Watch this Video
See what excited the COBOL world this January.
Watch the launch video and see Visual COBOL in action.
http://p.sf.net/sfu/cobol-sdnews
======================================================================
Slashdot Daily Newsletter
In this issue:
* Final Android 3.0 SDK Released
* Trying To Lure Suckers, Company Resells Open Source Blender
* Windows Phone 7 Update Jams Some Phones
* Voice of America Site Forced Offline By 'Iranian Cyber Army'
* Microsoft and Nvidia Abandon PC Gaming Alliance
* CIA Shows Off (Formerly) Super-Secret Spy Goodies
* LOFAR, the World's Biggest Telescope, Is Up and Running
* The Psychology of Horror In Video Games and Movies
* Cell Phone Use Tied To Changes In Brain Activity
* WI Capitol Blocks Pro-Union Web Site
* Why Google Wants Your Kid's SSN
* High Severity BIND Vulnerability Advisory Issued
* Mobile Spyware Conferences Into Your Calls
* The Uncertain Future of NYC's Last Arcade
* MacBook Pro Specs Leaked, iPad Event March 2
* Employer Facebook Password Requests Suspended
* Book Review: Security Information and Event Management Implementation
* Stuxnet's Legacy: Get Back to Basics or Get Owned
* eBook Lending Library Launched
* Chess Games Translated To Music
* Wikileaks Opens Official Online Store
* Apple in Talks to Improve Sound Quality of Music Downloads
* Biodegradable Sneakers Sprout Flowers When Planted
* DARPA Open-Sources Military Vehicle Design
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Final Android 3.0 SDK Released
| from the goes-to-eleven dept.
| posted by timothy on Tuesday February 22, @19:01 (Android)
| https://developers.slashdot.org/story/11/02/22/2339207/Final-Android-30-SDK-Released?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
teh31337one writes "Google has released the SDK for their tablet OS,
Android 3.0 'Honeycomb.' Google states on its developers' blog that
[0]the APIs are final, and you can now develop apps targeting this new
platform and publish them to Android Market. The new API level is 11."
Google has posted here an overview of the [1]new user and developer
features.
Discuss this story at:
https://developers.slashdot.org/story/11/02/22/2339207/Final-Android-30-SDK-Released?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/02/final-android-30-platform-and-updated.html
1. http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-3.0-highlights.html
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Trying To Lure Suckers, Company Resells Open Source Blender
| from the born-every-minute dept.
| posted by timothy on Tuesday February 22, @19:20 (Businesses)
| https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0011250/Trying-To-Lure-Suckers-Company-Resells-Open-Source-Blender?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]sylphsama writes "A company named 'IllusionMage" [1]deceptively
resells a 3D open source animation package ([2]Blender) and claims it as
their own. The software, dubbed IllusionMage, portrays flagrant
similarities with Blender, although outdated compared to the original.
The website itself is a patchwork of sorts, using renders from different
users and numerous other packages as a way to impress its visitors. Not
only is that a breach of copyright, but they intentionally hide that the
software is distributed under the GNU GPL license, rendering it free to
use. The [3]Blender Foundation itself has spoken out through its chairman
Ton Roosendaal." I love that they promise "Free Updates For Life. All
From the Thriving Open Source Community, This Software is Forever
Improving."
Discuss this story at:
https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0011250/Trying-To-Lure-Suckers-Company-Resells-Open-Source-Blender?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. mailto:mtsylphe@hotmail.com
1. http://computeranimations.org./
2. http://www.blender.org/
3. http://www.blender.org/blenderorg/blender-foundation/press/re-branding-blender/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Windows Phone 7 Update Jams Some Phones
| from the bit-of-an-oopsie-there dept.
| posted by timothy on Tuesday February 22, @20:09 (Microsoft)
| https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0026210/Windows-Phone-7-Update-Jams-Some-Phones?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CWmike writes "Microsoft's first Windows Phone 7 update is apparently
causing some users' phones to not work. Microsoft has [0]advised at least
one person to take his device into a store for a fix. The company's
[1]WindowsPhoneSupport Twitter account shows the responses to a variety
of queries from users who have experienced problems over the last
half-day. Microsoft released the update on Monday but played it down. The
update was designed only 'to improve the software update process itself,'
[2]wrote Michael Stroh on the Windows Team Blog. One user, Alex Roebuck,
wrote on Twitter that the update had [3]bricked his Samsung Omnia 7.
'We're very sorry for the inconvenience,' Microsoft responded on Twitter.
'For this issue we would suggest taking it to a store.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0026210/Windows-Phone-7-Update-Jams-Some-Phones?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9210679/Windows_Phone_7_update_jams_some_mobile_phones
1. http://twitter.com/#!/winphonesupport
2. http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2011/02/21/our-first-windows-phone-update-and-how-to-get-it.aspx
3. http://twitter.com/AlexRoebuck/status/39980700035850240
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Voice of America Site Forced Offline By 'Iranian Cyber Army'
| from the those-are-not-scare-quotes dept.
| posted by timothy on Tuesday February 22, @23:06 (Communications)
| https://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0045239/Voice-of-America-Site-Forced-Offline-By-Iranian-Cyber-Army?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]angry tapir writes with this excerpt from TechWorld: "The pro-Iran
hacktivist group that defaced the Baidu and Twitter Web sites a year ago
has hit another target: the US Government's Voice of America news site.
[1]Voice of America was knocked offline temporarily after hackers were
able to change the organization's DNS (Domain Name System) settings,
redirecting Web traffic hitting Voice of America sites to another site
controlled by the hackers."
Discuss this story at:
https://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0045239/Voice-of-America-Site-Forced-Offline-By-Iranian-Cyber-Army?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.computerworld.com.au/
1. http://www.techworld.com.au/article/377622/iranian_cyber_army_strikes_again_--_hitting_voice_america/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Microsoft and Nvidia Abandon PC Gaming Alliance
| from the end-to-lipservice dept.
| posted by Soulskill on Wednesday February 23, @00:17 (Microsoft)
| https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0433214/Microsoft-and-Nvidia-Abandon-PC-Gaming-Alliance?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An anonymous reader writes with this quote from PC Authority: "Ever since
Microsoft turned its back on Windows gaming in favor of the closed Xbox
ecosystem, the platform has been crying out for a champion. The company
occasionally gives nods toward a revived focus upon PC gaming, most
recently with yet another relaunch on Games for Windows Live and a trio
of upcoming PC games, but when it comes to throwing cash around the Xbox
is the beneficiary. What can definitely be said is that the one group
that should be championing the PC, the PC Gaming Alliance, is going
backwards. In 2009 the group lost the biggest PC game
developer/publisher, Activision-Blizzard, and now it seems that both
[0]Microsoft and Nvidia have bid the alliance farewell."
Discuss this story at:
https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0433214/Microsoft-and-Nvidia-Abandon-PC-Gaming-Alliance?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/248875,microsoft-and-nvidia-abandon-pc-gaming-alliance.aspx
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| CIA Shows Off (Formerly) Super-Secret Spy Goodies
| from the gov't-spy-porn->-gov't-cheese dept.
| posted by timothy on Wednesday February 23, @02:02 (Government)
| https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0558241/CIA-Shows-Off-Formerly-Super-Secret-Spy-Goodies?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Velcroman1 writes "Last week, [the CIA] launched a revamped website with
links to YouTube and [0]Flickr containing [1]Agency historical videos and
picture galleries. 'The idea behind these improvements is to make more
information about the agency available to more people, more easily,'
Director Panetta said in a statement. 'The CIA wants the American people
and the world to understand its mission and its vital role in keeping our
country safe.' In terms of pure coolness the Flickr stream takes the cake
��� including never-before-seen gallery of special agent supergadgets."
Discuss this story at:
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0558241/CIA-Shows-Off-Formerly-Super-Secret-Spy-Goodies?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciagov
1. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/22/new-cia-websites-reveal-secret-agent-gadgets/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| LOFAR, the World's Biggest Telescope, Is Up and Running
| from the can-we-call-this-a-meta-telescope? dept.
| posted by timothy on Wednesday February 23, @05:00 (EU)
| https://science.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0610244/LOFAR-the-Worlds-Biggest-Telescope-Is-Up-and-Running?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HansonMB writes with this bit from Motherboard: "Back in September,
Motherboard ventured into the English countryside to listen to the
universe. There lives a brand new piece of Europe's already-massive Low
Frequency Radio Array radio telescope: a clever EU-wide installation that
uses low-tech antennas and supercomputer-power data processing to
[0]transform into a giant mega-telescope, absorbing cosmic radio waves
from the full sky." That was then; now, says the article, "In the past
month, using signals from the new station, LOFAR has delivered its first
EU-UK radio 'pictures.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://science.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0610244/LOFAR-the-Worlds-Biggest-Telescope-Is-Up-and-Running?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.motherboard.tv/2011/2/22/listening-to-the-universe-the-largest-telescope-on-earth--2
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The Psychology of Horror In Video Games and Movies
| from the sometimes-a-zombie-is-just-a-zombie dept.
| posted by Soulskill on Wednesday February 23, @06:24 (Movies)
| https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0459247/The-Psychology-of-Horror-In-Video-Games-and-Movies?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hugh Pickens writes "Jamie Madigan writes in GamePro that psychologists
and experts on fear are trying to understand why so many [0]gamers enjoy
being terrified by horror-themed video games and movies. Researchers say
some people are sensation-seekers attracted to any emotional high, be it
from sky diving, shark-punching or horror films. Other personalities are
drawn to situations showing the disruption of social norms in ways that
will probably never happen in real life. But a more encompassing
explanation of horror's inherent appeal is how it helps us master our
fears. 'Watching a horror film gives us back some control,' says Dr.
Andrew Weaver. 'We can experience an adverse event through film, and we
know that it will end. We'll survive it. We'll go on with our lives.'
Interestingly, horror only seems to work if the player or viewer knows
that what they see is fake. In one famous experiment, researchers had
subjects watch a movie featuring authentic scenes of live monkeys having
their brains scooped out and of children ��� I kid you not ��� having their
facial skin peeled away in preparation for surgery. 'The vast majority of
the study's participants refused to finish watching the films despite
that more grotesque movies playing at the theater down the street could
outdo those scenes,' writes Madigan. 'We seem to need to know it's
fake.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0459247/The-Psychology-of-Horror-In-Video-Games-and-Movies?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/217937/the-psychology-of-horror-games
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Cell Phone Use Tied To Changes In Brain Activity
| from the hi-tara dept.
| posted by timothy on Wednesday February 23, @08:08 (Cellphones)
| https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0211217/Cell-Phone-Use-Tied-To-Changes-In-Brain-Activity?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Takichi writes "The New York Times is reporting on research [0]linking
cell phone use and increased metabolism, with high statistical
significance, in the areas of the brain close to the antenna. The study
was led by Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, and is [1]published (abstract) in the Journal of the American
Medical Association. The impact, good or bad, of the increased
stimulation is speculative, but this research shows there is a direct
relationship between cell phone signals and the brain that warrants
further study."
Discuss this story at:
https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/0211217/Cell-Phone-Use-Tied-To-Changes-In-Brain-Activity?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/cellphone-use-tied-to-changes-in-brain-activity/
1. http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/8/808.abstract
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| WI Capitol Blocks Pro-Union Web Site
| from the because-they-can dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @08:46 (Censorship)
| https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1327221/WI-Capitol-Blocks-Pro-Union-Web-Site?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISoldat53 writes "State government workers are [0]unable to connect to a
pro-union web site, defendwisconsin.org, from the wifi at the state
capitol." Someone probably should let Hillary Clinton know.
Discuss this story at:
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1327221/WI-Capitol-Blocks-Pro-Union-Web-Site?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/22/wisconsin-capitol-blocks-pro-union-website/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Why Google Wants Your Kid's SSN
| from the hello-toby-from-madison dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @09:33 (Privacy)
| https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1425218/Why-Google-Wants-Your-Kids-SSN?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamie found a somewhat creepy story about a [0]kid's art contest run by
Google. As part of the entry, they need the last 4 digits of a social
security number. The article suggests that the information requested by
the contest should make it possible to guess at, and compile a list of
children's social security numbers. It's bizarre and worth your read.
Discuss this story at:
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1425218/Why-Google-Wants-Your-Kids-SSN?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-bowdon/why-has-google-been-colle_b_825754.html
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| High Severity BIND Vulnerability Advisory Issued
| from the put-on-your-hard-hat dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @10:15 (Security)
| https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/156212/High-Severity-BIND-Vulnerability-Advisory-Issued?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wiredmikey writes "The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) and US-CERT have
issued a [0]high severity vulnerability warning, discovered by Neustar,
which affects BIND, the most widely used DNS software on the Internet.
Successful exploitation could enable attacker to cause Bind servers to
stop processing all requests. According to the disclosure, 'When an
authoritative server processes a successful IXFR transfer or a dynamic
update, there is a small window of time during which the IXFR/update
coupled with a query may cause a deadlock to occur. This deadlock will
cause the server to stop processing all requests. A high query rate
and/or a high update rate will increase the probability of this
condition.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/156212/High-Severity-BIND-Vulnerability-Advisory-Issued?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.securityweek.com/high-severity-bind-vulnerability-advisory-issued
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Mobile Spyware Conferences Into Your Calls
| from the i-hear-that dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @11:39 (Security)
| https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1640252/Mobile-Spyware-Conferences-Into-Your-Calls?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wiredmikey writes "Reports of [0]Multiple Variants of Android Virus 'Hong
Tou Tou' are showing up, which has mainly been working its way onto
smartphones via [1]alternative app marketplaces. Today, we saw [2]reports
of a new variant of spyware "Spy.Felxispy" targeting Symbian devices,
identified by the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre of
China. More than a dozen variants of the spyware have emerged since the
first was spotted, and the latest has affected 150,000+ devices. Once
installed, the spyware will turn on the Conference Call feature of the
device without users' awareness. When users are making phone calls, the
spyware automatically adds itself to the call to monitor the
conversation."
Discuss this story at:
https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1640252/Mobile-Spyware-Conferences-Into-Your-Calls?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.securityweek.com/multiple-variants-android-virus-hong-tou-tou-surface-china
1. http://www.securityweek.com/study-shows-android-market-outpacing-apple-app-store-growth-apps-3x
2. http://www.securityweek.com/new-variants-old-symbian-mobile-spyware-emerge
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The Uncertain Future of NYC's Last Arcade
| from the now-we-have-to-fight-in-the-actual-streets dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @12:15 (Games)
| https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1625259/The-Uncertain-Future-of-NYCs-Last-Arcade?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HansonMB writes "At around nearly the same time every year, rumors start
to crop up that Chinatown Fair, the last beloved vestige of New York
City's video arcade golden age, will [0]soon be facing its final days. It
happened again last week when tweets and blog posts reignited talk of the
legendary arcade's imminent foreclosure. Without even talking to anyone,
you could feel a sense of looming dread as gamers of all ages partook of
their usual button-pounding pastimes. But the Fair, which has stood in
one form or another on Mott Street just off Canal since the 1950s, isn't
going down without a fight."
Discuss this story at:
https://games.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1625259/The-Uncertain-Future-of-NYCs-Last-Arcade?from=newsletter#commentlisting
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| MacBook Pro Specs Leaked, iPad Event March 2
| from the busy-week-for-apple dept.
| posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 23, @12:51 (Apple)
| https://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1645241/MacBook-Pro-Specs-Leaked-iPad-Event-March-2?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stoobalou updates us on the various Apple rumors, saying, "Snaps of
Apple's imminent update to the MacBook Pro range have been leaked,
[0]confirming most of the rumors doing the rounds." Light Peak looks like
it will be called Thunderbolt. The 13" will feature 2.3ghz Dual Core i5s
and 4 gigs of RAM. In addition to the MacBook Pro rumors, the iPad update
rumors have been confirmed, with [1]invitations going out to the formal
announcement on March 2.
Discuss this story at:
https://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1645241/MacBook-Pro-Specs-Leaked-iPad-Event-March-2?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.thinq.co.uk/2011/2/23/apple-mcbook-pro-launch-specs-leaked/
1. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380780,00.asp
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Employer Facebook Password Requests Suspended
| from the we-don't-want-them dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @13:33 (Privacy)
| https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1813242/Employer-Facebook-Password-Requests-Suspended?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]Hugh Pickens writes "The Washington Post reports that Maryland's
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has suspended a
roughly year-old practice of [1]asking prospective employees to
voluntarily divulge their user names and passwords to social media Web
sites such as Facebook. In a statement, the department said requests for
user names and passwords had been voluntary, and had not been taken into
account when evaluating job applicants. Nonetheless, 'in light of these
concerns raised by the ACLU and because this is a newly emerging area in
the law, the department has suspended the process of asking for social
media information for 45 days to review the procedure and to make sure it
is being used consistently and appropriately.'" We covered this story
[2]back when the ACLU took the case.
Discuss this story at:
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1813242/Employer-Facebook-Password-Requests-Suspended?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://hughpickens.com/
1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022207486.html
2. http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/19/1746256/Employer-Demands-Facebook-Login-From-Job-Applicants
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Book Review: Security Information and Event Management Implementation
| from the protect-ya-neck dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @14:19 (Book Reviews)
| https://books.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1328243/Book-Review-Security-Information-and-Event-Management-Implementation?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
brothke writes "With many different types of log and audit data, Security
Information and Event Management (SIEM) attempts to fix that by
aggregating, correlating and normalizing the log and audit data. The end
result is a single screen that presents all of the disparate data into a
common element. While great in theory, the devil is in the details; and
there are plenty of details in deploying a SIEM on corporate networks.
Security Information and Event Management Implementation provides a solid
introduction, overview and analysis of what a SIEM (also known as SIM,
SEM, SEIM and others) is, and what needs to go into it for an effective
deployment and operation." Read below for the rest of Ben's review.
This story continues at:
https://books.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1328243/Book-Review-Security-Information-and-Event-Management-Implementation?from=newsletter
Discuss this story at:
https://books.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1328243/Book-Review-Security-Information-and-Event-Management-Implementation?from=newsletter#commentlisting
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Stuxnet's Legacy: Get Back to Basics or Get Owned
| from the all-your-files-are-belong-to-us dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @15:01 (Businesses)
| https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1755258/Stuxnets-Legacy-Get-Back-to-Basics-or-Get-Owned?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]Gunkerty Jeb writes "Attacks such as Stuxnet, Operation Aurora or
GhostNet are not what most enterprises and organizations need to be
worried about. The plain fact is that most organizations are falling far
short in protecting against [1]the same threats that they've faced for
the last 10 years. SQL injection, phishing, malicious attachments, social
engineering. Old, every one of them. And yet, still incredibly effective
at compromising networks in some of the best-known and theoretically
best-protected companies."
Discuss this story at:
https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1755258/Stuxnets-Legacy-Get-Back-to-Basics-or-Get-Owned?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. mailto:briancdonohue@gmail.com
1. http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/lesson-stuxnet-and-aurora-get-back-basics-or-get-owned-022311
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| eBook Lending Library Launched
| from the be-your-own-librarian dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @15:45 (DRM)
| https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1937211/eBook-Lending-Library-Launched?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An anonymous reader writes "The [0]Open Library has [1]launched an eBook
lending program. Patrons of this Internet Archive-led group of libraries
may borrow up to five books at a time, for up to two weeks. Like print
books, the eBooks may be on loan only to one patron at a time. The
organization perceives this model providing more bang for the libraries'
bucks. The books are mostly 20th-century titles. Some librarians have
books that are too fragile or rare for lending and will scan them for
eBook lending."
Discuss this story at:
https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1937211/eBook-Lending-Library-Launched?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://openlibrary.org/
1. http://www.archive.org/post/349420/in-library-ebook-lending-program-launched
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Chess Games Translated To Music
| from the sound-of-strategy dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @15:58 (Math)
| https://idle.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1414230/Chess-Games-Translated-To-Music?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An anonymous reader writes "Blogger Jonathan W. Stokes used algebra to
[0]map famous chess games onto a piano, and then outputted the results as
MP3s. The tunes created are surprisingly listenable."
Discuss this story at:
https://idle.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1414230/Chess-Games-Translated-To-Music?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://jonathanwstokes.com/2011/02/14/chess-music/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Wikileaks Opens Official Online Store
| from the leaking-all-the-way-to-the-bank dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @16:28 (Security)
| https://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1941249/Wikileaks-Opens-Official-Online-Store?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]siliconbits writes "You can now buy [1]officially branded Julian
Assange T-Shirts, cups, netbook sleeves or bags and contribute
financially to the Wikileaks fight. From the article: 'Wikileaks is
looking to generate more revenue by launching an online shop that is run
by Spreadshirt AG. Supporters of Julian Assange and the Wikileaks cause
will be able to buy a variety of products like shirts, messenger bags,
hats, buttons, scarves etc.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/1941249/Wikileaks-Opens-Official-Online-Store?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.itproportal.com/
1. http://www.itproportal.com/2011/02/23/wikileaks-opens-online-store-looks-revenue-stream/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Apple in Talks to Improve Sound Quality of Music Downloads
| from the sounding-better-every-day dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @17:14 (Music)
| https://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2126230/Apple-in-Talks-to-Improve-Sound-Quality-of-Music-Downloads?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[0]Barence writes "Apple and music labels are reportedly in discussions
to [1]raise the audio quality of of the songs they sell to 24-bit. The
move could see digital downloads that surpass CD quality, which is
recorded at 16 bits at a sample rate of 44.1kHz. It would also provide
Apple and the music labels with an opportunity to 'upgrade' people's
music collections, raising extra revenue in the process. The big question
is whether anyone would even notice the difference between 16-bit and
24-bit files on a portable player, especially with the low-quality
earbuds supplied by Apple and other manufacturers. Labels such as Linn
Records already sell 'studio master' versions of albums in 24-bit FLAC
format, but these are targeted at high-end audio buffs with equipment of
a high enough caliber to accentuate the improvement in quality."
Discuss this story at:
https://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2126230/Apple-in-Talks-to-Improve-Sound-Quality-of-Music-Downloads?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/
1. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/365467/24-bit-audio-the-new-way-to-make-you-pay-more-for-music
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Biodegradable Sneakers Sprout Flowers When Planted
| from the stop-and-smell-the-sneakers dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @17:59 (Earth)
| https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2133202/Biodegradable-Sneakers-Sprout-Flowers-When-Planted?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zothecula writes "People may joke about their dirty old sneakers turning
into science projects or mini ecosystems, but once OAT Shoes'
[0]compostable sneakers become commercially available within the next
several weeks ... let's just say, those same people may no longer be
joking when they make those kind of statements. Made using hemp, cork,
bio-cotton, certified biodegradable plastics, chlorine-free bleach and
other nontoxic materials, the shoes are designed to completely break down
when buried in the ground ��� the first batch will even come with seeds in
their tongues, so that wildflowers will sprout up in commemoration of
users' planted, expired kicks."
Discuss this story at:
https://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2133202/Biodegradable-Sneakers-Sprout-Flowers-When-Planted?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.gizmag.com/compostable-sneakers-biodegrade-in-soil/17954/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| DARPA Open-Sources Military Vehicle Design
| from the bigger-fins-and-a-hood-scoop dept.
| posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 23, @18:49 (The Military)
| https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2153224/DARPA-Open-Sources-Military-Vehicle-Design?from=newsletter
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Velcroman1 writes "The army's secretive technology division has been
collecting dozens of ideas for the design of its in-the-works rescue
vehicle via a social-media contest ��� relying solely on the power of the
crowd to get the next big thing built. [0]Local Motors of Chandler,
Ariz., is running the competition, officially known as the
[1]Experimental Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle (XC2V) Design
Challenge, through March 10. It's not so different from when multiple
users edit a page on Wikipedia, Local Motors CEO John Rogers said.
'Effectively, we want to co-create all aspects of a vehicle,' Rogers
explained. 'The Wikipedia method of co-creation is really not far off
from the way we talk about it.'"
Discuss this story at:
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/02/23/2153224/DARPA-Open-Sources-Military-Vehicle-Design?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://www.local-motors.com/
1. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/23/uncle-sam-wants-design-military-rescue-vehicle/
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