RootWind - Slashdot User

Submission + - when Macs break

Submitted by

cyber-dragon.net

on Monday March 05, 2007 @09:38PM

cyber-dragon.net writes: "I have long been a staunch supporter of Apple and Macs, bordering on but not quite a fan boy. My recent experience with trying to bring them into my department at work has been dissapointing. We had a Mac Pro (the big quad processor monster) die after four days. Ok, it happens, everything else has worked flawlessly. I even delt with the inevitable teasing about the siny new Mac being a lemon.
Well after almost four hours dealing with Apple Care, three hours dropping off and picking up my computer at different stores as per thier instructions trying to get this done quickly... I am beginning to wonder if Apple really wants business customers to rely on these machines. Much as I may dislike Dell like the rest of you... when my Linux box died it was fixed in four hours and I spent maybe 20 mintes of my time setting up the repair. I have spent seven hours of my time so far on this Mac and it still will not power up. Is this just me or have other people lost critical business machines to the depths of Apple Care inefficiency and lack of business level support?"

Submission + - Top 20 Comic Weapons

Submitted by

Ant

on Sunday March 04, 2007 @04:34PM

Ant writes: "Cardboard Monocle has its top 20 list of comic book weapons. It is based on some characteristics: "When compiling the top 20 comic book weapons of all time, one must consider the weapon and not the wielder. We chose weapons that define the characters they belong to. Without their weapons, the characters on this list would lose their identities... We have purposely left out any 'weapons of limitless power.'..." Seen on Neatorama."

Submission + - Slashdot FireHose Beta Sneak Preview

Submitted by

Davak

on Sunday March 04, 2007 @02:42PM

Davak writes: "The old fogey slashdot has announced a new (dare I say, Web 2.0) youthful, digg-like voting system-Firehose. This new code is described as a "collaborative system designed to allow users to assist editors in the story selection process." This review of the Firehose describes the new features and implications of this new system. For example, much of Firehose's AJAX eye candy is built around yahoo's ajax toolkit."

Campaign Sites Full of Vulnerabilities 36

Posted by Hemos on Monday February 26, 2007 @09:50AM from the not-surprising dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Bloggers have been buzzing about the new wave of "Web 2.0" campaign sites, but it seems that a lot of presidential candidates haven't bothered to protect themselves from cross-site scripting attacks. A blogger has found a collection of XSS vulnerabilities including the websites of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, John Cox, Newt Gingrich, Tom Tancredo, the Democratic National Committee, and even a surprise from Whitehouse.gov. Some of the holes are low-risk, but others would allow a user's accounts on the affected website to be compromised. A victim would simply have to click on a maliciously crafted link that appears to lead to the candidate's site."

Submission + - Rosetta probe reveals Martian cloud systems

Submitted by

MattSparkes

on Monday February 26, 2007 @09:47AM

MattSparkes writes: "The ESA's Rosetta probe swooped around Mars on Sunday, completing a key manoeuvre in its 10-year mission to land on a distant comet. The 3-tonne probe came within 155 miles of the planet's surface, and took some incredible images that reveal cloud systems on the planet. "At this time of the Martian year, a large fraction of Mars' atmosphere is evaporating from the southern polar cap and will migrate to the northern polar cap during nothern winter. Over most of the Martian disk one can see large cloud systems.""

Submission + - Using free wireless at library described as theft

Submitted by

dallas

on Saturday February 24, 2007 @10:01PM

dallas writes: "http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8667098p-8559 268c.html

Using free wireless at library described as theft
PALMER: Man was tapping into library connection after hours.

By ANDREW WELLNER
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: February 24, 2007)
WASILLA — Brian Tanner was sitting in his Acura Integra recently outside the Palmer Library playing online games when a Palmer police pulled up behind him.

The officer asked him what he was doing.

Tanner, 21, was using the library's wireless Internet connection. He was told that his activity constituted theft of services and was told to leave. The next day, Sunday, police spotted him there again.

"It was kind of like, 'Well gee whiz, come on,' " police Lt. Tom Remaley said.

The police officer confiscated Tanner's laptop in order to inspect what he may have been downloading, Remaley said. Remaley on Friday said he hasn't looked inside the computer yet; he's putting together a search warrant application.

Alaska state troopers had chased Tanner off a few times at other locations, Remaley said.

Tanner said that was true. He has a device on his keychain that sniffs out wireless networks. When he found one, he would park in his neighborhood and use his $800 Dell laptop to hop on the Web. But worried neighbors summoned the troopers, who told him to park in a public place.

"I went to the public library because I go there during the day," Tanner said.

Though the library was closed, its wireless was up and running, he said.

Tanner said he was upset that he hasn't gotten his computer back yet. The police have told him he won't until the case is concluded, he said.

Jeanne Novosad, the library system manager, said the wireless connection is normally shut off when the library is closed. But the library was waiting on a technician to install a timer and the connection was left on after hours for several days, she said.

Remaley said the investigating officer is talking with the District Attorney's Office to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Remaley said few of these cases that he's seen have resulted in criminal prosecution.

But, "in this particular case you know he's feeding off something that we know the city of Palmer pays for and there are requirements to use it," Remaley said.

Either way, Tanner's Internet usage has been curtailed. He's got a home computer, but his parents don't let him on the Web after 9 p.m. He's been using computers at the library during the day.

He's a moderator on an online gaming site, conquerclub.com, where he plays a game similar to the board game Risk.

"It's pretty addicting," he said.

Contact Daily News reporter Andrew Wellner at 352-6710 or awellner@adn.com

Copyright © 2007 The Anchorage Daily News (www.adn.com)"

Submission + - Samsung increases speeds of GDDR4 memory by 66%

Submitted by

Vinit

on Friday February 23, 2007 @12:03PM

Vinit writes: "Samsung Electronics has increased the speed of world's fastest memory — the GDDR4 memory by two-third. The firm has increased the data transfer speed to 4Gb/s (2.0GHz) from current 2.4Gb/s. With the speed up by 66 percent, you'll get excellent performance from your system while playing games, animation or editing a video. The high-end applications requires good speed because they move huge volumes of video simultaneously; so as your memory speed increases, you get better performance. The new 4Gb/s graphics memory, offered in a 512Mb density, has a 32-bit data bus configuration. GDDR4 uses JEDEC-approved standards for signal noise reduction to help attain the highest possible speed. "Our new GDDR4 memory will add even more zip in video applications, making gaming, computer-aided design and video editing a lot faster than ever before," said Mueez Deen, marketing director, graphics memory, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "This will enable ultra-smooth movements in animation, making games incredibly realistic, resulting in a truly immersive experience," he added. The memory is ready for customer sampling this month. http://www.pclaunches.com/other_stuff/samsung_incr eases_speeds_of_gddr4_memory_by_66_percent.php"

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