Comment Just kidding (Score 5, Informative) 193
Looks like Google clarified what they said a bit (original source):
http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/03/google-will-not-bring-honeycomb-to-smartphones/
Comment Re:That's not the biggest problem... (Score 4, Informative) 485
This is already possible; Verizon doesn't lock down their Android devices. "Open Application Development" was actually something that Verizon advertised for the Droid. Android's app store isn't restrictive at all (there's even software for rooted phones on there), and if the software you want isn't there, you can download and install it from somewhere else.
Comment Re:Why does anyone want internet GPS anyway? (Score 1) 330
I've actually run into a few cases where my portable GPS unit didn't know a few roads existed, so those yearly updates are worth something!
A more compelling reason, however, is stuff like construction, traffic, etc. That kind of stuff can change on a weekly or even daily basis (more for traffic). Google might not have even implemented this, but it saving half an hour by avoiding a construction zone would be a pretty compelling reason to have an internet connection in addition to GPS.
Comment Re:Or 120GB for $54.99 (Score 4, Interesting) 435
MS can identify the drives already by what they call HDD SS (security sector). If you rolled your own drive, you more than likely used somebody else's HDD SS (one that said your drive is 120GB). What we don't know is if MS is going to scan for them!
Linux Supports More Devices Than Any Other OS 272
Linux Blog recommends an interview up on the O'Reilly site with Greg Kroah-Hartman, long-time Linux kernel hacker and the current Linux kernel maintainer for the USB driver core. He updates the free Linux driver program announced almost two years ago, which has really caught traction now with more than 300 developers volunteering. The interviewer begins by asking about Kroah-Hartman's claim that the Linux kernel now supports more devices than any other operating system ever has. "[One factor is] the ease of writing drivers; Linux drivers are at normally one-third smaller than Windows drivers or other operating system drivers. We have all the examples there, so it's trivial to write a new one if you have new hardware, usually because you can copy the code and go. We maintain them... forever, so the old ones don't disappear and we run on every single processor out there. I mean Linux is 80% of the world's top 500 super computers right now and we're also the number one embedded operating system today. We've got both sides of the market because it's — yeah it's pretty amazing. I don't know why, but we're doing something right."
Comment Re:CliffyB is a jackass (Score 1) 106
Wow... guess he doesn't realize that console games can be pirated too. Especially since GoW2 was leaked to the tubes more than two weeks early.
Software Update Makes iTunes Accessible To Blind Users 148
rickthewizkid writes "Recent updates to the iTunes software allow blind users to access the program without assistance. From the article: 'The new software — which transforms the written information on an iTunes-linked computer screen into speech or Braille — stemmed from an agreement between Apple, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer company, the National Federation of the Blind and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.'" It's not just the actual iTunes app, though; the article notes that this update makes iTunes U useable as well.
On Fourth Launch Attempt, SpaceX Falcon 1 Reaches Orbit 518
xp65 writes with the just-announced success of Elon Musk's SpaceX's long efforts to reach orbit with a privately-developed launching craft: "T+0:08:21 Falcon 1 reached orbital velocity, 5200 m/s Nominal Second stage cut off (SECO) — Falcon 1 has made history as the first privately developed liquid fueled launch vehicle to achieve earth orbit!"
dbullard adds "This was a completely new vehicle — it's not using any previously developed hardware. All developed from scratch. No government supplied hardware, Russian engines, or old ICBM motors. My hat's off to the employees of Space X — all 550 of them. (Note — no 'cast of thousands,' just 550).
They've got video of the entire launch."
Geohashing Meets an Angry Rancher With Firearms 800
katicli writes "Geohashing, an obscure xkcd pastime which involves going to random coordinates generated by md5 hashing, the date, and the opening status of the stock market, appears to have just gotten far more interesting. The official wiki reports a warning for other geohashers intending to go to the spot designated for June 14th in the San Francisco area, as several avid fans of xkcd were met by an angry rancher and firearms."
Undocumented Open Source Code On the Rise 94
ruphus13 writes "According to security company Palamida, the use of open source code is growing rapidly within businesses. However, the lack of documentation and understanding of how the code works can increase the vulnerability and security risks the companies face. OStatic quotes Theresa Bui-Friday saying, 'In 2007, Palamida's Services team audited between 300M to 500M lines of code for F500 to venture-backed companies, across multiple industries. Of the code we reviewed, Palamida found that applications written within the last five years contain 50% or more open source code, by a line of code count. Of that 50% of open source code, 70% was undocumented. This is up from 30% in 2006.' How can businesses protect themselves and still draw on open source code effectively?"
Early Look At ASUS Eee PC 901 With Intel Atom CPU 235
Might E. Mouse writes "Reviews are hitting the net for the first Intel Atom-powered netbooks, and TrustedReviews has posted one for the ASUS Eee PC 901 20G Linux Edition. Has ASUS won the Atom(ic) war before it even started? With features like Wireless-N and a 6600mAh battery good for four to seven hours, that might well be the case. TR rated it highly, but I'm going to wait for their MSI Wind review before making a purchase — their first look at the Wind showed a better keyboard and larger storage."
An anonymous reader notes that despite the increased capabilities, the 901 debuts at a lower cost than its predecessor.
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FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed -- it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer. -- A.J. Perlis
