chipotlehero - Slashdot User

Apple iPhone v1.0.1 Update Now Available 279

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday July 31, 2007 @10:15PM from the more-better-security dept.

The Webguy writes "Apple has released the first update for the iPhone. Updated components in the v1.0.1 update include Safari, the WebCore, and the WebKit. Quoting from the Apple Knowledge Base, the 'update is only available through iTunes, and will not appear in your computer's Software Update application, or on the Apple Support Downloads site.'" One source speculated that Apple wanted to get fixes in users' hands ahead of the Black Hat conference where details of early iPhone vulnerabilities could be revealed.

Comment Different kind of monster (Score 4, Insightful) 547

by chipotlehero on Friday July 20, 2007 @02:43PM (#19930455) Attached to: The Desktop -- Time to Start Saying Goodbye?

I don't think its really a black and white comparison. Obviously desktops have advantages and laptops have advantages. You dont want to lug around a 22 inch screen on your laptop but for your desktop, you want that. You're not going to get the latest and greatest hardware on a laptop, but you can on a desktop. Laptops are portable and good enough for most people, but a bit pricier than desktops.

It's a different tool for a different job kind of thing, the summary makes it seem simpler than that.

How Big Will the iPhone Become? 388

Posted by Zonk on Thursday June 07, 2007 @10:08AM from the crushing-tokyo-big-or-just-andre-the-giant-big dept.

palewook writes "Combine the best elements of an iPod with a BlackBerry's addictive usefulness, and you may just get Apple's Next Big Thing. Around 2009, when the lower cost version of iPhone appears, Business Week believes the yearly market for iPhones could be over 10 billion dollars a year. Its an interesting prediction; if those numbers come to pass, iPhone could become a bigger source of revenue than the traditional iPod. 'The answer may not come until 2009. By then, Apple should have begun creating lower-cost iPhone variants to reach consumers scared off by the introductory $499 price. It also will probably have moved into overseas markets and cut deals with more carriers to utilize higher-speed wireless networks. So while most analysts look for Apple to sell around 3 million units this year and 10 to 12 million in 2008, many figure that 20 million will move in 2009.'"

After Ubuntu, Windows Looks Increasingly Bad 774

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday June 06, 2007 @01:46PM from the put-up-yer-dukes dept.

mrcgran writes "Sys-Con has a look at some advantages of using Ubuntu over Windows. 'My recent switch to a single-boot Ubuntu setup on my Thinkpad T60 simply floors me on a regular basis. Most recently it's had to do with the experience of maintaining the software. Fresh from a very long Windows 2000 experience and a four-month Windows XP experience along with a long-time Linux sys admin role puts me in a great position to assess Ubuntu. Three prior attempts over the years at using Linux as my daily desktop OS had me primed for failure. Well, Ubuntu takes Linux where I've long hoped it would go — easy to use, reliable, dependable, great applications too but more on that later. It has some elegance to it — bet you never heard that about a Linux desktop before.'"

Feed Will The RIAA Sue USB Drive Makers Next? (techdirt.com)

From feed by techdirtfeed on Thursday May 31, 2007 @09:32PM

While the RIAA continues its strategy of suing the very people it should be courting as customers, a recent study points out that so-called "social ripping" now makes up 37% of all music consumption. This is things like friends ripping CDs and sending the files to other friends, or sharing files through a USB drive. Unlike P2P file sharing, this type of file sharing is simply untraceable by the RIAA. Of course, it's not like this wasn't predicted when the RIAA went after Napster. Plenty of people pointed out that for every avenue the RIAA shut down, new ones would spring up -- and each new one would be further underground than the previous ones. Taking the internet out of the equation altogether certainly seems like one way to do exactly that. So, what's next? Will the RIAA start suing USB drive manufacturers for "inducing" infringement? At what point does the industry realize that there's a better way that doesn't involve suing the people who are most interested in your products?

How the Pentagon Got Its Shape 473

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday May 28, 2007 @10:59AM from the yay-holiday-weekends dept.

Pcol writes "The Washington Post is running a story on the design process for the Pentagon building and why it ended up with its unusual shape. In July 1941 with World War II looming, a small group of army officers met to consider a secret plan to provide a permanent home for War Department headquarters containing 4 million square feet of office space and housing 40,000 people. The building that Brig. Gen. Brehon Burke Somervell, head of the Army's Construction Division, wanted to build was too large to fit within the confines of Washington DC and would have to be located across the Potomac River in Arlington. "We want 500,000 square feet ready in six months, and the whole thing ready in a year," the general said adding that he wanted a design on his desk by Monday morning. The easiest solution, a tall building, was out because of pre-war restrictions on steel usage and the desire not to ruin Washington's skyline. The tract selected had a asymmetrical pentagon shape bound on five sides by roads or other divisions so the building was designed to conform to the tract of land. Then with objections that the new building would block views from Arlington National Cemetery, the location was moved almost one-half mile south. The building would no longer be constructed on the five-sided Arlington Farm site yet the team continued with plans for a pentagon at the new location. In the rush to complete the project, there was simply no time to change the design."

Submission + - Anonymous Senator Blocks Open Government Act

Submitted by

Josh

on Saturday May 26, 2007 @11:39PM

Josh writes: "An anonymous Republican Senator has placed a secret hold on the Open Government Act. Ironically, the purpose of this act is to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act. It is a shame that Senators are taking such a cowardly route to avoid a floor debate on this important legislation. The Seminal explains a plan to use the power of the Internet to determine which Senator is at fault. The plan involves using dispersed knowledge and resources to contact the 46 Republican Senators who aren't cosponsors to ask them if they placed the anonymous hold. A centralized tally is being maintained at this link. The American people deserve to know which Senator is responsible for this."

20 Years of Bill Gates Predictions 269

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday May 21, 2007 @10:06AM from the tell-me-a-story-oh-powerful-oracle dept.

NewsCloud writes "The Seattle PI's Microsoft Blogger Todd Bishop asks "How does Gates shape up as a seer?" None strike me as particularly clairvoyant, but the missed ones are winners: "I believe OS/2 is destined to be the most important operating system, and possibly program, of all time." and "Two years from now, spam will be solved." But in fairness to Gates, for many years Microsoft's tagline was "a PC on every desktop and in every home.""

Submission + - Microsoft, Sue Me First

Submitted by corigo on Sunday May 20, 2007 @10:22PM

corigo writes: Supporters of Free Open Source, Oasis Open Document, and other Free and Open Source solutions have asked Microsoft to throw down the guantlet. Sue Me First says Christian Einfeldt of Digital Tipping Point and he's not alone. More and more people are signing up and challenging Microsoft to put there lawyers where there mouth is. It sounds to me like the open source community is far from running scared. Will Microsoft have the cajones to step up to the plate, or is Microsoft just continuing to use a scare campaign with no real faith in their ability to leverage the patent control they claim the open source is infringing on?

France Opens Secret UFO Files 379

Posted by CowboyNeal on Friday March 23, 2007 @05:29AM from the mulder-and-scully dept.

Radon360 notes that France has become the first country to open its files on UFOs. A new website lists over 1600 sightings dating back to the 1950s. "The online archives, which will be updated as new cases are reported, catalogues in minute detail cases ranging from the easily dismissed to a handful that continue to perplex even hard-nosed scientists. Known as OVNIs in French, UFOs have always generated intense interest along with countless conspiracy theories about secretive government cover-ups of findings deemed too sensitive or alarming for public consumption."

Microsoft Responds to DOT Ban on Vista, Office, IE 218

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday March 08, 2007 @01:19AM from the words-words-words dept.

roscoetoon writes "From the blog of Mary Jo Foley: What's Microsoft's response to the DOT's charges? A corporate spokeswoman sent this statement, via e-mail: (caution: microbrain double-speak ahead) ... "We respect the customer's decision. As with any of our other Federal customers, it's our job to help DOT maximize the value of its Enterprise Agreement through the adoption of our technology. We are engaged with large, strategic customers across government at every level, and are working closely with them on these products through their participation in our Technical Adoption Programs.""

Star Trek To Return Christmas 2008 358

Posted by kdawson on Wednesday February 28, 2007 @03:09AM from the beaming dept.

Tycoon Guy writes "Paramount today announced the new Star Trek film is scheduled for release on Christmas Day 2008. The studio also confirmed the film will be directed by J. J. Abrams, who said the film will 'embrace and respect' Trek canon, but will also 'chart its own course.' Also today, rumors are out claiming Matt Damon, Adrien Brody and Gary Sinise will play Kirk, Spock, and Scotty, respectively."

NASA Considers Plans for Permanent Moon Base 353

Posted by Zonk on Saturday February 03, 2007 @05:39AM from the ground-control-to-major-tom dept.

el crowbar sent us a link to an MSNBC article detailing NASA's plans for a moon base. The permanently staffed structure could begin construction sometime in 2010, with six-month duty rotations the norm by 2025. Interestingly, the space agency is looking far afield for technical expertise. Consultants on the project include individuals from Caterpillar, Norcat, Boeing, and other manufacturing concerns. Right now the only detail for placement and purpose is 'on the rim of a crater near one of the poles', but the article outlines a few other ideas that enterprising individuals have in mind for a moon base. Besides helium-3 mining and lunar hotels, do you have any good ideas for a moon base startup?

Microsoft Tops Corporate-Reputation Survey 452

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday January 31, 2007 @11:03AM from the what-you-want-a-cookie-now dept.

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Microsoft beat out Johnson & Johnson for the top spot in the annual Wall Street Journal survey of the reputations of U.S. companies. Bill Gates's personal philanthropy boosted the public's opinion of Microsoft, helping to end J&J's seven-year run at No. 1. From the article: 'Mr. Gates demonstrates how much the reputation of a corporate leader can rub off on his company. Formerly chief executive officer and now chairman of Microsoft, he contributed to a marked improvement in the company's emotional appeal. Jeanie Cummins, a survey respondent and homemaker in Olive Hill, Ky., says Mr. Gates's philanthropy made her a much bigger fan of Microsoft. "He showed he cared more for people than all the money he made building Microsoft from the ground up," she says. "I wish all the other big shots could do something like this." To be sure, some respondents still complain that Microsoft bullies its competitors and unfairly monopolizes the software business. But such criticism is less biting and less pervasive than it was just a few years ago.'"

Massachusetts Looks To Jack Thompson for Game Law 117

Posted by Zonk on Wednesday January 10, 2007 @03:28PM from the i-would-have-sooner-had-cookie-monster-do-it dept.

Game Politics is carrying the news that the state of Massachusetts is asking Jack Thompson for help in drafting a piece of videogaming related legislation. The bill aims to block minors from purchasing games which fall under one of these categories: "Depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community, so as to appeal predominantly to the morbid interest in violence of minors. Is patently contrary to prevailing standards of adults in the county where the offense was committed as to suitable material for such minors. Lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors." The bill has strong backing in the state, from mayors all the way up to state senators.

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