A British bunker underground nuclear shelter conditioning as during the Cold War reached a price equivalent to approximately 31,000 dollars in Internet sales portal eBay, at the end of the bidding Sunday night.
The auction, which began on Feb. 25 with a starting price of 500 pounds (755 dollars, 555 euros), drew some 40 bids to finally close the sale in 20,600 pounds (31,000 dollars, 23,000 euros).
The bunker, located in the Peak National Park (central England), began operations in 1959 until its abandonment in 1991 was administered by the Royal Observer Corps, Civil Defense organization responsible for identifying any nuclear attack and radiation.
In addition to the "unique opportunity to acquire a piece of Cold War history," the seller said that the building was "situated in a spectacular location with wonderful views.
The bunker itself, which is accessed by a trapdoor and a metal shaft, is about four meters below ground. It has two rooms-a chemical toilet and an observation room, and two vents.
Like furniture, the buyer will find a desk, a chair, a mermaid, a bucket and a rope to lower heavy objects to the shelter.
YouTube puts a million video subtitles
YouTube is adding subtitles to millions of videos on the Internet.
The popular Web site unveiled this product with the word-recognition technology that YouTube began to be used to provide subtitles to a limited group of videos late last year.
YouTube's audience may request the subtitles with the push of a button. The producers of videos can also download the subtitles automated and improved.
For now, the tool of subtitles in the YouTube videos will only work with audio in English, also plan to include more languages.
However, the audio in English may be translated into 50 different languages.
YouTube, owned by Google is the most popular video site on the Internet. Its users join the site approximately 28,800 hours of videos daily.
The popular Web site unveiled this product with the word-recognition technology that YouTube began to be used to provide subtitles to a limited group of videos late last year.
YouTube's audience may request the subtitles with the push of a button. The producers of videos can also download the subtitles automated and improved.
For now, the tool of subtitles in the YouTube videos will only work with audio in English, also plan to include more languages.
However, the audio in English may be translated into 50 different languages.
YouTube, owned by Google is the most popular video site on the Internet. Its users join the site approximately 28,800 hours of videos daily.
The cell read lips
Do you mind people leaving the phone turned on at the movies, or talking on the phone to the cries on the bus or train?A Professor Tanja Schultz Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) yes, and so created a prototype mobile phone that reads lips without speaking.
"I was a day on the train and the person sitting next to me talking all the time, then I thought, 'I do something,'" Schultz.
The technology, called "silent communication" and still under development, allows phone conversations without uttering it.
The device records the electrical impulses emitted by facial muscles to move, even if the person speaks, and then repeats the words into the telephone receiver, through a synthesizer.
The device was unveiled at the Cebit electronics fair in Germany, and operates by the principle of electromyography, which are detected by electrical signals from muscles.
This technique is mainly used in medicine to diagnose certain diseases related to brain injury.
The prototype presented in Germany hold a nine electrodes attached to the user's face and capture the electricity that you produce by moving their mouths.
Electrical impulses pass to another device that recorded and amplified. Then passed to a laptop via Bluetooth. Finally, the software translates the signals into text, which is encoded again by a synthesizer.
In future, all those steps might concentrate on a mobile phone that would allow for real time communications.
"We understand that at the moment is not very attractive to the general public," admitted the professor
However, you might find it useful now to those who have lost speech because of sickness or accident.
It could also be used as simultaneous translation system: the person speaking in a language, the system encodes and outputs the sound and translated into another language.
Not for the first time you attempt to develop "silent communication" through electromyography: the U.S. space agency NASA has already used this principle to develop communication systems in noisy environments such as the International Space Station, without actually communicating in full sentences.
The Cebit trade fair is held from 2 to 6 March in Hannover, Germany.
XBox Live allows users to express sexual preferences
Users of the Xbox Live can from expressing their preferences in terms of race, religion and nationality in their profiles on the famous internet video game.
Friday Microsoft changed the code of conduct about 23 million members of the network to which users of the Xbox 360 video game console.
"Our previous policy precluded the expression of identity manifested themselves in pseudonyms ( 'gamertags') or juguadores profiles to prevent the use of those qualities as an insult or slander," said Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten, in a Letter to the service users.
"However, we received feedback since then to say that while the spirit of this policy was genuine, so involuntarily excluded a part of our Xbox Live community," he said.
"I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us stronger: diversity in the gaming and entertainment, and diversity of people that make up this amazing community," said Whitten.
Xbox Live offers fans the virtual social networking game in which they can download content from the site, share photos, videos and participate in other activities.
Friday Microsoft changed the code of conduct about 23 million members of the network to which users of the Xbox 360 video game console.
"Our previous policy precluded the expression of identity manifested themselves in pseudonyms ( 'gamertags') or juguadores profiles to prevent the use of those qualities as an insult or slander," said Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten, in a Letter to the service users.
"However, we received feedback since then to say that while the spirit of this policy was genuine, so involuntarily excluded a part of our Xbox Live community," he said.
"I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us stronger: diversity in the gaming and entertainment, and diversity of people that make up this amazing community," said Whitten.
Xbox Live offers fans the virtual social networking game in which they can download content from the site, share photos, videos and participate in other activities.
Google says that PC's will be irrelevant in just three years
In three years, the desktop lost supremacy to the handhelds and smartphones as the main computers of users, sees the head of Google in Europe, John Herlihy.
In a speech to a conference in Dublin, Ireland, said the technology Herliht in cloud smatphones soon allow more complex applications to run faster, becoming the main source of searches.
"In three years the desktops will be irrelevant. In Japan, most of the searches is done in smartphones today, not on desktop computers," said Herhily, according to the website Silicon Republic, echoing recent statements by the CEO of Google Eric Schmidt.
Herhily admitted, however, that the new computer revolution is a threat to Google. Anytime a new technology or service may make unnecessary the search giant like Google did with its competitors in 1998. "There is a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs end up with the need for Google. It is our challenge not let that happen and continue liderandio in innovation and value," he concluded.
In a speech to a conference in Dublin, Ireland, said the technology Herliht in cloud smatphones soon allow more complex applications to run faster, becoming the main source of searches.
"In three years the desktops will be irrelevant. In Japan, most of the searches is done in smartphones today, not on desktop computers," said Herhily, according to the website Silicon Republic, echoing recent statements by the CEO of Google Eric Schmidt.
Herhily admitted, however, that the new computer revolution is a threat to Google. Anytime a new technology or service may make unnecessary the search giant like Google did with its competitors in 1998. "There is a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs end up with the need for Google. It is our challenge not let that happen and continue liderandio in innovation and value," he concluded.
RealNetworks will stop selling program that copies DVDs
The firm RealNetworks Inc. reached an agreement to resolve a series of lawsuits filed against it by six movie studios, who demanded he stop selling a program that has enabled consumers to copy DVDs to their computers.
Under terms of the agreement announced Wednesday, RealNetworks can not sell its RealDVD product or any other similar technology, the company said.
The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp. and others sued RealNetworks in 2008, claiming that RealDVD was a tool that allowed illegal piracy and to prevent consumers from buying original movies on DVD, simply because they preferred to borrow them or rent them copy.
RealNetworks also agreed to withdraw an appeal filed after a judge barred the company in August to sell RealDVD.
The company agreed to pay $ 4.5 million to study for their litigation costs and repay the purchases made by some 2,700 customers.
Under terms of the agreement announced Wednesday, RealNetworks can not sell its RealDVD product or any other similar technology, the company said.
The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp. and others sued RealNetworks in 2008, claiming that RealDVD was a tool that allowed illegal piracy and to prevent consumers from buying original movies on DVD, simply because they preferred to borrow them or rent them copy.
RealNetworks also agreed to withdraw an appeal filed after a judge barred the company in August to sell RealDVD.
The company agreed to pay $ 4.5 million to study for their litigation costs and repay the purchases made by some 2,700 customers.
Opera says its browser opening up the system grows with Microsoft
Opera Software said it has seen a growth in downloads of its browser, after Microsoft began to European users the option to choose the browser of their smaller rivals.
"Since the implementation of the choice of browser screen, Opera downloads have more than tripled in the major European countries, including Belgium, France, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom," said Rolf Assev, chief strategy officer of Opera.
The European Union regulators agreed on December 16, Microsoft's commitment to give European consumers better access to rival browsers on Windows, ending a long antitrust dispute with the U.S. manufacturer.
Since early this week, Microsoft has allowed users to more than 100 million computers old and new browsers to select from 12, among which include her own, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Google Chrome .
"Since the implementation of the choice of browser screen, Opera downloads have more than tripled in the major European countries, including Belgium, France, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom," said Rolf Assev, chief strategy officer of Opera.
The European Union regulators agreed on December 16, Microsoft's commitment to give European consumers better access to rival browsers on Windows, ending a long antitrust dispute with the U.S. manufacturer.
Since early this week, Microsoft has allowed users to more than 100 million computers old and new browsers to select from 12, among which include her own, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Google Chrome .
Skype lands on Nokia phones
Skype internet firm gave its second major leap to the wireless market in just a few weeks, introducing the Nokia software that could operate more than 200 million phones worldwide.
The new Skype for Symbian software is now available free in-store Ovi by Nokia.
Skype made its first foray into the wireless business in mid-February, to reach an agreement with the largest mobile provider in the U.S., Verizon Wireless.
Free calls through your computer that allows Skype have become a phenomenon since it began in 2003 and the firm has about 520 million registered users worldwide. However, so far has made little progress in the wireless area, since most operators consider it a risk to your business voice calls.
The new Skype for Symbian software is now available free in-store Ovi by Nokia.
Skype made its first foray into the wireless business in mid-February, to reach an agreement with the largest mobile provider in the U.S., Verizon Wireless.
Free calls through your computer that allows Skype have become a phenomenon since it began in 2003 and the firm has about 520 million registered users worldwide. However, so far has made little progress in the wireless area, since most operators consider it a risk to your business voice calls.
Google Earth allows humanitarian groups to help Haitians
Aid workers in Haiti are served from Google Earth to get on internet key information to illustrate the needs of hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by the devastating earthquake of January 12, in a technological innovation that could improve response to disasters future.
The idea is so novel and simple: the United Nations officials and nongovernmental organizations can connect to Google Earth from makeshift camps housing more than 600,000 people in Haiti and give details on how much time people and their location coordinates .
Although there were some implementation problems, executives believe that the tool could accelerate humanitarian efforts greatly."Humanitarian agencies must be updated a bit in terms of things like Skype and email from handheld devices," said Alex Wynter, Red Cross spokesman in Haiti. "But in the base camps, are connected and assistance after the disaster is happening to the Internet."
Users who have Google Earth on your computer can enter the www.cccmhaiti.info site where a link has a map of many of the 414 camps, churches, public offices, schools and refugee camps which house the victims of earthquake killed over 200,000 people.
In a normal view of Haiti in Google Earth, appear blue dots that show where people are accommodated. They are identified by street, area or some reference point and some camps are labeled simply "IDP", the acronym in English of "internally displaced persons."
You can activate each blue dot to show a table with information about latitude and longitude of the place, what area is and the estimated number of families and individuals in there. The details are updated frequently so they, in theory, charities and government can predict when supplies will be exhausted or potential hazards such as landslides and floods.
"It's the first time that such sophisticated tool has been implemented with so little preparation time for humanitarian workers after a major emergency," Jean-Philippe Chauzy, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, which was associated in the project with Google, UN and humanitarian information iMMAP group.
The idea is so novel and simple: the United Nations officials and nongovernmental organizations can connect to Google Earth from makeshift camps housing more than 600,000 people in Haiti and give details on how much time people and their location coordinates .
Although there were some implementation problems, executives believe that the tool could accelerate humanitarian efforts greatly."Humanitarian agencies must be updated a bit in terms of things like Skype and email from handheld devices," said Alex Wynter, Red Cross spokesman in Haiti. "But in the base camps, are connected and assistance after the disaster is happening to the Internet."
Users who have Google Earth on your computer can enter the www.cccmhaiti.info site where a link has a map of many of the 414 camps, churches, public offices, schools and refugee camps which house the victims of earthquake killed over 200,000 people.
In a normal view of Haiti in Google Earth, appear blue dots that show where people are accommodated. They are identified by street, area or some reference point and some camps are labeled simply "IDP", the acronym in English of "internally displaced persons."
You can activate each blue dot to show a table with information about latitude and longitude of the place, what area is and the estimated number of families and individuals in there. The details are updated frequently so they, in theory, charities and government can predict when supplies will be exhausted or potential hazards such as landslides and floods.
"It's the first time that such sophisticated tool has been implemented with so little preparation time for humanitarian workers after a major emergency," Jean-Philippe Chauzy, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, which was associated in the project with Google, UN and humanitarian information iMMAP group.
, technology news, techno news, apple nexus one, touch screen Nexus Oneandroid
At a time when Apple Inc. has begun to have stiffer competition in the lucrative market for smartphones, or use multiple phones, sued one of his main rivals for allegedly violating patents on technology for touch screens and other characteristics.
The lawsuits involve several models made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC Corp., as the Nexus One, G1 and myTouch 3G, all three use the free mobile OS Android, Google Inc. But there are other phones that do not use involved Android as HTC's Touch series.
Consumers should not worry about buying or using any of these phones. The patent lawsuits often take months or even years to resolve, sometimes lasting more than these phones. The result of this type of demand is usually agreement on licenses and royalty payments.
However, the case portrays the offensive strategy of Apple to the emergence of new competitors.
"We can sit and watch our competitors stealing our patented inventions or we can do something about it," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "So we decided to do something about it.
Apple said that HTC has infringed 20 of its patents related to the interface and the physical components of the iPhone.
Google, whose system uses many of the phones from HTC, did not appear as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Apple is the protagonist in the world of the supercell, telephones with Internet connectivity, but last year began to face increased competition with the emergence of models from HTC, and Motorola Inc., which use Google's Android system. The phones of these companies have not only attracted customers but work with many wireless networks, unlike the iPhone, which is still limited to AT & T Inc. in the U.S..
The lawsuits involve several models made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC Corp., as the Nexus One, G1 and myTouch 3G, all three use the free mobile OS Android, Google Inc. But there are other phones that do not use involved Android as HTC's Touch series.
Consumers should not worry about buying or using any of these phones. The patent lawsuits often take months or even years to resolve, sometimes lasting more than these phones. The result of this type of demand is usually agreement on licenses and royalty payments.
However, the case portrays the offensive strategy of Apple to the emergence of new competitors.
"We can sit and watch our competitors stealing our patented inventions or we can do something about it," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "So we decided to do something about it.
Apple said that HTC has infringed 20 of its patents related to the interface and the physical components of the iPhone.
Google, whose system uses many of the phones from HTC, did not appear as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Apple is the protagonist in the world of the supercell, telephones with Internet connectivity, but last year began to face increased competition with the emergence of models from HTC, and Motorola Inc., which use Google's Android system. The phones of these companies have not only attracted customers but work with many wireless networks, unlike the iPhone, which is still limited to AT & T Inc. in the U.S..
Yahoo expected financial recovery will take years
The CEO of Yahoo, Carol Bartz, expressed confidence that investors consider the time required to resuscitate Steve Jobs to Apple Inc., with increasing impatience for her to have achieved the upturn in stock market value of the company Internet.
At a meeting Tuesday to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Yahoo Inc., Bartz reminded the press that Apple remained in difficulties for some time even after the arrival of Jobs as CEO in 1997.
Hard trance that characterized the return of Jobs to the company he co-founded two decades earlier.
Not until Jobs introduced the iPod in late 2001 when Apple returned to profit and the company's shares rose in price again.Apple even became more prosperous in recent years after the most elegant computers developed and modern appliances, like the iPhone and iPad, a tablet computer type, which according to ad goes on sale later this month.
Jobs "was aware of the DNA (Apple) better than anyone and it took four years (the recovery)," Batz said."I realize that people (investors) want magical things happen (at Yahoo). The magical things happen in the deep interior of our little system here," he said.
The price of Yahoo shares rose nearly 30% since Bartz took office 14 months ago, although revenue and profits have increased at lower rates. Shares of Yahoo closed Tuesday at $ 15.73, down six cents.
Apple shares have risen almost 50% 14 months after the return of Jobs as CEO. Shares of Apple fell 14 cents Tuesday and closed at $ 208.81. This represents an increase of 37 times compared to the level they had when they named Apple CEO Jobs on September 1997.Yahoo shareholders may be happy if Bartz does increase the prices of the company's shares above the $ 33.
That amount is what Microsoft Corp. said it would pay to buy all of Yahoo in May 2008, but later withdrew the offer after Yahoo rejected.
Bartz, 61, has with Yahoo a four-year contract that expires in early 2013.
At a meeting Tuesday to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Yahoo Inc., Bartz reminded the press that Apple remained in difficulties for some time even after the arrival of Jobs as CEO in 1997.
Hard trance that characterized the return of Jobs to the company he co-founded two decades earlier.
Not until Jobs introduced the iPod in late 2001 when Apple returned to profit and the company's shares rose in price again.Apple even became more prosperous in recent years after the most elegant computers developed and modern appliances, like the iPhone and iPad, a tablet computer type, which according to ad goes on sale later this month.
Jobs "was aware of the DNA (Apple) better than anyone and it took four years (the recovery)," Batz said."I realize that people (investors) want magical things happen (at Yahoo). The magical things happen in the deep interior of our little system here," he said.
The price of Yahoo shares rose nearly 30% since Bartz took office 14 months ago, although revenue and profits have increased at lower rates. Shares of Yahoo closed Tuesday at $ 15.73, down six cents.
Apple shares have risen almost 50% 14 months after the return of Jobs as CEO. Shares of Apple fell 14 cents Tuesday and closed at $ 208.81. This represents an increase of 37 times compared to the level they had when they named Apple CEO Jobs on September 1997.Yahoo shareholders may be happy if Bartz does increase the prices of the company's shares above the $ 33.
That amount is what Microsoft Corp. said it would pay to buy all of Yahoo in May 2008, but later withdrew the offer after Yahoo rejected.
Bartz, 61, has with Yahoo a four-year contract that expires in early 2013.
Particle accelerator achieves unprecedented speed
The particle accelerator at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, started again on Sunday, 28, after the regular winter break from the center. Two beams of protons circulating in opposite directions and will gradually accelerate to reach a speed of 7 TeV (teraelectrovoltios) ever achieved before.
Before switching off, the accelerator proton collisions recorded at a rate of 2.36 TeV, which already was a world first. During the weeks it took the shock, the four detectors of the Large Hadron Accelerator (LHC) reported more than one million particle collisions.
Once accelerated to 7 TeV, scientists hope that the LCH produces hundreds of millions of particle collisions at speeds close to light, and recreate the first moments of the universe, just after the Big Bang, 13,700 million years ago .
Also, another challenge is to test empirically the standard theory of physics, based on the Higgs boson. The existence of this particle, which is named after the scientist who predicted 30 years ago its reality, is considered essential to explain why elementary particles have mass and why the masses are so different.
In any case, scientists must be patient, as the analysis of data, and specifically to find the Higgs boson can take several years.
Scientists maintain the accelerator at speeds of 7 TeV, half of its potential, until autumn 2011. After he was put to a pause, he reconfigured and turn back on at a speed of 14 TeV.
Before switching off, the accelerator proton collisions recorded at a rate of 2.36 TeV, which already was a world first. During the weeks it took the shock, the four detectors of the Large Hadron Accelerator (LHC) reported more than one million particle collisions.
Once accelerated to 7 TeV, scientists hope that the LCH produces hundreds of millions of particle collisions at speeds close to light, and recreate the first moments of the universe, just after the Big Bang, 13,700 million years ago .
Also, another challenge is to test empirically the standard theory of physics, based on the Higgs boson. The existence of this particle, which is named after the scientist who predicted 30 years ago its reality, is considered essential to explain why elementary particles have mass and why the masses are so different.
In any case, scientists must be patient, as the analysis of data, and specifically to find the Higgs boson can take several years.
Scientists maintain the accelerator at speeds of 7 TeV, half of its potential, until autumn 2011. After he was put to a pause, he reconfigured and turn back on at a speed of 14 TeV.
Sony reported failure of its PlayStation 3 console
Sony said that a failure has brought the PlayStation 3 users online network gaming console, and the company warned that a loss may occur if information is still using the machines.
Sony announced in a blog that probably the problem is being caused by a fault on the clock built into the system, which is reminiscent of the so-called Y2K failure a decade ago. The problem affects older models of PlayStation 3, but not the new, slim version was released in September.
The company urged customers not to use the old system until the problem is resolved, warning that continuing to use could lead to mistakes and preclude the registration of the achievements to play as well as the restoration of some information.
Sony declined to say how many users were affected by this problem, which occurs just as the PlayStation 3 sales are recovering. According to the NPD Group, 276,900 units were sold in the U.S. in January, up from about 203,200 a year earlier. In December 2009, it sold over 1.4 million PlayStation 3 consoles in that country.
Some errors that PS3 users began to see on Sunday include the restart of the system date to 1 January 2000.The problem was reminiscent of the Y2K failure, in which the design of some programs caused some computers to malfunction begin the new millennium because it interpreted the "00" as 1900.
Other problems may include an error message indicating that the user has been disconnected from its online games and that may go away game trophies.
Sony said it hopes to resolve the problem within 24 hours.
Sony announced in a blog that probably the problem is being caused by a fault on the clock built into the system, which is reminiscent of the so-called Y2K failure a decade ago. The problem affects older models of PlayStation 3, but not the new, slim version was released in September.
The company urged customers not to use the old system until the problem is resolved, warning that continuing to use could lead to mistakes and preclude the registration of the achievements to play as well as the restoration of some information.
Sony declined to say how many users were affected by this problem, which occurs just as the PlayStation 3 sales are recovering. According to the NPD Group, 276,900 units were sold in the U.S. in January, up from about 203,200 a year earlier. In December 2009, it sold over 1.4 million PlayStation 3 consoles in that country.
Some errors that PS3 users began to see on Sunday include the restart of the system date to 1 January 2000.The problem was reminiscent of the Y2K failure, in which the design of some programs caused some computers to malfunction begin the new millennium because it interpreted the "00" as 1900.
Other problems may include an error message indicating that the user has been disconnected from its online games and that may go away game trophies.
Sony said it hopes to resolve the problem within 24 hours.
Internet, third source of information for Americans
Internet is the third source of information for Americans, behind the local television stations and national chains, according to a survey of U.S. school whose results were released on Monday.
Pollsters Pew Research Center asked 2259 adult Americans indicated they were informed by what means. Approximately 78% of them explained that they looked at a local chain at least once a day.
National chains such as CNN or CBS, are in second with 73%.
Finally, 61% of Americans reporting indicates that thanks to the internet. Those interviewed cited especially the pages of Google News, AOL, CNN and the BBC as the main sources of information.
50% said they read a local newspaper and 17% who read a national newspaper like The New York Times or USA Today.
Moreover, 92% of those surveyed said combining various sources (television, newspapers, internet) to be informed.
Among those who reported on the Internet, 21% consulted only one site, while 57% use two to five sites.
The poll was conducted between December 28 and January 19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
Pollsters Pew Research Center asked 2259 adult Americans indicated they were informed by what means. Approximately 78% of them explained that they looked at a local chain at least once a day.
National chains such as CNN or CBS, are in second with 73%.
Finally, 61% of Americans reporting indicates that thanks to the internet. Those interviewed cited especially the pages of Google News, AOL, CNN and the BBC as the main sources of information.
50% said they read a local newspaper and 17% who read a national newspaper like The New York Times or USA Today.
Moreover, 92% of those surveyed said combining various sources (television, newspapers, internet) to be informed.
Among those who reported on the Internet, 21% consulted only one site, while 57% use two to five sites.
The poll was conducted between December 28 and January 19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
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