NYT > Science

• Researchers Report Advances in Cell Conversion Technique
  by By NICHOLAS WADE
  28 Aug 2008 at 5:31am
  Biologists at Harvard have converted cells from a mouse?s pancreas into the insulin-producing cells that are destroyed in diabetes.
  
  
  
• Purdue, Citing Research Misconduct, Punishes Scientist
  by By KENNETH CHANG
  27 Aug 2008 at 11:17pm
  An appeals committee at Purdue University has upheld findings of misconduct by Rusi P. Taleyarkhan.
  
  
  
• As Arctic Sea Ice Melts, Experts Expect New Low
  by By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
  27 Aug 2008 at 11:17pm
  The coverage of sea ice in the Arctic could break the record low from last September, scientists said.
  
  
  
• Xcel to Disclose Global Warming Risks
  by By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:53pm
  The New York attorney general announced an agreement that would require Xcel Energy, a builder of coal-fired plants, to disclose to investors the financial risks of global warming.
  
  
  
• Green Roofs Offer More Than Color for the Skyline
  by By KEN BELSON
  27 Aug 2008 at 11:58pm
  The use of vegetation and rock to absorb rainwater on roofs is part of a growing effort to reduce greenhouse gases, rainwater runoff and electricity demand in New York.
  
  
  
• Indonesia Expands Wildlife Haven
  by By REUTERS
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:43pm
  The government announced it would expand a national park on the island of Sumatra, which hosts endangered elephants and tigers.
  
  
  
• Israel to Display the Dead Sea Scrolls on the Internet
  by By ETHAN BRONNER
  26 Aug 2008 at 10:25pm
  Each piece of the Dead Sea Scrolls is being digitally photographed with the aim of putting the entire file online.
  
  
  
• The Energy Challenge: Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid?s Limits
  by By MATTHEW L. WALD
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:07am
  Clean energy?s dirty secret is that while generating it is getting easier, moving it to market is not.
  
  
  
• California County?s Resolve Against Drilling Fades
  by By FELICITY BARRINGER
  26 Aug 2008 at 10:25pm
  In Santa Barbara County, where an oil spill devastated the coastline in 1969, the opposition against offshore drilling may be softening.
  
  
  
• Serving Architects, Consultants in Everything Green Become Mainstays
  by By LISA CHAMBERLAIN
  27 Aug 2008 at 4:41pm
  A growing cadre of consultants are specializing in helping developers and architects gain approval from the U.S. Green Building Council through its LEED certification program.
  
  
  
• Deadly Pathogen Harms Florida Citrus Groves
  by By DAVID KARP
  26 Aug 2008 at 8:26pm
  The world?s most destructive citrus disease is threatening the largest domestic producer of these fruits.
  
  
  
• Friend or Foe? Crows Never Forget a Face, It Seems
  by By MICHELLE NIJHUIS
  26 Aug 2008 at 9:21am
  Researchers have found that crows, renowned for their ability to flourish in human-dominated landscapes, can recognize individual human faces.
  
  
  
• Study Maps Faults for New York Quakes
  by By KENNETH CHANG
  25 Aug 2008 at 9:35pm
  A new analysis estimates that a magnitude 5 earthquake in or around New York City occurs on average once a century.
  
  
  
• Books: A Doctor Transformed, Into a Patient
  by By ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D.
  26 Aug 2008 at 11:28am
  Dr. Thomas Graboys? memoir of dealing with Parkinson?s disease stands out as a small wonder.
  
  
  
• Talking Directly, and Kindly, to Believers in the Eco Life
  by By FELICITY BARRINGER
  26 Aug 2008 at 7:27pm
  A trailblazer in the field of eco-advice columnists, Umbra Fisk serves as a sensible big sister to the growing tribe of the environmentally aware.
  
  
  

NYT > Technology

• Industry Rethinks Moneymaking Software Practice
  by By MATT RICHTEL
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:00pm
  Before they ship PCs to retailers like Best Buy, computer makers get paid hundreds of millions of dollars to load them up with lots of free software. For $30, Best Buy will get rid of it for you.
  
  
  
• Basics: For the Advanced in Age, Easy-to-Use Technology
  by By ERIC A. TAUB
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:17pm
  The companies that are successfully marketing new technologies to older people are the ones that have learned to create products that span generations, providing style and utility to a range of age groups.
  
  
  
• Phone Smart: Freeing Those Snapshots Trapped Inside the Cellphone
  by By BOB TEDESCHI
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:18pm
  Carriers and device manufacturers have only lately figured out that users need a single button that says, ?Send my new photo now.?
  
  
  
• A U.S.B. Cable for Splitting Screens and Sharing Files Between Two Computers
  by By JOHN BIGGS
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:24pm
  Iogear?s new U.S.B. Laptop K.V.M. Switch, a double-ended cable that connects two Windows PCs or laptops together, lets you use one PC to control the other and even drag files between the machines.
  
  
  
• A Mouse to Aid Warriors in Their Arena of Choice
  by By J. D. BIERSDORFER
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:23pm
  Made with the needs of videogame fans in mind, the Avatar mouse from NZXT comes with seven programmable buttons that can be custom-configured for different types of games.
  
  
  
• Give Yourself or Others a New Look, Digitally
  by By WARREN BUCKLEITNER
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:47pm
  Combining a graphics tablet with a built-in camera and a computer-based set of creativity tools, Stylin? Studio is the latest thing in face-editing technology.
  
  
  
• Reasonable Volumes Built Into the Earbuds
  by By J. D. BIERSDORFER
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:22pm
  With parental concerns in mind, the LoudEnough earbuds from Ultimate Ears have volume-limiting safeguards built into the hardware.
  
  
  
• For the Next Global Mission (or Hike in the Woods), a Watch Loaded With Gadgetry
  by By JOHN BIGGS
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:47pm
  The Suunto X10 watch hides a G.P.S. unit, stopwatch, compass, barometer and altimeter into a package not much bigger than 007?s favorite Omega.
  
  
  
• State of the Art: New Nikon Holds a Secret
  by By DAVID POGUE
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:55pm
  The Nikon D90 camera, arriving in stores next month, has the features and performance of a single-lens reflex, and can record high-definition video.
  
  
  
• Adding Memory to Your PC
  by By J. D. BIERSDORFER
  27 Aug 2008 at 2:23pm
  I have a Dell Dimension 4500S that came with 256 megabytes of memory, and I added another 256 MB myself. Can I replace one of the modules with a one-gigabyte chip without any problems?
  
  
  
• Troubleshooting a Slow Network
  by By J. D. BIERSDORFER
  27 Aug 2008 at 2:21pm
  My wireless home network used to be fine, but I have noticed that it has recently gotten periodically slower. What might be causing this drop in speed?
  
  
  
• Tip of the Week: Adding RSS Feeds to Your Screensaver
  by By J. D. BIERSDORFER
  27 Aug 2008 at 2:26pm
  Want to turn the Mac?s screensaver into a dynamic billboard for news headlines, favorite blog feeds or even Facebook notifications?
  
  
  
• Bits: YouTube Praises Dismissal of Copyright Suit Against Veoh
  by By MIGUEL HELFT
  28 Aug 2008 at 12:43am
  A federal judge threw out a copyright infringement suit against video-sharing site Veoh. Google?s YouTube unit claimed the ruling bodes well for its legal fight with Viacom.
  
  
  
• Bits: I'm in Your Google Docs, Reading Your Spreadsheets
  by By DAVID F. GALLAGHER
  27 Aug 2008 at 10:53pm
  Sharing documents with your co-workers via Google Docs sure is convenient. But one little typo can turn into a big security problem.
  
  
  
• Front Row: Designer Collections Packed Into an iPhone
  by By ERIC WILSON
  27 Aug 2008 at 9:23pm
  Style.com, the online home of Vogue, is introducing an iPhone application designed to enable dedicated followers of fashion to watch runway shows during New York Fashion Week.
  
  
  

Forever Geek
Nerds are for Dorks

• Casio Exilim puts ?makeup? on your picture
  by Mel
  27 Aug 2008 at 7:21pm
  Those wacky Japanese! They always think of the strangest features for their gizmos. Take for instance the new Casio Exilim cameras that feature a “makeup function”. This new feature recognizes the face of the subject then automatically adjust the focus and exposure. Pressing a dedicated button will basically make the subject’s face look softer and smoother. [...]
  
• Design your own skateboard
  by Jim
  27 Aug 2008 at 8:18am
    Online retail store Zazzle is now selling custom skate designs.  Geeks who dig skateboards will find this really cool.  The site originally offers custom shirts, stickers and shoes.  Now it looks like their getting the hang of the “custom world” and is including a product line that works well with its clientelle. If you’ve watch “The Net” [...]
  
• Jagged Alliance for the DS still a go
  by Mel
  26 Aug 2008 at 5:09pm
  Finally, some news on the oft-delayed Jagged Alliance project for the Nintendo DS. Empire Interactive has acquired the publishing rights to the turn-based strategy game. No release dates had been given along with the announcement but at this point, I am happy that there is proof the game is not stalled anymore. Jagged Alliance is one of [...]
  
• AMD Works With Developers To Create DX10.1 Magic
  by Mr Butterscotch
  26 Aug 2008 at 12:34pm
  AMD has announced that leading game developers are working with AMD to create a new generation of game titles utilizing Microsoft DirectX® 10.1 to deliver improved features and performance, and an overall better game experience. Developers including Electronic Arts Phenomic Studio and its forthcoming fantasy online real-time strategy game Battleforge?, SEGA and its futuristic military [...]
  
• Superman gets reboot
  by Mel
  25 Aug 2008 at 7:04pm
  One of the biggest superhero movie news floating around right now are the plans to reboot the Superman franchise once again. Warner Bros. has confirmed through WB Pictures Group Pres. Jeff Robinov that the rumors are indeed true. The speculation is that the move will be similar to how the Louis Letterier-directed Incredible Hulk reintroduced [...]
  
• The iBasket
  by Jim
  24 Aug 2008 at 8:42pm
    Do you want to have your geekyness do their laundry?  Yeah we know how sometimes living with a geek has its downside and perks.  But really, if you want to have your geeks pull their weight inside the home you gotta think like a geek! Good thing Electrolux is two-steps ahead.  Here’s an amazing design concept [...]
  
• New RPG Announcement - Lords of Shadow
  by Mr Butterscotch
  24 Aug 2008 at 5:11am
  Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has used Europe?s leading video game event, the annual Games Convention in Leipzig, to unveil a landmark new title for PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360 from its European Product Planning department entitled Lords of Shadow, which is due for release in 2010. Developed by Madrid-based Mercury Steam, Lords of Shadow is a stunning [...]
  
• Folderix 4GB flash drive
  by Jim
  23 Aug 2008 at 9:21am
    I just couldn’t pass this flash drive design.  Isn’t it too cool?  I had to take a double-look at it, do you see that these are folder designs? :)  Cute, very cute.  It’s the Folderix 4GB flash drive costing US$55 each.  Not really bad, considering the good design and the colored-aluminum finish. On sale right here. Now [...]
  
• IGN app brings reviews to iPhone, iTouch
  by Mel
  22 Aug 2008 at 6:13pm
  With the iPhone 3G being released to the rest of the world this weekend, it’s quite expected that nifty apps for the iPhoe and iPod Touch will come out at the same time. One of the most useful I’ve seen is the new IGN Game Reviews Application that is now available on iTunes. The app allows [...]
  
• Small fee for transferring Rock Band 1 songs to RB2
  by Mel
  21 Aug 2008 at 9:51pm
  With Rock Band Two looming in the horizon as all signs point to a definite September release, more details are being revealed about the new game and how it impacts on the first Rock Band. One of the touted features for Rock Band 2 is the ability to transfer the songs on the Rock Band 1 [...]