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Supercomputing

Submission + - Sun to build 62,976 core Opteron SuperComputer (wired.com)

Submitted by
mytrip
mytrip writes: "Sun Microsystems announced today that its hardware will power the largest supercomputer ever built, weighing in with 62,976 CPU cores, 125 terabytes of memory, 1.7 terabytes of disk space, and 504 teraflops of performance.

The computer, which has been dubbed "Ranger," will be hosted at the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas, Austin. It is due to go online on January 1, 2008.

Ranger costs $30 million in hardware alone, and an additional $29 million for staffing and maintenance — and is being entirely funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Under the hood, Ranger's brain will be built from 16,744 quad-core AMD Opteron processors. The machine's production timeline is dependent on how fast AMD can crank out the as-yet-unreleased chips, Bechtolsheim said."
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - iPhone May Signal Death of the Clickwheel (popularmechanics.com)

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: Steve Jobs and Co. are pitching the new iPhone as "our best iPod ever" and at the same time changing the basic user interface that made the iPod so successful. This is no small step, says Glenn Derene. In fact, he says, it is a sign of Apple's ambitions for the iPhone that the company was willing to abandon its signature clickwheel for the untested waters of the iPhone's multitouch display. Do we want our wheelies back?
Music

Day of Silence On the Internet 276

Posted by kdawson from the silence-speaks-louder-than-tracks dept.
A number of readers sent in stories about Net radio going dark for a day. Not all of it, but according to the Globe and Mail at least 45 stations representing thousands of channels. The stations are protesting a ruling establishing royalty rates that will put most of them out of business on July 15. "The ruling... is expected to cost large webcasters such as Yahoo and Real Networks millions of dollars, drive smaller websites like Pandora.com and Live365.com out of business and leave a large chunk of the 72 million Net radio listeners in the dark." SaveNetRadio has a page where US residents can locate their senators and representatives to call them today.
Editorial

Submission + - Immigration bill clears major hurdle in the Senate (yahoo.com)

Submitted by slashdotlurker
slashdotlurker writes: The Senate voted 64-35 Tuesday to jump-start a stalled immigration measure to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants. This was after the failure a few weeks ago of the bill. Hidden in the bill are certain startling provisions : The EB-1 category, used to help people with extraordinary abilities in sciences, sports, etc. to become legal residents of the US, is being abolished . In its place is a new points system where foreigners of extraordinary abilities (like Nobel Laureates etc.) will be treated under the same rules as low skilled workers, say from Latin America. Public opinion polls have consistently put support for this bill (and any immigration measure that is not preceded by credible enforcement of borders) to be below 25% (which is below the current level of support for the Iraq war). Yet, it seems well on its way to being passed. The question is — is representative system of government totally dead ?
Announcements

Submission + - New Wireless Tech from SiBEAM (WirelessHD Founder) (sibeam.com)

Submitted by
SiBEAM, Inc.
SiBEAM, Inc. writes: "SiBEAM would like to invite you to attend a Webinar to be held on Wednesday, June 27 at 9 a.m. (PDT). In a presentation and demo delivered by John LeMoncheck, President & CEO of SiBEAM, hear and see how SiBEAM's new wireless technology represents a new approach for wireless communications. A brief Q&A session will take place after the presentation. To register for the Webinar, please visit: https://sibeam.webex.com/ SiBEAM is fabless semiconductor company developing intelligent millimeter wave technologies and is also a pioneer in advanced wireless semiconductor solutions. It is the first company to build 60 GHz chipsets using standard, low cost CMOS technology. SiBEAM technology will enable consumers to enjoy the highest quality high definition experience, superior to any wireless solutions available today. SiBEAM is a founding member of the WirelessHD(TM) Special Interest Group, formed in 2006 to create a new interoperable standard based on 60GHz technology. Other members include leading consumer electronics giants LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), NEC Corporation, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, CO., LTD, SiBEAM, Inc., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation, SiBEAM intends to support the delivery of the first true uncompressed wireless high definition digital interface for A/V networks, the first of many applications for SiBEAM's innovative technology."
Security

Submission + - CIA Declassifies the "Family Jewels"

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: The CIA has recently declassified some records relating to illegal spying, assassination attempts, and other goodies for afternoon reading. These are available from the CIA's FOIA portal
From the article:
Last week, CIA chief Michael Hayden announced the decision to declassify the records, saying the documents were "unflattering but part of CIA history".
The documents detail assassination plots, domestic spying, wiretapping, and kidnapping.
The incidents include:
* the confinement of a Soviet KGB defector, Yuriy Ivanovich Nosenko, in the mid-1960s
* attempts to use a suspected Mafia mobster, Johnny Roselli, in a plot to assassinate Cuba's Fidel Castro
* the wiretapping and surveillance of journalists, including in 1972 columnist Jack Anderson who broke a string of scandals
Intel

Submission + - Intel Patches Flaws in Processors 4

Submitted by Nom du Keyboard
Nom du Keyboard writes: According to this article in The Inquirer and this Microsoft Knowledge Base article, a fix for some significant problems in many of Intel's most recent processors, including Core 2 Duo E4000/E6000, Core 2 Quad Q6600, Core 2 Xtreme X6800, XC6700 and XC6800 has been quietly released. Details on just what has been fixed are scanty (it's called a "reliability update"), however, it's probably more important than either Intel, or Microsoft, is openly admitting. Does this give the feeling of a cover-up?
Displays

Submission + - Transparent transistors promise bright future (pressesc.com)

Submitted by
amigoro
amigoro writes: "Researchers have created transparent transistors and circuits using nanotechnology opening up the potential for a broad range of applications, from e-paper and flexible color screens for consumer electronics to "smart cards" and "heads-up" displays in auto windshields, according to findings published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology."
Businesses

Submission + - Two Entrepreneurs Shake Up Online Shopping (searchbyheadlines.com)

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: CremeCrop.com, an online retailer launched this week by college students Mike Schneider and Bryan Welfel, bucks the trend of the overly complex online shopping industry. Unlike most online stores, CremeCrop.com does not force consumers to choose between hundreds of similar products described in cryptic technical terms. Instead, CremeCrop.com is designed to simplify online shopping by offering only one product, the best product, in each category of electronics- and explaining in plain English why that product has been chosen.
SuSE

Submission + - Linux Desktop Solution Supports Fundraiser (omni-ts.com)

Submitted by
Trevor Poapst
Trevor Poapst writes: "EDMONTON, Canada—26 June 2007—Canada-based Omni Technology Solutions has teamed up with Novell South Africa, Userful, and Pinnacle Micro to provide the Linux desktop computers for the "Let's Play a Million" South African telethon on June 27, 2007. Each of the telethon locations will be equipped with a five-user SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Using the Desktop Multiplier software, the single computer will allow five operators to work at the same time to enter pledges. The national telethon is a joint initiative of UNICEF, Supersport, the Department of Education of South Africa and five South African radio stations. The objective is to donate a million soccer balls to South African youth and promote child survival through sports and healthy living.

"Novell is proud to partner with Omni and Userful to provide affordable Linux desktops for this event. After the telethon, the computers will be donated to schools and further empower South African students", said Garry Hodgson, OEM Business Development Manager for Novell South Africa. "Not only does the Multiplied Linux Desktop Strategy help bridge the digital divide, it delivers a more affordable and environmentally-friendly desktop alternative for South African schools," continued Hodgson.

"What an exciting campaign to encourage youth participation in sports and healthy living," said Trevor Poapst, Director of Global Marketing for Omni. "Using the Desktop Multiplier, we were able to provide five independent user stations on a single PC. The Multiplied Desktop solution is perfect for organisations that are looking to maximise their computer hardware, infrastructure, electricity and management budget. We are pleased to work with Userful and Novell South Africa to contribute to the success of this initiative."

For more information on the Linux Desktop Multiplier, powered by Userful, go to: www.omni-ts.com/linux-desktop

For more information on the UNICEF "Let's Play a Million" promotion, go to:
About Omni

Omni delivers a portfolio of management, security, mobility, messaging and Linux desktop software products for enterprise users of Novell GroupWise, SUSE Linux, and mixed Novell and Microsoft networks. Omni is the exclusive worldwide distributor of the Desktop Multiplier software, powered by Userful, for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. www.omni-ts.com

About Userful

Userful is the global developer, pioneer and industry leader in Multi-station Linux computing: the high-performance, low-cost alternative to thin clients. Userful's powerful software transforms standard PCs to support up to 10 simultaneous monitors, keyboards and users, and has brought affordable desktop computing to hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. www.userful.com

Media Contacts

Trevor Poapst
Director, Global Marketing and Channel Strategy
Omni Technology Solutions
Phone: +1 780-423-4200 Ext. 228
www.omni-ts.com

Ben Li
Marketing and Public Relations
Userful
Phone: +1 403-289-2177 Ext. 223
www.userful.com

Garry Hodgson
OEM Business Development Manager
Novell South Africa
Phone: 27 11 322 8300
www.novell.com

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

###"
Privacy

Submission + - World of Warcraft ELUA contains malware clause (davis.ca)

Submitted by
Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward writes: "Read Section 5 of the WOW EULA (End-User License Agreement) and you might be concerned about allowing Blizzard Entertainment to "monitor" your machine for "unauthorized" third party software. Read Section 11 of the WOW EULA and you might be even more concerned because Blizzard seeks to limit its liability to "the total fees paid ... to Blizzard during the six (6) months prior to the time such claim arose". It remains to be seen whether clauses of this nature are in fact enforceable."
Wii

Submission + - Swedish musicians conduct concert with Wiimotes

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Utilizing some Wiimotes and a GlovePIE script, some Wii fans known as "ii" from Stockholm, Sweden managed to conduct a two-man concert recently. In the embedded video, their song "aa" is performed and we find ourselves to be in a mild state of awe. We just love what people can do with their Wiimotes!

The story and a video of the performance at www.nintendowiifanboy.com.
Mozilla

Submission + - Planned Firefox Support changes - input wanted

Submitted by
tqft
tqft writes: "Mozilla is planning a major change to how Firefox (and Firefox only) is supported

http://wiki.mozilla.org/Support:Overview
"To date, Mozilla community volunteers have provided user support for Firefox that has met and exceeded the needs of the technology users and the early adopters of Firefox. As Firefox's market share grows beyond early adopters, our user support needs to evolve. This Firefox Support Working Group has spent the last month doing research and community outreach (see below for details) on how Mozilla should evolve user support through a community based approach."

http://wiki.mozilla.org/images/9/98/Firefox-Suppor t-Mock-Homepa.png
http://wiki.mozilla.org/images/8/8d/Firefox_Suppor t_Work_Flow.png
http://wiki.mozilla.org/Support:PRD

What is to become of mozillazine?
http://groups.google.com/group/mozilla.support.pla nning/browse_thread/thread/ff3a4aa6c0e678f6/3eab18 1c18628574#3eab181c18628574

"
We should define what its role will be. Based on previous discussions,
this is my best guess:

-Firefox support KB content will be moved to sumo (the old articles
will have a redirect to the new)
-Sumo will take over the forum for Firefox Support. The Firefox
Support forum at mozillaZine will be closed. Other Firefox discussion
and non-Firefox discussion and support will remain at mozillaZine.
-Sumo will be the preferred support avenue for Firefox. The support
avenues for other products will remain unchanged.
-mozillaZine blogs and IRC will not be affected.
"

All this is currently proposed, under discussion and subject to change.

But if you have a view — you might want to get it heard before too long.

http://groups.google.com/group/mozilla.support.pla nning"
Java

Submission + - Just Published: Murach's Java SE 6 (murach.com)

Submitted by
Ben Murach
Ben Murach writes: "By the end of the first 6 chapters, you'll be writing bulletproof, object-oriented applications with business classes and objects. By the end of chapter 9, you'll be using OOP features like inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces, type-safe enumerations, and the factory pattern with ease. And by the end of the book, you'll be handling Swing applications, text, binary, and XML files, databases (including the Derby RDBMS), and more!"
Power

Submission + - Zap! to make $30,000 electric sports sedan

Submitted by Dave P
Dave P writes: Zap! is announcing it's plans to make an electric sports sedan that is significantly more affordable than current or slated electric sport vehicles. The new car has no name yet but is targeted for a $30,000 price tag and to have 100 mile range along with an 100mph top speed. It is derived from the Zap-X project and will include wheel hub electric motors. They say there will be more information released at their stockholder meeting in July. C-net has an article about the new car and there's a news blurb from Zap! on the zapworld website.

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