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Windows

Vista SP1 Update Locks Out Some Users 410

Echostorm writes with word that Windows Vista SP1, which began rolling out via Automatic Update, has left some users' machines unbootable. The update loops forever on "Configuring updates: Stage 3 of 3 — 0% complete. Do not turn off your computer." "Shutting down"... restart and loop. Echostorm notes having found traces of what sounds like the same bug in early beta releases of SP1. It's unclear how many users are affected. So far there is no word on a fix from Microsoft.

Feed Engadget: Tesla Roadster to roll out before the end of the year (engadget.com)

Filed under: Transportation

It's been a long time coming, but Tesla Motors CEO and co-founder Martin Eberhard is now saying that the company's first batch of all-electric Tesla Roadsters will "definitely ship" by October or November of this year. That's a bit later than the the summer release that had been anticipated, but that date apparently had to be pushed back after the company was forced to change transmission vendors. This latest delay also follows a slight scaling back of range targets earlier this year, although neither set-back seems to have been enough to get any of the 600 or so buyers already lined up to ask for their $100,000 back. According to Reuters, Tesla plans to make 1,000 2008 model year cars, which you'll soon be able to check out a dealership likely not near you. After that, the company the company plans to produce a five-passenger sedan dubbed the "White Star," which it says will sell for between $50,000 and $65,000, although likely not before the 2010 model year at the earliest.

[Via Motor Authority]

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Linux

Is Linux Out of Touch With the Average User? 1067

MrSmith writes "Is Linux's less than impressive market share an indication that the movement is out of touch with the average computer user? ZDNet examines five reasons that could explain why people are still willing to pay for (or pirate) an operating system when free alternatives exist. One of the reasons seems to be that despite what many Linux advocates claim, Windows users aren't on the whole dissatisfied with their OS: 'Despite what you read on websites and blogs, newspapers and magazines, people on the whole aren't all that dissatisfied with Windows. There are millions of users out there who just get on and use their PCs without any real difficulty.'"
Google

Submission + - Google Earth highlights Darfur

jc42 writes: NPR, PCworld, and some 400 other news sources (according to Google News) are reporting on a new Google feature: Google Earth, in cooperation with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum now presents details of the growing disaster in Darfur. They give a virtual tour of the area, with details of events in many villages in the words of local residents. So in addition to their "Do no evil" motto, they apparently now have a policy of exposing evil. Needless to say, the Sudan government didn't exactly cooperate with this project.

Feed Don't Sue DontDateHimGirl In The Wrong State (techdirt.com)

There were already plenty of problems with the lawsuit filed by a guy upset about what some women wrote about him on a site called dontdatehimgirl.com. It has been widely discussed that the lawsuit against the site was poorly aimed, since the site was protected against libel charges under section 230 of the CDA. The site is just a service provider, which played no role in writing or verifying the content posted to the site, and therefore should have no liability for the content. However, it appears there was another problem with the suit: jurisdiction. The original lawsuit has been tossed out of a Pennsylvania court, with the judge noting that he has no jurisdiction over the site, which is based in Florida. With that, the liability issue wasn't even addressed -- but could certainly come back up if the suit is refiled in Florida.
Power

Journal Journal: Georgia Tech Unveils Prototype Nanogenerator 208

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a working prototype nanogenerator capable of generating as much as 4 watts per cubic centimeter of continuous direct current. The generators are green (to use), drawing power from natural motion in the surrounding environment. They are based on non-toxic chemicals and should be safe for use in biomechanical implants, but that's not their only potential use. From the artic
Privacy

Chinese Govt Limits Kids to 3hrs of Online Gaming 299

1MC writes "The Chinese govt is requiring game houses to modify MMOG's to restrict under 18 users to 3 hours "productive" gameplay per day. This "anti-addiction" software must be in place within 4 months, with games not compliant by July 15 liable to be shut down in China. Net9, Shanda and NetEase will be moving to comply with the government regulations. Users will have to register with their real names and Chinese identity card numbers to be allowed access to the games."

Feed Verifying The Authenticity Of Organic Foods (sciencedaily.com)

The supermarket sign in the produce aisle says "organic" and the higher price lends credence. But is that organically grown fruit or vegetable authentic or a mislabeled version of some conventionally grown crop?

Feed Personal trainer uses Wii for workouts (engadget.com)

Filed under: Gaming, Household

As anyone who's managed to get their hands on a Wii will no doubt have already discovered, it's relatively easy to work up a sweat and lose some pounds using Nintendo's little white box. Now, the real life activity that's required to succeed at virtual Wii Sports has been picked up on by a personal trainer from Glasgow, Scotland: Zander Urquhart found that kids and adults alike don't mind doing exercise when it's accompanied by on-screen actions by the player's Mii, and is using the Wii specifically as an exercise machine. Zander is apparently the first fitness expert to have seen the potential for the Wii in the field of personal training, but we have a strong feeling he won't be the last. Even if the idea doesn't catch on, we suspect he'll have a healthy stream of geeky customers coming into the gym as long as the Wii stock shortage continues to exist (which, judging by the sporadic shortages of the 10 month old DS Lite, could be some time yet). Be honest with us: have you lost any weight thanks to your Wii?

[Via The Raw Feed. Image credit]

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RMS Explains GPLv3 Draft 3 139

H4x0r Jim Duggan writes "A transcript is now online of a talk Richard Stallman gave in Brussels earlier this week about the discussion draft 3 of GPLv3. Among other things, he explained how it will address the Novell-MS deal, from Novell's point of view and from Microsoft's, and he explained how the tivoisation clause was narrowed to make it more acceptable in the hope that it will be used by more people. After the talk he also gave an interview, and yesterday, draft 2 of LGPLv3 was released."

Feed Agency Tasked With Keeping Nuclear Secrets Can't Keep Track Of Its Computers (techdirt.com)

Stories about government agencies losing computers with sensitive information have become depressingly common. Last month it was revealed that the FBI tends to lose three or four laptops every month, either through theft or carelessness. But the FBI can feel better about itself knowing it's not the only agency with this problem. An audit of the National Nuclear Security Agency found that it's lost 20 desktop computers (how do you misplace those?) and that some of the computers it is using were not part of its official inventory. Since the NNSA's job is to safeguard the country's nuclear secrets, this news is not particularly comforting. What makes it even worse is the fact that the agency has failed 13 of these audits over the last four years, so it's not as though this news could be characterized as a wake up call that will prompt better practices. Nope, it looks like the government, across many agencies, is chronically ill-equipped to keep track of its own belongings (though it's not as if that's any surprise).

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