A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program.

Computers are extremely versatile. In fact, they are universal information-processing machines. According to the Church–Turing thesis, a computer with a certain minimum threshold capability is in principle capable of performing the tasks of any other computer, from those of a personal digital assistant to a supercomputer, as long as time and memory capacity are not considerations. Therefore, the same computer designs may be adapted for tasks ranging from processing company payrolls to controlling unmanned spaceflights. Due to technological advancement, modern electronic computers are exponentially more capable than those of preceding generations (a phenomenon partially described by Moore's Law).

Computers take numerous physical forms. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, and such enormous computing facilities still exist for specialized scientific computation — supercomputers — and for the transaction processing requirements of large companies, generally called mainframes. Smaller computers for individual use, called personal computers, and their portable equivalent, the laptop computer, are ubiquitous information-processing and communication tools and are perhaps what most non-experts think of as "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is the embedded computer, small computers used to control another device. Embedded computers control machines from fighter aircraft to digital cameras.

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L.A. Times - Technology News

Financial literacy for kids
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Adults make plenty of mistakes with their money. Themint.org wants to keep teenagers from doing the same.
A home page for bidding on foreclosures
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Some firms see a place for an online market in distressed properties. Drawn by the convenience, faraway investors won't know what they're getting into. As the nation prepares to pay the price for years of unfettered property speculation, a collection of online companies is hoping to cash in on an oncoming wave of foreclosure sales by auctioning distressed homes online -- with significant consequences for homeowners as well as purchasers.¶ Next month, Duval County in Florida will be the first in the country to hold an Internet foreclosure auction, forgoing the traditional courthouse sale in the hope of attracting buyers from other areas. ¶ If the sales proceed and other states sign on, it will be an earth-shifting change in the way foreclosures are handled because it will eliminate a key requirement meant to protect homeowners from unscrupulous lenders. ¶ By law in California -- and every other state save Florida -- lenders may not simply claim that a homeowner has defaulted on payments and move to take over the house. Instead, they must hold a public sale, in the county where the property is located, after notice has been provided to the borrower and the sale has been advertised. ¶ Internet sales will also have important ramifications for bidders. ¶ Because potential buyers may be out of the area, many won't be able to fully research the properties and might wind up, as happens even in courthouse sales, finding faucets with no running water, foundations that are crumbling and even the occasional corpse.
How I Made It: Peter Y. Levin
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
It's never too early to draft a game plan for your career -- the chief of a tech investment group and co-owner of football team Chicago Rush began his at 19 in Creative Artists Agency's mail room. The gig: Levin is chief executive of GYL, a Santa Monica technology investment portfolio focused on digital media companies and video game platforms. He serves as a board member for online virtual world Habbo Inc.; in-game advertising company Double Fusion Inc.; Power Challenge, a maker of multi-player sports games; and game developer Mind Control Software Inc. Levin is also the founder and co-owner (along with former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka) of the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush team; a managing partner in Palisades Baseball, which owns and operates two minor league baseball teams; and minority partner in and strategic advisor to Strikeforce, a mixed martial arts promotional entity.
Keep track of bird sightings with BirdPost.com
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Birders rejoice. BirdPost.com is a new website that unites birders the world over. Keep track of birds you've spotted and view Google satellite maps to discover what types of birds you may see on your next trip.
Royalties for digital song downloads unchanged
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A sigh of relief could be heard in digital music land Thursday as the federal Copyright Royalty Board left unchanged the rate for royalties paid to songwriters and publishers for CDs and digital downloads.
Federal agency prohibits all train operators from using cellphones while on duty
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The emergency order comes one day after the National Transportation Safety Board says text messages were sent and received by Metrolink engineer moments before fatal crash. The Federal Railroad Administration on Thursday issued an emergency order that prohibits all train operators from using cellphones while on duty, a rule that comes years after the agency first considered the matter and two weeks after the California Public Utilities Commission imposed the same restriction.

Googling Google


Garett Rogers Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:12:10 -0000
Google launches new Spreadsheets interface Google has just rolled out a new version of Google Spreadsheets — the last one of all three products in the Google Docs suite. I have to say, this new version works great for me — it has the familiar menus at the top, a bunch of new toys, and [...]
Google releases Chrome 0.3.154
Garett Rogers Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:40:43 -0000
If you are interested in living on the bleeding edge, and always using Google’s latest and greatest browser version (the “even more beta” one), you can turn on what is called the “Dev Channel”. To use the Dev Channel, download the switcher from here. Run the application that you find here, then choose the “dev” [...]
Google Blog Search re-launches, now it’s useful
Garett Rogers Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:38:08 -0000
Google relaunched their service called “Google Blog Search” today, and I have to say, it’s pretty hot. The service puts itself almost in direct competition with the popular Techmeme service — with the exception that Google does it for everything, not just Tech news. According to Google, they have adapted some of the same technology [...]
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Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:38:08 -0000
Google to go back in time?
Garett Rogers Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:55:45 -0000
Warning, this post is speculative, but I think all signs point to what I am about to describe. Google may be about to launch a search tool that uses the same algorithms used way back in 2001. Why would they do this? I think it’s probably the best way for them to [...]
New Google tool called “Moderator” released
Garett Rogers Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:20:36 -0000
Google’s newest tool called “Moderator“, released on their own App Engine platform, lets people ask (and vote) on questions related to any given topic. It’s easy to get started, or participate in existing “series” (which contain groups of topics) — just click on “create series” on the main page, and follow the steps. This newly [...]

Computer Companies - Google News

Steve Wozniak interview: iconic co-founder on the iPod, iPhone ... - Telegraph.co.uk
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:11:04 -0000
Telegraph.co.ukSteve Wozniak interview: iconic co-founder on the iPod, iPhone ...Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 7 hours ago... software for established companies. When he was given his first commission to design a computer game for Atari he could barely contain his excitement. ...Apple courts businesses with iPhone Indianapolis Starall 2 news articles
Southern California Companies Rapidly Adopting Airband's WiMAX ... - MarketWatch
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:49:09 -0000
Southern California Companies Rapidly Adopting Airband's WiMAX ...MarketWatch - 6 hours agoUSC ISI provides technology services to more than 350 researchers, graduate students and staff who operate more than 1000 computer systems that depend on a ...
Company saves money by letting employees pick their own equipment ... - Columbus Dispatch
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:42:02 -0000
Columbus DispatchCompany saves money by letting employees pick their own equipment ...Columbus Dispatch, OH - 12 hours agoWhether other companies follow the bring-your-own-computer route is more likely to depend on whether it saves them any money. Citrix said it generally had ...

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