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From the New York Times: I took a real day off this weekend: computers shut down, cellphone left in my work bag, land-line ringer off. I was fully disconnected for 24 hours. The reason for this change was a natural and predictable back-breaking straw. Flying home from Europe a few months ago, I swiped a …
From the New York Times: The European antitrust regulator imposed a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling intended to send a clear message to the world’s largest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting Europe’s competition rulings. The size of the penalty, which …
From Time magazine: Sometimes, a photo is simply too good to be true. Tiny details in an image, for instance, may be too similar to have occurred naturally, suggesting a cut-and-paste maneuver. Or the color patterns may be too “normal” — beyond the limitations of sensors on digital cameras. A growing number of researchers and …
From ComputerWorld: A federal judge in Seattle last week granted class-action status to a lawsuit that claimed Microsoft Corp. duped consumers when it promoted PCs as “Vista Capable” in the run up to the 2006 holidays. … The original lawsuit was filed almost a year ago by Washington state resident Diane Kelley, who charged Microsoft …
From the Toronto Star: It can stop you from voting, destroy your dental appointments, make it difficult to rent a car or book a flight, even interfere with your college exams. More than 50 years into the Information Age, computers are still getting confused by the apostrophe. It’s a problem familiar to O’Connors, D’Angelos, N’Dours …
From Time magazine: With its massive, daily interplay of ideas and information, the Internet always seemed overdue for a pitched battle over free speech. That fight may have arrived. Its combatants are an unlikely duo: the Cayman Islands branch of a Swiss bank, and a shadowy whistle-blowing Web site dedicated to exposing what it believes …
From BBC News: Some of the world’s biggest computer firms have been accused of imposing unfair contracts on customers who buy their software. The National Consumer Council (NCC) has accused 17 firms, including Microsoft, Adobe and Symantec, of using unfair “end user licence agreements” (EULAs). The NCC has asked the Office of Fair Trading to …
From CNN: Toshiba said Tuesday it will no longer manufacture HD DVDs, effectively ending the long-running battle with the rival Blu-ray for a dominant high-definition format. Toshiba said it made the decision to cease developing, manufacturing, and marketing HD DVDs after “recent major changes in the market.” It promised to continue offering support and service …
From Time magazine: Do you find yourself struggling to find the right words to fill the blank Valentine’s Day card that you just purchased? When the florists asks what you’d like to say on the card with the bouquet, does an embarrassingly long pause ensue? If you have ever found yourself facing writer’s block, straining …
From ComputerWorld: Ever wonder what that cop is doing in his cruiser that’s parked behind your car with lights flashing — while your heart is pounding and you’re searching for your license and registration? Most likely, he’s researching you on his laptop, and finding a surprisingly large amount of information. According to Lt. Paul Shastany …