How much for that "Magnetric PC" in the dealer's window?

Scientists at the London Center of Nanotechnologies prove the existence of atom-sized magnetic charges ("magnetic monopoles") that behave and interact like electric charges.

This could mean significant tech advances in computing with the quicker movement and manipulation of data via magnetic rather than electric charges.

The team at the Isis Facility in Oxfordshire generated subatomic particles (muons) to investigate magnetic materials. Continue reading...

No More "Dancing with the Stars" for Woz

Relegated to the sidelines, the Woz was eliminated from the Dancing With the Stars show. "Any geek had to look at him, and say, 'There, but for the grace of God, go I,'" said one observer. "They were just happy that he didn't fall down."

You can watch Woz say “Goodbye” while his dancing partner, professional Karina Smirnoff, seems to having a Janet Jackson moment. Hear Woz praise his partner in true Geek boy-to-girl eloquence: "Karina ... forever, man. Continue reading...

The "idol" for straight-shooting, non-commercial industry geeks, The Woz was never known to dance around any subject…uh, until now. He’s two-stepping his way as the fan-favorite on America’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Hard to believe (after one judge said it was absolutely the "worst samba" he'd ever seen and another quipped the portly tech’s "novelty starts to wear thin") that Steve is still in contest. On the other hand, Steve-O Continue reading...

In his 7th floor apartment in Hong Kong’s Sai Wan Ho district, Gary Chang can lower a hinged worktop in his video game room and end up standing in his kitchen.

In fact, he has 24 different layouts that Mr. Chang, an architect, can transform in his 344-square-foot apartment.

The wall units, suspended from steel tracks bolted into the ceiling, seem to float several millimeters above the reflective floor. As these are moved around, the apartment becomes all manner of spaces — Continue reading...

See the video.

www.shutdownday.org/

Good thing February is a short month.

comScore releases Feb. ‘08 data showing U.S. internet users viewed more than 10 billion online videos during the month, a 66% gain vs. February 2007 and a 3% gain over Jan. ’08 (despite Feb. being two days shorter).

 

Go comScore

   See the video.

Bill Gates says he expects the next decade to bring even greater technological leaps than the past 10 years, especially in the ways people interact with computers: speech-recognition, tablets that recognize handwriting, and touch-screens.

 

Gates also sees rapid changes in media as TV increasingly becomes a targeted medium, where viewers can select niche content for news, sports and entertainment. "TV will be based on the Internet; it will be an utterly different thing," declares Bill. Continue reading...