Wisconsin
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Blue Origin will take you on a (simulated) space ride at Oshkosh
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is displaying its historic New Shepard rocket and offering simulated space rides at the EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh. That's the same New Shepard that served as key for the company to beat SpaceX in the reusable rocket race. In November 2015, it flew over the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space before heading back down to become the first rocket to achieve a vertical landing. Blue Origin then used it for four more missions in 2016 to prove that it truly is reusable.
Big Ten Network adds 'League of Legends' to its tournament lineup
The Big Ten Network announced on Thursday that it's adding a less conventional sport to its conference title coverage. Now, in addition to everything from baseball and basketball to football and field hockey, subscribers will be able to see their favorite schools compete against one another in League of Legends. Yeah, the video game.
Wisconsin's sentencing algorithm faces a court battle
Many people are nervous about the prospect of using algorithms to predict crime, and a legal battle in Wisconsin is illustrating why. The state's Supreme Court is close to ruling on an appeal from Eric Loomis, who claims that the justice system relied too heavily on its Compas algorithm to determine the likelihood of repeat offenses and sentence him to 6 years in prison. His attorneys claim that the code is "full of holes," including secret criteria and generic decisions that aren't as individually tailored as they have to be. For instance, they'll skew predictions based on your gender or age -- how does that reflect the actual offender?
Jury rules Apple owes $234 million for University of Wisconsin patents
Apple's loss of a patent infringement case to the University of Wisconsin could turn out to be a costly one, as a jury ruled today that it owes the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation $234 million. The technology at issue is used for A7, A8 and A8X processors (found inside the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 series, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, Apple TV 4 and other devices), and is supposed to increase efficiency. Apple told Reuters that it plans to appeal the ruling, but had no further comment. It had argued that WARF deserved a total fee of less than the $110 million Intel paid in a settlement over the patents, but the jury decided differently. While it can certainly handle the financial hit ,the trouble may not stop there -- WARF has also filed a lawsuit against Apple for its new A9 CPUs that are inside the new iPhone 6s family and iPad Pro. Update: WARF managing director Carl Gulbrandsen said "The jury recognized the seminal computer processing work that took place on our campus. This decision is great news for the inventors, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for WARF." [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images[
Chicago court rules Google not responsible for unflattering search results
Everyone googles themselves at some point -- even the people who say they don't. But if you don't like what you see when that search box offers possible queries linked to your name, don't go suing Google. The search giant is officially not to blame. That's the official ruling handed down by the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago today which found Google not at fault for a search result linking Wisconsin resident Beverly Stayart's name to ads for Levitra (a male erectile dysfunction drug). According to Reuters, presiding Judge Ann Claire Williams deemed the search result an exception to the state's misappropriation laws due to its incidental nature (Stayart is a poet and animal rights advocate). The case marks the second courtroom loss for Stayart who had originally leveled the same charges against Yahoo. Unfortunately for Stayart, the buzz from news like this will only help promote the "scandalous" search results she so badly wants erased.
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we've seen T-Mobile expand its network coverage and take an argument to the FCC regarding interoperability requirements of the 700MHz band. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of March 12th, 2012.
iPads for Madison, WI schools purchased with Microsoft lawsuit settlement funds
A total of about 1,400 iPads are heading to schools in Madison, Wisconsin during 2012, indirectly paid for by none other than Microsoft. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the school district is acquiring iPads as they are less expensive, easier to use, and more portable than the usual computers purchased for educational use. Bill Smojver, the director of technical services for the Madison School District, referred to Apple's recent educational announcements about iBooks Author, iBooks 2, and digital textbooks as a "significant development." Deputy superintendent of schools Sue Abplanalp said that Madison administrators found that students using tablets were more engaged in the classroom, as evidenced by a demonstration they witnessed in the Chicago Public Schools. The school district will get the iPads through a traditional Apple educational discount for about $479 each, with the final tab being paid for with part of a nearly US$80 million settlement between Microsoft and the state of Wisconsin. That 2009 settlement was the end result of a lawsuit that alleged that Microsoft cheated consumers by overpricing its software for years. [via AppleInsider]
Wisconsin library loans iPads for at home e-reading
If you thought hitting up the local library was far too Web 1.0 for your avant-garde lifestyle, you may want to check out the Eau Claire public library in Wisconsin -- it's not only lending books, but also, iPads. Each one of the 44 available tablets will be stuffed to the digital gills with 1,000 books, ten audiobooks and various apps for your reading (or, not reading) pleasure. Although other houses of learning have launched similar programs, this is the first of note to go with Apple slates for its e-reading experiment. If you're the proud owner of a library card and have less than $10 in fines, you too can get in line for one of the loaners. We wonder, does the old saying "you break it, you buy it" apply here?
Wisconsin town approves early plans for Gary Gygax memorial
Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons (and thus many of the mechanics modern role-playing video games are based on), passed away a few years ago, and the interest trying to build a memorial for him in his hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin has just cleared a hurdle with the local Board of Park Commissioners. The Board has granted a 10 foot by 10 foot area of land inside Donian Park as a potentially suitable place for a memorial to be set up. What would said memorial look like? The official minutes of the meeting approved a design that would include "a castle turret with a bust on top and possibly have a dragon wrapped around the turret." Sounds appropriate for the creator of D&D. The next step in the process is to officially design the statue, and then come back to the board with a detailed map and design. We assume the board will have to roll a d20 at some point -- hopefully the modifier is high.
Visualized: world's largest neutrino observatory rivals Guatemala sinkhole
Without question, one of the images from 2010 will be the insane, almost incomprehensible sinkhole that emerged in Guatemala earlier this year, but this particular shot from the South Pole does an outstanding job of vying for equal attention. Coming directly from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this is a look into the planet's largest neutrino observatory, which was just completed after half a decade of work with $279 million. The goal? To detect "subatomic particles traveling near the speed of light," and when you have an ice-bound telescope that encompasses a cubic kilometer of Antarctic ice, well... you've high hopes for success. Will this pipe into the underworld finally lead us to understanding Dark Matter? Will century-old mysteries of the universe finally have answers? Even if not, we're envisioning a heck of an entry fee when it's converted into the world's longest firehouse pole and marketed to affluent tourists who make the trip down.
Patent Wars, Episode V: Apple Strikes Back
It is a dark time for the smartphone market. Although the Blackberry has been destroyed, patent suits have driven handset makers from their hidden laboratories and pursued them across the galaxy. Evading the dreaded Motorola patent suits, a pair of new lawsuits led by six Apple Multi-Touch and OS patents has established a new complaint for patent infringement on the remote ice world of The Western District of Wisconsin. Steve Jobs, obsessed with suing Android handset makers, has dispatched thousands of patents into the far reaches of the US court system....
Wisconsin jail outlaws Dungeons & Dragons
[Image: Wiki Commons] And here we thought Wisconsin couldn't get any more depressing. Kevin T. Singer, an inmate at Wisconsin's Waupun prison, has been upset with a policy enacted in 2004 that banned all Dungeons & Dragons in the jail. Officials there cited the game promotes gang behavior and subsequently confiscated all of Singer's D&D materials. Singer's long been a fan of the pen-and-paper game and tried to appeal the policy, but the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals filed in favor of the prison on Monday, stating that its policy wasn't unreasonable. Singer argued that the ruling is a violation of his First Ammendment rights, but we guess he failed to gain respect for his cause when he signed his appeal with his elvish mage's name: Gilchall Helehuialagos. [Via G4]
The Queue: Left 4 Cheesehead
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today.I was horrified to find endless amounts of Wisconsin hate in the comments of yesterday's edition of The Queue. Come on, Wisconsin rules! Well, no, the few bubbles of real civilization in Wisconsin rule. Milwaukee, Madison, and maybe (maybe) the Green Bay area. Everything in between those points are like something out of a horror movie. In transit from Milwaukee to Madison, all of the passengers in the car keep their eyes squeezed shut while the driver breaks out in a cold sweat. Packers fans fling themselves at your vehicle like the undead, crying out for your blood and pounding their fists on your windows. The only thing that you can do, the only thing you want to do, is keep driving.Milwaukee, though? Totally rules.aw232 asked..."I'm starting to think that there won't be a raid included in 3.2. I've heard about a new battleground, an expansion of the argent tournament but nothing about a new raid. Is there any confirmation or denial on if there will be a new raid before Icecrown?"
Charter's Moxi 3012 HD DVR rollout reaches Wisconsin
Looking for a Moxi box without paying $799 (even in easy monthly payments) up front? We got the heads up that Charter is expanding the footprint for its Cable HD DVR 3012 multistream CableCARD box, starting with Wisconsin. Apparently following a successful test in St. Louis Charter is ready to deploy 23,000 of the set-top boxes in 2009 and make it the primary DVR in the area. No official word from Charter on the new hardware yet, but the trend of Digeo actually shipping units is one we can get used to.[Thanks, Anonymous]
Wisconsin placing 5% tax on downloaded games, items
Wisconsin will implement a 5 percent sales tax on "digital goods" starting October 1, reports The Spectator. The tax is expected to raise $10.9 million over the next two years; meanwhile, the state currently has a $6 billion budget deficit. That's like trying to melt an iceberg by licking it.The tax will affect music, movies, digital books, ringtones, games and DLC -- no mention of porn (but that's streamed now anyway, not really "downloaded"). Wisconsin isn't pure evil, though, it did begin offering a 25 percent tax break to game developers last year. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have: the facts of life. [Via GamePolitics; image credit: cdw9]
Milwaukee's WISN introduces HD on-screen weather graphic
It's a pet peeve of anyone who watches any amount of high-definition television: the oh-so-annoying weather caption. Picture this: you and your pals gather 'round the tele to catch an HD sporting event, and on the final play of the second half, your local broadcaster decides to insert a breaking weather scroll to inform you that it's been snowing for four hours now. Traditionally, that insertion forces the game to shift to an SD feed, essentially ruining your viewing experience. Thankfully, the engineers at Milwaukee's WISN have figured out how to slot in an HD-friendly weather bug that keeps viewers up to speed on alerts while keeping their hair follicles safe and frustration levels down. Kudos, WISN.
TWC adding more HD to Wisconsin's lineup
The weather's getting pretty extreme up in Northeast Wisconsin right about now, so it's a perfect time for a new batch of HD stations to keep you cozy inside the house. As of this moment, users in the region should see USA HD (536), SciFi HD (562) and Travel HD (570), while Golf HD (525) and Versus HD (526) are expected to split into two stations come Monday. Also of note, Fox Cities TV has dug up a legal notice that hints at a number of other high-def stations coming soon; among them are: FX HD, LMN HD, Weather HD, Cinemax HD, Starz HD, Bravo HD, CNBC HD, Speed HD and Planet Green HD. Needless to say, it'd be a very merry holiday 'round these parts should that load show up in the near future. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via Fox Cities TV]Update: We've also been informed that these channels have been delivered to Southeast Wisconsin. Thanks, Don!
AT&T's U-verse Total Home DVR arrives in Green Bay, WI
Just as it did in nearby Milwaukee, AT&T has activated its Total Home DVR software in Green Bay, Wisconsin without even telling a soul. As of now, fanatics gearing up for tomorrow's showdown in Minnesota can check out the spoils of watching any recorded SD / HD material on any connected TV anywhere in the house. Give it a go on your box and see just how magical network streaming can be.[Thanks, Matthew]
AT&T U-Verse shows up in Madison, Wisconsin, badgers get celebratory
Man, talk about being loved. The citizens of Madison, Wisconsin are indeed loved... at least by programming providers. Not too terribly long after Charter added in a half dozen HD channels to its lineup in the area -- and just weeks after DISH Network finally delivered HD locals to Badgerville -- along comes official word from AT&T that U-verse is also ready for consumption. Select Madison-area residents can now opt for AT&T's fiber-based TV, high-speed internet and digital phone services, and given that the provider just boosted its HD count by 30 (for free), today seems like an excellent day to mull a switch. If you're parked in Beloit, Fitchburg, Janesville, Madison, Maple Bluff, Middleton, Monona or Shorewood Hills (among other South Central Wisconsin communities), feel free to give AT&T a call and see if it's available at your domicile.[Thanks, Nik]
TWC Wisconsin offers World Series to LIN TV-area customers
My, my -- now isn't this nifty. Time Warner Cable in Northeast Wisconsin is just one of the many areas still fighting with LIN TV in an attempt to get LIN TV-owned stations back in the EPG. As you can likely guess, the World Series is being played right now on one such station (WLUK), which obviously is no longer available via TWC to NE Wisconsin subscribers. In a workaround that can only be described as brilliant, it is bringing the Fall Classic to viewers via FOX Sports Espanol (slot 70; SD only) and encouraging them to catch the English play calling through the radio. We've no clue if other TWC regions are dabbling in the same black magic, but we can't help but chuckle and offer up a round of golf claps -- this, friends, is determination at work. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via FoxCitiesTV]
