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AMD Barcelona Chip
2007-09-10 22:44:00
AMD Finally Unveils Barcelona Chip Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday September 10, @09:11AM from the well-isn't-that-special dept. Justin Oblehelm writes "AMD has finally unveiled its first set of quad-core processors, three months after its original launch date due to its "complicated" design. Barcelona comes in three categories: high-performance, standard-performance and energy-efficient server models, but only the standard (up to 2.0 GHz) and energy-efficient (up to 1.9 GHz) categories will be available at launch. The high-performance Opterons, together with higher frequencies of the standard and energy-efficient chips, are expected in the out in the fourth quarter of this year. But it's far from clear that this is the product that will help right AMD's ship."source : slashdot.org

haha! AT&T just great!
2007-09-10 22:44:00
Hardware: Turned Off iPhone Gets $4800 Bill from AT&T Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday September 10, @09:44AM from the gotta-hate-when-that-happens dept. Tech.Luver writes "Jay Levy says he has been stung by Apple's iPhone pact with AT&T after he took an iPhone on a Mediterranean cruise. They didn't use their phones, but when they got back they had a 54-page monthly bill of nearly $4,800 from AT&T Wireless. The problem was that their three iPhones were racking up a bill for data charges using foreign phone charges. The iPhone regularly updates e-mail, even while it's off, so that all the messages will be available when the user turns it on. "source : slashdot.org
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Google Sued!
2007-09-10 22:41:00
Your Rights Online: Googl e Sued Over Deceptive Search Results Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday September 10, @12:26PM from the we-come-from-a-land-down-under dept. biggles266 writes "Internet goliath Google claims to rank search results by relevance, but the search engine engages in deceptive conduct by selling off the top positions to commercial partners, a Sydney court has heard. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) is taking world-first legal action in the Federal Court against Google Inc over allegedly deceptive conduct related to sponsored links on its websites. The ACCC has brought a two-pronged case against Trading Post and Google — including subsidiaries Google Australia and Google Ireland — for potentially misleading consumers. The consumer watchdog alleges Google does not do enough to differentiate "organic" search results — those ranked by relevance — from sponsored links which appear a...

AjaxWindows! web OS
2007-09-10 22:40:00
Web OS, ajaxWindows Launched Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday September 10, @04:02PM from the then-your-internet-connection-dies dept. BigRedFed writes "Michael Robertson, of mp3.com fame, Linspire.com fame (or infamy depending on your view point) and more recently, ajax13.com has released another interesting piece of web software. ajaxWindows they are calling it and it's an almost full fledged web based OS that you can use to transport around your documents and mp3 collection to any device with an internet connection and a full web-browsers"source : slashdot.org

Sun CEO
2007-09-08 03:29:00
IT: Sun CEO Says NetApp Lied in Fear of Open Source Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Friday September 07, @09:59AM from the ph34r-m3 dept. Lucas123 writes "In reaction to NetApp's patent infringement lawsuit against Sun, CEO Jonathan Schwartz today said in his blog that NetApp basically lied in its legal filing when it said Sun asked them for licensing fees for use of their ZFS file system technology. In a separate statement, Sun said NetApp's lawsuit is about fear over open-source ZFS technology as a competitive threat. 'The rise of the open-source community cannot be stifled by proprietary vendors. I guess not everyone's learned that lesson'."source : slashdot.org

Jobs back to USA
2007-09-08 03:25:00
IT: Indian Software Firm Outsourcing Jobs To US Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Friday September 07, @12:23PM from the turnabout-is-fair-play dept. phobos13013 writes "NPR is reporting Indian software maker Wipro is outsourcing positions to a development office opening in Atlanta, Georgia. Although it sounds good for US job growth, the implication is that firms outside the US appear to be dominating more and more in the global economy, even from developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. Similarly, salaries of IT professionals world-wide are projected to stagnate or possibly fall due to the large pool of qualified applicants in the market today."source : slashdot.org
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4gb RAID
2007-09-08 03:18:00
LaCie intros 4TB Biggest Quadra RAID drive Posted Sep 5th 2007 2:05AM by Darren MurphFiled under: Storage LaCie's 4TB Biggest Quadra certainly isn't the largest drive to rock the LaCie badge, but it does give users four ways to sync it up with their PC or Mac. The four-disk RAID drive touts FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0 and eSATA interfaces, supports RAID levels 0, 0+1 and 5, and will automatically shut down if temperates get too high. Reportedly, the device will ship with backup and recovery software and is slated to land in October for $2,199, right alongside the $1,099 2TB and $1,599 3TB versions.source : engadget.com
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iPhone rebate!
2007-09-08 03:15:00
Steve Jobs gives all iPhone owners $100 back Posted Sep 6th 2007 3:19PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Cellphones El Jobso is "confident" Apple's made the right decision to lower the price of the iPhone yesterday -- and really, we can't fault them for knocking some cash off the top to attract new buyers, why is cheaper gear a bad thing all of a sudden? But even given the outcry, we definitely didn't see this one coming. In another open letter to his people, Jobs states that he's giving all iPhone owners a $100 Apple gift certificate (details to follow in the next week -- it goes without saying this will only apply to people who bought before the price drop). Well, that's mighty kind of you Steve. And definitely unprecedented in the consumer electronics industry that a company would give cash back to early adopters -- those most accustomed to buying a gadget first, asking questions later, and bottling their complaints when said gadget later drops dramatically in price.source : enga...
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iPhone unlock
2007-09-08 03:14:00
iPhoneSIMfree shows us demo of iPhone unlock app, back end -- now due Monday Posted Sep 7th 2007 4:31PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Cellphones So the iPhoneSIMfree guys have some news today. First up, they called to let us know they did in fact delay the launch of their iPhone SIM unlock software (which was clear by the fact that no one has it yet) -- but it's now due Monday.Today iPhoneSIMfree also sent a couple of publications (including this one) a demo version of their unlock app and trial access to their back end reseller tool. The demo software and reseller tool do not yet actually unlock phones since iPhoneSIMfree hasn't yet flipped the switch on the activation service end. But as proof that their end-user app does exist, the demo app shown here coursed through its normal routines (about 3-5 minutes start to finish) to show us what an unlock should be like.Their reseller backend tool, which we also have shots of, allows bulk purchasers of iPhoneSIMfree unlocks to add custom...
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VeriChip
2007-09-04 21:53:00
VeriChip chipping 200 Alzheimer's patients for RFID VeriMed trials Posted Sep 4th 2007 11:15AM by Paul MillerFiled under: Wireless Maybe it's our inevitable future, but we still can't help but feel a bit icky at the thought of VeriChip implanting VeriMed RFID chips into 90 volunteers suffering from Alzheimer's. The two-year trial program, VeriMed Patient Identification Project, will involve 200 patients, and apparently so far everybody is pretty upbeat about the idea. We first heard about this a couple months ago, but it seems things are really ramping up. The chips are designed to manage the records of the patients and their caregivers, and VeriChip is confident that it'll be growing into other "high-risk patient categories" soon.source : engadget.com

RFID Shoes, whats next condoms?!
2007-08-30 20:37:00
RFID Shoes Posted by samc on August 29th, 2007 Chief: There’s no telling where they’ll be able to infiltrate next. May be even the Pentagon.Maxwell Smart: You’re right, Chief. But even if they do get a man into the Pentagon, that’s not saying he’ll be able to get out. I remember one of our own agents was lost in there for three days.Chief: Three days? Max, no agent could be that confused.Maxwell Smart: Well, let me see. I went in on a Friday… New Balance is trialing its first RFID deployment, reports RFID Journal, to improve operations inside New Balance retail outlet stores. Their two-stage pilot will track athletic shoes sold at the retail outlet inside the company’s headquarters in Lawrence, Mass. The first phase of the project, which began in July and will last until September, involves tagging each pair of the men’s version of the 992 model — the company’s most popular style shoe. The women’s version is not being tagged so t...
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Google Phone will be Linux-Powerd, GPS-Loaded
2007-08-30 20:36:00
Rumor: Googl e Phone Will Be Linux -Powered, GPS-Loaded and Cheap By Michael Calore August 27, 2007 | 5:24:47 PMCategories: Google, Linux, Mobile, maps If the murmurs are true, the GPhone cometh in September. Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins has uncovered some details about the long-rumored (and apparently all but confirmed) Google Phone . According to Rizzn's source at Google, the device runs a modified version of the Linux kernel and has GPS built in. The positioning system will be used to power a Google Maps application, and the phone will also have tight integration with other Google apps like Gmail, Calendar and Docs. The source for Rizzn's post notes that the company will announce the device in two weeks, and that a North American version will be available soon, possibly by the end of the year. Rizzn also notes that Google's mobile device "is less about beating the iPhone and more about beating the $100 Laptop" made by the OLPC project. He speculates that Google will sel...

Google own your content?
2007-08-30 14:26:00
Your Rights Online: Does Googl e Own Your Content ? Posted by Zonk on Wednesday August 29, @12:23PM from the err-i-have-to-go-make-some-copies dept. mjasay writes "ZDNet is reporting that Google has a potentially worrisome clause in its User Agreement for Google Apps. Namely, that any content put into the system and 'intended to be available to the members of the public' is free game for Google, reserving the right for Google 'to syndicate Content submitted, posted or displayed by you on or through Google services and use that Content in connection with any service offered by Google.' Google may not be evil, but giving it these (and other) rights to one's data should be ringing alarm bells in the Google Apps user base."source : slashdot.org
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DAMN lucky ass!
2007-08-30 14:23:00
Hardware: US Teen Trades Hacked iPhone for Nissan 350Z Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday August 29, @06:02PM from the something-for-nothing dept. PieGuy107 writes to mention that seventeen-year-old George Hotz of Glen Rock, NJ has made the trade of the summer. Hotz traded his hacked iPhone for a new set of wheels (Nissan 350Z to be exact) and 3 more 8GB iPhones. "[Terry] Daidone, who's the co-founder of Louisville, Kentucky-based CertiCell, has apparently also offered the young man a paid consulting job, but stresses the company doesn't have 'any plans on the table right now to commercialize Mr. Hotz' discovery'."source : slashdot.org
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Island resort ban gadgets? WTF?
2007-08-30 14:22:00
Island resort bans gadgets from beach Posted Aug 29th 2007 6:47PM by Joshua TopolskyFiled under: Misc. Gadgets Thinking about heading for the beach on your next vacation, catching a couple of rays, and maybe making a business call or two before the tide comes in? Well, if you were planning on a trip to the renowned resort of Palm Island -- located in the Caribbean -- you might want to start considering a serious change of plans. According to recent reports, the tropical destination just put the kibosh on the use of mobile phones, PDAs, or laptops within a half-mile of the island's Casarina Beach, effectively squashing your dreams of million-dollar deals and an "all over" tan. In the words of resort CEO Rob Barrett, "There is nothing worse than lying back in your double hammock, sipping on your strawberry daiquiri and hearing the Motorola jingle in the background," and then suggested that customers, "switch off their mobiles and enjoy the sound of the lapping waves." In the future...
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Sanyo worlds smallest 1080p
2007-08-30 14:19:00
Sanyo's Xacti DMX-HD1000: the world's smallest 1080p camcorder Posted Aug 30th 2007 3:48AM by Thomas RickerFiled under: Digital Cameras We like giving Sanyo heaps of grief over their boxy gear from time to time. But make no mistake, they've nailed it with their Xacti series of solid state camcorders. Meet the DMX-HD1000, their first to record full 1080p, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution video using the HD/MPEG-4 AVC codec. It features the ability to shoot 8 megapixel stills via its 1/2.5-inch CMOS sensor, a 10x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, HDMI-out, and the ability to record direct to SD/SDHC cards for up to 2 hours at a charge. That's plenty of juice since an 8GB SDHC card will only hold about 1 hour and 25 minutes of Full HD recordings. All this in an itty-bitty pistol grip shooter which Sanyo claims is the world's smallest at this resolution. Available in Japan starting mid September for about ¥120,000 or about $1,000.Gallery: Sanyo's Xacti DMX-HD1000: the world's smallest 1080p ...
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Californiaians get your FAKE ID!
2007-08-30 14:18:00
California to bar teens from using mobiles, laptops whilst driving Posted Aug 30th 2007 7:53AM by Darren MurphFiled under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Laptops California certainly won't go down as the first place to ban cellphones whilst driving, but if Governor Schwarzenegger signs a new bill into law, mobiles won't be the only thing teens can't operate while behind the wheel after July 1, 2008. The bill, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Assembly, prevents anyone "under the age of 18 from using their cellphone," even with handsfree devices; as if that wasn't enough, any "mobile service device" -- such as "walkie-talkies, pagers, two-way messaging devices, PDAs, and laptops" -- will also be illegal for teens under 18 to use while driving. If signed into law, violators will reportedly be fined "$20 for the first offense, and $50 for subsequent offenses with no violation points on the driver's record."source : engadget.com
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Martial Law
2007-08-29 18:28:00
Martial Law Threat is Realby Dave Lindorff Global Research, July 29, 2007 Commons Dreams Email this article to a friend Print this article The looming collapse of the US military in Iraq, of which a number of generals and former generals, including former Chief of Staff Colin Powell, have warned, is happening none too soon, as it my be the best hope for preventing military rule here at home. From the looks of things, the Bush/Cheney regime has been working assiduously to pave the way for a declaration of military rule, such that at this point it really lacks only the pretext to trigger a suspension of Constitutional government. They have done this with the active support of Democrats in Congress, though most of the heavy lifting was done by the last, Republican-led Congress. The first step, or course, was the first Authorization for Use of Military Force, passed in September 2001, which the president has subsequently used to claim ‹improperly, but so what? ‹that ...
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Google Sued for Automating Email
2007-08-29 17:25:00
Your Rights Online: Googl e and Others Sued For Automating Email Posted by kdawson on Tuesday August 28, @09:08PM from the promoting-the-progress-of-science-and-the -useful-arts dept. Dotnaught sends us to InformationWeek for news of the latest lawsuit by Polaris IP, which holds a patent on the idea of responding automatically to emails. The company has no products. It brought suit in the Eastern District in Texas, as many patent trolls do — though the article informs us that that venue has been getting less friendly of late to IP interests, and has actually invalidated some patents. The six companies being sued are AOL, Amazon, Borders, Google, IAC, and Yahoo. All previous suits based on this patent have been settled.source : slashdot.org

FBI Eavesdropping Network
2007-08-29 17:25:00
Your Rights Online: FBI's Unknown Eavesdropping Network Posted by Zonk on Wednesday August 29, @09:28AM from the hiya-big-bro dept. An anonymous reader writes "Building off the design mandates of CALEA, the FBI has constructed a 'point-and-click surveillance system' that creates instant wiretaps on almost any communications device. A thousand pages of restricted documents released under the Freedom of Information Act were required to determine the veracity of this clandestine project, Wired News reports. Called the Digital Collection System Network, it connects FBI wiretapping rooms to switches controlled by traditional land-line operators, internet-telephony providers and cellular companies. It is intricately woven into the nation's telecom infrastructure. From the article: 'FBI wiretapping rooms in field offices and undercover locations around the country are connected through a private, encrypted backbone that is ...
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Chicago Cancels WiFi Plan?
2007-08-29 17:24:00
IT: Chica go Cancels Municipal Wi-Fi Plan Posted by Zonk on Wednesday August 29, @10:11AM from the wave-goodbye-to-the-broadbands dept. thatshortkid writes "The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a proposed plan for municipal wi-fi in Chicago has fallen apart. The story cites contract disputes and the falling price of residential broadband as reasons for the talks collapsing. 'Chicago officials had intended that the city would offer infrastructure, but no cash, to a carrier that would use its own funds to build the network here. EarthLink and AT&T Inc. submitted proposals to the city, but after months of negotiations the parties were unable to reach agreement. The companies sought a commitment from Chicago to be an "anchor tenant," agreeing to pay to use the Wi-Fi network to support city services, but the city declined ... Even if Chicago declines to back a municipal wireless network, city residents soon will gain more...
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AT&T Stops 'TIME'
2007-08-29 17:20:00
AT&T Stops 'Time ', Ends An Era Posted by Zonk on Wednesday August 29, @10:53AM from the at-the-tone-i'm-finished dept. theoeag writes "Starting in September, you will no longer be able to pick up a landline, payphone, etc and find out what time it is at the beep. AT&T, which has had the service since the 20s, cited a lack of demand in the digital age as the reason for "time"'s extinction. Actually, the service had already stopped in most states, but Nevada and California — with their large rural and unmapped areas — were still holding out, should the lost motorist or weary hiker need to know the time of day. But no more! The "Time Machine", which consisted of two large drum-like devices that contained several audio-tracks and a quite advanced system for syncing up with the caller, will probably end up in a museum, anxiously awaiting the arrival of its cousin: The Pay-Phone."source : slashdot.org

5GHz WiFi Connection spans 189 miles!?
2007-08-29 17:17:00
World record 5GHz WiFi connection spans 189 miles Posted Aug 27th 2007 4:09PM by Paul MillerFiled under: Wireless Alright kids, time to put away the Pringles can and get serious about that inter-continental LAN party of yours, 'cause the Italian Center for Radio Activities (CISAR) is making you all look bad with its new world record. Stretching from Sardinia Island to Central Italy, the 189 mile connection ran on Ubiquiti's XtremeRange5 miniPCI module at 5Mbps, and used 35dBi 5GHz parabolic dish antennas to achieve the range. It's not exactly the furthest WiFi connection ever achieved, but it is the first to use the 5GHz frequency for 5Mbps speeds, and was purportedly a snap to set up with the Ubiquiti tech. It all seems almost silly in a world where we lose a few home WiFi bars when we take the laptop into the bathroom -- maybe it's time to do something about all that lead paint.source : engadget.com
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Water Propeled jet-pack?
2007-08-29 17:16:00
New jet-pack patent propels with water Posted Aug 28th 2007 11:09AM by Joshua TopolskyFiled under: Transportation, Wearables Sure, we all love jet packs. Who doesn't enjoy strapping a gigantic tube of highly flammable fuel to their back and igniting it so it can propel you hundreds of feet into the air? Well, an inventor named Raymond Li has a different idea, one which he's just managed to patent: a water-propelled rocket pack. The new design would use a system of conduits which route pressure to independently pivoting thrust nozzles, while the actual engine, pump, and dangerous gases remain floating on water in a self-contained, buoyant package. It's somewhat unclear if you'll be able to rocket over land using this device (the fact that the engine is water-based would suggest no), though it is an interesting development for jet-pack enthusiasts.source : engadget.com
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Anti-GPS signs?
2007-08-29 17:10:00
Welsh get incomprehensible anti-GPS signs Posted Aug 28th 2007 11:17AM by Donald MelansonFiled under: GPS Apparently looking to avoid unfortunate incidents like this (or this, or this), the Welsh Assembly recently agreed to put up signs warning drivers not to use their GPS along narrow lanes. Problem is, the drivers may end up spending more time trying to figure out the meaning of the signs than they ever did staring at their GPS. According to Sky News, the signs are aimed specifically at lorry drivers, who seem to have been particularly prone to getting stuck along roadways around St. Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan -- a problem one local resident described as a "nightmare." Despite those potential issues of comprehension, that region has now gotten four of the signs as part of a one-year trial period, although there doesn't appear have to been any word on their effectiveness (or lack thereof) just yet.source : engadget.com
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Google mobile OS
2007-08-29 17:08:00
Google is working on a mobile OS, and it's due out shortly Posted Aug 28th 2007 2:07PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Cellphones, Features Can it be true? Is the Googlephone nigh at hand? Not that we haven't been hearing this time after time (after time after time, etc.), but we've actually got some hot news from a number of very trustworthy sources about Google's plans for the mobile space. Namely, Google's mobile device platform is well on its way, and will be announced in the very near future.We understand that the "Gphone OS" (our name for it, not theirs) began development after Google's very quiet 2005 acquisition of mobile software company Android, started by Danger cofounder and former-prez / CEO Andy Rubin. At Google, Andy's team has developed a Linux-based mobile device OS (no surprise) which they're currently shopping around to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, customizable system -- with really great Google integration, of course.As fo...
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Olympus DSLR
2007-08-29 17:07:00
Olympus launches the E-3 DSLR? Posted Aug 28th 2007 6:26PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Digital Cameras Remember the unnamed Olympus DSLR of with multiple monickers? We've seen it as the E-P1 and P-1, but now, after what seems like countless months brand-free glass-encased trade show appearances it looks like Olympus has officially titled launched it's E-1 DSLR successor, the E-3. We don't yet know much about it, but we understand it will have a live view LCD, work on the 3/4ths mount standard, and be available at least somewhere in November. (That in addition to the other stuff we heard, like it having a 10 megapixel sensor, 11 point autofocus, etc.) We'll update with information as it continues to trickle out.source : engadget.com
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iPhone unlock
2007-08-29 17:05:00
iPhoneSIMfree announces availability of iPhone unlock within 3 days Posted Aug 29th 2007 1:51AM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Cellphones You've seen the hack, now see the FAQ. In it the iPhoneSIMfree free guys answer many of the questions we already got to (Is it restore-resistant? Yes. Which features don't work? Just Visual Voicemail. Does it work with 1.0.2? Yes. Etc.), and a few we've all been eagerly awaiting the answers to: Can I unlock it before the AT&T registration process?Yes.What is the process the end user will go through?Currently our initial release will require that the end user activate and "jail break" in order to place our app on the phone. (We are working toward a fully automated PC / Mac application to be released shortly after launch).Do you offer 100% money back guarantee if the software does not work?The unlock WILL work. We cannot offer any guarantee should Apple, Inc. choose to re-lock the phone after a future update. And the 64k question: When can I g...
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Google Phone?
2007-08-27 17:19:00
GooglePhone : Two Weeks? Posted by samc on August 24th, 2007 Engadget says they have witnessed a full SIM unlock of the iPhone with a small piece of software. The iPhoneSIMfree.com team said they cracked Apple’s iPhone SIM. That, apparently, allows the iPhone to be used on the other GSM network in the United States — T-Mobile. Congratulations, guys. Now it’s on to the Google Phone (right). Oh, no wait…it’s already open, isn’t it? Rediff is reporting that the rumored Google Phone will be launched in 2 weeks. The GPhone is said to simultaneously launch in both Europe and the United States, with the only thing standing in Google’s way being US regulatory approval. According to TechCrunch; Om Malik reporting in December that a Google phone was being developed for release in 2008. Engadget posted alleged pictures of the GPhone in January 07 (see pic) with notes claiming that the device was a button-less touchscreen phone that came w...
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Google Transit Maps
2007-08-27 17:17:00
Google Tran sit Maps Posted by samc on August 24th, 2007 Google, which provides online transit guides for more than a dozen U.S. cities, is now taking on the biggest — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Google is working with the agency to give users one place to go for maps, schedules and trip planners. The New York and New Jersey transit agencies serve the five New York City boroughs and suburbs in New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester County and Long Island. Google introduced its online guides in 2005. They boost Google’s revenue from ad revenue. Google probably got about $500 million in sales last year from local ads, or about 8 percent of its U.S. revenue of $6 billion, said Greg Sterling, an analyst at Sterling Market Intelligence in San Francisco. U.S. companies spent about $922 million last year to place ads alongside local searches and maps, according to Kelsey Group Inc., a market research firm in Princeton, New Jersey. T...
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