g8orade - Slashdot User

Submission + - I misspelled Combating in a pending submission

Submitted by

g8orade

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @09:56AM

g8orade writes: "Not sure how to contact someone about this question — Since you cannot edit a pending submission (lesson learned!) can someone change Combatting to Combating, if my prior submission is accepted? Else rejected, no issue. g8orade"

Submission + - Data partition as Linux PC value add?

Submitted by

g8orade

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @08:48AM

g8orade writes: "As the

Open Document Format forces compete with Microsoft OOXML,

Applications via the internet become possible (terminal applications),

PC makers start offering Linux pre-loaded but the "distro wars" continue, and

some writers think package management is a true Linux differentiator,

wouldn't it be a good idea for the Linux PCs to come set up with a data partition separated from the OS / Applications partition? Alternately even a separate (portable) data drive / data port for your files?

It wouldn't hurt for consumers to get used to the idea of their files being separate from the programs that use them. This would also allow them to put any OS and applications on that partition over any timeframe, but leave their files alone.

Why don't PC makers do this by default, does MS not want it? Because, wouldn't this advance the cause of open document formats?"

Submission + - Linux Fund

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @07:20AM

An anonymous reader writes: The all-new Linux Fund Visa Card was launched on 7/24. The Linux Fund was established in 1999 to provide grants to free and open source software projects from funds raised via a credit card. This credit card was offered through MBNA America Bank, which was purchased in 2006 by Bank of America. Earlier this year Bank of America announced the Linux Fund MasterCard would be discontinued. The new Linux Fund Visa Card is offered through U.S. Bank

Submission + - Gene for left-handedness is found

Submitted by

Klaidas

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @07:12AM

Klaidas writes: "The BBC report that scientists have discovered the first gene which appears to increase the odds of being left-handed.. The Oxford University-led team believe carrying the gene may also slightly raise the risk of developing psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia. The gene, LRRTM1, appears to play a key role in controlling which parts of the brain take control of specific functions, such as speech and emotion. Lead researcher Dr Clyde Francks, from Oxford University's Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, said the next step would be to probe the impact on the development of the brain further. He said: "We hope this study's findings will help us understand the development of asymmetry in the brain.
Australian research published last year found left-handed people can think quicker when carrying out tasks such as playing computer games or playing sport, and French researchers concluded that being left-handed could be an advantage in hand-to-hand combat. However, being left-handed has also been linked to a greater risk of some diseases, and to having an accident."

Submission + - Top 5 Linux Myths Dispeled (osweekly.com)

Submitted by

slashy

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @06:50AM

slashy writes: "OSWeekly.com publishes a list of Top 5 most common myths and dispels them once and for all. Matt Hartley comments, "Ah, this is one of my favorites. It seems that Linux users have long since been seen as cheap, despite the fact that so many of them in the States earn up to six figures. First, define cheap? Are we cheap because we choose not to buy brand new everything with every release of our selected OS? It certainly shines some light on why hardware manufactures have been less than excited to provide better driver support, doesn't it?"

Submission + - Model Driven Development: Are MDD models assets or (ibm.com)

Submitted by

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @06:49AM

An anonymous reader writes: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library /jul07/lennhamn/index.html

Submission + - New Mouse Replaces Scroll Wheel With Scroll Zone (cooltechzone.com)

Submitted by tackyDUCK on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @06:43AM

tackyDUCK writes: Gundeep Hora of CoolTechZone.com has reviewed the world's first slim mouse that replaces the standard scroll wheel with a scroll zone, much like the notebook's trackpad. Is it effective? He writes, "In addition, Rocketfish has kept things simple with two buttons and a scroll zone, which is an interesting addition, to say the least. Despite the unique addition of the scroll zone, it failed to impress us. The performance was a bit lackluster, since we had to apply more pressure to scroll through webpages and documents. And also, since it's not a physical button, you will definitely miss the middle click functionality of the device. It's a great effort on Rocketfish's part, but expecting users to change otherwise normal behavior is asking for a little too much.

Submission + - What's Wrong With A Windows Subscription Model (osweekly.com)

Submitted by

synony

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @06:36AM

synony writes: "What if Microsoft switched its business model from licensing to a subscription model with Windows? Would it be a feasible model? Brandon Watts doesn't think so. He concludes, "Finally, a lot of people are using Windows right now simply because they have it on their computer. If their usage of Windows expired at the end of some sort of a subscription, then you can count on the fact that they'd be more inclined to examine other operating system options rather than signing on to another usage period of a desktop experience that they may not even be pleased with. Also, if Windows technically expires, then what happens to all of the data? Will the computer just become a useless box unless Linux or an older version of Windows is installed on it, or will the installed version just continue to run as is? As you can see, a lot of questions still have to be answered, and we won't fully know what to expect until that final version of Windows 7 is released."

Submission + - Sigma doesn't just make lenses! 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @03:59AM

An anonymous reader writes: If you've ever owned an SLR, digital or film, you've probably bought a Sigma lens at some point. Sigma makes lenses for pretty much all makes of SLR bodies from Canon to Nikon, but now Sigma has decided to make a DSLR body of its own. The SD14 is a 10mp DSLR with enviable image quality, but would you be willing to buy a Sigma over a Nikon? http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/revi ew/2007/07/31/Sigma-SD14-Digital-SLR/p1

Submission + - solar powered turtle tracking (inhabitat.com)

Submitted by The Great Pulgoso on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @03:56AM

The Great Pulgoso writes: A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts have begun testing the Turtlenet a decentralized network created with the specific purpose of tracking the population of snapper turtles. By attaching a wi-fi enabled solar powered GPS system to a turtle, they can track his movements throughout the area where the sensor is. Should the turtle leave the area, it will transmit the information to other turtles nearby so that the turtle nearest to the receiver downloads everything to the server.

Submission + - Half of European calls to be mobile by 2008 (theregister.co.uk)

Submitted by

Tech.Luver

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @03:10AM

Tech.Luver writes: "theRegister reports, " Mobile calls are replacing fixed-line usage across Europe, according to a new report from Analysys, but people aren't talking more, they're just using fixed-lines less. The change has been most stark in Finland, where 2006 saw another 10 per cent of calls migrate onto mobile networks; bringing the total to 74.6 per cent at the end of the year. Even in Germany, where fixed-lines still dominate, 24.3 per cent of calls originate on a mobile handset: a rise of 6% during 2006, which increased voice use of mobiles by 23%. ""

Submission + - RIAA backtracks after embarrassing P2P defendant (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by

Tech.Luver

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @02:46AM

Tech.Luver writes: "ARSTechnica reports, " RIAA included the customary exhibits with screenshots of what it alleges are the defendant's Kazaa library. Along with the 367 sound recordings that Sgt. Nicholas Paternoster is accused of illegally sharing, the exhibit also contained over 4,200 other files?including pornographic images?that had nothing to do with the labels' case. Recognizing its latest gaffe, the RIAA filed a motion asking that the original exhibit be removed from the public record and replaced with a modified exhibit without the superfluous file names. ""

Submission + - U Delaware breaks solar power efficiency record (renewableenergyaccess.com) 1

Submitted by

mdsolar

on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @02:43AM

mdsolar writes: "Renewable Energy Access is reporting that a consortium led by researchers at the University of Delaware has achieved 42.8% efficiency with a silicon solar cell. The method uses lower concentration (factor of 20 magnification) than the previous record holder Boeing-Spectrolab made cell (40.7% efficiency) so that it may have a broader range of applications since tolerances for pointing the device will be larger. They are now partnering with DuPont to build engineering and manufacturing prototypes under DARPA's Very High Efficiency Solar Cell program which supports work towards achieving 50% efficiency. It is expected that these cells can help improve the military battery logistics pipeline, providing "soldiers with more power at reduced weight." They expect to be in production in 2010. On a roof, such cells would require less than half the surface area to produce the same amount of power as today's standard solar panels. This might leave room for panels to power plugin hybrids for cases where roof area is too limited to do this with standard panels."

Submission + - Combatting the March to Manna

Submitted by

g8orade

on Monday July 30, 2007 @03:38PM

g8orade writes: "As a business systems analyst, I read with interest this week's submission for recommended ticket tools to help manage work. After implementing ticket tools you know better what you do repetitively, and you then want structured data for additional guidance and automation. This is sometimes called BPM for your ERP. Business's goal is to make a profit and a big part of that effort is controlling or eliminating costs, which is why you have tickets, ERP, and BPM. Payroll for humans is a big cost.

Governments' goal, if you're in the USA and you believe the Declaration of Independence, is to create the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, according to George Orwell, no one has yet imagined a compelling view of permanent happiness (Utopia, Heaven), though we can all picture versions of the opposite, from experience. The short story Manna presents a progression from BPM / ERP to two possible outcomes, each involving the end of free will, one perhaps more desirable than the other.

Assuming humans maintain enough political stability and the earth enough climatic stability for technology's continued advance, what rules do you find most appealing, least burdensome, or most needed as strata of humanity find themselves displaced by machines?"

Submission + - Swarm Theory Makes National Geographic

Submitted by

g8orade

on Wednesday July 04, 2007 @10:07PM

g8orade writes: "This could have gone under several topics, but Swarm Behavior / Swarm Theory has made the pages of National Geographic. Brief but interesting article with several examples."

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