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Communications

Submission + - Adults' Phony MySpace Page Leads to Teen Suicide

Submitted by Nakanai_de
Nakanai_de writes: In Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, a 13-year old girl committed suicide after her neighbors impersonated a boy on MySpace, feigned romantic interest in her, and then began making abusive comments. While kids are bullied on MySpace every day, in this case, the bullies were adults. Furthermore, even though their behavior led to the suicide of the teen, no charges are being filed: "We did not have a charge to fit it," McGuire [the Sheriff's Dept. spokesman] says. "I don't know that anybody can sit down and say, 'This is why this young girl took her life.'" The Associated Press has more sordid details.
Media (Apple)

Submission + - Apple Sued Over iPhone Bricking

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The week's debate over the iPhone 1.1.1 has finally resulted in legal action. InfoWeek reports that on Friday, California resident Timothy Smith sued Apple in a class-action case in Santa Clara County Superior court. The suit was filed by Damian Fernandez, the lawyer who's been soliciting plaintiffs all week for a case against Apple. The suit doesn't ask for a specific dollar amount, but seeks an injunction against Apple, which prevents it from sell the iPhone with any software lock. It also asks that Apple be enjoined from denying warranty service to users of unlocked iPhone, and from requiring iPhone users to get their phone service through AT&T.
Networking

Submission + - T-Mobile Hotspot @Home as GPL violation??

Submitted by spazoid12
spazoid12 writes: Where's the code?

T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home already brings WiFi VoIP to compatible cell phones, and a recent FCC filing from T-Mobile and Linksys indicates that soon all the phones in your home will be able to get in on the action. The WAP, from Linksys, is the WRTU54G.

From CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/t-mobile-hotspot-home/4505-6448_7-32486222.html?tag=txt):
"When you first sign up, you'll receive a complimentary wireless router that's optimized to be used with the Hotspot @Home service. Our review model was a Linksys, which is exactly the same as the Linksys WRT54G, except for a few software tweaks designed by T-Mobile."

I went looking for the source for T-Mobile's modifications but came up with nothing. The Linksys device, as you know, uses GPL code. The T-Mobile modified version of the Linksys device does as well and therefore one wonders if T-Mobile will eventually release the code or remain in violation of the GPL.
Security

Submission + - IP Based Security Camera Systems for Schools

Submitted by zof888
zof888 writes: I work at an Elementary / Middle School district IT department, where we recently had a case of an individual walking on to a school campus and molesting children. So this brings up the immediate issue of security, even before this we were looking into buying cameras to help combat vandalism during the night, but it had always been a low priority until now. So my questions are what IP camera systems are out there that you have had good or bad experiences, what cameras will capture faces in low light environments, capture license plate numbers 30-40 yards away in day light, will give us a way to centrally manage 20+ sites (yes we have high speed fiber) and still be cost effective on the budget and even give us a way to roll it out in phases as we get the money.
Television

Submission + - Season 2 of the IT Crowd starts tonight (channel4.com)

Submitted by
waterford0069
waterford0069 writes: "Many of us watched the Series (Season) 1 IT Crowd last year and thought, "Wow, I know that guy!", or worse, "Um, that's me."; and laughed in ways only British humour can make you laugh. Fortunately, "Channel 4" agreed and renewed it. Series 2 of the IT Crowd is starting tonight Friday August 24th at 9.30pm GMT. Moss and Roy will be up to their highjinks again, Jen's got a new do, and Denholm has a son."
Security

Submission + - Hackers Hold Monster.com Users' Files Hostage 1

Submitted by Hypercoyote
Hypercoyote writes: Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly in the U.S., have been exposed to the risk of file ransom after the Web site of the world's largest online recruiter was hacked. Personal details stored on Monster.com, a Web site that lists job seekers and job opportunities, were taken after a raid by hackers who posed as employers to gain access to the site. Read more about it here
The Internet

Submission + - Suprnova back up and running (suprnova.org)

Submitted by Chris
Chris writes: Just a few weeks after the announcement that the guy's of The Piratebay are going to relaunch Suprnova.org the page is finally up with a beta version. Aside of the usual greeting they also hailing the non-internet loving companies with a explanation "how it works"...

Whatever you sink, we build back up. Whomever you sue, ten new pirates are recruited. Wherever you go, we are already ahead of you. You are the past and the forgotten, we are the internet and the future. y'arr!
Media

Submission + - Wal-Mart "DRM-Free" MP3 Site: Windows-Only

Submitted by Skavoovie5
Skavoovie5 writes: Despite all the raving about the new DRM-Free MP3 Download section of Wal-Mart, it would appear that Wal-Mart still expects its customers to chain themselves to a sub-standard OS. No Linux, no OS X.

Isn't the entire purpose of DRM-Free music to enable the purchaser the freedom to use the music on the platform and method they see fit? Apparently only as long as you're willing to run Windows, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player. No thanks!

When attempting to access Wal-Marts MP3 download section of their website via Linux, the user is presented with the following error message:

"We're sorry, your operating system is incompatible. To provide the best download experience, we can no longer support Windows 98, ME or NT. Please visit again after you upgrade to Windows 2000 or XP. Visit our Help section for complete system requirements information."

Following the "Help section" link leads to a page listing the minimum system requirements:

What are the system requirements for using Wal-Mart Music Downloads?

        * Windows 2000 or XP (sorry, no Macintosh or Linux) ...
        * Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher
        * Windows Media Player version 9 or later
Security

Submission + - Red Hat Linux gets top government security rating

Submitted by
zakeria
zakeria writes: "Red Hat Linux has received a new level of security certification that should make the software more appealing to some government agencies. Earlier this month IBM was able to achieve EAL4 Augmented with ALC_FLR.3 certification for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, putting it on a par with Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Trusted Solaris operating system, said Dan Frye, vice president of open systems with IBM."
Announcements

Submission + - UK gov't to protect data as formats grow obssolete

Submitted by
zakeria
zakeria writes: "As standards evolve, the UK government looks to ensure information remains accessible despite the rapid pace of technological change A project to look at options for setting up a shared service across government to protect the information will be led by the National Archives. The aim is that the service will migrate and preserve digital data for all government departments."
Privacy

Submission + - Your web cam may have you on Candid Camera (www.ctv.ca)

Submitted by debest
debest writes: So, you're looking to buy yourself a wireless web cam. Better make sure it's never been used before! Someone purchased this Linksys camera from an office supply retail store and was using it for months, not knowing that someone else had already purchased it, returned it, then started receiving emails from the new owners of the camera that included attachments of the new family's activities. Apparently the first guy configured the camera to email himself a video whenever it detected motion, but didn't clear the settings before returning it. The new owners had no idea that the camera had been configured to do this. Since he had no idea who the new owner was, he gets the story on national television news. Seems they discovered the family since the story went up.
Handhelds

Submission + - iPhone Browser Interaction Assumptions (iphone-geek.com)

Submitted by dr00g911
dr00g911 writes: As hordes of developers scramble to get web apps developed for the iPhone prior to the June 29 launch, many developers (and would-be developers) are realizing several potential interaction issues with their applications. iPhone Geek has begun compiling a list of user interface guidelines and suggestions for developing your killer app for the "it" platform of the moment.
Programming

Submission + - Negative coders killing progress

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: We have a problem with negative coders that are dragging the whole company down. I am sure that this is not a problem isolated just to us; so do any /.'ers have any useful advice to share with us on how to deal with these kinds of people/situations?

At our company we are attempting a rewrite a major part of our software, which is badly needed to bring us up to speed with current technology, failure to move in this direction within the next couple of years would ultimatley sink the company. A few employees have been assigned the task and have had a hard time getting the project done.

There are difficulties with the flow of information between the 3 coders, the project manager, a regional manager and the CEO. They constantly disagree between business requirements, functionality and deadlines. The coders are very negative and complain all the time, about everything. Management do not seem to help by having requirements that constantly change and a lack of critical decision making being made (according to the negative coders).

I do not know the source of the problems, but I do know that the overwhelming negative nature of the coders is running the project into the ground. One of the 3 developers and the original project manager have resigned because of the difficulty in dealing with the negative environment and the lack of progress. The current project manager is heading in the same general direction as his predecessor....becoming the scapegoat for the negative coders. The coders are far to valuable to get rid of, as they have far to much fundamental knowledge that the company cannot afford to loose.

I would be interested in hearing any advice that people have, and if anyone has similar experiences that they can share. Have you had a similar problem in the past? What did you do and what happened?

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