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Security

Submission + - Call 9-1-1, get yourself killed (livejournal.com)

Submitted by ajb44
ajb44 writes: What do you do if you discover a crime, and the criminals haven't seen you yet? Call 911 on your mobile. Problem is, some recent mobiles now squawk loudly when you do this, potentially alerting the criminals to your presence. A FOAF had this happen to her. Fortunately the criminals had already left, but she's now worried about using 911 when checking her woods for criminal activity. Verizon and Casio techs claimed that this is an FCC mandate, but it's not really clear yet. Please help tell the FCC, Verizon and Casio that this is a dumb idea.
Windows

Submission + - Stealthy Windows update raises serious concerns

Submitted by UniversalVM
UniversalVM writes: What is the single biggest issue that bothers open source advocates about proprietary software? It is probably the ability of the vendor to pull stunts like this. Windows has stealthily updated components of the operating system using its update service. The update will not be flagged even if you have set up your update to notify you and only execute if permitted.
The weak explanation seems to be a great exercise in circular logic "Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed automatically or received expected notifications." News.com is reporting that all of the updated files on both XP and Vista appears to be in windows update itself. This is information that was independently uncovered by users and still not released by Microsoft.
More interestingly could this be construed as a hacking of Windows users' systems? Does the EULA specify that Microsoft has the right to silently break into my machine, change components of the operating system and ignore any settings that explicitly prohibit this sort of behavior? Seems like a good argument could be made for Microsoft breaking into a system without the users' permission.
Software

Submission + - Smaller and more lightweight software is better?

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: I prefer software that takes as little hardrive space and RAM as possible. I can't stand bloated software like iTunes, as compared to Foobar or classic Winamp; or Windows Media Player, as compared to VLC or Media Player Classic. What are some of your favorite applications which are virtually bloat-free?
Windows

Submission + - Vista SP1 and XP SP3 - Leaked by Microsoft? (neosmart.net)

Submitted by Mariam Hollander
Mariam Hollander writes: Microsoft's two most awaited releases: Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1. Betas for both leaked just days apart. A big coincidece or a Microsoft master plan?

NeoSmart's analysis of both the XP SP3 and Vista SP1 leaks is quite interesting: were these two builds leaked (unofficially) by Microsoft in an attempt to unofficially guage the response of the online community to these releases, fix some bugs before they officially even exist, and deliver a perfect service pack? Most importantly, is this Microsoft taking advantage of its last chance to save face and fix what has been the most-criticized version of Windows to date, before it gets out of hand?

[J]ust how likely is it that the two most valuable products still in development and without a single official release would leak to the internet just days apart? Especially when the Windows Vista build ships as a time-bombed release, it makes us wonder: Is Microsoft really in the practice of time-bombing internal development releases that only exist in the hands of people who have access to hourly builds?
Media

Broadcasters Want Cash For Media Shared At Home 426

Posted by Zonk from the gotta-get-it-where-you-can dept.
marcellizot writes "What would you say if I told you that there are people out there that want to make sharing your media between devices over a home network illegal? According to Jim Burger, a Washington, D.C attorney who deals with piracy in the broadcasting industry, certain broadcasters want to do just that. Speaking in a recent podcast, Burger remarked that the broadcasting industry is keen to put controls on sharing media between devices even if those devices are on a home network and even if the sharing is strictly for personal use. When pressed as to why broadcasters would want to do this, Burger replied simply 'because they want you to pay for that right.'"
Programming

Submission + - Fun building a simple Ajax rating system

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: We all love to rate stuff. I think it must be part of our DNA. My daughter and I like to go to the movies; while she used to like them all before, she's much pickier now that she's four. I've taught her to use the "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" rating system à la Ebert and Roeper. (She gave Shrek III a thumbs up.) I think this is why rating and reviewing things like products or articles on the Internet is so popular. This article shows how to use a combination of MySQL, PHP, Prototype.js, and Ajax to add simple rating and comment functionality to any site.
Printer

Submission + - Your Printer May Be Hazardous To Your Health (yahoo.com)

Submitted by
Sidepocket_Pro
Sidepocket_Pro writes: "I've long heard rumors that the fine particulate dust used in laser printer toner cartridges may be a health risk. It certainly makes sense: Not all of that stuff can stick to the paper, and if you've ever spilled toner you know there's no way it can be good for your lungs. Now a controlled study is confirming the information, saying that 30 percent of all laser printers tested emit dangerous particles described as "causing lasting damage on the scale of inhaled cigarette smoke." These tiny particles lodge deep in the lungs and can lead to anything from lung irritation to full-on cancer."
Power

Submission + - Hydrogen turbines generate clean electricity

Submitted by
Roland Piquepaille
Roland Piquepaille writes: "The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) has developed near-zero-emission gas turbines using pure hydrogen as a fuel. But because this LSI (low-swirl injector) technology also can use other fuels, it has the potential to help eliminate millions of tons of carbon dioxide and thousands of tons of nitrous oxides (NOx) from power plants each year. In fact, burners with the LSI emit 2 parts per million of NOx, more than five times less than conventional burners. The multi-patented technology is currently available for licensing. I sure hope that a utility company will be interested. But read more for many additional references and photographs comparing a high-swirl injector (HIS) and a low-swirl injector (LSI)."
Math

Winnie Wrote a Math Book 638

Posted by Zonk from the why-isn't-that-a-textbook dept.
SoyChemist writes "Hollywood is not known for providing a wealth of positive female role models. Danica McKellar, the actress that played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years and Elsie Snuffin on The West Wing, has written a math book for teenage girls. 'Math Doesn't Suck' is done in the style of a teen magazine. It even includes a horoscope, cute doodles of shoes and jewelry, and testimonials from attractive young career women that use math at work. It focuses on fractions and pre-algebra and uses mnemonics like calling a reciprocal a 'refliprocal', because you just take the fraction and flip it upside down. Wired interviewed McKellar about the new book and her crusade to eliminate the achievement gap between boys and girls in math courses. McKellar graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA. While studying there, she co-authored a proof and presented it at a conference. After she and Mayim Bialik — star of Blossom and a PhD in neuroscience — appeared in a 20/20 episode about intellectual actresses, several literary agents came knocking on her door."
The Internet

Submission + - Elton John wants to shut down internet 1

Submitted by bakuun
bakuun writes: In an article in the british tabloid "The Sun", Sir Elton John describes how he would like for the internet to be turned off for five years as a "cultural experiment".

In the article, he says: "The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff." ... "I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span."

Anyone think he will have any success?
Quickies

Submission + - Pillow with an HDMI port?

Submitted by
Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward writes: "My son just discovered that my squishy pillow apparently has an HDMI port and that when his Dad sent the child support there were microscopic Wookies that bummed a ride.

However, here is the question, what would a HDMI port be doing in my otherwise normal squishy pillow and what does microscopic Wookies have to do with it — if anything? He has also discovered a mysterious wall rash that he does not know what caused it to manifest... other than possibly some connection to microscopic Wookies tariling into a dark spot in the pillow that may be a manifestation of the Sith.

However, it still remains a huge mystery as to the meaning and purpose of the HDMI port and why there are so many scratches on the inside of a lightbulb.

What next? Are his pants going to start standing up and walking by themselves. He said he would not be suprised if a new lifeform had developed in the racid stuff at the bottom of his hamper..."
NASA

Submission + - Mars mission borrows technology from PS3, Xbox 360 (networkworld.com)

Submitted by
jbrodkin
jbrodkin writes: "The same IBM processors in your Xbox 360, PS3, the car you drive and some of the world's fastest supercomputers are leaving for Mars today to support a NASA mission searching for extraterrestrial life. And this is no mere coincidence. Lessons learned from the incredible video throughput of the PlayStation 3 and the extreme scalability and reliability of mainframes factor into the processors being used on the Phoenix Mars Lander. Similarly, the experience building processors that make the most efficient use of energy on a spacecraft is helping IBM make data centers on Earth more efficient in a time when limitations of space and power are increasingly important. "This is the onboard machine that runs all of the functions that will have to be performed somewhat autonomously on Mars when it lands," explains Dave McQueeney, chief technology officer for IBM's federal contracting business. "These are the computers inside the spacecraft that are responsible for the navigation, control, scientific instruments, power management ... the things that are the brains of the Lander itself.""
Security

Submission + - BlackICE to be Discontinued, Other Vendors Move in (beskerming.com)

Submitted by
SkiifGeek
SkiifGeek writes: "In a move that might be somewhat surprising to many, IBM ISS will soon stop selling BlackICE PC and Server Protection, with all support for the products to cease by 28 September, 2008. Other vendors are already making a move to capture the userbase, with SunBelt Software establishing SaveBlackICE.com, where BlackICE users can access a free copy of what used to be the Kerio firewall."

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