GenKreton - Slashdot User

Submission + - Choosing a USB Hard Drive

Submitted by

PunkOfLinux

on Sunday February 11, 2007 @01:46PM

PunkOfLinux writes: "I'm looking at getting an external hard drive (USB) for use with my laptop. When I look online, I see so many options that I have no idea where to start. Does anyone here on slashdot have experience with any particular models, or any recommendations?"

Submission + - World's first Quantum Computer to be demoed

Submitted by

Leemeng

on Sunday February 11, 2007 @01:43PM

Leemeng writes: "EE Times reports that D-Wave will demonstrate the world's first commercial quantum computer on Tuesday (Feb 13) at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. If it works, that means it can solve some of the most difficult problems, called NP-complete problems, thousands of times faster than current supercomputers. Initially, D-Wave (Vancouver, B.C.) will lease time on its quantum computer, which will be accessed over a secure Internet connection. Eventually, the company plans to sell quantum computer systems.

Being able to quickly solve NP-complete problems has enormous consequences. A fairly well-known NP-complete problem is the travelling salesman problem, which has real-world implications for logistics. NP-complete problems are present in such diverse fields as medicine, biology, computing, mathematics, and finance. Of immediate concern is quantum computers' potential for cryptanalysis (codebreaking). Specifically, a quantum computer could factor very large numbers in a fraction of the time needed by current computers. That BTW, is just what you need for cracking the RSA cipher and other widely-used ciphers that depend on one-way mathematical functions. Perhaps this will light a fire under quantum cryptography efforts."

Submission + - CNN's Hate-Newscasts Against Atheists

Submitted by GenKreton on Tuesday February 06, 2007 @07:08PM

GenKreton writes: CNN has been airing "newscasts" that blatantly attack atheists. The panel interviewed includes no atheists. Some memorable quotes include: "they should just shut up," "They are on the attack. It's obnoxious and they do need to shut up..." and "I think they need to shut up about crying wolf all the time and saying that they're being imposed upon. A particular high point in their anti-atheist banter is hit with comments such as "They don't have a good — marketing. If they had hallmark cards, maybe they wouldn't feel so left out."

Submission + - Free software may be helping war?

Submitted by

tonymercmobily

on Thursday February 01, 2007 @11:57PM

tonymercmobily writes: "There is a strong ethical motive behind free software. Programmers and users seem to love the collaborating spirit. But there is also a dark side: what if free software is used to help wars? The article talks about the use of free software and war, giving a list of (worrying) examples. Should the GPL 3.0 disallow the use of GPL software in war and weapons"

Submission + - The Other White Milk?

Submitted by JustMichael on Thursday February 01, 2007 @11:40PM

JustMichael writes: Apparently the "National Pork Board" is threatening to sue a breastfeeding blogger for t-shirts that say "The Other White Milk". You can read about it here: http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/2007/02/overzealo us-big-pork-stomps-on.html . I don't know about you but there is no way I could ever confuse breastmilk (or any other milk) and pork. The way I see it is since they (the national pork board) wish to harrass moms, I will not be buying pork or products that contain pork until they apologize. Well, I guess it is going to be BEEF ribs for me on Super Bowl Sunday!

Submission + - Just saw my first green Address Bar...

Submitted by

Panaqqa

on Thursday February 01, 2007 @11:35PM

Panaqqa writes: "One of the browsers I need occasionally is Internet Explorer 7, complete with its new security features. Today, for the first time, I saw a green address bar reflecting "Class 2 Certification" — GoDaddy had it. Am I alone in my ominous feeling that somewhere down the road, this green address bar will become an expectation for the general public using an ecommerce site, giving an advantage to only incorporated businesses who can afford the large cost?"

What Micro-Controller Would You Use to Teach With? 175

Posted by Cliff on Thursday February 01, 2007 @12:24AM from the technology-in-a-school-environment dept.

Rukie asks: "I'm looking into starting some sort of robotics class for my high school, which severely lacks any sort of technological classes. I am now wondering what micro-controllers are best for an educational environment. I definitely want something more advanced than the Legos, but something that won't fly over people's heads. Are there cheap, scaleable micro-controllers for learning in a classroom or at home? I'm curious how my fellow readers have hacked up toys to make their own robotics at minimal cost."

Submission + - My TV has an OS, it's L I N U X!

Submitted by Zolan on Wednesday January 31, 2007 @10:41PM

Zolan writes: Very recently I purchased what I deem as a nice Television (Hitachi LCD Rear Projection Television [55VS69A]). After setting it up and doing the whole "Oooohhh Aahhhh" thing, I decided to flip through the manual. Mainly I was quickly looking through it to figure out how to configure the remote. That is when I made my even more glorious discovery. I flipped to a page and saw three glorious letters on it... GNU... After a moment of complete shock I read more.

I quote from the "Operating Guide for 50VS69A 55VS69A and 62VS69A", "Your Hitachi brand digital television (the 'DTV') uses certain open source operating system software (the 'OS Software') distributed pursuant to GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2 and GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2.1, each as defined and published by the Free Software Foundation, Inc."

Among the list of software used are: Linux Kernal, busybox, dhcpdcd, ifupdow, net-tool, iptables, libstdc++5, glibc, libposixtime. Following this list it goes on to mention that if you would like to request a copy of the Source Code Modifications from HITACHI, please send an email to the following address: tvsoftwaresupport@hhea.hitachi.com. Following that, there is, in full, a copy of the GPLv2 and the GLGPLv2.1. That almost brought a tear of joy to my eye.

This TV has a serial port though I've yet to attempt to see if there is a console on it yet.

Anyway, I am posting this because I was amazed that after doing some Google searches it seems there is no mention of this on the web, nor is there a mention of it on Hitachi's site. I figured /. would want to know.

If I find anything exceptionally cool once I finally try the serial port I shall return to post my findings. If anyone else discovers or does something cool with this TV I would love to know about it.

Submission + - Sea Launch Fail During Takeoff

Submitted by brandido on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @10:19PM

brandido writes: As sadly reported on Space.com, a Sea Launch mission to launch the NSS-8 Communications satellite failed during takeoff. Web feeds were abruptly cut as the vehicle and payload dissolved in a fireball that engulfed the Odyssey launch platform. A picture on SpaceFlightNow shows the vehicle and launch platform shortly before the feed was cut. Details are still scarce as the story develops, and based on the Space.com reporting, it is unclear what the state of the Odyssey launch platform was, but it seemed the vehicle and payload were a complete loss. Sea Launch has promised to form a "Failure Review Oversight Board" to try and find the source of the failure. Disclosure of conflict of interest — I work for a Sea Launch competitor.

Submission + - Default password list

Submitted by

msharp

on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @09:52PM

msharp writes: "Allegedly the worlds largest list of default passwords for modems, routers, firmware , operating sytems and network aplliances. ONE LIST TO FIND THEM, ONE LIST TO RULE THEM ALL !!! http://www.cyberpunkcafe.com/routerpasses.html"

Bookmark CYBERPUNKCAFE.COM :: Default Router Passwords (cyberpunkcafe.com)

by msharp on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @09:35PM

Net Neutrality Act On the Agenda Again 242

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @09:27PM from the end-to-end-tubes dept.

blue234 writes "On January 9th, Republican Senator Olympia Snowe and Democrat Byron Dorgan reintroduced the bill popularly known as the Net Neutrality Act, and officially called the Internet Freedom Preservation Act. The bill was killed in the Senate last year in a vote split along party lines (Democrats yea, Republicans no), with the exception of Senator Snowe, who voted with the Democrats. Now that the Democrats have a slight majority in the Senate, the bill certainly has a better chance, but it still needs 60 votes to prevent a Republican filibuster.

Submission + - Barbara Boxer Wants Opinions on Global Warming

Submitted by

fistfullast33l

on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @05:25PM

fistfullast33l writes: "Barbara Boxer(D-CA) wants to know how you would legislate environmental issues in the 110th Congress. She has posted a survey asking you to rank 9 items that Congress can do to limit the effects of Global Warming. The Congresswoman is currently Chair of Environment and Public Works Committee in the United States Senate and plans to put your input to good use."

Submission + - Vista Monoculture In Our Future?

Submitted by

anorlunda

on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @04:00PM

anorlunda writes: "This is pure speculation. I notice that experts seem to be increasingly concerned with zombie PCs on the web and all the damage that they can do. There will come a day when an injured party sues the zombie's host ISP claiming negligence. A natural reaction to that could be for the ISPs to insist that their PC customers use the most hacker resistant, yet ubiquitous OS around — namely Vista.

I can hear the screams of anger now from millions of users who don't want to switch. On the other hand, few or none of them would stop using the net or even switch ISPs. Most would probably grumble, then switch to Vista. Hardware and third party software vendors and congressmen would back the ISPs because it would trigger the biggest mass upgrade since Y2K and create a surge of thousands of jobs.

The security debate to be acted out before congressional committees would be entertaining. We would pit the antimonoculturalists on one side versus the ban-those-Win95-skeletons proponents on the other side. It would also make the perfect opportunity to advocate the mobile browser plus net apps as the non-PC alternative architecture.

Could a major ISP successfully refuse Mac and Linux customers? I see no legal impediment. They can argue security and simplfied support as their motives. Once again, most aggrieved Mac and Linux customers would scream, but they would rather switch than go back to dial-up. Therefore, relatively few customers would actually defect.

I hate bringing up such an ugly speculation. I can see the flames coming my way now. But, the simplicity and rationality of a Vista-only future from the point of view of the ISPs and others seems too powerful to ignore. Perhaps the question should be, what would stop it from happening?"

Submission + - Adobe releases PDF to ISO, now a standard

Submitted by

Randall Bennett

on Tuesday January 30, 2007 @03:29PM

Randall Bennett writes: "Adobe's PDF format has long been consdiered the standard for moving print-quality documents around the interwebs... and now it looks like the successor to the Fax machine will be heading away from Adobe's stable, and will become a standardized format. They're giving the spec to ISO, and now ISO will control the future of the portable document format"

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