4:35 PM
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20090826army_shows_off_raytheon_blimps/
Pakistan is making its own UAVs. They are working with an Italian defense company instead of with the US on the UAVs:
http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/08/31/Pakistan-to-make-its-own-drones/UPI-71101251759880/
Iran's next-generation UAVs may go into production this month:
http://www.upiasia.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/08/31/Iran-prepares-for-launch-of-UAV/UPI-62131251750068/
Researchers have found a genetic mutation for the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. This breakthrough could be very important because a drug has already been approved that targets that gene (since it also causes certain types of breast cancer)--this means that there could be a way to cure skin cancer:
http://www.genome.gov/27533287
Study found that this year's version of the swine flu does not mutate into a "superbug" as had been feared. Instead of combining with other flu strains to create a superbug, the swine flu apparently defeated the other flu strains by infecting the subjects before the other flu strains could:
http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1952
This pilot wrote a column about how the TSA's numerous safety measures are just wasting time and money and not making travelers safer. He argues that instead of confiscating butter knives from pilots (the TSA spends millions confiscating knives and contraband), the TSA should be addressing the real danger--explosives. With so many security resources focused on knives and other objects, he points out that the TSA still doesn't scan all bags for explosives:
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2009/08/28/askthepilot332/index.html?source=newsletter
China is now working on a new system of food safety standards:
http://www.china.org.cn/business/editor_pick/2009-08/31/content_18434832.htm
Software engineer who wrote Trojans for Swiss authorities to intercept and record VoIP phone calls has published the source code to his programs to draw attention to the threat posed by such software. He's publishing the software so that security programs can prevent this type of eavesdropping from being used by governments and other organizations:
http://news.techworld.com/security/3200593/swiss-coder-publicises-government-spy-trojan/
Ebay sold 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion--they felt that was a better option than the IPO they had planned for next year, especially considering IPO market conditions. I'm surprised that Ebay got a $2.75 billion valuation for Skype, since in 2007 Ebay valued Skype at $1.2 billion (and that was before the big stock market crash):
http://www.infoworld.com/t/mergers-and-acquisitions/update-ebay-sell-skype-group-private-investors-935?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2009-09-01
After 8 straight years of growing sales, worldwide cell phone sales are projected to be 120 million less this year than in 2008 due to the weak economy, a 8.1% drop in phone sales. However, smartphone sales are up, and smartphone market share is expected to grow from 13% now to 38% of all cell phone sales in the next 5 years:
http://mobiledevdesign.com/tutorials/smart-phones-surge-weak-market-082709/
Article about how Microsoft is losing out on market share and revenue by not being able to get a Windows Mobile App store off the ground while all of its main competitors have App stores running already:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/microsofts-mobile-limbo-544?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2009-09-01
Enhanced Multimedia Phones at Verizon that are introduced after September 8 will require a $10 per month data plan:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/08/31/verizon-enhanced-multimedia-phones-to-require-data-plans-death-of-the-vpak-and-more/