Robots and the Law: Will the Real Inventor Please Stand Up?

The idea that robots might be capable of independent thought processes raises a lot of interesting possibilities, not the least of which is the problem of how such robots -- and their work products -- would be regarded under the law. A robot that invents something entirely on its own, for example, could conceivably be the appropriate patentholder, based on current U.S. law.

Network Forensics and Digital Time Travel

Network forensics is the capture, storage and analysis of network traffic. You might also hear the term referred to as "packet mining," "packet forensics," or "digital forensics." Regardless of the name, the concept is the same, with the objective to record every packet and the data it contains moving across the network and storing it for some period of time. Simply put, this means having a network recorder that would allow you to see all emails, database queries, Web browsing activity, etc.

Frankencamera Could Herald a New Digital Photography Era

The researchers who developed the Frankencamera intend to make every bit of it open source -- not only the software, but also the design and construction plans. "It's very easy to modify the design for your own purposes," said Andrew Adams, a Stanford graduate student in computer science, "and we imagine no two Frankencameras made this way will be exactly alike."

BlackBerry Storm Gathers Strength in Second Version

The first touchscreen BlackBerry phone, the Storm, got a few things right, but generally it was a chore to use. Good thing a lot can change in a year. Though not without flaws, the latest version of the device, the BlackBerry Storm2 , is the phone Research In Motion should have released last year: It's faster, smarter and more fun to use. The Storm2's face is still dominated by a large, bright touchscreen. The buttons that previously sat just below the screen have been integrated, making most of the phone's face one big, slick slab.

Study: Internet Doesn't Cause Introversion

A recent report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project debunks the notion that the Internet is a socially isolating technology. Indeed, with the rise of social networks and new communication media, the Web might have quite the opposite affect. Face-to-face contact is still the primary way people keep in touch, the study found.

Verizon Launches a Droid of a Different Color

Motorola's new handset wasn't the only Droid that Verizon brought to market Friday. HTC's Droid Eris also made its debut. The phone closely resembles the HTC Hero, a handset Sprint started selling last month. The similarity in names for the two Verizon phones is no accident -- Verizon says the name "Droid" will be used as a brand within the carrier's lineup.

Samsung Intrepid: Sleek Hardware Makes Up For Uncomfy OS

Samsung has built its Intrepid smartphone with a solid set of hardware. Its physical keyboard is comfortable for thumb-typing, and its camera sports a number of advanced features for a phone cam. The Windows Mobile 6.5 OS it's saddled with can be uncomfortable and unintuitive at times, but it may be at least a familiar interface for the business users the Intrepid targets.