Fishbulb - Slashdot User

Dot-Word Bidders In Last Minute Dash 51

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday May 30, @02:25PM
from the sit-back-and-watch-them-scramble dept.

benfrog writes "Dot-word bidders are in a last-minute dash for domain names as ICANN has revealed its timetable for the controversial new TLDs. The organization will close its TLD Application System (TAS) at a minute before midnight tonight (23.59 GMT, 19.59 ET, 16.59 Pacific). The TAS was originally supposed to close on April 12, but the deadline was extended twice because of a security bug. The winners for domains will be selected (initially) by a 'widely derided mechanism' of 'digital archery' in which every bidder will be assigned a date and time and then be asked to login to a secure website and hit a submit button as close to that time as possible."

Comment: Re:Who cares? (Score 1) 130

by Fishbulb on Thursday May 24, @07:15PM (#40104967) Attached to: FBI Quietly Forms Secretive Net-Surveillance Unit

Wait, I take that back; the NSA will set the FBI up with an Xbox and Forza Motorsport and tell them they're driving around the 'net in virtual Corvettes, just like in Tom Clancy's Net Force.

Comment: Who cares? (Score 1) 130

by Fishbulb on Thursday May 24, @07:09PM (#40104903) Attached to: FBI Quietly Forms Secretive Net-Surveillance Unit

Who cares? They're about 30 years too late to the punch compared to the NSA. Their entire office is going to be staffed by a single ticker-tape machine being sent whatever the NSA deems useful to the FBI.

Comment: Hmmm... (Score 2) 116

by Fishbulb on Wednesday May 23, @05:30PM (#40093719) Attached to: DARPA Pays $3.5 Million For New TechShops and Secret Reconfigurable Factories

It's more than a bit concerning that the most flexible, agile, and innovative part of the economy is the military.

Any one else think we need CARPA - the Civilian Advanced Research Project Agency? Preferably one that has nothing to do with the government.

ITC Judge Calls For US Xbox Import Ban 253

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday May 23, @01:44PM
from the can't-you-boys-just-play-nice dept.

symbolset writes "In the long running dispute between Motorola and Microsoft, Judge David Shaw of the ITC recommended Monday an import ban on Xbox 360 S consoles, as they are found to infringe Motorola's patents (PDF). The judge also ordered Microsoft post a bond of 7 percent of the retail price of all unsold U.S. Xbox inventory. The decision will go to the ITC's board of commissioners, who will either uphold the recommendation or overturn it. 'Microsoft argued that Shaw's exclusion order does not serve the public interest because it would leave consumers of video game consoles with only two options to satisfy their needs: the Sony Playstation and the Nintendo Wii. Shaw rejected that argument, finding that the public interest in enforcing intellectual property rights outweighs any potential economic impact on video game console buyers.'" This follows news last week of Microsoft winning an import ban on Motorola's Android devices.

FCC Boss Backs Metering the Internet 515

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday May 23, @05:21AM
from the deposit-seven-cents-to-continue-reading dept.

An anonymous reader writes "FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has publicly backed usage-based pricing for wired internet access at the cable industry's annual NCTA Show. He makes the claim that it would drive network efficiency. Currently most internet service providers charge a flat fee and price their packages based on the speed of the service, while wireless providers are reaping record profits by charging based on usage, similar to the way utilities charge for electricity. By switching to this model, the cable companies can increase their profitibility while at the same time blocking consumers from cutting the cord and getting their TV services online."

SCOTUS Refuses To Hear Tenenbaum Appeal 420

Posted by samzenpus on Monday May 21, @03:38PM
from the pay-up dept.

quantr writes "The Supreme Court has declined to hear Joel Tenenbaum's appeal. A jury in 2009 ordered Tenenbaum, of Providence, R.I., to pay $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs. A federal judge called the penalty constitutionally excessive, but the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it at the request of the Recording Industry Association of America. Tenenbaum's attorney, Harvard law professor Charles Nesson, said he's disappointed the high court won't hear the case. But he said the 1st Circuit instructed a judge to consider reducing the award without deciding any constitutional challenge. Nesson said 'Tenenbaum is just entering the job market and can't pay the penalty.'"

Comment: Frack yeah! (Score 1) 278

by Fishbulb on Thursday May 17, @06:56PM (#40035121) Attached to: Vermont Bans Fracking

Frack those fracking frackers!

Comment: A hefty price (Score 2) 199

by Fishbulb on Wednesday May 09, @05:43PM (#39947579) Attached to: Congress: The TSA Is Wasting Hundreds of Millions In Taxpayer Dollars

The price for freedom is safety and security.

The catch, of course, is that safety and security are just illusions anyway. They can be promised to you but never delivered.

Comment: online service... (Score 1) 350

by Fishbulb on Tuesday May 08, @03:44PM (#39932515) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Best Option For Printing Digital Photos?

Honestly, unless you're willing to shell out the $$ for a pro-level printer and paper, it's cheaper to use an online service. I would avoid the Walmarts and Costcos, though I'm sure their service is fine, but I personally use and recommend White House Custom Color (www.whcc.com). Get on their mailing list for occasional discounts. Haven't done anything in bulk with them, though.