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Submission + - Still a risk to use AJAX? (slashdot.org)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Some long time ago (*), Eolas was on a suing-spree regarding their AJAX patents. A quick Google search didn't seem to return any indication on how it ended. What are the remaining risks using AJAX today?

(*) for advancements in computer technology, but maybe not on legal proceedings

Submission + - 2011: Tales of tablet triumph and tragedy (itworld.com)

Submitted by bdking
bdking writes: The year began with Apple dominating the tablet market with the iPad. It ended with Apple dominating the tablet market with the iPad. In between, two highly touted challengers crashed and burned, while another experienced almost immediate success, showing the potential to grab almost 25% of the tablet market.
Google

Submission + - Why Can't We Put a BASIC on the Phone?

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: In the Sixties, we could put a man on the moon. Nowadays, laments jocastette, America's tech giants can't even put a BASIC on the phone. Woz managed to crank out a BASIC interpreter for the 6502 in the '70s. As did Bill Gates and Paul Allen. So, why — at a time when development has never been easier — can't Google, Apple, and Microsoft manage to support a free BASIC or other programming-for-the-masses development environment on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones?

Submission + - Anonymous May Have Issued Call To Take Down Iowa C (thenewcivilrightsmovement.com) 1

Submitted by samriel
samriel writes: All of a sudden the GOP now is concerned that the Internet hactivist group Anonymous (may have) issued a call to supporters to take down the January 3 Iowa Caucuses. Six weeks ago a video surfaced that was claimed to be by Anonymous—an anarchy-ish-styled, loosely-intertwined informal groups that has succeeded in taking down Internet sites like PayPal, Bank of America, and the Westboro Baptist Church.
The Internet

Submission + - Boxee 1.5 for Desktops Arrives, But the End is Nig (deviceguru.com)

Submitted by __aajbyc7391
__aajbyc7391 writes: Boxee released version 1.5 of its free multimedia streaming software for Mac, Windows, and Linux desktops today, but simultaneously announced that it will cease offering the Boxee desktop software after January. Thereafter, the company will limit its focus to devices such as the D-Link Boxee Box, which faces stiff competition from multimedia streaming TV set-top-box products such as the Roku players, Google TV, and Apple TV. Hopefully, the XBMC project, on which Boxee's software is largely based, will carry the ball forward for desktop users. Speaking of which, the first preview release of XBMC 11.0 Eden was just released.
Programming

Submission + - Indie game developer tackles OOAD (greendoorgames.com)

Submitted by
eagee
eagee writes: "This indie developer has been writing a game using Object Oriented Analysis and Design to walk aspiring software engineers through the process. They've been updating a design document as they go which is available for all to see; and includes step by step explanations for how to do some really great analysis (with some pretty amusing infographics). While you may not want to write all of your games this way — it's definitely a nifty way to teach software design to anyone who hasn't been exposed to it before."
Idle

Submission + - PETA asks Illinois to build roadside memorials for (chicagotribune.com)

Submitted by SpuriousLogic
SpuriousLogic writes: It was a gruesome accident May 22: A truck driver lost control and his rig carrying 36 cows partially tipped over on an overpass along Interstate Highway 80 near Hazel Crest, sending some of the animals plunging about 25 feet onto Interstate Highway 294.

The death toll totaled 16 head of cattle, including one badly injured animal that police shot to end its suffering.

An animal-rights group now wants the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect an official roadside memorial sign. It would serve as a tribute to the victims, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which also seeks installation of a second memorial to six cows killed in traffic after they were thrown from a truck that overturned on Oct. 14 near Cambridge, Ill.

"Cows are intelligent, sensitive animals that feel pain the same way we do," said Tracy Patton, a campaigner for PETA.

The markers would be the first official highway memorials in the U.S. dedicated to animals killed in traffic accidents. Two previous applications submitted in Virginia, to honor almost 200 pigs killed in traffic wrecks, were turned down.

"These proposed signs would also remind tractor-trailer drivers of their responsibility to the thousands of animals they haul to their deaths every day," said Patton, 26, who lives in Arlington Heights. "It's a big enough tragedy that these animals end up in slaughterhouses, where they are kicked, shocked with electric prods and finally dragged off the trucks to their deaths. Sparing them from being tossed from a speeding truck and deprived of care afterward, sometimes for several hours, seems the least that we can do."

A state law passed in 2007 allows the family members of victims killed in drunken-driving accidents to request that IDOT install memorial signs along Illinois highways. It's called "Tina's Law" to honor Tina Ball, a road construction worker and mother of seven who was killed by a drunk driver while she was working on Interstate Highway 57 on Sept. 15, 2003.

Seven applications have been submitted, and five signs installed so far, officials said.

The law was amended this year to allow memorials for any highway fatality, not just DUIs.

"The law was expanded this year partly to discourage the practice of unofficial roadway memorials, such as crosses, stuffed animals and flowers, all of which can be a distraction to drivers," IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said.

IDOT removes unofficial memorials placed along state routes. It's up to local jurisdictions whether to take down unofficial memorials outside the state-designated right of way, officials said.

The official IDOT memorial markers are 36-by-24-inch blue signs with white lettering. People requesting a sign are required to pay a fee.

The state law governing the memorial markers says that the signs can be requested only by a "qualified relative of a deceased victim."

.

In her applications, Patton asked IDOT to waive the "qualified relative" requirement, citing in an accompanying letter to the state's roadside memorial coordinator the absence of "surviving family members for animals in the meat trade." She applied as a "concerned Illinois resident in lieu of living relatives."

Patton said PETA is awaiting a response to its application from IDOT.

But Tridgell told your "Getting Around" reporter that, while this marked the first request for an official roadway memorial on behalf of animals, the law is clear, and the application will be denied.
HP

Submission + - HP Fixes Security Flaws in LaserJet Firmware (securityweek.com)

Submitted by wiredmikey
wiredmikey writes: In late November, news surfaced that researchers from Columbia University had discovered vulnerabilities in upgradeable firmware in HP laser printers that could be compromised and modified by an attacker, enabling them to do anything from overheating the printer, to compromising a network, with some saying that the devices could even be set up in flames.

While HP responded saying the reports of devices being able to be set on fire remotely were “sensational and inaccurate,” it did acknowledge existence of a security vulnerability related to the firmware in some its LaserJet printers and has now released a firmware update to mitigate the issues and is notifying customers and partners.

While HP provides software that enables admins to set configurations and security policies for devices, and provides IT infrastructure and filtering technology to help remove suspicious files and devices on a network, being able to monitor the health of the firmware on its printers is lacking, and has sparked concern by some.
Piracy

Submission + - GoDaddy continues to bleed customers over SOPA (itworld.com) 1

Submitted by bdking
bdking writes: Despite a transparent reversal of policy regarding its support of the Stop Online Piracy Act, domain registrar GoDaddy continues to lose customers to a reddit-inspired boycott. That GoDaddy was the No. 1 target of SOPA opponents — despite much larger companies also supporting the legislation — speaks to the Achilles heel of most Internet companies.
Education

Submission + - A World Without Schoolteachers (americanthinker.com)

Submitted by Attila Dimedici
Attila Dimedici writes: I came across a an article this morning that suggests that the Nook and the Kindle have changed things in such a way that schools are becoming obsolete. His premise is that the ideal way to teach children is by a tutor. Schools arose because those who were not well enough off to afford tutors pooled their resources to hire a tutor (teacher) for all of their children. Schools further developed because they offered the opportunity for society to indoctrinate children in the values society considered important. Until today, the indoctrination has become more important than the education.
The author's premise is that the Nook and the Kindle have allowed large amounts of written material on many different subjects to become accessible enough that parents can tutor their children at a price that just about everyone can afford.
Censorship

Submission + - UK ISP Sky have blocked Newzin.com (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by rburke
rburke writes: UK internet provider are the second UK ISP to block access to the Newzbin2 website (newzbin.com) after receiving a court order requiring them to enforce the block.

The block is at IP level, unlike the block method BT uses. The 'circumvention client' available on the Newzbin site that was created in the aftermath of BT censorship does not help users access the site, leaving Tor and VPN as the most reliable access methods.

Sky have issued a statement on their website (http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/broadband/protecting-copyright/) which advises that "when clear and legally robust evidence of copyright theft is presented, we will take appropriate action in respect to site blocking, which will include complying with court orders."

This suggests that in the future Sky may be willing to block sites without a court order being presented.
Enlightenment

Submission + - Bodhi Linux Gets Christmas Update (ostatic.com)

Submitted by Thinkcloud
Thinkcloud writes: "All of our Bodhi users have been good little boys and girls this year it seems! So good in fact we are giving you your present a day early. The Bodhi team and I are happy to announce our next update release — Bodhi 1.3.0."
Java

Submission + - Better Java LINQ querying (github.com)

Submitted by
nicholas22
nicholas22 writes: ""A new type-safe LINQ implementation for the Java language has been developed leveraging the compiler pre-processing Java agent lombok-pg, making use of features not found in standard Java such as extension methods, block iterator yield co-routines and higher order functions. The source code is compiled down to standard Java bytecode (supporting the javac and ecj compilers) and works with all tools you're used to working with, such as Eclipse, Ant, Maven, Hudson, JUnit, etc. in a way that is transparent to the developer (i.e. there is no explicit pre-compilation step). LINQ queries provide compile time type-safety, allowing you do things like date range queries against date fields but keeping you from trying to do a date range query against a string field. Hopefully this catches on, resulting in fewer uses of String-based untyped querying (e.g. quaere), exploding at runtime and with less boilerplate and fewer lines of code than other alternatives (e.g. lambdaj).""

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