The Nanoethics Group officially launched as a non-partisan think tank to study the societal, ethical and policy implications of nanotechnology–or the manipulation of molecule-sized materials to create new products. Driven by public anxiety and a lack of information in this area, the research group will tackle a broad range of unanswered and troubling questions about the new science, from terrorism to health concerns and more. Scientists predict that the new science will profoundly affect modern life, much as the Industrial Revolution has. Nanotechnology is an entirely new way to think about manufacturing–such as building things from the ground up, one atom at a time–and is expected to give us such products as digital monitors that are as flexible as plastic wrap, and in the distant future, even steak without the cow.

FlashPack is a powerful tool for creation of stand-alone Flash movies for Windows Mobile based PDAs. FlashPack was the first tool to bring mobile content creation to flash artists, multimedia designers and game developers. Handsmart revealed that the next version of FlashPack will include a Pocket PC installation compiler and rights management features.

Small robots designed by University of Nebraska researchers may allow doctors on Earth to help perform surgery on patients in space. The tiny, wheeled robots, which are about 3 inches tall and as wide as a lipstick case, can be slipped into small incisions and computer-controlled by surgeons in different locations. Some robots are equipped with cameras and lights and can send back images to surgeons. Others have surgical tools attached that can be controlled remotely.

Japan’s credit card companies, headed by Japanese top-ranked JCB, formed an alliance on Tuesday to promote a standard that will enable the use of mobile phones in lieu of credit cards, regardless of the issuer. The organization, which also includes mobile operators KDDI and Vodafone Group’s Japan unit, said it aims to set up an infrastructure to drive usage for the system, QuicPay, which uses Sony’s smart chip.

Skype Technologies updated its popular Skype Internet telephony software on Tuesday to fix a pair of security bugs. The most serious flaw could allow an attacker to commandeer a user’s PC. That flaw, which is similar to a bug Skype fixed last year, affects only Skype for Windows. An attacker could exploit the flaw by crafting a special link and enticing a user to click on it. The flaw could also be exploited when importing user information from a malformed electronic business card, or VCARD.

PDA and mobile device case and accessories manufacturer E&B Company announced the launch of the new eNOVO case line with five models available for pre-order. With and without belt clip models are offered for the iPod Nano, iPod 40G Color/4th Generation, PalmOne Treo 650, PalmOne LifeDrive, and iMate JAM/MDA Mini devices. The eNOVO line utilizes a semi-rigid material that is formed to the exact specifications of a particular handheld device, covered with the same high quality leather E&B has been using for many years.

Palm will be demonstrating wireless real estate solutions to more than 30,000 real estate professionals at the National Association of Realtors show, Oct. 28-31, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. Palm’s booth will feature hands-on demonstrations of real estate solutions, such as Pocket Real Estate for wireless Multiple Listing Service access, Baynet for Web-based listing alerts and prospecting tools, Infinity Softworks for financial and loan calculators, including online access to the most current interest and treasury rates, and Supra for electronic lockboxes.

More than 7,000 students in eight Oregon school districts are using Palm handheld computers this school year, thanks to a creative mentoring program developed by three recipients of a federal technology grant. Their handheld-integration strategy brings in teachers statewide.

Canon said it has developed tiny fuel cells that it hopes will start replacing conventional batteries to power some of its digital cameras and printers in three years. Canon will join a small army of companies, including Toshiba, NEC, and Hitachi, that are working on the development and commercialization of fuel-cell batteries for the next-generation of consumer electronics. Fuel-cell technology mixes hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and is considered a promising replacement for today’s lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used to power a range of mobile products from notebook PCs to mobile phones.

NoiseBuster noise canceling audio headphones are the perfect gift item for frequent travelers, commuters, users of lawnmowers or motorized exercise equipment, music lovers, or anyone who just needs a little solace from the constant din that surrounds us. The product electronically reduces irritating, anxiety-provoking, background noise by coupling low-frequency noise waves with their exact mirror image waves. The NoiseBuster headphone can be used on its own for simple peace and quiet or in conjunction with a portable audio device for excellent music clarity without overamplification and distortion. From now until December 31, 2005, the NoiseBuster headphone is available for a discounted price of $50, nearly 30% off the regular $69 price, when purchased online.