MirrorDot - Solving the Slashdot Effect

NBC to Offer Free Video Download Service

Damocles the Elder writes "Apparently NBC realized that people on the internet do watch TV, because after breaking up with Apple over iTunes pricing schemes, they're setting up their own free service «?» ." From the article "NBC first contracted with Amazon to offer its programs for sale to downloading devices like MP3 players. Now it is establishing its own downloading service, which NBC executives say they expect to become a viable competitor to iTunes. "With the creation of this new service, we are acknowledging that now, more than ever, viewers want to be in control of how, when and where they consume their favorite entertainment," said Vivi Zigler, the executive vice president of NBC Digital Entertainment. "Not only does this feature give them more control, but it also gives them a higher quality video experience." ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Games: 12 Year Old Gets $6.5M for Gaming Company

Bayscribe «?» writes "A Silicon Valley company co-founded by a 12-year-old has just raised $6.5 million in venture capital «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Americans Giving Up Social Life for the Web

Stony Stevenson writes "A survey into how the Web affects American adults has found that surfing the net has become an obsession for many, with the majority of U.S. adults feeling they cannot go for a week without going online «?» and one in three giving up friends and sex for the Web. The survey asked 1,011 American adults how long they would feel OK without going on the Web and found that 15 percent said just a day or less, 21 percent said a couple of days and another 19 percent said a few days. It also found that 20 percent said they spend less time having sex because they are online." ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Linux: Nasdaq to Delist SCO Sep 27

symbolset «?» writes "The Nasdaq Staff has decided to delist SCO «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

IT: TransUnion to Offer Credit Freezes Nationwide

An anonymous reader writes "In a little-noticed press release «?» issued Tuesday, credit reporting bureau TransUnion said it would begin offering credit freezes to all Americans, a change the belies the credit industry's oft-uttered claim that doing so would be too expensive and burdensome. The program takes effect Oct. 15, 2007, will cost $10 each to place and to remove, and request and must be filed by certified mail. As The Washington Post reports, the move comes as some 39 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws entitling their residents to credit freeze rights «?» . The new right may have little benefit unless the other two major credit reporting bureaus follow suit, and both companies are staying mum about any plans to do so. In May, Slashdot examined a related story «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Science: Aerosol Spray to Identify Bombing Suspects

RedHanded writes "Forensic chemists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a color-changing spray «?» that can identify people suspected of making or planting bombs. The chemical turns from yellow to bright red when it comes into contact with urea nitrate, an explosive residue that may be left behind on the hands of someone who has handled an improvised device." ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Linux: GNOME 2.20 Released

Gimli writes "GNOME 2.20 has been officially released «?» . There are a number of enhancements and improvements to things such as power management, Evince (the GNOME document view), Totem (the video player), and note-taking application Tomboy. There are also some changes to GNOME's configuration utilities with an eye towards streamlining them. The timing is impeccable, too: 'This release coincides with the tenth anniversary of GNOME's existence. The project has evolved considerably since its earliest incarnation and has become a global phenomenon. Used as the default environment in popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora, GNOME is widely used by Linux desktop users and is supported by a growing community of companies and independent developers. GNOME 2.20 will be included in the next major releases of many mainstream Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 7.10, which is scheduled for release next month. Users who wish to try it now can use the latest Ubuntu 7.10 live CD images, or the latest build of Foresight Linux «?» . You can also check out the release notes «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Your Rights Online: AT&T to Help MPAA Filter the Internet?

Save the Internet «?» writes "Ars Technica is reporting that the MPAA is trying to convince major ISPs to do content filtering «?» . Now, merely wanting it is one thing, but the more important point is that 'AT&T has agreed to start filtering content at some mysterious point in the future.' We're left to wonder about the legal implications «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

IT: Journalist Test Drives The Pain Ray Gun

Fantastic Lad writes to tell us that journalist Michael Hanlon recently got the opportunity to experience the Army's new not-so-secret weapon, dubbed "Silent Guardian". The Silent Guardian is essentially (even though the creators prefer you not refer to it as such) a ray gun «?» , emitting a focused beam of radiation similar to your microwave tuned to a specific frequency to stimulate human nerve endings. "It can throw a wave of agony nearly half a mile. Because the beam penetrates skin only to a depth of 1/64th of an inch, it cannot, says Raytheon, cause visible, permanent injury. But anyone in the beam's path will feel, over their entire body, the agonizing sensation I've just felt on my fingertip. The prospect doesn't bear thinking about. " ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Your Rights Online: Massive Canadian Class-Action Cellphone Suit Is Approved

BeanBunny writes "A Saskatchewan, Canada court has ruled that a $12 billion class-action suit «?» can proceed. The suit alleges that 'system access fees' that the cellphone companies have charged ($7-9 per month) are unfair and constitute price gouging. 'It is described as the largest class-action in Canadian history, potentially affecting every cellphone user in the country. Currently, there are 7,500 complainants signed onto the suit.'" ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Politics: Examining Presidential Candidates' Tech Agendas

Aaron Ricadela «?» writes to mention that BusinessWeek is taking a look at the tech agendas for several presidential candidates «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Hardware: Headband Gives Wearer "Sixth-Sense"

An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist reports on a headband developed at the University of Tokyo that allows the wearer to feel their surroundings «?» at a distance — as if they had cats whiskers. Infrared sensors positioned around the headband vibrate to signal when and where an object is close. There are also a few great videos of people using it to dodge stuff while blindfolded «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Book Reviews: OpenGL Programming Guide 6th Ed.

Martin Ecker «?» writes "The Red Book, also known as the OpenGL Programming Guide published by Addison-Wesley Professional, returns in its sixth edition with additions covering OpenGL 2.1. The Red Book, so called because of its nice, red cover, is probably the most-well known, standard introduction to the OpenGL graphics API. Let me take you on a tour through the pages of this book to see what it has to offer." Read on for the rest of Martin's review. ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Apple: Jobs' Next Fight — Dealing With iPhone Hackers

An anonymous reader writes "With Steve Jobs' recent announcement of his intention to fight off the independent iPhone developers «?» , the question worth asking is: How will Apple try to defeat the hackers: Software updates, or lawsuits? Will Apple risk losing its most frequently (ab)used legal tool, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act «?» , in order to try and punish the developers of the iPhone unlocking tools? This CNET article explores the legal issues «?» ... « Full Slashdot Story »

Games: The Wiimote As Yoda Intended - A Lightsaber

An anonymous reader writes "So what if the Wii can't handle the awesome 'next-generation' physics engine the other consoles will enjoy when Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is released? LucasArts announced today that Krome Studios is developing a version of the game for the Nintendo console «?» , and players will finally get to use the Wiimote for its intended purpose — as a lightsaber. 'The sword-swinging action will be exclusive to the Wii version, and even then, it will only be available in an exclusive "duel mode." The description in the release says that this duel mode will be a multiplayer affair.'" ... « Full Slashdot Story »