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Firefox

Microsoft Blocks 3d-Party Browsers In Windows RT, Says Mozilla Counsel 329

nk497 writes "Mozilla has accused Microsoft of trying to go back to the 'digital dark ages' by limiting rival browsers in the ARM version of Windows 8. Third-party browsers won't work in the desktop mode, and Metro style browsers will be limited in what APIs they can use, said Mozilla general counsel Harvey Anderson, forcing users to move to IE instead. Mozilla said it was the first step toward a new platform lock-in that 'restricts user choice, reduces competition and chills innovation,' and pointed out that such browser control was exactly what upset EU and U.S. regulators about IE in the first place. Anderson called on Microsoft to 'reject the temptation to pursue a closed path,' adding 'the world doesn't need another closed proprietary environment.'"
Microsoft

Microsoft Forges Ahead With New Home-Automation OS 196

suraj.sun writes "More than a decade ago, Microsoft execs, led by Chairman Bill Gates, were touting a future where .Net coffee pots, bulletin boards, and refrigerator magnets would be part of homes where smart devices would communicate and inter-operate. Microsoft hasn't given up on that dream. In 2010, Microsoft researchers published a white paper about their work on a HomeOS and a HomeStore — early concepts around a Microsoft Research-developed home-automation system. Those concepts have morphed into prototypes since then, based on a white paper, 'An Operating System for the Home,' (PDF) published this month on the Microsoft Research site. The core of HomeOS is described in the white paper as a kernel that is agnostic to the devices to which it provides access, allowing easy incorporation of new devices and applications. The HomeOS itself 'runs on a dedicated computer in the home (e.g., the gateway) and does not require any modifications to commodity devices,' the paper added. Microsoft has been testing HomeOS in 12 real homes over the past four to eight months, according to the latest updates. As is true with all Microsoft Research projects, there's no guarantee when and if HomeOS will be commercialized, or even be 'adopted' by a Microsoft product group."
Lord of the Rings

Hobbit Film Underwhelms At 48 Frames Per Second 607

bonch writes "Warner Bros. aired ten minutes of footage from The Hobbit at CinemaCon, and reactions have been mixed. The problem? Peter Jackson is filming the movie at 48 frames per second, twice the industry standard 24 frames per second, lending the film a '70s era BBC-video look.' However, if the negative response from film bloggers and theater owners is any indication, the way most people will see the movie is in standard 24fps."
Earth

Massive Methane Release In the Arctic Region 264

Taco Cowboy writes "Arctic methane release is a well recorded phenomenon. Methane stored in both permafrost (which is melting) and methane hydrates (methane trapped in marine reservoirs) are vulnerable to being released into the atmosphere as the planet warms. However, researchers who are trying to map atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations on a global basis have discovered that the amount of methane emissions in the Arctic region do not total up. Further research revealed that significant amounts of methane releases came from the Arctic ocean (abstract) — as much as 2 milligrams of the gas is released per square meter of ocean, each day — presumably by marine bacteria surviving in low-nutrient environments."

Comment Re:Better phrasing (Score 0) 146

I appreciate my assistants and try to tell them that on a regular basis. And yeah (answering someone else's post here), they DO appreciate mentions and little letters from the company president. If it's a larger company, a little recognition goes a long way.

I'm not sure if and how it applies to your field of work and more specifically to (your) assistants, but I will generalize and talk about workers: if they are productive it means the company probably makes more money. If the company makes more money and you give them just letters and words, they will actually be demoralized. Sure, few of them will ever let you know, because they are afraid of criticizing the employer; some of them will even fake being happy. But that doesn't make them happy bees.
Letters and words don't feed you (or maybe paper does?), don't pay your bills and so on. If you want to show your appreciation reward them in a way that actually matters to them.

Otherwise, I appreciate the way you are dealing with people, encouraging them to come forward when they make mistake (after all everybody makes mistakes sooner or later) and encouraging them to be creative.

The Courts

After Megaupload, MPAA Targets Other File Sharing Services 214

An anonymous reader writes "It is no secret that the MPAA was a main facilitator of the criminal investigation against Megaupload. While the movie studios have praised the actions of the U.S. Government, they are not satisfied yet. Paramount Pictures' vice president for worldwide content protection identified Fileserve, MediaFire, Wupload, Putlocker and Depositfiles as prime targets that should be shuttered next."

Comment Re:Nokia N9 (Score 1) 188

That's not the point. The point is Nokia N9 gives you root by default (you have to activate it though, it is called developer mode I believe - I do not own a N9), not a rootable phone. It's a different philosophy altogether. Smartphones are more or less mini computers, and while I pay a lot of money for one, I certainly expect to be free to do whatever the hell I want with it. You wouldn't want your notebook locked down, wouldn't you ?

Comment Re:Nokia N9 (Score 2) 188

But why go through all that when you can buy one phone (Nokia N9) that gives you what you need right from the start ? With N9 you basically have root access from the beginning, no jail breaking, no flashing, no nothing. This is what I call freedom (well, in this context).

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