6 ways to get more from pen drives

That pen drive you carry along has become indispensible, letting you ferry documents, photos, music and movies to and fro.

That pen drive you carry along has become indispensible, letting you ferry documents, photos, music and movies to and fro.

But it can do so much more. It can protect against viruses, automatically back-up data, launch your favourite programs off any PC without installing them, and even run a full operating system. Indeed, your USB drive is the digital equivalent of a Swiss army knife...



Pen drive PC
Most Linux operating systems, includingUbuntu (www.ubuntu.com) and Fedora (fedoraproject.org), can be run entirely off your pen drive. And we aren't talking about a stripped-down version either. Ubuntu, for example, runs just like it would if you installed it on your hard drive. It's not as fast, but it's spiffy enough for browsing the web or working on office documents.

The obvious advantage is that you get to carry your computer with you in your pocket. Any computer you come across can instantly become your own by just plugging in your pen drive.

Currently, Windows and Mac don't have support for this, but Microsoft will soon be launching a new version called Windows 8 On The Go.

Portable programs
Just like portable operating systems, there is a host of apps that can run directly off your pen drive. For example, there are portable versions of the Firefox and Chrome browsers, the dictionary software Wordweb and even the image editing tool IrfanView. Portable apps also offer the advantage of letting you run your favourite programs off your pen drive when you don't have administrator privileges on your office PC to install them. You will find a large collection of such free software on www.portableapps.com, www.portablefreeware .com, or www.pendriveapps.com.

Don't just delete
In Windows, when you delete a file, it goes to the Recycle Bin - a helpful in-between step that lets you recover a file if you accidentally trash it. But on a pen drive, when you click delete, it's gone forever.

Well, not if you use a nifty tool called iBin (sourceforge.net/projects/ibin). Essentially, iBin is a portable Recycle Bin for your pen drive. Download and extract the iBin folder to your USB drive and when you next plug it in, the program will start automatically. It continuously monitors your removable drive; if you try to delete any file, iBin will ask if you want to erase it or 'Dump it to iBin'. This way, your file stays on your drive for now.

Given that pen drive sizes are increasing, it's a helpful app to have, especially since it won't take up too much space. Of course, if you're running short, you can always clean up your iBin with a click.

Stay safe
It's a fear that everyone has. You plug your pen drive into a PC and a virus from that system infects your device without you knowing it. Then you come home, connect your USB drive to your laptop and just like that, your hard drive is infected. An antivirus can only help to a certain degree. The smarter option is to make your pen drive read-only, so that when you plug it into a system, nothing can be written on it.

To do this, grab USB Write Protector (www.gaijin.at/dlusbwp.-php ). Once it's on your drive, run the program and you'll get an option to switch USB Write Protection on or off. If it's on, nothing can be written to the pen drive. However, Write Protector doesn't work instantly; once you switch it on, you'll have to eject and reconnect your pen drive for it to start.

Password protect
In your pen drive, there might be some data that you don't want others to see. But you still want others to be able to use the pen drive. Rohos Mini Drive Portable (www.rohos.com/products/rohos-minidrive ) allows you to create a hidden partition within your pen drive, which is both encrypted and locked with a password. Of course, if you want to passwordprotect the entire drive such that the whole drive is locked down, then a great software to do that is Cryptainer LE (www.cypherix.com/cryptainer_le_download _center.htm).

Automatic backups
If you keep your documents on a pen drive and work directly on them, then you know how much of a pain it can be to back-up those files each time you connect the drive to your PC. But USB Flash Copy (www.usbflashcopy.com) offers a simpler solution.

The app runs off the pen drive and lets you choose which folder on your hard drive it should automatically back-up files to. Additional options include settings for each file type, as well as whether to overwrite old files or keep copies of them. The cool part is that USB Flash Copy lets you create multiple profiles, so that if you use two PCs (such as home and office), you can have different settings for backing up to each of them, ensuring maximum data safety.

iPhone app that checks Facebook for 'sexy pics' of friends sparks furore

A new iPhone app, which allows Facebook users to find and share pictures of their friends in skimpy outfits, has sparked concern among civil liberties groups and internet users.

LONDON: A new iPhone app, which allows Facebook users to find and share pictures of their friends in skimpy outfits, has sparked concern among civil liberties groups and internet users, who have criticised it as 'intrusive and unnecessary'.

The 'Badabing!' app uses an 'object detection' technology to identify pictures of one's friends in revealing outfits, then lists them as thumbnails, allowing Facebook users to bookmark and share them, the Telegraph reports.

According to the paper, billing itself as "The only social image recognition app", Badabing's homepage states that it helps you find your friends' "sexy pics" in seconds.

However, civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch said that the app was "intrusive" and highlighted the risks of uploading photos and information to the internet.

"This mobile phone application provides a stark warning about the loss of control that you have once you have uploaded photos and information about yourself to the internet. Such practices are quite simply intrusive and unnecessary and, as such, consumers need protection from contracts that are either too intrusive or too unclear to understand," a Big Brother Watch official said.

The service is currently only available for iPhone, at a cost of 1.49 pounds, but a statement on the website says that the company is "still working" on a web app, the paper said.

DigitalGlobe boosted by demand for satellite images

DigitalGlobe posted better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its full-year sales forecast for the third time this year on increased sales of its satellite images.

DigitalGlobe posted better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its full-year sales forecast for the third time this year on increased sales of its satellite images to businesses and US intelligence agencies.
The company has been looking to boost its revenue from commercial and international customers in the face of expected cuts in the US defense budget.
It said in July it would acquire smaller rival GeoEye to create the world's largest commercialsatellite imagery provider, gaining access a wider revenue base.
Revenue in its commercial business jumped 57 percent to $26.1 million in the third quarter, while the defense and intelligence business grew 24 percent to $81.1 million.
In the commercial sector, DigitalGlobe and GeoEye supply imagery to location-based applications such as Google Maps and navigation device and smartphone makers such as Garmin and Nokia.
DigitalGlobe said it won contracts with the Indian government and SAAB and expanded its location services contract with AutoNavi Holdings during the third quarter.
It expects revenue growth of 18 to 21 percent for the full year, up from its earlier view of 16 percent growth.
"Our results this quarter are evidence of our progress, transforming DigitalGlobe into a high-growth, scalable, recurring revenue information business," chief executive Jeffrey Tarr said.
DigitalGlobe's profit for the quarter ended September 30 rose to $8.5 million, or 18 cents per share, from $1.1 million, or 2 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenue rose 31 percent to $107.2 million.
Analysts on an average expected earnings of 14 cents a share, on revenue of $97.7 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Shares of the Longmont, Colorado-based company closed at $23.47 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. Major US stock markets were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy.

Amazon may soon enter Brazil's e-commerce market

Brazil's Saraiva, is trying to sell its online business, a move that could pave the way for Amazon's debut in Latin America's fastest growing e-commerce market.

SAO PAULO: Brazil's biggest bookstore chain, Saraiva, is trying to sell its online business, a move that could pave the way for Amazon's debut in Latin America's fastest growing e-commerce market, industry sources said.

Saraiva is widely seen as one of the main hurdles facing Amazon, the online retailer, as it prepares to set up shop in Brazil, a challenging market of 200 million people known for its tax and logistic complexities.

The Sao Paulo-based bookseller wants to sell its e-commerce platform and focus on its chain of over 100 stores and publishing businesses, where margins are higher, three industry executives told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

"Saraiva is trying to sell its online operations. They have offered it to some retailers," said one of the sources.

"Why would this be interesting for Amazon? Amazon's main challenge will initially be overcoming the obstacle of the publishing companies. By buying Saraiva it shortens that distance dramatically," the same source said.

Amazon spokesman Craig Berman declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Saraiva.

A second source said Saraiva has been preparing to spin off its online retail business for some time to focus on its publishing operations and bookstores, where it also sells CDs and DVDs.

"Their assets in terms of relationships with publishers and distributors could be important for Amazon," the source said.

Amazon is laying the ground to land in Brazil, a $12 billion e-commerce market where still low internet penetration and a swelling middle class should provide sustainable business growth for years to come.

Reuters reported in June that the Seattle-based company was planning to open a digital bookstore in Brazil and start selling its Kindle e-reader by the end of 2012. An online approach would allow Amazon to avoid logistics hazards that could jeopardise a full-scale retail operation.

Saraiva has Brazil's biggest ebook catalog with 12,000 titles in Portuguese, yielding around $250,000 a month in revenue. Though ebooks account for just a fraction of Saraiva's internet business -- it also offers DVDs, electronics and other consumer goods online -- the company says digital book sales are starting to grow at a faster pace.

One person familiar with Amazon's strategy for Brazil told Reuters that Saraiva approached the US retailer in the past, but dismissed media reports of ongoing talks as market speculation. The source said Amazon is sticking to its original plan of focusing on organic growth in foreign markets.

Doors open

Even if Amazon doesn't end up buying Saraiva's online business, the dismembering of Brazil's biggest bookstore could help by weakening its top local competitor.

Earlier this year Saraiva was reportedly pressuring Brazilian publishers not to sign-up with Amazon in an attempt to protect its market leadership, which helped it pull in 731 million reais ($362 million) in net revenue in the first half of 2012.

Saraiva relies heavily on its network of 102 stores across Brazil. Products sold online account for just one-third of the company's retail business and shrank 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period a year earlier.

"Saraiva's online business is not generating the necessary profits," said a third executive familiar with the company's management. "They recently decided to scale down their e-commerce sales in order to maintain profits. And that means the business is not interesting."

Saraiva is looking to unload its online business because of small margins and aggressive price competition from bigger e-commerce players such as B2W, which controls Brazil's top platforms, Submarino and Americanas.com.

Earlier this month, Saraiva signaled it was open to entertaining offers following media reports that it was in talks with Amazon.

The company "is always attentive and willing to evaluate business opportunities of any other nature that arise and that may be of interest to its shareholders," Saraiva said in a securities filing.

Some analysts question the potential value of a Saraiva deal for Amazon, arguing that the US company's strong branding would allow it to grow organically and rapidly seize a big chunk of the Brazilian market.

"The process of integrating Saraiva's operations could pose risks for Amazon. It would be better for them to start from scratch," said Caue de Campos Pinheiro, a retail analyst with SLW Corretora in Sao Paulo.

Others, however, say an acquisition would help Amazon safely navigate the Brazilian market, where a mix of steep taxes and poor infrastructure make it a difficult place to do business.

"They would have a head start," said Jordan Rohan, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus in New York. "And they would have access to a management team with local knowledge."

IBM calls for Developers

Are you ready for IBM?

Be a part of IBM India and give wings to your ideas.

If you too share the passion of making this planet smarter,to make an impact, to innovate for the better,then come join us.

Developer Jobs

IBM seeks talented Software Developers/Web developers/.net developers/java and j2ee developers for projects across different domains.
To know more, click on the sample job description below.

Software Developer/ Web Developers

The software developer role function requires candidates to develop code using programming specifications, high level design documents and implement the identified components based on client requirements. Software Developers also ensure that the implemented components are unit tested and ready to be integrated into the product. You will provide defect fixes identified by the verification team during the software development life cycle and be exposed to projects across different domains.

As a software/ Web developer, you will support service specialists in performing problem determination and analysis on client systems. Depending on the severity level of a problem, you will be required to work directly with clients through conference calls or onsite visits and provide insight and feedback regarding the client environment to the development organization and be responsible for existing and new product development.

There are projects are available across several platforms - Java , J2EE, .net

Top four reasons you should join IBM, now
There are many reasons to consider joining an organization such as IBM. Here are four good ones to think about.

• Reason #1: Change the way the world works
• Reason #2: Be a leader at a leading company
• Reason #3: Work with the best and brightest
• Reason #4: Join more than just an 'IT' firm

Upcoming ?Windows 8 gadgets

What is Windows to go ?

Windows 8 Enterprise edition supports a mode called Windows To Go, which puts the whole OS on a pen drive, including your apps and settings. This pen drive can boot on any computer that is runningWindows 7 or 8 and you are going to get the same settings and apps that you were using on your machine.

Many manufacturers will be launching USB pen drives with this version of Windows.

What is Windows RT?

PCs and notebooks run on processors that are built by Intel or AMD - and regular Windows 8 runs on this architecture. Most tablets, on the other hand, use processors that are based on architecture created by ARM. These chips are less powerful and are designed for portability and battery efficiency.

To cater to devices running ARM-based chips, MS is launching a stripped-down version of its OS called Windows RT. This version will not be capable of running regular software like Photoshop CS, PC games, etc. Instead, all apps for RT will be made specifically for the Modern UI. On the plus side, Windows RT devices will ship with a touch-optimized Microsoft Office2013.

Do you need Windows 8?

Right now, most users don't need to upgrade to Windows 8. But if you're buying a new laptop or desktop, then sure, go for it.

Of course, if you use a touchscreen PC running Windows, then definitely upgrade to Win 8.

Also, if you are currently considering a new notebook PC, it might make sense to wait a few months till new models with touchscreens make their way to the market.

Surface

Touted as the flagship device for Windows 8, this hybrid tablet/PC has been designed by Microsoft. Surface sports a sleek, modern industrial design, with a hinge at the back that pops out to prop the tablet on a table. It can also be paired with a cover that doubles up as a keyboard with touch buttons.

Specs:

10.6-inch screen (1366x768 pixels) | 1.4GHz quad-core Tegra 3 CPU | 2 GB RAM | 32GB/64GB storage | Front and back 720p HD cameras | Wi-Fi , Bluetooth 4 | 2xUSB2.0, microSD card ports | Up to 8 hours battery life

Dell XPS One 27

This all-in-one computer from Dell comes with a touchscreen, which makes it a perfect companion to Windows 8. The XPS One 27 is not the only Windows 8 all-in-one , but is one of the first. Dell has gone all out to equip it with the best-inclass components, making it a very powerful computer despite its sleek and slim design.

Specs:

27-inch touchscreen (2560x1440 pixels) | Intel Core i7 quad-core processor | Up to 16GB RAM | Up to 2TB HDD | Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics | DVD-RW or Blu-Ray drive | Wi-Fi , BlueTooth | 6xUSB3.0, Ethernet ports, multi-format card reader

Asus Taichi

The Asus Taichi convertible notebook-tablet hybrid comes with not one but two screens, with one on top of the lid. So when the lid is closed, it is a tablet - and when it is open, Taichi is a laptop. The best part is that a user can use the two screens separately. This means your son can watch a movie on the touchscreen while you work on the office presentation on the primary screen.

Specs:

11.6-inch screen (1920x1080 pixels) and 11.6-inch touchscreen (1920x1080 pixels) | Intel Core i5 dualcore processor | 4GB RAM | 128GB SSD | two 720p HD cameras | Wi-Fi , Bluetooth 4 |2xUSB3.0, Micro HDMI, Mini VGA, Ethernet ports | Around 5 hours battery life

Acer Iconia 510

Acer Iconia 510 is primarily a tablet, but it runs on full-fledged Windows 8. It also comes with a dock to make it usable as a notebook. And given that it runs on the low-powered Atom processor, you can expect better battery life.

Specs:

10.1-inch screen (1366x768 pixels) | Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor | 2GB RAM | 32GB storage, expandable microSD slot | Wi-Fi , Bluetooth | 8MP primary camera, 2MP front camera | USB, micro HDMI, micro USB ports | Around 9 hours battery life.

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

The IdeaPad Yoga 13 is a power-packed ultrabook, but that's before you flip back its screen a full 360 degrees and convert it into a tablet with its multitouch screen. Lenovo has also included its Motion Control technology with which users can gesture at the webcam to flip pages, rewind/forward music, adjust sound volume, etc. Also, when flipped 270 degrees, the base turns into a pretty nifty stand for the tablet.

Specs:

13.1-inch screen (1600x900) pixels | Intel Core i5 dual-core processor | 4GB RAM | 256GB SSD| 720p HD front camera | Wi-Fi | USB2.0, USB3.0, LAN, HDMI ports, 3-in-1 card reader | Up to 7 hours battery life.

Tech Analyst Weighs in on Yahoo! & Apple Earnings

Stocks Mentioned 

 Yahoo! (YHOO)
 Apple (APPL) 

 TRANSCRIPT 

 SUSIE GHARIB: A big splashy earnings report tonight from Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)!’s new CEO Marissa Mayer, in the job only three months, announced quarterly profits and revenues that came in higher than analyst estimates. Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! shares surged 3 percent to around $16 a share in after hour’s trading. Here are the numbers of that report—earnings per share up $0.35, $0.10 above estimates. Revenues came in just over $1 billion. That was slightly more than forecast. While the company is still struggling, Mayer said she’s taking steps for to position Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! for long-term success. Joining us now with more about those Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! numbers, Colin Gillis. He’s senior technology analyst at BGC. So Colin, Marissa Mayer was very upbeat on that analyst call this afternoon. What is she going to do and do you buy into it?

 COLIN GILLIS, SR. TECH. ANALYST, BGC FINANCIAL: Yeah, the wheels did not come off the bus on Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! and that was very encouraging for investors. This is a company that still is facing some significant challenges. Revenue was flat. They’re still struggling to find growth but she did paint the clear message that we all like about how she was going to turn around, focusing in on the opportunities on search, making sure that she brings in talented employees and trying to chase after the mobile opportunity as well.

 GHARIB: You know, everybody talks about monetizing mobile. There’s a lot of competition out there. Can she pull it off?
GILLIS: You know, listen, when you have the quantity of the users that Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! still has, that’s its largest asset, its non-cash asset that it has. You talk about north of 700 million worldwide, use Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! every single month. So yes, if she’s building good products, people will use it.


 GHARIB: So the stock really traded up in after hour’s trading. Would you buy Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! at $16?
 GILLIS: You know, we are still a buyer on it. We think there is a fair amount of value left to be unlocked in this company. We have a $19 price target. That’s about 15 percent upside. So it’s not for everyone. It’s going to be a bumpy road but again the expectations are set so low this is step one in the turn around.


 GHARIB: Quick questions about Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), a lot of expectations about Apple’s announcement tomorrow. People are expecting a mini iPad. How important is this product launch for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)? 
 GILLIS: It is actually quite important because the iPad is the second most significant revenue stream to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) after the iPhone. And competitors have gotten some traction by selling a 7 inch tablet. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) wants to nip that in the bud. I think you got to see them come out with a nice light iPad air product that’s going to be announced tomorrow.



 GHARIB: Real quickly, investors are buying up the stock. It’s now at $634. Would you buy Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)?
 GILLIS: Well, the issue you have to be concerned about here is I would not be buying more shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) at this level because when you do get that new iPad out, it’s going to be less profitable than previous versions. The competition has one level to compete against Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and that’s price and they are using it to their full advantage.


  GHARIB: Colin, do you have any disclosures to make on Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! or Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)?
 GILLIS: I do not own Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO)! or Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the firm does not provide any investment banking services to those companies. GHARIB: Very good, thank you so much Colin, Colin Gillis of BGC

Android tablets under $300

Top 7-inch Android tablets that can be had for less than $300.

No matter how small or how affordable Apple can make the iPad, nothing can change the fact that it's a newcomer to the market of mini tablets.

Small, inexpensive Android tablets have been around for years and are finally hitting their stride. Through trial and error, manufacturers have figured out the sweet spot of features, design, and performance that seems to be resonating with customers.

What's more surprising is that the players in this space aren't the typical cast of characters that Apple is used to fighting. Sure, Samsung makes an appearance, but so does Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Personally, I think this is the most interesting battlefronts in tech right now. The profit margins are razor sharp. Every component and every design decision counts. And in the end, the battle is as much about content and ecosystem as it is about hardware and price.

And so, I present to you the top 7-inch Android tablets under $300, most of which are right around $200. This Top 5 video is pulled from Eric Franklin's roundup of iPad Mini competitorsover on iPad Atlas.

Microsoft won't solely favor Nokia with Windows Phone 8

Microsoft's relationship with Nokia is rock-solid, both companies say, but Microsoft isn't shy about backing HTC, either.

Microsoft and Nokia may have vowed to support one another through thick and thin, but Redmond's newfound vocal support of HTC's Windows Phone 8X device means Microsoft isn't relying on one partner to see its platform through.

Our invitation to Microsoft' official launch of the Windows Phone 8 operating system cleverly wraps event details into HTC's premier Windows Phone. It turns out that this design is one of four depicting key Windows phones that Microsoft sent to journalists inviting them to the event. Two show off HTC handsets and two depict the Nokia Lumia phones.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's involvement in the September Windows Phone 8X unveiling was a show of support for HTC, whose new phones bear a striking resemblance to Nokia's Lumia 920. Although Microsoft is spreading the Windows Phone love, this invitation is one more indication that Microsoft won't play favorites with Nokia, the one company dedicated to solely supporting Windows Phone's platform going forward.

HTC's upsurge as a serious Windows Phone player is significant. Verizon, the U.S.'s largest carrier, is using the Windows Phone 8X device as its first foray into Windows Phone in more than a year. Verizon completely ignored Nokia's Lumia 900 and every other Windows Phone of 2012. If Nokia can't compete with HTC on Verizon, it could easily lose ground to HTC as the U.S.' pre-eminent Windows Phone brand.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X (right) strongly resembles the Nokia Lumia 920.

(Credit: CNET )

For his part, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop projects an air of disconcern. Speaking to CNET in an interview, he said:

Anyone can call their devices "Windows Phone." So, we could call our devices "Windows Phone." But what we did was we established the "Lumia" name for this family of products, because Lumia does signify that we've been able to go a step further than the standard spec with Windows Phone devices.

Nokia has also commented that HTC's unveiling is "more good news for the Windows Phone ecosystem," emphasizing instead its differentiated features, like the PureView camera, wireless charging, and Nokia Music.

We'll see what Microsoft has in store at its October 29 launch. CNET will be on the ground, covering the action.

Dock+ iPhone 5 Charging Dock

Those of you that have already purchased a new iPhone 5 or are thinking about purchasing Apple’s new flagship smartphone. Might be interested in a new iPhone 5 charging docking station that has been developed and is just landed on Kickstarter.

The Dock+ iPhone 5 is machined from a solid block of aluminium, and includes a design which allows you to fit your charging cable through the base of the dock. Check out the video after the jump to learn more about the Dock+ iPhone charger.

“Office. Coffee table. Nightstand. Kitchen. Place Dock+ around your home and office, everywhere you place your iPhone. Free yourself from the charging cable.”

So if you think Dock+ is something you could benefit from, visit the Kickstarter website now to make a pledge and help Dock+ become a reality, with shipping expected to start sometime in March 2013.

Acoustic Barcodes Are The Audio QR Codes Of The Future

A new technology has been created called Acoustic Barcodes which consist of a pattern of physical notches on an object that when swiped with a finger nail, or the edge of the smartphone, created a complex sounds that can then be converted by a smartphone or similar device into a binary ID.

The Acoustic Barcodes work in a similar way to the popular QR codes, but use audio rather than just images. Check out the video after the jump to learn more about the new Acoustic Barcodes and way they could possibly work with smartphone devices and everyday objects.

The creators of Acoustic Barcodes explain : “A single, inexpensive contact microphone attached to a surface or object is used to capture the waveform. We present our method for decoding sounds into IDs, which handles variations in swipe velocity and other factors. Acoustic Barcodes could be used for information retrieval or to triggering interactive functions. They are passive, durable and inexpensive to produce. Further, they can be applied to a wide range of materials and objects, including plastic, wood, glass and stone. We conclude with several example applications that highlight the utility of our approach, and a user study that explores its feasibility.”

Acoustic Barcodes are currently just a concept at the moment, but the idea could very well make the jump to mainstream uses very soon. As always we will keep you updated with progress as more information becomes available. To learn more about the Acoustic Barcodes jump over to the Chris Harrison website.

Painter robot turns your sleep into 'art

Do you toss and turn at night? This hotel robot wants to capture your nightmare-addled slumbers on canvas.

(Credit: Video screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET )

Last time I stayed at an Ibis hotel, I had a good experience. Quick service, decent decor, and a great location in central Busan, South Korea. Sadly, it lacked a robot.

The international chain is making up for this shortcoming by offering something no guest can do without: a robot that paints your sleep patterns.

In a decidedly wacky PR stunt being held in Paris, Berlin, and London, Ibis commissioned a robot arm to turn select guests' sleep data into painted canvases.

The Sleep Art project involves an ABB industrial robot and a special mattress equipped with 80 sensors.

Some canvases recall the geometric doodlings of a Spirograph. Some look like light trails made by fireflies.Throughout the night, sensors pick up data on a sleeper's movements, temperature, and sounds. Algorithms translate them into brushstrokes using a palette of four colors.

I wonder if snoring translates into abstract expressionism.

It took 100 people six months to produce the sleep artist, and it runs on 50,000 lines of code, according to Ibis, which is owned by France-based Accor.

If you want to sign up for the chance to have your sleep painted by the machine, check out the Berlin and London event dates here.

Just don't have any nightmares about robots.

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Leaked 13-inch Retina MacBook pics show ports, not much else

Purported shots of Apple's yet-to-be-announced 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro show Few changes from its larger sibling.

The purported right-side of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

(Credit: WeiPhone )

More photos claiming to depict the parts, and in fact, a working version of Apple's unannounced 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, have surfaced.

MacRumors points to a forum post on Chinese technology site WeiPhone that features a slew of inside and outside of shots of what is said to be the smaller notebook.

What is said to be the inside collection of batteries (yeah, this is the full size of the photo).

(Credit: WeiPhone )

Today's additions show the configuration of six battery packs arranged within the inside of the machine (see the photo on the right), as well as the left- and right-hand sides of the assembled computer. These sides may not be all that exciting, but they suggest that the smaller version of the notebook will sport the same dual Thunderbolt I/O connectors, as well as an SD card slot and HDMI out port found on the bigger model.

The images come on the heels of a report from blog 9to5Mac, which earlier today claimed the 13-inch Retina model would start at $1,699, a full $500 less than the 15-inch model, though $500 more than the entry-level, non-Retina MacBook Pro.

Apple has not announced a smaller version of the Retina-equipped Pro, but is expected to at its event next Tuesday, where it may also debut a smaller version of the iPad, a refreshed MacMini, and new iMac desktops. Production on the 2,560x1,600-pixel display -- which purportedly appears in two of the photos on the WeiPhone forum -- began in August, NPD DisplaySearchanalyst Richard Shim told CNET.

Internet & Media Zuckerberg: In 10 years, folks will share 1,... Zuckerberg: In 10 years, folks will share 1,000 times what they do now

Facebook CEO also tells a packed hall at Stanford University that too many entrepreneurs are working on problems that are too small.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talks with Paul Graham at Y Combinator's "startup school" at Stanford University.

(Credit: Paul Sloan/CNET )

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg addressed an adoring crowd at Y Combinator's startup school today, speaking confidently about Facebook and describing a world in which people will share a whole lot more than they do now -- via Facebook and other social companies.

"It's sort of a social-networking version of Moore's Law," said Zuckerberg, who was interviewed by Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham. "We expect this rate [of sharing] will double every 10 years. So in 10 years from now, people will be sharing about 1,000 times as many things as they do today."

That, of course, is what Zuckerberg and the newly public Facebook are banking on: That the company's 1 billion plus users will keep using Facebook not just for keeping in touch with friends but also for interacting with brands.

Today's interview wasn't about Facebook the business however. This was a crowd of huge fans -- some 1,700 entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who came from across the country, largely to get inspired by Zuckerberg, who was the featured speaker. They packed into Stanford Memorial Hall auditorium, some of them lining up hours in advance to snag a good seat.

So Graham, who runs the most influential startup incubator anywhere, didn't ask about the stock price or about the impact that Facebook's messy IPO has had on startup funding in general. He didn't ask about the ad business. He didn't even once mention the word "mobile," which is Facebook's key challenge now that 600 million Facebook users are accessing the service on their smartphones.

Instead, they talked about Zuckerberg's days at Harvard, where he majored in psychology and began building Facebook in his dorm room before dropping out in 2004 and moving to Palo Alto to go at it full time. Graham asked how much Facebook's first server cost -- answer: $85 -- and Zuckerberg said in the beginning he never spent money Facebook didn't have. He stressed that he didn't start Facebook because he wanted to build a company -- something he talks about in his letter to shareholders -- but because he "really wanted this."

"I felt this need acutely," he said of wanting to build a service to connect people. "I started building Facebook because I wanted it at college, which is one of the ironies, since I then left college."

He talked about this to stress that he thinks entrepreneurs need to focus on big, meaningful problems that they're passionate about. And while he didn't take a shot at Silicon Valley, as he did last year, he did complain that startups are generally tackling small issues.

He told the audience to work on something "that's fundamentally" meaningful and said that he's always had a "fear of getting locked into doing things that aren't most impactful.""A lot of companies I see are working on small problems," he said. "Companies getting started now are trying to copy stuff others are doing and just aren't going to be successful."

"Explore what you want to do before committing," Zuckerberg said, "and keep yourself flexible."

As for Facebook, he argued that the social network is fundamentally changing human behavior by expanding the number of people we can keep in our social circles -- offline and on. When people sign up for Facebook, he said, they initially connect with about 150 friends, because that's generally the number of people that one can keep up with.

But over time, he said, people on Facebook add more and more friends.

"One definition of technology is that it extends human capability," Zuckerberg said. "A social network extends people's real social capacity."