ESPN - Indy fattens last year's bid, wins right to host 2012 Super Bowl - NFL

Persistence to be a Super Bowl host has paid off for Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.After losing the right to host Super Bowl XLV to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones by two votes last year, Irsay and the city of Indianapolis improved their bid by $25 million and were awarded Super Bowl XLVI on Tuesday.

Indianapolis beat out Glendale, Ariz., and Houston in voting at the NFL owners meetings. Houston did not make the final cut in early balloting, leaving Arizona, host of the most recent Super Bowl, for the final selection."We couldn't be more excited," Irsay said. "It's been a long process."Irsay took last year's loss in the voting process hard.

With a new stadium and the possibility of 100,000 seats in play for a Dallas Super Bowl, Jones edged out Indianapolis 17-15. Irsay bounced back and convinced his city to make one more attempt.The game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium, which opens this fall.The only down side to the Colts' good news was that it came on the day owners, including Irsay, voted unanimously to shorten the collective bargaining agreement by two years. Super Bowl XLVI comes in what could be a lockout season. The 2011 season could have major labor issues that could affect that season and the Super Bowl."It was difficult coming back and trying to compete against ourselves because we had such a great bid," Irsay said. "But in the end we kept pressing our points."One of the big selling points to owners is that the city will build a new practice facility for the Super Bowl itself, and the facility then will be given back to the community to be used for the area's young athletes.

ESPN Widgets

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Solar Islands

Creating cheap, clean energy is a huge problem.

So, how's this for a big solution: Swiss researcher Thomas Hinderling wants to build solar islands several miles across that he claims can produce hundreds of megawatts of relatively inexpensive power.

He's the CEO of the Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique, a privately held R&D company, and he's already received $5 million from the Ras al Khaimah emirate of the United Arab Emirates to start construction on a prototype facility in that country.

While limited information is available on the solar islands website, Hinderling laid out his scheme at The Oil Drum, a well-known blog about energy. Hinderling estimates that an island a mere mile across could generate 190 megawatts of power with a breakeven price point of $0.15 a kilowatt hour, or about twice current electricity prices in the United States.

The islands will consist of a plastic membrane loaded up with solar concentrating mirrors floating above the water. The mirrors are used to heat liquid to turn it into steam, which drives a turbine that generates energy.

On land, this type of electricity generation is fairly well known. So-called solar thermal plants are emerging as a leading alternative to fossil fuel power plants for future energy generation, with two of Google's three alt-energy investments coming in solar thermal companies.

But why head to the ocean to create solar thermal power? Hinderling claims that the entire platform can be turned to align with the sun, generating maximum efficiency without a complicated tracking system. The company's production schedule has it splashing a 1500-foot in diameter platform into the water at the end of 2010.

Mark Bollinger, a renewable energy researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National lab, thought it would be possible to create such an island, but questioned the viability of the enterprise.

"I'm sure it's possible, but it seems a little bit out-there, just given where the technology is and how little of it has been developed on land," Bollinger said.

From a feasibility perspective, he questioned the necessity of pushing solar thermal out to sea, where new variables like the waves could throw off precision-tracking of the sun's rays.

"The reason you'd do that is if space was at a premium, but I don't think it is, at least for solar thermal," he said. "Where it works best is in the desert of the Southwest, and there's a lot of land down there."

Another big question Hinderling doesn't address is transmission, i.e. how you get the power off the island and to the people. Luckily, offshore transmission options (.pdf) are already being explored for wind farms located out in the ocean. And Bollinger noted that there are ocean barges that already produce power for "load-constrained" areas of the Northeast.

-Wired

Last.fm Beta

As the first anniversary of its $280 million acquisition by CBS draws near, Last.fm has unveiled a new beta version with a more powerful design and a plan to expand the social music site's current subscription option.

The site's little-publicized music subscription service costs $3 per month. In its current iteration, the basic subscription removes ads, shows who's been cruising your profile, lets others listen to your station and allows faster access during peak usage hours.

Last.fm says it will continue offering this basic subscription, but that an upcoming subscription package will include unlimited access to the catalogs of all four major labels plus 150,000 indie labels and artists. As of now, Last.fm users can listen to any artist/label-uploaded track up to three times for free (songs that have been heard three times will still play on the site's radio stations).

But this Last.fm beta, currently available only to current basic subscribers, is about much more than just the upcoming subscription package; it involves a full redesign, adding powerful features for playing, sharing and adding music to your library from anywhere on the site.

"Three main concepts driving the UI and feature development for this next-generation Last.fm are: play music, share music and add music," according to Last.fm's Hannah Donovan. "We've focused on making these three things easier for everyone to enjoy, even your mum."

To those ends, the site has added a new player at the top of every page that lets you play whatever music is listed there, so there will be "hopefully no more digging around for play buttons and radio stations," Donovan said. Every music page has also been set up to encourage sharing with friends or adding songs to your library. You can also browse your friends' libraries and add tracks from there.

In addition, the beta lets users manually add songs and artists to their libraries in addition to having them added automatically, or "scrobbled," via iTunes or their preferred media player. This will let you expand your music collection purely through Last.fm, rather than acquiring the music elsewhere and scrobbling it into your library.

Extras include an activity feed that let you see what all your friends have been listening to, real-time music popularity charts and podcasts.

If you subscribe to Last.fm, you can enter the beta now. Once the Last.fm team finishes responding to beta testers' feedback, they'll make these features available to a wider swath of users (how refreshing -- a beta that's actually a beta, as opposed to an initial release, which is how other companies have been using the term).

Variable Pricing On iTunes?

Steve Jobs wants to extend Apple's lead in online music sales to the mobile market, and the 3-G iPhone expected next month positions them to make the iTunes store available everywhere you have signal. Jobs also wants in on the ringtone and ringback tones business -- thoroughly impulse buys which become feasible on the iPhone only if purchasing can be done outside of a hot spot.

Trouble is, he needs some new deals from the record labels to make this happen. The record labels have some demands of their own -- chief among them variable pricing. As music licensing negotiations between Apple and the labels continue, the labels hope to trade mobile delivery for variable pricing, according to a New York Times' source, a record label executive.

An Apple spokesperson told Wired.com, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation," but we got a couple of analysts to weigh in on the possibilities.

"All sorts of discussions happen over time as the contracts [between Apple and the labels] expire. All sort of issues get lumped in, and no doubt [OTA downloads are] going to be one of them," Michael Gartenberg, VP and research director of Jupiter Research told Wired.com. "Clearly Apple understands that its devices are dependent on getting content - music, games, movies, ringtones etc., and it's going to work hard to make that happen. Apple's track record with iTunes and the iPod suggests they probably will get the kind of cooperation they need."

Still, the labels' demand for variable pricing could be part of the deal this time around. It's been a Jobs bedrock principle that one-price-fits-all works, and it has been hard to argue the point, what with Apple surpassing Wal-Mart as the world's biggest music store. After all, Apple let NBC walk over variable pricing but only last week agreed to a two-tiered pricing system with HBO.

So, is the time ripe for some horse trading?

Currently iPhone owners can buy iTunes content only when they are in a hot spot. The use of AT&T 3-G makes broadband ubiquitous and that makes the OTA ringback and ringback-tone business viable. However, Apple could be forced to cut AT&T in on music sales if it wants to pipe music over the company's wireless data networks to iPhone users.

Mobile is "clearly an opportunity Apple is missing," said Lewis Ward, research manager of mobile consumer services for IDC,via telephone. "And Apple is going to want to do it all themselves, but these OTA music storefronts have not sold very well. Maybe there's secret sauce Apple's thinking about, but the track record  [of mobile music and ringtone stores that require a credit card rather than charging users via their cellphone bills] has not been impressive to date."

"The real issue is billing," said Ward. "People are much more comfortable with paying through a carrier [because] you don't have to enter a credit card number or be worried about security.... That puts the carrier in the supply, and the carrier is going to want their cut, which means the margin for Apple goes lower."

As for the labels, they want iTunes to abandon its policy of selling songs at a flat rate of 99 cents in favor of a demand-based pricing system that would charge more for hot releases and less for other tracks. The labels have already tried to pressure Apple by withholding some of their music from the DRM-free section of the iTunes store, but these mobile licensing agreements give them even more negotiating leverage.

Apple already allows HBO to sell videos at various prices through iTunes; if Jobs wants a bigger piece of the mobile pie, he could soon be forced to cave to label demands for the same options. And that's not all.

At least one of the majors -- Universal Music Group -- also wants Apple to offer an "unlimited music" iPod that would allow device owners "a year or two" of subscription-style access to a large catalog in return for paying the labels an upfront fee with each iPod sold. (Will factory-replaceable batteries be the new DRM?)

Negotiations around these topics have been happening for a few weeks and are ongoing, according to the New York Times. IDC audio analyst Susan Kevorkian told us that Apple's practice of selling songs at a flat fee has already served its purpose, which was to show the music buying public how simple buying online could be.

If that's the case, Jobs could fold on the variable music pricing front to give Apple a bigger percentage of the mobile music market

-Wired

Google Health

Google Health launched today in what could portend a far more personal, digital future for health-related data.  Google Health is a way to manage your medical records.  Proponents of Google Health and Microsoft's similar Health Vault say they could make medical data more accessible for patients, enabling them to take control of their health care. Opponents worry that putting the information online is a threat to privacy and unlikely to make much of a difference in how doctors treat their patients.

Pond Junk New Kerosene

Airbus is jumping onto the alt fuel bandwagon, working alongside Honeywell, International Aero Engines, UOP and JetBlue Airways to develop technology for turning algae and vegetable oil into fuel. Airbus is betting pond scum and veggies could provide 30 percent of all jet fuel by 2030.With the air industry under increasing pressure to rein in emissions and airlines taking it on the chin from rising fuel prices, the incentive to find an alternative to kerosene has never been higher. Although modern commercial jets are more efficient - and cleaner- than ever,  many in the industry agree they've still got a long way to go.

Airbus is one of the world's largest commercial jet makers, so its involvement lends credence - and a sense of urgency - to the project. UOP, a gas and chemical processing company, has already developed technology for converting natural gases and oils to military jet fuel under a project bankrolled by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). UOP says the technology could be applied to commercial jets. 

Microhoogle Drama Continues

The Microhoo drama continues, but with a twist; Carl Icahn.  The shrewd billionaire investor has threatened Yahoo! with a proxy fight.

Yahoo and Google have been pursuing a deal for a while now and could even be on the verge of making a formal announcement soon. And it might not be an accurate deadline, but Yahoo's annual meeting is July 3, and one can see the wisdom of having something tangible and impressive to dangle in front of shareholders, many of whom might be angry with the collapse of the Microsoft deal and the minimum 73% premium ($33 vs. $19) it placed on the value of their company.  Microsoft said Sunday that it was not thinking about acquiring Yahoo anymore (although it could if it wanted to in the future) but that it was talking to Yahoo about some kind of partnership.

Firefox 3 Goes Public

The release candidate of Mozilla's popular web browser Firefox has reached the public's hands.  Although there are still several bugs, it works, and gives a great idea of how a finished product would work.  Memory and processor usage has been reduced, and speed has been increased, the perfect balance!  Available in 45 languages, its available to nearly everyone.

Google Maps+ Real Estate= Who Knew?

Google Maps can now show push pins on houses that match your set criteria as you're searching the globe.

Edward M. Kennedy, A Seizure Victim

Edward M. Kennedy was airlifted Cape Cod to the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA after falling victim to a seizure.

A family spokeswoman said Saturday evening that Mr. Kennedy, 76, was “conscious, talking and joking with family” who had gathered at Massachusetts General Hospital. Several other Kennedy associates said they were told that the senator, Democrat of Massachusetts, would recover, but that he was scheduled to undergo tests to determine what caused the seizure.

Mr. Kennedy’s wife, Victoria, his children and niece Caroline Kennedy were among those who rushed to the hospital in Boston after he was taken by medical helicopter from Cape Cod Hospital. He fell ill at his family’s compound in Hyannis Port, Mass., shortly after 8 a.m. and was transported by fire officials to the local hospital.

Mr. Kennedy underwent surgery at the same hospital in October to remove a blockage in his left carotid artery, in part to prevent a stroke, which can be caused by the interruption of the flow of blood to the brain. The blockage was found as doctors were examining his back and neck, which were severely injured in an airplane crash in 1964. After the surgery, doctors recommended that he take aspirin to prevent blood clots. He was already on medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol.

GPS III Satellites

Earlier this week, Lockheed Martin announced that it had been awarded a $1.4 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to build the next-generation system, known as GPS III. The goal is to deliver better accuracy and availability for both civilian and military users of the navigation technology (which, after all, was born as a military innovation).

In the first round of the undertaking, lead contractor Lockheed, along with ITT and General Dynamics, will build eight GPS IIIA satellites, the first of which is due to go into orbit in 2014. Later increments--for which no dates were specified--will see the construction and deployment of eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites, with progressively advanced capabilities.

One advance that Lockheed is promising: Eventually, all of the 32 satellites will be able to receive simultaneous updates from a single ground station through a cross-linked command and control architecture. The artificial constellation will also feature "a new spot beam capability for enhanced military (M-Code) coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming."

The Air Force is set to launch its final two Lockheed-built GPS IIR satellites, one in June and the other in September. That will make for a total of 20 IIR satellites, which are more autonomous than earlier models, put into service over the span of around a decade. These last two are among eight IIR(M) models, which provide both M-Code and L2C (for civilian use) signals. The satellite launching in June also will transmit on a frequency called L5, intended primarily for aviation safety-of-life applications.

Polar Bear Is Now Protected

The Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday because of the loss of Arctic sea ice but also cautioned the decision should not be viewed as a path to address global warming.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne cited dramatic declines in sea ice over the last three decades and projections of continued losses, meaning, he said, that the polar bear is a species likely to be in danger of extinction in the near future.

Train Acid Leak Forces

Six cars of a freight train derailed Saturday, causing a hydrochloric acid leak that forced thousands of people to leave homes, businesses and a nursing home within one mile of the wreck.

The spilled acid sent a toxic cloud over the area, and at least five people, including two railroad workers, were taken to a hospital and treated after complaining of skin and eye irritation, said Lafayette Parish sheriff's Lt. Craig Stansbury.

A nursing home with 161 residents was evacuated, said Dr. Jimmy Guidry the state health officer, said. About 35 of the residents deemed too frail to travel were taken to area hospitals, he said.

Police walked door-to-door notifying residents of the mandatory evacuation in an area with an estimated population of 3,500 people. "We're advising them to take enough supplies for approximately 48 hours," Stansbury said.

Mona Hebert and Jeffrey Ferrara said they were rousted from their trailer around 3:45 a.m. and told they had two minutes to leave. Ferrara, who lost his home in Hurricane Katrina and has been staying with friends like Hebert since then, didn't have time to grab his shoes or any of his medications.

"This is gravy compared to" Katrina, Ferrara said, adding that the morning air smelled of chlorine, like a swimming pool.

Hydrochloric acid can cause respiratory problems and skin and eye irritation, according to Joe Faust, a spokesman for the Texas-based BNSF Railway that operated the train involved in the spill.

An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of the acid was spilled, he said. The acid formed a yellowish pool at the site of the derailment.

A train car carrying ethylene oxide, used in agricultural products and as a sterilizer for medical supplies, was overturned but was not leaking, said Rodney Mallett, a spokesman with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

BNSF was using lime to neutralize the hydrochloric acid. Cleanup workers will then either dig or vacuum up the acid and lift the cars back onto the track, Mallett said.

Faust did not speculate on how long the cleanup might take but said residents wouldn't be allowed back into the area until officials were certain the hazardous material was gone.

"We want to make sure that they're not returning home prematurely," Faust said. "We want to make sure the entire area is clean."

Shelter manager Jacqui Picard says that the Red Cross has set up a shelter at a high school and was gearing up to handle as many as 500 people if needed.

AP

Teens Hacked Government Pages

Spanish police have arrested five young computer hackers who allegedly disabled Internet pages run by government agencies in the U.S., Latin America and Asia, authorities said Saturday.

The National Police described the suspects as belonging to one of the most active hacker groups on the Internet and said two of the suspects are only 16 years old. The others are 19 or 20.

On the Internet, the group calls itself D.O.M Team, police said.

One of the group's techniques was to infiltrate Web sites and insert a page of its own, police said. A Google search turns up several hits with pages that fit this description.

The group attacked some 21,000 Web pages over the last two years, police said in a statement. The five were arrested this week in Barcelona, Burgos, Malaga and Valencia.

The statement did not identify which government Web sites the suspects are accused of tampering with.

The Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported in March that the group had infiltrated NASA's Web page, but a police official said Saturday she could not confirm this. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department rules.

The group also hacked the Venezuelan national telephone company's page, and that of the Spanish telephone operator Jazztel, among others, the paper said.

El Mundo said it had contacted the group and it described itself not as a bunch of delinquents, but computer-lovers that raid Web sites to show system administrators the pages' vulnerabilities.

The Spanish investigation began in March after the Web page of a Spanish political party, Izquierda Unida, was disabled shortly after Spain's general election March 9.

The five suspects did not know each other personally, but rather just over the Internet. They were in contact with other members of the hacking group, mainly in Latin America, police said.

Associated Press

Google Surpasses Yahoo

On Friday, comScore inc. announced that for the month of April, Google had more site traffic than Yahoo.  In fact, it had the most visits of any website-in the world!