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Operating Systems

The Economist Suggests Linux For Netbooks 445

Posted by timothy from the and-they're-clever-guys dept.
Trepidity writes "In its roundup of how to choose a netbook, The Economist suggests that users 'avoid the temptation' to go for a Windows-based netbook, and in particular to treat them as mini laptops on which you'll install a range of apps. In their view, by the time you add the specs needed to run Windows and Windows apps effectively, you might as well have just bought a smallish laptop. Instead, they suggest the sweet spot is ultra-lite, Linux-based netbooks, with a focus on pre-installed software that caters to common tasks. They particularly like OpenOffice, which they rate as easier to use than MS Word and having 'no compatibility problems,' as well as various photo-management software." Besides which, does Windows offer spinning cubes for coffee-shop demos?
Image

Inventor Builds Robot Wife 469

Posted by samzenpus from the you-lonely-lonely-man dept.
Inventor Le Trung must really like the book "The Stepford Wives," because he has built the dream of every lonely man without hope, a robot wife. Le's wife, Aiko, starts the day by reading him the newspaper headlines and they go for a drives in the countryside. Le says his relationship with Aiko hasn't strayed into the bedroom, but a few tweaks could turn her into a sexual partner, even redesigning her to have a simulated orgasm. *Shudder*
United States

Submission + - GOP Preparing to Steal the 2008 Election (newyorker.com)

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: Hendrik Hertzberg of The New Yorker reports that Californians vote next year on a radical change to the allotment of their state's electoral college votes. Republican sponsors call themselves Californians for Equal Representation, but if their measure passes, it's more likely than ever that a Republican will win the Presidency without winning the popular vote.
Communications

Submission + - Verizon Cripples 'High Speed Business DSL'

Submitted by mjmccarn
mjmccarn writes: One of my clients ordered "Verizon High Speed Internet for Business and other Internet services" last week.

This week they find that none of their custom applications (Bloomberg, online bank or brokerage accounts, etc) work through the Verizon connection.

On calling Verizon, they were told that their new "Verizon High Speed Internet for Business and other Internet services" connection will only support internet access using Internet Explorer on standard ports.

Has anyone else seen or heard of Verizon crippling internet access in this way?
XBox (Games)

Submission + - Microsoft Xbox Leader Defects To Electronic Arts (nwsource.com) 1

Submitted by
Mike
Mike writes: "Peter Moore, the Microsoft executive who led the launch of the second-generation Xbox 360 game console, is leaving for a rival, namely game publisher Electronic Arts. Microsoft insisted Moore's departure was unrelated to recent trouble with the Xbox 360, and was "not a strategy to bring in new leadership after the hardware-failure disclosures.", said MS Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach. Microsoft announced July 5 that the failure rate for the console was unacceptably high and announced a $1 billion charge against its fourth-quarter profit."
Google

Submission + - Google Streetview Camera Cars Set to Invade USA (gizmodo.com)

Submitted by
berberine
berberine writes: "A camera-toting tipster saw what appeared to be a giant armada of Chevy Cobalt cars in the Google parking lot, getting ready to take pictures of the entire world (or thereabouts) with special 360 cameras. The tipster says he followed a Google camera van as it cruised back to its Mountain View, California, lair yesterday after that van finished a session of picture taking for Google's Streetview navigation site."
OS X

Submission + - Macbook mysteriously burns up power cord

Submitted by bl8n8r
bl8n8r writes: Looks like that Macbook may be a hotter commodity than originally planned. A series of ill fated software and hardware malfunctions, and attempts to resolve the issues with Apple support, leaves the user with burn marks and a melted power cord.
"I looked at the laptop and smoke was coming from the MagSafe power cord where it was inserted into the laptop. I screamed. The cord crackled and started to melt."
Education

Submission + - US universities adopting new-age computer courses

Submitted by
ppadala
ppadala writes: "Georgia tech and other US universities are re-structuring their computer science courses to be more challenging and interesting to re-ignite student's interest in computer science. From Washington post

Singing, dancing and drawing polygons may be nifty, but any self-respecting evil roboticist needs a few more tricks in the repertoire if they are going to take over the world," read the day's instructions to a dozen or so Georgia Tech robotics students. They had spent the last few months teaching their personal "Scribbler" robots to draw shapes and chirp on command. Now they were being asked to navigate a daunting obstacle course of Girl Scout cookie boxes scattered over a grid.
"
The Internet

Submission + - Great site for independent and aspiring filmmakers

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Films are not just what we see on screen. Films are what we conceive in our mind. Now show them to the world. Created in 2006 by some of the biggest names in Hollywood, iklipz.com is a very popular online venue for independent and aspiring filmmakers who want to display their work. It is a place that gives exposure to the traditional film distribution industry enabling visitors to view the films for free, provide reviews and write blogs. It is also a place for film lovers to rate and comment on the displayed films thus giving them a chance to voice to their opinions.
Microsoft

Submission + - Windows remote desktop bug

Submitted by
Mr.Misu
Mr.Misu writes: "-Create a remote desktop connection. -Activate ScreenSaver with On resume, password protect, on the remote machine. -When no activity (remote desktop left in the taskbar) for the designated time, when maximized the login screen pops. -Now we try it differently. -Login again minimize the window with the remote descktop connection. -Leave it in the taskbar so the screensaver time expires (don't maximize it, leave it in the taskbar). -Now for the interesting part: now pull out the ethernet cable (for dialup disconnect the modem; make the connection drop, one way or another) wait for a few seconds and reconnect it and surprise no login screen. Tested on win XP and win 2003 server."
Sony

Submission + - Petition to Sony for opening up PS3

Submitted by pinky99
pinky99 writes: Even with Sony allowing the installation of "other OS"es (Linux) on PS3, these cannot fully use the 3D acceleration chip (RSX) of the PS3, making the installation pretty much worthless as it leaves the second OS without the possibiliy of viewing movies or something alike. This petition aims to change Sony's mind.
The Courts

Submission + - EliteTorrents Uploader Faces 5 Years in Jail

Submitted by Mike
Mike writes: TorrentFreak reports: A man from Columbus, Georgia has pleaded guilty to two felonies connected to the distribution of copyright works via the EliteTorrents BitTorrent tracker, which was shut down by the FBI in 2005. As a major uploader he faces 5 years in jail plus a $250,000 fine.
Privacy

Submission + - Forced RFID Implantation Illegal in North Dakota

Submitted by
JeremyDuffy
JeremyDuffy writes: "From the "don't forget we're people, not products" department, North Dakota is the second state to ban forced RFID implantation. However, even if this is a step in the right direction, does it do enough? It doesn't ban voluntary implantation and last I checked a lot of things that aren't really "voluntary" are treated such under law. Here's a quote from the article of someone who agrees with me:

But Michael Shamos, a professor who specializes in security issues at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, believes the law is too vague to do much good. For instance, it only addresses situations where a chip is injected, even though RFID tags can also be swallowed. And it doesn't clearly define what a forced implant really is; someone could make chipping a requirement for a financial reward.

"Suppose I offer to pay you $10,000 if you have an RFID [chip] implanted?" he asked. "Is that 'requiring' if it's totally voluntary on your part?"
It's a poor example, but the right idea. Instead, what if you are offered a high paying job and move your family to a new state, get settled and begin the orientation process for your new job. You find out that they require RFID implants for "security" (which has been proven to weaken security" ). How much free will do you have in this instance? Can you really afford not to take the job now? You'd have to have an almost religious mentality to refuse it at this point.

Another example, perhaps not so drastic. Companies push and push and finally get most everyone to use RFID implants as identification and method of payment. Because you're smart enough to know what a bad thing this is, you refuse, but find yourself inconvenienced everywhere. You can only shop at certain stores that still have non-RFID checkout. You pay an extra "cash handling" fee for not using the new methods. You have to drive 20 miles away to the only gas station around that's equiped to take non-RFID transactions.

Is it still a choice?

Note that both Spychips.com and Privacy.org are carrying this story and that Spychips lists Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Florida as more states with anti-implantation bills in the works. The first state to pass such a bill was Wisconsin (note the same flaw as the ND bill).

Before someone leaves a comment saying "well, you complain, but don't offer solutions!", here's the wording I would add to each of these bills:

"Futher, any company who offers RFID based services must also accept non-implanted RFID for those same services (ie, a RFID enabled card or token). Any company who offers incentive plans or otherwise implements hurdles, difficulties, or hardships for customers who chose not to use implanted RFID will be in violation of this law and subject to fines, per day per offense.

Any company who provides chip implantation services must make their customers aware of this law and have them sign a disclaimer before implantation. Should such a company be found to have misrepresented the law, minimized the law, or made it appear as if implantation were artificially superior in order to influence the customer to proceed with the implantation, that company shall be liable for the full cost of removing the chips at their expense and may additionally be fined or decertified."

There. That's a good start.

(Originally posted at http://www.jeremyduffy.com/forced-rfid-implantatio n-illegal-in-north-dakota/)"

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