3928459
submission
thefickler writes:
Microsoft is opposing an industry plan, the Open Cloud Manifesto, to promote cloud computing interoperability.
Officially Microsoft says the plan is unnecessarily secretive and that cloud computing is in too an early stage of development,
but there are allegations that Microsoft feels threatened by the plan because it could boost Linux-based systems. The goal of the group behind the manifesto, the Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum (CCIF), is to minimise the barriers between different technologies used in cloud computing. And this is where the problem seems to lie, with the group stating that "whenever possible the CCIF will emphasise the use of open, patent-free and/or vendor-neutral technical solutions." Some speculate that Microsoft is actually worried that this will allow open source systems, such as Linux, to flourish, at the expense of Microsoft technology.
3899801
submission
thefickler writes:
After a prolonged outcry from the user community, Facebook has decided to reverse some of the changes made in its latest and not so great redesign. For starters, the company is putting picture activity back into the friend stream, and it's also trying to make it easier to manage lists of friends. But the changes aren't enough for some. "Facebook, how about giving the users back all that information that you've been 'tidying up' from our friend streams," wrote one pundit.
3837381
submission
thefickler writes:
A new study by the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has found a strong link between air quality and life expectancy. The researchers looked at air pollution, deaths and census data for 51 metropolitan areas between 1978 and 2001, and what they found was a direct correlation between improving air quality and extending life expectancy. People lived about 2.72 years longer over that time span and at least 15 percent of that increased life expectancy was from a decrease in air pollution.
3809325
submission
thefickler writes:
Shell has decided to end its investment in wind, solar and hydro projects because the company does not believe they are financially sound investments. Instead Shell is going to focus on carbon sequestration technologies and biofuels. Not surpisingly, and perhaps unfairly, bloggers have been quick to savage the company: "Between Shell's decisions to stop its clean energy investments and to increase its debt load to pay for dividends, the company is solidifying an image of corporate greed over corporate responsibility." Is Shell short sighted, or is it just a company trying to makes its way in an uncertain world?
3673375
submission
thefickler writes:
Gone are the days when governments could easily hide top secret bases. These days its a weekend pastime to see who can find top secret facilities using Google Earth. Now it's the UK Government's turn to be outraged after a secret facility was revealed by a British tabloid. The facility is said to be located in Faslane on the River Clyde in Scotland. This nuclear base was previously blurred out by the request of the British Government. However, with the latest update provided via Google Earth, many of the blurred out locations were accidentally revealed.
3490019
submission
thefickler writes:
One of the Pirate Bay defendants has urged supporters to stop vigilante protests against the website of a music group behind the prosecution. Hackers had defaced the homepage of Sweden's main music industry association. Peter Sunde, a co-founder of Pirate Bay and one of four men on trial, responded in a blog post titled "We're winning, stop hacking plz" writing: "If anyone involved in the acts going on is reading this — please stop, for our sake. We don't need that kind of support.... The hacking can only reflect on us badly and if you want to help us, please stop with the attacks."
3481847
submission
thefickler writes:
Sol Trujillo, controversial head of Australian telephone provider, Telstra, has had his pocket picked. Worse still a mobile phone, probably a HTC Touch Pro2 or the HTC Touch Diamond2, loaded with top-secret software was nicked at the same time. The interesting thing is that the pick pocket may not even know how special the stolen cellphone actually is.
3422173
submission
thefickler writes:
YouTube is extending its facility for users to directly download videos from the site. Following the launch of direct downloads of clips from Barack Obama's YouTube channel last month, the site is now letting leading American universities make lecture videos available to download. YouTube is also experimenting with chargeable downloads where users will pay for clips through Google Checkout. The firm isn't revealing the exact financial details other than saying it will take a small cut of the 99c per clip fee.
3384095
submission
thefickler writes:
If you really hate Linux Microsoft might have the perfect job opening for you. Micro$oft is looking for a Director of Open Source Desktop Strategy who "will be responsible for bringing our business strategy to life by discovering and sharing the market insights that set the foundation for our platform value dialogue with customers and the industry." In other words, they'll have to come up with reasons that will persuade people to stick with Microsoft products rather than switch to open source systems. Nice (not).
3324343
submission
thefickler writes:
MIT researchers have combined a mobile projector with a webcam and mobile phone to create a device that draws information from the environment. For example, the gadget recognizes products on store shelves and can provide product and price comparison information. The sixth sense device was cobbled together from common parts costing just $300. While the gadget is not being primed for mass release, it represents a forward-thinking way of blending technology with our environment.
3216697
submission
thefickler writes:
Charities and eyesight specialists are concerned that the energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs that have been mandated by the European Union don't provide enough light for people whose eyesight isn't 20/20. Apparently, the time it takes for the bulbs to warm up could result in people falling or tripping over, and the lower lighting makes it impossible for people with limited vision to be able to read or do things they could with incandescent bulbs.
3180611
submission
thefickler writes:
According to Microsoft's quarterly filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Zune platform experienced a revenue drop of 54 percent, or $100 million. This compares to relatively healthy sales of the iPod, which were up 3 percent in the same period (though revenue did drop by 16 percent). Obviously, with the recent job cuts at Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, pundits are wondering how soon until the Zune also gets the chop. As one pundit wrote: "Microsoft, by now, should be realizing that it's never going to be as "cool" as Apple, so why waste its time with the Zune where it has no competitive advantage?"
