Only- Electronics

As promised, Tech Podcast 158 features absolutely nothing about either Paris Hilton or the iPhone. Instead, we delve into the intricacies of Internationalized Domain Names. Non-speakers of English are pushing ICANN, the California non-profit responsible for, well, the domain name system, among other things. They want to be able to enter URLs in scripts other than ASCII. Also, Zimbabweans are finding it hard to buy essential goods, because of rampant inflation. Now, websites are springing up to help Zimbabweans outside the country to buy fuel, food and soap for friends and family back home. And finally, the humble cash machine turns 40 years old this week. Cha-ching!

It’s amazing what kind of items can be advertised as “green” these days: a grocery-delivery service, a projection HDTV and a home-automation system, to name a few recently pitched to me.

Today’s podcast is half tech, half science. We’ll hear about some MIT researchers who are using scientific methods to help alleviate poverty. Then, a podcast exclusive interview about how science is, and isn’t, practiced in the Islamic world. Then, we’ll talk about the prospects of cyberwar: who can wage it, and why? And we’ll finish with a story about a new video game that’s getting bad reviews from British and Irish authorities. Have a great weekend!

Talk for 200 minutes a month:

Picking a wireless-phone service is supposed to have gotten easy. Competition and consolidation over the past couple of years have led most companies to adopt the same basic price structure, making it easy to compare rates. Two-week trials are standard. And, in the biggest improvement the business has seen lately, you can keep your phone number when switching service.

Techpodcast 156: For our podcast today, we’ll take a look at two human rights related measures considered by Yahoo shareholders this week. Also, is China becoming the biggest threat in cyberspace? And, we’ll go on a hunt for dirty nukes in the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. We’ll finish up with a story about a gentleman who is using a blog to publish his grandfather’s letters home from the trenches in World War I.

Lighting Stripes and magic tape (http://www.elshine.it/inglese/magictapes.htm)
are illuminating advertising spaces. These products project a
continuous 180-degree light, bright enough to be seen from up to 130
meters (426 ft) at night. The tape is totally flexible and can be
wrapped around

any surface as well as cut to any shape and size.

Lighting Stripes Magic Tape are completely dimmable for funky
lighting effects, as well as appealing backlit displays. The concept
behind the tape has also been used in a range of furniture pieces by
the manufacturer Elshine.

The tapes thousand and one uses range from wearing them as a Flashdance
headband and hitting the clubs through to gift wrapping Grandma’s
birthday gift and blinding her.

One thing is for sure, if these were around in the 80’s, George Michael would have wallpapered his entire house with it. OTT!

By Andy G

Recording environmental sounds like singing birds, wild animal calls, water running through a streambed, or the chirp of baby birds is one of the more fascinating (and challenging) aspects of audio recording. Some of the same audio recording techniques apply when recording things like car noises, lawn mower engines and other man made sounds, but you don’t always get a chance to do a second take with nature like you do with machines. For a list of required gear and some great sources of tips, read on…

Apple’s iTunes Store is convenient, cheap and cool. But its music downloads can come with nagging worries driven by the copy-control software behind the iTunes Store — which generally limits playback to Apple’s iTunes software and iPod music players.

Techpodcast 155: In today’s Technology Podcast, we take a look at some of the technologies underlying the Bush Administration’s missile defense shield. Also, some MIT researchers find a way to send electricity without cables or wires — call it WiTricity. And finally, an extended interview with Martin Stiksel, one of the founders of the popular London-based online radio outfit last.fm. Have a great weekend everyone.