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*HOT* Tech News And Downloads, I Would Read This Thread And Post Any Good Info
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AfterDawn Addict
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25. August 2006 @ 13:00 |
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US cops can steal your CD collection
In Concord, innocence is no defence
By Nigel Hummingbirdfart: Friday 25 August 2006, 08:08
A US STATE Supreme Court has decided that coppers in the city of Concord can keep more than 500 CDs they took from a man suspected of piracy.
This is despite the fact that several court cases have been unable to prove that Michael Cohen, owner of Pitchfork Records pirated any of the CDs.
Inspector Knacker of the Concord Yard arrested Cohen in 2003 for attempting to flog bootleg recordings. The coppers? case collapsed when it turned out that most of the recordings were made legally.
The police dropped six of the seven charges, and Cohen went to trial and was found not guilty in the remaining charge.
However, Inspector Knacker of the Yard refused to return the CDs and Cohen had to go to State Supreme Court to get them back.
Unfortunately for Cohen, the robed but not wigged ones thought that it was fine for police to impound property that they believed was stolen even if there was no evidence. The only judge who disagreed said that the state?s failure to establish in any way that the seized property constitutes contraband made it impossible to justify keeping Cohen?s property.
However it seems that the precedent is set. If judges and coppers suspect that a crime has been committed they can take away your property.
More here. µ
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33927
Police property: It?s finders keepers in NH
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006
The state Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government can keep and destroy more than 500 CDs taken from Michael Cohen, owner of Pitchfork Records in Concord, in 2003 even though the state failed to prove that a single disk was illegal.
Cohen was arrested for attempting to sell bootleg recordings. But the police case collapsed when it turned out that most of the recordings were made legally. Police dropped six of the seven charges, and Cohen went to trial on one charge. He beat it after the judge concluded that the recording was legal.
However, the police refused to return Cohen?s CDs. In the state Supreme Court?s Tuesday ruling, Chief Justice John Broderick, writing for the majority, reasoned so poorly that it appeared as if he?d made up his mind ahead of time.
Dissenting, Justice Linda Dalianis wrote, perceptively, that ?the majority does not explain how statutes prohibiting the production, publication, or sale of certain works render possession of such works unlawful.?
Further, Dalianis concluded that ?the state?s failure to establish in any way that the seized property constitutes contraband? made it impossible to justify keeping Cohen?s property.
Indeed, the majority?s reasoning is chilling. The majority concedes that no crime or illegal act was proven, but allows the confiscation anyway by concluding that a crime might have been committed. The majority used words such as ?apparently,? ?likely? and ?would have? to describe the alleged illegal activity.
It should go without saying that speculation by a few judges that a crime might have been committed is a frightening basis for taking someone?s property.
Earlier this year, Nashua police confiscated video recordings of two officers being rude to a citizen at his own home. Though police dropped all charges against Michael Gannon and admitted they could not prove the recordings were illegal, they still kept the tapes.
If someone is found with cocaine or any other item clearly illegal to possess, confiscation is easily justified. But the illegality of these items was never proven, and mere possession was not itself illegal.
If the government can seize and keep a citizen?s property by simply asserting that it is contraband, even when the assertion is unsupported by the facts, then we have entered into dangerous territory.
http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Police+property:+It%...
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AfterDawn Addict
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25. August 2006 @ 14:19 |
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CyberLink free beta blue laser compatibility diagnostics tool
Posted by Dan Bell on 25 August 2006 - 18:11 - Source: CyberLink
Now here is a great idea and it would be interesting to run this application on your equipment. CyberLink has released a free diagnostic tool for testing PC systems, to determine if they are ready for the new high definition formats. It can inspect and report upon both hardware and software on your system and even check for HDCP compatibility.
Called CyberLink BD/HD DVD Advisor, the software will reportedly analyze system resources and can determine whether or not you will be able to playback the new high definition movies. If not, it can give you upgrade recommendations and troubleshooting support. They even have a nice FAQ page that gives good troubleshooting tips etc.
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/support/product_faq_home.jsp?LangN... 0&nProdId=31&nProdVerId=175&nCateId=5
Is your PC ready for Blu-ray Discs or HD DVDs?
Just download the CyberLink BD / HD Advisor (Beta) to find out. This tool will scan your computer and help you understand how you can make your system Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD ready. Scanning takes a few seconds and will provide you useful information and recommendations.
Note: This is a self-diagnostic tool designed to help you identify the capabilities of your system for playing high-definition movies. The CyberLink BD / HD Advisor (Beta) is made for your reference only and is prepared in good faith on the basis of data or information reasonably available only, so that CyberLink does not guaranty its accuracy. We recommend that you contact your hardware specialist to verify our results and assist you with upgrading your system.
The CyberLink BD/HD DVD Advisor Beta Version is available for free from Cyberlink, all you have to do is register on the page. Well, can your system handle the new formats? If so good for you, if not, how come? Are you going to work toward making your system compatible? Or are you going to wait a while?
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13862
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. August 2006 @ 05:37 |
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I AM GOING TO POST A HELL OF A LOT OF INFO,
I KNEW ABOUT THIS STUFF FOR A LONG TIME...
DO WHAT YE WANT WITH IT..YOUR NUTS IF YE DO NOT COPY THIS STUFF..AND THE HTTP LINKS.
DVD Shrink FAQ and Guides Index
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45339
You have never used the program before?
For those of you who want to find out how to use this program or just want to know more about the functions and goodies that are related to DVD Shrink - visit ddloopings DVD Shrink website. At that page you will find all the guides you need to successfully create backups of your DVDs. From "ripping" your original DVDs to burning your backups to DVD±R(W) and several goodies you can use to customize the program and your backups with. There are also a lot of usable programs to use with DVD Shrink.
Another good page with a lot of guides and programs is mrbass.org.
If you are new to DVD Shrink and want to know how you should use the program -
take a look in this guide - DVD Shrink for Dummies.
Problematic Movies with ARccOS?:
DVD Shrink can't backup movies with Sony's DVD protection system ARccOS?. Affected movies are mostly US region 1 DVDs - but also some region 2 DVDs. The problems you notice are:
* Data error (cyclic redundancy check)
* DVD Shrink will just disappear
* Error code "Exception occured"
* Error code "Failed to open file - The system cannot find the file specified"
* Error code "Invalid DVD navigation structure"
* Error code "Out of memory"
* Windows system error
* Your PC is freezing
Here is a list of some of the DVDs that are known to cause problems with DVD Shrink and solutions to your problem.
The best solution is to first use DVD Decrypter ver 3.5.4.0 to transfer the DVD to your hard disk and then you can use DVD Shrink without problems.
Movies that needs a PSL2 file with DVD Decrypter ver 3.5.4.0
Some recently released Sony ARccOS? copy protected DVDs have a modified version of ARccOS? on them and are not fully supported by DVD Decrypter version 3.5.4.0 as DVD Decrypter is not updated any more. You need to use an additional file that will solve this problem.
If you try to use DVD Decrypter without such a PSL2 (=Protected Sectors List version 2) file - you will get an I/O error in DVD Decrypter. This PSL2 file tells DVD Decrypter which sectors that are bad and that it shouldn't try to read. Instead the program inserts a 'dummy' sector. This dummy sector is a black video stream and it is not something you will see in the final backup.
You can find the PSL2 (=Protected Sectors List) files here and an explanation on how to use such a PSL2 file.
There is also a new tool that can create a PSL2 file for you to help you rip the ARccOS protected DVD. To create such a file is not very tricky as the process is very automated. You can read more in the How to backup your problematic DVDs with DVD Decrypter.
DVD Shrink General Questions:
1. Batch Deep Analysis - An undocumented feature
2. Can I convert audio from a DVD with DVD Shrink?
3. Cleaning & Polishing a DVD
4. Commonly Asked Questions By Beginners/Newbies
5. Compression percentage explained
6. DVD Shrink and ISO/MDS files or what about those .i00, .i01 files?
7. DVD Shrink vs. Nero Recode 2
8. How Do I Put 2 DVD's to 1 DVD-R
9. How many titles can I use in re-author mode?
10. How to add a menu back to a DVD Shrink reauthored movie
11. How to find out your media ID code (and firmware version)
12. How to make a copy of a copy using DVD Decrypter
13. How to make a copy of a copy using Nero
14. How to "Re-author" a DVD
15. How to save hundreds of Mb by just displaying the cast in the credits (as a still without audio)
16. How to save tons of Mb by converting motion menus into stills
17. How to solve the bug - DVD Shrink does not copy over 0 byte files
18. I cannot select my writer(s) as the target device, why?
19. Logical remapping of enabled streams explained
20. Region codes explained
21. Use different compression levels for different parts of a title
22. What about Deep Analysis?
23. What is AEC? What is the best setting?
24. What's all this about bitsetting/booktype?
25. What's all this about DMA?
26. NEW What if I can't shrink the DVD enough? Shrink it Again!!!
27. NEW How to Choose the Right Audio Stream
28. What's the difference between AC3 5.1 and DTS 5.1?
29. What is the ideal amount of RAM with DVD Shrink?
30. When is the next version of DVD Shrink going to be released?
31. Where can I find current and old versions of DVD Shrink?
32. Where does DVD Shrink save its analysis data?
33. Why Does DVD Shrink analyze or encode twice?
34. Why does it takes a long time?
DVD Shrink General Problems:
1. DVD Shrink is messing up your hard disk partition
2. DVD Shrink ver 2.3 closes just after analysis, or while dragging titles to the "New DVD" panel
3. Preview Problems?
4. Removed audio/subtitle streams are still selectable
5. The closed captions are missing on your backup
6. The menu buttons are not working
7. Why can't I compress the DVD enough?
8. Why do I have to set a region again on the reader/burner?
9. You are using a Pioneer DVD 120
10. You can't install or start DVD Shrink
11. Your computer crashes, hangs or restarts when you run DVD Shrink
DVD Shrink Burning Issues:
1. A Quick DVD Backup Guide
2. Burning with DVD Decrypter vs Nero - which is better?
3. DVD tray opens when i click on the Backup button
4. How do I set the burning speed?
5. How do I use DVD Decrypter to create a backup of a DVD?
6. Using Nero Burning ROM to burn a DVD
7. How do you know that your burner is dead?
8. How to check if your burn is a good one
9. NEW How to check for firmware updates and how to install them
10. NEW How to get DVD Shrink to burn with ImgBurn
11. NEW How to make an ISO and burn with PgcEdit
12. NEW How to interpret your burning error code
13. NEW How to post your Nero burn log
14. Nero reports "File too big..."
15. Problem burning with USB devices
16. Setting write speed in DVD Shrink
17. Show actual write speed in Nero
18. The burning with DVD Decrypter failed - some clues to why
19. The burning with Nero failed - some clues to why
20. The Golden Rules of Burning
go here
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45339
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45339
DVD Shrink Playback Issues:
1. If your backup freezes, stutters, skips, or show an abnormal amount of pixelisation
2. What to do if your burn plays on your PC (eg PowerDVD) but not on your standalone?
DVD Shrink Error Codes:
1. Cannot decrypt VOBs
2. Copy protection error - The read failed because the sector is encrypted
3. Copy protection error - The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error
4. Data error (cyclic redundancy check)
5. DVD drive in use by another application
6. Failed to create folder
7. Failed to initialize ASPI device
8. Fail to locate folder
9. Failed to open file - The system cannot find the file specified
10. Failed to read file
11. Failed to read file - Incorrect function
12. Failed to read file - Invalid function
13. Failed to read file - Overlapped I/O operation in progress
14. Failed to read file - Users buffer is not valid for the requested operation
15. Failed to read from the ASPI device
16. Failed to seek in File "ISO File"
17. Failed to write to file
18. File doesn't exist (DVD Decrypter rip)
19. Invalid access to memory location
20. Invalid data in VOB file
21. Invalid DVD navigation structure
22. Invalid file name - The system cannot find the file specified
23. Out of memory/Not enough storage is available to process this command
24. Programming error - Cannot create a file when that file already exists
25. Programming error - Exception occurred/Invalid handle
26. Programming error - Exception occurred/Not enough storage is available to process this command
27. Programming error - Exception occurred/The Parameter is incorrect
28. Programming error - Impossible program state occured
29. Runtime Error
30. The action cannot be completed because the other program is busy
31. The maximum number of secrets that may be stored in a single system has been exceeded
32. There is not enough space on your target drive!
33. Unable to lock volume for exclusive access
34. Virtual memory warning
DVD Shrink Known Bugs And Limitations:
1. AC3 timestamp header is not reset to 00:00:00:00
2. Appends an empty chapter
3. Audio device not released after preview
4. Audio stream still present in IFO file after use of still image
5. Burning with Nero gives you DVD Volume Label => [New] - Solved!
6. DVD Shrink does not copy over 0KB Menu file - Solution to this problem
7. Last source file not closed
8. Number of VOBIDs in VOB incorrect after re-author - with solution to this problem
9. Position of vertical split in preview window bar not remembered
Programs to use with DVD Shrink
1. BeSweet - convert audio files from DVDs
2. DVD43Free - on-the-fly decryption
3. DVD Decrypter - decrypter and burner
4. DVD Identifier - identifying the disc's REAL manufacturer
5. MenuShrink - compress DVD motion menus by turning them into still menus with or without audio
6. MultiShrink - a small tool to enable DVD Shrink batch processing
7. Muxman DVD authoring - a multiplexing engine
8. Nero CD-DVD Speed
9. Using Nero InfoTool
10. TitleSet Blanker - blank-out TitleSets of a DVD
11. TitleWriter - add DvdText, Create menus to DVD files and automate Shrink->Titlewrite->burn
12. PgcEdit - a DVD IFO editor
13. VobBlanker - a tool able to blank, replace, cut and strip titles
14. VOBEdit - a DVD VOB editor
Links To Pages With DVD Shrink Guides and Good Stuff:
* DVD Shrink.info - ddloopings page
* mrbass.org - page by the moderator at Doom9
Other Good DVD Related Stuff To Know:
1. Adding Original Menus Back to a DVD Shrink Re-authored DVD
2. Blank media and quality FAQ - digitalFAQ.com
3. Burning ISOs with PgcEdit ensuring 32k gaps between IFOs and BUPs
4. Compatibility Bitsettings / Book Type Field - DVDplusRW.org
5. Completely Blank Out a Video TitleSet (VTS)
6. DVD bitsetting - Explanation - cdfreaks.com
7. DVD Burner Compatibility - VideoHelp.com
8. DVD Formats - digitalFAQ.com
9. DVD Media list - VideoHelp.com
10. DVD Player Compatibility - VideoHelp.com
11. Hard Disk Drives - A Reference Guide - storagereview.com
12. NEW How to check your DMA status & reset it if necessary
13. NEW How to backup Underworld Evolution using the PgcEdit plugin wizard - an animated guide
14. How to completely blank out extras
15. How to split a dual layer disk to 2 DVD-5's keeping the menus on each
16. Jumping straight to the main menu or the movie
17. Jumping To Previous Chapter On a DVD Shrink Re-authored DVD - Post your problems with the guide here
18. NEW Primer on Digital Video Encoding
19. Replacing a moving menu with a still image while retaining button functionality
20. Skipping FBI warnings and other annoying previews
21. The official Internet DVD FAQ
22. The Unofficial DVD Specifications Guide
23. Turning Subtitles Off By Default
24. Turning Subtitles On By Default
25. Using Title Menu Button to Skip Titles in Re-authored DVD Shrink Movies
26. Video Clip Library (inserts) - posunplugged.com
27. NEW What exactly is on a DVD disc?
28. What is Booktype / BitSetting? - K probe.com
29. Why DVD+R(W) is superior to DVD-R(W) - cdfreaks.com
Firmware And Burners:
1. Codeguys
2. Dangerous Brothers
3. F.A.Q. for PC DVD-Writers
4. Herrie's NEC portal
5. NEC Firmwares Collection
6. The Firmware Page
7. The NEC FAQ
IFOEdit Guides:
* IFOEdit homepage
1. A trick to speed up IFOEdit
2. Creating complete new IFO files
3. Joining double sided DVDs
4. Mock Strip using IFOEdit
5. Split a DVD to 2 DVDs
6. Split a DVD to 2 DVDs
7. Stripping Audio & Subpicture streams
Miscellaneous Good Things To Know:
1. How to attach stuff to your postings
2. NEW How to zip and attach IFOs to a post
3. NEW How to zip and upload original menus from a DVD
4. How to automatically maximize new Internet Explorer and Outlook Express windows
5. How to Delete a Post
6. How to jump straight to a post in a thread
7. How to Use the "Print Screen" Button & Post it in a Thread
8. NEW How to Post a Link in a Thread
The Unofficial DVD Shrink Song
* Play it!
[color=Yellow]Software Links:[/color]
RipIt4Me RipIt4Me
http://www.digital-digest.com/software/RipIt4Me.html
DVD Shrink DVD Shrink
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/dvdshrink.html
PgcEdit PgcEdit
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/pgcedit.html
ImgBurn ImgBurn
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/imgburn.html
FixVTS FixVTS
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/fixvts.html
VobBlanker VobBlank
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/vobblanker.html
Official RipIt4Me Guide Official RipIt4Me Guide
http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/ripit4me_guide_page1.html
Guide on How to Use RipIt4Me Guide on How to Use RipIt4Me
http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/ri4me_guide_page1.html
main page
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvddecrypter/index.php
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 27. August 2006 @ 06:00
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. August 2006 @ 12:58 |
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Freeware,MediaCoder beta adds WMV9 encoding
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/MediaCoder/1140801347/1
Authors description: MediaCoder is an open source universal audio/video batch transcoder (converter), which puts together lots of excellent audio/video codecs and tools from the open source community into an all-in-one solution, capable of transcoding among different audio/video formats with many extra features.
What's new in this version:
# MediaCoder updated to build 2448
# Fixed Win9x compatibility issue
# Added WMV9 encoding
# Included missing extension files
# Fixed multiple audio track transcoding breakage
Feature Highlights:
* Convert among many audio and video compression formats and remux into various container formats, on the fly, in batch
* Give you the control over the transcoding process and all the parameters of your converted file, so you can learn about, compare among and play with various codecs
* Specific user interfaces for specific devices with device plug-in infrastructure
* Fully standalone, no need to install any media player, filter or codec, no registration of any components into your system
Typical Applications:
* Improving compression / reducing file size
* Converting for audio/video portable devices (digital audio player, MP4 player, mobile phone, PDA, PSP, VCD/DVD player etc.)
* Extracting audio tracks from video files
* Ripping audio/video discs
Supported Audio/Video/Container Fomats:
* MP3, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AAC+, AAC+V2, MusePack, WMA, RealAudio
* FLAC, WavPack, Monkey's Audio, OptimFrog, AAC Lossless, WMA Lossless, WAV
* H.264, XviD, DivX, MPEG 1/2/4, H.263, Flash Video, 3ivx*, RealVideo*, Windows Media Video*
* AVI, MPEG/VOB, Matroska, MP4, RealMedia*, ASF/WMV*, Quicktime*, OGM*
* CD, VCD, DVD, CUE Sheet
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13866
This software is now officially freeware. If you would like to try out this beta transcoder, then head on over to FileForum for the download.
MediaCoder 0.5.1-pre3 beta
Publisher's Description:
MediaCoder is a free universal audio/video batch transcoder, putting together lots of excellent audio/video codecs and tools from the open source community into an all-in-one solution, capable of transcoding among different audio/video formats with many extra features.
Latest Changes:
* MediaCoder updated to build 2448
* Fixed Win9x compatibility issue
* Added WMV9 encoding
* Included missing extension files
* Fixed multiple audio track transcoding breakage
Released: August 25, 2006
Publisher: Stanley Huang
Homepage: MediaCoder
Downloads: 15,689
License: Open Source
OS Support: Windows XP
Uninstaller?: Yes
go here
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/MediaCoder/1140801347/1
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 27. August 2006 @ 12:59
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. August 2006 @ 13:08 |
Link to this message
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FREE,GRAND THEFT AUTO 2..........
In 1999, Rockstar Games and Rockstar North (then known as DMA Design) furthered the groundbreaking gameplay concepts established just two years prior in the original Grand Theft Auto - with the release of GTA2. GTA2 expanded on the top-down, open-ended crime world gameplay formula with a host of new features including the advent of multiple rival gangs ? seven, to be exact, including the Yakuza, Scientists, Looneys, Rednecks, Zaibatsu, the Russian Mob and Hare Krishnas. Earn your respect with each gang. Reap the benefits with all manner of shady work-for-hire gigs contracted your way. And climb your way to the top of the criminal pile. Now, longtime Grand Theft Auto fans can revisit this classic entry in the series - and new jacks who missed out on this early franchise title can further discover Grand Theft Auto?s roots - absolutely free. GTA2 has been completely optimized for play on modern PCs and is available gratis for all registrants to the Rockstar Games mailing list (rest assured your information will not be shared with any third parties, you will only receive information from Rockstar). Simply fill out the form below and check your email for a direct link to the file (353 MB .zip file, includes install .exe, readme .txt file, and a .pdf of the original PC game manual). This version of GTA2 is modified from its original version to enable support for modern PC's and current Microsoft Windows® platforms.....(free).....GO THERE!
GO HERE
http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/
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AfterDawn Addict
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29. August 2006 @ 11:36 |
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Movies File Share Top Ten Downloaders ('leechers')
BitTorrent, World-wide
Current simultaneous leechers as of August 26, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 50,013
02 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (unchanged) 48,725
03 >>> V For Vendetta + 6 48,706
04 >>> RV (new) 46,260
05 >>> The Benchwarmers - 3 43,995
06 >>> Scary Movie 4 (new) 43,048
07 >>> Barnyard: The Original Party Animals - 4 42,221
08 >>> The Break-Up + 10 40,253
09 >>> The Shaggy Dog (new) 40,251
10 >>> Superman Returns - 8 39,933
Movies File Share Top Ten Downloads
p2p, World-wide
Week ending August 26, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 1,549,663
02 >>> The Benchwarmers (unchanged) 1,547,693
03 >>> RV (new) 1,505,847
04 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - 3 1,486,552
05 >>> V For Vendetta + 7 1,485,460
06 >>> Barnyard: The Original Party Animals - 5 1,483,040
07 >>> Scary Movie 4 (new) 1,478,221
08 >>> Superman Returns - 4 1,437,896
09 >>> Inside Man (unchanged) 1,433,741
10 >>> Final Destination 3 - 8 1,421,213
Movies File Share Top Ten Downloads
p2p, USA
Week ending August 26, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 931,036
02 >>> The Benchwarmers (unchanged) 920,597
03 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (unchanged) 911,173
04 >>> RV (new) 906,641
05 >>> V For Vendetta + 6 893,829
06 >>> Barnyard: The Original Party Animals - 4 886,565
07 >>> Superman Returns - 5 874,571
08 >>> Scary Movie 4 (new) 873,361
09 >>> The Devil Wears Prada - 7 871,610
10 >>> Inside Man - 8 834,960
(Tuesday 29th August 2006)
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AfterDawn Addict
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29. August 2006 @ 11:40 |
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Vista next-gen DVD shocker
Steve Riley
p2pnet.net News:- Thirty-two-bit versions of Microsoft's Windows Vista won't play back "next generation high definition protected content? (studio-released BluRay and HD-DVD movies), says a "surprising disclosure".
And it's all down DRM (digital rights restriction).
The news came during a a presentation on Windows Vista security at Tech.Ed 2006 in Sydney, Australia, says APC Magazine, pointing out, "By far the majority of PCs use 32-bit processors, because despite AMD?s efforts to push 64-bit CPUs into the marketplace early, Intel?s first widely-promoted 64-bit CPU is the just-released Core 2 Duo."
Now, "PC users will now have to choose between a PC that can play high definition content (64 bit) versus one that can potentially run older devices that only have unsigned drivers available (32 bit)," says the story.
According to senior program manager Steve Riley, there are, "just too many ways right now for unsigned kernel mode code [to compromise content protection]," says APC Magazine, which also has Riley saying, "The media companies asked us to do this and said they don?t want any of their high definition content to play in x32 at all, because of all of the unsigned malware that runs in kernel mode can get around content protection".
go here to read the total article
http://p2pnet.net/story/9714?PHPSESSID=ecfceb41763252cd343b44a148951188
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gerry1
Suspended permanently
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30. August 2006 @ 02:38 |
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Good morning one and all! Very strong coffee today and its 6:30 a.m. and I'm already at the office. Just want to wish everyone a good day. I've got a presentation to make to the feds at 9:00 and haven't even started getting it together yet. What a damn waste of time and effort! Oh well.....
Edit: a change of plans ... there is no plan! I'm going to wing it!! I'm just in the mood for an impromptu dog and pony show! Hell, I've been in this business for over fifteen years and I know I can out-bull any of them bull-shi****s!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 30. August 2006 @ 03:03
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Member
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30. August 2006 @ 06:07 |
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Good morning all.
gerry I'm sure you'll do great.
Happy coffee guys!!!
Chuck
"Men are slower to recognize blessings than misfortunes." Titus Livius (59BC-17AD)
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ddp
Moderator
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30. August 2006 @ 08:07 |
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gerry, than you should do good as i always wing it, even on computers. that is why i'm a wing commander!!!
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gerry1
Suspended permanently
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30. August 2006 @ 09:08 |
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@ddp...and right you are; it went great! I shouldn't question my skill at double-speak! I've no doubt that computers has its own variety of professional BS!
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AfterDawn Addict
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1. September 2006 @ 08:59 |
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now this is a bitch,as i am reading this and choking on me coffee
what a bunch of crap...................
ISP Hands Over File Swapper's Name
By Nate Mook, BetaNews
August 31, 2006, 5:45 PM
Dutch Internet service provider UPC has decided not to appeal a summary judgement by Amsterdam's District Court, and will hand over the name and address of an individual accused of illegally sharing copyrighted material using his broadband connection.
The case was initiated by the Brain Institute, a group backed by the MPAA and RIAA, as well as their counterparts in the Netherlands. The organization says it will contact the customer and attempt to work out a settlement before filing a lawsuit.
The entertainment industry's demand that ISPs turn over records of customers accused of illicit file sharing has become a hot topic in recent years. In many cases, the RIAA and MPAA simply have an IP address of a user from a peer-to-peer network and must obtain specific details from the owner of that network.
However, privacy advocates say that ISPs have no right to turn over customer data without solid evidence, which has raised the question of whether an IP address constitutes proof of illegal activity. Moreover, customers rarely have the ability to fight the claims, usually agreeing to settle for a few thousand dollars.
UPC initially argued that it was impossible to tie an IP address to a specific individual, a technicality which has previously won in court. But this case involved servers seized from a BitTorrent file sharing network known as "Dikke Donder."
Located on the servers were IP addresses and user accounts of those the Brain Institute claims were committing piracy. Because the group had access to both an IP and an e-mail address, the court found that there was no possibility for any confusion, noting "there can't be any discussion of a 'reasonable doubt,'" according to a court filing obtained by the AP.
http://www.betanews.com/article/ISP_Hand...Name/1157060715
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AfterDawn Addict
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1. September 2006 @ 09:02 |
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Deep Space Wine
Giving new meaning to getting high, several beer and wine companies are exploiting our fascination with space by advertising their products as imported ? from a galaxy far, far away. In some cases, ingredients have actually been rocketed out of the atmosphere. In others, it's just a lot of marketing moonshine. Are any of them worth checking out? We asked veteran Fritz Maytag of the legendary Anchor Brewing Company to give us his take on these heavenly concoctions.
RED FLYER
"From the darkest reaches of the universe comes this red wine invasion," says Red Flyer maker Wimbledon Wine. A so-called entertainment wine, it boasts an ingredient called Clone X, which was "smuggled from outer space." Right.
Maytag says: "Putting a spaceship on the label is bullshit. We don't need be entertained when we're drinking wine."
TOSA SPACE SAKE
Last October, Japan's Kochi prefecture and 19 local breweries paid the Russian Federal Space Agency to carry some yeast into orbit. Sake containing the astro-yeast hit store shelves in April.
Maytag says: "I'd buy it. I'm sure space travel has no effect on taste, but it has an effect on me. I'm easily thrilled."
CROP CIRCLE BEER
UK-based Hop Back brewery's Crop Circle beer is made with wheat from Wiltshire, apparently a very popular tourist destination for aliens ? about 70 crop circles appear there every year.
Maytag says: "I laugh at them, not with them ? but it tickles my fancy. Chances are it's good-quality beer, too ? Wiltshire's got a lot of wheat."
? James Lee
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.09/start.html?pg=4
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AfterDawn Addict
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1. September 2006 @ 09:46 |
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The Answer to RIAA and Music Piracy is Magnatune
http://magnatune.com/
Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on 2006-09-01 06:20:43 UTC
Magnatune has the right idea and we love their motto: "We Are Not Evil". They are a real record label but they give away 128 kbps mp3s of all their artist's songs for free. If you like what you hear you can purchase higher quality DRM-free FLAC, Mp3, OGG, AAC, WAV versions at a price you set! If you don't, you can always keep, share or delete your legally downloaded 128 kbps mp3, your choice. They are sharing profits 50/50 with their signed artists and they allow consumers to share their purchased songs with 3 friends. What sets them apart from other "free music" web sites is that they actually sign artists that are able to produce high quality music and are serious about their work (rather than just being a random mp3 hosting site). Also, artists keep all of their work's rights.
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=15694
Why we are Not Evil !
# Perfect audio quality: you get CD quality audio WAV files, as well as super-high quality VBR MP3s, AAC, and open source friendly FLAC and OGG formats (sample download page)
# No DRM: No copy protection (DRM), you can do what you like with your music, unlike iTunes and Windows-media based web sites
# Listen to everything: all our albums can be listened to in their entirety before you buy
# Good music: we work with artists directly, not with record labels, and all our music is hand-picked. On average, we accept 3 out of every 100 submissions
# MP3s everywhere: Our MP3s play everywhere: iPods, Creative, SanDisk, iRiver and every portable device that supports MP3s
# Musicians get paid: 50% of your purchase price goes directly to the musician, not to labels and their lawyers
# Album art: every album includes high quality album art (in both Adobe Acrobat and 300DPI JPG formats)
# Give to your friends: We encourage you to give 3 copies of any music you buy to your friends
# Name your price: you choose how much you want to pay for the music, and 50% of your choice goes to the artist
# Downloads and CDs: all our music can be bought as a download or a delivered-by-postal-mail CD
# Creative Commons: All our 128k MP3s are some-rights-reserved Creative Commons licensed
# Remix friendly: Tons of our music, acapellas and samples are available for Remixing at CC Mixter
# 100% legal: you're not breaking any laws, Magnatune is completely legal all over the world
# Licensing: all our music can be licensed for commercial use instantly and online. We license more online than anyone else in the world, which is why we're #1 in Google for "music licensing"
# Podcast-legal: podcasters can obtain and use our music for free
# Free review copies: music reviewers (web, print and radio) can get free copies of all our music
# No major labels: we have absolutely nothing to do with major labels or the RIAA
http://magnatune.com/info/whynotevil
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AfterDawn Addict
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1. September 2006 @ 11:59 |
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Finland p2p file sharers,
p2pnet.net News:- Bad News for the Big Four Organized Music family: its sue 'em all efforts notwithstanding, the new Finnish copyright law, which went into effect at the beginning of the year, "has done little to cut down illegal downloading of music," says Helsingin Sanomat.
"Only just over ten per cent of respondents to a fresh survey published on Wednesday reported that they had reduced illegal downloading from file sharing networks," it says.
Only about one in 20 said they'd, "stopped using the peer-to-peer networks altogether".
"Executive director Antti Kotilainen of the Anti-Piracy Centre in Finland, CIAPC, admits that illegal downloading from the Internet continues to be a problem," says Helsingin Sanomat.
"The problem is substantial. There are around 150,000 active users of peer-to-peer networks in Finland."
Also See:
Helsingin Sanomat - New copyright law has done little to stop illegal downloading of music, September 1, 2006
p2pnet newsfeeds for your site.
rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss
Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
(Friday 1st September 2006)
http://p2pnet.net/story/9755?PHPSESSID=d...acf043f6677b8fe
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AfterDawn Addict
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1. September 2006 @ 13:09 |
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$99.99*
After 100.00 Instant Savings and (4) Mail-In Savings
( In Store Price $429.99)
This offer is not yet available
Sep 3 - 9
Includes Tower, Monitor and Printer
? 256MB memory
? 80GB hard drive
? Reads & Writes CDs
? CRT has 16" viewable area
? F380 All In One Printer or
Upgrade to model 3180 for $20 more
Configuration code 03134795
UPGRADES:
More space for storage 160GB Hard Drive add $40
Increase performance 512MB Memory (RAM) add $50
Save desk space 15" LCD Flat Panel Display add $140
Office Depot to offer $99 PC with $99 shipping
The bargain season for back-to-school shopping begins next week, but read the fine print.
Office Depot will sell a Hewlett-Packard desktop PC complete with a CRT monitor and printer for $99. The bundle, which typically sells for $429, involves a $100 in-store instant rebate and four mail-in coupons.
The offer is good from Sept. 3 through 9.
Still, you have to have the machine shipped, and shipping comes to $99.
On the flip side, consumers don't need to sign up for new Internet service as part of the deal. Other companies and stores have offered $99 computers before, but these deals often required consumers to buy a year's worth of AOL dial-up service or open an account with some other Internet service provider.
Do customers come out for these deals? Yes. In December 2005, CompUSA offered a $149 Toshiba laptop and a $99 Compaq desktop after discounts. The retailer sold 7,500 of the notebooks in two hours, or 2.5 notebooks a minute. (To get these deals, consumers had to subscribe to AOL for a year.)
September is one of the key months for PC manufacturers and retailers. The third quarter is typically the second-biggest sales season of the year because of back-to-school buying. A significant portion of the PCs bought in the third quarter are sold during its last two weeks. Some pinpoint the end of the dot-com era to September 2000, when PC and semiconductor makers surprised analysts with dire warnings about sales.
As a result, companies begin to pour on the offers as the month rolls on.
The Office Depot computer comes with a Celeron D 352 chip, an 80GB hard drive and 256MB of memory.
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-6111924....11924&subj=news
click here to see the computer
http://officedepot.shoplocal.com/OfficeD...iceDepot-060903
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1. September 2006 @ 13:13
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2. September 2006 @ 10:11 |
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20 little-known facts about death
September 2, 2006 4:00 AM PDT
Numeric lists, as we all know, are the new black when it comes to the dissemination of online information. So we smugly thought we had come across the ultimate version recently with the top 10 of the top 10. Wrong.
We've been outdone once again in the universe of listmania, this time not because of meta-filtering but because of topical importance--which, in this case, is the very sobering subject of our mortality. In this list, Discover tackles the issue with "20 Things You Didn't Know About ... Death."
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Death
Newsflash: we're all going to die. But here are 20 things you didn't know about kicking the bucket.
By LeeAundra Temescu
DISCOVER Vol. 27 No. 09 | September 2006
1 The practice of burying the dead may date back 350,000 years, as evidenced by a 45-foot-deep pit in Atapuerca, Spain, filled with the fossils of 27 hominids of the species Homo heidelbergensis, a possible ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans.
2 Never say die: There are at least 200 euphemisms for death, including "to be in Abraham's bosom," "just add maggots," and "sleep with the Tribbles" (a Star Trek favorite).
3 No American has died of old age since 1951.
4 That was the year the government eliminated that classification on death certificates.
5 The trigger of death, in all cases, is lack of oxygen. Its decline may prompt muscle spasms, or the "agonal phase," from the Greek word agon, or contest.
6 Within three days of death, the enzymes that once digested your dinner begin to eat you. Ruptured cells become food for living bacteria in the gut, which release enough noxious gas to bloat the body and force the eyes to bulge outward.
7 So much for recycling: Burials in America deposit 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid?formaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol?into the soil each year. Cremation pumps dioxins, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide into the air.
8 Alternatively . . . A Swedish company, Promessa, will freeze-dry your body in liquid nitrogen, pulverize it with high-frequency vibrations, and seal the resulting powder in a cornstarch coffin. They claim this "ecological burial" will decompose in 6 to 12 months.
9 Zoroastrians in India leave out the bodies of the dead to be consumed by vultures.
10 The vultures are now dying off after eating cattle carcasses dosed with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory used to relieve fever in livestock.
11 Queen Victoria insisted on being buried with the bathrobe of her long-dead husband, Prince Albert, and a plaster cast of his hand.
12 If this doesn't work, we're trying in vitro! In Madagascar, families dig up the bones of dead relatives and parade them around the village in a ceremony called famadihana. The remains are then wrapped in a new shroud and reburied. The old shroud is given to a newly married, childless couple to cover the connubial bed.
13 During a railway expansion in Egypt in the 19th century, construction companies unearthed so many mummies that they used them as fuel for locomotives.
14 Well, yeah, there's a slight chance this could backfire: English philosopher Francis Bacon, a founder of the scientific method, died in 1626 of pneumonia after stuffing a chicken with snow to see if cold would preserve it.
15 For organs to form during embryonic development, some cells must commit suicide. Without such programmed cell death, we would all be born with webbed feet, like ducks.
16 Waiting to exhale: In 1907 a Massachusetts doctor conducted an experiment with a specially designed deathbed and reported that the human body lost 21 grams upon dying. This has been widely held as fact ever since. It's not.
17 Buried alive: In 19th-century Europe there was so much anecdotal evidence that living people were mistakenly declared dead that cadavers were laid out in "hospitals for the dead" while attendants awaited signs of putrefaction.
18 Eighty percent of people in the United States die in a hospital.
19 If you can't make it here . . . More people commit suicide in New York City than are murdered.
20 It is estimated that 100 billion people have died since humans began.
For more salacious details about the deceased, try the following books:
The Corpse: A History, by Christine Quigley (1996).
The Biology of Death: Origins of Mortality, by André Klarsfeld and Frédéric Revah (2003).
R.I.P. : The Complete Book of Death and Dying, by Constance Jones (1997).
The American Way of Death, by Jessica Mitford (1963).
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach (2003).
http://news.com.com/2061-11200_3-6111421...11421&subj=news
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2. September 2006 @ 10:12
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2. September 2006 @ 10:24 |
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Dell explodes all over the place in Brit family home
Sets fire to sofa, carpet
By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 02 September 2006, 14:23
A BRITISH FAMILY RECENTLY had an explodey encounter with a Dell laptop in their home, reports the Leicester Mercury.
The incident sent computer bits and bobs flying around the living room, flinging tiny batteries at household objects and setting fire to the carpet and a sofa.
The drama happened weeks before the Dell battery recall, said Dad Shaun Allen. The laptop was a Latitude C600, bought for a not-so-cheap £500 - a particularly expensive way to ruin your living room.
Batteries were "shooting out like fireworks, like rockets," Mr Allen told the Leicester Mercury.
Dell, being the lovely company that it is, is supplying a replacement laptop as a gesture of goodwill, says a spokesman. µ
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34119
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2. September 2006 @ 12:13 |
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Nero?s Major Update to Nero 7 Software Suite Supports the Complete Digital Lifestyle
Posted by Herbert on 02 September 2006 - 09:36 - Source: Nero
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
Nero?s Major Update to Nero 7 Software Suite Supports the Complete Digital Lifestyle
Free online update transforms mobile phones into media centers and provides cutting-edge A/V features
Karlsbad, Germany (September 1, 2006) - Nero, leaders in digital media technology, unveiled details today of a major worldwide update to its premier Nero 7 digital media software suite. This latest version includes more than 21 applications, with features that enable the efficient transfer of audio and video files to mobile phones and the streaming of live TV and other content to a Windows® Media Center Edition PC or Xbox 360?. The update will be available at retail stores and online (www.nero.com) in September 2006. Current Nero 7 customers will be able to download the update from the website free of charge at that time.
Nero 7 is the industry-leading all-in-one solution for the management of data, audio, video, photo, and TV content. In addition to easily managing their digital files from the comfort of their living rooms, users can now create compelling entertainment experiences that can be enjoyed outside of the house.
?Nero leads consumers in the transition from the digital home to the total digital lifestyle,? said Jim Corbett, Executive Director, Nero AG. ?Adding the elements of mobile entertainment compatibility and management, as well as Windows MCE plug-ins for media streaming and audio, video, and data burning underlines Nero?s unique position in being able to drive convergence. With each offering, we provide consumers unprecedented levels of sophistication and control over their entertainment experiences.?
An integrated TV server within the Nero MediaHome application allows users to stream live TV to an Xbox 360? gaming system for playback via a Windows® Media Center Edition PC. Other intriguing video features include the ability to record TV programs, encode non-copy protected video files to the popular iPod® and PlayStation® Portable devices, record video directly onto a hard drive, and playback commercial DVDs on a PC or TV.
New audio capabilities include full MP3/mp3PRO encoding support, the ability to mix and edit music from multiple audio tracks, and sophisticated editing and mixing functionalities for HQ mastering.
Consumers can now take advantage of the unprecedented capacity of Blu-ray and HD DVD Discs for data recording. Both formats can also be integrated for data backup, packet writing, and toolkit applications.
Ensuring audiophile quality, Nero 7 enables the recording and playback of surround sound audio files. Users can also capture video files from many sources, including certified TV cards, graphics cards, camcorders, VCRs, and webcams (composite/S-video).
DVD presentations come to life with Nero 7?s customizable 3D menus. Compelling introductory video and transitions between menus and video clips are easily produced with two easy-to-use templates.
About Nero
Nero (www.nero.com) develops and distributes the world?s leading digital media solutions for consumers and professionals. Today more than 200 million users worldwide rely on Nero?s award-winning and trusted, industry approved applications to manage the needs of the connected digital home and forward-thinking corporations.
Nero?s rapidly-growing portfolio of products defines new levels of innovation in the company?s three key areas of focus: Digital Media Solutions - delivering multimedia applications for audio, video, photo and TV capturing, editing, burning, managing and sharing; Audio and Video Compression Technologies - providing world-class interoperable standards-based solutions for encoding and decoding digital content with support for Next Generation HD and popular handheld formats; and VoIP Solutions - providing cost-effective voice, text and video communication over the Internet for home and business.
Nero products are globally distributed by leading hardware manufacturers, international distribution partners and online portals, and can be purchased directly at www.nero.com.
Nero provides worldwide coverage through Nero AG Headquarters based in Karlsbad, Germany and three Sales Offices worldwide: EMEA in Karlsbad, Germany, Americas in Glendale, California, USA, and APAC in Yokohama, Japan.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13900
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2. September 2006 @ 12:41 |
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AfterDawn Addict
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2. September 2006 @ 14:42 |
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Movies File Share Top Ten
p2pnet.net Feature:- p2pnet's regular, and unique, Movies File Share Top Ten is compiled with statistics from Big Champagne. For an explanation of how BC arrives at the numbers, here's the company's Adam Toll.
?We monitor BT sites (a constantly evolving set) and observe, in addition to all the other available information, the number of users leeching(downloading) each title at any given time. Using the information collected and processed continually, we then calculate the average number of simultaneous leechers for each period. This is a little different from the P2P measure, as explained below.
?While the P2P measure published on p2pnet.net shows the average simultaneous users who are sharing the movie on P2P networks, the BT measure represents the relatively smaller number of people who are, on average, actively downloading the movie (in other words, in the process of downloading the movie) at any given time. This is a very different statistic. These two measures are a consequence of the differences in the ways that P2P and BT work.?
With all the dross being pumped out by research and marketing firms on what's supposedly happening with p2p, it's good to have at least one firm around which shows the picture as it really is as opposed to the way the many supposedly 'independent' reports commissioned by the entertainment and software cartels present it.
Note: 'Return' means back after a week's absence. If it's back after longer than that, it's designated 'new'.
Movies File Share Top Ten Downloaders ('leechers')
BitTorrent, World-wide
Current simultaneous leechers as of September 2, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 50,183
02 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (unchanged) 49,296
03 >>> RV + 4 49,147
04 >>> Scary Movie 4 + 6 46,925
05 >>> V For Vendetta - 3 44,268
06 >>> The Benchwarmers - 5 43,154
07 >>> Superman Returns + 10 42,579
08 >>> Monster House (new) 40,962
09 >>> Silent Hill (new) 40,728
10 >>> The Shaggy Dog - 9 40,172
Movies File Share Top Ten Downloads
p2p, World-wide
Week ending September 2, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 1,558,175
02 >>> RV + 3 1,557,579
03 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby + 4 1,518,113
04 >>> Scary Movie 4 + 7 1,497,646
05 >>> The Benchwarmers - 2 1,495,433
06 >>> V For Vendetta - 5 1,493,795
07 >>> Inside Man + 9 1,488,306
08 >>> Silent Hill (new) 1,445,904
09 >>> Poseidon (new) 1,444,032
10 >>> Final Destination 3 (unchanged) 1,434,394
Movies File Share Top Ten Downloads
p2p, USA
Week ending September 2, 2006
Ranking Movie Number of Downloads
01 >>> Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (unchanged) 939,338
02 >>> Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby + 3 924,367
03 >>> RV + 4 918,727
04 >>> The Benchwarmers - 2 914,956
05 >>> Scary Movie 4 + 8 899,562
06 >>> V For Vendetta - 5 896,068
07 >>> Silent Hill (new) 882,934
08 >>> Inside Man + 10 880,820
09 >>> Final Destination 3 (return) 878,967
10 >>> Poseidon (new) 841,516
(Saturday 2nd September 2006)
http://p2pnet.net/story/9763?PHPSESSID=f...e871b41970f6558
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. September 2006 @ 09:16 |
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FairUse4WM Cracks Windows Media DRM, Again
The FairUse4WM creators once again break WM-DRM and this time in record time
Only days after Microsoft patched the FairUse4WM DRM hack, the creators of the program have released an update that once again breaks the restrictions on protected WMA and WMV files. The utility works by stripping the DRM information from protected windows media files allowing users to freely manipulate the files and play them back as they see fit.
The apparently failed update from Microsoft changed the IBX in PlaysForSure rendering v.1.1 useless to users who were forced to update through their content provider. FairUse4WM v.1.2 is backwards compatible with files that have yet to be updated. Unfortunately as of right now the software still doesn?t work Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 UR2 users or for the Windows Media Format 9. Although it only took Microsoft 3 days to issue its first fix it appears that the FairUse4WM creators are still one step ahead of the software giant.
The cat and mouse DRM game is heating up elsewhere as well. Apple's FairPlay was recently circumvented openly as well. Yahoo has opted to distribute music without DRM, bypassing the quagmire Apple and Microsoft are currently in.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4043
FairUse4WM peeps stay one step ahead of Microsoft
Mere days after Microsoft started pushing a new IBX version for "protecting" PlaysForSure files from its users, the FairUse4WM guys have thrown down a new version that deals with that and other little DRM-circumvention obstacles. The new release -- version 1.2 -- knocks out DRMv1 files you've ripped yourself with protection, breaks down individualized WM9 files and has a workaround for WM11beta2. Of course, we're guessing it won't be long until Microsoft has another quick update to break FairUse4WM again, but it seems like a more drastic update might be in order to shut down this hack for good. We're sure you're well familiar with our stance on this whole issue, and hope that version 1.2 treats you right.
go here
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/02/fairu...d-of-microsoft/
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3. September 2006 @ 09:24 |
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Apple settles another lawsuit
9/3/2006 1:12:07 AM, by Charles Jade
Having resolved a patent dispute with Creative Technology over the iPod's user interface, Apple Computer has reached a settlement regarding the iTunes interface with a music store owner in Vermont. In 1996, David Contois filed a patent for a "computer system and method for controlling a media playing device." In 2005, he took Apple to court over its iTunes software. In July, the judge in the case issued a ruling that "favored some of Contois' positions over Apple's," and that was apparently enough for the company.
The parties met the next day to begin discussing a resolution, according to court records. A first session was unsuccessful. A second session, which began at noon Aug. 16 and ended at 3:30 a.m. Aug. 17, led to the settlement.
Unlike the case with Creative Technology, which was settled for $100 million, the terms of this accord are not known.
"We're glad to get back to teaching music and selling musical instruments," said Dan Contois, a brother of David Contois, who works in the 35-year-old family-owned business. "The terms are confidential. We can't discuss them."
While the settlement likely involved more money than one could make teaching piano lessons in a hundred lifetimes, the question of why a settlement was reached at all is more interesting. While it could be argued that Creative Technology might have the resources to engage in a prolonged struggle, surely Apple could afford a legal battle with a music store owner from Vermont. They could, but they could not afford to lose.
The iPod and music-related products accounted for approximately 45 percent of revenue in the last quarter. Any disruption?such as an injunction on sales?of iPods or iPod-related services would have an immediate and tremendous impact on the company's fiscal situation, not to mention the stock price. Better to settle, even if the chances of losing were remote, rather than risk the iPod revenue stream. Like the settlement with Creative, this accord is a reminder of both how successful the iPod has been, as well as how dependent upon that success Apple has become.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060903-7653.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. September 2006 @ 09:32 |
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GREASEMONKEY.......... Greasemonkey is a Firefox extension which lets you to add bits of DHTML ("user scripts") to any web page to change its behavior. In much the same way that user CSS lets you take control of a web page's style, user scripts let you easily control any aspect of a web page's design or interaction.....(free).....GO THERE!
http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. September 2006 @ 09:37 |
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HACK AN UNHACKABLE BIOS..........The unhackable BIOS exists for one very simple reason: the manufacturer wants this PC to work for the broadest, simplest set of PC users. In other words, it does not want to have to bear the cost of support calls related to hacked BIOS settings. Completely understandable if this is a family PC but very frustrating if you're a real techie and wish to experiment. All hope may not be lost.....(free).....GO THERE!
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/147073.html
You may be able to find a BIOS upgrade to work around that unhackable, squeaky-clean OEM BIOS.
By this point you may have discovered which feature hacks your BIOS supports, if any. Your PC may contain a "dummied-down" BIOS that provides very few setup options to choose from, while a truly hackable BIOS will give you parameters aplenty.
Most "no name," "white box," do-it-yourself PC system boards come littered with hackable bits through switches, jumpers, or the BIOS. These boards are the subject of the majority of hacks, overclocking, modifications, BIOS upgrades, and just plain "geeking out" on what a PC can be made to do. You'll get hours of enjoyment fiddling with every bit and parameter you can find and perhaps encounter hours or days of frustration if one of your hacks causes you to lose data or massive quantities of that soft, furry stuff atop your head.
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