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Books

Submission + - Top Ten Strangest or Cruellest Science Experiments 1

Submitted by
aalobode
aalobode writes: "The Times of London has a current story based on the review of a book by Alex Boase, Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments. There they list the top science experiments — including the one from which the book gets its name — that were conducted by otherwise sane humans who tragically or otherwise ignored the effect of their research on the subjects themselves. Nowadays, most institutions have a review board for research on human subjects which would flag most proposals that could lead to harm for the subjects, but not so in the past. See for yourself at the url http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2779808.ece?OTC-HPtoppuff&ATTR=elephants"
Businesses

Submission + - Is Apple doing all it can to beat Vista?

Submitted by aalobode
aalobode writes: The NYTimes is running an article on the narrowing window that Apple has for beating Microsoft's Vista. According the NYT, not enough has been done to capitalize on the Mac user experience versus the "world of hurt that is Vista" and it also points out that that restructuring of Apple leaves ambiguities about Apple's exact commitment to the computer end of its business. The article calls MS Vista's certified vendors, developers and driver writers a flywheel that takes a while to come up to speed and then becomes unstoppable. Check it at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/technology/16digi.html
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - Can Apple+ATT shut down iPhone Unlockers? (businessweek.com)

Submitted by aalobode
aalobode writes: Do Apple and AT&T have the legal right to stop hackers from selling unlocked iPhones? Under their terms, only AT&T may sell iPhones, and Apple gets a commission. When unlocked iPhones are used on other providers' networks, AT&T and hence Apple get nothing beyond what they earned on the initial sale of the hardware. Can they prohibit unlocking? Reselling? The article in Businessweek gives the for and against arguments, but appears to indicate that the hackers have the law on their side for once.
The Internet

Submission + - Tim Berners-Lee discusses the future of the Web

Submitted by maximus1
maximus1 writes: In this exclusive interview, Tim Berners-Lee explains his vision of the Semantic Web. He says: "The Semantic Web is going to take off particularly when we see people using it for data processing, when we see people using it in more and more things, adding personal data, adding files to government data." His position on net neutrality. "We've seen cable companies trying to prevent using the Internet for Internet phones. I am concerned about this, and am working, with many other committed people, to keep it from happening. I think it's very important to keep an open Internet for whoever you are. This is called Net neutrality. It's very important to preserve Net neutrality for the future." And a fun tidbit — He mentions his 1989 memo to his boss at CERN that described his vision for the Web.
Databases

First "Real" Benchmark for PostgreSQL 275

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the waiting-for-the-opportune-moment dept.
anticlimate writes "A new benchmark published on SPEC shows PostgreSQL's performance approaching that of Oracle's and surpassing or on par with MySQL (however the test-hardwares of the other DB systems are somewhat different). The test was put together by PostgreSQL's core developers working at Sun. They certainly are not unbiased, but this is the first 'real' benchmark with PostgreSQL — according to Josh Berkus's blog. The main difference compared to earlier benchmarks (and anecdotes) seems to be the tuning of PostgreSQL."
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - ATT&T iPhone Activation Hell (thomashawk.com)

Submitted by
Thomas Hawk
Thomas Hawk writes: "Unfortunately it appears that the activations with Apple's new iPhone have gone FUBAR. After waiting in line 36 hours (number 8 in line) on Thursday and Friday I'm still unable to activate my phone. I'm documenting the AT&T circus call by call on my blog. http://thomashawk.com/2007/06/activating-new-iphon e-thus-far-is-pain.html I've had my hold calls dropped, been patched into other users unable to activate their phone instead of AT&T customer service reps, been told that my wife must get a new phone and that the family plan can't work for me. I've been told that the problem is that I'm not putting a new chip into my iPhone in the slot on the left side of my phone when no slot there exists. PR Blogger Steve Rubel has also been documenting his problems on his Twitterstream http://twitter.com/steverubel. According to an unscientific poll being conducted by Engadget about half of the people who bought iPhones have had activation trouble with about 38% of problems still unresolved. http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/01/poll-got-iphone -activation-problems/. We've been documenting the last 36 hours or so of iPhone activation hell live on ZooomrTV. http://zooomr.com/tv."
Privacy

Submission + - Google adjusts user privacy policy -- slightly (computerworld.com)

Submitted by
Lucas123
Lucas123 writes: "Google's global privacy counsel posted a blog yesterday stating that the company would make data that it stores about users anonymous after 18 months. The blog came in response to a letter the company received last month from a European Union data protection working group regarding Google's privacy policies. 'In its letter, the Article 29 Working Party ... asked Google to explain why it needed to keep user data for 18 to 24 months.' A report released last week by Privacy International ranked Google worse than any other Internet company in protecting the privacy of its users."
The Courts

Submission + - Public Videotaping is Wiretapping?

Submitted by AtomicSnarl
AtomicSnarl writes: When the Carlisle, PA, police noticed their traffic stop was being videotaped, they arrested the video taper for felony wiretapping. From the story: 'Kelly is charged under a state law that bars the intentional interception or recording of anyone's oral conversation without their consent.'

Hasn't it already been settled about the 'expectations of privacy' in a public place? What of the next Rodney King tape? What about cell phone video with sound showing up on YouTube? Political Speeches where it's open to the public, but a 'no camera' policy? Newshound video sold to the local TV station — Will/can they then charge you with wiretapping for recording anyway?
Portables (Apple)

Submission + - World's Thinnest Laptop

Submitted by aalobode
aalobode writes: According to a new Business Week Article, Intel has developed a new, ultra-thin (as thin as a Razr) laptop designed as a fashion accessory, with looks and function both taken into account. From the article: The result, code-named Intel mobile Metro notebook, is less than 0.7 inches thick — about one-quarter of an inch thicker than Motorola's (MOT) iconic cell phone, making it the world's thinnest notebook. And at 2.25 pounds, it's also one of the lightest small-sized portable computers. Other features include always-on Internet connectivity via various wireless technologies.
Toys

Submission + - Polyethylene Bulletproof Vests better than Kevlar

Submitted by teflonscout
teflonscout writes: When I think of bulletproof vests, the first word that comes to mind is Kevlar. Wired is running a story on Dynema SB61, a bulletproof material that is made of polyethylene. It is a higher grade of the plastic found in Tupperware. The story also mentions the recall of Second Chance bulletproof vests that were made from Zylon, a material that degraded slowly when exposed to moisture. At least one police officer was injured when a bullet penetrated his Zylon vest. Polyethylene is impervious to moisture. The first vests made from this new material are 5mm thick and can stop at 9mm bullet traveling at 1777 feet per second, which is slightly better than other top of the line vests.
Mars

Surprising Further Evidence for a Wet Mars 192

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the slippery-when-wet dept.
Riding with Robots writes "When the robotic geologist Spirit found the latest evidence for a wet Mars, 'You could hear people gasp in astonishment,' said Steve Squyres, the lead scientist for the Mars rovers. 'This is a remarkable discovery. And the fact that we found something this new and different after nearly 1,200 days on Mars makes it even more remarkable. It makes you wonder what else is still out there.' The latest discovery, announced today, adds compelling new evidence for ancient conditions that might have been favorable for life, according to the rover team."
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft Pressures Testers After Software Leak

Submitted by
narramissic
narramissic writes: "ITworld reports that Microsoft is 'taking tough measures to find out who leaked a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Windows Home Server to The Hotfix.net blog.' The software preview was posted on the site by a user named 'Richard' soon after it was released to a small group of testers.

In an e-mail to MVPs whose names contain 'Richard,' Kevin Beares, the Windows Home Server community lead at Microsoft, wrote: 'For right now, you have no access to the beta until I can find the Richard who posted the WHS (Windows Home Server) CTP on this site.... I will work with the Connect Admin team to determine which one of you is the real culprit of this leak.'"

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