Author: Serkadis

Camera aficionados, looks like it’s time for the pre-PMA rumor mill to start churning. Our inaugural whisper this season comes care of a forum poster at d-spot.co.il, who according to Canon Rumors‘ tipster has been accurate in the past (at this point we’ve been unable to corroborate). Here’s the deal: a Canon 60D and Canon 550D / 600D (i.e. Rebel series). Both apparently feature a 15.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, articulating screens, and 720p video at 30 frames per second. The 60D, however, can also claim 1080p footage — odd that the Rebel doesn’t, since the current T1i has 1080p — an electronic level, and a new battery and grip compared to its 50D successor. That one’s apparently priced at around $1,190 and due out in May, while the other is $799 with no connection to a release date given. Make no mistake, between this and those waterproof Sony point-and-shoots, this is only the beginning.

Canon prepping 60D and 550D / 600D with articulating displays? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Canon Rumors  |  d-spot.co.il  | Email this | Comments

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Article

A new NBC/WSJ poll finds that the majority, 51%, of Americans believe Barack Obama has failed to pay enough attention to the economy.

Overall his approval rating sits right at 50%, which isn’t horrible inasmuch as other recent polls have put him below below that mark.

The poll was conducted between the 23-25th, so right at the heart of what has been the worst week of Obama’s Presidency, during which he’s been attacked from all sides, prompting his handlers to grasp for longshot solutions that don’t please anyone (e.g. the spending freeze)

Meanwhile, a majority remain opposed to the healthcare plan.

WSJ-NBCpoll-01262010

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Cliff Asness Is "Appalled" In Greenwich, Calls On Bankers To Rise Up Against Obama
• Why Obama Is Making A Mistake Of Herbert Hoover Proportions And Will Be A One-Term President
• Barack "Hoover" Obama

Well, here it is! Geohot has finally released the PS3 exploit that will hopefully ignite the PS3 homebrew scene. More info after the jump.
 
 
 
Download: Geohotz PS3 exploit (http://dl.qj.net/playstation-3/homebrew-applications/geohotz-ps3-exploit.html)

Monday night, Microsoft released a slew of updates for Windows, the majority of which were targeted for the latest versions of the client and server operating systems. None of these are security updates: this wasn’t Patch Tuesday and Microsoft is not yet ready to address the 17-year-old Windows flaw. The most important update is just like the first stability and reliability update for the OSes, but smaller: Windows 7 32-bit (1.2MB), Windows 7 64-bit (1.7MB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (1.7MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (2.1MB).

The patch resolves issues that affect some computers that use the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services. Microsoft plans to regularly release Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 stability and reliability updates, and this one builds on those that preceded it, adding the following fixes:

• Keyboard function keys or keyboard shortcuts, such as mute or calculator, may not work correctly
• The notification icon for an application may be moved or lost when the executable application is update
• On a computer that is running Windows 7, you configure the Screen Saver Settings to display the logon screen on resume. Additionally, you configure the computer to go to sleep. However, the computer may not go to sleep after the screen saver starts. Instead, a black screen is displayed. This problem causes the operating system to stop responding. You must restart the computer by holding down the power button.

If you’re experiencing the issues described, you can download the updates from the Microsoft Download Center. Otherwise you can just wait till they trickle down via Windows Update—or until Service Pack 1 arrives.

The next update is for an issue that occurs in a very specific scenario: your Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 computer has an NVIDIA USB Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI) chipset, at least 4GB of RAM, and while performing general I/O operations on an external USB device, such as copying data from the computer, either your computer stops responding or the copy operation stops abruptly. The fix is available for Windows 7 32-bit (449KB) and Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (516KB). Microsoft plans on including this update in SP1.

Microsoft also released updated versions of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 32-bit (104.1MB), Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 64-bit (142.0MB), Windows Server 2008 Itanium (32.2MB), Windows 7 32-bit (28.9MB), Windows 64-bit (93.8MB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (93.8MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (16.3MB). The tool was originally released in September 2009 to resolve certain conditions that could cause installing updates and other software not to work. Typically you do not have to manually run this tool (it is offered automatically through Windows Update to computers that have a condition that the tool could resolve). It runs a one-time scan for inconsistencies that might prevent future servicing operations and usually takes less than 15 minutes (though it has been known to appear as if it’s stopped at 60 percent when run from Windows Update).

The Windows NT Backup Restore Utility has also been updated for Windows 7 32-bit (599KB), Windows 7 64-bit (669KB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (669KB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (1000KB). The tool was originally released in November 2009 and notably no longer included Removable Storage Manager (RSM), used for restoring backups from tape devices. Microsoft has no plans to include this update in SP1.

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Article

Mr. Blurrycam strikes again and this time, he brings along his friend Mr. Grainycam to shoot a few quick shots of the HTC Supersonic. The handset in the photos has the look of a typical HTC prototype device with its minimalistic appearance and name emblazoned on the back. According to the tipster and as previously rumored, the Supersonic will feature a 4.3 inch AMOLED screen, kickstand, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and Sprint WiMAX compatibility. Any opinions on the validity of these photos are welcome in the comments and if you need a closer look, you can hit the jump for one more blurry and grainy shot of the backside of the phone.

Read

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

Remember the BigTrak? It was a six-wheeled tow with built-in memory that allowed you to program various moves – forward, back, left – and then play them back. If you’re thinking to yourself “What fun is that?” then you were probably born after 1980 and expect all your toys to have native intelligence. Back when us kids were kids, this kind of stuff stuff was high tech considering most of us had little more than rocks and sticks during the Carter administration.

Anyway, it’s coming back. It will be called the BigTrack Jr. and will let you program and store up to 32 programs. It will cost about $40 and you can even add a digital camera and rocket launcher attachment for $20 each. It should be available later this year.

via Pocket-Lint

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

Back when we were at CES, we were given a case of MagicJacks to give away to contest winners and the like. After scratching our heads about about what to do with them, we threw the question out to you, our valued readers. Based on your suggestions, we found a new home for the entire case of the things.

We contacted the USO, and asked them if they wanted them for the troops being posted overseas. To say that they were excited to get them would be a bit of an understatement. So I’m sorry that we didn’t give them away to any of the readers who commented, we did make sure that they went to people that can really use them. Thanks for the suggestions all.

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Aston Martin, Opel

If James Bond were real, we wouldn’t recommend trying to impersonate him. We get the feeling that 007 wouldn’t take to impostors very well. Fortunately he’s a fictional character – or so we’re led to believe – so the gloves are off. If you’re planning on pulling off the Bond look, you’re going to need a Bond car. And if it’s the Bond of late, you’ll need an Aston Martin. Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford a real Aston, so a group of coachbuilders – apparently in Thailand, world capital of the sex-change operation – have created this replica.

The clone is built on the chassis of an Opel Calibra, a sports-coupe also sold with the same nameplate in different markets alternatively as a Vauxhall (UK), Holden (Australia) or Chevrolet (South America) and based on a Saab-sourced platform. Apparently the Calibra is known as a good starting point for replicas, with reports of Porsche Turbos and others based on the same. Whether this one is any better executed, however, than the Mustang-based Vanquish or the one based on the Mazda Miata is another story.

While reports suggest this a replica of a DB9, to our eyes bears the hallmarks of the DBS that’s been 007’s ride for the past couple of installments. Which is a good thing, because if you’re going to pull off the looky-look, you’d better get the details right. Have a closer look in the gallery below, and for comparison’s sake, an example of the donor car in the one below that.

[Source: TopSpeed via CarScoop]

From Thailand with Love: Aston Martin DBS replica based on Opel Calibra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Logset updates its option list by adding three new options.
On forwarders Logset present a new size of wheels available for the 5F, the 24.5-inch. And on the 5F, 6F and 8F.
Logset offers as an option the balanced bogie, for a better drive. On harvester heads, Logset put forward the MultiStem kit, also
adaptable on used harvester heads.
Logset continues constantly to improve your drive efficiency and comfort.

Wheels:

Nokian Forest Rider 650/45 R 24.5 (5F)
The unique 24.5-inch new rim size offers increased mobility
and load-bearing capacity to our Logset forwarder 5F.

Harvester Heads:

MultiStem Kit. (Available on 5L and 6L)
• Enables efficient multiple stem handling
• More feeding power can be utilized, resulting in an improved
speed
• Improved stem quality due to smooth and gentle feeding
• Improved feeding of curvy stems
• Can be retrofitted to existing 5L and 6L heads in the field

Axles:

Balanced Bogie Axles. (5F, 6F and 8F):
Bogie balancing system minimizes the lifting torque. the new
kind of bogie will contribute to the drivers’ work efficeincy:
• improves grip, stability and traction by optimizing the
weight distribution on all the bogie wheels (front and rear).
• improves comfort and operational productivity by allowing
the machine to maneuver more easily and safely in rough
or steep terrain
• Gentle ride even when with full load, less dammages.

Company info:
Oy Logset Ab

Logset is a solid and profitable Finnish manufacturer of forest machines. The product portfolio contains of five forwarders, three models of harvesters and seven different harvester heads.

All products are developed in-house with the assistance of external consultants, component suppliers and research organizations. The machines are built by well-trained and highly motivated workers, organized into independent production teams with full responsibility for their share of the production. All machines are tailor-made to end-customer specification. The total workforce is over 100 people.

Logset is distributed in most EU countries as well as Eastern Canada and Russia. Over 80 % of the 30 million euro turnover is from exporting.

Business Mission

Logset provides top-of-the-line solutions to logging professionals by developing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing forest machines that are reliable, productive and functional.

The new machine, was developed for the inspection of gears,but it offes also a wide range of measuring possibilities for many other applications.

Welcome to WENZEL GearTec
the experts for gear metrology within the Wenzel-Group.

Since starting in 2003/2004, we rely on an experienced team that previously worked together succesfully in the area of gear metrology for many years. Therefore we know about the business and requirements of our customers and took these in account in detail when designing and extending our measurement machines.

So we managed within a quite short time to establish a customized portfolio for measuring rotational parts with gears, extended by the opportunities of 3D-measurements, based on the approved technology of Wenzel-Präzision.

The substantial amount of machines sold to well-known companies, national and international, as well as the progressive trend in sales and market share indicate how good we meet the needs of the market.

Through personal ambition, high motivation and dedication of our team, we are always open-minded to new challenges and solutions so that also for your requirements you found the best partner in Wenzel GearTec.

We are looking forward to your phone-call, mail or written request!

Hackensack, NJ. December 29, 2009-Master Bond’s UV14-3 is a temporary bonding adhesive that has a fast UV cure ideal for automated, non-permanent adhesive assemblies. Environmentally safe, the temporary adhesive can be easily removed without surface contamination. It cures within seconds upon exposure to UV light at room temperatures and produces high strength bonds to a variety of substrates. The removable adhesive’s high flexibility imparts excellent vibration and shock resistance as well as resistance to thermal cycling and thermal shock. Master UV14-3 can be cured in much greater section thickness (up to 1/8 inch deep) compared to most conventional UV type systems, making it of value for various electronic and opto-electronic potting and encapsulation applications. Disassembly can be easily accomplished upon exposure to most conventional solvents such as acetone, MEK, etc.
Master Bond UV14-3, UV cure adhesive, is durable and tough. The re-workable adhesive has a Shore D hardness of 30 and an elongation of 150%. Featuring a volume resistivity of 1014 ohm-cm, UV14-3 is a superb electrical insulating compound. Having a low viscosity of 800 cps makes it easy to apply. Non-yellowing properties combined with a refractive index of 1.47 qualify it for use in optical applications. It has a service operating temperature range of -50°C to +120°C. Storage stability is 6 months at room temperatures in unopened containers.
More about Master Bond’s UV cure adhesives:

One part UV curable adhesive systems offer high performance coatings, adhesives, sealants, potting and encapsulation. They include polyurethanes, epoxies, polyesters and acrylics. They vary in thicknesses, hardness, chemical resistance, strength, clarity, etc. They have excellent bond strength to metals, ceramics, many plastics and most rubbers.

For more information contact or contact: Sheila Frankel: Phone: +44-207-100-7251 Fax: 44-207-060-0628 E-mail: [email protected]

making reality look worse – Fannie, Freddie Losses May Hit U.S. – By NICK TIMIRAOS – The U.S. government’s move to deepen its ties to mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by agreeing to absorb unlimited losses for the next three years is igniting a debate over whether it should bring the business operations of the companies onto its books.  A decision on how the government treats Fannie and Freddie could have broader political implications. So far, the White House has resisted calls by Republicans to bring Fannie’s and Freddie’s obligations onto the government’s books, a move that could boost the federal deficit by tens of billions of dollars. At a time when the deficit is already at a postwar high, that could create added urgency for Congress and the administration to address the companies’ future. – Wall Street Journal

————

has 6 points – Aftershocks from the Massachusetts Earthquake – John Lounsbury – Seeking Alpha
————

great explanation – Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel-prize winning economist, described the PPIP program in a New York Times op-ed this way:  “Consider an asset that has a 50-50 chance of being worth either zero or $200 in a year’s time. The average ‘value’ of the asset is $100. Ignoring interest, this is what the asset would sell for in a competitive market. It is what the asset is ‘worth.’ Under the plan by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the government would provide about 92 percent of the money to buy the asset but would stand to receive only 50 percent of any gains, and would absorb almost all of the losses. Some partnership! – keep reading – more logic … – Investment Watch Blog

————

8 point plan – A Blueprint for Financial Reform – John P. Hussman, Ph.D. –  Note – The reprieve of recent quarters may create a misleading impression that there is no urgency to the issues faced by the U.S. economy, but as noted below, the likelihood of fresh mortgage losses and credit difficulties is high. Few reforms have been enacted that would make a second wave of difficulties any different from the first. The following would provide the U.S. with broader policy options. – Hussman Funds

————

Stakes are high as government plans exit from mortgage markets – By David Cho, Neil Irwin and Dina ElBoghdady –  … The wind-down of federal support for mortgage rates, set to end in two months, is a momentous test of whether the Obama administration and the Federal Reserve have succeeded in jump-starting the housing market and ensuring it can hold its own. The stakes for the economy are massive: If the market again falls into a tailspin, homeowners could face another wave of trouble, and it would deal a body blow to President Obama’s efforts to get the economy on track. … – Washington Post

————

Fixing Our Broken Democracy – Kimball Corson – … As I see it, only five things together can resurrect our democracy to its former glory and enable our economy to ultimately do better and grow in the long run as it used to … has list of 5 – Wandering the Oceans

It probably won’t say hello back though. Glossy paper can’t talk.

(Metromix)

Despite rumors of strife in her personal life, on Tuesday, actress Angelina Jolie released a video clip dedicated to her late mother. The video, titled “TO MOM WITH LOVE – James and Angelina,” serves as a tribute to Marcheline Bertrand, who passed away of cancer on January 27, 2007.

The two-minute clip — uploaded to her official YouTube account — was recorded during a family vacation to Hawaii in 1981, and shows the young mother with Angelina and brother James Haven.

“January 27, 2010 is the third Anniversary of Marcheline’s passing. To commemorate this day, we are celebrating our memories of her with this home video,” reads the text accompanying the video.

The video, is set to a Hawaiian melody of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” and ends with the words: “We Miss You Mom, With Love, Angelina and James.”

You may recall a woman named Bev or Beverly Stayart, who sued Yahoo a year ago, because she was upset with the fact that the results of a search on her name pointed to sites she did not wish to be associated with and she did not believe they accurately reflected what a search on her name should show. We pointed out that there seemed to be little chance that Yahoo would be even remotely liable under a Section 230 analysis. Sometime after the post, we were sent a legal threat letter from Ms. Stayart’s lawyers demanding that we remove certain comments on that post or face a lawsuit. We responded and explained why we would not remove the comments and never heard back. However, soon after that, the court (as expected) dismissed the lawsuit against Yahoo, and also denied Stayart’s request to refile.

Eric Goldman now alerts us to the news that Ms. Stayart has filed a new lawsuit against Yahoo over a slightly different issue. Apparently (and I checked, this is true), if you are using Yahoo’s search engine, and you type in the search for Bev Stayart, Yahoo’s “suggested search” feature, offers up “bev stayart levitra” as the option after just “bev stayart.” Also, on the results page, Yahoo asks you if you want to try “bev stayart levitra” as a search instead.

Ms. Stayart is apparently offended by this connection between her name and the drug Levitra, and claims that Yahoo is responsible for the content. The lawsuit suggests that Yahoo has no safe harbor because this algorithmically generated content is created by Yahoo itself. In many ways, this reminds me of the recent lawsuits we’ve discussed in France where Google was sued for what its suggested searches put forth.

While I will refrain from commenting on my opinion of the new lawsuit, I will note that if you actually do click through on the search for “bev stayart levitra” on Yahoo, you do get a clue as to why Yahoo connected the terms. It’s because at the top of the results is the court’s dismissal of the original lawsuit, which includes the court summarizing the situation, with the following statement:

Stayart alleges that Yahoo! and Overture knowingly connected and continues to connect her name (Bev Stayart) with sexual dysfunction drugs Cialis, Viagra and Levitra on its search engine results for her.

In other words, it appears that a big part of the reason for these current results is because of the original lawsuit she filed. And, given that the new lawsuit makes regular use of these terms, you would have to figure that it will remain a commonly combined phrase online. Given all of that, I do wonder if things would have been better off if no complaint had been filed in the first place. All the original complaint did, apparently, was enhance the connection between her name and the drug Levitra in the eyes of Yahoo’s algorithm. Now, you can say that Yahoo’s suggestion algorithm is weak (it certainly appears that way), but does a bad algorithm violate someone’s privacy rights?

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

-Seven-year-old Brit Charlie Simpson has raised nearly $200,000 for to help relief efforts in Haiti — thanks to a sponsored bike ride he organized…..

-Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is slated to make a big announcement about the company tomorrow. Apple Tablet, anyone?

-Lots of American teens are pulling a page from The Book of Jamie Lynn Spears: Teen pregnancy is on the rise for the first time since the ’90s……

-British soul star Corinne Bailey Rae performs “Closer” from her new sophomore album, The Sea….

-Police “fairly certain” they have found the remains of Megan Harrington, the 20-year-old college student who disappeared from a Metallica concert last October……

-PETA Pie To The Face: A PETA loyalist protesting Canada’s seal hunting industry slammed a Tofu pie in the face of the nation’s Fisheries and Oceans Minister…..

-Lifestyle maven Martha Stewart is moving her syndicated TV show to cable television….

-Howard Stern is weighing his options…..

-Scarlett Johansson debuts to rave reviews on Broadway…..

-Meet The World’s Second Pregnant Man….

–Avatar’s Sam Worthington is in negotiations to star the proposed prequel, Dracula: Year Zero…..

-Robert DeNiro has been cast as Alabama Governor George Wallace in director Lee Daniels’ upcoming civil rights film Selma…..

-Macaulay Culkin joining Big Love?

-Snooki and Diddy, Twitter’s newest besties….

-Preview tonight’s Millionaire Matchmaker….

-A Florida chimpanzee is at the center of a heated custody battle in Sarasota…..

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Humor

It’s a twist on the “Which one came first?” We’re not sure whether this guy bought a Fiat Uno because it was the only car that would fit in his garage, or if he bought the garage because he didn’t want anything else but his Fiat to fit. Either way, the brick-lined slot redefines the term “close tolerances,” and requires the aged driver to do a three-step dance to get out of the car once it’s parked safely. If that’s what you call that. Follow the jump to see him do his thing. Thanks for the tip, Spyros!

[Source: Autoblog.gr]

Continue reading Video: World’s narrowest garage will fit car, and nothing else

Video: World’s narrowest garage will fit car, and nothing else originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Quick Spin: 2010 Volkswagen Polo TSI 1.2 could preview what’s to come

Volkswagen is considering bringing its sub-compact Polo to the U.S. and we take it for a spin to see if it’s up to snuff.

Video: Ken Block and new Ford Fiesta rally car meet – it’s love at first drift

It’s going to be odd to see Ken Block piloting a rally-prepped Ford Fiesta, but these images and video make the transition that much easier.

GM reaches agreement to sell Saab to Spyker!

It’s been a long, strange trip, but Saab is officially in the hands of Spyker after GM finally agrees to the Swedish supercar maker’s bid.

Also of interest:

• Officially Official: USF1 signs Jose Maria Lopez to drive in 2010
• U.S. gov’t announces texting ban for commercial truck and bus drivers
• Rumormill: Ford to sell Volvo to Geely for 1.8 billion on Feb. 8
• General Motors announces it will build electric motors in-house
• Refreshed 2011 Mazda Atenza/Mazda6 debuts with new direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder in Japan

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 1.26.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments