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Wireless Networking

ISPs Losing Interest In Citywide Wireless Coverage 98

Posted by Soulskill
from the too-busy-monitoring-traffic dept.
The New York Times is running a story about how hope is fading for the implementation of municipal wireless access in cities across the US. Major cities and small towns alike are finding that ISPs are withdrawing from such plans due to the low profitability of ventures that are similar to Philadelphia's incomplete network. We've previously discussed Chicago's and San Francisco's wireless status, and also some of the stumbling blocks other cities have faced. From the Times: "In Tempe, Ariz., and Portland, Ore., for example, hundreds of subscribers have found themselves suddenly without service as providers have cut their losses and either abandoned their networks or stopped expanding capacity. EarthLink announced on Feb. 7 that 'the operations of the municipal Wi-Fi assets were no longer consistent with the company's strategic direction.' Philadelphia officials say they are not sure when or if the promised network will now be completed."
Mozilla

Mozilla CEO Objects To Safari Auto Install 768

Posted by CmdrTaco
from the hey-wait-a-minute dept.
hairyfeet writes "Do you use iTunes on Windows? If so you may be getting the gift of Safari from Apple whether you want it or not, and Mozilla CEO John Lilly is not happy about it. After his daughter was offered Safari as a 'bonus update' with a recent update to her iTunes software, Mr. Lilly says on his blog, 'What Apple is doing now with their Apple Software Update on Windows is wrong. It undermines the trust relationship great companies have with their customers, and that's bad — not just for Apple, but for the security of the whole Web.' He also pointed out the check box is already clicked when you go to update meaning you have to opt out, not in and that it lists Safari as getting an update even if you don't have it installed." Update: 03/21 21:44 GMT by KD : Corrected the name of the Mozilla CEO; also linked directly to his blog.
Power

Microchip Powered by Body Heat 73

Posted by CmdrTaco
from the i-couldn't-power-an-8088 dept.
An anonymous reader writes "MIT and Texas Instruments researchers have designed a chip that they say could be up to 10 times more energy efficient than current technology. The chip's power consumption is so low that devices with the chip may even be able to be recharged using the owner's body heat." The intent is to use these in medical applications like pacemakers where one would expect to have the free power source.
Businesses

The Ugly Truth about Best Buy Refunds-> 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes "I'd like to warn Slashdotters about Best Buy policies for defective merchandise. From the article: They didn't care. Let me rephrase that, they don't give a shit that you just spent almost a thousand dollars on something that is defective. They don't care that it's obvious that there is no abuse whatsoever but rather that it's a defective LCD which overheated or leaked on its own. They basically blamed me — the customer — for the problem and when I told them that I've worked with computers for many years and I know what I am saying, challenging them technically, they told me "we are not saying that you broke it", but that doesn't matter because they still told me that they were not going to replace it or fix it. Then I asked them, what if the unit was like this out of the box? They would still not replace it in such instances."
Link to Original Source
Music

Clear Channel: indie artists must waive royalties->

Submitted by
Theodora Michaels
Theodora Michaels writes "As part of Clear Channel's payola settlement with the FCC, the radio networks agreed to air 4,200 hours of local and independent music on their stations. Per the settlement, the broadcaster set up an online application for artists to submit their music for airplay on each of its stations. The application requires the artists to waive their right to digital performance royalties."
Link to Original Source
Power

New ultracapacitors may mean the death of batterys-> 1

Submitted by
certain death
certain death writes "According to Technology Review a Texas based company has developed a new Ultra Capacitor that could possibly make Lead Acid and Lithium Ion batteries a thing of the past.

A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a "game changing" energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles. The full story can be read on the technology review website located here. http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/18086/

This would be extremely great if it turns out to be true, what is your take on it?"

Link to Original Source
Wireless Networking

Campgrounds with WiFi

Submitted by pilsner.urquell
pilsner.urquell writes "Plan to hit the great out doors this summer? More and more campgrounds and RV parks are offering free WiFi to there customers.

Jef Sutherland, vice president of information services for Kampgrounds of America, said that campers not only want to stay in touch with family and friends, but they also want to manage online banking transactions and check in with the office.
"
Spam

Spammer Robert Soloway Smacked Down Again->

Submitted by
Mike
Mike writes "Notorious spammer Robert Soloway just got another smackdown in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Responding to the 35-count indictment charging him with e-mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, Soloway claimed he didn't have funds to hire an attorney. The judge ruled that Soloway's financial assets disqualified him from being represented by a public defender and ordered him to retain his own counsel in the case. It looks like some of the millions of dollars Soloway has bragged about making will now have to go towards his defense and taxpayers won't have to foot the bill after all."
Link to Original Source
Space

world's largest radio telescope could lose funding

Submitted by palewook
palewook writes "Space.com reports Engineers will travel to Arecibo, Puerto Rico in coming weeks to study whether to shut down the world's largest radio telescope, which was featured in the movie "Contact'' but now faces steep budget cuts observatory officials said Thursday."

I don't believe there really IS a GAS SHORTAGE.. I think it's all just a BIG HOAX on the part of the plastic sign salesmen -- to sell more numbers!!

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