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Music

Submission + - RIAA Insanity-Suing People For Ripping CD's They P (fastsilicon.com) 2

mrneutron2003 writes: "With this past weeks announcement by Warner to release its entire catalog to Amazon in MP3 format with no Digital Rights Management, you would think that the organization that represents them, The Recording Industry Association of America , would begin changing its tune. However in an inane display of hubris and futility, the RIAA presses on in it's tirade against the very consumers its partners rely on buy (we're not making this up) suing individuals who merely rip CD's they've purchased legally.

The Washington Post reports on the case being fought by a Scottsdale Arizona man, Jeffrey Howell, who is being taken to task for ripping his own store bought CD's to his PC as a violation of copyright.

Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.
If the RIAA is successful here, it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority of American music consumers will soon be classified as criminals under the law for attempting to use media they've legally purchased in a manner they desire.
http://www.fastsilicon.com/off-the-wall/riaa-insanity-suing-people-for-ripping-cds-they-purchased.html"

Nintendo

Submission + - More Wiimote Hacks - Head Tracking Hack (fastsilicon.com)

mrneutron2003 writes: "This guy just doesn't know when to stop. Johnny Chung Lee graces us with yet another one of his inventive Wiimote projects. This time it involves using the Wiimote and a pair of inexpensive LED safety goggles (with the standard LED's replaced with InfraRed ones) to allow positional head tracking , achieving an effect similar to what is experienced with three dimensional displays and CAVE systems. The video dramatically illustrates the effect. Game developers take note. This simple little variation on infrared tracking could allow for some seriously immersive gameplay in the future.

http://www.fastsilicon.com/off-the-wall/more-wiimote-hacks-head-tracking-hack.html"

Television

Submission + - Linux MCE: All Your Components Are Belong to Us (fastsilicon.com)

mrneutron2003 writes: "
While looking at new Linux technologies, we ran across an amazing OS called Linux MCE. This OS literally resembles the Borg from the popular Star Trek series. The operating system assimilates every component in a house from audio video gear, receivers, TVs, phones, cell phones, web cams, all infrared devices, lighting, alarms systems, and many others into a mesh like network of interoperability. Is this the end all be all of Home media centers? It integrates every component in a house into one cohesive system that follows users anywhere. One would think that this monolithic orgy of electronic devices would take hours and hours to setup and thousands of dollars in equipment. However, it takes a little under four hours to have a fully automated, cataloged home media mesh network that puts cost effective home mobility and productivity to a whole new standard. Bill Gates' operational house for a minuscule of the price, read on for more information.

http://www.fastsilicon.com/off-the-wall/linux-mce-all-your-components-are-belong-to-us.html"

The Internet

Submission + - Voting For A Tech Savvy Prez? (fastsilicon.com) 1

mrneutron2003 writes: "Here in the states Presidential primaries are just around the corner, and TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington has decided to get involved in the process with a tech-savvy twist. TechCrunch has set up a new sub-domain, primaries.techcrunch.com , for the sole purpose of polling it's huge userbase for the candidate they believe understands and represents them on many key technology based issues.

At the site you can vote for your candidate as you see him or her, based on their stands on such important issues as Net Neutrality, Immigration and H1B Visas ,Taxes & Internet Taxes, Technology Education, The Digital Divide, Identity Theft The Upcoming Mobile Spectrum Auction, China, Intellectual Property Rights and Renewable Energy. Head over and let your voice be heard .
http://www.fastsilicon.com/latest-news/voting-for-a-tech-savvy-prez.html"

Editorial

Submission + - Thinksecret Gets The Axe From Apple (fastsilicon.com)

mrneutron2003 writes: "Nick Ciarelli, publisher of ThinkSecret , the number one website that Apple seems to despise has agreed to close it's doors in a settlement agreement with Apple over the lawsuit filed against them. Nick gets to keep his sources a secret, and Apple gets to shut up ThinkSecret's blabbing. Being a lone college student with a small staff it's no wonder Nick caved in to the mounting legal pressure.

December 20, 2007 -PRESS RELEASE Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret's publisher, said "I'm pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits."

Though there are still a few websites left that cater to the Apple community in a way that the "Jobs Mob" doesn't particularly like, the loss of ThinkSecret will definitely be one felt by many in the Apple community as a bad thing. Another dissenting voice in the blogosphere dies, and the news becomes more bland, and more in lockstep with what a manufacturer wants you to hear.
http://www.fastsilicon.com/press-releases/thinksecret-gets-the-axe-from-apple.html"

Displays

Submission + - New Yankee Stadium Video and Scoring System (fastsilicon.com)

mrneutron2003 writes: "Daktronics is in-charge of putting together a 19+ million dollar integrated video and scoring system inside the new Yankee Stadium. The project's time table is set for spring 08 through the end of the year. They will be visible beginning the 09 baseball season.

Daktronics will also hold the world's largest led screen record when they complete the Kansas City Royal's 100 feet high by 85 feet wide screen behind center field. Keep in mind that these screens have a 16mm led spacing and have to be assembled from many small led "cubes". Would love to play crysis on one of these screens since they can play HD signals.

Check out the dimensions on these huge displays in Yankee Stadium. The main two displays will have (64 feet diag)438.9 m2 of LEDs each! Outdoor screens have come a long way.
http://www.fastsilicon.com/off-the-wall/new-yankee-stadium-video-and-scoring-system.html"

Intel

Submission + - Intel Delays 45nm Quads (fastsilicon.com)

mrneutron2003 writes: " Due to the apparent lack of threat from arch rival AMD , Intel recently adjusted its launch strategy with the forthcoming 45nm quad-core CPUs (Core 2 Quad Q9300, Q9450 and Q9550), and will postpone their originally scheduled January launch. Digitimes reports...
"Launching the CPUs now will not benefit Intel much in its battle with AMD, while they could cause damage to Intel's 65nm quad-core CPUs, therefore the company has decided it is in no rush to release new products until AMD is able to present more of a threat. Intel commented that its launch of 45nm quad-core CPUs for desktops is on track for first quarter 2008, but declined to disclose a specific time-frame."
With AMD's current financial and and process woes, Intel is probably doing them a big favor.
http://www.fastsilicon.com/latest-news/intel-delays-45nm-quads.html"

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