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Patents

Submission + - Small Businessman Feels Pinch of Software Patents

Submitted by Penguinisto
Penguinisto writes: A few days ago, Phil Cooke, a small-time hobbyist 3D/CG programmer, was sent a Cease and Desist notice from Reyes Infografica over a small 3D/CG clothes-generating program he had sold for years (it generated clothing mesh for a figures in a CG hobbyist program known as Poser). The program has since been pulled from the maker's site, as he cannot afford to retain counsel with which to fight back. Apparently, Phil's program had collided against a software patent that Reyes filed in 2001 (the patent was filed in the US and Spain). The C&D notice, and some of the discussion surrounding it can be found a PhilC's site discussion forums. While we usually see stories about small-time patent trolls raking in huge bucks from large companies, is this an indication of a disturbing trend by larger companies using software patents to intimidate and eliminate their smaller competition? And if so, then how on Earth is this supposed to foster innovation and creativity?
Businesses

Submission + - Deepwater sunk perhaps with youtube help

Submitted by
anagama
anagama writes: "You may recall some time ago a slashdot topic about Mike DeKort, an engineer from Lockheed Martin working on the Coast Guard's Deepwater project (basically, construction of new ships). He released a whistleblower video on Youtube outlining problems and cover up/apathy related to the ships under construction. Well, in the news today, looks like the Coast Guard is taking over the project and ending its contract with Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman. Perhaps the (digital) pen is mightier than the sword (manufacturer)."
Unix

Journal Journal: SCO says GNU doesn't have a license

Journal by Ritchie70

I was browsing SCO's website trying to figure out development tool options for SCO OpenServer 5.0.6 (I know, I know) and stumbled across this.

It describes one of the three options for OpenServer 5.0.7 as:
Quake

Submission + - Open RT project Ray-tracing algorithms available

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Ray-tracing is a technique that allowed Peter Jackson to make special effects look convincing in the Lord of the Rings. Now, Daniel Pohl, has used the new algorithms [develped by Professor Philipp Slusallek and co-workers from the University of Saarland] to produce ray-traced versions of the Quake 3 and 4 video games. "It gives much higher image quality in shadows and reflections," said Mr Pohl. "You can even do reflections on reflections on reflections." This is something that would be impossible with traditional rendering techniques. The algorithms are being made available to anyone to use via the Open RT project. Graphics in computer games are typically rendered via a technique known as rasterisation which involves drawing all the elements of a scene using polygons. The scientists have shown that their series of ray-tracing algorithms can run on a high-end PC graphics card.

Feed The Internet Makes Us Naked (wired.com)

From feed by wiredfeed
When we can no longer pretend that we behave the way our cultural expectations say we should, perhaps it's time to adjust those expectations. Commentary by Regina Lynn.


Programming

Submission + - Auto-parallelizing compiler from Codeplay

Submitted by
Max Romantschuk
Max Romantschuk writes: "Parallelization of code is a very tricky thing. We've all heard of the challeges with Cell, and with dual and quad core pocessors this is becoming an ever more important issue to deal with. The Inquirer writes about a new auto-parallelizing compiler called Sieve from Codeplay: What Sieve is is a C++ compiler that will take a section of code and parallelize it for you with a minimum hassle. All you really need to do is take the code you want to run across multiple CPUs and put beginning and end tags on the parts you want to run in parallel.

Is this the Silver Bullet of parallelization? There's more info on Sieve on Codeplay's site."
PC Games (Games)

Submission + - PC Gaming's Future Evolution

Submitted by Dr. Eggman
Dr. Eggman writes: 1up.com is reporting on the GDC panel "PC Gaming in an Age of Connected Consoles", and their views on the PC. Unlike the usual doom and gloom about the "death" of PC games, this panel's has suggested that the death is of PC games as we know it; in that PC games will evolve. They believe PC gaming's future lies in it's strenghs like persistent-world environments, not just as MMOs but anything that has elements of a persistent nature such as Battlefield 2142. They go on to describe the PC's greatest edge over consoles: user created content and the supportive game communities built around it. The article also cited the panel's views on the weaknesses inherent in consoles' closed networks and content control.
Google

Submission + - The energy problem, and what we can do to solve it

Submitted by
notyou2
notyou2 writes: "Steve Chu, Nobel prize winner and Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, recently presented a talk at Google. It's a balanced look at all aspects of the energy problem and its effects, from global warming to emerging technologies, and well worth viewing. 'Among America's most serious concerns are (i) national security, which is intimately tied to energy security, (ii) economic competitiveness, and (iii) the environment. These issues transcend our national boundaries and have serious implications for the world. At the core of these problems is need to secure clean, affordable and sustainable sources of energy. Solutions must come from a combination of improvements on both the demand and supply side, and science and technology will be an essential part of the solution. After briefly describing the energy problem, the remainder of the talk will describe areas of research that may lead to transforming technologies.'"
United States

Submission + - Global economic crisis anticipated for April 2007

Submitted by
advid.net
advid.net writes: "According to this European think-tank, several practical consequences of the unfolding crisis will converge in April 2007, some of them are:
  • Acceleration of the pace and size of bankruptcies among US financial organisations: from one per week today to one per day in April
  • Spectacular rise of US home foreclosures: 10 million Americans out on the street
  • Accelerating collapse of housing prices in the US: — 25%
  • Entry into recession of the US economy in April 2007
  • Precipitous rate cut by the US Federal Reserve
  • Sudden drop of US dollar value against Euro, Yuan and Yen

About home foreclosures they mention Beacon Journal 11/01/2007, United Business Media 12/02/2007, Austin Business Journal 26/01/2007 and CNN Money on 25/01/2007.
They also mention scores of blogs appearing on the web and trying to review the on-going housing disaster and the stream of human tragedies, for instance My Real Estate Money or Foreclosure Pulse"
Windows

Submission + - Install Ubuntu in windows

Submitted by
eporue
eporue writes: ""Wubi is an unofficial Ubuntu installer for Windows users that will bring you into the Linux world with a few clicks. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other application. If you heard about Linux and Ubuntu, if you wanted to try them but you were afraid, this is for you." More at: Wubi"
Power

Submission + - Under-inflated tyres kill people and waste fuel

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: It might seem surprising, but inflating your car tyres could save a life and help protect the environment. New Scientist Tech has a story about a US government study that suggest hundreds of lives are lost each year and some 1.2 billion gallons of petrol are squandered because of tyres thare are not properly pumped up. In addition to wasting fuel, under-inflation increases the chances of tyre blowouts and loss of control in poor weather. The report found more than one-quarter of cars and about one-third of light trucks in the US have one or more under-inflated tyres.

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