Manage updates with the Download App
World's first natural-gas-powered chopper
Chesapeake Energy Corporation partnered with Orange County Choppers in Orange County, New York, to create the compressed-natural-gas-powered chopper.
nature
The 404 338: Where we boldly go to see 'Star Trek'
The 404 crew goes to see the new "Star Trek" film by director J.J. Abrams. It's a reboot of the venerable Star Trek television series that most geeks grew up watching. Our good buddy and Photoshop contest winner Jacky W. Chen came with us, along with Edouard, our new bouncer.
We try to keep the show spoiler-free today, but in case you didn't know from the movie poster, Tyler Perry is in the movie. Overall, we think it's a great, fun film, but there are some deep plot holes you could fly the Enterprise through. Check out our video wrap-up from the opening here in New York on CNET TV.
On today's show, we find out the origins of the name Twitter. Apparently, its etymology is whale-based. The Natural History Museum Whale also follows us today. In more crazy news from the Web, "DJ Hero" comes out soon to ensure that the next generation of children will not know how to play a single real musical instrument.
In more video game news, Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is rated T for teen, but on the box, it contains "alcohol references, fantasy violence, mild language, partial nudity, and suggestive themes." We wonder what you have to do to get a M-rating now. Finally, if you're still living your mother's basement and playing World of Warcraft, we've got a gadget for you that will ensure that you will never get a girlfriend. It is a hut that will let players isolate themselves from the outside world, feed them, and possibly even wipe their butts. We're not sure if the last one is really a feature, but it's definitely in the same vein.
Keep calling into the show at 1-866-404-CNET (2638). We love your voice mails. Next week, we've got Molly Wood joining us on the show along with the equally lovely @LizMoney from the Gadget411 and Anna David!
Episode 338 Download today's podcast | Subscribe in iTunes audio Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreHow to reduce your impact on the planet
Earth Day happens one day a year. But it should spur us to do our best to reduce our impact on the environment for the other 364.
I've picked five sites that provide a framework for how to live your life in a way that's better for the environment. Whether it's car-pooling or simply eating the right foods, you'll find ways to be a more responsible Earthling.
The tools of the trade Though there are countless "carbon calculators" on the Web that try to measure your carbon footprint, the Carbon Diet does it better.When you start using Carbon Diet, you'll be required to input your usage of electricity, natural gas, and vehicle fuel. Simply input your monthly bill amounts and Carbon Diet will do the rest. It then calculates your impact on the environment. You can go back each month to update your usage. As you input more information about your activities, it continuously modifies your impact, displaying graphs and charts to give you a visual outline of what you're doing to the planet.
The best tool on Carbon Diet is its "analysis" feature, which examines your activities and gives you tips toward becoming a more responsible environmentalist. It told me that I need to stop driving so much. I also need to turn the TV off instead of leaving it on for most of the day.
You'll learn a lot from Carbon Diet. It's the best carbon calculator I've seen. Try it out.
The Daily Green is the best resource for green living on the Web. It delves into healthy recipes, better living, low-impact gardening, and more.When you first go to The Daily Green, you'll probably have trouble finding what you're looking for simply because there's so much content to consult. If you start with the news, you'll find a host of interesting articles and discussions on topics that relate to the green lifestyle. The section is also filled with articles on political news surrounding environmental concerns.
But the most value you'll get from The Daily Green can be found in the site's "Tips and Advice" tab, which shows you ways to save money with green products. The site also provides advice on how to turn your home green so you become a more responsible environmentalist.
If you want to change the way you eat, The Daily Green also has green recipes. All of the dishes contain organic products, like soy milk and basmati rice. The site claims green food is just as delicious as dishes that don't use organic ingredients. I can't corroborate that claim--the recipes didn't sound all that appetizing to me.
The Daily Green is the perfect destination to immerse yourself in the green lifestyle. It makes you a better inhabitant of Earth.… Read more
this is a test
Coal-to-gas venture GreatPoint heads to China
If your mission is to make coal less polluting, China is a good place to start.
GreatPoint Energy, a start-up with technology to convert coal to cleaner-burning natural gas, expects to open a demonstration plant in China in three years.
The plant would cost between $100 million and $200 million and be located at a coal-fired power plant operated by Datang Huanyin Electric Power. Most of the financing for the plant will come from Datang, one of the biggest single polluters on the planet, according to GreatPoint Energy CEO Andrew Perlman.
Although GreatPoint Energy's business is focused on fossil … Read more
Microsoft's Surface to touch 12 markets abroad
Microsoft is looking to keep the smile on its Surface computer, as it brings the PC to 12 overseas markets.
The software giant on Monday announced that the Surface computer, which responds to touch and hand gestures, will be marketed in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. The computer is currently distributed in the United States and Canada.
According to a statement by Panos Panay, Microsoft Surface's general manager:
Since our initial launch of Microsoft Surface, we've received an overwhelming response from companies worldwide that are … Read more
Amazon.com has the Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard for $73.49, after $26.50 savings.
Nothing But Software has the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred - ( v.9 ) - complete package for $74.95, after $110.04 savings and $15 mail-in rebate (Expires 1/11/2009).
Intel develops fast, cheap optical links on silicon
Intel is claiming "world record" performance in optical communications using silicon photonics, in a development announced in the journal Nature Photonics.
Silicon photonics-based photo dectors are used to send and receive optical information, particularly in very high-bandwidth applications like supercomputers. Intel says silicon photonics is essential for "ultra-fast transfer of data (in) future computers powered by many processor cores."
The development is significant because it is based on silicon--a readily available, low-cost material used in semicondutor chips today--and outperforms more exotic, pricier materials. To date, Silicon photonics technology, using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) techniques, has suffered … Read more
A kinder, gentler headphone
When earbuds just aren't enough to keep the distracting masses from interrupting whatever it is you're preoccupied with at the time, portable headphones are the next step.
On Thursday, Ultrasone announced the HFI-15G headphones. Deemed the smallest headphones in Ultrasone's line--although exactly how small is unclear--the HFI-15G features Ultrasone's patented S-Logic Natural Surround Sound technology. What exactly is the big deal about that?
Well, according to the company, the technology reduces sound pressure on the eardrum by up to 40 percent. It's supposed to result in a safer listening experience for the user. The S-logic … Read more
