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Comment Change the Display Language (Score 1) 695

by AndrewM1 (#28182883) Attached to: Keeping a PC Personal At School?

Might not be an option for you, but if you speak any other language, just change the Windows/Mac/Linux system language to it.

I can't count the number of people who've asked to use my laptop, been challenged by "Cet ordinateur est utilisé et a été verrouillé ... Appuyez sur Ctrl-Alt-Suppr pour déverrouiller cet ordinateur" (or even just noticed that the Start Menu is labeled "Démarrer") and have gone "Oh, well... I'll ask John over there then, I guess."

Also, even if people know that English is your native language, you can claim that you're trying to learn and that you've changed your computer over to get some practise with it. No need to have people think that you're intentionally trying to prevent them from using your system.
Graphics

Submission + - Drawing on Air

Submitted by
Roland Piquepaille
Roland Piquepaille writes: "In a recent article, PhysOrg.com reports that a team of computer scientists at Brown University has developed Drawing on Air, a haptic-aided interface to help artists to create 3D illustrations while wearing a virtual reality mask. 'The technique introduces two new strategies, using one hand or two hands, to give artists the tools they need for drawing different types of curves, and for viewing and editing their work.' The researchers hope that these techniques will improve the precision with which scientists can interact with their 3D data using a computer. This also would help artists to illustrate complicated artistic, scientific, and medical subjects. Read more for additional details and several pictures made with this system, a bat flight, a bearded man and a Swahili bride."
Google

Submission + - New version of Gmail being tested (zdnet.com) 2

Submitted by Keith
Keith writes: Gmail was launched on April 1, 2004, and has revolutionized the way many of us use email. The interface has remained largely untouched since it launched, but get ready, it's soon to undergo a change in what they describe as a "New Version". Only a select few people have access to use the new interface — mainly employees and trusted people outside the company called "Trusted Testers".
Privacy

Submission + - Mandatory Keyloggers in Mumbai's Cyber Cafes

Submitted by YIAAL
YIAAL writes: Indian journalist Amit Varma reports that Mumbai's police are requiring Internet cafes to install keystroke loggers, which will capture every keystroke by users and turn that information over to the government. Buy things online, and the underpaid Indian police will have your credit card number. "Will these end up getting sold in a black market somewhere? Not unlikely."
Privacy

Submission + - Police busted after tracking device found on car (stuff.co.nz)

Submitted by uh oh
uh oh writes: A New Zealand police operation to covertly follow a Central Otago man came to an abrupt halt this week when the man found tracking devices planted in his car, ripped them out and listed them for auction on Trade Me. Ralph Williams, of Cromwell, said he found the devices last week in his daughter's car, which he uses, and in his flatmate's car after the cars were seized by police and taken away for investigation.
The Internet

Wikipedia's Search Engine Plan 102

Posted by CmdrTaco from the just-because-you-can dept.
jasonoik writes "Wikia, the commercial company founded by Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales, reveals plans for a new, editable search engine. They say that the goal of the project is to get 5% of the search market. The service does not yet an official release date. The article also leaves open the possibility that the search results may contain ads, and concludes by listing figures of the web advertisement market." Update: 03/11 17:24 GMT by KD : Wikia and Wikipedia are separate companies.

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