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Operating Systems

Submission + - OLPC Operating System Available to Download

Submitted by ThePopeLayton
ThePopeLayton writes: Engadget is reporting "If you've got a tick to spare, or you're simply the type who shoves any flavor of Linux on any flavor of gadgetry that'll accept it, here's yet another opportunity to kill some time and check out the OLPC a bit further. Apparently, the Linux-based Sugar OS from the One Laptop Per Child project is now available via a bootable LiveCD ISO, and according to user reports, works quite well aside from the "lack of WiFi capability" on a certain MacBook. But hey, why are you relying on us to tell you how it works out? Go on and tag the read link whilst grabbing a fresh cup of joe, and do report back with ample amounts of praise (or grouses) once you've checked things out."
Editorial

Submission + - Best innovations of CeBIT 2007

Submitted by
Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth writes: "Taking place for more than 20 years, the largest technology exhibition in the world might not have been as exciting as in previous years but still presented several interesting innovations. From GPS cameras to solar handbags, here are some of the less familiar technologies demonstrated at CeBIT 2007."
Games

Submission + - Hacking Second Life

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The open source release of the Second Life viewer program by developer Linden Lab offers a rare opportunity to peer into the comparative strengths of closed and open source development models. This article gives an overview of some of the differences between these development styles, and talks about what's involved in setting up your own build environment.
Google

Submission + - Google Map updated

Submitted by gurps_npc
gurps_npc writes: For those of you that have not recently used Google Maps, at the beginning of this month, Google updated it's mapping service.

For major metropolitan areas in the US, they show both light rail/subways stops (as little stylized M with a blue background) and traffic warnings (red for less than 25 mph, yellow for 25-50 mph, and green for 50 mph+).

This is a great improvement, well worth it. Bravo.
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft Fixes "iPod Bug" In Vista

Submitted by
Torodung
Torodung writes: "Well, some more grist for the mill in the Apple iPod/Vista story. ComputerWorld reports that Microsoft just released a patch to keep Windows Vista from scrambling users' iPods and addressed some similar issues with Cannon cameras as well. From the article:

Earlier this month, Apple updated iTunes to Version 7.1.1 to patch several Vista-related problems, but left others — including the Safely Remove Hardware bug — unfixed. At the time, Apple said it was "actively working with Microsoft to resolve a few remaining known issues." It had also recommended that users select the Eject iPod option on the iTunes Controls menu to remove an iPod from a Vista PC's USB port.
(Be the first to tag this "defectivebydesign" and win a free lollipop!)"
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - Top 10 Apple products which flopped

Submitted by
Miti
Miti writes: "Apart from phenomenal products like the iPod, iMac and Macbooks, Apple in its 30 year old history has churned out super flop products too. Newlaunches.com has compiled a list of 10 products in from Apple which fizzled in the market."
PC Games (Games)

Submission + - Guild Wars 2 to feature persistent world

Submitted by
JamesO
JamesO writes: "Development of Guild Wars 2 is underway and the game will be based on the same mechanics which made the Original Guild Wars so popular. However, the first full sequel will see the addition of a fully persistent world and yet the series will remain subscription free. The game is expected to go into beta sometime in the second half of 2008, so we're still some way off a release.

There's also further news today on the first true expansion for the Guild Wars franchise, Guild Wars Eye of the North. The expansion is due to hit retail in Q3 2007 and will require at least one of the previous Guild Wars campaigns (Prophesies, Factions or Nightfall) in order to play.

The expansion is set largely in the dungeons and caverns of the land of Tyria that players will have first explored in Guild Wars Prophesies. Eye of the North will feature 18 large, multi-level dungeons, 150 new skills across all ten professions, 10 new Heroes, 40 new armour sets, plus more items, weapons and titles.

The expansion will also feature a Hall of Monuments where players' accomplishments are memorialised and will eventually be inherited by Guild Wars 2 characters.

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/27-03-2007-5110.html"
Networking

Submission + - X-platform conference solution for user support?

Submitted by Midnight Thunder
Midnight Thunder writes: Today I was contacted by support staff of a company, whoes software solution we use, because we were having issues installing the upgrade software. Their product runs on, amongst others, Solaris. To help them, they establish a conference session to the local computer, so they can see what the user is doing and help them along. The catch is the conferencing solution requires MS-Windows and Internet Explorer to run. Luckily for me I was using an X-Windows server on a Windows based PC, but would have had issues if my workstation was Solaris or any other non-Microsoft system. My question is whether there are any similar solutions that a support site could use in this manner, but which works on multiple platforms?
The Internet

Submission + - Porn domain decision due

Submitted by Rob
Rob writes: The Internet Corp for Assigned Names and Numbers is expected to hold a definitive vote on whether the internet should have a porn-only .xxx top-level domain at a board meeting this Friday. The ICANN board has considered the .xxx domain on a number of occasions. It even voted it down once, but the matter was subsequently re-opened, giving the excuse that the earlier vote was not a final-final decision.
Censorship

Submission + - Creationism - Muslim Style!

Submitted by Ohiosan
Ohiosan writes: Once the specter was raised, it was bound to happen. Yahoo! News recently reported that a Muslim scholar in Turkey sent a book describing an Islamic view of creation to various schools in France. This prompted the Education Ministry to take the topic of science and evolution under review.

With many Christian conservatives pushing Creationism / Intelligent Design in the US, it will not be long before other religions try assert the views in the classroom as well. How far will it go before we have a battle royale of competing views being taught in the classroom?
The Almighty Buck

Submission + - CEA: National Electronics Recycling Law Needed

Submitted by
narramissic
narramissic writes: "Speakers at a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) forum Monday called for a national e-recycling law, saying the emerging 'patchwork' of state laws is putting an undue burden on manufacturers. Although only four states — California, Maine, Maryland and Washington — currently have e-recycling requirements, more than 25 are considering laws this year, said Parker Brugge, the CEA's senior director and environmental counsel. The problem is that the four current state laws are significantly different from each other: Each state has a different list of what products must be recycled, and they take different approaches to recovering the cost of recycling, said Jason Linnell, executive director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling. And the confusion over compliance will only be compounded as more states put e-recycling laws on the books."

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