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Submission + - 2nd generation Google Chromecasts stop working globaly (tomsguide.com)

Submitted by ospirata
ospirata writes: Users of Chromecast across the globe have reported that their dongles no longer work since Sunday (March 9). The error was firstly reported in the r/googlehome subreddit, and now is being updated by several IT-review sources (Links to Tom's Guide, NotebookCheck, AndroidAuthority)

Google is already working on a fix, which only affects the 2nd generation, including Chromecast Audio. In the meantime, users are advised not to reset to factory's default. But if they did already, a user suggested a hack to set the mobile date to before March 9 2025. So the device is reconnected to your network via Google Home app (in hope to automatically receive the fix, when available)

Submission + - Legally purchased digital music confiscated from Florida inmates (tampabay.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: For several years, inmates in Florida state prisons have been allowed to purchase digital downloads at the inflated price of $1.70 for several years, and spent more than $10,000,000 on them. Now the state is confiscating the only devices that they can actually play them on. The state signed a contract with a new vendor with the stipulation that the old devices be confiscated. "...the download of content purchased from one vendor to another vendor’s device would negate the new vendor’s ability to be compensated for their services."

Comment Re:That's how it is in Japan (Score 1) 233

by ospirata (#55730581) Attached to: Why Is Anime Obsessed With Power Lines?
Precisely. Different from most first-world big cities, in Japan power-lines are part of the landscape. I have been to Tokyo and can confirm that. Different from inner city districts such as Shibuya or Shinjuku, power-lines are the norm at suburbs. There's nothing more ordinary than to depict your own reality.

Comment Re:My family learned the hard way about licenses (Score 1) 193

by ospirata (#50151373) Attached to: Europe's Top Court To Decide If Uber Is Tech Firm Or Taxi Company
I don't see it so much as a "licensing a professional" issue, bur rather "licensing a public transportation system" issue. When one plans and dimensions the public transportation network of a metropolitan area, it must be clear which are the players and what type of services they must provide. Up to now, UBER does not follow any obligations that taxi unions must follow in any big city. For example, guarantee a minimum number of cars in the night, or holidays. So, if UBER wants to become a new taxi company (which is exactly what it is), so adhere to local regulation.

Comment The UBER's check-list to be a transport company (Score 1) 193

by ospirata (#50151291) Attached to: Europe's Top Court To Decide If Uber Is Tech Firm Or Taxi Company
What can you do with UBER, as a user? You may request a cab and pay for the ride. What about a driver? You get ride requests, payments for the rides and incentives to buy your own car. The final service: take passenger from point A to point B. Isn't this exactly what the "cab unions" have been doing for decades with voucher systems and a telephone central?
Patents

Who Helped Kill Patent Troll Reform In the Senate 157

Posted by samzenpus from the whoever-has-the-most-money dept.
First time accepted submitter VT-802-Software (3663479) writes "A bipartisan proposal to curb patent trolls was shelved by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday. 'Supporters of the compromise accuse trial lawyers, universities, pharmaceutical companies and biotech companies for foiling the plan at the eleventh hour. As late as Tuesday, the University of Vermont and a biotech coalition each sent letters to Leahy opposing the legislation. "We believe the measures in the legislation go far beyond what is necessary or desirable to combat abusive patent litigation, and would do serious damage to the patent system," reads one of the letters. "Many of the provisions would have the effect of treating every patent holder as a patent troll."'"
Transportation

Oil Train Explosion Triggers Evacuation In North Dakota 199

Posted by Soulskill from the just-put-it-on-amtrak dept.
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "The LA Times reports that the small town of Casselton, North Dakota dodged a bullet after being partially evacuated when a train carrying crude oil collided with another train, setting off a large fire and explosions. Officials received a report at 2:12 p.m. of a train derailing about a mile west of Casselton, a city of 2,432 people about 20 miles west of Fargo. At some point, another train collided with the derailed train, belonging to the BNSF Railway, carrying more than 100 cars loaded with crude oil. The explosions and fire erupted after cars from a grain train struck some of the oil tank cars. 'A fire ensued, and quickly a number of the cars became engulfed,' said Sgt. Tara Morris of the Cass County Sheriff's Office, adding that firefighters had managed to detach 50 of the 104 cars but had to leave the rest. This was the fourth serious accident involving trains hauling crude in North America this year. In July, an unattended train with 72 tank cars carrying crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken shale fields rolled downhill and set off a major explosion in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, killing 47 people. The accidents have put a spotlight on the growing reliance on rail to move surging oil production from new fields in Texas, North Dakota and Colorado. U.S. railroads are moving 25 times more crude than they did in 2008, often in trains with more than 100 tank cars that each carry 30,000 gallons. Though railroads have sharply improved their safety in recent years, moving oil on tank cars is still only about half as safe as in pipelines, according to Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane University Energy Institute. 'You can make the argument that the pipeline fights have forced the industry to revert to rail that is less safe,' says Smith. One problem is that the trains go through small towns with volunteer fire departments, not well schooled in handling a derailment and explosion. Casselton Mayor Ed McConnell says it is time to 'have a conversation' with federal lawmakers about the dangers of transporting oil by rail. 'There have been numerous derailments in this area,' says McConnell. 'It's almost gotten to the point that it looks like not if we're going to have an accident, it's when.'"

Comment This is such great news for son (Score 4, Interesting) 270

by Loundry (#45480517) Attached to: Airline Pilots Rely Too Much On Automation, Says Safety Panel

My son is 13 years old and has been training to be a pilot since he was 11. He has taken off and landed a small airplane (with the PIC in the airplane with him, of course) quite a few times. It just goes to show that landing an airplane isn't as difficult as some people think it is ... it just requires focus and passion. Both of which my son has in spades when he's flying an airplane.

This news story struck me as wonderful news. My son has wanted to be a pilot since he was three years old. If you are one of the lucky few (I am not) who knew what he wanted to be for his whole life, then I envy you as much as I envy my son for having a singular great dream. The notion of drones and computerized pilots scares me because it threatens that dream. Stories in which autopilots and drones are slandered make me happy.
Businesses

How Elon Musk Approaches IT At Tesla 231

Posted by samzenpus from the try-this dept.
onehitwonder writes "In short, they build it themselves. When Tesla Motors needed to improve the back-end software that runs its business, CEO Elon Musk decided not to upgrade the company's SAP system. Instead, he told his CIO, Jay Vijayan, to have the IT organization build a new back-end system, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company's team of 25 software engineers developed the new system in about four months, and it provided the company with speed and agility at a time when it was experiencing costly delivery delays on its all-electric Model S."

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