Jamie Condliffe

Google’s Nexus 7 has overtaken the iPad in terms of market share in Japan. A trend that could spread? [CNET]

Patent Hints at Laser-Controlled Google Glasses

With Google’s Project Glass still very much in its awkward developmental stages, the best method of controlling it remains up for debate. This patent, though, suggests that a laser-projected control pad might be in the running. https://gizmodo.com/wsjs-exclusive-project-glass-trial-promising-but-diso-5942508 Currently, Project Glass uses a touch pad that runs down the side of one of its arms. Trouble…

The Most Amazing Microscopic Videos of 2012

Every year, Nikon’s Small World in Motion Competition rounds up the best microscopic videos from scientists across the world. The winners of the 2012 competition have just been announced, and the results are strange but beautiful. The video above, filmed by Dr. Olena Kamenyeva from the National Institute of Health, took first place. It shows…

Yelp is adding hygiene scores to restaurant reviews in New York and San Francisco. But d’you really want to know? [Yelp]

Two US Power Plants Hit By Malware Attacks

It’s come to light that two US power plants were hit by malware attacks in 2012, after employees used infected USB sticks. The US Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team reports that malware found its way into the plants and affected their operation. From ICS-CERT on one of the attacks: “A third-party technician used…

Asus Threatens to Launch a Windows Phone 8 Padfone

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Asus is in talks to license Windows Phone 8. Don’t get too excited, though, because the Taiwanese manufacturer thinks its doomed Padfone is the ideal vehicle for the OS. https://gizmodo.com/the-new-padfone-lets-it-all-hang-out-5952089 Windows Phone 8 is still a little short of hardware companions, so it seems likely that Microsoft will…

US Attorney Defends Prosecution of Aaron Swartz

While activists rally in an attempt to rewrite the law, the US Attorney’s office in Massachusetts has issued a public statement which defends the prosecution of Aaron Swartz. Written by US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, the statement reads: I know that there is little I can say to abate the anger felt by those who believe…

Time Warner: Netflix Is Unfairly Withholding High-Quality Content

Netflix is currently rolling out infrastructure to pump 3D and higher-quality HD content through the pipes to your home. But Time Warner is upset: it thinks that Netflix’s plan to only offer the new conent to ISPs that participate in its Open Connect initiative is unfair on consumers. Netflix claims that the only way to…

AT&T might be going global: apparently it’s planning to buy up a European carrier this year. [WSJ]

Developer Sacked for Outsourcing His Entire Job to China

The truly lazy are often the most creative. Like this developer, who was caught outsourcing his entire job to China so that he could spend his time at work… not working. The ruse—highlighted in a Verizon case study—was carried out by an employee called “Bob” who worked at an anonymous “critical infrastructure company”. The trick…

AMD claims that four of its former execs stole over 100,000 secret documents before joining Nvidia. Ouch. [Ars Technica]

Sometimes, Numbers Aren’t as Convincing as You’d Like

Turns out that a very small percentage of a very, very large number is still significant. Your hand sanitizer is only as good as the number of decimal points the nines stretch to. [XKCD]

Helicopter Crash in Central London Kills Two (Updating)

A helicopter has crashed into a crane in Vauxhall, London, after it failed to see the structure due to thick fog. The crash happened at around 8am, when the helicopter hit a crane on top of the St George Wharf development in Vauxhall. Part of the helicopter fell to the road beneath in a ball…

Congresswoman Introduces Bill to Amend Hacking Law in Honor of Aaron Swartz

In the wake of Aaron Swartz’s suicide last week, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California has posted a newly proposed bill on Reddit that seeks to amend the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Referring to the draft bill as “Aaron’s Law”, Lofgren explains that it aims to prevent the Government levying “such disproportionate charges” for incidents…

Japan Grounds Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fleet Following Emergency Landing

Japan’s two largest airlines have decided to ground all of their Boeing Dreamliner 787s after a Nippon Airways plane was forced to make an emergency landing in southwestern Japan. The Telegraph is reporting that a battery problem triggered a cockpit error message, which forced the pilots to land the plane. Equally worrying: the pilots have…

Sony’s New Triluminous TVs Will Be Powered by Quantum Physics

While Sony might currently be spoken about in TV circles for its blazing 4K sets, the future could hold something quite different. In fact, Sony’s Next Big Thing—Triluminous displays—will be powered by quantum physics. https://gizmodo.com/sonys-new-affordable-4k-tvs-are-great-just-like-every-5974007 The new range of TVs will be the first consumer devices to make use of quantum dots: a previously lab-based…

Dell’s plans to go private could see the buyout cost $14 a share—$25 billion in total. [WSJ]

How the Most Important Code of WWII Was Cracked

The breaking of the Enigma Code is one of the most interesting stories in the history of computing—but it’s not necessarily easy to get your head around. Fortunately, this video provides an amazingly straightforward explanation of how the code was cracked. James Grime, a mathematician from Cambridge University, explains how Turing and his coworkers managed…

Woman Steals Train, Then Crashes It Into a Building

Last night in Saltsjöbanan, Sweden, a young woman decided to try her hand at driving a train. It didn’t end well: she careered off the end of line and straight into this house. Swedish newspaper GP reports that the woman, a twenty-something cleaner for the train operator Arriva, was injured in the accident but—amazingly—nobody else…

New MySpace Is Now Open to the Public

After six months of beta testing, the new MySpace is finally opening its doors to the public: now, anyone who wants an account can trot over to the site and sign up. Though, uh, you may not want to. Because, in our considered opinion: https://gizmodo.com/the-new-myspace-review-just-die-already-5965926 New MySpace offers nothing but a brief “Huh, this still…