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Comment Re:MS needs to be thinking about the 720 (Score 1) 169

by Mattb90 (#29222705) Attached to: Microsoft Drops Xbox 360 Pricing
That list actually highlights the issue with MMOs on the Xbox 360:
- Age of Conan: "development hell", though still possible
- All Points Bulletin: not confirmed for any consoles yet (check this at gamescom last week)
- Champions Online: may actually come to 360
- CrimeCraft: not confirmed for any consoles yet
- Huxley: "development hell", looking less and less likely
- Kingdom Under Fire II: may come out, and will be on 360, but we've not seen the MMO part yet, and it's still got a vague 2010 release date
- Marvel MMOG & Marvel Universe Online (same thing: cancelled by Microsoft, parts became Champions Online
- Stargate Worlds: not confirmed for any consoles
- The Secret World: as Age of Conan (same developer, except even PC version is still rather vague).

That's not really a great list in the end. There are likely various reasons behind these issues, including development costs, but I'm sure Microsoft's tight grip on Xbox Live is part of the problem. Of course, console MMOs in general are an issue, as we have yet to see one on the PS3 either, though DC Universe is getting there, and SOE have a couple more on the way, along with Square Enix's FFXIV, of course (which itself may end up on 360, once they are able to negotiate the Live issues).
Microsoft

Windows 7 RCs Shut Down To Force Updates 414

Posted by CmdrTaco from the please-resume-download dept.
nk497 writes "The release candidate for Microsoft Windows 7 will expire June 2010, and the software giant will let users know they need to pay to upgrade by shutting down the system every two hours for three months. According to Microsoft: "The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.""

Comment Not convinced (Score 5, Insightful) 152

by Mattb90 (#27368753) Attached to: Windows 7 Touchscreen Details Emerging
I'm not convinced that the touch screens can replace a keyboard and mouse on a desktop, or even a laptop, for some time. Text is the big issue, and I can't see myself being able to achieve the same typing speed on a touch screen until there's some really good haptic feedback in place. While handwriting technology could come on leaps and bounds (and has done so), I already type faster than I can write, so this wouldn't be helpful to me. For the mouse there is definitely places where touch would work better, particularly for new users, but the precision of a mouse is better for certain applications (notably gaming) compared to stubby fingers and having them block your view of the screen. Even if Microsoft can get touch working nicely in Windows 7, it's still going to be quite some time until I'll be getting rid of my keyboard and mouse.
The Internet

Submission + - TorrentSpy Shuts Down

Submitted by brunascle
brunascle writes: After prolonged legal battles, the popular BitTorrent search engine TorrentSpy has shut down. The notice on their home page explains, "The legal climate in the USA for copyright, privacy of search requests, and links to torrent files in search results is simply too hostile... Ultimately the Court demanded actions that in our view were inconsistent with our privacy policy, traditional court rules, and International law; therefore, we now feel compelled to provide the ultimate method of privacy protection for our users — permanent shutdown."
The Courts

Submission + - TorrentSpy shuts down (thestandard.com)

Submitted by
Ian Lamont
Ian Lamont writes: "Legal costs have apparently prompted TorrentSpy's operators to shut it down. The BitTorrent search engine has been fighting the entertainment industry in court for years, and in December lost a copyright infringement case with the MPAA. A note on the TorrentSpy home page said it is shutting down "not due to any court order or agreement," but because of a team decision:

Ultimately the Court demanded actions that in our view were inconsistent with our privacy policy, traditional court rules, and International law; therefore, we now feel compelled to provide the ultimate method of privacy protection for our users — permanent shutdown.

It was a wild ride,

The TorrentSpy Team
"
Wireless Networking

Submission + - Wi-Fi - Health Risk?

Submitted by Ynot_82
Ynot_82 writes: Yesterday, the UK Panorama programme ran a section on Wi-Fi and recent health concerns.
With some schools reportedly removing their Wi-Fi networks amid the concerns, many are calling for a detailed investigation into the safety of Wi-Fi Networks.Is this overkill, or are there real concerns here? Scientists are divided on the issue, and in the mean time, IT in the education sector looks to be taking the cautionary route.
The Almighty Buck

VeriSign Increases Domain Name Pricing 94

Posted by Zonk from the because-it-can dept.
BillGatesLoveChild writes "CNET reports VeriSign has made its move, increasing domain name prices by 7%. From October 15 2007, .com domains will now cost $6.42 (up from $6) and .net domains $3.85 per annum. ICANN had previously voted to support the increase. Despite annual income of $323.4M from .com domain names alone, VeriSign claims it needs the increase to provide "a high level of security and reliability for .com." This increase comes in the face of complaints by customers, registrars and senators alike that VeriSign is abusing its ICANN monopoly. Yet the furrowed brows and promises of senators of investigations have come to nothing, even though the only people seemingly in favor of the monopoly are ICANN and VeriSign. With complaints about the pair running back to 2002, what can we the public do to get our elected representatives to take the great domain name ripoff seriously?"

Surprises in Microsoft Vista's EULA 385

Posted by Zonk from the oh-look-a-sheep dept.
androthi writes "Scott Granneman takes a look at some surprises in Microsoft Vista's EULA that limit what security professionals and others can do with the new operating system. You want to post benchmarking results? Well, Microsoft may now have a say in it. Vista's EULA no longer shows up on Microsoft's software licensing page, but does still exist — also take note of Windows DRM deciding what you can and can not listen to, and Defender deciding and removing what it considers spyware automatically (by default)."
User Journal

Journal Journal: A-Level Results (Year 2 of 2) + University

Journal by Mattb90
I'm extremely out of date with this one (though it could have been worse...), but I received my A-Level results this August, and thought I'd add them to complement last year's. My final results were as follows:
Mathematics - A
Further Mathematics - B (missed A by 16 UMS)
Physics - A
Chemistry - B
STEP Mathematics Paper I - Grade 2
STEP Mathematics Paper II - Grade 2
User Journal

Journal Journal: A-Level Results (Year 1 of 2)

Journal by Mattb90
A week late, I know, but it's good to have a record of this somewhere, nonetheless.

Of course, there might actually be someone reading this. Who knows.
Education

Journal Journal: That Time of Year Again

Journal by Mattb90
It's that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about International Reggae Music Week, Armenian Independence Day, the Sping Bank Holiday (UK), or even National Accordian Awareness Month (that's just one for you Americans) - no, I'm talking about exam time. My A-Levels have already got underway, with an exciting AS Physics practical (wonder if the school noticed their ruler was covered in copper chloride at the end...), and a relatively easy Mechanics (M1) paper, which makes up my 6-module spri
User Journal

Journal Journal: First Post with 5 points :)

Journal by Mattb90

Yay for me... finally got a post modded up above 2, and landed myself a +5, with a whole conversation following on from it...

OK, it might not seem much, but a few of my previous posts have been modded up, before someone points out something I missed, which gets my post modded down :P Never had a negative score, but the 5 will give my Karma a good boost at least.
Slashdot.org

Journal Journal: /. Subscriber

Journal by Mattb90

Having spent quite a bit of time here over the last few months, I finally decided to subscribe to /. - $5 was only £2.77 due to the dodgy US-UK exchange rate at the moment :)

Anyway, now enjoying benefits such as early stories and ad-free pages...

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