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Linux Business

Submission + - Presentation software for Linux

Submitted by adpsimpson
adpsimpson writes: I am a PhD student and have just returned from giving a presentation to industry, detailing the work my university is doing for them. I am also a long-time Linux user.

The presentation was prepared in collaboration with my advisers, who use Microsoft software. My part was prepared in Open Office, and the file was saved in the Powerpoint format. I gave the presentation from my laptop, but Open Office became completely unresponsive about 30 minutes in, with each click taking up to 30 seconds to register and basic animations (appearing and disappearing content on the slides) simply not working. We transferred the presentation to another laptop running Microsoft Powerpoint in Windows and it completed with no problems. This slow dying of Open Office is something I have come across before and which reproduces every time I test it here.

My question is what presentation software do the Slashdot crowd use? Is there a free and open source alternative to Powerpoint which will work reliably where Open Office fails? Are there ways to tweak Open Office to make it more responsive?
Slashback

Submission + - What is going on with the Tags

Submitted by donkeyb
donkeyb writes: What is going on with the Tags? I try to add a Tag and nothing happens, but there are some tags here that have blatently just been added once, yet they get shown? What the heck?
Security

Submission + - Firefox 2.0.0.10 is affected by a serious error

Submitted by thisispurefud
thisispurefud writes: The latest Firefox 2.0.0.10 includes a serious error, which causes that certain images are not properly represented. The error concerns the representation of vector graphics using HTML and JavaScript. Firefox 2.0.0.10 reacts to the JavaScript method canvas.drawImage() with the exception of "NS_ERROR_NOT_AVAILABLE". The method drawImage() should render pixel images into vector graphics drawing. The developers have now is to investigate the mistake, based on this test page can be demonstrated: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=405584
Biotech

Submission + - Cancer-Resistant Family of Mice Developed (eurekalert.org)

Submitted by
Invisible Pink Unicorn
Invisible Pink Unicorn writes: "A mouse resistant even to highly-aggressive forms of cancer has been created by scientists at the University of Kentucky. The team utilized a recently-discovered tumor-suppressor gene called "Par-4" in the prostate. The gene is one of very few known molecules that specifically kill cancer cells but leave normal cells unharmed. The lead researcher also explains that this resistance is hereditary: 'The mouse itself does not express a large number of copies of this gene, but the pups do, and then their pups start expressing the gene. So, we've been able to transfer this activity to generations in the mouse.' The article abstract from Cancer Research is available online."
Biotech

Submission + - Bone marrow transplants without chemotherapy. (sciencemag.org)

Submitted by Thanshin
Thanshin writes: Researchers reported in the 23 November issue of Science that they can use a specific type of antibody to clear away old marrow stem cells in mice, allowing fresh ones to take their place. The discovery could allow patients to receive bone marrow without undergoing chemotherapy and other toxic procedures.
Social Networks

Submission + - Google Acquire jaiku (coolstuffs.in)

Submitted by focus4
focus4 writes: Google has acquired an social networking site jaiku — Jaiku is an activity stream and presence sharing service that works from the Web and mobile phones. Jaiku, Ltd. was founded in February, 2006 by Jyri Engeström and Petteri Koponen from Finland. The service was released on the Web in July 2006. Jaiku is based in Helsinki.
United States

Submission + - Sliding Rocks Baffle Scientists (geology.com) 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Scientists can't figure out why these rocks — weighing up to several pounds each — can slide across a dry lake bed. Some blame it on the wind — but it can't be that simple!
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - Unlocked iPhone to cost 999 Euros in Germany 1

Submitted by tovarish
tovarish writes: Reuters confirms that T-Mobile Germany will offer the iPhone unlocked for 999 Euros ($1,478). So this is what it really costs. This was the result of a Vodaphone injunction preventing the sale of unlocked iPhones in Germany through T-Mobile. Would the unlocked iPhone sell in the USA for about 1500 dollars (you can probably take about 200 out considering german taxes).
Space

Submission + - Russia's New Cosmodome Approved (space.com) 1

Submitted by
eldavojohn
eldavojohn writes: "You may recall discussing Baikonur, the Kazakhstan city rented by Russia that has been used as a launch site for quite sometime. Today, Putin has just approved construction of Vostochny between 2010 and 2018 which will be positioned in the far east of Russia to complement the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the northern part of the country. This is not bad news for Kazakhstan as the director of the Russian Federal Space Agency has announced they plan to operate this facility alongside Baikonur. Is this a sign of a growing healthy space program in Russia?"
Handhelds

Submission + - Apple Forced to Sell Un-Locked iPhones in Germany (techluver.com)

Submitted by
Tech.Luver
Tech.Luver writes: "Apple has been forced to release a version of the iPhone in Germany that is not locked into a specific network or contract, scuppering its exclusive deal with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile. Following a preliminary injunction, T-Mobile said that it would sell an unlocked phone for $1465 ( 999 ) until a final decision is reached. It will continue to offer iPhones locked into a two-year contract for $585 ( 399 ). Its announcement comes after rival Vodafone went to a German court to challenge T-Mobile's exclusive tie-up with the iPhone in Germany. Vodafone Deutschland won the injunction barring T-Mobile from offering the iPhone exclusively with a so-called SIM lock that stops users from switching the device to any other operator's network, and with a minimum two year contract. ( http://techluver.com/2007/11/21/t-mobile-germany-sell-un-locked-iphones-without-contract/ )"
Announcements

Submission + - Germany: Unlocked iPhone from T-Mobile (gulli.com)

Submitted by
cribb
cribb writes: "The restraining order Vodafone were given against T-Mobile in Germany comes into force midnight tonight. T-Mobile have now announced that the iPhone will be available for a *tempting* 999 Euros ($1450) in all T-Mobile shops in Germany from tomorrow. The phone will originally still be locked, you have to post your IMEI to Apple's website to have it unlocked within 24 hours.

gulli.de the fully story (German only, fish for you from German will translate )"
Software

Submission + - Double your disk read performance with one command (itauth.com)

Submitted by achillean
achillean writes: Under the right conditions (that is, with certain hardware configurations I'll explain later) it is possible to literally double your sequential read performance from disk. That's right, I said double. All with a single command. What is this magic you ask? How can I know the voodoo you do? Read on.

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