functions

Facebook's fond of FriendFeed's 'Like' button

An instructional video posted recently by Facebook includes a link that will look familiar to anyone who has ever used the social content aggregation service FriendFeed: a "Like" button.

The video, which describes how to publish feed stories using Facebook Connect, shows the familiar "Like" button tucked between the "Add Comment" and "Read More" buttons. The button, which was spotted by an AllFacebook reader, doesn't seem to be appearing on other Facebook videos. As VentureBeat points out, the video probably includes beta properties for testing purposes, and while it makes sense … Read more

Aristocrat case raises requirements for means-plus-function software patent claims

The Federal Circuit's recent decision in Aristocrat Technologies will require software patent drafters to take more care to describe the algorithms covered by their software--or risk patent invalidity. ( See Aristocrat Technologies.) The court held that expert testimony that a programmer would know how to write code to perform a given function cannot supplement an incomplete patent disclosure when software claims are written using "mean-plus-function" format. Means-plus-function format means that something is claimed by the function it performs rather than by a specific structure--for example, a means-plus-function claim might recite a "means for fastening paper together" … Read more

The cheese that kills, and other nutraceuticals

It will be delicious, nutritious, and kill tapeworms.

TyraTech, a green technology incubator, is developing a cheese that will be as nutritious as regular food but also kill intestinal parasites, according to CFO Keith Bigsby. The company has signed a deal with Kraft Foods to bring these functional foods to market. Kraft will pay the company engineering fees and, if products come out, royalties from sales. TyraTech is going to try to send me a glass of a drink they are working on for a taste test.

If you are reading this, you probably don't have a tapeworm, but … Read more

This mouse is way overqualified

Some companies know how to put their R&D money to good use, actually coming up with some innovative and practical technologies. And then there's Elecom.

The Japanese company seems to have a knack for coming up with products of little practical value, such as mice that can be folded or used by the ambidextrous. Its latest offering proves true to form as well--a mouse that can be programmed for 31 functions.

Why would one possibly need a mouse to do so much? Elecom's wireless "Prumie" (nice name) does have a practical feature of stowing … Read more