If you were concerned that you didn’t look crazy enough screaming into your phone at business associates, family members, and the guy who does your landscaping, Google has added a feature to Maps for RIM devices that should confirm that yes: you’re a total maniac. Available right now for a handful of BlackBerry phones (8110, 8120, US version of the 8130) you can grab Google Maps with voice search, which enables you to find what you’re looking for by pressing the left-side button and speaking the name of a business (or location, we assume). Sure it sounds convenient, but think twice before searching for hookers or cocaine out loud — stock brokers, you have been warned.

[Via Gear Diary]

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Source:Voice search comes to Google Maps for BlackBerry devices

AFP

Paulson: no quick fix for oil price
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
LONDON (AP) - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned Thursday that rising oil prices are likely to prolong the world economic slowdown.
Don't blame the buck for high oil price: Paulson Reuters
Paulson says US economy set to strengthen AFP
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Source:Paulson: no quick fix for oil price - The Associated Press

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(Reuters)

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(AP)

While Bug Labs may have brought modular gadget kits to the forefront, you won’t find us kvetching about yet another formidable opponent. Machine Collective has just launched a website to showcase its modular prototyping platform, which essentially consists of a number of interchangeable I/O modules “designed to work with development platforms such as Arduino and Wiring.” Needless to say, the possibilities for DIYers and electrical engineers are pretty much endless here, though you’ll have to “wait a few weeks” before excitedly beaming in your order and credit card information.

[Via MAKE]

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Source:Machine Collective reveals modular prototyping platform

Source:Windows XP, Vista–and Windows 7?
(PC World)

Source:Tropical Storm Douglas forms off Mexico
(AP)

Source:Colombian army rescues hostages in daring operation
(AFP)

Source:Yahoo and Microsoft making the rounds with old lovers?
(CNET)

Casio sure seems to be confident in its new transmissive LCD panel, so confident that it apparently thinks it can make it with a name like “Blanview.” The big innovation here, Casio says, is that it’s managed to develop a new system that pulls outside light into the LCD panel to make the transmissive LCD usable outdoors without backlighting, eliminating the need for so-called “semi-transmissive” LCD panels that are more commonly used today. What’s more, it says this new method also increases the transmittance of the panel by about 30% and cut its power consumption for outdoor use by upwards of 50% compared to current panels. Unlike some other promised LCD technology, it also seems like this one is actually fast approaching commercializtion, with sample panels ranging in size from 2.7- to 6.5-inches set to begin shipping this month.

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Source:Casio touts "Blanview" transmissive LCD for outdoor use