Submission + - The economics of hosting MMOGs and performance
IndioMan writes: Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) are extremely complicated software systems that require massive infrastructures. This article, the second in a series of articles covering MMOGs, looks at some of the economic factors involved in hosting an online game. Learn how the physical infrastructure, power, networking, and cooling contribute to the overall cost of hosting an MMOG. Part one of this series shines light on the systems, storage, and networks needed to run MMOGs with optimum performance.
Submission + - Top 10 dead (or dying) computer skills
Lucas123 writes: "Computerworld reporter Mary Brandel spoke with academics and head hunters to compile this list of computer skills that are dying but may not yet have taken their last gasp. As 'Stewart Padveen, Internet entrepreneur and founder of AdPickles Inc., says, "Obsolescence is a relative — not absolute — term in the world of technology.".
'In the early 1990s, it was all the rage to become a Certified NetWare Engineer, especially with Novell Inc. enjoying 90% market share for PC-based servers.
'"It seems like it happened overnight. Everyone had Novell, and within a two-year period, they'd all switched to NT," says David Hayes, president of HireMinds LLC in Cambridge, Mass.'"
Submission + - IPv4 unallocated address exhaustion by 2010
An anonymous reader writes: Ars Technica is reporting on how the unallocated IPv4 address pool could run out as soon as 2010. The IPv4 Address Report gives details on just how fast the available pool of IPv4 addresses is diminishing. Will ISPs be moving towards IPv6 any time soon? Or will IPv4 exhaustion become the next Y2K?
Submission + - Jack Thompson threatens Bill Gates and MS
smitty_srs writes: "Looks like old Jackie hasn't learned his lesson yet. Now he's threatening Bill Gates over Halo 3. [gamealmimghty.com]
From the letter: 'Here's the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.'
So, the question is: Why go after Microsoft and not retailers as he's done 'successfully' before?"
From the letter: 'Here's the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.'
So, the question is: Why go after Microsoft and not retailers as he's done 'successfully' before?"
Submission + - Ubuntu founder says Microsoft is our pal
Golygydd Max writes: "Who says that Microsoft and open source developers are enemies? It's not Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth. He says that Microsoft is not the patent threat Linux and open source developers should be worried about, and that the software giant will itself be fighting against the software patents system within a few years."
Submission + - Copyright Misuse Claim Against RIAA Upheld
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "The RIAA's attempt to dismiss a "copyright misuse" counterclaim against it has been rejected by Judge Charles L. Brieant, in a White Plains, New York, case, Lava v. Amurao. The counterclaim (pdf) calls for the record labels to forfeit their copyrights on the ground that they "are competitors in the business of recorded music.....[and] are a cartel acting collusively in violation of the antitrust
laws and public policy, by litigating and settling all cases similar to this one together, and by entering into an unlawful agreement among themselves to prosecute and to dispose of all cases in an identical manner and through common lawyers..... Such actions represent an attempt....to secure for themselves rights far exceeding those provided by copyright laws......Such acts constitute misuse of copyrights, and lead to a forfeiture of the exclusive rights.....".
The judge also upheld (pdf) a counterclaim for declaratory judgment of non-infringement, and granted the motion for leave to file an amicus curiae brief filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation."
Submission + - Ubuntu Magazine Released
jpaul writes: The Ubuntu community has yet another thing to rejoice about, and it is their very own magazine. The Full Circle Magazine is completely free and takes a look at various aspects of Ubuntu as well as its immediately family: Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu. Issue #0 is currently available and offers a look at Ubuntu's history including the new features that were introduced into Feisty Fawn. Issue #1 is being worked on and stands proud at 44-pages, so keep your eye out for more and don't forget to contribute to the magazine if you have time!
Submission + - What's on your laptop lid?
Merry Mace writes: I'm curious to what others have done to personalize their laptop's lid, what techniques are safe and what ones ended in total, unrecoverable failure. Also what materials hold up well and not so well.
It seems some customize along the way, others plan carefully while some choose a funky in between. What rated high on the cool and creative scale?
It seems some customize along the way, others plan carefully while some choose a funky in between. What rated high on the cool and creative scale?
Submission + - DEFCON for Linux Announced
dylan_- writes: UK indie game developer, Introversion, best known for the weirdly retro Darwinia have released the much-awaited Linux version of their latest hit title DEFCON. If you liked the film "Wargames" then maybe this is for you.
As the website says:
"It's Global Thermonuclear War, and nobody wins. But maybe — just maybe — you can lose the least."
As the website says:
"It's Global Thermonuclear War, and nobody wins. But maybe — just maybe — you can lose the least."
Submission + - Interactive AMD Athlon 64 product ID guide v3.1
ocinside writes: "The interactive AMD Athlon 64 product ID guide for the identification of the
AMD CPU description (OPN) is available in the version 3.1 and contains
all current AMD processors.
Simply select the description of the AMD Athlon 64 CPU over the dropdown fields
and get the technical data of the processor virtually.
The service is of course completely free and can be directly controlled
by online Shops, forums, or web pages since the version 3.
It's sufficient to attach the OPN with ?cpu= at the end of the URL e.g.:
http://www.ocinside.de/html/workshop/amd_a64_produ ct_id.html?cpu=ADX6000IAA6CZ
Link:
http://www.ocinside.de/html/workshop/amd_a64_produ ct_id.html
News picture:
http://www.ocinside.de/assets/images/amd_a64_produ ct_id_v31.jpg"
AMD CPU description (OPN) is available in the version 3.1 and contains
all current AMD processors.
Simply select the description of the AMD Athlon 64 CPU over the dropdown fields
and get the technical data of the processor virtually.
The service is of course completely free and can be directly controlled
by online Shops, forums, or web pages since the version 3.
It's sufficient to attach the OPN with ?cpu= at the end of the URL e.g.:
http://www.ocinside.de/html/workshop/amd_a64_prod
Link:
http://www.ocinside.de/html/workshop/amd_a64_prod
News picture:
http://www.ocinside.de/assets/images/amd_a64_prod
Submission + - How Low Cost PCs Are Harming Linux
toms writes: An article on MadPenguin.org discusses why low cost PCs are harming Linux and its reputation with beginners. From the article, "As much as I hate to say it, in some cases, yes. Low end PCs built with decent distribution did give some users ill feelings about Linux as a whole because they attributed their hardware woes to the unknown.
Perhaps the saddest part of all of this is that many vendors are still doing this. To be kind, I'm not going to name names. I will allow pricing to prove my point instead. Again, I have no issues with PC sellers who wish to distribute Linux to those interested in using it, I'm just concerned about the sensitive branding that Linux (all distributions collectively) receives when someone runs out to purchase a really cheap machine.
Submission + - Is Ubuntu the Linux for Law Firms?
hax0r_this writes: Law.com is running a story questioning whether Ubuntu is the remedy to the Vista woes that law firms (like everyone else) are suffering. "To Vista or not to Vista; is that really the question? With Microsoft's long-awaited operating-system upgrade, well ... upon us ... it might be time to consider alternatives. Apple's fine Unix-based OS X is certainly an option, but if you're balking at investing in the new hardware you'll need to support Microsoft's new graphically seductive, resource-gobbling OS, do you really want to replace all your Windows machines with Macs?" The article touches on Ubuntu's plug and play abilities, criticizes its default color scheme and seems to conclude that "The feature of Ubuntu that is most likely to move this distro into the enterprise competitively is Canonicals' licensing model. The company does not impose a restriction on deploying a Linux enterprise subscription on every server. Instead, Ubuntu is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL)."
Submission + - Jonathan Schwartz on Microsoft and Patents
sparkz writes: "Scott McNealy was incredibly outspoken, though Jonathan Schwartz is getting better at it.
His blog post yesterday is entitled "Free Advice for the Litigious...":
"So what's my view on this interview in Fortune — in which one of Sun's business partners claims the open source community is trampling their patent portfolio? You would be wise to listen to the customers you're threatening to sue — they can leave you, especially if you give them motivation. Remember, they wouldn't be motivated unless your products were somehow missing the mark.
Submission + - Amazon to launch DRM-free music store
Doctor Jay writes: The rumors are true: Amazon will launch a DRM-free music store 'later this year.' Details are scarce, but reading between the lines, it appears that Amazon is taking a gamble here: 'the other three major labels won't be launching DRM-free tracks with Amazon just yet. Steve Jobs has been reportedly pressuring labels recently to consider following EMI's lead by offering unprotected, higher-quality tracks through the store, but no deals have been struck yet.' That means Amazon's offering will likely consist of just EMI artists and smaller labels, unless the other three major labels have a change of heart between now and launch.
