Apple just announced the launch of the iPad, Apple's rumored tablet computer. Judging from what we have seen so far, the iPad is basically a very large iPod touch with a modified interface. According to Steve Jobs, the device will be far better than an iPhone or netbook for browsing the web. The iPad will also feature most of the standard apps we have become used to on the iPhone platform, including maps, contacts and a calendar.

The MAX13171E along with the MAX13173E/ MAX13175E, form a complete pin-selectable data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communication equipment (DCE) interface port that support the V.28 (RS-232), V.10/V.11 (RS-449/V.36, RS-530, RS-530A, X.21), and V.35 protocols. The MAX13171E transceivers carry the high-speed clock and data signals, while the MAX13173E transceivers carry the control signals. The MAX13171E can be terminated by the MAX13175E pin-selectable resistor termination network. The MAX13175E contains six pin-selectable, multiprotocol cable termination networks.

“The germ of Stargate Universe began as a movie by Robert Cooper, as do many of our ideas,” Wright told the magazine. “We always come up with a movie, pitch it to MGM, and they say, ‘Terrific, let’s make it a TV show.’  When we were spinning the film idea, we knew deep down that Universe was really a series because it had so much scope.”

In ASP.NET development, F# also offers productivity advantages over VB and C#.  F# is different because it is statically checked and type-safe.  It addresses weaknesses in ASP.NET development like untyped values, complex form construction, and using strings for IDs and method names that connect markup with code-behind (class-files).  Writing a web application in F# on the WebSharper platform can be less-time consuming if a developer is not great at writing web apps in JavaScript.  Through WebSharper, developers can write a web app using a large subset of F# and .NET core libraries and then just let WebSharper map the code to JavaScript.  WebSharper can integrate with ASP.NET applications, but it is different from the standard approach because it builds applications from miniature web pages called "pagelets".  The pagelets correspond to functions on the client-side and they are automatically translated into JavaScript.   WebSharper supports a wide range of JavaScript libraries, making it easy for developers to optimize their code in whatever way they choose.  jQuery, qooxdoo, Flapjax, and Yahoo UI are all supported by WebSharper.  The leap from F# to JavaScript is manageable because both are functional languages that support lambda expressions and closures.  Another unique part of WebSharper is a "formlet".  A formlet is a special pagelet that provides form functionality.  Formlets in Web Sharper run and validate on the client, submitting their result to a either a client- or a server-side callback.

Mahru-Z is the robotic maid that can make breakfast!. Given certain voice commands the robot can perform functions such as working a microwave, delivering toast, and other tasks such as washing clothes. The robots can see with stereoscopic vision and can identify what objects are and even decide what jobs needs to be done with the objects. In the video, one robot appears to be tethered and the other is not making me wonder if they are really self contained. Also, one is wearing a dress and the other not, so are they both maids or is one a butler? Shouldn't they just call them robotic servants or is that redundant? Regardless, although not apparently sentient, these do appear to be advanced robots. I only wonder if they washed their hands before and after handling the food?

When Sven Groot was in town a while ago we dropped by Erik Meijer's world and got a look at what he and team have been and still are working on (thus there is no out-of-date property of this fun and insightful interview that is off-the-cuff as it gets: deep Channel 9 ). It's great that we were able to put a real live Niner into fire in one of Erik's team meetings. There is a great deal to learn here. Thank you, Sven, for being a real sport! Great stuff in here. Tune in!

Jeffrey Richter has completed CLR via C#, Third Edition and the book is at the printer! We’ll post chapter excerpts when the book is available in a couple of weeks. Here is Jeffrey describing the book in his Introduction:

This is really kool. I mean REALLY REALLY. Based on the ancient Aeolian harp, and made out of Adruino BT Bluetooth board, this little instrument plays with wind. Oh, and it’s solar powered. More info can be found here.  

The European Union has today formally approved Oracle's takeover of Sun Microsystems. The EU has been investigating the merger since September 2009 under EU Merger Regulation, expressing concern that Oracle may try and kill MySQL, a move that it felt could potentially have a detrimental impact on competition in the database market. Launching her investigation, outgoing Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes stated: The Commission has to examine very carefully the effects on competition in Europe when the world's leading proprietary database company proposes to take over the world's leading open source database company. In particular, the Commission has an obligation to ensure that customers would not face reduced choice or higher prices as a result of this takeover. Databases are a key element of company IT systems. In the current economic context, all companies are looking for cost-effective IT solutions, and systems based on open-source software are increasingly emerging as viable alternatives to proprietary solutions. The Commission has to ensure that such alternatives would continue to be available.

Jazz pianist Eric Lewis has been wowing audiences since he was barely able to walk. During a recent performance in NPR's Studio 4A, Lewis spoke with host Michele Norris. Now 36, he's still the same dynamic performer, channeling the intensity of his music with energetic physicality. But as he's embraced popular music, he's also created a new musical identity: ELEW. Watch him here and hear the entire interview at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

http://www.ted.com Eric Lewis, an astonishingly talented crossover jazz pianist -- seen by many for the first time at TED2009 -- sets fire to the keys with his shattering rendition of Evanescence's chart-topper, "Going Under."TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

Kota Nezu of ZNUG Design talks about his work developing the look of ZMP’s RoboCar, an educational platform for researchers working on autonomous vehicles.  The video is entirely Japanese, but you can see some cool CAD work and there’s some explanatory slides in this .PDF file.  Nezu-san also designed ZMP’s e-nuvo Humanoid, and Toyota’s personal transporter, the i-unit (seen in model form on his desk).  Part 2 follows after the break for those interested.

The Nippon Institute of Technology, with Harada Vehicle Design, ZMP, and ZNUG Design, have developed a humanoid robot about the size of an elementary school student for educational purposes.  The university adopted 35 of ZMP’s e-nuvo WALK robots in 2004 for a 1:1 student-robot ratio.  Whereas the e-nuvo WALK (the educational version of NUVO) is quite small, the new robot is tall enough to interact with its environment in a more meaningful way.  Students will demonstrate the robot at elementary and junior high schools, as well as care facilities.  The goal is to improve student learning by raising awareness of bipedal robot technology and its connection to math and physics, while also giving them hands-on experience with the bot.  Additionally, by visiting care facilities the university students will come to understand the real-world needs and applications for robots.

Friday nights on Syfy Channel this past fall wasn’t the only place to get a fix of Stargate Universe. Each week MGM also released new kino webisodes — short scenes that complement the TV show. Some of these are general introductions to the ship and its (reluctant) new crew; others tie in directly to an episode, functioning as something of a deleted scene.

In case you missed them, below you can see all 22 kino webisodes released during the first half of the season! The kino webisodes were directed by Ivon Bartok (friend of the site), with a total of 30 installments to be released during SGU’s first season.

The netlabel portal phlow-magazine.com proudly presents a very special gift. Together with free music lovers from all over the planet, from Japan to America, from Portugal to Great Britain, from Italy to Germany, they asked for the fucking best Creative Commons Music Moments in 2009 and got 24 responses. All in all this makes 1,3 GB sweet stuff or 9 hours, 38 minutes and 35 seconds of free creative commons music in other words. You can download them all via P2P.

Recently issue 32 of the german retromagazine Lotek64 came out. It covers topics like a special about soccer managers on the C64, a report about the classical game "A bard's tale", reviews of new 8bit netlabel releases and loads of other stuff. Get your PDF-file here

Badaboom is a blazingly fast media converter that formats video files for a variety of devices, including iPod, PSP, Blackberry, and YouTube, by using your system's graphics processing unit (GPU).  Check out the newly released Badaboom version 1.2.1. Install the Free Trial today and try it yourself!