All Posts by Paul

What Are You Doing with Your Stimulus Check?

Paul

Unless you made a fistful of cash last year, you’ve got a stimulus check either already in your bank account or on its way. Naturally, the goal of the stimulus package is to add a bit of fuel to the sputtering engine of the U.S. economy, but since no one’s watching to ensure that you cash that check and head straight to the mall, we’re wondering what your plans are for your money. Photo by Todd Kravos.

[Via LifeHacker]

I am just curious what everyone is going to do with there checks. Go check it out and vote!!

Latest Study Confirms Cox Traffic Shaping; Comcast Misleading Again

Paul

A bunch of folks have been submitting various news reports claiming the “news” that Cox is traffic shaping just like Comcast is — but that’s hardly news. We had a story about that last November. What is a bit more interesting out of the same study (though, not very surprising) is the news that Comcast has been less than forthright in explaining what it’s doing. While Comcast denied any traffic shaping for the longest time, when it finally ‘fessed up (just a bit) it said that it only used traffic shaping during peak hours. However, the research suggests otherwise. After testing a bunch of users at various times, this new study found no noticeable difference in blockages based on time.

[Via Techdirt]

I wanted to warn people any ISP could be doing this it’s just how much they want to bother doing it. They can do that to almost anything.

NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks

Paul


The serves as a unsettling reminder that broadcasters can give instructions to the software built into DVRs, although they almost never do. Many DVRs and other, similar devices appear to be aware of the content-restriction flags set by broadcasters, even if they’re not programmed to “obey” them by default. Still, broadcasters would love to have the power to stop users from recording their shows, watching them later, and most importantly, skipping commercials when they do it.

[Via Arstechnica]

Yes that is right DRM does stink, I found this article to be a great reminder of how unrealistic it is that we should need DRM. Oh well, I’m just going to have to live with DRM!!

IPlist Protects Torrent Traffic in Linux

Paul

Linux only: Free IP-filtering application IPlist protects your BitTorrent downloads from third-party snoopers and blockers by controlling which IP addresses can and cannot connect to your system. The default blacklist installed with IPlist is a pretty good start to protecting your torrent privacy, and an “Update” button adds the latest known addresses with bad juju behind them, but the app also lets you add ranges, specific addresses, and other kinds of traffic to allow and block. Simply fire up IPlist before running your BitTorrent client, and the app will do its work. IPlist is a free download for Linux systems; hit the link below for prerequisites and installation help with Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora systems.

IPlist

[Via LifeHacker]

Thought people who like to download stuff would like to know how to protect yourself. Enjoy, Hopefully I can find something much better for Windows down the road!!

Alienware to launch low-cost, AMD-based gaming rig

Paul

Hot on the heels of the news that Dell is axing its XPS gaming line to focus attention on Alienware, we’ve got word that Alienware will intro a new, low-end model soon. Clearly aiming for a bigger chunk of the market, the eyeball-shattering-system makers will offer a $1,699, AMD-powered desktop, featuring 4GB of RAM, a 2.2GHz quad-core 9550 Phenom X4 CPU, and two ATI HD 3870 X2 graphics cards. The system will be based around the AMD 790FX chipset, which will be served up on an ASUS motherboard. In a feat of absurd cliché, Alienware spokesman Marc Diana claimed, “It’s not your granddaddy’s AMD system. We’re talking top-of-the-line quad core.” The PC will be available sometime in the next two weeks, so stay alert.

[Via Engadget]

I thought people would like to hear about this little development. It sure would be something I’d want. Anyone else?