Bart Coppens - Slashdot User

Comment Re:Hmm (Score 2, Interesting) 89

by Bart Coppens on Sunday June 14, 2009 @07:54AM (#28325795) Attached to: 47th Mersenne Prime Confirmed

Actually, you can apparently use larger Mersenne Primes to improve results in totally different but very useful fields, like privacy-related schemes. For example, this paper http://eccc.hpi-web.de/eccc-reports/2006/TR06-127/index.html uses large Mersenne primes to get interesting results on Locally Decodable Codes and Private Information Retrieval Schemes...

Submission + - Intel updates compilers for multicore CPUs (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by Threaded on Tuesday June 05, 2007 @02:29PM

Threaded writes: With multicore CPUs becoming the norm, Intel has announced major updates to its C++ and Fortran tools. The new compilers are Intel's first that are capable of doing thread-level optimization and auto-vectorization simultaneiously in a single pass. 'On the data parallelism side, the Intel C++ Compiler and Fortran Professional Editions both sport improved auto-vectorization features that can target Intel's new SSE4 extensions. For thread-level parallelism, the compilers support the use of Intel's Thread Building Blocks for automatic thread-level optimization that takes place simultaneously with auto-vectorization... Intel is encouraging the widespread use of its Intel Threading Tools as an interface to its multicore processors. As the company raises the core count with each generation of new products, it will get harder and harder for programmers to manage the complexity associated with all of that available parallelism. So the Thread Building Blocks are Intel's attempt to insert a stable layer of abstraction between the programmer and the processor so that code scales less painfully with the number of cores.'

Submission + - Overzealous lawyers and DMCA notices on YouTube

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 05, 2007 @02:21PM

An anonymous reader writes: ThoughtFix of TabletBlog.com got smacked with a DMCA notice from YouTube this morning stating that Nokia Corporation claimed copyright to his Nokia N800 Dissection video. He composed the video himself — it just showed off a Nokia product. It does not show any proprietary IP that any competitor can't get simply by grabbing an N800 off the shelves. Even the photos of the dissection are still up.

Imagine the slippery slope here. If they can take down videos because their product appears in the content, every clothing manufacturer will be totally rich by suing people for royalties for wearing their designs. Every musical instrument maker will be amazingly wealthy for suing bands for videos of performances with their gear.

Submission + - Final Draft of GPL3 Grants Novell a Free Pass

Submitted by

Kadin2048

on Tuesday June 05, 2007 @02:18PM

Kadin2048 writes: "According to an article at Ars, posted yesterday, the proposed final draft of the GPL3 will contain an exemption for Novell's pact with Microsoft. The "Novell clause" would allow Novell to continue using GPL3 code, by exempting 'selective-license' agreements entered into before March 28, 2007. Eben Moglen, Chairman of the Software Freedom Law Center, justified the change, saying "[the license] can do more to protect the community by allowing Novell to use software under GPL version 3 than by forbidding it to do so." The apparent crux of the FSF's position is that by allowing Novell to distribute GPL3 software, the patent agreements between Microsoft and Novell and their direct customers (those who bought 'vouchers'), would percolate down to all Linux users. However, this tactic could backfire, since "the [GPL3 downstream patent-conveyance] provision is only applicable when a patent is licensed to some parties. The actual text of the agreement between Microsoft and Novell — which was largely disclosed in Novell's recent SEC filing — reveals that the patent aspect of the deal consists exclusively of a covenant not to sue and does not actually involve any patent licensing at all." So it would seem that the FSF is gambling: giving Novell/Microsoft to distribute GPL3 software with the special exemption, and hoping that they can use this to their advantage later."

Submission + - Microsoft Gives Xandros Linux Users Patent Protect

Submitted by sebisor on Tuesday June 05, 2007 @02:10PM

sebisor writes: Redmond has signed a set of broad collaboration agreements with Linux provider Xandros that include an intellectual property assurance. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2140955,00.as p

Submission + - DOJ calls copyright infringer's terrorists

Submitted by shaggester on Tuesday June 05, 2007 @01:11PM

shaggester writes: A recent article from Businessweek.com confirms the RIAA & MPAA (as many already know) have overwhelming policy making clout in Washington, D.C, and the DOJ recently confirmed it. So you thought terrorists were a threat, the DOJ insist you think again. Because if you even attempt to download that mp3, image, or video you might as well be rubbing shoulders with the likes of those who have been accused of, "bribing officials, taking hostages, and unlawful use of explosives," according to business week. To add insult to injury after your arraignment for "suspected copyright infringement" officials can confiscate any hardware or other device which was used in any manner to commit the infringement.

Submission + - UK adopts Orwellian technology (again)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 21, 2007 @11:31AM

An anonymous reader writes: FTA: The UK's first police remote control helicopter has taken off. Merseyside police are using the "spy drone", fitted with CCTV cameras, mainly for tackling anti-social behaviour and public disorder. The machine is 1m wide, weighs less than a bag of sugar, and can record images from a height of 500m. Originally used by the military, it is due to be operational by June for a full three-month trial, which is the "first of its kind" in the UK. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6676 809.stm

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