Think Your Cellphone Conversation is Safe?

False.

Computer hackers this week said they had cracked and published the secret code that protects 80 per cent of the world’s mobile phones. The move will leave more than 3bn people vulnerable to having their calls intercepted, and could force mobile phone operators into a costly upgrade of their networks.


http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54ca8e66-f485-11de-9cba-00144feab49a.html

On Line Manufacturer Outlets

There are some good deals to be had online from the manufacturers direct.  Here's one example from the Harman group.  There are others...

http://stores.ebay.com/Harman-Audio

US House Passes CALM Bill to Lower Television Ad Volume

The U.S. House of Representatives, in a voice vote on the floor, has passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (HR 1084) and sent it to the Senate. The bill would require the FCC to create a loudness standard preventing broadcast commercials from being louder than the program material into which they are inserted. Several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, France and Russia, have already established such legal standards.


http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/archive/us-house-votes-for-calm-122209/

Sony, Real D Cut 3D Deal

3D in the convenience of your living room...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704238104574602363412548716.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEForthNews

Roy Disney Dies

Certainly changed things up at the Mouse... ushered in the Eisner era and tolerated the Iger era.

In retrospect, did quality suffer when as the company expanded ten fold?


http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-roy-disney17-2009dec17,0,5129215.story

Bosch Meltdown Continues

Midas and Klark Teknik are offloaded, presumably for the cash.

http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/bosch-sells-midas-klark-teknik-music-group-1211/

UCSD 3D Visualization Update

Seriously cool.

http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/uc-sa-diego-develops-3-d-virtual-environment-1201/index.html

Sharp and Samsung Still Slugging it Out Over LCD's

Way past ugly.  Read on.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574573191143439118.html