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Submission + - NASA's IBEX Observations Pin Down Interstellar Magnetic Field (astronomynow.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Immediately after its 2008 launch, NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spotted a curiosity in a thin slice of space: more particles streamed in through a long, skinny swath in the sky than anywhere else. Now, a new study uses IBEX data and simulations of the interstellar boundary to better describe space in our galactic neighborhood. The paper, published earlier this month in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, precisely determines the strength and direction of the magnetic field outside the heliosphere. Such information gives us a peek into the magnetic forces that dominate the galaxy beyond, teaching us more about our home in space. The new paper is based on one particular theory of the origin of the IBEX ribbon, in which the particles streaming in from the ribbon are actually solar material reflected back at us after a long journey to the edges of the Sun's magnetic boundaries.

Submission + - Microsoft Unhappy With Beta Testers, Demands Answers

Submitted by Freshly Exhumed
Freshly Exhumed writes: Microsoft has mandated that the feedback functionality built into Insider Preview Beta software be switched on, a change from earlier when testers could block questions from the company about what users thought of specific features. Starting with Build 14271 and newer, the frequency in which Windows 10 will ask for your feedback will be locked to "Automatically (Recommended)" in the Settings app.

This would seem to disrupt what was traditionally been a tacit understanding between corporations and their beta testers/sandboxers: that the latter would volunteer their time, effort, CPU cycles, possible hardware failures/breakage, and more as part of a bargain to receive feedback or to test fly the beta OS with internal software environments in private. Microsoft now would seem to be altering that relationship.

Submission + - IoT Devices Are Secretly Phoning Home (thenewstack.io)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A popular internet-enabled security camera "secretly and constantly connects into a vast peer-to-peer network run by the Chinese manufacturer of the hardware," according to security blogger Brian Krebs. "While the device is not necessarily sharing video from your camera, it is punching through firewalls to connect with other devices," notes one technology site, adding that "Even if the user discovers it, it’s still extremely hard to turn off." Krebs notes that the same behavior has been detected in DVRs and smart plugs — they're secretly connecting to the same IP address in China, apparently without any mention of this in the product's packaging. One security researcher told Krebs the behavior as an "insanely bad idea," and that it opens an attack vector into home networks.

Submission + - Biological supercomputers powered by ATP could be a reality some day (dispatchtribunal.com)

Submitted by hypnosec
hypnosec writes: Our cells are powered by Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and according to a new study, they could be a power source for next generation of biological supercomputers that are capable of processing information very quickly and accurately using parallel networks in the same way that massive electronic super computers do. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the paper describes a model of a biological computer that is effectively a very complex network in a very small area and is based on a combination of geometrical modelling and engineering knowhow (on the nano scale). Researchers involved with the study claim that it is the first step, in showing that this kind of biological supercomputer can actually work.

Submission + - Rubio, Cruz Try To Kill Neutrality On 1 Year Rule Anniversary (dslreports.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Presidential hopefuls Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have joined six other Senators in pushing the new Restoring Internet Freedom Act, which would dismantle the rules, walk-back the FCC's Title II reclassification of ISPs as common carriers, and prevent the FCC from trying to pass net neutrality rules in the future. In a statement posted to the Rubio website, the Presidential hopeful states the new law is necessary because the FCC's "burdensome" net neutrality rules are destroying innovation, diversity, and network investment. "Through burdensome regulations and tight control like the net neutrality rule, the government only hinders accessibility and the diversity of content," said Rubio. "Consumers should be driving the market, and we can help by encouraging innovation, incentivizing investment, and promoting the competitive environment this industry needs."

Comment Re:Why support proprietary systems? (Score 2) 81

by ckblackm (#42872885) Attached to: Turning a Kindle Fire HD Into a Power Tablet
Oh don't get me wrong... I wouldn't mind the better item... but I couldn't justify the extra cost (especially considering the Amazon gift cards and amazon points I had saved up). I'm happy with the Kindle.. it does what I need it to, and I generally buy e-books and music through Amazon, anyway. But, while the situation made sense for ME... it doesn't mean that for someone else, a different solution wouldn't be better.

Comment Re:Why support proprietary systems? (Score 5, Informative) 81

by ckblackm (#42872317) Attached to: Turning a Kindle Fire HD Into a Power Tablet
That's ridiculous. YMMV, but I set a budget, saved up my money a little bit at a time, and bought what I could afford. Just because someone can't buy the best thing out there, it doesn't mean they should go without. What it does mean, is that one should temper their expectations and not complain if their choice doesn't perform like the best thing out there.

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