Internet

The group that operates the Internet's website address system will soon take over the running of a master clock used by millions of computers. Without the system, users would have to make manual adjustments when comparing time zones. The Time Zone ... Database doesn't simply keep track of the fact that different cities operate on different times (example: Los Angeles is eight hours behind London) -- it also tracks the more complicated matter of different countries adjusting to and from daylight savings times on different dates. The Time Zone Database can even tracks "leap seconds," ... (view more)

Although it's been available for quite a while now, the very popular Apple iPad has yet to receive its very own Facebook app designed specifically to take advantage of the tablet's unique technology. But that's about to change, Facebook recently ... revealed. To date, iPad users (and there are a lot of them) have been frustrated and annoyed with Facebook for failing to address their demand for a native Facebook app. For the year and a half since the original iPad launched, users have had to make due with applications built by third-party developers capable of showing Facebook pages. Unfortunately ... (view more)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has come up with an idea to help rural Americans gain access to broadband. It involves an overhaul of the system that currently guarantees telephone service to virtually all of the population. The current ... system, the Universal Service Fund (USF), relies on a 15 per cent levy on telecommunications services revenue. This money is then used to subsidize telephone line provision in areas where suppliers say it isn't commercially viable to install lines and still make a profit. The fund also covers the costs of making sure schools, healthcare facilities ... (view more)

Facebook changed its News Feed a few weeks ago (for what feels like the fiftieth time this year), and has once again drastically altered the user experience. While the company says it believes the new design will help users navigate status updates ... and photographs better, most members thus far appear unimpressed with the new changes. Facebook fanatics would have noticed the change to their favorite social networking site sometime around September 20th. It essentially does away with the dual News Feed, which had previously divided status updates, photo updates, recommended links, videos, etc. ... (view more)

Recently, the London Science Museum in the UK conducted a survey that asked 3,000 adults to consider the things that they could not live without on a day-to-day basis. Such a question generally causes us to consider the things necessary to ensure ... our survival: food, clean water, shelter, etc. The results of this particular poll, however, are very surprising. Technology: A Necessity or Luxury? According to the survey, Brits consider "sunshine" as their most essential item of value. Surprisingly, however, the next item in line is not clean water or food, but an Internet connection. ... (view more)

A Northern Ireland man is accusing Facebook of having a lackadaisical approach towards their age-identification system, even going so far as to sue the social network after his 12-year-old daughter began posting "explicit photos" of herself on ... multiple occasions. As it stands, the minimum age requirement for a new Facebook member is 13. The social network is currently designed for two age groups (13-17 year olds and 18+). Still, the company does not have a solid method of verifying (or even checking) a member's age. The lawsuit claims that Facebook is "guilty of negligence" and creates "a ... (view more)

Do you fancy a spin around town in Bruce Wayne's favorite ride? Then head on over to popular auction site eBay, which is reportedly selling a Batman's Batmobile for just a tad over $600,000. First off, the bad news. This Batmobile wasn't used in any ... of the Hollywood Batman movies; instead, it is a replica Batmobile built by Putsch Racing. Also, this particular Batmobile wasn't used by Christian Bale (as seen in the 'Dark Knight' version of Batman). Instead, it's a replica of the 1989 model Batmobile, which starred Michael Keaton as the masked crusader. (Source: espn1420.com ) And depending on ... (view more)

The goodwill service of "take a penny, leave a penny" appears to have undergone a hi-tech facelift thanks to a social experiment that blends the services of Twitter with the major coffee enterprise, Starbucks. A few months ago, Jonathan Stark ... purchased a Starbucks reloadable gift card. But what made "Jonathan's Card" different than the hundreds of others purchased on the same day is that he decided to post a photo of the card on his Twitter account and encouraged visitors to use it to purchase a coffee or snack free of charge. The concept is very unique. A visitor would simply have to upload ... (view more)

According to a new report, teens that spend considerable time using social networking sites are more likely to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco and marijuana. The study also provides some stunning statistics showing the extensive use of social ... networking amongst American teens. The report, which was produced by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) -- which is associated with Columbia University -- found that 70 per cent of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 spend at least some time on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or another social networking site on an average day. ... (view more)

A significant increase in the number of Internet-related defamation cases in England and Wales has been blamed on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Law firm Sweet and Maxwell noted that the number of libel cases specifically referring to ... online postings rose from 7 to 16 between June 2010 and May 2011. Though that may seem low, this only includes cases that actually make it to trial, which is relatively rare given the high legal costs involved. Overall, there were only 86 such trials, meaning nearly one in five now involve the Internet rather than newspapers or other mainstream ... (view more)