from leading manufacturers. The Samsung Galaxy Tab made a strong first impression on PC Pro's reviewer. The 7-inch tablet's TFT screen 'beams forth with rich, saturated colours and wide, wide viewing angles,' the device is capable of Full HD playback and the TouchWiz UI is 'clearly intended to draw customers away from the iFamily.' Elsewhere, ViewSonic has launched a pair of 7-inch and 10-inch tablets, the larger of which dual boots into either Android or Windows 7. 'Our first moments with Windows 7 were surprisingly painless, too: we expected the Atom processor and 1GB of memory to be horrendously sluggish, but it wasn't the case,' PC Pro reports. Finally, Toshiba's 10.1in Folio 100 marries Android 2.2 with Nvidia's Tegra 2 platform to deliver 'mighty graphics crunching power.' The build quality left a little to desire, though. 'The 14mm thick chassis feels lightweight, and even relatively gentle twisting motions left the Folio's plastic body creaking under the stress.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Kilrah_il writes "The fine-structure constant, a coupling constant characterizing the strength of the electromagnetic interaction, has been measured lately by scientists from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and has been found to change slightly in light sent from quasars in galaxies as far back as 12 billion years ago. Although the results look promising, caution is advised: 'This would be sensational if it were real, but I'm still not completely convinced that it's not simply systematic errors' in the data, comments cosmologist Max Tegmark of MIT. Craig Hogan of the University of Chicago and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill., acknowledges that 'it's a competent team and a thorough analysis.' But because the work has such profound implications for physics and requires such a high level of precision measurements, 'it needs more proof before we'll believe it.'"

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If Nevada gubernatorial candidate Eugene "Gino" DiSimone gets his way, $25 will buy you the right to drive up to 90mph for a day. DiSimone estimates his "free limit plan" will raise $1 billion a year for Nevada. From the article: "First, vehicles would have to pass a safety inspection. Then vehicle information would be loaded into a database, and motorists would purchase a transponder. After setting up an account, anyone in a hurry could dial in, and for $25 charged to a credit card, be free to speed for 24 hours."

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pickens writes "The LA Times reports that 84-year-old Cuban ex-President Fidel Castro consumes 200 to 300 news items a day on the World Wide Web. In a recent interview he called Web communication 'the most powerful weapon that has existed' and extolled its power to break a stranglehold on the media by 'the empire' and 'ambitious private groups that have abused it' adding that the Internet 'has put an end to secrets.... We are seeing a high level of investigative journalism, as the New York Times calls it, that is within reach of the whole world.' Well, not the whole world. Cuba has the lowest level of Internet penetration in the Western Hemisphere (lower than Haiti), plus severe government restrictions and censorship affecting those who do have access. In addition Cuban law bans using the Internet to spread information that is against what the government considers to be the social interest, norms of good behavior, the integrity of the people or national security."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

angry tapir writes "A clever spammer found a glitch in Facebook's photo upload system and used it to post thousands of unwanted Wall messages last week. Facebook confirmed the bug Friday, after notifying affected users of the issue. Most of the messages promised 'Free iPhones,' a common spam message on Facebook these days. Facebook says that the spammer hit thousands of profiles before the company removed the spammy photos and notified affected users. No accounts were compromised as a result of the bug."

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paulelaguna writes "The dream of owning a household robot is starting to become reality, particularly for people in Japan. There are robots to help you do the dishes, move furniture, and even robotic wheelchairs to help you get around. Really, the only question that remains for us is when do we move?"

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The Iso writes "Las Vegas based company Righthaven found two articles from the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle reprinted on her web site without permission, so it did what it always does: bought the rights to the articles from the Review-Journal and sued the alleged infringer, seeking unspecified damages."

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Stoobalou writes "The British music industry has called for a truce with the technology firms with whom it has till now fought a bitter battle over rights, royalties and file sharing. Feargal Sharkey, CEO of lobby group UK Music, told a conference in London this week that it was time for the music and technology industries to set aside their differences and strive instead toward a common goal: nothing less than the total global domination of British music."

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This weekend, I've been catching up on some reading. One post that was of particular interest to me was David Beach's article from last week about developing for Android. Beach, who is a product manager at eBay Mobile and a co-founder of 12seconds, basically says that the experience sucks for a number of reasons (all of which Google can fix, but will take quite a bit of work and time). But one quote in particular stuck out to me: Android has succeeded despite Google. In fact it's safe to say that Android is successful for one primary reason. The iPhone is only available on AT&T. If the iPhone was on Verizon a year ago. Android would be no where near as popular. Obviously, Beach isn't the first person to bring this idea up. But he brings it up in a way that he's able to back-up his feelings from a developers' perspective, while at the same time roping in what isn't ideal from a consumer perspective about Android as well.

Hugh Pickens writes "Members of 4chan aren't known for doing things that are cute and heart-warming and when they decide to go after someone, it's typically to subject them to ridicule. But not this time. Someone at 4chan decided that the Internet should get together and wish 90-year-old WWII veteran William J. Lashua a happy birthday, and soon Lashua's local branch of the American Legion was deluged by birthday calls from people as far away as Sweden. The account someone set up for Mr. Lashua's birthday on Facebook had 3,956 'likes' and over 500 comments, most of which wished him a happy birthday and thanked him for his military service. It's not clear how 4chan originally came across a photo of Lashua, but a member of the site posted a snapshot of a flyer that was on the bulletin board at a store in Ashburnham, Massachusetts asking for guests to attend the nonagenarian's birthday on at the American Legion hall and the post took off. In contrast to their usual behavior, 4chan members 'were giving him nice phone calls and sending him nice notes' and discouraging those who wanted to do something stupid or mean. 'They were all being.. well, shucks, awful nice.'"

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An anonymous reader writes "One of the big, unsolved problems in explaining how life arose on Earth is a chicken-and-egg paradox: How could the basic biochemicals - such as amino acids and nucleotides - have arisen before the biological catalysts (proteins or ribozymes) existed to carry out their formation? In a paper appearing in the current issue of The Biological Bulletin, scientists propose that a third type of catalyst could have jumpstarted metabolism and life itself, deep in hydrothermal ocean vents."

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lewko writes "Our company is about to build a central monitoring facility and I'm looking for ideas/suggestions about the best hardware and the best way to make it comfortable for those manning a screen. It will be manned 24x7 and operators will be monitoring a variety of systems including security, network, fire, video and more. These will be observed via local multi-monitor workstations and a common videowall. This is going to be a massively expensive exercise and we only get one chance to get it right. The facility is in a secure windowless bunker and staff will generally be in there for many hours at a time. So we have to implement design elements which make it a 'happy' place. At the same time, it has to be ergonomically sound. Lastly, we will be showing it to our clients, so without undoing the above objectives, it would be nice if it was 'cool' (yet functional). Whilst Television doesn't transfer to real life always, think 'CTU' from 24."

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Early reports indicate Europe will pay a pretty penny for Samsung's Galaxy Tab, but the 7-inch tablet may cost a good bit less when it comes to US shores -- the Wall Street Journal paraphrases a Samsung executive who claims it could run between $200 and $300 depending on the all-important carrier subsidies. The Korea Times, meanwhile, suggests a $300 to $400 retail price according to a different Samsung bigwig, who added that the Tab "will cost slightly more than the Galaxy S smartphone." As you're probably aware, Sammy's Galaxy S typically retails for about $200 in the US -- excepting Sprint's Epic 4G at $250 -- so if you held a bursting Li-ion battery to our head and forced us to guess, we'd say the latter range of dollar signs is far more likely. By the way, Vodafone UK shows the Galaxy Tab as "coming soon." Hit our more coverage link for details. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Samsung suggests Galaxy Tab will cost between $200 and $400 -- also coming to Vodafone UK originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Wall Street Journal, Korea Times  | Email this | Comments

lewko writes "Our company is about to build a central monitoring facility and I'm looking for ideas/suggestions about the best hardware and the best way to make it comfortable for those manning a screen. It will be manned 24x7 and operators will be monitoring a variety of systems including security, network, fire, video and more. These will be observed via local multi-monitor workstations and a common videowall. This is going to be a massively expensive exercise and we only get one chance to get it right. The facility is in a secure windowless bunker and staff will generally be in there for many hours at a time. So we have to implement design elements which make it a 'happy' place. At the same time, it has to be ergonomically sound. Lastly, we will be showing it to our clients, so without undoing the above objectives, it would be nice if it was 'cool' (yet functional). Whilst Television doesn't transfer to real life always, think 'CTU' from 24."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

An editorial yesterday in the LA Times called Fidel Castro, Internet Junkie says the 84-year-old Cuban reads 200 to 300 online articles a day, and is fascinated by WikiLeaks. The LA Times article is based on an lengthy interview Castro did with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, where he reportedly said that the Internet, has put an end to secrets. We are seeing a high level of investigative journalism, asthe New York Times calls it, that is within reach of the whole world. He also said that the Internet is, the most powerful weapon that has existed. Castro, however, isnt just an Internet consumer hes also apparently a prolific blogger (one of about 300 in Cuba). So now you know. (Note: Isolated Cuba does not have a fiber-optic connection to the rest of the world, and must rely on old underwater telephone lines and for satellite-based broadband to connect to the Internet. The LA Times editorial says that estimates put Cubas Internet penetration of between 2.6% -13% of the population depending on whether its based on international (the 2.6%) or Cuban government statistics (the 13%). Either way, Cuba has by far the lowest percentage of Internet users of any nation in the Western Hemisphere. Those that do have access face censorship and restriction as well.) Original title and link for this post: You Know Who Likes WikiLeaks? Fidel Castro.

An editorial yesterday in the LA Times called Fidel Castro, Internet Junkie says the 84-year-old Cuban reads 200 to 300 online articles a day, and is fascinated by WikiLeaks. The LA Times article is based on an lengthy interview Castro did with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, where he reportedly said that the Internet, has put an end to secrets. We are seeing a high level of investigative journalism, asthe New York Times calls it, that is within reach of the whole world. He also said that the Internet is, the most powerful weapon that has existed. Castro, however, isnt just an Internet consumer hes also apparently a prolific blogger (one of about 300 in Cuba). So now you know. (Note: Isolated Cuba does not have a fiber-optic connection to the rest of the world, and must rely on old underwater telephone lines and for satellite-based broadband to connect to the Internet. The LA Times editorial says that estimates put Cubas Internet penetration of between 2.6% -13% of the population depending on whether its based on international (the 2.6%) or Cuban government statistics (the 13%). Either way, Cuba has by far the lowest percentage of Internet users of any nation in the Western Hemisphere. Those that do have access face censorship and restriction as well.) Original title and link for this post: You Know Who Likes WikiLeaks? Fidel Castro.

pickens writes "The LA Times reports that 84-year-old Cuban ex-President Fidel Castro consumes 200 to 300 news items a day on the World Wide Web. In a recent interview he called Web communication 'the most powerful weapon that has existed' and extolled its power to break a stranglehold on the media by 'the empire' and 'ambitious private groups that have abused it' adding that the Internet 'has put an end to secrets.... We are seeing a high level of investigative journalism, as the New York Times calls it, that is within reach of the whole world.' Well, not the whole world. Cuba has the lowest level of Internet penetration in the Western Hemisphere (lower than Haiti), plus severe government restrictions and censorship affecting those who do have access. In addition Cuban law bans using the Internet to spread information that is against what the government considers to be the social interest, norms of good behavior, the integrity of the people or national security."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Concept designs and rumors are something that go hand-in-hand with upcoming generations of anticipated gadgetry…. especially when it comes to our beloved mobile devices. Case-in-point this morning, a new iPhone 5 design concept I stumbled across. Yes, it’s September 2010, and I’ve already spotted a next-gen concept. Have mercy. :)

destinyland writes "In the Central African Republic, broadband internet service costs 3891% of the average monthly income. 'Put another way, a month's broadband service costs more than three years' average wages in the country,' notes one technology blog, 'compared with less than two hours' earnings in Macau.' A United Nations' technology group released the figures in a new report in advance of a September 19 summit on the digital divide in developing countries. ('We are trying to avoid a broadband divide,' said Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the secretary general of the UN's International Telecommunications Union.) Their agency noted that the rate for broadband penetration is below 1% in many poor countries, with monthly costs higher than the average monthly income. 'By contrast,' notes the BBC, 'in the world's most developed economies, around 30% of people have access to broadband at a cost of less than 1% of their income.' And the report also estimates that there are 5 billion cellphones in the world — though some people may own more than one."

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Normally, we assume youve missed a few posts here and there because youve been outside enjoying the last days of summer. But given the impending Hurricane and crippling heatwave, we sincerely hope youve been inside this past week. So whats your excuse?If you still have catching up to do, were back with another list of resources from the past week or so.Our Social Media section can help you gear up for Fantasy Football season, Watch the US Open, or break down the news with some insightful infographics. Tech and Mobile offers a guide on making your own ringtones, using Gmails priority inbox, and a slew of iPhone tips and tricks. Business comes packed with SEO tips, response plans to social media attacks, and advice on incorporating your startup.Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.Social MediaTop 10 Fantasy Football Sites to Help You Win Here are 10 websites that might give you the winning edge over your fantasy football competition.10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube [VIDEOS] YouTube isnt just for kittens, cute kids, and confabulating celebrities. Its also home to some of the most inspiring historical moments ever captured on camera.7 Services That Will Suggest Things You Like Unlimited choice (especially on the web) is not always a good thing. These 7 sites use can help narrow down the agonizing list of possibilities in a variety of areas.5 Fun FarmVille Accessories 80 million virtual farmers cant be wrong! Show off your social gaming addiction with these 5 hilarious accessories.HOW TO: Follow the US Open with Social Media Weve collected some easy, free and totally legal ways to watch and follow the US Open on the web and via social media.10 of the Webs Most Insightful News Infographics A picture is worth a thousand words. But if you include an entire database, make it interactive, and add filtering options, the word-to-picture exchange rate is even better.How Social Data Built a Better Health Care App Its not often that the U.S. government uses social media or open source data to solve a problem, but the NIHs recent project Pillbox is an exception with a lot of potential.HOW TO: Score the Best Fashion Deals on the Social Web Just because the economy is still depressed doesnt mean your wardrobe has to be. Check out all these great discount fashion destinations on the social web.Social Media Grammar: The Checkin Conundrum So you want to write about Foursquare, but is it check in, checkin, or check-in? We have the answers, which are sure to please even the sternest grammarian.For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashables social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.Tech & MobileHOW TO: Make Free iPhone Ringtones You dont need to spend extra money to turn your favorite song into an iPhone ringtone. You can do it right in iTunes. Heres how.6 Job Search Tips for Aspiring Programmers 6 job search tips from the people who hire programmers about how you can land your dream job.8 Free BlackBerry Games Worth Downloading Need a break from the e-mail influx? Sneak away and grab one of these free and fun BlackBerry games.Gmail Priority Inbox: 5 Tips for Better Productivity Weve identified a few more complex tips for those of you looking to maximize productivity and use some of the less obvious features of Priority Inbox.10 Useful iPhone Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks Weve put the iPhone 4 through its paces and come up with some handy tips and tricks that will help you get more out of your Apple-flavored mobile.Why the Apple A4 is the iPod Touchs Killer Feature The most significant addition to Apples new iPod is the inclusion of the same chip capably powering the iPhone 4 and the iPad the Apple A4.HOW TO: Get Started with HTML5 Boilerplate HTML5 Boilerplate is one of the most interesting new projects aimed at giving designers and developers a template for integrating HTML5 into their sites.15 Essential Back to School Podcasts If you need some help getting back into learning mode, these podcasts will open your ears to a wealth of insight on science, history, economics, literature, math and more.HOW TO: Track Hurricane Earl Online Want to know how Earl will affect your Labor Day weekend plans? Check out these resources for tracking the hurricane.For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashables tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.BusinessHOW TO: Respond when Social Media Attacks Your Brand Here are three examples of companies that received negative attention on social media and how you can learn from their mistakes or successes.How CEOs Will Use Social Media in the Future Whether they use it for recruiting, scouting, public engagement or social CRM, CEOs will need to have a firm grasp on social media if they want to stay ahead of the curve.3 Winning Alternatives to Online Sweepstakes Many brands arent aware that running an actual sweepstakes promotion has many legal ramifications. These 3 alternatives can be just as engaging, but without the complications.HOW TO: Incorporate Your Startup at the Right Time Once youve decided that incorporation is right for your business, whats the best time to do it? There are a number of paperwork and tax-related factors to consider.4 Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts Search rank can be a powerful way to drive readers and customers to your site. Check out this advice on how to make your business blog more Google-friendly.A World Without E-mail: One Mans Vision of a Social Workplace Luis Suarez has a dream: no more e-mail. He discusses working remotely from a paradise island and the benefits of keeping all his business correspondence social.8 Funding Contests to Kick Start Your Big Idea Does your startup need an investment to get off the ground? These competitions might prove a good source of VC if you can win.For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashables business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.Reviews: Facebook, Foursquare, Gmail, Google, Mashable, Twitter, YouTube, iPhoneMore About: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, small business, social media, tech, technology, trend, trending, twitter, youtubeFor more Social Media coverage:Follow Mashable Social Media on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Social Media channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad