Cody Taylor

notthatwillsmith writes “Counting public betas and release candidates, there are a whopping nine different web browsers out today with enough market share to be considered mainstream. Maximum PC explains the differences between the browsers, future and present, so that you can make a more informed decision about the primary tool you use to browse the web. From the rendering engines used to the features that set the different browsers apart, this is a comprehensive, blow-by-blow battle between Safari 3, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 3, Opera 9.6, Google Chrome, Firefox 3.1, IE 8, Safari 4, and Opera 10.”

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mask.of.sanity writes “The Australian government is trialling a new Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system built by Aussie scientists. QKD is considered the world’s toughest security because the slightest attempt to intercept the one time keys, coded into lasers at the quantum level, will disrupt the beam. The technology differs from current cryptography tech primarily because it’s cheap. Well, less than the $US100k price tag of rival systems. It uses off-the-shelf networking gear instead of proprietary technology, and is built on open standards, so it’s easier to install. The random key is encoded at the quantum level in the sidebeam in the phase and amplitude, or brightness and colour, of a highly tuned laser beam. The creators, who built the system in part for their Ph.Ds, said it can be used to transport the most sensitive data like critical infrastructure and secret commercial IP. The days of hand-delivered security keys are numbered.”

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CWmike writes “Nvidia is considering developing an integrated chip based on the x86 architecture for use in devices such as netbooks and mobile Internet devices, said Michael Hara, vice president of investor relations at Nvidia during a speech that was webcast from the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference this week. Nvidia has already developed an integrated chip called Tegra, which combines an Arm processor, a GeForce graphics core and other components on a single chip. The chips are aimed at small devices such as smartphones and MIDs, and will start shipping in the second half of this year. ‘Tegra, by any definition, is a complete computer-on-chip, and the requirements of that market are such that you have to be very low power and very small but highly efficient,’ Hara said. ‘Someday, it’s going to make sense to take the same approach in the x86 market as well.'”

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Amerika writes “Craigslist is ‘the single largest source of prostitution in the nation,’ according to Cook County, Illinois Sheriff Thomas Dart. He has announced that he’s filing a lawsuit against the popular classifieds site. Craigslist says it’s determined to prevent criminal activity.” NewYorkCountryLawyer adds a link to the 28-page complaint (PDF), which “alleges that Craigslist maintains 21 classifications of sex-for-hire, coded as ‘w4m,’ ‘m4m,’ ‘m4w,’ etc.” and that it has facilitated child prostitution and kidnapping and human trafficking.

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Condiment writes “Next time you’re sick, take five and actually read the pile of contracts your doctor dumps on your lap, because it’s becoming more and more likely that your doctors are banning patients from posting reviews on the Web. You heard that right: as a prerequisite to receiving medical care, patients are in many cases required to sign away their First Amendment rights!”

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linuxkrn writes “The State of Colorado’s Office of Technology (OIT) has set up a work skills website. The problem is that the site says ‘DO NOT use FIREFOX or other Browsers besides IE. It has been decided that Mozilla based, non-IE browsers pose a security risk.’ (Original emphasis from site.) If the leading IT agency for the State is making these uneducated claims, should the people worry about their other decisions?”

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CWmike writes “Microsoft said today that it will deliver three security updates on Tuesday, one of them marked ‘critical,’ but will not fix an Excel flaw that attackers are now exploiting. ‘It doesn’t look like we’re going to see patches for any open Microsoft security advisories,’ said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Network Security, pointing to three that have not yet been closed. Those include two advisories issued last year — one from April 2008, another from December — and the Excel alert published last week. ‘I’m not really surprised that the Excel vulnerability won’t be patched, what with the timeline,’ said Storms, ‘but the others have been open for a long time.'”

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Let’s face it: You can kill a lot of time with Google Earth 5.0. With this highly-visual, recently-released tool, you can fly anywhere on Earth for free, from your neighborhood to your upcoming fishing spots. You can check out terrain and 3D buildings, plot your ideal vacation tour, explore the ocean floor and even see Mars up close. It’s a rich

revjtanton writes “Amid all the discussion and argument about Gamestop’s two-billion-dollar trade-in industry it seems Amazon.com is getting in on the action. Like Gamestop, Amazon asks for the games to be in good condition, however they offer just a few more dollars for your discarded game (Gamestop listed Left 4 Dead for the 360 at while Amazon had it at .50 trade-in value). Gamestop had already ruffled feathers in the developer and distribution communities with its practice of accepting used games; does Amazon joining the practice legitimize it?”

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notthatwillsmith writes “Maximum PC just posted a comprehensive visual retrospective about data storage, starting with the once state of the art punch card and moving through the popular formats of yesteryear, including everything from magtape to Blu-ray discs. It’s amazing how much data you could pack on a few hundred feet of half-inch magnetic tape!”

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