Comment Re:Gee, what a *GREAT* idea (Score 1) 472
This isn't theft, it's (alleged) copyright infringement.
Submission + - GIMP 2.4 on the Home Stretch (cybernetnews.com)
johnr writes: GIMP 2.4 is on the home stretch, and just today they made the first release candidate available. The new version sports a refreshed look with some eye-pleasing icons, advanced selection tools, fullscreen editing, and much more. They've also begun the process of creating a new site that has a Web 2.0 feel to it!
Submission + - Skype Implodes (skype.com)
nick writes: I can't believe I'm the only person to have submitted this, but, as I'm sure many of you have noticed, the Skype P2P network spontaneously combusted earlier today, leaving the vast majority of their users unable to login. Their forums also seem to have imploded, but before they did so it was determined that it was just coincidence that Microsoft had released a whole bunch of patches yesterday, as Mac and Linux users were also affected (unless of course their servers are running Windows).
Submission + - iPhone/iTunes 7.3.2 Requires MS Outlook for PC (apple.com)
Anonymous Coward 2.0 writes: I got an iPhone and was reasonably happy. There has only been one major issue... on the PC platform, the only program to sync calendars to is a full version of Outlook (Express won't do). That was annoying and represented a $65 hidden cost (under my company's MS Employee purchase plan). I get paid fairly well so I just shelled it out. But now with the new iTunes Apple has made it mandatory that MS Outlook be the default mail client!
Submission + - Hungary Officials Raid Microsoft Office (foxnews.com)
Steve writes: "Hungary's state Competition Authority raided the offices of Microsoft Corp.'s local subsidiary as part of a probe into the company's relationship with large software distributors. The raid took place at the offices of Microsoft Magyarorszag Kft., and was spurred by reports of Microsoft using a potentially illegal trade practice referred to as "loyalty discounts". The intent "loyalty discounts" is to influence distributors so they won't offer clients anything but Microsoft Office products, a behavior that may violate European Union rules."
Submission + - Microsoft puppets spamming ANSI to support OOXML
zoobab writes: "ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, is publishing on a day to day basis all the comments received on the proposed Microsoft Office OpenXML specification to become an ISO standard. All the recent submissions in support of the Microsoft specification looks very similar to this contribution, and one of the contributor even mentioned that "Even though this is a form letter from Microsoft I thought I would add this personal touch"."
Submission + - ECMAScript 4 Reference Implementation Released (ecmascript-lang.org)
mad.frog writes: "Dave Herman has posted a note on lambda-the-ultimate.org announcing that the first pre-release of the reference implementation of ECMAScript Edition 4 (a.k.a. JavaScript 2) is now available. Language geeks will be interested to find that the reference implementation of ECMAScript is being written in Standard ML, rather than pseudocode."
Submission + - Windows admin resources for seasoned Linux admins
Psiren writes: In six months or so my colleague is planning to leave and I will take over responsibility for the Windows servers. I have been a Linux/Unix sysadmin for many years, and have of course managed Windows machines in that time, but never to any great depth. I have worked closely with my colleague over the last few years to integrate our Windows and Linux systems as much as possible, so I am familiar with the basics, but am also well aware of the significant differences between the two. I am interested in finding resources that will be useful to help me in this transition. Recommendations for decent admin books for Windows Server 2003 would be a good start, especially those written from the more technical standpoint. Useful websites are generally a google away, but if you have any favourites I'd appreciate some links. Any other advice (other than "Don't do it!") is welcome.
Submission + - Google, Microsoft and Yahoo DNS records hacked (thecoils.com)
Yaron Orenstein writes: "I wanted to point your attention to a very interesting story we have found two days ago and just published. The DNS records of three of the top world Internet companies Google, Microsoft and Yahoo has been hacked.
I have published the whole story in English here: http://www.thecoils.com/2007/06/08/google_microsof t_yahoo_dns_hack/"
Submission + - "Nude" scene forces Microsoft to delay Hal
Mike writes: "Microsoft on Friday revealed that it has delayed release of Halo 2 for Vista in the U.S. due to the appearance of partial nudity in some of the game's content. A 2MB update was posted on the Halo 2 site Tuesday. The update, said the Microsoft spokesman, "removes the content error" and thus the nudity. "It's optional," he added. This delay comes right on top of the recent announcement that the Halo 2 for Windows Vista would be delayed until May 31st, the second delay for the title in only one month."
Journal Journal: MA-based Group Calls for Free Software in Gov't
Members of the Massachusetts-based free software activist group Binary Freedom have started a campaign asking the state and local governments of the Commonwealth to make an exclusive switch to free software. The campaign, which is hosted on the governor's independent MyIssue Web site, cites the following primary reason for making the switch:
Submission + - University Rejects Google for Its Privacy Scruples
freepay writes: "In a weird case with implications for personal autonomy, The Daily Pennsylvanian student newspaper reported that the University of Pennsylvania wanted Google instead of Microsoft to replace its crash-prone email system — but selected Microsoft instead. According to the article, the key issue was that Google did not want to include applications such as Blogger within the contract.
"'We felt that it was appropriate to keep a separation between the information that administrators would have access to in Google Apps and some of the more consumer applications that students would want to use and control in their personal lives,' Rajen Sheth, product manager for Google Apps for Education, wrote in an e-mail."
"Microsoft, on the other hand, was extremely easy to work with...""
"'We felt that it was appropriate to keep a separation between the information that administrators would have access to in Google Apps and some of the more consumer applications that students would want to use and control in their personal lives,' Rajen Sheth, product manager for Google Apps for Education, wrote in an e-mail."
"Microsoft, on the other hand, was extremely easy to work with...""
Submission + - Ogg-Vorbis player available on chip
korbin_dallas writes: I found this poking around the Sparkfun website.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php? products_id=8300
From the manufaturers website:
http://www.vlsi.fi/vs1000/vs1000.shtml
"VS1000 is a single-chip Ogg Vorbis (license-free audio codec) player. VS1000 contains a high-performance low-power DSP core VS_DSP4, Nand Flash interface, Full Speed USB port, general purpose I/O pins, SPI, UART, as well as a high-quality variable-sample-rate stereo DAC, and an earphone amplifier and a common voltage buffer. The device also features internal voltage regulators and voltage monitor. VS1000 can be powered from one supply voltage."
So now you have no excuse, get out there and build that Ogg-Vorb player! Only $10 for the chip.
How long do you all think it will be before we get a descent Ogg player or is it already too late, and MP3s have it locked up?
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php
From the manufaturers website:
http://www.vlsi.fi/vs1000/vs1000.shtml
"VS1000 is a single-chip Ogg Vorbis (license-free audio codec) player. VS1000 contains a high-performance low-power DSP core VS_DSP4, Nand Flash interface, Full Speed USB port, general purpose I/O pins, SPI, UART, as well as a high-quality variable-sample-rate stereo DAC, and an earphone amplifier and a common voltage buffer. The device also features internal voltage regulators and voltage monitor. VS1000 can be powered from one supply voltage."
So now you have no excuse, get out there and build that Ogg-Vorb player! Only $10 for the chip.
How long do you all think it will be before we get a descent Ogg player or is it already too late, and MP3s have it locked up?
Submission + - ReactOS Revealed
reactosfanboy writes: DRM Hacker Alex Ionescu explains the internals of ReactOS in a recent talk. Ionescu indicates that ReactOS is nearly 100% binary and API compatible with the Windows 2003 kernel, and that they are aiming for full Vista compatibility. Ionescu attempted to demonstrate ReactOS but only managed to successfully install it after two BSoD's. This alone should make it clear that ReactOS is still not ready for prime time.
Submission + - The Ubuntu Craze: Is Linux Desktop Ready?
tdanylak writes: "Are Linux Desktop OSes ready for the general users? Does Ubuntu pave the way to the ultimate replacement of Windows in our home's computers or does it still has way to go in terms of ease of use and reliability. The author of this article discusses the above question from the perspective of someone who's comfortable with Linux and gives an example of his father testing out the Ubuntu OS. Based on the two experiences the author answers the above question. What do you think, is Ubuntu Linux ready for the masses?
The Ubuntu Craze: Is Linux Desktop Ready?"
The Ubuntu Craze: Is Linux Desktop Ready?"
