Comment Re:ads (Score 1) 175
Can you not buy "sim-only" plans in the US?
Comment Re:Apocalypse, Really? (Score 1) 293
I installed Windows 8 from the oem disk (In MS' packaging) I received when I bought the hardware. It failed the 8.1 update with only a hex code.
It took a month of googling to find the solution (and it was so obscure I've forgotten it now... either a registry change and/or modifying disk/partition flags)
If a fresh install from ms's own packaging could go so badly I'm not surprised so many people are having issues. Thankfully Update 1 installed without issue.
Comment Re:So (Score 2) 373
Not always...
It is my understanding that many games simply use Steam as a handy distrubution mechanism. There is nothing to say they must incorporate DRM. I'm pretty sure The Binding of Isaac is a good example...
Comment Re:Google needs to stop this (Score 1) 101
I'm disappointed... I came here expecting to read more of this "parody"...
You really were trying to suggest Google's behind it though weren't you. Ugh.
Comment wrong way round... (Score 1) 364
Microsoft sold you Windows (the monopoly?) and forced IE on you.
Google (or whoever) is selling you an Android phone and then letting you use Google Search (the monopoly?)
I don't see how you can compare the two? Even if you still think its unfair, then ah well lets just push an OTA with a "what search engine do you want?" and be done with it. Oh wait... my android already gave me that choice...
Comment For the record... (Score 1) 197
I'm from the UK and have had two small Huawei adsl modems delivered to me by isps.
BOTH included a little piece of paper with details of the gpl & where to get the source. Never followed up on it, but at least that slip was there which made me smile.
Comment Re:Let me be the first to say to Microsoft... (Score 1) 337
I can fully understand people not wanting to upgrade to Windows 7 due to hardware/driver constraints or program compatibility...but if neither of these things are problems, I say why not? Windows 7 is much more user friendly and easier to navigate (not to mention much more stable and secure, in my experience.)
Price
Comment Re:Fill 'er up! (Score 1) 431
I'm not from the US, but I have several old tv's that don't even have a scart port. If his are similarly old, then yes, useless.
Unless I want to watch old vhs or play an old console I guess...
Comment Re:What a waste of tax money! (Score 2, Funny) 156
Engineers don't work in factories, troll...
People who work in factories are mostly drones or technicians at best (with an occasional engineer to...
I don't think you wrote what you meant. Let me edit it for you: "Engineers don't work in factories, except for when they do. Thankyou very much for your input to the discussion, here ends my respectful reply."
Submission + - Judge rejects SCO's motion for a new trial (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader writes: A judge has rejected SCO's motion for a new trial in the company's dispute over UNIX intellectual property ownership. The ruling validates a verdict that was issued in April by a jury which determined that Novell, and not SCO, is the rightful owner of the UNIX SVRX copyrights. This means that SCO cannot continue to pursue its litigation against IBM and other Linux users. "There was substantial evidence that Novell made an intentional decision to retain ownership of the copyrights," the Judge wrote in his decision. "The Court finds that the verdict is not clearly, decidedly, or overwhelmingly against the weight of the evidence. Therefore, SCO is not entitled to a new trial."
Scambaiting Gets Comical; Internet Scammers All Dressed Up 178
Nurse Nasty writes "Scambaiting is a fun and relaxing full-contact email sport. It's all about baiting Internet and email scammers into exposing themselves and sharing that humiliation with the entire world. Recently I baited four different groups of Internet scammers into being comic book action super-heroes, and then giving them their own 10-page graphic novel. It's a bit of fun and eduction through entertainment." (Warning: The comic contains a bit of naughty language.)
Submission + - TSA Subpoenas Bloggers over New Security Directive
Hugh Pickens writes: "The NY Times reports that TSA special agents have served subpoenas to travel bloggers Steve Frischling and Chris Elliott demanding that they reveal who leaked a TSA directive outlining new screening measures that went into effect the same day as the Detroit airliner incident. Frischling said he met with two TSA special agents for about three hours and was forced to hand over his laptop computer after the agents threatened to interfere with his contract to write a blog for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines if he didn't cooperate and provide the name of the person who leaked the memo outlining new security measures that would be apparent to the traveling public. ''It literally showed up in my box,'' Frischling told The Associated Press. ''I do not know who it came from.'' Frischling says he provided the agents a signed statement to that effect. The leaked directive included measures such as screening at boarding gates, patting down the upper legs and torso, physically inspecting all travelers' belongings, looking carefully at syringes with powders and liquids, requiring that passengers remain in their seats one hour before landing, and disabling all onboard communications systems, including what is provided by the airline. In a December 29 posting on his blog, Elliott said he had told the TSA agents at his house that he would call his lawyer and get back to them."
Submission + - Quantum Encryption Implementation Broken (events.ccc.de)
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes: "Professor Johannes Skaar's Quantum Hacking group at NTNU have found a new way to break quantum encryption. Even though quantum encryption is theoretically perfect, real hardware isn't, and they exploit these flaws. Their technique relies on a particular way of blinding the single photon detectors so that they're able to perform an intercept-resend attack and get a copy of the secret key without giving away the fact that someone is listening. This attack is not merely theoretical, either. They have built an eavesdropping device and successfully attacked their own quantum encryption hardware. More details can be found in their conference presentation."
Journal Journal: Best 64 bit Linux dedicated hosting?
I am rewriting my website as a 64bit C++ FastCGI. I know I should probably use a higher level language or a more a conventional approach, but I am crazy and hoping that somehow my mad plan will work.
Submission + - Geoengineering Snow in Moscow, Fail! (globalpost.com)
dinoyum writes: Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov's promise of a winter without snow in the capitol city has fallen short. While cloud seeding is not a new concept for Russia, often used on major holidays, geoengineering snow has never been done to that magnitude. Carrying off the $6 million procedure required Jets to spray silver iodide into coming clouds, ensuring that all precipitation fall before it reached the capital. However a combination of disrupted radar, wind control, and faulty weathermen have been blamed by Luzhkov's for his failed attempt at playing mother nature. For now, Russia can go back to enjoying snow.
