A wearable GPS device that accepts voice commands, takes pictures, and logs evidence could speed up crime scene investigation and reduce errors.

The prototype consists of a small, thin computer about the size of a small book, which is equipped with GPS, a digital camera and an RFID tag reader. The computer is worn by the CSI, who uses a headset to give voice commands to the system – to trigger the attached digital camera, for example, or to record a verbal description of evidence.

[Read](http://technology.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12575&feedId=online-news_rss20 “Read the Story”) (New Scientist)

A new breed of mechanics has begun hacking into car computers, and grease monkeys have morphed into automotive geeks.

To tune up the first generation of computer-controlled cars, drivers bought chips with new engine maps from a handful of tuning companies. But because the chips were hard-wired, car owners were limited as to the changes they could make. They couldn’t custom-program their cars.

Though not intending to, carmakers added that ability in the mid-1990’s. They replaced the Eprom chips with rewritable flash memory like the memory used in digital cameras. And to meet environmental laws for California, they added a data port to all cars, allowing inspectors to access the engine-control unit and assess whether the engine was operating cleanly.

By plugging in a laptop, car hackers could download engine maps from the E.C.U.’s memory, modify them and upload the changes without touching a soldering iron. “That’s when what had been a fledgling tuning industry started to flourish.”

[Read](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/automobiles/autospecial/25hacking.html?ex=1319428800&en=c36bc89385305f9c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss “Read the Story”) (New York Times)

Organic light-emitting diodes will revolutionize the way we use lighting, researchers say.

[Read](http://rss.csmonitor.com/feeds/scitech?m=59) (Christian Science Monitor)

An electronic magnetic pulse, EMP, is generated by a nuclear explosion, or by a smaller-scale “e-bomb.” If a terrorist or rogue nation detonated a nuclear bomb a few hundred miles above the United States, the resulting shock wave could damage or disrupt electronic components throughout the country. The consequences could be catastrophic. Our life-sustaining critical infrastructure such as communications networks, energy networks, and food and water distribution networks could all break down.

Fortunately, protecting electronics and critical infrastructure against an EMP is doable. It involves enclosing every electronic component with a metallic cage that blocks out electromagnetic waves.

Read (Christian Science Monitor)

“The Chevy HHR will help launch a new family of radios that will bring iPod connectivity to a broad range of GM vehicles,” said Paul Nadeau, director, infotainment displays and controls, for GM Engineering. “We think the ability to easily connect an iPod or other audio source directly into the vehicle audio system will be a big hit with customers.”

The new radios include an auxiliary channel and front mounted auxiliary input jack, so that an iPod or other audio source can be easily plugged in and played through the vehicle audio system.

Radios featuring the new auxiliary input jack will debut starting in late spring. They will be standard equipment on 2006 models of the Chevy HHR, Impala and Monte Carlo; Saturn VUE and ION; Pontiac Solstice; Buick Lucerne; and Cadillac DTS. The radios will be fitted to other new GM models over the next several years.

Read (GM)

With all the antennas in some new cars – high-tech luxury sedans may carry 18 or more – it takes a major engineering effort to design vehicles that do not bristle with metal quills.

[Read][ReadMe] (The New York Times)

[ReadMe]: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/automobiles/14CARS.html?ex=1268456400&en=ec5edf39652952d8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt

GPS, once a fabulously expensive tool for the military, has dropped in price enough to become part of everyday life. Businesses are moving in to offer satellite tracking of everything from school buses to errant spouses, selling security but also raising privacy concerns.

Read

Originally from washingtonpost.com

XM MyFi first impressions:

1. I’ve tried using it as a portable several times. If you’re stationary, it works fine. If you’re moving, it is essentially useless unless you use the ultra-geeky mobile antenna. Without using the antenna, the signal keeps cutting out when you move. I tried clipping the antenna to the back of my hat, and the MyFi worked great while I was moving. The only time it cut out was when I walked under a grove of trees. Admittedly, my wife said I looked like a dork with the wire running up my back, and people did tend to walk away when I approached (even more so than they usually do).
2. It works well as a stereo add-on once you place the home antenna against a window and align it, but I think I’d rather have a component size receiver that could possibly use my DirecTV dish as its antenna. I have the unit in the kitchen, and the signal will sometimes cut out when I use the microwave or 2.4ghz cordless phone. The 2.4ghz phone also kills my wifi connection.
3. It should have a boom box attachment, because this would make a nice kitchen radio or a nice picnic stereo if it had the boom box attachment. It sounds like an opportunity to sell a small stereo with an aux input for the kitchen.
4. It works well in the car. All I had to do was plug in the dc adapter, place the magnetic mobile antenna on the dash (the top of my dash is metal), and tune the radio to 88.1. In under a minute, we had bluegrass playing from the only speaker (right rear) that still works in the 87 Plymouth Gran Fury.
5. The remote has a previous channel button, but the receiver doesn’t have one.
6. Instead of beeping to tell me one of my favorite artists is playing, it should automatically record the song.
7. It needs page up/down buttons.
8. Instead of recording 5 hours of 1 channel, record 5 hours of all channels or at least a couple of channels that I choose.
9. I’d like to be able to pause what’s currently playing, like Tivo.
10. I’d like to be able to record the song that’s currently playing without wiping out everything that’s already recorded.
11. My wife wanted to take the MyFi to work until she found out it wouldn’t work because she isn’t near a window. She took a clock radio instead. The MyFi definitely did not make the favorable impression on her like Tivo did. She liked the music selection, but considers the device more Steve’s toy than anything else.
12. I’d like more public radio channels, but apparently Sirius has an exclusive agreement with most of them.
13. I like XM’s selection, programming, and lack of commercials. I think that did a pretty good job with the MyFi’s user interface, but if I had to pay $350 for a portable music device, I don’t think I would have bought it. I can get a 20G Ipod for $295 . That leaves $55 to purchase an Itrip2 FM Modulator and mobile power cord with dock connector. The XM monthly fee is $9.99, which would be 10 songs per month from the Itunes store. XM Radio online is an additional $3.99 per month, and that would be another 4 songs per month from the Itunes store.

Technology could mean fewer blackouts and more efficient electric motors.

Originally from Christian Science Monitor

Ten to Avoid, The Worst Products of the Year (pcmag.com)

Devices to avoid at any cost this holiday season.

With its somewhat bulky contours and shiny silver case, Delphi’s MyFi portable satellite radio evokes an old transistor radio.
-The Washington Post

I ordered a MyFi yesterday, and when I told my wife, she said, “So, I can listen to Howard Stern now, right?” Sorry honey, buy that’s Sirius. Even my wife had heard that Howard Stern was moving to satellite radio. Sirius, you need a MyFi (portable) equivalent.

Originally from washingtonpost.com