Day: October 7, 2018

Reading Old Data Tapes, the Hard Way

Those who were around for the pre-floppy days of computer mass storage were likely to have made the mistake of slipping a cassette tape containing data into a stereo tape deck. Instead of hearing the expected Awesome Mix, the speakers gave off an annoying bleat, warbling between two discordant tones and no doubt spoiling the…


Star Wars Resistance premiere offers gentle, beautiful introduction – CNET

Review: This cel-shaded animated series premiering Sunday is surprisingly calm. …read more Source:: CNet


National Theater In London Offers Glasses With Live Subtitles

The National Theater in London has introduced “smart caption glasses” that display dialogue on the lenses as actors speak (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source). The glasses should drastically improve the experience for audience members who have hearing difficulties. According to The New York Times, “The glasses can be used without charge for the…


At Google’s Pixel 3 event, it’s all about the data – CNET

The search giant wants to sell you new phones and smart speakers. But your personal info is what it’s really after. …read more Source:: CNet


Pixel 3, new Chromecast, Pixel Slate, Home Hub and more: Everything we expect from the Google event this Tuesday – CNET

Google’s fall hardware event promises to be one of its most jam-packed ever. …read more Source:: CNet


Microsoft Open Sources Parts of Minecraft’s Java Code

Four years after Microsoft acquired Minecraft developer Mojang, the company has decided to open source some of Minecraft’s Java code. According to Kotaku, Microsoft and Mojang released two parts of Minecraft’s Java code in library form, so that “anyone can pick them up and use them in their own game,” says Lead Engineer Nathan Adams….


OnePlus 6T: Removing the headphone jack was a tough decision, says CEO – CNET

In an exclusive interview, OnePlus’s CEO dishes on the 6T’s fingerprint sensor, lack of a headphone jack and a possible higher price. …read more Source:: CNet


iPhone XS beauty-gate: Here’s why your selfies look different on the new phone – CNET

Is there a so-called “beauty mode” on the iPhone XS? …read more Source:: CNet


Energy Department Proposes Funding For Ohio’s First Offshore Wind Project

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: An energy development group has been working for years to put together Ohio’s first offshore wind project. That might sound odd for a state so far from the sea, but the benefits of offshore wind (strong, consistent gusts and relative proximity to major population centers) translate…


Solar Power For Chernobyl’s Second Generation of Electricity

When featuring cool hacks repurposing one thing for something else, we prefer to focus on what we could get our hands on and replicate for ourselves. Not this one, though, as nobody else has the misfortune of being responsible for 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles) of radioactive contaminated land like the government of Ukraine….