spacecowb0y

Yahoo is making important improvements to the user interface and the output of its search engine. It will now suggest complete search queries for you as you type. It makes entering queries a lot faster and improves the likelihood that you'll spell your query correctly. Google offers a similar feature in its downloadable add-on, Google Toolbar, but not yet on its Web site.

The suggestions box also shows related search terms. It's pretty smart. When I tried searching for "Corvette," for example, the Search Assist box also displayed "sports cars," "z06," and other related terms.

Other interface improvements include the embedding of video clips in search results pages (some pop up over the page when you play them), as well as photos from Flickr.

Yahoo is also bringing a fair amount of structured data into its search results pages. If you search for a musical artist, you're likely to get a specially-formed result at the top of the page that has links to albums, lyrics, and to music samples that play directly. Movies get a similar treatment. Events are pulled from Yahoo's Upcoming database and displayed in search. Shopping results come in from Yahoo shopping. Sports results, weather, maps, travel, and other data is likewise displayed directly in the search pages, nicely formatted so you can tell what it is.

Yahoo Search's new features are useful. There's likely more to come, too, from Yahoo and its competitors. Most search engines now do more than just parse links and display the content that surrounds them; they instead understand content so they can display information from multiple sites together in useful blocks. Google and Microsoft are already doing this and will no doubt continue to improve how they extract meaning from sites. Ask also has highly-structured search results pages that put the other engines to shame; a good Ask result page is a site to see.

Meh.


Source: CNET News

Programmers have released the first beta version of Ubuntu Linux with new flash technology--in two senses of the term.

First, Ubuntu is finally following leading Linux versions from Red Hat and Novell that include snazzy 3D graphics in the user interface. Specifically, the version 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" beta uses Compiz Fusion, software that uses OpenGL graphics technology to make windows transparent, map desktops to the faces of a cube, let windows wobble as if made of JELL-O or zoom them for quick magnification. Various 3D effects can be downloaded and plugged in. Some folks find this eye candy to be a CPU-sucking annoyance, but Mac OS X and Windows Vista have it, and a lot of enthusiasts find it an engaging domain.

Second, the beta version includes a preview version of Gnash, an open-source incarnation of Adobe Systems' Flash software for animations and video streaming. It's still in development and "not yet fully supported by Ubuntu," but it brings some Flash support to those who want to move fully to 64-bit software.

For those using the GNOME user interface, printers are automatically configured when plugged in, project organizers said.

Gutsy Gibbon is due to be completed October 18.

Source: CNET News

A long time ago, in a garage in Santee, California, a group of slightly insane rocketeers decided to make a flying scale model of the X-Wing fighter from what is arguably the best movie ever made, Star Wars.

We decided to make the project to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie. Our club members are making several Star Wars based projects to fly at Plaster Blaster VI, or Plaster Wars.

We decided to make the project challenging in several ways. The first is just the massive size of the rocket. It is over 21' long, with a wingspan of over 19'. We opted to use a cluster of four motors to emulate the "real" X-wing, and positioned the motors in the wing pods. The real challenge was to make the wings move in flight, from the "attack" position, or extended to the "landing" position, or folded. This proved to be quite a mechanical feat.

I have been asked many times "You built that by yourself?". No, Not even close. Our rocket club, Tripoli San Diego, has a diverse membership with a wide range of skills and abilities. Almost everyone in the club participated. Here are just a few of the build team members.

I wanted to thank everyone involved, especially our sponsors RCS Aerotech and RMS Laser for their great support. Thanks also to all the people that took time to come over to my garage and put in all the long hours on this bird.

Some late additions to the project was to make R2D2 turn via radio control and we even added sound for him.

Flight date: 10/6/2007, Plaster City, CA

Down with the Empire!!!!!

Source: Polecat Aerospace

Aided by many volunteers and using tools borrowed from my dad and the Stockholm County Museum, I've spent the day getting the Djurhamn sword out of the ground.

I found the sword on 30 August while metal detecting around the Harbour of the Sheaf Kings. Today we marked out a 2.5 by 2.0 metre trench around the sword, got rid of a lot of vegetation, dug and sieved 2.5 square metres and got the sword out. Its point was wedged between the roots of a large hazel bush, so I only got it out in one piece thanks to its excellent preservation.

It's a straight double-edged sword, 92 cm long with a single-hand grip. Nils Drejholt of the Royal Armoury tells me that it's an early-16th century weapon, unusually designed but similar in details to the so-called rikssvärden, "swords of the realm", ceremonial weapons commissioned by King Gustaf I.

The date tallies well with the level above the sea considering shore displacement. The sword appears to have been dropped into the water from a nearby quayside whose remains I've located or from a ship moored at the quay. Indeed, judging from the topography, Djurhamn was a really good harbour only until about 1600 when the entrance channel to a natural lagoon had shrunk too much to allow the passage of ships any more. The former lagoon is now a large tract of marshy forest.

Source: Aardvarchaeology

See the source for the full image.


Source: Pizdaus

Lobies give you a supplemental way of wearing earbuds. You no longer need to insert earbuds into your ear. Instead, Lobies float your earbuds on an acoustic cushion of air.

The Lobie-Earbud combination results in an ultra comfortable unsurpassed listening experience. You'll enjoy your Lobies while listening to music/audio books, playing your favorite video games or watching movies.

For activities such jogging, skateboarding, etc. Lobies provide the support you need by gently resting behind the superior crux of your ear without the use of springs or mechanisms. Lobies feel so natural that you may forget you're wearing them.

Lobies are silky soft, pliable and size adaptable, so you can easily adjust the shape of your Lobie to suit your ear size.

Seems like a hassle to lug around/use, and you will most likely look like a tool wearing them, but at this point, anything to help my sensitive ears survive more than five minutes of earbud use is a good thing.


Source: Lobies

Replug transforms any 3.5mm audio jack into a breakaway connection, protecting your audio jack from the rigors of daily use. When too much force is appled, Replug simply detaches from itself, preventing catastrophic damage to your audio device. Simply reattach plug to tip and you’re ready to go. Jack saved.

Source: Replug

-- Thanks digitalanomaly

Gibson's Powertune system has been in the works for quite awhile, and although there are other axes out there that claim to tune themselves, only a Gibson will do for some. Reportedly, the firm is readying a "new line of instruments" that are equipped with the system, which includes "an additional set of pickups mounted underneath the strings that are used specifically for the tuning process." By using all sorts of digital electronics and fancy algorithms, the equipment is able to automatically tune the strings, but it only activates when users pull out the Master Control Knob. Purportedly, the system can have have all six strings back in tune "within a few seconds," and you can even utilize a number of pre-programmed alternate tunings if that's your bag. 'Course, it's certainly debatable whether the hands-off approach to tuning is worth the extra $899 or so, but it's sure sweet to have the opion.

More pictures at the source.


Source: Technology Review via Engadget

Although there isn't an official press release yet, Marantz announced the PMD620 Digital Audio Recorder a few days back at the Podcast and New Media Expo and Josh Bancroft took pictures of the nice-looking, "cigarette pack-sized"* unit as well as the spec sheet. The PMD620 will record to SD and SDHC flash memory cards, has an OLED display, can record from its built-in condenser or external mics, and can record for five hours on a pair of AA batteries. It also has a built-in speaker, which Marantz claims is first in the "pro handheld" category.

Should be $400 when released in November.

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets

Yamaha has just released information on their two new down-firing subwoofers. Both are extremely compact and feature a flared front port in addition to Yamaha's Active Servo Technology (Version 2).

The larger YST-FSW150BL has a 6.5" driver paired with an onboard amplifier capable of putting out 130 watts. The YST-FSW050BL has a 6.5" driver as well, but a less powerful amplifier with a rated output of 100 watts. Both weigh just over 20 pounds and are designed to be used with front surround or micro component systems.

Both have already popped up on Amazon with an expected release date showing as tomorow.

Yamaha YST-FSW150BL Down-Firing Active Subwoofer
Price: $249.95

Yamaha YST-FSW050BL Down-Firing Active Subwoofer
Price: $179.95

Source: Audio Junkies

Microsoft has unveiled the second generation of Zune digital music players and will offer consumers 1 million unprotected songs on its online music store.

Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it will offer three new models of the Zune in November including two equipped with flash memory. The 4GB and 8GB versions are iPod Nano look-alikes that will sell for a suggested retail price of $149 and $199 respectively. An 80GB player equipped with a hard drive will sell for $249. The pricing scheme for the devices exactly mirrors Apple's iPods.

Some of the other changes include a complete overhaul of the device's software and a redesign of Marketplace, Zune's music store. Other interesting features include wireless syncing and the new Zune Pad, a touch-sensitive technology that enables users to slide their finger across the main navigation button instead of always having to click.

The 4GB and 8GB models represent Zune's first foray into flash-based players and they will be offered in a palette of red, pink, black and green. The 80GB features a 3.2-inch screen and will be smaller and thinner than the original Zune 30GB player. The software upgrades will also replace the software in the 30GB models.

Zune devices will automatically sync when connected over home wireless networks. The feature is designed to ensure that owners always leave home with the latest content, such as podcasts.

The move to provide unprotected MP3 music on the Zune music store is unprecedented for Microsoft but does not come as a surprise. Not only is the company one of the major providers of digital rights management software, but executives there slammed Apple and its CEO Steve Jobs last February when he called on the music industry to abandon DRM.

Microsoft then reversed itself in April, saying it would eventually sell unprotected songs on Marketplace.

Tons of coverage at all the usual sites, but Gizmodo is keeping a live-updated post that's consolidating choice reviews and new info from all over. I think I'll get one just to spite all the retarded iFanboys.


Source: CNET News

10 years ago the original Fallout was released and forever changed role-playing games. Now is your chance to be a part of Fallout history. We're giving you, the fans, a chance to design one of the perks for Fallout 3!

No, we aren’t going to tell you about any of the perks that are already in Fallout 3. First, that would spoil it, and second, we don’t want to color your ideas with anything we are, or aren’t doing. It’s a clean slate for you. Be creative.

Think of something in the spirit of Fallout. What would you really want your character to be able to do in the game? Don’t worry about any stat requirements or the level you would get it at. Just design a cool perk and we'll fit it in where it could go.

Part of what make Perks great are the Vault Boy images that goes with them. You can choose to use one of the generic icons we’ve provided to go along with your Perk if you’re not artistically inclined (that won’t hurt your chances of winning, in case you’re wondering) or you can choose to upload a drawing, sketch, photo, or creation of your own design. Send in a photo of yourself in the appropriate pose, sketch it on a napkin and scan it in...whatever you want.

If you win, you'll get your Perk in the game, your name in the game's credits, AND your choice of the grand prize from the Prize Vault: either the PC or the Console flavor.

All entries must be in by 11:59 pm (Eastern time) on October 31, 2007. We'll announce the winner of the contest, and all the other awardees, in November.

Jump to the source to check out the prizes.


Source: Fallout Official Site

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King will add a new option to the game’s class roster with the introduction of the first hero class, the necromantic death knight. During the Second and Third Wars, the people of Azeroth learned to fear these merciless, unholy warriors and their terrifying runeblades. Leading legions of the undead into battle during the Third War, the Lich King’s death knights proved both their strength and their cunning on several occasions, making them an invaluable part of the Scourge army.

In Wrath of the Lich King, you will be able to pick up a runeblade, don some plate armor, and wreak serious havoc using both melee abilities and offensive magic. To give you an early glimpse at the design philosophy behind the new class, we sat down with the World of Warcraft design team to talk about the role the death knight will play in the expansion’s story as well as in its gameplay, and to get their thoughts about goals and ideas for the new class.

See the whole interview at the source. Some choice information though:

▪ The death knights you will be able to play are no longer allied with the Lich King; instead, they have joined forces with the Horde or the Alliance to fight against Arthas. So by playing a death knight, you’re engaged in the story of Wrath of the Lich King right from the start, which makes the death knight a logical class choice for the expansion from a lore point of view.

▪ ...we’re designing this class to be able to fill a tanking role in groups, death knights will also be a viable and interesting choice for them, since the tank is one of those absolutely vital group roles.

▪ One interesting difference between the death knight and other tanks is that death knights don’t use shields. This is also a good example of how our design concepts for the class are closely reflected in actual gameplay. If you think of a death knight, you think of this terrifyingly powerful warrior in heavy plate armor carrying around an enormous rune weapon, very much like Arthas does in the cinematics of Warcraft III. You don’t really see death knights hiding behind a shield – that’s just not their style.

▪ The “modern” death knights resemble both the ones you saw in Warcraft III and the ones from Warcraft II, so they will combine powerful melee attacks with rune-based spellcasting to lay waste to whatever gets in their way. This mix of devastating melee abilities and magic attacks will be one of the many characteristics that set the death knight apart from other tanks.

▪ For example, the death knight’s spells and abilities will be fueled by a new type of resource mechanic – the rune system – which will be different from mana, energy, and rage.


Source: World of Warcraft Community Site