Submission + - Once Slashdot beta has been foisted on me, what site should I use? 3
buswolley writes: Just asking. Because we do not want the Beta site.
Submission + - The nmber of users that SLASHDOT will lose with new interface? (slashdot.org) 3
jackb_guppy writes: SLASHDOT today started to push users from the old interface to the ugly, slow, new interface. Any guess on the number of users that will be leaving SLASHDOT. So much for market share.
GNOME 3.8 Released Featuring New "Classic" Mode 267
Hot on the heels of the Gtk+ 3.8 release comes GNOME 3.8. There are a few general UI improvements, but the highlight for many is the new Classic mode that replaces fallback. Instead of using code based on the old GNOME panel, Classic emulates the feel of GNOME 2 through Shell extensions (just like Linux Mint's Cinnamon interface). From the release notes: "Classic mode is a new feature for those people who prefer a more traditional desktop experience. Built entirely from GNOME 3 technologies, it adds a number of features such as an application menu, a places menu and a window switcher along the bottom of the screen. Each of these features can be used individually or in combination with other GNOME extensions."
Emscripten and New Javascript Engine Bring Unreal Engine To Firefox 124
MojoKid writes "There's no doubt that gaming on the Web has improved dramatically in recent years, but Mozilla believes it has developed new technology that will deliver a big leap in what browser-based gaming can become. The company developed a highly-optimized version of Javascript that's designed to 'supercharge' a game's code to deliver near-native performance. And now that innovation has enabled Mozilla to bring Epic's Unreal Engine 3 to the browser. As a sort of proof of concept, Mozilla debuted this BananaBread game demo that was built using WebGL, Emscripten, and the new JavaScript version called 'asm.js.' Mozilla says that it's working with the likes of EA, Disney, and ZeptoLab to optimize games for the mobile Web, as well."
Emscripten was previously used to port Doom to the browser.
Creationist Bets $10k In Proposed Literal Interpretation of Genesis Debate 1121
HungWeiLo writes "A California man who believes the literal interpretation of the Bible is real is offering $10,000 to anyone who can successfully debunk claims made in the book of Genesis in front of a judge. Joseph Mastropaolo, the man behind this challenge, is to put $10,000 of his own money into an escrow account. His debate opponent would be asked to do the same. They would then jointly agree on a judge based on a list of possible candidates. Mastropaolo said that any evidence presented in the trial must be 'scientific, objective, valid, reliable and calibrated.' For his part, Mastropaolo has a Ph.D. in kinesiology and writes for the Creation Hall of Fame website, which is helping to organize the minitrial. It's also not the first such trial he's tried to arrange. A previous effort, known as the 'Life Science Prize,' proposed a similar scenario. Mastropaolo includes a list of possible circuit court judges to oversee the trial and a list of those he challenged to take part on the evolutionary side of the debate."
Submission + - What Excel was like in the 80's (youtube.com)
An anonymous reader writes: A promotional video for Excel straight out of the 80's titled "Microsoft Excel: The soul of the new machines" (parts 2 and 3.) Interesting to consider that a spreadsheet application was the driving force for hardware upgrades, like graphics intensive games are today. Look out for a cameo from Bill at the end.
Submission + - Artificial Life Likely in 3 to 10 Years (breitbart.com) 1
E++99 writes: "According to an AP science writer Seth Borenstein, the experts agree — "wet artificial life" is only 3 to 10 years away. The CEO of ProtoLife chimes in to say, "It's going to be a big deal and everybody's going to know about it." As for our fears of our new synthetic microbial overlords getting loose in the wild, he reassures us, saying, "It'll be a huge achievement if you can keep them alive for an hour in the lab; but them getting out and taking over, never in our imagination could this happen.""
Submission + - Identity/ID Theft Trojan on Monster.com (informationweek.com) 2
Ant writes: "Broadband Reports report an InformationWeek story on security researchers' finds that the popular Monster.com job site was being widely used for identity (ID) theft. Hackers are placing fake advertisements/ads, on the site, that infect computers running Windows. The Trojan takes information that job seekers place online which includes social security numbers. The scam is one of the biggest of its kind and could affect over 100,000 identities..."
Feed Why Doesn't The Justice Department Want An Identity Thief To Tell His Story To C (techdirt.com)
In what world would it make sense for politicians determining policy on a scam to be barred from speaking to an expert on that exact scam? Apparently, the world known as Washington DC. The Senate Finance Committee is holding hearings on identity theft, and asked a convicted identity thief to testify about his crimes. That certainly seems like one good way to learn about what's going on in the identity theft world -- but the Justice Department tried to stop it, claiming that allowing him to testify would violate laws that don't allow prisoners to have "elevated status" and also that it could pose a security risk. Apparently the Justice Department believes that if no one can talk about identity theft, maybe it won't happen. The good news, though, is that a judge has ruled against the DOJ, allowing the guy to testify before the Senate Committee. Identity theft is a serious problem, and hiding those who can best educate people about the problem doesn't help solve it.
Submission + - WindowsITPro Test Drives Kubuntu
johnlittledotorg writes: "Mark Joseph Edwards at WindowsITPro took Kubuntu for a spin and seems to have to enjoyed himself. "I wanted to see what that was like so I popped the CD into the system, booted from it, and installed the entire operating system with the greatest of ease. My Orinoco network card, nVidia video card, sound card, and DVD drive all worked without any configuration on my part other than entering the SSID and security key for the wireless networking. I was impressed.""
Submission + - Blackboard Not Playing Nice with Vista on Campuses
scott3778 writes: "On college campuses, Microsoft's Vista operating system may be in danger of failing courses that use Blackboard, a key software program for communication between teachers and students.
Some campuses in the U.S. and elsewhere using Blackboard are discovering that the software and some of its functionality is being hindered as students and teachers begin to update their systems with Microsoft Vista. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2109454,00.as p"
Submission + - 389,090 U.S. programmer jobs going offshore
nbauman writes: "Free trade isn't win-win after all. WSJ, 28 Mar 2007, Job prospects: Pain from free trade spurs second thoughts; Mr. Blinder's shift spotlights warnings of deeper downside, David Wessel and Bob Davis. http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB117500805386 350446.html Alan S. Blinder, Princeton U., former Federal Reserve Board vice chairman and advisor to Democratic presidential candidates, who used to say that free trade enriches the U.S. and its trading partners, now admits that new communication technology will put 30-40 million American jobs at risk in 10-20 years. Ready to lose their jobs to offshore: 389,090 computer programmers, 1,815,340 bookkeepers, acounting and auditing clerks. Blinder still believes in free trade, comparative advantage, but wants more for displaced workers, better education system. Blinder helped Clinton sell NAFTA, but now admits it wouldn't create U.S. jobs after all. Trade changes types of jobs, not number. Technology allowed Indians in call centers to do the work of Americans, at lower wages. "Tens of millions of additional American workers will start to experience an element of job insecurity that has heretofore been reserved for manufacturing workers." Debate: Should government encourage forces of globalization or try to restrain them? Latin America did poorly since tariff cuts in 1980s and 1990s, compared to protectionist China and Southeast Asia. Paul Samuelson, in 2004 essay, condemned "economists' over-simple complacencies about globalization" and said workers don't always win. Lawrence Summers, advocate for trade expansion as Clinton Treasury Secretary, said retraining is "pretty thin gruel". Ralph Gomory, former IBM chief scientist, says rise of China and India could make the U.S. lose important industries. Harvard economist Dani Rodrik says trade barriers should help poor nations build domestic industries and give rich nations time to retrain workers. But Jagdish N. Bhagwati says jobs will grow in medicine, law and accounting."
Submission + - Russian school teacher 'pirate' case re-opened
newtley writes: "Russian school teacher Alexander Ponosov thought he was out from under after having been accused of "criminally" using Microsoft product. A Russian court threw the case out, calling it "trivial," and Russian president Vladimir Putin said those who make "pirate" goods should be targeted, not consumers, calling the trial "utter nonsense". Now the BBCA Russian court has ordered a retrial, "after pressure from the prosecution". However, Ponosovhas now launched a web site. It's in Russian."
