We’ve all done it: stood in a library, looking around, we’ve been confronted by the fact that there are way, way too many books in existence for us to ever read. But when in history did that happen? Read more…
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When Did There Become Too Many Books to Read in One Lifetime?
astroengine writes “New measurements of the electron have confirmed, to the smallest precision attainable, that it has a perfect roundness. This may sounds nice for the little electron, but to one of the big physics theories beyond the standard model, it’s very bad news. ‘We know the Standard Model does not encompass everything, ‘ said physicist David DeMille, of Yale University and the ACME collaboration, in a press release. ‘Like our LHC colleagues, we’re trying to see something in the lab that’s different from what the Standard Model predicts.’ Should supersymmetrical particles exist, they should have a measurable effect on the electron’s dipole moment. But as ACME’s precise measurements show, the electron still has zero dipole moment (as predicted by the standard model) and is likely very close to being perfectly round. Unfortunately for the theory of supersymmetry, this is yet another blow.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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"Perfect" Electron Roundness Bruises Supersymmetry
We’ve talked a lot about Windows 8.1 ‘s new features—like the return of the Start button—but there are some features and changes that have been mostly ignored. Blogger and Microsoft Press author Ciprian Rusen shares nine lesser-known features and changes that will affect the way you use Windows 8.1. Some you’ll like…and some you won’t. Read more…
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Nine Windows 8.1 Features You Might Have Overlooked
If archaeology was once about digging through dirt, it is increasingly—like almost every other profession—about programming computers. Bernie Frischer, an Indiana University “archaeo-informaticist, ” has came up with a new theory about two Roman monuments. His finding are based on 3D reconstructions of the monuments using video game technology and calculations of the sun’s position 2, 000 years ago. Read more…
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Archaeologist Uses 2,000-Year-Old Sky to Study Roman Ruins
The Virtuix Omni “is an omnidirectional treadmill video game peripheral for virtual reality games currently in development by Virtuix, ” says Wikipedia. With this device and an Oculus Rift, Razer Hydra or a similar “immersive” headset, you can play games equipped to use these devices with your whole body moving in any direction you choose. If you think you saw this product on the Shark Tank TV show or a pitch for it at Kickstarter.com, you’re right. You did. The Virtuix Omni people have been pushing their product hard, everywhere they can. Tim ran into their product manager, Colton Jacobs, at the recent AppsWorld conference in London. This video is Tim’s record of their conversation. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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Virtuix Omni is a Step Toward True Virtual Reality Gaming (Video)
mrspoonsi writes with this excerpt from Business Insider: “This morning, Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to give 18 million Facebook shares to charity by the end of the month. Facebook is currently trading at $55 per share, so Zuckerberg’s gift is worth just under $1 billion. The money will go toward Zuckerberg’s foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and The Breakthrough Prize In Life Science, a [Nobel] Prize-like award. Zuckereberg is giving his shares away as part of a secondary stock offering from Facebook. Reuters says Zuckerberg will sell 41.4 million shares, reducing his voting power in the company from 58.8% to 56.1%. Other insiders selling include board member Marc Andreessen, who will sell 1.65 million shares. Facebook is selling 27 million.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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Mark Zuckerberg Gives $990 Million To Charity
Aurich Lawson After nearly two weeks of bouncing its domain name around the globe, The Pirate Bay has returned to its home port. The notorious BitTorrent site originally went from .se to .sx (Sint Maarten), but it didn’t stop there—in recent days, it has shifted from .ac (Ascension Island) to .pe (Peru) to .gy (Guyana). Now, as of Thursday, it’s back to the comforts of .se (Sweden). Neither The Pirate Bay blog nor its Twitter feed offered any explanation. The move to .sx originally took place back in April 2013 when a Swedish prosecutor filed a motion to seize thepiratebay.se, piratebay.se, and thepiratebay.is. The registrar, the Internet Infrastructure Foundation, has said previously that it would only do so after being served by a Swedish court. “Our actions would largely be determined by the contents of the order and the issuing party,” the agency wrote in June 2012. “Accordingly, we will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis if such an order is issued.” Read 3 remaining paragraphs | Comments
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After sailing the domain name seas, Pirate Bay returns to Sweden
After no short period of waiting, the new Mac Pro has finally gone on sale today . All along it’s promised to pack punch, and it might just prove to be your ultimate work station . But absolute power will cost you. Read more…
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A Fully Loaded New Mac Pro Will Cost You $14,000
DavidGilbert99 writes “A report from Dell Secureworks earlier this week reported that up to 250, 000 systems have been infected with the pernicious ransomware known as CryptoLocker. Digging a little deeper, David Gilbert at IBTimes UK found that the average ransom being paid was $300, and than on a very conservative basis just 0.4% of people paid the ransom. What does this all add up to? $30 million for the gang controlling CryptoLocker — and this could be ‘many times bigger.'” Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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CryptoLocker Gang Earns $30 Million In Just 100 Days
Netflix has been talking up its ability to stream Ultra HD resolution video (demonstrated at the last CES with a local video feed, as seen above), and CPO Neil Hunt reiterated those “next year” promises to Stuff.tv . Specifically, he indicated the streamer has deals to offer 4K video via embedded players on UHD TVs from several manufacturers that will be announcing them at CES. What you won’t hear about — at least immediately — is any 4K support from set-top boxes, including the two next-generation consoles, as Netflix is apparently waiting for standards (read: DRM) and HDMI 2.0 to mature first. Gigaom spotted a few test 4K videos on Netflix early in November, however they won’t play in that resolution on current hardware either. Content-wise, early adopters can expect House of Cards season two and… probably not a lot else, but that should keep everyone busy for one Kevin Spacey-filled week or so. Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments Source: Stuff.tv
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Netflix teases 4K streaming straight to UHD TVs, expect details at CES next month