changing

Bringing sustainability home to Main Street

AUSTIN, Texas--Imagine a community--urban, suburban, or rural, your pick--that has more choices for housing.

More options to get where you need to go. Closer to jobs. Closer to stores. Closer to schools.

Insulated from the whims of oil prices in the Middle East. Clean water to drink. Crisp air to breathe.

Seventy-nine percent of Americans say they're on board with this vision. (Just 5 percent oppose.)

But call it "sustainability," "livability," or "smart growth"? Wave goodbye to your support.

A panel of experts gathered here today at the inaugural SXSW Eco conference to debate the methods of achieving concepts most Americans support without allowing them to be mired in politics.

Their conclusion? Get the messaging right from day one.

"Part of our problem is too much focus on cities at the expense of our friends in suburban and rural areas," said Robin Rather, chief executive of market research firm Collective Strength.

"We are right now facing a hellacious attack organized by [conservatives] on the notion of sustainability. Part of it is because we focus on cities, celebrate cities, and are not reaching out to suburban folks." … Read more

Facebook is still free, so stop with that silly rumor

It happens every so often; a rumor starts somewhere in cyberspace and people pass it around as if it's true, like they really believe it. With all of the Facebook chatter over changes that have just been implemented--a new News Feed and Ticker--as well as upcoming changes announced at Facebook's f8 developer's conference, Facebook users can't help but join in the conversation.

From members posting about how they welcome the upgrades to many threatening to flee the social network because they liked Facebook sans updates, another Facebook tale started to make the rounds this … Read more

Facebook's interface changes

Instagram adds real-time filter previews to its apps, Vimeo builds a new, legal music library that video creators can tap, and Facebook updates its interface again to add instant feed updates.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Gore tweaks climate call with '24 Hours of Reality'

Climate change activist, former vice president, and near-president Al Gore will present a 24-hour live Webcast--"24 Hours of Reality"--on September 14-15 that's meant to counteract what a statement about the event calls misinformation on global warming.

The Webcast consists of 24 back-to-back screenings of a new multimedia presentation by Gore, introduced live by presenters in 24 different parts of the world, and in 13 different languages. It heralds a new focus for Gore's nonprofit Alliance for Climate Protection, which is changing its name to The Climate Reality Project. Reads a statement on the Reality Project's Web site:

This campaign comes at a critical time. As the impacts of climate change are growing more prevalent, so is the resistance to finding the truth and implementing solutions. Just like the tobacco companies that spent decades in denial that smoking causes cancer, oil and coal companies are determined to sow denial and confusion about the science of climate change, ignore its impacts, and create apathy among our leaders. This event is the first step in a larger, multi-faceted campaign to tell the truth about the climate crisis and reject the misinformation we hear every day."

The art of climate change

When people think of batiks, many probably think of psychedelic wall hangings made in crafts class or at summer camp. They haven't seen Mary Edna Fraser's work.

Her hand-dyed canvases--some 8 feet tall or larger--depict the solar system, barrier reefs, hurricanes, tsunamis, oil spills, and melting glaciers in vibrant color and stunning narrative patterns.

To make batiks, removable wax is applied to fabric, creating areas that will repel dye while unwaxed areas absorb it. Much of Fraser's recent art represents her personal response to a warming planet.

"Current impacts of global change stir my scientific and … Read more

Is Apple stonewalling Sony on Reader app?

Call it the case of the missing app.

As Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google have updated their e-reader apps to adhere to Apple's new in-app subscription rules that require app developers to strip out any links to external mechanisms for purchasing digital books or subscriptions, one iOS app from a major e-reader player remains mysteriously unavailable: the Sony Reader app.

You may not remember but Apple rejected Sony's Reader iPhone app back in January for allegedly linking off to Sony's online e-bookstore. I should also note that Sony Reader users have been patiently awaiting Reader … Read more

Former Microsoft server boss heads to Juniper Networks

Some six and a half months after announcing plans to part ways with Microsoft, former server and tools boss Bob Muglia has found a new home.

Juniper Networks today announced that Muglia will be joining the network equipment maker to serve as executive vice president of its software solutions division. Similar to his role at Microsoft, Muglia will be reporting directly to the CEO. In this case, that's Kevin Johnson, a former president of Microsoft's platforms and services division who joined Juniper in 2008.

"We are excited to have a leader of Bob's caliber coming on … Read more

Survey: iPhone leads Android among new buyers

The iPhone is the No. 1 choice among consumers planning to buy a new smartphone over the next 90 days, according to data released today by ChangeWave Research.

In a poll conducted in June surveying 4,163 smartphone consumers in North America, 46 percent of those planning to buy a new phone said they'll opt for an iOS device. That figure is two percentage points higher than the one seen in ChangeWave's latest survey, held in March. Trailing in second place is Android, with 32 percent saying they'll pick up a phone running Google's mobile OS, … Read more

Apple tweaks international App Store pricing

What does a dollar get you in Apple's App Store these days? Not the same thing it may have gotten you yesterday if you're a non-U.S. buyer.

As picked up by MacStories and MacRumors, Apple's rolled out sweeping pricing changes to content in its international App Stores. For some the change has been beneficial with app prices going down; for others, software has seen a price increase.

An Apple spokeswoman told CNET the "minor" price adjustments are due to changes in foreign exchange rates and local tax laws in those countries. Those changes are … Read more

Great geometry tool

GeoGebra, the free, open-source mathematics software is designed for math classrooms in secondary schools, but anyone who uses geometry, algebra, or calculus should check it out. It combines a flexible, easy-to-use geometry tool with direct input of equations and coordinates. It can create points, vectors, lines, segments, conic sections, and more using preconfigured tools and handle variables for vectors, numbers, and points. It's available in many languages and is supported by a community of users and developers as well as a useful Web-based Help file, a forum, and a wiki. It requires the Java Runtime Environment.

GeoGebra's default … Read more