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Education

Computer Games and Traditional CS Courses 173

Posted by Soulskill from the terrible-terrible-games dept.
drroman22 writes "Schools are working to put real-world relevance into computer science education by integrating video game development into traditional CS courses. Quoting: 'Many CS educators recognized and took advantage of younger generations' familiarity and interests for computer video games and integrate related contents into their introductory programming courses. Because these are the first courses students encounter, they build excitement and enthusiasm for our discipline. ... Much of this work reported resounding successes with drastically increased enrollments and student successes. Based on these results, it is well recognized that integrating computer gaming into CS1 and CS2 (CS1/2) courses, the first programming courses students encounter, is a promising strategy for recruiting and retaining potential students." While a focus on games may help stir interest, it seems as though game development studios are as yet unimpressed by most game-related college courses. To those who have taken such courses or considered hiring those who have: what has your experience been?
Microsoft

Submission + - Inside Microsoft's New Retail Store (pcmag.com)

Submitted by adeelarshad82
adeelarshad82 writes: The launch of Windows 7 wasn't the only big deal for Microsoft last week, Microsoft's first retail store, which opened in Scottsdale, Ariz., last week was another milestone for the company. Microsoft's idea to take to the mall likely spawned from the success that arch rival Apple has had in the retail space. The Microsoft Store looks a lot like Apple Store with a slick, minimal design featuring plenty of large tables lined with laptops for shoppers to try. But while Apple stores focus on Apple-branded hardware, the Microsoft Store showcases laptops, netbooks, and all-in-one PCs from a number of hardware manufacturers including Acer, Dell, HP, Samsung, and Sony, and others. Computers purchased in the retail store are part of the Microsoft's "Signature PC" program, in which the systems are stripped of crapware, the often-annoying trial apps that come from PC manufacturers, and are instead equipped with Microsoft's own apps including Windows Live, Silverlight, and Zune software. Also, customer service is a key part of the Microsoft-retail-buying experience. If you purchase a PC in the Store, you get a 15-minute set-up and customization session aswell.

Submission + - Unfinished Windows 7 feature exploited (pcworld.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: It wasn't all that long ago that Microsoft was talking up the Virtual WiFi feature developed by Microsoft Research and set for inclusion in Windows 7, but something got lost along the road to release day, and the functionality never officially made it into the OS. As you might expect with anything as big and complicated as an operating system though, some of that code did make it into the final release, and there was apparently enough of it for the folks at Nomadio to exploit into a full fledged feature. That's now become Connectify, a free application from the company that effectively turns any Windows 7 computer into a virtual WiFi hotspot — letting you, for instance, wirelessly tether a number of devices to your laptop at location where only an Ethernet jack is available, or even tether a number of laptops together at a coffee shop that chargers for WiFi. Intrigued? Hit up the link below to grab the beta. --engadget.com
IT

Submission + - IT Snake Oil: Six Tech Cure-Alls That Went Bunk (infoworld.com)

Submitted by
snydeq
snydeq writes: "InfoWorld's Dan Tynan surveys six 'transformational' tech-panacea sales pitches that have left egg on at least some IT department faces. Billed with legendary promises, each of the six technologies — five old, one new — has earned the dubious distinction of being the hype king of its respective era, falling far short of legendary promises. Consultant greed, analyst oversight, dirty vendor trick — 'the one thing you can count on in the land of IT is a slick vendor presentation and a whole lot of hype. Eras shift, technologies change, but the sales pitch always sounds eerily familiar. In virtually every decade there's at least one transformational technology that promises to revolutionize the enterprise, slash operational costs, reduce capital expenditures, align your IT initiatives with your core business practices, boost employee productivity, and leave your breath clean and minty fresh.' Today, cloud computing, virtualization, and tablet PCs are vying for the hype crown."

Comment Top 20 Passwords (Score 1, Informative) 183

by osomoore (#29672011) Attached to: Massive Phishing Campaign Hits Multiple Email Services
Top 20 most common passwords:
123456 - 64
123456789 - 18
alejandra - 11
111111 - 10
alberto - 9
tequiero - 9
alejandro - 9
12345678 - 9
1234567 - 8
estrella - 7
iloveyou - 7
daniel - 7
000000 - 7
roberto - 7
654321 - 6
bonita - 6
sebastian - 6
beatriz - 6
mariposa - 5
america - 5

From 2 links deep (http://www.acunetix.com/blog/websecuritynews/statistics-from-10000-leaked-hotmail-passwords/)

Comment New Vaccine prevents Card Accidents! (Score 0) 317

by osomoore (#29529813) Attached to: AIDS Vaccine Is Partially Successful
I have a new test for a vaccine that prevents car accidents! I'll inject 8,000 people with a placebo, and I'll inject my vaccine into another 8,000. There's a reasonably probability that the half with the "real" vaccine will have less car accidents, thus showing progress in my vaccine! TLDR: Vaccine trials are useless without infecting people.

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