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by Marshall Brain |

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Why GPSes suck, and what to do about it – “I’m the lead of the GPSD project, a service daemon that monitors GPS receivers on serial or USB ports and provides TPV (time-position-velocity) reports in a simple format on on a well-known Internet port. GPSD makes this job looks easy. But it’s not — oh, it’s decidedly not — and thereby hangs an entertaining tale of hacker ingenuity versus multiple layers of suck…”

Who’s buying what? – “A look at where people around the world are directing some of their purchasing power…”

Non-reversing mirror – “This mirror does not produce a “mirror” image, making it possible to read reflected text normally…”

Do androids dream of electric penguins? – “After the fanfare faded, we ended up with Android-a platform that launched with some limitations but nonetheless has significant potential. Although the first Android devices leave a lot to be desired when compared to competing products, the platform itself is evolving quickly, and it offers the advantages of openness and collaborative development. In this article we’ll take a close look at the underlying technology of Android and what the platform means for developers…”

The Anti-Bono – “As a native of Zambia with advanced degrees in public policy and economics from Harvard and Oxford, you are about to publish an attack on Western aid to Africa and its recent glamorization by celebrities. ‘‘Dead Aid,’’ as your book is called, is particularly hard on rock stars. Have you met Bono?”

Modern day stone age man – Guy builds a house in a cave – “Cave: 15,000 square feet on the first floor and addition 3,000 in 2cnd and third floor space…”

Help us to name another important addition to the station – Node 3 and its cupola! – “NASA wants your opinion in naming the International Space Station’s Node 3 – a connecting module and its cupola – before the two segments travel to space and are installed on the orbiting laboratory. The name should reflect the spirit of exploration and cooperation embodied by the space station, and follow in the tradition set by Node 1- Unity- and Node 2- Harmony…”

Building a computer for less than $200 (Part 1) – “I started this week with the goal of building a machine with a budget of $200…”

$100 Linux wall-wart launches – “Marvell Semiconductor is shipping a hardware/software development kit suitable for always-on home automation devices and service gateways. Resembling a “wall-wart” power adapter, the SheevaPlug draws 5 Watts, comes with Linux, and boasts completely open hardware and software designs, Marvell says…”

How To Hack Bluetooth Headsets – “This video shows one of the vulnerabilities of some bluetooth headsets. To prevent this vulnerability, it’s best to invest a little more money into a more secure headset and making sure your headset is turned off when not in use…”

What Does $10B in Stimulus Really Mean for High-Speed Rail? – Nice map…

NASA satellite crashes minutes after launch – ” The satellite, which would have monitored greenhouse gases to study how they affect the Earth’s climate, was launched on a Taurus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 1:55 a.m. PT (4:55 a.m. ET)…”

Helpful iPhone Travel Apps – “As a travel aid, the iPhone is a godsend. All too often, we find ourselves on the road lamenting, “If only I was in front of my computer. I could handle this in a second!” But with the iPhone, we’re now in front of our computer wherever we are…”

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