Ubuntu Tips n Tricks

Weekly Ten (4-19-2010)

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 06:23 AM PDT

10 Latest News, Blogs, Tips, and Reviews that I find Interesting and Useful:

1. Exposing Hackers as a Deterrent
Cyber attacks can come from governments, terrorists, thieves, or bored high school students. This makes the cyber security equivalent of "arms control" difficult to achieve. But a pair of researchers yesterday proposed methods of deterrence that they believe could work in cyberspace.
More @ TechnologyReview

2. Mat of microbes the size of Greece discovered on seafloor
Gargantuan whales and hefty cephalopods are typically thought of as the classic marine mammoths, but they might have to make way for the mighty microbes, which constitute 50 to 90 percent of the oceans' total biomass, according to newly released data.
More @ ScientificAmerican

3. The next generation of Google Docs
Today we are hosting nearly 400 CIOs and IT professionals from around the world at Atmosphere, our inaugural event at the Googleplex dedicated to cloud computing. The discussion is centered on how companies can focus their technology expertise on projects that truly improve their businesses instead of managing complex applications, technology platforms and devices.

More @ Googleblog

4. Mindstorm plays Tetris for you

More @ HackaDay

5. The Pirate Bay, A Year After The Verdict
Exactly one year ago The Pirate Bay Four were sentenced to a year in prison, and on top of that each ordered to pay $905,000 in damages. The entertainment industries hoped that the ruling would set an example, but today The Pirate Bay is larger than ever before.
More @ TorrentFreak

6. The Quest for the Perfect Desktop Linux
Nothing brings Linux gotchas into sharp focus like coaching a non-geeky computer user. My wonderful significantotherperson, Terry, has done more to teach me about usability than the smartest Linux gurus.
More @ LinuxToday

7. The iPad isn't a computer, it's a distribution channel
"You don't want your phone to be an open platform..." and with that brief statement, Apple justified the closed iPhone and then quickly followed it with the monitored and controlled app store. But Steve, the iPad isn't a phone at all so why not open it up again? If people are concerned about the safety of their apps or need you to protect them from porn, you can do an "app store approved" program or something can't you?
More @ OreillyRadar

8. Massive, solar powered bird is overseeing Coachella, pretty stoked about its chance to see Phoenix

More @ Engadget

9. Python support in GNOME gets a boost from hackfest
Some GNOME developers have gathered in Boston for for a Python GNOME hackfest that is hosted by the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. The primary goals behind the hackfest include establishing a strategy for delivering Python 3.0 compatibility for the GNOME platform and advancing the Python GObject introspection project.
More @ ArsTechnica

10. Another 10 Fascinating Cases of Mind Control
When I was compiling the previous list I was forced to leave off several creatures for various reasons. Either they didn't fit the criteria for the list, they were too similar to others on the list, they seemed too obvious, or in the case of number 1 I completely missed it during my research. Having recently stumbled across the original list, I decided to revisit some of those entries that didn't make the cut last time.
More @ Listverse