VERY,VERY HOT READS, I Would Read The News In This Thread This Thead Is To post Any Thing Ye Want About The News,,NEWS WAS MOVED,READ MY FIRST POST..CHEERS
p2p news / p2pnet: There's no denying that Apple, which may soon be on the wrong end of a monopolization suit under the US federal Sherman Antitrust Act, is The One when it comes to marketing.
George W. uses an iPod when he isn't falling off his bike.
The DRM-bound music player and its customer-funded online feed unit, iTunes, are being greased into some US schools where they're being touted as essential educational equipment.
And now Vatican Radio employees have given Pope Benedict XVI an iPod nano, "loaded with special Vatican Radio programming and classical music," says the Catholic News Service.
"Once the pope, who is also a pianist, gets the hang of the device's trademark click wheel, he will be able to listen to a special 20-minute feature produced by the radio's English program that highlights Mozart's life and music to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his birth," says the story, adding:
"The pope also can relive the historical papal transition of April 2005. On the player, the radio's German program included a mix of news and interviews done during the death of Pope John Paul II, the conclave and the election of Pope Benedict."
And it didn't cost Steve a dime.
Also See:
wrong end - Apple monopolization claim, February 21, 2006
bike - George W. Bush's bike adventure, July 7, 2005
Catholic News Service - Vatican Radio employees present pope with specially loaded iPod nano, March 3, 2006
Hardware Roundel Entry level DDR2-1K memory on trial
By Désiré Athow: Sunday 05 March 2006, 16:42
PHORONIX has a go at the Geil Value DDR2-1000 PC2-8000. To get Geil Value and DDR2-1000 to fit in the same product is a feat in itself and frankly speaking, AMD has chosen the right window to launch the DDR2-compatible Athlon 64. The memory modules are of the 512MB kind and are covered with an Aluminium heat spreader. As for most Geil products, they come with a lifetime warranty. This particular one performs as well as most competitors while costing much less.
Dual SLI and soon Quad SLI are pushing Power supply units to their limits. That's what Extremetech writes. The writer says that 650W is simply not enough to power two SLI power hungry 7800GTX for example reliably. Like big SUV's you should be looking for 700W minimum if you want to be on the safe side with SLI. There are some workarounds that should be explored though before you go for another PSU.
Cooltrek sent a Vostok Water Cooling Unit to Vr-zone which tested it rightaway. It was one of the very very few items to leave a lasting impression on the reviewer. It is relatively small and does not cost as much plus it performs like a real champ, 13 degrees better than the prescott reference. As he puts it, a fully fledged water cooling kit, with a castrated price tag and therefore the o'c wet dream.
Techreport tests the Asus A8R32-MVP deluxe motherboard which comes with the Crossfire Express 3200 chipset, ATI's new Dual GPU chipset. Asus's previous attempt with the Xpress 200 was controversial to say the least. Now ATI finds itself in the same position as Nvidia was some time back. Fastest Chipset and best GPUs. Specs are near perfection with RAID SATA, 8-channel Audio, Dual GbE etc. Near Perfection.
NvNews reports on the new EVGA e-Geforce 7800GS CO Superclock AGP 8x video card. Yes an AGP video card with the latest technology. Don't know if you should go for it though as AGP is already obsolete. The card has a 460MHz/1350MHz Core/Mem clock speed. It comes with a black HSF and a one slot format. This is by far the fastest card should you want to upgrade your system.
Digit-life has part two of an article on power consumption and heat dissipation of Entreprise hard disk drives. They compare 20 hard disk drives using SAS, SCSI and Serial ATA interfaces. With each degree drop in HDD temperature equivalent to a 10% increase of HDD service life, you should be particularly attentive to ambient temperature. Some crucial information should you want to buy Entreprise grade storage.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30064
Kids getting skin cancer because of tanning clinics
Take Vit D tablets, quacks warn
By our Health Correspondent: Sunday 05 March 2006, 13:55
DOCTORS AND SURGEONS at a dermatology convention here in San Francisco have warned children and teenagers against attending tanning clinics as skin cancers in the US reach epidemic proportions.
Academy of Dermatology attendees at Moscone West today will be told girls and boys are being sold the benefits of vitamin D by tanning clinics but instead they could take a cheap tablet available at pharmacies, rather than expose their skin to dangerous UV (ultra violet) rays.
There are a million cases of skin cancer being diagnosed in the USA each year, the quacks are telling attendees. They are seeing dangerous skin cancers such as melonomas not only in teens but in children seven years old, the doctors and surgeons warned. One doctor said that tanning is as addictive as smoking and drinking and carries great dangers.
Kids, especially girls, are exhibiting dangerous skin cancers earlier than ever before because they're responding to a raw appeal to vanity.
MEANWHILE, the quacks said that a quarter of all people in North Carolina, an American state, are obese. And this also has an effect on the skin, said the Academy of Dermatologists.
With so many factors to consider, deciding which desktop PC to buy can be a real challenge. From components to software to accessories, new PCs offer a bewildering array of choices, and, for some folks, sifting through the large number of options can be daunting. At PC World, we test dozens of new desktop PCs every year. What follows is the collective knowledge of our editors and Test Center analysts.
The Big Picture
Before you go out shopping for a new desktop computer, you have to decide what you want to use it for. We'll guide you through the options. more
The Specs Explained
From CPUs to RAM to optical storage, we'll break down the jargon--and tell you which specs are most important to your purchase. more
PC Shopping Tips
Want some advice before you head to the store or visit a Web site? Our recommendations will help you build a system that fits both your needs and your pocketbook. more
Next page: The Big Picture
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
The Big Picture
Today, almost any PC on the market can more than adequately handle such standard office chores as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as basic Internet functions such as e-mail and general browsing. So for $1000 or less, you can get a PC that will suit most people's needs.
If you're a more demanding user who wants to edit digital video or manage a large database, however, you may need more than the basics. You're better off looking at systems that start in the $1500 to $2000 range. For high-end needs, check out our reviews of power systems, which cost $2000 or more.
The best way to pay only for what you need is to carefully consider what you want to do with your system now and anticipate what might interest you next year. Specific applications call for certain types of hardware, whether at home or in the office.
Key Features
Processor: If you plan to use your PC for standard office productivity and basic Internet tasks, most any processor will do. But if you want more power, Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 systems are your best bet. For the highest performance, buy a system with a dual-core processor, which will allow for faster multitasking. To save a couple hundred dollars, buy one or two levels down from the top--you're unlikely to lose more than 5 to 10 percent per tier in performance.
The Pentium 4, the Pentium D or Extreme Edition (both dual core), and the Athlon 64, 64 FX, or 64 X2 (dual core) can support most high-end work. Dual-core systems are best for the most demanding applications, such as video editing or high-resolution game play. Our tests currently show that the top AMD-based PCs tend to do a bit better than the leading Intel-based systems on our WorldBench 5 applications test suite. You can find bargain PCs with either of these chips, even at fast speeds. To pay a lower price, you'll have to sacrifice graphics performance, hard-drive size, and possibly monitor size (among other things).
Memory: To give Windows XP and applications sufficient room to work, you should get a minimum of 512MB of RAM. If you can afford to get more, do it. RAM costs a lot less today than it did some years ago. High-end PCs should have at least 1GB--that amount lets you keep more applications open and comfortably handles memory-intensive applications like Photoshop. (But if Photoshop is your app of choice, get 2GB of RAM; you won't regret it.)
Storage: In most cases basic PCs come with hard drives of 80GB or larger. This amount of storage is fine for the majority of mainstream tasks. If you plan to work with graphics files, large databases, video, or music, however, you'll want to bump the storage capacity up to at least 120GB. You'll need it because 30 minutes of uncompressed digital video takes up nearly 6.5GB of space, while 250 4-minute MP3s at 128 kbps use more than 1GB.
Graphics and display: Responsible for generating all images on your monitor, the graphics subsystem in a PC ships either as a removable expansion board or as a chip that's soldered permanently--or integrated--onto the motherboard.
Only dedicated gamers or people who work with 3D modeling need a top-of-the line graphics card. Home users who want an inexpensive system with decent graphics should choose a card with an older-generation nVidia chip such as the GeForce 6600 or a base-level ATI chip such as the Radeon X1300; for as little as $100, they can boost performance even with recently released games. If you want to do some gaming and are keeping an eye on the future, get a card with at least an nVidia GeForce 6800 chip or a Radeon X800 chip. Try to get a board with 256MB of RAM. (See "How to Buy a Graphics Board" for details on specific cards.) In the office, integrated graphics should satisfy your needs and save you money unless you're doing high-end graphics, Web, or multimedia development. Some motherboards with integrated graphics, such as models from Intel or nVidia, allow you a graphics upgrade option via an unoccupied PCI Express slot. Ask for the slot when you buy, if you want to be able to upgrade later.
Get at least a 17-inch LCD monitor--prices are low enough that you should be able to buy one for about $300. You can spend $400 or more for a high-quality model. For about $400, you can have a 19-inch monitor, which provides over 20 percent more screen area than a 17-inch model. Better models range from $450 to $600. (See "How to Buy a Monitor" for more specifics.)
Removable storage: Your most cost-effective removable-storage option is a CD-RW drive. However, home users may want to consider substituting the more flexible DVD-rewritable drive: You still get CD-RW functionality, and DVDs store at least 4.7GB of data, versus 650MB for most CDs. They also let you create your own video DVDs to play in your living-room DVD player. DVD write speeds are much slower than CD write speeds, though.
DVD drives cost more than CD-RW drives, but prices are falling quickly. If you want the latest, buy a drive that supports dual- or double-layer DVD writing, which allows you to put more data on a single disc. (See "How to Buy a DVD-Rewritable Drive" for more specifics.)
USB thumb drives and micro-drives are also growing in popularity. These keychain-size devices, made by a number of manufacturers, can store large amounts of data, even 1GB or more. If you use Windows 2000 or XP, a thumb drive requires no additional software; Windows will detect the device as soon as you pop it in a port, and will assign it its own drive letter in Explorer. If a standard key-fob style doesn't suit you, some companies have integrated thumb drives into pens, watches, and even a Swiss army pocket knife. Whichever model you choose, make sure you pick one that transfers data at USB 2.0 speeds; the older USB 1.1 devices move files at a pokier pace.
Communications: Most PCs come with a modem for dial-up Internet access and an ethernet port for broadband access. If you want to connect to the Internet wirelessly, you'll need a wireless network adapter.
To share your broadband connection or to network your PCs, get a gateway or router. A PC and router with gigabit ethernet will give you a faster local network connection than products with 10/100 ethernet. If you go wireless, you'll also need a card or an external adapter for each PC. (See "How to Buy Home Networking Products" for more specifics.)
Sound: In the office, the basics should suffice; integrated sound in your PC is more than adequate for most work. At home, though, you'll probably want surround sound. If your PC doesn't already support surround sound, for $100 or more you can buy an upgraded sound card with Dolby 5.1 support, plus a decent set of speakers that includes a subwoofer.
Design: A good case can make your everyday work easier and can simplify the task of upgrading or servicing components--an especially valuable perk in offices with multiple systems. A well-designed case will offer tool-less access to the interior, hard drives mounted on easy slide-out trays, and color-coded cables for internal and external parts.
At home, look for at least two USB ports in front so that you can easily hook up peripherals. If you have a digital video camcorder, get a PC with a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port.
If you plan to keep the system for a while, make sure you have some room for expansion. You'll want at least a couple of open drive bays and probably a free PCI slot as well.
Software: Most home and office PC users should find Windows XP Home a perfectly acceptable operating system. You should buy Windows XP Professional only if you want to take advantage of its management features, such as Remote Desktop, which lets users control the computer remotely over the Internet. Most vendors offer XP Home, XP Pro, and the increasingly popular Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Warranty and tech support: Because most PC problems tend to crop up in the first year, a one-year warranty should be fine. A two- or three-year warranty will add about $150 to $200 to your cost. Businesses can get options like 24-hour on-site response, but they must pay dearly for it.
Keyboard and mouse: Almost all systems include these commodity components, usually a Windows-compatible 102-key keyboard and a two-button mouse with a scroll wheel. Many vendors are switching from PS/2-connected devices to USB models that offer more features, such as additional programmable keys that can launch favorite applications or Web sites. Wireless keyboards and mice are especially useful for Media Center PCs. Optical mice, which use a small camera to detect motion, provide smoother, more precise control over mouse movement. They also eliminate the need for you to remove and clean a coated ball, as with older mice.
Next page: The Specs Explained
The Specs Explained
The vast majority of people buy a PC to browse the Web, check and send e-mail, and perform word processing or spreadsheet work. Today, even the least-expensive, lowest-of-the-low-end PC can perform any of those jobs admirably. You'll want a little extra performance if you use peripherals such as a printer or scanner. You'll want even more performance if you're a gamer, if you're interested in digital video, if you perform other processor-intensive tasks, or if you simply need to have the latest and greatest.
Most vendors let you customize and upgrade their base-model PCs with a mind-boggling selection of features. Need extra storage? Pick a larger hard drive. Ready to burn DVD movies? Choose a multiformat optical drive. Take your time and pick only what you need. And be sure to check our various Top 10 PCs charts before making your purchase. Below is a rough breakdown of some of your configuration options.
Feature Low End ($900 and below) Recommended ($900 to $1500) High End ($1750 and up)
Installed memory (RAM) 512MB 512MB to 1GB 1GB and up
An important consideration. The more installed memory your PC has, the more applications you can run at once, and the better the system will perform. Upgrading memory in a desktop is a snap. (Compare PCs with recommended amounts of RAM.)
Processor (CPU) 2.4-GHz Athlon 64 4000+ or 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 or 3.8-GHz Pentium 4 2.4-GHz Athlon 64 X2 or 3.2-GHz Pentium D
An important consideration. The processor determines how quickly the PC runs applications and performs many tasks, with speed measured in billions of operations (GHz) per second. AMD Athlon processors perform some tasks faster than Intel Pentium 4 CPUs running at the same clock speed.
Warranty and service plan 90-day parts and labor warranty, phone support during business hours One-year parts and labor warranty, 24-hour phone support Two- to three-year (or longer) parts warranty and one-year (or longer) labor warranty, 24-hour phone support and on-site service
An important consideration. A service plan provides a valuable lifeline for busy professionals or novice users who may not be able to repair difficult problems themselves. Check PC World's annual Reliability & Service survey, where readers collectively determine which PC makers provide the best and worst technical support and warranty service.
Graphics board and graphics RAM Integrated (onboard) graphics chip 128MB nVidia GeForce 6600-based or ATI Radeon card Dual SLI nVidia GeForce 7800-based or ATI Radeon X850 XT card
Somewhat important. The graphics board or integrated graphics chip generates all images on the PC. Graphics boards come with variable amounts of on-board memory; only hardcore gamers need the speediest, most advanced models.
Monitor 17-inch LCD 17-inch LCD 19-inch or larger LCD
Somewhat important. Many people can get by just fine with a 17-inch LCD monitor, but the prices of larger screens are dropping. Once-expensive, 17-inch LCD displays are the sweet spot, while larger LCDs are well within reach for people who like (or need) to work at the highest resolution.
Hard drive size 40GB to 80GB 80GB to 160GB 160GB and up
Somewhat important. The larger the hard drive, the more data you can store. Most business users don't need a hard drive larger than 40GB, but for mixed use, you'll need at least 80GB. People who work with big databases; spreadsheets; or digital photo, music, or video files should think larger, and consider RAID for increased security and performance.
Optical (CD or DVD) drive DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive Rewritable DVD combo drive Rewritable dual-layer DVD drive and DVD-ROM drive
Somewhat important. All PCs need an optical drive to read CDs and DVDs. More-advanced drives also let you back up files onto disc (with a CD-RW or writable-DVD drive) or watch movies (with a DVD-ROM drive). Top-of-the-line drives write on double- or dual-layer discs.
Removable storage and ports One or two USB ports on the front of the case More than two USB and FireWire ports in the front USB, FireWire, and audio/video ports in front
Somewhat important. Using a thumb drive is more common and convenient than carrying a floppy disk. You also want to make sure your PC has at least one or two USB ports on the front of the system, to plug in your iPod or other device, as well as more in back. High-end or Media Center machines should also have audio/video and FireWire ports within easy reach.
Peripherals 102-key PS/2 keyboard and USB mouse 102-key USB keyboard and USB mouse or trackball USB multimedia-enhanced keyboard and USB optical mouse or trackball
A minor consideration. Some users prefer newer keyboards with programmable buttons, and optical mice that don't require cleaning; these items, however, aren't essential. Media Center PCs offer wireless keyboards and mice.
Next page: PC Shopping Tips
PC Shopping Tips
Ready to buy a desktop? Here are PC World's recommendations for the average user's minimum requirements.
* A 3-GHz Pentium 4 or 2.4-GHz Athlon XP 4000+ processor. For everyday work, word processing, spreadsheets, and e-mail, you don't need the latest, greatest, and most expensive processor. In PC World tests, current AMD processors of the same clock speed perform some tasks faster than Intel processors.
* At least 512MB memory. Anything less will slow your work, especially if you plan to run several applications under Windows XP. Buy as much as you can afford, up to 1GB.
* Be careful when you buy integrated graphics. If you buy a computer with integrated graphics, ask if it has a PCI Express slot. If it doesn't, you won't be able to upgrade your graphics chip.
* Subwoofers improve sound. Adding a sound system with a subwoofer (a large speaker that produces very low bass tones) can dramatically improve the sound quality of a home system, even if the speaker set is inexpensive. In the office, however, a booming subwoofer may trigger an uprising among your coworkers.
* A 17-inch flat-panel LCD monitor. CRTs are dead. Unless you're really pinching pennies, a 17-inch LCD will let you see your documents with greater definition (or at a higher resolution) than smaller displays would.
* A rewritable DVD drive. Floppy drives have faded away. CD-RW-only drives are on the way out. Though your computer might still include a CD-RW drive, many users find that thumb drives, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combination drives, and recordable DVD drives are better options for data storage and transfer. They allow you to back up important documents (up to 1GB on a thumb drive, 700MB on a CD, and 4.7GB on a standard DVD), share files with colleagues, and create custom audio or video discs. A CD-RW may be all that most people need, but a DVD recorder lets you back up larger amounts of data.
* A 60GB or larger hard drive. A 40GB hard drive is fine for simple word processing or Web browsing tasks, but you'll likely fill that hard drive pretty quickly. In the long run it's best to buy more hard drive than you think you'll need. Today's largest hard drives reach 500GB, but unless you're planning to use your PC as a mini server for your office database or for electronic entertainment, a smaller drive may be more cost-effective.
* Connectivity up front. Many PCs now offer a pair of USB ports on the front of the case, so you can connect multiple peripherals without having to fumble around in back. If this is important to you, look for PCs with up-front FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports, audio and video connectors, and USB 2.0 ports.
* Graphics cards for novice gamers. If you want to do some gaming and you're keeping an eye on the future, get a mainstream graphics board, which can be about $200. You'll need a card with a built-in TV tuner if you plan to record video from your TV. (See "How to Buy a Graphics Board" for details on specific cards.)
Other Shopping Tips
In addition to choosing a PC with the above specifications, PC shoppers can save money and avoid unnecessary hassle by following these tips:
* Don't buy additional software unless you really need it. Purchase an operating system, an office suite, and an antivirus package. But if you need more, look for vendors' software bundles to upgrade your software. For as little as $100, you can often upgrade from Microsoft Works Suite or a similar package to a full office suite like Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition--a great value considering Office XP runs more than $300 off the shelf.
* Don't get caught up surfing price reductions. If you need a new PC now, don't wait a few months to see whether prices will drop further and upper-end performance will improve. Some readers find themselves stuck in an endless price-drop waiting game. Instead, decide when you need the system, and go for it.
* Buy above minimum specs for the longest useful life span. If longevity is a priority (and if you can afford it), get something closer to, but below, the current top of the line. This will extend the useful life of your PC.
* Check an LCD monitor's interface. Depending on the brand or model of LCD monitor, it could have one of several interface connectors--the part that plugs into the PC. These include the well-known VGA and the superior DVI connectors. If you're buying a nonbundled display, make sure it will work with the system you want--or that you at least have a money-back guarantee.
* Upgrade at the time of purchase. Often, you can get a better deal on a larger hard drive or a better monitor when you first order your computer. Even doubling the size of a hard drive may add very little to the cost, and upgrading to a higher-quality monitor may add only $100.
* Avoid gimmicky keyboards to save money. Many vendors tout fancy keyboards with extra buttons for launching apps. Save some money by choosing the cheapest option unless you have a specific need for the fancier one.
* Get the scoop on the vendor before you buy. Check out PC World's annual Reliability & Service survey, where readers tell us which PC makers provide the best (and worst) technical support and warranty service.
Also: Hackers may use Outlook e-mail messages to take over your computer.
Stuart J. Johnston
From the April 2006 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Thursday, February 16, 2006
« Previous Page 1 2 Next »
Attackers have been using increasingly novel means to break into Windows systems--for example, using doctored media files like music, Web graphics, and video. Now joining that roster of dirty tricks are booby-trapped text fonts embedded in Web pages.
The bug sleuths at eEye Digital Security found a way to breach Windows' security by exploiting a flaw in how the OS displays text on Web sites. Web designers often use embedded fonts to guarantee that the text on a page will look the same in every browser.
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All a cyberthug has to do is create a corrupted font on a Web site and wait for unsuspecting visitors. When you view the affected font in Internet Explorer--or in any application that uses Windows to show the fonts in question--the doctored text triggers a buffer overflow, disabling your PC's security and allowing the thug to then take control of your computer. Reading or even just previewing an affected HTML e-mail message in Outlook or Outlook Express can launch the attack too.
This flaw affects all versions of Windows, from Windows 98 through XP Service Pack 2, which means the majority of people online are potentially at risk. Microsoft has distributed the patch via Windows Update. You can also get it here.
The discovery follows a recent rash of attacks that exploited holes in the way Windows displays certain types of images embedded in Web pages. Smart crackers figured out how to use what are called Windows Metafile (WMF) images to disable a PC's security. (For details, see last month's column.)
More than ever, it pays to be careful what you click. These new vulnerabilities are especially troubling because you can compromise your system just by looking at a poisoned e-mail message or Web page.
Block Outlook Hole
A separate vulnerability affecting Outlook 2000, XP, or 2003 users may give a hacker control of your machine as well. Again, you simply have to open or preview a doctored e-mail to be compromised. Outlook's mishandling of a file format called Transport Neutral Encapsulation, or TNEF, is to blame. The problem is "critical" in Microsoft's eyes because the application uses TNEF when it sends or receives e-mail in the commonly used Rich Text Format.
As before, you can run Windows Update to get this patch; you can also download it here.
In Brief
Winamp Danger: If you open a specially crafted playlist (from a link on a malicious Web site, for example) with version 5.12 of Winamp, you'll end up with a buffer overflow error that could let the bad guys take over your PC. To get the fix, you need to upgrade to version 5.13 or later (go here).
Microsoft Small Biz Accounting Glitch: If Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006 gives a nondescript error and crashes every time you start it, reinstall the program's Service Pack 1. Find out more from Microsoft here.
Next Page: Symantec Antivirus Security Bug
Symantec Antivirus Security Bug
Symantec has released patches to fix a hole in the way its antivirus software library handles certain compressed files.
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If a hacker hides a booby trap inside a file or e-mail attachment ending with .rar, the library unwittingly launches the attack when it scans the file, running any command the hacker wants. Most of Symantec's products use the affected library.
To plug this hole, manually run Symantec LiveUpdate (by clicking LiveUpdate in the toolbar) to make sure you have the necessary patch. Repeat, if necessary, until you have all available updates. Get more information here.
Bugged?
Found A hardware or software bug? Send us an e-mail on it to bugs@pcworld.com.
Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World.
wireless For a while, the wireless Internet connection Christine and Randy Brodeur installed last year seemed perfect. They were able to sit in their sunny Los Angeles backyard working on their laptop computers.
But they soon began noticing that their high-speed Internet access had become as slow as rush-hour traffic on the 405 freeway.
"I didn't know whether to blame it on the Santa Ana winds or what," recalled Mrs. Brodeur, the chief executive of Socket Media, a marketing and public relations agency.
The "what" turned out to be neighbors who had tapped into their system. The additional online traffic nearly choked out the Brodeurs, who pay a $40 monthly fee for their Internet service, slowing their access until it was practically unusable.
Hey Neighbor, Stop Piggybacking on My Wireless
By MICHEL MARRIOTT
Published: March 5, 2006
For a while, the wireless Internet connection Christine and Randy Brodeur installed last year seemed perfect. They were able to sit in their sunny Los Angeles backyard working on their laptop computers.
But they soon began noticing that their high-speed Internet access had become as slow as rush-hour traffic on the 405 freeway.
"I didn't know whether to blame it on the Santa Ana winds or what," recalled Mrs. Brodeur, the chief executive of Socket Media, a marketing and public relations agency.
The "what" turned out to be neighbors who had tapped into their system. The additional online traffic nearly choked out the Brodeurs, who pay a $40 monthly fee for their Internet service, slowing their access until it was practically unusable.
Piggybacking, the usually unauthorized tapping into someone else's wireless Internet connection, is no longer the exclusive domain of pilfering computer geeks or shady hackers cruising for unguarded networks. Ordinarily upstanding people are tapping in. As they do, new sets of Internet behaviors are creeping into America's popular culture.
"I don't think it's stealing," said Edwin Caroso, a 21-year-old student at Miami Dade College, echoing an often-heard sentiment.
"I always find people out there who aren't protecting their connection, so I just feel free to go ahead and use it," Mr. Caroso said. He added that he tapped into a stranger's network mainly for Web surfing, keeping up with e-mail, text chatting with friends in foreign countries and doing homework.
Many who piggyback say the practice does not feel like theft because it does not seem to take anything away from anyone. One occasional piggybacker recently compared it to "reading the newspaper over someone's shoulder."
Piggybacking, makers of wireless routers say, is increasingly an issue for people who live in densely populated areas like New York City or Chicago, or for anyone clustered in apartment buildings in which Wi-Fi radio waves, with an average range of about 200 feet, can easily bleed through walls, floors and ceilings. Large hotels that offer the service have become bubbling brooks of free access that spill out into nearby homes and restaurants.
"Wi-Fi is in the air, and it is a very low curb, if you will, to step up and use it," said Mike Wolf of ABI Research, a high-technology market research company in Oyster Bay, N.Y.
This is especially true, Mr. Wolf said, because so many users do not bother to secure their networks with passwords or encryption programs. The programs are usually shipped with customers' wireless routers, devices that plug into an Internet connection and make access to it wireless. Many home network owners admit that they are oblivious to piggybackers.
Some, like Marla Edwards, who think they have locked intruders out of their networks, learn otherwise. Ms. Edwards, a junior at Baruch College in New York, said her husband recently discovered that their home network was not secure after a visiting friend with a laptop easily hopped on.
"There's no gauge, no measuring device that says 48 people are using your access," Ms. Edwards said.
When Mr. Wolf turns on his computer in his suburban Seattle home, he regularly sees on his screen a list of two or three wireless networks that do not belong to him but are nonetheless available for use. Mr. Wolf uses his own wired network at home, but he says he has piggybacked onto someone else's wireless network when traveling.
"On a family vacation this summer we needed to get access," Mr. Wolf recalled, explaining that his father, who took along his laptop, needed to send an e-mail message to his boss on the East Coast from Ocean Shores, Wash.. "I said, 'O.K., let's drive around the beach with the window open.' We found a signal, and the owner of the network was none the wiser," Mr. Wolf said. "It took about five minutes."
Jonathan Bettino, a senior product marketing manager for the Belkin Corporation, a major maker of wireless network routers based in Compton, Calif., said home-based wireless networks were becoming a way of life. Unless locking out unauthorized users becomes commonplace, piggybacking is likely to increase, too.
Last year, Mr. Bettino said, there were more than 44 million broadband networks among the more than 100 million households in the United States. Of that number, 16.2 million are expected to be wireless by the end of this year. In 2003, 3.9 million households had wireless access to the Internet, he said.
Humphrey Cheung, the editor of a technology Web site, tomshardware.com, measured how plentiful open wireless networks have become. In April 2004, he and some colleagues flew two single-engine airplanes over metropolitan Los Angeles with two wireless laptops.
The project logged more than 4,500 wireless networks, with only about 30 percent of them encrypted to lock out outsiders, Mr. Cheung said.
"Most people just plug the thing in," he said of those who buy wireless routers. "Ninety percent of the time it works. You stop at that point and don't bother to turn on its security."
Martha Liliana Ramirez, who lives in Miami, said she had not thought much about securing her $100-a-month Internet connection until recently. Last August, Ms. Ramirez, 31, a real estate agent, discovered a man camped outside her condominium with a laptop pointed at her building.
When Ms. Ramirez asked the man what he was doing, he said he was stealing a wireless Internet connection because he did not have one at home. She was amused but later had an unsettling thought: "Oh my God. He could be stealing my signal."
Yet some six months later, Ms. Ramirez still has not secured her network.
Beth Freeman, who lives in Chicago, has her own Internet access, but it is not wireless. Mostly for the convenience of using the Internet anywhere in her apartment, Ms. Freeman, 58, said that for the last six months she has been using a wireless network a friend showed her how to tap into.
"I feel sort of bad about it, but I do it anyway," Ms. Freeman said her of Internet indiscretions. "It just seems harmless."
And if she ever gets caught?
"I'm a grandmother," Ms. Freeman said. "They're not going to yell at an old lady. I'll just play the dumb card."
David Cole, director of product management for Symantec Security Response, a unit of Symantec, a maker of computer security software, said consumers should understand that an open wireless network invites greater vulnerabilities than just a stampede of "freeloading neighbors."
He said savvy users could piggyback into unprotected computers to peer into files containing sensitive financial and personal information, release malicious viruses and worms that could do irreparable damage, or use the computer as a launching pad for identity theft or the uploading and downloading of child pornography.
"The best case is that you end up giving a neighbor a free ride," Mr. Cole said. "The worst case is that someone can destroy your computer, take your files and do some really nefarious things with your network that gets you dragged into court."
Mr. Cole said Symantec and other companies had created software that could not only lock out most network intruders but also protect computers and their content if an intruder managed to gain access.
Some users say they have protected their computers but have decided to keep their networks open as a passive protest of what they consider the exorbitant cost of Internet access.
"I'm sticking it to the man," said Elaine Ball, an Internet subscriber who lives in Chicago. She complained that she paid $65 a month for Internet access until she recently switched to a $20-a-month promotion plan that would go up to $45 a month after the first three months.
"I open up my network, leave it wide open for anyone to jump on," Ms. Ball said.
For the Brodeurs in Los Angeles, a close reading of their network's manual helped them to finally encrypt their network. The Brodeurs told their neighbors that the network belonged to them and not to the neighborhood. While apologetic, some neighbors still wanted access to it.
"Some of them asked me, 'Could we pay?' But we didn't want to go into the Internet service provider business," Mrs. Brodeur said. "We gave some weird story about the network imposing some sort of lockdown protocol."
Five Ways To Keep Your Google Searches Private
Hey I'm all for this.
Word that the government has been seeking search data from Google has struck fear into the hearts of Internet Explorer and FireFox users. Here are five simple steps to keep outsiders from uncovering private information about your Web browsing habits.
- Informationweek.com
Five Ways To Keep Your Google Searches Private
Word that the government has been seeking search data from Google has struck fear into the hearts of Internet Explorer and FireFox users. Here are five simple steps to keep outsiders from uncovering private information about your Web browsing habits.
By Alexander Wolfe
TechWeb.com
Feb 1, 2006 08:43 AM
The recent news that the U.S. Justice Department has been seeking search data from Google, Yahoo, MSN, and America Online has struck fear into the hearts of Web surfers. Many users are concerned, not because they've done anything wrong, but because they wonder just how much personal information can be gleaned from their on-line searches.
While the government action is aimed at fighting child porn, some computer-security pundits and newspaper columnists are raising concerns that even users who haven't gone anywhere near such toxic material could potentially have their searches traced.
Political debates aside, the question of browser privacy is at its heart a technical issue. Whether you're using Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Mozilla's FireFox , there are at five simple steps you can take to keep Web busybodies from uncovering information on your search queries.
Delete your history.
This one's easy, and obvious. IE and Mozilla maintains histories of all URLs which are typed into their address bars.
Clearing out the history is simple. Just go into "Internet Options," located under the "Tools" menu in Internet Explorer. (Here's a more detailed explanation from Microsoft.) In FireFox, histories can be clearing by going to "Tools" > "Options" > "Privacy."
That's something Robert Petrick apparently didn't do. During his North Carolina murder trial in November, prosecutors showed that his hard drive contained Google searches for the words: "neck," "snap," "break," and "hold." Petrick was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife.
Page 2: Getting Rid Of Those Temp Files
Clear out your cache.
All browsers contain a cache, which is used to store Temporary Internet Files. The cache acts as a kind of pre-loader for the browser; if a previously viewed page is requested again, it can be loaded locally rather than going out across the 'Net to grab it a second time.
Microsoft itself provides simple instructions on how to clear your cache. It's done by clicking the "Delete Files" button under the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the "Internet Options" dialog box.
Firefox cleans the cache via the same "Tools" > "Options" > "Privacy" path used to ditch the history.
However, some users don't feel that's enough. The reason: while clearing out the cache at first glance appears to get rid of a browser's temporary internet files, it doesn't clear out all remnants of the files. That's because, as is the case for other files on your hard disk, the deletion process only kills pointers to the file's data -- it doesn't physically overwrite the file. (The data's still hidden on the disk, a fact data-recovery tools use to "undelete" lost files.)
For privacy obsessives, obliteration requires a full file wipe. That's essentially what's promised in a host of third party tools, which claim to take cache deletion to the next level.
Bust your cookies.
After history and cache, the third leg of the browser privacy triad is cookies. These are small files Web sites place on your PC to log information on your visits. (The Mozilla Foundation provides a consumer-friendly explanation of how and why sites suck in cookies, here.)
Many Web sites won't let you visit them if you have your cookies turned off, but that doesn't mean you can't periodically clean them out. Microsoft provides easy instructions for cookie deletion.
For FireFox, there's an available "view cookie" add-on that lets users look at who's looking at them.
Page 3: Consolidating Your Clean-Up Efforts
Consolidating Your Clean-Up Efforts
(Page 3 of 4) Feb 1, 2006 08:43 AM
Users looking to consolidate their clean-up efforts can turn to a tool from Microsoft. Though it's called "Clear Cache Feature For Internet Explorer," the program will actually delete all temporary Internet files, cookies, and history files. It was originally developed to help out users plagued by corrupted entries causing IE errors, but it can be used by anyone running IE under Windows XP.
Having to separately delete one's history, cache, and cookies will be a thing of the past in the next version of Internet Explorer. As Microsoft's IE blog notes, Internet Explorer 7, which is currently in limited beta, will include a new all-in-one delete feature. This will get rid of temporary Internet files and cookies along with the history, in one fell swoop.
Aware of such developments, e-commerce providers seem to be looking to stay one step ahead of users' privacy efforts. A recent development in this regard is a cookie-on-steroids technology called the persistent identification element, which burrows more permanently into users' PCs.
Use an anonymous surfing tool.
The latest craze in Web privacy is anonymous surfing. Third party tools configure your brower to use proxy servers, which act as an intermediate client between sender and receiver. This makes it pretty much impossible for sites to figure out where the original user that's pinging them is located (they only see the proxy server).
The Electronic Privacy Information Center has compiled perhaps the most comprehensive list of anonymous surfing tools, though the group is quick to point out that it doesn't endorse specific products. (EPIC is a privacy advocacy group, in Wash., D.C., which boasts 'Net pioneer Vint Cerf on its advisory board.)
The list of software offerings includes the $30 Anonymous Surfing package from Anonymizer and Guardster, a monthly fee-based proxy site. Public Proxy Servers provides what it says is a list of sites around the world which act as anonymous proxies.
The Cloak, which acts an anonymous surfing proxy, warns users that is will not tolerate any illegal activity and notifies them: "You should assume that we will comply with court orders or subpoenas demanding log files entries, as we do not know our users and therefore cannot mount a legal challenge."
Page 4: Staying Away From 'Bad' Sites
Staying Away From 'Bad' Sites
(Page 4 of 4) Feb 1, 2006 08:43 AM
Whether such anonymous surfing tools will continue to thrive is anybody's guess. On first glance, the technology harkens back to the anonymous remailers which thrived in the early days of the Internet. The most famous of these, the Finland-based anon.pinet.fi remailer, was shut down in 1996 amid allegations it had been used to transfer child porn.
Rethink your search strategies.
"If you haven't done anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about," goes an old saying popular among law enforcement types. (Privacy advocates would disagree.)
Nevertheless, users concerned about privacy in all its forms have one decidedly low-tech form of protection available to them. Namely, stay away from any site you wouldn't want anyone else to know you've visited. (Remember, your spouse is far more likely to see your browser history than some faceless government official who's off stalking serious abuse.)
Some may agree with the sentiment expressed by Cox News Service columnist Todd Powell. "Privacy has become a confusing thing for me," he wrote. "There's a public version of me and a private one."
Like most 'Net users, Powell worries about strangers getting ahold of information he'd think twice about sharing with some family members. To keep that from happening, and to avoid downloading viruses and spyware onto your computer, it's only common sense to be careful where you surf.
For concerned parents, Microsoft provides a Content Advisor tool, which limits childrens' access to a specific list of Web sites you define.
p2p news / p2pnet: Sensitive, possibly dangerous, information was stored on what were supposed to have been blank computer tapes auctioned of by Canada's British Columbia government.
When the anonymous buyer checked them out, he found, "personal information on thousands of refugees," says the Vancouver Sun.
The man gave the tapes, for which he'd paid $101, to the newspaper which says they held names, social insurance numbers and internal government file numbers for more than 30,000 refugees.
"The list, which was last updated in February 1999, also gives information on how the refugees were approved to get into the country," it states.
Canadian immigration minister Monte Solberg is to launch investigation, says the Vancouer Sun.
"It's our responsibility, our obligation, to protect the privacy of people who make refugee claims in the country," the story has him saying, adding:
"Solberg said the information related to refugee claims is particularly sensitive given that many people enter Canada in an attempt to flee persecution in their home country. Information on their whereabouts, or who sponsored them into the country, could put the refugee claimant, and their families back home, in very real danger, he said."
Also See:
Vancouver Sun - Refugee claim files found on data tapes, March 6, 2006
Nero Premium Edition 7.0.5.5
Updated for the masses.
Nero 7 Ultra Edition enables you to experience your digital media in completely new and innovative ways. With the addition of the Nero Home media manager, you can now have the complete PC and TV experience. Whether you want to access your media files from the comfort of your living room, or complete digital media projects on your PC, Nero 7 Ultra Edition is all you need.
Nero 7 Ultra Edition enables you to experience your digital media in completely new and innovative ways. With the addition of the Nero Home media manager, you can now have the complete PC and TV experience. Whether you want to access your media files from the comfort of your living room, or complete digital media projects on your PC, Nero 7 Ultra Edition is all you need.
Now, with more features than ever before, this powerful software can transform your digital photos into professional animated slideshows, backup all of your valuable data, manage and search your media files, edit video or photos, create DVDs (including menus), stream your files over a media server, and compress files to take on the go. Beginners and experts alike will be amazed by what one solution can do. Really, it?s that good.
Some New features in 7.x
- Full-o-meter automatically adjusts to you project type (DVD-1, DVD-5 or DVD-9)
- Intelligent size calculation will suggest a DVD if data will not fit on a CD
- New, easy-to-use GUI for Nero Express and Nero InCD
U- se Nero Scout to index your digital media making it easy to find the right video or song for your CD or DVD
- Support for Blu-ray (BD-RE and BD-R) media
Audio
- Support for 5.1 and 7.1 audio recording, editing and mixing
- Create beats, melodies and sound sequences
- HQ mastering (192KHz) resolution audio supported
- Up to 32 bit audio supported
- Sample looper
- Rip tracks from audio CDs (SoundTrax)
Sequencer and Text II Speech converter
- HDV capture support
- Compress video to fit mobile, PDAs, home theater and HDTV standards
D- olby Digital 5.1 Encoder integration
- Extend capture device support
- Export slideshows to share or archive
- New 2D and animated 3D menu templates to spice up your home-made professional quality DVDs
- Capture, edit and export High-Definition (HD) video files.
- Browse customized image directories
- Burn to DVD, SVCD and VCD or export to video file for sharing
- Stream media files across any UPnP? compatible devices
DVD
- Support for chapter menus (DVD+VR)
Split and merge titles (DVD+VR)
Automatically overwrite unprotected titles if space on disc is low (DVD+VR)
Add/remove images from slideshows (DVD-VR)
Simulation/Preview of DVD-VR project
Looped DVD navigation
- DVD-Audio support
Backup
- Backup without logging in
- InCD 5 Drag&Drop file backup support for BDRE/R (Blu-ray)
- FTP backup
- Intelligent compression filter
- Shadow Copy feature used to ensure a verified backup
- and much more.
By Eliot Van Buskirk | Also by this reporter
02:00 AM Mar, 06, 2006 EST
Listening Post columnist Eliot van Buskirk
Listening Post
When I covered Apple's first iPod announcement in 2001, it was unlike anything I had seen in my three years of covering MP3 players -- and the iPod wasn't too shabby, either.
Steve Jobs plays the tech press like his PAL Yo Yo plays the cello. I was blown away by the magnitude of the event and all the hooting and hollering from my normally sedate colleagues, who were indistinguishable in their enthusiasm from the Apple acolytes in the audience. But most importantly, I was impressed by the Mac-only iPod, which was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition with its 1.8-inch hard drive and groundbreaking design.
That first iPod announcement was probably the most important press event I have ever attended, so the hype surrounding it made sense. But Jobs' cultivated mystique seems a little forced when he has nothing more to talk about than a mini Intel computer, leather iPod cases and the iPod hi-fi boom box. With its focus on iPod accessories, last week's event was more Belkin than Apple, not that you'd know it from the breathless coverage and obligatory minute-by-minute blog updates.
To his credit, Jobs tried to tone down expectations a bit, saying the announcements were of "medium scale" importance. But when you've been stoking the PR flames relentlessly for decades, such warnings are likely to go unheeded. Every major publication seems to have covered this latest iPod announcement, even though no iPod was announced. One has to wonder how long it will take until Apple's halo fades amongst the tech press now that the regular cycle of anticipation and techstasy seems to be breaking down.
That's not to say Jobs didn't say anything last week -- in the midst of the drab mentions of accessories and Intel-inside processing power increases were a couple of kernels of genuine interest, mainly revolving around what he chose not to do and say.
The lack of a new iPod means Apple believes it has added every feature it can, without threatening the device's ease of use and reliability (I believe Apple has stayed away from FM, line-in recording, Wi-Fi and other niche features in the past because it's impossible to make them work perfectly on a portable).
The only major feature the iPod really needs today is the ability to play subscription files, because those allow users access to more music while creating more profits than the a la carte downloads sold by the iTunes Music Store. But the entire iPod/iTunes architecture would need to be redesigned for that to happen, so we probably won't see a subscription-capable iPod until at least the summer.
For all the publicity portable audio devices get, the main place people consume entertainment is the living room. For the past four years or so, the biggest story coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show has been the emergence of entertainment-oriented home networking (often under the guise of the set-top box or "digital living room.") The idea is a simple one ? that you shouldn't have to carry an MP3 player to your stereo to hear MP3s, or burn DVDs of movies you've downloaded to watch them on your TV.
I have long expected Apple to release an "iPod Home" or something of that nature -- a set-top box with no hard drive that would access media from around the home. Instead, the company is basing its living-room strategy around a computer -- the new Mac Mini, which features a DVI output for connecting to late-model televisions. It also has analog and digital (S/PDIF) audio input and output jacks for connecting it to a stereo for playing music or recording off the stereo -- satellite radio and vinyl albums are good candidates for this.
The machine is set up to play digital audio and video wirelessly from any networked machine in your house using Wi-Fi, and Apple's Bonjour and Front Row software.
Add a Mac Mini to your entertainment system and it should be able to play all your digital entertainment through your stereo or television using Apple's tiny remote. This could be a clever way to sell more computers and shore up what is still Apple's main business (despite the iPod's success), and could spread Apple's OS into the homes of consumers who use Windows for everything else.
The potential bad news here for fans of open content -- content that isn't copy protected -- is that Apple is trying to put a full-fledged computer in your entertainment network, rather that an inexpensive, "dumb" Airport Express-type device. This way, the Mac Mini decrypts complicated and ever-evolving DRM (digital rights management) licenses and content is locked up until the very moment it is consumed.
If the Mac Mini sparks a trend and we all end up with computers under our televisions, the Motion Picture Association of America and Recording Industry Association of America will be able to maintain control of content all the way from their servers to a sophisticated, rule-abiding machine right next to your television or stereo.
They only need to control one more link in the chain -- from computer to entertainment center -- in order to lock digitally-purchased media down completely, preventing copying even when such behavior would be protected by the "fair use" doctrine, such as education, space-shifting or time-shifting. (Lawmakers and lobbyists are already well on their way to shoring up that "weakness" in the system by insisting that all new consumer electronics devices be able to process DRM tags on their own.)
Although digital entertainment has its advantages, all of this almost makes me wish we were stuck with analog forever, because it was just about the music, rather than music plus a bunch of varying usage rules.
Perhaps the real meat of last week's Apple announcement is that the digital home may end up seeded with computers rather than the specialized networked entertainment devices the folks at CES have been talking about for years. I just hope when they're done remodeling our living rooms, we'll still be able to use our legally purchased content the way we want to.
http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70331-0.html?tw=rss.index
AMD Grabs Over 80% of Desktop PC Sales in the Retail Market
Brandon Hill - March 6, 2006 12:15 PM
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AMD grabs more marketshare while Intel cuts earnings forecasts
Intel's loss is AMD's gain. AMD's share of the retail desktop market surged with its haul for the first seven weeks of 2006 coming in at over 80%. Intel's desktop share dropped to 21.5%. Intel has also seen losses in the notebook sector where its share has dropped to 63%.
Pricing is seen as a major factor for AMD's continued growth in the retail market. AMD-based desktops are ringing in at roughly $200 cheaper than comparable Intel systems while the notebook differetial is smaller at around $60.
Intel has also cut its forecast due to weak demand and AMD's strong showing in the marketplace:
Intel forecast revenue of $US8.7 billion to $US9.1 billion in the first quarter, down from a previous forecast of $US9.1 billion to $US9.7 billion.
It would be the second straight quarter of disappointing revenue after Intel's fourth-quarter number of $US10.2 billion fell short of Wall Street expectations.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=1120
p2p news view / p2pnet: In case you missed it, last week the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association) was back in the news claiming that Canadian copyright law is in need of reform, arguing that Canadian digital download sales have not met expectations.
The copyright lobby group chose to focus on sales of Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl. In the US, the song has become the first to reach one million paid downloads. By comparison, in Canada it has hit 20,000 paid downloads.
The CRIA argues that based on population and broadband penetration rates, the Canadian figure should be 150,000.
I find this argument rather remarkable. The CRIA is obviously hoping to convince Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier that the Canadian digital music market has been hurt by the absence of anti-circumvention legislation, yet the notion that music sales are a function of population size and broadband access is certainly subject to challenge.
Michael Geist
[Geist is the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. He can be reached by email at mgeist[at]uottawa.ca and is on-line at www.michaelgeist.ca.]
p2p news / p2pnet: "PeerFactor et l'éditeur Suédois µTorrent signe un accord expérimental d'une durée de six mois. Le but est le développement de nouvelles applications de distribution de contenu sur le web," and, "PeerFactor and the Swedish editor µTorrent sign a six months experimental agreement. The aim is to development new content distribution applications on the Web."
That, and nothing else, is what it says on PeerFactor, a distinctly anti-p2p enterprise launched in April, 2004, and owned by France's RetSpan, with Didier Wang at its head.
Mission? To poison the p2p networks on behalf of the Big Four record labels.
µTorrent, on the other hand, is now one of the leading indie p2p file sharing applications. Its site doesn't say anything about the collaboration. But µTorrent author and programmer Ludvig Strigeus, aka Ludde, recently did a Q&A with p2pnet's Alex H, and in it said, "File sharing applications accomplish many things. They lower distribution costs. They increase the availability of content. They help distribute that content faster. And it's all made easy and accessible. But more importantly, it sends a message: the information super highway is finally living up to its name."
In other words, µTorrent and PeerFactor make bizarre and unwholesome bedfellows.
RetSpan scans p2p networks to find out how many times a fake file has been downloaded and content editors set earning tariffs for file-sharers who were responsible for the pollution.
As p2pnet correspondent Thuan Huynh wrote when PeerFactor was launched, "However, because the files they spread are fake doesn't protect Restpan users: they can be treated in the same way as other p2p file sharers and could potentially be sued by the Big Five record labels.
"In fact, they could be in even more danger than real file sharers because RetSpan keeps a track of all members' IPs. Just in case. Moreover, cynics might think the whole process isn't much more than a way to for this at the moment 'non-profit' outfit to eventually create a lucrative PeerFactor and IP monitoring business."
So what's with PeerFactor and µTorrent?
Strigeus says he wasn't aware of PeerFactor?s history but now he does know, "Just because I sell cleaning services to Microsoft doesn't mean I like Windows," Slyck quotes him as saying.
Meanwhile, "By developing the PeerFactor software, which uses the BitTorrent protocol, Strigeus will be entitled to a share of any advertising revenue generated by the final product," says the story, going on, "News that µTorrent are selling their software will fuel speculation as to why uTorrent has remained close source, which is extremely uncommon for BitTorrent clients."
But, "This doesn't affect µTorrent, it's just a side project," states Strigeus. "If people like to be paranoid, I won't stop them."
He denies that he's helping PeerFactor fight the p2p community by providing the code.
"The agreement says that the software will be used to distribute legal content over the internet. In my understanding, everything in our agreement says that it will be used for downloading legal content."
Also See:
Q&A - p2pnet uTorrent interview, October 15, 2005
fake - The Good, the Bad and RetSpan, April 26, 2004
Slyck - uTorrent Sign Six Month RetSpan Agreement, March 4, 2006
Ricoh starts shipping samples of next-generation recordable DVDs to hardware manufacturers
Posted by Johnny on 06 March 2006 - 22:32 - Source: justnow-press.de
The following text is a complete press release, unmodified by CD Freaks. If you don't want to view these kind of news posting you can disable them in your preferences page once logged in. Please send your press releases to news@cdfreaks.com
High reliability achieved through Ricoh-developed inorganic recording materials
Tokyo, Japan, March 6, 2006 ? Ricoh Co., Ltd has developed recordable disks for Blue-ray Disk and HD DVD, the next-generation DVD formats, and starts shipping samples to hardware manufacturers.
The samples to be shipped are BD-R and HD DVD-R, write-once disks for Blue-ray Disk and HD DVD respectively. They have a capacity of 25 GB (BD-R) and 15 GB (HD DVD-R), approximately three to five times that of current disks.
By employing highly sensitive inorganic recording materials and high-precision stampers newly developed for next-generation recordable DVDs, Ricoh was able to achieve high reliability when writing and reading data. This will provide an advantage in further speed increases and multilayer structures.
Next-generation writable DVDs are gradually penetrating into the IT and consumer electronics markets, which are expected to expand rapidly from 2008 and reach 800 million or more pieces being shipped in 2010.
Ricoh?s optical disk business consists of development and sales of a variety of recordable writable DVDs and hybrid CD-Rs (CDs with both ROM and recordable areas in a single disk), while also selling its own recording materials and licensing and providing its own manufacturing technologies.
Ricoh aims to provide the newly developed next-generation recordable DVDs to end-user customers within the year.
By Mike Magee in San Francisco: Monday 06 March 2006, 19:11
HT HYPERTHREADING is on its last legs as multicores come in said Justin Rattner, Intel?s chief technology officer today.
The answer is multicores, said Rattner, describing Intel?s new marchitechture push as "tera scaling".
Intel is pushing multicores as a future technology introducing a Tera Scale programme to encourage developers to write to dual and multicores. Intel does this sort of thing, said Rattner.
We predicted this would happen quite a while ago. Rattner told an audicence of international hacks that multicores required new applications re-written for multipliers. Indeed, we believe we never understood hyped threading when Intel first launched it. Intel seemed reluctant to tell us which apps would benefit from HT apart from MicrosoFT (Vole Office).
Rattner claimed Intel is going back to the moon with multicore silicon cores ? it is workloads of the future he said. Intel is waiting for the next generation of workloads. We think he means Intel is hoping that the software guys should get their act together. And we agree with him on this one.
Intel, said Rattner, has become fanatical about energy performance. INTC cannot rely upon memory caches as they are. He described some kinds of memory cache as pathological. Intel has to have exquisite control over memory and IO. He did not define exquisite. Today?s platforms are inefficient, said Rattner.
Still, you have to give Intel credit for pushing so much money into the software industry. That is not something that Microsoft does.
keys A man from the Seattle, Washington area was indicted for releasing computer viruses, sometimes referred to as Trojan horses or malware, that caused harm to systems across the country, including a computer system in the Eastern District of Missouri, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway said on Tuesday.
"Computer viruses have the potential to cause an incredible amount of damage to the nation's economy," said Hanaway. ?This office will pursue these cases aggressively.?
RICHARD C. HONOUR, 30, was indicted by a federal grand jury in St. Louis, Thursday, February 23, and was arrested in Seattle today, on one felony count of transmitting internet viruses. According to the indictment, Richard Honour developed and caused the release of harmful computer programs which infected systems associated with an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) ?chat room,? called DarkMyst. Honour's harmful programs, which are referred to in the indictment as "malware," allowed him to gain unauthorized access to compromised computers. With this access he was able to obtain banking and identity information from those computers. Honour used spam techniques to perpetuate and extend the distribution of his malware. LinuxElectrons - Man Arrested for Placing Trojan in IRC Channel
General NewsSt. Louis, Missouri ? A man from the Seattle, Washington area was indicted for releasing computer viruses, sometimes referred to as Trojan horses or malware, that caused harm to systems across the country, including a computer system in the Eastern District of Missouri, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway said on Tuesday.
"Computer viruses have the potential to cause an incredible amount of damage to the nation's economy," said Hanaway. ?This office will pursue these cases aggressively.?
RICHARD C. HONOUR, 30, was indicted by a federal grand jury in St. Louis, Thursday, February 23, and was arrested in Seattle today, on one felony count of transmitting internet viruses. According to the indictment, Richard Honour developed and caused the release of harmful computer programs which infected systems associated with an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) ?chat room,? called DarkMyst. Honour's harmful programs, which are referred to in the indictment as "malware," allowed him to gain unauthorized access to compromised computers. With this access he was able to obtain banking and identity information from those computers. Honour used spam techniques to perpetuate and extend the distribution of his malware.
If convicted, Honour faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000.
Hanaway commended the work done on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney?s Office.
The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
trojan I was recently sent an SSL Trojan from a security consultant assisting a bank with a large online presence. This particular SSL Trojan had installed itself on more than 100 of the bank customers' computers. The most interesting part was that the Trojan could insert itself in the SSL connection between the customer?s browser and the bank?s SSL Web site. I made a weak attempt to disassemble the Trojan, followed by executing it on my specially configured analysis virtual machine computer.
I fired up the excellent IDA Pro Disassembler and opened the Trojan. I immediately learned it was packed (compressed to minimize size and complicate malware analysis) using ASPACK. IDA Pro still showed me a few API calls: I now knew the Trojan manipulated the Windows registry, and used basic Windows APIs (Ntdll.dll) and some C libraries (Msvcr71.dll). An SSL trojan unmasked | InfoWorld | Column | 2006-03-03 | By Roger A. Grimes
An SSL trojan unmasked
Analyzing an especially dastardly trojan's inner workings produces startling -- but useful -- results
By Roger A. Grimes
March 03, 2006 E-mailE-mail
print thisPrinter Friendly Version
As mentioned in last week?s column, I was recently sent an SSL Trojan from a security consultant assisting a bank with a large online presence. This particular SSL Trojan had installed itself on more than 100 of the bank customers' computers. The most interesting part was that the Trojan could insert itself in the SSL connection between the customer?s browser and the bank?s SSL Web site. I made a weak attempt to disassemble the Trojan, followed by executing it on my specially configured analysis virtual machine computer.
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I fired up the excellent IDA Pro Disassembler and opened the Trojan. I immediately learned it was packed (compressed to minimize size and complicate malware analysis) using ASPACK. IDA Pro still showed me a few API calls: I now knew the Trojan manipulated the Windows registry, and used basic Windows APIs (Ntdll.dll) and some C libraries (Msvcr71.dll).
The latter file reveals that the Trojan was probably written in Microsoft (Profile, Products, Articles) Visual C++. But I could not see any immediately interesting ASCII text strings. I?d have to wait on my better-skilled, professional friends for a more detailed disassembly.
I then executed the Trojan on my analysis virtual machine host, which was running two images: Windows XP Pro SP1 and SP2. I use both images because SP2 often prevents malware from running. The images have multiple monitoring utilities, including Ethereal and Sysinternals' Regmon, Filemon, Autorun, and Process Explorer.
I froze Trojan execution in several different phases and examined my monitoring logs. Here?s what I learned.
When the Trojan launches, it immediately looks for the Microsoft C Runtime library (Msvcr71.dll). I discovered that the library file wasn?t on my XP SP1 image, but was on my SP2 image and any XP images with .Net Framework installed. The Trojan also called Ntdll.dll and Gdi32.dll, which contain some of the most-used Windows APIs.
The Trojan next wrote 60K-80K (depending on VM image) of content to \System32\Config\System.log. When I checked, the System.log file was its normal 1K size and not full of Trojan code. At this point, I didn?t know what the Trojan was doing here, but I planned to find out in the future.
Next, the Trojan queried the following keys and various subkeys:
Many of these key queries are interesting because the Trojan seemed to be looking to see if it has already been installed in such a way as to bypass various Windows security mechanisms, including SafeBoot and Software Restriction Policies. The Trojan didn?t manipulate the keys, however, so I didn't really know why it was checking -- yet.
The Trojan eventually created and wrote the following registry key: HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\PendingFileRenameOperations.
Using this key, it told Windows to delete the host file from which it was executed upon the next reboot.
Next, the Trojan wrote itself to a file called Csrss.exe and stored itself in the \Windows folder. This is an interesting trick. The legitimate Csrss.exe file is stored in \Windows\System32, which the Trojan could not modify, overwrite, or delete (because of Windows File Protection). So, it wrote itself into another directory that most casual users would not think twice about checking.
After that, the Trojan searched the Temporary Internet Files folder of Internet Explorer, looking for evidence of files and cookies from more than 100 different banking Web sites. It then used this information to create localized copies of the logon pages of various bank Web sites.
This is the amazing part: When the user visits one of these Web sites, the Trojan intercepts the legitimate banking Web logon request and replaces the bank?s logon screen with a localized copy. That's why it was mysteriously manipulating the files and querying the keys. By watching the browser carefully, I was able to see the local version load, but I think most end-users would miss the switcheroo.
Thanks to the sneaky swap, the users' browsers appear to have an SSL connection to their bank?s Web site (and shows an SSL icon in their browser), but the SSL connection is really to the Trojan?s local Web page. As the user logs in, the Trojan captures the logon credentials, writes them to a file called Temp.dlb, and then passes them along to the bank?s Web site. This technique has been referred to as ?SSL mixing,? ?SSL-proxy,? and ?SSL man-in-the-middle.? (The latter is the more traditional name.) The Trojan uploads the Temp.dlb file to a Russian-addressed Web site, and goes back into hiding.
Seeing the worm in action was startling. Although I?ve known about and demonstrated many SSL man-in-the-middle attacks, I had never seen one so automated and so criminal. After doing some more research, I found out that SSL mixing Trojans aren?t new -- just new to me. They have been documented since about six months ago.
Thankfully, many banks are using more sophisticated logon screens than just an SSL-protected page asking for a name and PIN. A great example of this is Barclays? UK Web site. After asking for a surname and account number (some of which is provided), the user is prompted for their passcode and two randomly chosen letters of their ?memorable word.? Although an appropriately coded Trojan might eventually collect all the letters of the memorable word and possibly put them together in the right order, it?s complicated enough right now to defeat the current SSL and other keylogging Trojans. It's also something that more banks and other online entities should adopt.
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: March 6, 2006, 3:50 PM PST
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Microsoft is planning to make it very easy for Windows Vista owners to upgrade to a pricier version of the operating system.
In the past, such upgrades would have required users to go to a store to get a physical disc to update their machine. With Vista, which is due to go on sale later this year, Microsoft is adding a second option. Dubbed Windows Anytime Upgrade, the new mechanism will let customers buy the update online. New PCs that come with Vista will come with a Windows Automatic Upgrade DVD, which can be used with a later update that is purchased online.
"If you want more features in Windows Vista, you can upgrade to another version," Microsoft said in help notes that accompany the most recent test version of Windows. "You can either buy a separate upgrade disc at a retail store or use Windows Anytime Upgrade to buy the upgrade online, and then use your Windows Anytime Upgrade disc or the Windows installation disc to complete the process."
Microsoft confirmed Monday that such a process is being planned for Vista, but offered scant additional details.
"We are working closely with our partners to put the right infrastructure in place to support Windows Anytime Upgrade, and we will have more information to share at a later date," a Microsoft representative wrote in an e-mail.
The move is one of several efforts Microsoft is making with Vista to encourage users to opt for higher-end versions of the software. Among the other efforts is the introduction of an "Ultimate" edition that combines the best of Microsoft's consumer and business features.
According to information in the Vista test version, the upgrade feature will allow Windows Vista Home Basic users to go to Windows Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate edition, while Vista Business users will be able to move only to the Ultimate edition. Microsoft's other business version--Windows Vista Enterprise--is available only for volume licensing customers.
Microsoft announced last week that there would be six major editions of Vista, comprising those listed above, along with a "starter" edition of Vista that will be sold only on new PCs in certain emerging markets.
By Stephen Shankland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: March 6, 2006, 5:18 PM PST
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SAN FRANCISCO--The first devices using a wireless version of the Universal Serial Bus connection technology will begin arriving in the third quarter, the leader of an industry group overseeing the standard said Monday.
Wireless USB promises help for consumers frustrated with PCs sprouting a profusion of cables linking their PCs with printers, digital cameras, music players and external disk drives, said Jeff Ravencraft, chairman of the USB Implementers Forum and an Intel technology strategist. Wireless USB permits the same 480 megabits-per-second data transfer speed as the current wired USB 2.0 standard, but requires small radios inside PCs or devices rather than the cables.
"Early movers are going to be external hard drives, cameras and printers," Ravencraft said in an interview here on the eve of the Intel Developer Forum. "You'll begin to see products move in the third quarter through the back half of the year."
To make wireless USB practical, though, some aspects of the technology had to be ironed out. On Monday, the USB standards group announced a new element to that work, the Wireless Association Specification that makes sure only authorized connections are made between PCs and devices.
USB has caught on widely as a way to connect cameras, scanners, mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), DVD burners and innumerable other devices to PCs. The Wireless Association Specification governs how the PC end of the wireless USB connection will be able to connect to as many as 127 devices, Ravencraft said.
There likely will be a learning curve in the arrival of wireless USB. The specification requires one of two ways to set up the association between a device and the PC so the connection can be used. In one, the two are connected by a cable initially and set up their association for future wireless links. In the other, the device will show a number that the user then has to type into the PC.
Wireless USB uses an underlying wireless communication technology called ultrawideband (UWB). Where 802.11g uses a relatively narrow frequency range centered on 2.4GHz radio waves, UWB uses a very broad range from 3.1GHz to 10.6GHz, Ravencraft said. The UWB signal levels are low enough that it appears to be noise to other radio communication technology.
Wireless networking using a separate technology known as Wi-Fi or by its standard number, 802.11, has caught on widely in notebook computers. It even is shipping in some cameras from Nikon and Canon. Wireless USB is a different technology, however, and gadget makers are keen to embrace it for its relative simplicity and the fact that it consumes about half the power of 802.11.
"With very high-end phones and cameras, you're starting to see 802.11. The issue in those mobile devices is the battery power and cost of battery life in implementing that," Ravencraft said. "The cell phone and camera guys see UWB as a very good solution for point-to-point connections with very low power."
Wireless USB runs at full 480mbps speed only when a device is within about 10 feet of a computer. Beyond that but still within the maximum 30-foot distance, the transfer rate drops to 110mbps. However, wireless USB later will reach 1 gigabit-per-second speeds and faster, Ravencraft said.
The UWB radio communication is useful for more than just wireless USB. It also can be used simultaneously for wireless Bluetooth links, IEEE 1394 "Firewire" links and even WiNet short-range Internet Protocol networks.
Initially, wireless USB will require an add-in card or plug-in device for a PC to use it. Eventually it will be built in, then integrated gradually more tightly with computing electronics, the same path wired USB took, Ravencraft said.
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-6046560.html?part=rss&tag=6046560...
Samsung SGH-i310 first Mobile phone with 8 GB hard drive
Samsung continues to awe us with it's innovation in mobile phones, this time with a phone with 8GB hard drive. The SGH-i310 is an upgrade to the Samsung SGH-i300x which has a 4GB hard drive. The i310's mammoth 8GB hard drive can hold upto 2000 songs. It's MP3 player can playback MP3, WMA and AAC files and includes powerful stereo speakers. The i310 runs on Windows Mobile 5.0 and includes a 2 Megapixel Camera with video recording at 30 FPS. It includes USB 2.0 and can function as a USB mass storage device so you can say goodbye to your Flash drives. It features Bluetooth, Infrared, GPRS and high speed EDGE connectivity. The i310 includes dedicated Music player keys and a unique jog dial for browing through playlists.
testcenterThese are the top value graphics cards today, but ratings and rankings can change quickly due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.
Edited by Ramon G. McLeod
REVIEWS & RANKINGS
Top 5 Value Graphics Cards
Top 5 Mainstream Graphics Boards
Top 5 Power Graphics Cards
See All Graphics Boards
Generate a side-by-side comparison using the COMPARE check boxes.
# #
Rank # Top 5 Value Graphics Cards # PCW Rating
1
BEST BUY
#
#
# PNY GeForce 6600 GT #
87
Very Good
Bus: PCI Express
Chip Set: nVidia GeForce 6600 GT
Installed RAM (MB): 128
TV Tuner: No
Price When Reviewed: $137
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Despite a relatively modest amount of memory, this card clearly benefits from having fast DDR3 RAM. Last Rated: February 02, 2006
Test Report
2
#
#
# XFX GeForce 6600 #
82
Very Good
Bus: PCI Express
Chip Set: nVidia GeForce 6600
Installed RAM (MB): 256
TV Tuner: No
Price When Reviewed: $117
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This attractively priced board turns in top performance, but it skimps on extra features and has a thin software bundle. Last Rated: February 02, 2006
Test Report
3
#
#
# Asus EAX1600Pro #
81
Very Good
Bus: PCI Express
Chip Set: ATI Radeon X1600 PRO
Installed RAM (MB): 256
TV Tuner: No
Price When Reviewed: $129
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: A solid performer, this card has a good cooling system and a decent bundle of games. Last Rated: February 02, 2006
Test Report
#
#
CHART CONTINUES
# # #
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4
#
#
# MSI GeForce NX6600 #
78
Good
Bus: PCI Express
Chip Set: nVidia GeForce 6600
Installed RAM (MB): 256
TV Tuner: No
Price When Reviewed: $134
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Though a modest performer, this model includes an outstanding video cable and solid software utilities. Last Rated: February 02, 2006
Test Report
5
#
#
# EVGA eGeForce 6600 #
69
Fair
Bus: PCI Express
Chip Set: nVidia GeForce 6600
Installed RAM (MB): 256
TV Tuner: No
Price When Reviewed: $110
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: An affordable price doesn't make up for so-so performance (especially at high resolutions) and the lack of a software bundle. Last Rated: February 02, 2006
Test Report
http://pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,124588,00.asp
p2p news / p2pnet: p2pnet is here to spread the word, not take names. So although it's always nice to know who's talking, we don't force people to register to be able to contribute comment posts.
Online anonymity may be OK with us, but it isn't with New Jersey assemblyman Peter J. Biondi. He wants web site operators to make posters identifiable, in some way, so they can be sued if they upset someone.
Biondi's bill, "Makes certain operators of interactive computer services and Internet service providers liable to persons injured by false or defamatory messages posted on public forum websites."
It would, "require an operator of any interactive computer service or an Internet service provider to establish, maintain and enforce a policy requiring an information content provider who posts messages on a public forum website either to be identified by legal name and address or to register a legal name and address with the operator or provider prior to posting messages on a public forum website.
"The bill requires an operator of an interactive computer service or an Internet service provider to establish and maintain reasonable procedures to enable any person to request and obtain disclosure of the legal name and address of an information content provider who posts false or defamatory information about the person on a public forum website.
"In addition, the bill makes any operator or Internet service provider liable for compensatory and punitive damages as well as costs of a law suit filed by a person damaged by the posting of such messages if the operator or Internet service provider fails to establish, maintain and enforce the policy required by section 2 of the bill."
p2p news / p2pnet: If consumers can't work out how to operate a new device within about 20 minutes, the product goes back.
So says Dutch scientist Elke den Ouden, a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Eindhoven.
Complaints and returns of hardware such as mp3 music players and wireless audio systems were supposedly down to defective design, she says in her thesis, according to Reuters.
But in fact, half of all products returned to stores by consumers are failures because the buyer couldn't figure out how to operate the device, den Ouden said.
She also used product managers at Philips, the Netherlands-based electronics giant, as guinea pigs, giving them new products to test over a weekend, says the story, adding:
"Even the managers returned with complaints about not being able to puzzle out the hardware."
Den Ouden is slated to defend, 'Developments of a Design Analysis Model for Consumer Complaints: Revealing a New Class Of Quality Failures,' on March 16.
Also See:
Reuters - Scientist: Complexity causes 50% of product returns, March 6, 2006
p2pnet special: Everyone has at least one story they remember from their childhood, maybe from a picture or comic book, a television series or a movie. In later life we look back fondly on those stories, thinking "Wow! I remember that!" as we see them sitting on the shelves of a bookshop or a video store. Or increasingly online, where we suddenly find there are thousands of other people who remember those stories and who congregate in message boards or newsites dedicated solely to keeping them alive.
My little ball of childhood glee is Wind In The Willows, made by the legendary British studio Cosgrove Hall.
Continuing on from their 1983 movie of Kenneth Grahame's classic childrens book, Cosgrove Hall developed Wind In The Willows into a highly successful and award winning stop motion series (stop motion animation? Think Wallace & Gromit). In fact they made, five 13-episode series out of it, plus another full length movie. Cosgrove Hall managed to the seemingly impossible: take a much loved classic and do a screen version that was faithful to the book. It won awards. It was lauded in the press. Princess Margaret turned up for the premiere.
I remember my mother liking it, too, because it was one of the few shows on television that was guaranteed to contain absolutely no swearing, violence, dangerous stunts or anything else that might influence a young mind for the worse.
She (illegally) made compilation tapes of the series as they aired on TV and I'd watch them over and over again. Over the years, those old VHS tapes degraded or were accidentally taped over so now I only have four and a half barely watchable episodes out of the sixty five that were made.
Now, after more than 20 years, thousands of production hours and millions of happy children, you'd think you'd be able to buy Wind In The Willows on DVD, wouldn't you?
Well, you can't. The original movie was released in 2004 by A&E Home Video. Series 1 was only released on DVD less than a year ago. Series 2 made it a few months later. A&E plan on releasing the second movie in a few weeks time but, get this, don't really feel like releasing series 3, 4 or 5. Oh, and any/all DVDs released will be Region 1 encoded, with no plans to even distribute them outside of North America and Canada.
This is why I hate media producers with a passion. To a Wind In The Willows fan like myself, this is akin to only releasing the first two Lord of the Rings movies on DVD, or George Lucas deciding that he's not going to release The Empire Strikes Back in a Collectors Edition Star Wars boxed set. Over the years various companies have taken Wind In The Willows and done the usual release-three-random-episodes-and-forget-about-it routine, but this is the first time anyone has released entire seasons at a time. Now they don't think the "demand" will remain steady.
Well, considering the fact you can convert anything from analogue to digital with less than $500 worth of equipment and software, what is the damned problem here? Hell, give the master tapes to me and I'll do it for free. If you can't be bothered making pretty packaging and sending out stock to hundreds of shops, why not make an .iso file and release the content via BitTorrent? I gather there are a number of torrent sites around who'd just love to distribute legal content, even if few people in the media business actually care about it.
Content producers are so blasé about their damned important intellectual property it never fails to astound me.
Take the BBC as a prime example.
During the 60s and 70s they managed to wipe thousands of programmes by taping over them. Tape was expensive and, well, nobody really wanted to watch this stuff again, did they?
To this day, there are huge holes in the BBC archives where episodes Dr Who, Z-Cars and Dad's Army should be, but aren't because nobody could be bothered storing them. Well guess what? People do want to watch this stuff again.
People buy boxed sets of TV shows. People buy boxed sets of old TV shows. People dedicate hours and hours of their free time trying to track down missing episodes of progammes like The Goon Show in some strange kind of modern day media treasure hunt.
We don't need great catastrophies like nuclear war or global warming to destroy our culture. All we need to do is let the media companies store it for us and everything will be gone in a few decades.
(PS. If any p2pnet readers can spare the time to email A&E - click Contact Us at the bottom of the page. I'd be personally very grateful - this is one programme that I'd like to see passed down to the next generation.)
Alex H, p2pnet - Sydney, Australia
[Alex is an operations manager for an ATM (automatic teller machine) supplier and he specialises in infrastructure development and maintenance, and logistics. He?s also an[other] active member of the Shareaza community. You'll find previous p2pnet posts, as well as other good stuff, on Alex's Tech Loves Art blog.]
In Tokyo, girls who want to get their geek on head for Otome (Maiden) Road in trendy Ikebukuro. Retail stores on the 200-meter commercial strip cater to the emerging subculture of onna otaku (she-nerds) by stocking femme-friendly comics, gadgets, and action figures instead of makeup and clothes. Increasingly, the sought-after goods - from cosplay outfits to anime DVDs - are being co-opted by wannabes in the States. Here are some tips for spotting a real onna otaku in the wild. - Lisa Katayama
10 Ways to Identify an Onna Otaku
Hair: No chestnut dyes, no colored highlights, minimal brushing.
Wardrobe: Generic jeans, shirts, and sneakers (with price tag left on, Minnie Pearl-style). Jacket from store at train station. For more formal occasions: school uniform, kimono, or Dhoulmagus costume. (He's the mysterious jester from Dragon Quest VIII. Duh!)
Pets: Six virtual pups on her Nintendo DS. (She feeds and walks them hourly.)
Phone: Worn clipped on pocket to look "technical." It's got a 3-megapixel camera, built-in smartcard purchasing, TV tuner, MP3 player, and browser.
Storage: Cute bags are OK for jaunts, but she prefers wheeled luggage for comic cons and epic shopping trips.
Magazines: Four different anime monthlies, Cosmode (for cosplayers), and Dolly Dolly (for figurine fans).
Diet: Why cook when 7-Eleven has beef bowls and habanero snack chips?
Recent Purchases: Action figures and manga galore. Spool of DVD-Rs for, uh, "backup" copies of her fave shows.
On her laptop: Script for Sailor Moon/Anakin Skywalker doujinshi (fan comic), links to manga release schedules and 2ch.net (think Slashdot).
