Publication of a final Release Candidate for GNU / Linux openSUSE 11.2 Prior the final scheduled November 12, 2009.
Thursday was marked by the release of Ubuntu 9.10. Other Linux distributions public biding their time with Fedora 12, Mandriva Linux 2010 next week or more openSUSE 11.2. And it is just yesterday that the latest version of the RC distribution supported by Novell has been published. The opportunity of a final test before November 12
Compared to version RC1, RC2 that includes a Linux kernel 2.6.31.5 and Xorg Server 1.6.5. Software packages have been updated to include Firefox 3.5.4, the recent Internet suite SeaMonkey 2.0 or the network server Samba 3.4.2. These are points which are mentioned in the announcement. Some bugs are also still correct.
Recall that the default file system is proposed EXT4 and the K Desktop Environment 4.3 (unless they choose a specific LiveCD). Further information on the new data are here. The RC2 for openSUSE 11.2 can be obtained via this page.
Apple today introduced new Apple TV 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu for easier navigation and on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes Store.
The new Apple TV software is available free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.
"The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content," said Eddy Cue, Apple?s vice president of Internet Services. "HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio."
The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives users instant access to their favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as "Star Trek" and albums. iTunes Extras gives movie fans additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP combines design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.
Now Apple TV users can also enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Users can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV?s support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.
Apple TV users have direct access to Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user?s computer
for enjoyment on their Mac or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones. iPod touch or iPhone?users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.
The new Apple TV software is available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers. The 160GB Apple TV is available from the Apple Store
(www.apple.com), Apple?s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US). Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. Video availability varies by country.
Apple TV connects to widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports.
The new Apple TV software is available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers. The 160GB Apple TV is available from the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US). Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. Video availability varies by country.
Google on Wednesday announced the launch of a brand spanking new version of orkut.
The site has been rebuilt from the bottom up using the Google Web Toolkit (GWT).
Google has gathered chat, videos and search options within full friends and communities at the home page of Orkut.
Larger pictures, easier to access notifications, targeted friend suggestions and key updates have been placed closer to the top of a user's homepage. Users can now use their friends' profile pages to keep up with their most recent activities and leave them scraps.
Users are also able to their orkut profile and "about me" sections and homepage their own by choosing the color that best fits their style.
Facebook outlined changes to its privacy policy on Thursday and asked for feedback from the social network's users.
According to Elliot Schrage, vice president of communications and public policy, Facebook, the primary goals of the new "Privacy policy" proposals is "transparency and readability."
The proposed policy allows Facebook users to change or delete their profile information at any time by going to their profile page and clicking "Edit My Profile." Information will be updated immediately. While users cannot delete their date of birth, they can use the setting on the info tab of their profile information page to hide all or part of it from other users.
If users want to stop using his/her account, they may deactivate it or delete it. When they deactivate an account, no user will be able to see it, but it will not be deleted. Profile information (friends, photos, interests, etc.) are saved in case someone later decide to reactivate his/her account. When users delete an account, it is permanently deleted.
Even after users remove information from their profile or delete their account, copies of that information may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent it has been shared with others, it was otherwise distributed pursuant to their privacy settings, or it was copied or stored by other users. However, their name will no longer be associated with that information on Facebook. (For example, if someone posts something to another user's profile, and then he/she delete his/her account, that post may remain, but be attributed to an "Anonymous Facebook User.")
Removed and deleted information may persist in backup copies for up to 90 days, but will not be available to others, according to the proposed Privacy Policy.
Facebook also has restructured the document ? providing key points and easy links to jump to the different sections. They have added sections further explaining Facebook's current practices and introducing a new concept around Facebook Ads.
In this revision, Facebook "is fulfilling their commitment to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada" to update our privacy policy to better describe a number of practices. Specifically, they have included sections that further explain the privacy setting users can choose to make their content viewable by everyone, the difference between deactivating and deleting their account and the process of memorializing an account once Facebook has received a report that the account holder is deceased.
Facebook also added that the information the web site provides to advertisers is "anonymized," meaning that it can't be traced back to a user as an individual in any way.
Facebook also explained how they might use information from other sites to improve the quality of their ads. This information allows advertisers to do what is commonly called "conversion tracking," which helps them measure the effectiveness of their ads and make them more relevant. Most advertisers already do this in other places on the web. Should Facebook provide this, "we'll continue to respect your privacy by not sharing your information with advertisers, and we'll anonymize any information we receive," Schrage explained.
You can read the proposed update in its entirety and post comments to the Facebook Site Governance Page before the comment period ends at 12:00 p.m. PST on November 5.
Last April, Facebook had launched a new system of governance for the Facebook site and had became the first company that invites users to both comment and vote on proposed changes to its governing policies.
Facebook awarded With $711 million in damages
In related news, a a San Jose, Calif. court awarded Facebook $711 million in damages against Sanford Wallace, one of the spammers who accessed people's accounts without their permission and sent phony Wall posts and messages.
"While we don't expect to receive the vast majority of the award, we hope that this will act as a continued deterrent against these criminals," said Sam O'Rourke from the Facebook legal team.
The judge referred Wallace to the U.S. Attorney's Office with a request that Wallace be prosecuted for criminal contempt, which means that in addition to the judgment, he now faces possible jail time.
"This is another important victory in our fight against spam. We will continue to pursue damages against other spammers," O'Rourke added.
Last March, a court in San Jose, California issued a temporary restraining order against three spammers?Sanford Wallace, Adam Arzoomanian and Scott Shaw. They broke the law by sending unwanted messages and wall posts to people on Facebook, which in the United States violates the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the California Anti-Phishing Act and the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM).
This isn't the first time Facebook has gone to court to battle spam. Last November, the company had announced an $873 million judgment made against Adam Guerbuez and Atlantis Blue Capital for sending sleazy messages to people on Facebook. This was the largest judgment ever for an action brought under CAN-SPAM.
