417397
submission
An anonymous reader writes:
Desktop Linux has a recent commentary on the inevitable growth of Linux on the cheaper end of the desktop market. According to the article, the availability of under-$500 usable hardware, combined with free a operating system, free desktop office products, and free or cheap "Software as a service" online applications, opens a new market in which Microsoft cannot compete. "Microsoft will fight this trend tooth and nail. It will cut prices to the point where it'll be bleeding ink on some of its product lines. And Windows XP is going to stick around much longer than Microsoft ever wanted it to. Still, it won't be enough. By attacking from the bottom, where Microsoft can no longer successfully compete, Linux will finally cut itself a large slice of the desktop market pie."
405387
submission
An anonymous reader writes:
"The end of Free Speech in America has arrived at our doorstep. It's a new law called the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, and it is worded in a clever way that could allow the U.S. government to arrest and incarcerate any individual who speaks out against the Bush Administration, the war on Iraq, the Department of Homeland Security or any government agency (including the FDA). The law has already passed the House on a traitorous vote of 405 to 6, and it is now being considered in the Senate where a vote is imminent."
Source: http://www.newstarget.com/022308.html
398735
submission
bobintetley writes:
Many Linux/Firefox users are reporting problems uploading images to eBay. Having tested this myself, it is indeed completely broken. Why eBay would break standard HTTP uploads by using IE specific javascript to "check the file exists" boggles the mind. This problem has been reported to eBay since late October, but so far with no resolution. eBay have since stated that only IE is supported. I guess when you have no real competition you can pull stunts like this.
398543
submission
John writes:
A few weeks ago, my friends were discussing "The Princess Bride", and most of the references went completely over my head — I've not seen it all the way through, nor read the book. Naturally, revealing this fact made these people look at me as if I'd just moved into town from under some rock. This led into a discussion of the things that most general geeks should be expected to know; for example, reciting the inscription on the One Ring, or (apparently) quoting "Princess Bride" on-demand. The suggestions we came up with ranged from personal things, like having one's movie/game library in an online database, to big, world-scoped things like contributing to an open-source project of your choosing. I'm curious to know what the general consensus is on the most obvious or biggest geek/nerd things that should be seen, done, or read/watched/heard.
387161
story
mako writes
"The Free Software Foundation has released the Affero General Public license version 3. The license is essentially the GPLv3 with an added clause that requires that source code be distributed to users that interact with the application over a network. The license effectively extends copyright to Web applications. The new AGPL will have important effects for companies that, under the GPL, have no obligation to distribute changes to users on the Web. This release adds the license to the stable of official FSF licenses and is compatible with the GPLv3."
385487
submission
RidcullyTheBrown writes:
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Australian free-to-air broadcasters are about to start transmitting full EPGs. However, in return they want PVR makers to limit the ad-skipping features so they don't lose precious revenue. Manufacturers have said they can hardly modify products made for a global market just for Australia. A touch of arrogance in the broadcast networks who think they can dictate technology decisions of multinationals?
362773
submission
An anonymous reader writes:
At http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/05/2081787.htm we read:
An independent audit by former New South Wales ombudsman Irene Moss has found a general "subtle shift" towards secrecy in Australia.
The audit reviewed legislation and practices related to free speech issues affecting the media in Australia.
Moss says Australians should not be complacent about declining media freedom.
"I observe a subtle shift, which shows we need to be vigilant," she said. "Although we enjoy tremendous democratic freedom by international standards, we shouldn't take it for granted."
The report was presented by the media coalition group called Right to Know, which includes the ABC. The group says it will use the report to pressure all levels of government to lift their game.
Related Link: State of free speech in Australia: http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/documents/files/20071105_righttoknow.pdf
Tags: industry, media, government-and-politics, australia
356635
submission
Arguendo writes:
Apparently Apple needs to stop sending its fan mail to the legal department: "Like any nine-year-old, Shea O'Gorman spends a lot of time listening to her iPod Nano. So much so, that when her third grade class started learning about writing letters she thought, who better to write to than the man whose company makes her iPod." So she wrote Apple a letter, and Apple responded by telling her to stop sending ideas and, if you want to know why, take a look at our legal policy on our web site. Nice.
