| Jailbreaking exemption to DMCA is about to expire, EFF would rather it didn't Jan 26th 2012, 15:41  Back in 2010, the US Copyright Office added a set of anti-circumvention exemptions to the DMCA, effectively making it legal for smartphone users to jailbreak and/or root their devices. These exemptions, however, were never made permanent and now, they're about to expire. The EFF doesn't want this to happen, which is why it's decided to launch a campaign dedicated to the jailbreaking cause. With this initiative, the EFF is hoping to convince the Copyright Office to renew its exemptions and expand them to a wider range of devices, including tablets and video game consoles. To achieve this, the organization is calling upon programmers and other jailbreaking enthusiasts to contact the Copyright Office directly, explaining why the ability to freely modify software is so vital to their lives or livelihoods. As the EFF argues, "Concrete examples will help show the Copyright Office why they should renew and expand the exemptions for jailbreaking." If you're interested in getting involved, you can contact the Copyright Office at the coverage link below, though all comments are due by February 5th. Hit up the source link for more details on the EFF's involvement. Jailbreaking exemption to DMCA is about to expire, EFF would rather it didn't originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Android Community |  Electronic Frontier Foundation | Email this | Comments | | X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion Jan 26th 2012, 14:39 Nuclear fusion, like flying cars, is one of those transparent, dangling carrots that've been stymying the scientific community and tickling our collective noses for decades. But recent research out of the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory might help us inch a few baby steps closer to that Jetsonian future. The experiment, conducted by a group of Oxford University scientists, utilized the DOE's Linac Coherent Light Source -- an X-ray laser capable of pulsing "more than a billion times brighter" than current synchrotron sources -- to transmute a piece of aluminum foil heated to 3.6 million degrees Fahrenheit (or 2 million degrees Celsius) into a cube of solid plasma. So, why go to such lengths to fry a tiny piece of metal at that extreme temperature? Simple: to replicate conditions found within stars and planets. Alright, so it's not that easy and we're still a ways off from actually duping celestial bodies, but the findings could help advance theories in the field and eventually unlock the powers of the Sun. Until that fateful day arrives, however, we'll just have to let these pedigreed pyros continue to play with their high-tech toys. Continue reading X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink PhysOrg | | Email this | Comments | | Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch Jan 26th 2012, 14:14 After having already acquired Napster here in the US, Rhapsody has taken its expansion one step further, with the acquisition of Napster International. Under the deal, announced today, Rhapsody will continue to offer Napster-branded services across the UK and Germany, as promised, and will eventually migrate Napster subscribers to its own infrastructure in March, with existing personal libraries remaining intact (Napster is already live in the UK, but has yet to make its official German launch). The move will also bring changes to Napster users' mobile apps and web clients, with Rhapsody promising improved offline playback and enhanced library management tools "in the coming months." For more details, check out the full PR after the break. Continue reading Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Logitech's Q3 2012 report confirms Revue is sold out, Harmony remote refresh 'in the coming months' Jan 26th 2012, 13:51 Logitech's Q3 earnings for the 2012 fiscal year don't have many surprises since the company already revealed it was dropping out of the Google TV team. In prepared remarks, company management confirmed it is completely sold out of new units, closing the door on any users still trying to nab a $99 Revue (who shouldn't be too heartbroken, since Vizio is promising a second gen unit is on the way at the same price). There is promise however, if you're looking for a new Harmony remote model, while interim CEO Guerrino De Luca says the company is late in providing a successor to the best selling Harmony One and other models, resulting in a 30 percent drop in sales, it plans to strengthen the lineup "in the coming months." In other segments, it's seeing growth in those iPad accessory keyboards, for more details check the press release embedded after the break or in the PDFs linked below. Continue reading Logitech's Q3 2012 report confirms Revue is sold out, Harmony remote refresh 'in the coming months' Logitech's Q3 2012 report confirms Revue is sold out, Harmony remote refresh 'in the coming months' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Prepared remarks (PDF), Slides (PDF) | Email this | Comments | | Prada phone by LG 3.0 gets VIP treatment from Phones 4u, launches in UK tomorrow Jan 26th 2012, 13:26 Ready to make heads turn with its monochromatic stylings, LG and Prada's latest baby is presumably putting on a night-mask, ready to be unleashed on well-heeled types in the UK on Friday. Alongside the aforementioned custom Android skin (atop a Gingerbread OS), the Prada Phone by LG 3.0 packs a respectable dual-core processor, 8 megapixel camera and LG's NOVA display -- stretching up to 4.3 inches on this fashionista phone. It's set to launch on both Vodafone and O2, free on a £31 two-year contracts, while it'll also be making an appearance on T-Mobile next month. We're planning on getting these unmanicured paws on one for review very soon, but Prada fans will be able to queue up get their assistants to queue up for the handset at Phones 4u stores tomorrow. Continue reading Prada phone by LG 3.0 gets VIP treatment from Phones 4u, launches in UK tomorrow Prada phone by LG 3.0 gets VIP treatment from Phones 4u, launches in UK tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Recombu | Phones 4u | Email this | Comments | |
