autojive - Slashdot User

Submission + - Apple and Microsoft Release Critical Patches (beskerming.com)

Submitted by

SkiifGeek

on Wednesday May 13, 2009 @05:14AM

SkiifGeek writes: "Both Microsoft and Apple have released major security updates in the last 24 hours.

Microsoft's single update (MS09-017) addresses fourteen distinct vulnerabilities across all supported versions of PowerPoint, but it isn't how many vulnerabilities that are patched that is causing trouble. Instead, the decision to release the patch for Windows versions while OS X and Works versions remain vulnerable to the same remote code execution risks (including one that is currently being exploited) hasn't gone down well with some people. Microsoft have given various reasons why this is the case, but this mega-update-in-a-patch is still interesting for other reasons.

Apple have updated OS X 10.5 to 10.5.7 as part of the 2009-002 Security Update (available right here), as well as a cumulative update for Safari 3 and the Public Beta for 4. As well as addressing numerous significant security risks, the 10.5.7 update provides a number of stability and capability enhancements and incorporates the Safari 3 update patch. Probably the most surprising element of the Apple update is the overall size of it, 442MB for the point update, and 729MB for the ComboUpdate."

Submission + - Circuit City to close remaining US stores

Submitted by autojive on Friday January 16, 2009 @02:31PM

autojive writes: A release by the Associated Press has confirmed that Circuit City will be liquidating its remaining US stores after failing to find a buyer after filing for bankruptcy in November. Coupled with bad short-term business decisions, the lackluster holiday shopping season and not taking their largest rival, Best Buy, seriously enough led to this decision. As many as 30,000 people are expected to lose their jobs.

Submission + - "Watchmen" War Settled

Submitted by

krhunt21

on Friday January 16, 2009 @02:00PM

krhunt21 writes: "Warner Brothers and Fox have resolved their legal battle over the distribution of "Watchmen," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though the specifics of the agreement have not been disclosed, it will supposedly give Fox a percentage of the box office, as well as a substantial flat cash payment. Fox will not, however, serve as a co-distributor of the movie. The studios are expected to present their settlement to Judge Gary Feess on Friday morning, and request a dismissal of the lawsuit. Fox filed its lawsuit against Warner Brothers in February, claiming a remaining stake in the rights to "Watchmen." Feess ruled in Fox's favor on December 24, saying that producer Larry Gordon had not properly secured rights prior to filming and that Fox had a right to the film's distribution. Faced with a possible injunction to stop the March 6 release of the much-hyped movie, Warner Brothers began settlement talks with Fox. The news comes as a relief to many angry fans who went so far as to threaten to boycott all future Fox productions, the next big one being "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." All legal battles now aside, they can rest assured that come March 6, they will indeed be watching the "Watchmen." http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/23542.html"

Submission + - Apple to play fairer with Fairplay?

Submitted by NewbieMonster on Tuesday January 16, 2007 @04:06PM

NewbieMonster writes: According to tech.co.uk (http://tinyurl.com/yd7ac9), Apple are preparing to license Fair Play to Made for iPod accessory manufacturers. They understand that Apple will also allow streaming of protected AAC content via USB. From the article: The expected announcements could signal a move on Apple's part to take some of the sting out of its Fairplay DRM which has come in for a great deal of criticism over recent months. It may also be a way of keeping Made For iPod makers onside, as the draw of the Microsoft Zune becomes stronger. Could this signal a move to allowing other music players to access and play ITMS content?

Submission + - Bigger isn't better -- for carnivores

Submitted by

Roland Piquepaille

on Tuesday January 16, 2007 @02:16PM

Roland Piquepaille writes: "Imagine that you're a beaver: you might find enough small prey to easily survive. Now, imagine that you're a polar bear weighing half a ton, and things should become more difficult: you'll need to catch bigger preys. In Why are lions not as big as elephants?, a short press release from the Public Library of Science, you'll discover that as it takes more energy to catch a large prey than a small one, and that a carnivore size cannot really exceed one ton. Apparently, life was easier for herbivores who were able to reach 30 tons or more... Read more for additional references."

Submission + - Skull implies humans-neanderthal interbreeding

Submitted by Homr Zodyssey on Tuesday January 16, 2007 @12:58PM

Homr Zodyssey writes: The AP is reporting about a fossil skull that exhibits Neanderthal features as well as human ones. Science Daily ran a similar story back in November. From TFA:

Some scientists argue Neanderthals were slaughtered or out-competed by ancestors of modern humans, but NGN said the new research, suggests a more intimate relationship, with Neanderthals becoming absorbed into the human race through interbreeding.

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