Google streamlining its approach to digital copyright

Google streamlining its approach to digital copyright

Google is making changes to how it deals with DMCA takedown notices and counter-notices.

Bacteria first species observed to use arsenic-laced DNA backbone

Bacteria first species observed to use arsenic-laced DNA backbone

Phosphorus is fundamental to the chemistry of DNA, but a bacterial strain has been evolved that replaces some of that key element with arsenic.

BBC goes global with iPlayer subs, launching on iPad first

BBC goes global with iPlayer subs, launching on iPad first

The BBC will kick off one of the first global online video-on-demand services in the world with a subscription-based iPad app early next year.

The physics and biology of the TSA's backscatter security scanners

The physics and biology of the TSA's backscatter security scanners
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Confused by the backscatter backlash? Ars takes a look at the physics involved in the backscatter scanners being used in US airports, and considers how that can interact with the biology of its targets.

The walking zeds: Ars reviews Dead Nation on the PS3

The walking zeds: Ars reviews <em>Dead Nation</em> on the PS3

Dead Nation may not push top-down, twin-stick games ahead in any meaningful way, but it rewards planning and economy of movement, and the weapons you'll buy, upgrade, and put to use against the zombie hordes are all satisfying.

"Tell me about your mother": oxytocin evokes maternal memories

"Tell me about your mother": oxytocin evokes maternal memories

Oxytocin is known as the "cuddle chemical" and has been suspected to play a role in attachment bond formation. A group of researchers has discovered that the hormone does exactly that, strengthening the feelings adult males had towards their mothers.

Kataspace: browser-based virtual worlds built with WebGL and HTML5

Kataspace: browser-based virtual worlds built with WebGL and HTML5

A new open source framework called KataSpace brings 3D virtual worlds to the Web with open standards like WebGL and WebSockets.

Windows Phone 7 jailbreak tool comes, goes within a week

Windows Phone 7 jailbreak tool comes, goes within a week

A Windows Phone 7 jailbreak tool released last week has been removed by its developers. Though welcomed by many hobbyists, the software, ChevronWP7, has inevitable piracy implications: implications that infuriated Redmond.

HP kills Windows Home Server line, claims Vail fail not to blame

Hewlett-Packard is to cease production of its MediaSmart Windows Home Server line at the end of the year. Microsoft insists that the decision to remove features from Windows Home Server 2 was not to blame.

Google tweaks algorithm to punish bad businesses

Google tweaks algorithm to punish bad businesses

Google says that it has made changes to its increasingly complex ranking algorithms to ensure that businesses with reputations for bad customer service don't rank highly in search results.

It's the principle of the thing: Couple sues Google, gets $1

A couple that sued Google over Street View images of their private road showing their house, yard, and pool won in court. Sadly, the judge only saw fit to award them a single dollar.

Comcast: We bent over backwards to help Level 3! (those bastards)

Comcast: We bent over <em>backwards</em> to help Level 3! (those bastards)

Net neutrality? Comcast says that its peering dispute with Level 3 is just about business, and it offers some fascinating background to the whole saga.

Judge in Xbox modding trial berates prosecution, halts trial

Judge in Xbox modding trial berates prosecution, halts trial

The first trial over Xbox modding is underway in Los Angeles—or at least it was. The federal judge presiding over the courtroom expressed his "serious concerns" over the government's case and has put the proceedings on hold.

Global pool of IPv4 addresses set to run dry in weeks

Global pool of IPv4 addresses set to run dry in weeks

The world's dwindling supply of unallocated IPv4 address space has gotten smaller, as the IANA has handed out four of the 11 remaining unused blocks.

FTC wants "do not track" button on your browser, pronto

FTC wants "do not track" button on your browser, pronto

The FTC wants commercial websites to offer consumers a "persistent" mechanism on their Web browser that would allow them to opt out of being tracked for targeted ads. The content industry's leaders could come up with this standard voluntarily, the agency's boss suggested. But they'd better hurry if they want to avoid legislation ordering them to act.

Wikileaks kicked out of Amazon's cloud

Only one day after Wikileaks moved to Amazon's cloud hosting service to evade a DDoS attack, the site has been forced to return to its previous Swedish hosting provider. Amazon discontinued service to Wikileaks in response to pressure from critics, including prominent members of congress.

Chrome usage jumps over 9% from October to November

Chrome was the big winner in the November browser battle, seeing its market share increase at the expense of Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Verizon 4G LTE: $80 for 10GB of data, starting December 5

Verizon 4G LTE: $80 for 10GB of data, starting December 5

Verizon is launching its 4G LTE wireless data network on Sunday, December 5, but it will be limited to laptop users for the time being. Unlike Sprint and ClearWire's 4G WiMAX, users will have to deal with data caps.

Linux kernel: 13 million lines, over 5 patches per hour

Linux kernel: 13 million lines, over 5 patches per hour

The Linux Foundation has published a report with statistics about the growth and authorship of the Linux kernel. The kernel consists of over 13 million lines of code contributed by thousands of developers.

Modem maker accuses Comcast of squelching competition

Modem maker accuses Comcast of squelching competition

Is Comcast using its own product testing requirements to kill the market for independently manufactured cable modems? The second biggest maker of DOCSIS standard modems says yes, and wants the FCC to do something about it. Reform groups are calling the complaint reason three why the agency needs to act on open Internet rules and Comcast's petition for merger with NBC Universal.

Google's bookstore may launch in time for the holidays

A Google product manager has said that the US version of its bookstore will launch before the year is out.

Wireless gets a free pass on net neutrality

Wireless gets a free pass on net neutrality

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has accepted the "wireless is different" argument. His proposed net neutrality rules will ban "unreasonable discrimination" by ISPs, but only when such discrimination is wired.

iPhone, RIM top US share; iPhone "most desirable" smartphone

The latest Nielsen data puts the iPhone and Blackberry in a tie for top smartphone in the US, though the iPhone is the "most desirable" among those planning on a smartphone upgrade.

"Hire me or eat sh*t": accusations fly over DIY P2P defense kits

"Hire me or eat sh*t": accusations fly over DIY P2P defense kits

The US Copyright Group is fed up with file-sharing defendants filing "fill in the blanks" legal motions drafted by one Florida lawyer, and they've taken the unusual step of asking a judge to sanction him for his efforts.

Quantum teleportation finds a place in quantum computers

Quantum teleportation finds a place in quantum computers

Researchers apply quantum teleportation's ability to transmit information to model a quantum computer's logic gates.