That man would have the hubris to reach the level of a god is a notion that has long animated both myth and literature. To see such ambition brought low is a story that never gets old, and that premise is the best part of Transcendence, a belabored science-fiction fantasy that aims for what its title advertises and falls far short.

In his first film as director, acclaimed cinematographer Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception) has made a movie that predictably looks good but has little substance beneath its shiny, digitally enhanced surface.

Johnny Depp is Will Caster, the Tony Stark of artificial intelligence, a hotshot scientist and Wired cover boy on the verge of a breakthrough in the merging of man and machine that he believes could be the answer to hunger, disease and other global ills. His best hope is a computer called PINN (Physically Independent Neural Network).

But the work he and his colleagues -- including his wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), and best friend Max (Paul Bettany) -- are doing has sparked opposition from a terrorist group called RIFT (Revolutionary Independence from Technology). This outfit -- whose slogan is evolution without technology -- wants to unplug humanity from machines altogether.

This doesnt include explosive devices and guns, though, and the group uses them to take out many of those working with Depp and another AI pioneer, Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman). Their attempt on Wills life at first seems to have failed -- he is shot but survives -- but then it turns out the bullet was coated with a radioactive material. With only weeks to live, Will, along with Evelyn and Max, decide to upload Wills mind into PINN so that his brilliance is preserved.

Of course, the law of unintended consequences being what it is, Wills ego and sense of power increase exponentially once his mind is paired with the seemingly limitless power of a machine that can tap into all of the worlds computers and see everything everywhere. Will wants to eradicate cancer and conflict -- a good thing -- but seeks to link everyone in a hive mind with him at the controls. Not so good.

Thats when both Evelyn and Max, who are totally Team Will at first, come to the realization that maybe this man-machine thing wasnt such a bright idea after all.

While Transcendence has nothing new to say about absolute power corrupting absolutely or the friction between technology and humanity, it still could have been an engaging thriller. But its lined with plot holes so big that they take you right out of the movie. Evelyn, while still in Wills thrall, marches into a desert town with millions wired into her bank account by all-powerful Will, hires a crew of local neer-do-wells and then seemingly overnight secretly builds a sprawling, wired campus that makes Google headquarters look like a tiki shack. Its from here that Will, like The Brain on the old Pinky and the Brain cartoons, plans to take over the world. But wouldnt someone take notice? The local power company? The mayor? The NSA?

And then the explosions start and Transcendence goes the way of so many big-budget movies where performances are subservient to special effects. But even on this basic level, Transcendence isnt very special.

Humanitys hubris may indeed be dangerous, but Hollywoods is just boring.

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Transcendence fails to rise above the ordinary

Hi Lifehacker, I work from home as a webcam model, so I need a very reliable internet connection. I cant have any delay of any sort or I lose customers. My laptop is a bit old is there anything I can do to ensure the best connection? Thanks, Model Citzen

Webcam picture from Shutterstock

Dear MC,

Note to readers: yes, this is a real letter. Note to male readers: no, you cant have her number.

The first step is to run an internet speed test in your browser. A good, user-friendly option is the self-explanatory Ookla Speed Test which performs a scan to determine your connections download and upload speeds. You can then compare the results to the average speeds quoted by your internet service provider (just keep in mind that the advertised speeds are usually over generous).

If the test results are significantly lower, there could be a problem with your hardware. Reset your modem and router, swap over cables, compare your broadband speed with other computers in the house and adopt a process of elimination to see if there are any kinks in the connection. If you identify the culprit, replace it.

You mentioned that you cam on a laptop, which suggests you may be using a wireless connection. Dont do this. Wi-Fi can degrade your bandwidth in all sorts of ways which may result in frequent dropouts this is especially noticeable when streaming video. Instead of going wireless, establish a hard-wired connection directly to your router to maximise performance. Depending on your webcam setup, this may require buying an extra-long ethernet cable but the reliability gains will be worth it.

If youre a BitTorrent user, youre upload speeds could be taking a hit due to video files being seeded by other BitTorrent users. The simplest solution is to turn BitTorrent off whenever youre using your webcam. In fact, you should close any programs that assume an internet connection: having multiple apps updating themselves in the background is obviously a bad idea.

Also check if your specific ISP plan uses internet shaping which could explain seemingly random slowdowns. If this is the case, it might be time to start shopping for a new broadband plan.

Your ideal choice would be NBN, since in this context upload speed matters. Of course, this is only feasible if the NBN is being rolled out in your neck of the woods any time soon. You can check the NBN status in your area by paying a visit to NBN Cos rollout map simply type in your address to see whether services are available or in the process of being built.

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Ask LH: What's The Best ISP Option For A Saucy Webcam Babe?

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

SimTech Systems has just released its latest version of the popular MindMapper mind processor software, MindMapper 14 for Windows. It integrates thinking and task management together, for smarter results in the framework of mind mapping.

This latest version makes it even easier for users to tap into their thoughts. They can express their ideas in the visual format of a mind map, rearrange them easily for organization, present them in different file format, and share by using MindMapper collaboration service.

This updated version puts a core focus on ideation and communication, and has improved collaboration features, says Young G. Chung, President and CEO of SimTech Systems. It helps personal, corporate, and academic users worldwide to create, manage, access, and share information with ease.

New features include: 1.User interface thats more intuitive, easier to navigate, and easier to read 2.More refined graphics elements, so mind maps look more balanced and refined 3.Better integration with MS Office, and easier steps in the converting process 4.Ability to share a mind map by creating a web URL, so that anyone with a browser with Flash can view it 5.Streamlined presentation mode, to shorten presentation prep time 6.New design menu, with a variety of themes that can be applied to the map 7.Ability to seamlessly import MindManager files 8.Ability to sync mobile MindMapper apps with the desktop version

One of the most powerful features of MindMapper is its collaboration service, says Chung It allows users to co-edit maps, embed files, work on projects, brainstorm ideas, conduct meetings, upload documents and materials, update status, and more. As Samsung Electronics has discovered, its a great way to conduct a meeting, manage projects, and share knowledge.

Upgrades from MindMapper 12 to 14 will be free. And during a release promotion, all upgrades to MindMapper 14 will be offered at 50% off.

About SimTech Systems SimTech Systems developed MindMapper as an in-house tool in 1997 for industrial simulation projects. Since then, the company has pioneered the development of digital mind maps, transforming them into digital mind processors. Innovative features include the first-ever import/export feature to MS Office, Gantt chart, and process tree mapping direction.

Now, with dedicated collaboration servers deployed in top corporations, governments, schools, and militaries around the world, MindMapper makes accessing and communicating information in visual format more convenient and productive. The goal of SimTech Systems is to create efficient information that can be effectively managed, recycled, and shared with others to improve organizational or personal productivity.

Read this article:

Announcing the Release of MindMapper 14 for Windows

Paul Bettany is convinced the eerie technology featured in his new movie Transcendence will be commonplace within his lifetime.

In the film, Johnny Depp plays a terminally ill scientist whose mind is uploaded to a computer, granting him power beyond his wildest dreams - and his 42-year-old co-star believes the story isn't as far fetched as some people think it is.

Bettany tells Wenn, "I spoke to a professor at Cal Tech (the California Institute of Technology). He's a brilliant man. When I walked into the room he was looking at a slice of the human brain whilst listening to Wagner.

"I asked him, 'How far fetched is this technology?' and he said, 'In 30 years'. I said, 'You mean we will be able to upload human consciousness - thoughts, feelings, history...?' And he said, 'Yes'. I said, 'But you're talking about immortality?' And he said, 'Yes!'

"That is what I remember from the meeting. It was a terrifying thought that they are unified in the opinion that we have always been on a collision course with technology and the next stage of our evolution will involve machinery. That's a hell of a thought."

Link:

Paul Bettany: 'Transcendence Technology Is Just Decades Away'

MediaFire, the popular online file storage and image hosting site, today announced that its desktop apps for Windows and OS X are now out of beta. The integration looks similar to what Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive do in that they seamlessly integrate themselves into the operating systems file managers and save dialogs.

Using the desktop apps, MediaFire allows desktop uses to quickly upload their images and instantly share them with others. As part of this update, the service now allows users to follow files and track new files shared by users automatically. It alsoessentially lifted its file upload restrictions and both free and paid users can now upload files up to 20 gigabytes in size. Its also launching 1 terabyte storage plans. For a limited time, those will cost $2.50 per month or $24.99 per year. Thats significantly cheaper than Googles new plans for Drive, but the functionality of MediaFire is obviously also far more limited that of Drive. If youre just looking for online storage, though, this may be worth a closer look.

For developers, the company is announcing a set of new APIs that will help them integrate the service with their own applications.

In the next few weeks, MediaFire will also launch new native apps for iPad and Android. The company isnt releasing all that much information about these apps yet, but they will include automatic photo syncing from Android devices.

All of this clearly amounts to an attempt by MediaFire to position itself as a more fully-featured online storage service. In general, the service doesnt quite get the attention that some of its competitors get, but it does have a very large user base. With all of the larger players now making a very aggressive push to compete with Dropbox and similar services, it makes sense for MediaFire to also try to gain a bit more mind share as well.

Here is the original post:

MediaFire Takes Its Desktop Apps Out Of Beta, Removes File Size Restrictions

University teams must travel 100 kms. across Europe using cans of Red Bull

Three students from the University of the Philippines are representing the country in the Red Bull Can You Make It? competition in Europe which is touted as an adventure of a lifetime.

A hundred university teams from 27 countries around the world will be tasked the mind and body challenge of travelling over 1000 kilometers across Europe in seven days using only Red Bull cans as currency.

The Philippine team called Team Beasts of the Southeasts is composed of Dave Agbayani, Red Calayan, and R-jay Esposo. They were chosen out of 10 applicants from various Philippine universities through thorough deliberation by both the local and international Red Bull teams. They were selected based on their desire for adventure, charm of their application and energy.

JOURNEY OF WITS, ADVENTURE, STRATEGY

The teams will start the competition from one of the four starting points in London, Paris, Milan and Vienna. During the seven-day journey, competitors wont be allowed to use cash or credit cards, and instead must trade cans of Red Bull for transportation, lodging, food and other necessities in order to reach the Finish Line in Berlin. There are 30 checkpoints spread out across the rest of Europe. Teams will have to visit a minimum of six to be eligible to successfully complete the competition. The teams will upload photos and videos of their journey, and rally support from followers back home.

The team that traveled the farthest distance in seven days, reached the most checkpoints, used more transportation methods than any other team, rallied the greatest support following and arrives in Berlin on April 11 by 5 p.m., will be crowned the Red Bull Can You Make It champions. The prize is a paid trip to any Red Bull event around the world.

(To support the Philippine team, visit redbullcanyoumakeit.com.)

Continued here:

Adventure of a lifetime

Saumya Khandelwal/HT

Targeted appeal Modi posters on the Delhi Metro

the voter

The Next Station

As elections near, what are the influences and issues playing on the mind of the electorate?

***

As a voter walks from home to polling boothand in a country vast as India, with 815 million voters, he or she could well pass by houses and markets or hills and rivers and ravineswhat could be on his or her mind? After days and days of loudspeakers blaring, hoardings and posters looming large, political leaders making repeated pitches, is the Indian voter firm about who to vote for or will it be a last-minute decision? How much will all that has been fed to the voter over some monthscaste and class equations, regional matters, issues like development and corruption, the financial and criminal records of candidates, the debate over strong versus weak leaderscome into play? Perhaps the only thing certain is that the voter has had an information overdose. Political debates have swung from broad concerns about inflation, corruption, governance to the thoroughly basic bijli sadak pani. There have been dramatic political twists too: a seemingly far-reaching AAP wave, its highs and lows; the BJPs claim on the centrestage; the Congress retreat.

So what does the voter make of it all? If theres a common strain, its one of disenchantment, as emphasised by the Pew Research Centers latest global attitudes survey of India, which finds 70 per cent of Indians dissatisfied, cutting across gender, age groups and the urban-rural divide. Its a confusing election, because there is a lot of baggage and anxiety, says film editor Namrata Rao, who will vote in Mumbai, talking about the ideological clashes playing on her mind. More debates and engagement with voters may mean more awareness, but sociologist Dipankar Gupta says the voter seems weighed down by all the talk about indecisiveness and corruption. Foremost on a voters mind right now is the need for a stable government, he says. But what the voter is not demanding of their candidates is a blueprint of what nextof how to restructure the economy so India can become a manufacturing hub.

Prof Jagdeep Chhokar, co-founder of the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), thinks voters are overwhelmed. The average voter has got sucked into the grand spectacle this election has become, he says. But the truth is, theres a big disconnect between the candidate and the voter. According to Lloyd Rudolph, a former professor of political science at University of Chicago, who with his wife Susanne has observed Indian politics for more than five decades, as the three top figures of Election 2014Narendra Modi of the BJP, Arvind Kejriwal of the AAP and Rahul Gandhi of the Congressassume a larger-than-life presence, the voter may feel dwarfed.

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Physicist Michio Kaku isn't afraid of scientific frontiers, whether it's the super-subatomic world of string theory or the mind-bogglingly big world of the accelerating universe. In books and on TV, he's delved into the physics of the impossible and the physics of the future.

Kaku's latest focus is a real stretch: It's the scientific frontier that sits between your temples. In his latest book, "The Future of the Mind," Kaku surveys the burgeoning field of neuroscience. You might think the subject is out of a string theorist's usual comfort zone, but his breezy, science-fictiony style wins the day. "The Future of the Mind" has been on The New York Times' best-seller list for the past month.

In preparation for our talk-show gig on "Virtually Speaking Science," Kaku fielded some questions about the far-out future of the mind. Here's an edited transcript of the Q&A:

Alan Boyle: The first thing a person might ask is, 'What's a string theorist doing writing about neuroscience?'

Michio Kaku: "Well, ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the brain, by the mind. When I was a child, I used to do experiments on telepathy and telekinesis and recording memories. Eventually, I concluded that all of that was bunk. However, now I'm a physicist, and using physics, we can now probe the brain in detail that was unimaginable just a few years ago.

"We've learned more about the brain over the past decade than in all the rest of human history, and it's from physics that we have all the instruments with which we can trace blood flow in the brain, and actually see thoughts ricocheting like a ping-pong ball.

"Telepathy ... telekinesis ... recording memories, uploading memories ... even photographing a dream: All of that is now possible because of advanced physics."

Q: One of the concepts that you put forward in the book is the idea of a 'brain-net,' which will connect people directly, brain to brain. How do you envision that working, and when might we see the beginnings of the brain-net?

A: "The Internet will eventually be replaced by a brain-net, in which we can experience emotions, memories and sensations. Of course, teenagers are going to go crazy on Facebook they'll share the memory of their first kiss, their first date, the senior prom. All those emotions and hormones will be pumping away, on Facebook!

"The first steps in this direction were taken just last year. For the first time in history, a memory was recorded. It was recorded in a mouse. Next, we'll do it for primates. The short-term goal is to create a 'brain pacemaker' for Alzheimer's patients, so they can push a button and they'll know who they are and where they live. And beyond that well, maybe we'll be able to upload a vacation that we never had."

Continue reading here:

Get ready for the 'brain-net'

Physicist Michio Kaku isn't afraid of scientific frontiers, whether it's the super-subatomic world of string theory or the mind-bogglingly big world of the accelerating universe. In books and on TV, he's delved into the physics of the impossible and the physics of the future.

Kaku's latest focus is a real stretch: It's the scientific frontier that sits between your temples. In his latest book, "The Future of the Mind," Kaku surveys the burgeoning field of neuroscience. You might think the subject is out of a string theorist's usual comfort zone, but his breezy, science-fictiony style wins the day. "The Future of the Mind" has been on The New York Times' best-seller list for the past month.

In preparation for our talk-show gig on "Virtually Speaking Science," Kaku fielded some questions about the far-out future of the mind. Here's an edited transcript of the Q&A:

Alan Boyle: The first thing a person might ask is, 'What's a string theorist doing writing about neuroscience?'

Michio Kaku: "Well, ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the brain, by the mind. When I was a child, I used to do experiments on telepathy and telekinesis and recording memories. Eventually, I concluded that all of that was bunk. However, now I'm a physicist, and using physics, we can now probe the brain in detail that was unimaginable just a few years ago.

"We've learned more about the brain over the past decade than in all the rest of human history, and it's from physics that we have all the instruments with which we can trace blood flow in the brain, and actually see thoughts ricocheting like a ping-pong ball.

"Telepathy ... telekinesis ... recording memories, uploading memories ... even photographing a dream: All of that is now possible because of advanced physics."

Q: One of the concepts that you put forward in the book is the idea of a 'brain-net,' which will connect people directly, brain to brain. How do you envision that working, and when might we see the beginnings of the brain-net?

A: "The Internet will eventually be replaced by a brain-net, in which we can experience emotions, memories and sensations. Of course, teenagers are going to go crazy on Facebook they'll share the memory of their first kiss, their first date, the senior prom. All those emotions and hormones will be pumping away, on Facebook!

"The first steps in this direction were taken just last year. For the first time in history, a memory was recorded. It was recorded in a mouse. Next, we'll do it for primates. The short-term goal is to create a 'brain pacemaker' for Alzheimer's patients, so they can push a button and they'll know who they are and where they live. And beyond that well, maybe we'll be able to upload a vacation that we never had."

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Brainiac Says We'll All Be Part of the 'Brain-Net' Someday

Though there may be a day when human beings will be able to upload themselves to the Internet and/or a humanoid-like cyborg, that day is supposed to be at least a few decades away.

However, the Pirate Bay announced on its official blog that theyre currently developing a device that will allow users to plug into all the files and data that can be accessed on the site, and essentially download it into their brains. With April 1 just hours away here in the states, the announcement is also (most likely) an April Fools Day joke.

Heres how the blog post describes the device:

In cooperation with Russian, Israeli and Japanese neuro scientists, we are developing a device that will embrace your entire mind. Using laser projections directly onto the retina itll no longer be any resolution but 100 percent. The sound will be delivered in a range from 12Hz to 79kHz and will cancel all noise from the outside world. Using a simple plugin into the the brain, you will no longer only be able to see and hear a movie, a game or whatever it is you want. Youll be able to live it. Play the main character. Tweak any story in any way you want.

The post also goes on to say that the entirety of The Pirate Bay would be stored within you, and implores readers to embrace the sites vision with this message:

Forget about the outside world. This is the new.

This is already the second tech-themed April Fools Joke that weve come across, even though its not April 1 yet. Earlier, we spotted a Chinese site that published an authentic-looking but undoubtedly fake image of a wafer-thin Mac Air desktop.

We cant help but wonder what sorts of tech-related hi-jinx well be subjected to when tomorrow rolls around.

(Image via WallpaperMania.eu)

DT

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Pirate Bay announces fake April Fools device designed to embrace your entire mind

Actor Johnny Depp attends a promotional event for his new movie "Transcendence" in Beijing on March 31, 2014.  AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan

Johnny Depp showed off a diamond engagement ring that he called a "chick's ring" on Monday -- indirectly confirming rumors of his engagement to actress Amber Heard.

While in Beijing promoting his new film "Transcendence," the 50-year-old "Pirates of the Caribbean" star was asked whether he was engaged. He replied: "The fact that I'm wearing a chick's ring on my finger is probably a dead giveaway. Not very subtle." He laughed as he lifted up his left hand and displayed a single diamond on a band around his ring finger.

His comments follow months of unconfirmed reports of his engagement to Heard, 27, who starred with Depp in "The Rum Diary" and with Kevin Costner in "3 Days to Kill," which was released in the U.S. earlier this year. In a trademark off-the-wall comment, Depp said: "I think that I would be better at making women's shoes than I would be at wedding planning, I can't plan anything. I'm really bad at that stuff."

In 2012, Depp split with his partner of 14 years, French model-singer Vanessa Paradis. They have two children.

In "Transendence," Depp plays a terminally ill scientist who downloads his mind into a computer in the sci-fi drama that asks: What if we could upload a human mind into a computer? It also stars Rebecca Hall as Depp's wife and Morgan Freeman.

"The technology that exists within the film, what I find most fascinating is that a lot of it exists already and by all accounts from scholars and professors and scientists that species of technology is not far away, that kind of artificial intelligence," said Depp in an interview.

"It's one of those films that one person is forced to make a choice in an instant, when your loved one is dying and you have a split-second decision if you have the ability to upload their consciousness into a computer, would you do that? It's quite a strange decision to make, but for love I think we would all do it."

"Transcendence" comes out on April 18 in both the U.S. and China.

2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Johnny Depp confirms engagement to Amber Heard

LAS VEGAS -- Footage of the sci-fi drama "Transcendence" previewed at CinemaCon in Las Vegas shows an eerily convincing Johnny Depp as a terminally ill scientist turned unruly machine in the Wally Pfister film that asks: What if we could upload a human mind into a computer?

Warner Bros. was the final studio to preview its upcoming titles at the theater exhibitor's convention Thursday, and it ended with an impressive crew of A-listers led by Depp.

The "Transcendence" clips were packed with explosions, sentimental moments between Depp (as Will) and leading lady Rebecca Hall (as Evelyn), and striking supporting performances by Kate Mara and Paul Bettany.

Morgan Freeman, Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Clint Eastwood, Melissa McCarthy, Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis were among the other stars touting their upcoming projects.

Here, a peek at the plug-fest:

* "Jupiter Ascending," directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski (creators of "The Matrix" trilogy) and starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. Set in the future, the sci-fi fantasy resembles "The Fifth Element" (Sans the delicious, campy wit, at least in the trailer). Tatum, sporting guy-liner and a set of super pointy ears, is still a believable hero and love interest for Kunis, who plays the unsuspecting queen of the universe. It's set for release in July.

* "Edge of Tomorrow," directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka novel "All You Need is Kill," the sci-fi action epic sees Cruise and Blunt as soldiers dying repeatedly due to a time loop. Big-budget action films are customary for Cruise, but this is new highly physical territory for Blunt, whose character Rita Vrataski helps Cruise's Lt. Col. Bill Cage change his fate. It will hit theaters in June.

* "Godzilla," directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe and Elizabeth Olsen. On hand to introduce the extended trailer, Edwards said he'd just finished editing the film, which looks epic in scale with impressively grand special effects, on Wednesday. It's due May 16.

* "Blended," directed by Frank Coraci and starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. A very pregnant Barrymore, in a yellow dress, stepped on stage with Sandler and Coraci to promote their romantic comedy about two families who embark on a trip Africa. Due in May.

* "Tammy," directed by Ben Falcone and starring Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon and Allison Janney. Married couple Falcone and McCarthy wrote what looks like a hilarious road trip comedy. McCarthy plays a woman who, after getting fired from her fast food gig and finding out her husband is cheating on her, hits the road with her lush of a grandmother (Sarandon). McCarthy and Falcone introduced the film, which McCarthy said took six years to finish. To be released in December.

See the original post:

Depp, 'Transcendence' lead peeks at CinemaCon

S

Most ebook sellers try to lock you into a particular ecosystem. If you don't mind buying from the same company every time, this isn't too bad, but you lose the ability to comparison shop, as well as making it difficult to switch apps. Fortunately, there's a way around this problem.

In most other areas of life, we usually do comparison shopping for a better price. The trouble with ebook lock-in is that if your whole library is on the Kindle, you won't want to buy a book from another store. This is silly. We'll show you how to share books between libraries in a minute, but first you need books to start with!

Ebook search site Luzme is a handy tool for comparing book pricing among various stores. In addition to showing you prices for a given title across several services (including Kindle, Google Play, iTunes, Nook, Sony, and others), it also shows you how the price has changed over time so you can see if it's at a particular low point or if it it's likely to fluctuate at all.

S

Regardless of where you buy your ebooks, you probably want to be able to read all of your books in a single place.The best way to do this is to move all of your books into one service. While none of the major bookstores offer a direct way to port your library to their competitors, it's possible to convert and upload them to most.

If you decide to follow this guide for all of your books, you should probably choose a target service based on which app you enjoy reading with the most (you know, the way it should be). However, it's harder to upload outside books to some services than others. For example, it's technically possible to read Epub books on a Kindle, but it's a little convoluted and might require manually moving files every time. For this guide, we'll use Google Play Books as our target because, once the conversion process is completed, you can upload an Epub to your library once and it will immediately be available on all your devices.

S

The first step to consolidating your library is to convert your ebooks to the proper format. For this guide, we'll convert to Epub since it's the most versatile format, but the app we're going to use supports converting between a variety of formats, so you can strip the DRM and add it to just about any device you want. For this example, we'll show you how to convert Kindle books. This guide builds on our previous guide on how to strip DRM from your ebooks. If you don't care about converting your books, you can check out that guide for simplified instructions.

See the article here:

How to Buy Ebooks From Anywhere and Still Read Them All in One Place

You can accuse Windows 8.1 ofa lot of things, but one thing you can't say about Microsoft's latest OS is that it lacks web integration. Thanks to deep integration with Bing, OneDrive, and other Microsoft online services, Windows 8.1 is most definitely where the desktop meets the cloud.

Not everyone's sold on the cloud, though. You could justuse a local accountto keeping Microsoft as far away from your PC as possible, but a lot of Microsoft's services are actually pretty useful. What if you wanted to enable some and disable others? Here's how to individually sever Bing and OneDrive's deep tendrils into your system, along with info on how to keep general Windows apps from looking over your virtual shoulder.

Part of Windows 8.1's comprehensive search feature in the modern UI, dubbed Smart Search, includes results from Bing.

Looking for something? By default, Microsoft expands your searches in Windows 8.1 to include Bing results and results from Windows 8 apps.

If you search for anything that isn't anexact match with a file, option, or program already on your PC, Windows 8 launches Bing Smart Search, which searches for the term locally as well as on the web and within your Windows 8 apps themselves, then collate the results into a slick and helpful interface.It's a convenient feature, but the downside is that for Smart Search to work some of the local search data on your PC gets sent to Microsoft.

If you'd rather not have Bing results mixing with your PC-based searches, dumping Bing is easy. Open the Settings charm by tapping the Windows logo key + I. Then go to Change PC settings > Search and apps > Search.

Next, tap or click the slider to "off" that says "Get search suggestions and web results from Bing." If you want to include Bing results, but would rather not have them personalized based on your search history and PC location, then under "Your search experience" tap or click the radio button next to "Don't get personalized results from Bing."

SkyDrive/OneDrive syncing is very customizable in Windows 8.1. (Click to enlarge.)

Windows 8.1 has deep OneDrive integration that can sync almost everything across multiple PCs, from commonly used files and folders, to your Internet Explorer tabs and settings, to your desktop background and Start screen apps. While most of the options are enabled by default, Microsoft gives you very granular control options over OneDrive's syncing, so it's really up to you how much you put in the cloud.

To adjust your settings, open the Settings charm again, and then go to SkyDrive > Sync settings (SkyDrive in Windows 8.1 will soon be renamed to OneDrive).

Original post:

How to disable Windows 8's deep cloud integration, piece by piece

Mind uploading, also known as whole brain emulation, mind transfer, or simply "uploading" (never "downloading") is the hypothetical act of simulating someone's brain in a computer so well that the simulation possesses all the same intelligence, memories, personality, identity, and consciousness of the original person. If successful, this could allow human beings to live for an extremely long time, as it would be much easier to heal health problems and the effects of aging if it required little more than changing a few lines of code. The ethical implications of mind uploading have been explored at some length in science fiction and in certain branches of philosophy.

Some people strongly object to the notion that mind uploading is even possible, as the qualities of human intelligence are often considered inseparable from their biological substrate. However, the concept of uploading is entirely compatible with causal functionalist philosophies of mind, popular among brain scientists, which assert that the brain is only defined by the causal interactions and functions of its components, rather than the material of which they are made. The popular opinion towards the concept of mind uploading is difficult to gauge, as few people have even heard of the concept, much less given it serious thought.

Mind uploading is beyond the capabilities of our present-day technology, but not by as much as many people think. Portions of a mouse brain have been simulated at very high resolution inside computers. The required equipment for a successful mind upload session would include:

1) High-resolution scanners, such as an electron microscope or nanomachines. 2) A computer with large amounts of memory storage and processing power, for storing the data as it comes in and implementing it as a program once the scanning is completed. 3) A virtual environment for the upload to live within once the uploading process is complete. This might resemble a much more advanced version of an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), such as SecondLife or World of Warcraft.

In destructive uploading, the subject's brain would be frozen in liquid nitrogen, then sliced into small segments, which would be scanned. The scan would then be built into a running program which would be implemented on an advanced computer. Estimates for the necessary processing power of such a computer range between about 1013 (10 trillion) to 1017 (100,000 trillion) operations per second. For comparison, the fastest computer in 2007, Blue Gene/L, operates at about 500 trillion operations per second.

Alternatives to destructive uploading include non-destructive uploading, where neurons are scanned using blood-borne nanomachines rather than destructive slicing, or cyborgization, where parts of the brain are progressively replaced with cybernetic components until the entire thing becomes a computer.

For now, mind uploading remains in science fiction, but it's only a matter of time until the technology becomes available, and people start attempting the procedure outlined above.

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What is Mind Uploading? - wiseGEEK

If you're considering signing up for online dating there are a few questions that are bound to have crossed your mind.

Who uses actually online dating? Am I too old/too young? Do people lie on their profiles? Are online dating sites full of weirdos?

But thanks to statistics collected by one dating site, you can now learn about the average online dater without taking the profile plunge yourself.

Dating site AYI.com, which has about 50,000 active UK members, has collated data from the self-reported information each member provides when signing up to tell us about the average UK user.

We are constantly told that online dating is now the norm, but, if you're young free and single you might be disappointed to hear that the average age of a man looking for love online is 44 while women average at 42-years-old.

It seems the younger generation are too busy swiping right to create a serious dating profile, so if you're a woman with a penchant for the younger man, you might want to consider downloading Tinder instead.

We've all heard an online dating horror story from a friend whose tall, dark and handsome match turned out to be a short troll-like being in the flesh. But according to these figures, the average height of a male online dater is 5'10".

Of course there might be some online daters out there with the build of Ryan Gosling, but, putting on our pessimistic hats, we can't but wonder if this stat is the result of a few porkie pies from the males signing up.

Women are down as being on average 5'4" and both men and women claimed that they have "about average" body types - whatever that's supposed to mean.

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The Average Profile Of An Online Dater Revealed, Including Height, Age And Diet

You want to use your smartphone while traveling abroad. But choosing an affordable method can seem mind-numbingly complicated. Should you buy an international roaming plan? And if you do, what does 100 megabytes of data get you anyway? Perhaps you need a hot spot pass? Or a SIM card? If you don't want an eye-popping phone bill, it's essential to decide before you're on the plane.

"The pain you can get from just a couple of mistakes can be big," said Bill Menezes, a principal research analyst covering mobile services for the technology research firm Gartner.

With a little planning, however, you can stay in touch and on budget. Let's walk through the three simplest ways to do just that, from the most obvious to more creative (and cheaper) solutions.

Phone company plans

Major domestic phone carriers offer prepaid voice and data packages designed for foreign travel that you can buy before you fly, the option many people feel most comfortable choosing. The cost of a text message or the cost per minute of a phone call is fairly straightforward (check your phone company's website for pricing). But the cost of data -- sending text-only emails, posting photos on Facebook, checking into Foursquare, searching the Web for the addresses of restaurants and monuments -- is not.

Srini Devadas, a computer science professor at MIT, said sending emails doesn't eat a lot of data, but the fun stuff does. "It's the photos and videos and the maps," he said, explaining that emailing a single high-resolution photo is 2 to 5 megabytes. He estimated that a 10-minute video call would be about 24 megabytes.

Companies including Verizon and AT&T have megabyte calculators on their websites that let you estimate how much data you'll need by selecting the things you plan to do (send emails, upload photos, surf the Web) and for how long.

None of this is a science. How much data you use depends on a variety of things, including the resolution and size of your photos and videos. Always opt for the lowest when sending or uploading. Another way to save: When walking around a city, use offline mapping apps such as City Maps 2Go and OsmAnd, which can work without an Internet connection. (Such apps can take a toll on your phone's battery life, so consider the time-honored tradition of carrying a paper map.) And, of course patience will save you money: Spend the day taking all the photos and videos you want, but upload them later using Wi-Fi at your hotel.

Bottom line: Phone company plans are not always the most affordable way to go, but they offer one-stop shopping directly with your carrier.

SIM cards

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Three ways to beat data fees when you travel overseas

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) March 21, 2014

Dr. Michio Kaku, a New York Times best-selling author and physicist, will be interviewed by Ken Rutkowski, host of Business Rockstars. The live interview will start on the radio, and then continue live on a Google Hangout, today at 4:05pm PST. Attendees will learn about Time Travel, cures for depression, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other mental illnesses can be expected. Dr. Michio Kaku will also touch upon the ability to microchip your brain like in Total Recall the movie. Guests of Business Rockstars' Google Hangout can also submit questions to be answered Live on their Google Hangout, via a special Business Rockstar Event Page located at BusinessRockstarLaunchPad.com.

Dr. Michio Kaku tackles the most fascinating and complex object in the known universe: the human brain. For the first time in history, the secrets of the living brain are being revealed by a battery of high tech brain scans devised by physicists. Now what was once solely the province of science fiction has become a startling reality. Recording memories, telepathy, videotaping our dreams, mind control, avatars, and telekinesis are not only possible; they already exist.

The future of the mind gives an authoritative and compelling look at the astonishing research being done in top laboratories around the worldall based on the latest advancements in neuroscience and physics. One day there might be a "smart pill" that can enhance one's cognition; be able to upload one's brain to a computer, neuron for neuron; send thoughts and emotions around the world on a "brain-net"; control computers and robots with one's mind; push the very limits of immortality; and perhaps even send one's consciousness across the universe.

Dr. Kaku will take attendees of this Google Hangout on a grand tour of what the future might hold, giving attendees not only a solid sense of how the brain functions but also how these technologies will change one's daily life. He even presents a radically new way to think about "consciousness" and applies it to provide fresh insight into mental illness, artificial intelligence and alien consciousness.

With Dr. Kaku's deep understanding of modern science and keen eye for future developments, the future of the mind is a scientific tour de force - an extraordinary, mind-boggling exploration of the frontiers of neuroscience.

About Michio Kaku Theoretical physicist, best-selling author, acclaimed public speaker, co-founder of string field theory, and popularizer of science, Dr. Michio Kaku resumes Einsteins quest to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into a single grand unified theory of everything.

About Business Rockstars Business Rockstars is a destination for entrepreneurs and "wantrepreneurs". Business Rockstars produces a live radio show, hosted by Ken Rutkowski, that airs 2:00-4:00 PST, which can be heard live daily Monday thru Friday on KFWB News-Talk 980 in Los Angeles, on IHEART RADIO, STITCHER, ITUNES, TUNEIN, and RADIO.COM. Business Rockstars also streams the show live on their YouTube channel.

Business Rockstars brings together some of the world's biggest and most accomplished CEO's, successful small business owners, entrepreneurs, VC's, Business Experts , Incubators, & Accelerators. Business Rockstars is the community and resource for starting a business, growing a business and funding a business.

Alex Cox Alex (at) BusinessRockstars (dot) com (310) 571-5498

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Dr. Michio Kaku will be Interviewed by Business Rockstars' Ken Rutkowski on a Live Google Hangout Today

E #39;s Mind Upload

By: . . . and the world stopped

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E's Mind Upload - Video

(PRWEB) March 20, 2014

Pageflippdf.com, a famous name when it comes to offering cost effective and useful programs for editors and publishers, has released its PDF to flipbook software, eFlip Standard. The software provides a digital publishing platform for tablets, web and mobile.

Integrated online service in eFlip allows users to share PDF to flipbook online immediately. The website is providing opportunity for its customers to get a eFlip Publisher account with a complimentary five GB (250+ eBooks) of online storage space (three years of free cloud host).

EFlip Standard provides users enough online cloud space. The service is introduced, while keeping in mind that a few users may not like to upload flip books to their own service even though they have one. Users can create flipbook with the real effects of 3D page flip in no time. They can make limitless digital publications from MS Office, PDF, Image and OpenOffice and can combine numerous PDF files to single Page Flip book.

Speaking on the occasion, a representative from the company said, We are glad to announce the release of PDF to flipbook software. With the help of this software, users can make unrestricted digital publications form files in multiple formats. They can also manage all flipbook pages by deleting, adding, arranging in order and switching view mode. He further added, We aim to offer the best software and tools to the masses for creating and experiencing problem 3D page flip effects online.

EFlip Standard provides users a complete set of tools for digital publishing and distribution. They can share their publications with others via social website, email and even distribute it on CD-ROM without any payment.

About EFlip Co Ltd

EFlip Co Ltd started services in the year 2009. The company provides digital publication tools and business software and PC or Mac utility tools at affordable prices. The company is located in China. For more PDF to flipbook tools, go to http://www.pageflippdf.com/.

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The PDF to Flipbook Software, eFlip Standard, is Released by Pageflippdf.com