Submission + - A first look at the OpenMoko Neo 1973 (lwn.net)
mrcgran writes: "LWN.NET is running an interesting article about their first-hand impressions on the latest version of the OpenMoko Neo1973 mobile phone. The article contains an updated account of the hardware, operating system, applications and its recent user interface overhaul. The device seems to be progressing nicely, and though its software is riping a bit slowly, it seems that it will be an outstanding free (as in freedom) iPhone alternative in the next weeks."
Submission + - British Government Changes Its Mind on BBC IPlayer (pm.gov.uk)
graham_stark writes: In response to an online petition on the Prime Minister's Downing Street website, the British Government has backed away from allowing the BBC from providing IPlayer,its new online media player, for Windows users only. This is not binding on the BBC directly, but since the BBC is almost entirely Government funded and the Government appoints the BBC Governors, it's going to be hard to refuse.
Submission + - Dell laptops still exploding (consumeraffairs.com)
bl8n8r writes: "It "looked like fireworks which would have been cool had it not been in my house." said Doug Brown of Columbus, Ohio. Brown, a Network Administrator, called 911 last week when the Dell 9200 laptop burst into flames in his house. Emergency response units included two pumpers, a ladder truck, a bamalance, the HAZMAT unit, and a battalion chief. When Doug phoned Dell to inquire about liability, he was asked if he had insurance. It's not clear if Doug's laptop is one of the earlier models recalled by Dell; a Macbook is cited in TFA for allegedly burning down a house in Australia as well as another instance of a suspect Dell laptop burning down a pickup truck in Nevada. If the burning battery issues are going to continue to be a problem, who's going to be responsible for losses? Insurance companies, Laptop makers, Battery vendors, and consumer negligence could presumably be cited in all cases."
Submission + - MS responds to Vista's network and audio problems. (zdnet.com)
quirdan writes: With the publishing of the discovery of the connection between Vista's poor networking performance and audio activities last week, word quickly spread around the Internet. No doubt this grabbed Microsoft's attention, and they have decided to respond to the issue. Microsoft state they are working on a technical documentation, as well as applying a slight sugar coating to the symptoms. Apparently they believe almost a 90% drop in networking performance is "slight," only affects reception of data, and that this performance trade-off is necessary to simply play an MP3 or a Windows 'ding' sound. Come on — this is 2007, not 1997.
Submission + - What happens to a GPL work when copyrights expire? 4
aquabat writes: Many software projects are composed of code written by several different authors. If the various authors hold the copyright to their respective parts of the code, then it seems to me that the copyright on those parts will expire at different times. If the code is licensed under the GPL, then how does this partial expiry of copyright protection affect the rights and responsibilities of project users, distributors and contributors?
Submission + - Skype-Linux reads /etc/passwd and firefox profile! (skype.com)
mrcgran writes: "Users of Skype for Linux have just found out that it reads the files /etc/passwd, firefox profile, plugins, addons, etc, and many other unnecessary files in /etc. This fact was originally discovered by using AppArmor, but others have confirmed this fact using strace on versions 1.4.0.94 and 1.4.0.99. What is going on? This probably shows how important it is to use AppArmor in any closed-source application in Linux to restrict any undue access to your files."
Submission + - Microsoft practices for OOXML vote in Mexico
Kerberos writes: Yesterday was the original deadline in Mexico to give a position towards the ISO/IEC DIS 29500 (Office Open XML) standardization. During the pass week I was a witness of the Microsoft effort create an unbiased vote during the process; their techniques included the email and phone calls, a lot of them.
I received emails telling me how to vote (I quote and translate) "... to vote do click on the link below and write on the body: YES and your information ..." I think about how many companies affiliated to the CANIETI (the Mexican chamber for technology, telecommunications, etc.) followed the directions without even thinking about what they where doing.
Today Microsoft reach my limit on acceptance about what a company can do or should do to support their business assets. I was worried about receiving calls (from Microsoft) with instructions on how to vote (as YES) or receiving emails with direct links to an email to vote... until I received a new email from them. The email I received included a direct link which opens my email client and puts on the body 'A Favor' which means 'I AGREE' o 'YES'. The recipient for this email was the person in charge of the votes, but this link included CCs to Microsoft emails! ... What!? .... They want to know how many of us voted and what was the vote? Why? Is this illegal? Is this ethic? Why nobody here in Mexico sees this clear illegal and biased tactic to ensure a Mexico vote on YES to the standard?
I don't want to start a flame war over who is right, what standard is better or what the ISO should do with the OOXML. I'm against the techniques and wrongdoing of Microsoft regarding how they are manipulating the vote in Mexico and how nobody seems to see this as I do.
I ear this is happening in almost al the countries; I just don't want believe what I see.
- Omnia iam fient fieri quae posse negabam.
I received emails telling me how to vote (I quote and translate) "... to vote do click on the link below and write on the body: YES and your information
Today Microsoft reach my limit on acceptance about what a company can do or should do to support their business assets. I was worried about receiving calls (from Microsoft) with instructions on how to vote (as YES) or receiving emails with direct links to an email to vote... until I received a new email from them. The email I received included a direct link which opens my email client and puts on the body 'A Favor' which means 'I AGREE' o 'YES'. The recipient for this email was the person in charge of the votes, but this link included CCs to Microsoft emails!
I don't want to start a flame war over who is right, what standard is better or what the ISO should do with the OOXML. I'm against the techniques and wrongdoing of Microsoft regarding how they are manipulating the vote in Mexico and how nobody seems to see this as I do.
I ear this is happening in almost al the countries; I just don't want believe what I see.
- Omnia iam fient fieri quae posse negabam.
Submission + - Survey on Operating Systems
Anonymous consultant writes: A large consultancy firm has been hired to do a study on operating systems for the European Commission. The EC wants, through this study, to know what type of Operating System R&D (if any) it should fund. Among other things, the study shall rely on data gathered through this survey, which aims at getting an overall picture of the high-level perception people have of the current operating system market.
Have any pet peeves about current operating systems? You know how to fix things? You know who should sponsor what type of research for the operating systems of tomorrow to be better? Or maybe you are convinced everything is fine? In all of those cases — and more — here's the chance to express yourself.
The survey is pretty straightforward, but does require a certain amount of manual input. You'll need roughly half an hour to complete it, depending on the path you take among the questions.
Have any pet peeves about current operating systems? You know how to fix things? You know who should sponsor what type of research for the operating systems of tomorrow to be better? Or maybe you are convinced everything is fine? In all of those cases — and more — here's the chance to express yourself.
The survey is pretty straightforward, but does require a certain amount of manual input. You'll need roughly half an hour to complete it, depending on the path you take among the questions.
Submission + - Skype Blames Microsoft Windows Update for Network (gizmodo.com)
An anonymous reader writes: After recovering from a major crash this weekend Skype is now pointing fingers, saying that "the disruption was triggered by a massive restart of our users' computers across the globe within a very short timeframe as they re-booted after receiving a routine set of patches through Windows Update." Their official statement sounds like the BBC announcing the Nazi invasion of Poland.
Submission + - Artificial Life Likely in 3 to 10 Years (breitbart.com) 1
E++99 writes: "According to an AP science writer Seth Borenstein, the experts agree — "wet artificial life" is only 3 to 10 years away. The CEO of ProtoLife chimes in to say, "It's going to be a big deal and everybody's going to know about it." As for our fears of our new synthetic microbial overlords getting loose in the wild, he reassures us, saying, "It'll be a huge achievement if you can keep them alive for an hour in the lab; but them getting out and taking over, never in our imagination could this happen.""
Submission + - Aerogel Hailed As New Wonder Material (timesonline.co.uk) 1
Twinbee writes: "The amazing properties of the space-age material aerogel have been known for some time, but only now is it beginning to be manufactured for widespread use. Highlights of the news article include resistance from a blowtorch at more than 1,300C, and how "6mm of aerogel was left almost unscathed by a direct dynamite blast". Perhaps the most obvious use for the 'super-sponge' like material is for insulation, whether we're talking about mountain boots, house insulation, or any winter wear.
Quote: "However, it has failed to convince the fashion world. Hugo Boss created a line of winter jackets out of the material but had to withdraw them after complaints that they were too hot.""
Quote: "However, it has failed to convince the fashion world. Hugo Boss created a line of winter jackets out of the material but had to withdraw them after complaints that they were too hot.""
Submission + - Google Throws Lead Paint on Movie Download Market 6
An anonymous reader writes: As promised Google shut down its video store Wednesday — and its DRM made sure all movie files purchased from the store ceased to funtion. This has sparked a firestorm of negative commentary from the Digerati who see it as pure theft. Cory Doctorow called it "...a giant, flaming middle finger, sent by Google and the studios to the customers who were trusting (as in dumb) enough to buy DRM videos". John Dvorak called it "old bait-and-switch tactics" where vendors make promises, but build-in the ability to reneg on those promises if they choose to do so later. Both Dvorak and Doctorow call for the judicial system to step in, but MP3 Newswire says that the abuse to consumer trust will do more damage to the paid download market than anything the courts could inflict. "As a consumer, if you purchase a digital movie file online only to have it unexpectedly repossessed you will probably think twice before ever buying any such download again. If you do consider it again it certainly won't be for the same price as before. Experience made these downloads worth far less to you. So what are feature film downloads that can be revoked at any time worth in the market place? To some Google Video customers the value of a movie download dropped all the way down to zero."
Submission + - Brit social services try to censor Youtube
Kedyn's Crow writes: Britain's social services, citeng the Data Protection Act, are trying to remove a audio recording from youtube. The recording posted by expectant parents Vanessa and Martin Brookes , shows social services attepting to force the adoption of her unborn child in spite of their own belief that there was "no immediate risk to your child from yourselves"
Submission + - The first quark supernova (arxivblog.com) 2
KentuckyFC writes: "The largest supernova ever recorded ain't what it seems. Astronomers watched this thing explode in real time last year and were amazed to see it release 100 times more energy than any other supernova. Now astrophysicists think the only way to account for all the energy is if the star were made entirely of quarks. That's cool because quark stars were proposed by Ed Witten at Princeton over 20 years ago."
