Stories by Jason Kennedy

IBM simulates 4.5% of the human brain; Skynet is next

It's pretty well known at this point that computers are quickly catching up with humanity as far as brain power is concerned. Storage-wise, we've been long surpassed by machines, and powerfully fast computers can run circles around the human brain in solving complex equations. On the other hand, humanity wins in the brain's sheer computational power and energy efficiency.

Google’s CR-48: An adventure in brickdom

In this multi-part report, nerd extraordinaire Jason Kennedy will look at all sorts of fun and interesting ways to hack his CR-48 laptop. Come along for the ride, and watch his tragedies and triumphs.

Windows Phone 7 and tethering: It's on (again)!

If you keep track of Windows Phone 7 (I try to), you know that it’s been and on and off relationship with tethering. I’m not personally interested in a WP7 phone myself, but if I was a lack of tethering would put a serious damper in my thinking. I carry around enough gear without needing a mifi or something as well, when plenty of phones offer tethering (albiet with draconian carrier leeching) via Wi-Fi or USB. Some feel differently about it and I can see the point, but I want my phone to still be the catch-all for my mobile internet. Thanks to dfvn of XDA-Developers, WP7 users may be able to have their cake and eat it too.

Casemod adds a projector

When Lenovo had its recent Mod Contest, modder Boddaker submitted this gem: A Lenovo A700 IdeaCentre PC with an HD projector built in underneath. The A700 itself is an all-in-one desktop PC with a 23-inch widescreen LCD and slot-loading Blu-ray drive. The projector is attached to the bottom of the unit, so the whole thing can be used as a chalkboard projected onto a wall, among countless other things.

Nexus S runs Ubuntu; Linux replaces...Linux

It seems like hackers who inatall the Android operating system on everything decided to mix it up a bit. The folks over at XDA Developers have successfully ported Ubuntu HD2 version 0.3 to the Samsung Nexus S phone. You read that correctly: They replaced a Linux-based OS (Android) with a Linux-based OS (Ubuntu).

Graphene 'spin computers' could bring smaller gadgets

As reported at physorg.com, University of California, Riverside physicists have made breakthroughs in developing graphene-based “spin computers”. A spin computer would allow for huge storage capacity using a fraction of the power consumption of current electronics. This is accomplished through polarization of electrons -- the spin process actually gives each a directional orientation, up or down. A spin computer would maximize usage of this state of materials to store more data, perform faster, and generate less heat than standard electronics.

New Display Tech Draws Almost No Power

The University of Cincinnati recently announced a new e-Display design, and it's a huge breakthrough for electronic devices called Electrofluidic Display Technology (EFD). Created through a collaboration between U of C, Dupont, Sun Chemical and Gamma Dynamics, it's promising excellent readability in bright sunlight, high contrast color and the ability to show high-speed content, and massively reduced power consumption.

[]