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Comment DONT HELP HIM (Score 1) 600

by NateSac (#34300164) Attached to: Best IT-infrastructure For a Small Company?
Very interesting subject to me, because I've done this. I built the IT infrastructure for the company I now own and operate, but at the time, I was building it for some one else. It now just became mine through some sick twist of fate. Anyways, that said, ANY ONE WHO HELPS THIS DOUCHE BAG IS ALSO A DOUCHE BAG. OP; you should have never taken this job. You don't have the experience and know how to do this right. You should now go and an hero.
Google

Submission + - Hulu, NBC, and other sites block Google TV (vortex.com)

Submitted by padarjohn
padarjohn writes: Imagine the protests that would ensue if Internet services arbitrarily blocked video only to Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers! Or if Hulu and the other networks decided they'd refuse to stream video to HP and Dell computers because those manufacturers hadn't made deals with the services to the latter's liking.

Submission + - Bees reveal nature-nuture secrets

Submitted by NoFear
NoFear writes: The nature-nurture debate is a "giant step" closer to being resolved after scientists studying bees documented how environmental inputs can modify our genetic hardware. The researchers uncovered extensive molecular differences in the brains of worker bees and queen bees which develop along very different paths when put on different diets The research was led by Professor Ryszard Maleszka of The Australian National University's College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, working with colleagues from the German Cancer Institute in Heidelberg, Germany and will be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.
Hardware

Submission + - Help me build my beginner's electronics inventory

Submitted by ElectricMayhem
ElectricMayhem writes: I am a beginner in the electronics world. I have a breadboard. I have a multimeter. I have a few resistors and a LED that I picked up from Radio Shack. But now I'm ready to expand. I've seen lots of beginning hobby kits that have a lot of components in it along with some general directions on how to do different projects. But these usually also usually include a large project board and unnecessary large pieces of hardware specific to the kit's projects.

If I were to make one large order from a place like mousers.com, what would you recommend I have on hand for upcoming learning projects? I just learned about capacitors and have realized that I have no idea on what components I will need in the future. What are the components that you can't do without in your projects? Help me build my beginning inventory.

Submission + - iFixit tears down Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 (networkworld.com)

Submitted by alphadogg
alphadogg writes: Microsoft’s new hands-free Kinect game controller is packed with four microphones, three autofocus cameras and a motion detector chip that together make for one heck of a complex toy, according to iFixit’s initial teardown of the device.http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft-Kinect-Teardown/4066/1

"We haven't been this excited to get our hands on new hardware since the iPad," says Kyle Wiens, CEO of the company. "The way that we interact with computers is (finally) evolving, and Kinect is unlike any hardware we've ever taken apart. In fact, the only thing we've ever taken apart that has anywhere close to this many sensors is Pleo, the dinosaur robot."

iFixit describes Kinect as "a horizontal bar of sensors connected to a small, motorized pivoting base." The $150 device that Microsoft put hundreds of millions of dollars of research into can be purchased separately from the Xbox 360 or as part of a bundle.

A Prime Sense PS1080-A2 is at the heart of Kinect’s motion detection capabilities, as it connects to all of Kinect’s sensors and processes images of your game room’s color and scope before shooting them over to the Xbox.

iFixit couldn’t immediately identify all of the chips within the box, so plans to update its teardown.
Cellphones

Submission + - Microsoft Touts UI Efficiency With WP7 (computerworld.com)

Submitted by CWmike
CWmike writes: Microsoft claims its Windows Phone 7 smartphones help users get more done in fewer steps than do rival phones. Microsoft based its claim of greater efficiency — that WP7 requires up to 20% fewer steps to perform common tasks — on its own internal research comparing tasks among smartphone users, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. The claim was offered to Computerworld as a partial explanation of how WP7 phones fulfill Microsoft's 'Really' TV ad claim that the phones are 'designed to get you in and out and back to life.' On analyst questioned the ads, saying that the message is inconsistent with what most people really want from their smartphones.'Most users who buy smartphones spend more time searching apps and other things," Jack Gold said. 'Most phone manufacturers want to suck you in and keep you on the phone a lot. At least the carriers do.'
AMD

Submission + - State of graphics drivers on Linux? (slashdot.org)

Submitted by frambris
frambris writes: It seems that wherever I look, people recommends getting a computer with an nVidia GPU because their drivers, although binary blob, do work pretty well. Now I am looking for a new laptop and the one the has caught my eye is the HP Envy 17" (good CPU, two hard drive bays, slot-in Blu-Ray drive and backlit keyboard). I like everything about it except that it has not got a nVidia GPU, it has instead an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850. I have struggled with ATI proprietary drivers before and got it working sometimes.

How are the ATI drivers today? Both the proprietary and opensource one(s?)?

I use Fedora 64-bit.
Idle

Submission + - Computer Model Explains Moses' Red Sea Parting

Submitted by
Ponca City, We love you
Ponca City, We love you writes: "Scientists and others have tried for decades to recreate the mystery of the Israelites' escape from the advancing cavalry of the Pharaohs. Now the Guardian reports that researchers at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) claim to have used computer modelling to reconstruct the various wind and wave combinations that could have produced the dry land bridge described in Exodus and found that a strong east wind, blowing overnight, could have driven back the waters on a coastal lagoon in northern Egypt long enough for the Israelites to walk across the exposed mud flats before the waters rushed back in, engulfing the Pharaoh's cavalry. "The simulations match fairly closely with the account in Exodus," says Carl Drews, the study's lead author. "The parting of the waters can be understood through fluid dynamics. The wind moves the water in a way that's in accordance with physical laws, creating a safe passage with water on two sides and then abruptly allowing the water to rush back in." A steady 63 mph wind from the east over a digitally reconstructed lake along the Mediterranean near today's Port Said could have swept the waters back to the western shores exposing wide mud flats and creating a land bridge that would remain high and dry for four hours. "If you are going to match the biblical account, you need the wind from the east," adds Drews."

Submission + - DIY SMS controlled power outlets (a-z0-9.tk)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Although proprietary solutions do exist, it's possible (and easy!) to control power outlets/lamps/etc. via SMS – with no special hardware and no subscription fees (I'm not affiliated with any proprietary solution — no Slashvertisement here). All you need is an SMS-capable cell phone, a Google Voice account, ssh access to a box with an email account, an old computer, some relays/TRIACs, and a little time to kill. Aside from the cell phone, and possibly your email server, there are no monthly costs. In addition to switching off lights and appliances, you can run arbitrary commands on your computer this way, sending the output as a reply SMS (yes, there may be a few security implications with that...).

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: Is representation obsolete?

Submitted by decent_dissent
decent_dissent writes: Could the Legislative branch of government, be replaced by collaborative software? Is representation obsolete? As it was explained to me, many years ago in grade school, the founding fathers chose representatives to participate in the day to day legislative functions. This was to not burden the citizens with traveling via horse or carriages, the long distances required to collaborate. It occurred to me that this is no longer true. All of the proposed bills could be handled like wiki's and content. The voting interface could be like an email inbox, with alerts and links to new bills. Participation could be all you can eat, as much or as little. Best of all, make it all OSS. While definitely not a perfect idea, I think that with the right code it might operate better than the current method. Being a daily reader of slashdot, I am curious as to what the readers here think. Please discuss.
Operating Systems

Journal Journal: Gentoo Linux

Journal by NateSac

Ok, so you're an open source convert, you've tried Knoppix, you've installed red hat, maybe you've even tried some other flavors? Well, you're on your way to true geek-ness, but you are no geek, until you've mastered the art of installing Gentoo Linux.

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