kizo digital info

Finding Fault With Google’s Privacy Policy

Slash — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:50:00 +0000

orenh writes “Viacom has recently obtained a court order that requires Google to hand over a complete list of every video watched by YouTube users. These logs will include the login names and IP addresses of the users. Google are now asking Viacom if they can anonymize the logs before turning them over; Viacom hasn’t responded yet. But this privacy nightmare could have been greatly reduced if Google had anonymized the data in advance. Google’s privacy policy states that they keep personally identifiable information for 18 months. There is no real reason to do so; Google can achieve everything they need even if they anonymize their search logs after just one month, and it’s time users told them to do so.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

In Japan, a 900 Gigabyte Upload Cap, Downloads Uncapped

Slash — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Raindeer writes “While the Broadband Bandits of the US are contemplating bandwidth caps between 5 gigabyte and 40 gigabyte per month, the largest telco in Japan has gone ahead and laid down some heavy caps for Japan’s broadband addicts. From now on, if you upload more than 30 gigabyte per day, your network connection may be disconnected. Just think of it … if you’re in Japan and want to upload the HD movie you shot of yesterday’s wedding, you soon might hit the limit. The downloaders do not face similar problems.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

There’s a Sucker Converted Every Minute

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Ponca City, We love you writes “Once the US converts from analog to digital broadcasting next February, those who receive their signals over the air will need a converter box for older, non-digital models. Government-approved converter boxes sell for $60 or less and a government-issued $40 rebate coupon is available for the asking but that hasn’t stopped companies like the Ohio-based Universal TechTronics from offering supposedly free converter boxes. The gimmick: the box is free, as long as you pay $88 for a five-year warranty, plus $9.30 shipping. Universal TechTronics seems to specialize in ‘high-tech’ products of questionable value, marketing the Cool Surge portable air cooler, ‘a work of engineering genius from the China coast so advanced that no windows, vents, or freon are needed’ that uses the same energy as a 60-watt light bulb. It works by blowing a stream of air over two ice packs that you have previously frozen in your freezer. What’s the best tech scam you’ve heard of lately?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

In Iran, Blogging May Be Punishable By Death

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:26:00 +0000

An anonymous reader writes “In Iran, crimes such as apostasy (leaving a religion, in this case Islam) and armed robbery are already punishable by death, but a new bill in Iran aims to add to the list ‘establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy,’ effectively giving the government a free hand in silencing bloggers. The internet is widely used in Iran, despite its previous attempts at censorship. Will this change as the censorship grows more rampant?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

Google Creates Tour De France Video Maps

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:32:00 +0000

An anonymous reader writes “In honor of the Tour de France’s start today, Google has used it’s awesome Street View technology to compile amazing Tour de France route views. A great description of the technology that went into creating this can be found in this LinuxDevices article. At least, I’m assuming these are the cameras — Google acknowledged using Elphel cameras for book scanning and ‘capturing street imagery in Google Maps.’ And from the article, the cameras have come along way from the days when crazy cat ladies and other privacy freaks scuppered Street View in San Francisco a couple of years back.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

Study: Orangutan Populations Declining Precipitously

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Orangutan numbers decline sharply on the only two islands where they still live in the wild and they could become the first great ape species to go extinct if urgent action isn’t taken, a new study says.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Wired: Top Stories

Climate Change, Food Crisis Linked, Says U.N. Chief

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:00:00 +0000

The U.N. climate chief says climate change will cause the global food crisis to worsen. He is urging leaders of the world’s richest countries meeting in Japan next week to set goals to reduce carbon emissions within the next dozen years.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Wired: Top Stories

Arecibo Observatory Facing Massive Budget Cuts

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:28:00 +0000

SirLurksAlot writes “Many supporters of the SETI@home project have recently received a message informing them of impending budget cuts for the Arecibo Observatory and asks them to show their support for the project by writing to Congress. The letter also informs supporters that there are currently two bills (Senate bill 2862 sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton, and a similar House bill, H.R. 3737), which are intended to secure funding for the project. According to The Planetary Society, the current plan for the Arecibo Observatory involves cutting funding by more than 60% from $10.4 million to just $4 million by 2011.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

VW Concept Microcar Gets 235 MPG

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Hugh Pickens writes “Volkswagen is bringing new meaning to the term “fuel efficiency” with a bullet-shaped microcar that gets 235 mpg. Called the One-Liter because that’s how much fuel it needs to go 100 kilometers, the body’s made of carbon fiber to minimize weight and the One-Liter makes extensive use of magnesium, titanium and aluminum so the entire vehicle weighs in at 660 pounds. Aerodynamics plays a big role in its fuel economy so the car is long and low, coming in at 11.4 feet long, 4.1 feet wide and 3.3 feet tall with a coefficient of drag of 0.16, a little more than half that of an average car. The One-Liter could have a sticker price of anywhere from $31,750 to $47,622 and VW plans to build a limited number in 2010.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot

AT&T To Offer No-Contract iPhone

Slash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:18:00 +0000

rfc1394 writes “While the regular price of an iPhone is $199 if you take a 2-year contract with AT&T, if you’re willing to pay a lot more you can get one without a contract. An article in InfoWorld mentions that ‘Freedom will come with a price — $599 for an 8GB device and $699 for a 16GB — but this will mark the first time consumers in the United States are able to buy an iPhone without being tied down to a two-year contract. The phone probably would still be locked for use only on AT&T’s network, said Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. But buyers could choose a pay-as-you-go plan for voice service.’ The question still remains, does it make any sense to pay that much for a phone that is still locked to AT&T’s network even if you aren’t bound to a contract?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Slashdot