TechDock Tech Weblog

Craigslist to drop erotic services classifieds

TechDock — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:33:19 +0000

After coming under fire for several weeks for facilitating various erotic services that could include prostitution, Craigslist has announced they will eliminate their erotic services category, and will pre-screen ads for a new adult services section.

IBM Creating Computer Program to Compete in “Jeopardy”

TechDock — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:35:52 +0000

An article in the NYTimes reports that, a decade after unleashing “Deep Blue” on the chess world, IBM is designing a computer program to challenge human contestants in the challenging trivia game, Jeopardy. The program, code named “Watson” after the founder of IBM, is said to be a challenge on an entirely different level from that of a chess program.

Landlord Demands Murder Victim’s Mother Pay Late Rent and Fees

TechDock — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:49:17 +0000

The Kenosha News reports a property management company is demanding that the mother of a murder victim pay several month’s rent and penalties for breaking the lease early. Even though it is not legal to pursue a deceased person’s family members for outstanding debt, this company decided to try it anyway and see if they could get any money out of it.

United States Declares Public Health Emergency Due to Swine Flu

TechDock — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:35:31 +0000

The NYTimes reports that the U.S. declared a public health emergency today over the emergence of swine flu across the country. So far there have been 20 confirmed cases, with no deaths. The same strain has been blamed for 80 deaths in Mexico.

The New Face of Customer Service: Unpaid Volunteers

TechDock — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:12:32 +0000

The NYTimes reports that commercial companies are experimenting with using volunteer expert users and communities to supplement formal technical support. The payoff for the volunteers: satisfaction from helping, and geek cred.

A Look at Game Beta Testing

TechDock — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:55:55 +0000

TenTonHammer is running an article on the rigors of beta testing, past, present, and future. As a former beta tester for a commercial release (Harbinger, thank you very much), I find the questions posed very interesting. In particular, does beta testing actually fulfill a practical function anymore, or is it just a way for the developer to hype the game before release?

Internet Service Providers Try to Raise Prices as Costs Fall

TechDock — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:39:50 +0000

The NYTimes reports that ISPs continue to push for a tiered price structure based on usage. The ISPs draw a parallel between their services and restaurants, arguing that those who consume more should pay more. As the article point out, the analogy falls apart when you consider that it costs the ISPs the same to provide bandwidth no matter how much is consumed, as the networks are designed to provide enough bandwidth for peak usage. Therefore, it doesn’t really matter to the ISPs how much bandwidth any one user consumes.

Microsoft Opening Chain of Retail Stores

TechDock — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:46:58 +0000

Yahoo Tech reports that Microsoft will be opening a chain of retail stores, apparently attempting to follow the success Apple has had since opening their chain of stores. Microsoft has hired David Porter, a Wal-Mart veteran, to head up the effort.

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Trekkies Rejoice! CBS Adds Star Trek:TOS to Free Streaming Lineup

TechDock — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:13:50 +0000

CBS has added several classic television shows to its line-up of ad-supported free streaming TV. Offerings include Twilight Zone, MacGyver, and all three seasons of the original Star Trek.

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Ballmer to Businesses: Upgrade to Windows 7 or Face Employee Wrath

TechDock — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:53:59 +0000

Yahoo Tech reports that Microsoft seems a bit concerned about the slow business adoption rate of their latest operating systems. Facing up to the fact that Windows Vista only has a ten percent penetration in the business market, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer warned businesses that if they insist on holding on to Windows XP rather than upgrade to Windows 7 when it becomes available, they will have to cope with mobs of angry employees. In an interview with Computerworld UK, Ballmer said, “If you deploy a four- or five-year-old operating system today, most people will ask their boss why the heck they don’t have the stuff they have at home.”

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