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Montclair State mandates use of GPS-enabled phones
Nearly six months after Slippery Rock University introduced a RFID payment system for mobiles at its campus, we've learned that Montclair State University is requiring that all full-time undergraduates carry a school-issued mobile for their own safety. The handsets, which cost some $210 per semester, are already being carried by about 6,000 students, and feature a GPS function that can be activated to ensure campus police are alerted of their location if something goes awry. Aside from being able to send a request for help immediately, the phone will also call for assistance should the feature remain on for longer than a preset length of time. As it stands, the university has yet to see the Rave Guardian technology used in situations other than false alarms, but a 32-member police force is kept on staff in case any future calls prove legitimate.[Image courtesy of WCBSTV]
Ocean City, NJ geeks up the beach
Visitors to the Jersey shore will soon have more to look forward to than just big hair and Bon Jovi -- Ocean City, in south Jersey, is currently accepting bids for a planned beach network that will encompass everything from tracking parking spots to monitoring garbage can levels. The $3M system, which will feature a mix of WiFi and RFID devices, is expected to cut the costs of running the beach dramatically -- trimming almost half of the $282,000 budget for access badge checkers, for example. Other planned features include the ability to link access wristbands together, so that parents can be alerted via SMS if one of their kids ventures beyond the boundaries of the boardwalk, and RFID payment services for food and souvenir shops. Now all they need is some of those Segway beach cops and the future will have finally arrived.
Mario makes his mark on campus [update 1]
We've seen him as post-it notes and stage plays, but now Mario has been showcased on college campuses as a large collage of shoveled snow. Bridge nine forum poster buzz, a student at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and some friends spent a night creating Raccoon Mario outside of his dorms. In his words, "when you have about 1500 feet of string, 3 hours, 4 inches of snow, and 7 kids ... and nothing better to do ... "The design was made via gridding the image in advance, with one person overseeing the grid and coordinating where to scoop out the snow. Mad respect for buzz and his friends.[Thanks, generica]%Gallery-1807%[Update 1: we made the incorrect implication that string was involved in anything other than gridding. Corrected description and headline.]
Sarnoff wants to scan your iris without your knowledge
Okay, so it's more like the US government wanting to snag shots of your eyeballs sans your knowledge, but still, Sarnoff Corporation (yet another New Jersey firm interested in ocular studies) has recently filed a patent application that spells out a snazzy method of quickly photographing a helpless individual's facial region multiple times in order to (hopefully) capture one solid look at the iris. This newfangled manner of jacking biometrics from clueless pedestrians is actually being requested by the American government, as it apparently hopes to use it to run constant background checks with the information on file in order to peg a threat as they're strolling through. The device is slated to beam a "powerful, infrared strobe light" onto the subjects' faces, which syncs up with the camera exposures and creates a bank of hopeful photos for each individual, presumably chewing through terabytes of hard drive space in the process. Regardless, even this tactical approach probably won't be effective for long -- you know, considering every potential baddie now knows to rock the welder's glasses from here on out.[Via ]
Talking on the phone + riding your bicycle in NJ = $250 ticket
Here at Engdaget we completely support laws that make the roads a safer place for everyone, but this is a little ridiculous. Legislators in New Jersey are trying to pass a law where it would be illegal to talk on your cellphone and ride your bike. No, not a motorcycle, a bicycle. (Yeah, we know what you're thinking.) The rider would get a ticket for doing such and the fine would range from $100 to $250. We guess it could be worse -- we could live somewhere like Lawrence, Kansas or Honolulu, Hawaii where your cell phone can get you a all all types of trouble with the law. [Via Textually]
New Jersey begins taxing iTS downloads like CDs and armored cars
The state of New Jersey is suffering from a slight $4.5 billion debt problem. Macenstein is reporting that amidst a recent sales tax increase and a frantic session of checking the sofa for change, Governor Jon Corzine has expanded the list of items which can be taxed to include, amongst other things, iTunes Store purchases. This means that all iTS downloads will be taxed at the same recently raised 7% rate of other newly taxable items such as storage space, tanning, health club memberships and security alarms.Interestingly, Dr. Macenstein also reports that he'll be trying to work around the new charges by changing his virtual iTS address to another state. C'mon Dr. M, you need to pay up for your tanning and limousine luxuries just like everybody else.
Apple Store Freehold Raceway: Your reports
Earlier today, Apple opened a new retail store in Freehold, New Jersey. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended the openings to share their reports and/or pictures. So, did you make it out this weekend? Let us know in the comments. Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt.
Freehold, NJ Apple Store opens this weekend
Attention, New Jersey: Apple Store Freehold Raceway will open this Saturday, May 27th at 10:00 AM. This store is located at 3710 Route 9 South in Freehold, near the Center Court next to The Limited and Bath & Body Works. You can find complete travel directions here. As usual, the first 1000 visitors will be rewarded with commemorative t-shirts. Visitors can also enter to win the "Grand Opening Sweepstakes," which will award one winner with an iMac, an iPod nano, a Canon digital camera, a Sony Handycam CCD-TRV138, and an HP inkjet printer.If you're going to attend the opening in Freehold, please send us links to your photos and reports! Good luck and have fun (and let us know if Bruce shows up).
Apple Store Garden State: Your reports
This past Saturday, Apple opened its newest retail store at the Garden State Plaza in New Jersey. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. So, did you go, and if you did, how was it? Let us know in the comments. Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt.
New Apple Store to open in the Garden State
Hello, Jersey! This Saturday, February 4th at 10:00 AM, Apple will open its newest retail location, Apple Store Garden State Plaza. This store is located in the Garden State Plaza (as you might expect), I1A in Paramus, on the second level between Nordstrom and Macy's (opposite JC Penney). You can find complete travel directions here. As usual, the first 1000 visitors will be rewarded with commemorative t-shirts. Visitors can also enter to win the “Grand Opening Sweepstakes,” which will award one winner with an iMac, an iPod nano, a Canon digital camera, a Sony Handycam CCD-TRV138, and an HP inkjet printer.If you're going to attend the opening at The Garden State Plaza, please send us links to your photos and reports! Good luck and have fun.