20 Feb 2012

Quick Note: Cheaper Nook to Compete with Amazon Kindle Fire

16 Feb 2012

Apple: Apps need approval to collect contacts

Apple on Wednesday said it will start requiring mobile apps to get explicit permission from iPhone and iPad owners before the apps collect and store information about users' personal contacts.

Original Link: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_technology/~3/YXvf0oXBBlY/index.html

14 Feb 2012

App's glowing arrows guide you around a new building

Navigating an unfamiliar department store or office building can be a struggle – now an augmented reality app can point you in the right direction

Original Link: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1ca3c92f/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg213285160B20A0A0Eapps0Eglowing0Earrows0Eguide0Eyou0Earound0Ea0Enew0Ebuilding0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

14 Feb 2012

Falling in love makes men broody

Fall head-over-heels for someone and you're more likely to show signs of broodiness, particularly if you're a man

Original Link: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1c9f7481/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cdn214660Efalling0Ein0Elove0Emakes0Emen0Ebroody0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

12 Feb 2012

Simulators Take the Humans Out of Hiring

Hugh Pickens writes "Ken Gaebler discusses a new way of hiring called 'employment simulations,' which are gaining popularity among high-tech firms that are seeking data from prospective employees that you can't get from sit-down interviews. In a typical employment simulation, candidates participate in online 'video games' that leverage simulation software to determine how well candidates perform in actual job situations. 'There are no questions about your former work experience and office habits. There's simply a computer game. If you win, you get the job. If you lose, game over.' As one example, call centers are very amenable to simulations because the work environment (a series of computer programs and databases) is relatively easy to replicate and the tasks that make up job performance are easy to measure (data entry speed and accuracy, customer service, multitasking, etc). Other employment simulation programs have been written for healthcare, insurance, retail sales, financial services, hospitality and travel, manufacturing and automotive, and telecom and utilities. But skeptics say employment simulators and other computer-based hiring models have some drawbacks. 'Like any technology, the effectiveness of employment simulations is limited to the quality of the software and its accessibility to users,' says Gaebler."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.Hugh Pickens writes "Ken Gaebler discusses a new way of hiring called 'employment simulations,' which are gaining popularity among high-tech firms that are seeking data from prospective employees that you can't get from sit-down interviews. In a typical employment simulation, candidates participate in online 'video games' that leverage simulation software to determine how well candidates perform in actual job situations. 'There are no questions about your former work experience and office habits. There's simply a computer game. If you win, you get the job. If you lose, game over.' As one example, call centers are very amenable to simulations because the work environment (a series of computer programs and databases) is relatively easy to replicate and the tasks that make up job performance are easy to measure (data entry speed and accuracy, customer service, multitasking, etc). Other employment simulation programs have been written for healthcare, insurance, retail sales, financial services, hospitality and travel, manufacturing and automotive, and telecom and utilities. But skeptics say employment simulators and other computer-based hiring models have some drawbacks. 'Like any technology, the effectiveness of employment simulations is limited to the quality of the software and its accessibility to users,' says Gaebler."

Read more of this story

Original Link: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotGames/~3/OpgKyRA1adc/simulators-take-the-humans-out-of-hiring

12 Feb 2012

Hybrid Laser Toys - The Lazertag System 2PK by Hasbro Brings Fun to the Office (TrendHunter.com)

Nerf and Lazertag, two favorite childhood games, have joined forces in this latest creation: the Lazertag System 2PK by Hasbro.

Modeled after the classic Nerf guns, the taggers come equipped with vibrating handles, flashing lights and sound effects to let you know when you’ve been hit. Even more fantastic is the reload system; when it’s time to recharge your piece, an ammo clip style tab pops out of the bottom. Slap it back into place in the fashion of your favorite action hero and you’re good to go. For those who truly want to dominate the lazertag arena, you can upgrade the handheld guns to the shotgun model for both intimidation and bragging rights. The Lazertag System 2PK by Hasbro even allows you to program specific modes for either outdoor or indoor use.Nerf and Lazerta

Original Link: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lazertag-system-by-nerf

9 Feb 2012

Chemists harvest light to create 'green' tool for pharmaceuticals

Researchers have created a new, “green” method for developing medicines. The researchers used energy from a light bulb to create an organic molecule that may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.

Original Link: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VLyZiWjM8A4/120209143920.htm

9 Feb 2012

VIDEO: Northern Lights captured from space

The first 'moving' images of the Northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, as seen from Space have been released by NASA, after they harnessed a new time-lapse photographic technique.

Original Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-16974948

8 Feb 2012

Threshold broken for tiny lasers

Researchers build efficient lasers just 100 billionths of a metre across that may be used to make faster computer chips in the future.

Original Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-16925088

8 Feb 2012

Hackers release source code for Symantec's PCAnywhere

Following a series of threats and alleged negotiations, hackers have released the code for Symantec's remote control software.

Original Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57373302-83/hackers-release-source-code-for-symantecs-pcanywhere/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Mike Martoccia's Posterous

Technology Analyst/Evangelist, #Crowdsourcing and #Gamification Commando! - Opinions/views are my own. Find me: http://about.me/mmartoccia