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Rupert Murdoch: for whom the net tolls | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:57:55 -0800

From the page: "Rupert Murdoch wants to remake the web as a toll both, with him in the collector's seat, but the net won't shift to his will"

Toll booths, blocking 'parasite' search engines and abolishing 'fair use' are his goals!?!

Well, I have just cancelled my MySpace account citing the above reasons for my cancellation.

MacBook - The Best Travel Gadgets of 2009 - TIME

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:45:57 -0800

From the page: Apple recently updated its baseline 13-in. MacBook with a unibody polycarbonate shell for added strength and style. Inside, an efficient LED-backlit screen helps lift battery life to seven hours and provides instant full-screen brightness the moment you turn it on.

iPod Touch bestowed Editors Choice award | Crave - CNET

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:43:16 -0800

From the page: "In news that shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who's perused our Holiday Gift guide, sampled our list of top MP3 players, or remembers what happened to last year's iPod Touch, the third-generation iPod Touch now proudly bears the CNET Editors' Choice badge. "

Windows 7 Workaround Does Not Allow for Multiple Installs with One Product Key - SuperSite Blog

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:42:38 -0800

From the page: "In the wake of Microsoft's illogical and wrong-headed attack on the so-called Windows 7 installation "hack"--really just a workaround designed to let legitimate Windows customers upgrade their activated copies of XP or Vista to Windows 7 in the manner they prefer--I've started wondering why Microsoft reacted so strongly. After all, their central argument is completely bogus: Most people out there already qualify for Upgrade pricing. And those who really do wish to just save money (by not paying for more expensive Full media) will simply buy OEM media, which costs less than Upgrade media. So it's not about money. Why bother? Why even bring attention to this, especially in such an idiotic, anti-customer fashion?"

A Bit of Backpedaling and an Apology from Microsoft - SuperSite Blog

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:41:34 -0800

From the page: "In a very long-winded post, Microsoft's Eric Ligman (he of the "you are probably a pirate" post) does some furious backpedalling from his previous position on doing clean installs with Windows 7 Upgrade media. That is, where he previously came off very strong about how people doing this could be pirates ("technically possible" does not always mean legal), he's apparently woken up to the fact that many of Microsoft's customers agree with me. ("technically possible" does not always mean illegal. In fact, in this case, it almost always means legal.) The issue here isn't just semantic. This is very much about how Microsoft communicates with his customers, and while Ligman tries to make the case that Microsoft cares very much about it's customers, this little episode is telling them otherwise. Sorry, Eric. There's a lot of ill will for you to get over now."

Talking Windows 7 Upgrade Media with Microsoft - SuperSite Blog

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:33:30 -0800

From the page: "So I had an in-person discussion yesterday with Microsoft about how its Windows 7 Upgrade media does (or does not) work. I'm going to update my Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media article to include this information, but I wanted to communicate it to you as quickly as possible. So here are some data points to consider..."

Very good article. And some great takeaways.

Microsofts Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Uses Open Source Code - SuperSite Blog

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:32:51 -0800

From the page: "And apparently does so illegally. Rafael has written up a great post, with a side-by-side code comparison, about how Microsoft's Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool uses code that was obviously taken directly from open source code that is licensed under the GPL."

uh, oh. That was not a wise move for even a huge company like Microsoft.

Sharp Solar Breaks Conversion Efficiency Record

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:29:11 -0800

From the page: "Sharp Corporation's technical team has come up with an impressive solar power development. Though its nothing new for the research and development team as they often come up with solar gadgets from televisions to mobile phones. This time the Sharp broke the solar conversion efficiency record. According to the company, it's a title-holding 35.8 percent cell conversion efficiency with the help of a triple-junction compound cell. Sharp team has been working on this project since 2000."

US Navy plans Green Fleet

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:28:00 -0800

From the page: "According to the Department of Defense News report, the Defense Department's total energy costs for fiscal 2006 and 2007 was above $13 billion. In the year 2008, due to soaring rise in oil prices, their department's energy bill was $20 billion. It is not a surprise when various defense departments are trying to use clean and green energy that will lessen the use of fossil fuel. Even the Pentagon is trying hard to reduce its dependency on fossil fuel. They are trying to develop jet fuels from algae, bacteria and rapeseed. The Pentagon also announced to the American Forces Press Service in June that they are trying to develop newer military vehicles with the use of lighter and stronger titanium. Titanium is better than steel as far as fuel efficiency and safety are concerned. "

Modified Hybrids to be Tested

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:22:45 -0800

From the page: "CSIRO is an Australian research organization. CSIRO is working in collaboration with Victorian energy distributor SP AusNet. They both are aiming to evaluate the impact and benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the electricity network. They are also trying to figure out how this low emission transport option could be incorporated into our homes and cities in the future. They are opting out for a three-month trial of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The staff of the energy distributor SP AusNet will use a modified PHEV for their daily commute and other leisurely journeys. "