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Media

Submission + - Is Television Paying too Much Attention to Fans? (csmonitor.com) 2

Submitted by blackbearnh
blackbearnh writes: Forums and chat groups are letting fans organize and discuss their favorite shows with increasing ease, but what happens when the writers and producers of TV shows start paying attention? An article in today's Christian Science Monitor takes a look at how the production staff of recent shows has interacted with their fan base, and how the fans are having an increasing influence on not only the popularity, but also the plot and characters.
AMD

Submission + - Leaked - Intel Ivy Bridge launch and release dates plus specs and pricing! (techarp.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The folks at Tech ARP scored another scoop detailing Intel's announcement and release dates of the Intel Ivy Bridge (IVB) mobile and desktop processors, including specifications and some pricing . Based on their previous historical record of posting leaked information, this is likely to be the real deal.
Linux

Submission + - Why Linux Can't "Sell" on the Desktop (lockergnome.com) 1

Submitted by
VoyagerRadio
VoyagerRadio writes: "Recently I found myself struggling with a question I should easily have been able to answer: Why would anyone want to use Linux as their everyday desktop (or laptop) operating system? It’s a fair question, and asked often of Linux, but I'm finding it to be a question I can no longer answer with the conviction necessary to “sell” the platform. In fact, I kind of feel like a car salesman who realizes he no longer believes in the product he’s been pitching. It's not that I don't find Linux worthy; I simply don't understand how it's every going to succeed on the desktop with voluntary marketing efforts. What do Linux users need to do to replicate the marketing efforts of Apple and Microsoft and other corporate operating system vendors? To me, it seems you don’t sell Linux at all because there isn’t supposed to be one dominant distribution that stands out from the rest. Without a specific product to put on the shelf to sell, what in the world do you focus your efforts on selling? An idea?"

Submission + - Best Qualifications/CV Pieces for a Would-Be Developer?

Submitted by Azaril
Azaril writes: I graduated a year and a half ago from Duham University in the UK with a 2.2 degree in Mathematics. I was expecting to do better, but despite generally good grades throughout the year, my grades slipped just below the 2.1/2.2 threshold (58%, I'm not sure how this works out in the US). Having recieved this I have found that most graduate schemes require a 2.1 to even look at my CV.

Since then, I've had a couple of different jobs, first working as an assistant accountant in the UK and in working as site support here in Australia. While this may have got me some experience, it has definitely taught me that I would not like to go into accounting. As a result, when I go back to the UK in a couple of months I would ideally like to get into coding.

I have done a few vba projects for companies and as part of my jobs and during my first year at uni, I did the main modules of computer science: my java project was later used as a demo at the open day. I think with a bit of training I could be a good developer. Whats the best way of showing this to a prospective employer and getting my foot in the door?
Google

Submission + - Google Patents Using Eavesdropping to Get Location

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: As Google faces heightened scrutiny over its privacy practices, GeekWire reports that the search giant has just snagged a patent for 'Advertising Based on Environmental Conditions'. By listening in on calls to a service like GOOG-411, Google explains that it can tell when you're attending sports events or concerts by analyzing the background noise, and serve up ads accordingly. The eavesdropping techniques, Google notes, can yield surprisingly precise results: 'When a user is at a train or subway station, the background noise may include announcements of arriving or departing trains that can be used to infer the location of the user.' In addition to background noise, the patent also proposes serving up ads based upon input from a variety of sensors, e.g., if the temperature sensed by a device dips below a certain threshold, the system could serve up ads for winter coats (imagine the fun Google could have with a Bluetooth rectal thermometer!). And, when life gives people lemons, Google describes how it will make lemon-ads: 'Location information may be used to infer that an earthquake has recently occurred in the geographical region where the user is located. Ads for structural engineers may be provided to the user.'

Submission + - The numbers behind the Copyright Math (ted.com)

Submitted by TheUnknownCoder
TheUnknownCoder writes: MPAA claims $58 billion in actual US economic losses and 373,000 lost jobs due to piracy. Where are these numbers coming from? Rob Reid puts these numbers into perspective in this TED Talk, leaving us even more puzzled about the math behind copyright laws.

Submission + - Breaking: Possible supernova in nearby spiral M95 (harvard.edu)

Submitted by Zburatorul
Zburatorul writes: In an electronic telegram to the IAU, the Italian Paolo Fagotti reports his discovery of a possible supernova (magniture R = 15) near M95 on images taken March 16th. Many more independent and confirming observations are trickling in. The Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait, has an article on it. The bad news: it won't be visible with the naked eye. The good news: we're not going to die (from it).
User Journal

Journal + - Journal: Readers try to escape writer's rail (3/19/2002) 4

Journal by mcgrew

The crusty old science fiction writer Harlan Ellison used to be one of my favorites.
Used to be.
I don't think I'll buy any more of his books. I've decided I don't want my money supporting his cause or his lifestyle.
Ellison has sued AOL because a fellow named Stephen Robertson posted Ellison's stories on AOL's usenet service.
I'd give the surly old bastard a bre
Australia

Submission + - Australian Greens demand public access to cloak and dagger anti-piracy meetings (delimiter.com.au)

Submitted by
Fluffeh
Fluffeh writes: "Continuing the recent stories on the secret, closed door, FOI blocked talks, the Australian Greens have filed a motion in the Senate requesting that the Government release documents regarding its closed door meetings on Internet piracy which the Attorney-General’s Department has blocked from being released under Freedom of Information laws. This morning, Greens Communications Spokesperson Scott Ludlam filed an order in the Senate that the Government disclose details of the most recent meeting. “The Government refuses to reveal almost any information about the attendees, the substance or the outcomes of the meeting,” he said in a separate statement. “A Freedom of Information request from a journalist looks like it’s been met with maximum resistance.”"
AI

Submission + - Clever Clues Clobber Crossword Computer

Submitted by
Hugh Pickens writes
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "Steve Lohr reports that an impressive crossword-solving computer program called Dr Fill matched its digital wits against 600 of the nation's best human crossword-solvers finishing only 141st at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in New York. "I wish it had done better,” says Dr. Matthew Ginsberg, the creator of Dr. Fill and an expert in artificial intelligence. Dr. Fill typically thrives on conventional crosswords, even ones with arcane clues and answers and solved one of the most difficult puzzles at the tournament perfectly. But the computer does poorly with clever clues based on puns or humor because humans and machines solve the crosswords very differently. Humans recognize patterns based on accumulated knowledge and experience, while computers make endless calculations to determine the most statistically probable answer so the computer program is literal minded, and tends to struggle on puzzles with humor, and puzzles with unusual themes or letter arrangements. Take this clue from a 2010 puzzle in The Times: Apollo 11 and 12 (180 degrees). The answer is SNOISSIWNOOW, seemingly gibberish. A clever human could eventually figure out that those letters when rotated 180 degrees spell MOON MISSIONS. Humans get the joke, while a literal-minded computer does not. “Occasionally, Dr. Fill just doesn’t get it,” says Ginsberg. “That’s my nightmare.”"
Medicine

Submission + - A blood test with no needles (patexia.com)

Submitted by
techgeek0279
techgeek0279 writes: "Undiagnosed anemia, and subsequent hemorrhaging, is a major — but completely preventable — cause of death in childbirth around the world. In this inspiring TED talk, Myshkin Ingawale describes how (after 32 tries) he and his team created a simple, portable device that tests for anemia without pricking the skin."

Submission + - Michael Bay to remake TMNT as aliens. (cnn.com) 1

Submitted by Nidi62
Nidi62 writes: We all know that Michael Bay loves to put 86 minutes of explosions into a 90 minute movie. But it appears that he has found a new way to screw up a movie. He is directing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot in which the turtles are not created with ooze, but rather are "from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely loveable." There is no word yet on whether or not he is consulting with George Lucas on how to totally destroy the origin and essence of a classic story.
AMD

Submission + - AMD Releases Open-Source Radeon HD 7000 Driver (phoronix.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: AMD has publicly released the open-source code to the Radeon HD 7000 series "Southern Islands" graphics cards for Linux users. This allows users of AMD's latest-generation of Radeon graphics cards to use the open-source Linux driver rather than Catalyst, plus there's also early support for AMD's next-generation Fusion APUs.
Games

Submission + - Humble Bundle For Android 2 Goes Live (humblebundle.com)

Submitted by spidweb
spidweb writes: The latest Humble Bundle has gone live, with five new games for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Android. It consists of Zen Bound 2, Avadon: The Black Fortress, Canabalt, and Cogs, with Swords & Soldiers thrown in for anyone who pays at least the average. As always, the games are pay-what-you-want and DRM-free, and this is the initial Linux and Android release for many of them. Of course, as is the tradition with Humble Bundles, other games are likely to be added on later.

Submission + - First human to fly like Icarus allegedly did (humanbirdwings.net)

Submitted by gijsterbeek
gijsterbeek writes: Since Leonardo da Vinci imagined them and inspired other people to imagine even stranger things, people have been intrigued by human powered airplanes, be it bicycles or ornithopters, they didn't always take off. Dutch engineer Jarno Smeets decided to help fate a little by adding some small actuators to the good old bird wing design and did right with carbon and aluminum what Icarus did wrong with wax.
Censorship

Submission + - Sen. Wyden demands ACTA goes before Congress (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by
Fluffeh
Fluffeh writes: "As recently covered here, EU countries are starting to drop ACTA support, now long-time opponent of the secretly negotiated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced an amendment to a Senate "jobs bill" that would force ACTA to come before Congress for approval. His second amendment tries to force a change in how the whole process around such treaties is handled. Right now, the US attempts to keep its negotiating positions a secret. What vital national security interests could be at stake if the public knew USTR was promoting "graduated response" laws or proposing changes in ISP liability? Wyden doesn't believe there are any."
Censorship

Submission + - All video games cause aggressive behaviour say two US Congressmen (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by
Fluffeh
Fluffeh writes: "US Congressmen Baca and Wolf once again proposed a bill that would require the vast majority of video games to bear a warning label about content they consider "potentially damaging." The proposed label would be required even if the video game in question is not violent. Under the one-page Violence in Video Games Labeling Act, packaging for all video games except those rated "EC" for Early Childhood would be required to prominently display a message reading "WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.""
Cloud

Submission + - Six tips for secure cloud-shopping (infoworld.com)

Submitted by
tsamsoniw
tsamsoniw writes: "Has your organization struggled with users bringing in an outside service that ended up being insecure, disruptive, or otherwise disruptive and harmful? Studies from HfS Research find that cloud providers are understating the security risks of their services as they lure new customers with low, low prices. Thus IT as well as end-users who make cloud-adoption decisions, need to know which questions to ask, less you enlist a service that opens up a security hole, gives your IT staff more work to do, or locks you in to a provider."

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