The touch, the feel of cotton, the fabric of our… transistors

Transistors of all shapes and sizes form the foundation of just about every electronic gadget under the sun, and similarly, cotton clothing is a key component of a well-rounded wardrobe. It was only a matter of time before these two got together to form a fashion-forward future, and an international

California Finally Approves Online Voter Registration (Sadly, It’s Just 1 Of 11 States To Have Done So)

So, this piece of news managed to sneak under the radar, but it’s worth recognizing as a victory for the Internet and for the state of California. Digital technology has been slow to come to some offline institutions, a glaring (and sad) example being the very democratic process of registering to vote

The TechCrunch Hackathon Beijing Is About To Begin #disruptbj

We’re about fifteen minutes away from the start of Disrupt Hackathon Beijing and it looks like we have about 350 people on the floor and teams are forming now. It will be interesting to see what folks come up with at this our first Disrupt in China – let alone our first Disrupt event outside [...]

New high-precision eye surgery robot helps doctors stay sharp

A researcher at the Netherland’s University of Technology has invented a new type of eye surgery robot designed to steady the ophthalmologist’s hands and minimize error — always a good thing when it comes to having needles and knives near your peepers. Kind of like an Igor to a mad scientist, the robot

Can Search Data Be Used to Choose Book Ideas?

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your st…

Google gets ready to play traditional TV, preps original YouTube channels

From rumors to reality: YouTube is taking a crack at original programing. Sources close to the Wall Street Journal say that the streaming outfit is partnering with a broad mix of media firms, production companies, and savvy content creators to launch 100 channels, generating over 25 hours of original

IDC: Samsung, ZTE see jump in mobile shipments, Apple slides to fifth place

Q3 earnings reports have been pouring in over the past few days, which means it’s time to check in with IDC on the state of the mobile market. The research firm’s latest report, released today, is something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, Q3 global shipments increased by 12.8 percent year-over-year

Facebook Says 600,000 Accounts Compromised Per Day

In a blog entry on Thursday, Facebook stated that about 600,000 log-ins every day are compromised.
The factoid, first noted by security site Sop…

YouTube Confirms Plans To Take On Cable With ‘Channels’, Names Dozens Of Partners

YouTube’s ambitions to challenge cable television head-on are getting a big boost tonight: the world’s largest video site is announcing that it’s lined up a slew of new content partners who will be developing shows for the site, covering everything from sports to comedy to music. The news had been rumored

Siri Gives Apple a Two-Year Advantage Over Google, Says VC

Could Siri, the voice-based virtual assistant for every iPhone 4S owner, constitute a threat to Google’s Android operating system?
Absolu…