Molecular Circuitry: Coming soon?

Subject: General Tech | March 27, 2006 - 12:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Researchers in the US have built the first logic circuit on a molecular scale (18 µm) according to this story on nanotechweb.  This seems to reinforce the idea that circuits will not always be etched out of existing material, but grown one molecule at a time.  Small Form Factor indeed!

Researchers at IBM, the University of Florida and Columbia University, all in the US, have

created a logic circuit on a single-walled carbon nanotube.

Been a while since you commanded a lance of mechs

Subject: General Tech | March 24, 2006 - 12:00 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Ars Technica and MicroSoft have some good news.  MechCommander 2 has gone Shared Source!  You can get it from MicroSoft by following the link, although some assembly is required.  This should also make modding a possibility for this title.

"According to Vole's site, MechCommander 2 has been released under its Shared Source licence.

The release contains all of the source code and source assets required to build MechCommander 2.

Something to do while you are waiting for Vista

Subject: General Tech | March 24, 2006 - 11:49 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Tech Connect Magazine has come up with something interesting for Operating System junkies to play with while they wait for the ever delayed release of MicroSoft Vista.  With their guide in hand, try converting Windows Server 2003 into a home OS.  They talk about the good and improved parts, and those services best skipped for non-server machines.

"It might need a little outside help, but Windows 2003 can actually become a valid choice for

home users, if one takes care to set aside the

Intel Declares Regular Cash Dividend

Subject: General Tech | March 22, 2006 - 07:00 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 22, 2006 — Intel Corporation's board of directors has declared a $0.10 per share quarterly dividend on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on June 1, 2006 to stockholders of record on May 7, 2006.

More info at Intel.

The only way to fly

Subject: General Tech | March 22, 2006 - 02:02 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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If you are into flight or space sims, then there is a good chance you have an aging joystick somewhere on your desk.  Saitek has designed a new controller, the X52 Flight Control System and OCC has a full review.  Drop by and see if it is worth learning a whole set of new button positions.

"The ability to rotate using the twist grip made for some outright unfair moments where I could

temper the throttle and shamelessly mow down soldier after soldier while maintaining a consistent

alt

Give your head a shake

Subject: General Tech | March 22, 2006 - 01:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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X-bit Labs reviews a pair of headphones that carry on the tradition of the Rumbleseat and force feedback controllers.  The XFX XGear multimedia gaming headset vibrates when appropriate, giving you the feel of ... well let X-bit Labs explain it.

"We decided to try out XFX XGear multimedia gaming headset that has a very special vibration

feature implemented.

Proof of concept flaw in IE 6

Subject: General Tech | March 22, 2006 - 12:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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It hasn't been a great week for Microsoft, with announced delays on Vista's release, and a bug that can cause IE 6 to crash.  CNET reports on another flaw reported this week.  While Microsoft has not released the details, the vulnerabililty is in the way HTA files are handled, and could result in the running of code without your say so.  Practice safe computing.

The flaw was reported to the company earlier this month by Jeffrey van der Stad, a 25-year-old

Dutch programmer.

Intel Honors 26 Companies With Preferred Quality Supplier Award

Subject: General Tech | March 21, 2006 - 01:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 21, 2006 — Intel Corporation today announced the 26 companies that will receive Intel's Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) award for outstanding commitment to quality and performance excellence. These suppliers provided products and services deemed essential to Intel's business success in 2005. They excelled at meeting and exceeding high expectations and tough performance goals to distinguish themselves from the thousands of suppliers that work with Intel.

Intel Honors 12 Companies With Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement Award

Subject: General Tech | March 21, 2006 - 01:05 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 21, 2006 — Intel Corporation today announced the 12 winners of the company's most prestigious award for suppliers, the Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) award, which recognizes outstanding commitment to quality and performance excellence.

Saving those VHS memories

Subject: General Tech | March 21, 2006 - 12:13 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Digital Grabber has posted a thorough guide to saving all those old VHS camcorder movies.  Chances are that they contain memorable moments that you were hopign to treasure forever, with a bit of work they will last a while longer.  At least they will survive the extinction of the VCR.

"The problem is consumer VHS tape isn't be best format to use for long-term storage.

An inside look at the VIA C7-M

Subject: General Tech | March 20, 2006 - 05:40 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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"VIA has taken a novel approach to security that deviates greatly from current DRM-driven industry trends.

Intel-sponsored game developer contest for best threaded game demo--$80K in prizes...

Subject: General Tech | March 20, 2006 - 05:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Your game demo could earn you serious cash, powerful PCs, software tools, and great exposure.

On March 22, 2006, Intel will launch a contest to find the best game demos that showcase the features and performance of Intel platforms.

Enter in one or both categories:

    * Best Threaded Game
    * Best Game on the Go (Mobile Gaming Technology)

To win your share of over $80,000 in prizes, including top-of-the-line PCs and Intel Software Products!

The contest will be launched officially at the Game Developers Conference

DTS comes out of the theater and into your PC

Subject: General Tech | March 20, 2006 - 02:29 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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A True Review examines the first DTS card for PC's, the HDA X-plosion 7.1 DTS.  DTS lets you encode any stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1, so even badly ripped MP3s will come out of your speakers in true surround.  Dolby Digital's successor has come.

"With DTS becoming nearly as common in home theatre receivers as Dolby Digital, it was only a

matter of time before the DTS equivalent of Dolby Digital Live became available in a sound card.

Well, that card is here.

Recognize your favorite Open Source Authors

Subject: General Tech | March 20, 2006 - 12:10 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SourceForge is having it's first ever Community Choice Awards, giving you a chance to vote for your favorite projects.  There are 14 categories you can vote in, so spend a minute to reward the projects you love.  Newsforge has all the links and info you will need to get you headed in the right direction.

There are well over 100,000 open source projects on SourceForge.net, a site owned by OSTG, the

same company that owns NewsForge. Now you can vote for your favorites in 14 categories.

Independant Gaming Festival

Subject: General Tech | March 17, 2006 - 11:58 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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If you find your self getting upset at the choices of games you can find on the shelves of your local stores, and wish you could find something different to play, take some advice from MAKE: Blog and check out the IGF.  Almost all of the games that will be there are downloadable from Fileplanet or Gamespy, and range from child-safe games, to well ...

Microsoft's answer to Google Earth

Subject: General Tech | March 17, 2006 - 11:47 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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It has taken a while for Microsoft to challenge Google head on, but it seems like it is coming soon.  Along with their new search engine, The Inquirer reports on their purchase of a satellite imaging company, Vexel.  There are few details as of yet, but Vexel seems to bring some interesting 3D imagery to the deal.

Happy St.

Someone put my keyboard on their game controller

Subject: General Tech | March 16, 2006 - 03:38 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Ars Technica is playing with a very odd PC device, the AlphaGrip AG-5 handheld keyboard and mouse.  It combines both a keyboard and mouse in a device that is shaped sort of like a console gamepad.  While it takes a while to learn, they find it is actually usable, check it out.

"Although the peculiar shape and seemingly incomprehensible button placement make the device look

like a haphazard amalgamation of keyboard and gaming hardware, the layout feels relatively

natural right from the start and aft

Shannon Babb of Utah Named Top High School Scientist

Subject: General Tech | March 15, 2006 - 01:28 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 14, 2006 — Intel Corporation today awarded Shannon Babb of Highland, Utah top honors and a $100,000 scholarship in the Intel Science Talent Search.