Caltech develops 'sound bullets'

Caltech researchers have built a device that produces highly focused, high-amplitude acoustic signals dubbed 'sound bullets'.

Solar observatory sends back first dramatic pictures

The new Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) could be as important to science as the Hubble Space Telescope, says NASA, as it releases its first close-up pictures of the sun.

Sony details PS3 3D firmware update

The PS3 will become the first system to take full advantage of the new generation of 3D TVs with a firmware update that "will be available shortly."

New $100 bill uses thousands of lenses, has a 3D effect

The US Treasury Department has introduced a new makeover to the $100 bill, which now has moving images, 3D effects, and changing colors as the most robust anti-counterfeit note in the country's history.

Skype gives stranded passengers free WiFi at 100,000+ hotspots

Better late than never, especially when it comes to free WiFi. And for the thousands of passengers who still can't get a flight back home, Skype's major announcement today is a very welcome surprise.

Coming soon: buy digital content at airports

If you plan on flying out of Atlanta this summer, you'll be one of the first to see what could be the first of many new airport kiosks: one that offers movies and music downloaded directly to a memory card.

Microsoft pitches Xbox 360 TV

Xbox 360 owners may eventually be able to tune their console to a dedicated "TV channel" that will air live, original programming focused on Xbox gaming.

McAfee security update crashes corporate XP machines

A defective security update issued by a very red-faced McAfee has reportedly crashed thousands of corporate XP machines worldwide.

Facebook wants a smarter, more personalized web

Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a redesigned Facebook platform that will allow websites to "personalize experiences" and "build out" an extensive graph of connections.

Report: Microsoft prepping new version of Windows Live

Microsoft is preparing to launch a new version of Windows Live, which has apparently been dubbed "Wave 4" by a team of very bored marketeers.

Blizzard purges 320,000 cheaters from Battle.net

Blizzard has confirmed a widespread purge of over 320,000 Warcraft III and Diablo II accounts that were found to be violating the (rather extensive and boring) Battle.net Terms of Use.

Report: Google beta testing next-gen Android OS


Google is currently testing its next-gen Android OS (2.2), which has been codenamed "Froyo."

Doom...Now for the Zune HD!?

Do you remember 1993? Dimly lit, smoked filled rooms and teeming mosh pits. Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins. And Doom.  


Spacecraft gets up close to Venus

The Venus Express spacecraft has completed an 'aerodrag' exercise, using its solar wings to catch and measure faint wisps of atmosphere just 180km above the planet.

Google acquires enigmatic hardware company

Google has reportedly acquired an engimatic San Jose-based startup staffed by former Apple and P.A. Semi employees.

Adobe ditches the iPhone and embraces Android

Adobe has halted Flash development for the iPhone after criticizing Apple for "tying developers down" to an unfriendly and rigid platform.

DSL Phantom Mode: na Jar Jar Binks

Alcatel-Lucent has come up with a way of increasing the capacity of DSL on copper wires to 300 Mbps.

Consumer Watchdog asks DoJ to break up Google

An independent consumer group will today call on the Department of Justice to consider breaking Google up because of uncompetitive practices.

Brain training leaves users as dumb as ever

Some very clever people with better things to do than fiddle about on a Nintendo DS have explained to the rest of us that brain training games are useless.

Microsoft men have more friends

Microsoft employees are the most sociable on the web, according to analyst NetProspex, with nearly five times as many friends as IBMers.