Comment Re: Who is surprised by this? (Score -1, Redundant) 159
But I thought 640k was more than enough
Comment Re: User Choice (Score 1) 94
IPHONE SE is only $400. Yes top of the line is 3x.
Comment Re:We have tablets (Score 1) 116
Umm...look forHalf Priced Books
Submission + - tarlink speeds revealed as beta users get downloads of 11 to 60Mbps (arstechnica.com)
AmiMoJo writes: Beta users of SpaceX's Starlink satellite-broadband service are getting download speeds ranging from 11Mbps to 60Mbps, according to tests conducted using Ookla's speedtest.net tool. Speed tests showed upload speeds ranging from 5Mbps to 18Mbps. Ookla tests aren't showing the gigabit speeds SpaceX teased, but it's early. The same tests, conducted over the past two weeks, showed latencies or ping rates ranging from 20ms to 94ms.
Comment Re: I guess it's true what they say (Score 1) 59
Or was it an add on tool made by Norton? I only ever had the very last version of DOS.
Submission + - GE fridges won't unless your filter "authenticates" via DRM (boingboing.net) 1
JustAnotherOldGuy writes: Count GE in on the "screw your customers" bandwagon. Twitter user Shane Morris tweeted, "My fridge has an RFID chip in the water filter, which means the generic water filter I ordered for $19 doesn't work. My fridge will literally not dispense ice, or water. I have to pay General Electric $55 for a water filter from them." Fortunately, there appears to be a way to hack them to work: How to Hack RWPFE Water Filters for Your GE Fridge. Hacks aside, count me out from ever buying another GE product if it includes anti-customer 'features' like these.
Comment Re: This is getting ridiculous (Score 1) 87
Is that not how PGP came about back in the day?
Submission + - Airbnb Claims Its AI Can Predict Whether Guests Are Psychopaths (futurism.com)
An anonymous reader writes: To protect its hosts, Airbnb is now using an AI-powered tool to scan the internet for clues that a guest might not be a reliable customer. According to patent documents reviewed by the Evening Standard, the tool takes into account everything from a user’s criminal record to their social media posts to rate their likelihood of exhibiting “untrustworthy” traits — including narcissism, Machiavellianism, and even psychopathy.
The background check tool is the work of Trooly, a startup Airbnb acquired in 2017. When the Evening Standard asked Airbnb to comment on the extent to which it uses Trooly’s tool, it declined. However, Airbnb’s website does note the company’s use of AI to rate potential guests: "Every Airbnb reservation is scored for risk before it’s confirmed. We use predictive analytics and machine learning to instantly evaluate hundreds of signals that help us flag and investigate suspicious activity before it happens."
The background check tool is the work of Trooly, a startup Airbnb acquired in 2017. When the Evening Standard asked Airbnb to comment on the extent to which it uses Trooly’s tool, it declined. However, Airbnb’s website does note the company’s use of AI to rate potential guests: "Every Airbnb reservation is scored for risk before it’s confirmed. We use predictive analytics and machine learning to instantly evaluate hundreds of signals that help us flag and investigate suspicious activity before it happens."
Submission + - SPAM: Judge halts California "gig worker" law from taking effect for truckers
schwit1 writes: A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new California labor law from impacting more than 70,000 independent truckers. The law, passed late last year, makes it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees, who are entitled to minimum wage and benefits such as workers compensation.
U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order sought by the California Trucking Association while he considers imposing a permanent injunction.
He said the association is likely to eventually prevail on its argument that the state law violates federal law. He also ruled the truckers would otherwise be likely to suffer irreparable harm, and that temporarily blocking the law from applying to truckers is in the public interest.
Link to Original Source
U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order sought by the California Trucking Association while he considers imposing a permanent injunction.
He said the association is likely to eventually prevail on its argument that the state law violates federal law. He also ruled the truckers would otherwise be likely to suffer irreparable harm, and that temporarily blocking the law from applying to truckers is in the public interest.
Link to Original Source
Submission + - UK government accidentally doxxes award winners (theguardian.com)
Shimbo writes: The UK government uploaded a spreadsheet containing full home addresses of New Year's Honours recipients to one of its web sites.
It has since removed the document from the site and reported itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
It has since removed the document from the site and reported itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Comment Exempt (Score 1) 89
Politicians exempt themselves from most things. If you stop their speech, they will come after your site with new laws or the threat of them.
Comment Re: but don't worry (Score 1) 96
You can do that if you buy your own drone and a bag of Cheetos
Submission + - Google launches its own Titan Security Key (cyberscoop.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Google launched its own Titan Security Key on Wednesday, a small USB device which includes firmware developed by the omnipresent tech giant itself. This comes days after Google said its workforce has been phish-proof for more than a year thanks to security keys distributed to its 85,000 employees. The new key means new competiton for Yubikey manufacturer Yubico which confirmed it is not involved with Google's new key.
Submission + - Twitch to stream free six-day marathon of classic Mystery Science Theater 3000 (betanews.com)
BrianFagioli writes: Today, Twitch announces its latest marathon offering — Mystery Science Theater 3000. If you aren't familiar with the cult-classic show, it features a man and two puppet-robots that talk over old B-level films. In other words, you are sort of watching a movie along with them, but the comedic commentary is the real focal point — not the actual film.
"The MST3K marathon will feature 38 of the classic episodes that originally aired on Comedy Central and Sci-Fi Channel from 1989 to 1997. Created by Joel Hodgson, the series follows a hapless host, trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space, who is forced to watch some of the most outrageously unfortunate B movies ever created. To keep sane, he has built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery," says Twitch.
"The MST3K marathon will feature 38 of the classic episodes that originally aired on Comedy Central and Sci-Fi Channel from 1989 to 1997. Created by Joel Hodgson, the series follows a hapless host, trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space, who is forced to watch some of the most outrageously unfortunate B movies ever created. To keep sane, he has built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery," says Twitch.
Submission + - Looking for volunteers for the Tabletop Game Accessibility Guidelines project (meeplelikeus.co.uk)
drakkos writes: Game accessibility has become an increasingly visible part of video game development. It's even become something of a selling point for many games, with Naughty Dog's focus on the accessibility of Uncharted 4 gaining it pages and pages of enthusiastic support across the industry. Tabletop games, despite being much older an entertainment format, lags behind video games in many respects. Meeple Like Us is a board game accessibility blog that has for the last year been working hard to identify the accessibility issues in tabletop gaming, and is currently recruiting for volunteers for a working group aimed at developing v1.0 of the Tabletop Accessibility Guidellines.
Slashdot Top Deals
"More software projects have gone awry for lack of calendar time than for all other causes combined." -- Fred Brooks, Jr., _The Mythical Man Month_
