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Slashback: Wireless, Gasoline, Prevarication
It's not a feature, it's a bug.
A representative from Macrovision writes "This statement is being issued to address some concerns that were recently aired on Slashdot with regards to the copy protection of some music CDs, the new Beastie Boys CD in Europe in particular.
Macrovision does NOT install any spyware, shareware, malware or any self-replicating code of any kind onto a user's PC.
When playing a (Macrovision CDS-200) copy-protected CD for the first time, playback software components may be installed, if needed. This software is used to enable the on-disc music player to load an on-screen user interface and to play back the audio. For further information, please contact: cds-info@macrovision.com."
Seems to me that a CD which that requires any software installed for it to be played by a standard CD drive is by definition at least "brokenware," or perhaps "meddleware." What if it's being used in a computer without an operating system supported by these "playback software components"?
Definitional evasion aside, so far CD "copy protection" is mostly about as effective as critics proclaim it to be: ptorrone writes "There has been a lot of talk about the copy protection on the new CD 'Contraband' from Velvet Revolver, but for us we didn't have any problems making MP3s for all our devices despite their efforts to stop us it seems. Here's our story..."
MSN Search pales next to Google, so far. An anonymous reader writes "Reported earlier today here on Slashdot, MSN is preparing a new search engine which is set to knock Google's socks off. However, early results show that not only is the new algorithm lacking enough smarts to knock Google as king, it doesn't even compete with the current MSN algorithm."
Open wide and say "ARRL!" dos4who writes "Well, the ARRL Field Day 2004 results are in, and posted on The The American Radio Relay League website. In the Single Operator High-Power class, congratulations to W5ZN for logging a score well over 600,000!
I had the opportunity to witness the Abbotsford, British Columbia club in action, and it was an awesome experience. Just the sight of all those massive antennae clustered on one field invoked visions of E.T. popping in for a visit."
And william_lorenz writes "Our own group from Ohio made contacts all over the United States and had a great time doing it, camping out in tents and running multiple battery-operated radios and make-shift antennas throughout the day and night. We even played with some Slow Scan TV! What are your stories?"
Seems unlikely it's the only country not to have done so ... bluethundr writes "On the flipside of a story from yesterday the Register reports today: 'Malam Nuhu Ribadu says Nigeria is the only country in the world that has failed to apply special laws or establish dedicated "front offices" to combat the crimes.'"
Are you pumping what you think you're pumping? couch_warrior writes "It was noted in a recent /. inquiry that EPA estimates of mileage vary from real-life experience. While there are several factors that can affect this, one major but often overlooked factor is that the amount of gasoline contained in a supposed 'gallon' varies by up to 10% due to gas pump fraud. Two illustrative stories show localized evidence of this scam, but few states regulate gas pumps effectively. The laws are on the books, but enforcement is typically lax. Cynics might speculate that this is because both the State and the Fed are getting a cut of the illegal proceeds. It is a way for them to increase the tax revenue on fuel, without taking the political hit for raising taxes. A challenge for /. readers -- go buy some gasoline in graduated containers, and check for yourself [avoid 1,5, and 10 gallon sizes; many states use these for testing purposes and the computers inside the pumps 'catch up' temporarily at these intervals]. Persons of conscience might feel motivated to flood their local state weights and measures bureau with complaints (if test results warranted :-)"
Never beam your secrets in a cornfield. bgumm writes "Hot on the heels of the Texas DOT's WiFi stories, here comes one from the corn state, Iowa. The Iowa DOT and an Iowan wireless network company, I-Spot Access, have partnered to offer WiFi at six highway rest stops across the state. USA Today picked up the story, as did the Des Moines Register..."
And for those in a state too backward to have rest-stop WiFi just yet, Porsupah writes "WirelessWeek is reporting that Ricochet has been sold on again; this time, to YDI Wireless. Bay Area readers may fondly remember the company as bringing flat-rate 28.8k wireless connectivity to all of the area several years ago for $30/mo, before expanding aggressively to cover several other major US metropolitan areas, financed by MCI, with a nominal 128kbps service at $75/mo. After bankruptcy, Aerie Networks bought some of the remnants, relaunched in San Diego and Denver, and then.. nothing. What next?"
It's all lies.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Hotmail has upgraded neither their free accounts nor their paid accounts as of yet. I'm still stuck at 78%, and I have no more than a few MB of mail in my hotmail account.
They're on it. Right after they finish that security thing they're working on.
A challenge for /. readers -- go buy some gasoline in graduated containers, and check for yourself [avoid 1,5, and 10 gallon sizes; many states use these for testing purposes and the computers inside the pumps 'catch up' temporarily at these intervals].
:-)
All right, from now on, whenever I buy gas, I'll make sure to buy exactly 5.000 gallons
I don't want to get ripped off.
Remember the days when Republicans were the party of fiscal responsibility?
seems to be the American way of doing buisness thesedays
How old are you? One?
EPA estimates of mileage vary from real-life experience
I've noticed this with my hummer. Its EPA highway mileage was 1.5 mpg but with a nice tail wind I can get it up to 1.7!
I think I'd be scared too if I saw a field full of gigantic insects
ahem.
Seems to me that a CD which that requires any software installed for it to be played by a standard CD drive is by definition at least "brokenware," or perhaps "meddleware."
Perhaps "muddleware" -- as in I'll keep muddling through it until it works or my computer bursts into flames -- or "muggleware," the stuff that software wizards hate.
Well, at least you didn't say "Grammar Nazi's" or "Grammar Nazis'."
You sure look like a dork.
But my motorcycle only holds 4 and a half gallons! I'd have to spray five gallons of gas onto ground!
Then again, I guess that's the American Way(TM).
" The picture in the Des Moines register is me!"
I like your little beard. You should also wear tighter trousers.
Leave it to MS to ignore case-sensitivity, until they find a place where it doesn't belong..
seems to be the American way of doing buisness thesedays
How old are you? One?
I just saw a History Channel show about the gold rush and copper rush in the 1800s. Seems that the smog and toxic fumes produced from smelting was passed off to the town's people as "good for the complexion" of young women.
Yeah, what a load of crap.
"Mommy, my eyes are watering and its hard to breathe!"
"Quiet Johnny, its good for mommy's skin."
-- If we don't stand up for our rights, now, there will be no right to stand up for them later.
If ya weren't using a Mac, I woulda asked if you're available. :p
ooops.. I even previewed...
oh well..
You know, somewhere an engineer working for an oil company just turned slacking off and reading Slashdot into the largest bonus he is ever going to get. An you aren't even going to get royalties... :)
People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.
Sorry about that! I'm the ISpot guy who installed all of those rest areas. Qwest somehow managed to reassign one of the public payphones to our DSL line and they were still fixing it when you were there. It was back up about 10 minutes after you left. I let the reporter use my laptop to upload that picture to the newspaper because his didn't have wireless!
-Tom
search for C++ tutorial. Top link is a C# tutorial. something fishy here.
25gals? Pfft.. My old '91 Dodge D150 with its little 5.2L v8 takes 30something gal's to fill :-/
Ive found that when you "pay at the pump" the pumps stop at $50...you then have to reswipe the card to get more.
I have to return some videotapes...