bird

Buzz Out Loud 1438: Microsoft and the crushing anvils of irony (Podcast)

Microsoft tries to poke the European antitrust bear and point them in the direction of Google--ok, guys. Just, you know, beware of karma. Also, Google cracks down on the Android chaos (and hopefully the crapware, too), the +1 button points to, yet again, the all-consuming importance of recommendations, and Samsung did not--I repeat, did NOT--install keylogger software on its laptops. Plus, introducing our new app, Smart Fart. (Sigh.) --Molly

Angry Birds champion crowned in Finland

There were 2,600 participants, five Angry Birds, and, in the end, one steady-handed 19-year-old champion of them all.

Nokia recently held an Angry Birds championship in downtown Helsinki to determine who was the best finch flinger in all of Finland. The competition was tough, and only the top 32 players were present after regional tournaments singled out the best of the best. After all, 2,600 people from across the Nordic country had tried out--like a geeky version of "American Idol"--to see if they had what it takes to be crowned the champion of the game.

One finalist was only 6 years old, and relied on his father's smartphone to keep his skills fresh.

The stakes were high, and gamers were naturally allured by the entitlement of being the best player of a game that has sold millions of copies across various platforms around the world.… Read more

Leonardo da Vinci would love this robo-bird

Bird flight has fascinated mankind for centuries. German-based Festo now says it has deciphered it by building a robot seagull that flies like the real thing.

SmartBird is inspired by the herring gull and can take off by flapping its wings, and flying and landing autonomously. It moves by flapping and twisting its wings like a gull, and turns its head to steer--see the video below.

Built of carbon fiber and polyurethane foam, SmartBird weighs about 1 pound and has a wingspan of some 6.5 feet.

Though its inner structure recalls the flying machines of Leonardo da Vinci, it also houses a microcontroller, four servo drives, and a lithium polymer battery.

The wings are driven with an exterior rotor motor through a two-stage helical transmission, and the wing positions are monitored with sensors that relay data to ground operators via a radio link.

Festo has done other graceful robo-creatures before including penguins and flying rays. Its flexible Bionic Handling Assistant is inspired by an elephant's trunk. … Read more

Firefox set for the future in version 4

The bottom line: Firefox 4 is a worthy expression of Mozilla's ideals. The browser is competitively fast, sports a new minimalist look, and includes some excellently executed features. Unfortunately, that describes most of Firefox's competition, too.

Review: Firefox 4 had a rough time in its early development, but those days are over. The browser that you can download now is in the same speed category as its competition; offers many similar features (stronger in many areas and slightly weaker in others); includes broad, cross-platform support for hardware acceleration and other "future-Web" tech and standards; and is … Read more

Firefox set for the future in version 4

Editors' note: Mozilla released version 5 of Firefox on June 21, 2011. The updates are incremental and largely invisible to users. As such, most of this review is taken from our original Firefox 4 review (as is the video, which is still applicable). As we continue to test and use Firefox 5, we will update the review with any new information.

The bottom line: Firefox 5 is a worthy expression of Mozilla's ideals. The browser is competitively fast, sports a new minimalist look, and includes some excellently executed features. Unfortunately, that describes most of Firefox's competition, too.

Review: … Read more

The 404 782: Where I am not naming my kid Josh (podcast)

The 404 Digest for Episode 782

Apple approves app that promises " cure for homosexuality." .xxx domain names coming to the Web. Ten years later, the Apple iPod may be on its way out. Download Angry Birds Rio free today on Amazon Appstore. Rebecca Black: waiting too long to choose a seat could cost you your life.

Episode 782 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Amazon opens its Android Appstore

Amazon officially opened its new and much-anticipated Android app store today.

Serving up a round of competition to Google's Android Market, Amazon's Appstore for Android is stocking almost 3,800 apps for starters, with more on the way. To kick off the store opening, Amazon is giving away a free copy of Angry Birds Rio and is promising to offer one paid app for free each day.

But the Amazon shop is opening amid controversy. Apple yesterday sued Amazon over the use of the term "App Store," for which Apple filed a trademark after the release … Read more

Angry Birds Rio hits Apple and Amazon app stores

In case you haven't already looked at the top products list on your iPhone or iPad today and noticed that a new Angry Birds is now available, we're giving you the heads up.

Angry Birds Rio is 99 cents on the iPhone, $2.99 on the iPad, and is free today as part Amazon's Appstore for Android launch (Amazon scored the Angry Birds Android launch exclusive). You have to download the Amazon Appstore app to your Android phone to download the game. (Click the "Get app" link on Amazon's site and follow the directions.) … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1429: Spies on Facebook? Yes, it's true. (podcast)

The government is planning a new "sock puppet" program that will create fake online personas to play on social networks in countries around the world (but not America -- they say). Microsoft and the feds shut down another giant spam-sending botnet, and HP continues its bold moves: next up, a cloud computing platform. Also, a look inside Amazon's app store (and the continued Balkanization of app delivery mechanisms), and the Nintendo 3DS reviewed. Where's the Mario? --Molly