Links

Places on the web that are of most interest to me:

  • PubMed. The premier site for literature searches in biomedical science.
  • Slashdot. Feel the pulse of today's most pressing issues in science, technology, and rights in the digital age.
  • OSNews. Another geeky news site geared towards articles around the web that concern the "future of computing."
  • Pybliographer. Need a bibliography manager in Linux? Look no further, this program is jam packed with features and competes with many current commercial software packages.
  • Using LaTeX for your thesis proposal and dissertation (from http://www.rpi.edu/computing/software/latex/thesis-info.html [Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute]). This is an excellent starting document for those of you wanting to learn more about LaTeX. By all means, spend the time now to understand this wonderful package and it will save you lots of headache and heartache in the future when you need to whip out a scientific paper, review, or book.

The following are links to my family and friends' web pages:
  • Hieu Vu. My brother is a graduating Chemical Engineer. He's has a number of experiences in the field and is looking for a job, can you help him out?
  • Tone's "The World from Mine Eyes". In need of a good chuckle?
  • Jeffrey T. Mason. He's a childhood friend who has always had a passion for radio and music. He DJs in the Chicago listening area for a popular dance (WKIE - 92.7/5) radio station. Check his site out and listen to him live on the Jeffro Show, 7 pm to Midnight CST.
  • Dragonsfolly.com is my cousin's site. It has excellent prose and sci-fi fantasy fan fiction. Check it out for an interesting read.
  • Pham-Tom Designs is a friend's design company. Browse his pages if you need art design for your website.
  • Color Negative is yet another friend's design company. Browse his pages if you need art design for your website.
  • Minh Pham is a close friend who happens to be a real estate broker. His passion is motivational speaking. Please peruse his site if you need a speaker for your next conference or meeting.
  • Oanh Le is in the IT field in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (soon to be in the New York City area). She has more than a few years of on-the-job experience under her belt. Follow the link if you need a consultant for contract work.
  • Looking for a snazzy pair of sneaks? Swing on by to gotkickz? and order "two per of those er force ones." In fact, do your holiday shopping early, tell them I sent you.

Some recent deals and news

Channel: dealnews - Most Recent Deals

  • iPhone / iPad App Price Drops: DrawRace 2, Grinder, Lost Winds, more. The iTunes App Store offers downloads of several apps for Apple iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad which have dropped in price, as listed below. At up to $3 off, each is at or near the lowest price we've seen. The deals, all with applicable platforms noted:
    • Monster Shooter: The Lost Levels for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for 99 cents ($2 off): Dual-stick shooter game
    • Tikal for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for 99 cents ($3 off): Board game
    • DrawRace 2 for iPhone and iPod touch for 99 cents ($2 off): Touch-based racing game
    • Pocket Universe: Virtual Sky Astronomy for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for 99 cents ($2 off): Astronomy learning tool
    • Grinder for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for 99 cents ($2 off): Platforming game
    • LostWinds for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for $1.99 (pictured, $2 off): Platform-adventure game
    • The Photo Cookbook – Cocktails for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for $2.99 ($2 off): Mixology tool
  • Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap Dispenser w/ Refill for $6 + $1 s&h. Walmart offers the Lysol Healthy Touch Hand Soap Dispenser with 8.5-oz. Aloe Hand Soap Refill for $6.47 plus 97 cents for shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $6, although it was a buck less in March (since expired). This automatic no-touch dispenser senses your hands when placed beneath the nozzle. Each soap refill provides approximately 166 dispenses per bottle.
  • Harley-Davidson Sticker for free. At Harley-Davidson, get a free sticker after filling out a short form. It's tied with our April mention as the only free sticker offer we've seen from this manufacturer. You will also receive a Harley-Davidson catalog.
  • Washburn XM Series Electric Guitar for $199 + free shipping. World Music Supply offers the Washburn XM Series Electric Guitar in Cherry Burst (pictured), model no. XMDLX2FCB, or Tobacco Burst, model no. XMDLX2FTSB, for $198.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $33. Features include a flamed maple top, baswood body, rosewood fingerboard, double adjustable trussrod, 3-way pickup toggle switch, and more.
  • Iomega 3TB Home Media Gigabit NAS Cloud Drive for $200 + free shipping. Buy.com offers the Iomega 3TB Home Media Gigabit Network Attached Storage External Hard Drive Cloud Edition, model no. 34785, for $199.99 with free shipping ($0.07/GB). That's the lowest total price we could find now by $5, although we saw it for $20 less last fall. It features Gigabit Ethernet, dual USB 2.0 ports, built in UPnP AV Media Server (DLNA certified), iTunes Server, and more.
  • ZyXEL 802.11n Wireless Pocket 3G Travel Router for $40 + $5 s&h . Today only, Woot Sellout offers the ZyXEL 802.11n Wireless Pocket 3G Travel Router, model no. MWR222, for $39.99 plus $5 for shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $83. This 3G router (with support for 4G) features 64/128-bit WEP and WPA/WPA2-PSK encryption, USB connectivity, and more.
  • MyGofer coupon: $10 off $20 or more. MyGofer takes $10 off orders of $20 or more via coupon code "ASSOCIATE". That's the first dollar-off coupon we've seen from MyGofer. Most items qualify for free in-store pickup at your local Kmart; otherwise shipping starts at $6.95. Sales tax is added where applicable.
  • SentrySafe Waterproof Fire Safe for $20 + $1 s&h. Walmart offers the SentrySafe Waterproof Fire Chest in Midnight Blue, model no. H0100, for $19.97 plus 97 cents for shipping. (Free Site-to-Store is also available.) That's tied with our mention from two weeks ago and the lowest total price we could find by $16. Sales tax is added where applicable. This is a 1/2-hour rated fire safe with key lock and 0.18-cubic foot capacity.
  • Vera Bradley coupon: $15 off orders of $75 or more. Vera Bradley cuts $15 off orders of $75 or more, including sale items, via coupon code "HAVEFUN". Shipping starts at $8, or spend $100 to get free shipping. That's among the best discounts we've seen from Vera Bradley in recent months, although we saw this same discount offered three weeks ago with free shipping on $75 or more (since expired). Coupon expires May 23.

    A best bet is the Vera Bradley Vera in 22 colors (Rhythm and Blues pictured) for $65 after the above coupon. With $10 for shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $5. This 19.25" x 14.75" x 6.25" bag features six pockets, key clip, and more.

  • Fruit of the Loom Men's Zip-Front Hoodie for $8 + $1 s&h. Walmart offers the Fruit of the Loom Men's Zip-Front Hoodie in four colors (Navy pictured) for $8. Shipping adds 97 cents, or choose free Site-to-Store. That's $3 off and the lowest total price we could find. Sales tax is added where applicable. It's available in sizes from S to XL, although not all size/color combinations may be available.
  • Mainstays Curved Grill Shelter for $88 + $10 s&h. Walmart offers the Mainstays Curved Grill Shelter, model no. MS1208404302, for $88. Shipping adds $9.97, or choose free Site-to-Store pickup. That's tied with our mention from two weeks ago and the lowest total price we could find. (It's also $203 under the lowest total price we could find for a similar cover elsewhere.) Sales tax is added where applicable. It measures 84" x 60" x 85" and features a flame-resistant polyester canopy and powder-coated steel frame.
  • RIDGID Coil Framing Nailer for $149 + free shipping. Home Depot offers the RIDGID Coil Framing Nailer, model no. R350FCA, for $149 with free shipping. That's $149 off and the lowest total price we could find. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features selectable trigger, rafter/belt hook, self-cleaning in-handle air filter, and more.
  • Express coupon: $15 off $30 or $30 off $70. Express takes $15 off orders of $30 or more or $30 off orders of $70 or more via coupon code "1374". That beats our mention from two weeks ago, when the dollar-off savings required higher minimums and were closer to 30% off than 50%. Shipping starts at $8 and sales tax is added where applicable. Coupon ends May 20.

    A best bet is the Express Men's Rocco Color Slim Fit Skinny Leg Jean in Yellow (pictured) for $49.90 after the above coupon. With $8 for shipping, that's $30 off and the lowest total price we could find. They're available in sizes 31 through 34.

  • Dell S2230MX 22" 1080p Slim LED-Backlit LCD Display for $150 + free shipping. Dell Home offers the Dell S2230MX 21.5" 1080p LED-Backlit Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. DWYC0, for $149.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $13, although we saw it for $10 less a week ago. Sales tax is added where applicable. This ultra-slim display features a 2" panel depth, 1920x1080 (1080p) native resolution, LED backlight, 1,000:1 native (8,000,000:1 dynamic) contrast ratio, 250 cd/m² brightness, 2ms response time, DVI-D and VGA inputs, and more.
  • Sceptre 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $180 + pickup at Walmart. Walmart offers the Sceptre 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HD Television, model no. X322BV-HD, for $179.98. Choose free Site-to-Store pickup to dodge the $19.97 shipping fee. That's $20 under our April mention and the lowest price we've seen. (It's a current price low by $101.) Sales tax is added where applicable. It features a 1366x768 (720p) native resolution, 3,000:1 native contrast ratio, 420 cd/m² brightness, 6.5ms response time, three HDMI inputs, and VGA and other video inputs.
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Z470 Core i5 Dual 2.5GHz 14" Laptop for $549 + free shipping. Lenovo offers the 4.85-lb. Lenovo IdeaPad Z470 Intel Core i5 2.5GHz 14" Widescreen Notebook in Ebony Brown, model no. 10225CU, for $849. Coupon code "USPZ45C0517" cuts it to $549. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from last week as the lowest total price we've ever seen for a IdeaPad Z470. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features an Intel Core i5-2450M 2.5GHz "Sandy Bridge" dual-core processor, 14" 1366x768 widescreen LCD, 6GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth, webcam, HDMI output, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Deal ends May 24.
  • Julia Convertible Futon Sofa Bed for $229 + pickup at Walmart. Walmart offers the Julia Convertible Futon Sofa Bed, model no. 3171098, for $229. Opt for free in-store pickup to avoid the $49.97 shipping charge. That's the lowest total price we could find by $211. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features black faux leather upholstery and a center fold-down tray that can be used as a table for drinks and snacks.
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Core i7 Quad 2.2GHz 16" Laptop for $749 + free shipping. Lenovo offers its 6-lb. Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 Intel Core i7 2.2GHz 15.6" Widescreen Notebook in Dusk Black, model no. 08622WU, for $1,099. Coupon code "USPY52W0517" cuts it to $749. With free shipping, that's $30 under our mention from a week ago and the lowest total price we've seen for an IdeaPad Y570 laptop with a 750GB hard drive. Sales tax is added where applicable. Features include an Intel Core i7-2670QM 2.2GHz Sandy Bridge quad-core processor, 15.6" 1366x768 widescreen LCD, 8GB RAM, 750GB hard drive, DVD burner, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 1GB video card, 802.11n wireless, webcam, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, USB 3.0, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Coupon expires May 17.
  • Canon LBP-6300DN Network Laser Printer for $100 + free shipping. SuperMediaStore offers the Canon imageCLASS LBP-6300DN Network Laser Printer, model no. 3550B014AA, for $139.99. Coupon code "DFSGGR" drops it to $99.99. With free shipping, that's tied with our November mention as the lowest total price we've seen. (It's also a current low by $50.) It features up to 30 ppm, up to 2400x600 dpi, a 250-sheet document feeder, and both Ethernet and USB 2.0 connectivity.
  • Starwood Hotels: 100 bonus points for free. For its Starwood Preferred Guests, Starwood Hotels & Resorts offers 100 bonus Starpoints for free when you Like its Facebook page. (Membership to this program is also free.) That's the best offer of free points we've seen from Starwood in more than a year. Starpoints can be redeemed for free hotel stays and flights.
Channel: Techbargains.com

Channel: xpBargains.com deals RSS feed

Channel: Slashdot

Channel: OSNews

  • HTC ships custom Android builds to the US to avoid Apple patents. So, the new HTC phones are facing delays in the US, and they now ship with a slightly modified US-specific Android build which removes data tapping and sports an altered app associations screen to avoid Apple's patents. This is step one. Step two is companies avoiding the litigious and anti-consumer messes that are the US and German markets altogether. Clearly, IP laws are working to the benefit of the consumer and the market as a whole. Great work guys.
  • OpenSignalMaps logs 3997 unique Android devices. An interesting study has been making the rounds across the web these past 24 hours. The creators of OpenSignalMaps have been logging which new devices download their product, and they've collected data on 681900 devices. The results are... Diverse.
  • OpenMobile to let Android applications run on Tizen. A company called OpenMobile is demonstrating an application compatibility layer so Tizen can run Android applications, The Handheld Blog reports. "The solution is targeted towards OEMs and not end users. So it's upto the manufacturers of Tizen devices to modify the kernel etc. to bake support in for ACL."
  • Windows 8 Release Preview to include multi-monitor improvements. "Microsoft has greatly improved its Windows 8 multiple monitor support in the Consumer Preview version of the operating system, but the company has fine tuned this even more with the upcoming Release Preview. Mark Yalovsky, a member of Microsoft's User Experience team, has taken to the company's Building Windows 8 blog to detail a number of important improvements in the Release Preview, including improved mouse targeting on shared edges and the ability to launch Metro apps on any monitor. Although the post in question has been mysteriously removed by Microsoft, we managed to secure the details thanks to a Google cached version." Very welcome.
  • WSJ: Apple moves toward larger iPhone screens. "Production is set to begin next month for the screens, which measure at least 4 inches diagonally compared with 3.5 inches on the iPhone 4S, the latest phone from Apple, the people said." Cue the usual suspects twisting and turning to change the very fabric of space-time so that instead of 3.5" being the optimal size, 4.0" will be the optimal size. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
  • Google to expand Nexus program. "Google plans to give multiple mobile-device makers early access to new releases of Android and to sell those devices directly to consumers, said people familiar with the matter. [...] The expansion of direct sales marks a bid to exert more control over key features and apps that run on Android-powered phones and tablets, thus reducing the influence of wireless carriers over such devices, these people said. Wireless carriers typically handle marketing and sales of devices and thus can exert some control over the services that run on them." So, an expanded Nexus program that includes several smartphones and tablets without crapware. Sounds good.
  • Alsup: "I've written [...] code like rangeCheck a hundred times before". A bit of a fascinating little surprise in the Oracle vs. Google proceedings yesterday. As it turns out, judge Alsup... Has done, and still does, a lot of programming, and hence, he knows just how silly the whole rangeChek issue is. Addressing Oracle's lawyer, Alsup notes: "I couldn't have told you the first thing about Java before this problem. I have done, and still do, a significant amount of programming in other languages. I've written blocks of code like rangeCheck a hundred times before. I could do it, you could do it. The idea that someone would copy that when they could do it themselves just as fast, it was an accident. There's no way you could say that was speeding them along to the marketplace. You're one of the best lawyers in America, how could you even make that kind of argument?" Ouch.
  • Register for the HP Discover Conference. OSNews sponsor Hewlett-Packard is extending an offer to OSNews readers who register for the upcoming HP Discover conference: "This is HP's largest global conference for customers and partners attracting 10,000 IT executives, managers, architects, engineers, and solution experts from around the world. Join them to network and explore pivotal technology developments, best practices, and strategies." Readers can get a $300 discount on registration by using this link and using the discount code: "BLOG."
  • If you can copyright an API, what else can you copyright?. "If Judge William Alsup rules that APIs are subject to copyrights, he would overturn common wisdom in programming circles, potentially exposing many companies and developers who have built software platforms that openly mimic existing APIs. But that's not all. Such a ruling could shake things up for many other companies across the programming world and beyond." The fact we even have to worry about this speaks volumes about the state of the industry.
  • My Raspberry Pi thinks it's a mainframe. "As the Raspberry Pi started to ship the Sinclair ZX Spectrum turned 30 years old, and comparisons were being made between the two and their role in providing access to affordable computer hardware. Given the phenomenal advances in computing since the birth of the ZX Spectrum, I thought it might be fun to compare the Raspberry Pi with a computer that was closer to the state of the art at around that time, and to see if the Raspberry Pi could fill its shoes..."
  • Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition sells one million copies in five days. One million copies sold in 5 days, $20 million in sales. People have already sunk 5.2 million hours into the game, including 2.4 million hours in 4 million multiplayer games. Minecraft on the Xbox 360 is yet another massive success. Pretty amazing. Coincidentally, I'm kind of done with Minecraft single player (on the PC, that is). Anybody here running a decent survival multiplayer server with mods (levelling, economy, etc.)?
  • What's wrong with Windows 8. For weeks - if not months - I've been trying to come up with a way to succinctly and accurately explain why, exactly, Windows 8 rubs me the wrong way, usability-wise. I think I finally got it.
  • Wozniak calls for open Apple. "I think that Apple could be just as strong and good and be open, but how can you challenge it when a company is making that much money?", Wozniak told a crowd in Sydney, according to ITNews. They'd score so many brownie points the internet would explode.
  • Dutch Pirate Bay judge is corrupt, claims Pirate Party founder. "This week yet another court order was handed down in Europe with the aim of censoring The Pirate Bay. The ruling forbids the Dutch Pirate Party from not only running a direct proxy, but also telling people how to circumvent an earlier court ordered blockade. However, according to Pirate Party founder Rick Falkvinge, the judge in the case has a history of corruption relating to another file-sharing case he presided over in the Netherlands." This news has knocked me off my chair in disbelief that something like this could happen in The Netherlands. Yes, that was quite obviously sarcasm.
  • Judiciary Committee to look at Microsoft competition allegations. "Senate Judiciary Committee staffers plan to take a look at allegations that Microsoft has made it difficult for competing Web browsers to run on a certain version of Windows, an aide to Antitrust subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl told The Hill Thursday." Good. We have to nip this in the bud, and with a bit of luck, it alerts Washington to the iOS situation as well. More browser competition equals a better web - mobile devices aren't magically exempt from this just because they have no keyboard. As simple as that.
Channel: CNET News