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Periodic Table welcomes two new, ultraheavy elements, jury still out on the names
If you bump in to the Periodic Table of Elements today, be sure to give it a hearty Mazel Tov, because it's just welcomed two new members to the family. Yesterday, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially recognized elements 114 and 116, crediting the discovery to scientists from Russia's Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in California. Boasting atomic masses of 289 and 292, respectively, the new man-made additions are now the heaviest elements on record, seizing the belt from copernicium (285) and roentgenium (272). As with most heavyweights, however, both decay within less than a second, making it difficult for researchers to get a grasp of their chemical properties. Nevertheless, both apparently had enough credibility to survive IUPAC's three-year review process, paving the way for the real fun to begin. At the moment, 114 and 116 are known, rather coldly, as ununquadium and ununhexium, respectively, though their names will eventually be jazzed up -- sort of. The Russian team has already proposed flerovium for 114 (after Soviet nuclear physicist Georgy Flyorov), and, for 116, the Moscow-inspired moscovium, which sounds more like an after shave for particularly macho chemists. IUPAC will have the final say on the matter, though one committee member said any proposed names are likely to be approved, as long as "it's not something too weird." Head past the break for a full, and somewhat obtuse PR.
Android Honeycomb has hidden Gingerbread interface, enabled by higher LCD density
Google's already indicated that tablets and smartphones won't be sharing the same Android build until Ice Cream Sandwich in Q4, though interestingly enough, it turns out that the tablet-friendly Honeycomb actually has Gingerbread's interface quietly tucked underneath. According to modder Graffix0214, all you need for making the jump is one simple tweak in a system file: assuming you already have root access, use your preferred method -- Pocketables recommends the LCDDensity for Root app -- to change the LCD density value to 170 or higher to emulate a smaller, denser display. After a reboot, you should then see some Gingerbread love as demoed by Graffix0214's video after the break; and likewise, set the value to 160 or lower to roll back. It sure is nice to have an option, eh?
Time Warner Cable brings back Discovery, Fox channels to its iPad app
Just a couple of weeks after removing several channels from its live TV streaming iPad app Time Warner Cable has added most of them back again. The notable exception here are networks owned by Viacom, which it took to court last week. So far, other than announcing Discovery and Fox channels are back on the TWCable TV iPad app, we weren't able to get anything other than a no comment out of anyone at the companies involved. That means we don't know if the channel providers have spontaneously come around to Time Warner's way of thinking (this seems unlikely) or if it has simply decided to press the issue. We'll see who is suing who next week, until then you can enjoy watching whatever happens to be on Fox News Channel, FX or National Geographic (if you actually do enjoy that, we don't like to live by programmers broadcast schedules - DVR4LIFE) on your iPad as much as you like.
Time Warner adds Fox and Discovery channels back to app
It's been a back and forth saga with the TWCable TV iPad app. A month ago Time Warner released the app, which let Time Warner cable subscribers view live TV on their iPads, as long as they were connected to their TWC/Road Runner-powered home networks. Less than two days later, Time Warner had to cut the number a channels in half due to overwhelming demand on their authentication servers. Two weeks after that, Time Warner dropped more channels from the app due to pressure from the channels' programmers, in this case Discovery, Fox, and Viacom. However, not being happy about having to drop the channels, Time Warner went to court and requested a declaratory judgment, asking the courts to rule on whether it could or couldn't show cable subscription channels on the iPad. Time Warner's stance was that the iPad was no different that just another TV screen in the house. (This parallels the experience of Cablevision's Optimum for iPad app, which has also faced challenges from Viacom's lawyers.) So much trouble for one app, huh? Well, today Time Warner announced some good news: Fox and Discovery have agreed to allow Time Warner to show some of their channels in the iPad app. Those channels include Discovery Channel, TLC, and Animal Planet from Discovery and FX, Fox News, and National Geographic from Fox. As for the Viacom channels, for now it looks like their fate on the TWCable TV app remains in the hands of the court. Despite the hiccups, as MacRumors points out, Time Warner has slowly been adding more channels to the app; it now has more than 50 available, depending on your subscription package.
TWCable TV iPad app updated with a few more channels, brings back Discovery
Time Warner has added several new cable channels to its TWCable TV iPad app, including Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, which were two of the channels yanked after broadcasters complained. we don't know if they've worked out an agreement over the matter, but viewers can now enjoy those two as well as TLC, Sundance, Lifetime, Military History and Wedding Central on their tablets. Check out the TWCableUntangled blog for the official word, we'll wait and see if Viacom or Fox budge next.
Discovery HD Theater is becoming Velocity, focuses on programming for 'upscale male audience'
This is the last summer for Discovery HD Theater as it will be replaced by Velocity starting September 25th. The new channel focuses on reaching an "upscale male audience" that digs shows like Cafe Racer, Inside West Coast Customs and Mecum Auto Auctions while still promising to keep up HD Theater's rep for high quality production and picture quality. We're sad to see HD Theater fall by the wayside -- Sunrise Earth, never forget -- but if this means we can get a few new episodes of Rides it may not be a bad thing after all. On the other hand, we also remember how well this exact plan failed to save INHD / Mojo years ago. Check out a trailer (that's unfortunately low-res but is the best we could do) and press release for the new network after the break.
Hasbro's My3D to turn iPhones into glorified ViewMasters starting Sunday
It's about time the ViewMaster got an upgrade. What's that? It's not a ViewMaster? Well, you could have fooled us, but either way, the thing's finally going on sale exclusively at Target April 3rd, and everywhere else starting in June. As you might have already heard, Hasbro's intro into the crowded 3D arena, simply titled My3D, does take a card from the old ViewMaster deck, but instead of enlisting cardboard discs, this thing uses your iPhone or iPod touch to bring you 3D entertainment. If your kid's not already hooked on 3D, the $35 viewer could be a decent starter -- then again, for $35 you could take yourself out to a nice lunch, give the rug rat a cardboard box, and call it a day. Full PR after the break.
Time Warner Cable's app adds new live TV channels to watch on your iPad
Disputes with Fox, Viacom and Discovery caused Time Warner to pull 11 of the 32 original channels from its live TV streaming TWCable TV app yesterday, but as promised it has brought in some new ones to replace them. Among the 17 channels added are several networks from the ABC/Disney group including ABC Family, Disney, Disney XD and ESPNnews, plus NBC Universal selections like MSNBC, Syfy and USA as well as the curious addition of Fox News. We're still not convinced watching TV on our tablet is a more useful development than using it as a remote/couch companion but until those features arrive or the app gets sued out of existence, that's what this one does. Check the full list of new channels after the break or on the TWCable Untangled blog. Update: There's no word from Time Warner, but Multichannel News reports five more new channels have been added this afternoon - Bloomberg TV, PBS Kids Sprout, Hallmark Movie Channel, Current TV and TruTV. Turner also stated TBS will join them once the app supports MLB blackout restrictions, which is also the reason why other ESPN stations aren't included yet.
Time Warner Cable iPad app drops channels under programmer pressure
Time Warner's TWCable TV app has been forced to drop several channels after some programmers demanded it do so. The app allows Time Warner subscribers to watch TV shows on their iPads without paying any additional fees, and that "no additional fees" part is apparently what some programmers weren't okay with. Time Warner's email to customers detailing the change is full of some great zingers against the programmers who forced this change upon it, and we've reprinted some of them on the next page. Meanwhile, the following channels have been removed from Time Warner's app: Discovery channels: Animal Planet, Discovery, TLC Fox channels: FX, National Geographic Viacom channels: BET, CMT, Comedy, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike, VH1 Time Warner assures its customers that no other channels are expected to be dropped, and it's working to add channels to replace those it's been forced to remove. .
Time Warner removes channels from iPad app while Cablevision prepares one of its own
Time Warner Cable was the first party to blink in the battle with programmers over its new live TV streaming TWCable TV iPad app, removing channels from Viacom, Fox and Discovery. The company's official statement indicates its merely choosing to focus on the "enlightened programmers" who support its cause and that it will provide replacement channels (maybe BBC America, since it's in all the screenshots) ASAP, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Expect the legal fight to continue to heat up between Time Warner, which believes it has obtained all the rights necessary to provide these channels on any screen in a customer's home, and the programmers, that think it hasn't. Throwing more gasoline on the fire is word from Cablevision that its new iPad app with TV and video on-demand access was supposed to be out already and is merely awaiting Apple's approval before it launches. According to the Wall Street Journal it will go forward launching the Optimum Link -- formerly PC to TV Media Relay -- product that brings video from their PC to the TV tomorrow. Check out the list of pulled channels after the break or on Time Warner's blog, we'll let you know when or if anything changes.
NASA says International Space Station is now 'essentially' complete
The news got a bit overlooked among the hubbub of Discovery's final flight and the first humanoid robot sent into space, but the recently completed shuttle mission also marked another significant milestone: it delivered the final room to the International Space Station. While there are still some additional components to be added, the new room dubbed the "Permanent Multipurpose Module" is NASA's final contribution to the actual assembly of the station and, according to the agency, it means that it has "essentially completed" all that it had planned. The two remaining shuttle missions will just be carrying supplies and spare parts, along with a little $1.5 billion experiment called the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which will be used to search for fun stuff like antimatter galaxies and dark matter.
Space Shuttle Discovery returns from final trip, immediately begins search for final resting place
It's a bittersweet occasion, really. Space Shuttle Discovery has just returned from the unknown that we call "space," safely returning six astronauts and one zero Robonaut 2s to Earth after a 13-day mission. Discovery's legacy stretches back 27 years, compiling 39 flights during that span and making an indelible mark on the history of American space exploration. This guy is also the first shuttle to be retired after NASA was rocked a few years back by the impossible-to-ignore budget crunch, and already museums and institutes (29 at last count) are lining up to lobby their case for capturing it. No question, having this 170,000 pound benemoth at your museum would likely benefit admission numbers, but it's not like Discovery will be the only craft calling it quits in the near future. As of now, no decision has been made as to where it'll wheel off to for the final time, but you can bet whoever lands it will make quite the scene. [Image courtesy of Stephen Clark]
Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 4:50PM ET today with Robonaut 2 on board
We doubt many of you need a reminder but, just in case, we're here to let you know that Space Shuttle Discovery is set for lift off today, at 4:50PM ET. While all shuttle launches are certainly worth watching, this one's particularly notable for a number of reasons -- it's the last mission for Discovery and the third-to-last mission for the entire Space Shuttle program, and it's the first mission to carry a humanoid robot into space: our friend Robonaut 2. Head on past the break to watch Spaceflight Now's live coverage of the launch. [Image: NASA / Flickr] Update: Liftoff! Humanoid robots in spaaaaaace.
Watch space shuttle Discovery's final launch from PlayStation Home premium yacht
Home users! Be sure to step out of your promotional wastelands and secret subscriber enclaves today, for the sake of history. Space shuttle Discovery is taking off for the last time today at 4:50PM ET, and you can watch the whole thing from the confines of the PS3's virtual world. However, there is a catch. You can't just watch from your own room in Home or the Central Plaza or wherever -- you can only view the launch from the Loot Sunset Yacht, a "premium personal space" available for purchase (previously known as the "Amaterasu Yacht"). Of course, this makes the event sound a bit less "historic" and more like "paying Sony for the privilege of watching your avatar watch the shuttle launch, instead of just watching it yourself on your whole TV screen for free."
Avatar Creations lays out plans for Perpetuum's future
While there are some still players steaming about the recent insurance fraud situation in Perpetuum, many others are excited about the plans that Avatar Creations has revealed in its most recent dev blog. After receiving player feedback indicating that the company wasn't doing as good a job of communicating its plans for the game as many players would like, the team decided to lay out its development goals well into the latter half of this year in a new dev blog -- and those goals look pretty awesome! Starting off, players will be glad to hear that the upcoming PvE content that the devs were hinting at isn't just more missions and mob grinding. Instead, players are going to be treated to a new system: artifact scanning and discovery. By scanning down hidden spots, players can net basic goodies like salvage containers all the way up to special alien intel revealing special missions or new Mk2 robots. What's better, the devs intend to add more things into the artifacting system as things develop, offering a plethora of possibilities for everyone from the solo carebears to the largest groups. Among the other plans are a new energy-credit system (which will give players the chance to pick up even more new modules and components), changes to the Assignments currently offered in-game, help for corporations seeking to recruit new players, area-of-effect explosions for your PvP fiends, new lands, terraforming, and much more. So if you've been curious about the plans for this fascinating indie sci-fi sandbox, then head over to the Perpetuum site and check out all the details in this wide-ranging devblog.
3net 24/7 3D channel launches this weekend, but only on DirecTV
The number of 24/7 broadcasting 3D channels in the US will go from one to three next week, now that Sony, Imax and Discovery have announced the launch of their channel, 3net, on DirecTV alongside its existing n3D channel and ESPN 3D, which will start looping its sports videos 24/7 on Valentine's Day. Scheduled to go live at 8 p.m. Sunday night on channel 107 it promises fresh debuts all month with a new show added to the rotation every night at 9 p.m. It's big promise is to "offer viewers the largest library of native 3D entertainment content in the world by the end of 2011" although any 3D TV owners who don't have DirecTV would probably just be glad if it got added to their channel lineups anytime soon, check the press release after the break for all the details.
Sony, Discovery and IMAX 3D channel dubbed 3net, adds a little more content before launch
Still without an exact release date, the 24/7 3D channel from Sony, IMAX and Discovery at least has a name now: 3net. It promises "the world's largest library of native 3D content" when it launches early this year and also had a few new selections -- Hubble 3D, In the Qube 3D and Wildebeest Migration -- to announce during Sony's presser yesterday. The press release is after the break but until there's a launch date announced the one detail we're really waiting for just won't be found.
OpenFeint's promotional app now called Game Channel
Social gaming network OpenFeint has had its own app for a while now, offering up news and information for players playing games with the technology built-in. But the app recently underwent a re-branding of sorts -- it's now called Game Channel (not to be, or possibly to be, confused with Game Center), and is now built around a Groupon-style model. The app has offered up a Free App of the Day for a while now, but in addition to the freebies, it now also has a feature called "Fire Sale," in which players can "vote" for certain games to go on sale. It'll be interesting to see how that works -- one of the biggest issues developers are facing on the App Store is simply getting their app discovered by players, and this seems like yet another outlet for OpenFeint-enabled games to find their customers. The app also helps with discoverability in other ways as well: you can see what your friends are playing, and track leaderboards and all of OpenFeint's other stats right there. It's tough to actually call this an attack on Game Center, since Game Center isn't really in competition -- it's already installed on every mobile iOS device anyway. But Game Channel does look like a little innovation from OpenFeint in terms of getting its apps out there. If you haven't picked up the app now called Game Channel, it's a free download from the App Store.
Report: In-app purchases to overtake download revenues by 2013
Here's an interesting report from Juniper Research. According to their work, mobile app revenues will reportedly grow from the current US $6 billion to a whopping $11 billion by 2015. And the majority of that revenue will come not from the standard download fee, but instead from in-app purchases, according to Juniper. The firm claims that in-app purchase revenue will top one-off download fees by 2013. That seems hard to believe, given my current anecdotal usage, but there's no question that in-app purchases are growing by leaps and bounds as a form of sizable revenue for app developers. Jupiter's report also says that the biggest problem facing mobile app growth is just plain discovery -- with so many apps out there, it's hard for users to find new apps that they like, so what you tend to see is clumps of apps getting popular rather than users going out and finding their own favorites. Services like OpenFeint and Game Center have certainly helped to share information about new apps, and of course sites like ours try to spotlight as many apps as we can. But with a store full of hundreds of thousands of apps in it, it's tough to let more than a few hundred really shine. Maybe as we move forward, developers and Apple will come up with better solutions to help do that.
NASA makes 'astrobiology discovery,' schedules press conference for Thursday to discuss alien life
So NASA seems to have made some hot new astrobiology discovery, but just like the tech companies we're more used to dealing with, it's holding the saucy details under embargo until 2PM on Thursday. That's when it's got a press conference scheduled to discuss its findings, which we're only told "will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life." It's unlikely, therefore, that little green (or brown, or red, or blue) men have been captured somewhere on the dark side of the moon, but there'll definitely be some impactful news coming within only a couple of days. NASA promises a live online stream of the event, which we'll naturally be glued to come Thursday.
