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Could We Beam Broadband Internet Into Iran? 541

Posted by timothy from the extend-the-tubes dept.
abenamer writes "Some reporter at a recent White House press briefing just asked the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, this question: Was 'the White House....considering beaming broad capability into Iran via satellite so the opposition forces would be able to communicate with themselves and the outside world?' 'Gibbs said he didn't know such a thing was possible. (Is it?) But he said he would check on the technological feasibility and get back with an answer.' I'm not sure what the reporter meant by beaming broadband into Iran: Do they even have 3G? Would we bomb the Iranians with SIM cards that would allow them to get text messages from the VOA? Or somehow put up massive Wi-Fi transmitters from Iraq and beam it into Iran? How would you beam broadband into Iran?"
Databases

Oracle Beware — Google Tests Cloud-Based Database 123

Posted by Soulskill from the db-two-point-oh dept.
narramissic writes "On Tuesday, the same day Google held a press event to launch its Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook, the company quietly announced in its research team blog a new online database called Fusion Tables. Under the hood of Fusion Tables is data-spaces technology, which would 'allow Google to add to the conventional two-dimensional database tables a third coordinate with elements like product reviews, blog posts, Twitter messages and the like, as well as a fourth dimension of real-time updates,' according to Stephen E. Arnold, a technology and financial analyst. 'So now we have an n-cube, a four-dimensional space, and in that space we can now do new kinds of queries which create new kinds of products and new market opportunities,' said Arnold, whose research about this topic includes a study done for IDC last August. 'If you're IBM, Microsoft and Oracle, your worst nightmare is now visible.'"

Comment Key combo not working? Enable it by hand (Score 1) 187

by Rabenwolf (#20440567) Attached to: Google Earth Flight Simulator
The key combo to enable the flightsim is reported to vary, I had to press Ctrl+WinKey+A to enable it (Kubuntu).

In case you're having difficulties, try changing the value in the file .googleearth/Registry/google/googleearthplus/User/ flightsim/isenabled manually from 0 to 1 and the flightsim should appear in the tools menu.

Feed Police will share data across Europe (theregister.com)

From feed by registerfeed
Against privacy chief's advice

European police forces will have easier access to each others' information on criminals and suspects after ministers agreed a new data swap system. But Europe's data protection chief told OUT-LAW that his concerns over the system had been sidelined.

Feed Oral-B Triumph intelligent toothbrush makes sure you brush correctly (engadget.com)

From feed by engfeed

Filed under: Household


Proving that adding an LCD screen and a radio transmitter are sure-fire ways to improve even the lowliest of products, Oral-B has unveiled the latest in its Triumph line of intelligent toothbrushes. The multi-head brush, which has 4 programmable cleaning patterns, communicates with a mirror-mounted LCD display that instructs you on where and how long to brush, and warns you if you're brushing too hard -- just like mom. The handle keeps track of data if you step out of range of the dispay and re-syncs when you come back to spit, so you'll never miss a stroke. Apparently these go on sale in September for $150, but we're going to stick with our Tooth Tunes -- what's a little less polish when you can brush up to The Clash?

[Via SlashGear]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Space

Submission + - ISS computer failure (space.com)

Submitted by WUNHJazz
WUNHJazz writes: Space.com (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070614_iss_c omputer_crash.html) reports that the three Russian control computers aboard the International Space Station have shut down, and are not rebooting. The US computers that perform the same functions are operational, but the shuttle departure may be delayed.
Microsoft

Submission + - FAA May Ditch Vista For Linux

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: In what could be the start of a government wave away from Microsoft, last week's news that the U.S. Department of Transportation is putting a halt on upgrades to Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 7 is followed today by word that the Federal Aviation Administration may ditch Vista and Office in favor of Google's new online business applications running on Linux-based hardware. FAA chief information officer David Bowen told InformationWeek he's taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google Apps as he mulls replacements for the agency's Windows XP-based desktop computers. Bowen cited several reasons why he finds Google Apps attractive. "From a security and management standpoint that would have some advantages," he said. Do you think that Vista's cost could finally put a crimp in what's been an automatic upgrade cycle to Microsoft and spur Linux adoption? Is this the start of some kind of anti-Vista groundswell?
Google

Submission + - Tax Accounting Evil at Google?

Submitted by
theodp
theodp writes: "In its annual report, Google said it's done no tax-accounting evil, but the search giant acknowledged that both the IRS and SEC are taking a look at the way in which it accounts for income tax. Google is one of a number of U.S. companies that have come under fire for allegedly practicing 'profit laundering', i.e., moving book profits offshore to evade millions and even billions in taxes to the country where it really operates. In past SEC filings, Google has credited its Irish subsidiary for reducing its effective tax rate."
Windows

Submission + - Windows Vista keygen is a hoax

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: The author of the Windows Vista keygen that was reported yesterday on Slashdot has admitted that the program does not actually work. Here is the initial announcement of the original release of the keygen, and here is the followup post in which the same author acknowledges that the program is fake. Apparently, the keygen program does legitimately attack Windows Vista keys via brute force, but the chances of success are too low for this to be a practical method. Quote from the author: "everyone who said they got a key a probably lying or mistaken!"
User Journal

Journal Journal: Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming

Journal by mauriziop

Global warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to solve this problem: each one of us can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.
United States

Submission + - Patent Office Head Lays Out Reform Strategy

Submitted by
jeevesbond
jeevesbond writes: "
The patent system is not broken, just not perfect. That is the viewpoint of Jon Dudas, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Dundas also talks of other improvements planned by the USPTO, including employing more examiners and allowing third-parties to submit information to patent submissions."

Q&A with Firefox's Blake Ross 145

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the looking-forward-to-looking-forward dept.
dotlin writes to tell us the Seattle PI is running a lengthy and interesting interview with Firefox's Blake Ross. In the interview Ross addresses many of the issues surrounding the future of Firefox including their attempt to streamline Firefox in 2.0, the feature comparison between Firefox and IE, different ways of measuring browser market share, and many more.

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