96486
submission
Milwaukee's_Best writes:
Skype has just asked the FCC to force wireless phone companies to open their networks to all comers. "Skype essentially wants to turn the wireless phone companies into just another network of the kind currently operated on the ground. This would require carriers to allow any phone to be used on their networks, and for any application. Users would simply purchase a voice or data plan (though these could easily converge into a data plan if VoIP calling is used) and then use the device of their choice to access the network of their choice." Think of it as network neutrality—for cell networks. Given the competition that exists within the industry, is this needed?
95804
submission
yuna49 writes:
Thieves recently stole a laptop belonging to the estranged wife of a computer programmer in Minnesota. Luckily the husband had installed SETI@Home on the machine. He saw the computer appear on the SETI site three times in a week and gave the IP address to the authorities. This lead to the recovery of the laptop and a reconciliation between the estranged couple.
93272
submission
Bamblox writes:
Two years ago at IFA, Philips unveiled an e-reader concept device called the Readius that featured a rollable display. Now a company called Polymer Vision, which spun out from Philips in 2006, has come up with a commercial version of that concept device. It's also called the Readius and features a 5" eInk display that rolls up into a compact form factor. The really exciting thing about this product, however, other than the fact that you can roll up a large screen into a small device, is that the battery lasts 10 days. Now all they need to do is put this technology into a cell phone and I'm buying one straight away.
93254
submission
SusieD writes:
Linux Format and Novell have set up Make it with Mono, a website where Linux users submit ideas and descriptions of their most-wanted programs. On the 2nd of April, the voting booths will open, and the program idea that gets the most votes will be written in Mono (and released under the GPL). Hopefully, this competition will show which apps Linux users are missing, and what is needed for more desktop acceptance.
92716
submission
dropgoal writes:
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas (and GOP presidential candidate) has reintroduced the Truth in Ratings Act. Like the previous version that failed to pass last year, Sen. Brownback's bill would make the FTC responsible for overseeing the video game ratings system and possibly result in a unified ratings system for games, movies, and TV. The ESRB would also have to review all game footage before issuing a rating: 'Currently, the ESRB hands out ratings after viewing a reel with representative content prepared by the developers. Sen. Brownback thinks that's not enough: "Video game reviewers should be required to review the entire content of a game to ensure the accuracy of the rating," he said. "The current video game ratings system is not as accurate as it could be because reviewers do not see the full content of games and do not even play the games they rate."'
