activities

New mini sensor can measure brain's magnetic activity

An atom-based magnetic sensor the size of a sugar cube has successfully measured human brain activity, a milestone that could ultimately lead to advancing our understanding of a wide range of neurological conditions and diseases, according to researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

We first reported on an earlier iteration of the sensor, which has been in development since 2004, back when the team was first able to use the sensor to track a human heartbeat in 2010.

This week, the researchers report in the journal Biomedical Optics Express that their tiny sensor -- which consists … Read more

Sony to issue Ice Cream Sandwich to 2011 Xperia line soon

Sony today announced that it plans to begin issuing Android 4.0 updates to its 2011 Xperia smartphones beginning in mid-April.

The first models expected to see Ice Cream Sandwich will be the Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V, and Xperia Ray. These updates should take around four to six weeks to complete and will depend on the various markets and carriers.

Jumping ahead to May and early June, Sony expects to deploy Android 4.0 to the remaining models, including the Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, and Xperia Active. Sony's new Xperia S won't be upgraded … Read more

Old-time hacktivists: Anonymous, you've crossed the line

In December 1998, a U.S.-based hacker group called Legions of the Underground declared cyberwar on Iraq and China and prepared to protest human rights abuses in those countries by disrupting their Internet access.

About a week later, a coalition of hackers from groups including Cult of the Dead Cow (cDc), L0pht, Chaos Computer Club in Germany, and hacker mags 2600 and Phrack issued a statement condemning the move. "We - the undersigned - strongly oppose any attempt to use the power of hacking to threaten to destroy the information infrastructure of a country, for any reason," … Read more

Google's latest brainstorm: Analytics for the common folk

Too much information about your Web life? Stet: Make that your Google life.

Google this morning announced a new service that will send users a monthly activity dashboard which monitors how they use their myriad Google accounts. Think of it as an analytics tool for everything you do on the Google platform. Of course, there is a catch: users will need to sign into Google services to qualify for the password-protected report.

In an explanation of the account activity dashboard, product manager Andreas Tuerk wrote:

Knowing more about your own account activity also can help you take steps to protect … Read more

Device & Conquer: Understanding 3D TV

You'll have a hard time buying a new TV that isn't 3D by the end of 2012. But that isn't the same as saying you'll be watching 3D TV.

In this episode of Device & Conquer, Brian Cooley gives explains the aspects of this new technology you have to get used to, how it's still evolving and what there is to watch. This isn't a story of a technology that doesn't work -- it does, often spectacularly -- but of on that may not have a mandate to become the next big thing in television, or reverse sliding TV sales numbers. … Read more

Wii active video games don't count as exercise

It seemed like the perfect setup--give kids video games that would motivate them to get off the couch and start moving. Not only would they have fun, they would also get healthier.

However, these high hopes may have been wishful thinking. According to a new study by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, kids given "active" video games showed no more overall physical exertion than kids who used only their thumbs to play.

"There was no evidence that children receiving the active video games were more active in general, or at anytime, than children receiving the … Read more

Print from an iDevice with AirPrint Activator (it's free!)

AirPrint Activator is a free download, although the developer politely asks for a small donation, making it a much more inexpensive option than the $20 Printopia. It looks very similar to Printopia, with an on/off switch on the left and a pane on the right showing the available printers. And like Printopia, it does not require you to install an iOS app. You just need to be running iOS 4.2 or later. Unlike Printopia, however, it does not feature virtual printing to your Mac.

As long as everything is connected to the same network, AirPrint Activator should find … Read more

Render 3D images with this cool freeware

Did you ever wish you could create cool 3D images of cars, landscapes, and anything else you can visualize, only to choke at the price of 3D modeling software? High-quality 3D design tools are finally available as freeware, such as ThreeDify Designer Free, a scaled-back freeware version of 3Dify Designer, which some users will remember as ActiveSolid. This capable 2D- and 3D-modeling and rendering application has two operational modes, as a standalone tool and as an ActiveX object in Internet Explorer, Excel, PowerPoint, and other programs. We tried its standalone mode.

ThreeDify Designer Free's user interface bears a strong … Read more

Apple is combating Siri ports, blocking unauthorized devices

The hacking community is abuzz with news that Apple has decided to thwart attempts to bring Siri to older-model iPhones. The requirements for connecting your iPhone with Siri has a new element, a token, that has blocked third-party apps like Spire from accessing Siri's database.

The SetActivationToken appears to be the culprit, though it is unclear exactly what the requirement of the device is for this token.

The main concern for users with older iPhones is that the SetActivationToken could signal a focused approach by Apple to stop Siri access for unapproved devices. Though the new token does stop … Read more

A better Android app for hands-free text messaging

We all know texting while driving is a deadly combination, yet who can resist the siren song of that new-message ding? I'll admit it's tough not to steal a glance at the phone--and once you're glancing, you're reading.

Most owners of Android-powered smartphones know about Google Voice Actions, which, among other things, allows you to dictate text messages using just your voice.

However, there's still a bit of screen interaction required, as you have to find and tap the microphone to engage Voice Actions. And what about messages you receive? There's no hands-free help there.

Enter Text by Voice, an admirably effective app that makes texting a totally hands-free experience. With it you can send and listen to messages without so much as touching your phone. It's entirely voice-powered.… Read more