By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

Get your propeller beanie and prepare your mind for a little science. Every time I read one of those “oh no, Moore’s Law is quickly becoming obsolete” scare pieces that crop up from time to time, I always smile. Here’s why:

Weixiao Huang, a Chinese student attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has just invented a new alternative to the Silicon transistor using a compound material known as gallium nitride or (GaN).

“Huang first developed a new process that demonstrates an excellent GaN MOS (metal/oxide/GaN) interface. Engineers have known that GaN and other gallium-based materials have some extremely good electrical properties, much better than silicon. However, no useful GaN MOS transistor has been developed. Huang’s innovation, the first GaN MOSFET of its kind in the world, has already shown world-record performance according to Huang. In addition, Huang has shown that his innovation can integrate several important electronic functions onto one chip like never before. “This will significantly simplify entire electronic systems,” Huang said. Huang has also designed and experimentally demonstrated several new novel high-voltage MOS-gated FETs which have shown superior performance compared to silicon MOSFET in terms of lower power consumption, smaller chip size, and higher power density.” Source: esciencenews.com

Why You Should Care: The energy efficiency of the new transistors mean that if GaN transistors are used in place of silicon in electronic systems, the new energy efficiency means a radical reduction in pollution and fossil fuel consumption. Better yet, the ability to operate in much higher temperatures means a whole new class of electrical engineering is possible. (She says with her laptop burning a hole in her lap as she types this.) Wonder how long he stood there before Intel came calling?!

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Can’t buy Yahoo! (at least for now)? Buy search users instead.

Microsoft has launched a service called “Live Search Cashback.” The program is linked to Microsoft’s acquisition of Jellyfish.com last year, a cashback site similar to eBates, where rebates of varying percentages are given for purchases clicked-through from the site. This probably explains why the cashback portion of Jellyfish has been down of late — and is down again today.

The cashback program works the same as if you went directly to eBates or Jellyfish. You search for an item, and when you click through and buy, a certain percentage goes into your account. Typically the amount from one of these programs can range from less than a percent to 30% or more.

Essentially, Microsoft has turned Live Search into a combination Pricegrabber.com / eBates.

Microsoft labels this program as “The Search That Pays You Back.” On their FAQ page, a few bullets:

Why are you paying me cashback?

We want to earn your loyalty and reward it with cashback savings for your everyday online shopping. We are “The Search That Pays You Back”!

Can I use an alternative payment method (i.e. PayPal, Google Checkout, etc.) when I purchase from the Store and still get my cashback savings?

We can’t guarantee that your purchase will be reported to us correctly if you use an alternative payment method.

Payout methods are pretty much the standard for one of these services. The cashback amount goes into your account. Funds accumulate until they reach a $5 minimum amount, at which time you can request payment via direct deposit, PayPal, or check. Note there is a 60-day waiting period after purchase to account for possible returns.

How does Microsoft get merchants to sign on to this rebate program? Microsoft is using an alternative payment model called Cost Per Acquisition, in which the advertiser only pays when the ad results in a consumer purchase. This is a fairly typical model for this type of structure.

I’ll say one thing: I’m assuming Microsoft will maintain the Jellyfish rebate structure. If so, the percentages offered are lower than a lot of other cashback sites (call me frugal), but the all-in-one search / rebate structure will probably still appeal to many.

The program, although already live on the Web, will be announced today at an annual event Microsoft holds for online advertisers.

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Anyone who’s read my posts for a while knows that I’m in favor of bans of texting and emailing while driving, though I will admit to engaging in the activity myself.

On Wednesday Vlingo, a firm specializing in voice recognition technology, specifically for the mobile market, released a report called “Consumer Text Messaging Habits.”

The report provides some interesting insights into the habits of Americans who text (defined as text messaging, instant messaging, or emailing) while driving.

In the emailed press release describing the report, Dave Grannan, CEO of vlingo said:

“In this data what we see is an approaching tidal wave of a public policy and safety issue. Text messaging has become an integral part of how younger generations communicate, and right now their behavior and attitudes suggest that 50 percent will be driving and texting. This problem is only going to get worse and we need to develop public policies and technologies to address this challenge.”

I’d agree, despite the fact I participate in the activity myself. Texting while driving has even been linked as a possible reason behind some fatal crashes. Interesting data from the report:

Overall, 55 percent of respondents send text messages, and 28 percent admit to driving while texting. Among respondents, 78 percent believe DWT should be illegal. The report also uncovered the following:

• 85 percent of respondents say they would not DWT if it were illegal.
• 78 percent of all surveyed think DWT should be illegal.
• 85 percent of teens and young adults (those 13-29) send text messages, and just over 50 percent of those ages 16-29 admit to DWT.

More

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Yep, hugs and kisses (XOXO) to the OLPC’s XO-2 laptop, which was unveiled today by Nicolas Negroponte during the One Laptop Per Child Foundation’s day-long media event at the MIT Media Lab.

Not much detail was given regarding the new ULCPC’s specs, but the new system has two touch-sensitive displays and no hard keyboard. The emailed press release said:

… the primary goal of the “XO-2″ will be to advance new concepts of learning as well as to further drive down the cost of the laptop so that it is affordable for volume purchase by developing nations.

The release also said that by the time the device launches in 2010, the OLPC Foundation wants its cost to be $75. More info from the press release: More

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Eating disorders among teens are on the rise, and as such, you don’t need to make them think they are obese unnecesssarily, do you? Criticism has arisen, and Nintendo has been forced to apologize, after its Wii Fit game called a ten-year-old “fat.”

On DISBoards.com, a parent described the incident:

We have all laughed and joked about being told that we’re fat and need to lose weight but I was gobsmacked when it told her that she is overweight. She is a healthy 10 year old girl with an active lifestyle, she swims and dances every week. She is 92lbs and 4ft9″ tall and there is not an inch of fat on her. She is solidly built but not fat. She was devasted to be called fat and we had to work hard to convince her that she isn’t. I know it is just a game but seriously we already have to worry about young girls starving themselves to look like the magazine models and now we have a game that tells them their fat.

Nintendo was immediately assailed as, rightly, it was pointed out that BMI measurements for children aren’t accurate. In fact, there are reasons that a BMI measurement may not be accurate for certain adults, as well.

A Nintendo statement said:

Nintendo would like to apologize to any customers offended by the in-game terminology used to classify a player’s current BMI status, as part of the BMI measurement system integrated into Wii Fit.

Wii Fit is still capable of measuring the BMI for people aged between two and 20 but the resulting figures may not be entirely accurate for younger age groups due to varying levels of development.

Well, it’s good to get all the controversy out of the way before the U.S. launch, right?

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

This should not come as a shock, but today is the official first day people in the US can buy the already-popular-in-Japan Wii Fit from Nintendo. Wii Fit turns your Nintendo Wii gaming console into a fitness trainer using a special pad to measure your weight and balance. The “game” comes with a set of exercises ranging from strength to aerobics, and has been applauded for making getting fit fun, interactive (up to 8 family members can use it and compete) and for making the gaming console more than a couch potato pastime.

As you can see, the $89.99 game is already out of stock online and independent sellers have quickly jacked the price up to over $200. It was $180 when I woke up and quickly jumped to $210.

We Say: What is this, oil? Nintendo knew the game was huge and should have planned ahead, but we can’t help but wait for the day we get ours like all good addicts.

More about the game:
The primary tenet of Wii Fit is balance. Your center of balance, the point between your left and right sides when you stand upright, has a lot to do with your health. Those without an even center of balance will be unnaturally compensating for this imbalance, which causes their posture to become misaligned, increasing the possibility of putting unnecessary strain on their bodies. This is where the Wii Balance Board comes in.

Similar in appearance to a step aerobics board, the Wii Balance Board is much, much more. Easily capable of supporting weights up to a maximum of 300 pounds, it is sturdy and precise, able to measure weight and register pressure accurately when placed on a variety of flat surfaces. This advanced level of sensitivity allows for both the wide range of activities found in the Wii Fit software as well as the board’s amazing ability recognize individual players by their weight alone. More

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

As Carl Icahn continues to press Yahoo!, including looking to oust the Yahoo! board, Microsoft issued a statement on Sunday which indicated that it may still be looking a deal with Yahoo!, but a “different” one.

The press release leaves plenty of room for interpretation, while providing little info:

“In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft announced that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business. Microsoft is considering and has raised with Yahoo! an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo! Microsoft is not proposing to make a new bid to acquire all of Yahoo! at this time, but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative depending on future developments and discussions that may take place with Yahoo! or discussions with shareholders of Yahoo! or Microsoft or with other third parties.

“There of course can be no assurance that any transaction will result from these discussions.”

What’s all this mean? There are several scenarios being rumored, but the most likely rumor at this time involves a collaboration rather than an acquisition. The normal “people close to discussions” say that talks center on a partnership or joint venture for search-related advertising to compete against Google.

An alternative rumor, based on the statement in the press release that “Microsoft is considering and has raised with Yahoo! an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo!“, is an acquisition of just Yahoo!’s search business.

The drama never ends. If it’s not Icahn proxy fight, it’s this.

Prior to Microsoft’s bid at the beginning of February, Yahoo! shares traded at $19, and last week the stock closed at $27.66, far above that figure. Meanwhile, shares of Microsoft closed Friday at $29.99.