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Submission + - Huge security hole in recent Samsung devices (xda-developers.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A huge security hole has been discovered in recent Samsung devices including phones like the Galaxy S2 and S3. It is possible for every user to obtain root due to a custom faulty memory device created by Samsung.
Movies

Submission + - Discworld Fan Film Possibly the Largest Scale Fan Film Ever (snowgumfilms.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: After clocking in at $82,000 on their Kickstarter campaign, two Troll Bridge trailers have been released online showing helicopter shots in New Zealand and a large scale bridge set that was built and shot on.

A Behind the Scenes has also been released demonstrating what fans are now actually capable of given decent crowd-funding.

The film has finished shooting and is expected to be released next year. Sir Terry Pratchett has been apparently thrilled with the progress.
Science

Submission + - Confusion and Criticism over ENCODE's Claims (arstechnica.com) 1

Submitted by As_I_Please
As_I_Please writes: In response to the previous report of the ENCODE project discovering "biochemical functions for 80 percent of the genome," many scientists have questioned what was meant by "function." Ars Technica Science Editor John Timmer wrote an article calling ENCODE's definition of functionality "broad to the point of being meaningless. At worst, it was actively misleading." Nature magazine also has a followup discussing the ambiguity surrounding the 80% figure and claims about junk DNA.

Submission + - Author Threatens to Sue Book Reviewers over Trademark Infringement (the-digital-reader.com)

Submitted by Nate the greatest
Nate the greatest writes: Do you know what is crazier than sending DMCA notices to a site like Lendink which doesn't host any content? It's when an author threatens to sue book reviewers over trademarks. Jazan Wild, a comics creator, is sending out threatening emails to any and all book blogs who review a recently published book called Carnival of Souls. The book was written by Melissa Marr, and it happens to use a title which Jazan Wild owns the registered trademark. He's also suing the publisher for trademark infringement, but HarperCollins is laughing it off. The book blog Bookalicious posted the email they got from Jazan. Needless to say they did not take down the review.
Media

Submission + - Director of "Elephants Dream" releasing new Blender-animated film, "Tube" (kickstarter.com)

Submitted by
TheSilentNumber
TheSilentNumber writes: "Bassam Kurdali's free culture 3D animation, "Tube" is nearing the final stages of production. Tube is a collaborative effort between 56 artists from 22 countries...some of which are at war. After directing the first of the Blender Institute's "Open Movie Projects", Elephants Dream, Bassam wanted to prove the viability of free cultural works and usability of free software like Blender and PiTiVi for independent filmmakers. Just a few days after launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the project, the goal has been met, which means we should see the final release in 7 months!"
The Military

Submission + - US Journalists Targeted by Pentagon Propaganda Contractors (usatoday.com)

Submitted by Jeremiah Cornelius
Jeremiah Cornelius writes: While conducting investigative reporting on civilian contractors in the Pentagon's "InfoOps" Internet propaganda operations, two reporters found themselves the subject of a highly targeted, professional media manipulation effort. Reporter Tom Vanden Brook and Editor Ray Locker found that Twitter and Facebook accounts have been created in their names, along with a Wikipedia entry and dozens of message board postings and blog comments. Websites were registered in their names. Some postings merely copied Vanden Brook's and Locker's previous reporting. Others accused them of being sponsored by the Taliban. "I find it creepy and cowardly that somebody would hide behind my name and presumably make up other names in an attempt to undermine my credibility," Vanden Brook said. If these websites were created using federal funds, it could violate federal law prohibiting the production of propaganda for domestic consumption.

Submission + - Better than iPad 3 Displays: Next Generation Pixel Qi screens (pixelqi.com)

Submitted by seb42
seb42 writes: Pixel Qi announces new screen that we can match or exceed the image quality of the screen in the iPad3.

With a very low power mode that runs at a full 100X power reduction from the peak power consumed by the iPad3 screen.

Hope the google tablet has this tech.

Submission + - Judge Say Kim Dotcom May Never Be Tried, Let Alone Extradited (nzherald.co.nz)

Submitted by
vik
vik writes: "As Megaupload's Kim Dotcom's megafarce trial continues, the New Zealand Herald reports that his alleged offence not only falls below the threshold for extradition, but also the warrant may not be properly served. "My understanding as to why they haven't done that is because they can't. We don't believe Megaupload can be served in a criminal matter because it is not located within the jurisdiction of the United States," says Megaupload's lawyer Ira Rothken.

Not surprisingly, Kim Dotcom has a few choice words to say about having his business trashed this way, with 220 jobs lost, and millions left without access to their legitimate data."
Android

Submission + - Lindholm Testifies that Java Memo was Misinterpreted (wsj.com)

Submitted by
benfrog
benfrog writes: "Ex-Sun and current Google employee Tim Lindholm testified that it was "not what he meant" when asked about the smoking gun email (included here that essentially said that Google needed to get a license for Java because all the alternatives "suck[ed]". He went on in "brief but tense testimony" to claim that his day-to-day involvement with Android was limited."
Privacy

Submission + - Whistleblower: NSA has all of your email (democracynow.org)

Submitted by mspohr
mspohr writes: From DemocracyNow!
National Security Agency whistleblower William Binney reveals he believes domestic surveillance has become more expansive under President Obama than President George W. Bush. He estimates the NSA has assembled 20 trillion "transactions" — phone calls, emails and other forms of data — from Americans. This likely includes copies of almost all of the emails sent and received from most people living in the United States. Binney talks about Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and challenges NSA Director Keith Alexander’s assertion that the NSA is not intercepting information about U.S. citizens.
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/whistleblower_the_nsa_is_lying_us

Submission + - Scorpions may have lessons to teach aircraft designers (economist.com)

Submitted by
elloGov
elloGov writes: ""THE north African desert scorpion, Androctonus australis, is a hardy creature. Most animals that live in deserts dig burrows to protect themselves from the sand-laden wind. Not Androctonus. It usually toughs things out at the surface. Yet when the sand whips by at speeds that would strip paint away from steel, the scorpion is able to scurry off without apparent damage."
Dr Han Zhiwu of Jilin University and colleagues have found that surface irregularity in aircraft design could substantially minimize atmospheric dust damage that aircrafts endure. What implications if at all significant would such design have on drag and lift?"
Android

Submission + - An easy way to curb smart-phone thieves (sfgate.com)

Submitted by xx_chris
xx_chris writes: Cell carriers can and do brick jail broken cell phones but they won't brick stolen cell phones. Except in Australia. The Australians apparently have been doing this for 10 years and it reduces violent crime since the thieves know they won't be able to sell the stolen phone. The FA points out that cell carriers have a financial disincentive to do this since a stolen phone means another sale.
Apple

Submission + - Apple can't block sale of Samsung devices (edibleapple.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: In April of 2011, Apple kicked off what would soon become a global and complex series of litigation disputes when it sued Samsung in the US claiming that its line of Galaxy smartphones and tablets infringed upon Apple’s intellectual property and were nothing more than “slavish” copies. As part of its suit, Apple requested a preliminary injunction that would bar Samsung from selling said products in the US.

This past Friday, Judge Lucy Koh denied Apple’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

Submission + - Touchscreen device for the elderly?

Submitted by Lord Byron II
Lord Byron II writes: My grandma is in her 80's, is bed-ridden, in a nursing home, and is basically reaching the end of her life. Her legs are weak, meaning that she is confined to her bed, and her hearing is pretty much gone. Her sight is good and her mental facilities are still there, but even so, she spends most of her days just watching daytime TV, like the Price is Right and talk shows. The family has tasked me with finding her an easy-to-use, not overly expensive device that would mentally challenge her. Ideally, I would like to get something iPad like so that she could play card games and such. But the Internet connectivity and advanced features are completely unnecessary. Is there a simple device that will let her easily play some games?
Android

Submission + - Spanish Firm Wins Tablet Case Against Apple (blogspot.com)

Submitted by pmontra
pmontra writes: A Spanish company has won a legal case against Apple and will be able to sell an Android tablet that Apple had claimed infringes on the iPad patent. It is now seeking damages from Apple for a temporary seizure of its products by Spanish customs. Furthermore they are pursuing an antitrust complaint against Apple, alleging abusive anticompetitive behavior.

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