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Security

Submission + - How kids beat parental control software (pcpro.co.uk)

Submitted by Barence
Barence writes: PC Pro has written a feature exploring whether parental control software really works. It's uncovered some novel ways teenagers get around parental controls, including proxy servers, booting from Linux CDs and resetting the system clock to beat time limits. PC Pro also invited teenagers to try and beat four leading commercial packages, which exposes some huge flaws. Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2010 allowed access to hard-core porn via Google Images, and allowed teenagers to access the “Extreme Violent Racism” of a white-power website, even though the settings said “hate/racism” content was blocked.

Submission + - isoHunt guilty of inducing infringement (blogspot.com) 1

Submitted by roju
roju writes: The MPAA has won a summary judgment against torrent indexing site isoHunt for inducing copyright infringement. Michael Geist notes that "[t]he judge ruled that the isoHunt case is little different from other U.S. cases such as Napster and Grokster, therefore concluding that there is no need to proceed to a full trial and granting Columbia Pictures request for summary judgment." Attorney Ben Sheffner, who worked on the case for Fox, explains some of the implications, noting that "the most significant ruling in the opinion was the court's holding that the DMCA's safe harbors are simply not available where inducement has been established." This case could have implications on other indexing sites, and creates a gap in the DMCA safe harbor provisions that could have far-reaching implications on other sites.
Oracle

Submission + - Some thoughts on MySQL and Oracle (lwn.net)

Submitted by harmonise
harmonise writes: Jonathan Corbet, editor of LWN.net, writes about the recent discussion regarding Oracle owning MySQL. '[Corbet] wishes to take no position on whether Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems should be allowed to proceed by the European Union. Such a decision certainly involves a number of antitrust considerations which go beyond the free software community. That said, some of the positions being taken around this acquisition shine an interesting light on how parts of our community work.'

Submission + - How do I determine a fair salary? (glassdoor.com) 2

Submitted by lawpoop
lawpoop writes: After looking at a few salary sites, it seems that I'm very underpaid in my current position. I'm thinking about striking out on the job hunt, but I have a question. Can I trust information from salary.com, glassdoor, and the like? They might have an interest in me thinking I'm underpaid; I'm more likely to use their services ( which doesn't apply to glassdoor, but might be subject to similar gaming). Also, doesn't not having the exact skillset for the job posting affect the salary you ask for? A lot of what I'm seeing these days has specific tools and libraries. If I don't have that specific set, will I be able to justify the salary for a more general job description?

I couldn't submit this ask without a link. Link is not necessary; mods please remove!
Science

Submission + - Scientists accidentally blow up building ... (pogo.org)

Submitted by jsage
jsage writes: From the Project On Government Oversight: “'Shock and Detonation Physics Group researchers heard a loud unusual noise from Technical Area 15, Building 562 after firing a shot from a large-bore powder gun (LBPG).' The researchers accidentally blew a building apart at Technical Area-15, on December 16, 2009 while testing a gun which acts like a Civil War cannon."
Power

Submission + - Next-Gen Glitter-Sized Photovoltaic Cells Unveiled (inhabitat.com)

Submitted by MikeChino
MikeChino writes: Sandia National Laboratories recently announced a new breed of glitter-sized solar cells made from crystalline silicon that use 100 times less material to generate the same amount of electricity as standard solar cells made from 6-inch square solar wafers. Perfect for soaking up the sun’s rays on unusual shapes and surfaces, the tiny solar cells are expected to be less expensive, more efficient, and have promising new applications in textiles, clothing, and building facade installations.
Games

Submission + - Unreal Engine 3 running on iPod Touch (anandtech.com)

Submitted by he who meows
he who meows writes: Epic has ported their Unreal Engine 3 to the 3rd-gen iPod Touch and iPhone 3GS. While only a tech-demo has been shown, Epic is planning to license the engine to other companies in the near future.

Submission + - BBC's plan to kick free/open source out of UK TV (guardian.co.uk)

Submitted by bluec
bluec writes: Generally speaking, the BBC isn't allowed to encrypt or restrict its broadcasts: the licence fee payer pays for these broadcasts. But the BBC has tried to get around this, asking Ofcom for permission to encrypt the "metadata" on its broadcasts – including the assistive information used by deaf and blind people and the "tables" used by receivers to play back the video. As Ofcom gears up to a second consultation on the issue, there's one important question that the BBC must answer if the implications of this move are to be fully explored, namely: How can free/open source software co-exist with a plan to put DRM on broadcasts?
Media

Submission + - BBC Trust gives Project Canvas the green light (google.co.uk) 1

Submitted by cyclomedia
cyclomedia writes: After what seems like an age the BBC Trust — the semi-independent body that decides what the Beeb is and isn't allowed to splash cash on — has finally given the thumbs up to the Project Canvas, er, Project. Naturally the Murdoch Empire is not too keen on an open, level playing field for internet TV as it has the potential to remove the need for the middlemen content distributors, and therefore cash from his pockets. No one is entirely sure what it is, even wikipedia only knows the rough outline. Essentially it's going to be an open IPTV standard that set top boxes and digital TVs are expected to support. Though I'm not sure what they need £120,000,000 for when we already have Media RSS.

Submission + - Is This You Tube Trailer the future of cinema? (wiredprnews.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Press release link:

http://www.wiredprnews.com/2009/12/22/is-this-interactive-youtube-trailer-the-future-of-cinema_200912227627.html

YouTube Trailer link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpPCS8yZBJ0

Is this YouTube Trailer the future of cinema?
2009-12-22 01:13:08 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com — Entertainment, Press Releases)

Los Angeles, CA (WiredPRNEWs.com)) — Ever since the advent of the Choose Your Own Adventure books, Interactive Cinema has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Hollywood has yet to discover what to do with it or how to even create it. Now, an “Interactive Trailer” for David N. Donihue’s interactive hipster break up saga, The Weathered Underground, has been released on youtube. Like the film, this YouTube trailer allows the viewer to decide what happens next by clicking on different comic book style boxes. The upcoming film being released by Indican Pictures will be available on DVD, iPod and iPhone and has hundreds of choices with over four and a half hours of live action content.

With its hip comic book aesthetic, the film stars Michael Ciriaco and Brea Grant (Daphne from NBC’s Heroes) and features a live performance by indie rock underground superstars, The Lashes.

Using annotations that are often used for menu design, the YouTube interactive trailer gives a sneak preview of what it’s like to make choices for live action characters and gives audiences a hilarious peak into this rather ground breaking and visually eyepopping comedy.

Is David N. Donihue’s The Weathered Underground the future of cinema? See the YouYube clip below and decide for yourself, but the word on the street is — it just may be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpPCS8yZBJ0
HP

Submission + - HP to Lay Off 24,600 In Wake of EDS Acquisition (infoworld.com)

Submitted by
snydeq
snydeq writes: "Hewlett-Packard will lay off about 24,600 employees over the next three years in an effort to streamline the company following its $13.9 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems last month. The layoffs, which represent 7.5 percent of its workforce, will be part of a three-year restructuring program. Nearly half of the reductions will come in the U.S. The acquisition vaults HP to No. 2 behind IBM in the services market, leaving customers to wonder whether the combined entity will be worth its new services billing."
The Internet

Submission + - ICANN posts comments on generic TLD's

Submitted by rviana
rviana writes: Intellectual Property Watch has a story discussing ICANN's "need" for more generic top-level domains. On Thursday, ICANN posted a summary of the 18 comments received during their month-long comment period, which ended on September 7th The comments noted that the auction model, or the use of the money from the auction were not adequately described. Read the full story from ip-watch here, and read ICANN's proposal here. (Full Disclosure, my wife works for IP-watch and covered this story.)
Networking

Submission + - IPv6 and the business-case skeptics (networkworld.com)

Submitted by
Julie188
Julie188 writes: "Experts keep screaming that the IPv4 sky is falling. Three such experts were recently asked point blank to state an irrefutable business case for moving to IPv6 now and their answer was more plausible than the old excuse (the lack of addresses and a yet-to-be-seen killer IPv6 app). They said that there isn't a business case. No company that is satisfied with all of its Internet services will need to move, even in the next few years. They also pointed out that Microsoft is a unique position in the industry both causing adoption through its IPv6 support in its OSes and hindering adoption by not extending IPv6 support into very many of its apps. (That's classic for Microsoft, aye?)"

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