iRiver T series MTP to UMS conversion firmware

“iriver […] decided to only release Microsoft’s proprietary Media Transport Protocol (MTP) versions of their new T series MP3 players to Europe and the US, thus locking users into using Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP to transfer music to their players.

iriver had a good reputation for listening to their customers and now maintains UMS firmwares for their older iFP line of MP3 players as well as firmwares for their own original proprietary transfer protocol. Luckily for us, they did release UMS versions to the rest of the world and so the firmwares were out there ready to be tried. Under normal circumstances an MTP player will not accept a UMS firmware, but we managed it! The conversion process is as simple as upgrading a player normally.”

mtp-ums.net via charles
some links added

Kilpailuvirasto esittää Nikon Nordicille 300 000 euron seuraamusmaksua

“Kilpailuvirasto esittää, että markkinaoikeus määräisi Nikon Nordic AB:lle 300 000 euron seuraamusmaksun kilpailusääntöjen vastaisesta menettelystä digitaalikameroiden markkinoilla. Nikon kieltäytyi mm. vuosina 2004 ja 2005 ulottamasta tuotetakuutaan rinnakkaistuojien maahantuomiin Nikon-kameroihin ja asetti näin kuluttajat eriarvoiseen asemaan siitä riippuen, mistä kamera oli ostettu. Nikon luopui kuitenkin kielletystä menettelystä Kilpailuviraston selvitysten kuluessa keväällä 2005. […]

Nikonin menettely vaikeutti esityksen mukaan Nikon-kameroiden rinnakkaistuontia Suomeen ja vähensi siten kilpailua digitaalikameroiden markkinoilla. Menettelyllä katsotaan lisäksi olleen selkeä kilpailua rajoittava tarkoitus.

Tapauksen tutkinta käynnistyi Verkkokauppa.comin tehtyä heinäkuussa 2004 Kilpailuvirastolle asiasta toimenpidepyynnön. Verkkokauppa.com ei kuulu Nikonin viralliseen jakelujärjestelmään, vaan tuo rinnakkaistuojana maahan Nikon-kameroita muista EU-maista. Nikon Nordicin Suomen sivuliike oli evännyt Verkkokauppa.comin maahantuomilta Nikon-kameroilta takuuedun.

Kilpailuvirasto via YLE24
linkitykset omiani

UPS!

“Taideteollisen korkeakoulun it-järjestelmiä kohtasi viime viikon torstaina katastrofi, joka johtui varavirtajärjestelmästä, jonka olisi pitänyt lisätä järjestelmän toimintavarmuutta. Varavirtalaitteistossa kirjaimellisesti räjähti, minkä seuraukset ovat olleet varsin erikoiset, ja saattavat johtaa jopa viikkojen katkoon. […] “Onni on se, ettei ihmishenkiä menetetty, ja että kaikilla on sormet tallella”, kerrotaan it-puolelta.”

Tietokone via Juha

Dropload hits 400,000 users, fixes bugs

“We have fixed a few recent bugs – we are aware the progress bars for uploads had been failing to update, this is now resolved.

We have also added a feature to let you un-expire a file if it’s picked up (For free), you can undelete by looking in your history and clicking on one of the files, if the file is able to be unexpired it will show a link.”

Dropload

I can verify the progress bar now works under Firefox 1.5.03/Windows XP, but the main send form window (or tab) still triggers the “unresponsive script” problem after the progress bar closes. Sending does work, though, as it has done despite the problems with the progress bar.

Windows XP EULA in Plain English

“This is the EULA for Windows XP Home Edition. […] What does this document contain? Most people don’t know, because it is written in legal-speak. Still, you are expected to read it and are required to agree to it before using Windows XP Home. Even if you don’t read it, you are still bound by it, so it’s good to know what’s in there.

Let’s take a look at just what rights a user of Windows XP Home has given up.”

LinuxAdvocate.org via Juha

iTTUSB – Turntable with USB Record

ION USB turntable “ION has created the world’s first USB turntable allowing you to convert your old vinyl collection directly to CD or MP3 with the included recording software. […]

The ION USB turntable includes Audacity software for Mac/PC for recording as well as a trial of Bias Soundsoap 2 for cleaning and restoring vinyl.”

ION via Juha

Hacker hits Toronto transit message system

“GO Transit spokesman Edmund Shea explained that Toronto-based Exclusive Advertising Inc., which set up the signs inside the trains, is usually responsible for programming the messages on them. “These are basic scrolling signs with advertising messages and GO Transit messages,” he said. “They were installed at least six years ago, and they’ve been problem-free until someone hacked into them and [changed the messages]. There have been about half a dozen incidents since last [April 27]. Unfortunately, they put a message on it that was a slur to our Stephen Harper, our prime minister – obviously, it’s not our message. We don’t endorse it. We regret that it happened and we’re sorry if anyone’s been offended, including our prime minister.””

Computerworld via Juha

The message inserted by the hacker was “Stephen Harper eats babies.”

The Computer Bed

This model of European Murphy Bed is in the popular computer bed format. […] Operation is from gas assisted pistons often referred to as intuitive in nature. In reality the gas piston dampens the natural action of weight transfer from bed to desk to bed.”

A bed which changes to a computer table

FlyingBeds.com via Juha