Google experimenting with search again

From the Official Google Blog comes an update on new functionality for Google search results being tested. There are three new views available when you join the "Alternate views for search results" experiment.

1. Map View plots some of the key locations contained in your web results onto a map;
2. Timeline view does the same thing as map view, but for dates found on the web; and
3. Info view which reveals text containing dates, locations, measurements, or images in the results.

The results returned are the same but the new views may help to identify the most relevant search result for your purpose. I've not tried it yet but intend on joining the experiment.

Bluetooth Technology Aiding Amputees

For double leg amputees, Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill and Army Lt.Col. Gregory Gadson, new Bluetooth enabled prosthetic legs are helping them to return to a normal life. CNN has the story of how these war vets are rehabilitating using the technology and blazing new ground for future amputees. The prosthetics "have Bluetooth receivers strapped to the ankle area. The Bluetooth device on each leg tells the other leg what it's doing, how it's moving, whether walking, standing or climbing steps, for example." The devices have not allowed the soldiers to be free from crutches and wheel chairs completely, but represent a major step forward towards normal mobility.

Good Sameritan goes to extreems to solve mystery

The Globe and Mail has one of those stories that restores your faith in man kind. Finding a camera in the back seat of a New York city cab and using the clues that were available to him, Brian Ascher viewed the contents of the camera to piece together a trail of clues and identify the camera's owner. Perhaps it's no coincidence that Ascher is a law student or maybe he should consider other job posibilities?

US spy satellite loses power - could strike Earth

Wired is running a story about a disabled U.S. Spy Satellite that according to government officials could hit the Earth in late February or early March. The satellite is said to possibly contain hazardous materials, like they don't know, and it is unknown as of yet where it might impact Earth. Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, says "Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause." Don't know about you but this conjures up all sorts of "scrable the F-15's" type of scenarios in my head... the stuff that movies are made of!

Alberta to spend heavily on Carbon Capture to reduce greenhouse gases

Cnet's Green Tech Blog is reporting that the Alberta government is investing up to $500 million on initiatives aimed at cutting greenhouse gases. "In all, the government hopes to prevent 200 million tons of gases from getting into the atmosphere. If it hits its goals, emissions will be lower in 2050 than in 2005." Seventy percent of the reduction is planned to be achieved by carbon capture and sequestration, rather than allowing gases into the air the technology being considered would involve "seeding underground aquifers or porous rock formations with carbon dioxide captured in smoke stacks." Alberta of course is Canada's largest oil producer and has a booming economy which is the envy of the country.

Large Asteroid to pass within viewing distance of Earth

The CBC is reporting that NASA scientists are saying "Asteroid 2007 TU24 will pass within about 540,000 kilometres, or 1.4 lunar distances, of Earth early Tuesday for Canadians, reaching its closest approach at 3:23 a.m. ET." The asteroid is approximated as 150 to 600 metres in diameter and is said to have no chance of hitting or affecting Earth. While NASA says asteroids of this size pass this close to Earth about every five years, they only hit the Earth on average once every 37,000 years. Uhhh.... when was the last one?

Standalone Instruments Coming For Rock Band

G4's The Feed is reporting that Harmonix and MTV have announced the upcoming release of Rock Band standalone instruments. "The Rock Band drum set will ship on Feb. 12, for $79.99. The wireless Stratocaster guitar will ship April 1 and will cost $59.99." It's a natural move and one that will make my kids happy as they were only able to find the software version on the release date back in December. It also will make replacing instruments a whole lot easier.

Digital Music Sales up 40% Over Last Year

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has said that digital music sales rose 40 per cent to $2.9-billion (U.S.) over last year but that the increase does not cover the losses suffered by declining CD sales. According to the IFPI illegal downloads outnumber the number of tracks legally purchased by a factor of 20-to-1. This Globe and Mail article points out that revenues from legal downloads was a mere $380-million in 2004. That sounds like a healthy increase to me, and I'm sure that the cost of selling those tracks are much less than the cost of selling CDs! If the music industry had not gouged us all for so long perhaps they'd find a little more sympathy from consumers!

MPAA Says Sorry, My Bad!

In a 2005 study commissioned by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) college and university students were blamed for 44 percent of all illegal downloading of movies. The MPAA has now admitted to "human error" in calculating those figures saying that students only account for about 15 percent of revenue loss to association members but claims the number is still significant. Mark Luker, vice president of campus IT group Educause, says "The 44 percent figure was used to show that if college campuses could somehow solve this problem on this campus, then it would make a tremendous difference in the business of the motion picture industry," and that "any solution on campus will have only a small impact on the industry itself." Perhaps the authors of the study should have spent more time studying and less time downloading when they were in school!

AP article here.

Guitar Hero Franchise surpasses $1 billion in sales in North America in 26 months!

Activision has announced that the Guitar Hero franchise of games has sold a cool $1 billion in a mere 26 months! On top of this Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was the #1 title in units and dollars for calendar year 2007, making it the #1 best-selling video game of all time in a single calendar year. Seems as though the newest title is also good for resurecting sales of 70's, 80's, and 90's tunes too, "In 10 weeks since the game's launch, consumers have already downloaded more than five million songs."... at $2 a piece. It certainly is an addictive game fun for the whole family... it's even tolerable at elevated volumes for those of us who grew up listening to the originals!