Blogger Peter Smith weighs in with some possibilities for how the new Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming system will provide 3D gaming without the need for 3D glasses. The DSi has cameras, which means the 3DS will have to have them too if it’s going to be backwards compatible. We’ve also heard rumors that the ‘next DS’ will have tilt-sensors better than the iPhone. With either the camera or tilt-sensors either of these ‘faux 3D’ systems would work. But since we’ve seen the DSi do this already, it doesn’t seem likely that the new hardware will rely on the same old trick. Enter our friends at Engadget, who uncovered some details from Japanese newspapers. If they’re right, the Nintendo 3DS will incorporate parallax barrier LCD screens from Sharp (see also this explanation of dynamic parallax barrier screens). This is the same technology used in a few ’3D Laptops.

Even though over 80% of email users are aware of the existence of bots, tens of millions respond to spam in ways that could leave them vulnerable to a malware infection, according to a Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG) survey. In the survey, half of users said they had opened spam, clicked on a link in spam, opened a spam attachment, replied or forwarded it – activities that leave consumers susceptible to fraud, phishing, identity theft and infection. While most consumers said they were aware of the existence of bots, only one-third believed they were vulnerable to an infection.

Pedophiles using the internet to target youngsters could be tracked down — by the way they use a keyboard. Researchers are investigating ways to use technology which can determine a typist’s age, sex and culture within ten keystrokes by monitoring their speed and rhythm.

Google has teamed up with a microcontroller maker Microchip to develop an API for a piece of software called Google PowerMeter, according this EE Times story. Why? Because Google wants to host all the details of the electricity and other energy consumption of people’s homes. It wants to do this so that it can show people on their iGoogle homepages when and where they are consuming energy so that they can start to reduce their power consumption. The good news is that it is an opt-in service and free so you don’t have to make Google your energy-monitor if you dont’t want to do so.

South Australian Attorney General, Michael Atkinson, infamous for the banning of R18+ rated games and the censoring of political comment in Australia, has quit. The recent South Australian election provided a massive swing against Atkinson’s governing labor party. As a direct result of the South Australian election result, he is standing down. Hopefully someone with half a clue will assume the vacant post and overturn the decision to ban adult oriented computer games.

A group of scientists from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute have devised a way to encode a visible-frequency wireless signal in light emitted by plain old desklamps and other light fixtures. The team was able to achieve a record-setting data download rate of 230 megabits per second, and they expect to be able to double that speed in the near future. While the regular radio-frequency Wi-Fi most of us use currently is perfectly fine, it does have its flaws — it has a limited bandwidth that confines it to a certain spectrum and if you’ve ever had someone leech off of your connection, you know that it also leaks through walls. LED wireless signals would theoretically have none of these downsides.

Buying a snowboard is a major investment. Like all big investments, a certain amount of research should be done before plunking down your hard earned money to ensure you’re getting the best board possible. Read on to learn about the different types of boards, how to determine what size board is best, and when the best time to buy is.

Determine Your Riding Style
The type of riding you do should be the biggest influence on the type of board you purchase. The biggest difference, equipment-wise, exists between Freestyle/All-Mountain riding and the race disciplines. Race equipment, also referred to as Alpine gear consists of hard-boots that closely resemble ski boots, as well as longer, stiff-flexing directional boards and specialized bindings. Unless you are an advanced intermediate or above, you’ll want to look for freestyle/all-mountain equipment, which features softer flexing boards, soft boots, and either strap-in or step-in bindings.

How Tall Should My Board Be?
All snowboards are measured in centimeters from tip to tail, with the last two numbers often incorporated into the board’s name (so a Burton Custom 56 would be 156cm tall).

Beginners and freestyle riders generally look for shorter boards to enable them to maneuver easier – between the collarbone and chin is a good height. All-mountain riders tend to prefer a slightly longer board, measuring between the chin and the nose.

Riders that spend most of their time in the riding big mountain terrain and deep powder should look for a taller board, generally measuring between the nose to several inches above the forehead.
How Wide Should My Board Be?

The final factor in determining the proper sized board is the width. Standing on top of a properly sized board, your feet should stretch almost entirely across the board. Too much distance between your feet and the edges makes it difficult to apply pressure to get the board to turn, while having your toes and/or heels overhanging the edges of the board results in drag that can cause unintended falls. Fortunately for riders with large feet, many manufacturers produce their boards in both regular and wide models.
How Stiff Should My Board Be?
The stiffness of a snowboard affects both how easy it is to turn as well as how well it will hold an edge on hard snow. Freestyle boards are generally softer than all-mountain boards, due to the freestyler’s need to make minute adjustments when performing tricks. Beginners should always go with the softest board that can accommodate their height and weight. More advanced riders generally choose stiffer boards for harder snow (often found in the eastern U.S.) and slightly softer boards for powder (often found in the western U.S.).

Do Graphics Matter?
No. The best board for you is the best board for you, regardless of what’s decorating the topsheet.

Snowboard bindings are the only connection you have between you and your snowboard, so before you buy it’s important to know as much as possible about the different types, styles, and models that exist.
Types of Snowboard Bindings
Snowboard bindings designed for use with soft-boots come in two forms today: the traditional two-strap, or rear-entry (sometimes referred to as the Flow system, named for the Flow brand of rear-entry bindings).

The majority of snowboard bindings are traditional two strap setups, with an ankle strap and a toe strap. They have an adjustable highback, and a rotatable plate or disc in the center that secures the binding to the snowboard.

Rear-entry bindings like those made by Flow Snowboarding and K2 Snowboarding are similar to strap-in bindings, but the rider’s foot enters through the rear, which then snaps into place.

Two-Strap Pros and Cons
Pros:

* The most popular type, which means the largest selection in snowboard shops.
* Allows the highest degree of control.
* Large range and ease of adjustability.
* Replacement parts are easily located; bindings are easily repaired.

Cons:

* Slower exit/entry compared to rear-entry bindings.
* Inexperienced riders often need to sit down to strap in.
* Two straps = two pressure points. Improperly adjusted bindings can cause foot pain.

Rear-Entry Pros and Cons
Pros:

* Getting in and out is quicker and easier than with two-straps.
* Ability to strap in while standing up means no more wet rear ends.
* Pressure is spread over a larger area, leading to less chance of foot pain.
* Easiest binding for small children to get in and out of on their own.

Cons:

* Not as many models compared to two-straps means less choice in the shop.
* Getting the bindings to fit “just right” (by fiddling with the micro-adjust ratchets) can take several days.
* Webbing has a tendency to stretch over time, requiring further adjustments.
* More difficult to find replacement parts and to repair.

What About Step-In Bindings?
Although step-in bindings existed for freestyle/freeride “soft boots” (which 98% of snowboarders use) in the past, a lack of demand gave manufacturers no reason to continue production. The only step-in systems available today are used with hardboots, which resemble ski boots and are designed only for alpine snowboarding.

Getting the Right Size
Snowboard bindings are sized according to the riders boot size, and generally come in small, medium, and large sizes. The proper size binding will hold your boot in the binding snugly. Each manufacturer specifies what size boots fit each size, but a general rule of thumb is:

* Sm. Binding = Men’s size 3-8, Women’s size 4-9.
* Med. Binding = Men’s size 8-10, Womoen’s size 9-11.
* Lg. Binding = Men’s size 10+, Women’s size 11+.

Don’t be concerned if the straps don’t quite fit in the shop. They’re adjustable; the most important part here is getting your boot to fit inside laterally (side to side) and within the heelcup.

Highbacks, Baseplates and Performance
The highback and baseplate are what transfer all your power to the board. Stiffer highbacks and baseplates, translate into quicker edge response, but they can also lead to lower leg fatigue, and cramping because the rider is fighting the material at every turn. Because of this, beginners and intermediates should stay away from carbon fiber highbacks and aluminum baseplates.

Let the staff in the shop know how long you’ve been riding, what type of riding you typically do, and your ability level. Let them know you’re looking for something with an adjustable highback and adjustable straps.

Discs and Hole Patterns
Snowboards come pre-drilled with threaded holes for binding screws. Most board manufacturers produce boards that accept four screws, also known as a 4 hole pattern. The exception to this is Burton Snowboards, which uses a proprietary 3 hole triangular pattern for most of their boards, although some Burton boards use a two-screw “slider” channel that allows infinite adjustments to be made. Make sure you know what hole pattern your board uses, then confirm the bindings are compatible. Most bindings today come with several different disc inserts designed to fit each different mounting pattern, but it never hurts to ask.