Friday, December 31, 2010

Hands off tomorrow's Internet

We may soon see an Internet future less bright than we need.


Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=32fcf3462bfa2c746f53e54d49d6a325

Microsoft .NET framework Firefox iphone 4 Flickr ARM architecture Kindle

Porn in the United Kingdom to become opt-in

UK coat of arms (government)Not one to let the hyperconservative Australian government walk away with the censorship crown, the UK government plans to make the surfing of Internet porn opt-in. Next month, Communications Minister Ed Vaizey will meet with major UK ISPs to discuss a blanket block of porn. Rather than porn being available to all, UK surfers will have to contact their ISP to be allowed on a 'porn surfing whitelist.'

In customary political masquerading style, this is being pushed through as a "think of the kids!!" measure. It recently emerged that as many as one-in-three children under 10 in the UK has seen pornography on the Internet, and the government, spearheaded by Conservative MP Claire Perry, wants to protect those kids at all costs. The irony is, it's not like 10-year-olds have their own computers and Internet connections -- they are either viewing porn at home, at a friend's house, or at school. If dad, or mom, opts into the porn whitelist, we're back at square one.

Of course, the other option is that mom and dad swear off the porn altogether, for the sake of the children. But is that really a fair system? Isn't that just censorship, dressed up as something else?

"Oh, yeah, we're making alcohol opt-in too. Most children are abused by drunken parents... and you don't want to abuse your kids, right?" While we're at it, how about a special ID card that lets you buy pornographic magazines and DVDs from shops? Why should the Internet be treated differently?

Seriously, the reasoning behind this program is that porn is damaging to children. As in, on a mental health level, children are being scarred by the early viewing of porn. Why porn, instead of violent imagery? Is porn really more perverse than the face-planting, gonad-thumping masochism readily available on YouTube? Will video games be next, and will you have to carry them in brown paper bags?

Porn in the United Kingdom to become opt-in originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/porn-in-the-united-kingdom-to-become-opt-in/

zune ipod shuffle amazon.com bestbuy hhgreg 3d hdtvs

Personal Tech Live with Rob Pegoraro

Rob Pegoraro answers your questions on recent gadget reviews, technology news and provides personal tech buying and fixing advice.


Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=cdcfbf216deaa037958f5e259a2c5b2e

3d hdtvs red hat oracle apple Facebook Filesharing

Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch LCD TV

The Samsung C7000 series delivers generally good picture quality, but oversaturation, moving buildings, and a poor range of side viewing angles are flaws.

Add to digg Add to Reddit Add to Slashdot Email this Article Add to StumbleUpon

Source: http://feeds.pcworld.com/click.phdo?i=acacb38e060857dd54ecef6e761957f2

iphone 4 Flickr ARM architecture Kindle Kinect symantec

Review: Kinect motion-sensing system impresses

-- There are a lot of futuristic things we're still waiting on: jet packs for the entire family, self-driving cars and time-travel, to name a few. But one new, pretty darn amazing bit of technology has finally come to fruition, thanks to the folks at Microsoft.



Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=e1c1bc86895e9b6f2f52269adcd200e0

western digital ipad zune ipod shuffle amazon.com bestbuy

10 IT-related Predictions for 2011

We were wrong -- so far -- that Carol Bartz would be ousted as Yahoo CEO by the end of this year, but we were right that Apple's tablet, whose name wasn't known...

Add to digg Add to Reddit Add to Slashdot Email this Article Add to StumbleUpon

Source: http://feeds.pcworld.com/click.phdo?i=ebb3fe136516236a5e9efb759449d969

ipad zune ipod shuffle amazon.com bestbuy hhgreg

How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook

Cr-48 netbook running Ubuntu
It was only a matter of time: a page on the Chromium Projects website has emerged, detailing how to install Ubuntu on a Cr-48 netbook. The process is, understandably, a little risky -- but it's not like there are any tech bloggers out there that don't know how to use Linux, right?

Snarkiness aside, the process is actually very easy. You have to hack at the SSD's filesystem a little and fiddle with the Chrome OS kernel, but if you do everything right, you should be rewarded with a dual-boot system capable of running both Ubuntu and Chrome OS.

The best bit, though, is that you have to enable 'developer mode' to escape Chrome OS's 'verified boot' security measure. To do this, you need to flip a switch on the back, under the battery, as per the hilarious instructional photo shown after the break.

Continue reading How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook

How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/how-to-boot-ubuntu-on-the-cr-48-chrome-os-netbook/

apple Facebook Filesharing Microsoft .NET framework Firefox iphone 4

Review: Kinect motion-sensing system impresses

-- There are a lot of futuristic things we're still waiting on: jet packs for the entire family, self-driving cars and time-travel, to name a few. But one new, pretty darn amazing bit of technology has finally come to fruition, thanks to the folks at Microsoft.



Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=e1c1bc86895e9b6f2f52269adcd200e0

red hat oracle apple Facebook Filesharing Microsoft .NET framework

Apple Nemesis to Offer Mac App Store Alternative

Apple will have company next month when it launches its official Mac App Store. The same person behind an app store for jailbroken iPhone apps says he will launch an unofficial Mac App Store alternative.

Add to digg Add to Reddit Add to Slashdot Email this Article Add to StumbleUpon

Source: http://feeds.pcworld.com/click.phdo?i=c485dd0ea30fdecdf0e3c0bfc0412fc8

zune ipod shuffle amazon.com bestbuy hhgreg 3d hdtvs

Faster Forward: Devices that don't exist? The white iPhone, the PlayStation phone

The least surprising headline of the last 24 hours: "Apple delays white iPhone until next spring."


Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=f4bedcd0f9739e374b82371ea6a1594d

Kindle Kinect symantec western digital ipad zune