Tapping into the wi-fi feature on an iPhone can be handy, and definitely faster than the current AT&T EDGE network allows. But now users are wondering what the deal is after AT&T first told subscribers that all AT&T wi-fi hotspots could be accessed for free, then apparently removing any trace of the offer from its Web sites. Has anyone else experience this? In other Apple news, a report looking at the "greenness" of various tech companies gave Steve Jobs' company low marks for greenhouse gas emissions. The ClimateCounts survey put Apple at the back of the pack, well behind firms like IBM, Canon and Toshiba, which finished at the top. For more, check out the story here. This particular survey aside, does the "green practices" of a tech company have any bearing on your purchases? Worth thinking about. More...
Our colorful story on what one marine biologist in Miami is doing to help save coral reefs airs tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. I hope you'll tune in to watch! He's got an interesting approach to preserving the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae, and he's hoping to really make a difference with his research. Corals are like the rainforest of the ocean, and they're disappearing at an alarming rate at places around the world. And even though they only cover less than one percent of the Earth's surface, coral reefs are vital as a home for massive biodiversity. You can also watch some behind-the-scenes video clips that I shot on my Flip camera, including our trip about 10 miles offshore to Biscayne Bay and how we tried to keep our balance onboard the tiny boat in some choppy waves. More...
My weeks can be rather eclectic given all the travel I do and the subject matters I cover, but this past week certainly ranks among the most fascinating and diverse. In the span of several days I snorkeled in waters off the coast of Miami while observing coral samples get collected, chatted with rocket scientists in the Mojave Desert who want to take people into space, and spent time in a famous pool in Mission Viejo as I tried out one of the new Olympic swimsuits that cover most of the body. Yes, my week started and ended with me being all wet. More...
The latest chapter in the controversial – and popular – “Grand Theft Auto” series hits stores on April 29. It’s set in the fictional place of Liberty City, which looks exactly like New York. That’s already angered local officials who say the signature sex and violence in the game will give people the wrong idea. More...
I'm in Istanbul Turkey this week where I got a chance to test out the Lingo Navigator, a $70 pocket-sized gadget that translates and speaks out-loud in Turkish and 11 other languages. You can hear the Lingo itself and my comments on my podcast . More...
How does a typical day unfold for your humble correspondent? Well, needless to say, it varies depending on what's making news, my availability, our internal resources, etc. A couple weeks back I used my Flip camera (see video below) to capture a rather hectic travel and filming day as I went from New York to Baltimore, then drove to Frederick, Maryland, back to Baltimore and then into Phoenix. (In the same day!)
The story we shot in Frederick was going to air this week, but now it's slated for next Thursday, April 24, as part of a mini-series on the environment. That's the one about the CRAGs or Carbon Reduction Action Groups. You'll see a little of what it takes to get the story, and how some long days turn into REALLY long days. The trip to Phoenix was to cover the Space Access conference, which is an annual gathering of the commercial space industry. In other words getting you and me into space -- safely -- without the involvement of NASA. Of course, it's prohibitively expense right now, but that'll change. More...
Most everyone in tech agrees: lasers are cool. These days a red laser pen is sort of 2003. A green laser pen is very 2007. ThinkGeek has blue laser pens for 2008 costing about $900 each. But what would you pay for a laser that when turned on -- even for a fraction of a second -- is 2,000 times more powerful than all the power plants in the U.S.? Does $7 million seem reasonable? You can read more about the work being done at Unveristy of Texas at Austin here. More...
It borders on "tin foil hat" territory but the vulnerablility is real. Many credit cards these days have an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip or "tag" embedded inside. It contains your credit card number and other personal details. The chips are "passive" meaning not powered, and in order to send a signal it must be placed in front of a reader at close range like a few inches. Plus the information is encrypted. But if a hacker got close enough to your wallet and was equipped with a special scanning device, the number COULD be stolen and read later. It got a couple of companies thinking about how to solve the problem, however unlikely or minor. More...
Drue Kataoka is full of surprises. Not only is she a master Sumi-e artist, an ancient Japanese brush stroke technique, she's also an accomplished musician, world traveler, and Web pioneer. Her site, ValleyZen.com, has only been around for a couple months but it's getting attention for its message of simplicity in a tech world often cluttered with distraction and consternation. Indeed, her motto on the site is: ValleyZen -- at the intersection of zen and technology. I know, I know, if you're always stressed out and multi-tasking then zen+technology seems like an oxymoron. Au contraire. That's exactly why Kataoka believes it's worthwhile. More...
Eyewitness Recalls Devastation(2:46) "Only On The Web": Peter Ford, Beijing Bureau Chief for the Christian Science Monitor tells CBS News about the horrors faced by rescue workers in central China's earthquake zone.
Red Cross: 128,000 May Perish In Myanmar
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