Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Security

Submission + - XBox live accounts being stolen?

Submitted by OriginalArlen
OriginalArlen writes: Kevin Finisterre, a well-known security researcher, reports rumours that XBox Live online accounts have been compromised through an attack against Bungie. When he called XBox Live tech support, he was told: "Hackers have control of Xbox live and there is nothing we can do about it" — a definite contender for "Microsoft Quote of the Year", although sadly that's the modern meaning of 'hacker'. The "Microsoft Points" mentioned in the post apparently have a real dollar value.
Music

Submission + - Open Source model applied to sheet music?

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: As an amateur composer and pianist, I frequently see music that I would like to change or rewrite as a personal interpretation of the writer's intent. Although I love to make modifications and change the way a piece is written, it is obviously impossible for me to claim any such a hybrid as my own work, nor as the original author's. Perhaps could a model similar to the open source software movement's be used to collaboratively create music among an array of composers, each adding their own personal thoughts? Admittedly, it would be difficult for many composers to agree on what sounds best, but I imagine similar difficulties are involved in creating open source software. I would love to see composers making music under the GPL, so that many others could do this, but I am not sure if such a model would work.
Technology

Scientists Demonstrate Thought-Controlled Computer 172

Posted by Zonk from the a-little-crude-for-decking dept.
Da Massive writes with a link to ComputerWorld coverage of a unique gadget shown at this past week's CeBit show. The company g.tec was showing off a brain/computer interface (BCI) in one corner of the trade hall. The rig, once placed on your head, detects the brain's voltage fluctuations and can respond appropriately. This requires training, where "the subject responds to commands on a computer screen, thinking 'left' and 'right' when they are instructed to do so ... Another test involves looking at a series of blinking letters, and thinking of a letter when it appears." Once the system is trained, you can think letters at the machine and 'type' via your thoughts. Likewise, by thinking directions you can move objects around onscreen. The article provides some background on the history of g.tec's BCI, and suggests possible uses for the technology in the near future.
Biotech

Submission + - A new way to print bones

Submitted by
Roland Piquepaille
Roland Piquepaille writes: "Good old ink jet printers are really versatile machines. Last week, I told you they will be used to print organic transistors (check a previous story or a Slashdot summary for more). Now, Canadian and German researchers are using a slightly modified version of the printer that sits on your desk to build three-dimensional bioceramic bones. They took 'advantage of the ink-jet printer's ability to print layer upon layer to produce three-dimensional porous materials using the same building blocks as real bone.' The key is that their new process works at room temperature and also is able to produce a great variety of shapes. Anyway, this method will certainly be not used by surgeons and hospitals before many years. Read more for additional references and a picture of ink printed skulls."
The Internet

Russia's War on Piracy/Malicious Software 150

Posted by Zonk from the legitimacy-and-furry-hats dept.
tmk writes "Russian minister Leonid Reiman has announced new legislation to fight software piracy. According to official information the share of pirated software in the Russian Federation decreased in the last years from 90 to 60 percent. Reiman dismissed as a myth the impression that many viruses originate in his country: 'Viruses are written all over the world. Russia is waging a consistent and successful war on malicious software.' Reiman calls for an international organization to fight Internet crime. Last year Russia agreed to take down Allofmp3 after the United States intervened."
Patents

Submission + - Linked List Patented in 2006

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Congratulations are in order to Ming-Jen Wang of LSI Logic Corporation who, in patent #10260471 managed to invent the linked list. From the abstract, "A computerized list is provided with auxiliary pointers for traversing the list in different sequences. One or more auxiliary pointers enable a fast, sequential traversal of the list with a minimum of computational time. Such lists may be used in any application where lists may be reordered for various purposes." Good-bye doubly linked list. We should also give praise to the extensive patent review performed by Cochran Freund & Young LLP.
Censorship

Submission + - Bulgaria Blocks BitTorrent Site, Citizens Protest

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The Bulgarian Interior Ministry has ordered all ISP's to block access to Arenabg.com, Bulgaria's largest BitTorrent site. Bulgarian citizens are not pleased with this course of action and intend to make a public protest on March 22nd in support of torrent site administrators who they believe are being unfairly treated.
Privacy

Submission + - RIAA must turn over attorney billing records

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Usually most people settle with the RIAA for a few thousand dollars, but Debbie took the case to court and asked for the RIAA to produce records of what files she supposedly downloaded, along with the dates of the downloads. The RIAA couldn't produce the records and offered to withdraw the case. Now here is where it gets interesting, Debbie asked to be awarded reasonable attorneys fees for her ordeal and submitted her expenses to the court. The RIAA argued that the mother was asking for too much, to which the judge basically said, "Well if you think her fees are too much, show me yours."

Slashdot Top Deals

That does not compute.

Close