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Submission + - A Open Source Digital Condom "hacking sex toys" (vice.com)

MicroBitz writes: We all know that condoms cause lessened sensation. A more pleasurable and easier to wear design is really needed, so not to numb the feeling and wreck the mood. How about increasing the good feeling?

Fraz Peer and Andrew Quitmeyer created a prototype of an open source, digital condom that's literally wired with electrodes along the side of the sleeve and hooked up to a microcontroller for power. The device creates electrical impulses along the shaft to mimic the pleasurable sensation that is dulled by traditional condoms. It's called, somewhat horrifically, the Electric Eel.

Submission + - CD Projekt RED Considering The Witcher 3 For Linux If SteamOS Takes Off (gamingonlinux.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Followers of the Penguin, Marcin Iwiski, one of the founders of CD Projekt RED, has spoken out about why the developer of The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077 has not yet shown any support towards Linux.

Citing an issue deemed a myth by many, especially by Ryan "Icculus" Gordon who took to busting this myth during the Steam Developer Days of 2014, Iwiski believes that if you are going to support Linux, you cannot simply pick one distribution to support. Instead, he feels that CD Projekt RED would have to take to supporting at least five.

"First of all, we have a lot of respect for Steam and we think they are very, very good business guys and good gamer friendly guys and that's really, really important. We like what they are doing and with the Steam Box, if they will be able to deliver a cool console, definitely, we are interested in having a game there.

You know, one of the reasons we have not released The Witcher on Linux is that we most probably have to address five different versions of Linux and this is always terrible to support the quality of the games afterwards. The patches, the updates, and everything. If Steam will deliver a constant Linux environment, call it SteamOS or anything like that, we would love to have our games there because, you know, the more people play our games, the better for us."

- Marcin Iwiski, CD Projekt RED

There you have it. SteamOS will somehow negate having to support five Linux distributions and defeat the beast that is distro fragmentation once and for all.

How do you feel about CD Projekt RED's reasoning? Will SteamOS bring the desired changes? I, personally, can only keep on hoping and ask you kind folks to keep on voting for GOG, sister company to CD Projekt RED and reseller of its games, to finally add Linux support.

Submission + - Google Chrome 33 Removes Option to Fallback to Old New Tab Page

An anonymous reader writes: On Friday, Chrome 33 was shipped out the everyone on the stable channel. Among other things, it removes the developer flag to disable the "Instant Extended API", which powers an updated New Tab page. The new New Tab page receieved a large amount of backlash from users, particularly due to strange behavior when Google wasn't set as the default search engine. It also moves the apps section to a separate page and puts the button to reopen recently closed tabs in the Chrome menu. With the option to disable this change removed, there has been tremendous backlash on Google Chrome's official forum. The official suggestion from Google as well as OMG! Chrome is to try some New Tab page changing extensions, such as Replace New Tab, Modern New Tab Page, or iChrome.

Submission + - Where do you host open source projects (for non-developer users)?

StealthHunter writes: I know that github is popular as is Google code, but where do you host open source projects when your primary user base just wants to read webpages and download software? As in, the average person that doesn't want to figure out how to use svn or navigate wiki pages. Google code used to have "downloads" but those have recently been abandoned and github's norm is an awkward "tarball commit" for releases. Is SourceForge really the only option?

Submission + - Canadian Court Sets Numerous Limits in Copyright Troll Case (michaelgeist.ca) 4

FuzzNugget writes: Law professor Michael Geist summarizes a recent ruling by a Canadian federal court that will allow Voltage Pictures to proceed against regional ISP TekSavvy, but established a series of conditions that prevents the plaintiffs from simply sending out threatening letters en masse:

1. Any "demand letters" sent out must be reviewed and approved by the case management judge.

2. Letters must include a copy of the court order and clearly state, in bold text, that no court ruling has established liability for payment or damages by the recipient.

3. TekSavvy may only disclose subscribers' names and addresses.

4. Voltage Pictures must pay Teksavvy's legal costs before the release of subscriber details.

5. Any further action brought against subscribers must be case managed.

6. Subscriber information must be kept confidential and not disclosed to the general public, the media or anyone not directly relevant to the case.

With these limitations, the court makes it clear that they take individuals' privacy seriously and intend to discourage such scare tactics employed by copyright trolls.

Submission + - Ugandan President Defends Antigay Bill (sciencemag.org)

sciencehabit writes: A defiant Yoweri Museveni has responded to U.S. President Barack Obama’s criticism of Uganda’s pending Anti-Homosexuality Bill by stating that he intends to sign it into law as soon as a scientific committee has completed its work. In a letter to Obama dated 18 February—but which has just become public—Museveni, Uganda’s president, defends the bill, which would introduce life sentences for so-called “aggravated homosexuality” with minors or in cases of rape, and terms of 7 to 14 years for attempted or actual homosexual activity.

Submission + - Slashdot goes kerplunk 4

An anonymous reader writes: dice abandons slashdot classic look forcing long-time users to abandon slashdot.

Submission + - Favourite Slashdot Memories 4

Kell Bengal writes: What are your favorite memories from the last 15+ years? Hot grits? The slashdot effect? GNAA? APK sockpuppets? Tell us what will you miss most when you move on!

Submission + - New Slashdot Beta Sucks 3

tekpagan writes: New design Beta sucks.
Boycott the site Feb 10-17th
If the beat is still here on 18th Feb do not return.
Do not fix that which is not broken.

Submission + - New slashdot beta setting records for suckage 1

Ellis D. Tripp writes: FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA FUCK BETA

Oh, BTW, FUCK BETA

Submission + - Slashdot Beta Woes 16

s.petry writes: What is a Slashdot and why the Beta might destroy it?

Slashdot has been around, well, a very long time. Longer than any of it's competators, but not as long as IIRC. Slashdot was a very much one of the first true social media web sites.

On Slashdot, you could create a handle or ID. Something personal, but not too personal, unless you wanted it to be. But it was not required either. We know each other by our handles, we have watched each other grow as people. We may have even taken pot shots at each other in threads. Unless of course you are anonymous, but often we can guess who that really is.

One of Slashdot's first motto's was "News for Nerds" that Matters. I have no idea when that was removed. I have not always scoured the boards here daily, life can get too busy for that. That excuses my ignorance in a way. I guess someone thought it politically incorrect, but most of us "Nerds" enjoyed it. We are proud of who we are, and what we know. Often we use that pride and knowledge to make someone else look bad. That is how we get our digs in, and we enjoy that part of us too. We don't punch people, we belittle them. It's who we are!

What made Slashdot unique were a few things. What you will note here is "who" has been responsible for the success of Slashdot. Hint, it has never been a just the company taking care of the servers and software.

— First, the user base submitted stories that "they" thought mattered. It was not a corporate feed. Sure, stories were submitted about companies. The latest break through from AMD and Intel, various stories regarding the graphic card wars, my compiler is better than your compiler, and yes your scripting language stinks! Microsoft IIS has brought us all a few laughs and lots of flame wars to boot. Still, we not only read about the products but get to my second point.

— User comments. This is the primary why we have been coming here for as long as we have, many of us for decades. We provide alternative opinions or back what was given in the article. This aspect not only makes the "News" interesting, but often leads to other news and information sharing. It's not always positive, but this is the nature of allowing commentary. It also brings out the third point.

— Moderation. Moderation has been done by the community for a very long time. It took lots of trial and error to get a working system. As with any public system it's imperfect, but it's been successful. People can choose to view poorly modded comments, but don't have to. As with posting anonymous versus with our own handle it's an option that allows us to personalize the way we see and read what's on the site. And as a reward for submitting something worth reading, you might get a mod point of your own to use as a reward for someone else.

Why we dislike Beta and what is being pushed, and why this will result in the end of an era if it becomes forced on the community.

1. Bulky graphics. We get that Dice and Slashdot need revenue. I have Karma good enough to disable advertisements, but have never kept this setting on. I realize that Slashdot/Dice make money with this. That said, the ads sit away from my news and out of the way. I can get there if I want it (but nobody has ever gotten a penny from me clicking an ad... nobody!), but it's not forced into my face or news feed.

2. Low text area. I like having enough on my screen to keep me busy without constant scrolling. Slashdot currently has the correct ratio of text to screen. This ratio has never been complained about, yet Beta reduces the usable text area by at least 1/2 and no option for changing the behavior. I hate reading Slashdot on mobile devices because I can't stand scrolling constantly.

3. JavaScript. We all know the risks of JS, and many of us disable it. We also have an option of reading in Lync or non-standard browsers that many of us toy with for both personal and professional reasons. This flexibility is gone in Beta, and we are forced to allow JS to run. If you don't know the risks of allowing JS to run, you probably don't read much on Slashdot. Those that allow JS do so accepting the risk (which is admittedly low on a well known site).

4. Ordering/Sorting/Referencing. Each entry currently gets tagged with a unique thread ID. This allows linking to the exact post in a thread, not just the top of the thread. In Beta this is gone. It could be that the site decided to simply hide the post ID or it was removed. Either way, going to specific posts is something that is used very commonly by the community.

5. Eye candy. Most of us are not here for "eye candy" and many have allergic reactions to eye candy. Slashdot has a good mix currently. It's not as simple as the site starting with a r-e-d-i-t, which is good. That site has a reputation that keeps many of us away, and their format matches my attitude of them (s-i-m-p-l-e-t-o-n). At the same time, it's not like watching some other "news" sites with so much scrolling crap I can't read an article without getting a headache. The wasted space in beta for big bulky borders, sure smells like eye candy. Nothing buzzes or scrolls yet, but we can sense what's coming in a patch later.

The thing is, the community cares about Slashdot. We come here because we care. We submit stories because of that, we vote because of that, we moderate because of that, and we comment because of that. At the same time we realize that without the community Slashdot loses most of its value. We respect that we don't host the servers, backup the databases, or patch the servers. Slashdot/Dice provide the services needed for Slashdot.

It's a give give relationship, and we each get something in return. Slashdot gets tons of Search hits and lots of web traffic. We get a place to learn, teach, and occasionally vent.

Look, if you want to change default color scheme or make pre-made palettes for us to choose from, we would probably be okay with that. If you want to take away our ability to block ads by Karma, or move the ads to the left side of my browser window, I would be okay with those things too.

If you want to make drastic changes to how the site works, this is a different story all together. The reason so many are against Beta is that it breaks some of the fundamental parts of what makes Slashdot work.

User input until recently has not been acknowledged. The acknowledgment we have received is not from the people that are making the decision to push Beta live. We told people Beta was broken, what it lacked, and we were rather surprised to get a warning that Beta would be live despite what we told people. People are already making plans to leave, which means that Slashdot could fade away very soon.

Whether this was the goal for Dice or not remains to be seen. If it is, it's been nice knowing you but I won't be back. A partnership only works when there is mutual respect between the parties. A word of caution, us Nerds have good memories and lots of knowledge. The loss of Slashdot impacts all of Dice holdings, not just Slashdot. I boycott everything a company holds, not just the product group that did me wrong.

If that was not the goal of Dice, you should quickly begin communicating with the user base. What are the plans are to fix what Beta has broken? Why is Beta being pushed live with things broken? A "Sorry we have not been communicating!", and perhaps even a "Thank you" to the user base for helping make Slashdot a success for so many years.

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: What's there to like about the BETA? (slashdot.org) 7

Narnie writes: I come to /. not for the nearly interesting pseudo-tech articles, but for the lively, self-moderated discussion. Today I'm bit surprised to see every discussion summarized to fuckbeta. Popping up all over the place there's discussions about beta and even alternatives being revived and created. As I tend not to RTFA, I haven't sampled the beta myself. So, I ask you guys, what's there to like about the BETA and what's there to loath?

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