Microsoft fails to impress in the virus scan department.

In a recent test by an Austrian data security company, Microsoft’s ‘OneCare’ virus security software came in last place. Severnteen of the best virus-scan programs were tested with over 1 million virus samples. The best program tested was G Data Security's AVK product; it caught 99.45 percent of the malicious code thrown at it. Popular antivirus program Symantec came in 6th with 96.83% detection rate, McAfee cane in 14th at 91.63%.

Microsoft’s OneCare came in last place of all the programs with a less-then-impressive 82.4% detection rate. For those techie readers out there, this won’t come as much of a surprise. Microsoft has a tradition of being less then secure in many areas. The real concern is the everyday consumer that is putting themselves at unnecessary risk because they don’t know any better then to trust Microsoft.



Hey fridge, beer me!

That’s right all you armchair athletes. The world of kitchen appliances is finally evolving to solve life’s greatest problem: Why should I get up to get a beer? Why can’t the fridge bring it to me?

Enter the Beer-a-pult. US inventor John Cornwell spent $2000 designing a fully function mini-fridge that will throw you a beer when you hit the remote control. The fridge has a built-in lift mechanism that brings the can of beer to an electronic catapult. The catapult then throws the beer through the air up to 5 meters away. The fridge can hold a two-four with 10 beers in its magazine and 14 more in reserve.

"There is a slight danger of being hit in the head with a flying can but this danger decreases the more you use it."
Beer AND potential to injure! It doesn’t get any better than that.
I’ll definitely keep you up to date when this hits the open market.



"Turn off that stupid phone and let me finish my soliloquy!"

That’s what was actually yelled out by a performer at a recent show in the St Petersburg's Alexandrinsky theatre in Moscow.

It seems that the actor may not have a problem much longer. Many old and new theatres in the capital of Russia are installing equipment that blocks cell phone signals, making them useless inside the theatres walls. The technology isn’t new, but in most countries (like ours) it’s illegal to actively interfere with radio communications signals.

Blocking of cellphones can also be done passively. A US company recently designed a type of paneling that absorbs the electromagnetic signal. Rooms fitted with the panels have reduced or even no reception. The paneling is being looked into for use in secure areas, and places like high schools and universities.

So far there is no technology that stops people from downloading stupid ringtones.



UN is hoping video games will help save lives.

The United Nations just released a free downloadable game that is designed to teach children about the dangers of various natural disasters. The Stop Disaster Game asks players to save lives and livelihoods by preparing for an imminent hurricane, earthquake, flood, tsunami, or wildfire within a fixed budget and time.

Players choose among five scenarios with three levels of difficulty; the winner is the person who saves the most.
For example, players who choose the easy level of tsunami are told they have 20 minutes and $50,000 to protect a South Asian village, where 135 people have no housing, from an impending disaster. "Good luck," the instructions say.

Previous UN releases include the board-game ‘Riskland’ for younger children and ‘Food Force’ the online video game about feeding the hungry. No I’m not kidding.