QMO - Slashdot User

Submission + - Microsoft anti-piracy tool leaks data

Submitted by

Jeremy

on Friday March 09, 2007 @07:45AM

Jeremy writes: "Microsoft has now admitted that their software validation tool will check in with Microsoft servers even if you tell it not to.

But if you cancel the installation of WGA, maybe because you dislike the privacy implications, the software will still phone home. Microsoft stresses that WGA does not take any information which could identify you as an individual, but is only used to collate statistics on WGA use.
Who cares if it can't personally identify you (if that is indeed true)? The point is that you are not in control of your own software. For those non-technical among us who have always wondered by geeks hate Microsoft, it's because of stuff like this."

Submission + - Build your own notebook!

Submitted by

janp

on Friday March 09, 2007 @06:56AM

janp writes: "Building your own laptop is now easier than ever. Intel had launched the 'Verified by Intel' program that includes interchangeable batteries for a wide range of notebook barebones and a wide variety of processors, harddisks and other components to choose. Hardware.Info explains why building your own laptop can be better than buying an A-brand and shows how easy it is to assemble the components."

Submission + - NASA attempt autonomous docking again

Submitted by

Matthew Sparkes

on Friday March 09, 2007 @06:45AM

Matthew Sparkes writes: "A 'mechanic' satellite designed to refuel and repair a partner in space is set to launch on Thursday. This would lay the groundwork for future autonomous robotic missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Two satellites will be launched on the same rocket; ASTRO and NextSat. Once in orbit, ASTRO will approach NextSat and dock with it autonomously, without help from ground controllers — something no US spacecraft has previously been able to do. Last time NASA tried this, with DART, it crashed into a satellite."

Submission + - Don't Blame Vista

Submitted by Chris Speed on Friday March 09, 2007 @04:13AM

Chris Speed writes: There's been a significant amount of "buzz" circulating on the internet over an article written by a well respected computer scientist and cryptologist named Peter Gutmann, whose article, "A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection" has gained considerable notoriety since its initial publication in late 2006. His article mainly portrays Windows Vista as the cause for DRM and paints an overall bad picture of the new OS. But is this article really an analysis of Vista? FastSilicon.com takes a second look at Dr. Gutmann's article and finds many minor flaws and flat out errors.

Submission + - Balancing One-Wheeled Scooter

Submitted by

Keyboard Hacking Guy

on Friday March 09, 2007 @03:05AM

Keyboard Hacking Guy writes: "Via HackaDay: Want to make a cheap Segway yourself? Here is a selfmade one-wheeled balancing scooter / skateboard. Using it is very similar to a snowboard to ride, requiring no user input other than the movement of your body mass. Leaning forwards and backwards controls the velocity and moving your weight from heal to toe controls the turn radius. It's easy and very intuitive to ride. See video on YouTube."

Submission + - Ebook Readers Where are they now?

Submitted by

Patrik_AKA_RedX

on Friday March 09, 2007 @03:02AM

Patrik_AKA_RedX writes: "I spend quite sometime on the bus each day, and most of it I spend reading. A lot of it I get from the net and have to print to take with me. IMO this is a bit of a waste of perfectly good trees so I was looking for an alternative. I've tried taking a laptop, but even the compact Armada M300 is quite cumbersome. Real Ebook readers haven't shown up in stores around here yet, the closest thing I've found is a MP4 player with ebook support, which didn't specify how much this support actually is. My question is what ebook reader-device do you have and is it worth the trouble? Also which of these devices are available in Europe?"

Oracle Open Sources TopLink Java ORM 41

Posted by CowboyNeal on Friday March 09, 2007 @02:35AM from the have-at-it dept.

Eric^2 writes "Oracle announced on Tuesday that TopLink will now be open source and a full-fledged Eclipse project. TopLink is an object-persistence layer for Java that maps Java objects to a relational database."

Submission + - Open Architecture Network for the good of Humanity

Submitted by RobBebop on Friday March 09, 2007 @02:25AM

RobBebop writes: The organization Architecture for Humanity has just launched the beta version of their Open Architecture Network website. The goal of the Open Architecture Network is to be the SourceForge of the art of Building Sciences by allowing blueprints, engineering specs, and construction tips to be shared in a community. An article from Wired includes more detail, "The site is built so people can upload info, comment on and, in some cases, download building or project specs". There is also an interview with the co-creators Cameron Sinclair & Kate Stohr at the end of the article.

Slashdot Top Deals