Facebook Announces Global 'Hacker Cup' Competition

Facebook is taking its hackathons global with the launch of the Facebook 2011 Hacker Cup.
"We're starting the Hacker Cup to bring engineers from around the world together to compete in a multi-round programming competition," Tim Stanke, Facebook software engineer said in a blog post. "Contestants will have to successfully solve algorithmic-based problem statements to advance and are ranked by accuracy and speed."
Registration for the competition opens December 20. Hackers will only become eligible after answering at least one question right in the qualifying round, which lasts for 72 hours, starting January 7.
There are three rounds in the contest, two of which will take place online. Three thousand of the top hackers from Online Round 1 will advance to Online Round 2. The top 300 competitors from Online Round 2 will win a t-shirt. Only the top 25 will get to participate in the final round at Facebook's campus on March 11, and Facebook will pay to for their travel and accommodations.

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How to Install Windows on Google's Chrome OS Notebook

The fact that the Google CR-48 Notebook runs on an Intel processor implies that it can run Windows or some other full blown operating system. But how would you install Windows in the first place? That's not exactly clear. But we have the answer, or at least part of it. Apparently, every Cr-48 notebook is equipped with a developer's mode, which, when activated, can potentially wipe and restore the partition back to factory condition, or break your current Chrome OS setup. That's no big deal, since all the Web Store apps and browser settings reside in the cloud and syncing it all back into your notebook shouldn't take long. The actual point of this exercise is to show you that if you ever decide to hack your Chrome-equipped notebook and install another operating system, switching to developer's mode is the way to do it.

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Are Nvidia graphics getting cored out of Apple laptops?

It looks like Nvidia may be getting shot on both sides when it comes to Apple and graphics solutions for its laptops. The result could be that the green giant is out of most Apple notebooks in 2011, with AMD and Intel dividing the spoils.
Already rumors have been flying that Apple is satisfied enough with the integrated graphics in Intel’s forthcoming Sandy Bridge processors that it will eschew Nvidia on the low end (well, low end for Apple). Now Fudzilla is reporting that its sources believe AMD will deepen its relationship with Apple by selling its Mobility Radeon cards to the computing giant for new MacBook Pros. We’ve already seen that the Mobility Radeon 6900HD series is coming in a forthcoming Alienware laptop, and it would provide a huge boost over the GeForce GT 330M cards in the current MBPs.

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Apple releases Aperture v3.1.1

Apple has released an updated version of its Aperture raw-conversion and photo management software. Version 3.1.1 addresses a number of bugs, fixes compatibility issues with the company's recently released i'Life '11 suite and improves overall stability of the software. The update is available for immediate download from Apple's website.

Click here for more information and to download Apple Aperture v3.1.1

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Adobe Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 now available

After testing a release candidate, Adobe makes the final Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 versions available. These updates bring compatibility with new cameras like the Nikon D7000 and the Canon PowerShot S95.
The updates, which can be downloaded for free by Lightroom 3 and CS5 users, also introduce 60 new lens profiles. Adobe continues to offer its Lens Profile Downloader, allowing customers to create, discuss and download unique lens profiles. For more details about Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3, go to the Lightroom Journal.

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