Microsoft Ad Campaign Puts a Hotspot Inside a Magazine

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Microsoft Ad Campaign Puts a Hotspot Inside a Magazine

Posted by timothy on Thursday April 25, 2013 @04:51AM from the now-there's-a-premium dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft is putting in real Wi-Fi hardware hotspots inside some copies of the latest issue of Forbes magazine. The unique Office 365 promotion was revealed in a post on the Slickdeals.net message board. The WiFi router, when activated, offers 15 days of free WiFi service via T-Mobile's network on up to five devices at once." Which is more impressive: Wi-Fi hotspot in 2013, or E-ink display in 2008?

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Wi-Fi hotspot in 2013 by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 04:55 · Score: 1

Obviously, this is much more impressive than a simple display.
1. Re:Wi-Fi hotspot in 2013 by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 05:42 · Score: 2
  
  i think if they distributed iphones as advertising that would be pretty cool! Or maybe if the phone's ring played a commercial each time. then it would be subsidized!
2. Re:Wi-Fi hotspot in 2013 by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2013-04-25 14:22 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Yeah, I didn't think this was even a valid question. The display from 2008 was a static backlit affair. The hotspot allows you to connect a slew of devices to the Internet for a while.
  The 2008 display was neither static nor backlit(it was electrophoretic and reflective); but it was effectively useless because it wasn't bitmapped. Unlike the (much more expensive) e-ink screens used in kindles and their ilk, this one had 14 segments, all fixed shape. They didn't do anything to block you from reprogramming it; but all you could do was blink the segments in different patterns(and, unlike the classic '7-segment' LED and LCD displays, these segments were whole letters and chunks of background, not designed for even crude rendering of characters). More or less useless.
It's a shame... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 04:55 · Score: 2, Funny

...Playboy stopped its print edition.
Oh boy. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 04:57 · Score: 5, Funny

This'll be fun for stewardesses.
"Sir, please turn off your magazine."
1. Re:Oh boy. by Wookact · 2013-04-25 05:08 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Statistically there are more females then males in that job field. Why do you have to point it out? I truly don't understand why that would stick in anyones craw.
2. Re:Oh boy. by crakbone · 2013-04-25 05:09 · Score: 2
  
  Because he would be looking at the magazine too.
3. Re:Oh boy. by Sir+or+Madman · 2013-04-25 05:28 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  What's troll-y is claiming that you don't see how that language could annoy anyone. There is a perfectly suitable gender-neutral word that makes exactly the same point. It's 2013 ffs.
  When I read stuff like "stewardess", I think old-timer or non-native-English speaker.
  And yes I realize this is /. and /. is not know for being a bastion of progressive thought on gender and bias. But sometimes I get annoyed at careless crap like the above and attempt to piss into the wind. Sue me.
4. Re:Oh boy. by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 05:43 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  regardless of gender, it's appropriate to call them flight attendants. stewardess is archaic and inaccurate and frankly demeaning.
5. Re:Oh boy. by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 05:44 · Score: 2
  
  But sometimes I get annoyed at careless crap like the above and attempt to piss into the wind. Sue me.
  I won't sue you, but I will mod you up!
6. Re:Oh boy. by Dishevel · 2013-04-25 05:52 · Score: 2
  
  Luckily you stated "male" because we all know there are no flight attendants that are "men".
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
7. Re:Oh boy. by Dishevel · 2013-04-25 05:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The problem today is the insane number of people who scour the planet looking for ways in which to be offended.
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
8. Re:Oh boy. by Wookact · 2013-04-25 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  I didn't say troll at all in my post. I asked why you would let that bother you. Its like when people get cranky at me for calling a motherboard a motherboard. Exactly what is derogatory about using the word stewardess?
  
  Honestly I really do not understand why you would let that bother you. If the word was used correctly, it was, and the word is not in and of it self offensive, it is not. What is the big deal?
9. Re:Oh boy. by Real1tyCzech · 2013-04-25 05:57 · Score: 1
  
  " annoyed at careless crap "
  Keyword: careless.
  Meaning: They don't care.
  Resultant logic: Have fun tilting at those windmills, and say, "Hi!" to Sancho for me!
10. Re:Oh boy. by Wookact · 2013-04-25 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  I do not see how that word is demeaning, unless you do something silly and apply it to the males. Those are stewards.
  
  Who exactly gets to decide a word is demeaning? DO I get to decide that calling me the IT guy is demeaning. I should make everyone refer to me by title. Network Analyst.
11. Re:Oh boy. by ShieldW0lf · 2013-04-25 06:01 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What's troll-y is claiming that you don't see how that language could annoy anyone. There is a perfectly suitable gender-neutral word that makes exactly the same point. It's 2013 ffs.
  When I read stuff like "stewardess", I think old-timer or non-native-English speaker.
  And yes I realize this is /. and /. is not know for being a bastion of progressive thought on gender and bias. But sometimes I get annoyed at careless crap like the above and attempt to piss into the wind. Sue me.
  No one's going to sue you, cupcake. Just be a dear and make me a sandwich, hmmm?
  
  --
  -1 Uncomfortable Truth
12. Re:Oh boy. by Sir+or+Madman · 2013-04-25 06:02 · Score: 1
  
  Oh yeah? What's the difference? You should shine the light on this gem of a thought and let everyone see what kind of person you really are.
13. Re:Oh boy. by CanHasDIY · 2013-04-25 06:08 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What's troll-y is claiming that you don't see how that language could annoy anyone. There is a perfectly suitable gender-neutral word that makes exactly the same point. It's 2013 ffs.
  When I read stuff like "stewardess", I think old-timer or non-native-English speaker.
  And yes I realize this is /. and /. is not know for being a bastion of progressive thought on gender and bias. But sometimes I get annoyed at careless crap like the above and attempt to piss into the wind. Sue me.
  No one's going to sue you, cupcake. Just be a dear and make me a sandwich, hmmm?
  You forgot the 'sudo'
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
14. Re:Oh boy. by CanHasDIY · 2013-04-25 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  When I read stuff like "stewardess", I think old-timer or non-native-English speaker.
  Heh, funny bit of irony: When I read stuff like people complaining about someone else using the word "stewardess," I think mindless pedant with nothing better to do with their time but scour the internet, looking for trivial matters to bitch about.
  Disability must pay really well these days. Or is that another one of those 'butthurt terms' that we're not supposed to use anymore?
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
15. Re:Oh boy. by Applekid · 2013-04-25 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  Nobody's ever invented a word or phrase like nigger, porch monkey, wetback or jew that's offensive to white hetero males. If you're a white hetero male, then you don't get to decide anything; otherwise there's already a stack of words for you to be offended by.
  So get crackin', ye of thin skin.
  
  --
  More Twoson than Cupertino
16. Re:Oh boy. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 06:24 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  i'm tired of people being upset that they can't offend people anymore and not expect people to stand up for themselves. stop being offended that you can't just expect people to sit there and take it.
17. Re:Oh boy. by dead_user · 2013-04-25 06:26 · Score: 2
  
  Yep, nobody at all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs_by_ethnicity#European_descent
18. Re:Oh boy. by BriggsBU · 2013-04-25 06:30 · Score: 1
  
  They tried. We just laugh it off though. Cracker, whitey, etc. Why should you be offended because someone else called you a name? Laugh it off and get on with your life.
19. Re:Oh boy. by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  it's demeaning because it has connotations of slut. coffee, tea, or me? and yes, if your title is network analyst and you prefer to be called that it's ok to insist on it.
20. Re:Oh boy. by CanHasDIY · 2013-04-25 06:52 · Score: 1
  
  Yet you took the time to complain about my complaining. How about you be part of the solution and stfu?
  ...
  Nah. I'd rather push your buttons and point out that you're a pedantic jackass, as you've quite succinctly proven by your insistence on defending your prickish actions, instead of taking the advice of the community to man up and stop being such a narcissistic loser. *Gasp* Oh noes! I used another gender-specific term! Time to fire up the whiny-troll-machine, eh?
  Enjoy your day, douche-nozzle! I know I will!
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
21. Re:Oh boy. by TheCRAIGGERS · 2013-04-25 06:59 · Score: 1
  
  OMG that's so racist! I'm going to pick a random word in your post and become offended by it.
22. Re:Oh boy. by FuzzNugget · 2013-04-25 07:31 · Score: 2
  
  I thought they were called "flight attendants"
  *shrug*
23. Re:Oh boy. by Wookact · 2013-04-25 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  I honestly do not think that when I hear the word stewardess. I think of them as the people who keep the plane from turning into a zoo. I actually hold a lot of respect for them considering what I think of large groups in confined spaces. They keep the peace.
  
  Maybe that is just me, but I have not seen anyone using that word in a demeaning way.
24. Re:Oh boy. by Sir+or+Madman · 2013-04-25 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  Hey, you're not supposed to point that out lest you bother someone for taking offense.
  The amount of privilege in some of these comments is mind boggling. How can people go through life without a clue about how lucky they are?
25. Re:Oh boy. by Kaenneth · 2013-04-25 08:04 · Score: 1
  
  I'm offended by your opinion on such behavior.
26. Re:Oh boy. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  We call them stewardesses because that is what they used to actually be called before someone decided to try and force a language change.
  It's also one word, as opposed to "flight attendant", so it rolls off the tongue or keyboard better.
  Anyway, whether or not it should be this way, most flight crew and teachers, for that matter, as still women. If you really want to make the term stewardess seem strange, then only actual change in employment patterns, and the attendant true obsolescence of the term is going to change that.
  But feel free to continue to be annoyed over nothing.
27. Re:Oh boy. by tnk1 · 2013-04-25 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  That too, and most people call them that, even if they also use "stewardess" as well.
  Many people when they grew up either knew them as stewardesses, or their parents knew them that way. And of course, back in the day, they were almost always completely female, and even had specific attractiveness and etiquette training. The fact that most of them remain female (but without the specific gender specific requirements) means that the term, while not considered modern, is still in wide use. It should also be pointed out that most stewardesses and passengers of the time simply considered that to be a job title, and probably are confused that a simple and common job title is supposed to elicit controversy when it was never actually used with any sort of demeaning connotation outside of the more general gender roles of the time period.
  In short, he's getting pissed at people who slip into a comfortable phrase but really mean nothing by it. As you would expect, those people get annoyed when he calls them on it with the assertion that they are sexist. I suppose it is one way to make people aware of the issue, but I'd think there would be less annoying ways to do it.
28. Re:Oh boy. by tnk1 · 2013-04-25 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  "Nigger" was always a vile term, because it always implied someone lower than you in some way. It even came with pseudoscience trying to show how you were somehow lower in the evolutionary chain than the white man or even the "Chinaman". It also used to be a prelude to beatings and being hung from trees.
  Stewardess used to mean a female that operated the hospitality on a plane. The job requirements were certainly sexist, but no more so than pretty much all of the female jobs of the time. Although I am sure that the sexism eventually got old for the women in the situation, it was never considered a negative term, nor were they ever considered anything different than say, attractive, coiffed waitresses on a plane.
  I understand if they want to be professionally considered to be "flight attendants", but I don't know that dropping the hammer on people who use the old terminology is productive. Seems like it would just make people start getting defiant.
29. Re:Oh boy. by omnichad · 2013-04-25 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  I'd say it's more correct to call it misandry. If you were going to say there was a belief that men can't do the job satisfactorily.
  The reason to embed gender is because language has had gender in it for centuries. Changing natural language with thoughtful constructs is nice, but I don't think we're at a point where we should treat it as necessary. Gender is an inherent part of many languages. English is not one of those languages, but we borrow words from many languages where this is true.
  Would you have been as angry if they said stewards and stewardesses? That's just natural language as it's evolved over hundreds of years.
  Many do call a female "actor" an actress. I don't see why that's necessary. Actor doesn't denote gender. Saying actress is something that might qualify as misogyny in the future, but certainly not now.
30. Re:Oh boy. by omnichad · 2013-04-25 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  honkey, whitey, cracker, gringo...
31. Re:Oh boy. by ceoyoyo · 2013-04-25 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  You're right. The proper gender neutral term in English is "steward." However, feminists have convinced us all that the English convention of using male nouns and pronouns in a dual role as genderless ones is somehow sexist, politically correct types like to switch them up. So you might say "she" when you're speaking in general, instead of "he." Or "stewardess" instead of "steward."
  It is kind of annoying, but I don't see how it hurts anyone. Perhaps you should take up a hobby other than Slashdot? Running is wonderful for improving your mood.
32. Re:Oh boy. by tgd · 2013-04-25 08:51 · Score: 1
  
  Why couldn't a male flight attendant say this?
  The male flight attendants know why you've got wireless in your magazine ... for the ... um ... articles.
33. Re:Oh boy. by ceoyoyo · 2013-04-25 08:53 · Score: 1
  
  You could be completely gender neutral and use "stews." But they don't like that for some reason.
34. Re:Oh boy. by ceoyoyo · 2013-04-25 08:57 · Score: 1
  
  Wow, you've obviously got some issues. "Stewardess" is the female form of "steward," which was a fairly high position in a household staff. Vaguely related to "squire" which has become "esquire" which is today a title granted to pretentious people by themselves.
  I think the term you're confusing it with is "whore."
35. Re:Oh boy. by Wookact · 2013-04-25 09:00 · Score: 1
  
  Well Just a FYI. the word steward (root of stewardess) is French. Romance languages (including French, Spanish, and Italian among others) Have gender specific words.
  
  For example everyone knows there is a difference between mi amigo and mi amiga.
  
  Would you call someone who used the term mi amiga sexist? Should we really get bent out of shape over a word that was borrowed from another language?
  
  Perhaps a French (or other romance language) speaker could clue us in on how they refer to the flight staff in charge of maintaining order and serving sodas.
36. Re:Oh boy. by lgw · 2013-04-25 09:20 · Score: 1
  
  Wow - this is the best single-line troll I've seen on Slashdot for 10 years - not since "don't be a metrosexual, buy a gun" has it been equaled.
  I stand in awe, Sir or Madam
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
37. Re:Oh boy. by LordLimecat · 2013-04-25 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  Most people over the age of 15 learn to live in a world with things that annoy them without blowing a gasket.
  Apparently the world you live in is one where it is necessary to complain when people dont conform to your linguistic conventions, or form gender-neutral hypotheticals.
38. Re:Oh boy. by LordLimecat · 2013-04-25 09:51 · Score: 1
  
  and yes, if your title is network analyst and you prefer to be called that it's ok to insist on it.
  It kind of makes you obnoxious, tbqh.
39. Re:Oh boy. by bonehead · 2013-04-25 14:44 · Score: 2
  
  It's really strange that we need to come up with neuter terms for everything.
  Is it really unexpected, though?
  We live in a world where it's considered inappropriate to acknowledge the very real fact that not all people are exactly the same.
  If you're talking about the one black guy in a group of 10 other white people, you can't do the obvious and convenient thing and just say "Check out the cool jacket the black guy is wearing". You're supposed to be "PC" and refer to him as "the third tallest guy in that group", or some similar silly bullshit.
  I tried to be at least halfway PC for awhile, but it's really gotten the the point of silliness. Fuck it, I refuse to play along. There are different races. They do exist. Men and women are not identical. Sure, we may all be capable in the workplace, but there are still differences.
  It would be much healthier if we could all acknowledge our differences and get on with more important things instead of being expected to pretend that human beings are all stamped from the same cookie cutter.
  Pretending that reality is offensive is neither healthy nor productive.
40. Re:Oh boy. by AvitarX · 2013-04-25 15:51 · Score: 1
  
  Have you flown recently? It's been a while since I've been on a flight without at least one male steward.
  
  --
  Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
41. Re:Oh boy. by kermidge · 2013-04-25 17:05 · Score: 1
  
  When I was a lad flight attendants (even if that, later on, became the official companies' designation for same) were almost entirely female. (And the males were called stewards, which made perfect sense.
  Since those were also the days when it seemed a commonplace to speak of actors and actresses, it was no more striking to call a female flight attendant a stewardess than it was to call a male flight attendant a steward - it was, then and now, simply a useful descriptive term. That some harbor disparaging thoughts of stewardesses being called stewardesses seems almost suspicious to me. Yet I have no problem calling all humans engaged in that job 'flight attendants', except to the extent it makes identification of gender more difficult or cumbersome when the distinction is needful.
  That slowly over time the preferred term is becoming 'flight attendant' is given; that someone who is either old, and possibly forgetful of the newer term, or for whom it is a personal commonplace to refer to certain people by a still-used and useful, and not-incorrect older term is not, I submit, being deliberately offensive to anyone.
  That being hair-triggered to taking offence at such a simple when none is unambiguously intended, _is_ rather offensive to me. It's like a bad mind odor, rather like a rank fart. No offence intended, it's just the way it strikes me, is all.
  But then, I confess to being still taken aback every time I see or hear a female thespian refer to herself as an actor. To me it seems technically correct yet awkward. Perhaps I'd feel differently if instead of taking a term which once denoted a male thespian and applying it to both genders a neutral term such as "portrayer" or thespian was used - it wouldn't strike the discord in my mind that "actor" does. But that's just me. And I don't see how that foible might in anyone's mind be grounds for accurately portraying me as a misogynist, unless you had beaucoup examples that were unmistakeable. If anyone does, well, feel free.
  All the poster wrote was:
  This'll be fun for stewardesses.
  "Sir, please turn off your magazine."
  How anyone of moderate mind can find offense in it, where none is obvious, is by my lights rather odd. But I've had bad days, and there are things I find offensive that others don't, so... YMMV.
42. Re:Oh boy. by preflex · 2013-04-25 18:21 · Score: 1
  
  "Stewardesses" is a fun word to type. In QWERTY layout, it's all on the left hand.
  
  "We saw a sex crazed bastard grab a great ass as 3 bare breasted stewardesses traversed Westwater street! We bet vexed stewardesses bagged extra bras ever after!"
43. Re:Oh boy. by ElectricTurtle · 2013-04-26 02:00 · Score: 1
  
  You're a psycho if you think the casual use of 'stewardess' is MISOGYNY (duh duhhh dunnnnnn), and you're being duly modded down. This is not because we as a community *hate women* as you say, but because we will not tolerate being painted as evil women haters for casually using a non-derogatory gendered term.
  
  --
  I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
44. Re:Oh boy. by ElectricTurtle · 2013-04-26 02:20 · Score: 1
  
  My ancestors were slaves to the Romans. You think Americans were brutal masters, the Romans made their slaves fight to the death for public amusement. Not to mention the systemic pederastic abuse of young slaves in Roman society. So what? What moral authority should I have because my long dead, generations removed ancestors got brutalized by other long dead persons? (Persons is very deliberate here. You should read some of the original sources on how Roman women treated slaves. I don't have my books in front of me, being at work, otherwise I'd give some specific cites, which would be meaningless to everybody anyway since 'if it's not on the internet it doesn't exist' is the new way of knowledge.)
  
  Ancient slavery and the meaninglessness of 'sins of the father' scenarios aside, you do realize also that the slave trade was catalyzed by Africans right? Africa wasn't even significantly colonized during the height of the slave trade, it was almost entirely Africans themselves who were capturing and selling slaves at the first stage of the market. It is also worth noting that it was Africa too that was the last to abolish slavery. Mauritania *still* has problems with outright slavery since it was legal there just a few decades ago, and not actually criminalized until the 21st century. But yeah, keep blaming evil white guys. White people were neither the first, nor the last, nor the worst slave owners in the breadth of world history. Indeed, if anything white people should be getting the credit for being the ones who worked to end slavery most significantly.
  
  --
  I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
45. Re:Oh boy. by cthulhu11 · 2013-04-26 04:25 · Score: 1
  
  sudo is for lemmings, the sort who actually still use vi.
46. Re:Oh boy. by icebraining · 2013-04-26 13:19 · Score: 1
  
  It's actually more than 20%, but whatever floats you prejudiced boat.
  
  --
  Dilbert RSS feed
In America we use internet to bring you magazines by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 05:06 · Score: 5, Funny

in Microsoft Russia we use magazines to bring you internet.
Re:Security breach by PTBarnum · 2013-04-25 05:10 · Score: 5, Insightful

So it's just like employee smart phones, then? If random devices can extract sensitive data from your WiFi network, you're doing your security wrong.
Re:Security breach by DougOtto · 2013-04-25 05:11 · Score: 1

You'll just have file an incident report on yourself, with cyber, when you get your mail.

--
Solving Unix problems since 1989...
Re:Security breach by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 05:12 · Score: 1

That's why it's inside Forbes - for the clueless managers and business folks - and not EE Times or similar.
I can't wait to see the EULA/ToS by MasseKid · 2013-04-25 05:19 · Score: 2

Seriously, I wonder what kind of goodies are in there. Furthermore, I wonder how long till this becomes a "Receipt of Unsolicited Merchandise via mail" vs EULA/ToS case?
I by rickb928 · 2013-04-25 05:21 · Score: 1

Want

--
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
Before you go running out to buy this.. by bogie · 2013-04-25 05:25 · Score: 4, Interesting

From the slickdeals thread:
"it takes you (when it works) to Microsoft.com, nowhere else."
I can't confirm that, but I would be surprised if Microsoft gave away 15 days of unrestricted Internet access to anyone and everyone who simply picked up a Forbes magazine. But who knows.
It's also not confirmed if you can buy this on the news stand or if it's just for Forbes subscribers. So far I've only read of people getting it via subscription.

--
If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
1. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by Nerdfest · 2013-04-25 05:49 · Score: 1
  
  It's interesting that they picked Forbes. For about the last year, Forbes seems to have become a major Apple fanboy magazine.
2. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by FuzzNugget · 2013-04-25 07:37 · Score: 1
  
  Like nobody's going to try their hand at hacking the thing? 15 days, no instructions, see you can make it connect somewhere else ... sounds like a fun challenge to some.
3. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by Dins · 2013-04-25 07:52 · Score: 1
  
  I would be surprised if Microsoft gave away 15 days of unrestricted Internet access to anyone and everyone who simply picked up a Forbes
  This didn't go into every copy of Forbes. Inserting something like this into a magazine is very expensive, not to mention the cost of the device itself.
4. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by antdude · 2013-04-25 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  That is what I was thinking too. :)
  
  --
  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
5. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by CCarrot · 2013-04-25 08:37 · Score: 1
  
  Like nobody's going to try their hand at hacking the thing? 15 days, no instructions, see you can make it connect somewhere else ... sounds like a fun challenge to some.
  Just had visions of CueCats in my head...no, these things never go pear shaped on them...
  
  --
  "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
6. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by bluefoxlucid · 2013-04-25 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  What is pear shaped? Pear shaped things are good--for example, delicious pears. Also some women, if that's your thing, though they have hourglass-shaped and fun skinny chicks too.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
7. Re:Before you go running out to buy this.. by lgw · 2013-04-25 09:25 · Score: 1
  
  Pear-shaped is the failure mode of the ideal sphere when hit by the real world.
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
Targeted Ad by thoth · 2013-04-25 05:26 · Score: 1

The article says it is only in some issues of Forbes, undoubtedly tied to CIO type subscribers.
Still, I think it's pretty cool. 3 hours on a charge, etc. It would be awesome if some people with hardware expertise could get one to experiment on. Or find out it is running linux inside. ;)
1. Re:Targeted Ad by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 05:49 · Score: 1
  
  The article says it is only in some issues of Forbes, undoubtedly tied to CIO type subscribers. Still, I think it's pretty cool. 3 hours on a charge, etc. It would be awesome if some people with hardware expertise could get one to experiment on. Or find out it is running linux inside. ;)
  but will it run Minecraft?
Why are our landfills overflowing? by OrangeTide · 2013-04-25 05:36 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's because of toxic trash like this.

--
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
1. Re:Why are our landfills overflowing? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  No kidding. I was hoping it would be some kind of nifty eco-friendly printed circuit or something, but no, it's a full package of circuit board, wires, a metal board and even a battery.
  I doubt people are going to hand in their magazines for proper recycling.
2. Re:Why are our landfills overflowing? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  It's because of toxic trash like this.
  As opposed to Apple deliberately designing their devices so they are nearly impossible to fix or replace the battery, making you buy a new iDevice.
  Very very few people read Forbes. Apple sold 125 million iphones in 2012 (plus the ipods & laptops).
  Which is the greater environmental blueprint?
  Apple pretends to be warm, fuzzy, cool and good for society. Forbes markets themselves as The Capitalist Tool.
3. Re:Why are our landfills overflowing? by OrangeTide · 2013-04-25 07:21 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Did you ever consider that they both suck?
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
4. Re:Why are our landfills overflowing? by Darinbob · 2013-04-25 07:39 · Score: 1
  
  These sorts of gimmicks would stop if all the electronics that resulted were gathered up and shipped to the living room of the marketing dufus who thought this up. Along with several tons of magazine scratch-and-sniff cards.
Re:Security breach by Ravaldy · 2013-04-25 05:37 · Score: 1

12345
Pwnie express by DrYak · 2013-04-25 05:45 · Score: 2

With stuff like RPI/beagleboard this would be fairly cost-effective, and people may never even realize.
And some companies like Pwnie Express even produces ready-to-use devices for that purpose.
Check their Power Pwn for exemple...

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"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
Re:Security breach by noh8rz10 · 2013-04-25 05:46 · Score: 1

12345
12345 6 !
Re:Security breach by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-25 05:50 · Score: 2, Insightful

That's amazing. I've got the same combination.... ah, fuck it.

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The good ol days by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 05:52 · Score: 1

This reminds me of the good ol days when AOL sent their software CD's out en masse.
1. Re:The good ol days by omnichad · 2013-04-25 08:55 · Score: 1
  
  The better days were when they sent it on floppy disk. A re-writable disk is much more useful than a thin coaster.
Re:That's so cool! by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-25 05:54 · Score: 2

...instead of a welfare second-class faget OS.
Why would you say something like that? Linux doesn't drive a Harley-Davidson.

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Re:That's so cool! by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-25 05:59 · Score: 1

So what you're saying is that Linux is a gay fag. Gotcha.

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Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
Re:Security breach by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 06:30 · Score: 1

Funny you say that, because the same assholes who say I can't listen to music while I code "For Security Reasons" will be the first to plug this thing into their own PCs.
Re:Dear LA Owner: by desdinova+216 · 2013-04-25 06:32 · Score: 1, Offtopic

I thought that only produced bitcoin
One just arrived, I kid you not by DorkLensman · 2013-04-25 06:37 · Score: 5, Informative

I just had a "matrix" moment. I read the summary ... and within 10 minutes, a priority mail package arrived. "What's this?" ... opened the envelope and out popped a suspiciously thick copy of Forbes, containing one of the hotspots. Surreal. Hopefully, I will have time tonight to do some testing.
1. Re:One just arrived, I kid you not by DorkLensman · 2013-04-25 16:17 · Score: 2
  
  There's a lot of stuff in that little device. Try browsing to 192.168.100.1 ... admin/admin ... there's an HTTP server there (naturally) ... with a lot of settings (FTP, VPN, and on and on). I don't know what actually works. The server says it is "RALink 4.0.0.0" And ... while stumbling through the menus, I found the System Command option. And did an 'ls'. Some sort of tiny unix/linux in there. Have fun, everyone.
Tested it yesterday by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 06:47 · Score: 5, Informative

I received one of these at work yesterday. When you open the page that contains the WiFi hotspot it pulls a tab in the fold of the magazine. This activates the hotspot. You can then connect to the hotspot using the included password (Office365). When you open a browser it will redirect you to the Microsoft Office 365 website, but it only does this first time that you open the browser. You can then navigate to other sites and browse the web as usual. I was also able to open and login to WoW. It was not fast mind you but it worked. I went to speedtest.net and checked the speed to the nearest remote server. It tested out at about 1.5M download and 0.5M upload.
1. Re:Tested it yesterday by cthulhu11 · 2013-04-26 04:27 · Score: 1
  
  Network throughput is almost always expressed in terms of bits, so assuming that unit is reasonable.
Re:Not security breach. by pnutjam · 2013-04-25 06:56 · Score: 1

The three hour battery might defeat you.

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Cheap storage VM.
turns out the whole things a mistake. by nimbius · 2013-04-25 06:57 · Score: 1

Forbes PHB: "hey i need you to work on the online version of the magazine as one of your stretch goals for 2013."
BOFH: "hold on...netcraft..."
Forbes PHB: "no, now. you need to make sure the magazine is online by april."
BOFH: "of course. it will be online by then."

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Good people go to bed earlier.
Re:Waiting for a /. user to fix that... by DougOtto · 2013-04-25 07:39 · Score: 2

Sounds like a hosts file problem.

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Solving Unix problems since 1989...
The burning question... by DougOtto · 2013-04-25 07:42 · Score: 1

How the hell do they put a hotspot, that lasts for 15 days, inside a magazine when my fucking cellphone can barely make it through the day?

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Solving Unix problems since 1989...
1. Re:The burning question... by mattventura · 2013-04-25 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  They didn't. The 15 days is how long the internet subscription lasts. The battery only lasts a matter of hours and has to be recharge via USB.
2. Re:The burning question... by omnichad · 2013-04-25 08:56 · Score: 1
  
  Service lasts for 15 days. Battery lasts 3 hours and is rechargeable.
I vote for neither. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-25 07:45 · Score: 1

I vote for the fully functional Android phone inserted in "Entertainment Weekly" last fall.
How to compare? by TheLoneGundam · 2013-04-25 08:13 · Score: 1

"Which is more impressive: Wi-Fi hotspot in 2013, or E-ink display in 2008?" sounds like a new iteration of " Quien es mas macho ?"
Re:Not security breach. by Khyber · 2013-04-25 08:38 · Score: 1

Certainly not a problem for anyone with any rudimentary electronics skill.

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Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
Re:Security breach by bluefoxlucid · 2013-04-25 08:42 · Score: 1

It's also artificially limited to 15 days of usefulness; extremely fragile otherwise; and looks like an IED. Economic waste. Broken window.

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Teardown pending by rbprbp · 2013-04-25 10:54 · Score: 1

I wouldn't mind seeing one of those being turned into something useful after the 15-day trial expires, or at least a teardown.

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They're there in their room. You're on your own.
The AP runs busybox by ntw1103 · 2013-04-25 14:49 · Score: 1

Someone I know received one of these and I got the chance to look at it. I connected with my phone and found the gateway, out of curiosity, I attempted to telnet into the device. A connection was established, and I guessed admin:admin. I was then greeted by busybox. I was a little surprised by the lack of security on this device, but excited at the prospects..
DOD has banned Forbes by Papa+Legba · 2013-04-26 01:24 · Score: 1

Department of Defense has sent a memo around banning this magazine from intallations for this very reason. Violates ALL kinds of TEMPEST requirements for secure spaces. As an Information Assurance guy I am used to making people take their cell phones back to their car and checking over their laptops. The idea I have to now check their reading material makes me facepalm.

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Papa Legba come and open the gate