2006 April

Computer scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed software that enables the sharing of high-speed wireless connections without compromising security or privacy. The software can improve Internet connectivity in residential areas at no additional cost.
“Significantly improved speed and the ‘always on’ feature of wireless routers have been driving the rapid spread of […]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
Ah, those days when you first learn to ride a bicycle. Most start with training wheels, but eventually have to take them off and deal with the scrapes and cuts you first get when you start to learn to balance on two wheels. GyroBike, a start-up spun-off from Dartmouth College, aims […]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
About four months after Sony put Aibo to sleep, a South Korean company has stepped into the gap with its own version of a robotic dog. Named “Genibo” or “genius robot,” the canine will enter the market next year at a still unspecified price.
The Genibo, which stands a foot tall and […]

With an estimated 12 billion Web sites online, it’s not always easy finding the exact site you want. However, University of Alberta computer scientists have developed software they believe will make surfing the Web faster and easier.
The software uses machine learning technology to predict the information needs of Web surfers by refining search engine queries […]

Today’s Warped site has a twist to it. It came to me while I was listening to some Tom T. Hall country music, and his song “I Like Beer” came on. An interesting song, amusing, but with a message in it. Well, I entered beer into the old Google search engine, and lo and behold, […]

Is there anything that’s not going to be incorporated into your cell phone at some time or another? This time, it’s your wallet. Eileen Ng of The Associated Press (via The Seattle Post-Intelligencer) writes:

Alice Hill of RealTechNews writes:
Small mice are great - I have a tiny one I use for travel and the smaller shape is actually so easy to get used to, I am thinking of using it all the time. That said, here is a pointing device that is SOooo tiny it puts my travel Logitech […]

Alice Hill of RealTechNews writes:
This is a bit before my time, but it is good to remember that fads that seem new are usually far from it. The metal hoop and stick of gentler times evolved into the plastic Hula Hoop of the ’60s. The same is true for electronics.
Case in point: the hand-held transistor […]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
The Nintendo Revolution is now known as the Wii. And that’s pronounced “we” or “oui” or “whee…” but you get the point. Honestly, I figured Revolution was a good name, and based on today’s Nintendo statement, so did the company… to a point, anyway.
“While the code-name ‘Revolution’ expressed our direction, Wii […]

Everyone knows what you do with Colgate Regular Flavor Toothpaste, Dannon Plain Yogurt, Miracle Whip, and Reynolds Wrap. Or what they are supposed to be used for. Well, hold your horses. I have found a Web site that gives some interesting “alternative” uses for these common everyday products, and for many others as well. So […]

AMD has removed some anxiety for me, for which I’m grateful. I’ve been wishing I had just a few more solid details about its upcoming major hardware changes. Maybe it was a crystal ball reader that made it clear it up for me.

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:
A new Web site, called Explorer Destroyer, has decided to try to destroy the use of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and it’s using Google to help fund it, believe it or not. You download their script, install it on your website, and you have three different options to promote it to your […]

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:
This looks pretty cool; now you will be able to record what you are watching, if you want to watch it again, and another show at the same time - or, if you are unlucky enough to have three of your favorite shows on at the same time, record two of […]

Alice Hill of RealTechNews writes:
Okay, so this one doesn’t have the same note of panic when you consider it doesn’t happen for 32 years, but it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead. The culprit this time: the way Unix and some variations of Linux and Windows 2000 register time.
Instead of relying on an in built calendar […]

Last Christmas, our annual employee lunch had some entertainment. Instead of the managers making the usual fools of themselves, they hired an Elvis impersonator. Pretty cool - the guy was very entertaining and very good. It got me to thinking how much time and energy go into doing this type of show, whether it be […]

Soon you’ll be able to surf the Web while you surf the waves, Big Kahuna! The Associated Press (via BusinessWeek) reports:

Alice Hill of RealTechNews writes:
Having fun with images is not something you get to do every day as a tech blogger. It’s hard enough uploading product shots, but every now and then we love to mix it up.
To date we have covered:

Alice Hill of RealTechNews writes:
I missed the chance to go to the developers dinner last night, but Microsoft has done a good job releasing a blog with its beta of IE7 so you can openly comment and ask questions (what a concept). Some features in this beta 2 release:

Skype, the global Internet communications company, today announced license agreements for worldwide distribution rights to potentially hundreds of thousands of musical works as ringtones for Skype. The agreements are with three major music publishing companies - EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Warner/Chappell Music - and the UK’s collecting society for author/publisher rights, the […]

It is that time of the year. Spring training has opened. I know it’s still snowing and winter is still on us, but in the southern parts of the United States the cry of “play ball” is in the air. Pitchers and catchers have reported, and the once again teams will embark on the journey […]