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News Briefs
News Archives 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
More Scary Robot News, Part
10
 It’s much worse than I
feared, reports have surfaced (via Gizmodo), of attempts to create a super race
of robots in Russia. This image dates back to 1967 and shows a so-called
domestic robot called Electron. Apparently he, or it is able to understand 112
commands, it can waltz and play chess and stands just over 7 feet tall. If the
Ruskies could do all that 30 years ago what are their robots capable of now? There
are more even scarier pictures of Electron and his chums on the Cyberneticzoo site. Flee before it
is too late, just stay out of my tree…
11/03/10
Protect Your Gadgets &
Goolies
 Hats and trousers off to wtfheans for their newest jeans. They’re
designed to protect that which men hold most dear, namely their gadgets, and
the family jewels. First the gadget features, and these include a pocket
specifically designed for an iPhone or iPod Touch (or similar device). It’s
positioned to stop your precious getting crunched when you sit down, and padded
with a microfibre material that promises to keep it safe, and even give it a
quick polish when you put it in or take it out. There’s also a hidden pocket
for a memory stick, to keep your data cost and safe. Lastly there’s added
padding around the nether regions, which the maker’s say is meant to keep a
chap’s undercarriage warm – though I seem to remember reading somewhere that
this wasn’t necessarily a good thing, but I suppose it beats popping a pair of socks
down there…
0803
Windows 7 RC Self-Destructs
 Just in case any of you are
still using the free release candidate (RC) version of the operating system,
you will start noticing strange goings-in. The trial period
has now ended and it begins with warning pop-ups, and unannounced twice-hourly
shutdowns; anything you are working on will not be saved. This will continue
until June 1st when it goes into ‘non-genuine’ mode, at which point a permanent
warning notice appears on the screen, the wallpaper disappears and it will no
longer be possible to download updates. Be warned, there are a number of fixes
on the Internet that claim to be able to fix Windows 7 Release Candidate’s
suicidal tendency but as far as I’m aware none of them work properly and some
of them contain viruses or malware.
0403
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I am sure that I don’t have
to remind you how important it is to create really strong passwords if you are
going to do your banking and buying online. It’s no good just using the kids or
pets names and don’t commit the cardinal sin of using the same passwords or
PINs for everything. Yes, I know it’s difficult to remember them all, but it’s
really important, so here’s an easy way to create a strong password, and
recover it if you forget. It’s called 