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Aug 12, 2012 10:00 AM   The Mars Rover Curiosity may have been able to execute a staggeringly complex descent and stick the landing, but isn't exactly ready for the mission ahead of it, yet. First, it needs a good old fashioned software update. The update, or "brain transplant" as NASA calls it, will take place in steps over the course of several days, just like when you boot up your Windows computer. The goal is to outfit Curiosity with some software that's less about landing and more about getting around on the surface of an alien planet, specifically avoiding obstacles. NASA's Ben Cichy, a chief software engineer for the Mars Science Laboratory mission puts it this way: "We designed the mission from the start to be able to upgrade the software as needed for different phases of the mission. The flight software version Curiosity currently is using was really focused on landing the vehicle. It includes many capabilities we just don't need any more. It ...

Aug 7, 2012 5:00 PM   In 2009, Usain Bolt "shattered" Tyson Gay's world record in the 100-meter dash by a whopping .11 seconds. How do we know that? Because an ultra-precise, automated timekeeping machine told us so. It didn't used to be that way. Olympic officials wisely relinquished control over the clock long ago, but once upon a time a guy held a stopwatch in his hand and started and stopped it to the best of his ability. Omega has been the official timekeeper for the Olympics since 1932, and the Olympic Pocket Watch 1932 above is a replica of the watch used that year. It keeps the regular time of day, and has a built-in stopwatch operated by the start and stop pushers on top. The gorgeous pocket chronograph looks nothing like the big digital readouts we see in London, but don't let its old style fool you. The movement is very precise. It's just that humans suck at using it. [Omega via Christies via Business Insider] View the original article here This p...

Jul 30, 2012 12:00 PM   We've all gotten ourselves so immersed in using an online service and social network, that we continued to use it even when we knew it was on the way out (stop pretending like you weren't checking your Myspace last year). Digg, post-acquisition, has now fallen into this group. When you know a social network you use is likely on the way down, how long do you hold on to it before letting it go? A month? Six months? A year? View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Jul 26, 2012 12:09 PM   Major Nelson just announced that Microsoft is accepting beta testers for the next version of Xbox Live which includes new features like Internet Explorer for Xbox, better search and discovery, an updated dashboard and more. If you're interested and of course you are (new features yay!) you can sign up right here. [Major Nelson] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.