Yet again Apple patents something it didn’t invent
But how they got their hands on the Dock patent is a true mystery, considering the amount of prior art there is, reaching back before 1981!
Author: Robin
Centralised databases used to track dissidents
Terrorism tracking databases are now being used in the US to track people with political leanings that the police, well, just don’t like. Such as opposing the death penalty, for example. 53 nonviolent dissidents have been found to have been inserted deliberately into the terrorist tracking databases. Of course, this is just the tip of Read more about Centralised databases used to track dissidents[…]
arXiv.org Science archive
arXiv is an e-print service in the fields of physics, mathematics, non-linear science, computer science, quantitative biology and statistics. The contents of arXiv conform to Cornell University academic standards. It’s huge and has loads of physics / mathematical / computer science papers in it. arXiv.org e-Print archive
router firmwares
If you have a crappy old router there are open source ways to upgrade them using alternative firmwares: There’s Tomato for Linksys’ WRT54G/GL/GS, Buffalo WHR-G54S/WHR-HP-G54 and other Broadcom-based routers. It features a new easy to use GUI, a new bandwidth usage monitor, more advanced QOS and access restrictions, enables new wireless features such as WDS Read more about router firmwares[…]
Oxbridge lectures now on iTunes
For free!
USAF A-10s grounded
After the F-15 grounding, which left the US without an air defence in the beginning of this year, now many A-10s have been grounded due to cracks in the wings. With the tanker acquisition being put on hold, it’s looking more and more like the USAF is an organisation filled with geriatric aircraft. And congress Read more about USAF A-10s grounded[…]
GTbyCITROEN
The GTbyCITROEN – is what happens when car makers collaborate with computer game makers. Want a Citroen now.
12 billion GBP for Big Brother state
This will be invested into creating a whopping huge database (probably unencrypted and left behind on USB sticks on the bus, if current UK standards are anything to go by) of all internet useage, mail reading and telephone conversations. Basically it’s legalised stalking. Well done the nanny state!
Introduction to the night sky
This is a great introduction to the night sky, and teaches you to find Orion, Jupiter, Polaris, Casseopia and Betelguese quickly and easily. Worth running through.
The Social Lives of Hammerheads
It’s a great article about them, but this is something I’ve been looking for for ages: it describes the huge gatherings these sharks have as they migrate towards the poles: 500 large! I’ve seen footage of them passing over in endless ranks… this is something I need to do before I die!
THC-ePassports
If you want the ability to clone your RFID passport with photo and name changes included, go here quickly before it’s taken down!
JSF doesn’t do too well
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) staged an excercise pitting the JSF against the 4th generation russian fighters and it got it’s arse handed to it in the turning game. Link goes to the movie. Memorable quotes are: “The report says the JSF is: “‘Double inferior’ relative to modern Russian/Chinese fighter designs in visual range Read more about JSF doesn’t do too well[…]
John Chiara
John Chiara drives around with a camera the size of a car, handles exposure on the 2×2 m prints with a pinhole camera by placing his hand over the aperture and produces some stunning results.
Poker sites ripping off
Online poker sites Absolute Poker and UltimateBet have had a security flaw in them, which allowed certain players to see the hole cards of all the other players. An Australian, Michael Josem, used statistical analysis to prove that certain accounts were winning around 100 times more often than other accounts. Now there’s a whole suing Read more about Poker sites ripping off[…]
MouseJail
MouseJail is a tiny freeware that keeps your mouse on the monitor you want it to stay. Very handy with games, where sometimes the mouse wanders out into the desktop next to the gaming area.
MiniTube
Minitube integrates with Winamp, Itunes or KMPlayer and hunts down the music video to the song you’re playing on youtube.
Wal-Mart shows us why Spore’s DRM is fubar
Spore has been getting loads of flak for publishing a game using a copy protection method that only allows you to install it on 3 user accounts. They’ve since raised the amount to 5, and say that you should be able to install it on more PCs if you give them a call. Wall Mart Read more about Wal-Mart shows us why Spore’s DRM is fubar[…]
Tory party campaigns on killing centralised databases
Labour is a big fan of huge, vulnerable and downright dangerous centralised databases. The Tory party: less so. Especially when it’s their kids being centralised for an unencrypted USB device to give all the data to someone.
SpaceX Falcon 1 made it to orbit
After 3 failed launces, fourth time was lucky – the three stage rocket made it to low earth orbit, making it the first privately funded spacecraft to do this, trumping Spaceship One, which, allthough manned, only stays in space for very short periods of time.
China Space Walks
Well done China, not many countries have had spacewalking astronauts!
Speeding drivers cause only 3% of car accidents, figures reveal | Mail Online
Well, there you go. Proof that speeding camera’s are basically only another way for the government to shake us around upside down and catch the money that falls out.
Rockbox 3 released
Rockbox replaces the UI and OS on a whole range of popular MP3 players (archos, iriver, ipod, iaudio, gigabeat, sansa). You can customise the UI, use voice control, play games, load plugins, etc etc etc. A great way to breathe life into your old MP3 player.
Emdrive
Satellite Propulsion Research Ltd (SPR Ltd) a small UK based company, has demonstrated a remarkable new space propulsion technology. The company has sucessfully tested both an experimental thruster and a demonstrator engine which use patented microwave technology to convert electrical energy directly into thrust. No propellant is used in the conversion process. Thrust is produced Read more about Emdrive[…]
US Homeland Security Can now Copy Your Paper Documents
Laptops and digital stuff wasn’t enough for them – no, they can photocopy anything and everything you take into the country….