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PC Games (Games)

Submission + - Penny Arcade game launches - for Linux, too (playgreenhouse.com)

Submitted by
Hyouko
Hyouko writes: "Slashdot introduced me to the webcomic Penny Arcade years ago, so I thought some of the folks here might possibly be interested in the game they've just launched, (deep breath) On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 1. Yes, Tycho probably had a hand in the title. The rather nice bit is that on top of the usual suspects (Windows, Mac, and XBox Live Arcade) it's also launching with a Linux version. Now to see how it plays..."
Microsoft

Submission + - Office 2007 will not support ISO OOXML

Submitted by dp619
dp619 writes: Implementing ODF is a higher priority at Microsoft than ISO Office Open XML (OOXML). Microsoft will not implement ISO OOXML until it ships the next version of Office (Office 14). Doug Mahugh, senior product manager for Microsoft Office, explained that Microsoft's will include include native support for ODF, PDF, PDF/A and XPS in Service Pack 2 of Office 2007 because applications and companies are strategic making investments in those formats. Microsoft also intends to participate in the ODF and PDF working groups.
The Internet

Submission + - Replacing HTTP Downloads with BitTorrent

Submitted by Dial-Up
Dial-Up writes: Two issues with BitTorrent are: stale torrents (they're old, and very few people, if any, are seeding) and slow P2P speeds. Why not use the webserver, which would otherwise be serving HTTP downloads, to seed a torrent? The torrent would be constantly kept fresh (as there would always be the webserver there to seed, and you'd get the same download speed as over HTTP) and bandwidth demands would be shared by those downloading. The only downside to this that I could come up with is BitTorrent throttling by some ISPs. However if torrents become more ubiquitous, these ISPs may come under pressure to stop throttling.
Social Networks

Submission + - Facebook traffic declines by 10% in the US (hitsearchlimited.com)

Submitted by
RoyalBlueStuey
RoyalBlueStuey writes: "Hit Search (UK) Figures from Neilsen note a 10% decline in traffic to Facebook. Whilst year on year growth is still strong the figure falling from 98% to a 'mere' 56%, a figure most organsiations would kill for, could be significant. It was around the turn of the year that the talk was of a tangible malaise with Facebook, this coupled with the furore over the Beacon program & the saturation point level of application spam users were suffering had people asking whether the Facebook fad was over. Since then it seems they've upped their game and brought in some high profile defectors from Google. Tough times ahead or just a seasonal blip? It'd be interesting to see the worldwide figures andguage what effect their language roll-outs have had. Anyway I'd imagine we are all watching with interest."
Java

Submission + - Going Wild with Generics in Java

Submitted by LinucksGirl
LinucksGirl writes: One of the most complicated aspects of generics in the Java language is wildcards, and in particular, the treatment and confusing error messages surrounding wildcard capture. In this installment of Java theory and practice learn tricks and workarounds that help simplify using generics and weird-looking error messages emitted by javac.
Microsoft

Submission + - Pirates crack Vista at last (apcmag.com) 5

Submitted by El_Oscuro
El_Oscuro writes: A genuine crack for Windows Vista has just been released by pirate group Pantheon, which allows a pirated, non-activated installation of Vista (Home Basic/Premium and Ultimate) to be properly activated and made fully-operational. It seems that Microsoft has allowed large OEMs like ASUS to ship their products with a pre-installed version of Vista that doesn't require product activation — apparently because end users would find it too inconvenient. The question, how can I do this with XP?
Software

Submission + - Getting Attention For Your Software? (paletteswap.com)

Submitted by
richtaur
richtaur writes: "I'm certain a large portion of Slashdot's readers are themselves engineers. If they're anything like the engineers I've worked with, they undoubtedly code their own software in their spare time. Having the benefit of being employed by a large Internet company, it's easy for job-related releases to get loads of attention, but what about side projects? SourceForge and freshmeat are great for open source projects, but what about non-FOSS, websites and games? I've been struggling with trying to get eyes on my software and am curious how other Slashdot readers/engineers go about it."
Linux Business

Submission + - Does Android Break GPL?

Submitted by
new_hook
new_hook writes: "After laboring over a paper on protection of open source software through copyleft licensing, I've become pretty well read on the issue. However there still remains a questions regarding Google's Android. When they switched the licensing to the Apache License instead of leaving it with the Linux preferred GPL v2 didn't they break copyleft terms? With Apache being a permissive license, how can a linux based OS be closed source?"
Television

Submission + - Top 10 Amazing Chemistry Videos (wired.com)

Submitted by Timmy
Timmy writes: Wired Science has picked ten of the best videos from YouTube and their own show on PBS. Only four of them involve fire or explosions. The rest range from music videos about the polymerase chain reaction to reactions that repeatedly change color. One shows how to pour sodium acetate stalagmites. Another shows Chris Hardwick giving instructions for building a glow stick while making absurd comments.

Feed Engadget: Microsoft speculates on ad-supported Sync (engadget.com)

From feed by engfeed

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Transportation

Apparently, Microsoft has plans for Sync that extend beyond the standard voice-activation scheme they've got going right now. The company wants to deliver a wider range of network connectivity for in-car use, and they're debating the possibility of moving away from subscription-based services to an ad-funded scenario. What exactly does that mean? We'll let Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit explain: "We know where you are and we know where you're headed," he says, seemingly unaware of the Orwellian implications. "We could target that advertising directly to your car." You getting that? Targeted ads. In your car. While you're driving. Apparently, execs don't think you'll mind being bombarded inside your vehicle because you're, "used to advertising in the car. We hear ads on the radio and see billboards on the road." Of course, this is speculation on future technologies, so nothing is set in stone -- hopefully someone comes to their senses before our hovercar interiors glitter with holographic spam.

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Robotics

Submission + - Robots are as good as dogs in curing loneliness (wired.com)

Submitted by
hackingbear
hackingbear writes: "A study by Saint Louis University found that a lovable pooch named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at relieving the loneliness of nursing home residents and fostering attachments.

Most of the elderly used Sparky, a 9-year-old, reddish-brown mutt with a white muzzle and floppy ears, as a confidant, telling him "their life story," Marian Banks said.

Those who visited with AIBO took a little longer — about a week — to warm up to the metallic creature. Over time, they grew more comfortable with AIBO, and petted and talked to him. He responded by wagging his tail, vocalizing and blinking his lights.
Good news for many readers of the this site! Very soon, robots will beat Slashdot in curing geek's loneliness problem as well."
The Internet

Submission + - Microsoft Plans Massive Data Center Expansion (roughtype.com)

Submitted by
miller60
miller60 writes: "Microsoft is planning a massive expansion of its data center network, according to Nick Carr, who says the company will announce plans for two dozen 500,000 square foot data centers, each spanning 500,000 square feet. The huge network will power new online services Microsoft will soon announce as part of its cloud computing strategy. The expansion could also mark a transitional point in the evolution of the data center. Microsoft has confirmed that it plans to deploy container-based modular data centers in its new Chicago facility. Microsoft executives says the containers can manage power loads exceeding 1,000 watts per square foot."
The Internet

Submission + - Scammers Move To Seize Shareaza GPL Trademark (torrentfreak.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: After hijacking Shareaza.com, scammers trying pretending to be the Shareaza team have stepped up their action to destroy the GNU GPL licensed project. Lawyers representing the scammers company, Discordia Ltd, have filed an application to register the 'Shareaza' trademark at the US Patent Office. If successful, it would put the real Shareaza project in dire trouble.

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