| Tweak Central news archive
- Here's what WAS new: |
2000 
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Archived News - May 2000 (5/6
~ 5/26):
JC's got AMD Duron benchmarks
and pics source: JC's News
I know, I talk about Duron way too much because I want one, but
something I don't understand. I've read at least two people's opinions
which were basically, "wow, what great performance! It's almost
on par with Athlon" - Is it just me, or since a 700 MHz Duron
will be about the same price as a 700 MHz Athlon, so why should
we be impressed with nearly equivalent performance?
The Register dishes up CPU (and chipset) news galore source:
The Register
Intel's new
chipsets revealed
AMD Thunderbirds
are nearly a go...
Intel's pricing
May to September
Intel's
Itanium prices and specs revealed (Itanium is Intel's upcoming
next-generation IA-64 (64 bit) microprocessor, formerly Merced).
Intel
roadmaps- the times they are a' changin
How
to turn off "scripting" source: ZDNet.
Huh... Why would you want to do that?!? You'd be mising out on the
"Windows Experience"
TargetPC added to links:
I just found this site linked to from CNewz - the guys running it
seem pretty cool... Pay 'em a visit. I also added Jimmy's
Hardware Zone. He wrote an article on multiplier locks - pretty
good read. This guy's just starting out, so let's give him some
support.
I also added news sites and some miscellaneous
links to the links area. Go check it
out.
Real: Get
real! source: slashdot
Update (05/20 01:30) - Hey, I've got
some advice for you: just don't install REAL.
This is a report about Real Networks'
Download Demon (yeah, I spelled it correctly) here's a clip:
It attracted my attention since it had
silently linked itself into my Web browsers to take over all downloading
operations--*without* my having taken any specific actions to
install or enable it--and my system was hanging in the course
of various downloads! I removed it with some difficulty. Only
later did I discover the much less obvious "feature" of the Download
Demon--for all files you download, from *any* sites, the Demon
sends details (e.g. file names and URLs) to RealNetworks/Netzip!
Surprise!
Now I've been an anti-fan of Real's INVASIVE installations and
I certainly don't appreciate information about me and my listening
habits being transmitted to their server without my knowledge or
permission, so this comes as no suprise. I just don't understand
why some companies think this kind of stuff is ok? Especially Real,
after the whole jukebox fiasco last fall?
I'm actually considering making an anti-Real page where users can
get information on how to disable and uninstall the "enhancements"
their software makes to your system.
The founder of Real is a former Microsoft employee, so that may
explain something...
Related links:
CNet
News story on Real's RealJukebox privacy issues.
Real Networks
IBM
researchers a bit faster than the rest of us. source: ZDNews.
ZDNews
is reporting that researchers at IBM are running a 4.5GHz processor
prototype (or something like that) in their labs. The sad thing
is, when the article talks about clocks and synchronization and
stuff, I kinda know what they're talking about because we learned
about that stuff in class. They say these chips are a few years
out.
Fox confirms
X-Files season 8 a go. source: slashdot.
This press blurb states that Gillian Anderson (agent Scully) is
slated to return next year while the other person on the show, I
think it's a guy is still in contract negotiations. I believe David
Duchovny has filed a lawsuit against fox having something to do
with them selling syndicated "X-files"
shows to their subsidiary "fx" for a cheapened rate,
which made David Duchovny's share smaller? or something? Sounds
like a crappy-deal to me.
GLADIATOR: went
and saw the movie Gladiator
yesterday. I dug it. If you like the fightin', go see it!
Tres Good!
btw, Happy Mother's Day to all you "Mothers" out there!
You know who you are...
Not really tweak related, but neither is this site lately...
Windows
Next Generation due in June - for RENT
source: The Register
The Register is reporting that Microsoft plans to unveil it's upcoming,
(doesn't have a name-yet) version of its Windows operating system
at Forum 2000 in Redmond June 1st. The Register is also reporting
that Microsoft may begin a new pricing scheme under which users
pay a monthly fee for using the software instead of paying up-front
like users do now. This is the future of software, get ready (or
priate... oops).
AMD
to release new CPUs at Computex Taiwan source: iXBT
Hardware. AMD announced that it will be officially releasing
it's upcoming Thunderbird and Duron processors (successors
to their current K7 Athlon chip) on June 5 at the Computex
expo in Taiwan. I can't wait. I'm in dire need of an upgrade and
I want to see how these two bad-boys perform before I buy. Rumor
has it, they're pretty sweet.
IE
security hole exposes web surfers' private data source:
CNet CNet
is reporting that a security flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer
can basically let a malicious web-site take your cookie(s). "This
can reveal anything from your real name and email address to books
you've been purchasing," said Haselton, who heads the Peacefire
anti-filtering group. "Any site that uses cookies for authentication
is vulnerable." The article goes on to state, "The demonstration
exploit relies on JavaScript, a scripting language for executing
tasks without a person's interaction, to transfer the cookie information
from the visitor's computer to the Web server. The bug hunters recommended
that IE users disable JavaScript."
Huh... but cookies and JavaScript "enahnced your experience"
BLECH! I wonder why I have cookies and JavaScript disabled?
I must be paranoid... Learn how to turn it off
yourself
I need to mello-out a little, this is turning into browser-bug report-central...
Intel
"Open sources" Itanium (aka Merced): source: EBN
News. Intel has stepped up it's developer relations for it's
upcoming "IA-64" architecture and flagship processor Itanium,
code-named Merced by posting specs and announcing a variety of deals
designed to foster stronger relations with developers for it's new
chip. The IA-64 uses what Intel calls EPIC - a new and untested
parallel computing scheme that departs from traditional CISC and
RISC architectures. If it works, it has the potential of revolutionizing
processor performance and leaving x86 once-and-for-all. I can't
wait to see what develops here.
Intel
recalls motherboards with faulty Memory [Translation] Hubs
(MTH's): source: EBN News.
Intel has announced the recall of up to 1 Million i820 (chipset)
based motherboards citing that a faulty MTH which may cause the
system to "intermittently reset, reboot and/or hang."
The MTH allows i820 boards, which Intel had originally designed
to only accept RAMBUS DIRECT RDRAM to accept SDRAM as well. It seems
that Intel is having all-kinds of problems with RAMBUS, from that
problem they had a few months ago to high-prices and low-yields.
Related links:
see this
Intel web-site for more information
CNet
News story about the motherboard recall and another
CNet News story about RAMBUS being the root of Intel's problems?
At least the problems with RAMBUS (ha)
Price-fixing
is illegal? Really?!. source: CNet
News "Time Warner and four other leading record companies
agreed to stop what U.S. officials said are pressure tactics that
have added $500 million to CD prices since 1997". I was just
talking about this on Saturday with my boss. Everyone knows that
the music-industry fixes-prices, and everyone knows that in AMERICA,
that's illegal, but I guess it's ok, 'cus the record-industry wants
to make more money. Now if you could only buy a Nintendo
or copy of MS Windows for less
than the MSR (cough fixed cough) Price.
Hotmail,
Yahoo scramble after security flaws exposed. source: CNN
Microsoft's Hotmail service and Yahoo mail service were taken down
today while those companies scrambled to patch holes in their email
security. "Bennett Haselton of Peacefire.org said Wednesday
that he found a "backdoor" in Hotmail that would let someone break
into an account by sending a user an email with a malicious attachment
that he designed. When users view the attached HTML file, the cookies
in the Hotmail domain could be "intercepted and sent to a hostile
site," said Haselton, a freelance programmer in Seattle." Huh...
So someone inadvertantly intercepting your cookies can expose
your (hotmail) email and passowrds? I would have never suspected
that something so benign as cookies could open such a security
risk. (ok, I'm up to my eye-balls in sarcasm!).
Related links:
Register story
CNEWZ and other links: I recently came across a cool kinda-hip
news-site: CNewz (how long until
a lawsuit makes them change their name?). CNewz is cool 'cus they
grab a lot of relevant news from around the web and give it to you.
I also came across Cole3D.com It's
just a good-lookin' site. Go check these two out!
Intel Willamette plans: ZDNews
is reporting (thanks JC
for the linkage) on Intel's plans
for their upcoming Willamette processor. If you didn't know, Willamette
is the code-name for Intel's next processor. Oooh! I wonder what
they will name it? (Pentium IV perhaps?).
Related links: (I got these from JC,
he got them from this
guy, who knows where he got 'em from...)
EDTN Network
story on the Intel's Willamette plans
another EDTN
Network story on Willamette and RAMBUS RAM.
ILOVEYOU WORM (aka LOVEBUG) suspect arrested: Wired
Magazine is reporting that authorities in the Manila, Philippines
have arrested a 27 year-old man and are waiting for his live-in
girlfriend to turn herself in (expected to be sometime Monday).
The Manila authorities searched the female suspect's apartment,
arresting the boyfriend, siezing some equipment, but apparently
no computer.
I have the feeling the authorities will want to make an example
of whoever is wrote the ILOVEYOU worm and punish them very severely.
When will people learn not to inconvenience corporate america?!
You just can't do that.
Related links: I guess this story is everywhere...
CNN
ABC
News
Security Focus
CNet
News
I got all these links from the good ol' boys at slashdot.
Links updated: I updated the links area a little bit. Just
the Windows2000/NT page. I still have to get the other links together.
check it out.
LOVE-BUG virus: If you want media hype, you've come to the
right place. Actually, I have a couple thoughts:
With the ILOVEYOU (and it's varients): Go to a site with good
information, like symantec
or ZDNews'.
Get informed. And just don't open attachments (you didn't ask for)
even from those you know - these things spread by using peoples'
"address books," so it's most-likely going to come from
someone you know.
Making your email client more secure: I use Outlook
Express, and you can increase the security by going to the Tools
| Options and selecting the security
tab. You can then instruct OE
to use the "restricted zone" settings for email - and
then adjusting the restricted zone settings in Internet
Explorer accordingly (see the paranoid IE5
user page). But that's probably just being paranoid.
I'm sure there are similar precautions you can take with other email
clients.
About my advice: "just don't be stupid: don't open attachmates..oops
attachments and you'll be fine" - For the most-part, a good
strategy, but not entirely true. A buddy of mine (who doesn't follow
my advice anyway...) got a virus that goes by the name: Kak
and KakWorm. All you have to do is receive it, and have it in
the "preview window" of outlook express, (you don't even
have to open it) - and you've got it.
Related Links: Umm there's no shortage of LOVEBUG related
news out there, but WIRED Magazine
has some good reads.
PS. I'll skip my usual shpiel about disabling VBScripting support
among other things because you can get virii (really?), but you
should probalby listen to Microsoft and leave it on because you
know, it will "enhance your experience" HA!
f you think for one second that I'm going to let some crazy haX0r
from Germany or the Phillipines or wherever erase my entire pr0n
collection, you've got another thing coming!
I don't know if I should bother: There's a(nother) new tech-related
site up: Tech-junkie.com
(hey tech-junkie.com,
Sharky called, he wants
his little circles back). Eh.. I steal stuff all the time, so I
probably shouldn't talk. It's fun to be... how do you say? hypocritical?
STFU! Anyway, they shoot stuff at tech-junkie.com,
so that has to count for something.
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