Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 8th Jun 2007 15:01 UTC, submitted by AdministratorX
In its second such agreement this week, Microsoft has struck a deal under which it will extend amnesty to a company that's using what the software maker claims is patented Microsoft intellectual property embedded in the open source Linux computer operating system. Under a deal with LG Electronics, disclosed late Wednesday, Microsoft will forgo any Linux-related patent claims against the South Korean electronics manufacturer. In return, Microsoft will gain access to certain intellectual property produced by LG.
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Member since:2005-07-06
That's a poor analogy. In this case, Microsoft is not threatening LG, but in fact promising, under contract, to not sue them and also paying them for access to some of their intellectual property.
The way you make it out to be, LG would be paying Microsoft, which is simply not true.
RE[2]: Breaking story...
by fretinator on Fri 8th Jun 2007 15:42
in reply to "RE: Breaking story..."
Member since:2005-07-06
RE[2]: Breaking story...
by archiesteel on Fri 8th Jun 2007 16:40
in reply to "RE: Breaking story..."
Member since:2005-07-02
Microsoft is not threatening LG, but in fact promising, under contract, to not sue them
It's an implicit threat:
MS: "We won't sue if you accept this contract."
Other company: "And if we don't?"
MS: "Do you really want to find out?"
Other company: "Ok, where do I sign."
This is all part of MS's new FUD offensive against Linux.
RE[2]: Breaking story...
by Phloptical on Fri 8th Jun 2007 22:50
in reply to "RE: Breaking story..."
Member since:2006-10-10
Uhh, but it is...actually. Threats...promises...what's the difference, the end result? Microsoft is benefiting, albeit freely, from LG's IP. That would be akin to being paid for items/services they don't own (ie. protection money).
You really need to watch some mob shows to see how this thing is done properly.
News
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 22:33 UTC
Official Apple statement on PRISM and privacy: "Regardless of the circumstances, our Legal team conducts an evaluation of each request and, only if appropriate, we retrieve and deliver the narrowest possible set of information to the authorities. In fact, from time to time when we see inconsistencies or inaccuracies in a request, we will refuse to fulfill it." This is basically Apple re-publishing their earlier statement in a more official manner. You either believe it, or you don't.
Linked by Anonymous on 06/18/13 22:26 UTC
The open source Contiki operating system and its commercial Thingsquare distribution are making strides towards the connected home. According to a Computerworld article, a new LED light bulb manufacturer is putting small computers into their light bulbs. Each computer runs the Contiki OS, which gives each bulb an IP address and allows them to be controlled with a smartphone application. To connect the bulbs to the application, the bulbs use both Wi-Fi and the much lower power IEEE 802.15.4 mesh technology.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 22:25 UTC
"Google asked the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on Tuesday to ease long-standing gag orders over data requests it makes, arguing that the company has a constitutional right to speak about information it's forced to give the government. The legal filing, which cites the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, is the latest move by the California-based tech giant to protect its reputation in the aftermath of news reports about sweeping National Security Agency surveillance of Internet traffic." Draining the ditch after the cow has drowned in it.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 17:45 UTC
"I can't find one person who has been using the Nexus 7 for an extended period of time, and hasn't seen a massive downgrade in performance. Just what kind of downgrade are we talking here? I cannot pick up my Nexus 7 without experiencing problems like a lag of ten seconds, or more, just to rotate the display; touches refusing to acknowledged; stuttering notification panel actions; and unresponsive apps." Fully and utterly agreed. My Nexus 7 was blazing-fast and awesome for a few months, and at some point, it just started sucking. Just like that. I've tried loads of ROMs, and nothing helps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 17:32 UTC, submitted by poundsmack
A new release of the hobby operating system MenuetOS! The release notes are a bit non-descript, but you'll have to take what you can get: "updates and improvements (picview, httpc, ehci, ...)".
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:58 UTC
"The Internet is one of the most transformative technologies of our lifetimes. But for 2 out of every 3 people on earth, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach. And this is far from being a solved problem. There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity - jungles, archipelagos, mountains. There are also major cost challenges. Right now, for example, in most of the countries in the southern hemisphere, the cost of an Internet connection is more than a month's income. Solving these problems isn't simply a question of time: it requires looking at the problem of access from new angles. So today we're unveiling our latest moonshot from Google[x]: balloon-powered Internet access." Insane.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:52 UTC
"MineAssemble is a tiny bootable Minecraft clone written partly in x86 assembly. I made it first and foremost because a university assignment required me to implement a game in assembly for a computer systems course. Because I had never implemented anything more complex than a 'Hello World' bootloader before, I decided I wanted to learn about writing my own kernel code at the same time. Note that the goal of this project was not to write highly efficient hand-optimized assembly code, but rather to have fun and write code that balances readability and speed. This is primarily accomplished by proper commenting and consistent code structuring." Just cool.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 21:03 UTC
Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm: "Well, I'm not sure I would have sold the company to HP. That's for sure. Talk about a waste. Not that I had any choice because when you sell a company you don't get to decide that. Obviously, the board and shareholders decide that. If we had known they were just going to shut it down and never really give it a chance to flourish, what would have been the point of selling the company? I think the deal we had with Verizon really hurt us, but who knew that at the time? These things are all hindsight."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 20:46 UTC
"And so it is with Dell's Alienware X51 R2, a small form factor gaming PC in console digs. It's shaped similar to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Slim, and though it's slightly larger than either a 360 or PlayStation 3, the X51 R2 would be right at home in a living room setting nestled next to a large screen TV. Indeed, it's adept at running Steam's Big Picture mode, and if your primary objective is to play games in the living room, go ahead and consider the X51 R2 a hybrid game console." This is obviously not the only machine like this - still, these are very valid console alternatives even for those that don't like being hunched over with a cramped WASD-claw. Also, PC gamers among us: could you get away with the $699 model for gaming?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 17:32 UTC
From Bloomberg: "Microsoft, the world's largest software company, provides intelligence agencies with information about bugs in its popular software before it publicly releases a fix, according to two people familiar with the process. That information can be used to protect government computers and to access the computers of terrorists or military foes." The lid has officially been blown off.More News »
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Member since:
2005-07-06
A scene at the local Linux Software Store:
Microsoft: So, we're not planning on goin' after anybody for patents, ya see. We're just here to ...uh... make sure nothing bad happens to you. AFter all, we're all like family here, ya see?
Vendor: [Smiles nervously] Yes, family. Um, what are you asking of me?
Microsoft: Well, my boys have written up a little deal here that says we won't come after you for any of dat Patent business, ya see. You just sign here that you agree, and everybody's happy. You're safe. Everybody's safe. Capice?
Vendor: Yessir, but, um, what is it I am doing that I need protection from? Have I done something wrong?
Microsoft: [Bangs the counter with fist] Wrong. Right. Everybody's wrong, everybody's right. All I'm saying is there's a little trouble brewing around this here patent stuff, and you wouldn't wanna be on the wrong side, you know. As I said, we're on your side. Let's just write it down, OK? [Menacing glare]
Vendor: OK, family. I get it. Do you want some of my software? I have very good software.
Microsoft: Sure, sure. Send me a present. I like presents. I have some for you, too. See, now we're friends. [pats Vendor on the cheek]
Vendor: [Signs document]. Friend, come back soon. [Eyes look down]
Microsoft: Sure, sure. I'll check back now and then to make sure you're doing OK. And ... tell you're friends!