Wednesday, August 28, 2013

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Court rules Apple must obey in ebook antitrust case

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 04:37 AM PDT

A judge has told Apple that it can't bully the legal system so that it is not punished for its anti-trust antics.

Apple, which has always denied that it is an evil monopolist, was doing its best to prevent it copping any form of punishment for running a cartel in the publishing industry.

One remedy which stuck in its craw was that it had to hire a policeman with the authority to kick its arse when it did anything that remotely stank of breaching anti-trust rules.

This is like appointing a Catholic priest to police Scientology, and Apple wants the demand dropped.

Apple said that hiring a monitor would be "extremely costly and burdensome" we guess because it is such a small company and can't afford it.

But US District Judge Denise Cote said a monitor would be necessary, after Apple had failed to show it learned its lesson from its "blatant" violations of antitrust law.

The monitor, she said, would likely be installed to review Apple's internal antitrust compliance program and procedures and recommend changes, and also required annual antitrust training for employees in Apple's e-books and content businesses.

So far the Judge has been fairly laid back about the injunction and allowed Apple to negotiate with the DoJ about a list of remedies, but she finally seems to have worked out that she is not dealing with a business but a religion which believes it can do no wrong.

Cote suggested a final injunction would be narrower than what the US Department of Justice has been seeking, and would not restrict Apple's agreements with suppliers of other types of content such as movies, music and TV shows.

According to Bloomberg,  she said that she wanted an injunction to rest as lightly as possible on how Apple runs its business.

Cote is expected to issue an injunction next week.

The Justice Department, joined by 33 US states and territories, is now jostling with Apple over the scope of what Cote should do to prevent further antitrust violations.

Cote suggested that Apple hold staggered negotiations with publishers beginning in two years in an effort to avoid future collusion.

She said she would wait for the parties to hash out suggestions for final language for the injunction. 

Developers furious with Microsoft

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:52 AM PDT

Software empire in decline, Microsoft, has angered developers by insisting on delaying the launch of Windows 8.1 until mid October.

Normally the Vole would have a "release to manufacturing" build of its software several weeks before the code reaches the great unwashed.

This early availability lets developers polish their work and testing so that their apps are available when the OS launches.

However, this is the new Microsoft, which has a reputation for messing up everything. The Vole has confirmed that although Windows 8.1 has reached the RTM milestone and been passed to computer- and tablet-making OEMs, subscribers to the Microsoft Developer Network will not get the final code until the public does on 17 October.

While the RTM system has worked really well for a couple of decades, Microsoft is now saying that it's much better to keep the unfinished code out of the hands of its partners.

After all, Apple would never let its code out before it was ready, and Microsoft is banking on copying Apple these days. Of course Apple code usually ships buggy and does not have the same amount of code available on the first day, but at least you have secrecy on your side.

Antoine Leblond, a Microsoft spokesperson, wrote in a blog that in the old days software was ready for broader customer use. "However, it's clear that times have changed." Apparently Microsoft does not want to repeat successful formulas any more.

Developers raged against the decision in comments on another Microsoft blog that told programmers to write and test their apps against Windows 8.1 Preview.

One developer said that if the world was inhabited by pink unicorns and pixie dust, Microsoft's suggestion could work. But, "we live in the real world last time I looked out the window. In the real world, developers must have access to the RTM bits before [general availability]. The fact that Microsoft no longer seems to understand this truly frightens me".

Another said it was unacceptable to code with the laggy Windows 8.1 Preview or wait for performance testing under RTM and hope everything is fixed.

"How is it Microsoft can develop their apps to work on RTM code yet independent software vendors who are supporting your platform don't get the same benefit?" the developer asked. 

MIT students' shocking cure for Facebook addiction

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:38 AM PDT

Two MIT doctorates have worked out that the best way to solve Facebook addiction is shock treatment.

Robert Morris and Daniel McDuff have developed a device they call Pavlov Poke, named after Nobel Prize-winning Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov.

In his study of dogs, Pavlov found that a stimulus ringing a bell could be linked to a previously unrelated response, creating what's known as a conditioned reflex.

While Pavlov's cat experiments did not work, as the cat kept walking off, Morris and McDuff wanted to use Pavlov's technique to deter the use of Facebook.

The pair created an Arduino-based keyboard hand rest that shocks computer users who spend too much time checking the social network.

The device could be altered to punish over-reliance on Google or any other website. It could also be used to prevent kids from logging into sites they shouldn't.

In the UK David Cameron could use it to stop people finding out anything at all.

Morris said that the technique was too good. The shocks were so aversive, the researchers removed the device quickly after installing it.

He said that as a result he's no longer "dragged to Facebook by some mysterious Ouija-esque compulsion".

The system does not have to zap you. It could be configured to respond to excessive social networking with howler telephone calls thanks to Amazon.com's on-demand labour service Mechanical Turk. 

Nissan plans to beat Google to self driving cars

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:16 AM PDT

Nissan has said that it will start to peddle multiple models of self-driving cars by 2020 and will beat Google to the punch.

The self-driving cars use cameras and sensors to detect roadway lanes and objects around them in order to guide themselves without human intervention.

GM has already announced plans to introduce a semi-automated Cadillac driving system in 2015, but this is not as ambitious as Google or Nissan's plans.

Nissan is already building an autonomous drive proving ground in Japan and it wants to have self-driving across the model range within two vehicle generations.

According to Computerworld, Nissan is currently working with top boffins at MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Oxford and the University of Tokyo.

At the moment the cars will be more expensive than ordinary models but Nissan insists that they will be realistic prices.

Nissan will demonstrate its autonomous drive technology for the first time at Nissan 360, an invitation-only test drive event being held later this year.

It will demo laser scanners, "Around View Monitor" cameras, and advanced artificial intelligence and actuators. 

Julian Assange dresses up for bizarre spoof video

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 08:26 AM PDT

Julian Assange is trying to get himself elected in Australian Federal Election with an unfunny video in which he impersonates 1980s pop star John Farnham.

Farnham wrote a song called "The Voice" and Assange, the would-be world statesman, is depicted as miming to it just like you would at college.

The song was sung by Geisha's Chris Doheny. It was created by Melbourne based Juice Rap News who filmed Assange at the embassy "Live and Caged" in London.

The rest of the theme of the video was based on the Game of Thrones TV show and is called Game of Polls - geddit?

It has the Tony Abbott character promising to ban gays, "even my sister", and has him referring to Julia Gillard as "freckle tits" while he recommends she does some ironing.

Needless to say the video has received a "mixed reaction" Down Under. Most people found it juvenile and offensive, others found it funny.  

Assange's campaign has been a disaster from the moment it started. Rejecting his left wing base he has opted for helping back Australia's gun nuts and white nationalists.

Assange can legally run for the Senate without physically being in the country. In the unlikely event that he wins and cannot leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London he can nominate a replacement.

Below is the video, watch it and weep.

Google considering its own 'robo taxi' automated cab service

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 08:22 AM PDT

It's rumoured that Google is strongly contemplating the possibilities of a totally automated taxi service.

Journalist Amir Efrati has said not only was Google making software for major auto companies, it has been designing its own self driving car, and is considering putting together a 'robo taxi' fleet.

According to industry sources, Google has been talking with contract manufacturers to design and build autonomous cars to the company's own specifications. Historically, Google has talked big about self driving cars and has the available tech, but struggled to get the top manufacturers on side.

Although Google is reportedly planning to sell self driving cars to individuals, the company is believed to be seriously considering the premise of an autonomous 'robo-taxi' service, to pick up passengers on demand. Of course, Google would have to find a willing city for its experiment first, but reportedly the firm hopes it can cut down on individual car ownership and reduce accidents.

It is thought Google has high hopes for a return to the car as a top commodity, and has reportedly been holding talks with auto components giants like Continental AG. The company also invested $258 million in a taxi app service, Uber, which lets users get cabs on demand. 

If true, the project is ambitious.

Not only would Google have to design and build a cost effective fleet, it would need to ensure public safety, and convince wary passengers who might be resistant to the idea.

Additionally, the idea would see Google go head to head against the gigantic automotive industry, and its formidable lobby.  But the company has been working behind the scenes for quite some time to get people used to the idea, and successfully won licensing and testing for autonomous vehicles in Nevada, California, Florida, and Washington DC.

Mobile phone loss keeps Brits terrified

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 07:15 AM PDT

Half of the UK's grown adult population have been fearful that they will lose phone signal, run out of battery, or misplace their phone, according to a survey.

One poll asked 1,000 men and women in the UK if they had ever experienced 'nomophobia'. 42 percent of respondents said they would take their phones to the beach with them on holiday, and 28 percent of those surveyed said they check work email while abroad.

A fifth said they had checked their email in bed, while a quarter admitted they'd check texts and emails even while on a date.

Security company App River commissioned the survey. Analyst Fred Touchette said it's clear Brits are totally reliant on mobile devices, for personal and business use - so it's handy to have the ability to remotely wipe your data.

Say, would that be from a company like App River..? 
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