http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl News for nerds, stuff that matters en-us Copyright 1997-2009, Geeknet, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2009-12-28T13:23:11+00:00 Geeknet, Inc. help@slashdot.org Technology hourly 1 1970-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicslashdot.gif http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl //slashdot.org/submission/1141186/Rolex-oyster-perpetual?from=rss rolex oyster perpetual watches susanwen 2009-12-28T13:19:48+00:00 //slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=8138944&from=rss Good survey article by Alessandro Acquisti in IEEE Computer.... bsfeed 2009-12-28T13:12:26+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141176/HDD-manufacturers-moving-to-4096-byte-sectors?from=rss As previously discussed on Slashdot, according to AnandTech and The Tech Report, hard disk drive manufacturers are now ready to bump the size of the disk sector from 512 to 4096 bytes, in order to minimize storage lost to ECC and sync. This may not be a smooth transition, because some OSes do not align partitions on 4K boundaries. Luminous Coward 2009-12-28T12:29:06+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141166/Star-Wars-Posters--Star-Trek?from=rss I was looking at a star wars character collage poster online today, it has every major character in the saga, plus George Lucas.Read more here: http://www.iryspace.com/star-wars-posters/ matthias72 2009-12-28T11:50:05+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141158/Diesel-Fuel-Prices?from=rss Diesel Fuel Prices, its secrets, prognosis and statistics. You can save money with diesel fuel economy! webtura 2009-12-28T11:39:54+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141154/The-Virtual-Office?from=rss The Virtual Office – Corporate America’s Green Solution ekanswer 2009-12-28T11:30:07+00:00 //slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=8136694&from=rss It would seem somebody over at Archos HQ was sipping a little too much of the Chardonnay over the holidays, as the company's latest firmware update for the 5-inch Internet Tablet has suffered something of a false start. Intended to bring the onboard Android up to the civilized ways of version 1.6 and to fix a few outstanding bugs, the update has been yanked due to the above "last-minute major issue." Mind you, when the non-toxic version does hit, you should still be wary -- it appears the latest firmware disables the hack that allowed users to re-install some Google apps missing from the default software on the device. Ah well, a shambling but active updating regimen is better than none at all. Archos 5 says hello, goodbye to Android 1.6 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | pocketables |Email this|Comments engfeed 2009-12-28T11:12:13+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141144/Need-a-pressure-sensor--Here-it-is-I-pen-digital?from=rss One of very first question that people always ask when i write about smartpen was “Is it has a pressure sensor for use with adobe photoshop or adobe illustrator?” and most of the time the answer is no ! If you use smartpen you have to accept that it is for quick sketch on a paper. Not for a computer. But I’ve seen some mouse pen that maybe can satisfy people who needs a pressure sensor with out carry a tablet with you all the time. Anonymous Coward 2009-12-28T11:00:28+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141132/Xmas-Day-terrorist-used-PETN-to-destroy-airplane?from=rss A report just issued by the "Wall Street Journal" provides new information about the failed attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, an African terrorist, to destroy an in-flight passenger jet. The most disturbing detail is that the explosive device was not a firecracker (which several news organizations erroneously reported). The explosive device is PETN. It is an extremely powerful explosive; according to an investigative report by guardian.co.uk, "[a] little more than 100g of PETN could destroy a car. The device allegedly used by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab involved a syringe and a soft plastic container filled, reportedly, with 80g of PETN. The remnants of the bomb are being analysed in an FBI laboratory." The implication is profound. If Abdulmutallab had succeeded in detonating the explosive at high altitude and, hence, creating a hole in the fuselage of the aircraft, "the decompression would tear the aircraft apart", and all 300 passengers on that jet would have died. reporter 2009-12-28T10:40:59+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141114/Is-pill-splitting-safe-?from=rss Pill splitting is a cost-saving solution so effective and so simple that many people — not to mention health care systems and HMOs — have embraced it. tim00robinson 2009-12-28T10:18:34+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141104/D-Link-DNS-323-Media-Server-for-PS3?from=rss I recently bought a DNS-323 Network Storage box and have been trying to get it to host a uPnP server for my PS3. It supposedly has uPnP native support, but the PS3 doesn't pick it up. I have seen guides on how to using Telnet and TwonkyMedia ($40 USD), but I am wondering if anyone can help me out and see if there is a way to do this freely. I have tried Googling it to no avail. I have moderate networking experience and can provide any more info if needed. Farlo1 2009-12-28T09:59:19+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141102/The-speculative-prehistory-of-the-iPhone?from=rss The blogosphere is abuzz with rumors about "iSlate," Apple's supposed upcoming tablet. It's constructive to look back at coverage of the first iPhone in the months before it was announced. A high percentage of what was reported turned out to be hooey--as I remembered as I reviewed stories that said the iPhone would have a click wheel, a slide-out keyboard, and two batteries, and would run on an Apple-branded wireless network. I'm guessing that much of what we "know" about iSlate is similarly off-base. harrymcc 2009-12-28T09:56:28+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141098/ReviewingBlogcom?from=rss My dad’s formative years as a kid were during the 1950s. As a result, he grew up watching the old black and white films, TV shows, and other classics that were popular during that decade. Fortunately, he shared his love of old classic cinema with his children and we grew up watching comedy favorites like Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis, and the Marx Brothers. Or musicals like Guys & Dolls, White Christmas, and Singin’ in the Rain mlewis01 2009-12-28T09:47:46+00:00 //slashdot.org/journal/243098/The-50-is-back?from=rss There's been a lot of speculating on the auto news sites and Mustang forums about a new V8 for the Ford Mustang pony car, that I refused to put much confidence in until I saw something official. Bill Dog 2009-12-28T09:14:15+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141074/How-to-make-Free-iPhone-ringtone-on-Mac?from=rss Do you have trouble making iPhone ringtones on Mac? Converting almost any audio/video format, Flexible Ringtone Management and Accurate Trimming with Wave-form etc., iPhone Ringtone Maker can help you create personalized but free rigntones in only 4 easy steps.This guide will show you more. Skying 2009-12-28T08:59:59+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141034/Toshibas-legal-spyware?from=rss Tonight a friend brought around his Toshiba Laptop complaining he was getting pop ups and unwanted issues regarding his internet browsing. I have been battling to uninstall all of this crap for the past 4 hours and it still does not want to remove itself despite every trick in the book to remove this damn phorming malware that is embedded in the chip. There is little I can do, As I write this, I am trying to clean the machine to the best of my ability.Now it turns out having gone through all the "small print" "Terms and Conditions" when you buy a Toshiba Laptop, you are automatically "opted in". Is this just me being paranoid or is this a new way by advertisers to circumvent a loophole in the law, which strictly speaking means; if you want to buy a product based on it's quality, you are stuck with spyware in chips? NSN A392-99-964-5927 2009-12-28T07:52:09+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141032/Avatar-movie-of-a-zillion-Hollywood-cliche-genres?from=rss Facebook group: The purpose of this group is to name as many Hollywood cliche genres/movies from which Avatar gets its "inspiration" — the goal is to get a thousand (1000) unique references. go team go!Some entries:9. never been kissed — person infiltrates a group (s)he doesn't belong to pursue ulterior motives, falls in love with one of the group, the loved one finds out about said ulterior motive, gets angry, but then they make up and live happily ever after6. lawnmower man — crippled man uses virtual reality to become superhuman5. the neverending story — man riding on a flying dragon-like thing heehorse 2009-12-28T07:40:04+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141030/Steorns-free-energy-motor-replicated?from=rss French replicator, Jean-Louis Naudin, says he has confirmed that there is no counter electromotive force (back EMF) in the toroidal coils of the Irish company's motor. This thus validates a key to converting magnetic power into kinetic power. A clear set of instructions and data are presented. Anonymous Coward 2009-12-28T07:35:52+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141028/We-need-to-get-past-software?from=rss This Jakarta Post article says "In this world, the idea of a shrink-wrapped program(s) ... seems quaint and old-fashioned ... Stop thinking about your product as something you put in a box. And stop thinking about trying to hoodwink your users into buying updates with half-hearted facelifts and features. ... Think about how your software is also a service, content and a bridge that lets your users communicate with others." Anonymous Coward 2009-12-28T07:33:38+00:00 //slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=8132912&from=rss DiRT 2 promises to be one of the first compelling games to make use of DirectX 11 enhancements. We have a look at the title, its presentation, and its performance in this month's game analysis, comparing graphics cards from both ATI and Nvidia. Nvidia - Video card - DirectX - ATI Technologies - Hardware thfeed 2009-12-28T07:12:06+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1141004/British-MP-Mr-Tony-Baldry-protects-the-corrupt?from=rss Some astute Nigerians exposed a British MP's attempt to subvert justice. British MP Mr. Tony Baldry, the Conservative MP for Banbury tried to stop the prosecution of an extremely corrupt former Governor of a Nigerian state government that has stashed some of his looted millions in the UK. Why? Of course a perfect case of “scratch my back I scratch your back” Corruption comes in all garbs indeed. Read for yourself.http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4594:nlf-decries-british-mp-tony-baldry-interference-in-iboris-case-in-london-&catid=76:hot-topic&Itemid=205 Anonymous Coward 2009-12-28T06:13:56+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1140994/Which-antivirus-do-you-use-amp-recommend-home?from=rss After having lost some data in a hard disk crash recently, I become serious about my system health, maintenance and backup, in fact this is my New Year resolution. I have been using Avast HOME edition 4.8 for my home computer (running Win7) for some time. My hard disk crash was not related to a virus, but I have made up my mind to buy a good paid product. So I want to ask users on Slashdot — which antivirus do you use and recommend? (Security is more important than saving a few bucks) Anonymous Coward 2009-12-28T06:07:53+00:00 //slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=8131184&from=rss Craig "Lazie" Lynch has been on the run from a U.K. prison since September. However, he continues to taunt police by updating his Facebook status. Now he is threatening to quit. cnetfeed 2009-12-28T05:32:10+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1140980/James-Camerons-Avatar-and-Neal-Stephenson?from=rss "The anti-technological aspect [in James Cameron's Avatar] is strange because the movie is among most technically sophisticated ever: it uses a crazy 2D and 3D camera, harnesses the most advanced computer animation techniques imaginable, and has apparently improved the state-of-the-art when it comes to cinema. But Avatar’s story argues that technology is bad. Humans destroyed their home world through environmental disaster and use military might to annihilate the locals and steal their resources." The question is two-fold: why have a technically sophisticated, anti-technical movie, and why are we drawn to it? Part of the answer lies in Neal Stephen's Turn On, Tune In, Veg Out. ThousandStars 2009-12-28T05:14:32+00:00 //slashdot.org/submission/1140974/Download-Wii-Games-The-Easy-Guide-To-Downloading?from=rss Your Ultimate guide to downloading wii games from the internet, aswell as playing them and modding your wii without voiding your guarantee. rickyponting 2009-12-28T04:58:02+00:00