Valve: The Biggest Threat To Consoles Is Apple

Polygon has good coverage of that lecture Gabe Newell gave at the University of Texas School of Public Affairs. According to Newell, the biggest threat to consoles right now is Apple. Here's a quote:

The biggest danger facing the success of Steam Box or any other PC ecosystem hoping to find space in the living room is Apple, according to a lecture given by Valve co-founder Gabe Newell to a class at the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs.

How NVIDIA's Project SHIELD Got Built

There is a very interesting article posted today on the official NVIDIA blog about how Project Shield got built. It's actually pretty neat to get a behind the scenes look at how Project Shield came to life.

The story behind Project SHIELD is a tale of an idea as much as it is of a product. Jen-Hsun — NVIDIA’s intense, motorcycle-jacket clad leader calls that idea ‘speed of light’ (or ‘speedolight’ as he says it). The notion isn’t to hit impossible deadlines fueled by adrenaline and fried chicken grease. It’s to understand the limits of what can be done and work within only those basic constraints.

Mini-ITX Case Round-Up

Hardware.Info has rounded-up a dozen mini-ITX cases today and put them to the test. The review features cases from Antec, Bitfenix, Fractal Design, Cooler Master Lian Li and more.

Mini-ITX has existed for years now as form factor, but a more recent phenomenon is the appearance of more versatile and capable motherboards in this size. Those make it possible to assemble your own compact computers, if you can find the right chassis of course. More and more Mini-ITX cases are being released for a variety of end users, so Hardware.Info picked out 12 very different ones to get a lay of the land.

Gabe Newell Is A Horse's....

Gabe Newell gave a talk at UT Austin yesterday on the future of gaming and its economy and, according to the folks in attendance, the man definitely enjoys horsing around. Thanks to Kelly G. for the heads up!

Gabe Newell spoke to students about the future of gaming and its economy at UT Austin today (1/30/13). In fact, so many students showed up to the event that he did an encore presentation in a larger auditorium. Afterwards, he signed laptops, ipads, game discs and more... including the notorious horse head.

AMD’s SeaMicro SM15000 Server Achieves Certification for Rackspace Private Cloud

AMD today announced that its SeaMicro SM15000™ server is certified for the Rackspace® Private Cloud. "Nova in a Box" and "Swift in a Rack" are respectively the most efficient compute and highest storage capacity solutions validated for OpenStack®. The product certification for mass compute and object storage ensures that enterprise deployments of Rackspace Private Cloud on AMD’s SeaMicro SM15000 servers are a proven and rigorously tested solution, enabling peace of mind for enterprises around the world. As a part of The Rackspace Open Cloud™ platform, the company launched the Rackspace Private Cloud Software in August 2012 with thousands of organizations in over 125 countries spanning all continents downloading the product.

Secret Service dog dies during bomb sweep for Biden

A Secret Service dog fell to its death in New Orleans over the weekend while performing a sweep of a six-story parking garage. The garage was next to the Ritz Carlton where Vice President Joe Biden was speaking.

The bomb-sniffing dog, a Belgian Malinois, fell from the roof of the parking deck next to the hotel at approximately 6 p.m., New Orleans police told WWL-TV.

Leaked ‘iPhone 5S’ and ‘iPhone 6′ parts appear in new photos

Rumors suggest Apple (AAPL) is working on not one but several new iPhone models gained steam this past weekend as images of purported next-generation “iPhone 5S” and “iPhone 6” parts were published on a French gadget blog. Nowhereelse.fr, which has published images of genuine parts from unreleased Apple devices in the past, recently published a pair of photos that it claims show internal speaker enclosures destined for two different upcoming iPhone models. The author of the post says he “found the photos while browsing the web,” though he does not indicate exactly where the images came from. He also notes that the names “iPhone 5S” and “iPhone 6″ are being used as placeholders, and the site does not claim knowledge of Apple’s naming scheme for its next-generation iPhone models. Both leaked photos can be viewed below.

Apple reportedly prepping new 128GB fourth-gen iPad

It isn’t the “next big thing” Apple (AAPL) investors are said to be waiting for as the company’s share price continues to plummet, but Apple is reportedly prepping a new iPad that will be its first iOS device to pack more than 64GB of storage. 9to5Mac reports that Apple has a new fourth-generation iPad SKU that will soon hit the shelves at one of its retail partners’ stores.

Dallas man arrested for shooting laser beam at police helicopter

A 22-year-old Dallas man was in custody after police say he shined a laser beam at a police helicopter several times as the officers searched for a burglary suspect.
Police identified the suspect as Kenneth Santodomingo, who now faces a charge of illumination aircraft with laser pointer/impairing operator.
The incident occurred about 4 a.m. Monday in the 8000 block of Umphress Road in Dallas.
Dallas police had arrived at the scene in response to a burglary of a motor vehicle.
Officers asked for assistance from the Dallas police helicopter, Air One.
As Air One worked the area, someone beamed the helicopter with a green laser and did it multiple times, police said.
The pilots tracked down the man with the laser pointer and directed officers on the ground to the suspect.
Police notified the FAA of the aircraft laser strike. LINK

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/28/4581100/dallas-man-arrested-for-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

Missile launcher shows up at Seattle Gun Buyback

 

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police worked with Army officials Monday to track down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a weapons buyback program and determine whether it was legal or possibly stolen from the military.

A man standing outside the event Saturday bought the military weapon for $100 from another person there, according to Detective Mark Jamieson.

Toyota recalls 1.29M vehicles for air bags, wipers

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota is recalling over one million cars around the world for faulty air bags and defective windshield wipers.

The move comes just days after Toyota regained its spot as the world's No. 1 automaker from U.S. rival General Motors Co., with global vehicle sales that climbed to a record 9.748 million vehicles. The company is now recalling 907,000 cars, mostly Corollas, due to air bags that can improperly inflate when the vehicle's electronic signals damage a chip in the part that controls the air bags. It also is recalling 385,000 Lexus IS luxury cars with wipers that can get stuck if there is heavy snowfall.

Initially, the Japanese automaker had said there were no accidents related to either problem, but Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Naoto Fuse said Wednesday that two crashes were reported in the U.S. related to the air bag problem. Toyota had not been able to confirm them and Fuse said it is unclear whether anyone was injured in the two crashes. Toyota has confirmed 18 cases in the U.S. of abrasion-type injuries from the air bag problem, he said. In total, the automaker has received 46 reports of problems involving the air bags from North America, and one from Japan, and 25 reports of problems related to the windshield wipers.

Avoid These Car-Dealership Sales Tricks

The process of buying a new car can be both financially and mentally straining. Aside from a limited number of sellers such as CarMax, dealerships that offer fixed prices on new cars are hard to come by. On top of that, the industry is rife with deceptive sales strategies that consumers need to be aware of so they can get the best price on a new ride.

Problems with new-car dealers consistently rank near the top of the Better Business Bureau's list of consumer complaints. Many dealers are armed with salespeople trained to tack on as many unnecessary costs as possible, such as extended warranties that offer minimal coverage and add-ons (such as a GPS) that are already installed. It's an issue that affects everyone from cash-strapped consumers in the market for an economy car to families in search of a middle-of-the-road van, all the way to those looking for a new sports car. Across the board, people who don't do their homework before hitting the dealership are most susceptible to being taken advantage of.

T. Boone Pickens' Grandson Dies in Tex.

Thomas Boone Pickens IV, the 21-year-old grandson of the Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, died Tuesday after being rushed to a Texas hospital, a family spokesman said.

Jay Rosser, vice president of public affairs for BP Capital and a spokesman for the Pickens family, confirmed the death to ABCNews.com.

"Ty's loss at such a young age is an unspeakable family tragedy for the entire Pickens family and his many friends," Rosser's prepared statement said. "We mourn his passing and respectfully request that the family be allowed to grieve in private in this time of sorrow."

Senator To Gamers: Shut Up, You Have No Credibility

I read the quote below three times and still can't tell if he is talking about politicians or the game industry. Can you guys in California please vote this asshat out of office? Thanks to Carlos M. for the link.

Gamers have got to just quiet down. Gamers have no credibility in this argument. This is all about their lust for violence and the industry’s lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest.

U.S. Government Warns Of Hack Threat To Network Gear

The government says you could be spied on or hacked by someone beside them....and that makes them mad. 

The Department of Homeland Security urged computer users on Tuesday to disable a common networking technology feature, after researchers warned that hackers could exploit flaws to gain access to tens of millions of vulnerable devices.

Teacher In Trouble Over Tweets Story of the Day

The funny part about this story is that the school district says employees are trained about social media use. Really? Who trains them....this lady?

A Cherry Creek Schools teacher must explain to district officials why a Twitter page contained half-naked photos and a claim of possessing marijuana on school grounds. One post said "Naked. Wet. Stoned." Another indicated the poster was high while grading papers.

Apple Drops Chinese Supplier For Using Underage Labor

Apple has stopped doing business with a Chinese manufacturer after a report said it had employed 74 underage workers. According to Apple's Supplier Responsibility Report, which was released by the company Thursday, Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics was employing workers under the age of 16.

"Our auditors were dismayed to discover 74 cases of workers under age 16 — a core violation of our Code of Conduct. As a result, we terminated our business relationship with PZ," the company says in the report.

Apple has now lost its spot as the most valuable publicly traded company, one year after it first firmly overtook ExxonMobil. Even though it announced a record number of iPhone and iPad sales in its last quarter earnings, its stock price has fallen over 12 percent.

iPhone 5S, a Plastic Version and iPad 5 Reportedly Coming This Year

It’s been about three months since the fourth-generation iPad appeared, which of course means it’s time for the rumors that the fifth-gen model is on the way, and we’ll throw in rumors of the next iPhone as well.

Jeremy Horwitz over at iLounge got the opportunity to check out what is said to be an accurate model of the redesigned fifth-generation iPad. It shares the same design aesthetic as the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, with chamfered edges and minimal bezels just large enough to accommodate the camera and home button.

Apple opens its eyes wider in China, finds terrible labor practices

Apple has confirmed something many China watchers have long suspected: that multinationals take an eyes-wide-shut approach to auditing their low cost suppliers.

In its latest supplier report (pdf) Apple said it had greatly expanded its audit process in 2012 , carrying out 72% more audits than in 2011 to delve deeper into its Chinese supply chain. Unsurprisingly, it found a host of problems. Its worst finding was that one of its manufacturers—which supplies other companies too—was employing 74 children. In total, it found 106 cases of child labor across its factories. Apple also reported that 158 of the factories it uses were not auditing their own suppliers.

Yes, The iPad Mini Is Destroying Sales Of The Larger iPad

Crunching some new data released by Apple yesterday reveals: For the first time since its 2010 launch, the iPad’s average sale price has dipped below $500. It’s now $467.

That helps answer a question that’s been burning ever since Apple released the iPad Mini: Would the smaller tablet, with a base price of $329, cannibalize sales of the larger iPad, which starts at $499? The company doesn’t break out sales by type of iPad, but the 8.1% decline in average sale price last quarter suggests that, yes, customers are opting for the iPad Mini over the iPad.

Unlocking Of Smartphones Illegal As Of Tomorrow

Just a little memory refresher for those of you that might have forgotten, unlocking your smartphone becomes illegal tomorrow. Thanks to everyone that sent in reminders.

Starting this Saturday, it becomes illegal in this great land to unlock a new smartphone without the permission of the carrier that locked it in the first place. LINK

Corporations Bring A 'Knife To A Gun Fight'

I was going to say this was "quote of the day" but, after thinking about it for a while, this is more like "understatement of the day."

After analyzing data from a number of security breaches and responses from 179 participating firms, Radware said that many corporations can be compared to "someone who brings a knife to a gun fight." In other words, businesses are attempting to protect themselves from cyberattacks, but often fail because they do not understand the true nature.  LINK

Bluetooth 4.0 Comes of Age

To this day, the name Bluetooth brings back bad memories of the wireless cell phone earpiece that was more personal statement than practical tool. It seemed as if every small-time baller had to show he was successful enough to own one and in demand enough to keep it on him all the time, even when out to dinner with his girlfriend’s parents.

But Bluetooth has come of age. It has become the muse of several start-ups and established companies that are finding new and creative ways to take advantage of Bluetooth’s drastic uptick in efficiency, from the Nike Fuelband to the Pebble Smartwatch, which we previously featured on “This Could Be Big.”

This week we spoke with a start-up out of Southern California called Tethercell, whose founders, Trey Madhyastha and Kellan O'Connor, are former rocket scientists who designed mechanical and fluid systems for the Falcon 9 rocket.

Walmart apologizes for humiliating treatment of cancer survivor

VIDEO

Couple has been living under a rock, quite literally

For many people, the idea of living under a rock might seem like the punchline of a joke. But for one Mexican couple, a hut wedged below a 130-foot boulder in Coahulla, Mexico, has been home for the past 30 years.

A reporter recently visited the couple, Benito Hernandez and Santa Martha de la Cruz Villarreal, in their primitive desert home 50 miles south of Texas. Hernandez is a farmer who plants and collects the Candelilla plant used in making Candelilla wax.

‘American Idol’ Goes Askew In Baton Rouge

"American Idol" went totally askew (or Askew) during the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, auditions this Thursday--but in the most awesome way possible. Although much of this tricky 12th season has so far focused on the icky infighting and Springer-style drama behind the judges' table, on Thursday a brilliantly bizarre boy brought so much sunshiny rainbow-striped radness to the show, he may as well have entered the audition room on a unicorn.

That magical, mythical boy's name was Charlie Askew. VIDEO

10 Things Better Than Money

A recent Gallup poll, quoted in The Atlantic, found that "well-being rises with income at all levels of income, across countries." In other words, as the article's title states, the poll proves that "Yes, Money Does Buy Happiness."

Except that it doesn't prove that at all. What the study actually discovered was a "strong correlation" between each nation's real GDP per capita and the sense of "well-being" among those nation's citizens.

Correlation isn't causation. The data could just as easily be interpreted the other way around: that happiness creates wealth. What's most likely, though, is that happiness and wealth are part of a cycle, each one creating more of the other.

North Korea threatens war with South over U.N. sanctions

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea threatened to attack rival South Korea if Seoul joined a new round of tightened U.N. sanctions, as Washington unveiled more of its own economic restrictions following Pyongyang's rocket launch last month.

In a third straight day of fiery rhetoric, the North directed its verbal onslaught at its neighbor on Friday, saying: "'Sanctions' mean a war and a declaration of war against us."

Man Squatting in $2.5M Mansion Attempts 'Adverse Possession'

The neighbor of a Florida man invoking an obscure real estate law to stake a claim to an empty $2.5 million mansion said he believes that the man is a pawn in a attempt to cash in on the empty property.

Andre "Loki" Barbosa has lived in the five-bedroom Boca Raton, Fla., waterside property since July, and police have reportedly been unable to remove him. The Brazilian national, 23, who reportedly refers to himself as "Loki Boy," cites Florida's "adverse possession" law in which a party may acquire title from another by openly occupying their land and paying real property tax for at least seven years.

The house is listed as being owned by Bank of America as of July 2012, and that an adverse possession was filed in July.

After Bank of America foreclosed on the property last year, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office was notified that Barbosa would be moving in, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Whoa. I should have upgraded to an SSD last year

A solid-state drive nearly quintupled storage performance and breathed new life into Stephen Shankland's laptop. The storage capacity is small, but it's an upgrade you should consider, too.

Today I transformed my 2009 laptop into a machine that feels like it's from 2012.

All I did was rip out its 500GB spinning-rust hard drive from Seagate and popped in a 256GBVertex 4 solid-state drive from OCZ. Now I'm kicking myself for not upgrading to an SSD a year ago.

Aliens: Colonial Marines "Kick Ass" Trailer

Blue's News has posted the Aliens: Colonial Marines "Kick Ass" trailer for those of you interested. There is plenty of NSFW language in the two minute trailer so turn it down if you need to.

Apple's Amazing New Patent - Smart SHOES!

Apple's latest magically fantastic patent application could be the next big thing. I am amazed that no one has thought of this before. 

Prototype hybrid cars running on compressed air expected by 2016

Getting a car to move at respectable speeds with compressed air is hard. Very hard. Automakers have been grinding away at a car powered by compressed air for years. It’s so difficult that French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen is putting the green concept aside in favor of a hybrid, for now.

Earth-sized radio telescope to take first pic of black hole

Black holes, being black holes, aren't the easiest things to take pictures of. Not only are they black (absorbing nearly all the light that falls on them) , they also tend to be small, far away, and surrounded by things that are very very bright. The only way we're going to get a good look at one from here is to use as large and sensitive a radio telescope as we possibly can, and the largest radio telescope you can possibly build on Earth is, well, a radio telescope the size of Earth itself.

The first Mac computer went on sale 29 years ago today

Speaking of aged spinsters, Apple's very first Mac computer went on sale on January, 24, 1984. 

Smart floor produces a virtual mirror world you can control

Some of the most important innovations start out as projects that, at first, don't look particularly useful or practical. That might be the thought to keep in mind as you familiarize yourself with GravitySpace, and interactive floor that mirrors the movements and physical dynamics of the people standing on it.

As Deadly Mexican Cartel Loses Control, Heroin and Meth Trafficking Rise

Perhaps the most dangerous group of narco-assassins in Mexico looks to be reeling a bit from recent setbacks. One of the ironies of the poor health of the Zetas? Drug trafficking across the border is going up.

A DC-based human rights group, the Washington Office on Latin America, describes the Zetas’ control as “slipping a bit” — but they’re not celebrating. “This is an ominous bit of news,” write Adam Isacson and Maureen Meyer, “if a vacuum or organized crime control has opened up, violence may flare up again in Northeastern Mexico.” Not only is U.S. border security “not deterring traffickers,” heroin busts are up — and police are seeing an increased flow of potent liquid methamphetamine, a reportedlymore efficient way to transport the drug.

IBM says it has tool to kill deadly drug-resistant superbugs

Working with the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Big Blue has come up with a "hydrogel" that can beat back the bacteria that cause many deadly infections.

A new antimicrobial hydrogel created by IBM Research and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is meant to attack and kill drug-resistant superbugs like MRSA. This is a look at MRSA 'biofilm' before and after being hit with the hydrogel.

(Credit: IBM Research)

Hospital-acquired infections have become a major killer in the United States, mainly because the drug-resistant "superbugs" that cause them have proven nearly impossible to stop.

But now IBM and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology say they have come up with what they're calling an antimicrobial hydrogel that can successfully fight the superbugs that are behind killers like MRSA.

First clip of Kutcher as Jobs: A little too Kutcherian?

Prior to the Friday debut of the Steve Jobs biopic "jOBS" at Sundance, the makers of the movie, starring Ashton Kutcher, release a clip. It may divide viewers.

Many of you have probably not slept for wondering what Ashton Kutcher would do to Steve Jobs.

Would he be able, in the new movie "jOBS", to deliver the slightly nasal vocals? Would he be able to express the passion, as well as some of the bite?

Entertainment Tonight, among others, has purloined the first clip from the movie.

It features Jobs and Steve Wozniak (played by Josh Gad) in the HP parking garage.

Is this 3D-printed robot the first of thousands?

InMoov is an open-source DIY printable robot that can obey voice commands. It's slightly creepy, but at least it's cheap.

I love the one-upmanship going on in the word of 3D printing.

At CES 2013 I saw 3D-printed skateboards, flowers, and gear assemblies, and meanwhile there are now plans to print everything from body parts to buildings. So printing robots was only a matter of time.

InMoov is a full-size humanoid robot made from 3D-printed parts. Designed and built by Gael Langevin of Factices Ateliers in France, InMoov began last year as a hand, then an arm. It's now two arms and a head.

Google CEO hints at unbreakable ‘X Phone’ from Motorola

Google (GOOG) is believed to be working on a new flagship smartphone and a flagship tablet in its Motorola division. Unlike its Nexus line of devices built by various Android partners, the rumored “X Phone” and “X Tablet” will mark the first time Google controls everything from the device’s hardware to its software. Rumored specs are said to include a top-notch camera and photo software, a bendable display and a high-end ceramic case. Now, Google CEO Larry Page has incited a new round of speculation on Tuesday with comments he made during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call.

The World's 10 Most Dangerous Airlines

Flying was less deadly in 2012 than in any year since 1945, but that does not mean all airlines are equally safe.

The Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC), which collects information about aviation accidents and safety, has published its annual Airline Safety Ranking.

The ratings take into account the number and deadliness of the hull losses (destroyed airplanes) they have suffered in the past 30 years, how they have fared more recently, and have many flights they have flown without incident.

Pentagon researches new life for dead satellites

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Call it space grave robbery for a cause: Imagine scavenging defunct communication satellites for their valuable parts and recycling them to build brand new ones for cheap.

It's the latest pet project from the Pentagon's research wing known for its quirky and sometimes out-there ideas. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is spending $180 million to test technologies that could make this possible.

When satellites retire, certain parts — such as antennas and solar panels — often still work. There's currently no routine effort to salvage and reuse satellite parts once they're launched into space.

DARPA thinks it can save money by repurposing in orbit.

Can You Trust Your Kid With $5.25 Million?

Wealthy families got a holiday gift on Jan. 1, when Congress agreed on permanent estate-tax rules that are much more generous than many financial planners had expected.

Some aren't celebrating, however. Instead, they are grappling with new questions about how best to set up trusts for their heirs—while keeping a measure of control over their wealth.


Children of the wealthy: Georgina Bloomberg (AP)Under the new rules, a taxpayer may shield up
to $5.25 million from estate taxes ($10.5 million for couples), and must pay 40% on amounts over the exemption, up from 35% last year. Had Congress done nothing, the exemption would have fallen to $1 million ($2 million for couples), and the rate would have jumped to 55%.

Panetta opens combat roles to women

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is removing the military's ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.

Is Kate Upton's New Mercedes Ad Too Tacky-Sexy?

A new Mercedes-Benz ad starring the voluptuous Kate Upton is generating some surprisingly negative buzz in the blogosphere, with critics calling it cheap and tasteless—even wondering if it's too sexy.

More on Shine: Does Visa's Superbowl Ad Put Football Before Parenting?

"Hot girl, great car, and somehow I think this is the worst ad Mercedes has ever made," and "Cheap and stupid. Worst ad Mercedes made. Whoever thought of this needs to be fired!" are among a slew of choice comments posted on the Mercedes-Benz Facebook page.

Samsung’s Galaxy S IV may feature new high-definition display tech

An alleged Samsung (005930) roadmap uncovered recently suggested that the upcoming Galaxy S IV smartphone will feature a 5-inch display with a pixel density of 440 ppi. Ever since Apple (AAPL) released the iPhone 4 with its class-leading 326 ppi Retina display, vendors have been attempting to pack as many pixels into a screen as possible. HTC (2498) and Sony (SNE) have both announced full HD smartphones with pixel densities of 440 ppi, however there are limitations as to how high the pixel count can actually go.

Fifth-grader reprimanded for bringing paper ‘gun’ to school

Another fake gun has reportedly created problems for a young student.

According to Philadelphia mother Dianna Kelly, who spoke with FOX 29 about the incident, her daughter, Melody Valentin, was given a sheet of paper by her grandfather that was torn and folded to look like a pistol. When another student saw the fake gun, which Melody had thrown in the trash can, he alerted the teacher.

The teacher then went over the top when reprimanding Melody, Kelly told Fox 29, saying that he "should call the cops on her" and that she could "be arrested."

Kelly added, "Why did he threaten my daughter?"

How to avoid buying hurricane-damaged cars

Whenever there is flooding, as there was recently when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, car buyers need to be aware that some dealers try to hide the fact that the vehicles they're selling have been damaged by water.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that 230,000 vehicles were damaged as a result of Sandy. Many of the cars will be taken to facilities to be crushed. However, NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle says that "there will be cases where damaged vehicles are cleaned up, dried out and sold by unscrupulous dealers or individuals who know how to beat the system." Water damage can lead to problems with a vehicle's computer and electrical systems and cause anti-lock brake and airbag systems to malfunction.

Daughter Discovers Dad’s Seven-Year Drawing of a Maze 30 Years Later

Many of us have found vintage items in our parents' storage spaces and wondered why they had kept the treasures locked away. Attics can be treasure troves, filled with memorabilia and items from the past -- many of which are no longer made. But what if you were to come across a piece of work that one of your parents had created, and you were so enthralled that you wanted others to experience it, too?

A woman in Japan made an incredible discovery that is going viral. Known to the world by her Twitter handle @KYA7Y (we'll just call her K), she found an intricate maze that her father had drawn on a 23-by-33-inch piece of paper 30 years ago. The maze was not just some doodle that her father had whipped up in a few days. He took seven years to complete it.

Why Chinese censors cut 40+ minutes from Cloud Atlas

It’s not terribly uncommon for films to receive tweaked cuts depending on the international audience. But the Chinese version of Cloud Atlas might as well be a different film.

Though it's been out in the U.S. for a while now, Cloud Atlas just now opened in China. The weird thing? The cut that played at the Beijing opening was only 130 minutes long—a full 40 minutes shy of the original cut that opened in the U.S. and elsewhere. So what happened?

Mozilla unveils open source Firefox smartphone

There was a time, not too long ago, when Firefox was the cool, open source Web browser seemingly poised to usher in a new age of Internet innovation. But after years of buggy releases and the rise of Chrome, Firefox has fallen out a bit out of favor with some users. Now, a new smartphone project could bring Firefox back into the spotlight.

Step into the world of 3D-printed tech couture

"Where delicate handmade embroidery and needlework is replaced by code." High-tech fashion makes a statement at Paris Fashion Week.
Before too long, techy women may just print out that little black dress instead of buying it at a store.

Don't believe me? Take a look at some of the 3D-printed gems strolling down the catwalk at the Paris Fashion Show this week. Dutch designer Iris van Herpen's haute couture show Voltage tapped the prowess of 3D-printing companies Stratasys and Materialise to create two pieces that look out of this world.

25,000 LEDs will power epic San Francisco Bay Bridge animations

The iconic San Francisco Bay Bridge has not only been a part of some of our favorite movies over the years, but also serves as an enduring symbol of human engineering excellence. Now, as the epic structure reaches its 75th year, a tech-powered public art installation will commemorate that anniversary.

Photographer imagines a world full of hover cars

The Jetsons, Star Wars and Back to the Future promised us cars that would levitate and hover inches off the ground. So what happened? Well, due to the laws of physics, wheels just make more sense. But, what if hover cars did hover?

Foil face-recognition cameras with Privacy Visor

These dorky goggles shine near-infrared light to confuse computer vision systems. Are they the shades of the future?

Worried about all those security cameras tracking your every move? Try rocking one of these visors and enjoy anonymity once again.

At least that's what Isao Echizen from Japan's National Institute of Informatics is trying to achieve with the Privacy Visor (PDF).

How To Make Your Own Coil Gun

Learn how to make a Coil Accelerator, just don't shoot yourself, or anyone else for that matter! In the video I mentioned a "Rail Gun" by mistake. It should have been a coil gun.

New Mexico teen planned family shootings

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico teen accused of killing his parents and three siblings is portrayed in charging documents as a teen haunted by homicidal and suicidal thoughts that included fantasies of killing his girlfriend's parents and gunning down random people at a Wal-Mart.

To his family, he was a bright, curious and talented musician who played in the church choir. He also was a champion wrestler who dreamed of following his family's long tradition of military service, and a boy who accompanied his pastor father on rescue missions to Mexico.

In a statement issued Tuesday night on behalf of family, the boy's uncle Eric Griego described those traits, and called on the media and the public not to use 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego "as a pawn for ratings or to score political points."

"He is a troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever," the statement said.

Desert siege: 100 of 132 foreign hostages freed

AIN AMENAS, Algeria (AP) — The bloody three-day hostage standoff at a natural gas plant in the Sahara took a dramatic turn Friday as Algeria's state news service reported that nearly 100 of the 132 foreign workers kidnapped by Islamic militants had been freed.

That number of hostages at the remote desert facility was significantly higher than any previous report, but it still left questions about the fate of over 30 other foreign energy workers. It wasn't clear how the government arrived at the latest tally of hostages, which was far higher than the 41 foreigners the militants had claimed previously.

Boeing, Sikorsky team up for new US military helicopter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co and Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp, said they were teaming up to develop a next-generation multi-role helicopter for the U.S. military.

The strategic teaming agreement, signed January 13 and announced on Friday, reunites two of the biggest U.S. helicopter manufacturers, who often compete for orders but joined forces to build the Comanche, a U.S. Army helicopter program that was canceled in 2004.

Sikorsky, maker of the Black Hawk utility helicopter, and Boeing, which builds Apache attack helicopters, plan to submit a joint proposal in response to an Army technology demonstration project unveiled earlier this month to attract design plans for the new aircraft.

Facing drought, U.S. farmers return to crop rotation

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Farmers in top U.S. grain states are planning to rotate to other crops after repeated plantings of corn on the same fields, combined with a devastating drought in 2012, badly hurt yields.

Farmers in Iowa and Illinois, which accounted for almost 30 percent of U.S. corn production in 2012, are expected to shift some acreage that was seeded exclusively with corn over the past several years to soybeans this spring. They want to avoid another year of potentially significant losses as dry conditions persist, said agricultural market analysts and economists.

A move away from corn in those states may further drive up world food prices, which are already historically high, because corn stockpiles in the United States, the world's top exporter, are forecast to hit a 17-year low by the end of the summer.

Five Best Living Room Speaker Sets

If you're watching movies, playing video games, or enjoying your favorite TV shows to just the speakers in your television, you're missing out. A great set of living room speakers doesn't have to break the bank or take up a ton of space, although some of the best models do. That's why we asked you which living room speaker sets you thought were the best. Here's a look at five of those great sets, based on your nominations.

Let's be clear: asking to pick the "best" speakers is no small order. There are a ton of things to consider: the size of your space, the orientation of your home theater system, your budget, where in your space the speakers will go, what you normally watch or listen to, the list goes on.

Indicted Megaupload founder opens new sharing site

SYDNEY (AP) — Indicted Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom launched a new file-sharing website that promises users greater privacy and defies the U.S. prosecutors who accuse him of facilitating massive online piracy.

The colorful entrepreneur unveiled the "Mega" site ahead of a lavish gala and news conference at his New Zealand mansion on Sunday night, the anniversary of his arrest on racketeering charges related to his now-shuttered Megaupload file-sharing site. The site Dotcom started in 2005 was one of the most popular sites on the Web until U.S. prosecutors shut it down and accused him and several company officials of facilitating millions of illegal downloads.

Jim Carrey and Aaron Johnson in the first official Kick-Ass 2 still

Mark Millar just tweeted a link to the folks at ComicBookMovie.com who have the first official still from Kick-Ass 2 (scanned by Popculturology) featuring Jim Carrey's Colonel Stars and Stripes, Aaron Johnson's Kick-Ass and the Col's dog, Sophia. The still first appeared in Entertainment Weekly. A still debuted in print? What is this, 1999?!? I'm having flashbacks!

Mission Impossible- Lindsey Stirling and the Piano Guys

Reinventing the Lexus IS! - The Downshift Episode 48

On this episode of The Downshift, we talk with Junichi Furuyama, the new Chief Engineer of the Lexus IS about the radical changes to the new IS and the reinvention of the Lexus brand.

The Downshift appears every Tuesday on the new Motor Trend channel.

AMD Hires Two Chip Veterans

Good news for team AMD?

Charles Matar, with expertise in low-power and embedded chip design, joined as AMD's vice president of System-on-Chip Development, two sources said. Matar most recently worked at Qualcomm. Wayne Meretsky, who has worked at Apple on processors used in the iPad and iPhone, was named vice president, software IP development, they said. Meretsky will lead software developments for AMD's chips.

Video Games Are 'Electronic Child Molesters'

Notice me, notice me, notice me, won't someone please notice me, notice me, notice me, VIDEO GAMES ARE ELECTRONIC CHILD MOLESTORS! There, I think that worked.

"We are in the peak of [violence in entertainment]. Television program violence? Unbelievable. Video game violence? Unprecedented," Nader said. He added: "I’m not saying he wants to censor this, I think he should sensitize people that they should protect their children family by family from these kinds of electronic child molesters."

Latest Oblivion trailer loaded with wild spaceship battle action

A new trailer for Tom Cruise's upcoming sci-fi epic Oblivion has been released, and though it may be set on post-apocalyptic Earth, it seems it'll definitely feature a fair share of cool spaceship-style battles.

The new cut is much heavier on the action, which is a nice change of pace from the slower build of the original trailer. This one gets to the fun stuff quickly, with pod-ship chases and lots of jumping and explosions. Nice to know we'll have some solid action to mix in with all that high-minded, post-Earth stuff.

Dutch architects first to build a house with 3D printer

Here on DVICE, we've seen a lot of different 3D printers that print all sorts of different things. From records to phone cases, there are so many creative possibilities, but never before have we seen something quite this ambitious: Dutch architecture firm Universe Architecture is planning to build a house with 3D printed materials in the shape of a Möbius strip.

Sony will let Microsoft launch next-gen Xbox first

New Xboxes and PlayStations are definitely coming. The big question is, which one will arrive first? The PlayStation 4 (code-named "Orbis"), or Xbox 720 (code-named "Durango")? If Sony CEO Kaz Hirai's recent comment to The Times is accurate, the PlayStation 4 won't be leading the way.

Looks like that rumored Zombieland TV series is really happening

A while ago, we heard that instead of a movie sequel to the undead comedy hitZombieland, we'd instead be getting a TV show. Those rumors have been swirling around for more than a year now, and it finally seems like something might actually be happening on that front. Could Zombieland: The Series be headed our way soon?

Follow Monroe's double agent in 1st intense Revolution webisode

It might still be a few months until NBC's hit sci-fi series Revolution returns, but some new webisodes focusing on a fan-favorite guest star should make the wait a little easier. Want to see how Monroe's double agent from season one got his start?

Exciting new Thrones S3 video shows more new scenes + characters

HBO is handing us an invitation we can't refuse to the set of the upcoming third season of Game of Thrones, giving us more exciting glimpses into the new and returning characters that populate the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

The brand new behind-the-scenes video "Invitation to the Set" offers exciting looks at season three's new characters Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hinds), the Queen of Thorns, Olenna Redwyne (Dame Diana Rigg), Thoros of Myr (Paul Kay), Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer) and Jojen Reed (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), among others.

Gordon-Levitt responds to those rumors he'll show up in Man of Steel

Ever since the ambiguous ending of The Dark Knight Rises, rumors have been swirling that Joseph Gordon-Levitt might show up in Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman flickMan of Steel. So what does Gordon-Levitt have to say about all that speculation?

Audi Crosslane Coupe

The German automobile giant has revealed its futuristic Audi Crosslane Coupe concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show held last month. Although this car came as a surprise from Audi; it has definitely managed to pull attention from every concept car lovers. This new concept from Audi is a fusion of a coupe, a convertible and a crossover model. Even though this car will be smaller than the Q3 crossover, it is most likely to be badged Q2 when it makes to the production version. Also the Crosslane Coupe will be the first of three sportier crossover model the company will introduce following which would be Q4 and the Q6.

PaperTab: World's first 'paper tablet PC' rethinks multitasking

Looking into our crystal ball, we'd say the future of computing is looking bendy. Billed as the world's first "paper tablet PC," PaperTab looks to combine the tangibility of paper with the speed and convenience of digital.

PaperTab is the brainchild of Queen's University's Human Media Lab, Plastic Logic and Intel Labs. It's a flexible "high-resolution 10.7-inch" touchscreen display (no details on resolution) and is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor (not shown in any photos).

Tethercell lets you control any battery powered device wirelessly

Home automation isn't what we'd call easy to set up. Enabling wireless control of all of your stuff is a hassle, and for most things we just want to be able to turn them on and off at will. At CES, a company called Tetherboard was showing off Tethercell, a battery hack that allows wireless control of anything that runs on AAs.

Sony's water-resistant Xperia Tablet Z is thinner than iPad mini

The former top dog of electronics is poised to make a huge comeback this year. Sony's new Xperia Tablet Z is everything its Xperia Tablet S should have been: super thin, super light and beverage-proof, with pretty respectable specs, too.

Deep Space Industries to join space gold rush for asteroids

Although the era of space prospecting is still in its nascent stages, led by just a couple of intrepid companies, the actual value of mining asteroids is slowly being fully realized by big business and it looks like we may be at the start of a space gold rush. The latest entrant is company called Deep Space Industries (DSI).

custom Iron Man gauntlet vs. balloon

Patrick Priebe makes movie props without using any blueprints or other templates. That's pretty incredible, considering that he builds things like functional laser gloves. Take this sweet Iron Man gauntlet for example — it's 100% custom made and it actuallyworks.

Contact Priebe to inquire about his various creations. VIDEO

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