mutterc - Slashdot User

Submission + - Why Microsoft Really Wants PC Gaming to Revive

Submitted by thegamebiz on Monday January 29, 2007 @05:06PM

thegamebiz writes: Amped News has an interesting article reflecting on the current state of PC gaming and how Games for Windows is meant to not only boost PC gaming, but help Microsoft set up dominance for the Xbox 360 in the console space. From the article: ""Mark your calendars: January 30th 2007 will be the most significant day in gaming for the next several years.' It's difficult to know if he's right. Taking history into consideration, the launch of new operating systems has caused gamers more pain than pleasure, at least initially. Anyone playing PC games during the transition from MS-DOS to Windows 95 can testify to that...The foundation must be laid with care, no matter what the initial inconvenience. Because Microsoft knows this, January 30th, 2007 is a day that not only marks a rebirth of sorts for the PC gaming industry, it will also be known in history books as the day Microsoft launches a surprise attack for console dominance."

Submission + - New Cisco Vulnerability Announced

Submitted by cybrzndane on Wednesday January 24, 2007 @06:06PM

cybrzndane writes: There is a new Cisco IOS vulnerability out which allows remote code execution. All devices running Cisco IOS are affected. For the full Cisco Security Advisory, go to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_secur ity_advisory09186a00807cb157.shtml

A total of 3 advisories were released today. For a full list of security advisories, go to

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_secur ity_advisories_listing.html

Submission + - Relocation Package Bait and Switch

Submitted by on Wednesday January 24, 2007 @05:55PM

An anonymous reader writes: I got a R&D job offer with a large company in Philadelphia area last week. It includes a relocation package that they told me was standard for my position.

After I accepted the offer and made plans to terminate my current job, the recruiter handed me off to their relocation department, where I was told that my relocation package is significantly less than what I was promised. The relocation manager tells me that whenever there is conflict between their relocation policy and the offer, their internal relocation policy supersedes.

What I want to know from my fellow Geeks are : 1) Is this type of switch-and-bait common practice in corporate America? 2) If you have gone through this nightmare before, any advice on how to respond to it?

Submission + - Microsoft study finds EV SSL Certs are ineffective

Submitted by on Wednesday January 24, 2007 @05:52PM

An anonymous reader writes: Stanford University and Microsoft Research published a study [PDF] that concludes that Extended Validation Certificates do not help users to detect phishing attacks. Without training, most users in the study did not notice the new EV indicators in IE7. Training only increased their vulnerability- reading the IE7 help file made users more likeley to classify phishing sites as legitimate. This study arrives just as the first EV certificates are being rolled out. The authors will present their results at Usable Security 2007 in February.

Submission + - EPA flush with success over high-tech toilets

Submitted by

WaltonNews

on Wednesday January 24, 2007 @05:27PM

WaltonNews writes: "On January 24, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final specification for high-efficiency toilets (HETs). The new EPA-approved toilets will perform at least 20% more efficiently that older, less efficient toilets. The remaining story appears at: http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8923/1066/."

Submission + - Switzerland bans the use of GPS units in cars.

Submitted by on Wednesday January 24, 2007 @03:55PM

An anonymous reader writes: If you're traveling with a GPS in your car to Switzerland, be very careful! As of January 10th, the Swiss authorities (ASTRA) have forbid the use of GPS systems in cars. They also banned the selling of car GPS units throughout the country.
The reason is that the software running on these devices reveal the location of traffic radars, through which less people have been fined in the recent years and thus Swiss authorities miss a lot of money. The controversial ban has been created a large commotion inside and outside the country, forcing the authorities to put an official document online [pdf — in Germans], with answers to most frequently asked questions.
GPS devices such as TomTom, Garmin, Mio, Navman, Medion, Route 66, Packard stand Ring, Sony and ViaMichelin are all in the banned list.

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