Slashdot Mirror


Military Electronics That Shatter Into Dust On Command

First time accepted submitter MAE Keller writes "Two U.S. companies are joining a military research program to develop sensitive electronic components able to self-destruct on command to keep them out of the hands of potential adversaries who would attempt to counterfeit them for their own use. From the article: 'Last Friday DARPA awarded a $2.1 million contract to PARC, and a $3.5 million contract to IBM for the VAPR program, which seeks to develop transient electronics that can physically disappear in a controlled, triggerable manner.'"

221 comments

  1. BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Also, fuck beta!

    1. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I heard Buck Feta is the son of Boba Fett in the next Star Wars movie.

    2. Re:BUCK FETA by richlv · · Score: 2

      oh, maybe it could shatter into DUST

      --
      Rich
    3. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot has stopped pushing beta, on me at least, today.

      Is this because the message has been received and is being mulled over?

    4. Re:BUCK FETA by arth1 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Beta is to Classic as Jar-Jar Binks is to Boba Fett.

    5. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously no button to Post as Anonymous Coward. What the fucking fuckity fuck?

    6. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope so, because if they force the users to switch to that Beta design, the users are likely to leave.

      How many are only still here, because they can still access the normal, "classic" site?

    7. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Beta loses too much functionality. Throw it away.

    8. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      C'mon now, that just isnt fair. Jar Jar was at lest better looking and more informed then Beta. Also Jar Jar added some value, unlike Beta.

    9. Re:BUCK FETA by geekoid · · Score: 2

      Boba Fett* was horrible at his job.

      *BOBA FEETS!

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    10. Re: BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. They are working their editors power now.
      For instance the FuckBeta tag has been changed to betatest, which is even less relevant.

    11. Re:BUCK FETA by psyclone · · Score: 1

      What "value" did Jar Jar add?

    12. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jar Jar's commenting system was much better than the Beta.

    13. Re:BUCK FETA by ixidor · · Score: 2

      target practice.. has to be worth somehting greater than 0 ?

    14. Re:BUCK FETA by CCarrot · · Score: 2

      Seriously no button to Post as Anonymous Coward. What the fucking fuckity fuck?

      Try no login at all...yes, I'm using IE8 (stuck with it at work, don't ask), but still.

      No login, no options to switch to 'classic view' because none of the fancy new menus show up...at least if I log in via the classic site, posts on the beta site are identified (as you said though, with no 'post anon' option), but as soon as the classic site goes away for good, I'm hooped. And yeah, the flow and readability is a joke on the new site, and an especially bad one at that with IE8...

      Guess my coffee breaks will get boring... :( Or, I suppose, I could actually go out and talk to ppl...hmmm...naah.

      --
      "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
    15. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please join freenode, #slashdot-refugees and see http://www.altslashdot.org. Looks like it's time to blow this joint.

      captcha: degrade

    16. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This "Informative" (4 !!) posting exemplifies everything that is wrong with slashdot.
      Slashdot's voting community is now composed of a bunch of old timers (the latest survey found a brilliant way to poll for age: yep overwhelming majority of voters has been at current job so long that a couple of generations of talent passed through), much like Oscar voting the staleness of opinions and resistance to change is pathetic.

      I am working on a ./-bot, in Javascript, just a pattern match and a response, keep an eye out for it, soon it will be the only user who will get modded up:

      - Microsoft: good
      - Javascript: bad
      - Snowden: good
      - etc, etc.
      - Beta: so bad, so bad, please I can't handle change anymore

    17. Re:BUCK FETA by mhajicek · · Score: 1

      I for one.

    18. Re:BUCK FETA by ArcadeNut · · Score: 1

      As an old timer, let me say that I don't mind change, as long as it's an Improvement. If it's change just for the sake of change, or the change makes things WORSE, then yes, I hate it.

      --
      Visit the Arcade Restoration Workshop @ http://www.arcaderestoration.com
    19. Re:BUCK FETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet.

      On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

      Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

      If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

      We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.
      We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott [slashdot.org]

      Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
      Commentors - only discuss the Beta - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

      Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

      Discussion of Beta
      Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live
      Boycott Slashdot Feb 10-17

    20. Re:BUCK FETA by SydShamino · · Score: 1

      He proposed that Palpatine be given emergency powers, which allowed for the final remnants of the old republic to be swept away, and brought forth the eventual start of the new republic once the Skywalkers killed him.

      Actually Jar Jar might be a lot like Beta, if Beta kills Slashdot and a new, better website emerges from its ashes.

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    21. Re:BUCK FETA by noh8rz10 · · Score: 1

      on the classic slashdot homepage you see replies in the top right corner, but I did not see this in beta. Did they move it or am I missing something? your help is appreciated because this is the most important feature for me.

    22. Re:BUCK FETA by CCarrot · · Score: 1

      on the classic slashdot homepage you see replies in the top right corner, but I did not see this in beta. Did they move it or am I missing something? your help is appreciated because this is the most important feature for me.

      Yeah, that is...er, was one of the more useful features, I agree. And unfortunately (at least with IE8), the entire right sidebar has disappeared: doesn't seem to matter if I'm logged in or not.

      I understand that IE8 is pretty ancient (first released in 2009, last stable release in 2011...so it's, like, so three years ago, y'know?), but exactly what sort of voodoo site design are they using that three-year-old browsers can't even see all of the site elements? Sure, their purported userbase (nerds) generally have access to the latest shiny, but they are just as likely to prefer the old but reliable-for-their-needs software (vim, anyone?)

      --
      "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
  2. This message will self destruct by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Remember, if you or any of your IM force are caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge.

    Good bye Mr. Phelps.

  3. If only Slashdot Beta would shatter into Dust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why has Dice declared war on the slashdot user base?

  4. beta sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    just saying the obvious

    1. Re:Beta Sucks by dysmal · · Score: 0

      Nope! Can't hear them over the loud SUCKING sound coming from beta.slashdot.org

  5. What can go wrong with this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On who's command :).

    Certainly I can see a massive saving in costs for surface-to-air missiles.

    1. Re:What can go wrong with this by thinkingrodent · · Score: 2

      Can I fire some at beta?

  6. Shatter to Dust on Command by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So...slashdot's user base is set to shatter when beta goes live?

  7. Car analogy time by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 4, Funny

    Car analogy time:
    I have gotten rid of vehicles that sucked less than the Slashdot beta. Seriously even that '85 Bronco II where everything was rusty, none of the body panels matched, and that had bad compression on the #5 cylinder sucked less than beta.slashdot.org.

    Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust on command

    --
    Time to offend someone
    1. Re:Car analogy time by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

      Stop polluting the comments with your beta defending idiocy. You're wasting everyone's time, and you're wrong.

    2. Re:Car analogy time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd say Slashdot Beta is more like the Chevrolet Corvair of websites, but it's even worse than the original Corvairs.

  8. Already One Step Ahead... by ThatsDrDangerToYou · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I write code like this all the time. Oh wait, you mean on purpose?

    Ob note: uck-fay eta-bay

    1. Re:Already One Step Ahead... by ThatsDrDangerToYou · · Score: 1

      I write code like this all the time. Oh wait, you mean on purpose?

      Ob note: uck-fay eta-bay

      I am lodging a formal complaint that this was modded insightful. Screw you guys! I'm going home! :-)

  9. I thought this was already perfected by TigerPlish · · Score: 3

    Electronics that smoke themselves? Have had plenty of them.

    They all spewed magic smoke shortly after warranty expiration. Coincidence? I THINK NOT! BWAHAHA!

    Just like Slashdot will spew magic smoke when its bitch daddy Dice pulls the plug on classic. All that will remain is a box full of bad smells and no life.

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
    1. Re:I thought this was already perfected by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Given recent light of the NSAs behaviour, this whole thing stinks of having nothing to do with protect technology deployed in the field and everything to do with crippling other countries infrastructure at the press of a button. It is becoming pretty obvious in you get you computer or software essential infrastructure out of the US then you are a bloody idiot, they can not be trusted in any way shape or form and it is pretty obvious they are fully intent on doing far worse rather than better.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  10. I know an operating system like that . . . by mmell · · Score: 1

    . . . oh, wait. Disappear in a controlled, triggerable manner . . . Never mind, Bill.

    1. Re:I know an operating system like that . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here I thought you were talking about Slashdot Beta... the Windows ME of new sites.

  11. Slashdot Does A Digg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    No doubt about it Slashdot beta sucks and everyone hates it. But, the Slashcrew, like Digg of old, refuse to listen.

    Show them the error of their ways, boycott Slashdot 2/7/14.

    1. Re:Slashdot Does A Digg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No doubt about it Slashdot beta sucks and everyone hates it. But, the Slashcrew, like Digg of old, refuse to listen.

      Show them the error of their ways, boycott Slashdot 2/7/14.

      Two of July, 2014?
       

  12. Mission (Im)possible by AtomicSymphonic · · Score: 1

    So, does this mean when I throw my Google Glasses off a cliff, will they explode in spectacular style?

    1. Re:Mission (Im)possible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Dice threw Slashdot off a cliff and it's exploding now.

  13. Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust on command

    --
    Time to offend someone
    1. Re:Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust by CanHasDIY · · Score: 2

      Maybe we're just not using the right one.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    2. Re:Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust by kencurry · · Score: 2

      Maybe we're just not using the right one.

      no, you're just holding it the wrong way.

      --
      sigs are for losers (except to point out that sigs are for losers)
    3. Re:Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust by girlintraining · · Score: 2

      Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust on command

      Well, it was clearly designed by some kind of weapons grade stupid. This could be the prototype for it... it just failed to deploy as intended and so we're stuck with this digital Exxon Valdeez puking up mangled content and terrible design all along the shores of our global networks as it's drunken pilots sing "We're gonna beeeeee rich! da da do do de daaaa...."

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    4. Re:Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 2

      Too bad Slashdot beta won't shatter into dust on command

      Actually, the "beta" is nothing but the result of DARPA testing this technology on Slashdot server circuitry.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  14. VAPRware? by Nightbrood · · Score: 1

    Can we declare Slashdot Beta to be VAPRware?

    fuckbeta

  15. Beta Sucks by JWW · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Keep classic /.

    oh and does anyone else hear the crickets??

  16. So what you are saying is... by Payden+K.+Pringle · · Score: 1

    They've gotten IBM and PARC to design nanomachines to destroy the eletronics on command. Because I doubt there are very many other "feasible" ways to do that.

    Maybe once they are done designing them, we can sneak some into Slashdot Beta. Because that'd only be an improvement. But it's not hard to improve on crap. Especially steaming piles of crap.

    1. Re:So what you are saying is... by suutar · · Score: 1

      it sounds like what they're looking at is using prestressed silicon, that's kept from going boom by reinforcing materials that can be vaporized by current. Of course, this will eventually go public, and then we'll be talking about "The unlock failed and the phone got dusted."

    2. Re:So what you are saying is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was going to post something meaningful to contribute to this story, but instead I'll just note that this Beta sucks, so I will take my ball and go home.

  17. E-Fuses? by mlts · · Score: 1

    If they have a technology to make chips have their underlying silicon substrate crack into unusable bits, that is one thing... but wouldn't e-fuses and on-die capacitors be another route to this with established technology? e-fuses may not be Michael Bay type of material, but the ability to render CPUs, RAM, ASICs, and other silicon on a board completely unusable on a physical basis might be just as good.

    1. Re:E-Fuses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Talking about the actual story post? FUCK THAT

      FUCK BETA

    2. Re:E-Fuses? by DaHat · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's not always enough...so long as you have the surviving chips, with a bit of polishing off of the layers & an electron microscope, it's very doable to create a schematic of the part... from that you can learn how it does certain things internally, as well as identify attack points (within the IC) that with a focused ion beam can be attacked for when next you acquire a less damaged part.

    3. Re:E-Fuses? by mikael · · Score: 1

      There was the "Stop and Catch Fire Instruction" on 6809 chips. Designers decided to share the input/output ports using the same pin connects. These were selected between by a couple of bits. Set both bits at the same time and the silicon die went into meltdown. Some graphics card would do the same with a driver update.

      I guess you could always have a compressed cylinder of nitrogen, release it suddenly onto the components to make them brittle and vibrate them at high frequency so they basically disintegrate into dust.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    4. Re:E-Fuses? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Destroying parts on demand isn't hard. Just takes a small explosive charge. I'm guessing they want pre-stressed instead because it would be lighter, more compact, and safe to trigger in proximity to a soldier's body. I'm thinking less of top-secret radar equipment and more of field radios and other communication gear. I know that DARPA is very keen on the 'connected soldier.'

  18. Closing my DICE account by anthony_greer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have used dice to find many jobs, including the one I have right now, but I will not use Dice again if this beta isn't reversed.

    Dice makes way more off of a placement than some silly adverts, if the technical professionals who read this site want to make a stand, kill your Dice profile - want to find a job? target your goal city and call head hunters, they will get you good jobs if you have a good skill.

    1. Re:Closing my DICE account by byronivs · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This. Close your account. There are many other options out there.

    2. Re:Closing my DICE account by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      target your goal city and call head hunters, they will get you good jobs if you have a good skill.

      Nice strategy.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    3. Re:Closing my DICE account by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think they care, how cute...

    4. Re:Closing my DICE account by mhajicek · · Score: 1

      It works.

  19. blind leading the blind? by dciman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not sure why the editors think that simply continuing to blindly post stories is going to change things here.

    We aren't talking about the news!

    Respect your users!

    1. Re:blind leading the blind? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, duh, that is because the editors aren't paid to read the comments, so they don't give a crap.

    2. Re:blind leading the blind? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not sure why the editors think that simply continuing to blindly post stories is going to change things here.

      We aren't talking about the news!

      Who cares if you're reading or talking about the news? You're still generating ad revenue.

    3. Re:blind leading the blind? by JustinOpinion · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What really scares me is the thought that the editors haven't really even noticed.

      One of the things that has always surprised me (even bothered me a bit) about Slashdot is that the people running the site do not appear to actually use the site. The editors don't routinely participate in discussions. We occasionally see a comment from an editor, but they are certainly not among the top commenters. (Even CmdrTaco's comment history was surprisingly thin...) These are people who are paid to be involved with the site. I know they have other duties, and perhaps being an employee makes participating in the community less fun. But on the other hand, if your job is to manage an online community, I would expect to see more involvement.

      I sometimes wonder whether the editors actually read through Slashdot comments at all, or whether they just queue up some stories and then work on something else.

      I'm guessing that by now they've noticed the firestorm of hate, since it's being injected into the comments, firehose/story-submissions, polls, via email, etc. But even so, I feel that ultimately the disconnect between what the Slashdot community wants, and what the powers-that-be are planning to provide, is that the people running Slashdot are not Slashdot users (much less contributors). So they do not even realize why we hate the beta so much. To an outsider, one commenting system and another might seem pretty much the same. It might seem like we're complaining over minutia. But to someone who is trying to participate in the fast-paced and highly technical discussions that erupt on Slashdot, the commenting system is paramount. Ruin it, and you've killed the site.

  20. I'm disappointed. by John+Pfeiffer · · Score: 1

    It's a program to make hardware self-destruct 'into dust', and it's called 'VAPR' and _nobody_ tagged the article 'Vaporware'? Come on, people!

    --

    Friend: "The NIC is misconfigured..." Me: "No prob, I'll just telnet in and fix it." *Silence*
    1. Re:I'm disappointed. by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      What tags on the article? The ones that aren't displayed on the beta site, so I couldn't see them until I switched back to classic?

      Apparently, like the article, they were also from the "poof it's gone" department! Not to mention, even the "from the 'poof it's gone' department" text itself is gone too, at least on the front page. It's like Beta is the VAPR of Slashdot!

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  21. Make Beta mandatory by mccotter · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've been looking for an excuse to reclaim some time in my day.

  22. Fuck Slashdot Beta Fuck Dice by rodrigoandrade · · Score: 2, Informative

    Fuck Slashdot Beta Fuck Dice

  23. Kind of like slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdot is entirely like this; Alice Hill gave a voice command and he whole site shit all over itself!

    1. Re:Kind of like slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck Alice Hill.

    2. Re:Kind of like slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, and fuck beta

    3. Re:Kind of like slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm trying a new tack - contacting outside media. If Alice Hill doesn't read her own email or /. comments, maybe she reads tech news in other places. If tech bloggers elsewhere start writing about slashdot's impending demise, she (or her boss, maybe) might take notice.

      Anyone have any journalist friends?

      Um, you act like anyone in the outside world thinks Slashdot hasn't died years ago.

      You know the saying, found here often enough, that when the founders leave the company, it's doomed? Well, no CmdrTaco, no Slashdot worth saving.

    4. Re:Kind of like slashdot by Soulskill · · Score: 2

      Alice Hill does not work for Dice, and hasn't for a while. She has nothing to do with the Beta. Put down the pitchfork.

    5. Re:Kind of like slashdot by camperdave · · Score: 1

      So what's with the the beta not being able to quote parent comment, not automatically providing a comment subject, not being able reply anonymously, not being able to see your own comment scores, not being able to see replies to your comments, or read the threads on polls? Those are some serious deficiencies.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    6. Re:Kind of like slashdot by noh8rz10 · · Score: 1

      I agree those are deficiencies, but surely they will add in this functionality as the beta develops.

    7. Re:Kind of like slashdot by camperdave · · Score: 1

      I agree those are deficiencies, but surely they will add in this functionality as the beta develops.

      They never should have escaped alpha testing.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    8. Re:Kind of like slashdot by noh8rz10 · · Score: 1

      agreed, yet here we are, camperdave. here we are.

  24. Offtopic Dice question by Tynin · · Score: 1

    Is Dice Holdings that owns /. the same Dice that creates Battlefield? Just curious.

    1. Re:Offtopic Dice question by girlintraining · · Score: 1

      Is Dice Holdings that owns /. the same Dice that creates Battlefield? Just curious.

      Does Battlefield look like it was gangbanged by a team of toddlers with pastel construction paper and cut-outs of magazine advertisements? Well then, there's your answer: No. Battlefield still looks like something cool, designed by adults, not middle managers who rode the short bus and still have to use the safety scissors.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:Offtopic Dice question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've heard some stories about how there netcode looks like it was gangbanged by a team of toddlers with pastel construction paper and etc.

  25. Which Yahoo designed Beta?! by CQDX · · Score: 1

    I left Yahoo Groups because they totally destroyed their hierarchical UI and make following conversation impossible. Well there was always Slashdot. But now you guys too?! Count me out when you finally switch over.

  26. Reply to Comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's hard to hear crickets over the din of "beta sucks" posts!

    Captcha: weighed (in)

  27. Things that shatter into dust on impact. by girlintraining · · Score: 2

    1. Military electronics
    2. Dice Holdings, Inc.'s bottom line.

    That's pretty much the sentiment. But here's an idea: Rob Malda (may God bless him in our time of ultimate need) gave us a tool to fight off our oppressors: The source code that powers classic slashdot. The kryptonite of the Overlords. Let us come together now with a kickstarter project, crowdsource our way into the amazon cloud, and free ourselves of these idiot fucktard web 2.0 morons. We have the technology! We can build it faster. Better. Stronger.

    And free of Dic--Derp Holdings. Discuss.

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    1. Re:Things that shatter into dust on impact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... Rob Malda (may God bless him in our time of ultimate need) gave us a tool to fight off our oppressors: The source code that powers classic slashdot. ...

      http://www.altslashdot.org/wiki/index.php?title=AltSlashdot
      "http://www.altslashdot.org/wiki/index.php?title=AltSlashdot"

      Best thing I saw all day. Have already contributed another suggestion for the eventual name.

    2. Re:Things that shatter into dust on impact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm a web developer, been so for over a decade. The problem is that the only server I have is a 100mbps VPS and can't afford anything better as a giveaway. I'd be willing to revive the old slashdot but I would need help. We could call it something different maybe "nodiceallowed" or something hahaha. Anyways, I'm willing to take one for the team.

      If slashdot goes the way of the beta, then I'll put on a cowboy hat and help you all.

  28. Poor site redesigns that Shatter into Dust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Ironic story. When military equipment is captured by enemies it shatters into dust. When Slashdot is captured by terrible Dice BETA "innovation" the user base detonates.

    Fuck Beta.

  29. Re:This is the end. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    slashdotted. rofl

  30. Meanwhile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They could hire Dice. They seem to be going a pretty good job of self-destructing Slashdot.

    Fuck beta.

  31. Fuck the beta by kruach+aum · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's terrible. I haven't seen such horrors since I had a fever dream about At the Mountains of Madness.

    1. Re:Fuck the beta by Laxori666 · · Score: 1

      The Beta killed my children. It was awful. I hope it doesn't kill the rest of my children cause I actually have more but the Beta only killed a few of them.

    2. Re:Fuck the beta by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1

      You should be happy for the ones who died and don't have to look at beta any more. You should probably kill the rest of them and put them out of their agony.

  32. Seriously? $3.5million to wipe the ROM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    99% of hardware is just a microcontroller/FPGA to control or do some logic... so just wipe the memory, or refresh the FPGA?

    1. Re:Seriously? $3.5million to wipe the ROM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All they have to do is direct it to view Beta, Job done.

      Fuck Beta

  33. Let me tell you one thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Beta sucks!

  34. Slashcott by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet.

    On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

    Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

    If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

    We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.
    We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott

    Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
    Commentors - only discuss Beta http://slashdot.org/recent [slashdot.org] - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

    Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

    Discussion of Beta: http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=56395415
    Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live: http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&type=submission&id=3321441
    Alternative Slashdot: altslashdot.org

    1. Re:Slashcott by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    2. Re:Slashcott by chris231989 · · Score: 1

      altslashdot.org gave me a bluescreen (win8.1/ff28) :(

      Beta still sucks bing donkey ballz though

  35. lynx does not work with slashdot beta!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Text-only readers like lynx have ALWAYS worked with slashdot. It was a handy "stealth" way of keeping up without PHBs getting upset.

    Yet another thing /. beta has managed to fuck up. So no more reading /. at work for sure. Which pretty well means I won't be reading /. at all anymore.

    Nice work, guys. Nice.

    1. Re:lynx does not work with slashdot beta!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try "slashdot.org/palm"

    2. Re:lynx does not work with slashdot beta!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks, but that's a pretty pale imitation of what /. classic looks like under lynx. May as well not bother.

    3. Re:lynx does not work with slashdot beta!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks, but that's a pretty pale imitation of what /. classic looks like under lynx.
      May as well not bother.

      Wish I had mod points for this thread. Sadly, Classic isn't letting me log in (most of the time), or giving me points this week.

      http://www.altslashdot.org/wiki/index.php?title=AltSlashdot
      "http://www.altslashdot.org/wiki/index.php?title=AltSlashdot"

  36. Thats impossible! by Sla$hPot · · Score: 1

    Mission impossible :P

  37. OPFOR by jbmartin6 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How long until adversaries get the codes to remote destroy US military equipment while it is in use?

    --
    This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
    1. Re:OPFOR by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Interesting

      My thoughts exactly ... knowing how to make military hardware keel over on command is going to be a very valuable thing.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    2. Re:OPFOR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone remember the book Battlefield Earth (oh yeah and the really bad movie version with John Travolta)? This concept (self destructing components) was the key to the story resolution where humans get a device before the circuit is destroyed. Wonder if they got the idea from the book or if the movie (which would mean the tech will suck anyway).

    3. Re:OPFOR by Iamthecheese · · Score: 1

      Obviously you run into problems if you want any soldier to be able to destroy the hardware at any time creating a tradeoff but authentication is a very well studied topic. A hashed passphrase will suffice as long as you trust your data stores and if you don't trust your data stores it's probably better not to put the hardware out there anyway.

      --
      If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
  38. Slashdot: Social Media for B2B Technology by dysfunct · · Score: 1

    For those who haven't seen "slashdot media" yet, our beloved /. is now categorized as "Social Media for B2B Technology". See for yourself: http://slashdotmedia.com/about...

    Go on, click the "Tour the new Slashdot" button (can't be opened in a new tab) and wait for the nausea to kick in. Meaningless marketing buzzwords, "feedback tools", "user engagement" and so on and so forth.

    It's over. The trained monkeys in marketing have won. A sad day indeed.

    --
    :/- spoon(_).
    1. Re:Slashdot: Social Media for B2B Technology by cervesaebraciator · · Score: 1
      That's funny. We used to have "user engagement." Now the engagement consists (rightly) in screaming about the beta. That gives an interesting spin on the stuff they're bragging about:

      2.9 Million Monthly Unique Visitors [All of which will say WTF!?! when they make their monthly visit in February.]
      4,653 Average Comments Per Day [Peaking well about this when it was announced that the beta was being phased in. 93% of the comments include the keywords "Fuck" and "Beta".]
      93 Million Page Views Per Month [Past Performance Is Not an Indicator of Future Results.]

    2. Re:Slashdot: Social Media for B2B Technology by OzPeter · · Score: 1

      For those who haven't seen "slashdot media" yet, our beloved /. is now categorized as "Social Media for B2B Technology".

      I think for the first time in my life I actually can use the statement "I threw up a little in my mouth". Now if you don't mind, I'll be in the corner crying.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
  39. Or in other words... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...they just signed a contract with Dell.

  40. BETA Boycott 2/7/2014 by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    If you hate Beta, DO NOT VISIT Slashdot on 2/7!!

    How you you show them Beta sucks? You drop their ad impressions!
    Keep Classic/Fix Beta, or we walk.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:BETA Boycott 2/7/2014 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does that mean there will be a day without constant "beta" posts that have no relevance to the topic?

    2. Re:BETA Boycott 2/7/2014 by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Only for you losers who like the new system.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    3. Re:BETA Boycott 2/7/2014 by Princeofcups · · Score: 1

      If you hate Beta, DO NOT VISIT Slashdot on 2/7!!

      How you you show them Beta sucks? You drop their ad impressions!
      Keep Classic/Fix Beta, or we walk.

      No, keep visiting and bitching until the last day. Then remove the link, and enjoy the new sites as they appear. I wonder which will win the "slashdot replacement" race?

      --
      The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican.
  41. Counterfeit? I think not. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    counterfeit, n, made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive

    Where is the intent to deceive or defraud? The MAFIAA has really fscked with our use of language.

  42. SLASHDOT SHATTERS INTO DUST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And like that, Beta came and real Slashdot was no more.

  43. Kill Beta! by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 5, Informative

    Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet.

    On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

    Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

    If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

    We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.
    We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott


    Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
    Commentors - only discuss the Beta - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

    Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

    Discussion of Beta
    Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live
    Alternative Slashdot

    1. Re:Kill Beta! by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Here is Plain-Old-Text version so you can copy/paste this youselves:

      Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet.

      On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

      Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

      If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

       
      We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.

      We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott

      Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta

      Commentors - only discuss the Beta - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

      Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

      Discussion of Beta

      Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live

      Alternative Slashdot

    2. Re:Kill Beta! by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1

      Bummer, thought it would leave the tags in....

    3. Re:Kill Beta! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    4. Re:Kill Beta! by foobar+bazbot · · Score: 0

      Heh, I just got done fixing the links and putting it in pastebin with a self-referential link to make copying the source easier. Also added the separator between action items and discussion links, and linkified Okian Warrior:

      Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet. (Copy-paste the html from here so links don't get mangled!)

      On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design. Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

      If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

      We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.
      We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott

      Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
      Commentors - only discuss Beta
        http://slashdot.org/recent - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

      Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

      -----=====##### LINKS #####=====-----

      Discussion of Beta: http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=56395415

      Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live: http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&type=submission&id=3321441

      Alternative Slashdot: http://altslashdot.org (thanks Okian Warrior (537106))

    5. Re:Kill Beta! by JustinOpinion · · Score: 1

      Yeah the Slashdot comment-box has some longstanding issues, like support for displaying source-code/html properly, or unicode support in general.

      The devs should really consider coding an improvement to Slashdot that addresses these concerns. Some kind of 'Slashdot beta'. I'm sure it would turn out great...

    6. Re:Kill Beta! by marcosdumay · · Score: 1

      WTF is that?!? If I didn't look at the domain, I'd just swear it was a parody. The comments are quite entretaining...

      Shazbot! We ran into some trouble getting the comments.
      Try again... na-nu, na-nu!

      Is this the same for everybody?

  44. Here's my POV on Beta by excelsior_gr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I got a message urging me to try it, so I clicked on it, looked at the Beta and thought: oh, this looks like Slashdot on my phone. And clicked back to the original interface after only a short while. Learn a lesson from Win8: Interfaces that look good on a phone, are crap for a desktop.

    I mean, you have people on this site that actually believe that a CLI is a superior interface. And you try to impress them with eye-candy that takes functionality away? Goodluckwiththat.

    What were you guys thinking?

    1. Re:Here's my POV on Beta by fubar42 · · Score: 1

      Thinking implies a brain. Beta is brought to you by technology in idle hands, much like a million monkeys producing Hamlet with a typewriter. However, only one is a classic. The other is a pile of feces.

    2. Re:Here's my POV on Beta by dmbrun · · Score: 1

      I'm sure there's a HTML web page usability design guide around that the Slashdot Beta programmers are using.

      Does anyone know the name of it because I want to make sure I don't buy it.

    3. Re:Here's my POV on Beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Interfaces that look like crap on a desktop, are crap for a phone."

      Not to mention Windows 8 looked bad before smart phones. Why someone thought to put it on a phone is beyond me. See Kids AOL Circa 1996:
      https://www.google.com/search?q=kids+aol+1996&tbm=isch

    4. Re:Here's my POV on Beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, its suckarrific.

  45. Beta SlashDot.org = Healthcare.gov by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Total flipping disaster, they must be trying to kill it, it's the only explanation for the abomination they call beta.

  46. Been there, done that. by Nam-Ereh-Won · · Score: 0

    Wasn't this technology showcased in Men in Black?

  47. How many ways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I bet the editors just want to see how many different ways all of you can segue from the article into "fuck beta" in a comment.

    1. Re:How many ways by LinuxIsGarbage · · Score: 1

      I bet the editors just want to see how many different ways all of you can segue from the article into "fuck beta" in a comment.

      It even derailed a juicy flamewar-bait topic like Wozniak To Apple: Consider Building an Android Phone

  48. Why doesn't this just automatically fill in? by __aaeihw9960 · · Score: 1

    All that will remain is a box full of bad smells and no life.

    So, your mom's basement, then?

    1. Re:Why doesn't this just automatically fill in? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More like his mum.

  49. Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting about by Chris+Walker · · Score: 0

    I prefer the beta, it's clean and works just fine. Seriously, what is it that's making it so horrible for you?

  50. Can't wait for it to reach the private sector by Shag · · Score: 2

    Miss enough payments, and all the circuitry inside your computer, your car, the home theater you got from Rent-A-Center, or whatever... *poof*

    Of course, it'll put a lot of repo-men out of work...

    --
    Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
    1. Re:Can't wait for it to reach the private sector by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      I'm thinking games consoles. A self-destruct-on-tamper device to prevent reverse-engineering and modding, perhaps triggered by a firmware image that matches the integrity hash but not the signing key. It would mean anyone trying to reverse-engineer the device would probably burn through a great many of them before they learned enough to avoid triggering the auto-destruct, which would price many out of the attempt.

  51. why teh fck do I have to press read more for every by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes you heard it. Beta sucks. Fix it.

  52. -1 ontopic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck you

  53. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by Goaway · · Score: 4, Interesting

    No way to see replies to your comments, no way to link to your comments to check by hand. Discussion is impossible.

  54. They already have this.... by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    It's called C-4 explosive. it will shatter any laptop into dust on command if you use enough of it.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  55. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by arth1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I prefer the beta, it's clean and works just fine. Seriously, what is it that's making it so horrible for you?

    Threaded conversations where you can choose ahead of time to see all replies. But you likely won't see this reply, if you use beta.

  56. A redesign 16 years in the making... by cervesaebraciator · · Score: 1
    Wow. One more thing. Clicking "Tour the New Slashdot", one is presented with the following claim:

    A redesign 16 years in the making... you know it's going to be good.

    Hey, I fell for that when I decided to play Duke Nukem Forever. I'll never get those 10 minutes of my life back. Fool me once...

  57. GET OUT OF BETA FREE CARD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://slashdot.org/?nobeta=1

    Use it while you can, because they say they're gonna take it away soon.

  58. Freudian slip stories? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sausage factories and exploding electronics in the last two stories. Is it possible the editors subconsciously realize that... wait for it... BETA SUCKS.

    Either that, or everything is a penis that wants to FUCK BETA. I'm pretty sure that's how Freud would have analyzed this situation.

  59. Freenode #slashdot-refugees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For lack of a better alternative at present, to discuss implementation of a new slashdot or altslashdot, Freenode #slashdot-refugees.

  60. Let's try this "Beta" thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Okay, I'm going to approach this with an open mind and see what works.

    How about blockquotes? Do they work? -- not quite, the vertical line and italics are missing

    1. How
    2. about
    3. ordered
    4. lists -- yes
    • and
    • unordered
    • ones? -- nope, the bullets are missing

    Unicode characters? £ ©€¼Æï -- some of them, randomly (better than classic, at least).

    strong emphasized underlined strikethrough -- same as classic

    1. Re:Let's try this "Beta" thing by carlos92 · · Score: 1

      underlined doesn't work

  61. FUCK BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    SLASHBETA is fucking soulless swill design. DOWN WITH BETA

  62. BETA - I command you! by stenvar · · Score: 4, Funny

    BETA, I command you: turn into dust NOW.

  63. Something else weird about BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've noticed that ever since Slashdot started rolling out BETA, that the bookmark icon I keep on my ipod touch desktop just goes to a blank white screen.

    I can access the mobile site just fine if I Google it. But bookmarking it leads to a blank screen. Recreating the bookmark icon doesn't help.

    THANKS BETA.

  64. Shatter INTO dust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You shouldn't have quit school for working the hot dog stand at the mall.

  65. New Coke, New /. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hummmmmmmmm......

  66. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    SHILL!!!

    (or possibly you are just insane, as these constitute the only two categories of people who like the beta)

  67. FUCK BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Youtube could get away with it because the have good content.

    Going to Slashdot nowadays seems just like a force of habit since the articles are now usually badly summarized and old as fuck. I've seen articles posted in Reddit, google news, and YAHOO(!) days before seeing it here.

  68. Beta fucking blows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do they keep moving the "switch back to beta" button every time I come back to the site.

    Fucking assholes. Face it, you blew it with Beta. Now listen to your viewers before you lose them all.

  69. The Third Fury... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Anyone else read a book called 'The Third Fury'? The basic idea was that a US General, an electronics manufacturer that sold chips to the military, and a TV executive who owned a satellite came up with a plan to help safeguard the USA. It involved creating two versions of a certain common microchip- one version had a special circuit that would fry the chip when it received a signal sent from the TV satellite. The 'special' chip, dubbed Cerberus after the three-headed dog that guarded Hades, would be put into all military hardware that was sent to allies or sold outside the USA, while the normal chip was in all our military and civilian equipment. The title comes from the fact they code-named themselves after the three Furies.

    It’s years later, and weird things are happening. The General is retired. The TV executive is facing a hostile takeover of his network, and the electronics genius is being gently, but firmly forced out of the business he founded. Suspicious, he investigates and finds the Cerberus style chip is the only one being produced now. This means all US military hardware is vulnerable. He attempts to warn the other furies before being killed.
    Now it’s a race to see if the TV exec can re-gain control of the satellite before the bad guys can shut down the USA.

    The point being, we need to be careful a system like this isn’t used against us.

  70. I had something cogent, but Beta purged it by Gim+Tom · · Score: 1

    I really had a comment that related to this article from when I was in the Air Force in the early 1970's and bugging the Ho Chi Minh trail. However, I made the mistake of taking a look at the slashdot beta and now it is gone forever. Kind of like taking a very strong laxative.

  71. And here you are. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hi! I'm an MBA and all this traffic - regardless of the reason works into my model.

    Regardless if people are commenting on the article or griping, there is still traffic.

    Get it?!

    Dice will be crying all the way to the bank! Well, not. Dice won't give a shit either way. All they care about is a revenue stream from this site.

    If you REALLY want to protest - stop coming here and stop posting help ads on Dice and reject and applicants from a recruiter that uses Dice.

    tl;dr: "Fuck Slashdot" does shit.

  72. Whenever I hear something like this... by roc97007 · · Score: 1

    ... I wonder, by remote command? What's the mechanism? I don't even bother asking how secure, because the value of a secret increases in proportion to it's usefulness, and past the point where risk balances gain, it will get loose.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  73. "Terrorists have bombed" by aliquis · · Score: 1

    ..

    This and that group did it.. trust us!

  74. Commercial Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is anyone worried that electronics manufacturers could start doing this (assuming they don't to some degree already)? iPhone turns to dust after 4 years.

  75. No sure what Slashdot beta is by oRCAD+Monkey · · Score: 0

    not sure what beta slashdot really is. all I know is that it makes me very sad. Please fix beta make me happy again. Is this what beta slashdot is? From wikipedia Beta[edit] Beta, named after the second letter of the Greek alphabet, is the software development phase following alpha. It generally begins when the software is feature complete. Software in the beta phase will generally have many more bugs in it than completed software, as well as speed/performance issues and may still cause crashes or data loss. The focus of beta testing is reducing impacts to users, often incorporating usability testing. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called beta release and this is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it. The users of a beta version are called beta testers. They are usually customers or prospective customers of the organization that develops the software, willing to test the software without charge, often receiving the final software free of charge or for a reduced price. Beta version software is often useful for demonstrations and previews within an organization and to prospective customers. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, prototype, technical preview (TP), or early access. Some software is kept in perpetual beta—where new features and functionality are continually added to the software without establishing a firm "final" release. Open and closed beta[edit] Developers release either a closed beta or an open beta; closed beta versions are released to a restricted group of individuals for a user test by invitation, while open beta testers are from a larger group, or anyone interested. The testers report any bugs that they find, and sometimes suggest additional features they think should be available in the final version. Examples of a major public beta test are: In September 2000 a boxed version of Apple's Mac OS X Public Beta operating system was released.[3] Microsoft's release of community technology previews (CTPs) for Windows Vista in January 2005.[4] Open betas serve the dual purpose of demonstrating a product to potential consumers, and testing among an extremely wide user base likely to bring to light obscure errors that a much smaller testing team might not find. Impact of the World Wide Web[edit] As the Internet has facilitated rapid and inexpensive distribution of software, companies have begun to take a looser approach to use of the word "beta".[5] In February 2005 ZDNet published an article about the recent phenomenon of a beta version often staying for years and being used as if it were in production level, disparagingly called "perpetual beta". It noted that Gmail and Google News, for example, had been in beta for a long period of time and were not expected to drop the beta status despite the fact that they were widely used; however, Google News did leave beta in January 2006, followed by Google Apps, including Gmail, in July 2009.[6] This technique may allow a developer to delay offering full support and responsibility for remaining issues. In the context of Web 2.0, people even talk of perpetual betas to signify that some software is meant to stay in beta state. Also, "beta" is sometimes used to indicate something more like a release candidate, or as a form of time-limited demo, or marketing technique .[7] Release candidate[edit] A release candidate (RC) is a beta version with potential to be a final product, which is ready to release unless significant bugs emerge. In this stage of product stabilization, all product features have been designed, coded and tested through one or more beta cycles with no known showstopper-class bug. A release is called code complete when the development team agrees that no entirely new source code will be added to this release. There could still be source code changes to fix defects, changes to documentation and data files, and peripheral code for test cases or utilities. Beta testers, if privately selected, will often be credited for using the rel

  76. Your mission, should you choose to accept it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is to FUCK BETA

  77. Here today, gone tomorrow. by MachineShedFred · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, we're here generating traffic. Today.

    Piss off your users, and they first get loud and tell you what you're doing wrong. Then, they get quiet. REAL quiet. As in, no longer visiting your site. And, for Slashdot, if people aren't visiting, then they aren't posting, they aren't submitting stories, and they aren't looking at your ads.

    --
    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    1. Re:Here today, gone tomorrow. by TWiTfan · · Score: 1

      Piss off your users, and they first get loud and tell you what you're doing wrong. Then, they get quiet. REAL quiet. As in, no longer visiting your site.

      The Dice execs should visit Kevin Rose's box and ask him how that works out in the end.

      --
      The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
    2. Re:Here today, gone tomorrow. by Trogre · · Score: 1

      Of course, if that happens, the Dice PHBs will just conclude that the site has had its day and close it altogether. Then their corporate overlords who put them up to this will have won.

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  78. Popular Nerd Forum Shattered Into Dust by Dice by oRCAD+Monkey · · Score: 0

    Dear Mr Dice: I like Slashdot. It make me very happy. Now destroyed by a thing called "Beta" I am very very sad now. SAD SAD SAD. Make Classic work again, everybody happy. Not good to have millions of unhappy nerds.

  79. enwauifnewiuaobn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AAAARRRGHHHH THERE IS NO LONGER A LINK TO INDIVIDUAL POSTS!!!!!

    yelling is warranted, you goddamn filter! fuck beta fuck beta fuck beta fuck beta fuck beta fuck beta fuck beta

  80. Hey Dice: Loyal readers are trolling Slashdot ... by kbahey · · Score: 1

    Dice can't see it, since they are new here (he he)...

    But, the most loyal long time most avid readers of Slashdot, are not trolling the site, in protest of the failed beta.

    Where is GNAA, Natalie Portman grits, and frist prost when you need them!

    They won't have a clue what I am saying ...

  81. /. going the way of Digg v4.0? by rolfwind · · Score: 1

    More to come, stay tuned.

  82. They don't watch movies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do they not know that a self destruct button, isn't a good thing.

  83. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by TWiTfan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's one of the real nasty bits of it. Any kind of long-lasting discussion is out of the question. Some of the best threads I've ever seen on /. came from deep, ongoing discussions between knowledgeable people. The beta makes it difficult to have any real back-and-forth.

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
  84. IKEA by dysmal · · Score: 0

    So IKEA is selling to the military? (Obligatory "Beta sucks donkey balls")

  85. Slashdot Beta SUCKS by Adeptus_Luminati · · Score: 1

    I've emailed them... they ignore... the more they ignore the quicker their downfall.

    Ignore your userbase, and you shall have none. If I am ignored much longer, I will leave. Just like I left mashable after their AOL'ed it.

    PS. I've been a slashdotter for 7+ years.

    --
    No trees were killed in the making of this post; however, many trillions of electrons were horribly inconvenienced.
  86. This would be useful for more than just military by jonwil · · Score: 2

    This could be used by dissidents in various countries worried about the government seizing their computers and using the information contained therein against them. Or heck, criminals would be interested too, if the feds come a knocking, they just hit some buttons and turn all their criminal record data to unreadable dust.

  87. Websites that turn into dust on command from..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Beta!

  88. News: BETA sucks by aaaaaaargh! · · Score: 1

    Glad I'm still on classic. :-)

    1. Re:News: BETA sucks by Herve5 · · Score: 1

      The classic version is to be shut down. That is one issue.
      The original issue, though, is the new interface has forgotten all our efficiency at filtering comments and getting compact, long threads, and when contacted on this the new owners seem to depend on an existing system that won't, and can't, evolve this way.

      As for me, if I lose the capability to filter my way, the very essence of /. disappears.
      It's not even that I'll decide to come back or not: there will be no place to come back...

      I fully understand the aim for the new owners: getting more readers for the ads to pay more, via a nicer, cleaner interface. They will get this. But there will be no more posters.
      At this moment they are betting that a viable part of us will continue posting. I won't belong to this part, simply because it doesn't bring anything more to me. They may win the bet anyhow. They will just step out of my world, and to me it's a dire loss.

      --
      Herve S.
  89. It seems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It seems Dice's webservers are now being run by suck.

  90. Re:Here's my POV on Beta - On the CLI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We don't believe a CLI is a better interface, we KNOW it is a better interface.
    Also emacs is better than VI
    And Slashdot Beta SUCKS!
    Now get off my lawn

    Programming since 1968.
    Professional programmer since 1980.
    Still programming
    Still love it
    Still hate Slashdot Beta.

  91. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just develop AD syndrome, look at a couple of pictures and go somwhere else. You will easily be distracted by the next picture and will soon forget that you were able to "discuss" things with other like minded people.
    Yes, you could agree, disagree or even make a different point!

    I will miss this!

    ByeBye Slashdot.

    Please remember the users you DID have with a >20 second attention span.

  92. Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm just a casual slashdot reader. Can you elucidate about what the you feel the problem with the new beta format is?

    1. Re:Question by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 1

      I'm just a casual slashdot reader. Can you elucidate about what the you feel the problem with the new beta format is?

      Well, it's apparently too kind to trolls, for a start.

      --
      Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  93. Fight Beta! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please post this to new articles if it hasn't been posted yet.

    On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

    Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

    If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

    We should boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.
    We should boycott slashdot entirely during the week of Feb 10 to Feb 17 as part of the wider slashcott [slashdot.org]

    Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
    Commentors - only discuss the Beta - Vote up the Fuck Beta stories

    Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

    Discussion of Beta
    Discussion of where to go if Beta goes live
    Boycott Slashdot Feb 10-17

  94. fucking hilarious by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Add yet another vulnerability to our military.

    Wait until some enterprising hacker from the other side figures out how to trigger the self-destruct.

    And then our shit becomes useless, from operator-recognizing rifles to vehicles.

    Motherfucking morons.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    1. Re:fucking hilarious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tornado pilot at 50 meters: "My avionics just disappeared!"

  95. It was nice while it lasted by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 1

    Slashdot was a reasonable source of technical dialogue once. Solved a lot of problems by talking to each other.
    I'll miss it.

    Goodbye.

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  96. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by noh8rz10 · · Score: 1

    surely you can see the replies somewhere I just haven't found it yet. on classic all the replies are in the top right corner. where did they move it to?

  97. I for one, do NOT welcome our new beta overlords! by rts008 · · Score: 1

    Yes that aspect is true, 'mobile reactive organic targets' usually give instant results of your mad skillz. They can be tricky targets. Good training! ;-)

    Unlike Jar Jar, I'm afraid that slashdot beta will be even MORE zombie-like than SCO, thus EVEN harder to kill.

    However is responsible for making this mandatory needs to be VR headset fitted, castrated with a bench vise...half turn of the handle ever 15 minutes, while standing barefoot on hot coals, and at random intervals...goosed with an electric cattle prod, all while "Cannibal: The Musical" is playing on the aforementioned headset.(in 3D, immersive ,but not interactive, in surround sound-you could shove the sub woofer up their ass...goatse may need a heir)
    Then made to walk the plank, get keel hauled, crucified, impaled an a short spike, drawn and quartered, burned at the stake, hung, then torn into itty bitty pieces, and BURIED ALIVE!

    Then we nuke them from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  98. Re:Sorry, I just don't get what you are ranting ab by TubeSteak · · Score: 1

    A long time ago, Slashdot hid all the links to http://slashdot.org/~TubeSteak/comments (even from the classic users)
    Beta just transparently gives you the http://slashdot.org/~TubeSteak/ version even if you include "comments" in the link.

    Am I supposed to go thread to thread in order to see which of my comments have been modded up or down?
    Is Beta some kind of clean sheet design that ignores everything that /. has ever done?
    Give me Classic or give me Death.

    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  99. LSD flashback, and nightmares from bad trip.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I visited the beta page yesterday. Bummer, man.

    Now I'm having the same nightmares i had after my final LSD trip(it turned really bad-time to stop).

    I scored several 4-way windowpane, and took two, then went camping for the weekend. *circa 1974-1976*
    Wonderful, fun trip until I came across some stray/feral(?) dogs, and smeared my scrotum with bacon grease after I stripped naked to play with the pack. (Have no clue why this seemed a good idea at the time, but acid was very good then;)

    Darwin's Vasectomy Procedure #4,915,692, no anesthesia required! nuff said.

    I wonder if that has any bearing on my interest in Unix?

    So I am firmly and personally convinced that the beta will rip your balls off, shit in your neighbor's flowerbed(thus starting civil war), ass rape your cat(most likely you too), and piss in your bosses coffee cups while wearing a mask of your face and giving them the finger.

    Oh, and bonus points(for beta) if all the javascripts running on the beta site can cause that fake 'you' moon everyone, then shit on the floor, then run out of the building pulling all the fire alarms.

    A car analogy:

    Beta/Cheech: "how's my driving, man?"

    Classic/Cong: "What?"

    Beta/Cheech:"You know, how's my driving, is my driving cool?"

    Classic/Chong: "I don't think we're going any where, it looks like we're stopped."

    Beta/Cheech: "What? We're stopped?"

    Classic/Chong: "Yeah man, it looks like we're parked on the median strip."

    Garbled and paraphrased from Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" movie.

    No time to look up the proper dialog/quotes, I thought I caught a whiff of bacon grease! *plugs in minigun, aims at pile of milkbones down the hall* .Closest car analogy I could pull out quick.

  100. $5.4 million for a self destruct button? by smaddox · · Score: 1

    For $5.4 million, they better be talking about more than simply damaging the electronics beyond use. I could throw something together to do that overnight for less than $100.

  101. China will by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Find a way to initiate the destruction sequence, use it, then offer the US a deal on replacing all the equipment that went down the electronics.

  102. Blame aim error? by rts008 · · Score: 1

    I started today at the bottom and have been working my way up the page with the articles.

    'Soulskill' joined in the discussion about the beta that was raging on the Quakecon article(IIRC).

    Here's my take:

    According to him, the editors are reading the comments and sending them upstream to their Dice corporate overlords, and have been warning same OL's that this was likely to happen. Many of the editors feel the same way, but the editors are too far down the ladder to have much say about this.

    He also said that feedback was pouring in and they were trying to take it all in.

    One of the things, from the sounds of it, a classic version is not an option when the beta goes live in April. I hope I misunderstood.

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  103. Are they saying that they have not been doing this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This idea seems too primitive to me to be considered for use so late.
    I would assume that self destructing high tech components would have been common practice in the military.

  104. The Beta stinks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The beta is a big steaming load of poos.

  105. cool by SuperDre · · Score: 1

    and the enemy can use it too to disable the army itself, because if the US can disable the electronics remote, so can their enemy...

  106. Yes.. by monzie · · Score: 1

    Yes I hate the fact that you cannot link to comments anymore. The site becomes less useful that way.

  107. Like /. by PGC · · Score: 1

    Like the /. community when Beta will be implemented.

    --
    The Dutch will inherit the earth. If not, we'll settle for a bit of ocean. Beta delenda est!
  108. Re:This would be useful for more than just militar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is bad idea for anyone with adversaries as it opens up a new avenue of attack. In the end, military will abandon the idea and it will be most used for strict end of life for consumer products ... as some sort of physical DRM, an anti-maker/mender/hacker/upcycler measure.

  109. spoofing anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So ummm, the command - replay attacks, spoofing, hacking... and POOF! your opposition is suddenly falling out of the sky and disabled... EXTERMINATE!

    This is too fucken dangerous to have around - even if it requires a keyturn...

    Oh yeah, BETA SUCKS!

  110. http://www.mastera-stolici.ru/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.mastera-stolici.ru/

  111. How to could fix up the non beta stuff real quick by Stu101 · · Score: 1

    I have to agree that Beta is not so awesome. Doesn't work on my droid phone so I lose 30 mins a day looking at other sites.

    A lot of the issues go deeper than Beta though. Firstly, as IT folks we are (mostly!):

    Educated
    Have disposable income
    Revel in nerdy stuff
    Have decision making/influencing power.

    All the above is an IT advertisers wet dream

    I am starting to find the content rather dull and repetitive.

    Can you imagine the sort of stories that could be brought to Slashdot as an exclusive if Slashdot actually paid for original unique content and also got editors that can do the job to a higher standard. Imagine the uber geek stuff that could be created if people were motivated enough. Original stuff that brings new blood, new thinking, decent ad revenue. Think of the interesting stories that could be told by you guys, right here, if you had the incentive.

    I can't disclose exactly what I am writing about at present, but all the good stuff is going to people who pay me for my time. Slashdot needs some of this!

    In short rather than messing with beta, start getting some original content. Differentiate Slashdot, make it relevant, make it fresh.

    --
    http://www.writeitfor.us - Writing IT for the IT generation.
  112. Mission Impossible by FredMastro · · Score: 1

    I thought the MI group already had this tech

  113. Going Galt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like they're taking a cue from John Galt. I believe all his equipment disintegrated into dust when his antagonists entered his lab in "Atlas Shrugged". If only the Objectivist Party would do the same.

  114. Commercial application... by Reziac · · Score: 1

    ...could give new meaning to 'planned obsolescence'.

    --
    ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  115. I used to buy electronics like this all the time by ToddInSF · · Score: 1

    http://www2.geeks.com/

    Their site doesn't work anymore, but you can still go to their physical store and buy electronics that vaporizes after a few uses !

  116. It's already in use by fox171171 · · Score: 1

    which seeks to develop transient electronics that can physically disappear in a controlled, triggerable manner.'

    You mean like regular commercial electronics do right after the warranty expires?

  117. L Ron Hubbard beat them to it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This was one of the concepts for secure electronics employed in the Battlefield Earth book.

  118. Lumpy how'd "eating your words" taste? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ROTFLMAO @ "Chumpy" -> http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...

    (You sure "talk a good game" -> http://games.slashdot.org/comm... but you can't even produce a MERE SCRIPT!, windbag...)

    You aren't even on the level of a "script kiddie", & full of HOT AIR!

    You certainly won't reply there in that 2nd link I posted either, as that would remove your downmods to my posts like this one you can't validly disprove or justify your downmod on -> http://games.slashdot.org/comm...

    Oh, I suspect that IS the case here (simply logging out of a registered account & trolling by ac is a common troll trick around here OR using alternate registered 'luser' accounts sockpuppets to do the job will also, & Lumpy is LOADED with those & trolling - which doesn't matter: He PROVES he's all talk, no action (or skills, OR brains, lol))

    (You're all TALK, & NO action "CHUMPY!)

    * :)

    (You know it, I know it, & so does anyone reading AND laughing their asses off @ you now... lol!)

    APK

    P.S.=> Answer the question in the subject-line Lumpy - since you had to "eat your wrods" in the 1st link above flavored with your FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH + the "bitter taste of SELF-defeat", lol...

    ... apk