Slashback: Squashing, N'Synch, Yopy

A quick Slashback for you this evening with more on the clones who won't get to be killed onscreen, the Yopy (alas!), hacking your PVR, and a skeptical reaction to recent claims of dramatically increased compression. Read on for the goods.

Waitaminute, what happens there between the "lead" stage and the "gold" stage again? HomerSimpson writes: "Recently on /. I read of a compression scheme reported to provide huge gains for the compression of random data. New Scientist reports, however, that the claims are unlikely at best."

Perhaps we can watch some other bands be slaughtered instead? eruditorium writes: "Apparently, the negative public reaction to n'sync's appearence in episode 2 has caused lucas to drop their cameo. See it here on Scifi Wire." san1701 links to another similar posting about this important issue at TheForce.Net.

On-again, off-again is not good for electronic projects. cd_Csc writes: "CNET is reporting on Samsung's newest Windows CE based PDA and mentioned (as a side note) that, 'A Samsung representative also confirmed the cancellation of Yopy, the company's planned Linux-based PDA.'"

Update: 01/11 02:41 GMT by T : Looks like it's not quite that simple: Bill Kendrick writes "LinuxDevices.com caught wind of today's Slashback regarding the Yopy PDA's demise.

Well, fortunately for Yopy fans, they got the real scoop directly from G.Mate..." Thanks for the quick response, Bill, and sorry for spreading false information.

Imagine explaining to your kids what VCRs were. jimmcq writes: "Slashdot previously ran a story asking about Hacking the New Replay TV Units. There have been several recent breakthroughs to allow a PC to emulate a Replay 4000 so that video can be shared in both directions. The source code has been released under the GPL. There are also several variations including a java version and an Apache/PHP Server."

Comments

You know it's just a cover up....

[11thangel]

The real reason N*Sync's cameo was dropped was because Natalie Portman can't keep up with the dance steps.

Re:You know it's just a cover up....

[PCM2]

The real reason N*Sync's cameo was dropped was because Natalie Portman can't keep up with the dance steps.

Not with hot grits down her pants, anyway.

Re:You know it's just a cover up....

[Anonymous Coward]

Not with hot grits down her pants, anyway.

Forget the hot grits, she's naked and PETRIFIED, for goodness sakes! Who could dance in those conditions?

Attack of the Clones

[i_am_nitrogen]

Looks like the clones themselves are the ones being attacked. For once Hollywood (or Lucas at least) actually listened!

Maybe he's just planning on compressing them 100:1 with that new algorithm so that nobody can see them. Perhaps due to the repetitive and unoriginal nature of all "clone" (or "popular") music, a higher compression ratio would be achieved. Think of it, I only need to store one song to hear every 500 out there

George Lucas actually listened to his fans?

[LilDebbie]

Does that mean he'll add a five minute spot to the film where Jar-Jar gets brutally murdered?

Re:George Lucas actually listened to his fans?

[Britney]

Does that mean he'll add a five minute spot to the film where Jar-Jar gets brutally murdered?

What's the matter with you?

As if anyone's going to agree with that!

I mean, five minutes! Now if it could be 15-20...

Re:George Lucas actually listened to his fans?

[Ooblek]

I still don't want to go see it unless the wookie beats him to death with his own dismembered arms.

I think I need to find a Jar-Jar Sims model and set him on fire or something.

Re:George Lucas actually listened to his fans?

[Wumpus]

(Cosel, Kosel...?)

The Duck, actually.

Re:George Lucas actually listened to his fans?

[Lectrik]

Yes. My sources indicate that a wookie will rip his arms off.


Wouldn't that require Jar-jar being able to beat a wookie at chess?

Jar-Jar is next

[Zen Mastuh]

Apparently, the negative public reaction to n'sync's appearence in episode 2 has caused lucas to drop their cameo

Come on slashdotters, get those anger votes in!!! We can change history and have a Jar-Jar-free Episode II and III. Let's get those Natalie Portman nude scenes in there while we're at it. Gee, I never thought mob rule could be more fun than good ol' democracy...

Rejoice!

[tonyt]

This marks the first time the whining and bitching of slashdot users has actually had a tangible effect on the real world! Rejoice!

But wait! Think of the larger implications! If we keep this up, Microsoft will just give up one day and shut their doors! I know it!

Congratulations.

Jar Jar

[Edward Teach]

Perhaps with enough negative reaction, we can get Anakin to slice Jar Jar in half with that fancy new lightsabre he has.

NSync bloodbath

[crstophr]

I personally wouldn't object at all to seeing NSuck dreessed up in some drooling alien costume, and then watching them be hacked up with a lightsaber.

Zeosync

[Anonymous Coward]

Step 1: collect underpants.

Step 3: profit!

Re:Damnit it doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

ooh, good comeback. I especially like the part where you spelled america with a 'k'. that's pretty rebellious...were you one of those people who at one point insisted your name not be capitalized?

now be a good one and go back to kuro5hin where everybody spells america with a 'k'.

Democracy is...

[gvonk]

3 Wolves and a Sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Re:George Lucas has lost it, for sure.

[susano_otter]

The Star Wars franchise went into the toilet with their first Muppet.

What, that thing in the trash compactor? "into the toilet" indeed!

'Artistic integrity'

[Nick Smith]

First Lucas includes a death scene of a boy band at the request of his daughter. Then he removes it at the request of a howling Internet mob. Obviously Lucas learnt everything he knows about artistic integrity from George Costanza.

Maybe it would save time if he posted any script changes to Slashdot and we can mod them up and down: (Score 3, 'Funny'; Score 4, 'Jah-Jah suffering visibly'; Score 0 'Overrated')

Re:No more clones

[sulli]

Only fools do not listen to public opinion, and I can't think of any greater example of that than the internet.

That's true, there is no greater example of fools than the internet!

Re:Real compression from effnet inc.

[tunah]

Here's a story on eetimes concerning the compression of VoIP packet headers that claims a 40:2 ratio

*40:2*? Holy shit! This could save my company $80m/year! We thought our 20:1 was pretty good but THIS!

Re:Nsync got the shaft

[tunah]

No one is making you listen to it.

Well I'm glad you control the stereo in your house. Some of us have 13 year old sisters :(

Re:Nsync got the shaft

[sam_handelman]

It's not like pop music should be taken as a personal affront by anyone.

MTV Exec: Evidently, the thing people who read this slashdot web-thingy hate most is when puppy dog eyed young men sing bubblegum and dance in unison.

MTV VP: Ex-cellent. (ala Monty Burns) Cancel 'Daria' and run a four hour special on where O-Town buys their jeans. That'll show 'em.

MTV Exec: After that, they hate AOL.

MTV VP: We'll stream babble from an AOL chatroom across the bottom of the screen.

MTV Exec: Yes, my master. Soon it will be time to reveal ourselves.

What, are you so insecure you can't stand it that some boy band is more popular with teenage girls than you are?

Yes, but I judge women purely on their secondary sexual characteristics, so on the pop music front it pretty much balances out.

N'Sync isn't running around the country raping your girlfriends and daughters.

That's a tautology, since we slashdotters have neither.

I send you this message...

[charon_on_acheron]

Wait, you mean I've been using the wrong term all this time? No, it can't be. I'm ruined as a computer consultant. My customers will all laugh at me now.

Damn you, send me your name, address, and phone number so my family of lawyers can contact you because I am going to sue you for costing me $4800 a day in lost wages. My cousins Larry, Moe, and Curley will be calling real soon, from my home phone.

Signed,
Bernard Shifman
Shifman Consulting
2828 N. Burling St.
Ste. 402
Chicago, IL 61108

Re:Don't Celebrate Just Yet...

[david duncan scott]

Extras, schmextras, just as long as they shoot them, preferably twice in the head.

Re:2 wrongs...

[aka-ed]

I'll defer to your superior knowledge of boy-bands, but "extra" footage is customarily not considered until editing. Lucasfilm didn't leak this story, so their only pronouncement on the issue does make sense.