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Space

Submission + - Voyager 2 finds solar system's shape is 'dented' (reuters.com)

Submitted by
Selikoff
Selikoff writes: "NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft has found that our solar system is not round but is "dented" by the local interstellar magnetic field of deep space, space experts said on Monday. The data was gathered by the craft on its 30-year journey into the edge of the solar system when it crossed into a sweeping region called the termination shock, they said. It showed that the southern hemisphere of the solar system's heliosphere is being pushed in or "dented." Voyager 2 is the second spacecraft to enter this region of the solar system behind Voyager 1, which entered the northern region of the heliosheath in December 2004."
Operating Systems

Submission + - Linux vs. Mac: Should I Get a Mac? (osweekly.com) 4

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: OSWeekly.com ponders on whether or not it's better to get a Mac over Linux. The author writes, "Then again, I have to come back full circle and ask myself — do I really 'need,' or even want, OS X over a pure Linux box? Under the hood, it's basically the same thing, which is a hat tip to Apple. Incredibly secure and simple to use. Personally, the most compelling reason to use this OS would not be for iTunes. It would also be for the fantastic applications designed to make video editing a breeze. Is this something I really want to do on a notebook? If I went MacBook Pro perhaps, but it's really more of a desktop sort of a task for an iMac, I think. I don't know yet, it does seem like OS X is looking better all the time. I can hammer out scripts like I do in Linux fairly easily, and now, thanks to VMWare Fusion, I can even use my beloved Evolution PIM where Entourage is not a great replacement for me. Maybe it's time to upgrade my notebook after all?
Windows

Submission + - Success in getting a Dell Windows 'tax' refund.

Submitted by
Jeffrey Harmison
Jeffrey Harmison writes: "I bought a laptop (Inspiron 1501) from the Dell Outlet store a few days ago. I wanted it exclusively for Ubuntu (for my studies at Ohio University as a Masters Student) and had no choice but to get one with Windows (they don't offer other choices currently in this area). Tonight, I successfully obtained a $70 refund from Dell because I informed them (prior to delivery) that I was going to decline the EULA. I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend this straight forward approach to anyone considering running only Linux on any systems purchased from the Outlet store (which btw is a good deal).

8:46:04 PM System An agent will be with you shortly.
8:57:18 PM System Supreet Chahal has joined this session!
8:57:18 PM System Connected with Supreet Chahal
8:57:29 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for contacting Dell Customer Service Chat.
                                        My name is Supreet. How may I help you?
8:57:43 PM Supreet Chahal Hi, Jeffrey.
8:57:47 PM Jeffrey Harmison hello
8:58:33 PM Supreet Chahal How are you doing today?
8:59:03 PM Jeffrey Harmison my laptop should be delivered tomorrow and I would like to start a case file now on the subject of getting a refund on the windows xp home part of the my order as I will not be agreeing to the eula...and will not be using windows at all
8:59:39 PM Supreet Chahal I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. I am glad to assist you.
9:00:58 PM Jeffrey Harmison what is process for this request? should I send back the windows media once it arrives?
9:02:09 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, Please allow 1-2 mins
                                        while I check the details of the account.
9:02:13 PM Jeffrey Harmison ok
9:03:03 PM Jeffrey Harmison I was not given the option of getting a system without windows in this case....the outlet store did not offer non-os or ubuntu systems....only xp and vista were choices....neither of which I want
9:04:34 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, I have checked your account details and see that the order has been shipped out of dell and is estimated to be delivered to you on the 09/25/2007
9:05:12 PM Jeffrey Harmison that sounds right according to the emails I have received
9:05:14 PM Supreet Chahal As I understand you correctly, you are not satisfied with the Operating system of the system. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.
9:06:18 PM Jeffrey Harmison when I turn it on for the first time, I will decline the eula and leave the media unopened....what is the next step here then?
9:06:49 PM Supreet Chahal This concern needs technical assistance. I apologize, being in customer care, I do not have technical expertise. I suggest you speak with our Dell Consumer Hardware Warranty Support as they would be able to assist you better with this.
9:07:43 PM Jeffrey Harmison this is not tech support....it is a return /credit question......
                                        not technical in nature.......the eula says I am supposed
                                        to contact OEM for refund if I decline the eula
9:08:04 PM Jeffrey Harmison I so request a refund
9:08:12 PM Jeffrey Harmison don't need tech support help
9:09:29 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, operating system swap is not possible,
                                        however as a customer care gesture
                                        I can offer you a credit of $70.00.
9:09:38 PM Jeffrey Harmison I'll take it
9:10:39 PM Supreet Chahal I understand that you have accepted the offer for $70.00
                                        hence I am processing the request for you.
9:10:52 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thanks...I will wait
9:11:09 PM Supreet Chahal Please allow me 2-3 minutes as I process the request for you.
9:11:55 PM Jeffrey Harmison Ok
9:12:37 PM Supreet Chahal Jeffrey, May i have the complete name on the account?
9:12:41 PM Jeffrey Harmison Jeffrey Harmison
9:12:58 PM Supreet Chahal Also,Could you please confirm if your e-mail address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com?
9:13:05 PM Jeffrey Harmison it is
9:14:09 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for the confirmation.
9:16:39 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for your patience.
9:18:07 PM Supreet Chahal For your convenience I have processed the request for the credit
                                        of $70.00 in your account and the money
                                        will be credited in approximately 8 business days.
9:18:23 PM Supreet Chahal Your reference number is xxxxxxxxxxxx.
                                        This is for your convenience. I assure you that I will follow up
                                        on the credit status and keep you informed.
9:18:52 PM Jeffrey Harmison Will this credit be refunded to my credit card
                                        used for the purchase?
9:20:19 PM Supreet Chahal Yes Jeffrey, the credit will be posted to your Visa account.
9:20:37 PM Supreet Chahal Is there anything else I may assist you with?
9:21:29 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thank you very much for your assistance....
                                        you have been very helpful. Please inform your supervisors
                                        that I will be destroying the windows media
                                        so it will not be used elsewhere.
9:21:39 PM Jeffrey Harmison Thanks again. Jeffrey
9:21:55 PM Supreet Chahal Are you satisfied with the level of services
                                        provided during the chat session?
9:22:08 PM Jeffrey Harmison very much so....have a nice evening
9:22:10 PM Supreet Chahal Thank you for using Dell Customer Service chat
                                        to resolve your issue today."
Software

Submission + - Critics denounce Microsoft licensing program (networkworld.com)

Submitted by
bednarz
bednarz writes: "Five years after being pegged a monopolist, Microsoft is coming under scrutiny for efforts to license its proprietary technology in accordance with antitrust legal demands from U.S. and European regulators. The U.S. District Court in Washington will review on September 11 the state of the Microsoft Communications Protocol Program (MCPP), which is Microsoft's program for licensing more than 200 proprietary protocols for server, storage and security services. Microsoft is calling the licensing program a success, but six states and many open source advocates are deeming the MCPP licensing effort a failure in terms of promoting competition and interoperability. "We read the license," says Jeremy Allison, lead software developer at SAMBA, about MCPP. "It's impossible to release open source implementations of the product. You have to keep it secret. This defeats the whole idea of open source." Network World has the story. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/090607-open- source-denounce-microsoft-licensing.html?page=1"
Mozilla

Submission + - New Apple website causes Firefox to crash (apple.com)

Submitted by
Spiri
Spiri writes: "Following the announcement of it's new iPods, Apple has released a website promoting the iPod nano: . It appears now that clicking the "Buy Now" button causes Mozilla Firefox to completely freeze in Windows XP. Did Apple (accidentally?) discover a new vulnerability in Firefox?"
Databases

Submission + - Are Relational Databases Obsolete?

Submitted by jpkunst
jpkunst writes: Computerworld reports that Michael Stonebraker, who co-created the Ingres and Postgres technology as a researcher at UC Berkeley in the early 1970s, argues in The Database Column that the current major relational DBMSs (DB2, SQLserver, Oracle) "should be considered legacy technology, more than a quarter of century in age and 'long in the tooth'.". His prediction is "that column stores will take over the warehouse market over time, completely displacing row stores".
Microsoft

Microsoft's HD Photo to Become JPEG Standard? 369

Posted by Zonk from the what's-wrong-with-jpeg dept.
Mortimer.CA writes "Ars Technica is reporting that Microsoft has submitted their HD Photo to the JPEG committee: 'Microsoft's ongoing attempt to establish its own photo format as a JPEG alternative (and potential successor) took another step forward today when the JPEG standards group agreed to consider HD Photo (originally named Windows Media Photo) as a standard. If successful, the new file standard will be known as JPEG XR.' Microsoft has made a 'commitment to make its patents that are required to implement the specification available without charge.' While JPEG 2000 exists, HD Photo has several advantages (not the least of which is a lot less CPU power is needed). Is this a big of an issue as ODF/OOXML?"
Businesses

Submission + - Dell begins their largest layoff ever. 3

Submitted by cyphercell
cyphercell writes: Dell has begun their largest series of layoffs ever. This morning at about 10:00am more than two hundred employees at Dell's Roseburg Oregon Call center found out that they no longer had jobs. Sparking what appears to be the beginning of year long run of layoffs for the company. http://www.newsreview.info/article/20070802/NEWS/7 0802014

Refuting local suspicions of malice Dell spokesman David Frink states:

... the closure has nothing to do with a lawsuit filed by employees of the Roseburg center in February, claiming Dell violated federal and state wage and hour laws.
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20070213/NEWS/7 0213020

and later says

...plans to reduce employment worldwide by 10 percent at the end of May.


Their plans to reduce employment can be found here:
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business /stories/technology/06/01/1dell.html

Here are some highlights:

Dell set to shed 8,800 workers...

Dell has 82,200 permanent workers, including 18,000 in Central Texas, and 5,300 temporary workers worldwide. The layoffs are expected to affect both groups...

In its last large-scale layoffs, Dell cut more than 5,000 jobs in Austin after the high-tech bust in 2001.

...many of the layoffs could come in Central Texas, where Dell is headquartered. In a March 29 report to clients, Goldman Sachs analysts said Dell might reduce the work force at its test and assembly facilities in the U.S. and Malaysia.
PlayStation (Games)

LAIR Pushed To Next Month 50

Posted by Zonk from the bad-news-for-the-station dept.
LAIR, the much-anticipated title featuring combat from dragon-back, is a very important title for Sony and the PlayStation 3. Its the first of the AAA slated for the end of the year for the trailing platform ... and so far things don't look good for the title. Now, the company has announced that LAIR has been delayed until early in September. "Due to an extra step in QA testing to enhance the community features in the game, the release of LAIR, originally set for August 14th, has changed to September 4, 2007. Natural challenges that arose while finalizing the offline game to include key online features - such as leaderboards and medal systems - have led to the difficult choice of pushing back the release date. We appreciate everyone's excitement and patience for the game and look forward to its release on September 4."

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