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Slashback: Solidity, Sneakiness, Recovery

The first slashback of normal time (not Daylight Savings) in a while, tonight with news of 3Dwm's continuing progress, ways brave OS X pioneers can bravely reclaim their lost MP3 files, and a word of caution on HP's upcoming digital-audio playbox.

Vivid Video, take note: NickElm writes: "The 3Dwm project, already featured twice before on Slashdot (the last time little more than a year ago), is still alive and kicking and making steady progress. This summer, we added CSG support, full VNC interaction, and our first real application (a 3Dwm clock). To top it off, Xybernaut recently donated two wearable computers to the project, perfect platforms for this kind of thing. 3Dwm packages have existed for Debian for quite some time, and we were just now adopted by Mandrake as well. What are you waiting for, download it and try it out for yourself! Still far from a complete user environment, but we're getting there..."

Do you want your iTunes iBack, little iBoy? pinqkandi writes "Apple has released some tips on getting back your data lost by the iTunes Installer for Mac OS X. If you haven't written to the partition where the loss occured, you should be able to get it back with Tech Tool Pro or Norton Utilities. Apple's tips warn to NOT use a Volume Recover feature in these utilities, but instead use their tools to recover lost data. Also, boot from a CD before recovering data, and also follow your utility's maker's directions. Unfortunately, no free utilities are listed for the recovery."

The sort of details you'll find on page 17 in small print. ARP writes "A while ago RatedPC brought us some scoop of HP's upcoming Digital Entertainment Center de100c. At first this unit seems to be a perfect addition to home theatre systems right? Well, you better forget about it if you think you are going to use it to share music or make your own CDs from your MP3 collection. What HP hasn't told us is they have been seriously whipped by DRM (Digital Rights Management). An internal FAQ has revealed that users will be unable to use CD-RWs to burn off their own CDs. You will need to buy "Digital Audio Discs" and royalties from these discs are distributed to artists via the RIAA. And you can't transfer your songs to your PC either. Without a doubt RIAA's foothold has extended much above just this. Don't be surprised if it won't play your MP3 collection because they are not digitally signed. The problem is that RIAA will be riding high on HP success with this product and their grip will be firmer when it comes to controlling what you will do with your music."

A similar problem affects the otherwise very cool-looking Terapin video recorder, which I would pick up in a heartbeat if it worked with regular CD-Rs. The HP website talks about burning tracks to CD, but makes no mention of such restrictions; I hope this is simply bad information, but it seems quite likely that "burning to CD" in this case will mean burning to industry-sanctioned CDs with their accompanying surcharge. Can anyone provide further information?

8 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Vivid Video? by geekd · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't get the reference to Vivid Video.

    What does a major porn distributor have to do with 3Dwm?

    1. Re:Vivid Video? by roberjo · · Score: 3, Funny
      Here comes captain obvious to save the day. The refernce to Vivid Video is because the 3Dwm project is about Human/Computer Interaction. High Tech porn... Human/Computer Interaction... High Tech Porn... HUMAN/COMPUTER INTERACTION..


      To top it off, Xybernaut recently donated two wearable computers to the project, perfect platforms for this kind of thing.


      Can I make it any clearer?

      --

      Deterrence is the art of producing, in the mind of the enemy, the fear to attack! - Dr. Strangelove
  2. Re:It's Unfortunate, but not unexpected by b_pretender · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's not just legal action. The RIAA has time and time again been connected to the mafia and some major organized crime. When this is the case, then it lobbying and court battles aren't the only things you have to worry about. You have to worry about arson, death to loved ones, and your own personal safety.

    Probably the only large group with more connections than the RIAA is the MPAA.

  3. I'm in trouble now... by tjgrant · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I clicked on the link looking for enlightenment, and all it was was some porn site.
    Then the boss walked in...
    Then the popups started popping up.
    "Yes, I was doing my job I was reading Slashdot and the article linked...
    "...Oh, never mind"

    --

    Stand Fast,
    tjg.

  4. You cant have your MP3's back!! by Darth+Turbogeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Not after the RIAA did the deal to make sure the iTunes deleted all those naughty MP3 files of N'Sync and Britney! Stop it! Take the hint! Bad! Bad!

    (Then again, deleteing a disk full of N'Sync and Britney tunes * IS * a good thing)

    --
    "Old Rallydrivers never die - they just fail to book in on time"
  5. Re:iTunes by kaimiike1970 · · Score: 2, Funny

    YOur error was clearly that your middle drive should have been called 'That and'. It would have saved you.

    --


    Do a google search before posting.
  6. Re:A Few Things On A Few Subjects by cygnus · · Score: 3, Funny
    If Apple becomes known for releasing buggy software that crashes your computer then they might dig themselves even deeper graves in the tech industry.
    <sarcasm>but of course. after all, this is what has happened to Microsoft.</sarcasm>
    --
    Just raise the taxes on crack.
  7. Re:The Empire by LegendLength · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unless they wear webbed gloves...