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Wireless Networking

Cellphone Carriers Try To Control Signal Boosters 231

digitaldc writes "[Repeaters], which cost from $250 to $1,000, depending on how much they increase a signal, work by first capturing cell signals through an external antenna, ideally affixed to the roof of a dwelling. A coaxial cable then transmits the signal inside the house to an amplifier and internal antenna, which strengthen and retransmit it to cellphones... In March, CTIA-The Wireless Association, which represents cellular service providers, filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission demanding stricter regulation of signal boosters."

Comment Re:2GB Ram? (Score 2, Insightful) 205

Actually, no, it's exactly the functionally descriptive term I'm challenging.

The normal definition is a memory with flat access times - i.e. it doesn't matter what part of the memory you access, you can do it equally quickly. This doesn't apply for things like tapes or HDDs, which are respectively either sequential or semi-sequential (sequential per cylinder) access.

In the case of flash the time to perform a write is strongly dependent on the preexisting erase state of the block - if it's cleared already, it's much faster than if you need to clear it. That means that the time to access a given block of memory isn't constant (or even nearly so) so it's not really random-access.

(If you want to be really nit-picky, it's random access on reads but not on writes. It can even end up being more complicated since you can have a read queued behind a erase on some flash devices)

Comment Re:2GB Ram? (Score 5, Informative) 205

Actually, no it's not. Flash can't be written to randomly; it needs a block erase cycle first (and generally a block is fairly large; we're not talking one or two bytes here). Technically you can zero bits without an erase, but not set them to 1 (erasing sets everything to 1).

This is why there's a distinction between EEPROM, FLASH, and RAM.

Windows

Submission + - Windows 8: 2012 Release Date? (msftkitchen.com) 1

msftkitchen writes: Contained in a road map slide, Windows 8 Server is noted to release sometime around 2012. This would put Microsoft on a 3-year release schedule with major releases, thus making Windows 7 merely an updated release. What does this mean for what's in store for Windows 8? Perhaps we'll find out in 2012. /insert obligatory 2012 reference here.
Graphics

Submission + - Nvidia's DX11 GF100 graphics processor detailed (techreport.com)

J. Dzhugashvili writes: While it's played up the general-purpose computing prowess of its next-gen GPU architecture, Nvidia has talked little about Fermi's graphics capabilities—so much so that some accuse Nvidia of turning its back on PC gaming. Not so, says The Tech Report in a detailed architectural overview of GF100, the first Fermi-based consumer graphics processor. Alongside a wealth of technical information, the article includes enlightening estimates and direct comparisons with AMD's Radeon HD 5870. The GF100 will be up to twice as fast as the GeForce GTX 285, the author reckons, but the gap with the Radeon HD 5870 should be "a bit more slender." Still, Nvidia may have the fastest consumer GPU ever on its hands—and far from forsaking games, Fermi has been built as a graphics processor first and foremost.
Anime

Submission + - Can Ubuntu reach over 16,000 anime lovers in April (thesilentnumber.me)

shadowmage13 writes: "After months of planning, i am happy to finally announce that the Ubuntu Massachusetts Local Community Team will be preparing a booth at the upcoming 2010 Anime Boston convention. We need support from the community to secure a booth and print materials including copies of the Ubunchu! manga. I really believe the Anime fandom is a perfect match for Ubuntu, and they are by nature very much in line with open source and remix culture."
Security

Submission + - Major IE8 flaw makes 'safe' sites unsafe (theregister.co.uk)

intrudere writes: "http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/20/internet_explorer_security_flaw/
Exclusive The latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser contains a bug that can enable serious security attacks against websites that are otherwise safe.

The flaw in IE 8 can be exploited to introduce XSS, or cross-site scripting, errors on webpages that are otherwise safe, according to two Register sources, who discussed the bug on the condition they not be identified. Microsoft was notified of the vulnerability a few months ago, they said."

Comment Re:Not consistent (Score 1) 427

It's not just the firewall protecting them here. Both group policy prevents that in the first place, plus the script won't connect successfully with the firewall in the way. That's tested against both 64 and 32 bit Windows 7 installs done from the RTM build, by the way.

Censorship

Australia To Block BitTorrent 674

Kevin 7Kbps writes "Censorship Minister Stephen Conroy announced today that the Australian Internet Filters will be extended to block peer-to-peer traffic, saying, 'Technology that filters peer-to-peer and BitTorrent traffic does exist and it is anticipated that the effectiveness of this will be tested in the live pilot trial.' This dashes hopes that Conroy's Labor party had realised filtering could be politically costly at the next election and were about to back down. The filters were supposed to begin live trials on Christmas Eve, but two ISPs who volunteered have still not been contacted by Conroy's office, who advised, 'The department is still evaluating applications that were put forward for participation in that pilot.' Three days hardly seems enough time to reconfigure a national network."

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