motumboe - Slashdot User

Submission + - Ubuntu Feisty Fawn Released!

Submitted by

crhylove

on Thursday April 19, 2007 @05:53AM

crhylove writes: "Ubuntu Feisty Fawn is out! For those of you not in the know, Ubuntu is aiming to be a full fledged desktop OS based on Debian Gnu/Linux. It is lightweight, fast, pretty, and by default works on most of the hardware out there that people will want to run it on. Included in this release are easy driver installation for commercial (restricted) drivers, Compiz (though turned off by default), Open Office 2.2.0, The Gimp, Gaim (now Pidjin) 2.0.0 beta6, Firefox 2.0, a bunch of great games, and easy codec downloads and installs. I've been running Feisty since about Herd 4, and most of my Windows friends who see it are contemplating switching, and two of them already have (I also installed Beryl, which helps out a lot on the "bling" front)! The latest torrents and such are up at the usual places: http://www.ubuntu.com/"

Submission + - Iterating, a software directory

Submitted by Arthur B. on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @10:43AM

Arthur B. writes: Iterating.com has launched a wiki-based software directory. They actually use a semantic web approach to describe sofwares with RDF in a very consistant approach. This should allow third parties to build on a common framework. There's a mix of proprietary and open source software, as well as software provided as a service. According to VentureBeat, Larry Augustin, from sourceforge.net is an investor in the project, and a quick google search shows that they seem to be working on providing third party deb tags

Submission + - SMS alerts for campus protection

Submitted by

bkmd

on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @10:31AM

bkmd writes: "I've collected some information about the use of SMS alert systems for campus protection: http://billkosloskymd.typepad.com/wirelessdoc/2007 /04/virginia_tech_w.html Considering that upwards of 90% of university students carry cell phones, and that they may be unlikely to check school e-mail, an SMS alert system should be considered for campuses. The Wall Street Journal published an article this am, "Texting When There's Trouble: state-of-the-art systems can blast mass warnings to cellphones and PCs" that covers this topic. Granted the VTech gunman would have also been alerted by such a system, but it still might have saved some lives. Of all the solutions being offered to prevent such a situation from happening again — from increased gun control to better listening to teachers' concerns about their students' mental health — I think this solution would be the easiest to implement without much controversy."

Journal Journal: The Art of Showing Pure Incompetence

Journal by Alien54 on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @10:09AM

It's an office skill that Steven Crawley finds indispensable. "The inability to grasp selective things can be very helpful in keeping your desk clear of unwanted clutter," says the executive in HR, or what he calls "the dumping ground" of all unwanted office tasks. "I have developed a very agile selective memory across a wide range of nonvalue-added activities."

Submission + - ISP ejects whistle-blowing student

Submitted by zero1101 on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @09:17AM

zero1101 writes: A 21-year-old college student in London had his internet service terminated and was threatened with legal action after publishing details of a critical vulnerability that can compromise the security of the ISP's subscribers.

Journal Journal: Thunderbird 2.0.0.0 is out

Journal by motumboe on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @08:27AM

Thunderbird 2 is out. Linux, Mac and Windows versions are availaible at Mozilla's FTP site.

Submission + - Only 244 genuine Windows Vista's sold in China

Submitted by

morpheus83

on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @08:16AM

morpheus83 writes: "Whilst Microsoft was bragging about the sales number of their latest OS Windows Vista, few would actually know that they have only managed to sell 244 copies in the whole of China in the first 2 weeks. You heard that right, and that's the number quoted from the headquarters of the Windows Vista chief (90% national volume) distributor in Beijing."

Submission + - Only 244 genuine Windows Vista's sold in China

Submitted by

morpheus83

on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @06:57AM

morpheus83 writes: "Whilst Microsoft was bragging about the sales number of their latest OS Windows Vista, few would actually know that they have only managed to sell 244 copies in the whole of China in the first 2 weeks. You heard that right, and that's the number quoted from the headquarters of the Windows Vista chief (90% national volume) distributor in Beijing."

Submission + - Pirated CD's Raided in Malaysia Found by Dogs

Submitted by

The 0x539 One

on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @06:09AM

The 0x539 One writes: "As was previously covered by Slashdot, there in fact CD sniffing dogs out there. There's absolutely no argument that there's piracy in the world of CD's and DVD's, but I am forced to wonder, how do the dogs know the difference between a legit CD vs. a pirated CD? Does their special training allow them to smell software licenses?

CD Sniffing Dogs"

Submission + - 'Smart dust' to explore planets

Submitted by on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @04:46AM

An anonymous reader writes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6566317. stm

Submission + - Where is my flying car?

Submitted by Belial6 on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @02:04AM

Belial6 writes: It appears that the question of 'Where's my flying car?' may have an answer. Today Moller announced that they are ready to start selling flying cars. According to the article 'The M200 volantor is a small two passenger saucer shaped aircraft that can take-off and land vertically. It is the size of a small automobile and operates vibration free with little noise. The prototype M200X has completed over two hundred flights with and without a pilot on board. Those who have flown the M200 describe it as a truly "magic carpet" experience.' and 'Prices are dependent upon the final production volume but are expected to range from $125,000 for the M200G model to $450,000 for the Firefly model.'

Submission + - Google Expands Office Software

Submitted by POP on Wednesday April 18, 2007 @12:42AM

POP writes: Google Inc. plans to launch software similar to Microsoft Corp.'s popular PowerPoint program as the two companies vie to dominate the online experience. Google Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt described the software Tuesday at a conference for Internet entrepreneurs. He also blasted Microsoft and AT&T Inc., whose executives complained over the weekend that Google may soon have an illegal monopoly in online advertising.

Submission + - Microsoft Blocks domains with the word Linux

Submitted by test pilot on Tuesday April 17, 2007 @10:07PM

test pilot writes: Microsoft offers a program called Microsoft Office Live Basics, with this you get a Free domain name and Web hosting,Easy-to-use Web site design tools, 500 MB of Web site storage space, 25 company-branded e-mail accounts, and Web site reports. So I said to myself why not. Clicked the link for the free account and tried to register a new domain name. The registration site gave me an error that the domain name contained invalid characters. There where no invalid characters. I then check a couple of domain registration site and would have been able to register the domain at those sites. So back to Microsoft website and try again. No luck same error from the domain registration site. So I went to Go Daddy's web and register the domain I wanted. Now back at Microsoft Office Live Basics I tried to register for the service using Redirect an existing domain name feature. Still couldn't register for the service. Check the help section for help or restrictions. I found this in the Help section. http://office.microsoft.com/client/helppreview.asp x?AssetID=HA102154721033&ns=OFLV15&lcid=1033 Are there any domain names I can't redelegate? If your current domain name ends in .com, .net, .org., .co.uk, .de, or .eu, you can redelegate it to Microsoft Office Live. So I email the tech support section and received the following reply from Microsoft RE: SRX1033709975ID — Microsoft Office Live Basics:Trouble with Sign-up From: Microsoft Customer Support (OFFLV.BASC.NA.US.EN.NCO.QUE.TS.T01.SPT.00.EM@css. one.microsoft.com) Sent:Tue 4/17/07 7:13 PM To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Hi James, My name is Ayn of Microsoft Office Live Support Team and I'll be glad to assist you. I understand that you were trying to sign up for the domain XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX so you may re-delegate it from GoDaddy.com to Microsoft Office Live. Unfortunately every time you do so you receive an error, you also have tried the troubleshooting steps provided but to no avail. I apologize for the inconvenience; please allow me to assist you. James, I simulated your concern, and found out that the domain name itself is being blocked. The use of Bill Gates and Linux is prohibited by our server. Hence you are unable to sign up for it. I suggest that you sign up for a different domain name, so you may avail of the offerings of Microsoft Office Live. If you have questions or you need further assistance, please email us again so we may further assist you. Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day. Sincerely, Ayn Microsoft Office Live Support

Submission + - Outsourcing Doesn't Save Money

Submitted by TechEGrl on Wednesday March 21, 2007 @06:12AM

TechEGrl writes: A new report from CIO Insight says that for most companies, outsourcing costs money, not saves it. "That's certainly true in regard to domestic outsourcing: It usually costs more to use a domestic outsourcer than it is to perform the same work in-house. Even offshore outsourcers fail to save money for their smaller clients much of the time. That means most large companies — and many small companies — are often disappointed when they aim to save money by outsourcing. When IT executives do consider their companies to be successful at outsourcing, it's usually because they are achieving other important benefits, such as freeing up management time."

While outsourcing, offshoring and even insourcing are all on the rise, the report says that fears of IT layoffs due to outsourcing have declined by roughly 7 percent. The study surveyed 400 IT pros.

Slashdot Top Deals