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Submission + - Free Software empowers minority languages (translate.org.za)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A Localisation workshop held in Morocco earlier this year brought various African localisers and linguists together. As a practical component of this gathering Translate.org.za lead an exercise to create OpenOffice.org locales for the various African languages spoken by participants at the event.

Four of these locales will now appear in OpenOffice.org 2.3, demonstrating once again how Free and Open Source software allows speakers of minority languages to change software to meet their needs, instead of hoping (or begging) for a proprietary vendor to care enough to meet their needs.
Censorship

Submission + - Military kills access to YouTube, MySpace

Submitted by
coondoggie
coondoggie writes: "The Department of Defense is on the Web warpath again, this time blocking access to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular Web sites on its networks. According to a memo sent by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander, overseas military personnel will be prevented from using these sites in a effort to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks. Detractors of the plan says the net effect will be to block access to servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are the primary users of the sites. Troops and families living on U.S. bases will still be able to view the sites. http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/1512 6"
PC Games (Games)

Submission + - Ryan Gordon on the future of Games on Linux

Submitted by
jvm
jvm writes: "In a Q&A with LinuxGames, Ryan "icculus" Gordon lays out some brutal Linux gaming truths along with a few good reasons for hope. He rates the importance of certain technologies and companies on a scale of 0 to 10 (OpenGL is a 10, WINE and Transgaming a 2) and then goes on to explain each rating in detail. From which company presents the real threat to Linux adoption to why 2008 is likely to be a big year for Linux gaming, Ryan has the answers."
Security

Submission + - Study: Bike helmets expose riders to further risk.

Submitted by doug141
doug141 writes: A British scientist has shown that wearing a bicycle helmet actually exposes cyclists to further risk. Drivers passed an average of 8.5 cm (3 1/3 inches) closer with the helmet than without. The researcher was struck by both a bus and a truck in the course of the experiment. Will bicycle helmet laws suffer a backlash? How much should legislators weigh science?
AMD

Submission + - AMD to Intel: This is what quad-core is all about

Submitted by
secretsather
secretsather writes: "http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/05/14/am d-to-intel-this-is-what-quad-core-is-all-about/

AMD unveiled its new processor family, rightfully named Phenom, which is re-defining the term 'quad-core' and leaving much explaining for the guys at Intel. If your CPU doesn't say AMD, it's not a true quad-core processor.

In recent demo of technology AMD was quoted as saying "Intel Duct Tapes while AMD innovates" as an image of two single core Intel processors were duct taped together.

Strong words by AMD, but what justifies such a blunt statement? Take a look at Intel's quad core processor and how it operates.

You can see, by the above diagram, that Intel's quad core actually consists of two dual-cores on a single chip. But does this design constitute a true dual-core processor? AMD seems to think not, and with good reason.

In this instance, If cores 1 or 2 needed to communicate with cores 3 or 4, or if each had to access the other core's L2 cache, data would be sent through the front side bus (FSB), causing a bottleneck.

With the true quad-core design offered by the upcoming AMD Phenom processors, each core will communicate with the others on a single die, rather than through an external front side bus as shown below.

AMD's Phenom design also boasts a unique shared L3 cache for quicker data access while each core can communicate directly through Direct Connect Architecture.

"AMD's quad-core processor rollout will put more computing horsepower at PC users' fingertips," observed Nathan Brookwood, research fellow at Insight 64. "Quad-core innovations come at a time when many users are finding that the combination of Microsoft Vista(TM), multi-threaded applications and DirectX 10 no longer delivers the crisp performance they experienced on last year's fastest systems running last year's software."

With resources like an integrated DDR2 memory controller, HyperTransport(TM) technology links, and 128-bit Floating Point Units (for improved speed and performance) AMD's Phenom processors are specifically designed to take advantage of a computer's resources, allowing maximum performance-per-watt while maintaining a reliable, virtualization-ready and energy efficient machine.

The Phenom processor family was demonstrated in San Francisco as AMD rolled out a machine, codename "FASN8 for "fascinate," which included two true quad-core AMD Phenom processors and the new DirectX 10 ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT.

Nero, the creator of the popular disc authoring program Nero Burning ROM, was at the right side of AMD, demonstrating Nero software that was specifically designed with true quad-core in mind.

"As we demonstrated with AMD in San Francisco, Nero is pleased to be on the leading edge, delivering applications that are optimized to take advantage of quad-core processors," said John Tafoya, GM of Global Alliance at Nero. "The increased performance of AMD's latest processors, coupled with Nero's quad-core optimized applications is helping bring about Nero's vision of a true 'Liquid Media Revolution.'"

AMD's open platform approach allow for AMD Phenom processors to be compatible with a wide range of solutions, including AMD's motherboard and chipset partners ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI and NVIDIA.

"AMD is confident the performance enhancements enabled by true quad-core client technology in computing-intensive environments will allow them to realize new possibilities and find new inspiration," said Bob Brewer, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD's desktop division.

Software developers are already getting excited as they show full support for the true quad-core. Lionhead Studios, maker of the popular games "The Movies" and "Black and White" believe that AMD's quad-core technology is "another step in delivering the power we are looking for," said Tim Rance, CTO of Lionhead.

Rance added: "We are eager to push the detail in our simulations ever deeper, make our physics more fine grained, our AI more emotional and our lighting more dynamic. All of this will enable us to deliver the mass-market experiences that our customers are looking for."

AMD is expecting its true quad-core and dual-core AMD Phenom-based desktop systems to ship in the second half of 2007."
Education

Submission + - Bullied Kid to Recieve $1m Payout.

Submitted by had3l
had3l writes: BBC News reports: "An Australian teenager has won record damages after a court found that his school "grossly failed" in its duty to protect him from a school bully: Benjamin Cox, now 18, was regularly teased and beaten from the age of five by an older pupil, leaving him with psychiatric problems, a court heard."
Media

Study Says No Future for Video iTunes 189

Posted by samzenpus from the video-wants-to-be-free dept.
eldavojohn writes "Reuters is running a story on a study that claims "Online video sites that sell shows and movies such as Apple Inc.'s iTunes will likely peak this year as more programming is made available on free outlets supported by advertising." Many channels have wised up to offering their content hosted from their own sites for free — with commercials — to cut out iTunes as the middle man. End result? Predictions that services like iTunes-Video have no future."
Portables

Submission + - A "Bill of Lights" to restrict LEDs on com

Submitted by
PetManimal
PetManimal writes: "Mike Elgan has had it with useless lights on gadgets and computers. He singles out the Palm Treo and the Dell XPS gaming laptops as being particularly bad with the use of unnecessary lights, and also cites the plethora of LEDs on desktop PCs and peripherals:

My PC and other computing equipment make my office look like a jet cockpit. I have two LCD monitors, each of which has two indicator lights that flash even when the PC is turned off. The attached sound control has a light on it. My keyboard has multiple lights. The power cord has lights, the printer has lights, and the power button is illuminated. My cable modem and Linksys router flash like crazy all the time. Together, these useless lights create a visual cacophony of blinking, multicolored lights that make me feel like I'm taking part in a NASA stress test for astronaut candidates.
Elgan calls on manufacturers to respect his "Gadget Bill of Lights" to restrict the use of nag lights and allow users to turn them off. He also says the industry should pay more attention to industrial design when creating new products."
Yahoo!

Submission + - Yahoo! ignores hacker warnings from user

Submitted by
hobowrektus
hobowrektus writes: "Dear slashdot Editors:

From the best I can tell, the NIC entry for yahoo.com has been hacked/altered by a group called "www.web-hack.com".

I emailed the below copypasta to Yahoo! on Friday, and (not that I expected more) they simply sent me a form response. I am really just a newbie, so I don't know where else to turn. I figured you guys would have a better idea of what to do. I was genuinely trying to help out Y!, but I was just ignored.

This link will take you to the whois.com page if yahoo.com is entered in search field. Please note the illicit services and the "leet-speak" slang that is present. As I said, I am a newbie, but it would seem to me that all is not well in Yahoo! land.

http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=yahoo.com&tld =com

Thanks for doing what you do,

Claude Smith

[BEGIN COPYPASTA]
WHOIS information for: yahoo.com:

[whois.crsnic.net]

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

YAHOO.COM.ZZZZZZ.MORE.INFO.AT.WWW.BEYONDWHOIS.COM
YAHOO.COM.ZZZZZ.GET.LAID.AT.WWW.SWINGINGCOMMUNITY. COM
YAHOO.COM.ZOMBIED.AND.HACKED.BY.WWW.WEB-HACK.COM
YAHOO.COM.VN
YAHOO.COM.VIRGINCHASSIS.COM
YAHOO.COM.UNIQUELYUJEWELS.COM
YAHOO.COM.TWIXTEARS.COM
YAHOO.COM.TW
YAHOO.COM.SG
YAHOO.COM.OPTIONSCORNER.COM
YAHOO.COM.MX
YAHOO.COM.MORE.INFO.AT.WWW.BEYONDWHOIS.COM
YAHOO.COM.JOSEJO.COM
YAHOO.COM.JENNINGSASSOCIATES.NET
YAHOO.COM.IS.N0T.AS.1337.AS.SEARCH.GULLI.COM
YAHOO.COM.HK
YAHOO.COM.ELPOV.COM
YAHOO.COM.DALLARIVA.COM
YAHOO.COM.BR
YAHOO.COM.BGPETERSON.COM
YAHOO.COM.AU
YAHOO.COM

To single out one record, look it up with "xxx", where xxx is one of the
of the records displayed above. If the records are the same, look them up
with "=xxx" to receive a full display for each record.

>>> Last update of whois database: Mon, 14 May 2007 13:49:05 UTC

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.

TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.

Verio Inc. — Growing Your Business, One Click At A Time
[END COPYPASTA]"
Linux Business

Submission + - EU Commission Study Finds You'll Save Money Switch

Submitted by
PS3Penguin
PS3Penguin writes: "Groklaw has a great story about the EU Commission's recent findings .. "Our findings show that, in almost all the cases, a transition toward open source reports of savings on the long term — costs of ownership of the software products." The study can be found here. Also available is the pdf file of the report. Of course .. we all knew that was the case :)"
Software

Submission + - Economic impact of FLOSS on innovation

Submitted by
Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward writes: "Economic impact of FLOSS on innovation and competitiveness of the EU ICT sector © 2006 MERIT. Prepared on November 20, 2006 1 Study on the: Economic impact of open source software on innovation and the competitiveness of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector in the EU Final report Prepared on November 20, 2006 Lead contractor: UNU-MERIT, the Netherlands Subcontractors: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain University of Limerick, Ireland Society for Public Information Spaces, France Business Innovation Centre of Alto Adige-Südtirol, Italy Prepared by: Rishab Aiyer Ghosh, MERIT Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this Study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Contract ENTR/04/112. http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/ict/policy/doc/2006 -11-20-flossimpact.pdf"

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