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Microsoft is claiming a Windows Media Player vulnerability poses no risk at all. He said the flaw, which affects Versions 9, 10, and 11 could allow malicious users to malformed .wav, .snd, or .mid audio files to compromise a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista. The claims evoked a quick and emphatic response from Microsoft. Microsoft claims that there is no "critical vulnerability" at all, and that the bug the research found could not be exploited. Microsoft stated that the problem is a "reliability issue with no security risk to customers."
Czech teachers are cracking down on cyber bullying. The Czech education ministry has drawn up guidelines for teachers to halt the spread of cyber bullying in schools. Some Czech children have attempted to blackmail teachers or classmates by posting video clips of them on the internet, a ministry spokesman said. Tomas Bouska told BBC News that the guidelines offered schools more options than simply confiscating mobile phones or banning their use during classes.
John Lennon is telling everyone to support the OLPC program. Imagine, John Lennon makes a television commercial for charity - 28 years after his death. Through the use of digital technology, the former Beatle urges people across the United States to support a campaign by "One Laptop per Child" to deliver tough, solar-powered XO laptop computers to the world's poorest children.
Internet security certificates are apparently able to be forged. They demonstrated how to forge security certificates used by secure Web sites, a process that would allow a sufficiently sophisticated criminal to fool the built-in verification methods used by all modern Web browsers--without the user being alerted that anything was amiss. The problem is unlikely to affect most Internet users in the near future because taking advantage of the vulnerability requires discovering some techniques that are not expected to be made public as well as overcoming engineering hurdles: performing the initial digital forgery consumed approximately two weeks of computing time on a cluster of 200 PlayStation 3 consoles.
With 2008 drawing to a close, lets check out the greatest ever Linux gadgets. Linux has a strong following among those who manage corporate servers, a loyal corps of desktop users and a small but growing base of laptop users. But it's also been a big -- if stealthy -- success as a platform for gadgets. In fact, there ought to be a Linux Gadget Hall of Fame. I'll get it started with the first group of inductees: 10 of the most important gadgets of all time, each one based on Linux.
Germany have pioneered the hotel of the future. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Organisation, they have developed a "hotel room of the future". The idea is to show hotels how new technology can help guests relax. To be honest, it looks more like a flying saucer than a hotel room - it is round, white and filled with glass and gadgets. "There are no straight lines here, everything is curvy," says my guide, scientist Nikolay Dreharov, pointing at the chairs, tables and walls.
If you are having a party tonight, why not take along a few trivia questions? Throughout 2008, only one Geek Trivia post earned the distinction of garnering at least 20 thumbs up and generating 50 associated comments, Geek Trivia: The Altered States of America. This little gem sparked 192 responses and 21 positive votes, which is ironic, since it’s a trivia question about the closest U.S. Presidential elections in history. Check it out, if you haven’t already, to see what the fuss is about.
Finally, a few gems from #overclockers: a crazy elephant flash game, real life Far Side re-enactments and these photos. Each image is a composite of numerous photos, and each one has a theme.
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All original content copyright James Rolfe.
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