Internet forums are good for you

Internet forums have a positive impact on life satisfaction and lead to increased involvement in communities outside the confines of the online world, according to a study published in Computers In Human Behavior. Redditors might be doing it right. The study approached users on a range of interest, lifestyle and hobby forums. The study split users into two groups: stigmatized subjects (like mental health discussion), and non-stigma related forums (sports, cooking and the rest). They were then polled about their reasons for joining the forum, how they felt about it, their life satisfaction and offline engagement with "issues raised in the forum". Author lead Dr. Louise Pendry of the University of Exeter said that: "As well as finding answers, our study showed users often discover that forums are a source of great support, especially those seeking information about more stigmatizing conditions."

"Moreover, we found that users of both forum types who engaged more with other forum users showed a greater willingness to get involved in offline activities related to the forum, such as volunteering, donating or campaigning." Unlike social networks, that have arguably substituted in for forums for a lot of people, The study highlights that forums still often maintain a degree of anonymity, which adds the effect when discussing issues with a stigma -- something that real names and face pics typically demolish.

[Image credit: Antonio Zugaldia]

Via: Fast Company

Source: PhysOrg

Tags: forum, forums, internetforum, mentalhealth

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'Halo' on Xbox One gets even more 'Halo' next month

If you've stuck with Halo: The Master Chief Collection this long you deserve a reward, and folks who played during the game's disastrous launch window last year will soon have theirs. As a 343 Industries rep writes on Halo Waypoint, the promised, free Halo 3: ODST expansion is "on track" to be part of next month's content update. Beyond that, the patch also adds the revamped "Relic" multiplayer map into the fold. Remember -- ODST isn't a total overhaul along the lines of Halo 2, it's just the old game running at 1080p and 60 FPS. "Relic," however is getting the full remaster treatment and even a new name that'll be revealed at a later date. For the rest of this month's patch notes, be sure to hit the links below.

Gallery | 4 Photos

Halo: The Master Chief Collection's 'ODST'

Via: Polygon

Source: Halo Waypoint

Tags: gaming, Halo, Halo3, Halo3Odst, halothemasterchiefcollection, hd, hdpostcross, microsoft, patch, Relic, xbox, XboxOne

Microsoft Xbox One

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• Reviews • 88
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• Game format Optical disc, Downloadable
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• Drive capacity 500 GB
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• Video outputs HDMI
• Released 2013-11-22

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• Game library 7.2
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HTC's VR headset is available, but you probably won't get one

HTC and Valve will be giving out Vive virtual reality headsets for free as reported in March, but only if you're a developer -- a very lucky developer. The duo has just launched a sign-up form for folks who want a shot at getting one of the developer units to be distributed throughout spring and summer. They'll apparently be "distributing dev kits continually" and sending new ones out every couple of weeks. Supplies, however, "may be limited," so you'll have to take writing up that application seriously if you want to convince them to choose you during the selection process. If you're not a dev, you unfortunately can't purchase a kit, no matter how much money you're willing to throw at HTC and Valve. Don't worry, though: they're planning to release the commercial version sometime later this year, provided nothing derails their timeline before then.

Via: Road to VR

Source: Steam Community

Tags: htc, HTCVive, VirtualReality, VrHeadset

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Los Angeles partners with Waze to head off traffic gridlocks

Los Angeles' traffic problems are legendary, which is probably why the City of Angels is following Boston's lead and partnering with Waze for real-time traffic alerts. The LA mayor's office Periscoped the announcement (as you do, I suppose), and tweeted that the partnership could lead to better understanding of how traffic moves in TInseltown and hopefully improve commutes. How's that? Well, the data inherently goes both ways. Specifically, Google's traffic app should tip off drivers to natural road hazards, car crashes and amber alerts while simultaneously informing the county about where backups and other issues are occurring. No word if it'll extend to pointing out where paparazzi are hiding, though.

[Image credit: Getty Images]

Source: LA Mayor's office (Twitter) (1), (2)

Tags: bigdata, data, lamayorsoffice, LosAngeles, mobilepostcross, periscope, Traffic, transportation

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Uber complies with German taxi rules to end court ordered ban

Uber has announced operational changes in response to German courts banning its service twice in less than a year. According to a Reuters report, Uber will amend its UberPOP program (the European version of UberX) to charge 35 cents per kilometer. This matches what local taxi services charge in both Frankfurt and Munich. The company had already implemented that pricing scheme in Berlin, Duesseldorf and Hamburg. Uber bemoaned the court's ruling, calling it "a defeat for all those who want more choice for their personal mobility," but complied with the order to avoid a $266,000 fine. The company will continue to operate licensed limos and taxis throughout Germany while it reportedly works on a legal ridesharing alternative that complies with the country's laws.

Via: CNet

Source: Reuters

Tags: apps, germany, law, lawsuit, legal, ridesharing, taxi, uber

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AT&T finally brings its gigabit internet to Chicago's suburbs

Back in October of last year, we learned about AT&T's plans to launch its 1Gbps fiber network, GigaPower, in cities like Chicago. And today, more than six months after the original announcement, the company's finally flipping the switch in some areas of The Windy City -- including Elgin, Oswego, Plainfield, Skokie, Yorkville and other "surrounding communities." The U-Verse gigabit internet will be available as a standalone service and as a bundle with a cable or phone package, with prices ranging from $90 to $150 per month, depending on your selection. If you're not in any of the aforementioned zones of coverage, fret not -- AT&T says it will be expanding the service across Chicago later this summer.

Source: AT&T

Tags: ATT, Chicago, Fiber, Fiber Internet, Gigabit Internet, GigabitInternet, GigaPower, hdpostcross, Internet

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Norway will lead the effort to switch off FM radio

Some countries are already stepping up their transition to digital radio, but Norway thinks it can one up them all. The nation's Ministry of Culture has revealed plans to switch off FM radio across the country in 2017, making it the first country to scrap conventional broadcasts. The staged shutoff (which begins January 11th that year) is focused on improving channel choice and quality, according to the government While there are just five national stations on FM, there's room for roughly 42 using cleaner-sounding DAB technology. It's about eight times more expensive to use FM, too, and digital radio is more reliable for getting messages across in an emergency.

There is a risk that the cutoff will leave some people in the dark. The Ministry is quick to note that "more than half" of Norwegians can already listen to local digital radio, but that doesn't mean that all of them will be ready and willing in two years. And you probably can't expect a similarly speedy transition in other parts of the world. With a population of 5.1 million and relatively eager adoption of digital radio, Norway won't have much trouble ditching FM. It'd be a much more daunting challenge in larger countries, especially in the US and other places where terrestrial digital radio is still rare.

[Image credit: Getty Images/Flickr RF]

Via: Gizmodo, Radio.no

Source: Government.no

Tags: dab, digitalradio, fm, fmradio, hdpostcross, norway, radio

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The law that predicts computing power turns 50

Today represents a historic milestone in technology: it's the 50th anniversary of Moore's Law, the observation that the complexity of computer chips tends to double at a regular rate. On April 19th, 1965, Fairchild's Gordon Moore (later to co-found Intel) published an article noting that the number of components in integrated circuits had not only doubled every year up to that point, but would continue at that pace for at least a decade. He would later revise that guideline to every two years, but the concept of an unofficial law of progress stuck. It not only foresaw the rapid expansion of computing power, but frequently served as a target -- effectively, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The revised law has largely held up over the past five decades, but it might not last much longer. With chips at 14 nanometers (such as Intel's Broadwell processors), the industry is starting to hit physical limits. Circuits are now so small that escaping heat is a big problem. While Moore's Law may survive for another couple of processor generations, there's a chance that chip designers will need new materials or exotic data transmission techniques (like quantum tunneling) for the rule to hold true. Semiconductor companies have run into seemingly impassable barriers before, though, so Moore may be vindicated for a while yet.

Source: Intel

More Coverage: Nature, ExtremeTech

Tags: computer, computing, cpu, gordonmoore, intel, MooresLaw, pc, processor, video

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Wink has a fix ready for its busted smart home hubs

Over the last day Wink Hub smart home controllers were hit with a long outage that left many users disconnected for good and needing to return their units. Now, the company has worked out a solution that owners can apply themselves. Several people who were affected by the problem -- traced to an expired security certificate -- have already tried the fix on their devices and say it works. Ultimately, what owners will need to do is temporarily reconfigure the DNS setting on their router, which directs the Hub to a specially configured server where it can download an update that fixes the problem.

It's still inconvenient for users who keep their Hub at a remote location / vacation home or maybe don't have the technical skills to adjust their router settings, but it's quicker than mailing a unit back and forth. We'd expect most people with home automation at this point can figure out their router settings without much work. If you're an affected user keep an eye on your email for details which should be arriving shortly.

Tags: dns, GE, HomeAutomation, hub, quirky, ssl, wink

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: cheaper EVs, synthetic leaves and clay-pot speakers

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

For more than three years, the Western United States -- especially California -- has been gripped by the worst drought on record. With no end in sight, San Diego County announced plans to build a massive $1 billion desalination plant. The plant will produce drinking water for 300,000 people in Southern California, but opponents have raised concerns about its high energy use, and that it will likely harm marine life. Researchers also discovered what may be causing the drought -- a massive "blob" of warm water in the Pacific Ocean measuring a thousand miles wide is wreaking havoc on weather patterns and local marine life.

A couple months ago, IKEA announced plans to roll out a new line of lamps that would wirelessly charge your mobile devices. Now, it looks like the furniture giant is ready to start introducing the new lamps later this spring. In other energy news, Vancouver just became the latest city to switch to 100 percent renewable energy. The Canadian city now joins a list of more than 50 cities around the world that have pledged to abandon fossil fuels. Switching to renewables doesn't just make sense for the environment -- it's good business sense. For example, offshore wind is already cheaper than both gas and nuclear power. In certain parts of the world, the technology is already financially viable and no longer needs government subsidies. New innovations are also finding energy sources in unexpected places. Engineers from Columbia University's Computer Vision Laboratory have created what they claim to be the world's first fully self-powered camera. The video camera converts light captured when creating an image into electrical power. On the green transportation front, Tesla is making headway on selling its vehicles in Maryland, and Chevy announced that it will be slashing the price of the 2015 Chevy Spark EV. After tax credits, the car will cost just $14,995 in some states.

Milan Design Week is like the Olympics for the design world. All the big names are there, and it's also an opportunity for up-and-comers to show their work. This year's event has featured scores of innovative new products that promise to change the way we interact with everyday objects. Japanese designer Kosho Ueshima unveiled a nanotech toothbrush that can clean your teeth without toothpaste. If you ever wanted to reach outer space without suiting up and hopping in a rocket, Nooka has produced a device that enables you to record a private message and send it into outer space. The event is more than just an assortment of quirky one-off designs; it's also a forum for bold ideas. Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde proposed building a massive electric vacuum cleaner that could combat air pollution in cities like Beijing. Some of the other highlights from Design Week included the Salone Satellite show -- an opportunity for young, emerging designers to show their wares. Japanese design studio Kappes used a collection of wires placed inside a terrarium to create a dazzling, ethereal work of art. And Mapu Guaquén combined traditional clay pots with modern speakers to create wireless speakers with a soft, raw look. Meanwhile, at the Ventura Lambrate exhibit, Julian Melchiorri created a synthetic biological leaf that can absorb water and carbon dioxide and produce oxygen like a plant. And United Nude teamed up with 3D systems to launch a line of sculptural 3D-printed shoes at Milan Design Week that combine art, design and technology to test the boundaries of fashion.

Tags: eco-friendly, EV, green, inhabitat, InhabitatsWeekInGreen, solar

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Comcast's gigabit internet hits northern California in June

Comcast is bringing its twice-as-fast-as-Google-Fiber internet service to northern California. Potential customers will need installation of professional-grade equipment to access it and, you'll have to be near its fiber network -- Fresno, Monterey, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area are among the places on the list -- to qualify. That's not all, either. Statewide, it's rolling out a 250 Mbps "Extreme 250" speed tier for cable internet customers. The telecom giant's also boosting speeds on its existing tiers as well, with lower priced-plans getting jumps from 25 to 45 Mbps depending on the package at no added cost. Perhaps the best news about all this is that you won't have to wait too much longer for it all to take effect. Comcast says it'll start the cable internet upgrades in May with continued rollouts taking place the rest of the year, while the 2Gbps fiber service starts rolling out in June. And just like that, there's another gigabit competitor in Google HQ's vicinity with Fiber nowhere in sight.

[Image credit: Shutterstock]

Source: Comcast

Tags: broadband, california, comcast, extreme250, fiber, Gigabit, hdpostcross, Internet, norcal, NorthernCalifornia, SanFrancisco, xfinity

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Adaptalux is a modular lighting system for macro photography

Every now and then, there are projects on Kickstarter designed for a niche group of people. Adaptalux is one of those: it's a modular, flexible and nearly pocket-sized lighting studio for macro photography and videography. The team behind Adaptalux claims that the system is capable of creating an infinite amount of illumination environments, thanks to an interchangeable design which users can customize based on their needs. For example, the Control Pod lets you choose the amount of light sources (up to five) and the color of them, as well as control the beam angle for each. And, much like the familiar gooseneck desk lamps, Adaptalux's lighting arms can be bent and twisted almost any way you want.

Pledges that include an actual set start at £100 (roughly $150), with shipping expected to be in November -- but this is Kickstarter, after all, so we wouldn't bet on that date being 100 percent accurate. Still, let us know in the comments if you think this could be a useful addition to your photo/video gear.

Source: Adaptalux (Kickstarter)

Tags: Adaptalux, Kickstarter, Lighting, Lights, Macro, MacroPhotography, Photography, Videography

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Japanese maglev train breaks its own world speed record

The Central Japan Railway company reports that its magnetic levitation bullet train topped 366 miles per hour on Thursday during a test run along a length of test track in the Yamanashi prefecture. This was enough to break its own 12-year-old, 361 mph world record set back in 2003. The train reportedly carried 29 engineers during its run. Unfortunately, the record is only expected to last until next Tuesday when JR Central hopes to spur the magnetically-propelled commuter train past 372 mph (600 kph).

Also unfortunate is the fact that normal passengers will likely never be able to experience these exhilarating speeds -- unless something goes horribly wrong. The rail company plans to limit the trains to a pokey 313 mph for regular service when they come online in 2027. But even at these speeds, commuters could make it from Tokyo to Nagoya in about 40 minutes (less than half the time today's fastest bullet trains require). The company even has aspirations to export this technology to America -- specifically as a high-speed rail line running between New York City and Washington DC.

Via: Wall Street Journal

Source: JR Central (Japanese)

Tags: japan, JRCentral, maglev, maglevtrain, trains

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Disney Research has a 3D printer that can sew bunnies for you

3D printing has resulted in solid solutions like cartilages, organ replicas and even tortoise shells. But Disney Research now has a printer that can create soft, bendable objects - think 3D printing stuffed toys. The mechanics of the printer are similar to conventional machines that use plastics or metals, except this one works with fabric to create flexible and functional objects. Most additive 3D printers are designed to deposit materials in a specific spot, but fabric requires an alternative technique that imitates sewing or layering.

The researchers came up with a two-step printing process suited to fabric. First, a laser beam cuts through a sheet to create 2D shapes. The process retains the fabric surrounding the designated shape so it's easier for the sheets to sit on top of each other in the next step. Every laser-cut sheet is then layered and fused together with a heat sensitive adhesive that's commonly used in sewing. When printing is complete, the excess fabric is peeled off to reveal the object. For now, the researchers printed a bright red bunny prototype that demonstrates the cuddly possibilities and also a touch sensor with conductive materials that could join the next generation of interactive devices.

[Image credit: Disney Research]

Source: Disney Research

Tags: 3dPrinter, 3dPrinting, bunny, DisneyResearch, fabric

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Adorable new 'Star Wars' droid proves it's not CGI

When the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released, the internet lost its collective mind. Not only were people up in arms over the fact that a stormtrooper could be *gasp* black, but also nobody could believe that this incredible rolling droid, dubbed the BB-8, was actually real. It must be CGI, right? Well, during today's Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California, the BB-8 made its first real-life debut by rolling onstage to riotous applause from the crowd. Check out the video below to see the BB-8 and the venerable R2-D2 engage in a beeping, tweeting chirp battle.

Source: Polygon

Tags: BB-8, CGI, droids, props, R2-D2, starwars, starwarstheforceawakens, stormtroopers

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A motorless flat antenna could solve horrible in-flight WiFi

The only thing worse than no WiFi on a plane is horrible WiFi on a plane. You cautiously throw down a few bucks hoping you'll be able to surf the internet without seeing a "page not available" message in your browser. According to Kymeta CEO Dr. Nathan Kundtz, the reason your in-flight internet connection is so crappy is bandwidth allocation and antenna design. Kundtz told Wired that the FCC needs to open up more spectrum in the less crowded higher frequencies. While we wait for that to happen, Kymeta introduced a new low-profile antenna to take advantage of the spectrum that's already available and actively track satellites for a speedier connection.

Unlike other tracking antennas that use a motor to track communications satellites, the mTenna uses "a holographic approach to electronically acquire, steer and lock a beam to any satellite, with no moving parts." Because the device is thinner than similar antennas on the market, it produces less drag when mounted on the fuselage of airplanes. The drag reduction means less gas consumptions, which would make airlines happy. The antenna is still in the testing phase, but if it works, in-flight WiFi might actually become useful.

Via: Wired

Source: Kymeta

Tags: Airplane, Kymeta, Wi-Fi

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The mystery of 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' lifts a little more

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is a new game from The Chinese Room, the studio behind beautiful exploration experience Dear Esther and horror game Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs . It's exclusive to PlayStation 4 and takes place in a gorgeous, abandoned 3D world. In-game, players embark on a mission to discover where everyone in this quaint village went -- how and why they all seemingly, suddenly popped out of existence. Time plays a "fairly central role" in the game and it involves mysterious beams of golden light. The Chinese Room revealed Everybody's Gone to the Rapture at Sony's Gamescom presentation in 2013 with an eerie trailer hinting at a retro, post-apocalyptic environment, and the latest video expands on these themes. It's similarly vague but offers a look at another environment, this time an empty children's classroom that appears to have been ransacked by ... something. Along with the new video, The Chinese Room offers a taste of the game's music with a haunting, orchestral track.

Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck predicts the soundtrack is going to be a major hit this year. "Actually, I think it's better than that, it's one of the best game soundtracks ever created," he says. Bold words about a mysterious game. Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is due out this summer, but you can listen to the new song and watch the latest trailer right here:

Source: PlayStation Blog

Tags: dan-pinchbeck, DanPinchbeck, everybodys-gone-to-the-rapture, EverybodysGoneToTheRapture, hdpostcross, Playstation4, ps4, sony, thechineseroom

Sony PlayStation 4

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• Destiny Edition


• 20th Anniversary Edition

• Key specs


• Reviews • 83


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• Game format Optical disc, Downloadable


• Online features Multiplayer, Voice chat, Video chat, Store, Browser


• Drive capacity 500 GB


• Controller type Wired, Wireless


• Motion controls Accelerometer, Gyroscopic, Camera / optical


• Video outputs HDMI


• Weight 6.17 lb


• Released 2013-11-15

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8.5average user rating

• Game library 6.8


• Graphics 9.5


• Controller(s) 9


• Design and form factor 9.1


• Other features (media, online, etc.) 7.3


• Noise 8.9

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Northampton's testing magnetic underground delivery 'moles'

Northampton, England is considering an unusual approach to alleviating traffic congestion and air pollution. The city wants to replace the trucks currently clogging its two major motorways with underground delivery carts. The system from Mole Solutions, dubbed a "Freight Pipeline", will leverage linear induction motors to propel steel carts through dedicated tubes between various stations throughout the city. "Congestion is a global issue and we could take a significant volume of traffic off the roads, not just in the UK but in countries like China and India," Mole Solutions chief Roger Miles told reporters recently. "The bounds of this are limitless." The company asserts that these steel "

Interestingly, this isn't actually the first time such a scheme has been implemented. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago's business district was undercut by a massive web of subterranean delivery tunnels. New York City (as well as Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis) built a number of underground mail tunnels in 1897, though this series of tubes were never actually put to use.

Via: Gizmag, BBC News

Source: Mole Solutions

Tags: freight, freight-transport, linearinductionmotor, mole, molesolutions, Northampton, subterranean

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JXE Streams: Double Fine walks us through their 'Broken Age'

More than a year has passed since the first half of Double Fine's Broken Age came out, leaving fans of classic adventure video games as flummoxed and desperate for resolution as the game's young heroes. Later this month Tim Schafer's point and click fantasy will finally continue when Broken Age: Episode 2 hits PC, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. We here at Engadget feel that there's no time like the present to revisit the first chapter. Composer Peter McConnell and artist Nathan Stapley will be joining us to give some insight into the game's strange world of technological prisons and human sacrifice-loving beast gods.

Tune into JXE Streams at 3PM ET in this post, on Engadget.com/gaming and on Twitch.tv/Joystiq for two hours of Broken Age. Come 4PM ET, those fine artisans from Double Fine will join us via Skype to talk about their work on the game.

Enjoy our streams? Follow us on Twitch.tv/Joystiq to know when we go live and bookmark Engadget.com/gaming to get a look at our upcoming schedule.

[We're playing Sid Meier's Starships on PC streamed at 720p.]

Tags: brokenage, doublefine, engadgetstreams, hdpostcross, jxestreams, sony

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Adultery is big business

It may sound like a high-end department store, but Ashley Madison is actually a hookup network for people who want some extra-marital, no-strings attached sex. As much as we pretend that the site caters to a small niche, the truth is that its parent company is struggling to keep up with the demand. That's why it's reportedly preparing to go public in the hope of raising $200 million to fund international expansion.

According to the company, Ashley Madison is the second most profitable dating enterprise on the internet, second only to Match. Unlike its rival, the service is geared up to cater to people in committed relationships who are looking for some extra fun.

If you can't speak French, then the advert pictured above reads "What do they have in common? They should have thought about Ashley Madison." The three men depicted in the poster, Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and King Albert II of Belgium are all believed to have had an extra-marital affair in their time. Ironically, however, the site's biggest critic is also its founder, Noel Biderman, who said that he'd be "

Unfortunately, as profitable as the site may be, the road to riches offered by a public offering hasn't been easy to take. This is probably because the company's seedy image -- its slogan is "Life is short. Have an affair" -- is too much even for the debauched fiends of Wall Street. An IPO was attempted in 2010, but as the company's Christoph Kraemer told Bloomberg , investor appetite in North America and Canada was scarce. This time, the company will try in London because of Europe's more relaxed attitude towards sex.

The IPO is planned to arrive later this year and, if it's successful, could easily eclipse that $200 million figure. It'll also ensure that, if they didn't have to before, Noel Biderman and chums probably won't ever have to work ever again. See what I mean? Adultery is big business.

[Image Credit: Dirk Waem/AFP/Getty Images]

Source: Bloomberg

More Coverage: GQ

Tags: AdultThemes, AshleyMadison, Business, IPO

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