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The Media

Murdoch Says, "We'll Charge For All Our Sites" 881

Posted by timothy from the subverting-the-dominant-paradigm dept.
Oracle Goddess writes "In what appears to be a carefully planned suicide, Rupert Murdoch announced that his media giant News Corporation Ltd intends to charge for all its news websites in a bid to lift revenues, as the transition towards online media permanently changes the advertising landscape. 'The digital revolution has opened many new and inexpensive methods of distribution, but it has not made content free. Accordingly we intend to charge for all our news websites,' Murdoch said."
Censorship

Apple Balks, Finally Relents, At Possible User Queries of Dictionary App 259

Posted by timothy from the my-dictionary-doesn't-even-list-the-****ing-word dept.
Geoffrey.landis writes with a snippet from CNET reporting another example of offputting treatment at Apple's App Store: "'In this case, it's a dictionary app called Ninjawords (so called because ninjas are 'smart, accurate, and really fast') that was rejected three times over the course of two months, mostly because 'objectionable' words could be looked up and found in the dictionary's search function, Gruber reported.' PCWorld also reports the story." Note that the app was eventually approved, but only after a few go-rounds and changes.
Windows

Submission + - The Worst Windows Features Ever (pcworld.com)

Submitted by
Ed Albro, PC World
Ed Albro, PC World writes: "Here at PC World, we've got a look in screenshots at 20 of the most egregiously annoying or disfunctional features ever built into a version of Windows. Topics span the years from the Windows 95's DriveSpace, with its unfortunate habit of making your data harder to recover, to some of the display and security excesses of Windows Vista. No. 1 in the Hall of Shame is the security nightmare known as Active X."
Operating Systems

Submission + - Ubuntu 7.04 from torrents full of Trojan Horses

Submitted by Funny Finder
Funny Finder writes: Many of the recent torrent site downloads of the new version of Ubuntu 7.04 have been loaded with well hidden trojan horses. Many are reporting to have found keyloggers and auto ad loaders buried within the new operating system. The totally free of charge operating system as been reported to ask for a donations on every start up. This is something a legitimate copy of Ubuntu will never do. Rest Of The Story
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Microsoft security group makes 'worst jobs' list

Submitted by maximus1
maximus1 writes: Microsoft Corp.'s Security Response Center ranks sixth in Popular Science's worst jobs in science, according to this article. Other jobs that made the list? Whale-feces researchers, elephant vasectomist and hazmat divers. Microsoft's response? It's a badge of honor.
Media (Apple)

Submission + - iPhone Review Roundup

Submitted by wile_e_wonka
wile_e_wonka writes: Engadget put together the available early reviews of Apple's upcoming iPhone.

The verdict: it seems to be a good extremely portable computer (except for the problematic keyboard) and music player, just not a very good phone.
Hardware Hacking

Submission + - PSP Firmware Downgrader 3.50 Released!

Submitted by YokimaSun
YokimaSun writes: The Noobz team have just now released a new Downgrader and Homebrew Enabler for the very latest 3.50 firmware, this is all possible due to an exploit found in the game Lumines which uses a buffer overflow found in the save game file. "This downgrader is for v3.50 firmware, and includes a port of the Homebrew ENabler (HEN) for firmware 3.50. It will automatically detect all known PSP motherboard types, and do the appropriate steps to ensure a safe downgrade.". Help with the downgrader can be found at PSP Hacks and PSP News as well as the Noobz website (using as many links to stop killing the noobz website)
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - NYC iPhone queue guy exposed (knowyourmobile.com)

Submitted by muckton
muckton writes: UK website Know Your Mobile reveals that the guy that's been all over the Internet this week as the man at the head of the iPhone queue outside New York's Apple Store is not a die-hard Mac fan at all. Greg Packer is instead a professional queuer and well-known publicity seeker. He's stood in various lines over the last 10 years for everything from being the first to sign Princess Diana's condolences book to getting a free bus ride with R&B singer Brandy.

Such is his fame-seeking notoriety for anything and everything that Associated Press has banned its journalists from ever quoting him again.

As the story puts it: "In short, here is a man who wouldn't just go to the opening of an envelope, he'd take the stamp for his collection."
Robotics

Submission + - Robotic Hands With Muscles Made of Air

Submitted by i_like_spam
i_like_spam writes: Squse, a Japanese Robotics firm, has developed lightweight robotic hands that safely pick up small and delicate objects such as pens and raw eggs. The breakthrough involves robotic fingers that use balloon type pneumatic actuators. The actuators are effective at low pressures, so human-sized fingers are possible. Because the finger muscles are 'made of air', the hands safe for human contact too. The AP has a summary and a creepy picture of a human-like hand.
Sci-Fi

Submission + - The Women of Star Wars (atomfilms.com)

Submitted by
SJG
SJG writes: "Did you know the AtomFilms/Lucas Films Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge is ongoing? You can submit a fan movie at any time to http://starwars.atomfilms.com/ There's a special theme for the Challenge's next phase. We're looking for films about the Women of Star Wars. From Princess Leia to Pink Five, the Star Wars Universe is packed with kick-butt women. Make a fan movie featuring your favorite Star Wars heroine — or create your own. If it's great, we'll put it up on Spike TV. Your Women of Star Wars movie is due to us no later than August 31, 2007 if you want it considered for TV airing. Got a different idea? No worries, we love all fan flicks: big budget, low budget, or no budget flick — just grab your gear and make a movie! Get More Info at http://starwars.atomfilms.com/"
Digital

Submission + - Internet Radio (pandora.com)

Submitted by
cychem1
cychem1 writes: "A Day of Silence Hi, it's Tim from Pandora, I'm sorry to say that today Pandora, along with most Internet radio sites, is going off the air in observance of a Day Of Silence. We are doing this to bring to your attention a disastrous turn of events that threatens the existence of Pandora and all of internet radio. We need your help. Ignoring all rationality and responding only to the lobbying of the RIAA, an arbitration committee in Washington DC has drastically increased the licensing fees Internet radio sites must pay to stream songs. Pandora's fees will triple, and are retroactive for eighteen months! Left unchanged by Congress, every day will be like today as internet radio sites start shutting down and the music dies. A bill called the "Internet Radio Equality Act" has already been introduced in both the Senate (S. 1353) and House of Representatives (H.R. 2060) to fix the problem and save Internet radio — and Pandora — from obliteration. I'd like to ask you to call your Congressional representatives today and ask them to become co-sponsors of the bill. It will only take a few minutes and you can find your Congresspersons and their phone numbers by entering your zip code here. Your opinion matters to your representatives — so please take just a minute to call. Visit www.savenetradio.org to continue following the fight to Save Internet Radio. As always, and now more than ever, thank you for your support. -Tim Westergren (Pandora founder)"
Toys

Submission + - Boeing's new 787 wings: Amazingly bendy (wired.com)

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: Boeing is making the wings of its new 787 out of carbon fiber instead of metal. That means the wings are so strong and flexible that they could bend upwards and touch above the fuselage — or come close. The company is expected to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airlines in May 2008. From Aviation Week:

Boeing has completed static testing of a three-quarter wingbox, but engineers are still considering whether to limit testing of the full wing to a 150% load limit held for 3 sec. of to continue bending it to see when it breaks. "There's a raging debate within the engineering team to see if we should break it or not," says [787 General Manager Mike] Bair.

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