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Zero Energy and the Flat Universe

In a recent article for the New Scientist publication, there is an interesting scientific explanation to the famous (albeit rather theological) question posed by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), "Why is there something rather than nothing?". However, the answer does not involve God, but rather how the universe was built, although some could see a strong link between the two. The author of the short study is Lawrence M. Krauss

Unsolved Crimes

The developers of Unsolved Crimes don't seem to have much faith in their players: to assume these felonies are going to remain unsolved for very long is a rather lofty conclusion that implies a rather diminutive mental capacity on our part. The truth, however, is that you're far more than likely to keep these cases open out of ambivalence rather than being straight up bamboozled by any ingenious design craftsmanship.

How my iPhone frees me

As I've bounced around Florida the past ten days from one relative's house to another, visiting with family and old friends and former colleagues, I've realized something rather revelatory. You know that iPhone in my pocket, the one that I can't seem to go more than a few hours without removing from said pocket, the one that I've been carrying around with an external battery pack just to make sure I have enough juice to make it through each and every day of my trip? Rather than being a distraction during my quasi-vacation, rather than being a tethering cord that prevents me from ever being able to fully pull myself away from work, I've come to the realization that my iPhone has turned into something else entirely: the device that frees me.

$776 is rather expensive. When the first iPhone was introduced, the price was considered a rip-off by many buyers...

776 is rather expensive. When the first iPhone was introduced, the price was considered a rip-off by many buyers...

Unbelievable Android G1 bug makes everyone a hacker

The hack that allows you get ‘root’ on your G1 phone (reported here last week) is just the tip of a rather unpleasant iceberg. The hack relies on a bug in the OS - or rather, in the OS as implemented by HTC - which leaves an invisible command shell running on the phone. A shell is a bit like a DOS command line in Windows, if you aren’t up your UNIX-isms.

Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan DVD 1

In the future, middle school student Sakura Kusakabe will invent an immortality formula with a rather perverted side effect: it freezes the physical maturation of women at age 12, allegedly because of Sakura's future lolicon fetish. God is so offended by this that he sends Dokuro, an angel from Lulutie (aka the Precinct of Martial Law Council), back in time to kill Sakura while he's still young. Dokuro instead falls in love with Sakura and decides to attempt various creative methods to prevent him from learning enough to develop the immortality formula rather than kill him. Unfortunately the temperamental Dokuro frequently accidentally kills Sakura in oft-messy fashion, usually through the use of her spiked metal club Excaliborg, only to sing a magical chant that fully restores him again.

Chinese Killer Blames Video Game Addiction

For years, video game haters like Jack Thompson have tried to use bogus claims about video games to absolve criminals of responsibility for their crimes. It's really rather sickening, that rather than getting criminals to stand up and accept responsibility, they try to blame some video game. However, with China now embracing the concept of internet addiction, it appears that an accused killer is now trying to similarly pin the blame for poisoning his parents on his online video game addiction. These stories really have nothing to do with video games, and everything to do with criminals trying to skirt responsibility for their actions by throwing the blame on video games that had nothing to do with the actual crimes.

Yahoo-Google deal may flounder, analyst says

Google T-Mobile G1 mobile telephones are seen on display at a T-Mobile store in New York City in this October 22, 2008 file photo. Google may decide to scrap its proposed partnership with Yahoo rather than accept government-imposed antitrust restrictions on it, according to two sources familiar with the companies' discussions. Google T-Mobile G1 mobile telephones are seen on display at a T-Mobile store in New York City in this October 22, 2008 file photo. Google may decide to scrap its proposed partnership with Yahoo rather than accept government-imposed antitrust restrictions on it, according to two sources familiar with the companies' discussions. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Report: Mirror's Edge Demo (PS3 VS Xbox 360)

Based on Unreal Engine 3, with PS3 allegedly lead platform Mirror's Edge is an ambitious attempt at merging Parkour, stealth and more traditional FPS elements into one glorious whole. It's like a more stylised, first person perspective Assassin's Creed, but without all the free-running bits done for you automatically. This seems to have attracted criticism in that the control system is rather complex, but I rather like the freedom the game affords you.

Amazon In 3D? Is That Useful?

Earlier this year, we talked about getting beyond the "webpage" metaphor when setting up online shopping experiences, and noted how Borders was testing a virtual bookshelf system that seemed more gimmicky than useful. Well, now it appears that Amazon has one-upped Borders by offering WindowShop, a 3D shopping experience... and once again I find myself underwhelmed. While it also has something of a shelf metaphor, it has some advantages in that clicking on any individual "product" can bring up audio, video and text about the product. However, it still feels rather gimmicky rather than useful. For years people have tried to create 3D browsing systems online and they never seem more useful than just straight webpages. In fact, in trying to replicate a 3D environment, it often feels like they're more limited than what a single webpage could d

Richard Smith: Rather than asking the NHS to shell out for a patented statin, those who want them should be offered a combination pill

This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Monday November 10 2008. It was last updated at 12.33 on November 10 2008.

AIB would "rather die than raise equity"

Allied Irish Banks has ruled out asking shareholders or the Irish state for extra cash, chief executive Eugene Sheehy has said, according to a report this morning.

Apple iPod user: Id rather be stabbed than give up my iPod

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iPod loyalists: They'd rather fight than ditch

TORONTO, VANCOUVER — Ashley Roberts had an iPod tucked in her pocket when three teens surrounded her in her Scarborough neighbourhood in Toronto.

Apple iPod user: 'I'd rather be stabbed than give up my iPod'

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Apple iPod user: ?I?d rather be stabbed than give up my iPod?

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Gartner: Telcos Should Partner With Google, Rather Than Compete With It

Google's influence and market power with key telecommunications industry stakeholders is having a significant impact on the industry, according to Gartner Inc.

Men have their uses but are rather last century, says Stewart Dakers

This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Thursday October 30 2008. It was last updated at 12.34 on October 30 2008.

Misleading iPhone 3G Speed Ad Banned - Apple: Ads 'relative rather than absolute in nature'

Apple has been pretty soundly criticized for a series of worldwide ads (see this one from the UK) that are a little too generous in demonstrating the speed of the networks the iPhones are running on. In the U.S., this video comparison particularly highlights the disparity between HSDPA 3G speeds in Apple/AT&T advertising land, and in reality, where you may even be stuck on slower sub 200kbps EDGE networks. In the UK, the ads have been banned by the advertising regulator for misleading consumers. The UK's Guardian offers Apple's defense:

A burning question on rate cuts ...and the Snow White accounts that some banks would much rather you didn't see

As the financial crisis tips into recession, the Bank of England is expected to cut the base rate by a further half or even a whole percentage point before Christmas, taking it as low as two per cent. Any cut would be hot on the heels of the recent 1.5 point reduction to three per cent.

Obama should consider a national investment bank

Rather than continuing to debate who's worthy of federal money and who isn't, maybe Congress should just follow John Maynard Keynes' suggestion about burying money underground and letting people dig it up. That's as efficient a stimulus package as anything else I've heard lately.

Google Jumps Ship in Advertising Partnership with Yahoo

Rather than face a potential protracted legal battle, Google has decided to opt-out of a deal with Yahoo which was to see Google providing advertising around Yahoo’s search results. This deal would have been worth nearly US$800 million to Yahoo – per year.

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