Techspec-Tech News

Linux, at a Microsoft show?

2005-07-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a surprise when Microsoft allowed attendees to get a hands on expierence with Linux and all sorts of Linux desktop software. Most of these attendees were unfamiliar with Linux and experimented with K Desktop Environment as well as watching an Apache server in action. Don Johnson (not the actor) gave an overview of linux and their concepts. Johnson explained to the attendees the key tradeoffs between Linux and Windows. Johnson also got explaining how user-friendly Windows and Linux were. Windows was obviously more user-friendly and he pointed out that you have IT expertise and knowledge to run Linux. The last tradeoff he pointed out was that Linux had the ability to run on almost anything whereas Windows has a limited platform focus. More info can be found at eWeek.

-Vash

What has the world come to?

2005-07-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

This article infuriated me at the fact that humans will simply kill each other over things like this.
NY Teen killed over iPod.

-Vash

Diggnation is out

2005-07-03T10:24:00.001-07:00

The podcast that I had mentioned in a previous post is out. Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht are now doing a podcast about Digg stories. Both of their sites contain links to downloads. Happy Downloading!!
-Vash

IE users beware

2005-07-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Security researchers have just recently discovered a bug with Internet Explorer. When you access pages with Active X components, attackers can overwrite registers on your computers processor. This can cause your computer's memory to fill with malicious code in what Austrian SEC Consult Martin Eisner calls, "a heap-based buffer overflow." Say that ten times fast. SEC Consult is a security consulting firm. Eisner is a chief technical official with SEC Consult. Eisner says he expects Microsoft should patch the bug within a couple of weeks. He also says that as of right now the bug is not that dangerous. "But of course within a couple of weeks there will be somebody who has a little bit more time than we have and there will be an exploit then" says Eisner.
-Vash

Microsoft pays big in anti-trust suit

2005-07-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is settling an anti-trust suit with IBM, paying it $775 million and another $75 million in credit announced today. This resolves claims made by the U.S. government against Microsoft. Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson found that IBM was hurt by Microsoft's anti-trust practices. The two companies were both pleased to settle the lawsuit. Part of the settlement includes that IBM cannot make claims for what they are calling server monetary damages for two years or claims made before June 30, 2002.
-Vash

Operation Site Down

2005-07-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

The FBI has collaborated with Federal authorities from all over the world in another international software/movie piracy crackdown. Operation Site Down is the second successful piracy crackdown initiated by the FBI through the use of an undercover FTP site administrator. In 2001, the FBI conducted a similar crackdown in Operation Buccaneer.

--Opus X

Digg Podcast

2005-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

First I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Vash and I'm one of the newest writers to Techspec. As many of you know Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht (who's finally resurfaced) are now going to be doing a podcast on Digg and some of the most dugg stories and their favorites. They are planning to release an episode within the next two weeks.
-Vash

The iPods Makeover

2005-06-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

Apple made some big announcements this week about the ipod. All of the original iPods have been replaced with the iPod photo(color screen) for the same price of the original iPod (the U2 special edition iPod is now also in color).Apple also cut the price of the 1gig iPod shuffle from $150 to $129.Rumors of a 2gig and 4gig iPod shuffle as well as an 8gig iPod mini have also been going around. iTunes 4.9 was also released which has the infamous podcasting feature. I highly suggest for everybody to get an iPod if they don’t already have one as well as get into podcasting.This independent media era that we are going through is historical and I highly suggest that you contribute to it.
Phatlip12

Canadian copyright law update - you can stop it!

2005-06-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

While this has been circulating around the Internet for some time now, many people do not have details on the new Canadian copyright Bill, or information on how to stop it. The Canadian government has finally introduced and tabled what is known as Bill C-60. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with Bill C-60, it has been compared to the infamous DMCA in the United States, but perhaps with other "fair use" issues, and other implications to P2P technology. For example, previously in Canada, if you owned a CD (owned being the keyword), it was not illegal to copy the music from that CD to another medium, even if that CD has some sort of copy protection scheme. The governments of the past understood that you have paid for that content, and that upgrades in technology should not prevent you from using what you have paid for ... unfortunately the Canadian government today has lost that vision.

Bill C-60 is not yet law. An organization is submitting a petition to Parliament on behalf of Canadians who are opposed to this backwards step in technological advancement.

A brief summary of how Bill C-60 will affect Canadians can be foudn at: http://www.digital-copyright.ca/billc60/Consumer_Fact_Sheet.shtml

Information on the petition, including instructions on how to join it, and Bill C-60 can be found at http://www.digital-copyright.ca

--Opus X

Firefox 1.0.5 Test Builds

2005-06-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Firefox 1.0.5 test builds are now available to download:
Mac
Windows
Linux
Phatlip12

Apple+Intel=Mac & Windows ????

2005-06-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the biggest buzz going around in the computer world now is Apples decision to ditch IBM and go with Intel. Intel, the chip of the PC world is now a chip of the Mac world. This transition has brought up many questions such as "Can I run Mac OS X on a PC?" and "Can I run Windows on a Mac?". Many believe that it is possible, some have already made claims that they did it. Pics of a Dell laptop running Mac OS X(video available here) were released on the internet recently as well as a pics of a Mac running Windows. None of these pics can be confirmed yet but it brings to question "Will I see the Mac OS sitting on the shelf with a sticker on it that says now available to PC users and vise versa for Windows?" Only time can tell...
Phatlip12

IpodderXP out at Gnomedex

2005-06-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

IpodderXP will be out and on display at Gnomedex! There will also be a public beta! This is a great for all of us Windows Lackies!!!

---More to come
UAB Tech Guy

My Life Bytes Promo played on Daily Source Code!!!

2005-06-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Adam Curry from Daily Source Code for playing my promo for "My Life Bytes"!!!

You can listen to "My Life Bytes" via The Feed or The Website! If you like what you hear, vote for me on The Alley or The Pickle!!!
UAB Tech Guy

Apple - QuickTime - Download - QuickTime 7 for Windows Public Preview

2005-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

QuickTime 7, the latest version of the world's most advanced digital media technology. Download the public preview to get a first look at the exciting new features in QuickTime 7 for Windows.

Link Here
UAB Tech Guy

Systm Release 2

2005-06-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Episode 2 of SYSTM is going to come out some time this week!

read more | digg story
Phatlip12

WSJ.com - Blogging Becomes A Corporate Job; Digital 'Handshake'?

2005-06-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Blogging Becomes A Corporate Job; Digital 'Handshake'?

In its short lifespan, blogging has largely been a freewheeling exercise in online self-expression. Now it is also becoming a corporate job.

A small but growing number of businesses are hiring people to write blogs, otherwise known as Web logs, or frequently updated online journals. Companies are looking for candidates who can write in a conversational style about timely topics that would appeal to customers, clients and potential recruits.

Link Here
UAB Tech Guy

Revision3 (Systm/thebroken) Announces CEO

2005-06-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Jay Adelson will be joining Revision3 Studios (our Systm/thebroken holding company) as Chairman and CEO. Jay is founder and Chief Technology Officer of Equinix, Inc. (nasdaq: EQIX). Equinix is the leading global provider of network-neutral data centers and Internet exchange services for enterprises, content companies, systems integrators and network services providers.

Link Here

---DW

DVD's that could possibly hold up to 850 Gigs.

2005-05-25T16:17:00.001-07:00

This was too cool to rip off from somewhere, so ill just link and give a quick rundown. A company called Iomega has recieved two patents that cover a specific use of nanotechnology to write the info to the disk. This in turn could allow DVD's to hold up to 100 times more than what they hold now. We'll see if they can get it working well enough for it to be commercially acceptable, but holy crap, if they do, who will need Blu-Ray? People aren't going to want to ditch out DVD's yet. I just don't believe they've lived out their cycle yet. I suppose only time will tell, but an 850 GB DVD will surely help their cause to hang around a bit longer.

Full Article

-Ðoak

Kevin Rose leaves G4

2005-05-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

This is the final liberation; the last of TechTV has left the G4 building. A grand event, a grand event indeed!
Link

-UAB Tech Guy