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I want my Layer 8
September 06, 2006
Just like The Jeffersons, we're movin' on up. But we're not heading to the East Side, but rather a new spot on networkworld.com and new blogging software. After 2.5+ years...
Latest contest winner
September 05, 2006
"If somebody doesn't get this @&*# demo to work, I'm coming over there with a chair!" Dale Worley wins a very difficult tilt this week. Kudos to Dale and...
Amish build their own phone booths
September 05, 2006
Phone booths are going the way of the 8-track tape. But what do you down when your religion forbids phones in homes, yet you need to access a private phone?...
Funny cell story or guerilla marketing?
September 05, 2006
Web designer Ben Clemens says his cell phone was stolen on an Amtrak commuter train in California last month. On the phone Clemens had software installed that automatically uploaded any...
Worst robot ever
September 05, 2006
Regular Layer 8 readers know we don't like robots. Didn't like 'em in "Lost In Space" and we don't want 'em vaccuuming our floors. Because the next step is world...
Adult sues teen over iPod Nano
September 01, 2006
An Illinois woman is suing her daughter's classmate for allegedly losing her daughter's iPod Nano. Melanie McCarthy is taking 14-year-old Stephanie Eick to small-claims court, seeking $475 for the cost...
Wi-Fi group to IEEE: Shove off
September 01, 2006
You're going to be in a lot of traffic this weekend. Why not pass the time productively and listen to NW's most popular podcast Network World Twisted Pair. Jason and...
Cell phone of the year
September 01, 2006
Oh, man, do we want this for Christmas. Sick of a cell phone you can accidentally run through the wash? Or one that has a bleating, wimpy "La Cucaracha" ring...
Federal whistleblower uses YouTube to get message out
September 01, 2006
Lockheed Martin project manager Michael DeKort was concerned about serious flaws in Coast Guard vessels. He alerted his company, Navy and Congress and no one paid attention. So he videotaped...
Ding! You've been laid off
August 31, 2006
Good news and bad news for 400 Radio Shack employees. The bad news? You've been laid off. The good news? You no longer have to admit you work at Radio...
YouTube: 45T of storage and counting
August 31, 2006
Interested in what makes YouTube tick? Well, YouTube won't tell you, but enterprising people, such as Lee Gomes of The Wall Street Journal, scraped the site to find out info...
Soldier shoots up HP printer
August 31, 2006
It may be time for us to get out of Iraq. Because in addition to terrorists, our soldiers are taking on broken HP printers. Enjoy this 1:12 YouTube video, in...
Deleted cell info isn't always deleted
August 31, 2006
When you upgrade your PDA, BlackBerry or Treo you always delete the address book, text messages, call log, e-mails and everything, right? Turns out that's not enough. A company out...
Apple, Schmidt poised for world domination
August 30, 2006
We feel a disturbance in the Force. Oh, this may be it: Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple's Board of Directors Dr.? Aren't we fancy? "Eric is obviously doing...
UK's boring wireless fantasies
August 30, 2006
AOL asked more than 2,000 U.K. Internet users: What is your dream location for surfing wirelessly? Half chose their own garden. How...boring. Fifteen percent chose the beach and 25% wanted...
So, this Google office apps thing...
August 30, 2006
One of the things we love about you - yes, you - is that you have an opinion and you're not afraid to share it. Especially when you tell us...
Japan: Land of the flaming laptop
August 30, 2006
Dell laptop explodes in Japan. Dell recalls Sony laptop batteries. Apple recalls Sony laptop batteries. Apple laptop explodes in Japan. Why are all these laptops exploding in Japan? The AP...
PBS to put ads on its Web site
August 29, 2006
So you didn't buy a tote bag. Thanks for nothing, now we have to put up with ads on the PBS Web site. Due to a fundraising gap, starting Oct....
You won't believe what college students can get via their cell
August 29, 2006
Not to sound like an old fart, but when we went to college - not that long ago - we weren't even wired for telephones in our rooms. Today's collegians...
Online memorial sites: Poignant or dangerous?
August 29, 2006
Do online memorial sites help teens work through the grieving process or drive them to suicide? That's what University of South Florida researchers are hoping to find out as they...
Sexy networking headlines, Part 1
August 29, 2006
Traditionally we couldn't give a fig about finance stories, but if it's titled Bankers giving the finger to network security we're there. (Ed. - It's about biometrics.) Well, damn. Now...
New contest starts today
August 28, 2006
Look at the drive. The determination. The caption possibilities. Have at it by end of day Friday for your chance to win. Your best to layer8@nww.com...
Latest contest winner
August 28, 2006
"Linux rocks, but I'm not so sure about these open-source bean bag chairs!" We wish we could give T.J. Harrell a bean bag chair for winning this week's contest,...
Sun buys HP for $6,000
August 28, 2006
Sun scored the coup of the century by acquiring HP for $6,000 last week. Sorta. Sun bought life-sized painted replicas of Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard and has been toting...
Google releases free office app suite
August 28, 2006
It's Monday morning. Need some apps? Google can help, offering Google Apps for Your Domain, a free suite, starting today. According to the AP: "Workers will be able to send...
MySpace goes backwards
August 28, 2006
MySpace must need a giant tax write-off as it's considering launching a magazine. Or, as Advertising Age put it "an ink-on-paper magazine." Lordy, people, it's not like they're trying to...
Our poll is possessed
August 27, 2006
We tried an exorcism, a shaman and even sacrificed a Dell and we can't get our blasted poll to work right for everyone. Thank you to everyone who wrote in...
Microsoft pulls 'Office' videos
August 25, 2006
Just days after we gave Microsoft kudos for hiring The Office's Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to do training videos...Microsoft tells YouTube to take them down. Grrr! But, to be...
Apple recalls Sony laptop batteries
August 25, 2006
Dell has stood by Sony in the wake of its flammable laptop batteries - will Apple follow suit? FruitCo. has issued a recall of 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries made by...
Microsoft ups online IM safety in the UK
August 25, 2006
Microsoft's putting a pervert button on Messenger in the UK so users can immediately report sexual predators to authorities. According to The Guardian: "The 'report abuse' icon…will link any users...
Dell kills its MP3 player
August 25, 2006
We're almost starting to feel bad for Dell. Almost. The beleaguered vendor (yes, it has earned the right to "beleaguered") has stopped production on its MP3 player, the stupidly named...
India's thriving underground Apple market
August 24, 2006
Indians love all things Apple. But by the time the MacBooks, iPods and the like make it to India from Cupertino via China, the gear is taxed so heavily few...
Who are the worst bosses in America?
August 24, 2006
A brothel owner, a chef, a nuclear plant owner, an obsessive-compulsive detective...and more. Oh, we probably forgot to mention this was "worst bosses on TV." Anyhoo, click here to see...
Georgia to fine cell users who cause accidents
August 24, 2006
Those who cause auto accidents in DeKalb County, Ga, while on their cell phone will be fined $500 under a new law. It will affect those cited with "improper" usage...
What's Weird Al been up to?
August 24, 2006
Seriously - just the other day a friend asked: "What's Weird Al been up to?" A. Like we would know. B. That's the type of friend we have. So you...
Companies liable for BlackBerry addiction?
August 23, 2006
Got a BlackBerry from your employer? You may be able to hold them liable if you go bonkers. Gayle Porter, an associate professor of management at the Rutgers-Camden School of...
Iraqis hooked on ring tones
August 23, 2006
Given that there are few fun things to do in Iraq these days, residents are hooked on the their cell phones, specifically text messaging and ring tones. Writes The AP:...
Kids' blogs affect parents' careers
August 23, 2006
You know how we advise you not to blog about work? Here's another one: Don't blog about where your parents work, especially if one is an executive. Say, for instance,...
US cell users to 411: Where's the food?
August 23, 2006
When U.S. cell users call directory assistance looking for information, what exactly are they looking for? Food, says a survey by Harris Interactive. "Information on bars and restaurants was the...
Are Page, Brin avoiding Google stock?
August 22, 2006
Wunderkind Larry Page and Sergey Brin haven't bought a share of Google stock in 18 months. And they've each sold more than $2 billion worth of Google stock since February...
American workers cutting back on vacation
August 22, 2006
Dear great American worker, Use your vacation time, for Pete's sake. The Wall Street Journal notes that American workers - who already take fewer vacations than people in nearly all...
Dell: We still love Sony
August 22, 2006
Well, we'll give Dell one thing: It's faithful. Or stubborn. CEO Michael Dell has publicly backed the company's relationship with Sony, despite the fact the latter's batteries in the former's...
Inside Netflix
August 22, 2006
Ever wonder what it's like at a Netflix warehouse? No? Well, tough, we're gonna tell you anyway. Hey, if you send and receive red envelopes, you may enjoy fun facts...
New contest starts today
August 21, 2006
Ah, LinuxWorld. It's out of control. What's going on here? Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance for glory. Or, at least,...
Latest contest winner
August 21, 2006
" ''Type this,' 'print that,' 'show me how to work this thing'...once they invent HTML, I will OWN YOU ALL." Kathleen Tibbetts wins this week's caption contest and a...
U.S. IT: No idea where our data is
August 21, 2006
We don't wanna freak you out on a Monday, but this story bears some attention. A study of 500 IT pros by Ponemon Institute claims that four in five (81%)...
Microsoft's greatest move of all time
August 21, 2006
Hold onto your keyboard, we're about to give Microsoft a little love. Because it has done something pretty damn cool. Redmond has thrown what we would think would equate to...
Fox offers streaming with a twist
August 21, 2006
Given the success of ABC's free streaming service, we imagine Fox's Rupert Murdoch said something like, "D'oh!" Or, given he's Australian, perhaps "G'Doh!" Therefore it's not surprising Rupert & Co....
The real losers in the flaming Dell fiasco
August 18, 2006
So who's the loser in this whole Dell/Sony Flambe Laptop mishegas? Actually, there are several: Dell, Sony, Dell users' laps and, of course IT. Why IT? Unfortunately, you're the folks...
Intelligent life loves Firefox
August 18, 2006
Smart citizens of Earth aren't the only beings who love Firefox. Check out what other intelligent life has to say about the fabulous browser. Via The Register...
YouTube wants to host every music video ever made
August 18, 2006
If you think YouTube is a giant time suck now, wait until it reaches its goal of hosting every music video ever made. Ever! All of them! Even "Seperate Ways"...
S. Korea wants to corner the digital clothing market
August 18, 2006
South Korea is hoping to corner the iPod-meets-Gap market by becoming the leader in clothes sporting built-in MP3 players. According to the AP: "The [South Korean] government even has estimated...
More on AOL perverts
August 17, 2006
OK, we're not making any promises, but this may be the last post on the AOL search data dump. Maybe. Sorry, but we just can't resist the analysis people are...
Apple denies wireless iPod's a-comin'
August 17, 2006
There's much ado brewing over a possible wireless iPod and in an uncharacteristic move, Apple says "Nothin' doin' ". Why is that unusual? The Register notes that when word leaks...
IT pros are stress magnets
August 17, 2006
Feelin' a little crispy? You're not the only one, says CIO William Cross, who notes IT pros are stressed out. Cross did his doctoral thesis on how stress affects programming...
Hands-free cell driving still dangerous
August 17, 2006
If you think driving with a hands-fee cell phone is safe, think again. It is safer than driving with the phone on your ear, but researchers at the University of...
AOL to dig for gold - literally
August 16, 2006
AOL will do anything to get the money owed from a spam settlement - including digging for gold. And it's not that cool cursed gold from "Pirates of the Caribbean",...
What your inbox says about you
August 16, 2006
Is your inbox so cluttered you get nasty grams from the Help Desk every 15 minutes? Or do you ruthlessly delete e-mails as soon as possible? Whether you're an inbox...
How long 'till the last Baby Boomer croaks?
August 16, 2006
Sick of hearing about those damn Baby Boomers? Head on over to this site and see how long before they all shuffle off this mortal coil. The Baby Boomer Death...
The finest in IT rap
August 16, 2006
Did you ever want an theme song? Like, when you walk in a room a tune kicks up announcing your presence? It's OK, you can confide in us. So if...
Dell to recall millions of fiery laptop batteries
August 15, 2006
Who's having the worse summer: AOL or Dell? We're thinking AOL, but Dell is really making a run of it with this exploding laptop story that won't die. Adding fuel...
French 'Net ads called: 'Interactive stag film'
August 15, 2006
The French are pushing the boundaries of 'Net advertising by using porn stars to hawk clothing (Ed. - Link?). The campaign by the Shai clothing line "depicts French porn stars...
YouTube's 78-year-old superstar
August 15, 2006
We're a sucker for senior citizens, which is why we hope the following story isn't a put-on. YouTube's been making a lot of stars as of late, but few seem...
EFF files complaint against AOL
August 15, 2006
AOL has apologized for the whole massive breach of privacy data dump, but that's just not good enough for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The EFF filed a complaint with the...
New contest starts today
August 14, 2006
Two exciting firsts for the Weekly Caption Contest! 1. It took nearly three years, but we finally realized we should probably run a large copy of the current contest...
Latest contest winner
August 14, 2006
"I'm Chip Norris, Texas Instruments." Man, picking a winner was really hard this week, so Greg Mamayek should be extra proud of his contest-winning achievement. Click below to see...
Steve Jobs: Dress code killer
August 14, 2006
If you arrive at work in a suit, do colleagues show up at your office door with a tape measure? Has your VP of sales taken to wearing jorts and...
New Segway models on the way
August 14, 2006
We've given the Segway much grief over the years because, well, it's a Segway. But the put-downs and "Where's the beef?" press hasn't stopped Dean Kamen, who's come up with...
MMO gaming's shocking, sexy secret
August 14, 2006
The AP has stumbled upon a fact of the massively multiplayer online gaming universe that's pretty basic for anyone who's ever leveled up: Not all women online are really women....
Lieberman defeated by challenger, DoS attack
August 11, 2006
The night before his defeat in the Democratic primary election. Sen. Joe Lieberman's Web site was hit with a DoS attack. The state - and feds - are looking into...
Get thee to an MP3 player!
August 11, 2006
Twisted Pair engages in a little stunt casting this week with the irreverent Neal Weinberg filling in for the vacationing Jason Meserve. Keith has nothing better to do, so he's...
Network World goes nuts
August 11, 2006
So we're glancing across the NW home page today and we see two stories: Could your keyboard spy on you? and Networking's zaniest stories. Did we miss a memo? Did...
Sprint wireless knocked out in Queens
August 11, 2006
A water leak in Flushing (ha!) knocked out Sprint cell service in Queens yesterday. Bad timing considering the latest foiled terrorist/airplane plot news and the fact JFK and LaGuardia are...
Wireless French bunny set to conquer world
August 11, 2006
A French company hopes a white plastic bunny will be the next big thing. Nabaztag is a 9-inch-high bunny-looking creature that can "read out e-mails and mobile phone text messages,...
The funniest AOL post you'll read
August 10, 2006
Gentle Reader, We know it may seem like we're beating a dead horse with yet another post about the AOL search data dump. (Ed. - Still, it's not as bad...
Schmidt: Google won't screw up like AOL...I hope
August 10, 2006
Despite AOL's very public search data dump/user privacy breach last weekend, Google overlord Eric Schmidt says Google will continue to store search data. "We are reasonably satisfied ... that this...
Employees waste 1.86 hours each day
August 10, 2006
A new survey by Salary.com and America Online says U.S. "workers" on average waste 1.86 hours per 8-hour workday doing anything but work. That sounds low, we're gonna have to...
The American-TV-loving Chinese underground
August 10, 2006
There's an American-TV-loving underground in China, whose purpose is to translate and subtitle popular U.S. shows so fellow countrymen can download them via BitTorrent. The New York Times takes a...
AOL data spill's frightening find
August 09, 2006
The AOL user search data mistakenly released over the weekend didn't contain customer names, but instead assigned a number to each of the 600,000+ subscribers. So no harm, no foul?...
BlackBerry Trojan malware developed
August 09, 2006
Got a BlackBerry? For Pete's sake, don't go for the free tic-tac-toe download. At Defcon, security researcher Jesse D'Aguanno announced what he said is the first Trojan horse malware for...
Why Steve Jobs' keynote 'sucked'
August 09, 2006
Steve Jobs gave his big keynote Monday, the annual highlight of the Mac Developers Conference. How'd it go? It "sucked," writes a disappointed Leander Kahney of Wired. And Kahney's a...
Woman fired via text message
August 09, 2006
A Welsh woman has been fired from her job at a body-piercing shop via text message. Blue Banana, a chain of piercing shops, defends the method as "a way to...
Behind AOL's gigantic privacy 'screw-up'
August 08, 2006
Lately AOL is having a Dell of a time. First there's the whole giving-everything-away plan. Then there's the fact it won't let customers cancel their accounts. Now AOL has breached...
Rupert Murdoch: The smartest man on the planet
August 08, 2006
Man, that Rupert Murdoch is crazy like a fox. Last year he paid $1.2 billion for MySpace. Yesterday it was announced Google will pay News Corp. at least $900 million...
Google: Beware all ye click here
August 08, 2006
As part of its Stop Badware initiative, Google will start warning users before they click on potentially harmful sites, like this one. Those who click on site links known to...
Sony cheaping out on the PlayStation 3
August 08, 2006
Thinking about buying one of those hot, um, stuff PlayStation 3s? Sony is getting ready to nickel and dime you. 1. The PS3 will retail for over $600. Boo! 2....
New contest starts today
August 07, 2006
Personally, we would have gone with an eyepatch, but that's just us. What say you? Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance to...
Latest contest winner
August 07, 2006
Great pickup lines: "I swear, the closer I get this to you, the better my signal gets!" Should he need one, Tony DeHart now has a great new pick-up...
Even the dead can't escape AOL
August 07, 2006
Ever since Vincent Ferrari recorded his break-up call with AOL and exposed the ISP's "customer service" staff, people are coming out of the woodwork with similar tales. Few, we would...
Defcon battles counterfeit badges
August 07, 2006
Annual hacker outing Defcon has become so popular, attendees have been - predictably - scamming their way in for years by creating fake badges. But not this year, as organizers...
ABC messes with online success
August 07, 2006
After successfully launching its broadband player and offering free online repeats of primetime shows, ABC is tinkering with its streaming video program. Starting this fall, shows will be available online...
Microsoft: Please hack us
August 04, 2006
Redmond has released test copies of Vista to "3,000 security professionals" at Black Hat hoping they'll expose weaknesses, which the company can fix before release. "They're going directly to the...
The one e-mail you must send
August 04, 2006
"Snakes on a Plane" is already Internet legend and it hasn't been released yet (Aug. 18). If you've been living under a rock, it's about...snakes on a plane. And it...
Black Hat details VoIP vulnerabilities
August 04, 2006
The latest pants-on-fire headlines are out of Black Hat Las Vegas, where today's topic is VoIP security. Or lack thereof. The Register reports on a session that covered the latest...
Two geeks and a mic
August 04, 2006
It's Twisted Pair day! Review the week that was with NW's most popular podcast as Jason and Keith talk about: the survey that says women prefer tech toys over shopping;...
Colleges warning freshmen about 'Net activity
August 04, 2006
College freshmen are getting the usual warnings at orientation this summer with a new twist - Don't post anything you may regret on the Internet. Many universities across the U.S....
Macs hacked at Black Hat
August 03, 2006
You know how Windows are holier than Swiss cheese and Macs are air tight? Not so much. That's what security researchers at Ye Olde Black Hat Confab proved this week...
UK bans Dell TV ad
August 03, 2006
The U.K. advertising watchdog council has banned a Dell TV ad claiming it's misleading consumers. Nearly two dozen citizens of the Crown complained that a Dell TV ad offering an...
Is SETI covering up alien signals?
August 03, 2006
There's a big interspace brouhaha going on as one "professional SETI watcher" claims the organization is covering up the discovery/detection of signals from outer space. According to The Register: "Steven...
Goof off at work without getting caught
August 03, 2006
Wanna leisurely read your favorite sites at work without getting caught? Yet you've always got someone sneaking up behind you with unrestricted access to what's on your monitor? This site...
What Microsoft's Zune really looks like
August 02, 2006
So you know what everyone thought Microsoft's Zune looked like (see left)? They were wrong. Now the "final design" is out and it's here. And, not surprisingly, it kinda looks...
Women prefer gadgets to shoes
August 02, 2006
A new survey by the woman-powered Oxygen Network indicates women prefer tech gadgets to more stereotypical fare, such as shoes. You go, girls. According to USA Today: "[The] survey released...
IM won't signal death of English language
August 02, 2006
If you're concerned the proliferation of instant and text messaging is producing a generation of humans who speak in acronyms and don't know how to construct a good sentence, your...
YouTube knocks off MySpace
August 02, 2006
It seems like it had been months since we saw a plethora of "Most Popular Site on the Web" stories, now we can't swing Steve Ballmer's office chair without hitting...
Best Web Department name ever
August 01, 2006
Lord knows we give AOL a ton of grief, but we've got to give credit where credit is due. The beleaguered company has the absolute best department name ever: "Horizontal...
Homonyms trip up Apple
August 01, 2006
Oh, those wacky homonyms. They're playing havoc with Apple this week in regards to a Chicago Tribune story on failing iPods. The paper asked Apple spokesperson Natalie Kerris how long...
Cingular to penalize TDMA, analog users
August 01, 2006
Hey, Cingular subscribers: Got an old phone? The carrier's gonna make you pay for it - literally. Cingular will start charging $5 a month for you TDMA and analog foot-draggers...
DVR owners watching less TV
August 01, 2006
One would assume that those with DVRs watch more television, given that they're recording a plethora of TV, right? Well, you know what happens when you assume... Research indicates DVR...
New contest starts today
July 31, 2006
Not sure what we like most about this photo: that it has a "Project Runway" feel or that the guy looks like a slightly better-preserved David Lee Roth. Either way,...
Latest contest winner
July 31, 2006
"Surf's up! Wait, now the surf's up! OK, the surf will be up early next year. Really." It's always a tough go when it's a Microsoft-related photo and this...
Another Microsoft live demo disaster
July 31, 2006
At some point, Microsoft's gotta stop doing live demos. They're like Charlie Brown and the football with these things. The latest oopsie, a live demo of voice recognition software that...
Your summer TV guilty pleasure
July 31, 2006
Have we got a show for you this summer. There's something to appeal to the tech crowd, the nerd crowd and just plain 'ol freaks. Who Wants To Be A...
Tivo wins an Emmy
July 31, 2006
Tivo's done something we hope Jim Belushi will never do: win an Emmy. Variety reports that the landmark DVR and ABC.com have both scored awards in the Interactive TV Emmy...
Microsoft: Don't expect much from Zune
July 28, 2006
So with all the hype and press surrounding Microsoft's upcoming "iPod killer," the company's optimistic about Zune being a big hit, right? Right? "This is something that's going to be...
Amazon's next venture - movie making?
July 28, 2006
As if losing $3 billion in market cap this week wasn't enough, Amazon.com overlords are apparently trying to kill investors and sink the company with the announcement it's going to...
Nebraska high school sues Wikipedia
July 28, 2006
A Nebraska High School is suing Wikipedia over the school's entry on the site. However, Wikipedia isn't the actual target of the suit filed by the unfortunately named Skutt High...
E-mail analysis: 95% is junk
July 28, 2006
E-mail monitoring firms report what you already knew: Most of the messages that land in your inbox are junk. But did you know that "most" = 95%? Less than 4%...
Tivo sells out
July 27, 2006
Do you love your Tivo? Do you think it loves you? Well, it's just using you. Sure, you get to watch your favorite shows at your convenience and beep-boop through...
AOL founder: Sorry about that whole merger thing
July 27, 2006
AOL co-founder Steve Case is putting his company's merger with Time Warner into the "It was a good idea at the time" category. "Yes, I'm sorry I did it," Case...
10 gadgets to get you fired
July 27, 2006
Interested in getting fired and going out in a cool, new way? The Register's got you covered. Here are 10 gadgets they claim will get you fired, including a shrieking...
Man faces cell assault charges
July 27, 2006
This is disturbing. A 24-year-old Missouri man is on trial for assault, accused of forcing a cell phone down a woman's throat. Defense attorneys claim the woman "swallowed the phone...
HP: We're cool...really
July 26, 2006
HP is working very hard at being cool. Which is, ironically, uncool. The vendor has tapped a former Apple marketing exec and is launching a series of print and TV...
Marines use MySpace to recruit
July 26, 2006
The U.S. armed forces is invading MySpace as a way to find potential recruits. The Marines have set up a successful page in which youth can learn more about the...
Track traffic on your cell via Google
July 26, 2006
OK, here's a Google service that could be super helpful: live traffic maps on your cell phone. Google Maps for Mobile is offering the service in 30 U.S. countries cities....
Scotty to face final frontier
July 26, 2006
The ashes of James Doohan are finally heading into orbit in October. Scotty's remains will be rocketed into the stratosphere with that of about 100 other deceased. Then, in a...
MySpace learns the importance of offsite backup
July 25, 2006
MySpace has been hit with a double whammy over the past few days. First, users got hit with a virus-laden banner ad. We gotta admit we're shocked this hasn't happened...
Microsoft Office: Under siege
July 25, 2006
In case you didn't know it, your copy of Office has more holes than a slice of baby Swiss. The Register reports Office developers aren't finding much time to develop...
Most Brits leave their phone on during sex
July 25, 2006
Our British brothers and sisters across the pond are so hooked on their cells only 14% of them turn off their phones during sex. A survey of Brits finds that...
Tom Cruise wins domain battle
July 25, 2006
Questionable movie star Tom Cruise has defeated the thetans and now he's vanquished famed cybersquatter Jeff Burgar. Domain name arbitrator WIPO ruled that tomcruise.com belongs to Cruise and not Burgar,...
New contest starts today
July 24, 2006
Surf's up, baby. Microsoft-style! You might as well be wearing a cursed Tiki when you're trying to Hang 10 with this thing. Plenty of opportunity for hilarity, mean spiritedness...all the...
Latest contest winner
July 24, 2006
See, not all of our tech support is in India. Paul Dinoia of Manchester, Conn., should be happy to note he's A) won this week's caption contest, and B)...
Kaboom! You got a Dell, Part Deux
July 24, 2006
There was much ado over last month's Dell 2100 Combusto Model in Japan. And then there was the Dell laptop that exploded inside - of all places - a Novell...
India exlains 'blog blockade' - kinda
July 24, 2006
India officials say their blog ban is the result of "a technological error" and will be repaired "soon." All of a sudden India's acting like a cable repairman. Officials say...
Hillary readying tin hat
July 24, 2006
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is readying her tin hat. "At the rate that technology is advancing, people will be implanting chips in our children to advertise directly into their brains...
Fans violate NCAA rules with blog posts
July 21, 2006
Kentucky basketball fans have gotten the school in trouble by posting comments on a recruit's blog. Patrick Patterson is a highly-touted senior power forward from West Virginia who has Kentucky...
And how was your week?
July 21, 2006
Live! From the cubicle! It's Network World's Twisted Pair. This week Keith and Jason weigh in on: A recent survey that says 40% of employees think they're underpaid. Why people...
The 10 oddest iPod peripherals
July 21, 2006
Got a birthday coming up? Love your iPod? Do we have some ideas for your wish list. Last month we told you about the iPod docking station/toilet paper dispenser. Now...
Indian bloggers upset over ban
July 21, 2006
India bloggers outraged over ban The Indian government has ordered ISPs to block several blogging sites - and it won't say why. The bloggers are pretty upset that no one...
eBay has lost its magic
July 21, 2006
You know your company is in trouble when the CEO says it's lost some of its "magic" - and you're not a magician. That's what CEO Meg Whitman is admitting...
How AOL keeps customers
July 20, 2006
A few weeks ago we told you about the man who famously tried to cancel his AOL account and recorded his insane phone conversation with the AOL customer service rep....
Kids: E-mail is too slow
July 20, 2006
Today's technological whipper-snappers say e-mail is too slow for them, so they're increasingly relying on text and instant messaging. "It used to be just fun," says Danah Boyd, a doctoral...
Amazon in cockfight
July 20, 2006
That's it, we've decided to leave Network World for another more glamorous magazine - "The Feathered Warrior." Oh, wait, perhaps we won't as it may soon be embroiled in a...
Female IT pro calendar sparks attack
July 20, 2006
So here's an interesting fracas: A Web site offering a calendar of female IT professionals has been hit with a DoS attack. The 2006-2007 Screen Goddess IT Calendar features movie-inspired...
Wal-Mart's tries to steal MySpace thunder
July 19, 2006
Who's the absolute last company that should ever launch a social networking site for teens? Wal-Mart! However, the retail giant has launched what AdAge calls a "highly sanitized, controlled and...
Computers make better managers
July 19, 2006
A Dutch sociology professor says a computer can be a better manager than a human, and you know, just from personal experience we gotta agree. Chris Snijders of the Eindhoven...
The coolest USB hub ever
July 19, 2006
We never thought we'd type the words "coolest USB hub", but then again we never thought we'd find out that looked like a nuke launcher. (Click the thumbnail for a...
One excellent cell phone advance
July 19, 2006
This is such a good idea it guarantees the fact we'll never see it at our pathetic home destination, Boston's Logan Airport. More enlightened airports are building free "cell parking...
The most bizarre security fix in history
July 18, 2006
McAfee's security flaw fix non-disclosure defense is absolutely the best we've ever heard. Microsoft, take note. The security firm's getting a little heat for just now publicizing an ePolicy Orchestrator...
Firefox wants to give you a shout-out
July 18, 2006
Love Firefox? Turned all sort of friends onto it? Well, it's high time you got credit, says Mozilla. With the upcoming release of Firefox 2.0, Mozilla wants to celebrate. If...
Ken Lay's alive on the 'Net
July 18, 2006
Did you hear Ken Lay is working at a Burger King in Tucson? He's working the closing shift with Jim Morrison and Elvis. The Internet's good for so much, including...
The shelf life of online news
July 18, 2006
How long is online news really news? Well, "forever" if you read Network World, but for other lesser news outlets, research says it's 36 hours. According to the journal of...
New contest starts today
July 17, 2006
Dell's taking such a beating in the press and over the 'Net we're almost tempted to exempt it from the Weekly Caption Contest. Almost...but not quite. So wind up and...
Latest contest winner
July 17, 2006
"Now, brothers and sisters, if you will only install Linux on your computers, they will be HEALED!" David Petrie starts the week off right with an e-mail in his...
Dell: No more rebates
July 17, 2006
In a move to resuscitate its reputation, Dell is doing away with rebates and "simplifying pricing" for SMBs and consumers. "They told us what they wanted and we're delivering what...
Jack Bauer to save MySpace
July 17, 2006
Every year Jack Bauer saves the world from terrorists, traitors and crazy first ladies. But can he save kids from MySpace.com? Kiefer Sutherland is starring in a new News Corp....
Parents sue NYC over school cell ban
July 17, 2006
A group of New York City parents is suing the city's Department of Education over a law that bans students from carrying cell phones in schools. The suit argues the...
Error Message of the Week
July 14, 2006
Any time a Web site points fingers and names names, we're in. Which is why we love the error message on the fish4 Website which popped up yesterday. Click here...
Listen up!
July 14, 2006
Catch up on the week was with Network World's Twisted Pair podcast. Keith and Jason chat about the new "vishing" threat, the declining quality of Internet VoIP calls, MySpace taking...
Who picks astronaut wake-up music?
July 14, 2006
Whenever the Space Shuttle is in orbit there's always the news clip featuring the astronaut wake-up call via music. How do they pick that music? Astronaut or family/friend preference, writes...
'Imitation iPod' takes over radio
July 14, 2006
Wired looks at the Jack FM radio phenomena in which stations dump their music focus and DJs, and basically put their whole collection on shuffle. The format is taking hold...
Feds to e-mail you in case of emergency
July 14, 2006
Homeland Security is readying a plan to text, e-mail and call your cell during an emergency. OK, but only if it's accompanied by that horn/screech that interrupts our time with...
Google set to invade Michigan
July 13, 2006
Winner of the Week Award goes to Ann Arbor, Michigan, as it will become home to 1,000 Googlers. Why Michigan? Google co-founder Larry Page is a University of Michigan alum....
House passes online gambling ban bill
July 13, 2006
So the U.S. House passed its online gambling ban bill, 317-93, but exempted state lotteries and horse racing. And they're different how? Critics of the bill say it's unfair to...
MySpace beats Yahoo, Google
July 13, 2006
'Net tracking firm HitWise says teen/pervert/deviant hangout MySpace.com has for the first time surpassed Yahoo as the No. 1 Web site. HitWise stats note that MySpace made up 4.46% of...
Red paper clip guy gets his house
July 13, 2006
Earlier this year we told you how Kyle MacDonald was on a quest to barter one red paper clip for a house. Well, MacDonald got his house. Granted it's in...
Dell starts blog, hilarity ensues
July 12, 2006
We think it's time for Dell to wave the white flag and finally acknowledge that everyone hates it. From its pyrotechnic laptops to its vaunted customer service, Dell's getting such...
Inside the iPod killer
July 12, 2006
If you crossed a Pocket PC with an iPod you'd get Microsoft's "iPod" killer device. Picture is here. Insider reports conflict over its name. One set says it's called the...
Congress: Let's kill 'Net gambling
July 12, 2006
Congress is once again playing the role of the party pooper. This time the federal overlords are looking to kill Internet gambling with a bill that would ban credit cards...
Schools see $ in cell phones
July 12, 2006
Montclair State University officials have rolled out an interesting new feature for freshmen - cell phones that track their whereabouts. The cell phone is mandatory, but the GPS feature is...
Mac ads for Mac haters
July 11, 2006
If you hate the Mac v PC ads - and I'm lookin' at you, Cranky - you'll really enjoy "Best Week Ever's" take. Pretty damn funny, even for we Mac...
ABC: We're coming for your FF button
July 11, 2006
ABC's OK with you having a DVR, but it's not super happy with your liberal use of the ad-skipping FF button. The EFF reports the net has had delusional talks...
Street gangs hit the Web
July 11, 2006
Street gangs are expanding their turf to cyberspace. Groups like the Crips, Bloods and others are "posting potentially incriminating photos of members holding guns, messages taunting other gangs and boasts...
The best Amazon reviews you've ever read
July 11, 2006
Got a lot of wacky conspiracy theories? You could start your own Web site, but they're a dime a dozen. If you want to ensure people will see your mental...
New contest starts today
July 10, 2006
To be honest, we can't remember which recent conference this shot was from, but it probably had something to do with open source. Just a hunch... What's yours? Send your...
Inside Google's odd plane requests
July 10, 2006
Despite being worth billions, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page seem like pretty humble, low-key, down-to-earth guys, right? I mean, we can't even get Brin to wear a collared...
Did iPod save lightning victim?
July 10, 2006
The iPod is credited with much these days, but has it saved the life of a teen-ager struck by lightning? Seventeen-year-old Jason Bunch of Denver was listening to Metallica on...
AOL to give it away
July 10, 2006
Fewer people want to pay to use AOL, so let's see if they can give it away. Execs at Your Grandmother's ISP say they want to do away with subscription...
Google's big new milestone
July 07, 2006
Even with its nose-bleed stock prices, billionaire whiz-kids and a general Internet take-over, Google hadn't really arrived - until now. Google or, rather, "google" is one of 100 or so...
Amazon, Toys R Us divorce
July 07, 2006
Amazon.com and Toys R Us are divorcing and the question remains - who'll get the children? Or at least, who will get all the sales of toys and baby gear?...
Behind the scenes of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride
July 07, 2006
Did you ever want to work at Disneyland - or World - like us? Boarding and disembarking passengers all day is probably boring as hell, but you get to wear...
Your mom's becoming a big geek
July 07, 2006
Dad's not the exclusive gadget head in the family anymore. Research shows people spent just as much on gadgets the week before Mother's Day as they did the week before...
Microsoft: Our campus is bigger!
July 06, 2006
You know how Google's building a new Googleplex? Guess who's following suit? The New York Times reports that Microsoft will be bringing 12,000 new drones employees on board, necessitating a...
Man sues dating site
July 06, 2006
A Pennsylvania lawyer is suing the site dontdatehimgirl.com after three women posted, well, "Don't date him, girl!" Or something to that effect. We're sure there was some finger-snapping in there...
ESPN to mimic MySpace
July 06, 2006
ESPN is further stretching its technological tentacles in a desire to become a MySpace-like destination for sports freaks. Ad Age reports ESPN will launch the social networking tools in September...
Latest contest winner
July 05, 2006
BOOOORRRREE! Leo Sopicki does what U.S. soccer can't - win. Congrats to Leo and all the runners-up (click for them), especially all you Dr. Who fans. Given the short...
Sites sues Google over page rank
July 05, 2006
A Web site is suing Google after the search engine giant set the site's page ranking to zero. Parenting-themed search engine Kinderstart.com claims its ranking was dropped to zilch because...
An identity thief tells all
July 05, 2006
Want to know how identity thieves work? The New York Times heads to a Rome, New York, prison and talks with one of the more famous, 22-year-old Shiva Brent Sharma....
Historical sites start podcasting
July 05, 2006
If you want to visit historic U.S. sites but can't afford the gas, just fire up your iPod. The AP reports that Colonial Williamsburg is the latest attraction to offer...
How to shut up Microsoft bashers
June 30, 2006
One pro-Microsoft mag has published a guide MS partners and, we guess, fans can use to defend Redmond's technological spawn. Microsoft Certified Professional Online (Ed. - Rolls right off the...
Today's Twisted Pair
June 30, 2006
Our favorite new podcast, NW's Twisted Pair, catches you up on the week that was in the tech and not-just-networking worlds. Keith's fresh off a trip to the new C3...
Dell investigates exploding laptop
June 30, 2006
As if owning a Dell were not embarrassing enough, they explode, too? That's what the company says it's investigating after pictures surfaced of a Dell that allegedly spontaneously - and...
Verizon Wireless changes early termination fee
June 30, 2006
Verizon is breaking ranks with its wireless brethren when it comes to the dreaded early-termination fee. The company says it will let customers break their contract and prorate the $175...
How to get people to see your movie twice
June 30, 2006
How do you get people to see a movie in the theatres at least twice? Release a free commentary track on iTunes so fans can see the movie once, download...
The most embarrassing business software violation ever
June 29, 2006
We've all heard of businesses getting whacked monitarily for running unlicensed software, but imagine the embarassment of getting caught running unlicensed fonts. And not just a few, try 11,000. An...
Customers use tech to fight for good service
June 29, 2006
The Internet is good for many things, the latest being the ability to embarrass companies into providing better service. Last week we told you about the AOL customer who tape...
How the Web helps stinky baseball teams
June 29, 2006
Recently we beaned Major League Baseball for its greedy, money-grubbingness. This story in Wired may inadvertently explain MLB's problem with the technological concept of place-shifting. MLB has, according to Wired,...
Drive your office mates insane
June 29, 2006
Head over to this site, where you can play MP3s of classic Ice Cream truck music. Turn your PC up loud - well, as loud as it gets - and...
Where's yo iPizzle?
June 28, 2006
If you don't like iPods, or their cult, this story will make your head explode. So scroll on by. Now, we love our iPod, but this is even too much...
NBC = video hypocrite
June 28, 2006
Well, what a massive hypocrite NBC is. First, "Saturday Night Live" has a decent ratings jump after a video of the sketch "Lazy Sunday" shows up on YouTube. Naturally, the...
Is the US camera crazy?
June 28, 2006
Interesting story in USA Today notes that with the proliferation of digital cameras, mini-DV camcorders, camera phones, free photo sharing sites and YouTube, the U.S. is becoming a nation obsessed...
Behind your collection obsession
June 28, 2006
Searching for that rare, mint-on-card Porkins action figure? Still trying to hunt down that second-edition Mickey Mouse Club lunchbox, the one with the lead paint? You, my friend, have the...
An IT Department that runs under budget?
June 27, 2006
Security's your No. 1 priority right? Yes, except if you work in the Ohio University IT Department, where getting sweet benes and free health club memberships ranked higher. Oh, yeah....
David Hasselhoff: King of the Web
June 27, 2006
Oh, you might think the Web crown would go to Brad Pitt, Chuck Norris, Mark Gibbs or some other Alpha Male. But according to new research, the former talking-car-crimefighter/SoCal lifeguard...
Hey, loser, it's not your fault
June 27, 2006
Our favorite story of late: Study: Internet partly to blame for your lack of close friends That's such a good headline, we barely need to write a joke. How about:...
Your one-stop security shop
June 27, 2006
A little plug for the home team this morning as we say "Go visit the new Security Buyer's Guide." NW couldn't afford Ron Popeil, so you get us. Anyway, NW...
New contest starts today
June 26, 2006
We're a little conflicted about this week's picture of the Robot World Cup. No, it's for real, we didn't make it up. And we wouldn't because as much as...
Latest contest winner
June 26, 2006
Microsoft: Hair today, gone tomorrow. It's funny because it's true. Greg Mamayek knows it, and that's why he's King of the Caption this week. Click below to read the...
A net monitoring nightmare
June 26, 2006
Who wants another World Cup story? (Noooooooo! - Ed.) Too bad, you're getting it anyway. Actually it's an interesting story on the Avaya's World Cup NOC, and the network and...
How's 22 billion page impressions a month sound?
June 26, 2006
Want a Web site that will make your analytics software implode? Model yourself after Cyworld, a South Korean social networking site that gets - brace yourself - 22 billion page...
AOL: Really getting desperate
June 26, 2006
So with its portal lifeblood slowly draining away, AOL is making the next natural move: producing TV shows for kids. The ISP's youth brainwashing division, KOL, is now slated to...
How AOL resembles the Mafia
June 23, 2006
How is AOL like the Mafia? They never let you leave. There's long been reports that canceling one's AOL account was as easy as untangling yourself from Shelob's lair (You're...
A podcast that's not boring
June 23, 2006
Check out NW's not-boring podcast: Twisted Pair, in which our pals Jason Meserve and Keith Shaw (of video fame), yap about the week that was and not-just-networking news. It's the...
Best Buy does Apple hokey pokey
June 23, 2006
Best Buy is doing the Apple hokey pokey, once again deciding to sell Macs. Or at least Best Buy is putting a right foot in by trialing Mac sales at...
Microsoft accused of predatory pricing
June 23, 2006
The Register starts its latest Microsoft story with: "Microsoft has been accused of potentially stifling innovation in the security sector and threatening to kill the competition through predatory pricing." We...
Hacker hit U.S. cows
June 23, 2006
For Pete's sake, not even our cows are safe from hackers. According to the AP, hackers broke into an Agriculture Department network and stole names, Social Security numbers and photos...
Be a Mac - or just be jealous
June 22, 2006
So NW colleague/cranky coot Paul McNamara apparently woke up on the wrong side of the coffin this morning and put on his grumpy pants as he takes a pot shot...
The American Idol wireless conspiracy theory
June 22, 2006
If, like us, you're still wondering how that old guy won "American Idol," AdFreak may have an answer. And it's not "talent." Here's the theory: A. Cingular is the official...
Nokia's new $90,000 phone
June 22, 2006
OK, who's got a birthday coming up? Get thee to the swanky new Nokia Flagship Store in Chicago and drop 90 large on a new cell phone. You deserve it....
Just how 'top secret' is this Google data center?
June 22, 2006
There's a lot of hubbub around the 'Net over Google's new "top secret" data center. Um, how "top secret" can it be if even we're writing about it? And that...
Tourists trapped at Apple store
June 21, 2006
Next time you feel moved to complain about the line to buy a MacBook Pro or gab with one of the Geniuses, remember the tourists who were stuck in the...
Workplaces laying down cell phone bans
June 21, 2006
Annoyed when your cube neighbor's cell phone bleats out "Turkey in the Straw" in the middle of the workday? And then you hear: "Hello? Right ... OK ... No, I...
Boston e-mails crime alerts
June 21, 2006
Boston has become the largest city to employ e-mail, text messaging and fax to alert residents and businesses of crime in their area. Here's one: Red Sox DH David Ortiz...
Fans use Web to keep Trek alive
June 21, 2006
Long angry with Paramount for not doing justice to Star Trek in one incarnation or the other, Trek fans are doing what they've always done - do it themselves. With...
IT Hyperbole of the Week
June 20, 2006
We know our friends in the News Department are trying to sexy up networking, but this headline is just a little too much: Blades try to shake off bad-boy image....
Nielsen to track ratings on iPods, Web
June 20, 2006
There's only a few things we want in this life and one of them it to be a Nielsen family. But do we get picked? No! So maybe there's hope...
'Google generation' thinks plagiarism's OK
June 20, 2006
With literally a world of information at their fingertips, experts say young people of the "Google generation" have no concept of plagiarism. Professor Sally Brown, of Leeds Metropolitan University in...
Money for nothing and your chips for free
June 20, 2006
One of the more interesting things on a CD is reading the liner notes, some of which can go for pages and pages in teeny, tiny type. In his new...
New contest starts today
June 19, 2006
Now we're not fashion snobs or anything, but for Pete's sake, these guys are worth a combined $198 gigatrillion, you think one of them could sport a freakin' tie? But...
Latest contest winner
June 19, 2006
How techie geeks play Rock Paper Scissors. Brian Mueller of NYC knows that nothing beats rock, and this week nothing beats Brian when it comes to our Weekly Caption...
Worst iPod peripheral ever
June 19, 2006
iPod peripherals have officially jumped the shark. We love our tiny white wonder, but even we wouldn't go for the $99 iCarta, which puts an iPod docking station/speaker system on...
Which World Cup teams are riskiest online?
June 19, 2006
It's sounds cruel but we gotta say it - if you download a screensaver online you deserve whatever you get. McAfee has analyzed free soccer-related screensavers sites and found that,...
Watch Superman shows online
June 19, 2006
In preparation for next week's release of "Superman Returns," AOL is teaming with In2TV to offer a Superman Channel. You can watch '40s-era cartoon shorts featuring the Man of Steel,...
Check out this legacy data loss story
June 16, 2006
You know all those scary data theft stories involving stolen laptops and leaked info? Well don't feel bad, it's happening with legacy data storage, too. A Fairbanks, Alaska, woman paid...
Director shoots entire film with cell phone
June 16, 2006
An Italian director has shot an entire film with his cellphone. What's it called, "The Dark, Blurry Story"? Not quite, as Marcello Mencarini used the $600 Nokia N90's 2 megapixel...
Utah govt pulls down Spanish site
June 16, 2006
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has pulled down a Spanish version of the state's official Web site just two weeks after its launch. A state spokesman say www.espanol.utah.gov will remain...
Google starts land grab
June 15, 2006
No more rent-checking writing for Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Google has announced it'll be buying its Mountain View HQ for $319 million, otherwise known as "change Page and Brin...
Apple 'investigating' iPod sweatshop claims
June 15, 2006
Caught with its hands in the super-cheap, made-in-China cookie jar, Apple now says it's "investigating" the report that iPods are made under sweatshop conditions. Yesterday FruitCo. responded to the claims...
BBC shows net admins how to block World Cup streams
June 15, 2006
There always seems to be a lot of hand-wringing around why soccer isn't more popular in the U.S. But American net admins should rejoice as they're avoiding all the potential...
Microsoft battles Apple over who's more hip
June 15, 2006
Is "The Daily Show" cheating on Steve Jobs with Bill Gates? In a bizarre talent love triangle, Microsoft marketing has hired "Daily Show" cast member Rob Corddry to star in...
Potter fans pull down 'Net honor
June 14, 2006
Harry Potter fans are starting to rival Trekkies in their, um, "enthusiasm". (Ed. - We would have gone with "insanity" but it's your call.) And as a Trekkie we say...
Did your iPod come from a sweatshop?
June 14, 2006
Apple's all about justice, recycling and all that good stuff, so why are its iPods being assembled in Chinese sweatshops? The U.K.'s Sunday Mail took a look inside the factories...
The ultimate yard sale find for gaming geeks
June 14, 2006
If one were looking for the motherload of classic Nintendo game cartridges, surely The Hamptons could be one of the last places you'd expect to find it. However, that's exactly...
Cubs go wireless in dugout, pen
June 14, 2006
The Cubs may be behind the times when it comes to winning a World Series but they're ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. The club will be...
Texas to put Web cams on border
June 14, 2006
Texas governor Rick Perry wants to install $5 million worth of night-vision-equipped Web cameras on the Mexican border so anyone at home can be a virtual Minuteman. Perry says those...
Can you hear the anti-adult ringtone?
June 13, 2006
Remember that U.K. ringtone we wrote about a couple of weeks ago? The one that only teens could hear? Apparently it has crossed the pond and is now surfacing in...
What's China cookin' up?
June 13, 2006
In a move that should surprise well, absolutely no one, international technology brat China walked out of an encryption confab last week, claiming the U.S. is trying to sneakily block...
Who's reading your outbound e-mail?
June 13, 2006
Consultancy Forrester reports that more than a third of American companies with 1,000 or more employees say they hire people to read through their colleagues outbound e-mail. Um, isn't there...
The Duh Headline of the Day
June 13, 2006
Microsoft: 'Bots' batter Windows computers All together now..."Well, duh." At TechEd yesterday, Redmond said it "found and removed malicious programs from six out of 10 Windows computers checked during...
New contest starts today
June 12, 2006
Well, we hate robots, but we lurve geeks, so we're in a quandary when it comes to this week's contest. How 'bout you? Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by...
Latest contest winner
June 12, 2006
A smart network professional always has a sniffer handy. Lee Kasner wins an incredibly difficult round this week as all the entrants went above and beyond in their entries....
Sys admin trashes employer's net
June 12, 2006
If you've ever fantasized about trashing your company's network, meet a guy who did it. Roger Duronio, 63, of Bogota, N.J., was angry that his expected $50,000 bonus was only...
Feds to data-mine MySpace?
June 12, 2006
It's a tin hat's nightmare come true. Or possibly true in the not-too-distant future. New Scientist magazine reports that the Pentagon's super snoopers are funding research on data mining social...
Video game detox clinic opens
June 12, 2006
Europe's first detox clinic for video game addicts will be opening in, ironically enough, Amsterdam. The AP writes the clinic offers "in-house treatment for people who can't leave their joysticks...
Hotel helps with BlackBerry addiction
June 09, 2006
If you've got a BlackBerry - and a problem - a Chicago hotel is offering help. Check into the Sheraton Chicago and general manager Rick Ueno will keep your CrackBerry...
iPod: More popular than beer
June 09, 2006
Just how popular is the iPod? It's surpassed beer as most popular item on campus, according to college students. According to a biannual market research study, 73% of students surveyed...
MLB says new technology is theft
June 09, 2006
Major League Baseball's hurling a fastball at the head of Sling Media, saying its ultracool Slingbox is stealing TV. Or to put a fine point on it, stealing money out...
Worst new buzzword
June 09, 2006
This week a vendor tried to sneak the word "Weblications" past one of our colleagues in a meeting. Web + applications = horrible new term. When our colleague protested, as...
Google: We were wrong about China
June 08, 2006
In a stand-up-guy move, Google co-founder Sergey Brin told reporters it was wrong for the company to bend to China's censorship demands. But in a sit-down-guy move, he engages in...
What would you do for an iPod?
June 08, 2006
We don't like to generalize (Ed. - Pffft), but we think the statement "Beware any social network site" is valid. Latest case in point: Spymac.com, where people state what they'll...
Are digi cams' days numbered?
June 08, 2006
Digital cameras are affordable, easy to use and nearly ubiquitous - but are their days numbered? A study finds that 44% of people already use their cell phone as their...
Why more want to telecommute
June 08, 2006
USA Today reports that skyrocketing gas prices is driving an increased interest in telecommuting. For us it was the ability to work in our pajamas, but tomayto, tomahto... A study...
Will the World Cup take down the 'Net?
June 07, 2006
What's the biggest network threat these days: Virus? DoS attack? Hackers? The biggest threat to your network - everywhere but America - could be the World Cup, which starts this...
Apple offers summer camps for kids
June 07, 2006
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, Gimme $1,997 for a MacBook In an attempt to create new Mac addicts early, Apple stores will be offering 2.5-hour day camps for children ages...
Office app takes down serial killer
June 07, 2006
A neat story from Wired takes you inside the Department of Defense's Cyber Crime Conference, where experts make fun of Hollywood's take on the Internet, hacking, et. al. It details...
Lost lunatics unite
June 07, 2006
Think you love the show "Lost"? Have you analyzed the fonts used on the show? If not, you don't love it as much as these people. These nuts - and...
AppleBerry! AppleBerry! AppleBerry!
June 06, 2006
Get ready for the big new buzz word: AppleBerry. And while it sounds like something delicious to put on your English muffin it, in fact, is the name already given...
TV turnoff group eyeing technology
June 06, 2006
You know the people who sport those "Kill Your Television" bumper stickers on their Volvos? They're coming after your video games, Tivo and iPod. You can have them when you...
Fixing Dell problems
June 06, 2006
So Dell trots out this press release with the headline: "Dell's New Remote-Assistance Tool Helps Resolve Most Common Computer Issues; With 95 Percent Customer Satisfaction Rate DellConnect Expands to Support...
Your computer could help cure cancer
June 06, 2006
Here's the feel-good story of the day: Fire up those old PCs and help find a cure for cancer and Alzheimer's. Modeled after the famous SETI@home project, Rosetta@home wants to...
New contest starts today
June 05, 2006
We like computers. We like dogs. We like men. So why is this photo not as endearing as it should be for us? We'll ponder that while you come up...
Latest contest winner
June 05, 2006
It was bad enough having to remove my shoes to get thru airport security… Robert Phillips predicts what hopefully won't be next for us airplane travelers and also wins...
The cult of the famous calculator
June 05, 2006
HP is celebrating a big event - the 25th Anniversary Edition of the HP 12c Platinum Financial Calculator. First, we totally forgot HP made calculators. Second, we can't remember a...
If Microsoft made the iPod...
June 05, 2006
Here's a good way to start your week: a 2:55 video that answers the question: "If the iPod was made by Microsoft, what would its packaging look like?" Bonus props...
ABC kills eBay TV show
June 05, 2006
Did you know ABC was prepping an eBay reality TV show? Neither did we, but it's kinda moot now that the network has decided not to air the show. Called...
More Segway shenanigans
June 02, 2006
So while we laugh at the Segway, Buzzblog colleague Paul McNamara doesn't. Or maybe he does, we're having a hard time figuring out where he's currently at on this one....
WEP key's a work of art
June 02, 2006
Enjoy having friends over for drinks and Web surfing? Do you also value wireless security but are sick of repeating your WEP key over and over again for your drunken...
Would you watch ads to get free cell minutes?
June 02, 2006
Virgin Mobile USA is launching a service in which you get rack up free cell minutes for watching ads. Those who sign up for the "SugarMama" service at Virgin Mobile's...
BBC to take on Google?
June 02, 2006
The Internet's next 800-pound gorilla may be the venerable BBC. Which means said gorilla will be wearing a cravat and speaking in cool, even tones. Reports from across the pond...
FCC getting ready to screw up VoIP
June 02, 2006
Press reports say the FCC will soon be considering levying a universal service charge on VoIP lines. Chairman Kevin Martin is advocating a flat tax for all phone numbers, which...
Cruise: Gimme back my domain
June 01, 2006
Curious celebrity Tom Cruise is fighting against prescription medication, body thetans and domain name squatters. Not only is Cruise suing the owner of TomCruise.com over rights to the domain, but...
Apple: We'll take your junky old PC
June 01, 2006
Apple's much-ballyhooed PC computer recycling program launched yesterday. Buy a new Mac (via Apple.com or Apple stores) and the company will recycle your old junker gratis - even if it's...
Segway poised to strike it rich?
June 01, 2006
We've all had a chuckle or 12 at the expense of the goofy Segway, but is inventor Dean Kamen going to get the last laugh? Although it never became Joe...
AllofMP3 soon to be AllofOutofBusiness?
June 01, 2006
It's the best thing to come out of Russia since Yakov Smirnoff (Ed. - Or Smirnoff) and it looks like AllofMP3.com may be coming to an end. The site is...
Turn your Mac into a lightsaber
May 31, 2006
So you've dropped a couple 'o thou on a sniffy new MacBook Pro. What next? Swing it around like a nut. That's right, iSnoop.net has developed MacSaber, a free app...
Gossip mag possibly hacked
May 31, 2006
These are dark times, my friend. One of America's greatest resources may have been compromised by hacking - US Weekly. According to the AP, the FBI has "searched the home...
We want to know about you, yes, you
May 31, 2006
As you can tell from our daily offerings on the right, we're big fans of serious polls (Ed. - Yes, the one on the Golden Girls was riveting). Which is...
Joe Sixpack loves broadband
May 30, 2006
Well, the big broadband price wars are working, as evidenced by Middle- and Working-Class America's rapid adoption of the high-speed technology. A survey by our favorite-named Pew Internet and American...
New contest starts today
May 30, 2006
We rarely choose pictures featuring inanimate objects, but this one was hard to pass up. We know you can do it. Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end...
Latest contest winner
May 30, 2006
"It's...OUT of here...(and so am I)." Gary Robinson swings a 9 iron into immortality with the win of this week's Caption Contest. Click below for some really excellent runners-up...
Cambodia bans 3G
May 30, 2006
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has banned 3G services in his country to curb the spread of pornography. And he did it at the request of his wife and the...
Mobile gaming set for Vegas debut
May 30, 2006
Much-ballyhooed mobile gaming is coming to Las Vegas, perhaps as early as this year. Officials behind The Venetian said a trial could roll out handheld black jack, roulette, poker and...
Mac meets The DaVinci Code
May 30, 2006
Even those opposed to The DaVinci Code movie are laughing over the satire served up by Darren Barefoot: So Dark The Con of Mac: Welcome to Apple Dei. If you...
Dell to open odd retail stores
May 26, 2006
Dell is trying to take a page from the Apple book and open fabulously successful retail stores that attract fanatics who want to drop lots of cash. Except, unlike Apple,...
Teens use ringtone adults can't hear
May 26, 2006
God bless the U.K., because without it there'd be fewer odd mobile phone stories. The latest: Teens are downloading a ringtone that can be heard by their peers, but not...
Worst PR headline of the week
May 26, 2006
The PR Headline of the Week Award goes to the folks at PRWeb who wrote the following regarding a news item on social networking site Gizmo.Net: "Gizmo.Net - Make Friends...
Google shuts down Brazilian social net communities
May 26, 2006
At the request of the Brazilian government, Google has agreed to shut down some communities on its unbelievably popular Orkut social networking site. Government officials are concerned after some site...
World's most expensive cell number
May 25, 2006
An unidentified mobile phone lover found some extra cash in the couch cushions this week and paid 1.5 million pounds, or $52,394,292, for the number 666-6666. (Ed. - Think you...
Schools to punish students over bad blogs
May 25, 2006
A Chicago-area school district says it will hold teens accountable for what they write in blogs or post on social-network sites like the notorious MySpace. High schoolers who participate in...
Heavy cell phone use may signal teen depression
May 25, 2006
Psychiatric studies say teens who use their mobile phones more than 90 times a day are more likely to suffer from self-esteem issues and be unhappy or bored. Gee, ya...
iPods get into your shoes
May 25, 2006
iPods already accompany many on their daily runs, but now Apple and Nike are teaming to make it official. The companies have announced the Nike+iPod kit, in which a sensor...
Sean Connery at heart of privacy flap
May 24, 2006
The actor who plays every nationality with a Scottish accent* is at the heart of a privacy squabble. It seems the Scottish National Party used an autodialer and a taped...
Microsoft rewards employees, stiffs contractors
May 24, 2006
Microsoft has unveiled a series of new perks for employees just as it forced its contractors into a 7-day shutdown. While Redmond employees will enjoy enhanced child-care benefits, access to...
Tales from the Apple store opening
May 24, 2006
Mac fanatics are different from you and me. We knew that, but if you need further evidence, check out some tales from the recent Apple Store opening on Fifth Avenue...
What took down Montana's network?
May 24, 2006
The state of Montana's network crashed and was offline nearly all day Monday "frustrating those who wanted to do such things as renew driver's licenses and obtain fishing permits," writes...
Microsoft wants you to pay by the hour
May 23, 2006
Microsoft has developed technology in which people could pay by the hour to use a PC in their homes. Ruled by the bounds of good taste, we'll withhold the 136...
Few using Google tools
May 23, 2006
New Google tools certainly get a lot of press but they're not getting a lot of users. According to review of Google's top 20 domains by Hitwise, "Google Calendar, Google...
Tech wastes time at work
May 23, 2006
See, all this time you thought technology was making you more efficient, yet a U.K. study says it's just the opposite. The research, which is probably easily applicable to its...
Hillary's playlist: The iPol's iPod
May 23, 2006
Must have been a slow news day as The New York Post has a story on Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)'s iPod. Specifically, what's on it. And as it's always a...
New contest starts today
May 22, 2006
Sun Chairman Scott McNealy...OK, we have no idea what he's up to, other than perhaps beaning people in the audience. This is why we need you, dear reader, to fill...
Latest contest winner
May 22, 2006
"Bachelor Number 1, where would you take me on our first date?" Bob Bellman wins a pretty tough round of competition thanks to Mssrs. Schmidt & Co. Click below...
Soldiers watch kids' graduation over the 'Net
May 22, 2006
It was the best thing on the Internet last weekend when soldiers deployed in Iraq were able to watch their children's graduation live via streaming video. Florida-based XOS Technologies set...
Everyone's watching ABC online
May 22, 2006
If you though no one would watch TV repeats online, well, you're wrong. ABC reports that 3 million people have watched episodes of "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Gray's Anatomy" and other...
Cell phones prove deadly in prison
May 22, 2006
What's "deadlier than a gun" in Brazilian prisons? The cell phone, says prison officials. Despite the fact they're contraband, prisoners are easily getting access to phones, calling their spouses daily...
Apple opens on Fifth Avenue
May 19, 2006
So SoHo wasn't good enough. Not content to have a store solely in the hipster neighborhood, Apple opens its 147th store today - on Fifth Avenue in NYC. Right next...
A database that's actually interesting
May 19, 2006
Attention those with Atari Thumb - the Game Innovation Database wants you. Developed at Carnegie Mellon University, the site is looking to chronicle every innovation in video gaming. It's set...
Parents turn to blogs, IM to watch kids
May 19, 2006
Want to keep up with the kids? Read their blog - and then leave a comment. That's what some parents are doing, as well as using IM and other technologies,...
NYC parks go wireless
May 19, 2006
Beginning late summer, NYC's major parks will be not only crime hubs, but wireless hubs, too. According to the city Parks and Recreation Department, you can surf in Central Park...
Most employees would quit coffee over the 'Net
May 18, 2006
A new survey of those of us in Cubeland find that half would rather give up our morning coffee than lose the ability to surf the 'Net at work. Especially,...
Segway inventor's at it again
May 18, 2006
Earlier this week, The Register had a story detailing the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's odd patent filing. Basically, it details a "contraption designed to hurl SWAT teams and other...
The lowdown on Google Notebook
May 18, 2006
A day without a new Google tool offering is like a day without sunshine. So as not to let the skies cloud up, here's Google Notebook, basically an online notepad...
American Idol snubs iTunes
May 18, 2006
When a contestant gets the boot on American Idol this season, the show has played a video retrospective of the singer's time on the show set to the song "Bad...
IT: The world's most stressful job?
May 17, 2006
IT's stressful, sure, but the most stressful of all occupations? Behind even bomb squad rookie and Naomi Campbell personal assistant? So sayeth the 3,000 pros polled by online learning provider...
Amazon will find your soul mate
May 17, 2006
The Beatles claimed that money can't buy you love, but Amazon's Jeff Bezos disagrees. The super e-tailer CEO says the site may start offering "electronic soul mate" suggestions, which would...
10 years of desktop annoyance
May 17, 2006
The AOL Buddy List turns 10 this month, celebrating a decade of your friends and co-workers harassing you at the most inopportune moments. Like when your boss is at your...
iPod: The anti-drug?
May 17, 2006
Is there anything Apple's tiny white wonder can't do? Apparently not as it's now dissuading Germans from doing drugs. Kinda. Berlin health officials have ingeniously adopted (and perhaps infringed the...
Stupid Americans can't figure out gadgets
May 16, 2006
Americans love their gadgets - they're just not very good at figuring out how to use them. USA Today looks at how manufacturers are trying to simplify electronics so Joe...
Classic Letterman heads online
May 16, 2006
TV is finally getting it - it's all about the Web. And no network seems to be doing more than NBC. Last week we told you how NBC head Jeff...
Google's got a new toy for you
May 16, 2006
The white coats at Google Labs have a new nifty toy for you: Google Trends. Type in search terms and see when people were searching them the most and where...
Women drive online music market
May 16, 2006
Women are increasingly pushing the online revolution. There's been many a story noting how the number of adult women gamers is growing rapidly, and now research out of the UK...
New contest starts today
May 15, 2006
There's about Eleventy Bazillion dollars represented in this picture of Google Big Wigs (L to R) Eric Schmidt; VP Elliot Schrage; and wunderkind Larry Page and Sergey Brin. That should...
Latest contest winner
May 15, 2006
Amathophobics Local 7-2 shows off their new banner for the upcoming Macy's parade. Who knew the Weekly Caption Contest could be educational? Surely, not us. But it's true as...
Top 10 bored cities
May 15, 2006
So, Monday morning... Yeah, we feel the same way. But we're not alone in our ennui as CubeBreak.com has announced the 10 Top Bored (English-speaking) Cities on Earth. The time-waster...
High def could choke the 'Net
May 15, 2006
High-def is awesome for us, but not so much for the 'Net, say providers. The explosion of streaming shows, movies, you name it via the Internet - especially high-def files...
Movie studio strikes deal with...BitTorrent?
May 15, 2006
Warner Brothers announced last week that it will sell its movies and shows over the Internet. Big deal, right? Well, the actual news is the studio will use BitTorrent. OK,...
Old computers spark low office morale
May 12, 2006
Do you hate your job? Are you still running Windows 3.1? Did you realize that's why you hate your job? Well, it is! A survey of European office drones says...
Prof blogs with racy photos
May 12, 2006
Well, here's a new wrinkle in the blogging about work genre: A feminist studies lecturer at the University of Southern California not only has her own blog, but also posts...
How ugly people can make more money
May 12, 2006
Get a load of the story pitch we got today: "I'd like to offer you a story idea about why beautiful people get paid more, and what you can do...
Get driving directions on your iPod
May 12, 2006
The iPod gets somewhat handier via iPod Directions, which via Yahoo Maps lets you download driving directions to your device. So now you can carry and view those always not-quite-right...
Cingular pulls offensive ringtone
May 11, 2006
Whoever was screening ringtones at Cingular is probably looking for a new job as a tone stereotyping illegal immigrants was discovered for sale on the carrier's Web site. The unnamed...
Times slams AmericanIdol.com
May 11, 2006
If you think the fantastically popular TV show American Idol is cheesy, wait until you see the Web site. That's what The New York Times says, in a scathing review...
Female names are nasty chat magnets
May 11, 2006
A new study shows that female chat names illicit more malicious and sexually explicit comments than others. Researchers used automated chat-bots and humans who logged on to chat rooms under...
TV execs demand tech tie-ins
May 11, 2006
Networks are getting ready to sell the fall's new TV shows to advertisers in what's known as the "upfront period," and technology is playing a bigger part than ever before....
The oddest PC we've seen
May 10, 2006
If you're a model car fan and a computer geek, you've died and gone to Heaven with PC Rides. Dodge has introduced scale model Magnum, Charger and Viper SRT10 bodies...
San Fran offers teens sex info via cell
May 10, 2006
Between MySpace and the following, we're in favor of turning our daughter into a Luddite. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has launched the nation's first text-messaging program, SexInfo,...
Zombie-net hacker heads to the pokey
May 10, 2006
A 21-year-old hacker was sentenced to nearly five years in the federal pokey for taking control of 400,000 PCs and renting them out to spammers and hackers. Well, at least...
Is Firefox getting corporate?
May 10, 2006
So, we downloaded the latest version of Firefox the other night and received this splash screen while we waited. Now, we know Firefox rocks and hawking its gear is nothing...
What's Microsoft up to now?
May 09, 2006
Check out this lead from the AP: "While Microsoft has been beset by delays in its new operating system for personal computers, developers quietly have been working on a new...
Dogs sniff out fake DVDs
May 09, 2006
Attention dog lovers/tech heads: This story's for you. Two Black Labrador retrievers have been trained as the world's first counterfeit DVD-sniffing dogs. As part of a Motion Picture Association of...
The ultimate Trek phone
May 09, 2006
For geeks like us, there are a lot of cool cell phones to consider, but for the true Trek nerd (again, us) our ultimate mobile is across the pond. In...
New contest starts today
May 08, 2006
Hey, it's the Layer 8 staff photo! Or, you know, not. Actually, it's up to you. Send your best guess to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday and seize your...
Tivo markets anti-Tivo?
May 08, 2006
One of Tivo's major selling points is, obviously, the ability to skip commercials. The other - the cool beep-boop noise it makes when you use the remote. So given the...
Latest contest winner
May 07, 2006
"If you're happy with my software clap your hands....Hey, why isn't anybody else clapping?" Renee Peters of Norfolk, Neb., is this week's winner. Thank the Lord for Bill and...
Gates: I wish I wasn't rich
May 07, 2006
It's not easy being Bill Gates. Oh, stop laughing, it really isn't. First, you're the subject of goofy caption contests, people make T-shirts featuring your mugshot from decades ago and,...
Rock group whines: Don't steal our music
May 07, 2006
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are resorting to "emotional blackmail" to keep fans from illegally downloading their new album, due out tomorrow. Peppers' bassist Flea posted an annoying letter (with...
Apple's odd sales pitch
May 07, 2006
So we hit our local Apple store over the weekend to pick up a spiffy new Intel-chipped MacBook Pro. Knowing what we needed, we were the easiest sale in town,...
Wal-Mart to peddle PC components
May 04, 2006
Where's the last place you'd want to buy computer components? That's right, at Wal-Mart, where they'll be right next to where you buy your tube socks. Reuters reports that more...
Profs: Ban laptops in class
May 04, 2006
College professors are running into an old student problem from a new angle. Students still aren't paying attention, but now it's because they're online, not just hung-over or sleepy. "At...
UK scientists: Cloaking devices might work
May 04, 2006
Welcome to Sci-Friday here at Layer 8. Now, here's some sweet news - those Romulans may have been onto something, according to UK scientists. BBC News reports that two mathematicians...
Interesting news from the Star Wars front
May 04, 2006
Why on Earth did we work yesterday? Why did no one tell us it was a religious holiday - Star Wars Day. May the Fourth Be With You! And as...
Will Hollywood ever get IT right?
May 04, 2006
Um, no. C'mon, ever since Hollywood gave us "The Net", staring Sandra Bullock and Dennis Miller, we should have realized it was always gonna be off when it came to...
Microsoft to produce TV shows
May 04, 2006
Microsoft is teaming with Hollywood hip kids to create 10 Web show pilots that could one day end up on TV. But probably not iTunes. MSN Originals is joining forces...
Skype super-sizes
May 04, 2006
Skype is unveiling beta software that will allow for 100-person audio conferences, envisioned as a way for Netizens to further talk free about Star Trek, Linux, Macs and all other...
Virus targets online gamers
May 04, 2006
Attention World of Warcraft junkies - a nasty virus is headed your way. MicroWorld Technologies says a new variant of the password-stealing Trojan named ‘Trojan-PSW.Win32.WOW.x’ is spreading fast, attacking WOW...
Ballmer: The voice of calm?
May 03, 2006
OK, when Steve Ballmer is the voice of calm in your organization, you may have some issues. Such was the case last Friday in Redmond when Microsofties scoured their computers...
Lay-up of the day
May 03, 2006
According to the AP: "Firm predicts Vista Delay". In other news, "Sky is Blue"!...
Apple tweaks Gates in Mac campaign
May 03, 2006
Apple's latest major Mac campaign (since the whole Switch thing) has launched. Entitled "Get a Mac" it's pretty straight to the point, even pitting a guy who looks similar to...
ABC kneecaps your network
May 03, 2006
Has your net been a little pokey this week? Replacing server hampsters at a breakneck pace? We may know the reason: ABC has launched free streaming of the latest "Commander...
Press Release of the Day
May 03, 2006
The Press Release of the Day Award goes to HotMovies.com, which sent off "HotMovies.com Takes Lead From iPod, Launches MyClips Customized Playlist". HotMovies.com is "the Internet's fastest growing Pay-Per-Minute, digital...
Fox's odd online empire grows
May 02, 2006
Fox's Interactive Media unit has bought Internet start-ups Newroo and kSolo for the famous "undisclosed price." Newroo lets users search the Web for "relevant information from Web sites and blogs...
Nintendo serves up a doozy
May 02, 2006
Nintendo must be pretty darn confident in their upcoming new console to name it "Wii." Pronounced "we," the next-gen system is a punchline waiting to happen. Nintendo says the name...
Man puts jet engine in VW
May 01, 2006
We've always equated Volkswagen aficionados with Apple addicts due to their undying love of the brand. But we think even Mac heads wouldn't go this far. Witness 48-year-old Ron Patrick,...
New contest starts today
May 01, 2006
We don't know why Bill gets such flack because the man is very good to us, at least when it comes to providing caption contest pictures. All right, kids,...
Latest contest winner
May 01, 2006
Big hands - big gloves. Big ears - big phone. Dave Mehlberg of Notre Dame, Ind., is this week's big winner in our big phone caption contest. Click below...
Why doesn't S. Korea like Google?
May 01, 2006
South Korea is one of the most 'Net-savvy countries, yet Google is about as successful at cracking it as Charlie Brown is kicking a football held by Lucy. Google's dominating...
Press Release of the Day
May 01, 2006
The Press Release of the Day Award goes to HotMovies.com, which sent off "HotMovies.com Takes Lead From iPod, Launches MyClips Customized Playlist". HotMovies.com is "the Internet's fastest growing Pay-Per-Minute, digital...
Which American Idol is most likely to infect your PC?
May 01, 2006
Which American Idol contestant is most likely to infect your computer with a virus? Why it's Taylor Hicks (left), the one who looks like your accountant and is "29". Yeah,...
Free iPod book
May 01, 2006
If you've been living under a rock for the past, oh, two years and aren't sure how to accessorize your iPod, iPod Garage has got you covered. Starting today, the...
Watch 200 iPods topple like dominoes
April 28, 2006
It's a video Microsoft wish they made: $50,000 worth of iPods toppling like dominoes. Rather, it's a commercial for Tekserve, "the largest single independent Mac store," located in New York...
What was IBM thinking?
April 28, 2006
Here's a headline you don't see often: "Coffee chain brews up POS hardware". Now, in our network world - and perhaps yours - "POS" means something entirely different than what...
Cell feature sets back women's movement
April 28, 2006
This latest announcement by Vocel and Harlequin Enterprises has sent the women's movement back about, oh, 60 years. The push technology company and the bodice-ripping publishing giant have joined forces...
TV show shames UC Berkeley
April 28, 2006
One of Network World's most popular stories this week is a Q&A with UC Berkeley's Clifford Frost, director of Communications and Network Services. And in a somewhat similar, but not...
The best late to work excuses ever
April 27, 2006
A new survey by CareerBuilder.com finds that 1 in 5 of our fellow working stiffs admits making up excuses for being late to work. The most popular lies: 27% blamed...
Adult spam gets best response rates
April 27, 2006
In the latest tale of negative reinforcement (thanks, Psych 101), a new study shows that adult-themed spam gets the best response rates. An Infosec study reports that as many as...
Sprint loses its mind
April 27, 2006
Wow, the wireless industry is truly set for success now that Sprint has introduced the "First Espresso-Colored Mobile Phone in the U.S." Hmm, looks like "dark brown" to our pedestrian...
Wurlitzer adds iPod
April 27, 2006
The mighty Wurlitzer jukebox is going 21st century by adding an iPod. The One More Time edition jukebox features Bose speakers, a 100-CD disc changer and the dock for the...
Judge rules worker can't be fired for Web surfing
April 26, 2006
A judge in New York has ruled that a city employee can't be fired for repeatedly surfing the Web at work. The administrative law judge ruled that the "Web is...
Amazon, eBay try new strategies
April 26, 2006
Amazon and eBay are changing their retail strategies a tad. Amazon has announced a new subsidiary, CustomFlix Labs, which has inked deals with television networks including NBC that would let...
How long can you look at a teeny screen?
April 26, 2006
Real football fans can describe the tuck rule and can't get enough of vampiric analyst Mel Kiper and the NFL Draft. Seriously, Mel - Count Chocula called, he wants his...
Pimp my (i)Pod
April 25, 2006
Motorheads meet nerds in the upcoming season of MTV's "Pimp My Ride," in which iPods will be featured in more than one-third of the vehicle transformations. In the show, old...
Word feature sends academics into a tizzy
April 25, 2006
This is a great story. Academics are wising up to features in Microsoft Word that allow "authors to find out which of their rivals have rubbished their work, raising the...
Teacher blasts faculty, students in blog
April 25, 2006
Want to write a popular blog? Here you go: Start one on stupid people who blog about work. You'll be very busy. This could be your first post: Idiot Chicago...
Google's top online words
April 25, 2006
Google Blogoscoped has collected the Google page count for more than 27,000 words in an English dictionary and has crunched the numbers on the current top 30 most-used words online....
Apple offers free PC recycling
April 25, 2006
This is pretty nifty - starting in June, buy a new Mac through Apple (online or brick and mortar) and FruitCo. will provide free shipping and recycling for your old...
New contest starts today
April 24, 2006
Well, this one shouldn't be hard. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for chance to win. As always, click on the thumbnail for a better...
Latest contest winner
April 24, 2006
"Another day, another dollar," says IBM Cafeteria dishwasher, Joe Schblotnik. Jerry Eisner shoots and scores with this week's contest. Click below to check out the fab runners-up and head...
First citywide Wi-Fi net stinks
April 24, 2006
These days it seems like you can't swing a dead router without hitting a story about a city setting up free Wi-Fi for the masses. And while that's all well...
Apple to win music pricing war?
April 24, 2006
It looks as if Apple is set to win another big victory for music lovers as major record labels are expected to abandon their demand for higher song prices on...
MP3 player sparks murder, protest
April 24, 2006
An MP3 player is at the center of a murder and a major protest in Belgium, after a 17-year-old was killed over the device. Joe Van Holsbeeck was stabbed five...
Apple's busting at the seams
April 21, 2006
Apple is expanding its orchard (Ed. - Oh, c'mon...), building a second campus on 50 acres in Cupertino, Calif. Well, at least it's not being built in Bangalore... The success...
Shocker! College students still stealing music
April 21, 2006
According to a study by the Intellectual Property Institute, many college students still see no problem in downloading copyrighted material via P2P nets. While more than one in three collegians...
Technology offers date escape
April 21, 2006
Secure Networks is offering a service in which you can have a text message, cell phone call or e-mail sent to you as a ready-made excuse to ditch a bad...
Google Maps Ghostbusters
April 21, 2006
We love the Internet for so many things, especially its ability to use cool technology for the stupid. Like this, our latest favorite entry, The Google Maps Guide to Ghostbusters....
FauxPods hitting the streets
April 20, 2006
If you see a guy selling iPods off a card table on the street, realize that the $20 price tag is too good to be true. From the Imitation is...
Blogosphere: Freakin' huge!
April 20, 2006
You know we've written before that everyone and their grandma has a blog, and apparently we're not exaggerating. David Sifry looks at "The State of the Blogosphere" - in his...
Skype censors text messages in China
April 20, 2006
Skype is bowing to the powers that be in China, censoring text messages sent in that country "in compliance with state law." According to reports: "Skype and its partner in...
Cyberstalking: Tough to shake
April 20, 2006
Just as the Internet grows at a incredible pace, so does its dark side. Cyberstalking is one of the worst byproducts, and The New York Times looks at the difficulty...
Business throws IT under the bus
April 19, 2006
You know those suits on the other side of the building? They think you stink. Well, that might be putting too fine a point on it, but we believe in...
Da Vinci Code teams with Google
April 19, 2006
As if "The Da Vinci Code" movie or Google needed any extra buzz. However, the two behemoths have teamed for an ongoing online puzzle challenge, "The Da Vinci Code Quest,"...
TurboTax reboots on tax day
April 19, 2006
Intuit, the folks who make TurboTax software, had the right idea but the wrong execution. Figuring that they'd get slammed with a lot of traffic on Monday's tax deadline day,...
Kodak to hike film prices
April 19, 2006
From the Not Very Surprising News Department: Kodak is raising the prices of its film due to the digital camera revolution. Price increases for consumer and professional films will range...
D-Link: Playing with time?
April 18, 2006
D-Link is being accused of screwing up the Internet's sense of time. "Internet time overseers" say the vendor's routers, switches and wireless access points are bombarding some 'Net time servers...
Security concerns scaring e-filers?
April 18, 2006
Online security breeches and identity theft have claimed another victim: e-filers. Filing your taxes electronically was all the rage, but now savvy taxpayers are questioning the move in light of...
Gaming, reality TV meet in nerd fest
April 18, 2006
Professional video gamers are hoping to unseat poker players and become the Next Big Thing on TV. USA cable network has signed a deal with Major League Gaming, "the largest...
Microsoft plays celebrity matchmaker
April 18, 2006
In order to promote its version of Craigslist (Ed. - Oh, you know they hate it when you say it like that), Microsoft is offering college students the opportunity to...
New contest starts today
April 17, 2006
We always wanted to work somewhere important enough that you needed to wear masks and a cool jumpsuit. Or require an ID card. Or pants. Anyhoo, we'll have to just...
Latest contest winner
April 17, 2006
"So with the track-thingey there, you say it can both flip and flop?" Robin Jackson shoots and scores with the above entry, winning our latest Weekly Caption Contest. Click...
Creepiest robot ever
April 17, 2006
OK, this thing is creepier than the Resusci Annie used by the Red Cross to teach CPR. A $20,000 robot named Noelle is a life-sized, pregnant, mannequin being used to...
NYPD deploys wireless street cams
April 17, 2006
The NYPD is deploying wireless video cameras on Manhattan streets to fight crime. Following the lead of other major cities such as London, Chicago and Washington, the city hopes to...
Man tries to barter paper clip for house
April 17, 2006
Here's a classic Internet story: Canadian Kyle MacDonald has a large red paper clip and a dream - to trade it up via the Internet until he ends up with...
Cisco engineer's hellacious commute
April 14, 2006
Cisco engineer Dave Givens wins the Dubious Achievement of the Week Award for his 372-mile daily round-trip commute to work. Givens makes the 186-mile drive - each way - five...
Domain names bring big bucks again
April 14, 2006
Remember when domain name squatters made big bucks? And then they didn't? Well, they are again. The hottest names are the shortest, especially "those that have anything to do with...
Dell to defend Japan
April 14, 2006
Dell has landed a $34 million deal to supply 56,000 computers to Japan's Defense Agency. According to the AP: "Dell and local partner Uniadex will supply more than 32,000 Optiplex...
Actor's death closes IT shops
April 14, 2006
You thought the U.S. was celebrity crazy? Fans of popular Indian actor Rajkumar went on a "rampage" earlier this week in Bangalore, demanding that IT shops be closed in tribute...
Rack mount your gear cheap
April 12, 2006
So if your budget is a little tight and you need a new rack for your server closet, head to Target. Engadget's latest nifty DIY project shows you how to...
Steve Jobs wants your change
April 12, 2006
Steve Jobs wants your money - even your couch change. Apple has teamed with those nifty Coinstar lazy-man's change-counting machines to offer the payout via an iTunes card. Says the...
One super-sweet office game
April 12, 2006
We here at Layer 8 love DIY projects, especially those that have little productive value. And that's why we dig CoMagz's DIY: Office Darts Game. All you need is 10...
IPTV brings bad, bad things
April 12, 2006
Technology doesn't always bring good things, witness spam, DoS attacks and The Karaoke Channel. Interactive Television Networks, "a leader in IP Television" according to the press release, has announced the...
Slamming Red Hat
April 12, 2006
Old blog posts never die - or disappear - they just come back down the road to bite you in the butt. Perhaps that's what JBoss' Marc Fleury is finding...
Computers hijack quarter vote
April 12, 2006
We're never gonna get legitimate, political computerized voting off the ground. Today's latest story proves that, given that an online vote to choose Washington's state quarter design was besieged by...
Casinos to network slots
April 12, 2006
Attention slot jockeys, the eye in the sky will soon be using technology to monkey with the odds on your favorite machine. Today's New York Times reports that casino execs...
'Star Wars kid' settles lawsuit
April 12, 2006
One of the Internet's most famous stars, "The Star Wars Kid," has settled a lawsuit with classmates who posted video of him engaging in a one-person lightsaber battle. The video...
India needs 'speed recruiting'
April 11, 2006
So desperate to fill IT jobs (think late '90s U.S.), Indians have taken to "speed recruiting" to fill all of those formerly American jobs. One Indian recruiter rented out a...
Boot Camp: Good for gamers
April 11, 2006
Boot Camp got a lot 'o ink last week and with good reason: It's just too bizarre. Had the news broken near April 1 I think we all would have...
Podcasts: Is anyone listening?
April 11, 2006
Just like everyone and their grandma had a blog, now everyone and their grandma have a podcast ("Back in my day"). But is anyone actually downloading them? Forrester Research says:...
Cops eye blogs
April 11, 2006
This is right up there with "Don't blog about work": Don't blog about illegal things you've done. We know, sounds like a no brainer, but it appears most of those...
New contest starts today
April 10, 2006
OK, we know we blogged about Sen. Kerry's visit to iRobot last week, but we had to use this for the contest. The picture's got too much potential. So...
Latest contest winner
April 10, 2006
Let's get ready to bumble.... Scott Ostrenga wins the Weekly Caption Contest belt for his entry above. Click below for the runners-up and come back later today for the...
Don't pick a fight with Linux nerds
April 10, 2006
If you're gonna pick a fight with a technology cult, for Pete's sake, don't go after the Linux nerds. That's what Tuttle, Okla., city manager Jerry Taylor is finding out...
Online Passover
April 10, 2006
If you're celebrating Passover this week and want to mix your religion with the Internet, head online. USA Today looks at the myriad sites where you can download portions of...
Google's looking for you
April 10, 2006
You can almost hear Monty Burns hiss out "Exxxxxxxxxcellent..." Google's reach is getting more frightening with each news announcement. Tacked onto the whole San Francisco Wi-Fi story was the fact...
One way to get hits
April 07, 2006
Even though helpwinmybet.com is apparently a scam, it's an ingenious one at that. The site designer claims he's got a bet with his girlfriend: If his site gets 2 million...
Dell: It's not outsourcing, it's expansion!
April 07, 2006
Michael Dell defended his company's outsourcing this week using the age-old, "It's not half-empty, it's half full!" strategy. Dell said outsourcing jobs to anywhere but the U.S. is "not so...
MSN search sits a spell
April 07, 2006
If MSN Search falls in the woods, would anyone notice? Even better, would anyone care? The AP reports today that the search engine pulled up lame for a bit yesterday,...
McD's odd online venture
April 07, 2006
McDonald's, desperate to attract attention away from its food, is making news by announcing an "online casting call." Sixteen winners will find their mug wrapped around a soda or fries...
We're not dead yet
April 06, 2006
Sometime in the past, oh, let's say 3 months, our hamster-powered mail server, run over the Atari 2600 OS, went toes up. Until a reader e-mailed us yesterday about the...
Disney markets teen-tracking cell
April 06, 2006
Think the House of Mouse didn't steal enough of your green at the park? It's just warming up. At CTIA this week, Disney's announced a family cell phone service...
AOL to rename itself...AOL?
April 06, 2006
So America Online says it's renaming itself to what everyone thought it was always called, anyway - AOL. "Our company long ago accomplished the mission implied by our old name,"...
Have you checked out your phone bill lately?
April 06, 2006
Think it's tough being you? Try being a carrier. They've seen their once-mighty revenue streams dry up thanks to cell phones, Vonage, Skype, etc. Reader and Middle Earth wizard Gandalf...
Camera-phone flasher update
April 06, 2006
Remember the NYC subway flasher caught by a camera-phone-wielding victim last year? The backstory's here. New York Magazine has a long profile of the perp, who is a known raw...
Apple software to run XP
April 05, 2006
Apple unveiled software today that will let Intel-based Macs run Windows XP. Um, Steve? I bought a Mac specifically so I wouldn't have to deal with Windows. The software, entitled...
Good news for cell-using skinflints
April 05, 2006
Are you cheap and in need of directory assistance? Well, listen up tightwad, it's your lucky day. It's just like the Internet - check out the pretty ads and you...
Women kicked out of mall for using cell phone
April 05, 2006
A woman was booted out of the Crown Center mall in Kansas City after a jewelry store sales clerk refused to help her while she was on her cell. The...
Robot returns home
April 05, 2006
We missed this last week and we couldn't let it pass: Which one's the robot? Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry visited iRobot last week "to congratulate employees on receiving the...
Apple's legendary flip flops
April 04, 2006
Apple is rolling everything but 7s these days, but that wasn't always the case. Wired looks back on 10 of FruitCo.'s fantastic flip-flops, including backing Internet Explorer, Jobs' assertion that...
Cellphones: The new ninja weapon?
April 04, 2006
On the heels of yesterday's post about BlackBerry-hurling Naomi Campbell, Washington Post columnist Henry Allen asks: "Are cellphones the new nunchucks?" Noting the recent rash of celebrity-phone-assaults (apparently a Georgia...
My Treo ate my appointment
April 04, 2006
It's the technological equivalent of "My dog ate my homework." If you have a Treo 700W and missed a meeting yesterday, you can rightly note: "My Treo botched Daylight Savings...
Gaming prank draws bomb squad
April 04, 2006
Even though Waxy.org's Andy Baio has correctly termed April Fools Day as "Internet Jackass Day," this prank is pretty good. Read about how the scattering of 17 cardboard replicas of...
New contest starts today
April 03, 2006
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight... Well, we've all been dying for Gates and Ballmer to go mano-a-mano. Even if it's virtually, that'll do....
How to find your lost gadget
April 03, 2006
Ya know the Internet isn't the cruel, heartless identity-stealing, deposed Nigerian dignitary thieving hotbed of dishonesty everyone makes it out to be. At least if you patronize Craigslist. So says...
Woo hoo! View The Simpsons movie trailer
April 03, 2006
After more false starts, rumor and coy innuendo than our last performance review, the long-awaited, long-rumored Simpsons movie is, indeed, on the way. A teaser trailer was shown before "Ice...
BlackBerry A&B
April 03, 2006
The BlackBerry has finally made it. It's being used as a means of assault for the very rich and very thin. Last week super-crazy model Naomi Campbell was arrested in...
Men without hats
March 28, 2006
If you are looking to download Red Hat's Fedora Linux free operating system, then for Torvalds' sake don't look here - because anything posted there is simply "for our own...
The Russians' secret weapon: Ethernet cables
March 28, 2006
What's that? You use Category-5 cables to connect your desktops to an Ethernet switch? Join the 21st century, get a wireless LAN, and put your cables to good use -...
Graceland to become "landmark"
March 27, 2006
Ever wonder what the Department of Interior does? Well, one thing they do is designate national landmarks that have "meaning to all Americans." The latest spot to get that designation:...
The story of Digg
March 27, 2006
We're big fans of Digg.com here at Layer 8 and NetworkWorld.com. We've even added "Digg This Story" links at the bottom of most articles. But was is Digg and what's...
Linux crash caught on film
March 23, 2006
You've probably seen a million pictures of Windows crashes in public places, but what about Linux? Linux doesn't crash, you say. Think again. Someone got an image of a Linux...
Your tax dollars at work in Florida
March 22, 2006
A Florida man has agreed to repay $1,400 in wages and perform 50 hours of community service after accepting a no-show prison job so he could play on the guard's...
Now that's a toilet!
March 22, 2006
Ladies, tired of your man leaving the toilet seat up? Men, tired of being yelled at because you forgot to flush and drop the seat? A team of Berkeley mechanical...
Hanky panky in the call center
March 22, 2006
Working in a call center all day has got to get tedious at times. The young folks in India working these jobs seem to have found ways to spice things...
Web-only versions of 'The Office' coming
March 20, 2006
NBC is taking a major gamble this summer by airing Web-only versions of one of our favorite shows, The Office. Ten programs will be streamed during the summer for those...
Company sues Google over ranking
March 20, 2006
From the useless lawsuit department come a company, KinderStart, suing Google because the search giant banished it from the indexes. Not only that, the company is hoping to turn its...
Caption Contest winner
March 20, 2006
Now, not only can you tell where your package is, but also how hard it was thrown into the truck. Chuck Smith wins the prize for making us laugh...
The world’s smallest art gallery
March 17, 2006
Nature published an article this week showing off the talents of Cal Tech's Paul Rothemund, who has developed a way to take DNA and fold it around and around to...
The real purpose of 'telecloning'
March 17, 2006
Scientists have managed to make a copy of a beam of laser light, combining quantum cloning with quantum teleportation. And that sounds mighty cool. But once you get past this...
Cisco scammed out of $1.4 million?
March 17, 2006
The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Martin Duane Smith has been arrested for taking $1.4 million from Cisco as a headhunter fee to search for and recruit top...
LEGO: the computer
March 16, 2006
Have you ever wished you had the time to build a difference engine out of LEGOs? Well, Andrew Carol did, and he offers all sorts of information about difference engines,...
Unlimited storage from Amazon
March 14, 2006
Forget selling books and CDs, Amazon is now selling cheap network storage for anyone that needs a place to store their files. Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) offers unlimited storage...
R.I.P., Peter Tomarken
March 14, 2006
Sad news from the world of TV game shows today. Peter Tomarken, host of the 80's hit "Press Your Luck", died yesterday when the plane he was piloting crashed off...
New caption contest
March 13, 2006
It's the Six Million Dollar Man's kid! Or maybe even grandkid given how long ago that show was on. Anyhow, this photo of Robo Boy captured at Cebit is the...
What's your teen buying?
March 13, 2006
A new study by Usable Products Company reveals what should be pretty obvious to the most casual observer: 42% of teens between 14 and 17 download ringtones to their phones...
Support your local OS
March 13, 2006
Last week we brought you a letter-to-the-editor from a local paper that chided the skill sets required for a new IT manager for the City of Nashua, N.H.. The saga...
The "What is Chambers singing?" Caption contest winner
March 13, 2006
You put your Cisco in! You pull your Netgear out. You plug your cables in, and you snake them all around... We better help our latest caption contest winner,...
Blind required to pass driver's ed in Chicago
March 10, 2006
This makes a lot of sense: To graduate from Chicago public schools, one must pass at least the written part of the Driver's Ed test ... even BLIND students. The...
'Michael Knight' accused of domestic assault
March 09, 2006
Everyone's favorite hero (well, second favorite after KITT) Michael Knight is being accused by his wife of domestic violence. Court filings in the divorce between David Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach...
It only took 63 years
March 09, 2006
Back on Nov. 25, 1942, a German sub encoded a message with its Enigma machine, and last month Stefan Krah cracked the code. It took 2,500 computers networked via the...
Easy potato peeling
March 09, 2006
Peeling potatoes can be a pain in the you-know-what. But this Japanese video is a perfect how-to for one-step potato peeling. We have no idea what they're saying or...
Forget Waldo, where's Jack?
March 08, 2006
Fans of the Fox Series 24 are taking the tracking of Jack Bauer to a whole new level with Jacktracker, a site that gives detailed locations of where various scenes...
Sopranos and Sudoku: Together in NJ
March 08, 2006
NJ.com (the "Everything Jersey" site) has brought together to pop culture hits: The pencil-breaking Sudoku puzzle and the Sopranos. Instead of arranging the numbers 1 through 9 on the grid,...
Frightening scenes from Google Video
March 08, 2006
We were doing a little research on video formats last night on Google Video when we found this "gem" in the Random Videos listing: Matt's Maniacal Dance Grooves Someone had...
Talk about a productivity drain
March 07, 2006
If you noticed the corporate Internet connection slowing to a crawl late next week, you can thank the NCAA, CBS and March Maddness. No, it won't be from people checking...
Caption Contest: What is Chambers singing?
March 07, 2006
Slim pickings this week in the photo department so we're taking a slightly different approach to the Weekly Caption Contest. Tell us what song Cisco CEO John Chambers looks like...
Live-action Simpsons intro
March 07, 2006
You have to be a big fan of Fox's hit show The Simpsons to recreate the show's opening using live actors. Watch the video....
Letter writer chides IT manager classified ad
March 07, 2006
Flipping through the Nashua Telegraph last Friday, we stumbled on a Letter to the Editor that took issue with a recent classified ad for a new IT manager for the...
MySpace: The Movie
March 06, 2006
We're a little old (as much as we're ashamed to admit it) for the MySpace phenomenon. But MySpace: The Movie by David Lehere seems to capture the essence of...
How we stacked up with Oscar voters
March 06, 2006
In case you didn't see the winner of the Best Picture Award last night at the Oscars, the golden statue went to Crash. How did our voters do in our...
Why it's a bad idea to use a convenience store microwave
March 06, 2006
Ya just never know what the customer before you might have been heating up. To wit, a pair in Pittsburgh were cited last week for damaging a convenience store microwave...
Latest Caption Contest winner
March 06, 2006
Wireless! I told the designer wireless! Wires are SO last year. We were impressed with the range of entries we got for our wired woman. Angela Triola topped them...
The music of your ways
March 03, 2006
Winnoise is sheer genius - a musical composition created entirely out of Windows error and system sounds. While you're listening, you can read the making of Winnoise. Via David Battino....
Wanna dress like Steve Jobs?
March 03, 2006
StevesOufits.com provides links to all the necceary clothing so you too can dress like Apple chief Steve Jobs. The items include Levi's 501 Fit jeans ($138), St. Croix mock turtleneck...
A letter to telemarketers
March 03, 2006
Dear telemarketers, When calling to solicit donations for your charity, try varying the script a bit. It gets a little disingenuous when every charitable organization fund raiser claims "It's nice...
Seinfeld characters: Where are they now?
March 02, 2006
In a strange coincidence, last night we TiVoed the Seinfeld episode where George's father yells "Serenity Now!" as method to relax. It is also the episode where he tried to...
More stupid criminals
March 02, 2006
A Florida man showing off the OnStar system in his new Cadillac Escalade was arrested for drug possesion after the OnStar operator called police. Ralph Gomez had the volume turned...
Who's eating all the lettuce?
March 01, 2006
The residents of Northern California might be in for an organic vegetable shortage if Google keeps growing and feeding its employees at its current rate. With all the cafe's on...
The Simpsons vs. the Constitution
March 01, 2006
Bad news for social studies teachers: A study shows that only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution (freedom of...
Taking workplace theft to a new level
February 28, 2006
Forget grabbing a few pens, staples and reams of paper from work, save some real money stealing electricity instead. A Dilbert Blog tipster reports on a co-worker that brings in...
New caption contest
February 28, 2006
Sorry, no obvious Microsoft thing to make fun of with this week's Caption Contest, but we do have a rather interesting photo. What's with this outfit? Send your best caption...
Microsoft iPod packaging parody
February 27, 2006
What if Microsoft designed the iPod's packaging? This parody hits the mark on what it would look like. [Via GMSV and Scoble]...
From the "Too Good To Be True" file
February 27, 2006
That picture of the next generation video iPod making the rounds - you know the one, with a widescreen LCD display taking up the entire front of the device -...
Cable vs. Telco - Round X
February 27, 2006
Here in Network World's backyard, a contractor who was dropping pamphlets for Verizon in Woburn, Mass. neighborhood complained to police (scroll down to 3 p.m. on Feb. 16) that a...
Steve Ballmer Caption Contest winner
February 27, 2006
"Two devices mobile in my hands, two devices mobile, take one down and pass it around ..." This week's winner takes the cake with this out-of-left-field caption that stood...
Preparing for the e-Olympics
February 24, 2006
Here at Layer 8 we love sports - and we don't discriminate against the e- kind. E-sports took a big step forward this week with the founding of a gaming...
What are you doing with that cell phone in the bathroom?
February 24, 2006
While it's bad enough that people talk on the phone while sitting on the throne, news from Google gives us a serious case of the "Eeeewwwwws...". Researchers at the search...
Toga?
February 23, 2006
It's 1978 all over again, only this time we have the Web. That’s the only way to explain how and why National Lampoon (they’re still around?) this week launched Toga!...
iTunes hits a billion
February 23, 2006
Everyone's favorite music service proclaims it has now surpassed a billion (that's with a "b") downloads in its first three years of existence. Alex Ostrovsky's download of Coldplay's "Speed of...
Poor Prince Charles
February 23, 2006
Can you believe that someone made Prince Charles sit in an "uncomfortable" business class seat during a flight to Hong Kong a few years back? What a travesty! That tidbit...
Tip for would-be criminals
February 22, 2006
When operating a "chop shop," it's probably best NOT to keep a copy of a stolen car that happens to be in your possession on your cell phone. Makes the...
The Center of the Universe, according to Google
February 22, 2006
What's so special about a farm just outside of Coffeyville, Kansas? It's the Center of the Universe in terms of Google Maps. Just load up Google Maps and zoom in...
New caption contest
February 21, 2006
Yes, Steve Ballmer photos are "low-hanging fruit" when it comes to Caption Contests, but that's what makes them fun! Our take: Steve is thinking, "I wish these were new iPods!"...
PlayStation 3 = Big Bucks
February 21, 2006
If you want to be one of the first to get one of the new Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles when they're available you better hope one of your relatives...
Who's looking at your iTunes?
February 21, 2006
Harry McCracken over at PC World discovered some strange entries in his iTunes library while staying at a New York City hotel recently. Turns out, he could see and listen...
Backing up with Streamload
February 21, 2006
Late last week, we discovered one of our personal Dell laptops was not charging. It turned out to be be the connector on the laptop itself as going bad, so...
Caption Contest winnah!
February 21, 2006
So that's where all those old 8" floppies went... Richard Pitruzzello brought back memories of one of our favorite flicks, War Games. Plus, we nearly spilled our hot chocolate...
Is she gonna blow?
February 17, 2006
If you are at all nervous about Augustine Volcano in Alaska, you can fuel your fears (or calm them, depending on how you look at it) by checking in with...
It’s a dirty job
February 17, 2006
Clorox recently commissioned a study to find out which professions have the workplaces with the most germs… OK, so most of you have already buzzed in with "teachers." That was...
Great news!
February 17, 2006
Another one of those signs of the season that makes us happy: McDonald's Shamrock Shakes are back! At least they are at the McDonald's on Route 9 in Westborough, Mass....
Another bad 'Bob' idea
February 17, 2006
A couple of Colorado parents/entrepeneurs have come up with a device that's sure to be popular with the kids. "B.O.B." is a time management unit that shuts off a TV,...
Our new favorite sport
February 17, 2006
While perusing a few news sites yesterday we came across results for the men's Snowboard Cross event at the the Olympics. "Cool, an American took the gold", we thought (one...
Yeah, we wouldn't use it either
February 16, 2006
AOL Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis apparently is too good to use AOL's own blog product himself: A few people have asked me why I'm not using the AOL Journals product...
NBC Olympic fireplace is fake
February 15, 2006
Back to our Olympics coverage (don't worry, no results will be revealed): Turns out the fireplace that shows up behind Bob Costas on occasion is fake (shocker!). Is anything sacred?...
What would you do for a fallen iPod?
February 14, 2006
Author Thomas Beller watched in horror as his beloved iPod, recently returned after repairs, fell through the crack between a New York City subway train and the platform. What did...
Is this the worst picture of Bob Costas?
February 14, 2006
It's time to turn our attention o the Winter Olympics. No, we're not here to talk about brash Bode Miller or beautiful Tanith Belbin. Rather, we want to know: Is...
The Borg stealth invasion continues
February 14, 2006
We already have those Jabra phones. Now comes word that a Cincinnati company is offering its employees implanted RFID chips. How long before we see head-mounted laser units and implanted...
Our very latest Caption Contest
February 13, 2006
We're not known for being fashion experts here at Layer 8, but this is ugly. Give us your best shot at a caption for this interest attire and you could...
Someone lost a bet
February 13, 2006
Hopefully, it's not an NHL player. [Via BoingBoing]...
E-mail signature quote of the week
February 13, 2006
All good e-mail signatures come with a quote attached. One Layer 8 e-mailer had this gem at the end of his message: If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled...
Caption Contest winner
February 13, 2006
"I don't care what any one says, Laser-Disc is still cool!" This week's winner by Chad Freiling makes us laugh because it reminds us of our days working in...
Indian sitcom holds up a mirror
February 10, 2006
Those of you who are upset that India is taking all the call center jobs away from Americans via offshoring are going to love this one. Indian TV has created...
Whisky-based computing
February 10, 2006
Some people put ships in bottles. Janos Marton put a PC in his. He lays out all the steps of making a PC using a whisky bottle, with plenty of...
Are you techno-literate?
February 09, 2006
We can all probably agree that technology literacy is important for getting ahead in this techno-crazy world of ours. But can we all agree on a definition of technology literacy,...
Where all the cool Tamagotchis hang out
February 09, 2006
Toymaker Bandai last week "launched" (as if it were the Space Shuttle or something) a virtual "town" on the Web called TamagotchiTown. If you go there, you will leave this...
Why multinationals should spam search engines
February 09, 2006
At least the guy's honest about it: Why Big Brands Should Spam Search Engines: "We'll be allowed to take cuts because search engines want our sites to show up. They...
New caption contest
February 06, 2006
Time for our latest weekly Caption Contest where you could win a fancy Layer 8 prize. Though not as fancy as the big gold disc in this photo. Send your...
What happens when you're bored in space
February 06, 2006
Circling the Globe in the International Space Station for months on end must make one go a little stir crazy. So what do the inhabitants do to entertain themselves? Stuff...
Caption Contest winner
February 06, 2006
"So we agree. We'll use www.vistasucks.com!" William Watson got us laughing the hardest with his Larry and Scott entry. For his effort, William wins a great Layer 8 prize....
George Jetson sighting
February 03, 2006
Much can be revealed by close inspection of the satellite photos used by Google Earth. So our friends Down Under discovered, when they looked at photos of Perth, Australia, and...
Personal stealth technology
February 03, 2006
A Russian inventor has patented an "invisibility cloak," according to the Interfax news agency. If he patented it, it must use a completely different method than elven cloaks, which as...
Telegram for Mr. Nobody
February 02, 2006
With neither bang nor whimper, Western Union laid its telegram services to rest last week, putting an official end to the original telecom technology. If it wasn’t obsolete already, e-mail...
From the useless lawsuit department
February 02, 2006
Someone has filed suit against Apple Computer claiming the popular iPod has caused them serious hearing loss and that the defendant should have put more warning labels on the device....
Get commercials on your iPod
February 02, 2006
As if we're not bombarded by enough advertising, now you can download ads to your iPod! Anheuser-Busch is letting users download its 2006 Super Bowl commercials to their laptops and...
We should all have Bill’s problems
February 02, 2006
Yes, there’s a downside to being worth $47 billion, albeit a relatively small one. Mogul Bill Gates complained yesterday that the IRS "constantly" sends him notices that he’s not paying...
Top 5 "workplace" movies
February 01, 2006
A human resources outfit called BLR released the results of a poll it did on the top "workplace" movies of all time. Not surprisingly, Office Space ranked #1 with 37%...
Do they compare?
February 01, 2006
Is a headline such as this from ABC News (and others): "Google Shares Drop After 4Q Earnings Miss" The same as the famous quote from Rocky IV: "The Russian is...
From the everything is fair game in marketing dept.
January 31, 2006
InBoxer, a company that claims to reduce a company's e-mail exposure risk by filtering incoming and outgoing e-mails, is running a contest at www.EnronEmail.com where particpants can win prizes for...
Ringtone mania hits Skype
January 31, 2006
Skype users can now download ringtones featuring the music of Madonna, Green Day, Mike Jones and Paul Wall, as well as other Warner Music Group artists. Because, you know, the...
New Caption Contest
January 30, 2006
Well, we dropped the ball last week on the caption contest. A snow storm and nasty winter cold got in the way. (Thankfully, we don't work for the Post Office.)...
Beam us up!
January 30, 2006
Gary Reighn is a REAL Star Trek fan. Anyone that remodels their living room to look like the bridge from the Starship Enterprise has to have some serious, er, dedication....
More hit shows on iTunes
January 30, 2006
Good news for fans South Park, Punk'd, Laguna Beach (admittedly, a guilty pleasure) and SpongeBob SquarePants: You can now buy and download select episodes from the iTunes store and play...
Sweet revenge
January 30, 2006
A guy thinks he's being scammed over something he's selling on Amazon.com. So, instead of taking the bait and losing his money, he convinces the scammer to pay for the...
No wonder American kids are falling behind
January 30, 2006
The most popular videogame in Japan is not some crash 'em up, beat 'em up and then steal their money thriller. It's a "Brain Training" game designed to sharpen the...
R.I.P., AIBO
January 27, 2006
Apparently the market for robotic dogs isn’t as big as you might think. Sony has discontinued its AIBO robotic dog after seven years, preferring to concentrate on PlayStations, TVs and...
GTA in trouble again
January 27, 2006
The City of Angels is suing those devils over at Take-Two Interactive Software, the makers of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The lawsuit accuses the game publisher of failing to...
What, Google's not good enough for ya?
January 26, 2006
Introducing Cosmodex, which describes itself as a superhero (complete with tights-wearing mascot on its home page) "fighting against search engine villains who are overcharging advertisers." The start-up, about one-bazillionth the...
Lazy days
January 26, 2006
Sure, you’ve seen the SNL rap video “Lazy Sunday,” which has taken off on the Web with viral ferocity, the one where Chris Parnell and newcomer Andy Samberg mix the...
Another reason why we love the Web
January 23, 2006
Or, case 42,097,329 of someone with too much time on their hands: Cory has decided to find the Starbucks Center of Gravity in Manhattan. What the heck is that? Cory...
We have a (caption contest) winner
January 23, 2006
"Hello, tech support? There doesn't seem to be a ripcord on my parachute. What should I do next?" Fred Crowner got the biggest laugh this morning here at the...
A guide to picking up women
January 23, 2006
Brandon says the key to picking up women is to ditch the corny lines and tactics and just try to make conversation. Of course, looks don't hurt either: If you...
New Caption Contest
January 18, 2006
A skydiving CEO? This gives a whole new meaning to the term 'Golden Parachute'. Give us your best caption of for our photo (click the thumbnail for a better view)...
The iPod clothing phenomenon
January 17, 2006
With some $412 million in total portable digital player accessory revenue (according to NPD), it's no wonder we're finding iPod-related accessories in the oddest places, like the fashion industry: The...
Caption contest winner
January 17, 2006
"Greetings from Korean Boy Scout Troop 72! We all just got our CPU Chip making Merit Badge" While the Ninja theme ran through most of our entries this week,...
Counting the days
January 17, 2006
Winter got a little colder and longer here in New England this weekend. No, nothing to do with the groundhogs. The Patriots are out of the playoffs a little earlier...
Electric trees
January 13, 2006
Mass High Tech has a story about a start-up that’s planning to generate electricity using trees, presumably without burning them. The company is looking for a way to get the...
The WEEE Man cometh
January 12, 2006
This month, any company that makes electrical and electronic equipment in the U.K. will be required to help collect the products at the end of their lives so that they...
Good news, bad news on the cold front
January 11, 2006
The bad news: Taking cough medicine does little to help recovery, US experts have said. The American College of Chest Physicians has published guidelines for its members saying there was...
Keeping your PC from frying
January 10, 2006
You gotta love the hardware geeks at Tom's, who think they've come up with a new way to cool down hot CPUs: stripping out the fans and sealing the hardware...
New caption contest
January 09, 2006
Who are these these masked men (and women, we think) and what are they doing? Should we be scared? Write something funny and send it to layer8@nww.com by the end...
Caption Contest winner
January 09, 2006
"Greetings Earthling. I am representative of the Galactic Pest Patrol. I understand you have a mouse problem ..." Dan Rockwell nearly had coffee coming out of noses with his...
What should we Pack?
January 09, 2006
Google's got a new Pack of software out that it calls the essentials for computing. The included software in Google Pack: Google Desktop, Toolbar, Picasa, Google Earth and the Google...
iPod Love
January 09, 2006
"Wow." That was my first impression up opening my very first iPod (this editor is a slowly catching up to the times!). Yesterday, I bought a black 30GB video iPod...
Think this would work to establish your dept. hierarchy?
January 05, 2006
New Scientist reports: "Viking warriors may have filed deep grooves into their teeth to indicate class or military rank."...
China extends censorship to US
January 04, 2006
MSN deletes Chinese-language blog hosted in the U.S. Discuss....
First caption contest of '06
January 03, 2006
What better way to kick off the New Year than with a photo of a wacky robot standing in front of the Disney Castle? Where is everyone? Has Disney been...
Caption contest winner
January 03, 2006
"Melinda, are you SURE this guy sang with Cher?" Ron Enderland gets 2006 off to a knee-slapping start with his caption for the Time cover featuring Bono and the...
Top 25 Webcams of '05
January 03, 2006
The beginning of a new year would not be complete without a Top X list from last year. EarthCam answers the bell with the Top 25 Webcams of 2005. Sure,...
Orb provides free voice messaging
January 03, 2006
Want to send a voice message to anyone (well, anyone with an e-mail address or Skype account)? Orb Networks is now offering V4S, a tool that allows users to record...
A blog confession is still a confession
December 22, 2005
Some people still don’t seem to get the “World” part of the World Wide Web. A blog may feel like your own personal diary, but if anyone in the world...
Quitcher bitchin' about outsourcin'
December 20, 2005
Ooh, is David Patterson steamed! "I'm sick of hearing all the whining about how outsourcing is going to migrate all IT jobs to the country with the lowest wages." His...
Final new Caption Contest of '05
December 19, 2005
We thought last week was going to be our last Caption Contest of 2005, but when you get Bill and Melinda Gates on the cover of Time with Bono, the...
Caption contest winner
December 19, 2005
"The Bat Mobile has nothing on my ride." Alan Maughan made us chuckle with his prize-winning entry. Batman's car will be forever cool. Check after the jump for our...
Learn Klingon
December 19, 2005
If you're like us and have an employer nice enough to give you the week off during the holidays or are unemployed and live in your parent's basement, we've got...
Another sign of the Apocalypse
December 19, 2005
Who needs actual human contact anymore? You've got online chat, online games and now, online sex. "Naughty America: The Game" is a new multiplayer game set to debut next spring...
The Cookie Blues
December 19, 2005
Just in time for the holiday baking season it's "The Cookie Blues". The end of this short clip is priceless: Play - "The Cookie Blues"...
SETI@Home shuts down
December 16, 2005
What are nerds gonna do for a screensaver now that SETI@Home is no more? (Ed.- Guess it's back to 7 of 9.) So, yeah, SETI@Home closed for business yesterday, which...
Data Turkey Award winners announced
December 16, 2005
Back-up/recovery vendor EVault has announced the winners of its first Data Turkey Awards, honoring "business professionals who have lived through a data loss, or whose actions and quick thinking have...
The podcast you must download
December 16, 2005
David Brent would be so proud. British comedian Ricky Gervais, creator of the original (and best) TV series "The Office," is topping the podcast download charts here and in the...
Top 2005 search terms
December 16, 2005
All the year-end "Most popular" Web lists are coming out - from the search engines especially. Dogpile, which searches Google, Yahoo, MSN and AskJeeves, is no exception, noting that "music...
Who's the most admired biz leader?
December 15, 2005
Who thinks Big Bill is the world's most admired CEO - aside from Bill himself? Apparently a lot of people. Research firm Burson-Marsteller polled 600 "global business influentials" in 65...
The latest iPod accessory - underwear
December 15, 2005
This could be the one pair of underwear you're actually happy to receive at the holidays. Play Underwear is selling colorful men's boxer briefs that sport a pocket for your...
Program predicts box office success
December 15, 2005
A professor at Oklahoma State University says he's developed a program that can predict how movies will fare at the box office. Professor Ramesh Sharda has been working on the...
Commodore stages a comeback
December 15, 2005
For many, the Commodore 64 was your first "computer," invoking happy memories. Now, unbelievably, the company is back. Or trying to come back, that is. Commodore International Corp. says it's...
Good stuff for Firefox fans
December 14, 2005
If you love Firefox, you're really gonna enjoy Wired's article "The Firefox Hacks You Must Have," outlining free useful extensions you can add to the open source browser. There's the...
MTV, MS team to take on iTunes
December 14, 2005
Can MTV and Microsoft succeed where so many others have failed - knocking iTunes off its lofty perch? We shall see as the dynamic duo is teaming to offer URGE,...
Apple to take on Tivo?
December 14, 2005
Here comes clash of the titans 2006: Apple vs. Tivo. Rumors are running rampant on the 'Net that Apple will unveil a Mac mini with a built-in DVR next month...
Self-destructing SMS
December 14, 2005
Privacy-conscious Brits who love SMS have a new service right out of Mission Impossible. British firm Staellium has developed a program allows SMS messages to self destruct on subscribers' phones...
Vonage's Santa hotline
December 13, 2005
Yet another reason to consider VoIP: You can call Santa for free. Convergence powerhouse Vonage says anyone with an account can dial *101, hear a message from Santa and leave...
Beyond The Clapper: High tech for seniors
December 13, 2005
One of the best Christmas gifts ever had to be The Clapper. We really miss the commercial, featuring that old lady rolling over in bed and impatiently giving her lights...
Free Secret Santa sites
December 13, 2005
Why does anyone participate in Secret Santa anymore? It's always awkward, you never know what to give your person and the gift you get...well, it's the thought that counts (we...
Free movies for your iPod
December 13, 2005
If you've got a new iPod and you want to outfit it with some video on the cheap, the Cult of Mac blog has the site for you. Cult reports...
New contest starts today
December 12, 2005
Nothing like ending the year with a little robot action. Welcome to the final Weekly Caption Contest of 2005 - your last chance to leave your mark in the year...
Latest contest winner
December 12, 2005
"Puh-lease! You could have at least Photoshopped my red-eye and added a beard." Aaron Spencer gets a free trip to creepy Santa's lap for winning our latest Weekly Caption...
eBay pulls Excel vulnerability auction
December 12, 2005
It seems like when eBay pulls an auction, it's usually a kidney or someone's soul, but this time the e-comm giant has put the kibosh on the auction of a...
Where to find happy news
December 12, 2005
Is the news gettin' ya down? Can't handle in the reality of CNN, Fox News or Network World? Then you should check out HappyNews.com, a site that promos the brighter...
Man apologizes for fake Wiki entry
December 12, 2005
In addition to the cardinal workplace rule: Don't blog about your job, we can now add "Don't write fake Wikipedia entries linking a prominent newspaperman with the Kennedy assassinations." Thirty-eight-year-old...
Chinese gamers do the work for you
December 09, 2005
Oh, for Pete's sake, is there anything we won't outsource these days? Today's New York Times looks at China's growing gaming outsourcing industry, where lazy gamers worldwide can pay their...
Child's wish: Be Gates for a day
December 09, 2005
Tune in to NBC tonight at 9 p.m. to watch a 10-year-old see his dream come true: He gets to be Bill Gates for a day. According to NBC, one...
No free XBox for Ballmer
December 09, 2005
You think you hate compliance? See what funnyman Steve Ballmer has to say: "The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I'm in the same boat as many...
Youth blogs: Bravado or safety risk?
December 09, 2005
It's legal for school officials to search students' lockers when they think there's a reason, but what about reading youths' private blogs, which are hosted and produced off school property?...
Cell phones: Back to the future?
December 08, 2005
Are we still too early in the cell/IP phone phenomenon to have a retro movement? Not if the products from manufacturer Hulger are any indication. The New York Times looks...
Worst CEOs of 2005
December 08, 2005
This morning The Register looks at the odd tale of Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, who apparently holds the best analyst conference calls: "...in which he delved into his sexuality and...
Sex.eu - Europe's most requested
December 08, 2005
From today's Least Surprising News Department: Sex.eu was the most-requested domain on opening day of the European Union's registration for .eu domains. The next most popular were hotel.eu, travel.eu, jobs.eu,...
Feds, police get new wireless cam
December 08, 2005
Public safety officials have an interesting new tool at their disposal - a small wireless, ruggedized camera that can transmit video and audio up to 200 feet away. Called the...
Here comes the $20 cell phone
December 07, 2005
If you lose your cell phone in the next couple of years, no big deal - chip makers say you will be able to replace it on the cheap. Reuters...
The Homer Simpson USB drive
December 07, 2005
USB drives aren't the coolest or sexiest thing in the world - until you turn them into Homer Simpson. Now topping our Christmas Wish List: a homemade Homer Simpson USB...
Podcast: Word of the Year
December 07, 2005
You know 1. It's a slow news day, and 2. the calendar is coming to a close when the dictionary peeps announce their Word of the Year. This year, the...
NBC inks deal with iTunes
December 07, 2005
You could see this one coming a mile away. Hot on the heels of ABC's iTunes deal, NBC has signed a similar agreement that will make episodes of classic Peacock...
Top 10 data disasters
December 06, 2005
We love reading about data disasters - provided we had nothing to do with causing or suffering from them. Data recovery vendor Ontrack has released its annual list of the...
I wanna work at Google
December 06, 2005
If you're a little disenchanted with your job today, don't read this story about how great it is to work at Google. Unless you work at Google, then go nuts,...
MS sued over XBox 360
December 06, 2005
Well, this was about as predictable as the XBox 360 "shortage." A Chicago man who bought the console is suing Microsoft saying the 360 overheats and freezes up. Just like...
The perfect gift for the craft IT geek
December 06, 2005
If you're a crafty IT nerd, wow, have we found the project for you. Keep yourself - or your loved ones - warm this winter with the Scrollbar Scarf. Nothing...
New contest starts today
December 05, 2005
It's that time of year: When we bring the children to sit on the lap of someone who looks like Christopher Walken in a Santa suit. Or something like that....
Latest contest winner
December 05, 2005
"Nah, nah, it's cool. Ummm…dude, the game is called 'Reboot Racer' - trust me..." Russell Skingsley shoots and scores with this week's caption. Click below to check out the...
Sony: Now we're serious about security
December 05, 2005
Nearly three weeks after the first release of Sony's virus-magnet rootkit uninstall program, the company is finally releasing a new version is promises won't compromise your PC. Reports USA Today:...
NetGear: OK, we're not that fast
December 05, 2005
NetGear recently settled its class action lawsuit in which California consumers complained that the company's Wi-Fi speed claims were a tad exaggerated. Now The Register is wondering why all wireless...
Bill takes on India, open source
December 05, 2005
Bill Gates is in India this week, pressing the flesh and pushing Microsoft's agenda of world domination forward. But did he wait too long to make this trip? Open source...
The 2006 calendar for geeks
December 02, 2005
Who says there are no women in IT? The people behind Geek Gorgeous certainly found some - at least the really pretty ones - and chose 12 to feature in...
ICANN's odd .xxx move
December 02, 2005
The debut of a long-delayed .xxx domain may be delayed indefinitely now that ICANN has seemingly reversed itself on the issue. Vint Cerf stunned nerds worldwide earlier this week at...
Japan dumps iPod tax idea
December 02, 2005
Japan has dumped a plan to charge an extra fee to those who buy MP3 players - a move not surprisingly dubbed the "iPod tax." Currently the government adds 3%...
Gmail gets virus scanning
December 02, 2005
Google's confirmed it has added virus-scanning to its increasingly popular - and amazingly still in beta - Gmail free e-mail service. The Microsoft-in-the-making has confirmed Gmail will automatically scan all...
Up to 10% addicted to the 'Net
December 01, 2005
The NY Times looks at the growing cause for concern over Internet addiction, reporting that 6%-10% of U.S. 'Net users can be considered addicts. Specialists who treat 'Net junkies say...
Use Firefox without a mouse
December 01, 2005
This is just the type of feature we Firefox nerds adore: Firefox keyboard shortcuts. (Ed. - Nerd!) If you find yourself at a keyboard's mouseless mercy, fret not tabbed browsing...
BlackBerry service in danger?
December 01, 2005
It's a sad day for CrackBerry addicts as RIM has lost another round in court. The company was hoping to end its 4-year-old patent battle with NTP, "a tiny U.S....
Deadheads get their downloads back
December 01, 2005
Was it worse than the time when their Hacky Sack rolled into the gutter? Perhaps. But, thank goodness, Deadheads' short nightmare is over, as a dispute regarding free bootleg concert...
How to foil a wiretap
November 30, 2005
If you're being wiretapped by the Feds, good news: You can stop the recording or falsify the numbers you're dialing with off-the-shelf equipment, say researchers at the University of Pennsylvania....
MS: Quality is now Job 1
November 30, 2005
News out of Redmond this week notes that the latest Vista beta has been delayed from December 2005 to God Knows When. That's not surprising, so why post about it?...
Yahoo betas RSS e-mail reader
November 30, 2005
Yahoo's trying to preach RSS to the masses - and no doubt widen a lucrative new line of advertising - by adding an RSS folder to select users' e-mail accounts....
NOLA gets free Wi-Fi
November 30, 2005
The beleaguered city of New Orleans is making news - good news, actually - as it will be the recipient of a new, free municipally owned Wi-Fi network. The network,...
Rabbis rally against the 'Net
November 29, 2005
Some New Jersey Orthodox Jews are unplugging the 'Net in their homes at the order of rabbis who say it's a bad influence on children. Students in any of the...
The long shelf life of 'Net rumors
November 29, 2005
If you're like us, you get a lot of family spam ("fram"). There's the ones about Bill Gates wanting to send you to Disney World, how California law requires all...
Firefox RC3 available for download
November 29, 2005
Rejoice Firefoxies, the latest version of the browser is now available for download. Firefox 1.5 RC 3 is still in beta, and as the Mozilla site notes: "This may not...
Man arrested over fake news story
November 29, 2005
An apparently very bored Japanese programmer needs a hobby, as his current pursuit of posting fake news stories has been discovered and stopped. Tokyo police arrested Takahiro Yamamoto, 30, on...
New contest starts today
November 28, 2005
Christmas comes not once a year here at Layer 8. Christmas comes whenever we stumble across a good Bill photo. So "Merry Christmas." Here's the man who by creating...
Man tricked after Xbox assault
November 28, 2005
Props to Rochester, NY-area police and Best Buy employees who last week nabbed a man suspected of punching a couple over an Xbox 360 by tricking him into thinking he...
The right age for kids & tech
November 28, 2005
If you've got a Christmas list from your child that can be completely settled at Circuit City, you may be wondering "Is my kid ready for all this tech?" iPods,...
iPods conquering the bar scene
November 28, 2005
When it comes to the local bar scene, hipsters are bringing not only their dates and friends, but also their iPods USA Today looks at bars around the country that...
Google rolls out shopping map app
November 23, 2005
Well, it's almost time to hit the mall and Google wants to help. On Tuesday, they of the nose-bleed stock prices will roll out a tool on its Froogle shopping...
A black box for software crashes
November 23, 2005
After a plane crash, what's the first thing investigators look for (after survivors, naturally)? Right, the black box. This morning's Register has an analysis of Identify's AppSite Black Box, which...
CNN mishap blamed on 'computer bug'
November 23, 2005
So yesterday left-leaning cable news network CNN flashed a giant black X over the face of Vice President Dick Cheney during a press conference. While Cheney was X'd out for...
There's no place like home (to work) for the holidays
November 23, 2005
A study by Web conferencing vendor Raindance finds that nearly half of employees hope to take advantage of remote-work technology this holiday season. A survey shows 49% plans to work...
Cleese is back on backup
November 22, 2005
And now for something completely not boring... LiveVault's "Institute for Backup Trauma," starring John Cleese as Dr. Harold Twain Weck, was the best vendor video we've ever seen. If you...
What's up with Symantec?
November 22, 2005
Layer 8 reader Ken is a senior network engineer who's wondering what's up with Symantec these days - Norton Internet Security/Antivirus 2005, in particular. Up until now Ken says he's...
Lose your data, win a contest
November 22, 2005
If you've suffered a really terrific data loss - and we mean "terrific" as in "spectacularly bad" - all is not lost. Well, your data's obviously lost, but you can...
RIAA praises Sony over rootkit
November 22, 2005
As if you didn't think the Recording Industry Association of America was already out of touch when it came to all matters online, wait 'till you get a load of...
Latest contest winner
November 21, 2005
"Election day in Washington has a new twist! Enter Left - Right - Left - Right - B - A - Start - Start to cast an extra vote...
Sports: Driving wireless technology
November 21, 2005
Sporting experts say the national pastime of balls, bats and pucks is pushing wireless technology faster and further than anyone dreamed. Sports media, league and technology experts gathered at the...
Tivo hits iPods, PSPs
November 21, 2005
Tivo is expanding its TivoToGo service by allowing recorded shows to be transferred to iPods and PlayStation Portables. And while the idea is a good one, it won't be easy...
Search engines: We're #2!
November 21, 2005
"Using a search engine" has surpassed "reading news" as the second-most popular Internet task for U.S. adults. The good folks at the Pew Internet and American Life Project say of...
Amazon offers Sony CD refund
November 18, 2005
Amazon.com's offering a refund to users who have bought - and want to return - Sony CDs featuring the controversial XCP anti-piracy DRM software. The BBC reports e-mails are appearing...
AIM users unhappy with bots
November 18, 2005
Thankfully, we're not the only ones making a stink about AOL automatically adding bots to AIM users' Buddy List. The AP reports today that users are complaining to AOL about...
Moore topples Gates
November 18, 2005
Bill Gates has been bumped from the top spot as America's most giving gazillionaire by Intel's Gordon Moore. If it's any consolidation for Bill, at least it wasn't Sergey Brin...
Judicial blogger unmasked, silenced
November 18, 2005
We don't know how many times we have to post this before it sinks in: Do not blog about your workplace. Thirty-year-old assistant federal prosecutor David Lat of Newark, N.J.,...
Toilets claiming more cell phones
November 17, 2005
With popularity comes danger, just ask mobile phone users in Finland who are constantly dropping their cell phones down the toilet. Helsinki Water reports it's finding more and more cell...
AOL forces more junk on you
November 17, 2005
AOL Instant Messenger is continuing its annoying habit of automatically giving you junk you don't need or want. First, with the latest version released several weeks ago, when you log...
Text messages used in murder trial
November 17, 2005
Text message transcripts have been admitted as evidence in the case of two Canadian teens accused of murdering their alcoholic mother in 2003. The girls were 15 and 16 at...
Tots hot for tech toys
November 17, 2005
It's never too early to turn your kids into gadget freaks. At least that's what U.S. toy manufacturers are hoping as they start to market more and more tech-type toys...
Sony rootkit removal leaves security holes
November 16, 2005
The more Sony tries to dig itself out of its DRM rootkit fiasco, the deeper the hole gets. Security experts say the program that Sony released to remove the cloaked...
NetContinuum rags on Citrix
November 16, 2005
Web application firewall vendor NetContinuum is taking a public dig at competitor Citrix this morning. Head over to www.netcontinuum.com and instead of the traditional home page you see this (click...
Knight rails against e-mail
November 16, 2005
Sir Bob Geldof is best known as the creator of famine relief super concerts Live Aid and Live 8, as well as lead singer of the departed Boomtown Rats. And...
Employee e-mail puts business at risk
November 16, 2005
Are your colleagues putting your company at risk with loosey goosey e-mail use? A new study says yes, noting that almost 70% of employees surveyed have sent or received e-mail...
Sony rootkit: Which CDs have it?
November 15, 2005
Understandably, a lot of hay has been made about Sony's incredibly botched anti-piracy attempt via a cloaked DRM rootkit included on its music CDs. But Sony produces thousands of titles...
Cell phone robber arrested
November 15, 2005
Last week we told you about the woman in Virginia who proved to be a decent bank robber and an excellent multitasker as she was always talking on her cell...
Yahoo clashes with Hwood
November 15, 2005
In an effort to keep up with the Googlers and, well, everyone below them, Yahoo has hired an influx of Hollywood studio execs to branch out into new media. The...
Geeks: TV's new stars
November 15, 2005
Friends, we knew our time was gonna come. Geeks and nerds are making their mark on TV - as the cool kids. Seattle Times TV critic Kay McFadden takes a...
New contest starts today
November 14, 2005
As usual, Microsoft is bucking the trend, going its own way. While other gaming console vendors are trying to make their offerings as small as possible, here comes Redmond with...
Latest contest winner
November 14, 2005
"This new DRM mechanism will not inconvenience the user in any way." Russell Skingsley walks away with Weekly Caption Contest honors (and thankfully not this contraption) this week. Click...
ID theft: Don't believe the hype?
November 14, 2005
It's probably safe to say identity theft is one of the most - if not the most - pressing concern of most consumer 'Net users these days, but is it...
Mobile content to get Emmy category
November 14, 2005
This news out of the New York Times totally sounds like something from the Onion, but it's apparently legit. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is expected to...
AOL to Webcast old TV shows
November 14, 2005
And continuing on a TV theme today, AOL actually has a good idea. Grandma's favorite floundering ISP has struck a deal with Warner Bros. to Webcast 300 episodes a month...
Hackers exploit Sony DRM rootkit
November 11, 2005
The only surprising aspect of the news that hackers are exploiting Sony's controversial DRM rootkit is the fact it took them this long. So far three Trojans have been found...
Woman robs banks while on cell phone
November 11, 2005
While illegal, we gotta admit the following is pretty darn impressive. A young woman has knocked over four banks in Northern Virginia in recent weeks, talking on her cell phone...
China outlaws text messaging
November 11, 2005
If you've been aware of the Chinese government's wary view of all things Internet, the following news shouldn't be too surprising. The Ministry of Public Security has stated it is...
Gaming with Google Maps
November 11, 2005
Need something to do this weekend? And we mean all weekend. Play your favorite world domination game on your favorite satellite scary map service: Risk via Google Maps. And remember,...
Schwarzenegger suffers e-voting snafu
November 10, 2005
We haven't had a good e-voting screw-up story in a while, but then again it hasn't been election season. But hold an election, like many states did earlier this week,...
Wireless providers to adopt ratings system
November 10, 2005
Wireless providers are banding together to adopt a ratings system and underage content blocking for music, video and games geared toward adults. However, the ratings and blocking will only work...
Chris Berman in your pocket
November 10, 2005
The cult of ESPN knows no boundaries. The cable network that revolutionized sports is now branching out into wireless with the launch of the ESPN cell phone, aka Mobile ESPN....
AOL's new privacy policy
November 10, 2005
It's somewhat of a good news/bad news scenario when it comes to AOL's new privacy policy. The company says it will no longer share subscriber names and addresses with other...
"The Golden Girls" and technology
November 09, 2005
Lifetime, home of the craziest "woman in danger" TV movies ever made (like the one where Tori Spelling escapes from a killer by canoe), also hosts a most amazing rerun...
France eyes riot bloggers
November 09, 2005
A 16-year-old French teen and an 18-year-old of Ghanian nationality were detained Monday and investigated for "inciting harm to people and property over the Internet," writes the AP. Officials say...
Juniper hires Cisco rabble-rouser
November 09, 2005
Over the summer ISS researcher Michael Lynn (left) caused a big ruckus at the annual Black Hat show when he disclosed vulnerabilities he found in Cisco routers over the objections...
CBS, NBC to sells shows on demand
November 09, 2005
In a move that's half iTunes and half cable movie channel on demand, CBS and NBC will offer viewers the ability to buy commercial-free repeats of several prime time shows....
Google duo takes to the air
November 08, 2005
How are Google overlords Sergey Brin and Larry Page like Wonder Woman? They all own a jet. We don't think Air Google will be invisible, though. No word on whether...
Uninstalling Sony's DRM rootkit
November 08, 2005
Last week Sony made a lot of news - bad, bad news - with its digital rights management software, which installs a heretofore unknown rootkit on users' computers. Layer 8...
Yahoo, Tivo team up
November 08, 2005
Poor Yahoo. It's getting constantly steamrolled in the news by the Googlers, who can't get a cup of coffee from the caf without hitting the front page of The Wall...
Student wins online free speech lawsuit
November 08, 2005
This case sounds like a kid's dream: A New Jersey teen has won a $117,500 settlement against his school district for violating his free speech rights. Two years ago Ryan...
New contest starts today
November 07, 2005
OK, whose server closet looks like this? Bedroom closet? Basement? Weigh in with your winning words. Get 'em to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance to win....
Latest contest winner
November 07, 2005
"Geez, when my boss talked about 'simplifying the transport layer', I had no idea this is what he meant!" Rick Stoffiere of Avon, Ohio, is this week's beeeg winner...
Storage show tracks attendees with RFID
November 07, 2005
NW Storage Newsletter author Mike Karp's got a crazy story from the recent Storage Networking Show in Orlando, noting that RFID tags were implanted in the back of attendees' badges...
Microsoft eyeing AOL again
November 07, 2005
Cue "The Imperial March" from "The Empire Strikes Back"... The New York Times this morning is reporting that Microsoft is once again giving AOL the eye and is the "front...
Bullies cost U.K. companies
November 07, 2005
There's a quiet threat stalking U.K. workers - bullies. The Register this morning reports that 2 million Brits have been bullied at work during the past six months, costing U.K....
Ads hit video iPods
November 07, 2005
We suppose it was only a matter of time before advertising tainted the driven snow of the iPod. The Adfreak blog reports it took only 22 days since the debut...
Gamers use Sony rootkit to cheat
November 04, 2005
Whaddaya know, it turns out that the controversial Sony DRM rootkit is useful for something other than enraging most Windows users. The Register reports today that World of Warcraft online...
Amazon to sell books by the page
November 04, 2005
While Google and book publishers are locking horns over the company's book-scanning initiative, Amazon.com has snuck into the fray, announcing an iTunes-like pricing scheme for book-buying. Amazon Pages, set to...
Are you sure you deleted that data?
November 04, 2005
When you wiped those old corporate hard drives before recycling them, are you sure you got everything? Positive? If you're not, you may want to check out The New York...
Better electronics shopping found online
November 04, 2005
After surveying nearly 19,000 readers, Consumer Reports says those in the market for electronics are bound to be happier shopping online than in their local stores. Topping the list of...
Sony issues patch for DRM rootkit
November 03, 2005
Sony really stepped in it earlier this week when users discovered the company's music CDs installed hidden digital rights management files on Windows PCs without a person's consent or knowledge....
Tech titan turns town into hotspot
November 03, 2005
F. Scott Fitzgerald was right, the rich really are different from you and me. The case of telecommunications entrepreneur Andreas Gerdes proved that when he moved to small-but-tony upstate Andes,...
Get fired, get famous
November 03, 2005
Our favorite new job site, Simply Fired, is running a contest in which you can win sweet Apple swank for your misery. "Get Fired, Get Filmed, Get Famous" encourages people...
1 in 5 teens blogging
November 03, 2005
A new study reports that 1 out of every 5 teens is blogging. Findings from the Pew Internet and American Life Project survey of 12- to 17-year-olds reveals that older...
The high price of ignoring disaster recovery
November 02, 2005
New Orleans poets, writers and other creative types are bemoaning the loss of their manuscripts, drafts and decades' worth of other unfinished works due to the flood waters of Hurricane...
Employee sues company over 'Net postings
November 02, 2005
A West Virginia man is suing his former employers for firing him due to anonymous comments he made on a 'Net message board about the company. Clifton Swiger worked for...
H'wood sues grandfather over downloads
November 02, 2005
We haven't had a good illegal download ridiculous lawsuit story in a while, so this hits the spot. The ever-litigious Motion Picture Association of America has sued a 67-year-old Wisconsin...
NBC news hits the Web nightly
November 02, 2005
NBC News is looking to cater to those who can't catch its 6:30 p.m. newscast by posting each night's show on its Web site. Shows will be available the same...
Job's Law of iPod obsolescence
November 01, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Pati Poblete's got a funny column this morning on Job's Law - the technology axiom that a new iPod will be released every 3 weeks, doubling...
Ford Motor to offer mobile office
November 01, 2005
Ford Motor will be catering to the mobile worker with its next series of F-250 Super Duty pickup trucks. Geared toward contractors, the truck can come equipped with a $3,000...
Apple: This video thing might work after all
November 01, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs earns Understatement of the Day honors after noting that the company has sold more than 1 million music videos, TV shows and short films in the...
Tales of tech retail horror
November 01, 2005
There are many sites on the Web dedicated to chronicling the poor customer service of a particular retail store chain. But the new I'llNeverShopThereAgain seems to be welcoming all stores...
New contest starts today
November 01, 2005
We didn't think it was possible, but there's another vehicle/transport mechanism on the planet that is geekier looking than the Segway. But what's really going on here? That's up to...
Latest contest winner
October 31, 2005
"Innnnnnnndonesia, where we'll soon be building our new plant! / Where the labor's cheap / Managers don't sleep/ and the tax laws really can't be beat! " (Sung to...
AOL IM worm making rounds
October 31, 2005
Your Monday morning starts with a red flag if you've got many AOL IM users on your net. The Register reports that the latest variant of Sdbot-ADD is "being passed...
Gadgets flummox Americans
October 31, 2005
A new survey on gadgets shows that Americans love them, but are often "flummoxed" by how to best use them. A USA Today/Gallup poll says 72% get "excited" or are...
Hurricane MREs for sale on eBay?
October 31, 2005
The AP reports this morning that cases of Meals Ready to Eat possibly meant for hurricane victims have become "Meals-Ready-for-eBay." MRE auctions are popping up on eBay, with some sellers...
Sex.com thief nabbed
October 28, 2005
The man who stole the domain sex.com, made $100 million from it and then fled to the country has been apprehended and is back in U.S. custody after five years...
The perfect virtual vacation
October 28, 2005
Massive online multiplayer game Second Life is about a year old, so why is it getting a big splash in today's New York Times Travel section? Because the paper calls...
More on the 'Net, more worried about security
October 28, 2005
More Americans are using the 'Net but they're also concerned about being scammed or losing valuable personal information to the less-than-ethical. The Census Bureau has released its latest findings on...
Anti-spyware group dallies
October 28, 2005
Are we sure the The Anti-Spyware Coalition isn't a federal agency? Because it's sure moving as quickly as one. Yesterday the group released guidelines to help users assess anti-spyware products...
Gates aims for Google
October 27, 2005
On his inaugural trip to Israel, Bill Gates says his company is gunning for Google. Probably in the search engine arena, but perhaps with office furniture, who knows? "Internet search...
The ultimate Bill Gates DVD set
October 27, 2005
Bill Gates fans, you're too late. An 11-DVD set of Bill Gates' antitrust deposition went up for bid on eBay and as soon as it started to get some press,...
Carly's next move
October 27, 2005
Carly Fiorina has made her first corporate move post HP - joining the board of "closely held computer security company, Cybertrust," reports The New York Times. But that's not the...
Yahoo doubles music subscription fee
October 27, 2005
So much for all of Yahoo's tough "We're taking on iTunes" talk. The portal is nearly doubling the price of its online music subscription service from $6.99 to $11.99 per...
Google's next move leaked?
October 25, 2005
Is serious competition afoot for eBay and craigslist? Could be if Google Base comes to fruition. The 'Net's all atwitter over news that screenshots have been seen of the login...
The office can kill you
October 25, 2005
Working for gum-enemy Tony Price could be hazardous to your health, if a Finnish health study is to be believed. A study by the University of Helsinki and Finnish Institute...
IT exec orders DNA tests on staff
October 25, 2005
A UK IT exec is so incensed over someone leaving chewed gum stuck under a conference room table he's threatened to DNA-test his staff to find the culprit. Tony Price,...
Another reason to avoid jail
October 25, 2005
You probably don't need another reason to want to avoid a prison stay, but here it is anyway: If you go to the Big House, technology will pass you by....
The new P2P enemy
October 25, 2005
Attention net admins: BitTorrent is not your main enemy anymore. Say hello to your new foe: eDonkey. The BBC reports now that people are getting sued over illegally swapping copyrighted...
Spammers' new tricks
October 25, 2005
You gotta hand it to spammers for at least one thing: They're industrious. Always trying to get into your servers and bypass your anti-spam software, spammers are now launching some...
Cinigular trumpets new cell e-mail service
October 25, 2005
Cingular got a lot of mileage yesterday out of their announcement that customers will be able to access their AOL, Yahoo and Hotmail accounts via cell phone. It's not quite...
How to keep your Gen Xers
October 25, 2005
Got job-hopping Gen Xers on your staff? Want to keep them? Researchers Charlotte and Laura Shelton studied the group and found the following: 77% of Gen Xers say they'd leave...
New contest starts today
October 24, 2005
Networking king John Chambers looks like he's about to launch into "Cisco: The Musical" here, but what's really going on? That's where you come in. Send your witty words to...
Latest contest winner
October 24, 2005
The Help Desk tries to do a clean install of a Microsoft operating system… Gregory Mamayek wraps up a clean victory in our latest Weekly Caption Contest. Click below...
The iPod killer app: iPorn
October 24, 2005
Pornography has revolutionized many a medium, from 8mm and publishing to VHS and the Internet. The San Francisco Chronicle's Mark Morford says the time has come for the merger of...
DB glitch lets prisoners out early
October 24, 2005
A state audit has found that a database glitch allowed more than 20 Michigan inmates out of prison early over the past two years. According to The Register, prisoners doing...
The Canadian Bill Gates
October 24, 2005
Did you know the BlackBerry was Canadian technology? Neither did we. But, lo and behold, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie are Canadian and, apparently, very famous north of the border....
Schools move gym class online
October 21, 2005
Minneapolis schools are finding a way to accommodate students who say they don't have time to fulfill their gym requirements - do it online. Writes USA Today: "The Minneapolis school...
The dangers of 'BlackBerry Thumb'
October 21, 2005
The whole point of the BlackBerry and other tiny-keyboarded gizmos is giving one the ability to respond easily to e-mail. But medical experts say pecking away at the mini-QWERTY is...
Third-party apps for your Tivo
October 21, 2005
Not enough to do with your Tivo? Wish you could spend more quality time with your boob tube recorder? Well, here come the third-party apps. Notes Zatz Not Funny: "www.apps.tv...
Avoid Chinese cybercafes
October 21, 2005
Here's our International Travel Tip of the Day: Avoid Chinese cybercafes. First, the country is constantly obsessing over monitoring and censoring the 'Net content seen by citizens. Then it closes...
Ballmer: We're working like crazy here
October 20, 2005
Office furniture enemy Steve Ballmer spoke at Gartner's confab at Disney World yesterday and noted that the future of the company is innovation. And, don't you worry, they're working hard...
Privacy group cracks secret printer code
October 20, 2005
From the Sounds-So-Fake-It's-Actually-True File: The Electronic Frontier Foundation says it has cracked the infamous yellow-dot color printer code contained on Xerox color printers, which displays an "invisible bar code of...
Google angers China over map
October 20, 2005
Google has raised the hackles of the Chinese government by refusing to continue to label Taiwan as a Chinese province on Google Maps. After receiving complaints from a pro-independence group,...
Google drops Gmail name in UK
October 20, 2005
Google's just caving in all over the place this week. The company has dropped the name "Gmail" from its free yet amazingly still in beta e-mail service in the U.K....
Bird flu will kill you, not your servers
October 19, 2005
Ed. note: Our cadre of server hamsters are in their death throes today, so we're offering up a clip-art-free homage to The Wall Street Journal (minus the stipple hedcuts) in...
Video iPod won't revolutionize TV
October 19, 2005
Another week. Another iPod. Another technological revolution? Not so fast, says The New York Times, which thinks the video iPod won't revolutionize TV and how it's delivered. There's two reasons...
Feds: FCC bungles E-Rate
October 19, 2005
Another government agency is coming under criticism today, with this issue centered around technology. An oversight subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee says the FCC has done a...
Video game groups try fighting ban
October 19, 2005
Two video game trade groups have filed suit in California, calling an upcoming youth-ban on violent video games unconstitutional. The Video Software Dealers Association and Entertainment Software Association claim the...
Why you never get anything done at work
October 18, 2005
If you feel like you can't string together 30 interrupted minutes of work thanks to e-mail, your BlackBerry or cell phone, you're not alone. It turns out no one gets...
Google's 'new' privacy policy
October 18, 2005
Google is kinda-sorta-not-really appeasing privacy wonks with its rewritten privacy policy. Highlights: It's twice as long! A summary is offered in a handy Cliff Notes version. It doesn't offer up...
Gates does MTV
October 18, 2005
Bill Gates is reaching out to the kids (and their future disposable income) with an MTV News special, "The Notorious B.G." Seriously, that's the real title. And, yes, it is...
The tech titan house that ate SF
October 18, 2005
Just how big is PeopleSoft founder David Duffield's proposed 72,000-square-foot "home"? Pretty much bigger than you and I can imagine. SF Chronicle columnist Carol Lloyd walks around her neighborhood and...
New contest starts today
October 17, 2005
We sense much potential in this young Jedi, er, we mean photo. Tap into the Force and send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your...
Latest contest winner
October 17, 2005
As seen by the familiar faces of these limo drivers, the Dot Com bust has gotten even worse. Bill Clark of Heber City, Utah, takes top honors this week...
Where the early adopters are
October 17, 2005
Where can you find the largest cluster of early-adopting geeks in the U.S.? Trick question: They're pretty much everywhere. USA Today takes a look at how technology has pervaded the...
The surprising home of the world's largest wireless cloud
October 17, 2005
Wanna win a bar bet? OK, it's a bet that'll only work in a nerd bar, but it's a good one. Ask your fellow geeky patron where the largest Wi-Fi...
Does e-mail make you fat?
October 17, 2005
Our comrades in desktops across the pond will celebrate "Email-Free Friday" this week in a bid to get them a little exercise. The Register reports that Sport England's Everday Sport...
Hindsight is always 20/20
October 14, 2005
We were doing a little research for NetworkWorld.com's (nee nwfusion.com) upcoming 10th anniversary that involved digging through some Lexus-Nexis news archives. We stumbled on a story from the November 12,...
5 million Euro swindled
October 14, 2005
A conman posing as the European equivalent of a secret service agent managed to swindle some 5 million Euro from various banks. According to the Times Online: Posing as a...
Good vibrations
October 14, 2005
Scientists at Toshiba are working on a new technology to make cell phone vibrations more noticeable, particularly when the phone is the pocket of loose-fitting pants. Toshiba is putting a...
Just in time for the holidays
October 14, 2005
Got a gadget freak on that holiday shopping list? Forget the video iPod, that's so yesterday (literally). Get them a PEZ MP3 player instead! The $99 First Edition PEZ Pal...
Apple's video iPod
October 13, 2005
Confirming the inevitable, Apple yesterday announced a new iPod (including a stunning all-black model) capable of playing video and a new version iTunes that sells episodes of Desparate Housewives and...
Recyclable dishes - throw the dirty ones away
October 13, 2005
For those of us that hate doing dishes (and really, who likes doing them?) there is great news coming of the MIT Media Lab. The Counter Intelligence Group (nothing to...
RFID protestors to target Dallas Wal-Mart
October 13, 2005
Watch out - Big Brother is tracking your purchases with spychips! That's what a group of protesters is saying as they prepare for an "awareness-raising" event at a Dallas Wal-Mart....
Riding a bike to save gas is impractical
October 13, 2005
With gas prices at record highs and the president urging Americans to cut down on fuel consumption (it's a supply and demand economy afterall), riding a bike to work might...
Yahoo all over the news
October 12, 2005
The joke around Layer 8 is that we have a template that we use for the weekly Google look-what's-cool announcement that goes "Google announced X this week. It's really cool...
Microsoft makes nice with Real
October 12, 2005
Want to make an anti-trust lawsuit go away? Just shell out a little cash. Microsoft is doing just that, shelling out $761 million (Bill's lunch money) to RealNetworks to settle...
Static wallpaper images are so yesterday
October 12, 2005
Everyone's had a favorite photo (the Patriot's Mike Vrabel making a spectacular touchdown catch in the Super Bowl) as their Windows desktop wallpaper. But wouldn't it be better if that...
New CA bill restricts fun
October 12, 2005
A new bill that is designed to "protect children and strengthen families" has been signed into law by California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger and could mean $1,000 fines for anyone selling...
New caption contest kicks off
October 11, 2005
What's going through Sun CEO Scott McNealy's mind as he stands besides Google chief Eric Schmidt at a recent press conference? We think that with Google's market cap six times...
Best product announcement ever
October 11, 2005
What more exciting way to come back from a three-day weekend than to find this gem in our inbox: New Product Announcement: Keyboard/Mouse Converter Wow! That's cutting edge. So what...
"Why's my BlackBerry not working??!?"
October 11, 2005
Folks in IT better get ready to hear that from panicked sales reps and C-level executives. Research In Motion may have to suspend sales of and, more importantly, e-mails to...
Caption contest winner
October 11, 2005
"Yea, this is our third manager this week after telling them that by squirting water on these big ass wires the data flows faster." The Dilbert-esque quote of the...
Off discovering
October 07, 2005
We're off Monday, Oct. 10, celebrating the U.S. holiday by lying on our couch and discovering what's on TV. We'll be back tomorrow with the winner of the latest Weekly...
Yahoo CEO slams Google
October 07, 2005
Ooh, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday. Yahoo CEO Terry Semel slammed Google's multitude of non-search projects as an attempt to play catch-up with his...
ISP chicken fight leads to 'Net outages
October 07, 2005
Internet backbone providers Level 3 and Cogent are having an ugly break-up, which is affecting some 'Net availability in the U.S. and Europe. On Wednesday Level 3 broke off its...
Cell phone sends prayer reminders
October 07, 2005
Mobile Muslims may be drawn to a new cell phone that sends them daily prayer reminders and even points them in the direction of Mecca. Now available in the Middle...
Cells could face DDoS-like attack
October 07, 2005
Researchers at Penn State report that hackers could launch a DDoS-like attack on cell phone networks via an onslaught of text messaging and quickly take down a wireless provider's net....
Dell does open source - kinda
October 06, 2005
Today's Register reports that while Dell is still basking in the praise of its move to ship copies of open source FreeDOS with (but not installed on) its new E510n...
Microsoft to launch security service
October 06, 2005
Microsoft says today it's readying a subscription security service that will "make it easier for network technicians at big businesses to make sure computers don't fall prey to spyware or...
One-third of U.S. adults offline
October 06, 2005
The AP reports today that 32% of American adults are offline, either because of access issues or by choice. One-third of the non-'Netters say they don't have access to the...
Italy monitors 'Net cafe use
October 06, 2005
If you're in Italy and want to check your e-mail at an Internet cafe, bring your passport and prepare to be monitored. The country has passed stiff new anti-terrorism laws,...
SF mayor: Free Wi-Fi is a 'civil rights issue'
October 05, 2005
Are we in the United States entitled to life, liberty and free Wi-Fi? Progressive San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom seems to think so and told the media yesterday: "It is...
Mass. debates 'Cell Phone Bill of Rights'
October 05, 2005
Massachusetts politicians are debating what they call a first-in-the-nation "Cell Phone Bill of Rights." The bill's sponsor calls it a "Lemon Law" for cell phone users that would "address common...
IBM eyes older IT pros
October 05, 2005
IBM says it's launching a new consulting service to "help more companies and institutions retain and manage their older IT workers." Big Blue notes that a large segment of the...
French lawyer uses Web for cheap lawsuits
October 05, 2005
Double trouble: Jean-Marc Goldnadel is French and a lawyer. Now he's the bane of the French judicial system since he launched a Web site that lets his countrymen sign up...
Chat, e-mail used in divorce case
October 04, 2005
A Belgian court has ruled that chat transcripts with or e-mail to or from a cyberlover can be used as evidence in divorce cases. Divorce in Belgium is acknowledged for...
IT big bucks can be found in court
October 04, 2005
Forget that Cisco certification, the real money today is being a technology expert witness. So writes The New York Times today, noting that "technical specialists and technology-savvy economists" are in...
RIP Sprint Trench Coat Guy
October 04, 2005
Sprint's deadpan Jack Webb-esque trench coat-wearing spokesman has gone the way of the Dell dude. After appearing in 155 commercials over the past six years Trench Coat Guy has apparently...
Sites, not e-mail, trapping online victims
October 04, 2005
First, the good news: The number of people falling victim to virus-laden e-mail is down. The bad? More unfortunate souls are being lured into divulging their private info via bogus...
New contest starts today
October 03, 2005
We're not sure what that guy is holding, but we want one, and then we want to run into the server closet. What's going on here? That's up to you....
Latest contest winner
October 03, 2005
Model of the Management Layer Molecule: Stacks of management particles on top of the single worker particle, increasing the heat on the worker. Corporate American is a pain to...
Opera takes on Firefox
October 03, 2005
Kick 'em when they're down. That's the philosophy Opera is taking now that Firefox has suffered a wave of bad publicity. The lesser-known free open-source browser thinks the time is...
Google bids to offer free Wi-Fi to SF
October 03, 2005
Google has thrown its platinum-plated hat into the ring in a bid to provide the City of San Francisco with free Wi-Fi. The search engine giant is competing with a...
Hawaii lures high tech
October 03, 2005
As if there weren't already enough reasons to want to move to Hawaii, the state is now granting large tax credits to high-tech businesses that set up shop in paradise....
Is Firefox losing momentum?
September 30, 2005
September is a month Mozilla will be happy to see in the rear view mirror. First Firefox was slammed by Symantec has being just as insecure as IE. Then it...
Yahoo accused of stealing engineers
September 30, 2005
Is Yahoo coming down with a case of Kai Fu-Lee? Nuance Communications claims Yahoo has stolen 13 of its engineers and with them the trade secrets behind its nearly completed...
NY, SF threaten iPod subway maps
September 30, 2005
New Yorker William Bright tries to do a service for his fellow man and The Man is tryin' to bring him down. Bright had the, um, bright idea to create...
8 arrested over "Star Wars" leak
September 30, 2005
The feds have arrested eight people in connection with leaking "Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" to the Internet the day before the movie's release in May. Albert...
The $100 laptop for kids
September 29, 2005
Nicholas Negroponte is moving closer to his goal of getting a laptop into every child's hands worldwide. The head of MIT Labs and his own nonprofit One Laptop Per Child...
RFID tracks Katrina dead
September 29, 2005
RFID has found a new, yet unfortunate, use in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Coroners in two Mississippi counties have been implanting RFID chips under the skin of corpses, or...
Apple admits nano flaw - kinda
September 29, 2005
On Monday we pointed you to The Register's scoop on the iPod nano's sensitivity to screen scratching. Apple has now come forward and admitted, somewhat, that there is an issue...
Brits direct TV show via mobiles
September 29, 2005
A British TV drama is turning into a technological "Choose Your Own Adventure," as viewers are given the chance to decide how the plot will develop via their mobile phones....
Ask Jeeves: Now with 100% less Jeeves
September 28, 2005
Anyone need a butler? Media mogul Barry Diller bought Ask Jeeves for an unreal $2.3 billion over the summer and now is dropping company mascot Jeeves and shortening the name...
China tightens 'Net info
September 28, 2005
We thought China couldn't tighten 'Net restrictions anymore than it has (aside from banning it all together), but we were wrong. The country says only "healthy and civilized news and...
Creating a disaster recovery plan
September 28, 2005
If your company doesn't have a disaster recovery plan - or it's a little moldy - check out Help Desk guru Ron Nutter's column this week. Ron takes a question...
Bluetooth's TV gag
September 28, 2005
There's been a lot of press around Bluetooth headsets these days, and what do you know, it even extends to TV. We were watching the first episode of the new...
Google: So big we stopped counting
September 27, 2005
Google is so massive, it has decided it no longer has to brag about how huge it is. The AP reports today that the company will no longer list the...
Chicago eatery opens cell phone area
September 27, 2005
First, restaurants sported smoking and non-smoking sections, now they're moving onto another nuisance - cell phones. The Chicago Tribune reports that upscale new eatery Landmark sports a plush cell phone...
Sailors block emergency channel with movie
September 27, 2005
The sailors of the British fishing vessel Oceania settled in at sea after a long day to gather round the telly and watch "Crash," the 1996 movie described thusly by...
Is Skype freeloading off your net?
September 27, 2005
Does Skype run over your company' network? No? Are you sure? NW columnist Kevin Tolly's latest offering, "Skype: Hazardous to network health?" offers up some new facts about the free...
New contest starts today
September 26, 2005
One of the funny things about our Weekly Caption Contest photos is when we find them, we just save them with absolutely no context, so we truly can't tell you...
Latest contest winner
September 26, 2005
"This confirms it: I am definitely 100% color blind." Michael Lane is 100% a winner today as he bested a strong field of entries to win our Weekly Caption...
Microsoft takes on Google AdSense
September 26, 2005
Two years late and gazillions of dollars already lost, Microsoft hops into the contextual Web search ad game today, one crafted to perfection by arch-rival Google's AdSense. The biggest loser...
iPod nano sensitive to scratching
September 26, 2005
iPod nano early adopters love the adorably small music player, except for the fact that its color display screen will apparently scratch if you breathe on it. OK, maybe it's...
Headline of the day
September 26, 2005
Straight from NW's own Demo Fall 2005, the AP crafts our favorite headline of the day: "Voice Over Internet Both Simple, Complex". "AP Headline Both Correct, Stupid." If you want...
The security implications of eBay/Skype
September 23, 2005
In the all eBay/Skype hubbub over the past week there's been a lot of questioning of the deal, its intent and, especially, the price. Leave it to The Register to...
Group helps dissident bloggers
September 23, 2005
A Paris-based media watchdog has released a "how to blog and not get caught" guide for dissidents in countries with strict freedom of speech restrictions. Reporters Without Borders' 87-page "Handbook...
Fixing comm nets after Katrina
September 23, 2005
There's so much IT cleanup work involved with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it boggles the mind. But if you want a better view into a small, yet vital, part...
Colleges offer gaming majors
September 23, 2005
The AP reports today that at least 50 colleges across the country are offering everything from courses to majors in video game design. Man, I was I was back in...
Az court slams cell phone spam
September 22, 2005
An Arizona court struck a blow for cell phone users in the U.S., saying a 1991 federal ban on autodialers can be applied to text messaging spam. The AP writes:...
Firefox: What a week
September 22, 2005
Think you're having a bad week? At least you're not Firefox. First, Symantec screamed that it had no clothes. Then it was found to sport a vulnerability that could allow...
Dell rolls out iPod rival
September 22, 2005
"Dude, you got a Dell!" will have a whole new meaning as the company rolls out its MP3 iPod Shuffle rival: DJ Ditty. And the meaning is, "Dude - ew!...
Mobile users' No. 1 priority
September 22, 2005
The BBC this morning reports that mobile users have a No. 1 priority when it comes to their devices: long battery life. A marketing survey across 15 countries revealed that...
More security woes for Firefox, Linux
September 21, 2005
Yesterday we wrote about Symantec's Firefox/Mac slam, in which the company noted that neither is necessarily more secure than Microsoft anymore. We noted: "Now, if they somehow worked in a...
Insider dishes on Microsoft reorg
September 21, 2005
Well, enjoy this blog while you can because we bet it won't be up for long. Mini-Microsoft features the musings of a Redmond insider, and the latest post features the...
Google confirms WiFi service beta
September 21, 2005
Yesterday the 'Net was all atwitter over rumors of Google testing a Wi-Fi service. And late yesterday the Mothership confirmed it's betaing Google WiFi, currently available to the public near...
Feds want cell ban for teen drivers
September 21, 2005
The feds are getting serious when it comes to drivers and cell phones - at least for the younger set. The National Transportation Safety Board yesterday voted to urge all...
Symantec slams Firefox, Macs
September 20, 2005
Symantec isn't pulling any punches when it comes to Firefox and Macs, saying they're not a safe haven from security breaches anymore. The company even noted Mac heads were living...
Jobs resists iTunes price hike
September 20, 2005
Steve Jobs says some music companies are pressuring him to raise the price of single songs bought via iTunes. Jobs - wisely - is resisting, noting that a price hike...
The etiquette of Bluetooth headsets
September 20, 2005
All of a sudden, wireless headsets are a big story. Last month we told you about a big San Francisco Chronicle feature on how those who wear Bluetooth headsets get...
Amazon's big Emmy wins
September 20, 2005
Forget who took home the gold statue at Sunday night's Emmy Awards, the real winner is Amazon.com. Amazon reports that thanks to the broadcast and subsequent publicity, many of the...
New contest starts today
September 19, 2005
Welcome to the latest round of the Weekly Caption Contest. Crack those knuckles and get writing. Send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your...
Latest contest winner
September 19, 2005
"Yeah, it's a little heavy, but this new phone has everything! It has video, music, and oh my gosh it matches my hair!" Tom Biggs walks off with first...
IBM to employees: Go teach
September 19, 2005
IBM's latest project is either really inspired or a subtle way to push people into early retirement without layoffs. Big Blue has announced it will pay for employees to earn...
Why eBay bought Skype
September 19, 2005
If you're still wondering why eBay bought Skype, "Small Business Technology" columnist James Gaskin breaks the deal down. What does the online auctioneer get for its $2.6 billion? Free customers...
IM gets a horror movie
September 19, 2005
We thought the only horror surrounding IM was trying to unsubscribe from AOL's MillionaireIM bot. But it turns out the weekend's #5 movie, "Cry Wolf," centers around a serial killer...
Stealing passwords with a microphone
September 16, 2005
Anyone can launch a keystoke logger to steal computer info, but the truly talented can do it via a mic. Researchers at UC Berkeley found that after audio taping a...
MS, AOL consider unholy union
September 16, 2005
The minute we saw the headline "Microsoft Said to Be in Talks on Forming Link to AOL" all we heard was the "Imperial March" from "The Empire Strikes Back." DUM-DUM-DUM...
ICANN delays .xxx decision - again
September 16, 2005
ICANN has called time and stepped out of the batter's box once again when it comes to the creation of the somewhat-controversial .xxx domain. ICANN delayed final approval of the...
TV vets head online
September 16, 2005
The LA Times reports many TV news personalities are heading online "to reach new audiences." Or, you know, when the TV offers dry up. Hollywood agents, the most trusted people...
Apple addicts love their boxes
September 15, 2005
Apple addicts are crazy. Crazy in a good way, but crazy nonetheless. How else would you explain a legion of fans who save every box their Apple products come in...
Yahoo tests Outlook-like UI
September 15, 2005
Last year the free e-mail account battle was all about storage. This year, providers are throwing down over who has the best user interface. So explaineth industry experts as they...
Hilton hacker sentenced
September 15, 2005
A 17-year-old Massachusetts boy who hacked into Paris Hilton's T-Mobile account earlier this year and unleashed a slew of celebrity contact info on the Web has been sentenced to kiddie...
Trump hits wireless
September 15, 2005
Donald Trump may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you've gotta admire his hustle. He's always hawking something. Now Trump has teamed with T-Mobile to create a new ringback...
Users: Help Desk will bail us out
September 14, 2005
Anyone who works a help desk could have predicted the results of a new survey, which shows employees are more likely to visit suspicious Web sites at work thinking the...
Ballmer: I am not a chair thrower
September 14, 2005
It looks as if our favorite new soap opera, the Microsoft-Google-Kai-Fu-Lee brouhaha, may be coming to an end. Microsoft wants this all to end and has offered to drop the...
Become the Tivo Ambassador
September 14, 2005
If you're a Tivo addict you could become the first Tivo Ambassador. Get 5 TV-addicted friends to sign up for the DVR service, write a letter or make a tape...
Building a better to-do list
September 14, 2005
If you're a list maker like us (a "J" in Myers-Briggs parlance), you'll enjoy the article from 43 folders: "Building a Smarter To-Do List." In fact, if the thought of...
The C, C++, Java board game
September 13, 2005
Sick of playing Monopoly and Clue with the kids? Time to get them The c-jump Ski & Snowboard Race, which "helps children to learn basics of programming languages, such as...
Vonage runs VoIP sweepstakes
September 13, 2005
Vonage is taking a page from Amazon.com's promotional book and will have "ultimate performing sports heroes" show up at select customer's homes to install their VoIP. The sweepstakes is being...
Yahoo defends China move
September 13, 2005
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang is defending his company's decision to turn over a journalist's personal e-mail information to the Chinese government, a move that critics say led to the man...
Cosby wins Fat Albert domain rights
September 13, 2005
Bill Cosby is the latest celebrity WIPO winner as the international organization granted the fatalbert.com domain rights back to the comedian. Cosby had complained to the U.N.'s World Intellectual Property...
New contest starts today
September 12, 2005
There's red and then there's red. No idea what this is or what's going on, that's where you come in. Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end of day...
Latest contest winner
September 12, 2005
"Aww, come one, Mom. Just two more viruses and I'll be done." No viruses, only laurels for this week's winner, Mike McGuffin. Come back later today for your chance...
MillionaireIM: Set us free!
September 12, 2005
We make a lot of fun of AOL, but that merriment has turned into white-hot, seething rage as we cannot for the life of us figure out how to wrestle...
China moving to block VoIP
September 12, 2005
It's safe to say China is just not a big fan of the Internet. First, there are the country's strict controls on Web site access, freedom of speech, Internet cafes...
Web changing charities, donations
September 12, 2005
USA Today posts a timely piece this morning on how the Internet is changing America's charitable donation efforts. In addition to examining how the 'Net enables quick donations to large...
eBay to buy Skype?
September 09, 2005
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that eBay is in talks to exercise a BuyItNow option on Skype to the tune of $2 billion to $3 billion. That's a boatload...
Google assimilates Vint Cerf
September 09, 2005
Vint "Father of the Internet" Cerf signed with Google yesterday, becoming the company's "chief Internet evangelist." His role: To join Admiral Piett and Darth Vader, and bring order to the...
Nano: One iPod too many?
September 09, 2005
We love Apple, but we wonder: Is the company going back to the iPod well too many times? Fruit Co.'s latest announcement this week, the iPod Nano, seems to suggest...
Video tombstones on the way
September 09, 2005
We swear we posted something about video tombstones last year, but daggummit we can't find it. Also, we have no idea why we're suddenly channeling a 19th-century prospector. Regardless, they're...
Katrina survivors must use IE to file for aid
September 08, 2005
This is just adding insult to injury. Haven't these people been through enough? Anyone using a non-Windows OS or browser can't file for aid online, but can dial up the...
iTunes subscribers top 10 million
September 08, 2005
For the first time, Apple has revealed iTunes subscriber numbers, saying it has a base of 10 million account holders. Apple honcho Steve Jobs noted yesterday that iTunes is "one...
Google duo tops power list
September 08, 2005
Google wunderkind Google Sergey Brin and Larry Page have another achievement to add to their long list. The 32-year-olds have topped Vanity Fair's New Establishment annual powerbroker ranking. It's not...
More on shuttering retail online sites
September 08, 2005
Last week we noted how Gap had surprisingly shuttered Gap.com and OldNavy.com for a total overhaul in preparation for the holiday shopping season. Reader Larry S., who has a better...
Programmer fired for eating pizza
September 07, 2005
A Colorado computer programmer who was canned for eating leftover pizza has won a cruise for enduring the most outrageous firing. As we told you last month, the site Simply...
MS exec: Redmond incompetent in China
September 07, 2005
Forget "Days of Our Lives," we're addicted to this Google/Microsoft Kai Fu-Lee street fight now unfolding in a Seattle court. Why isn't this on Court TV? When we last left...
Google OS screenshot
September 07, 2005
Wanna freak out your friends? Send them a screenshot of Google's new OS. Later you can tell them it's a fake. It's a good fake, though, and probably not far...
Mazda replaces keys with USB drive
September 07, 2005
One of Mazda's latest prototype models replaces the traditional key-start ignition with a USB flash drive. "What's more, the drive also has the more conventional flash drive functionality of transferring...
New contest starts today
September 06, 2005
We don't know who this lad is, but we like his media savvy. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance to win Layer...
Latest contest winner
September 06, 2005
Red Hat Linux introduces its new Technology Steering Committee. Jay Moore is captain of the latest Weekly Caption Contest by submitting the above. We're hoping he's a little more...
MS, Google fight heats up
September 06, 2005
This whole Microsoft-Google fight over disputed employee Kai Fu-Lee is getting awesome. Long scuffle short: Lee worked for Microsoft on projects related to expanding in China. Google snatched Lee away...
Text messaging and Katrina
September 06, 2005
Prior to last week, we thought text messaging was the answer to a question no one asked and had no real value in the U.S. Why type at someone when...
Katrina aftermath IT news
September 06, 2005
As with every big story, there's an IT angle to be had. Check out our Katrina Aftermath IT News page - updated daily - where we've gathered all the IT-related...
Beware Katrina relief spam
September 02, 2005
Just like after the tsunami disaster, 'Net experts are warning generous souls to be on the lookout for Hurricane Katrina relief spam that lead to phishing sites. USA Today reports...
Cell phone flasher arraigned
September 02, 2005
Manhattan restaurateur Dan Hoyt has been ID'd by victims as the cell phone flasher and arraigned in an NYC court on four counts of public lewdness. (Back story here.) According...
Study: Cell phones don't cause tumors
September 02, 2005
Good news for cell phone users: A U.K. study finds that using a mobile phone does not cause tumors. "The results of our study suggest that there is no substantial...
AP offers NOLA satellite images
September 02, 2005
News about the state of specific New Orleans neighborhoods is at a premium as family and friends try to determine if there's anything left of their homes or property. The...
Apple's genius Mac mini move
September 01, 2005
If you're still unconvinced that the Apple gang are PR geniuses, check this out: Yesterday on Apple.com, the company posted an offer in which people could test drive the new...
Tacky press release of the day
September 01, 2005
Following the awful devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the southern U.S. comes the inevitable tacky press releases in which vendors nearly break their hands patting themselves on the back for...
Gap shutters online shopping site
September 01, 2005
If they have to overhaul their site, most retailers will work on it during off-peak hours or take down parts instead of putting up an "Under construction" sign and shutting...
What's a toned client?
September 01, 2005
Thin clients haven't taken the world by storm as vendors hoped, so perhaps a name change is in order? Vendor Neoware sent out a press release yesterday titled "You Say...
Will Google use its powers for evil?
August 31, 2005
Over the past year, the "Google is the new Microsoft" theory has been increasing with every frightening move the search engine giant makes. USA Today Tech Columnist Kevin Maney ruminates...
Worst new network acro
August 31, 2005
We normally don't quote NW competitors, but we really can't resist when they come up with a new, truly horrid acronym: "To some degree, network anomaly detection systems (NADS) are...
iTunes cell phone reportedly on the way
August 31, 2005
It's been rumored forever, and now the iTunes-playing cell phone is allegedly set to roll from Motorola and Cingular Wireless. Reps from the Fruit Co., Cingular and Motorola are keeping...
Digicam facts to wow your (nerdy) friends
August 31, 2005
Despite the rise of home photo printers - and their subsequent price drop - the trend in digital photo printing is shifting from the home to retail locations. And we'd...
Five reasons NOT to use Linux
August 30, 2005
Here's a headline you don't see every day (unless you're on Microsoft's intranet): "Five reasons NOT to use Linux." That's enough to get us to stop and read. Reason 1:...
Google losing ground in China
August 30, 2005
You don't often read anything about Google that's not all sunshine and lollipops, which is why the headline: "Google Losing Ground in China" made us stop and take a look....
Cell phone flasher possibly ID'd
August 30, 2005
Yesterday we told you about the NYC subway flasher caught on a cell phone camera by a vigilant female rider. Today's New York Daily News reports that other victims have...
Flickr fans plan 'symbolic suicide'
August 30, 2005
If you peruse friends' pictures on the Web, chances are you've come across Flickr a time or two. It's one of the most popular free picture-hosting sites, and earlier this...
New contest starts today
August 29, 2005
Set sail for open source! Or something. You guys are the real caption writers, so here's your latest victim...er...material. Send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday...
Latest contest winner
August 29, 2005
Yeoman Rand stands by for beaming... Oh, Chris Robbins we love how you think. Actress Grace Lee Whitney, the original Yeoman Rand, must love it, too. See how easy...
Woman catches flasher with camera phone
August 29, 2005
A New York City woman has struck a blow for female subway riders everywhere by catching a flasher in the act with her camera phone. Twenty-two-year-old Thao Nguyen was riding...
Spyware creator indicted
August 29, 2005
Today's news from the It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time Department: The creator and buyers of the Loverspy program, designed to catch your significant other cheating on...
Trek communicator phone on the way
August 29, 2005
Finally! Sona Mobile and Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products have announced they'll release a mobile phone next month modeled on the Star Trek communicator, the granddaddy of today's clamshell flip-top...
GMail opens to mobile phone public
August 26, 2005
What do Gmail and a mobile phone have in common? Without the latter, you can't get in on the former. Google has opened the Gmail beta to the U.S. public,...
Sleep timer for iTunes
August 26, 2005
In our estimation, the sleep timer is the second greatest clock-related invention (the Snooze button being #1) ever. It's nice to fall asleep to the TV, but highly annoying to...
Low price beer = binge drinking
August 26, 2005
Interesting post over on Blogcritics that disputes a Harvard study that claims the low price and prevelenance of beer and liquor stores near campus lead to binge drinking among college...
Ready, aim, FIRE!
August 26, 2005
What happened to the days of making a slingshot out of a rubber band strung between the limbs of a Y-shaped tree branch? Today we have laser-sighted slingshots that can...
Cool shades
August 25, 2005
Sunglasses are so 2004. As summer wanes and Labor Day fast approaches, make sure to be seen at the beach with SunBlades: The company says the $52 sun shades are...
Get 10 years free* satellite service
August 25, 2005
EchoStar wants to give you 10 free years of satellite television service. What's the catch? Why does there always have to be a catch? Okay, so there is a catch,...
AOL to consumers: You've got a lifetime contract
August 25, 2005
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer must have been one pissed off AOL customer who couldn't cancel is subscription to the online service. He's fined the company $1.25 million for...
Happy Birthday BSOD
August 24, 2005
Ten years ago today Microsoft brought us the Blue Screen of Death:...
Google launches IM service
August 24, 2005
Google's at it again. As if releasing a new version of its Desktop Search product weren't enough for the week, the company today rolled out a new Instant Messaging service...
Mobile phones reduce teen smoking
August 24, 2005
Your teen want a cell phone but you're against the idea of them text messaging all day? You may want to rethink that stance as a phone could be good...
In-room movie hacking
August 24, 2005
Our friends at The Register report that a group of security experts have found a vulnerability in the in-room movie system used at a major hotel chain. The group was...
Amazon offers new "toys"
August 24, 2005
The Blogosphere is abuzz (pun intended) with news that Amazon.com has been quietly adding "adult" toys to its online superstore. One search (linked here at Boing Boing) brought up over...
Flickr as offsite backup
August 23, 2005
Looking for a place offsite to store your valuable files but don't want to pay exorbitant fees to an online backup service? Use Flickr. But that's just for photos, you...
Caption contest - join the fun
August 23, 2005
Is it live or is it Memorex? We'd think Barbie would be past the basic flip phone as an accessory, but who are we to judge fashion. We will judge...
Get better MPG with a scooter
August 23, 2005
Want to save money on gas? No, don't get a hybrid. Get a scooter! The Associated Press reports that the popularity of scooters is "soaring" as the price of gas...
We spell good
August 23, 2005
Would you want to take a class that teaches the basics of Microsoft's popular spreadsheet application from a group that can't spell said application's name? Maybe our local Adult Education...
Latest contest winner
August 22, 2005
"Here is the latest gear to wear while deploying Vista." The recent virus outbreaks were the topic of many entries, but Randall Diekmeyer takes the prize this week for...
Be on the cover of your own mag
August 22, 2005
Want to be like Oprah (no, not filthy rich) and appear on the cover of your own magazine? Try out this handy utility that generates a nice looking cover using...
PA legislature rakes in the most per constituent
August 22, 2005
We here at the home of Layer 8 (Mass.) like to complain about our full-time pay, part-time work legislature, but we have nothing on our friends from Pennsylvania. After a...
Workin' on the railroad
August 22, 2005
Admit it, at one time, right around the time firefighter and garbage man seemed like the ultimate profession, you wanted to be a train engineer. Riding the rails, blowing the...
Are cells making us unreliable?
August 19, 2005
Are mobile phones making us late, unreliable friends? Apparently so, according to an Intel study, which notes that 20% of those surveyed said they have no problem being late or...
MS to 'reposition' RSS
August 19, 2005
Microsoft says it is "repositioning" RSS in the next release of Internet Explorer in an attempt to pretend it's not as late to the RSS game as it is. Well,...
Spam starting to prey on user fears
August 19, 2005
The monthly Clearswift Spam Index is out and the company says spammers are moving from sales scams to preying on users' fears. "For the first time, e-mails promoting goods associated...
Swank hotels offer game butlers
August 19, 2005
The Kor Hotel Group has announced it will make Sony PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 gaming systems available as free amenities at four Southern California hotels: Viceroy Santa Monica, Viceroy...
HBO develops first commercial version of Firefox
August 18, 2005
HBO and its advertising agency have joined forces to bastardize, um, we mean "create" what's believed to be the first commercially-themed version of Firefox. Online ad agency Deep Focus has...
Nickelodeon to debut IM for kids
August 18, 2005
How young is too young to get addicted to IM and e-mail? If you're a parent of a Nickelodeon fan you're about to find out as Nick.com is set to...
Retro gaming's big comeback
August 18, 2005
The more things change, the more they stay the same. You can have your PSP, we'll stick with our Atari 2600. That's what many growing-older gamers are saying as they...
Kodak leads digicam market
August 18, 2005
Interesting news out of the digicam world this morning, as research firm IDC reports Kodak has extended its lead in market share. IDC says Kodak, which specializes in entry-level, point-and-shoot...
iBook sale sparks riot
August 17, 2005
Memo to school systems: Next time you want to sell used computer equipment make sure you have plenty of riot police on hand. Yesterday, the Henrico County School System of...
MS beats Apple to iPod patent
August 17, 2005
What a riot, Part II: Apple was so busy patting itself on the back for the success of the iPod, it forgot to file a patent on a key part...
Wear Bluetooth, get mocked
August 17, 2005
Wireless cell headsets aren't brand new, but they're still uncommon enough that you may get ridiculed or gawked at. "I'm mocked constantly," says Lynne Brady, manager at Amoeba Records in...
Ex-tech execs power African villages
August 17, 2005
Here's the feel-good tech story of the day: Ex-Silicon Valley execs have banded together to bring Internet access, VoIP, e-mail and voice mail to remote African villages - all without...
ICE your cell
August 16, 2005
The near-impossible has happened: We received a piece of fram (family/friends spam) that actually has useful information. We know, we're shocked, too. Last night we got a forwarded e-mail from...
IT pro gives IT pros a bad name
August 16, 2005
Last week, 39-year-old Ed Krakowiak did a nice thing. He found a $1,000 uncashed paycheck in the parking lot of a Downers Grove, Ill., Dairy Queen and tracked down the...
Teen's eBay auction goes awry
August 16, 2005
We feel for 18-year-old Chip Davis of St. Joseph, Mo. Davis and his friend, both college-bound freshmen, had a brilliant idea: Auction off their services over the summer on eBay...
PSP runs Linux, Windows
August 16, 2005
How powerful is the PlayStation Portable gaming system? It can play movies, games, and even run Linux and Windows. Hackers over at the PSPLinux project have gotten the open-source OS...
New contest starts today
August 15, 2005
We're all for mobile gear but this may be taking the matter a bit too far. At least that's our opinion, but it doesn't matter as the Weekly Caption Contest...
Latest contest winner
August 15, 2005
The new Apple “I-Glass Holder,” available in any human form, excluding Bill Gates. We like the way Alan Rosinski thinks. We're hoping Apple's iKeys Holder will roll out soon....
Man relies on gaming skills to outrun cops
August 15, 2005
Playing video games can improve your hand-eye coordination and puzzle solving skills, but beyond that real-world benefits run slim. Just because you can toss a 88-yard TD bomb into double...
Google suspends Print program
August 15, 2005
Earlier this year, Google freaked out libraries, universities and pretty much the entire print world with its grand plan to scan every book into its ginormous search engine without any...
Tivo trials 'Net TV downloads
August 15, 2005
Tivo's everywhere but it still hasn't made a buck, which is why it's turning to new projects, such as TV show downloads, to earn some green. The PVR company announced...
MIT to cure jerks
August 12, 2005
MIT researchers are now working on a Jerk-O-Meter, cell phone software they say will measure speech patterns and voice tones to determine how interested a person is in the conversation....
Microsoft's Linux guru speaks
August 12, 2005
As Redmond's open-source guru, Bill Hilf seems like the Microsoft equivalent of The Maytag Repairman. Earlier this week we told you Microsoft was leading a session at LinuxWorld, and Hilf...
Txt messaging catching on in U.S.
August 12, 2005
The Wall Street Journal this morning reports that text messaging is finally catching on in the U.S., which has lagged behind pretty much everyone on Earth when it comes to...
Best keyboard ever
August 12, 2005
We walked into the office of "Cool Tools" writer Keith Shaw the other day after he yelled, "Hey, come look at my new keyboard!" In we went and there sat...
IE7: Playing catch-up
August 11, 2005
AP 'Net writer Anick Jesdanun takes a look at the Internet Explorer 7 beta and says it breaks no new ground, but instead plays catch up to Opera and Firefox:...
Sexes view Web differently
August 11, 2005
Is your company's Web site male or female? British researchers say the sexes view the Web differently and prefer different attributes when it comes to online design. Some tidbits: Men...
Man dies after gaming binge
August 11, 2005
A South Korean man has died after reportedly playing Starcraft at an Internet cafe for 49 hours straight. Police say the gamer, ID'd only as Lee, only stopped for bathroom...
Stolen Segways a hard sell
August 11, 2005
Wanna buy a hot Segway? Apparently no one does, a group of New Hampshire criminal masterminds discovered. Concord, N.H., police got a tip that a warehouse contained 10 $5,000 Segways...
AOL, MS give away spam booty
August 10, 2005
Yesterday we told you about Microsoft's $7 million spam settlement from noted spam purveyor Scott Richter. It turns out Microsoft once is pays about a mil in legal costs, will...
Opera betas small cell browser
August 10, 2005
If you've always wanted to enjoy the 'Net from your phone but never had the horsepower to do so, Opera may be able to help. The company announced Opera Mini,...
Ding - a problem for your net?
August 10, 2005
No sooner had we seen a commercial for Southwest's new personalized air fare alert system than the Times ran a story on said system. Basically, users download the app, Ding,...
National Underwear Day
August 10, 2005
And you thought Arbor Day was a weird holiday? Happy National Underwear Day, pals, where the folks behind your favorite new URL - freshpair.com - urge you to use Aug....
RFID U.S. passports on the way
August 09, 2005
Time to pack your tin hat when you travel as the State Department says it has finalized "logistical and technological" details for RFID-enabled U.S. passports. The feds say the chip...
MS wins $7M from 'spam king'
August 09, 2005
Microsoft v. "spam king" Scott Richter: Who do you root for? Redmond, we guess... The software giant won $7 million in couch change from Richter today to settle a lawsuit...
MS tweaks Vista after virus news
August 09, 2005
It seems as if Microsoft is trying to deflect some of the Vista virus publicity by saying that compromised scripting language Monad will not ship with Vista, whenevertheheck that rolls...
Yahoo doubles search engine
August 09, 2005
Yahoo is trumpeting its revamped search engine, announcing its "online search engine index now spans more than 20 billion Web documents and images, nearly double the material scanned by rival...
New contest starts today
August 08, 2005
A new Apple store and iTunes conquered Tokyo last week, complete with overlord Steve Jobs, left. What's Steve up to? That's up to you - put words in Steve's mouth...
Latest contest winner
August 08, 2005
"Look at my new camera phone! Now we have double the chances of getting into an auto accident over a standard phone!" Tom Kozel hits the nail on the...
Calif. auto club fires 27 over postings
August 08, 2005
Another case of stupid work-related blogging/forum postings, but this one's a little different from previous instances. The Automobile Club of Southern California has confirmed it fired 27 workers over the...
MS hits LinuxWorld
August 08, 2005
Hey, Microsoft: You've just rolled out the Vista beta and there's already viruses written for it! What are you gonna do next? We're going to LinuxWorld!!! What in the name...
Cisco demo guy/celebrity look-alike
August 08, 2005
All last week we kept seeing the NW story on Cisco demo guy Jim Grubb and it was killing us: Which actor does he look like? We couldn't put...
Don't make plans Tuesday
August 05, 2005
So, whatcha doin' Tuesday? Ooh! We know: Patching your servers. Don't forget to bring your lunch. Microsoft's got six presents for you in the pipeline, including one deemed "critical." Redmond's...
Hackers target Vista
August 05, 2005
We'll say this for virus writers, they don't let grass grow under their feet when it comes to messing with Microsoft. Word out of Europe has an Austrian hacker writing...
Airport, airline in Wi-Fi tiff
August 05, 2005
Boston's Logan Airport - the crappiest major airport in the world (and we can say that as it's unfortunately our flying home base) - is trying to block Continental Airlines...
Google needs a new chef
August 05, 2005
Poor Google, such woes. First its stock has dropped to an embarrassing $297, and now it has lost its corporate chef. How do employees still get up in the morning?...
MS, eBay invest in phone sex outfit
August 04, 2005
At Microsoft, it's not all Vista-this and Active Directory-that. No, Redmond remains diligent in investing in R&D, the technologies of tomorrow and, of course, phone sex and dial-a-psychic lines. The...
Users fleeing AOL
August 04, 2005
America's grandmothers are smartening up and deserting AOL for faster, cheaper pastures. The Register reports that the shrinking ISP lost nearly a million subscribers over the past three months. This,...
Tivo banner ads debut
August 04, 2005
The much-ballyhooed Tivo banner ads are making their debut on TVs across the country. PVRblog reports the ads, which ironically are meant to attract the attention of those fast-forwarding through...
Get fired, win a cruise
August 04, 2005
A start-up employment Web site is offering a deal to the jobless - share your story about getting fired and you could win a cruise to the Caribbean. Simply Hired...
Cisco security donnybrook continues
August 03, 2005
The story of the Cisco/ISS Security Briefing That Wasn't, But Then Was Illegally, And Then Was Renounced continues. As you knew it would. Security researcher Richard Forno has posted slides...
Linux hack lets you eavesdrop on conversations
August 03, 2005
Out of the U.K. comes news of an amusing Linux hack that we shouldn't find amusing. The Register says Linux hackers have developed Car Whisperer software, which with a directional...
Banks could prevent phishing losses
August 03, 2005
Tech think tank Gartner says banks could prevent many phishing losses by being a tad more diligent on the security front. Analysts say ATMs are very vulnerable to phishing, as...
Apple rolls out 'Mighty Mouse'
August 03, 2005
Apple has rolled out a new mouse, which is big doin's for the Fruit Faithful. The $49 "Mighty Mouse" looks frighteningly similar to the traditional Apple mouse, yet sports a...
Nevada OKs mobile gambling
August 02, 2005
If you're a fan of gambling and there's just not enough action for you in Vegas, you're in luck. Gov. Kenny Guinn has signed a bill that makes Nevada the...
Fighting family spam
August 02, 2005
Prior to e-mail, it used to be that the only time you got inundated with boring, boastful or disturbing updates from family or friends was via the mass-mailed Christmas letter....
Taking tech love too far
August 02, 2005
We love our iPod and we know others who feel the same way about theirs, or their cell phones, BlackBerries, PDAs or whathaveyou. But some people take their love of...
MS employee wins bad writing contest
August 02, 2005
A Microsoft employee has won the world's worst writing contest for 2005. And, no, it wasn't a code-writing or documentation-writing contest, though we'd bet Redmond could land some top spots...
New contest starts today
August 01, 2005
Drive away with a sweet Layer 8 prize by writing the winning caption for this week's contest. (Ed. - Note, said prize will not be a car.) Send your winning...
Latest contest winner
August 01, 2005
"You put a Longhorn in, you pull the XP out/ You put a new name in and you shake it all about/ You call the darn thing Vista and...
Gore launches bizarre 'Net project
August 01, 2005
Al Gore may not be the father of the Internet as he once famously claimed, but he can claim parentage of what seems to be one of the worst 'Net-related...
WeatherBug takes on NW
August 01, 2005
We here at Network World get called many a name by those who think we're in a vendor's pocket, or we don't know our ASP from our elbow or what...
Fox TV starts podcasting
August 01, 2005
Starting this week, if you miss an episode of your favorite Fox TV show, you can just turn to your MP3 player. Fox has announced it will produce "Foxcasts" (aka...
The tale of Cisco, Black Hat and the rogue researcher
July 29, 2005
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you're giving an unauthorized talk on unpatched Cisco router exploits, then it's big, big news. That's what ISS researcher Michael Lynn discovered...
IE7 beta erases Google toolbar
July 29, 2005
British IT site The Register reports that the Internet Explorer 7 beta, which went into release yesterday, will automatically nuke your Google or Yahoo toolbars and nicely install MSN as...
MS/Google employee fight update
July 29, 2005
Last week we told you about the world's most sought-after tech employee - Kai-Fu Lee. Google hired Lee away from Microsoft, which sued its former VP to bar him from...
RIM to honor women in tech
July 29, 2005
RIM is teaming with a UK business women's networking group to honor women in technology. The Blackberry Women and Technology awards will honor top female tech users, as well as...
10-year-old earns MS cert
July 28, 2005
A 10-year-old Pakistani girl has become the youngest certified Microsoftie. Arfa Karim Randhawa passed her Microsoft Certified Professional exam last year and traveled to Redmond this week for an audience...
NASA grounds Shuttle flights
July 28, 2005
In our book astronauts are the toughest, bravest government employees around. Get this: You're a member of the Space Shuttle Discovery, the first since the disastrous Columbia mission. Your launch...
Shuttle delivers huge Webcast audience
July 28, 2005
NASA reports that nearly 433,000 people simultaneously watched its live space shuttle Webcast this week. Instead of being surprised that many people watched a Webcast (which *is* amazing), we're wondering...
Nine out of 10 teens online
July 28, 2005
Here's your Least Surprising News Story of the Day: Teens love the Internet. Those busy researchers at the Pew Internet & American Life Project say 9 out of 10 kids...
Microsoft wipes Apple off the map
July 27, 2005
Microsoft has launched the latest nerdy Web slam at the competition. Apparently if you use the company's new Virtual Earth satellite photo service and type in the address for Apple's...
Wireless hackers start war driving
July 27, 2005
Remember a few years ago when hackers would sit under bridges or aside busy highways and steal cell phone numbers, then use them to make free phone calls? Well, The...
Microsoft runs into Vista name issues
July 27, 2005
So Microsoft takes the somewhat cool code name of Longhorn and changes it to the wussy official product name, Vista. And if that weren't bad enough, it turns out Vista...
Russian spammer murdered
July 27, 2005
An infamous Russian spammer was found bludgeoned to death in his apartment this week. Thirty-five-year-old Vardan Kushnir was known for running the Center for American English, which should have been...
Take a tour of Adobe HQ
July 26, 2005
Earlier this year we pointed you to a tour of Pixar HQ, which is still the coolest office ever, in our opinion. However, the gang at PhotoshopNews took a tour...
IM makes raising teens harder
July 26, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mona Gable says if it wasn't already hard enough raising a teen-ager, the popularity of IM has made it worse: "What I do know is that...
Folks fight for analog cell phones
July 26, 2005
For most of us, the good 'ol (and we mean 'ol) "mobile" bag phone is a technological relic, if not a good punch line when your friend's super cool/tiny digital...
Vonage's "Pimp My Phone" contest
July 26, 2005
If you're a fan of VoIP and case modding, it doesn't get any better for you than Vonage's "Pimp My Phone" contest. The company gave four cooler-than-us design nerds a...
New contest starts today
July 25, 2005
Hold onto your hats, it's nearly Steve Ballmer Monkey Dance 2.0, minus Ballmer. This time we've got two senior yet still lower than Ballmer Microsofties gyrating over the name change...
Latest contest winner
July 25, 2005
"... And once we get to Phase III of our transporter technology in 2007, we'll be able to get the rest of Li's body to teleport over too! We'll...
Study: Tech terms befuddle masses
July 25, 2005
When we say "ATM" here at NW.com, you know we're not talking cash money. And when we type "SCSI" you not only know what it is, but also how to...
Porncasting hits Podcasting
July 25, 2005
Well, you knew it had to happen. Find a popular grassroots technology and those with a bent toward more, um, adult content would soon be participating. (Ed. - Oh, just...
Ebert on making Web money
July 25, 2005
Roger Ebert - yes, *that* Roger Ebert - has some thoughts about how to make money off the Web: Have a "FreeWeb" and a "PennyWeb": "The obvious solution would be...
Back up those files
July 22, 2005
You've always stored important documents on your home computers, but each year it seems they get more critical. Now sitting on that C: drive are not only financial records and...
A fitting tribute to 'Scotty'
July 22, 2005
While working on the post below, we glanced at USA Today's Top 5 Tech Stories listing and found the following: The Star Trek nerd in us loves - loves -...
Legal music downloads skyrocket
July 22, 2005
Take heart, music industry: Your ham-handed scare tactics and lawsuit threats are starting to bear fruit as legal music downloads have tripled so far this year. The International Federation of...
Tim Brown and Tecmo Bowl
July 22, 2005
One great aspect of the Web is there's always someone chronicling some obscure, yet interesting, fact. Take the site ufcker.com (be careful when you type that), which notes that this...
Feds land giant spam bust
July 21, 2005
Who knew Spain was a spammer's paradise? Apparently the feds, who in conjunction with Spanish police arrested 310 people in Malaga, Spain, in connection with a $124 million bogus e-mail...
AIM Fight: How popular are you?
July 21, 2005
Here's your Internet Diversion of the Day: AIM Fight. If you have an AOL IM screen name pit it vs. that of your friends, colleagues or evil doers and see...
Google maps the Moon
July 21, 2005
Having already conquered Earth, Google has branched out and mapped the Moon. In honor of yesterday's anniversary of the first lunar moon landing, Google Moon has mapped the landing sites...
Tablet PCs: Not so fantastic
July 21, 2005
Tablet computing was supposed to be The Next Big Thing yet it hasn't exactly taken the world by storm - and now it can't even get a break at the...
Microsoft battles Google over employee
July 20, 2005
Kai-Fu Lee is the hottest IT employee in the world right now, as Microsoft and Google engage in a Godzilla vs. Mothra battle for his services. Yesterday Lee punched in...
Gates: Why aren't kids into IT?
July 20, 2005
Microsoft's holding its annual Microsoft Research Faculty Summit this week, ("Making tomorrow's Microsoft minions - today!") and Bill Gates kicked it off wondering why the heck more kids don't want...
Teacher fired due to forum post
July 20, 2005
If there's one public service announcement we like to make, it's "Don't blog about your job." Yet we may need to amend this to include: "Don't blog about your job...
Fingernails: Your future storage source
July 20, 2005
Japanese researchers are working on methods to carve data onto fingernails, which one day could replace credit cards. But what if you bite your nails? "You'd have to get your...
Toddler buys Benz on eBay
July 19, 2005
We haven't had a good, wacky eBay story in a while. This one fits the bill: A New York man is being sued by a car dealer for trying to...
Martha to marry Microsoftie?
July 19, 2005
Here at the Layer 8 newsroom (also known as our desk) we scour the Web for you. We check the Times, the wires and even the boring 'ol Wall Street...
Indiana woman hits iTunes jackpot
July 19, 2005
An Indiana woman purchased the 500 millionth song sold on iTunes and won a boatload of goodies from Apple. Buying "Mississippi Girl" by Faith Hill was the best 99 cents...
Tivo: Please watch commercials
July 19, 2005
Tivo exists for basically two reasons: 1) You can easily record and watch TV whenever you want, and 2) You can breeze right through commercials. Yet Tivo is now trying...
New contest starts today
July 18, 2005
Someone's happy with her new photo printer. But we want you to be happy with the winning words we know you'll send our way in the latest Weekly Caption...
Latest contest winner
July 18, 2005
Scientists at Microsoft work long hours to convert the blue screen of death to the new Longhorn red screen of death. William Flusek knows we're a sucker for a...
Hacker to others: Don't be like me
July 18, 2005
British hacker Gary McKinnon is warning the like-minded: Don't be like me. McKinnon is facing extradition to the U.S. and a possible Bernie Ebbers x 3 prison term for poking...
Disney World mandates fingerprint scans
July 18, 2005
Disney World has mandated fingerprint scans for guests at all of its Florida theme parks, raising the collective eyebrow of privacy watch dogs. Disney previously required scans only for season...
ICANN delays domain names
July 18, 2005
If you're waiting for the arrival of non-English domain names, don't hold your breath, says Vint Cerf, father of the Internet/ICANN overlord. Well, you could hold it but, you know,...
Users win with broadband price wars
July 15, 2005
If you don't have broadband at home, you really can't use cost as an excuse anymore. USA Today looks at carriers and cable companies' broadband price wars and the fact...
Study: VoIP inferior to land lines
July 15, 2005
A study from research consultancy Keynote Systems says IP telephony is still inferior to landlines when it comes to call quality and reliability. The study found that "phone service is...
Fox tricks viewers onto Web site
July 15, 2005
During the All-Star Game earlier this week the Fox network deceived viewers and blurred the line of advertising integrity (if there was one to begin with) by passing off a...
PBS to launch downloadable "NerdTV"
July 15, 2005
PBS is catering to the geek set with its new downloadable, copyright-free series, "NerdTV." The 13 one-hour shows will be hosted by PBS uber-nerd Robert Cringely and will be made...
Dell closes customer support forums
July 14, 2005
You gotta love Dell's approach to their customer service forum: People are bashing our products and complaining about service? Let's just shut it down. The Register reports that up until...
Google sets off Calif. real estate frenzy
July 14, 2005
As if housing prices in California were not already insane, imagine finding a house, loving it and getting into a bidding war with new millionaires from Google. If you're opposed...
Porn spam on the decline
July 14, 2005
Security vendor Clearswift says pornography spam has declined four-fold over the past two years. The vendor's monthly Spam Index shows that hardcore porn now represents only 5% of inbox content,...
Spy on your pets
July 14, 2005
You're hard at work in the office making money to pay the vet bill and your pets are at home, most likely snoozing. But for all you know they could...
Yahoo teams with NASA for Discovery mission
July 13, 2005
Weather-willing, the space shuttle Discovery will launch at 3:51 p.m. today, with Yahoo hosting "official coverage" of the 12-day mission. The portal says it will offer live streams and 24-7...
E-mail to Congress up, letters down
July 13, 2005
"I'm going to write my Congressman!" Anyone who states that today is most likely talking about e-mail. According to the Congressional Management Foundation, the House and Senate received 200 million...
Cell drivers 4x more likely to have accident
July 13, 2005
Yesterday we posted information on a new study that claims using a hands-free cell phone while driving doesn't mean improve your reaction time or lessen your chances of getting into...
Find your dream job
July 13, 2005
These "Go get your dream job"-type stories are an interesting read, but they always interview people who currently *have* said excellent gigs. They never talk to we Dilberts of the...
Hands-free cells don't help drivers
July 12, 2005
A study on cell phones and driving says the use of a hands-free headset or speakerphone doesn't make for a safer driver. The study notes: "There is no safety advantage...
Buy a pizza, get a free BlackBerry
July 12, 2005
National pizza chain Papa John's is running a novel promotion - but a pizza online and get a "free" BlackBerry. Customers who order online via www.papajohns.com and add to their...
Good-bye textbook, hello laptop
July 12, 2005
An Arizona high school as gone all wireless - no textbooks - in a move in part to shake up its teachers this fall. Calvin Baker, superintendent of Vail Unified...
Best subway defense is low-tech
July 12, 2005
In the wake of last week's London subway bombings there's obviously been a lot of talk about increasing the safety of mass transit systems. The AP says futuristic alarms that...
New contest starts today
July 11, 2005
Apparently this gentleman scientist is concocting something to do with toner, although for all we know he could be a major player at Wonka Labs. Who knows? Well, you...
Latest contest winner
July 11, 2005
“Now where is that fireplace.gif animation?" Robert Robbins of Ladysmith, Wisc., can proudly display the winner.gif file this week as Layer 8's latest Caption King. Robert and many others...
City fights BellSouth for fiber
July 11, 2005
A Louisiana city is taking on BellSouth, saying if the carrier won't bring fiber to every home and business, the town will do so itself. BellSouth says it has offered...
Google wins typosquatting case
July 11, 2005
Google's so hot it's even getting the breaks in court. The National Arbitration Forum has ruled that Google has won the rights to googkle.com, ghoogle.com and gooigle.com from a Russian...
Students hate Napster
July 11, 2005
In a bid to curb illegal music downloads, the University of Rochester became one of the first higher ed institutions to force Napster on its students. The school pays Napster...
Sasser teen convicted
July 08, 2005
The teen who created the Sasser worm that last year slowed the Internet to a crawl has been convicted by a German court. Sven Jaschan, 19, was found guilty of...
Amazon's celebrity delivery service
July 08, 2005
Amazon turns 10 this month and to celebrate the e-comm pioneer is offering a cool promotion. Partnered with UPS, the online superstore is getting celebrities to hand-deliver packages to customers...
Big Brother to blog
July 08, 2005
Big Brother, the reality show that really should be a bigger hit than it is, is turning to blogging in its sixth season to spice things up - and draw...
Why is your office so cold?
July 08, 2005
Spend about 15 minutes here at Network World HQ and you'll realize it's cold enough to hang meat. We thought our office manager was simply incompetent, but according to USA...
Fla. man arrested for stealing Wi-Fi
July 07, 2005
A Florida man has been arrested for stealing Wi-Fi. Richard Dinon noticed 41-year-old Benjamin Smith III of St. Petersburg sitting in an SUV outside Dinon's home using a laptop. Smith...
Airline trials biometric tickets
July 07, 2005
German airline Lufthansa has launched a two-week trial of encoding passengers' airline tickets with their thumbprint to increase security and speed check-in. With the biometric ticket, passengers would be able...
Build your own portable hot spot
July 07, 2005
Wireless devices are cool, but they're useless without a hot spot. And while those hot spots are multiplying, they're not everywhere and, dang it, you may need wireless access right...
Map your workout with Google Maps
July 07, 2005
One enterprising runner has hacked the ever-nifty Google Maps to produce Gmaps Pedometer, which lets you map a walking or running route and calculate the distance. It's pretty easy -...
The most famous IT words never said
July 06, 2005
In the pantheon of infamous tech quotes, IBM founder Thomas Watson's "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers" is more like "Play it again, Sam." Just...
Execs: Too dumb for mobile gear
July 06, 2005
Try to avoid giving mobile gear to the dopes in the corner office ("Oooh, shiny!"), advises a new study from business software company TouchPaper. According to the survey, two thirds...
Start-up claims Microsoft mugging
July 06, 2005
The founder of an early-'90s start-up filed suit against Microsoft last week claiming Gates & Co. advised other IT companies to avoid doing business with Go Computing. "This was a...
New contest starts today
July 05, 2005
Well, here's a scene you'd find in anyone's living room these days. Or not. It's not for us to say, but rather for you. Send your best caption to...
Latest contest winner
July 05, 2005
"Larry and Jeff were having fun training their new Robo-Pooch© the FETCH command, but they were still having trouble with the DUMP command." Jay Moore wins fame and fortune,...
Docs diagnose 'cell phone elbow'
July 05, 2005
David Moriarty could be the Tommy John of the wireless set after having surgery to repair what his doctor described as "cell phone elbow." Every time Moriarty held his cell...
Another spammer heading to the clink
July 05, 2005
Another spammer has been nabbed under the CAN-SPAM law. Peter Moshou, 37, of Auburndale, Fla., has pled guilty to one count of violating federal anti-spam laws for sending out millions...
China opens clinic of gaming addicts
July 05, 2005
China is running its first "officially licensed" clinic for video-game-addicted youths. Patients range in age from 14 to 24 and have dropped out of school, lost jobs or gone days...
Money, looks keys to online dating
June 30, 2005
Online dating is one of the most popular industries on the 'Net, yet if you're going that route hoping for something different, chances are you're going to find more of...
Tivo Developer Challenge winners
June 30, 2005
Knowing that people love to hack around in their Tivos, the company held a Developer Challenge to see what sweet new apps the community could cook up. The grand prize...
Etch-A-Sketch on your cell
June 30, 2005
We were all set to write about "the new mobile Etch-A-Sketch" until we realized the legacy Etch-A-Sketch was pretty mobile, too. Well, it's 2005 and mobile has a new meaning,...
Gamer simulates next Bulls season
June 30, 2005
Some basketball fans just can't wait until the fall. The NBA draft is barely 48 hours old, yet Chicago fan Michael Aparicio has decided to go ahead and simulate the...
Cingular opposes in-flight cell use
June 29, 2005
We're not Cingular Wireless subscribers, but we're reconsidering now that the company has voiced opposition to the possibility of in-flight cell use. Paul R. Roth, Cingular's executive vice president for...
Indian call centers get down and dirty
June 29, 2005
Not only are all our good jobs ending up in India, they're having all the fun, too. An Indian newspaper reports call center operators are taking co-worker bonding to a...
Google stock hits all-time high
June 29, 2005
Google stock rose to its highest point yet - $309 - yesterday as the search engine behemoth announced its latest, most accurately named endeavor, Google Earth. The URL says it...
iTunes offers free podcasts
June 29, 2005
Apple has given podcasting a huge shot in the arm with its announcement that users can now subscribe to, manage, listen and receive free programs via the latest iTunes release,...
Inside Google
June 28, 2005
It seems as if you can't boot up without reading about another Google project. For example: Last week's big announcement, this week's big announcement. The Christian Science Monitor has taken...
Military may draft XM radio
June 28, 2005
The U.S. military may soon be new XM satellite radio subscribers as the company has built a digital emergency communications system that can disperse information to personnel in times of...
Queen Elizabeth gets an iPod
June 28, 2005
If you've wanted an iPod but haven't pulled the trigger, what are you waiting for? Even Queen Elizabeth II has beaten you to the punch. The always-fun British press reports...
Gamer sentenced to death for killing other gamer
June 28, 2005
A Shanghai man was sentenced to death earlier this month after killing a fellow gamer over the sale of a virtual sword. The court gave Qiu Chengwei a death sentence...
New contest starts today
June 27, 2005
Whatever's going on here, our money's on the robotic dog. But, this is really your call. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your...
Latest contest winner
June 27, 2005
Little Billy shows his parents how he wants to be buried. Peter Goyer wins this week's round, featuring the worst PhotoShopped press photo of all time. Either that or...
Big companies and adware
June 27, 2005
Been hit with a pop-up lately? You may have noticed that big-time, major companies are showing up in your face. Are companies like Vonage, Sprint, Visa, Sony, Mercedes-Benz and others...
States ban cell use by young drivers
June 27, 2005
Concerned about the combination of young drivers and cell phones, several states are banning their use by drivers under 21. The AP reports that Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Tennessee...
The inane world of celeblogs
June 27, 2005
Just like us little people, celebrities have fallen in love with blogging. Now there are many celeb blogs that are merely promotional/marketing efforts for the person's latest project. Ignore those....
Teens and tech
June 24, 2005
For today's teen-agers, technology doesn't come with an off switch. The LA Times looks at how some typical teens use technology. There's the 18-year-old who spends about 10 hours a...
EBay offers Web sites for sellers
June 24, 2005
EBay is encouraging sellers to set up custom Web sites through the online auction site. Wow, that's so nice of eBay to care about fostering small home-based businesses. Oh, wait,...
Yahoo shuts down chat rooms
June 24, 2005
Yahoo has closed hundreds of chat rooms recently in a bid to protect children from sexually explicit content. The site closed the user-created rooms, several of which were geared toward...
The move to ban municipal Wi-Fi
June 24, 2005
Last year the City of Brotherly Love wanted to become the City of Free Wi-Fi, a move which put Verizon's panties in a knot and scared the beejezus out of...
Women, minorities shrinking in IT
June 23, 2005
Unfortunately the recent news that women and minorities are critically underrepresented in IT is not a surprise. The Information Technology Association of America's latest study shows that the percentage of...
Dog spam making its mark
June 23, 2005
If you think spam is all Viagra come-ons and poker tourneys, anti-spam company Clearswift says a new up-and-coming category is making its mark: "A whole host of canine-centric items, from...
Lindsay Lohan loves Bluetooth
June 23, 2005
Gossip magnet/actress Lindsay Lohan is young, rich and famous, yet what floats her boat? Bluetooth. Check out the intro to a recent MTV News story: "Blowing into a room at...
Flickr's on the move
June 23, 2005
Popular online photo hosting site Flickr is moving its data center from Canada to the U.S. Jingoist that we are, we had no idea Flickr - and our photos -...
Google: We're not out to crush PayPal
June 22, 2005
Google is continuing its march toward world domination, but CEO Eric Schmidt says the company's recently announced electronic payment project is not gunning for market-leader PayPal. "We do not intend...
Pod slurping and security
June 22, 2005
There's a new trend in mobile storage - the iPod. Everyone from business people to medical technicians are using their tiny white companions as a place to quickly store images...
BlackBerry net goes down
June 22, 2005
If you saw people walking around with twitchy thumbs last week we know why: BlackBerry's net went down for about four hours Friday - a lifetime to CrackBerry addicts. USA...
FCC fines "Law & Order"
June 22, 2005
NBC has been fined $100,000 by the FCC after disrupting NYPD radio traffic with the use of unlicensed walkie-talkies on the set of "Law & Order". Chung chung! "The FCC...
PayPal posting mistake
June 21, 2005
Post to a Web site long enough and some mistakes are going to slip through. A piece of incorrect code here, an extra word there, it happens. But PayPal took...
Porn, language tank newspaper project
June 21, 2005
Taking a page from Wikipedia, the LA Times tried a cool experiment: Editors wrote a 1,000-word editorial on the war in Iraq and asked readers to improve it. They could...
More depressing IT job news
June 21, 2005
If you want to sit in your cube all day and bang out lines of code, you may not have a fantastic career path, says IT consultancy Gartner. "Employers are...
Pac-Man turns 25
June 21, 2005
Well, this is enough to make you feel old - the yellow dot-eater celebrates his silver anniversary this year. And despite the massive technological advances behind video and arcade games,...
New contest starts today
June 20, 2005
Looks comfy - or something. But don't listen to us, this is all about you. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance...
Latest contest winner
June 20, 2005
"Brothers and sisters, I can save you from the sin of “M”. Repent and be open sourced." Alan Maughan had the spirit last week and it moved him to...
Mayor claims online privacy violation
June 20, 2005
"Internet privacy" is an oxymoron and the subject of debate in Spokane, Washington. The Spokesman-Review newspaper received a tip that city Mayor James West was offering jobs to men he...
University makes e-mail blunder
June 20, 2005
The University of Kansas sent an e-mail to 119 failing students last week, alerting them they were in danger of losing their financial aid. Totally normal, right? Well, almost. It...
Amazon's anniversary concert
June 20, 2005
We received a press release last week that actually got us excited. It began: "Below please find information regarding Amazon.com's 10 year anniversary online celebration event featuring performances by Bob...
AOL: DDoS central?
June 17, 2005
A new security report says AOL's network boasts more zombies than a George Romero film, a claim to which the company responds: "NEED MORE BRAINS!" No, they didn't, but man...
Parking meters you can call
June 17, 2005
This innovation sounds like the answer to a question no one asked. Coral Gables, Fla., residents can now call their parking meter via cell phone and virtually buy more time....
Cassettes: The new 8 track
June 17, 2005
Time to head into your closet, dust off that shoebox and rummage through your old cassette tapes. Enjoy them, as you may be holding onto a relic. BBC News reports...
Our new favorite headline
June 17, 2005
We've been having a lot of fun with our news headlines this week, though if we keep it up the news editors are gonna tell us to pound sand. Regardless,...
Lost laptop teen graduates
June 16, 2005
Yesterday we told you about the Boston high schooler who was told she couldn't participate in her graduation ceremony until she paid for a $700 laptop she lost. Not surprisingly,...
AOL gives it all away
June 16, 2005
AOL is giving it all away - well, most of it - in an attempt to lure people back to its faltering site. The company is opening up most of...
High-tech McDs: We're lovin' it
June 16, 2005
McDonald's flagship store is getting geared up like a Circuit City in an attempt to attract more customers. The Oak Brook, Ill., store is a public restaurant/test site where the...
Poker bots taking over online
June 16, 2005
Relentless exposure on cable TV and the opportunity to play online has helped poker's popularity explode over the past couple of years. The LA Times reports that geeks are now...
Student penalized over missing laptop
June 15, 2005
A Boston high school senior has been told she can't participate in her graduation ceremony unless she pays the school back for the laptop she lost. Eighteen-year-old Paloma Stanley left...
Microsoft, China censor bloggers
June 15, 2005
Microsoft has gotten into bed with the Chinese government, installing a filter that detects prohibited keywords typed in blogs. Those who use MSN Web spaces to blog in China and...
Live 8 tickets banned on eBay
June 15, 2005
Live 8 tickets have joined organs, souls and virginity on the list of banned auction items on eBay. Almost immediately after the tickets to the London show were granted to...
ABC News scrapes bottom
June 15, 2005
ABC News has apparently reported all the real news in the world as it's turning to Internet dating for its next project. "Hooking up," a five-part documentary about "the unpredictable...
Free Wi-Fi attracts moochers
June 14, 2005
Be careful what you wish for. Some cafes that offer free Wi-Fi find that the technology does attract patrons, but getting them to leave is another story. The New York...
Jobs: Drop out of college
June 14, 2005
During his commencement address at Stanford last weekend, Steve Jobs told graduates that dropping out of college was the best thing he's done. "Your time is limited so don't let...
We use cells because we're lonely
June 14, 2005
Cell phones have exploded in popularity not for their convenience but because they make us feel less lonely, writes Louis Rene Beres, a poly sci professor at Purdue. Beres wrote...
Execs run for their lives
June 14, 2005
Maybe it's just us, but we think the headline "Ex-Cisco executives flee Nortel" is a riot. Fleeing? Was there a fire at Nortel HQ? (Ed. - Apparently an inferno of...
New contest starts today
June 13, 2005
Now this - this - is a guy we want to work for, despite the fact we can't pronounce his last name. Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik last week sang...
Latest contest winner
June 13, 2005
"Hey! Don't blame me. These are the people who wrote it!" Tony Cooley grabs top honors this week for writing the above and besting a huge field. It was...
Vote: It's your duty
June 13, 2005
Guess what's back? Back again. Guess what's back? Tell a friend. Yes, The Daily Poll is back in the hizzouse. A ginormous kerfuffle with our domain name switch of 6...
ICANN OKs .xxx domain
June 13, 2005
It'll be like the good old days at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue as ICANN has voted to create the .xxx domain. The overseeing body hopes that shuttling off all...
H'wood looks to IM for jobs
June 13, 2005
Wired News reports Hollywood directors, producers and crews are among those using IM to scrounge up work. Instead of using the default "Away from my computer" message, they're creating their...
'Beautiful' site says no to Firefox
June 13, 2005
They may be beautiful, but they're not smart. The Powers That Be at BeautifulPeople.net don't want Firefox users on their site. Sure, updating may be risk-free, but using IE is...
Sun gets Vatican blessing
June 10, 2005
Sun has landed a high-profile customer for its Java Enterprise System software subscription service - The Vatican. It seems The Holy See needed a new terrestrial messaging system and chose...
Nerds make better lovers
June 10, 2005
The New York Daily News does some serious investigative reporting this week, stating "Nerds Make Better Lovers." That must be the case, the paper says, as they wonder how people...
Adding work to your workout
June 10, 2005
Talk about your alternative workplaces. Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic has eliminated cubes from his group's office and created workplaces combining a treadmill, monitor and keyboard. Employees walk...
Tough talk on techs
June 10, 2005
If you don't read Nutter's Help Desk every week, for shame - you're missing out on some good advice from our pal Ron. But you've got to check out this...
Motel owner takes on royalty over domain
June 09, 2005
For whatever reason, there's a lot of cybersquatting news going on this week. Yesterday we told you about the AirFranceSucks.com vs. AirFrance case, and today we've got a Cape Cod...
Britain offers free iPods to unemployed teens
June 09, 2005
There are many reasons why we love England: crisps, football and beer to name a few. Now there's another reason, as if we needed one: The Mother Country is offering...
Secret Tivo tricks
June 09, 2005
Our sister pub, PC World, has a nifty article this week on "Secret Tivo Tips and Tweaks." If you've got an older Series 1 unit, the story shares remote-control shortcuts...
Dating service for geeks
June 09, 2005
If you know the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42, and your alter-ego is a Level 14 Moon Elf Necromancer, have we got a dating site for...
Air France wins sucky domain case
June 08, 2005
Air France has won the rights to the domain name AirFranceSucks.com from a Florida company that held it since 1999. Earlier this year the airline brought the case before the...
Most wireless U.S. cities
June 08, 2005
Seattle and San Francisco have nabbed the top two spots respectively as the most unwired cities in the U.S., according to Intel's annual ranking. How wireless is Seattle? The Space...
Text msg via Morse Code
June 08, 2005
Want to send a text message that only a select few will be able to read? Use Morse Code. Blogger Tony Northrup has created Morse Texter for his father, who...
Gore picks up his Webby
June 08, 2005
Former Vice President Al Gore picked up his insanely ironic Lifetime Achievement Award from the Webbys earlier this week, accepting it with the event's 5-word speech limit: "Please don't recount...
United gets OK for in-flight wireless
June 07, 2005
Yesterday United became the first U.S. airline to receive FAA approval to offer in-flight 'Net access on domestic flights. United is partnering with Verizon to install the cabin equipment, yet...
$30 disposable video cams hit shelves
June 07, 2005
Drugstore chain CVS is turning into Circuit City. Last year it was one of the first to sell disposable digital cameras, and now the chain will be the first to...
Apple offers iPod recycling, discounts
June 07, 2005
Apple has launched a free iPod recycling program for those who want a new unit and also want to remain Earth-friendly. Owners can drop their old iPod, iPod mini or...
A mousepad for Hef
June 07, 2005
What fun we could have with this in our Weekly Caption Contest. Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to post 96% of the entries. Here's the original caption: "Gel-filled wrist...
New contest starts today
June 06, 2005
We haven't had a good Gates photo in, what, a month or so? Eh, it's probably been longer than that, but we just can't resist it anymore. Thought it's hard...
Latest contest winner
June 06, 2005
"So exactly what error message did you see when your cucumber crashed?" The mysteriously monikered ksm earns top honors and a Layer 8 prize this week for penning the...
Popular forums hacked hard
June 06, 2005
Popular message board hosting company ezboard suffered a massive hack last week affecting thousands of boards. Untold number of threads and posts were permanently deleted from thousands of communities after...
Blogs can help your career
June 06, 2005
Last we heard, the words "blog" and "work" shouldn't mix. Blog about your job and chances are you'll soon be out of blogging material - and the job. Yet career...
Laptop sales outpace desktops
June 06, 2005
For the first time, the number of laptops sold has outpaced the number of desktops sold in the U.S. According to The Washington Post, research firm "Current Analysis says notebook...
Begging to be de-Googled
June 03, 2005
Given Google's insane depth and breadth, anything you do or say on the Web (or done and said about you) will live on forever - for better or ill. It's...
Apple to offer free iPod batteries
June 03, 2005
The only big knock against Apple's formidable iPod is its battery life. The amount of juice it can carry degrades significantly over time, eventually it will croak and replacing it...
French blogger affects EU vote
June 03, 2005
Much hay was made last fall concerning the role of bloggers and the presidential election. So much so that earlier this week we posted that the FEC is stepping in...
Cell phones for toddlers
June 03, 2005
How young is too young for a cell phone? That's a trick question, as apparently there is no such thing as too young. Mike Elgan reports that a cell phone...
The silent PC movement
June 02, 2005
For some who have the hearing of a bat, the hum of a computer is enough to drive them, well, batty. (Ed. - Ugh, nice one.) The Wall Street Journal...
FBI wants to uphold in-flight cell ban
June 02, 2005
Those of us who hate obnoxious cell phone yammer aren't the only ones getting riled up about the possibility of in-flight cell phone use. The FBI's unhappy, too, and told...
Drunk-sensing steering wheel
June 02, 2005
A Florida man has received a patent for a steering wheel that locks when it senses the driver is drunk. Dennis Bellehumeur invented the $600 sensor, which tests the driver's...
Gates runs for cover
June 02, 2005
How did we miss this Microsoft TechEd course last year: "Defending Against Layer 8"? Bring it Gates! Ha, ha!...
Doctor sells exam answers on eBay
June 01, 2005
You know, you really can get everything on eBay. A Florida doctor has lost his certification after the American Board of Surgery discovered he sold answers to the surgery certification...
New rules for political bloggers?
June 01, 2005
Political blogs played a significant role in the 2004 presidential election, so much so the Federal Election Commission is ready to lay down some law. The FEC has drafted rules...
'Net tune topples Coldplay
June 01, 2005
If you think it's impressive Billboard Magazine launched a chart tracking the hottest ring tones, you'll be floored that a ring tone has now hit the mainstream British music charts....
Japan bans video game
June 01, 2005
A region of Japan has prohibited the sale of popular video game "Grand Theft Auto III" saying its violence is harmful to minors and could provoke violence. Kanagawa prefecture officials...
New contest starts today
May 31, 2005
Doesn't that look easier than jotting down your shopping list the 'ol legacy way? Of course not, which is why we need you to devise what's going on in this...
Latest contest winner
May 31, 2005
The tragic after-effects of the latest wireless threat, the Medusa worm . . . Entrants really brought the heat this week, with references to Star Wars, Gates, Harry Potter,...
Device shuts up your coworkers
May 31, 2005
God bless Danny Hillis, as he could become the savoir of those of us who dwell in Cubeland (or Paper-Thin Walls OfficeLand). Hillis and his company, Applied Minds, have created...
GPS panties
May 31, 2005
Wanna get your friends? Send them the link for Forget-Me-Not Panties, which "will monitor the location of your daughter, wife or girlfriend 24 hours a day, and can even monitor...
Parent use 'Net to monitor kids' lunch
May 31, 2005
You think your boss is a micromanager? Be lucky you're not a kid in Marietta, Ga., where parents can now monitor online what their kids buy for lunch. According to...
Gone grillin'
May 27, 2005
Just a note that we're off on Monday, May 30, celebrating Memorial Day and all things BBQ-related. Back Tuesday....
Intel CEO touts Mac security
May 27, 2005
New Intel CEO Paul Otellini suggests if you're sick of spyware, get a Mac. That's what The Register and The Wall Street Journal are reporting after Otellini attended a WSJ...
Women want pretty security software
May 27, 2005
We don't even know where to begin with this one. A press release from security company LogiGuard says women want pretty, pretty security software. "Traditional security packages have been very...
Microsoft Xbox site vulnerable
May 27, 2005
Oh, good grief. Microsoft *just* formally announced its new gaming console, the Xbox 360, only to leave its companion site vulnerable to cross-scripting errors and phishing. Seriously, can't they make...
CIA stages fake 'Net attack
May 27, 2005
The CIA held a three-day online war game this week to simulate a Sept. 11-like electronic assault on the U.S. The event, known as "Silent Horizon" (which sounds like the...
Teen hackers talk about their exploits
May 26, 2005
The three teen hackers corralled for the LexisNexis break-ins earlier this year "have characterized their act as a cyberjoyride that got out of hand," according to their interview with Wired...
Most e-mail addicted cities
May 26, 2005
AOL has conduced an e-mail survey of 4,000+ users (not sure if they were all AOL or not) and finds "MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT... WE'RE ADDICTED TO E-MAIL." Cue...
Columnists move to Macs
May 26, 2005
"Once you go Mac you never go back." Is that true? NW columnist and security guru Winn Schwartau wants to find out. After eons of Windows, Winn made the switch...
More on U2 and text messaging
May 26, 2005
On Monday we posted about U2's latest concert tour, in which they're asking those at the show to text message the word "unite" during the song "One." We got a...
"Simpsons" for the blind
May 25, 2005
After watching more "Simpsons" than is probably wise, we thought we'd seen it all - until we heard it. Click here to check out an audio file of a recent...
Here comes ransomware
May 25, 2005
OK, this is depressing. Just yesterday we posted about companies facing DDoS extortion, and now reader Chad gives us a heads-up to a story that reports hackers are stealing your...
American Idol vs. U.S. Presidents
May 25, 2005
We received the weirdest press release from PR firm GolinHarris the other day. Actually, it wasn't even a release, it was just a mass e-mail with no headline that starts:...
Google cares
May 25, 2005
Gmail is nifty for many reasons, including the fact it makes you feel like you have somewhere to go if you're a loser and have no new mail (click here...
New caption contest starts today
May 24, 2005
Will the world be controlled by robotic rock soldiers? Or is this a behind-the-scenes look at another George Lucas sci-fi flick? Either way, give it your best caption and you...
Fewer students majoring in IT
May 24, 2005
USA Today reports that schools are seeing a drop in computer science majors, with students citing a soft job market and increased offshoring as reasons for avoiding the major. Printeth...
University press to take on Google
May 24, 2005
College publishers are fighting Google's plan to scan gazillion of books into its search engine saying the move amounts to massive copyright infringement. Google says "Not so much." The Association...
DDoS extortion: What to do?
May 24, 2005
Columnist colleague Paul McNamara this week takes a look at the issue of companies paying extortion fees to hackers who threaten to launch a DDoS attack on their network. “It’s...
Blogs aren't knocking off the media
May 24, 2005
CNN offers this headline: "Study: Blogs haven't displaced media." We're dying to amend it to "Study: Blogs haven't displaced media, says media." But that's just us. Anyway, our pals over...
Latest contest winner
May 23, 2005
I knew her ego was getting out of control when she designed this new chip, but this is rididuclous. Robert Currie deserves a swelled head for providing the above...
Of U2, Java and text messaging
May 23, 2005
We received an odd press release today concerning U2, text messaging and Java. According to the release, at U2 concerts "During the song 'One' Bono and Sun Microsystems are asking...
Is Cisco making a bad move with "24"?
May 23, 2005
Is Cisco's somewhat aggressive product placement on "24" likely to have the opposite effect and turn off viewers - and more importantly, potential customers? The Motley Fool's Rich Smith thinks...
Gates bemoans info overload
May 23, 2005
Wah! There's too much information for today's employee! Boo hoo! It's too hard to get any work done! Mommy! That's a liberal paraphrasing of Bill Gates' remarks at his CEO...
New shoe takes couch out of couch potato
May 20, 2005
A UK college kid has created a prototype show that could be key to reducing the obesity problem in the World: The Square Eye. It's a shoe with that measures...
Revenge of the movie pirates
May 20, 2005
Want to see the new Star Wars flick without the long lines and crowded theaters? Just download it from the (evil!) Internet. Much to the chagrin of the MPAA, "Star...
Podcast of the Day: Make
May 20, 2005
Rounding out Podcast Week here on Layer 8, our Podcast of the Day is Make Audio, from Phillip Torrone, one of the people who puts together Make Magazine. If you're...
Netscape browser comes with bugs
May 20, 2005
Netscape (remember them?) made a splash yesterday with the release of version 8.0 of its long-forgotten browser. Version 8 supposedly combined the best of Internet Explorer and Firefox by using...
Cheap gas
May 19, 2005
Last week it was finding houses for sale. This week's marvelous use of Google Maps is Cheap Gas, a site that lets you find the cheapest spot to fill up...
Podcast of the Day: TWIT
May 19, 2005
We take a technical turn with today's featured Podcast. The guys that used to be on TechTV's The Screen Savers have banded together to create This Week in Tech (TWIT),...
Nude skateboarder
May 19, 2005
A couple of teens from Waterville, Maine are in trouble after one of the pair road his skateboard around town with nothing but a smile on while the other filmed...
Google Desktop Enterprise
May 19, 2005
The gang at Google has come up with a new version of its desktop search application that's designed to allay the security fears of network administrators. Google Desktop Enterprise comes...
Star Wars: The lost cause
May 18, 2005
Is there a new Star Wars movie opening after midnight this evening? If you're asking that question, you must have had your head in the sand for the past month....
BBC weather map flap
May 18, 2005
Here in New England, we do our fair share of complaining about the weather. It's either too hot or too cold, or it's not as sunny as the forecast promised....
Podcast of the Day: Fantasy Focus
May 18, 2005
Today's featured podcast is Fantasy Focus, a weekly half-hour program hosted by Bill Powers and Chris Adams dedicated to the world of fantasy baseball. Bill and Chris pack a ton...
Instant messaging: The new water cooler
May 18, 2005
Pssst! Can you keep a secret? Workers use instant messaging technology to spread gossip. Pass it along. According to a blatantly obvious study by security vendor Akonix, 25% of users...
Podcast of the Day: Reel Reviews
May 17, 2005
Yesterday it was music, today it's movies. Michael Geoghegan's Reel Reviews podcast is "oriented towards encouraging listeners to check out quality films they may have missed or those worthy of...
How NOT To: Wedding toast
May 17, 2005
Spring is typically a big time for weddings and that means the Best Man is put on the spot. All eyes and ears are on him, waiting for words of...
Prius needs three-fingered salute
May 17, 2005
Looks like the popular Toyota Prius hybrid car needs three additional buttons on the dash: Ctrl, ALT, and Del. Roughly 30 of the high-tech cars have been found to have...
Cell phone as dieting Big Brother
May 17, 2005
Have trouble staying on your diet? A new service called MyFoodPhone lets you send in images of your food selections to see if they meet your diet and nutritional needs....
New caption contest
May 16, 2005
Jeez, that's a big head! And ripe for the picking. Want to win some great Layer 8 gear? Come up with the best caption for this photo and you could...
Caption contest winner
May 16, 2005
With this implanted in your ear, we'll know when you've fallen and can't get up before you do. Robert Schwein made us laugh the hardest this week and reminded...
Podcast of the Day: Coverville
May 16, 2005
We're big fans of the new podcasting trend that allows just about anyone to create their own radio programs. We even have our own podcast feed. Each day this week,...
A wallet MacGyver could love
May 16, 2005
Not a fan of leather? Want a wallet that holds up to the riggers of everyday life? How about one made of Duct Tape? Greg Hughes reports that 3M has...
House hunting made easy
May 13, 2005
We love ingenious application developers. The guy behind housingmaps.com has combined Google Maps with house listings - both for sale and rent - from Craigslist to create a new way...
No viruses in your car
May 13, 2005
Good news as we approach the summer driving season: While gas prices will continue to suck, your Bluetooth-enabled car is pretty much immune to viruses. Your chances of getting hit...
Photo editing tip of the week
May 13, 2005
Nothing bugs us more than an edited photo that doesn't properly represent someone's leg hair. (Okay, there are probably a million things that bug us more, but still...) It's hard...
Hot steamy love on your phone
May 13, 2005
Can't get enough of those serial romance novels that helped make Fabio famous? Harlequin has signed a deal with Vocel that could bring versions of the novel to cell phones...
Who needs work study?
May 12, 2005
College kids have expenses (beer, more beer and finally, shots) and in our day we went out a got a job. Today, a couple of kiddies are putting out an...
Bring the high heat
May 12, 2005
With Little League and T-Ball seasons getting underway, your probably have Junior in the back yard trying to teach him the science of hitting. But are you frustrated that your...
Are you a "telefaker"?
May 12, 2005
Telecommuters are still getting a bad rap from their in-office colleagues, who think the remote worker is napping all day and not pulling their load. Of those that work from...
Separating the clean and the dirty
May 12, 2005
The bane of a travelers' existence (besides being at the mercy of the airlines or Amtrak) is how to keep the dirty clothes separated from the clean clothes in the...
False Mac virus freaks out users
May 11, 2005
Poor Mac users - they're just not used to virus alerts. Therefore, those running Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh were considerably freaked out last week when the software told them they...
AOL to offer free e-mail
May 11, 2005
We all know AOL's losing subscribers and they're frantically tossing out idea after idea to make up the lost coin. How do you think the latest brainstorming session at AOL...
Blogger sitcom proposed
May 11, 2005
This show premise stinks so bad, it has got to end up on Fox. Apparently a production company is "Casting an HBO/WB-style sitcom pilot 'Bloggers.' Seeking: young, attractive, comedic, and...
Mankind is doomed
May 11, 2005
OK, has anyone at Duke University Medical School seen "Planet of the Apes"? (And we mean the original, not the Tim Burton remake with the ending that makes no sense.)...
Why CEOs don't blog
May 10, 2005
Pop quiz, hot shot: How many of the Fortune 1000 CEOs blog? If you thought 0, well done - and you can go faster than 55, we don't care. USA...
Cisco code theft linked to other hacks
May 10, 2005
We enjoy Drudge Report because nothing wakes us up faster in the morning than a 102-pt Coming of God headline like that on the left. Click to enlarge and enjoy...
Teacher outsources paper grading
May 10, 2005
University of Missouri-Columbia sociology professor Ed Brent apparently got sick of doing his job, so he's outsourced paper-grading to a computer. (Ed. - At least it wasn't India.) We're guessing...
AOL insults bloggers
May 10, 2005
Why is AOL losing subscribers? Maybe because of features like this. First it promotes that goofy Arianna Huffington Web site, then it insults all us Joe Keyboard bloggers: "For the...
New contest starts today
May 09, 2005
We don't know what Intel is cooking up here, but we do know we want no part of it. You, however, should want every part of it, write an excellent...
The poll be broke
May 09, 2005
If we could find the file and had any Photoshop abilities (we're 0 for 2), we'd put up a big "OUT OF ORDER" sign on our fakakta poll, which is...
Latest contest winner
May 09, 2005
At last, an apt depiction of cell phone sound quality. Karl Frantz must share our wireless carrier. And while Karl may not have great reception, he does have the...
Carly for hire
May 09, 2005
If you've been wondering what Carly Fiorina's been up to these days it seems she's dabbling in public speaking and revisionist history. The Register reports Fiorina is up for grabs...
Another offshoring pain
May 09, 2005
Even if you don't lose your job to India, you could lose sleep and/or precious family time. That's what many IT professionals are finding today when they have to collaborate...
Firefox celebrates 50 million downloads
May 09, 2005
Firefox has passed 50 million downloads and to celebrate the Mozilla Foundation has issued a commemorative coin to those who have done the most to promote the open source browser....
Americans give up passwords for Starbucks
May 06, 2005
Last year we told you about a survey that showed 70% of Brits would trade their password for chocolate. It turns out the Colonies aren't that much better. The Register...
'Net gives bike messengers flat tire
May 06, 2005
The Associated Press reports that the Internet is causing the bike messenger to go the way of the dinosaur. The popularity and ubiquity of high-speed 'Net access has allowed many...
NY Post punts registration
May 06, 2005
For years we've been reading The New York Post online every day to get our fill of celebrity gossip, Manhattan crime stories and big, big headlines. So we were somewhat...
Wish I was there
May 06, 2005
If you're like us you got hosed out of going to Interop 2005. And we had *just* finished "Doyle Brunson's Super System" and had our Johnny Chan tracksuit all ready...
AOL loses 2.3 million customers
May 05, 2005
America's grandmothers are smartening up and leaving AOL for greener, faster and less-expensive pastures. The ISP reports it lost 2.3 million customers from March 2004 to March 2005. Now AOL...
Gore to get 'Net award
May 05, 2005
Former Vice President Al Gore is receiving a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the Internet, which we think is a massive case of negative reinforcement. It would be...
IBM's high-tech shopping cart
May 05, 2005
Computerized shopping carts will soon be heading to a grocery store near you. IBM's "Shopping Buddy" is a small touch-screen computer mounted on the cart's handle. You can type in...
Delicious iPod Shuffles
May 05, 2005
So we're not supposed to play with our food, but we are encouraged to play with our iPod Shuffles. What do we do with iPod Shuffles made out of food?...
Google homage sites gaining steam
May 04, 2005
The massive success and popularity of Google has spawned a little cottage industry of programmers who take Google's search engine results, strip the ads and add something different. Most of...
Pakistan - piracy central
May 04, 2005
If you buy a copy of "National Treasure" or the latest Weezer CD on the street, chances are it originated in Pakistan. International piracy watchdogs say the country is the...
Runaway bride hits eBay
May 04, 2005
You know you're not a real pseudo-celebrity in the U.S. until your junk ends up on eBay, so congrats Jennifer Wilbanks. We gotta hand it to whoever put their invitation...
Star Wars line goes Lego
May 04, 2005
You already know about the Star Wars fans camped out in front of theatres in L.A. waiting for the May 19 premiere - especially those who are lining up in...
AOL tags emergency alerts as spam
May 03, 2005
Florida emergency management officials say e-mail is the best way to get quick, critical weather alerts out to residents. Except, that is, to those residents who are also AOL customers....
Microsoft courts bloggers
May 03, 2005
Yet another difference between Apple and Microsoft: their opinions on blogs. Apple's not hot on blogs that speculate, comment or leak information about upcoming products, while Microsoft is trying to...
CNN: Blog spammer?
May 03, 2005
Blogger Nick Lewis believes CNN is engaging in a guerilla marketing campaign in which it's leaving pro-CNN comments (otherwise known as spam) on blogs that mention the cable news network....
National Lampoon's odd disclaimer
May 03, 2005
So we get a press release the other day letting us know that National Lampoon's up for a Webby for Best Humor Site. Big deal. Or, as our colleague Adam...
Latest contest starts today
May 02, 2005
It's Pixar's upcoming release, "Finding Nokia." Or is it? Well, that's up to you caption-writers out there. Got a good one for this picture? (And, no, you can't use...
Latest contest winner
May 02, 2005
It never ceases to amaze Steve that SPARC and Pentium chips repel each other like magnets. Scott Paddock takes top honors in our latest Weekly Caption Contest, featuring one...
New name, new look
May 02, 2005
You may have noticed something looks different today. Well, aside from us; we're having style sheet issues this morning. (That wasn't part of the plan and work crews are on...
Verizon to shut off free NYC hot spots
May 02, 2005
Verizon is abandoning its free hot spot plan in Manhattan due to lack of use and replacing it with a fee-based service. Yes, that should work. No one was using...
Spring break, cybersecurity-style
May 02, 2005
Spring break! Woo! Hope we have good throughput! Yeah! More than two dozen high school students eschewed sleeping late this past spring break to attend a cybersecurity camp held at...
Star Wars fans name their faves
May 02, 2005
In the least-surprising announcement since Microsoft told you you'd be busy on the first Tuesday of every month, Star Wars fans have named "The Empire Strikes Back" as their favorite...
Man saves own life with cell phone pic
April 29, 2005
A quick-thinking British chef saved his life after grabbing his cell phone and taking a picture of the rare spider that bit him in the hand. A Brazilian Wandering Spider...
More than 50% e-filed this year
April 29, 2005
E-filing had its best year ever in 2005, with more than half of all tax returns filed electronically. The IRS says nearly 66 million returns were e-filed: 46 million were...
The dangers of Internet illiteracy
April 29, 2005
A British study has found that parents who are 'Net-illiterate raise 'Net-illiterate children, leaving them on the wrong side of the digital tracks. "Not knowing how to best use the...
NZ to curb cell phone rage
April 29, 2005
New Zealand movie theatre owners are looking into the legality of installing cell phone jammers in their buildings. The jammers would render cell phones useless, which would keep patrons from...
Diss iPod, lose job?
April 28, 2005
You think you had a bad day? Try being poor Fader magazine editorial assistant Elliot Aronow. Elliot's iPod gets stolen - a big suck. Elliot somehow gets contacted by The...
IBM bigs shun raises
April 28, 2005
IBM big cheese Sam Palmisano says he and 49 other top company executives won't get raises until the company reverses its slump. USA Today reports IBM "shocked" Wall Street with...
Bono crashes at Gates' pad
April 28, 2005
Reuters reports that rock icon/social activist Bono crashed at Bill Gates' place last weekend after a gig in Seattle. You think Bono took the couch or Bill had an air...
Bring fire with chocolate
April 28, 2005
If you're a contestant on the next "Survivor" or just want a nifty party trick, Tracker Trail's got the goods on how you can start fire with a chocolate bar...
Professor fibs to get laptop back
April 27, 2005
UC Berkley Biology Professor Jasper Rine ended a recent lecture by telling students his laptop had been stolen and he knew who did it. But instead of confronting the student,...
Violent phone craze hits UK
April 27, 2005
A disturbing and violent craze is spreading across the U.K., aided by cell phones and 3G. British authorities are seeing a rise in "happy slapping," in which youths assault a...
Who's most popular online?
April 27, 2005
Monitoring company Envisional has released its list of the most popular and least popular brands online. The five most popular brands (in descending order): eBay, HP, Dell, Mini and UPS....
Apple goes after Jobs bio publisher
April 27, 2005
Apple is retaliating against the publishing house that's releasing an unauthorized biography of CEO Steve Jobs. The company is removing any books published by John Wiley & Sons from its...
Listen to your car, avoid traffic
April 26, 2005
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's got a pilot program underway that they hope will ease traffic congestion. Cars in the Advanced Traveler Information System are equipped with GPS units and linked wirelessly...
Your Star Wars sick-day note
April 26, 2005
With less than a month before the premiere of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, it's time to start getting your ducks in a row so you can...
Scariest PDA app ever
April 26, 2005
Ask industry mucky-mucks about the PDA market and they'll tell you it's being attacked by the likes of the converged device. Forget the smartphone, we found the app that could...
Star Wars PCs
April 26, 2005
If it's time to upgrade your users' PCs, have we got the gear for you. Instead of giving Bob from Accounting that traditional, boring, beige monstrosity, hook him up with...
New contest starts today
April 26, 2005
Steve Ballmer is the gift that keeps on giving - at for the purposes of our Weekly Caption Contest. Here's Steve and some random guy onstage at the annual Microsoft...
Latest contest winner
April 24, 2005
"Hello, Santa Clara....We finally found a way to keep our new processor cool." Bill Walter beat the toughest competition we've seen in a while to earn top honors in...
Acts of angry computer users
April 24, 2005
Now *this* is a study we can relate to: The University of Maryland conduced research on computer rage and found that 20% of respondents admitted dropping a computer on the...
An ingenious cell phone thief
April 24, 2005
The Register's got a story on a female mobile phone thief that smacks of urban legend. Yet we haven't seen any stories refuting its legitimacy, so here goes. From Romania...
Fiorina's HP settlement
April 24, 2005
It's never too late for a good Carly Fiorina story - even one that's a little stale. In preparation for our fantastic annual NW 200 extravaganza, we were combing through...
UK engineer wins Moore's Law bounty
April 22, 2005
Intel has awarded the $10,000 Moore's Law bounty to a U.K. engineer who found a copy of the sought-after April 1965 edition of Electronics Magazine under the floorboards of his...
Family wins e-mail battle over Yahoo
April 22, 2005
Last December we told you about the Michigan family who was fighting Yahoo over their slain son's e-mail account. Twenty-year-old Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth was killed last November in...
Sony sets up EverQuest auction site
April 22, 2005
Ever since highly addictive, online role-playing games such as EverQuest hit the scene, players have been selling virtual game items for real money. If your ranger doesn't have enough experience...
NY eyes GPS to track sex offenders
April 22, 2005
After convicted sex offenders are released from prison, they're required to register at their local police station so authorities can perform spot checks and keep an eye on them. The...
Google's tracking your searches
April 21, 2005
Shift F7: Google has announced a scary new service, My Search History, now in beta. Google says My Search History will provide better searches for users as it tracks every...
Pope gets new e-mail address
April 21, 2005
Pope Benedict XVI won't be officially installed as head of the Catholic Church until this Sunday, but he's already got a key facet of his new job in place: his...
Women like nice bosses
April 21, 2005
Dell has commissioned an international study of what keeps female managers from quitting their gigs and, shocker, the No. 1 answer was "supportive managers." The other two main features that...
Coolest game room ever
April 21, 2005
There are finished basements and then there are finished basements. Color us insanely jealous of Peter Hirschberg, who has tricked out his basement into the coolest personal arcade ever. Not...
Moore's Law mag bounty prompts theft
April 20, 2005
To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Moore's Law, Intel offered to pay $10,000 for a copy of the magazine in which the historic computing theory was first announced. Not-so-coincidentally,...
Fla. man cybersquats new Pope's domain
April 20, 2005
Wired reports that a Florida man bought the URL BenedictXVI.com three weeks before new pope Joseph Ratzinger chose the name yesterday. Perhaps Rogers Cadenhead just visited top Irish online bookmaker...
Congress OKs DVD filth filter
April 20, 2005
Congress has given a free pass to technology that lets parents edit out objectionable language, nudity or violence from DVDs. Senate Bill 167, which is heading to the president for...
Simpsons' Tivo homage
April 20, 2005
If you didn't catch last Sunday's Simpsons episode, "Future-Drama", you missed a nifty nod to everyone's favorite DVR. PVRblog has a screen cap of the interface of Professor Frink's time...
Verizon CEO whines about customers
April 19, 2005
If you think your job stinks, be thankful you're not in the Verizon PR department this week. We're guessing it's less-than-fun as the flacks try to furiously spin CEO Ivan...
Tivo in talks with Google
April 19, 2005
I feel a great disturbance in the Force... Now we're not Sybil the Soothsayer, but just last week we wrote about the fast-increasing reach of Google only to boot up...
Post-It Notes: Behind the Music
April 19, 2005
They're small and indispensable and probably sitting on your desk right now. This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Post-It Note, the legacy instant message. The Rake magazine has...
Nerds rule Boston bars
April 19, 2005
With all of our universities, big-deal research labs and, well, Cheers, it's no surprise Boston is a nerd mecca. The Boston Globe reports that some city bars and restaurants are...
New contest starts today
April 18, 2005
Spring has sprung in our parts, but not in the North Pole, where wireless computing is all the rage - or something. We need your help to determine the right...
Latest contest winner
April 18, 2005
It just feels like every time they make a service call, I’m getting robbed. Jerry Kendall steals this week's caption contest crown by submitting the above and winning sweet...
One scary search engine
April 18, 2005
If you're already freaked out about the amount of personal information available on the Web, don't read this story. We don't want to be responsible if you never get out...
Mobile cheating a rising problem
April 18, 2005
Using cell phones to cheat on exams isn't just a New York thing, it turns out the problem exists in the Mother Country, too. The BBC reports that 286 high...
Feds get with the program
April 18, 2005
Our favorite headline of the day: "Congress Renews Interest in Identity Theft". It didn't take much, only a spate of high-profile data thefts affecting millions. Congress is working on two...
Surviving Carly
April 15, 2005
Carly Fiorina is gone from HP, but she's surely not forgotten. What other deposed tech exec merits an online store - The Carly Fiorina Years: Survivor Memorabilia Shop? Then there's...
WASPs hit with data theft
April 15, 2005
All right.: These consumer privacy breaches must stop. Now the poor WASPs who shop at Ralph Lauren Polo are getting hit and that just won't do. It's a national nightmare:...
Hitchiker's Guide goes mobile
April 15, 2005
If you've got a wireless-enabled PDA or a smartphone, the BBC has a gift for you. To coincide with the movie release of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" later...
Write a computer science paper in 5 seconds
April 15, 2005
If writing scholarly computer science papers is something on which you're reviewed at the end of the year, have we got a site for you. Unless, of course, you enjoy...
Yet another Google announcement
April 14, 2005
With all these Google announcements, we need to save ourselves some time and set up a hot key. Shift F7 = "Google today announced a scary new service, ________, now...
Chiropractors love laptops
April 14, 2005
The laptop's best feature - convenience - could also prove to be your physical undoing. And your pain is a big gain for your chiropractor. USA Today looks at the...
Vegas casinos court RFID
April 14, 2005
Las Vegas casinos are always at the cutting edge of technology, be it to catch card counters and the fast-fingered or to ensure gamblers leave as much money as possible...
NYC subway run by computer
April 14, 2005
Riding the NYC subway system has always been a little dicey, and now L line riders are in for more excitement as, well, no one's driving the train. Just like...
"Schoolhouse Rock" meets storage
April 13, 2005
Many of today's adults learned the basics of grammar, the legislative process and U.S. history thanks to the idiot box and "Schoolhouse Rock's" catchy ditties. If you want to generation-date...
Internet2: Lawsuit central
April 13, 2005
Here we thought Internet2 was supposed to be superior to the plain-'ol Internet that services the great unwashed. We thought universities and researchers were using the souped-up private network to...
Laptops that blow stuff up
April 13, 2005
Sure, a laptop is a laptop, except for the super-cool ones that can blow stuff up. U.S. troops in Iraq will soon be equipped with laptops that function as remote-control...
Blogs: The new letter-writing?
April 13, 2005
Read enough personal blogs and you'll realize they're mostly filled with minutia on someone's daily life. What they ate for breakfast, where they ran errands, what the weather was like,...
Google execs work cheap
April 12, 2005
Take heart: Your 2005 salary is larger than that of Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who say they'll only take $1 for their year of toil. Of course,...
What's on the president's iPod?
April 12, 2005
The International Herald Tribune reports that between returning from Pope John Paul II's funeral and meeting with Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, President Bush spent some quality time mountain biking...
Gaming outpaces music spending
April 12, 2005
U.S. men spend more money each month on video games than music, a new study reveals. The survey by Nielsen Entertainment shows that DVDs outpace both as the #1 monthly...
iPod's greatest threat: The cell phone
April 12, 2005
Sure, everyone's iPod-mad right now, but is Apple resting on its laurels, just waiting to be knocked off its perch? Some industry experts think so and say converged cell phone/digital...
New contest starts today
April 11, 2005
It's like a High-Tech Hamburglar. Or not. We're not sure. That's why we need your help. Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your chance...
Latest contest winner
April 11, 2005
The new Xerox Workcentre Pro with optional USB Interactive Document Juggler! Martin Zapata wins top props for submitting the above and winning our latest Weekly Caption Contest. Click below...
Users more accepting of spam
April 11, 2005
The latest Pew Internet study is out and shows users are begrudgingly accepting spam as a fact of online life. Fifty-three percent of adult e-mail users in the U.S. say...
MTV to play music again
April 11, 2005
MTV is turning to the Internet to return to its roots: music videos. The channel will launch MTV Overdrive on April 25, which will feature "non-stop music and news" for...
Coppola irate over Godfather video game
April 11, 2005
If you consider it heresy that film classic "The Godfather" is being turned into a video game, you're not alone. The film's director, Francis Ford Coppola, is unhappy, too, and...
How to blog and not get fired
April 08, 2005
Blogging about work has turned into an action of idiocy on par with clicking on every free offer and come-on that lands in your inbox. It's information-age Russian Roulette. But,...
Duke revamps free iPod program
April 08, 2005
Last year, we looked on enviously as Duke gave out iPods to each member of its freshman class, you know - for educational purposes. Recording lectures, taking oral notes and...
MI5 spends like the FBI
April 08, 2005
Given the FBI's inability to budget for or carry out an IT project, it's somewhat comforting to know that their counterparts in the Mother Country are running into the same...
Cranky columnist hates iPods
April 08, 2005
Baltimore Sun writer Kevin Cowherd channels Andy Rooney and plays the "cranky Luddite" card in his latest column, deriding iPod fans - OK, fanatics - saying they're annoying isolationists who...
Royal Wedding Webcam is live
April 07, 2005
Have you got royal wedding fever? Of course not. But if you're mildly curious as to the goings-on this Saturday, you may want to check out the Royal Wedding Webcam,...
AOL launches VoIP service
April 07, 2005
Grandma's favorite ISP is launching AOL Internet Phone Service today, claiming it will "uniquely combine advanced tools, competitive pricing plans and AOL's hallmark ease of use..." Competitive pricing? For non-AOL...
Cells to supplant TV as ad medium
April 07, 2005
A top ad executive is predicting that cell phones will be the advertising device of the future, supplanting all-mighty TV. "We are rapidly getting to the point where the single...
Cisco teams with Ethiopia to wire country
April 07, 2005
Cisco is teaming with the poverty-ravished country of Ethiopia to wire the entire nation for 'Net access within three years. The government has begun laying 6,200 miles of fiber-optic cable...
Star Wars fans line up at wrong theatre
April 06, 2005
Good God, we love this story. Star Wars fans have already started lining up/camping out in front of Hollywood's famous Graumans Chinese Theatre in anticipation of the May 19 release...
Tech terms baffle Brits
April 06, 2005
An AOL UK user survey found that most Brits don't understand tech terms such as phishing, rogue dialer, Trojan and spyware. Although the "Do You Speak Geek?" report didn't poll...
Get Palm data onto your iPod
April 06, 2005
Geek toys are cross-pollinating with the advent of PalmPod 1.0. The free software, now in beta, lets you transfer your Palm Desktop calendar, todo's, contacts and memos onto your iPod....
Music DB turns 10
April 06, 2005
If you've ever ripped a CD, you may have noticed the "Accessing Gracenote CDDB" dialog box that pops up when you first slide the disc into your machine. For most...
The dangers of biometric security
April 05, 2005
The rise of biometric security is a boon not only to those who need to ensure the safe-keeping of an object, but also to Hollywood. The more prevalent its use,...
The worst place to lose your cell
April 05, 2005
Admit it, you've thought about it: What would happen if your cell phone accidentally took a plunge - into the toilet. Well, it happens, says USA Today, which somehow found...
NY targets modem hijackers
April 05, 2005
Empire State lawmakers have filed what experts believe is the first bill designed to thwart modem hijacking. The law would allow telcos and the New York state attorney general to...
Is Fox fibbing about HD?
April 05, 2005
Is Fox pulling a fast one with its high-definition broadcasts of "Malcolm in the Middle"? That's what the gurus at OnHD.tv think, as the popular comedy is advertised as being...
New contest starts today
April 04, 2005
Ahem...ah....well....We don't know what to say about this, other than "Have fun!" You know the drill: Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday. Funniest caption...
Latest contest winner
April 04, 2005
"Welcome to the Oracle deprogramming room. Please press 'Play' now." Peter Raymond of Phoenix is our big winner this week and will receive official Layer 8 swag for his...
21-year-old sues Microsoft
April 04, 2005
A 21-year-old Kent State junior is holding his own against Microsoft in a legal battle over $143.50 in eBay profits. David Zamos bought discounted educational editions of Windows and Office...
Cheating via cells rampant in NYC schools
April 04, 2005
Just when the city's school chancellor was considering lifting a ban on cell phones, The New York Post reports NYC students are using their cell phones to cheat on tests:...
Vatican e-mail leaks Pope's death
April 04, 2005
In another example of "Technology changes the way we do things," the AP is reporting that news of Pope John Paul II's death Saturday was first leaked to reporters via...
Is tech killing kids' vocabulary?
April 01, 2005
Reader's Digest has released a survey stating that almost half of the adults questioned fear new technology is diminishing the vocabulary skills of today's youth. Wow, that would be very,...
Feds 7 years late with 'Net report
April 01, 2005
If you've been holding your breath for the feds' Internet report, "Signposts in Cyberspace," you're long dead. The report on Internet traffic was requested by Congress seven years ago and...
Hilton's new 'high-tech' clock
April 01, 2005
Apparently everything is copasetic with the Hilton Hotel chain. So much so, the company has nothing more pressing to address than the problem of crap clocks in their rooms. You...
Google ups Gmail storage
April 01, 2005
We truly wish Google would stop making legitimate, big announcements on April Fool's Day. Last year, the behemoth unleashed Gmail into beta, leaving everyone saying, "Really? Yes. Are you sure?...
Best cell phone for spies
March 31, 2005
We love watching "Alias" for several reasons: pretty people, knock-down fights and, of course, the awesome gadgets. Last night's episode, "Tuesday", was no exception and featured perhaps the greatest cell...
Tivo starts pop-up ads
March 31, 2005
One of our least-favorite aspects of the Internet is making its way over to our new favorite technology: DVRs. PVRblog reports that those much-rumored Tivo pop-up ads are starting to...
Data loss starts with users
March 31, 2005
We recently were sent a survey that states that most data recovery efforts go awry because users like us try to get back whatever we lost ourselves. Channeling our best...
Hear David Byrne's playlist
March 31, 2005
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about musician David Byrne's love of PowerPoint. Today's we're checking in with more Byrne technology news. The Talking Heads frontman is streaming his...
Amazon: A privacy threat?
March 30, 2005
Amazon.com was one of the original pioneers in e-commerce personalization. For years, it's been collecting information on your likes and dislikes based on what you buy and view on the...
Today's Prime Time Tech Mention
March 30, 2005
Today's Prime Time Tech Mention - a double this morning - courtesy of the always-excellent "Scrubs". In last night's show, a patient with a Treo smart phone and an apparent...
Gamer kills gamer over virtual sword
March 30, 2005
They take their online gaming seriously over in Shanghai. Today's Register reports that 41-year-old Qiu Chengwei reportedly killed Zhu Caoyuan after Zhu sold their joint possession: a virtual dragon sabre...
Microchip ex-cons?
March 30, 2005
An Ohio politician wants microchips implanted in paroled ex-cons so they can be better monitored. We think we just heard ACLU President Nadine Strossen's head explode. Butler County commissioner Michael...
Avoid losing gadgets on the road
March 29, 2005
When you're traveling, it's easy to get flustered or frenzied and misplace your phone, PDA or even your laptop. That's why, according to one traveler who checked out the lost-and-found...
UC Berkeley latest identity theft victim
March 29, 2005
UC Berkeley announced yesterday that a laptop containing personal information on nearly 100,000 alums, students and past applicants was swiped on March 11. Did you get that last part? March...
Supreme Court to hear P2P case
March 29, 2005
The highest court in the land is expected to hear arguments today over the legality of file-sharing technology. Until now, all lower courts have ruled for P2P networks, which had...
New contest starts today
March 28, 2005
We don't know what these are, but we're pretty sure we want one. Give us a hand and send your best caption to layer8@nww.com. Shoot us your winning words by...
Latest contest winner
March 28, 2005
Intel's new "Espresso" processor, demonstrated at a recent trade show. Roger Slykhouse melds coffee and computing to land the top spot in our latest Weekly Caption Contest. Roger wins...
IRS eyes eBay sellers
March 28, 2005
2005 has not been kind to eBay sellers. First, eBay upped its fees for those operating stores. Next, Ohio wanted to require Buckeye eBay sellers to pass an auction test...
Worst workplace ever?
March 28, 2005
Good Monday morning! (Ed. - What's good about it?) Exactly. While your office on a Monday morning may not be your favorite place in the world, it is by no...
Captain Morgan's blog
March 28, 2005
When he's not out getting you lit on Saturday nights, rum magnate Captain Morgan writes one mean blog. Click here to read the Captain's discourses on karaoke, mustaches, wingman assistance,...
DVRs killing office TV talk
March 25, 2005
Earlier this week, we sashayed into colleague Tim Greene's office to talk "Deadwood." We hadn't seen Tim since Season 2 debuted and wanted to know what he thought of the...
Review: PlayStation Portable
March 25, 2005
Time to start exercising those thumbs, as Sony's new PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released yesterday amid much hubbub. And, in typical video hardware fashion, there's already a shortage. Despite big...
Illegal P2P use dropping
March 25, 2005
'Net researchers say the use of P2P file-sharing systems is dropping while paid downloads are skyrocketing. A study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that 21% of...
Real-life Jurassic Park?
March 25, 2005
Reuters reports that a 70-million-year-old T-Rex fossil dug out of Montana's Hell Creek Formation was found to contain soft tissue, including blood vessels and maybe even whole cells. Oh, crap....
No bonus for Google big wigs
March 24, 2005
If you got a bonus last year, it was bigger than that of Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and CEO Eric Schmidt. The gazillionaire trio were stiffed on...
Do iPods create selfish kids?
March 24, 2005
A private school in Australia has banned iPods as they encourage students to be selfish loners, reports The Register. According to the site, International Grammar School Principal Kerrie Murphy "noticed...
Top 10 confusing tech buzzwords
March 24, 2005
The Global Language Monitor has released its list of the "Top 10 Most Confusing (yet widely used) High Tech Buzzwords". The top five: HTTP, VoIP, megapixel, plasma and robust. The...
China restricts online forums
March 24, 2005
China is no fan of the lawless, free-speech-driven Internet. Last year it began cracking down on the country's many Internet cafes, and now it is clamping down on student-run online...
E-mail aliens, waste money
March 23, 2005
For only $19.95 you can now spam aliens. Those who visit www.TalkToAliens.com and pony up the dough can write a message of up to 1,000 words. The e-mail is then...
Microsoft knows why you're happy
March 23, 2005
If you're happy at work, Microsoft knows why: it's your reliable mouse and keyboard! So sayeth a hilarious press release from Redmond: "Reliable Mice and Keyboards Boost Workplace Morale: New...
Yahoo goes gigabyte
March 23, 2005
Yahoo's gone all-in in the free-storage game, announcing it will start offering 1G byte of storage with its free e-mail accounts beginning in mid-April. That's just a couple of weeks...
Friendster flick on the way
March 23, 2005
According to Cinema Confidential News, online social network Friendster is heading for the big screen. "That '70s Show" lead Topher Grace is slated to play "a character that will utilize...
Ireland: The high cost of broadband
March 22, 2005
If you live in Ireland, there's good news and bad news. The bad news is you're paying through the nose for broadband access - and it's not even that fast....
Inside 'Free iPod' deals
March 22, 2005
They pop up over and under your browser and into your inbox - come-ons offering you a "FREE IPOD!!!" Now you and I know it's most likely a scam, and...
Return of the Star Wars Kid
March 22, 2005
Oh, Star Wars Kid, where would the Internet be without you? Nearly two years ago, a video of a geeky Canadian teen practicing his lightsaber moves made it on to...
Which actors hate HDTV
March 22, 2005
It's not a marketing gimmick - HDTV really looks amazing. Check out a tribute to the blowfish on the Discovery Channel or a knock-down Sox-Yankees tilt on ESPN, and you're...
New contest starts today
March 21, 2005
We would laugh at this man's misfortune if it were not for the fact it's happened to us. One moment you're on your PC, the next there's steam everywhere. But...
Latest contest winner
March 21, 2005
If John had booked his hotel with Expedia, he'd have gotten a private room instead of a futon in a vendor's display. The booth babe was a nice touch,...
Crazy 'Net buy of the week
March 21, 2005
We thought the New York Times' $410 million purchase of About.com in February was, frankly, nuts. Oh, yeah? Media mogul Barry Diller sees that and raises. The financial world is...
The greatest nerds of all
March 21, 2005
Being one ourselves, we can truly appreciate Sync Magazine's 50 Biggest Nerds of All Time list, which spans science, technology, entertainment, sports and seemingly everything in between. How can you...
Tivo's nutty logic
March 21, 2005
One of Tivo's most amusing features is its ability to record new shows for you based on what you've Tivo'd previously. It's funny because for the first month or so,...
Buzz word OD
March 21, 2005
We got a press release the other day that made our head spin: "Blog, Vlog or Podcast Right From Your Mobile Phone - PicoBlogger 2 Does it All and its...
Pixar: Coolest office ever
March 18, 2005
Being the nerd that we are, we always thought LucasArts or ILM would be the coolest place to work. But then we came to Network World...and that confirmed our LucasArts/ILM...
Users, IT play with fire
March 18, 2005
Clearswift released another panic-inducing survey this week, which shows users - and IT staffers - are still monkeying around on your network. The Email Threats in the Workplace survey is...
No 1 lks 2 txt msg
March 18, 2005
If you don't understand the lure of text messaging, you're not alone. A new study finds that only 25% of cell phone users in the U.S. text messaged someone within...
The digital papacy?
March 18, 2005
With Roman Catholics' most holy days of the year occurring next week and Pope John Paul II still recovering from his latest hospitalization, Vatican officials say the frail Holy Father...
IRS security still poor
March 17, 2005
There's good news and bad news with this story. The bad: Treasury Department officials posed as IT staff and called 100 IRS employees to see how easy it would be...
Time for an IT Hippocratic Oath
March 17, 2005
Network World columnist and Layer 8 pal Linda Musthaler wrote an interesting column for the mothership this week that's worth your time. She advocates IT professionals take a Hippocratic-esque oath...
Apple smacks down Google
March 17, 2005
Man almighty, Apple has its panties in a twist lately. First it's suing fans/bloggers over product information leaks and possibly alienating its cult-like constituency, and now it apparently dropped the...
The idiocy of buzz words
March 17, 2005
Driving home from the salt mine the other day we tuned into our local AM powerhouse just in time to hear the following words: "And there are other reasons business...
Microsoft's paid search and privacy
March 16, 2005
A few years late and twice as scary, Microsoft's getting into the paid search advertising game currently monopolized by Google. "Boogie Shoes" Ballmer is expected to make the announcement today...
Gaming: Wireless' killer app?
March 16, 2005
Could video games be the killer app that brings Wi-Fi mass adoption? That may be the case, as Nintendo President Satoru Iwata says the video game company's upcoming console, code-named...
Hustler goes mobile
March 16, 2005
Larry Flynt and Giant Mobile are teaming to bring the World of Hustler to cell phones in North America and Asia. "Hustler Mobile is doing exceedingly well in Europe. I...
Useless Product of the Day
March 16, 2005
We gotta hand it to the folks who run SkinIt.com - they're building a technology peripherals business based on the trends of 12-year-old girls. Actually, we should clarify - 12-year-old...
IT Whiz Kid High School
March 15, 2005
This week NW did a nifty feature story on Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the nation's premier technical high school for math and science whiz kids. Located...
Americans love, hate cell phones
March 15, 2005
According to a new survey, 6 in 10 Americans find people yakking on their cells in public "a major irritation." We agree, but we'd bet 9 in 10 think it's...
Musician on tour to promote PowerPoint
March 15, 2005
Talking Head frontman David Byrne left his giant white suit at home, but brought his laptop to his UC Berkeley lecture, "I (heart) PowerPoint". Apparently the musician really, really digs...
New England stinks at e-filing
March 15, 2005
Our home state of Massachusetts is full of universities, World Championship sports teams and tech companies. (We know the World Championship thing doesn't work in this example, but we just...
New contest starts today
March 14, 2005
There's *so* much wrong with this picture, it's not funny. Well, actually, there's so much wrong with this photo it's hysterical. Which is why we're turning it over to you...
Latest contest winner
March 14, 2005
"Yeah, I know, but it's the only way they'll let me play from the ladies tees." Paul Bennett must know we have a weakness for jokes about the ladies'...
John Cleese on data backup
March 14, 2005
If for some reason you're still not convinced as to the importance of data backup, perhaps the funny-yet-informational comedy stylings of John Cleese can set you straight. Head on over...
P. Diddy keynotes CTIA
March 14, 2005
N+I can have its John Chambers keynote. CES can enjoy Bill Gates. This week's CTIA show in New Orleans is going beyond the pale (and all reason) by hosting a...
Wireless carriers go back to basics
March 14, 2005
With a churn rate that makes their execs weep like Michael Powell during his farewell speech, wireless carriers will do nearly anything to attract - and more importantly retain -...
Dell fires employees over prayer
March 11, 2005
The Tennessean reports that 30 Somali Muslims have been fired by Dell for leaving their posts to pray. The employees at Dell's Nashville plant say they requested 5 minutes to...
Seriously scary software
March 11, 2005
You know a product is wild when you and several co-workers independently receive the press release, then immediately send around a series of "Oh my head, did you see this?"...
Banned in Boston
March 11, 2005
Boston students, teachers and school officials are banding together to craft city-wide policies banning the use of cell phones on school property. Currently most city middle and high schools have...
Netscape tries a comeback
March 11, 2005
Netscape is trying to make a comeback with Version 8.0 of its once-mighty browser. And while you may like the look, feel and features of the browser, you won't like...
L.I. library loans out iPod Shuffles
March 10, 2005
The title of World's Coolest Library may shift to Long Island. We know, we were surprised, too. It seems the South Huntington Public Library is one of the first in...
Mitnick's curious bio
March 10, 2005
Wiley Publishing sent us a copy of Kevin Mitnick's new book, "The Art of Intrusion". Co-authored by William L. Simon, the book promises to outline "The real stories behind the...
Kids' rooms are tech hubs
March 10, 2005
A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that children's bedrooms are starting to resemble your local Best Buy. With cable or satellite feeds, computers and video game consoles,...
Apple's core of clay
March 10, 2005
Apple fans are devoted to the company for many reasons, one of which is that it didn't act like a big, faceless money-grubbing machine. Until now, that is. With the...
AOL hawks VoIP
March 09, 2005
This week's Voice on the Net show is one of the last places we'd expect to see AOL. Unless the company was announcing the launch of a VoIP service. Which...
Free vulnerability assessment tools
March 09, 2005
We got a press release yesterday that may be of interest to you. We normally don't pass these things on, but this one sounds somewhat useful. Security company Clearswift is...
More "24" tech
March 09, 2005
If you want to save your company some scratch, don't go to a trade show to see the latest technology goodies - just watch "24". As we talked about a...
Are bloggers journalists?
March 09, 2005
Given the Apple lawsuit against three bloggers who leaked product information, there 's been a lot of navel gazing as to whether a blogger is a journalist. Discussion and debate...
New look weirdness
March 08, 2005
If you visited yesterday and read our note about our new look, yet were confused because everything looked like it always had, you were not alone. Nor were you alone...
Smokers hit with online state sales tax
March 08, 2005
We kinda feel bad for smokers. They're addicted to a dangerous, expensive drug that most would probably quit if they could. Now, to add insult to injury, some of those...
Apple makes blog disappear?
March 08, 2005
When it comes to those who write workplace blogs these days, the authors are either stupid, egomaniacs who think they won't get caught or imposters. Or all of the above....
A license to sell on eBay?
March 08, 2005
Between increased eBay fees and now state laws, those trying to make their living via the online auction site can't catch a break - at least those eBayers in Ohio....
Texas rethinks 'Net hunting
March 08, 2005
Last November we told you the story of the Texas rancher who wanted to operate computer-controlled hunting on this property. Long story short, via live-shot.com and your PC you control...
New contest starts today
March 07, 2005
This looks like fun! And we mean the caption-writing, not the Segwaying. Rev up your noggin and send your best shot to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your...
New look, same great taste
March 07, 2005
If you came by to visit today and immediately thought "What the…?", welcome to our new look. The big difference is our new caffeine-themed design, which we think works well...
Latest contest winner
March 07, 2005
"Welcome to Microsoft Anti-Virus Professional Edition." Lee Kasner levels up this week, winning our Weekly Caption Contest in a hard-fought battle. Many funny runners-up can be found by clicking...
Patch Tuesday cancelled, pigs fly
March 07, 2005
Hey, net folk: Take a long lunch tomorrow. Astoundingly, Redmond says the monthly extravaganza known as Patch Tuesday is cancelled this month because there are no new patches to push...
Godcasts: A killer app?
March 07, 2005
Is it creepy coincidence or divine intervention that the very day we were silently wondering whether any religious podcasts existed, cohort-in-crime Adam Gaffin points us to a story on the...
Hot new cell phone feature
March 07, 2005
Just received a great press release that answers the question no one asked: "Why can't I get Archie comics on my cell phone?" Well, there's good news for the four...
Applicants hack into admission records
March 04, 2005
Some applying to top-flight colleges got the good - or bad - news on their future early after following hacking tips that let them access internal admissions records. On Wednesday,...
Street gangs take it to the Web
March 04, 2005
Southern California detectives say street gangs are increasingly taking their spats, graffiti and tough-talk to the Web, making their presence known and marking their turf on regional- and Latino-based Web...
Airport Wi-Fi status report
March 04, 2005
Wi-Fi use is rising at airports, but not as fast as some experts predicted. Some reasons: It's not free in a majority of airports and also connections can be spotty,...
Atlanta adds wireless TV to subway
March 04, 2005
It will soon be a good news/bad news proposition if you're an Atlanta subway commuter. The bad news: You're on the subway. The good news: You get to watch TV....
Tech CEOs are puppets
March 03, 2005
Is "Tech Force: Dell International Alliance" disturbing or funny? Or disturbingly funny? Judge for yourself here, where you can see Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates and other tech titans...
T-Mobile security theories
March 03, 2005
Security mucky-mucks and pretty much everyone but T-Mobile say security victim/living mannequin Paris Hilton may have fallen prey to a "gaping hole in the company's Web site." Ahem. Write your...
Bill's Most Excellent Knighthood
March 03, 2005
First Camilla. Then Steven Gerrard's own-goal in the Carling Cup. Now this. What is going on in the Mother Country? So Bill is now a Knight Commander of the Most...
'Net church sign dustup
March 03, 2005
If you've spent much time on the 'Net, chances are you're familiar with the well-known and amusing churchsigngenerator.com. Long story short, the site lets you generate a jpeg of a...
From tech to trucking
March 02, 2005
Richard Branson can balloon around the world and Larry Ellison can have the America's Cup. Just leave short-haul trucking to Tim Krauskopf, thank you very much. Like many a retired...
Secret work gaming
March 02, 2005
If you're of our persuasion, you occasionally enjoy a little non-work-related game play on your work PC. Korean company CCR is developing gaming software that will help us keep our...
DIY Apple I
March 02, 2005
Anyone can buy a Mac, but the hard-core among us will just make one - or at least a retro replica. Wired points the enterprising toward "Apple I Replica Creation:...
The real world of James Bond
March 02, 2005
Bond movies are fascinating fodder for nerds like us - dashing men, sultry vixens and an endless array of gizmos and gadgets that would be quite handy in everyday life....
DIY PC home security system
March 01, 2005
Two weeks ago we told you about the English software engineer who set up his PC as a home security system and caught footage of a burglar stealing said PC....
Paris Hilton spikes T-Mobile sales
March 01, 2005
As Manhattan Gossip Grande Dame Cindy Adams would say, "Only in New York, kids. Only in New York." Today's New York Post is reporting that Big Apple stores are selling...
High-tech football
March 01, 2005
The International Football Association Board is trialing a ball that contains a microchip and signals the ref once it crosses the goal line. Produced by Adidas, the ball would emit...
Star Wars ring tones
March 01, 2005
The release of blessed-by-George-Lucas Star Wars music and dialog ring tones by Cingular is almost enough to make us switch wireless vendors. Almost. We still value many towering signal strength...
New contest starts today
February 28, 2005
This needs little setup or introduction, so we'll just say, "Have at it." Send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday, and the best caption will win...
Latest contest winner
February 28, 2005
"You see, sir, the TDMB model comes in two sizes, the SM for our younger customers and our slightly larger LG model for senior customers." Giant-phone-sized congratulations to Chad...
AOL, Outlook join forces
February 28, 2005
America Online has entered into a most unholy union with Outlook. Starting today, the brave can download a free tool, AIM Sync, that will let you know whether those sending...
Librarian incites bloggers
February 28, 2005
If you think about it, it probably makes sense that the head of the American Library Association wouldn't love bloggers. But Michael Gorman, president-elect of the ALA, doesn't just "not...
Most important movie news
February 28, 2005
We couldn't give a flying fig about the Oscars, but we do care about one movie awards ceremony - The Razzies. The Razzies are held each year the night before...
Have you got Employee Blog Fever?
February 25, 2005
We got a screaming press release from Clearswift the other day: " 'EMPLOYEE BLOG FEVER' HAS SECURITY SIDE EFFECTS" Run for the hills! We hope Employee Blog Fever is nothing...
Office Space meets Justice League
February 25, 2005
Need a little sumpin-sumpin to get yourself through the day? Oh, do we have a treat for you. Idiotwork merges two of our loves, the movie "Office Space" and the...
Download Oscar speeches
February 25, 2005
Yesterday we set you wise to the boring Producer's Blog of Oscar ringleader Gil Cates. Today, we've got more Oscar pseudo-news with a technology bent. Audible.com says it'll be have...
More on "24" phones
February 25, 2005
A couple of days ago we pondered whether the bedeviled CTU headquarters on Fox's "24" was using an IP phone system, after we spotted VoIP-like handsets on the desks. No...
For Oscar fans only
February 24, 2005
More proof that blogs are on Minute 14: Oscar über-producer Gil Cates' Producer's Blog. This seems like a run-up to an inevitable Cates memoir on producing the world's most famous...
Home-grown support help
February 24, 2005
NW and Layer 8 colleague Jason reports the following: "I am using the Dell Support chat to get an answer to a question I have... here's how the agent introduces...
Apple to buy Tivo?
February 24, 2005
What happens when two cults collide? We'd find out if the rumors are true that Apple is considering buying Tivo....
Dubious cell phone advance, Part 1
February 24, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal is channeling Maxwell Smart, installing a cell phone in the sole of his size 22 sneakers. Hell, he could fit a rotary phone in there. The sneaker, which...
Dubious cell phone advance, Part 2
February 24, 2005
One again, proof that all the cool mobile phone advances debut in Japan long before they reach our shores. A company called Omnicl debuted "Keitai Vyuun!" at the Tokyo Gift...
Horrific e-mail error
February 23, 2005
The Palm Beach County Health Department - and thousands of patients - are enduring every health care professional's nightmare at the moment. Last week, the county's top HIV statistician sent...
One tough road trip
February 23, 2005
Every weekend Steve drives from Iowa City to Chicago to visit his girlfriend. The 200+-mile trip usually takes 4 to 5 hours. Steve says it's not much of a challenge...
Teen arrested over IM spam
February 23, 2005
An 18-year-old New York man has become the first person to be arrested for sending spam via instant messaging. Anthony Greco of Cheektowaga, New York, was arrested last week and...
Washington ponders cyberbullying
February 23, 2005
Washington state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles is introducing a bill that would include cyberbullying in schools' statewide anti-harassment policies and make perpetrators subject to disciplinary action. Cyberbullying runs the gamut from...
New contest starts today
February 22, 2005
Allrighty, given the events of the past few days, this one should be relatively easy. You know the drill: Send you best shot to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday...
"24" and VoIP
February 22, 2005
OK, who watched "24" last night? We did and we think CTU headquarters is staffed with VoIP phones. At least it looked like that to us. Next time you watch,...
Latest contest winner
February 22, 2005
"And now, the moment you've been waiting for: the demonstration of Solaris 10's new secure execution capability..." Props to Wes Toman, who wrote the above and beat a very...
Cell phone jammers on the rise
February 22, 2005
Our favorite tabloid, The New York Post, reports that sales of portable cell phone jammers are on the rise in Manhattan, allowing anyone to stifle annoying chatter in their vicinity....
Paris Hilton hacked
February 22, 2005
If, for some reason, you weren't glued to the 'Net yesterday you may have missed the news that pseudo-celebrity (Ed. - And that's being generous) Paris Hilton found her T-Mobile...
Hacking The Sims
February 22, 2005
Simply playing video games off the shelf isn't enough for some techno-tinkerers; they need to make the game better. Or, in the case of The Sims, make the characters naked....
U.K. #1 in illegal TV downloads
February 18, 2005
Subjects of the Mother Country are sticking it to television studios in the Colonies by illegally downloading a ton of U.S. programming. A study by UK technology consultancy Envisional finds...
The New York Times gets fleeced
February 18, 2005
The Old Gray Lady has lost her mind. Zipping across the wires today is the news that The New York Times has bought About.com for $410 million. We sincerely hope...
Web cam 1, Burglar 0
February 18, 2005
If you're gonna rob a house there are a few places to avoid, such as the pads of a rottweiler trainer, a state NRA president and a software engineer. Just...
The evils of 1337?
February 18, 2005
Microsoft apparently thinks leetspeek is the devil, as it has published "A parent's primer to computer slang: Understand how your kids communicate online to help protect them". Even better, this...
Battling Sunday night dread
February 17, 2005
When Sunday night rolls around and you find yourself with that retro "I have school tomorrow" dread that makes you feel like you're 12 again, you're not alone. Jared Sandberg...
Typing style = password
February 17, 2005
College researchers say the way you type can be used as another layer of security on your computer. Louisana Tech and Penn State, which collaborated on the project for five...
Are carriers sabotaging VoIP?
February 17, 2005
The FCC is investigating claims by VoIP provider Vonage that telcos are purposely dropping VoIP calls from their networks. Chair Michael Powell says he believes the problems may lie with...
iPods take Manhattan
February 17, 2005
The last time we were in Manhattan (two months ago) we saw iPods everywhere - especially during morning and evening commute hours. We weren't sure if they really were everywhere...
Wife tracks hubby via spyware
February 16, 2005
One enterprising Florida woman got spyware to work for her - by installing it on her cheating husband's computer. Beverly Ann O'Brien was using the software to prove her husband...
Better manage your e-mail
February 16, 2005
If your inbox is as jammed as the 405 at rush hour, 43 Folders has five tips that can help you better manage the crush of information. Here's our two...
School reverses RFID decision
February 16, 2005
The Northern California school district that mandated RFID badges for all students has reversed its decision. School officials scuttled the program after heated protests from parents and civil liberty advocates....
Google loves Democrats
February 16, 2005
If you're a Googler, chances are you're a Democrat. The Center for Responsive Politics has tracked high-tech company campaign contributions and found that of the money donated by Google employees,...
The fate of the AT&T archives
February 15, 2005
There are hundreds of thousands of details to settle when a company is bought, and when that company is a granddaddy like AT&T, multiply that by 100. One of the...
Celebs & Apple
February 15, 2005
This entry combines two of our loves: Apple products and celebrity gossip. Celebrities love Apple gadgets, just like you and me. And also - just like you and me -...
Google's bizarre analyst day
February 15, 2005
Google held its first ever analyst day last week, which left prognosticators with little information, except for a fabulous grilled pork tenderloin recipe. At these shindigs, the CFO usually make...
Get rocked with iPod
February 15, 2005
Seriously, is there anything the iPod can't do? Now Apple is offering for download Mixed-Pod College Edition 1.0: "An iPod based mixed drink database with over 800 recipes, 100 drinking...
New contest starts today
February 14, 2005
We don't know what Sun COO Jonathan Schwartz is doing in this photo, but we sure like his stage props. Perhaps you have an idea or two? Send your...
Latest contest winner
February 14, 2005
"They didn’t like MS Paint after all." Peter Raymond of Phoenix is our virtul Valentine today for his wicked words of wit and earning the top spot in the...
Best cell news ever
February 14, 2005
The Society for HandHeld Hushing (SHHH!) has made what may be the most significant cell phone advance ever: lack-of-courtesy cards. They read: "Dear Cell Phone User, We are aware that...
Lawrence Lessig's prime-time turn
February 14, 2005
How cool is it to be Lawrence Lessig? He founded the Center for Internet and Society. He's known as "the Elvis of cyber law." Now he's a character on "The...
Gizoogle, y'all
February 14, 2005
We know it's not new. We know Google homages are not unique. But we're a sucker for spinning rims and Snoop speak. It's Monday morning, you need a little Gizoogle...
Parents protest school RFID plan
February 11, 2005
Parents in a Northern California town are up in arms over the school district's mandate that their children wear RFID-equipped ID badges on school grounds. All students wear employee-like badges...
Billboard starts counting downloads
February 11, 2005
The music industry has moved a step closer to accepting the fact that digital music downloads are here to stay as Billboard magazine will start counting downloads in its weekly...
Boston's new wireless venture
February 11, 2005
If Charley's still riding on the MTA, at least he'll have Wi-Fi to pass the time 'till the wife gets him that extra nickel. Boston has signed a 15-year contract...
How to get Gmail
February 11, 2005
If you're still unlucky when it comes to receiving a Gmail invite, head over to isnoop.net and request one. The site's currently holding more than 165,000 to give away free....
Carly's new gig
February 10, 2005
If newly-unemployed Carly Fiorina's $20 million doesn't tide her over, she could always sub for Trump henchwoman Carolyn Kepcher on "The Apprentice."...
DIY iPod cupholder cradle
February 10, 2005
If you listen to your iPod in the car and don't want to spend $30 on a Belkin TuneDok Car Holder, how about making one for $2? Your friends at...
An IM no-no list
February 10, 2005
Instant messaging is a fact of life in many workplaces today, allowing you to communicate information quickly and efficiently to your colleagues. And, you know, let them know there's only...
Avoid these V-Day gifts
February 10, 2005
We've been trying to help you out for the upcoming Valentine's Day, offering ideas on things and stuff that might make good gifts. Let us steer you away from what...
HP brings back Carly
February 09, 2005
Hey, gang, guess who's back on the HP site? Perhaps HP couldn't take the heat this morning? We thought this had gone the way of Bill Gates' Top Searches forever....
Carly, don't let the door...
February 09, 2005
...hit you on the tuckus on the way out. At least that's the feeling of one HP employee on our "Bye, Carly" forum: "After living under her group of bumbling...
Fiorina's swift Web exit
February 09, 2005
Either HP's been planning former CEO Carly Fiorina's ouster for some time or their Web producers are as swift as a SWAT team. In prepping the Fiorina out at HP...
Valentine's Day and naughty e-mail
February 09, 2005
"Cyber-seducers take heed!" cries Clearswift. Valentine's Day is nigh and that means it's high time for naughty spam and racy legit e-mail, alike. Yowza! The security vendor says "The days...
World's largest mobile phone
February 09, 2005
Cell phones are getting so small these days, you have to frisk yourself to remember where you stashed it. Also, if you jam it in your tight Calvins, you can...
Big Brother, Big Easy
February 09, 2005
New Orleans, home of flying beads and many a "Girls Gone Wild" tape, is now sporting bullet-proof security cameras citywide. Officials say each camera can monitor eight city blocks, communicate...
One sweet 404 page
February 09, 2005
There are 404 pages and then there are 404 pages. Turn up your sound, sit back and enjoy this one. Via Original Copy...
Bill Gates search mystery solved
February 08, 2005
Yesterday, we reported uncovering the "Bill Gates' Top Searches" Mystery. Long story short, last Friday we found a spot on the new MSN homepage called Bill Gates' Top Searches, listing...
Oscar-winning blogs
February 08, 2005
Turner Classic Movies is conducting its annual 31 Days of Oscar, showing Oscar-winning movies all month long. This year it's added a new twist, blogs written by famous characters from...
Tivo's Super Bowl stats
February 08, 2005
It's becoming the new tradition the day after the Super Bowl: Check in with Tivo to see what was the most popular moments from the broadcast. Tivo monitored Super Bowl...
Best movie review ever
February 08, 2005
Today's Layer 8 Public Service: Save your $8 and skip the new movie "Alone in the Dark." You probably could have surmised that just from the fact that Tara Reid...
New contest starts today
February 07, 2005
Compadres: What's up with these guys and all this old computer gear? That's why we need you. Send your wittiest words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday for your...
Latest contest winner
February 07, 2005
"I’m sorry, our Wi-Fi is down. You want a margarita, no salt, on the rocks…" Tony Walton gets a virtual Margarita, but actual Fusion prizes, for writing and above...
Bill Gates and the MSN mystery
February 07, 2005
Here at Layer 8, our crack investigative news team is working for you. But we're not uncovering the hum-drum drug ring, gun smugglers or political fat cats. No, we're trying...
RIAA goes after dead octogenarian
February 07, 2005
The Recording Industry Association of America is leaving no stone unturned, no scofflaw scott-free in its quest to ankle the file-sharing movement. To wit, the RIAA has named 83-year-old Gertrude...
Microsoft heads to Hollywood
February 07, 2005
Microsoft's insanely popular "Halo" video game series is headed to the big screen. Variety reports that the software giant is bypassing major Hollywood studios, who have ruined nearly every video...
Spam's billion-dollar bill
February 04, 2005
If your tightwad CFO is giving you the business about the anti-spam program you want to roll out, (Ed. - Flood his inbox with junk!). OK...that's one way, but we...
Beware knock-off iPod gear
February 04, 2005
For iPod fans, outfitting their favorite device can cost nearly as much as buying the unit in the first place. Between travel gear, adapters, headphones, speaker systems and cases, you...
Harry Potter & The Evil Phishing Scam
February 04, 2005
Last week we pointed you to research that proves spammers aren't stupid; they latch onto hot trends and products and recraft their scams accordingly. News out of the U.K. today...
Best valentines ever
February 04, 2005
Part 2 of our continuing service to get you ready for Valentine's Day. Yesterday we pointed you toward superb geeky gift suggestions, if you're of the King Midas persuasion. Today,...
Microsofties love Steve Jobs
February 03, 2005
Or, more accurately, they love their iPods. Still, those iPods are a very public extension of Jobs & Co., and the fact that the majority of Microsoft employees are strolling...
Charity begins at home for Sanyo
February 03, 2005
Sanyo's having a tough year, so to narrow its losses it's doing what any normal company would do - asking its employees to buy lots of Sanyo gear. The company...
Valentine's gifts for your geek
February 03, 2005
Valentine's Day is a little more than a week away. If you haven't started shopping for the geek in your life, turn him or her into a technosexual with some...
A new job for you
February 03, 2005
If The Man's getting you down and you need a new gig (or just a laugh), head over to tribe.net, where you may find something more to your liking, such...
Cell phones 'instantly age' drivers
February 02, 2005
Finally, proof we're not just blowing smoke (Ed. - On this). Researchers say those who talk on cell phones while driving "instantly age," reducing their reaction time to that of...
89-yo woman gets her first phone
February 02, 2005
Eighty-nine-year-old Alice Louise Bolton of Mink, Louisiana, got a phone call from Gov. Kathleen Blanco Monday. We think it's pretty impressive when a governor gives you a ring, but even...
Don't pick up, it's Jack Bauer
February 02, 2005
If there's one person we don't want on the other end of our cell phone it's Jack Bauer. He's never calling to ask you out to dinner, swing by with...
More Web shout-outs in prime time
February 02, 2005
Yesterday we told you about the odd-and-"absolutely-not-paid-for" A9 reference on last week's "The O.C." Now searchenginewatch.com reports that Ask Jeeves was tossed about on last week's "Arrested Development" by none...
Why's Google in the domain-selling biz?
February 01, 2005
Google is so ginormous these days it's hard for it to do anything under the radar. Which is why when the company applied to ICANN to sell domain names, it...
Apple beats Al Jazeera
February 01, 2005
Apple: So hot it knocks off Al Jazeera. True, true. Apple has been named the brand with the most impact for 2004, beating 2002 and 2003 winner Google, Ikea, Starbucks...
A9's prime-time exposure
February 01, 2005
Amazon's A9 search engine wants to be a verb when it grows up, just like Google. Which is why on last week's episode of "The O.C." you heard Lindsay say,...
One jerky cell phone
February 01, 2005
If you're too lazy to answer your cell phone the traditional way, Vodafone's got a new handset for you. The company is releasing a new cell phone equipped with a...
New contest starts today
January 31, 2005
Funny, we thought we were the only people who brought our laptop poolside on vacation. But color us wrong! Enough about us, what's going on in this photo? Send your...
Latest contest winner
January 31, 2005
"If she calls me Madonna one more time, I'm gonna slap her." Leo Sopicki of Chino, Calif., is our greatest hit this week as his winning words pull in...
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 31, 2005
Why are you at work today? It's a holiday. Your company does recognize Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, right? Well, even if your wage master is behind in its alternative holiday...
Cracking vehicle security codes
January 31, 2005
Researchers at the most misspelled institution of higher learning ever say they've cracked the security code that protects millions of Toyotas, Fords and Nissans. Johns Hopkins University big brains told...
Woman uses e-mail to set up co-worker
January 31, 2005
A Burlington, Vermont, woman has been charged with identity theft after she allegedly set up an e-mail account to make it look as if her co-worker was stalking her. Authorities...
Math explains middle management
January 28, 2005
Have you ever felt cursed by managerial incompetence? That somehow, someway you always ended up with the worst middle manager in the bunch? The David Brent. The Pointy Haired Boss....
Microsoft's mysterious flying car project
January 28, 2005
The Register's onto one hot story: The gang at Redmond may be working on a flying and/or amphibious car. How else could they explain some of their European MapPoint driving...
Microsoft Word and CYA
January 28, 2005
If you want to craft or edit sensitive work documents, don't use Microsoft Word. That's the advice of document security firm Workshare, whose survey says up to 75% of all...
Best peripheral ever
January 28, 2005
Now you can shake your groove thang while keeping an eye on your network, thanks to the Multi-Colored USB Powered Disco Ball. Plug it into a free USB port and...
Embarrassing IM interruptions
January 27, 2005
Rule No. 1 when a making a presentation via projector: Turn off your instant messaging program as soon as you boot up. Or this could happen. Greg Hughes shares another...
The No. 1 source of identity fraud
January 27, 2005
You're more likely to suffer identity theft from losing your wallet than you are having your personal information hacked online. That's the upshot of the 2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report,...
Video games banned in prison
January 27, 2005
Here's something new: A video game ban we actually believe in. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (Ed. - Great name for a governor) has banned inmate video game use in state...
Of privacy and pizza
January 27, 2005
Concerned about your privacy? Worried about the increasing number of companies jockeying for your personal information and what may come of it? You're not alone. The ACLU has a vision...
Spammers love Apple
January 26, 2005
Spammers may be evil, but they're not stupid. Well, most of them aren't. Clearswift's latest spam analysis report is out and says spammers jumped on the red-hot iPod bandwagon for...
A must for your cube
January 26, 2005
We thought The Cubes playsets were the coolest office-related product we've seen in a while, but we're wrong. We're now in love with the CubeDoor. (Click pic to enlarge.) "When...
A cell phone for your dog
January 26, 2005
If you love your pet and wireless, you'll dig the PetCell by PetsMobility. PetCell attaches to your dog's collar and accepts calls from preauthorized numbers, aka you. This enables you...
Of office politics and Girl Scout cookies
January 26, 2005
'Tis the season for tiny, green-bereted girls to come hawking cookies. Or, more frighteningly, their parents - your coworkers or worse, your boss - putting the not-so-subtle screws to you...
Left-behind laptops
January 25, 2005
If you lost your laptop in London, chances are you left it in the cab. At least that's the case according to TAXI magazine, which polled 900 cabbies across the...
Best. Episode. Ever.
January 25, 2005
Huge news today for Simpsons fans. As Homer would say, "I don't want to blow this out of proportion, but this could be bigger than 10 Super Bowls." The New...
Google's raiding your TV
January 25, 2005
Google is continuing its Pac-Man-like approach to information, today introducing a new video search service that will return images and information broadcast on TV. The feature, which doesn't seem to...
Venti Starbucks density
January 25, 2005
Super blogger Jason Kottke's got a little experiment: He's wondering which five-mile area has the greatest number of Starbucks (or Starbuckses? Starbucksi?). Currently, it looks like lower midtown NYC is...
New contest starts today
January 25, 2005
Why it's HP CEO/female tech titan Carly Fiorina and pop princess/No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani doing a little female bonding or something. What is going on here? That's up to...
Latest contest winner
January 24, 2005
"No cheating on my low-carb diet. Now they can track my every move!" Heather Real of Houston wins this week's carb-free Weekly Caption Contest with her winning words. It...
Google super sizes its search
January 24, 2005
"if you want to search google on a ridiculously long string of words now you can" Even that was only 16 words, just half of the recently upped 32-word search...
Firefox's teen-age whiz kid
January 24, 2005
Wanna feel like a slacker? Meet 19-year-old Stanford sophomore Blake Ross, who for kicks was fixing bugs in Netscape's browser at the tender age of 14. By 15 his work...
Spanish program predicts hit music
January 24, 2005
A Spanish company has developed a program it says accurately predicts hit songs. Polyphonic HMI's"HitSongScience" program identifies 20 elements of song construction - including melody, harmony, tempo, pitch, octave and...
To delete or not delete
January 21, 2005
Are digital cameras making amateur photography less interesting? That's the charge by some pro-print/anti-delete people, who say by zapping our less-than-stellar photos, we're doing our descendants a disservice. "It turns...
Jenna Jameson wants your cell phone
January 21, 2005
Ringtones are yesterday's news. The truly cutting edge (and unflappable) will be signing up for "moantones." (Link is work-safe.) Porn queen Jenna Jameson is teaming with Wicked Wireless with provide...
MLB to improve online rotisserie leagues
January 21, 2005
Fantasy baseball fans rejoice. Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month, and Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have inked a deal to improve...
Real-world breakup, online revenge
January 21, 2005
Real-world break-ups can get messy online. Just ask the Japanese gamer whose girlfriend hacked into his Lineage account and trashed his game. Online gamers can spend thousands of hours building...
FBI switches online snooping software
January 20, 2005
Remember a few years ago, when the FBI publicly announced it was gonna use a scary, custom-designed Big Brother program named Carnivore to read our e-mail and eavesdrop on our...
The hottest toy of spring
January 20, 2005
Gimme, gimme, gimme! Mark our words, Hasbro's Darth Tater will be the hottest toy around starting with its release next month. At least if people as nerdy as us want...
Teen facing Apple lawsuit gets free lawyer
January 20, 2005
An attorney specializing in freedom of speech cases has stepped up to defend - pro bono - a 19-year-old facing an Apple lawsuit. San Francisco lawyer Terry Gross says he'll...
Why we need hands-free laws
January 20, 2005
Advice of the day: Don't drive in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as it's apparently OK to hit and kill another driver while you're talking on your cell phone. At least that's the...
Why we forward e-mail
January 19, 2005
Leave it to The BBC to examine the 10 reasons why we (or more accurately, your mom) forward those "Thought you'd find this funny..." viral e-mails. The need to be...
Google's coming for your photos
January 19, 2005
Google yesterday released Picasa 2, free software for finding and organizing photos and images on your hard drive. Man, does this sound like a bad idea. What's the over/under on...
Disney's controversial online games
January 19, 2005
Some media watchers are crying foul over Disney's plans to offer online advergaming to kids in an attempt to get the tots to con their parents into taking them to...
Our new favorite CEO
January 19, 2005
Poor AMD CEO Hector Ruiz. The company today announced it lost $30 million last quarter thanks to the poor performance of its flash memory division, upon which AMD relies for...
New contest starts today
January 18, 2005
You got your RFID in my Cheerios! You got your Cheerios in my RFID! They always said breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is perhaps why...
Latest contest winner
January 18, 2005
"How many bonus points if I hit the penguin?" Bill Grunnah hits the bulls-eye this week with his winning words, taking the title of Weekly Caption Contest king. There...
Evil IT words
January 18, 2005
The AP's got an amusing story today about IT marketing and the horrid buzzwords that abound. (Ed. - Only amusing if you don't have to read those press releases every...
FBI spends like drunken, collaborative sailors
January 18, 2005
We would rather read about the government blowing gazillions on solid-gold toilets than hear the FBI has frittered away $170 million on a collaboration project. And the insult upon injury...
The dreamy Bill Gates
January 18, 2005
In the name of all that is holy, please let this be a hoax, Photoshop contest, impersonator or something else. Anything else - as long as it's not legit. (The...
Back Tuesday
January 14, 2005
We'll be off enjoying this long weekend, returning to provide your regularly-scheduled networking merriment and mirth on Tuesday, Jan. 18....
Giving up the 'Net
January 14, 2005
Fed up with spyware, viruses and spam, some home users are pulling the plug on the Internet. Today's LA Times looks at several frustrated users who say home 'Net use...
Google's grammar police
January 14, 2005
If you're keen to start promoting your business through Google AdWords, be aware that the company is more strict with grammar than your fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Kendrick. The New York...
eBay hikes fees 60%
January 14, 2005
EBay sellers are giving the online auction superpower negative feedback when it comes to its latest move. EBay has informed those who operate "Basic eBay Stores" that their monthly fees...
The bloggiest blog ever
January 14, 2005
It's the bloggiest blog that ever blogged: "Blogging About Blogs". Ow, my head hurts. This is like a hall of mirrors, Lord have mercy. And, in case you thought there...
Server closet sex
January 14, 2005
Now that we have your attention... Did you meet your better half via networking or IT? (Ed. - Who hasn't?) If you have, you may want to share your story...
Google's stock gaffe
January 13, 2005
Google employees are faced with a good news/bad news scenario when it comes to their stock options. The good news: The stock is doing well. The bad news: Employees have...
iPod shuffle: Do not eat
January 13, 2005
We're not sure what audience Apple is marketing their products toward - 5-year-olds? First, they have to include instructions on how to pick up the iMac G5. Now they tell...
The perfect pair of jeans
January 13, 2005
Got too much junk in your trunk and not enough pants to accommodate the situation? Or vice versa? Across the pond, fashionistas are using Bodymetrics, "a state-of-the-art body mapping system"...
Maxi Mac mini pics
January 13, 2005
It's all Apple, all the time this week with the company's announcement of the Mac mini and the iPod Shuffle. Gizmodo gives you what you want: Mac mini porn. Or,...
Greenies target Apple
January 12, 2005
The gadget world may be abuzz with Apple's announcement of its teeny new iPod, but not everyone is pleased. Environmentalists are targeting Apple this year, saying the company makes recycling...
MTV's headed for your mobile
January 12, 2005
Verizon Wireless has inked a deal with MTV Networks that will deliver VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and, of course, MTV shows to your cell. Verizon plans to roll out the...
Hacker gets Secret Service e-mail
January 12, 2005
The U.S. is quietly pursuing a hacking case against a man who had access to T-Mobile servers for at least a year, allowing him to read Secret Service e-mail and...
The DIY mobile phone virus
January 12, 2005
If you think you've been hit by one of those new-fangled mobile phone viruses, make sure you weren't the source of the "virus," advises Dave Winer. We can see ourselves...
The 20 Year Usenet Timeline
January 11, 2005
Benevolent Internet overlord Google has assimilated the past 20 years of Usenet archives into its collective, er, Google Groups. Dating back to 1981, the 800 million messages offer a unique...
Blogophobic corporations
January 11, 2005
We all know 2004 was the Year of the Blog, but it also was the Year for Getting Fired Over Your Blog. Bloggers' Rights lists more than 30 incidents of...
Idiot-proof PCs
January 11, 2005
If the AOL-optimized PC is a little too advanced for the computer-challenged in your life, turn their attention to simPC from Secure Internet Machines. Come May, the Dutch company's simPC...
Mmmm...Homer Simpson quotes
January 11, 2005
The Language Log blog (say that 5 times fast) says "The Simpsons has apparently taken over from Shakespeare and the Bible as our culture's greatest source of idioms, catch phrases...
New contest starts today
January 10, 2005
In between embarrassing equipment failures at his CES keynote, Microsoft overlord Bill Gates had time to goof off with paid keynote pal Conan O'Brien (see picture, click for a better...
Latest contest winner
January 10, 2005
"Yeah, I’d like to report that the guy in the row behind me is using his cell phone while we are in the air…" Dale Worley starts the new...
Google unlocks private Web cams
January 10, 2005
You may be able to hide your Web cam from the public, but you can't hide it from Google. And, therefore, you can't really hide it from the public. Links...
Radiologists love their iPods
January 10, 2005
If your radiologist is sporting an iPod next time you get an X-ray, don't fret. He's just doing his job. The Radiological Society of North America is reporting that iPods...
Worst product name of the moment
January 10, 2005
We're not in the habit of feeling bad for PR folks, but we do have a twinge of sympathy for the person trying to promote TMPG's new product "Tsunami MPG...
Vegas placates geeks with Wi-Fi
January 07, 2005
After royally fouling up the departures of nearly everyone who attended the Consumer Electronics Show last year, Las Vegas' McCarran Airport is now offering free Wi-Fi in an attempt to...
Computer recycling made easy?
January 07, 2005
Ebay and Intel are teaming to help consumers recycle their unwanted computer gear and gadgets. "You don't want to throw them out, and you don't know what to do with...
Women get info overload
January 07, 2005
E-mail and cell phones were supposed to be tools of convenience, but for some British women, they're making their lives more stressful. A new study reports that 59% of British...
TV spy shows: Fact or fiction?
January 07, 2005
If you're a fan of today's spy shows, you may alternate between the "Wow, that's cool!" and "Man, I hope that's fiction!" schools of thought when it comes to the...
Gates gets BSOD at CES
January 06, 2005
We've wanted to use the phrase "hoisted on his own petard" forever, and thanks to Mr. Gates now we can. He's a giver, that man. During his keynote at CES...
Lazy physicist creates new calendar
January 06, 2005
You may think we're being uncharitable by calling someone who invented a new calendar "lazy." But what if he did it because "he disliked having to re-draft the homework schedule...
Top 11 geek break-up lines
January 06, 2005
Trying to get out of a relationship? BBspot's got your back with the Top 11 Geek Break Up Lines. Some favorites: You have been unsubscribed from my dating list. Please...
Playboy reveals iBod
January 06, 2005
Playboy's giving the geeks what they want with the magazine's new online iBod service. As part of its site's for-pay Cyber Club, Playboy will offer iBod, galleries of nude and...
GPS and employee monitoring
January 05, 2005
Thanks to GPS, there's little screwing around on the job for professional drivers these days. More companies are moving to GPS to track everything from delivery and garbage trucks to...
Airport moves to Web-based flight info
January 05, 2005
The Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the first in the U.S. to rely on the Web - not the airlines - for up-to-the-minute flight information. Departure and arrival data for...
The ultimate game room
January 05, 2005
We would like to be adopted by the Gabriele family of Stormville, N.Y., one of a growing population of those who are outfitting their rumpus room with old-school arcade games....
Calling 867-5309
January 05, 2005
If you ever questioned whether your hobby was worthwhile, fear not. Whatever you do in your spare time must be better than the guy who called the '80s most popular...
Create your own cube empire
January 04, 2005
If you've got a little extra holiday cash and you're sick of being a worker bee (Ed. - And you're a masochist), for $12.95 you can be lord of all...
LA sues online travel sites
January 04, 2005
The city of Los Angeles has filed a lawsuit against online travel giants Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, claiming the sites are making money off the taxes they charge consumers. According...
Cali sets anti-spyware law
January 04, 2005
Congress is debating four separate anti-spyware bills, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Cal-e-for-knee-ah is one step ahead, passing the first anti-spyware legislation. The Consumer Protection Against Spyware Act makes sneaky spyware...
Ski jackets sport built-in phones
January 04, 2005
From the "Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should" Department: Snowboard clothing king Burton is teaming with Motorola to offer ski jackets, helmets and hats with built-in cell phones...
New contest starts today
January 03, 2005
And...we're back. Welcome to 2005 and a fresh batch of photos in need of your captions. You know the drill: Send your best shot to layer8@nww.com by end of day...
Bloggers: People of the Year?
January 03, 2005
We can think of roughly 31 more-important groups than bloggers to be named "People of the Year", but ABC News apparently doesn't feel the same way, so we, your cousin...
Microsoft deep sixes Passport
January 03, 2005
How is Microsoft's Passport like that fruitcake you got from Aunt Carol? It's gone, baby. (Ed. - We will also accept "stale", "unwanted", "nutty" or "thrown away".) EBay's announced it...
Gamers head to war
January 03, 2005
When off-duty, our soldiers overseas are kicking back like many of us here at home - by grabbing their video game system and firing it up. The AP reports Playstations...
Amazon's Merry Christmas
January 03, 2005
The holiday shopping season was disappointing for many brick-and-mortar outfits, but online behemoths like Amazon.com reported a tremendous 2004 Christmas season. Amazon officials said the site had its best holiday...
Year in review, Part 1
December 23, 2004
Well, here we are, our inaugural calendar year over. We thought it fitting - if not totally predictable - that we'd take a look back at some of our favorite...
Year in review, Part 2
December 23, 2004
Welcome back, dear readers. In this entry, we examine our 8-ys picks for "honors" ranging from Best Urban Legend and Best Department To Party With to Best Use of Google...
Year in review, Part 3
December 23, 2004
If you're saying to yourself, "I cannot greet 2005 without knowing about the Most Useless Cell Phone Feature or who won the Best IT MacGyver Award!" you're in luck. We're...
Best of the Weekly Caption Contest
December 23, 2004
The Weekly Caption Contest's been a gas all year long, so we thought it fitting to highlight a few of our favorites. It wasn't easy picking them, but life's full...
Family battles Yahoo over dead soldier's e-mail
December 22, 2004
The family of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq is battling with Yahoo, trying to get access to their dead son's e-mail account. So far, Yahoo is denying the family's...
The 'Net - your girlfriend from Hell
December 22, 2004
We all love the Internet. Many of us can't go a day without it. But Arve Bersvendsen over at Virtuelvis.com says the Internet's like the girlfriend from Hell. For example:...
Online pharmacies thriving
December 22, 2004
Old huckster P.T. Barnum famously said, "There's a sucker born every minute." Man, would this guy have loved the Internet, where that estimate has been dropped to every .36 seconds....
Ken Jennings blogger off the hook
December 22, 2004
A few weeks ago we told you that popular blogger Jason Kottke had gotten Sony's panties in a twist when he posted the spoiler that "Jeopardy" wunderkind Ken Jennings would...
It's Ch. 11 Yule Log time
December 21, 2004
For many in the New York area, Christmas is not complete without a visit to the Channel 11 Yule Log. Not only will the log burn twice as long this...
Google Desktop Search flaw
December 21, 2004
Researchers at Rice University have found what they say is a major flaw in Google Desktop Search, one "that could allow attackers to steal information." Is there any software out...
More cell phone/health risk warnings
December 21, 2004
Just in time for Christmas: another round of cell phone health-risk warnings. A recently concluded four-year study, funded mostly by the European Union, says radiation from cell phones harms body...
Inside the Army's holodeck
December 21, 2004
The Army's never been shy about embracing technology, and its latest endeavor is pushing the envelope further than ever before. The military is training its soldiers in urban warfare and...
Latest contest winner
December 20, 2004
"Don't forget to open the port for SOIP (Santa Over IP) in your firewalls this season..." Scott Paddock gets Fusion goodies in his stocking this week for supplying the...
Text msg causes terror alert
December 20, 2004
If there's one cardinal rule about air travel these days, it is: "Don't have a sense of humor." You know, don't joke that your underwear's made out of C4 as...
Yahoo Maps' new feature
December 20, 2004
For years Yahoo Maps has been your source for bizarre driving directions, using unknown names for roads you thought you knew, ignoring any road built after 1981 and offering unrealistic...
The U.S.'s cell problems
December 20, 2004
To anyone in the know on wireless, it's no surprise that the U.S. lags behind Europe and Asia in cell phone usage and technology. But did you know it's just...
Kids' high-tech Christmas lists
December 17, 2004
Just a warning: This story is pretty revolting. The New York Times looks at how children are using technology - such as online gift registries and (Lord help us) PowerPoint...
UK business PCs filled with naughtiness
December 17, 2004
Our friends in the U.K. are apparently great at multitasking, combining their work hours with quality time downloading porn. The Register says U.K. business PCs are riddled with adult images,...
Geeky worlds collide
December 17, 2004
Geeky worlds are colliding on an iPod near you, as Westciv's "Complete CSS Guide" is now available for free download to your tiny white library. Says Westciv: "Featuring a handy...
State seeks video game ban
December 17, 2004
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to make it a misdemeanor for businesses to sell violent and sexually explicit video games to children. The proposal would prohibit the distribution, sale, rental...
FCC confuses nation over Wi-Fi
December 16, 2004
The AP and other news organizations are reporting today that the FCC has paved the way for in-flight Wi-Fi use. Cheeky U.K. IT site The Register says that is not...
Longest computer crime jail term handed down
December 16, 2004
The feds have handed down their longest computer-crime-related jail sentence yet - 9 years for a man who hacked into Lowe's computer network in an attempt to steal credit card...
Homer Simpson doesn't use IE
December 16, 2004
Blogger Chu Yeow grabbed a screenshot off last week's "Simpsons" episode ("Fat Man and Little Boy"), in which Homer's searching the Internet for info on how to build a nuclear...
Feds eye GPS emergency shutdown
December 16, 2004
President Bush has ordered the Defense Department to hatch a plan that would shut down the U.S. GPS system in the event of a catastrophic incident, like a terrorist attack....
The 10 strangest PDA programs
December 15, 2004
We don't hear a ton about PDAs anymore, but what we saw yesterday made up for the lack of quantity with its quality. Gizmodo points to a site listing 10...
What AOL users want
December 15, 2004
What are AOL's most searched-for words? That sounds like a set-up to a joke, but we swear it's legit. Well, as legit as AOL can get. Ba dum bum! Drive...
Hollywood hits BitTorrent servers
December 15, 2004
Avast ye mateys, Hollywood's not stahndin' for yer dirty movie piracy, no more. Tinseltown has come down hard on file-swapping network BitTorrent, filing suit Tuesday against more than 100 people...
Awards show upset
December 15, 2004
Where on earth would voters choose model Brooke Burke as best actress over Dame Judi Dench? Why at the annual Video Game Awards on Spike TV, of course. Burke's win...
TiVo: Not a noun or verb
December 14, 2004
When TiVo was getting name-dropped all over prime-time TV over the past year, the company was apparently happy. Now that it's popping up in the media vernacular as the catch-all...
The rise of digital cameras
December 14, 2004
It seems like everyone and their grandmother has - or wants - a digital camera these days. Just check out that great Christmas ad from Staples. According to the AP...
Big, bad bloggers
December 14, 2004
Newsweek's got a rather ridiculous story called "The Alpha Bloggers" this week, detailing how people like Dan Gillmor, Dave Winer, Doc Searls and former MTV VJ Adam Curry have a...
Online shoppers like late night
December 14, 2004
What are people doing online after midnight? Oh, not that. Well, probably... But the answer we're looking for is "shopping." A new study on online shopping behavior from Shopzilla finds...
New contest starts today
December 13, 2004
It's fitting that we round out our 2004 Weekly Caption Contests with a holiday classic - a child's visit with Santa. Or, to be precise, a child's videoconference with Santa...
Another contest winner
December 13, 2004
Given we're about as deep as a kiddie pool, we really enjoyed the existential nature of Gordon Smead's IM away message: "A tree's about to fall in the forest. Had...
Latest contest winners
December 13, 2004
"And would you like one of our new high-tech deluxe monitor stands with that?" and "No, ma'am, we don't carry CRT stands, but I can offer you two reams...
IT enemy No. 1
December 13, 2004
IT admins - meet your enemy. Her name is Kate Prior, she's 28 and a monitor of drug trials for an unnamed company. Kate has to remember eight passwords each...
Google: Now 26% more annoying
December 13, 2004
There's a fine line between Google being helpful and Google being annoying. For example, take the search engine behemoth's new autofill-like feature, Google Search, now in beta. Start typing your...
Satellite TV hacker sentenced
December 13, 2004
A Canadian man has been sentenced to seven years in a U.S. jail and must pay $24 million in restitution after admitting to running a satellite TV piracy ring. Officials...
Brits are "digitally obese"
December 10, 2004
Toshiba says the English are a nation of fatties - at least when it comes to hoarding data. The storage vendor says the nation is growing "digitally obese," with many...
Last day to enter
December 10, 2004
Friendly heads-up: Today's your last day to send us your best IM away message and enter to win a copy of "Game Console Hacking" by Joe Grand (click pic to...
Your users are shopping - right now!
December 10, 2004
Wet blanket Clearswift is warning you: Your users are doing their holiday shopping on your network, on your dime. And, worse, they're not getting you anything. Well, Clearswift didn't say...
Video games ease pre-op jitters
December 10, 2004
Yet another story proving the worth of video games. Surgeons in New Jersey says letting children play with a Game Boy before heading into the operating room lessens a tot's...
Hi-tech winter hat
December 10, 2004
If you love your music as much as you love the outdoors, snowboard dealer Burton has a hat for you. The $40 Headphone Beanie sports headphones built into the earflaps...
De-lap your laptop
December 09, 2004
Dude, you got a...low sperm count! It's not the best marketing slogan, but it is a warning from researchers, who say men should avoid using their laptops on their laps,...
Broadband hurrah
December 09, 2004
The Daily Mail reports 1 in 4 U.K. broadband users upgraded from dial-up to get better-quality porn. "Faster access to adult entertainment was the second biggest reason why users installed...
Clinton launches new search engine
December 09, 2004
Former President Bill Clinton attended the launch of new search engine Accoona Monday, telling company execs: "I hope you all make lots of money." Well, at least he gets to...
New iPod fonts, graphics
December 09, 2004
If you've outfitted your iPod with a cool engraving, excellent tunes and even a special case (or - gasp - iPod socks) but you still think it lacks sufficient pizzazz,...
Meet the AOL Optimized PC
December 09, 2004
This is possibly the only time we've thought the phrase "Quantities are limited" was a godsend. For $299 the addled PC user in your life will get a Systemax AOL...
Amazon's bad timing
December 08, 2004
If - like us - you were shopping on Amazon Monday and got a big 'ol "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable" splashed across your screen at a critical juncture, it wasn't just...
Away message contest
December 08, 2004
On what we're thinking is a very slow news day, the AP files a story on creative IM away messages. Except those mentioned by the AP aren't so creative, like...
A questionable iPod gift
December 08, 2004
Figuring out what to get the people on your holiday shopping list can be hard - unless they have an iPod. The proliferation of iPod accessories makes it easier to...
Environmentally safe cell phones
December 08, 2004
Throwing out old technology can make you feel as bad as when you toss out old books - knowing they'll be inhabiting landfills for centuries to come. Researchers in England...
Tight jeans and cells don't mix
December 07, 2004
Cell phones may be indispensable to many, but they are not indestructible, as evidenced by a Siemens poll. The handset manufacturer polled 300 Swedish retailers on the most common causes...
New contest starts today
December 07, 2004
Now in the thick of the holiday shopping season, we visit a Dell call center where Michael Dell jumps in the fray to help. Yes, that is Dell. And no,...
The $999 lifetime VoIP plan
December 07, 2004
With incessant consumer advertising, VoIP is making a move on the mainstream, thanks to its attractive "all-you-can-dial" flat-rate pricing and increased number portability. Start-up RNK Telecom of Massachusetts is taking...
Gates: Cyberterror's a serious threat
December 07, 2004
No, not that Gates. At a terrorism conference last weekend, former CIA Director and current Texas A&M University president Robert Gates said cyberterrorism is a credible, serious threat for which...
New contest winner
December 06, 2004
Outsourcing has indeed reached epic proportions when even game characters like Mario are forced to look for jobs outside the IT industry. This week we outsourced the laughs -...
Blogger in trouble over Ken Jennings scoop
December 06, 2004
Blogger Jason Kottke was just giving the people what they want, and Sony TV is none too pleased. For months, Kottke has had the scoop on "Jeopardy" wunderkind Ken Jennings...
Lycos halts anti-spam campaign
December 06, 2004
Lycos Europe has scuttled its controversial "Make Love, Not Spam" campaign, saying it was only meant to be temporary and had achieved its goal of heightening spam awareness. Um, right....
Ringtone of the year
December 06, 2004
At Wednesday night's Billboard Music Awards, "In Da Club" and "P.I.M.P." by 50 Cent; "Dirt off Your Shoulder" by Jay-Z; and "Hey Ya!" by OutKast will be battling for the...
Controversial anti-spam plan on hold
December 03, 2004
Earlier this week we told you about Lycos Europe's new anti-spam campaign, in which users download screensavers that bombard known spam sites with junk requests, slowing them to a crawl....
Phone booths making a comeback
December 03, 2004
Pay phones are going the way of NetWare, yet phone booths are making a comeback. The Wall Street Journal reports that restaurants, businesses and libraries are bringing back the phone...
ESPN to launch cell service
December 03, 2004
We can't stop it, we can only hope to contain it. ESPN's teaming with Sprint to create ESPN Mobile, which "will offer sports news, analysis and statistics, as well as...
Blogs are No. 1
December 03, 2004
If, perhaps, you were on the fence about blogs joining Fonzie as he waterskies over a pool of sharks, we have evidence that may push you off to one side....
Guilt-free TV
December 02, 2004
Remember the days of being home sick from school and being able to veg out on the couch for 12 straight hours watching crappy TV? Yes, we miss them too....
The perfect gift: Celebrity staplers
December 02, 2004
Office superstore retailer Staples' is raising money for charity by selling 144 different staplers designed by celebrities, including Mr. Money Kicker Adam Vinatieri, rocker Alice Cooper, Jesus Christ-look-a-like Johnny Damon,...
Cereal: It's for breakfast, lunch AND dinner
December 02, 2004
Back in this editor's days eating at Northeastern University's dining halls, we used to have something called the "Quadfecta", which was accomplished by having a regular size bowl of the...
Do-it-yourself guide to 12-sided calendars
December 02, 2004
Got some time at work to kill? Make yourself one of those fancy 12-sided 2005 calendars. It's December and that means new calendar ordering time. If the boss spies you...
Ken Jennings: Jeopardy runner-up
December 01, 2004
Looks like the rumors that have been spreading for months were true: Ken Jennings' amazing streak as Jeopardy champion came to an end last night. Ken's run, in which he...
Calling shotgun
December 01, 2004
We've all been in the position of having called "Shotgun" - front passenger seat, for those not in the know - for a long car ride and have our claim...
Seinfeld defined
December 01, 2004
Relatively new to the Seinfeld craze? Or get the seasons 1 through 3 DVD in the past week and need a little refresher on the special brand of terminology used...
The Christmas Classics
December 01, 2004
What happens when you let math geeks mess around with Christmas Music? You end up with "A Singular Christmas". Brian Whitman at MIT set his system of algorithms on traditional...
New contest starts today
November 30, 2004
You know, video games get a bad rap for making kids lazy and violent, but Mario looks like a pretty helpful member of society here. What exactly's going on?...
Cops tempt crooks with technology
November 30, 2004
Think of it as a honeypot for car thieves. USA Today looks at the phenomenon of bait cars - vehicles that beg to be stolen and soon after, shut down...
Kazaa offers VoIP
November 30, 2004
If you're cool with stealing from the recording industry, you'll have no qualms about using the new VoIP feature from Kazaa. The AP says the new version of the popular...
Ken Jennings' loss
November 30, 2004
Oh, you knew it was coming. "Jeopardy" savant Ken Jennings will lose, sooner or later. Kottke.org not only provides the date, but also an audio clip, in case you refuse...
Latest contest winner
November 29, 2004
“Surf’s up AND stock’s up! Is this a great vacation or what?” We like to think it's a great day for Richard Pitruzzello, author of the above and winner...
Controversial anti-spam campaign
November 29, 2004
Lycos Europe's battling spammers through the inventive use of screensavers and junk IP traffic. Titled, "Make Love Not Spam", the screensaver is available for Windows and Mac OSes. When activated,...
Families spar over PC use
November 29, 2004
Remember the good old days, when everyone used to fight over the phone in the kitchen? BBC News says that donnybrook has gone the way of the olive green rotary...
It's for you - annoying new cell feature
November 29, 2004
And you thought polyphonic ring tones were annoying? Wait until you try to call Grandma and you hear "Hot in Herre" instead of the traditional one ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingy. Wireless...
Gone eatin'
November 24, 2004
We're off for the next few days sleeping late, dodging embarrassing questions from relations and making poor eating decisions. But, fear not, we shall snap out of our turkey-coma and...
Best geek gifts
November 24, 2004
If you're stuck for gift ideas this season and you don't want to give the 2004 equivalent of a pink bunny suit, head over to Network World's annual Cool Yule...
Lawmakers kneecap Philly Wi-Fi plan
November 24, 2004
You've got a friend in Pennsylvania, but perhaps not municipally-offered broadband. (Ed. - Wow, you totally had to reach for that one...) Lawmakers are throwing a monkey wrench in Philadelphia's...
The exploding cell phenomenon
November 24, 2004
The wireless industry's teaming with the IEEE to develop voluntary design and performance standards for cell batteries, given their recent penchant for exploding and all. Although it's not an epidemic,...
The perfect holiday gift
November 24, 2004
Having problems finding the right gift for the IT pro in your life? Have no fear, we've got your back: Javvin's Poster of Network Communication Protocols Map. We love this...
Fans flock to Apple stores
November 23, 2004
Geniuses wanted. That's what Apple says, noting its retail stores can barely keep up with the Apple fans clamoring around the in-store "Genius Bar" looking for support and help. While...
New contest starts today
November 23, 2004
The Intel Wi-Fi surfboard/tablet PC gets our vote for "Most Useless Piece of Technology for 2004" - and given some of the junk we've written about this year that's saying...
Naughty content aims for your cell
November 23, 2004
You knew it was only a matter of time before porn made its foray into the cell phone market. And that time is now. Or, rather, "now" in Europe and...
London's hottest hot spot
November 23, 2004
If you visit The British Library, you can see original Shakespeare folios, handwritten Beatle lyrics, the Magna Carta and now, blending the past with the future, surf the Internet on...
The ultimate geek tattoo
November 23, 2004
If you know your way around code and you're itching to get some ink, you might end up with this. We really, really, really hope this is a Photoshop job....
Latest contest winner
November 22, 2004
"Hee, hee! Do you remember those pictures I said I would delete?" Paul Clark's tee-heeing this morning over writing the above and winning the latest Weekly Caption Contest. Wow,...
Air Force Academy bans religious sigs
November 22, 2004
The Air Force Academy has decreed thou shalt not use Bible verses in signatures when using an academy e-mail account. The school is prohibiting the use of religious references in...
World's largest digital picture
November 22, 2004
Want to drive the IT guys nuts? Tell them you're going to download the world's largest digital picture and then send it around the office as an attachment. That'll put...
Free CD cases
November 22, 2004
If you've got a bunch of homeless CDs scattered about, and you're too cheap to buy jewel cases or even paper sleeves, have we got a site for you. PaperCDcase.com...
Gates: Most spammed person in the world?
November 19, 2004
Tech's favorite dancing machine says Bill Gates is the most spammed person in the world. At a Microsoft conference in Singapore, Steve Ballmer told the crowd that Gates receives 4...
India plans outsourcing city
November 19, 2004
Any thought that India's being coquettish when it comes to attracting foreign jobs goes out the window with the announcement of "Smart City." The country's southern Kerala state is planning...
Blogging hits "The West Wing"
November 19, 2004
Blogging's really starting to make some moves on TV these days. First, it was a "Jeopardy" category, and earlier this week blogging was a featured part of a "West Wing"...
Online matchmaker sued
November 19, 2004
A Virginia woman was awarded $434,000 from a federal jury this week after suing an online matchmaking service for setting her up with an abusive man. In the first U.S....
How top spammers work
November 18, 2004
The trial and felony conviction of North Carolina Jeremy Jaynes has provided an interesting look at how a top spammer operates. Prosecutors say 30-year-old Jaynes had 16 high-speed lines going...
New ads hit Tivo
November 18, 2004
The days of blazing through commercials scott-free on Tivo'd shows are coming to an end. Starting next March, Tivo will still let users blip (Ed. - "Fast forward" to non-Tivo...
Texas school kids RFID'd
November 18, 2004
Suburban Houston certainly is on the cutting edge of technology these days. You've got people hunting live game via the Internet in one part of the area (see post below),...
Internet animal hunting
November 18, 2004
Hunting is a somewhat controversial subject, but we think even hunters may not back the following idea. A Houston man has sunk $10,000 into a camera/rifle/platform contraption that would let...
XP on the road
November 17, 2004
In his travels, reader Will saw this set of 'Net access instructions and thought of us: "I was traveling in Southern Oregon and came across this little sign in the...
eBay ships holiday catalog
November 17, 2004
eBay's taking a page from the old Sears Wishbook, compiling a catalog - a printed catalog - of holiday gifts for you and yours to dog-ear, underline and highlight. The...
NBA says no to iPods
November 17, 2004
The NBA is starting to resemble the NFL (No Fun League) with its latest ruling. The basketball overlords have told Toronto Raptors guard Vince Carter that he's no longer able...
Virtual reality Pac-Man
November 17, 2004
Singapore researchers have sprung Pac-Man from the arcade cabinet, letting him roam the streets of the read world. Well, actually, you roam the streets as Pac-Man, via a backpack and...
Gates gunning for iTunes
November 16, 2004
Steve Jobs & Co. are running away with the online music business and Bill Gates doesn't like it one bit. Flash back 25 years ago when Apple was leading the...
Microsoft boots gamers over hacks
November 16, 2004
If there's one thing we know about Microsoft is that it doesn't want anyone monkeying around with its stuff. So it's no surprise a wave of users were booted off...
RFID hits med bottles
November 16, 2004
We imagine privacy wonks are losing their minds today on word that the FDA and major drug manufacturers have ordered RFID tags embedded in medication bottles. Advocates say the RFID-enabled...
Maxim for net admins
November 16, 2004
Do you love network diagrams? If you can't get enough of those found in Network World each week, head over to ratemynetworkdiagram.com, where each visit you can judge the wonderfulness...
New contest starts today
November 15, 2004
Camera phones are handy for taking blurry pictures of celebrities and embarrassing photos of your family and friends, such as that displayed at left. What's really going on here?...
Latest contest winner
November 15, 2004
"What joy is there in all this fancy new technology when he still hogs the remote?" We hope there's joy (just not Digital Joy) at Tom Biggs' desk today...
Stupid user tricks
November 15, 2004
We love hearing idiot user stories - provided they're not about us. Which is why we like this BBC story, which looks at stupid things users have done to their...
Paying through the nose for blogs
November 15, 2004
If you're a customer or business partner of ABC, Fujitsu or Bank One you may want to reconsider your affiliation with them as they pay between $50,000-$150,000 for blogging software....
MSN Search's inside joke
November 15, 2004
Last week, MSN Search beta was barely a few days old when some astute geek with decent long-term memory realized he should search for "more evil than Satan." And, whaddaya...
AOL dumps broadband customers
November 12, 2004
AOL is telling its broadband customers in nine southern states to hit the road. AOL broadband subscribers in Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina...
Police stuck with criminally complex software
November 12, 2004
One of the primary rules of software design is "Think of the end users", if not "Consult the end users." It's so basic, even we know this. Yet not everyone...
Which search engine is best?
November 12, 2004
With Microsoft ditto-ing into the search engine market with the beta version of MSN Search, it begs the question: Is it any good? Could it - gasp! - be better...
First Segway fatality?
November 12, 2004
Does the Segway ever get any good press? Everything we see is either "Look how stupid this person looks on a Segway" or "Here's another stupid new use for the...
The psychology of spam
November 11, 2004
An interesting look today at the psychology of spam. Experts say spammers are increasingly concentrating on our hopes and fears in an attempt to part us with our money. Clearswift...
133tspeak hits 'Jeopardy'
November 11, 2004
Anyone can look into a camera and say "Hi, Mom" or give a shout-out to their friends, but it takes a true geek - and we mean this in the...
"24" for your cell
November 11, 2004
20th Century Fox has struck a deal with Vodafone and Verizon that will bring a live-action spin-off of the popular drama series "24" directly to your phone. "24: Conspiracy" will...
Fox brings 'O.C.' fans online
November 11, 2004
Fox is hoping to capitalize on the success of nighttime hipster soap "The O.C." by bringing its fans online to play O.C.-related video games. "Skate the O.C." lets players, well,...
IT security jobs to explode
November 10, 2004
Like computers? Love money? Get into IT security, man. While not a shocker, IT industry navel-gazers say security is where it's at in the industry - and it's only going...
Online schools stealing students
November 10, 2004
Some Colorado brick-and-mortar schools are feeling pressure these days, losing students to online schools. And educators are concerned because of possible effects on the students' social and educational development, right?...
Supreme Court passes on music swapping
November 10, 2004
The Supreme Court has - for now - wimped out on ruling whether ISPs must turn over to authorities the names of those swapping music illegally over their networks. Justices...
NASA studies Rain Man
November 10, 2004
The big brains at NASA are studying an even bigger brain, using technology previously reserved for space travel. The space agency is mapping the massive noggin of "mega-savant" Kim Peek,...
IBM builds a big 'un
November 09, 2004
U-S-A! U-S-A! IBM has returned worldwide geeky cred to the United States with its Blue Gene/L system, which yesterday was named the fastest supercomputer in the world. The ascension of...
New contest starts today
November 09, 2004
Intel and Microsoft are making a lot of hay with their frightening Digital Joy movement, including these home media setups in malls. But what's really going on here? That's up...
Stupid young Mac thieves
November 09, 2004
Note to Young Thieves: If you're going to steal your school's high-end computers, the first place the school will look is on eBay. Two Palos Verdes High School students didn't...
Is Gmail searching your files?
November 09, 2004
Hey Gmailers, Got any, um, illegal files tucked away in your account? Stuff like key generators or cracks? You may want to stash them somewhere else if you value @gmail.com....
Our kind of kid
November 09, 2004
Today The Register reports that an 11-year-old Hong Kong boy has sued his mom for reneging on her promise to buy him a PC. The mom said she'd buy her...
Latest contest winner
November 08, 2004
"Just think: In high school she wouldn't even give us the time of day..." We'll give Don Esposito of Chicago not only the time of day but also fabulous...
Scientists spar over teleporation
November 08, 2004
Usually it's easy to be critical when the feds spend money - like the $1,000 gold toilet seats or the million-dollar studies of the mating ritual of the tsetse fly...
Microsoft's new distant early warning
November 08, 2004
Our favorite head of the day: "Microsoft to Warn of Security Flaws". Tee hee! OK, stop laughing. No, seriously, you'll never finish this item if you don't stop. All better?...
Find your inner spammer
November 08, 2004
Those Nigerian spammers are celebrities for the new millennium. They're rich! They're famous! They're criminals! But, as the vapid US Weekly likes to say, "Celebrities, they're just like us!" Only,...
Apple's public self-love
November 05, 2004
Apple has introduced a new feature at its online store, letting users review products with ratings of 1 to 5 apples, 5 being tops. Very cool. However, Apple has saved...
CNN's curious jpeg names
November 05, 2004
Well, there's at least one Democrat/Web producer over at CNN.com. A photo of newly re-elected President Bush and First Lady Laura posted on the Netscape News/CNN site yesterday was slugged...
Star Wars III teaser trailer released
November 05, 2004
We just got the chills. Sure, it's unreasonably cold in our office this morning, but we think it's because we just watched the new teaser trailer for "Star Wars: Revenge...
Flight attendant blogger fired
November 05, 2004
Remember that flight attendant we told about last week - the woman who was suspended for blogging about her job? Well, she's not suspended anymore. She's been fired. Ellen Simonetti's...
First felony spam convictions handed down
November 04, 2004
The family that spams together gets sent to the can together. A Virginia jury has recommended a nine-year jail sentence for 30-year-old spammer Jeremy Jaynes and a $7,500 fine for...
Election won't affect outsourcing
November 04, 2004
Today's "Duh" headline of the day: "Outsourcing to Continue, Many Indians Say". Ya don't say? Nice of the AP to interview the impartial source for this one. The Associated Press...
Employees shun cash bonuses?
November 04, 2004
A new survey says many U.K. workers bees would prefer a "thoughtful" holiday bonus instead of cash. We dunno, cash is always pretty darn thoughtful to us. But then again,...
Play video games, lose weight
November 04, 2004
Do you love video games, but not your figure? Do you wish you could work out but can't find the time? FPGamerunner, a USB full-size treadmill that works with any...
Ugly high-tech job numbers
November 03, 2004
Researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago have released some nasty stats, saying the high-tech industry lost 403,300 jobs between March 2001 and April 2004. Pundits are surprised at the fact...
Electoral college site popular
November 03, 2004
A lot of attention is being paid to the electoral college today, but it's all old hat to those who visited www.electoral-vote.com in the weeks and months leading up to...
Rejected iPods
November 03, 2004
Much ado has been made about the decidedly cool, limited edition U2 iPod. MethodShop.com takes a look at other limited edition celebrity iPods rejected by Apple, such as: "The Steve...
Tivo tabulates ratings
November 03, 2004
Being addicted to the idiot box as we are, one of our greatest dreams is to be a Nielsen family. Yet with life being cruel and all, we haven't been...
Latest contest winner
November 01, 2004
"Students, welcome to the operating room at the fully endowed Milton Bradley School of Medicine..." Michael Gilly gets the win and the goods this week. This was a hard...
Political spam wins in landslide
November 01, 2004
The bad news: In this very tight presidential election, both sides have been spamming voters to point out the other's shortcomings and influence undecided voters. The worse news: One-fifth of...
Is Windows running your ATM?
November 01, 2004
This just in from the This Could Be Terrifically Bad News Desk: Banks are migrating their ATMs from OS/2 to Windows. Since IBM announced it would stop supporting OS/2 in...
China 'Net cafe crackdown
November 01, 2004
Rulers of the world's second-largest online population have said they didn't want their people viewing "morally objectionable" content on the Web and they weren't kidding. The AP reports today that...
Dell on Dell
November 01, 2004
Did you ever wonder what type of computer setup Michael Dell has? Neither did we! Yet when we stumbled across a page on the Dell site devoted to answering the...
San Fran expands Wi-Fi plan
October 29, 2004
If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair - and bring your wireless card 'cause there's free Wi-Fi everywhere. Pretty soon you won't...
Web determines candidate's schedule
October 29, 2004
Ohio Congressional candidate Jeff Seemann's got somewhat of a political reality show on his hands. In an attempt to unseat his 16-term Republican rival and prove he listens to the...
Cheap costume ideas
October 29, 2004
If you're stuck for costume ideas for you or the offspring this weekend, TheStranger.com's got you covered. The site has directions on how to make several inexpensive costumes, including "Florida's...
Feds bust more ID thieves
October 29, 2004
The U.S. Secret Service has ended a 15-month identify theft investigation with the arrest of 28 people across seven countries this week. Operation Firewall - which is kind of a...
The IT holiday party
October 28, 2004
We love England and there many reasons why. One of those is that the U.K. runs the best polls ever. To wit: The Register today reports that 40% of you...
Halloween goes high tech
October 28, 2004
Back in the day, Halloween technology used to be a stuffed old white sheet hanging off a tree limb in your front yard. Spooky. Over the past few years, Halloween...
Secret Service visits blogger
October 28, 2004
Here's an important rule of thumb when it comes to blogging: Don't post anything that even vaguely hints at a threat against the President of the United States, 'cause the...
Attention towel thieves
October 28, 2004
On Aug. 28, 2003, the Holiday Inn hotel chain held "Towel Amnesty Day", passing out new towels to its locations, and inviting present and former guests to share their tales...
Google investors tempt fate
October 27, 2004
Oh, Google investors. Have you no recall? Were you not conscious for the past four years? Those holding lucrative shares of the search engine behemoth are experiencing newfound wealth and...
Ringtone sales hit the charts
October 27, 2004
Proving that either ringtones are a big deal or the Billboard charts no longer are, the latter will start charting the former next month. [Ed. Note: Once again, this time...
Howard Dean's online venture
October 27, 2004
America's favorite Democratic screamer has a new gig. Although he'd probably rather be facing off against President Bush in next week's election, Howard Dean is now shilling for Yahoo Local...
Another workplace blog backfires
October 27, 2004
We have an idea: A blog about people who write workplace blogs and then get in trouble with their employer. It would certainly keep us busy, that's for sure. Just...
New contest starts today
October 26, 2004
We really don't need to set this one up for you; it's pretty much a slam dunk. Send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday and whoever...
An odd robot union
October 26, 2004
You read a lot every day and we do, too. And we're pretty sure you and I both haven't seen a story start like this: "In a trailblazing pairing of...
The Web's favorite words
October 26, 2004
There are trillions of words on the Web, and what's cool is the Web exists for useless tasks such as telling you what everyone's favorite words are. Google Blogoscoped went...
City Hall blog gets too hot
October 26, 2004
One would think that with all the hubbub surrounding sexy blogger Washingtonienne earlier this year, government hacks would avoid public blogs about their workplace. One would think that, yes. But...
Of home runs and tacos
October 26, 2004
As if we needed another reason to root for the long ball (Go Sox!) in the World Series. Taco Bell has hung a 12'x 12' sign in left centerfield at...
Latest contest winner
October 25, 2004
"Boy, is this SIMS Real World game cool!" Even cooler is Mike Sandvik, who wrote the above and is the winner of the latest Weekly Caption Contest. Mike wins...
Inside desktop search tools
October 25, 2004
With the release of Google's offering, desktop search tools are suddenly a hot topic. The AP does a quick-and-dirty comparison of three products, the free Google Desktop Seach, and two...
Feds stop Spam King - for now
October 25, 2004
The feds have issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Stanford Wallace, known as the "Spam King", from operating his spyware programs. Wallace, also known as "Spamford", is the target of...
Identity theft is bad!
October 25, 2004
This just in from The Gray Lady: Identity theft is bad. Really, really bad. So bad, in fact, it merited a giant story in the business section of today's New...
Sox fans ding carrier nets
October 22, 2004
The Boston Red Sox took down The New York Yankees Wednesday night. Thursday afternoon, Sox fans took down landline and cell phone networks trying to land World Series tickets. An...
Internet organ transplanted
October 22, 2004
You hear a lot about bogus organ auctions on eBay, but for the first time a person has had a transplant in which the organ donation was negotiated over the...
Bush, Kerry share SIMs home
October 22, 2004
What happens if you force SIMs George Bush and John Kerry to live in the same house? Well, there's a small fire, some napping, a ticklefight and their neighbors -...
Minty fresh MP3
October 22, 2004
MP3 players are a dime a dozen, but MP3 players made out of an Altoids tin? Not so much. You can have the coolest digital music player on your block...
Grand Theft Auto leaked to 'Net
October 22, 2004
Video game developers are running into the same problem as their music and film counterparts - unauthorized early releases of their products on the Web. The latest victim is Rockstar,...
Ballmer on security
October 21, 2004
It's not our fault!, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer says. It. Is. Not. Our. Fault. That's what Ballmer told the IT wonks in between trips on the Carousel of Progress at Disney...
Robot revolution
October 21, 2004
Oh, man, here we go. The latest World Robotics Survey is out and says that the use of "domestic robots" will surge in coming years, with 4.1 million in service...
Nasty keyboard fix
October 21, 2004
Your keyboard's got more germs than a kindergarten classroom. One scary study says your desk has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, with keyboards and mice sporting...
Disposable DVD launch
October 21, 2004
A small company is hoping to change the way movies are distributed and it all hinges on the disposable DVD. According to The New York Post, The Convex Group has...
Public TV sets threatened
October 20, 2004
Inventor Mitch Altman doesn't like TV, especially when he's in a public place, so he's concocted a tiny device that will shut off any set. The $15 TV-B-Gone hooks onto...
EBay's new ad campaign
October 20, 2004
It's New Ad Month for all our favorite Internet behemoths, first AOL, now eBay. USA Today reports that eBay's abandoning it's all-singing, all-dancing production numbers in favor of a campaign...
Stylish USB drives
October 20, 2004
You know technology is truly taking off when people start worrying about how it looks as much as how it functions. You've got thousand-dollar designer iPod and cell phone cases,...
Google saves hostage
October 20, 2004
Is there anything Google can't do? Find your old college roommate? Check. Give you a roomy e-mail account? Check. Save a hostage captured by Iraqis? Check - amazingly enough. Australian...
TV cries for help
October 19, 2004
Some TVs seem like they can do it all. Just ask Chris van Rossmann, whose year-old Toshiba flat-screen was emitting an international distress signal, which earlier this month was picked...
Nowhere to run
October 19, 2004
Motown legend Martha Reeves has filed a complaint against eBay with the Federal Trade Commission. One of her 1975 performance contracts was put up for auction on the site, complete...
D&D turns 30
October 19, 2004
The granddaddy of geek games has turned 30. Dungeons & Dragons entered its third decade last weekend, prompting generations to pull out their 12-sided die and roll for more dexterity....
Cool collaboration software
October 19, 2004
We're not super interested in collaboration software; e-mail, IM and a Post-It Note is about all we need. However, if we were, we would be all over Groove's Enterprise Data...
New contest starts today
October 19, 2004
Your mission, should you accept it, is quite possible. Tell us what's going on in this photo, and the best caption will win fabulous Fusion gear. Send your winning words...
New contest winner
October 18, 2004
"GAAAAAATESSS!!!" How awesome. A caption that succinctly combines our love for "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan" and our dislike of Microsoft. Paul Bennett is the genius behind the caption...
New Google tool yields privacy concerns
October 18, 2004
Google's new Desktop Search is a handy tool, says a company rival. Handy if you enjoy privacy invasion. The Register quotes David Burns, Copernic CEO: "If you lined people [up]...
Gates to steal TV industry?
October 18, 2004
Welcome to Crazy Bill Gates' Entertainment Emporium, where he'll make TV-viewing so convenient, you'll think he's gone craaaaaaaazy. To do that Bill's gonna eliminate the middleman, in this case, the...
You get what you pay for
October 18, 2004
One would think that "Don't trust online medical advice" is a given, a statement you wouldn't have to make, like: "Don't blow dry your hair while taking a bath." However,...
Experts: State of net security is horrible
October 15, 2004
Enterprise security is the worst it's ever been, experts say. "Yee-haw!" say hackers and security vendors. IDG News Service has a riot of a story from the Etre technology conference...
Air traffic control nets vulnerable
October 15, 2004
If you're flying anytime soon, you may want to skip this post. An annual government audit has shown that the FAA needs to shore up security at air traffic control...
Google HR heads to India
October 15, 2004
With every qualified American IT professional already gainfully employed, Google overlords Larry Page and Sergey Brin headed to India this week to raid the professional pantry. The company set up...
LA cop sued for DVD bootlegging
October 15, 2004
A suspended L.A. police captain is being sued by several motion picture studios for allegedly running a DVD bootlegging business on the side. It's just like "The Shield", but with...
Disaster recovery dummies
October 14, 2004
You stink at disaster recovery, says Veritas, which just happens to peddle such wares. Nearly half of us (44%) are totally unprepared dolts with no business continuity plan in place....
Microchipped medical records
October 14, 2004
The implantable microchip stories seem to be coming fast and furious these days. First, there was the news that you can go bar hopping in Spain and have your tab...
Florida e-voting woes continue
October 14, 2004
What do e-voting and hurricanes have in common, aside from terrorizing the state of Florida? Read on... A pre-election test of e-voting machines in Palm Beach County had to be...
What women want
October 14, 2004
Did we miss a memo? Is this "Write About Women and Technology Week"? Today's New York Times rolls a piece on the minority of female video game designers and focuses...
Computer program predicts cancer
October 13, 2004
Now this is what computers, technology and big brains were made for. The BBC reports today that a new computer program called Boadicea is predicting "a woman's risk of breast...
Programmer sacked over SETI
October 13, 2004
Poor Charles Smith. All he tried to do was try to help find intelligent life in the universe and he gets he boot for his effort. The Ohio Department of...
France to jam cell phones
October 13, 2004
France's industry minister has approved a plan to install cell phone jammers in movie houses, theaters and concert halls to put an end to performance interruptus. The equipment will be...
USA nabs video game gold
October 13, 2004
USA! USA! Pardon our jingoism, but America's Team 3D beat the Titans of Denmark to take the gold in "Counter Strike: Condition Zero" at last week's World Cyber Games in...
New contest starts today
October 12, 2004
There's computing excitment and computing excitement. Why's this desktop jockey so jazzed? That's up to you. Play God and tell us what's going on. The funniest deity will win fabulous...
Latest contest winner
October 12, 2004
There was stunned silence when only one of the group of highly paid computer experts could correctly identify the electronic math reckoner. We reckon Clive Choat will be happy...
Chat rooms and terrorism
October 12, 2004
The U.S. government is concerned there may be a threat brewing in Internet chat rooms. One far more serious than poor grammar, spelling and the fact that Randy Garber may...
You're the problem
October 12, 2004
More news today from the Help Desk Propaganda Machine: Most IT cock-ups are caused by people, not the software. We think anyone who works in a company with more than...
Obvious news of the day
October 12, 2004
This just in from the Duh! News Desk: "IT managers hate buggy software." Not a shocker, but worth restating, we suppose. The Corporate IT Forum polled members across Europe and...
Gone leaf-peepin'
October 11, 2004
Given it's the second Monday in October, it's our civic duty to drive up and down the East Coast, looking at pretty trees and tying up traffic. But have no...
Baked Apple
October 08, 2004
It's been a tough week for iPod owners. First, Steve Ballmer calls us all thieves and now some poor schmuck accidentally drops his iPod in a bonfire. We know, we...
Google to become the next Oprah?
October 08, 2004
Will Google be the best thing to happen to publishing houses since Oprah? The 'Net behemoth announced Wednesday that its new Google Print service will make books searchable via the...
Oracle v. PeopleSoft: Who's the sociopath?
October 08, 2004
This just in: Larry Ellison is not - repeat, not - a sociopath. That's the word from former PeopleSoft CEO Craig Conway, who did admit to calling Oracle a "sociopathic...
The PC that ate your house
October 08, 2004
Sony this week unveiled its most frightening PC ever - the Sony Vaio X, complete with 1,000 gigs of storage. You read that right - 1,000 GBs - three zeroes'...
Feds slam spyware
October 07, 2004
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would levy large fines against companies that surreptitiously install spyware - especially keystroke loggers - on your computer. Known as...
Joystick jockeys unite
October 07, 2004
The world's best joystick jockeys are in San Francisco this week battling it out in the World Cyber Games championship, vying for $400,000 in prizes and international bragging rights. Professional...
Searching for eBay
October 07, 2004
Got an interesting press release the other day: "Did you know that while eBay is the most visited online auction destination, it also is the most searched-for brand in the...
AOL's new ad campaign
October 07, 2004
Mom's Favorite ISP is launching a new series of ads today, focused around the question: "Want a better Internet?" Yes, we do - which is why we don't subscribe to...
Ballmer: iPod users steal music
October 06, 2004
Do you own an iPod? You do? Steve Ballmer says you're a thief. And good morning to you, too, Steve. Yeesh. "The most common format of music on an iPod...
Diabled look forward to e-voting
October 06, 2004
E-voting gives most everyone the heebie-jeebies, except for the one group that could benefit most - disabled voters. Next month electronic voting machines will allow the disabled in several states...
Determine your political standing
October 06, 2004
A new free Java app will tell you literally where you're standing politically in the good, ole U.S. of A. Running on a Nextel Java/GPS enabled phone, a Blackberry with...
Camera phones fight crime
October 05, 2004
After being attacked, a robbery victim snapped a picture of his assailant and the getaway car, allowing police to nab the suspect within 10 minutes. A Nashville limo driver was...
More Vegas fun for kids?
October 05, 2004
LasVegasKids.com released a press advisory yesterday alerting everyone to a new Sin City attraction for children: haunted hotels. That sounds kinda cool, let's see where we can take the kiddies:...
Hot live volcanoes
October 05, 2004
We would love to see the server stats for the U.S. Forest Service's Mount St Helens VolcanoCam. July: Yawn. August: Zzzzzz. Sept. 1-22: Is this thing on? Sept. 23: Hmmmm....
The answer: Blogs
October 05, 2004
The question: What new category did Jeopardy use in last Friday night's show? Another answer: Jumping the shark. Another question: What are blogs officially now in danger of doing? Check...
New contest starts today
October 04, 2004
Hey, remember these calculator thingies? (Click on the picture for a better view.) We hope you do, otherwise you may have a hard time entering our ever-more-fun-filled Weekly Caption Contest....
New contest winner
October 04, 2004
"You got your Internet, your camera, your GPS, hey - check it out - a phone feature!" John Walker's got his box of Fusion prizes headed his way thanks...
U.S. cybersecurity chief resigns
October 04, 2004
Amit Yoran, a former Symantec exec, is also now the former U.S. cybersecurity czar. Yoran resigned last Thursday night "effectively giving a single's day notice of his intentions to leave,"...
iMac G5 stymies users
October 04, 2004
Dear Friends at Apple, Your new iMac G5 is super cool and sleek and very white. Next time you send out photos to the media, consider a colored background, that...
Americans = security idiots
October 04, 2004
The National Cyber Security Alliance is talking to us in a language we can understand. The NCSA polled American computer users and found that 90% could remember when Janet Jackson...
Who tracks the trackers?
October 01, 2004
RFID proponents think tracking your purchases is a grand idea, but when it comes to tracking them, not so much. Privacy advocates have turned the tables on RFID manufacturers, snapping...
The archaic area code
October 01, 2004
Area codes are going the way of the pay phone - still around, still needed but not as important as they used to be. Today's New York Times looks at...
Consumer VoIP price war ahead?
October 01, 2004
Consumer VoIP is still in its infancy, yet AT&T and Vonage are both cutting their monthly plans by $5, a signal to some that a price war is on the...
U.S. phishing losses hit $500m
October 01, 2004
Just because more people know about phishing doesn't mean its impact is lessening. A new study pegs phishing-related losses in the U.S. at $500 million. Seventy-fix percent of the 1,335...
(Phone) call of the wild
September 30, 2004
If you head to American's national parks as a way to escape the hubbub of modern life, you soon may need to find another happy place. USA Today reports that...
Turning tables on spammers
September 30, 2004
A Texas Web developer is matching spammers crazy lie for crazy lie, trying to give them a taste of their own unsolicited medicine. Twenty-seven-year-old Jeff Noble runs www.reversescam.com, where he...
RFID eases bar hopping
September 30, 2004
If you head to the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona for a little nightlife, you can leave your wallet at home. The club is offering a new VIP service in...
Woman arrested for talking loudly on cell
September 30, 2004
If you take any public transportation in Washington, D.C. try to avoid using your cell as the transit cops seem to be wound a little too tight. A 23-year-old pregnant...
TGI Funny
September 29, 2004
We have a story for CBS News: TGI Fridays is promoting a new Atkinz menu, which features items such as the "Bacon Churner", two sticks of butter wrapped in raw...
Life (online) after death
September 29, 2004
When we shuffle off this mortal coil, we're finished, yet our words and deeds will live on - but for how long? BBC News looks at the case of perpetual...
Tracking students wirelessly
September 29, 2004
Security fears have led some Tokyo schools to start tracking their students via wireless chips. The AP says the trial - which has the support of 70% of parents -...
Gaming with John Kerry
September 29, 2004
Gamers with a political bent can now re-enact one of presidential Democratic candidate John Kerry's missions in Vietnam. Kumar Reality Games says those who subscribe to its Kuma/War online game...
Finding donkey, elephant love
September 28, 2004
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what there's more of on the Internet: online casinos or dating sites. (We don't know the answer, we're curious, too. We weren't...
Hacker befouls U.K. customer service line
September 28, 2004
Folks calling the customer service line of U.K. TV and phone operator NTL Sunday were greeted with a phone message that didn't exactly start: "How may I help you?" Officials...
Free Wi-Fi, strings attached?
September 28, 2004
Restaurants, coffee shops or lounges that offer free Wi-Fi are neat, but you can't go wherever you want when you're working on borrowed bits. And, there's the off chance your...
New contest starts today
September 27, 2004
It's a scene you see all the time - people buying cell phones. But what's really going on? My friends, that's up to you. Send your best guess to layer8@nww.com...
Latest contest winner
September 27, 2004
...solving world peace, world hunger, and digital red-eye... Michael Allen of Visalia, Calif., is the winner of the latest Weekly Caption Contest by virtue of making us spit Diet...
The advent of spinach computing
September 27, 2004
The big brains at MIT are working on the development of the next natural energy source for your mobile technology: spinach. Scientists are trying to harness the plant's ability to...
Could you quit the 'Net?
September 27, 2004
You don't need the Internet. You could quit anytime you want, right? Like, right now. No, we mean right now. OK, maybe you can't, but you're not alone. Yahoo and...
Do you miss Qbert?
September 27, 2004
If you're a fan of the Golden Age of video games and '80s pop rock, you're in for a treat. Donkey Kong, Pac-Man. Qbert and many other classic arcade characters...
Security firm hires worm writer
September 24, 2004
They say crime doesn't pay, but it can help with your job search. German security firm Securepoint has hired teen-ager Sven Jaschan, better known as the author of the Sasser...
Get more money for security
September 24, 2004
If you're prepping your budget for next year and you need ammo to get more money for your security line item, check out this BBC story about 'Net security threats...
Google digs vanity art
September 24, 2004
You think Google's drinking a little too much of its own Kool-Aid? Perhaps buying an 11-foot by 8-foot mural of your splash page is one indicator. Or not, we're not...
History of Apple ads
September 24, 2004
Apple devotees really love that company, so much so that one site has saved a ton of old Apple brochures, spec sheets, catalogs and prints ads for latter-day doorstops like...
Future IT: Women's work
September 23, 2004
In 10 years the IT industry will be vastly different than it is today and U.K. IT expert Wendy Hall says that will attract more women and narrow the gender...
Technology helping the homeless
September 23, 2004
Technology is coming to the aid of the homeless across the U.S. in the form of free voice mail. The nonprofit Community Voice Mail project is providing free voice mail...
Digital deviant crackdown
September 23, 2004
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a federal bill that cracks down on video voyeurs. Anyone convicted of secretly taking pictures or video of people in "private moments" on...
DIY Light Saber
September 23, 2004
If the Star Wars DVD release has reflamed your inner-fanboy/girl, you may be poking around for some collectibles. GeekDIY points you to a site where you can learn how to...
'Internet voting' snafu
September 22, 2004
Put "Internet" and "voting" in the same project and you're bound to run into trouble. Just ask the folks at the Pentagon who run an informational absentee voting Web site...
Mexico churches exorcise cell phones
September 22, 2004
If you're heading to Mexico: 1. Don't drink the water, 2. Don't keep your cell on in church. Actually, if you attend one of four Catholic churches in Monterrey, Mexico,...
Most useless cell phone ever
September 22, 2004
And you thought text messaging was useless? Siemens Mobile is developing a cell phone it says will detect bad breath. Using a tiny sensor, "It examines the air in the...
Star Wars DVD changes
September 22, 2004
In all the hub-bub surrounding the release of the Star Wars Trilogy DVDs, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. There's a lot to see, especially those changes overlord George Lucas...
AOL: Serious about security - for a price
September 21, 2004
AOL is getting serious about security - if you pay them an extra $1.95 to $4.95 a month. Grandma's favorite ISP has teamed with RSA Security to offer an optional...
Of Wi-Fi and wild cats
September 21, 2004
What do wireless LANs and feral cats have in common? They're multiplying at an alarming rate. That's not a real surprise when it comes to WLANs or cats, but it's...
Teen foils bomb plot online
September 21, 2004
The next generation of cybercops is out there. They're still living at home and worrying about passing that third-period French test, but they are out there. Proving that case is...
More kimono talk
September 21, 2004
There's always been a rather bizarre connection between ancient Japanese dress and IT, thanks to the always-odd phrase: "open the kimono", as in: "Carriers open up their frame relay kimonos."...
New contest starts today
September 20, 2004
Why, look - It's three Miss America contestants discovering the joys of digital photography - or something else. We're hoping for the "something else" and that's where you come in....
New contest winner
September 20, 2004
"Welcome to Programming Your Microsoft Windows VCR and Microsoft TV Remote. This is the first of 5 videos on how to stop the incessant blinking 12:00 and record TV...
Sad day in the hooker blog community
September 20, 2004
The world of online shut-ins is morning the shutdown of Belle de Jour, the anonymous diary of a London call girl. Belle it seems has a book deal, so why...
Bluetooth motorcycle helmet
September 20, 2004
Do you hate when you get off your motorcycle and get all caught up in the wires connecting it to your ride? Motorola and MomoDesign have combined to create a...
First, it was downloadable papers
September 20, 2004
First, it was downloadable papers of the Internet. Then it was "free" music online. Now the college set of today have another thing easier: Free Cliff Notes. Looking for a...
Lost and found - nuclear style
September 20, 2004
Slashdot reports that a hydrogen thermonuclear bomb lost in 1958 may have been found off the coast of Georgia. The thing is 12 feet long and weights 7600 pounds and...
A fascinating look at organ donation
September 17, 2004
We try to deliver upbeat and fun news here at Layer 8, but this Wired story that looks that the forgotten side of organ donation really caught our attention. A...
The silver lining of Charley, Frances and Ivan?
September 17, 2004
Not to diminish the devastation caused by the trifecta of hurricanes (Charley, Frances and Ivan) that have struck Florida and nearby states in the past month, but there may be...
Google in the early days
September 17, 2004
Before Google became the force that is in the search and e-commerce market that it is today, it started humbly as a bunch of donated server parts sitting in a...
Bike lock no match for Bic
September 17, 2004
If you're planning a bike ride around town this weekend, better make sure your lock is good. The 'Net is abuzz with news that Kryptonite's Evolution 2000 lock is easily...
Blink right eye to click this link
September 16, 2004
Could that clunky mouse on your desk soon be a thing of the past? A Canadian inventor as created the "nouse", which allows a user to move the cursor around...
The definitive guide to concealable weapons
September 16, 2004
This might be helpful to Martha Stewart as she gets ready to enter the Big House: The FBI's 2003 Guide to Concealable Weapons (PDF). It's amazing what you can hide...
Turn up the flowers
September 16, 2004
Get rid of your ugly wood and cloth speakers and replace them with flowers. The BBC reports Let's Corp, a Japanese firm, has created a technology that allows sound to...
Maps 'R Us
September 16, 2004
Fancy yourself an amateur cartographer? We've stumbled across a couple of cool maps for you. First, there's Postini's Spam Map, showing where the Spam-sending hot spots are in the world....
My Goodness - My Guinness
September 15, 2004
Skimming the morning paper over OJ and English muffins we came across what has to be the single greatest news story of the year: Guinness really is good for you,...
New king of the road
September 15, 2004
The Hummer H2? That's not a truck. The new Navistar CXT (commercial extreme truck) is a truck! The $93,000 (base) behemoth is 4.5 feet longer than the Hummer H2 and...
One flashlight fits all batteries
September 15, 2004
Let there be light (with any size battery)! Energizer has launched the Quick Switch, a flashlight that takes any size battery you have: AAA, AA, C and D. This is...
Exposed navels at work is so yesterday
September 15, 2004
The Guinness news is tough to top, but this did help make our day as well (plus, it's the headline of the week): "'Slutwear' Is So Last Year on New...
Caption Contest time
September 14, 2004
He's one of the public's favorite targets for ridicule: Bill Gates. Bill's got a vision for the digital home of the future that seems to involve watching horse riding on...
Spam turns 100?
September 14, 2004
Spam turned 100 yesterday, according to a post on Slashdot. How, you ask, could Spam be 100 when e-mail is maybe half as old? Some credit the first Spam to...
Another entry for the Only-on-the-Web category
September 14, 2004
We really are at a loss of words to explain this one. A group of Japanese artists have created virtual girls that represent various versions of the Windows operating system:...
Ads on wheels, literally
September 14, 2004
This may qualify for Sports Illustrated's This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse: Taxis in Los Angeles now have advertising on their hubcaps. The ads, from Taco Bell and Virgin Cola,...
Today is Save Betamax Day
September 14, 2004
Who knew Betamax still was relevant enough to need saving? Actually, it's not the technology, rather the law that congress passed way back in the day that allows technology like...
Caption Contest winner
September 13, 2004
Darn! Turns out we'd won a giant bagel. Not a giant Winnebago. The mysterious Bob takes the prize for this week's contenst after making us laugh out loud (LOL)...
Swapping an iPod's battery
September 13, 2004
We're big fans of the iPod here at Layer 8, so we're bringing you a public service that could save you some cash when your trusty companion's battery starts to...
Painting made fun and easy
September 13, 2004
Painting a house is never fun, at least to us (that's why we're fans of the slogan "Vinyl is Final.") Yes, tools like the Wagner XTRA Paint Crew make the...
PayPal takes "fun" of out the 'Net
September 13, 2004
eBay is taking the fun out of its PayPal service, saying it will fine users $500 it they use the service to pay for porn, gambling or sketchy prescription drugs....
"Your laundry is done"
September 13, 2004
A group of crafty engineering students at Michigan State have modified a Whirlpool washing machine so that it speaks, helping the visually impaired with a chore no one likes to...
We need one of these
September 10, 2004
As Boing Boing calls it, "The ultimate Nerf gun", NASA's Chicken Gun can fire rubber chickens at up to 1,500 mph at objects. In this case, NASA is using it...
3D Lego chocolate printer
September 10, 2004
That's right, a printer built from Legos that uses chocolate as ink and can print in three dimensions. James obviously has a lot of time on his hand and a...
Beer, gadgets and wireless
September 10, 2004
The CEO of Guinness is blaming gadgets for the 60% decline in sales of his famous stout. He claims young Irish men are spending less time drinking and more time...
Puppy Enforcer
September 10, 2004
A Florida man, who killed three puppies and was on his way to ridding himself of four more, got a little puppy justice this week: On Monday, Bradford was holding...
F^@#$%& traffic
September 09, 2004
We've spent our share of time sitting in traffic commuting to and fro the Layer 8 World Headquarters (5 hours once to cover a 1 hour commute), but we've never...
Ken Jennings spoiler?
September 09, 2004
There are reporting that Ken Jennings is indeed human and does lose his unprecedented Jeopardy winning streak. Kottke.org has the spoiler information if you want to find out when he...
The AOL CD Museum
September 09, 2004
Reason 2,298,037 that we love the Internet: Where else can someone post a collection of AOL promotional CDs? That's right, the AOL CD Preservation Guild and Museum has some 540...
Google News predicting the future?
September 09, 2004
Skimming Google News earlier this week, one may have gotten a glimpse of the political future: Click for larger view Obviously, the story refers to Bill, but the picture of...
Jeopardy streak continues
September 08, 2004
Last night we got a chance to experience Ken Jennings amazing streak first hand. Just as Ken's Jeopardy run hit cult status, the show went on hiatus for the summer....
Notes from the tube
September 08, 2004
We spent a little time in front of the glow in the box (TV) last night and came away with these nuggets: • Following up on our recent Gold Medal Humor...
Red Sox fans are everywhere
September 08, 2004
Continuing on this week's Red Sox slant (another win over Oakland last night!), the Boston Globe reports that a group of Marines at Camp Ramadi in Iraq have built a...
College kids have it easy
September 08, 2004
First comes stunning news that digital files are easier to find than their paper-based counterparts, and now we learn that college text books are showing up on BitTorrent. Do the...
New caption contest
September 07, 2004
Shake yourself out of the end-of-summer blues and come up with a caption that makes us expell water out our noses. This week's photo deals with one of our favorite...
Caption contest winner
September 07, 2004
Hey, Cracker Jack WAS serious about upgrading their prizes! Gary Robinson of Wadsworth, Ohio takes the prize in our Weekly Caption Contest. Click below for some more laughs and...
TiVo heaven
September 07, 2004
News that TiVo and Netflix may partner to deliver movies online to subscribers has us in a giddy mood today. We've long been proponents of a system like this and...
Dinner with Rupert?
September 07, 2004
Ever wonder how much food gets caught up in the beard of Survivor's Rupert? Now you can find out by bidding on a chance to have dinner with grizzly one....
What every Red Sox fan already knows
September 07, 2004
The New York Yankees, um, stink! They have now demonstrated this to the entire nation after asking for a forfeit from Major League Baseball (request denied) after the Tampa Bay...
Math fun
September 07, 2004
Couple items of disclosure before we report the following item: We're coming of a three-day weekend so our minds may not be the sharpest at this point and this editor...
Gone BBQing
September 03, 2004
Given that Monday is Labor Day and it's illegal and immoral for us to put digit to keyboard, we're off getting better acquainted with our pillow and our gas grill....
Disney's collaboration software
September 03, 2004
Meet the latest entrant in the collaboration software market - Disney. Yes, *that* Disney. Of course it's not marketing its free Magical Gatherings Planner as a collaboration app but rather...
Kids and 'Net hysteria
September 03, 2004
Depending on whom you talk to, allowing children access to the Internet is either a great educational move or a way to pave their path to depravity. In the latest...
Cell phones and protestors
September 03, 2004
This week New York was the place to be to get your fill of Republican politics or raucous demonstrations, depending on your political preference. The anti-Republican protestors were seemingly everywhere...
Gold medal humor
September 03, 2004
If you're having Olympic withdrawal, here's one more item to help you ease the shakes. TV pundits made a lot of hay with the performances of NBC's Olympic commentators: the...
City of free wireless?
September 02, 2004
Is there anything Philadelphia doesn't have? First there's The Liberty Bell, then Rocky and now the prospect of free wireless for everyone. The city's considering a $10 million project that...
eBay creates new industry
September 02, 2004
eBay has given the cottage industry a boost like it hasn't seen in years and is now, in fact, playing midwife to other new businesses outside the home. If you...
Telemarketer busted
September 02, 2004
If you thought the federal Do Not Call registry has no teeth, fear not - it's about to take a chunk out of a timeshare telemarketer. The Federal Trade Commission...
Man faces spam ban
September 02, 2004
A federal judge has slapped an injunction against a Rhode Island man accused of spamming Verizon customers with millions of text messages. The wireless carrier claims Jacob Brown led a...
Satellite radio software squabble
September 01, 2004
An Ontario man wrote software that's essentially a VCR for your satellite radio and it's got the venerable RIAA and his radio provider in a tizzy. Scott MacLean of Ottawa...
Technology eases hotel check-ins
September 01, 2004
Coming on the heels of the airlines' success in self-service check-in kiosks, major hotel chains are following suit. USA Today says the Radisson chain this week will start allowing guests...
Gourmet technology
September 01, 2004
If you can't boil a pot of water, the kitchen of the future could help you become a latter-day Julia Child v2.0. Researchers at MIT are looking at ways technology...
Build a 5-cent rocket
September 01, 2004
It's time to exercise your inner-MacGyver and build a rocket using a matchstick, a paper clip and aluminum foil. GeekDIY shows you how to impress your friends and confound your...
Microsoft's online music store
August 31, 2004
Microsoft's planning to get its grubby little hands on the song-download business starting Thursday, when it launches its own online music store. Writes the AP: "The stakes are high for...
Odd Simpsons offspring
August 31, 2004
There's been a lot of romance on "The Simpsons" over the past 15 years, but not a lot of offspring (The Nahasapeemapetilons excluded). If you've ever wondered what the children...
Behind the jet-powered wheelchair
August 31, 2004
We're going to give the "Layer 8 Understatement of the Week Award" to BBC News for writing the following: "Giuseppe Cannella had a big surprise for his mother-in-law when he...
A lazy 'Net addict's dream
August 31, 2004
If you're in the middle of an online game or you're enjoying a Web site so much you can't answer nature's call, then the "Internet Urinal" might just be...
New contest starts today
August 30, 2004
Are all Apple customers this happy? Well, that's up to you, really. We supply the photo, you supply the caption. Then we supply prizes to the winner. Easy as...
Latest contest winner
August 30, 2004
Make coffee, not war. David Rawley of Odenton, Maryland, is the winner of the latest Weekly Caption Contest for supplying the above. Click below to see the runners-up. You...
Feds bust DDoS mafia
August 30, 2004
A Los Angeles man is facing a federal indictment for allegedly paying for a DDoS attack on his competitors' Web sites. The feds say Jay Echouafni, CEO of the online...
Cell phones and hearing loss
August 30, 2004
If you've got a Siemens 65 series cell phone, you should know it's harboring a secret that could at best annoy and at worst deafen you. The vendor says it's...
The brighter side of spam
August 30, 2004
Spam may be annoying, like a mosquito, but it also can be funny, like a, um, mosquito? OK, that analogy didn't work at all - give us a pass, it's...
'Net crime roundup
August 27, 2004
Was there some secret deadline on busting 'Net crime? Did we miss a memo? This week two big "U.S. tough on Internet crime" stories hit the streets, including everyone from...
Instant Internet dating?
August 27, 2004
Anyone else coming around to the realization that the main online technology driver today is Internet dating? Seems like every time we turn around there's another story or press release...
'MillionaireIM' catching on
August 27, 2004
Earlier this week it was announced that the syndicated version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" was inviting people to participate as part of the studio audience via AOL...
Another dumb press release
August 26, 2004
We got a very exciting press release in our inbox the other day, sent with the subject title: "MaxStream's most important press release of the year". It was exciting because...
Ultimate geek bling
August 26, 2004
To date there hasn't been a lot of bling one can associate with we nerds - until now. Engadget's DIY project series has reached a new high with the Search...
Mystery wireless fees
August 26, 2004
You know the myriad taxes and surcharges tacked onto your phone bill? "Federal" this, "universal" that - and you have no choice but to pay them? Well, their cousins are...
The dark side of iPod
August 26, 2004
The iPod is a good thing, no doubt about it. But is it too much of a good thing? "New York Observer" writer Gabriel Sherman says he was addicted to...
The bunny meets the brains
August 26, 2004
Is "Playboy" changing its target audience to be more geek-friendly? In the current issue, the magazine interviewed Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, controversial only because it nearly threw...
DNA algorithm fights spam
August 25, 2004
IBM researchers say they've developed an algorithm, based on a gene sequencing formula, that's got a 96.5% success rate in detecting spam. The formula, called Chung-Kwei, has been in development...
AOL Instant Message awards
August 25, 2004
It's the day we've all been waiting for - the announcement of the second annual AOL Instant Message Awards. The awards span several categories and break down "winners" according to...
The hidden cost of hangovers
August 25, 2004
Our favorite UK paper The Register says hangovers are plaguing British businesses, causing 29 million lost business days and monetary losses of more than $3 billion a year. A research...
An IT love song
August 25, 2004
When IT guys and gals want to turn the lights down low and set the mood with their special person, there's no song that properly incorporates a slow, sensual jam...
Signs of online cheating?
August 24, 2004
The Christian Science Monitor recently published a story on the increase in "cyber-affairs," in which one half of a married couple uses the 'Net to cat around on the other....
Game show asks IMers for help
August 24, 2004
If you've always wanted to be on a game show but haven't been lucky (or smart) enough, now's your chance to grab a tiny bit of glory. Anonymous glory, but...
One tough memory card
August 24, 2004
It used to be said that only Twinkies and cockroaches would survive a nuclear blast. We think memory cards need to be added to the list. Newspaper photographer Don Frazier...
Middle Earth lives online
August 24, 2004
"Star Wars" fans have their online multiplayer universe and soon Tolkien denizens will be able to stake their claim as well. Middle-Earth Online, once scheduled for release in November, has...
New contest starts today
August 23, 2004
Nothing like a good fake picket line to liven up the day. What's going on here? That's for you to know and us to find out. Send your best guess...
Latest contest winner
August 23, 2004
"We've got male!" And John Driggers of Seattle has Fusion prizes thanks to his winning entry. Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, several people sent in the same...
Internet Explorer alternatives
August 23, 2004
If you're sick of Internet Explorer and all its associated drama and mishegoss, check out Browse Happy. Operating under the slogan, "Online. Worry free", the site touts the benefits of...
Mile-High VPN Club
August 23, 2004
Boeing and iPass are joining forces so you can soon get secure Web access in the air and get back to work. Um, this is a good thing? Earlier this...
E-mail is not funny
August 23, 2004
Next time you decide to unleash your particular brand of humor on your colleagues, stop before you hit the Send. No doubt you've heard it from HR, your boss and...
Olympic blog ban
August 20, 2004
Finally, a story about people who don't have blogs. If you're waiting to get the inside scoop from your favorite athletes about life at the Olympics, you're going to have...
True mobile computing
August 20, 2004
Technology's being put to good use in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. CNN says Allstate and other insurance companies have created mobile offices on wheels stocked with satellite, Internet access,...
Engineers without degrees
August 20, 2004
One would think engineering is a bachelor's-degree-at-least profession, but interesting stats from the National Science Foundation show otherwise. The NSF just released a study that says 22% of those in...
Powerbook batteries are hot
August 20, 2004
What is it with Apple and batteries? First there's the brouhaha regarding the short lifespan of the iPod battery, now Apple says there's a teeny problem with those in the...
Teachers fight technology
August 19, 2004
It used to be the biggest classroom foe teachers faced was the premature rustling of books and papers about 5 minutes before class ended. Now, thanks to laptops, PDAs, cell...
AT&T: Gold-medal hyperbole
August 19, 2004
OK, we admit it - we've been watching the Olympics. Hey, nothing's on and we're in between Netflix rentals. Anyway, we almost spit out our Coco Puffs last night when...
Do-it-yourself phishing
August 19, 2004
Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to phish and he'll harass you for a lifetime. Today The Register is reporting that...
The $20 digital camera
August 19, 2004
You can say digital cameras have truly arrived now that a $19.99 one-time-use disposable model has hit the market. Set to be sold at drugstore chains like CVS, and even...
Robot Fight Club
August 19, 2004
Sick of robots being used for legitimate scientific purposes such as space flights and military missions? Us, too. That's why we were so excited to hear about Japan's premiere robot...
Text messaging, useful at last?
August 18, 2004
You know, there might be an actual use for text messaging after all. CNN says UK hospitals are starting to use SMS to remind people of doctor's appointments, as well...
Real funny
August 18, 2004
RealNetworks tried to be cute in its fight to unseat Apple from the downloadable music throne and it backfired. And, even better, it's funny. Real launched a Web site urging...
Porno spam on the rise
August 18, 2004
Security vendor Clearswift is calling the past couple of months "The summer of love" as naughty spam has risen 350% since June. The security company says healthcare-related spam is also...
NYC for super heroes
August 18, 2004
Anyone can look at the Brooklyn Bridge and say, "Hey, look, Brooklyn Bridge!" But are you the type that would respond, "That's where Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacy"? If you're...
I-antisocial
August 17, 2004
The days of talking to your neighbors in your yard, meeting them while walking the dog or chatting by the mailboxes are over. Why actually talk to people face-to-face when...
Cronkite & the 'Net
August 17, 2004
The formerly most trusted man in television, network news grandpappy Walter Cronkite, is not a fan of the Internet. Well, actually, he likes it for research, but not when it...
Albany's #1
August 17, 2004
There's finally a reason to go to Albany, as the University of New York at Albany has been named the No. 1 party school in the country. Last year the...
The illegal @
August 17, 2004
The latest, and perhaps most ridiculous/funny, e-mail scam hitting inboxes these days regards your illegal use of the @ symbol. That's right, you've been breaking the law for years now,...
New contest starts today
August 16, 2004
It looks as if AOL has got everyone - including its little cookie-cutter mascot - out on the streets bringing its message of dumbed-down Internet access to the masses. It's...
New contest winner
August 16, 2004
When she said she would write down her number, I didn't think it would be her fixed IP address. Gabor Horvath has earned his BS (Bachelor of Sarcasm) by...
Office Space redux
August 16, 2004
Sadly - painfully, actually - "Office Space" is a movie to which most of us can relate. Lumino magazine takes a look at the 1999 cult classic, interviewing 11 cast...
One cool Web cam
August 16, 2004
Normally we wouldn't give a hoot about Web cams, but when they come dressed in a sombrero, well, you got our attention. I4U takes a look at a line of...
Computer restoration
August 16, 2004
Historians, maritime experts and engineers will be using computer models to restore the last surviving Victorian tea clipper, the Cutty Sark (Ed. note: Mmmmm, Cutty Sark). The 135-year-old ship is...
Physics = waste of time
August 13, 2004
Given that we failed Physics 101 twice in college, we feel vindicated by the paper, "Electron Band Structure In Germanium, My Ass." The author, a physicist, realizes physics is a...
More Google IPO trouble?
August 13, 2004
You're young, nerd-famous and soon to be worth a gazillion dollars, what do you do? Give the obligatory Playboy interview, of course. However, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page...
Thumbs up
August 13, 2004
Is your thumb set to take over the coveted #1 digit spot from your index or middle finger? With the advent of text messaging and other portable technology, your thumb's...
iPod v. cassette
August 13, 2004
In a battle of audio formats, one would think the iPod would easily outdistance the soon-to-be antiquated cassette tape. Au contraire, mon frere. No Name No Slogan performs a pictorial...
Best company ever
August 12, 2004
For the employees at Analytical Graphics, Inc., in Philadelphia it's like 1999 never ended. AGI provides its employees with free laundry service, free meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner, free...
If Microsoft owned Nintendo
August 12, 2004
When it comes to Photoshop contests, Fark is the standard-bearer, and this week's contest is no exception: "What classic Nintendo games would have been like had they been owned by...
Digital fortress, Athens-style
August 12, 2004
One of the most interesting things - OK, the only interesting thing - about the summer Olympics this year is the $312 million digital security net cast over Athens. CNN...
Video games are OK, really
August 12, 2004
The Edinburgh International Games Festival is trying to give video games a better image by letting kids write and design their own video games. Proponents say video games do not...
IT majors drop
August 11, 2004
Hey, there might be some job security for you after all. Several institutions of higher learning say they're seeing fewer IT majors these days. Gee, wonder why? According to USA...
Ice cream fun
August 11, 2004
Welcome to the dog days of summer, the perfect time to have a little ice cream. And, if you've got some liquid nitrogen hanging around the back of your refrigerator...
A spam brunch
August 11, 2004
The weekend brunch hour is also the spam rush hour, according to e-mail marketers Return Path. The company believes most junk is sent between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays...
Sex & the iPod
August 11, 2004
Were those "Sex & the City" ladies of a certain age still on the air, you know iPods would be featured accessories in an episode. Make that two episodes, given...
San Jose = Sad Jose?
August 10, 2004
Silicon Valley has bigger problems than an overabundance of empty office space. CNN says the tech depression has left the area in a shambles, facing state and federal budget cuts,...
Live CrackBerry addiction
August 10, 2004
BlackBerries are nicknamed CrackBerries for a reason. Just ask U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.), who checked his BlackBerry twice during a live televised debate against other candidates for a Senate...
Serious wireless security
August 10, 2004
Florida can't track votes, but it now says it can better track and manage guests at the Pinellas County correctional facilities thank to wireless technology. According to Daily Wireless, "...[the]...
New contest starts today
August 10, 2004
All right, funnybones, here's your chance. Send in your caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday. If yours is the best, you'll win fame and fortune. Well, not so...
New contest winner
August 09, 2004
OK, OK, good - I now understand what you do all day. Now these two guys can pack everything up and ship it to India. Oh, it's funny because...
The true Chipmunk song
August 09, 2004
Suffering from a case of the Mundays? Or would you like to drive your coworkers insane? Either way, take a listen to the famous Chipmunk Song slowed down to its...
The Olympic spirit?
August 09, 2004
You American Olympic fans hoping to watch the games live online - yes, all 11 of you - you're out of luck. The BBC and all other international media outlets...
White House 'Net chats
August 09, 2004
We're a little sad today as a long-standing belief has been debunked as fiction: There is no red hotline phone in the White House. That's just one of the things...
PC love
August 09, 2004
Mary Robinson of the U.K. is living proof that it's never too late to fall in love - with a computer. The 98-year-old former village midwife just completed a five-week...
IT academy
August 06, 2004
A new Utah computer science school says it'll soon be churning out grads that will put you and your collegues to shame. Backed by IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and other heavy-hitters,...
Survey says: Users are dumb
August 06, 2004
In what may be the least-surprising results ever, a McAfee survey reports: Users are dumb. The anti-virus vendor surveyed small businesses and found that 50% blamed their users for unleashing...
Test your phishing IQ
August 06, 2004
Here's the best writing you'll ever read about phishing as we'll leave out any cute word play regarding hooks, line, bait, catch, Vermont noodle bands, et. al. It's easy to...
Cell addiction prompts crime spree?
August 06, 2004
Aussie police say a teen-ager went on a pretty successful crime spree in order to pay his mounting cell phone bill. Well, at least he was being somewhat responsible. The...
Best cell feature ever
August 05, 2004
Cingular Wireless has announced a new feature that is - without a doubt - sheer genius. The carrier's new "Escape-A-Date" service lets users arrange a preset time to receive a...
Phishing scam hooks Kerry name
August 05, 2004
For phishermen, it pays to stay on top of current events. Or, more accurately, the unsuspecting pay and they profit. The latest example of that are the e-mails caught earlier...
Mario, Luigi and Wario tell all
August 05, 2004
Despite the time-wasting rap they tend to attract, you can learn a lot from video games. Why, there's a whole guide-to-life packed within the pages of the instruction booklets for...
Saudis ban camera phones
August 05, 2004
You know that trip you have planned to Saudi Arabia? Leave your camera phone at home or your first task upon your return will be "Buy new phone." Reiter's Camera...
Spam story contest winners
August 04, 2004
Well, the entries are in, the winners chosen, and Lordy, do we all have spam issues. At stake in this Extra Special Bonus Contest were copies of "The Spam Letters"...
Super-strong memory cards
August 04, 2004
If you own a digital camera, nothing strikes fear into your Ansel Adams heart quite like the prospect of the memory card being destroyed before you can transfer the pictures...
Web addiction trumps Army duty
August 04, 2004
Here's a new one: Some Fins are being released from mandatory military duty due to their Internet addiction. According to CNN: "Doctors have found the young men miss their computers...
Disc deluge
August 04, 2004
Ohio librarians are suffering from too much of a good thing, after the settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit dropped 222,000 free CDs in their overnight bins. Even worse, the...
NYC sells out
August 03, 2004
If you're perplexed as to why you can't always get a decent cell signal in NYC, help is on the way. Actually help is on the way to cell consumers...
Nobody wants kerryedwards.com
August 03, 2004
Kerry Edwards of Indianapolis registered www.kerryedwards.com more than two years ago so, like many of us, he could post family photos online. So you could imagine his excitement when presidential...
PC punishment
August 03, 2004
The evolution of computer crime and punishment is continuing, as a South Carolina man has pled guilty to the federal anti-cyberstalking law. Robert James Murphy, 38, of Columbia, South Carolina,...
New contest starts today
August 03, 2004
Nothing like a little micromanagement, eh? Let's lighten this poor worker bee's load a bit by giving him something to laugh at. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end...
Latest contest winner
August 02, 2004
"The stuff we put in the water is working! They're switching! They're SWITCHING!" Monday morning kudos to Mark Fitzgerald of Porter Corners, NY, for providing the above winning words...
Blog bluffs
August 02, 2004
On the Internet, every day can be April 1. There are a lot of talented chuckleheads out there with plenty of time and bandwidth on their hands, making it difficult...
Inside the GPS Coke can
August 02, 2004
In late June we alerted you to the national security issue threatening our homeland military bases: the Coke can. Long story short, Coca-Cola ran a summer promotion in which it...
iPod mod
August 02, 2004
If you're a proud member of the Tiny White Army, but you want to stand out in the crowd, the article Mod Your iPod is for you. For the DIY...
*$%#@&^ balloons
July 30, 2004
If you missed the end of the Democratic National Convention last night, you missed the best part - the balloon drop. But what made last night's the best ever was...
Online dating fun
July 30, 2004
One of the perils of online dating (aside from your friends finding out) is the fact you could end up with a whack-job. Or, worse, a married whack-job. Or a...
Summer camp V2.0
July 30, 2004
Summer camp these days isn't quite the "Hello muddah, hello faddah" we all remember, thanks to technology. In fact, savvy - and we're going to guess wealthy, too - parents...
Crime watch
July 30, 2004
Two high-profile arrests to share today: the Washington, D.C., woman arrested for eating a candy bar on the subway and the Florida couple maced after answering a cell phone in...
More Florida voting fun
July 29, 2004
If you've been watching any of the Democratic National Convention, you've no doubt heard ye olde 2000 Florida voting debacle referenced every 5 minutes. The Dems are having a hard...
Earth, the new Alderaan?
July 29, 2004
NASA's Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is up, up and away and returning the best photos ever of Saturn's heavily-cratered moon, Mimas. And damn if it doesn't look like the Death Star. Good...
Paranoid spouses, rejoice
July 29, 2004
Do you love "CSI"? Do you think your partner is cheating on you? Have we got a product for you! Step right up to the tacky, bizarre midway that is...
New drinking game
July 29, 2004
Thanks to our PR friends and the apparent absence of a synonym for "blog", we introduce the Blogging Press Release Drinking Game. Take a sip every time you see "blog"...
Dial L for lightning
July 28, 2004
The latest Tech Urban Legend making the rounds: "Don't use your cell in a thunderstorm." News reports say 15 people were injured earlier this week as a result of "mobile-phone-induced...
Keyboard envy
July 28, 2004
Around here, the retro keyboards from our ancient Atex publishing system (left) are coveted by those who love old, heavy things (We call ours 'Ernest Borgnine'). They weigh about 11...
ATM with attitude
July 28, 2004
Well, this is frightening. The Beeb says personalized ATMs are ready to hit the Mother Country. The machines will not only give you money, but also remind you of upcoming...
Cheap procrastinators win award
July 28, 2004
This sounds a lot like negative reinforcement. The geniuses at Mad Science, a provider of children's science programs, have won the "Most Obsolete Office" award for their technologically retarded workspace,...
Extra special bonus contest
July 27, 2004
Spam can be pretty funny - as long as it's in someone else's inbox. That's why "The Spam Letters" by Jonathan Land is an amusing read. Land started replying to...
Online uh-ohs
July 27, 2004
One of the Web's saving graces is the ability to immediately fix mistakes - broken images, misspellings, libel, what have you. But sometimes we don't get there fast enough and...
Swears, She Edited
July 27, 2004
We never thought "Murder, She Wrote" ranked right under "The Howard Stern Show" in the TV-MA category, but apparently one person in the Layton, Utah, area does. Or maybe Jessica...
Old fogeys need not apply?
July 27, 2004
Just as Google's about to bulldoze the stock market with $500 share prices and $4 gazillion in market share, it's facing an age discrimination lawsuit from a former employee. Former...
New contest starts today
July 26, 2004
Why are folks filling up a city block outside the Apple mothership in Japan? It's for us to know and you to find out. Well, actually, it's for you to...
Latest contest winner
July 26, 2004
Did he just say "Linux rocks?" God bless Steve Ballmer - anytime he's in a picture, it's sure to elicit some seriously funny entries. The funniest this week was...
Glowing popsicles
July 26, 2004
Seven-Eleven is now selling glowing popsicles. The stick that holds the icy sweet treat has been hollowed out and a standard Glo-Stick inserted to give the glowing effect. Not sure...
Aces high, he wins the Gold!
July 26, 2004
You know the game of poker has gone mainstream when sites like this crop up looking to add the game to the Olympics. It may be a humorous send up,...
Ken Jennings, Jeopardy Superstar
July 26, 2004
Kottke.org looks at The Cult of Ken Jennings, the 30-year-old that is dominating Jeopardy to the tune of 38 straight wins. Could his unprecedented streak inspire a new religious order?...
Conserving laptop battery power
July 26, 2004
Ars Technica has a nice little how-to about tweaking a laptop's processor clock speed in order to conserve precious battery life. As Murphy's Law dictates, your battery will die at...
Flick, don't squash
July 23, 2004
The New England Journal of Medicine reports that when attempting to eliminate an annoying mosquito, it's better to flick it away than squashing it. While the latter is more permanent...
Tripod in a pinch
July 23, 2004
This little device could come in handy on that weekend camping trip where you want a group photo but don't want to carry a heavy tripod. The Bottle Cap Tripod...
Stupidity at the NFL
July 23, 2004
Gah, this news has us in a tizzy today. TiVo has been planning a TiVo ToGo service for quite sometime with an expected release date this fall. The system would...
KITT for sale
July 22, 2004
One of the greatest automobiles in television history is going on the eBay auction block: KITT. Ah, the days of David Hasselhoff driving around with his "buddy", catching bad guys,...
Driving aid
July 22, 2004
When driving 80 mph, talking on the cellphone and drinking coffee, it's tough to give the proper salutation to the person that just cut you off. Thanks to some new...
Special iPod speakers
July 22, 2004
ReadyMade, "A bi-monthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff," recently ran a competition in which contestants had to build something using Altoid tins. Winner Ken Kirkpatrick came...
Wasting time at work
July 22, 2004
The Register reports that "British office workers are spending almost half their day surfing the Net and sending emails." 97% of respondents to a survey about Internet usage at work...
OnStar commercial spoof
July 21, 2004
A Layer 8 staffer's mother sent this gem of an audio file over today. It's a spoof of those GM OnStar commercials that are played continuously on the radio. The...
A $39,240 iPod
July 21, 2004
Incoming freshmen at Duke University will be getting a "free" iPod this fall, loaded with such goodies as campus and schedule information as well as the Duke fight song. Duke...
A little far fetched
July 21, 2004
The fun lovin' liberals at the ACLU have a Flash demonstration of what the future could be like under Big Brother. While many pizza joints already have databases that allow...
A McChievement
July 21, 2004
Here at Network World HQ, there's a group us very fond of our local McDonald's, to the point where we know our "Drive Thru Magician's" name and look forward to...
Interesting hobby
July 21, 2004
More proof that just about anything can be collected and displayed on the Web: My collection of rubberstamped money, a site dedicated to dollar bills with various slogans and political...
Stock tip
July 20, 2004
Buy stock in a companies that produce RAM for PCs. Slashdot reports that the new Doom 3 will require a PC with 384 M/bytes of RAM and that typical PCs...
Outsourcing at McDonald's?
July 20, 2004
A Missouri McDonald's drive order system is manned by a call center in Colorado, according to recent article in the New York Times. A franchisee has linked 12 of his...
The other Olympic games
July 20, 2004
You hear the stories of Olympic coaches banning athletes from having, er, "relations" before their big event in order to be in top physical form on the field of play....
A sucker is born every minute, Part 2
July 20, 2004
The Register shares a tale of yet another fool that was easily parted with his money thanks to what would seem like an obvious 419 scam to most. Really, what...
New MP3 player bling bling
July 20, 2004
No, not the new iPods. Virgin Electronics' new Wearable MP3 player can be worn, well, any where, so it seems from the photo that accompanied the press release. The company...
New caption contest
July 19, 2004
Sharpen your wit because our latest Caption Contest is here! This week we've got Steve Ballmer contemplating God knows what as he listens to his colleague discuss the finer points...
And the winner is ...
July 19, 2004
The name is LENNOX, not LINUX!!!! Layer 8 reader Danny Wade takes the caption contest prize for the week with the above gem about Lennox Lewis' travails in the...
A sucker is born every minute
July 19, 2004
And said sucker would probably use this service: PackMyPod, which offers $10 tutorials for demonstrating how to get music on to an iPod. The company also offers a service that...
Singing in the shower
July 19, 2004
Those water-proof shower radios are so yesterday. Now you can bring your iPod (or other portable device) in the shower with you using the Boom Boom Multi-Box from dreamGear. The...
Productivity to drop
July 19, 2004
Productivity among the geek set will being to fall off around August 3 as the much-anticipated Doom 3 finally hits the streets. Details of the release from id Software chief...
Are smart people dumb?
July 19, 2004
The Los Alamos National Lab, home of the atom bomb, seem to be proving that smart people may not always be the sharpest tools in the shed. First, another hard...
Students suspended after helpful hacking
July 16, 2004
Two Oxford University students are facing suspensions and fines after uncovering flaws in the school's network. Patrick Foster and Roger Waite said they hacked into the school's net as an...
Singer silences messageboard
July 16, 2004
George Michael may have had a hit with the song "Freedom," but he apparently doesn't practice what he preaches. The singer recently opened a messageboard on his official Web site...
Gamers win court case
July 16, 2004
It's a win for gaming-rights enthusiasts and freedom of speech fans as a Washington State court overturned an earlier ban on selling or renting violent video games to minors. U.S....
SIM farmer
July 16, 2004
If you always liked the idea of farming but not the dirt, smells or hard work, have we got a video game for you. Game maker Bold Games has released...
Spy software?
July 15, 2004
We got a press release last week touting software that lets you: "Hide Undetectable Secret Messages in Audio and Graphics Files." Our first thought: Why would you want to? Why...
Hidden treasures
July 15, 2004
You never know what you're going to find on someone else's computer, which is why these photos found on P2P networks are so fascinating/disturbing. We scrolled through the latest page...
UK military denies iPod ban
July 15, 2004
Gartner - look what you have wrought! The tech wonkocracy last week said iPods and other portable storage devices should be banned from enterprises and next thing you know, the...
Free PC recycling
July 14, 2004
If your home or corporate offices are littered with ancient technology that don't even function as worthwhile doorstops, get thee to Office Depot. The office supply chain and HP are...
New celebrity blogger
July 14, 2004
Everyone and their grandma has a blog, so why not the Chairman of the FCC, Michael Powell? Why not indeed? But don't expect to see Dear-Diary-blog-type entries like, "I was...
A mug for maniacs
July 14, 2004
You know those people at work who are berserk about their coffee mugs? No one's allowed to even look at their mug, and if by some chance it goes missing,...
Backyard thrills
July 14, 2004
Love coasters but can't get to the park enough for your liking? If you're John Ivers, a rural Indiana take-charge type of guy, you don't just bemoan the fact -...
Fired employee fights back with spam
July 13, 2004
A 17-year-old boy was fired by his employer and responded by deluging the corporate Web site with spam. The U.K. teen reportedly downloaded a free e-mail bomber and over three...
Nerds! The musical
July 13, 2004
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have been dissected in nearly every medium around, except for sock puppets. Well, it had been "sock puppets" and "musical theatre," but this week you...
iTunes hits 100 million
July 13, 2004
Twenty-year-old Kevin Britten is the luckiest guy in Hays, Kansas. Britten won a haul from Apple on Sunday by downloading the 100-millionth song ("Somersault" by Zero7) from iTunes. That 99-cent...
MIT on the cheap
July 13, 2004
If you always wanted a MIT education but didn't make the cut or couldn't afford the price, we have a deal for you. One alum offers "Everything I Learned at...
New contest starts today
July 12, 2004
Layer 8 frequent fliers know the Weekly Caption Contest picture is normally somewhat technology related. Yet this week, we saw this photo on a PR newswire and couldn't resist. The...
Latest contest winner
July 12, 2004
“No, the hole in Microsoft’s IE is THIS BIG!” So sayeth Sun CEO Scott McNealy (l) - or at least that's the case according to our latest contest winner,...
Gmail for troops
July 12, 2004
Got extra Gmail invites, but don't want to hand them over to the whiny masses who beg for them like they need a kidney? Consider donating your invite to a...
LA restricts cybercafes
July 12, 2004
Last week Los Angeles put the screws to cybercafes, preventing minors from visiting during school hours and forcing the shops to install video security cameras. The ordinances particularly target businesses...
Phonecams of the stars
July 12, 2004
"Sent", billed as "America's first phonecam art show," opened last weekend at the Standard Hotel in downtown LA (Ed.: Well, there's a shocker...). Show organizers are inviting the mortal masses...
Affleck offends donkeys
July 12, 2004
Every day we receive a lot of junky press releases, and it's rare when they intentionally make us laugh. But one recently crossed our inbox that was worth sharing: "EDONKEY...
Media scooper talks
July 09, 2004
On Wednesday we told you about the message board at USaviation.com, which beat all U.S major media outlets by breaking the news of John Edwards being named as Presidential candidate...
Hidden dangers of laptop bags
July 09, 2004
Those black, nondescript laptop bags are boring - and dangerous. Just think: You could put your black laptop bag down next to you at the airport and an evil mastermind's...
Readers make Post pay
July 09, 2004
Many New York Post readers snapped up the Dewey defeats Truman early edition Tuesday morning and headed straight to eBay. The paper may have egg on its face from the...
Back from the grave
July 09, 2004
This just in from the Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should News Desk: A California man has filed a patent application for a "video-equipped tombstone that will display...
iPods a security risk?
July 08, 2004
Those Magic Quadrant navel-gazers known as Gartner really got our goat up by advising enterprises to ban iPods, stating they're a security risk. The headline: "iPods pose security risk for...
Wireless causes car crashes
July 08, 2004
Wireless technology is to blame for several recent car accidents in Cleveland, Ohio, but for once a cell phone is not the culprit. A Nextel billboard touting wireless access at...
That's one HFR
July 08, 2004
Cisco's Huge Fast Router (that's fast, not, um, something else) is the router that ate Manhattan, or at least could let everyone in New York state download a 2.4M byte...
He who laughs last
July 08, 2004
The New York Post took a lot of ribbing Tuesday when early editions declared the paper's exclusive scoop: Dick Gephardt would be John Kerry's vice presidential candidate. About 5 minutes...
Big scoop for the little guys
July 07, 2004
Since John Edwards was announced as the Democratic vice presidential candidate yesterday morning, the major media outlets have been busy debating who scooped who and who was first with the...
Another reason for WEP/WPA
July 07, 2004
It's been said that "fences make good neighbors," but we may want to amend that to "WEP makes good neighbors." The Boston Globe looks at the practice of people "borrowing"...
The great (wireless) outdoors
July 07, 2004
Next time we get the camping bug, we're heading to North Beach Campground in Burlington, Vt., and bringing our laptop. The campground just installed Wi-Fi access throughout its property, which...
Camera phone bootlegging?
July 07, 2004
Last night, L8 hit an invitation-only screening of the new movie, "King Arthur" (we know, we're not quite sure how we got the nod, either). Tiny-yet-bold type at the bottom...
New contest starts today
July 06, 2004
Sun CEO Scott McNealy and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom have a confab at last week's JavaOne Show in San Francisco. What are they up to? Well, that's up to...
Overwrite? Yes
July 06, 2004
Getting onto The New York Post's site this morning is tough going as everyone with a 'Net connection is trying to access the paper's 21st century Dewey defeats Truman, "Kerry's...
Latest contest winner
July 06, 2004
"Please don't get beaten by a girl....please don't get beaten by a girl....For the love of God, please don't get beaten by a girl..." This week no one beat...
Gmail sales banned
July 06, 2004
In an incredibly lame, late move, Google has banned the outright sale of Gmail accounts, by our count one month after the Gmail black market bottomed out. From Gmail's announcement...
How do I work this damn thing?
July 06, 2004
Does the stable of electronics remotes in your house sport enough buttons to land a 747 or launch a nuke? The 90-year-old inventor of the remote control feels your pain....
Watch what you watch
July 06, 2004
A few months ago we alerted you to the sticky wicket that is in-car porn viewing, that is, viewing adult material in your vehicle that others could see as they...
Low-bit art
July 06, 2004
We like to promote low-tech hobbies here at L8, such as cut-and-fold replicas of vintage arcade game cabinets or Star Wars vehicles. Here's a new hobby that has nothing to...
Gone fireworkin'
July 01, 2004
Well, not quite, but we are off for the next few days in celebration of our homeland's successful revolt against Mother England. If you're looking for something independence-themed to pass...
Coca-Cola: National security threat
July 01, 2004
Special cans of Coke are being banned from military bases in Ohio and Kentucky because they contain hidden GPS chips related to a contest. Coca-Cola's "Unexpected Summer" contest runs through...
Walk the talk
July 01, 2004
There's a lot to celebrate this month: Independence Day, our upcoming vacation, and the fact that July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Personally, we think there should be a...
Fire in the hole
July 01, 2004
With Independence Day right around the corner, that means it's time for the feds to simultaneously promote-yet-discourage the use of fireworks. Here comes the annual fireworks safety warnings from the...
Jetsons technology
July 01, 2004
For my sisters out there who are sick of French tip manicures, technology has come to liven up your nails. ImagiNail's NailJetPro is a Jetsons-like approach to your manicure. Stick...
Tech urban legends exposed
June 30, 2004
You know that magnet collection you've been dying to display near your computer, but didn't for fear of wiping out your hard drive? Well, fear no more. PC World (a...
Cellular Liar's Club
June 30, 2004
Cell phones can be used for good, like keeping in close touch with loved ones or making an emergency call when your car breaks down. And, like anything else, they...
Badge of geeky honor
June 30, 2004
The term "geek" has gone from mark of shame to badge of honor with the rise of the importance - and lucrative nature - of technological savvy. Evidence of that...
The Old (profane) West
June 30, 2004
If, like us, you absolutely adore HBO's gritty Western series, "Deadwood", then you'll love the site, "The Number of %$#@s In Deadwood". The site has tallied the number of occurrences...
Best wmv ever
June 29, 2004
It's a genius hybrid of the "Star Wars" universe and the cult "My job stinks" movie, "Office Space." The 4-minute "Office Space Wars" featured disgruntled Jedi in dead-end jobs, the...
Keep it away
June 29, 2004
Gentlemen, if you'd like to become a father someday (or again), keep that cell phone away from your pants. Hungarian scientists have released a study saying that men who carry...
Attention muggles
June 29, 2004
Author/cash cow J.K. Rowling has announced the title of the penultimate book in her record-breaking series: "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." Rowling's agent confirmed the title today, but...
The perfect pint
June 29, 2004
Last month we alerted you to the genius grad student in Ohio who was awarded a $20,000 grant to further his portable system for keeping beer kegs cold. Today we...
New contest starts today
June 28, 2004
It's a scene that plays itself out every night in living rooms across the world - geeky guy, hot woman, video game. What's going on? Well, that's up to you....
And the winner is...
June 28, 2004
"...and that's how the idea of Enterprise-wide site licenses came about." Steve DeFeo of Indianapolis earns a new pip for his collar by supplying the above and winning the...
What your coworkers do online
June 28, 2004
A great press release hit the inbox: "More than 75% of people have accidentally visited a pornographic Web site while at work; 15% have visited such sites more than 10...
Mom, please stop
June 28, 2004
As a teen, the list of things your mother can do to make you die of embarrassment is a long one. Yet we think we've corralled the top 5: 5....
AOL CYA?
June 28, 2004
We just upgraded to AIM 5.5 ("Now, with more crap!") and noticed the following: When you right-click on a name on your Buddy List and choose Get Buddy Info, a...
Famously boring
June 28, 2004
The epidemic of boring, self-serving and unintentionally hilarious blogs isn't limited to Joe and Jane Navelgazer. It has also spread to Joe and Jane Celebrity-Navelgazer. The Onion breaks down some...
Open-source Iraq
June 25, 2004
In the massive undertaking that is rebuilding Iraq, two Linux lovers say the open-source software can help. Baghdad natives Ashraf Hasson and Hasanen Nawfal are members of the year-old Iraq...
Finding Player 2
June 25, 2004
If you've tried online dating services but your matches haven't quite shared your love of geeky pursuits, perhaps you should check out Massively Multiplayer Online Dating (MMODating), where gamers can...
Not dope at all
June 25, 2004
Is Capitol Records whack? Some folks who bought the new Beastie Boys' CD "To the Five Boroughs" think so. Several Beastie fans are complaining that when they inserted the disc...
Yipee kai yay
June 25, 2004
Whenever you shift your car into gear and release the handbrake, does Kenny Loggins start playing? Do you cross the road by running into heavy traffic causing cars to...
Worst Company Event winner
June 24, 2004
It was not easy picking the winner of our Worst Company Event Contest. From the entries we received, there are a lot of misguided, deluded and possibly intoxicated leaders out...
AOL employee nabbed in spam ring
June 24, 2004
From the Another Reason to Avoid AOL Department: Feds yesterday said an AOL employee stole 92 million screen names from Baby's First ISP and sold them to spammers for $52,000....
War kayaking
June 24, 2004
War driving is for sissies, the real adventure is in war kayaking. Engadget's Phillip Torrone continues the site's great How-to Tuesday feature with an installment on how he spent last...
Strict spam policy
June 24, 2004
One more reason to move to Gmail: Hotmail's been shutting down e-mail accounts accused of spamming without substantiating the claim, according to an Israeli news site. NRG Maariv reporters say...
Top movie songs
June 24, 2004
The American Film Institute has compiled its Top 100 movie songs list, with "Over the Rainbow" (Wizard of Oz), "As Time Goes By" (Casablanca) and the "Singin' in the Rain"...
The arcade of your dreams
June 23, 2004
If you always wanted a genuine Pac-Man arcade console in your house, you can get one free. The good news: It won't take up a lot of space in your...
The sound of spam
June 23, 2004
If you think scanning your spam-ridden inbox is a pain every morning, you've got nothing on blind e-mail users who have to listen to it. Wired examines the plight of...
Time capsule trickery
June 23, 2004
It's the time capsule that time - and the ABC television network - forgot. Workers demolishing the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City found a 2-by-2 1/2-foot aluminum box, shaped...
The force of Gmail
June 23, 2004
For something that's not yet open to the public, Gmail certainly is a force to be reckoned with. First, the still-in-beta e-mail service tweaked the online economy by sparking a...
Digital taps
June 22, 2004
A sad story out of USA Today: The rise in military funerals and the lack of military buglers has lead to the use of a "digital bugle." A chip is...
Moving data wicked fast
June 22, 2004
Sprint and Swedish National Research and Education Network (SUNET) say they've broken the 'Net data land speed record by moving 840G bytes of data from California to Sweden in less...
Preserving Web sites
June 22, 2004
The very cool British Library is tackling a new realm - the U.K.'s corner of the Web. A two-year effort will archive approximately 6,000 Web sites to offer future generations...
The rich get richer
June 22, 2004
If the Gucci iPod carrying case doesn't float your boat, maybe the latest iPod accessory - a BMW - will do the trick. BMW and Apple have announced a $150...
New contest starts today
June 21, 2004
Why if it isn't Nichelle "Lt. Uhura" Nichols and George "Sulu" Takei at last week's opening of the new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. What might...
New contest winner
June 21, 2004
"You have performed an illegal operation..." Tom Gilheany has been charged with a Class C misdemeanor for providing the above caption. Luckily, according to the law of the Layer...
Coolest mod ever
June 21, 2004
Talented case modders can jam working PCs and severs into almost anything, from a Windows XP box to a gingerbread village. Very neat. However, nothing spins our nerdy wheels like...
Power off
June 21, 2004
While we think some people should be jailed for leaving their cell phones on (see movie theatres, etc.) an Oregon judge tossed a lawyer in jail last week for turning...
Goodness gracious me
June 21, 2004
Prissy protocol droid C3PO leads the latest class of inductees into the Robot Hall of Fame at Carnegie Mellon University this fall. Joining Theepio will be Honda's creepy walking Asimo...
Counterscamming
June 18, 2004
Not content to wait for ISPs or law enforcement to solve the problem, an international group of 'Net citizens are banding together to take the spam fight right back to...
Run away, run away
June 18, 2004
Most movies require some suspension of disbelief, some more than others. There's the automatic headshaking that ensues whenever you see David Arquette in a movie, and then there are the...
Historical swearing
June 18, 2004
If you're sick of ($%*, !@*( and $&$%*&#@!, you can always look to your ancestors and roll off a good Zounds! or Jiminy! Or perhaps not. We know there were...
A dubious honor
June 18, 2004
We're heading smack dab into the heart of summer travel season, so here's a friendly tip: If you're headed to El Paso, Texas, bring your deodorant and book a quick...
Serving up Linux
June 17, 2004
If you love Linux and tennis, you're in for a lovely fortnight. The BBC reports that after a successful pilot project last year, the All England Club - Centre Court...
I do, from a distance
June 17, 2004
Two soldiers from the Massachusetts Army National Guard tied the knot long distance last week via videoconferencing. The bride was in Colorado, the groom is deployed in Iraq. Colorado is...
E-mail separation anxiety
June 17, 2004
One would think today's college grads have quite a bit to worry about: finding a job, a place to live and enough quarters to do laundry. Hey, that graduation money...
Thieves hit security conference
June 17, 2004
This just in from the Department of Irony: Thieves nabbed two $2,500 laptops from two security vendors right under the collective nose of those attending Asia Securitex 2004 in Hong...
Extra bonus contest
June 16, 2004
Not to come off as sarcastic (Ed.: Waaaay too late), but the mention of wacky company-themed events in an earlier post prompted the return of our Wacky Company-themed Event eye...
Word freaks
June 16, 2004
Merriam-Webster recently polled 'Net denizens for their Top 10 favorite words and the results are in. 1. defenestration 2. serendipity 3. onomatopoeia Check out the remaining seven and try to...
Too-casual days
June 16, 2004
If you're watching MSNBC and you see someone in the background wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a polyester leisure suit or a giant sombrero, you know it's Friday. The cable news...
Aural assault
June 16, 2004
When the phrase "actor singing badly" pops up, one's mind traditionally turns to the vaunted vocal stylings of William Shatner. However there's still so much more horror to go around....
Mysterious ways
June 16, 2004
International fame and fortune apparently isn't enough for Bono. Looking for a side gig, the U2 frontman hasn't gone the traditional route and produced a new act, released a solo...
Yahoo bulks up
June 15, 2004
Perhaps sick of all the "Gmail this" and "Gmail that" flying around since April, Yahoo has pumped up the storage on all its free e-mail accounts to 100M bytes, starting...
High tech beach safety
June 15, 2004
After a record number of tourist drownings in 2002, Australian lifeguards started developing a system to make the beaches safer. Rolled out five months ago, SurfNet is a computer and...
Virtual velvet rope
June 15, 2004
If you like spending time online because you're accepted as you are, stay the hell away from FunHi.com, which bills itself as "online's most elite social network." The virtual Studio...
Lame editorial of the week
June 15, 2004
We know it's only Tuesday, but we're pretty strong in our belief that no editorial will be more stupid than The Boston Globe's "Ringing off the hook" this week. Citizens...
New contest starts today
June 15, 2004
We've got an APB out on a winning caption. Commit a funny felony and send your best caption our way at layer8@nww.com by this Friday. If you win you'll be...
This week's winner
June 14, 2004
Dang, I didn't think it would be this hard to get out of my cellular contract early! We've got a friend in Pennsylvania, and it's David Green of Butler,...
The ultimate Linux router
June 14, 2004
You know that Sega Dreamcast you've got tucked away in some nether region of your house? You remember, that cool gaming console you bought and enjoyed for a brief while...
The 'Net rat squad
June 14, 2004
Not content with shutting down 'Net cafes and monitoring users' Web habits via online police, China's encouraging its citizens to rat out their own who may be viewing "illegal or...
eBay tops for privacy
June 14, 2004
eBay, home of the best gimmick auctions on the planet, is also tops when it comes to protecting users' privacy. That's what consumers polled by the Ponemon Institute (yeah, we...
Google loosens Gmail reins
June 11, 2004
If you're one of the folks holding onto your Gmail invitation waiting for just the right offer, your timing stinks. Formerly tight-fisted Google has devalued your precious e-mail asset by...
IT morale: Still low
June 11, 2004
The tech industry may be on the rebound, but the spirits of IT employees are not. The good news is the latter is freaking out employers. Research wonk The Meta...
Be squeaky clean
June 11, 2004
We don't want to get parental on y'all, but how many times do you have to be reminded: Fully, completely and totally erase your hard drive before you sell your...
Police to patrol online
June 11, 2004
Law enforcement worldwide is banding together to keep chat rooms safe for minors. According to The BBC, the International Virtual Global Taskforce will monitor the Web 24-7 for predators and...
One cool network
June 10, 2004
Network World Convergence Newsletter author Steve Taylor wins this week's MacGyver Award for IT Professionals. During a recent trip to the Bay Area, Steve's notebook fan failed. That may flummox...
IT jobs ahead
June 10, 2004
If the feds are to be believed - and we tend to when they're bearing good news - tech support, help desk and sys admin jobs are expected to be...
Cell phone stops bullet
June 10, 2004
There should be a special level of hell - or New Jersey - devoted to people who drive while gabbing on their cell phone (hands-free chatters, thumbs up). It's dangerous...
Exhibit A: Text messages
June 09, 2004
It's only a matter of time before text messages play a crucial part in one of the four Law & Orders on TV, so listen up Dick Wolf. Text messages...
Viva la Freevo
June 09, 2004
One of the reasons we love technology is that there's always someone out there trying to make it better. And by "better" we mean "free." We, and many of our...
One mean Mama
June 09, 2004
If you thought your Mom was a pain in the ASCII, she's got nothin' on this lady. In the latest "Is it true or not?" eBay gimmick auction, Mama X...
Tasteless pitch 'o the week
June 08, 2004
Just in case you thought something was sacred, here's the headline and subhead from the most tasteless press release we've received in a while: Reagan Has Formal, Well-Planned Send-Off; Family...
Name that tune
June 08, 2004
This week's Wider Net story takes at look at official company songs, but we think you can do better. What popular songs titles (past or present) would you associate with...
Most Embarrassing Song winners
June 08, 2004
We thought we were quite the connoisseur of crap tunes until we asked you guys to send us the most embarrassing song on your iPod. Lordy, the stuff we're hiding...
No reply at all
June 08, 2004
'Net law guru Lawrence Lessig has given up on e-mail. Lessig sent out a note last week to those who had corresponded with him but hadn't received a reply, noting...
Death's not an excuse
June 08, 2004
After Julie McMurry's husband died last summer, she called Verizon Wireless to cancel his account. Verizon told the Washington state widow she'd have to pay an early termination fee on...
Live on scene
June 08, 2004
What do you do when an international story lands on your doorstep? Blog about it, of course. That's what one Santa Monica resident did yesterday when President Ronald Regan's first...
New contest starts today
June 07, 2004
Captioneers: We need your help. Two men + a tangle of cables + a giant pair of scissors = your funny caption. Send your winning words to layer8@nww.com by the...
Defragging's dope
June 07, 2004
Check out the first sentence of the press release for which I've been waiting all my life: "Just when you figured defragging was no longer cool, the utility hits a...
Latest contest winner
June 07, 2004
"Unfortunately, we can't show you where they mount the power supply." It's no server hat helmet (we wish), but Steve Henck of Cedar Falls, Iowa, gets a stash of...
Nerds rejoice
June 07, 2004
Running contrary to everything we've seen, it turns out your online opinions really do matter. We know, it sounds crazy, but MIT Prof. Chrysanthos Dellarocas says it's true - at...
Iraq online
June 07, 2004
Iraq is busily trying to stabilize, rebuild and grow, and that includes a presence in the online world. The country has applied to ICANN for the .iq domain, which U.S....
Paging Emily Post
June 07, 2004
Cell phones, PDAs and the like are not only fabulously convenient, but also amazingly annoying, according to your co-workers. A new survey says your colleagues are getting as wee bit...
Online informants
June 04, 2004
They sit cross-legged in the back of your mind, waiting for the slightest of links to a current thought so they can pop up, wave their arms wildly and grab...
Best IT gifts
June 04, 2004
You can't hit Enter without running into some funny nerdy swag, from anything at ThinkGeek to the amusing "Kill Bill" Linux T-shirt. Yet we think the offerings at The Register's...
Online retailers see green
June 04, 2004
Online retailers being carted off to potter's field are popping up in the back of the wagon to shout, "We're not dead yet!" The Washington Posts' Leslie Walker says niche...
I do...want stock
June 04, 2004
With wedding season in full swing, USA Today's reporting that some savvy engaged couples are forgoing traditional toaster-and-bed-sheets gift registries for the more profitable world of stocks. The new GiftsofStock.com...
Beware of outsourcing
June 03, 2004
If you're thinking about outsourcing your IT needs, consider this cautionary tale. After taking the reins at Bank of Ireland, CEO Michael Soden's first IT edict came down: No porn...
Better baggage claim?
June 03, 2004
Delta is trying to improve its luggage handling by outfitting those cool luggage-hauling golf cart trains with wireless computers. Technically known as "tug tractors", the vehicles move at a top...
Real-life thriller
June 03, 2004
The U.S. is playing a high-stakes technological game of cat-and-mouse with terrorists, now detailed by The Christian Science Monitor. It turns out terrorists are excellent at detecting the ways they're...
To have, hold and pay
June 03, 2004
A Jordanian man has divorced his wife for the third time over her cell phone addiction. Abu Sami says his wife's cell bills run three times the size of his...
Self-destructing DVDs
June 02, 2004
A French company has developed a self-destructing DVD (Ed. note - Insert your own French joke here). The DVD sports an extra layer of coating that starts to decompose as...
Chat room safety
June 02, 2004
A British beautician has won the title of top female inventor in the world by creating a device borne out of fear for her daughter's safety in chat rooms. Paula...
Bad apples
June 02, 2004
This isn't new, but it's still ridiculously funny. Buy an iPod and Apple will laser-engrave the message of your choice on its shiny metal back for you. Unless, of course,...
An easy way to get Gmail
June 02, 2004
People are going unnecessarily loopy in their wacked-out attempts to get coveted Gmail accounts, says Network World Windows Guru Dave Kearns. Instead of offering your first born, hula lessons or...
New contest starts today
June 02, 2004
We're at a loss for words with this picture, which is why we need them from you. Send your best caption to layer8@nww.com by end of day Friday. The one...
Extra bonus contest
June 01, 2004
There's a bunch of reasons we wouldn't want to lose our iPod, No. 1 being the unexplainable embarrassing tunes we have stashed away for our private guilty pleasure. We don't...
Caption contest winner
June 01, 2004
"And with the wireless camera in place, we laugh at all the poor souls in coach." Pat Trudeau of Fairport, NY, has been upgraded to First Class by supplying...
Return of the king
June 01, 2004
Just in time to mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Colossus has returned. British experts have spent the past 11 years reassembling the monumental World War II code-breaking machine. One...
Avast, ye Potter pirates
June 01, 2004
Warner Brothers is going to great lengths to protect its next big big summer movie, "Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban". Faster than you can say "Expelliarmus!", the film...
Bash the boss
June 01, 2004
We're not huge fans of silly online games, especially ones that are thinly-veiled ads. But we can't stop playing "Bash the Boss". Do we need a vacation? Are we overworked?...
Good cults
June 01, 2004
Tiny behemoth TV Guide has released its list of the Top 25 Cult TV shows, with the top 5 being: 1. ``Star Trek'' 2. ``The X-Files'' 3. ``Buffy The Vampire...
Long weekend: Tip #1
May 28, 2004
Attention golfers: Never lose another ball in the woods or tall grass again. RadarGolf has created a device that lets your help find your wayward shot using RFID technology embedded...
Long weekend: Tip #2
May 28, 2004
If you're an underage drinker in the Portsmouth, NH area beware of the pizza delivery guy, he could be working for the police. Portsmouth Police have setup a "Booze Bounty"...
More proof: People are dumb
May 28, 2004
We all have our "Bimbo Moments" but some people are just plain dumb. Proof comes from two recent news stories. First, a 24-year-old New Hampshire woman is accused of robbing...
Most recent sign of the Apocalypse
May 28, 2004
Not the new "The Day After Tomorrow" flick, but news that Krispy Kreme has posted its first loss since going public in 2000. The company, which makes a little slice...
Must ... blog!
May 27, 2004
Thank God we here at Layer 8 are not like this: [Jocelyn Wang] spends at least four hours a day posting to her blog and reading other blogs. Ms. Wang's...
How not to
May 27, 2004
As a public service to our loyal readers, here are two examples of how not to do things. First off, if you're a pervert trying to take photos up women's...
No more
May 27, 2004
Phillip Buchan lists 13 songs that he thinks should be banned from college dorms forever. The list includes: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below Anything...
Geek Chic
May 27, 2004
Who says "geeks" can't be trendy and hip? Who else could put out a "No Place Like 127.0.0.1" doormat on their front step? And regular folk think the black Dell...
They like their phones
May 27, 2004
The BBC reports that Britons are spending more in mobile phone bill charges than on their gas and electric bills. Customers are paying roughly $82 per month for voice and...
Why?
May 26, 2004
Would you duct tape yourself to the ceiling? And this would be much better if Clear Duct Tape were used. [Via Boing Boing]...
Proxy this
May 26, 2004
Don't you hate it when corporate policies and technology make it impossible to goof off on the Web at work? Milo Minderbender knows your pain, but managed to find a...
For our readers from Down Under
May 26, 2004
For those tuning in from Australia, the reason for your recent flu could be the workplace: Nearly one-third of Australian men do not wash their hands after using the "loo"...
Big fans
May 26, 2004
We here at Layer 8 are big fans of ESPN.com's Bill Simmons (aka The Sports Guy), partially because of his Boston roots. If you've never stumbled across Simmons' work, his...
How dumb are we?
May 26, 2004
Saw a commercial for Ford pickups last night that involved suspending a truck from the ceiling with only a bolt holding the line to the vehicle. (Ford uses six such...
If I had a hammer
May 25, 2004
In response to yesterday's post about fun projects for us Geeks, reader Ken kindly directed us to his "Woodworking for the Rest of Us" page. There you'll find general woodworking...
Rising from the ashes?
May 25, 2004
Several dot-com survivors/evangelists/apologists gathered in Chicago last week at the optimistically named Dot-Com Boomerang event to rehash the catastrophe that was and refocus on future opportunities. How this was not...
'80s programming lives
May 25, 2004
The Atari 2600 may have ceded its title of No. 1 gaming system by the mid-80s, but that doesn't mean everyone moved on. A community of fans is happily living...
Gold's Arcade?
May 25, 2004
The popular video game "Dance Dance Revolution" is turning the mall arcade into a Gold's Gym for the younger set. Teens are getting hooked on the game with the side...
Hack your own
May 25, 2004
If ringtones are your thing and you're sick of "Chime", "The William Tell Overture" or "Beethoven's Fifth", head over to Engadget today for their latest "How-to Tuesday" feature. The gang's...
New contest starts today
May 24, 2004
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain typing. Please make sure your seats are in an upright and locked position, and your snark is stowed under your seat for easy...
This week's winner
May 24, 2004
You know that video from your Vegas trip? I got it right here. "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," unless you think like this week's winner, Dale Worley...
CSI: Nerd squad
May 24, 2004
More and more bad guys are leaving key evidence on their computers, be they perverts, hackers, terrorists or what have you. The insanely cool field of computer forensics is growing...
Google navel-gazing
May 24, 2004
With the future success of Gmail a Grade-A sucker bet, Google is only going to get more powerful. Therefore, The BBC has crafted a list of to-ponders for the reported...
Rainy day fun
May 24, 2004
You're a fine, upstanding person with a soldering iron and a free Saturday. What's a nerd to do? Well, if you head over to GeekDIY you can learn how to...
Tech on the farm
May 24, 2004
Alpacas are big money ("I've got one word for you, Benjamin. Alpacas."). And that big money's being smuggled out of alpaca-central - Peru - much to the chagrin of officials....
Free broadband fills vacancies
May 21, 2004
If you want to get those empty apartments rented out it's not location, location, location. It's wireless, wireless, wireless. That's what one IT guy found when his landlord asked him...
The FCC Song
May 21, 2004
Python genius Eric Idle's written an ode to Michael Powell and the boys: "The FCC Song." Says Idle: "Here's a little song I wrote the other day while I was...
Seniors love 'Net dating
May 21, 2004
Good news for John Q. Silverfox: If you buck those pesky actuarial charts and outlast your fellow man into your Golden Years, you'll have the pick of the pretty ladies....
Comics' latest villian
May 21, 2004
A new bill introduced to Congress by a California legislator could seriously threaten the future of the comic book industry - as well as anyone who's a fan of a...
Online blasphemy
May 20, 2004
The world's first 3-D online church is getting attacked by Satan. Those who log on to the Church of Fools choose a character and sit in the pews to sing...
Desperately seeking Gmail
May 20, 2004
Ever since Gmail strutted on the scene, it's the must-have accessory for the Web elite (which explains why we don't have it). But like that cool-kid table in the school...
Marketing gone wrong
May 20, 2004
Artera is aiming for the worst puns in history by launching the Spider-Man Web Accelerator and Security Suite because "No one knows the Web like Spider-Man!" Ugh. Available from the...
Prom kids and the law
May 20, 2004
Rather than giving out the traditional commemorative beer mug/pencil holder to the kids attending the Chippewa Falls High School prom, student organizers thought a CD was more appropriate. The prom...
Share the pain
May 19, 2004
We could all probably tell a tale or twenty about work-related insanity, which is why IWorkWithFools.com is a good place to get stuff off your chest. The site is anonymous,...
Mr. Peanut, filthy liar
May 19, 2004
With his monocle and top hat Mr. Peanut may be dressed like a dandy, but that doesn't make him any more honest than the average nut or food mascot. The...
Stick it to 'em
May 19, 2004
Brits like their gum - and apparently they also like to abandon it anywhere but in a trash can. Astonishingly, public gum pickup is a problem that costs UK cities...
McCheapskates
May 19, 2004
Napkins do grow on trees, so why are fast-food joints being so stingy with them? The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigates and finds that the many burger joints are seriously regulating...
Remote worker, big problem?
May 18, 2004
A survey conducted for Microsoft says the proliferation of teleworkers may be causing trust issues with their in-office colleagues. Numbers from an effectiveness consultancy show that 82% of those surveyed...
Klingons storm France
May 18, 2004
The French sometimes - oh, how do you say - annoy the hell out of their Yankee friends across the pond, which is why it's great we've sent the Klingons...
Kablammo!
May 18, 2004
If you love to watch stuff get all blowed up, then Implosion World (no relation to Network World) is for you. From pictures to live Webcasts, the IW gang chronicles...
Sin City for tots
May 18, 2004
It's never too early to get your kids hooked on the happiest place on earth - Las Vegas. And that's why Las Vegas Kids is such a handy Web destination....
New contest starts today
May 17, 2004
You normally don't see a gentleman so happy to be holding something so, um, small, but this guy's the exception. What's going on here? Send your best guess to layer8@nww.com...
Worst IT nightmare
May 17, 2004
We asked you for your IT nightmares, and you sent them in and freaked us out. But none moved us as much as this from poor Doug Cruise of Columbia,...
Caption contest winner
May 17, 2004
We had these neat signs printed in China. Got a great price on them! A flock of Fusion prizes will be winging their way to Edward McNally for submitting...
Verizon outrage
May 17, 2004
A Fargo construction worker pulled a nutty last week, chucking phones, computers and other merchandise around a Verizon store to protest "unreliable phones and poor service." In a jailhouse interview...
The Hops Fellowship
May 17, 2004
Man, we totally went the wrong way in college. First, we studied journalism. Second, we didn't go to a school that offered minors in video gaming or scholarships for beer-related...
Firestarter?
May 17, 2004
A 21-year-old in New Paltz, New York, nearly got flambéed recently when his cell phone went off while he was pumping gas, causing a fire. Fire officials say the cell...
It's for you
May 14, 2004
Mark Thomas loves pay phones. So much, in fact, he'll answer any one that rings in his vicinity, collects and manages an online listing of pay phone numbers, and will...
Pow! Bam! Crash!
May 14, 2004
Instead of granting him limitless riches, the dot-com era turned out to be comic king Stan Lee's kryptonite. Well, technically the dot-com era was nearly everyone's kryptonite and Stan Lee...
iPod insanity
May 14, 2004
We thought we loved our iPod, but we're just a pisher compared to uber fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. The New York Post reports that Lagerfeld - who owns 40 iPods...
Barney Fife to the bridge
May 14, 2004
Trek fans have the most exhaustive trivia trove of any TV series ever and even though the franchise is nearing its 40th anniversary, they're still finding more. The Mayberry in...
Good tech, bad decisions
May 13, 2004
It seems like every story we read about camera phones lately has them being used for nefarious purposes, like snapping pics of unsuspecting women, or the latest - cheating on...
Contest deadlines approach
May 13, 2004
The hour is nigh. Kinda. Well, we'll stop trying to be cute and get to the point: Tomorrow's the deadline for sending in your best IT nightmare (more details). Send...
Fame finds bloggers
May 13, 2004
With book and movie deals starting to trickle in, bloggers could become the next wave of reality stars, complete with the associated overexposure. (Except if we were so blessed, we...
A B.A. in Donkey Kong
May 13, 2004
Realizing the lucrative market and skills in demand, bastions of higher learning across the country are starting to offer courses in video game study. Now we were all excited, thinking...
Bad parenting primer
May 13, 2004
There's nothing like starting a child off in life already in the hole by virtue of a ridiculous name. Your friends have a baby and excitedly tell you they named...
Fly the Wi-Fi skies
May 12, 2004
Starting Monday, those flying Lufthansa will be able to surf the Web while sipping their $9 highball and nibbling their tiny packet of peanuts. The German airline will become the...
Camera phones and Peeping Toms
May 12, 2004
Congress is out to stem the tide of camera phone perverts by proposing a bill in which using the technology for nefarious purposes could land you a stiff fine and...
No pictures please
May 12, 2004
Burger King honchos don't want the Subservient Chicken to turn into Clara Peller or the Taco Bell Chihuahua. The disturbing mascot, who lives the burger chain's "Have It Your Way"...
They rule
May 12, 2004
If you're of the persuasion that the United States is ultimately ruled by 7 white guys in ties, theyrule.net is right up your alley. Creators took 2004 board of directors...
We've got a Wi-Fi convoy
May 11, 2004
The profession that popularized the plastic-mesh cap, breakfast-all-day and CB radio has a new love: Wi-Fi. CNN says truckers - the original wireless early adopters - are loving WLAN access...
Famous furniture
May 11, 2004
Tonight "The Dick Van Dyke" show returns to the air with its first new episode since 1966, and we have one request - there better be an ottoman somewhere. That...
Battling CD rot
May 11, 2004
We always thought that with the proper TLC, our CDs and DVDs would pass from generation to generation so our progeny could shake their heads at "Ultimate Manilow" and "Grease...
Super sneaker
May 11, 2004
Adidas has developed what it calls "Most Advanced Shoe Ever Made." Well, that's not too over-the-top is it? The sneaker, called 1 (left), will retail for $300 (250 Euros) and...
Auction action
May 10, 2004
Funny eBay auctions usually don't do much for us (hello, Wedding Dress Guy!) but this one hit us square in our Trekkie bone. You've got about 27 hours to wangle...
New contest starts today
May 10, 2004
IBM can take away this gentleman's job, but not his plucky spirit, if this picture is any indication. But who are we to say, this job's for you. Send your...
IT nightmares contest
May 10, 2004
Last week we alerted you to the online cache of IT nightmares shared by your brethren and asked you to share yours. We know there are some problems that follow...
Caption contest winner
May 10, 2004
"God! Putting a picture of myself as my screen saver was the greatest thing I've ever done!" Jeff Kohut of Evansville, Indiana, has been crowned King of All Captions...
Pizza programming
May 10, 2004
Any Luddite can use a phone to order a pizza, but the truly cool use Perl. Pizza Party is a free command-line pizza ordering program that can be used in...
Tots and technology
May 10, 2004
You know technology's moving pretty fast when you watch an episode of "Seinfeld" and laugh at Jerry's cordless phone sporting an antenna the size of a Wiffle Bat. If we...
The Infinite Cat Project
May 10, 2004
Love your cat? Love the Web? Unite those loves together via the Infinite Cat Project. A simple-but-pretty-damn-funny endeavor, the ICP began when one person posted a picture of his cat...
Spanning the globe
May 07, 2004
iPod owners have an unnatural attachment to their units. Slightly paranoid and in love with our music selection, the tiny white army travels the world with us and we have...
Challenge
May 07, 2004
If you play Scrabble, you're gonna run into some dog hands. Out of your seven tiles, you'll naturally draw 4 Is, 2Us and a Q. If it's any consolation, you're...
Thou (kinda) shalt not steal
May 07, 2004
Some Christians are a bit dodgy on the Seventh Commandment when it comes to illegally downloading Christian music. And by "dodgy" we mean "they're as bad as everyone else." A...
Video games for losers
May 07, 2004
If "Saturday Night Live" character Stuart Smalley designed video games, they'd come out like the ones emanating from McGill University in Quebec. Researchers there are developing really boring video games,...
Extremely casual day
May 06, 2004
You thought Mother's Day was the only holiday this week, but you're wrong. How could you have forgotten No Pants Day? What in the name of Calvin Klein is this?...
IT nightmares
May 06, 2004
You IT pros don't have it easy. Stupid users, dastardly bugs and the success or failure of your company riding on your network, aka, your shoulders. No sweat, right? Not...
Slagging SkyMall
May 06, 2004
We're not big fans of flying, but we love-love-love The Sky Mall catalog. As soon as butt hits seat we grab for that germy mag and start flipping, desperate to...
McMarketing
May 06, 2004
Nokia is trying to sell the lucrative Indian wireless market on camera phones by taking their campaign to - McDonalds? Children and families who visit the golden arches in New...
Heart-breaking tech
May 06, 2004
Cowardly cads and cadettes now have a new way to dump their significant other - via text messaging. CNN says 1 in 10 text-mad Brits have typed CUL8R or some...
Ballpark cell ban?
May 05, 2004
The folks whose ancestors booted the British out of Boston now want cell phones banned from their beloved Fenway Park - or at least taken away from attention-seeking nitwits. If...
Hide-and-seek V2.0
May 05, 2004
GPRS, PDAs, cell phones and the City of Manchester are the ingredients being used in the 21st century version of hide-and-seek called "Uncle Roy All Around You", now playing in...
File under Aww...
May 05, 2004
LucasArts gets the Nice Guy of the Week Award for making one sick boy's dream come true. Nine-year-old Ben Duskin's fighting leukemia and wanted to make a video game in...
Latest NYC attraction
May 05, 2004
If you see men dressed like Pac-Man characters chasing each other around Washington Square Park in New York City, don't be alarmed - it's just graduate studies. According to Pac-Manhattan...
Pump up that PC
May 04, 2004
The Fast and The Furious scene is coming to the PC set, as people are pumping up their processors and prettying up those dull beige cases. The beautification trend, known...
Tivo in trouble?
May 04, 2004
Tivo's fighting two key battles these days: increased competition in the DVR market and the public association of its brand to the overall technology. Cable providers and tech manufacturers are...
Kinder weapons
May 04, 2004
Is "non-lethal pistol" an oxymoron akin to "giant shrimp"? We're about to find out as a company called Shield Defense is readying its Python Non-lethal Pistol and Carbine (left), which...
Good behavior = good TV
May 04, 2004
If you're gonna get tossed in the clink, make sure it's in Oregon, where if you're good you can get a flat-screen TV in your cell. According to CNN, the...
Baby's first MP3
May 03, 2004
Want to get Junior or Juniette hooked on digital music? They are, after all, 21st century kids. This stuffed toy/MP3 player from Finson might do the trick. weighing just a...
New contest starts today
May 03, 2004
Well, well, quite the leer on this gentleman's face, eh? What might be going on in this photo? And, let's try - try - to keep it clean. Remember, we...
We have a winner
May 03, 2004
"Someday, I'll find it… the rainbow connection…" Matt McGhie of Provo, Utah, is the winner of our latest Weekly Caption Contest, and it was no small feat as we...
Gaga over Google
May 03, 2004
You would think Google was the first tech company to ever file an IPO. Last week's long-awaited action from those search engine IPO teases drew a 900% increase in traffic...
Fly in style
May 03, 2004
The words "Airline travel" and "respect" often don't go hand-in-hand as most airlines treat you with as much reverence as checked baggage. We Joe Six Packs looking for a little...
The trouble with Tron
May 03, 2004
Being an Internet sensation isn't all spam and celebrity, just ask Jay Maynard, who recently made a splash as the "Tron costume guy", now appearing in a forwarded "Hey, check...
Safe space sex
April 30, 2004
This gives "The final frontier" a whole new meaning. A British scientist is claiming NASA is considering the chemical sterilization of astronauts partaking in future long-term space missions to avoid,...
Pols doubt e-voting machines
April 30, 2004
California lawmakers have their knickers in a knot over the upcoming use of touchscreen electronic voting machines in the fall presidential election. A state panel has recommended banning the widely...
Portable concerts
April 30, 2004
Finally, a reason to go to Hoboken, N.J.! Indie rock club Maxwell's is one of seven venues featuring new eMusic Live digital music kiosks, which will let concert-goers download the...
American Idol and voter turnout
April 30, 2004
The USA Today editorial board must be sniffing glue. The paper ran an editorial earlier this week pondering whether questions regarding the legitimacy of "American Idol" voting results will erode...
Loud links
April 30, 2004
If you're going to hit the links this weekend, we implore you not to wear anything from Loudmouth Golf, which specializes in pants so blaring you need earplugs. "The average...
Download away
April 29, 2004
We know that by the time a tech trend story reaches a major media outlet, the "Duh" factor is pretty high. Case in point, ABC News reports that employees like...
Damn it
April 29, 2004
Enco Systems is set to take all the fun out of live TV and radio - and laugh all the way to the bank - by shipping its new product,...
eBay auction errata?
April 29, 2004
A wacky eBay auction is a rocket-ride to celebrity these days. Just ask the appropriately named Larry Star, a 42-year-old software tester who found his 15 minutes by auctioning his...
Frightening food
April 29, 2004
Columnist James Lileks has added a new wing onto his Gallery of Regrettable Food and takes us on a tour of another Knudsen Dairy Products recipe book from the Cold...
TV smarty-pantses
April 28, 2004
To its detractors, TV's known as the idiot box, but 1,000 monkeys with 1,000 typewriters in Tinseltown have crafted some top-flight brains. The Mercury News compiled its list of favorite...
I love my PC
April 28, 2004
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say people love their computers so much they'll wait in line for their chosen one. They creepily monitored the school's 800 computers to see...
Excel-ent
April 28, 2004
Blogger Anil Dash says many of his friends are geeks who are obsessive to varying degrees and use Excel to enable their passion: "Perhaps the ultimate example of this sort...
My brain feels your pain
April 28, 2004
In "The Brady Bunch" episode "Confessions, Confessions" we all learned an important axiom: "Don't play ball in the house." Every time we watched that ball bounce down that famous staircase...
Prom pics from hell
April 27, 2004
If there's one thing that will come back to haunt you, it's your prom photo. Sure, you thought you looked good at the time, but time has a funny way...
A taxing shame
April 27, 2004
Pay up or your name will be online for the world to see when they boot up. That's the word from several states that are using the Web to list...
Attack of the clones
April 27, 2004
A promotional Web site for the upcoming Robert DeNiro movie, "Godsend", is freaking out the anti-cloning set. The movie, which opens this Friday, is about a couple who loses their...
Manual download
April 27, 2004
If you lurve your Atari 2600 as we do, you know that finding the games at yard sales and flea markets is easy compared with tracking down the manuals. The...
New contest starts today
April 26, 2004
A guy on a laptop - that's something you see every day. A guy on a laptop being stalked by a giant rainbow butterfly-type thing? Not so much. We're a...
SMS success
April 26, 2004
Text messaging isn't just for voting for your favorite American Idol (and if you have - people - John Stevens? Honestly, what are you thinking?). It turns out there are...
Latest contest winner
April 26, 2004
Geez, they could have put some beer in before they teleported it. Doug Dearden of Santa Fe wins top honors and Fusion goodies this week for supplying the above....
Big Brother cafe
April 26, 2004
China is cutting the free-wheeling Internet off at the knees in Shanghai Internet cafes, installing video cameras and monitoring software in the country's 1,325 establishments to ensure citizens don't visit...
Ad ire
April 26, 2004
Not unlike their cousins across the pond, Brits are fed up with online advertising. Along with the spam and pop-ups suffered in the States, Britons also have to contend with...
Fabric fandom
April 26, 2004
Jay Maynard loves the 1982 movie Tron - or at least the costume. Unhappy with the Tron togs available for sale, Maynard decided to make his own. We give Maynard...
When tech attacks
April 23, 2004
When you get right down to it, there's nothing we like better than a "toilet attacks child" story. Even better, the toilet is a "superloo". Double trouble! According to The...
UN backs Slim Shady
April 23, 2004
We never thought we'd see the nouns "Eminem" and "UN" in the same sentence, but thanks to a ruling in Geneva yesterday, here we are. The international organization's World Intellectual...
Waaay coo'
April 23, 2004
It's Friday and we can all use a little pick-me up. Instead of sending out that e-mail in plain-'ol-you-speak, send it through the Dialectizer first. For instance, turn this: "The...
Skivers unite
April 23, 2004
Britain's Federation of Small Businesses is cheesed off at Alton Towers, the country's largest theme park. The park is promoting a midweek discount offer through an e-mail campaign touting its...
Outatime? Not yet
April 23, 2004
You can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone running a stupid eBay auction, selling off their organs, their virginity or what have you. But this eBay Motors auction is...
Stock up on XXL
April 22, 2004
Spam king Scott Richter is going from being the virtual monkey on your back to literally on your back. The man recognized worldwide as the embodiment of junk mail will...
Safety is Job 6?
April 22, 2004
Whatever we're paying the latest crew of the International Space Station, it's not enough. The station just had one of its six-month shift changes and the men of Expedition 9,...
Safe computing
April 22, 2004
This just in from the "Forget What You Saw In Our Ad But Still Buy Our Stuff" Department: Creative Labs Europe got a smackdown from British advertising overseers for running...
Blow off some steam
April 22, 2004
It's been a long week and you need a little release. You, my friend, need a little Kirk. Via MetaFilter...
Security is sweet
April 21, 2004
A new survey says 70% of Brits would trade their password for chocolate. If we were offered British chocolate, we can't say we wouldn't do the same - it's awesome....
The Ugly American Phrasebook
April 21, 2004
Traveling as an American abroad can be tricky in peacetime and downright dangerous in times like these. So the proprietors at zompist.com have compiled French, Spanish and German translations of...
25 bad words
April 21, 2004
The winners of the fourth-annual Lyttle Lytton Contest have been announced and, man, they stink. The event challenges folks to write the worst first sentence of an imaginary novel in...
Write to ya peeps, yo
April 21, 2004
Microsoft Office Gangsta Edition, takin' it to tha streets, fa shizzle. Make sure ya click on tha image to enlarge, yo. Via blogdaddy...
Hacktivism 101
April 20, 2004
The BBC reports that activists who know their way around the 1s and 0s have joined up with the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Founder/Professor Ron Deibert and...
Star Wars DVD-tails
April 20, 2004
George Lucas is starting to whet the appetites of his loyal legion, releasing some tidbits about the upcoming Star Wars Trilogy DVD set, due Sept. 21. The former pope of...
Coolest technology ever
April 20, 2004
With the eventual wide release of its Communications Badge, Vocera has become our new favorite company. One touch of the button on the wearable device and before you can say,...
Traffic tech
April 20, 2004
The AP says Detroit is taking new technology to the street by trialing battery- and solar-powered, online-operated parking meters for 90 days. Each unit can cost as much as $7,000....
What a character
April 20, 2004
Premiere magazine has released its list of the 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time, one of those great discussion topics for a long road trip or 2 a.m. any...
New contest starts today
April 19, 2004
What in the name of Tim Berners-Lee is going on here? Why is this refrigerator sitting on what appears to be a giant toilet? Don't look at us, we have...
The Windows remix
April 19, 2004
The gang over at Albino Blacksheep give DJ Danger Mouse a run for his money as they make the most of Windows system noises. You'll never hear chord, ding, chimes...
This week's winner
April 19, 2004
Old MacDonald had a server farm, 1-0-1-1-0! Paul Albus of New Hope, Minnesota, is now reigning champ of our Weekly Caption Contest by providing the above. Jealous of the...
Thanks for nothing
April 19, 2004
A Scottish teen spent the past six months helping Microsoft fix a hole in Windows and in return got squat. Nineteen-year-old IT pro Matt Thompson played software Good Samaritan when...
Hey, baby, wanna tooth?
April 19, 2004
The Brits love their wireless, and some apparently love to get lovin' via the technology as well. Gaining steam is the "toothing" craze, in which cell phone users proposition each...
Arcade V2.0
April 19, 2004
Video arcades are on the rebound and, even better, you don't need to tote around that giant roll of quarters anymore. A recent New York Times story says "video game...
Girl Guide to the Geek Guy
April 16, 2004
Ladies: If your dating options are running low, the girls over at Complete Evil have a field guide for your pursuit of the "Geek Guy," described by them as: "......
Networking is funny
April 16, 2004
A couple of weeks ago we asked for your networking jokes, and you sent them in. The best came from Jennifer Dodson of Huber Heights, Ohio: Q: What kind of...
Last call
April 16, 2004
Sure, Tim Berners-Lee may have come into a little money and a knighthood recently, but you know what he doesn't have? Fusion tchtochkes. That's right, Berners-Lee has never won our...
The PC mood ring
April 16, 2004
Work getting you down? Is your time spent with your PC, let's say, less-than-tranquil? If so, you may want to download MoodBook, a free 1.2M-byte Windows utility "that brings art...
Angering Mac nation
April 15, 2004
Sick of that sanctimonious Apple crowd crowing about their technological superiority? Hop on over to flogged.net, turn down your system volume and let this extremely angry man tell you Why...
Larry Ellison's long ball
April 15, 2004
On Monday and Tuesday nights, baseball superstar Barry Bonds hit home runs No. 660 and 661 to move to third place on the all-time home run list. To most, that's...
Office of the future
April 15, 2004
Researchers hoping to bring a more "Jetsons"-like existence to the daily grind are predicting stress-sensing desk chairs, boredom-sensing offices and electronic assistants that can let your mind wander. Yay, technology!...
Batmobile recalled
April 15, 2004
Mattel has lit the Batsignal and is recalling the Batmobile. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: "Mattel has received 14 reports of injuries consisting of scrapes, scratches, lacerations...
You've got seething rage
April 14, 2004
Urban legend spam from Mom gettin' your goat? What about endless reminders from HR about this-n-that? Ready to rip the head off the next dope who hits Reply to All...
Blowed-up-bot
April 14, 2004
The folks who brought you the Roomba Robotic Floorvac also make - wait for it - tactical warfare robots, currently in use in Iraq. A natural progression, of course. Officials...
The one true Peep
April 14, 2004
The Baillie Family loves Lord of the Rings. So much so, the North Carolinians are re-enacting the trilogy using a cast of Peeps. Sticky, costumed Peeps sporting beards, little wool...
Dial D for Dope
April 14, 2004
The Register says a Chinese man has plunked down $1.1 million for a phone number. The unnamed-yet-clearly-superstitious person paid nine million yuan for 135 8585 8585, which is pronounced as...
12-step Starbucks
April 13, 2004
If you practically mainline your morning Starbucks, it may be time to get yourself some help. Those perky green-aproned bean dealers are jacking you full of caffeine. The Wall Street...
Same old tune
April 13, 2004
Music industry status report: Record sales are down, online music downloads are up. That means the record labels have seen the light, right? Well, not quite. And by "not quite,"...
Search engine shenanigans
April 13, 2004
One of the big news angles of this year's Presidential election will be the role of the Web. The use of candidate blogging and their success in fundraising online have...
Baby pictures
April 13, 2004
Meet Jeremy Zorek. He just turned 2 and is a very cute kid. His stay-at-home Dad is a former actor who doesn't appear to stay at home much, instead toting...
X+Y= Oh my God!
April 13, 2004
Wow, are we glad the Earth Impact Effects Program is not found under our Accessories panel. This depressing piece of work resides on the University of Arizona Web site and...
Contest starts today
April 12, 2004
What, exactly, is going on to our left? Yeah, we don't know, either, which is why it's up to you to tell us by 8 p.m. Eastern this Friday. Send...
American Idol - educational?
April 12, 2004
Well, I'll be, American Idol is giving the U.S. something more than a splitting headache (I'm talking to you, John Stevens). After three seasons of AI urging viewers to text...
Contest winner
April 12, 2004
"...and then we stick it in Larry Ellison's mailbox!" Leo Sopicki of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has been deemed Jester of The Week by supplying the above spit-take-inducing caption. It...
Geeks on the run
April 12, 2004
We nerds don't all look like The Comic Book Guy. Most of us, but not all. As evidence we present Phillip Torrone, who has merged his love of gadgets and...
Fighting spam with bologna
April 12, 2004
Is that like fighting fire with fire? Regardless, the State of New York's Consumer Protection Board recently announced its inaugural "Spam and Bologna" contest targeting e-mail scams. The agency is...
Set phasers to fun
April 12, 2004
In two months, you'll finally have a reason to visit Seattle: The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame opens on June 18. According to officials, the museum: "will explore...
Movie-making on the cheap
April 12, 2004
Amateur auteurs take note: Your home movies don't have to look like a ride on the Tilt-a-Whirl anymore. It's time for you to get a Steadycam: cool devices with which...
AOL to share the love
April 09, 2004
Baby's First ISP has removed the "Non-Subscribers Need Not Logon" sign from some of its content to welcome the great unwashed. With its subscriber numbers dropping and Internet advertising rebounding,...
Laptop Torture 101
April 09, 2004
Is technology torture covered under the Geneva Convention? If so, we know several notebooks that may have a case. Laptop Magazine conducted its "April Torture Test", in which it kicked...
Worst technology ever
April 09, 2004
The Marts (Wal and K) are planning to sell a new $79 DVD player that would make the Puritans proud. Manufactured under the RCA brand, the player contains technology that...
Beatle(blog)mania
April 09, 2004
If you've been singing: "I'm so tired/of crappy blog templates" we've got a site for you. The gang over at Ms. Dicks has been running a competition to see if...
Must-flee TV
April 08, 2004
Hoping the dead horse that is reality TV can stand one more swift kick, AOL is launching an online show called "The Startup", featuring the wacky misadventures of four small...
We know where you live
April 08, 2004
Libertarian magazine Reason will be spooking the hell out of its 40,000 subscribers with its June issue. Each reader will receive a customized cover featuring a satellite picture of their...
Paging Dr. Blinky
April 08, 2004
"Hi, I'm Dr. Mario. I specialized in thoracic surgery at Johns Hopkins, with a minor in Galaxian." A study at Beth Israel Medical Center shows that surgeons who play video...
Hell's Hallmark
April 08, 2004
"Happy birthday from the gang!" takes on a whole new meaning for investigators at the California Department of Corrections. A fascinating LA Times story details how officials can glean important...
Talk about roaming charges
April 08, 2004
If you lose your cell phone, you're apt to first check the usual places: your house, jacket, car, etc. The last place you'd look? Well, Iraq would be high on...
Free advertising
April 07, 2004
Today the truly awesome Page Six is tee-heeing over the latest antics of Kimberly Stewart, daughter of rocker Rod. It seems Kimberly had her boyfriend's name tattooed above her nether...
Word thieves beware
April 07, 2004
Plagiarists should start readying their fake resumes and consider finding new gigs as technology is getting wise to their ways. The AP says businesses, book publishers, media outlets and schools...
The Cadillac of wireless
April 07, 2004
If you're a motorhead/tech fan, today's a good day for you. Cadillac's 2005 STS, unveiled today at the New York International Auto Show, will feature Bluetooth, letting you make hands-free...
Can you tell me how to get...
April 07, 2004
Venerable TV educator Sesame Street turns 35 this week and to celebrate Big Bird, Grover and the gang have come up with a harder-than-you-think trivia quiz. Oscar The Grouch is...
Don't forget the kitchen sink
April 07, 2004
Being a Weblog pioneer and tech journalist, it's no surprise Dan Gillmor doesn't want for technology. Gadget blog Gizmodo asked the San Jose Mercury News scribe what he takes with...
Lordy, lordy...
April 06, 2004
...look who's 40! It's the IBM S/360 mainframe, which put the "big" in Big Blue. The San Francisco Chronicle has a tribute piece on the old gal, which celebrates her...
Exact change, please
April 06, 2004
One day you'll be able to trot down to your breakroom and buy a Diet Coke, a Snickers, and a copy of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing out of the vending...
More dangerous cell news
April 06, 2004
Welcome to Cell Phones Are Dangerous Week. Yesterday we pointed you to a story on cell phones becoming terrorists' detonation device of choice. Today the AP's reporting that the abundance...
New contest starts today
April 05, 2004
What are new best friends Scott McNealy and Steve Ballmer tee-heeing about in this photo? Send your best guesses/captions to layer8@nww.com by 8 p.m. Eastern Friday. The best one wins...
New ways to annoy
April 05, 2004
Sick of the same old emoticons that have been with us for, what, 25-30 years now? Amaze your friends and confound your enemies by switching to Japanese-style emoticons, which read...
This week's winner
April 05, 2004
"My Drunken Monkey Boxing will be unstoppable in the Matrix!" George Paz of Bellaire, Texas, has been deemed The One by supplying the above and winning our latest Weekly...
The dark side of mobile
April 05, 2004
The affordability and ubiquity that make cell phones so good are also making them deadly. Experts say mobile phones have become the latest weapon in terrorists' arsenal, where they're being...
Did you hear that?
April 05, 2004
Being Grade A scaredycats, our list of places in which we'd rather not hear a mystery noise is rather long. But topping that list are No. 3 - On a...
Speed of lightning, roar of thunder
April 05, 2004
Good-but-overlooked PC games finally get their due at Home of the Underdogs: "a non-profit site dedicated to the preservation and promotion of underrated PC games (and a few non-PC games)...
Technology for Moms
April 05, 2004
If you thought Moms didn't know everything already, here comes technology that will make them even more powerful. A Florida company is taking light-scanning technology used at slaughterhouses (weird, but...
Internet Jackass Day
April 02, 2004
That's what the gang at Waxy.org have termed April 1, and we couldn't agree more. Welcome to April 2, where it's safe to turn on your monitors and believe once...
Steve Ballmer regrets
April 02, 2004
If you heard Steve Ballmer say: "That's probably the thing I feel worst about over the last few years ..." to what do you think he's referring? If you're like...
He bangs, you win
April 02, 2004
OK, gang: 8 p.m. Eastern tonight is the deadline for entering our Weekly Caption Contest, currently staring the vocally-challenged-but-nevertheless-endearing William Hung. Send those captions to layer8@nww.com and you may win...
Rainy day fun
April 02, 2004
If you've got $11, an old Palm cradle and a USB mouse, you've got a MacGyver project on your hands. TechTV's got the details on how you can take a...
Pop quiz, hotshot
April 02, 2004
Entertainment Weekly's annual "Great American Pop Quiz" issue hits the newsstands today and CNN has a sneak peak. Since it's Friday and you deserve a break, see how you fare...
Buy me some peanuts and an access point
April 01, 2004
SBC Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, is now the largest - or close to it - hot spot in the world, sporting 121 802.11b access points, team officials...
The Homeless Hacker
April 01, 2004
Wired has a page-turner (or in our case, a screen-scroller) on its hands with its feature on the unfortunately-surnamed Adrian Lamo, aka The Homeless Hacker. What's interesting in Lamo's (hee!)...
Throwaway culture
April 01, 2004
Wonks in the U.K. say the increase in gadgets and advances in technology are creating a generation of tosser-outers, who'll quickly dump their MP3 players, cell phones and the like...
Tech for the unwashed
April 01, 2004
Technology should be used for curing cancer and stealing music, not the ever-growing list of stupid uses being cooked up across the globe. The latest culprit: e-Suds, a Web-based system...
True Must-See TV
March 31, 2004
Oh, how we wish we could return to school and be a TV major, with a minor in Cheetos. Were we to do so, the wonks at Columbia College Chicago...
Bleep, bloop
March 31, 2004
Video gaming enthusiasts are gathering in Belfast, Ireland, today in celebration of the least-graphically-stimulating video game ever. Forty-two contestants will battle it out at the third-annual World Pong Championships, which...
Mmmmm, research study
March 31, 2004
Researchers at Rutgers University say Homer Simpson has a crappy diet. And - this just in - NASA says the sky is blue. Wow, are we in the wrong line...
Underwater bikers
March 31, 2004
We had to post this just because it's one of the stupidest-looking things we've ever seen. If we ever came across one of these underwater we'd probably drown from laughing...
AOL gets it right - kinda
March 30, 2004
It's not often we get to post an "atta boy" for our pals at AOL, but here we go. Baby's First ISP will raffle off a Porsche it received from...
Back in my day...
March 30, 2004
You know you're getting old when the video game founding fathers start criticizing the young whipper-snappers for being lazy and unimaginative. That's what happened during a panel at last week's...
Vigoda update
March 30, 2004
When playing the "Dead or Alive" celebrity game, Abe Vigoda is usually a stumper. If you need an independent third-party to verify the correct answer, this is for you. Our...
iPod adventures
March 30, 2004
Now playing: "The Case of the Creaky Staircase", starring your iPod! Or, you know, something cooler - whatever you decide to write. iPodSoft is offering free software with which you...
A new hobby for you
March 30, 2004
We've found you a pastime that's cheap and challenging, but the paper cuts are a bitch. Welcome to the exciting world of envelope and paper folding! Well, maybe that's a...
Take my server, please
March 30, 2004
This week's Wider Net story in Network World features geek comedian Don McMillan (left), who tells nerdy jokes that are supposed to be funny. Such as: "I'm wearing a tie...
New contest starts today
March 29, 2004
Click for a better view, but that's our favorite "American Idol" contestant, William Hung, at last week's Game Developers Conference in San Jose. Send in the best caption and we'll...
Dear Me: You rock!
March 29, 2004
Attention potential Marty McFlys: If you're short one Delorean and a flux capacitor, there's still a way to send yourself a message in the future without going back in time....
This week's winner
March 29, 2004
N 12, O 64, B 23; man, this Internet bingo is a drag! Mark Georges has been deemed Grande Funny by virtue of the above. For his efforts, Mark...
Don't blame me, it's the desk
March 29, 2004
If you didn't feel like coming to work today it's not your fault. You may want to take a seat before we tell you this. All set? OK, you may...
Milwaukee: The home of Middle Earth?
March 29, 2004
Heretofore, if anyone mentioned "Milwaukee" we only thought of it as the home of "Laverne & Shirley" and "Happy Days". Yet we've found another reason not to make fun of...
A political low blow
March 29, 2004
If you're not a fan of the myriad presidential ads that will be hitting our TV screens for the better part of this year, trying to escape to your computer...
Liar!
March 26, 2004
A Cornell University study shows that people tend to lie more when communicating by phone than by e-mail, according to this article in New Scientist magazine. Helping to back up...
Joe Bug Bachelor
March 26, 2004
After watching one too many reality dating shows (The Bachelor, For Love or Money, Average Joe, Joe Millionaire, Joe on a Tractor) the staff of Layer 8 finds The...
Those wacky kids
March 26, 2004
Talk about having nothing to do. Six teenagers were cited for harrassing antelope in Gillette, Wyoming. Seems as if the kids were using an SUV to chase around the antelope,...
10-4, pass the bagels
March 25, 2004
Cell phones equipped with digital cameras are making everyone an investigative reporter. In Florida, an alert Parkland resident out for breakfast noticed the entire day shift of Broward County Sheriff...
A new excuse
March 25, 2004
We're nearly three full months into 2004 and the New Year's resolution to start dieting is still just a resolution. Now we've got another excuse to not start: Stress. According...
XP machine in a (cardboard) XP box
March 25, 2004
Talk about a small footprint. Andy France wanted a small PC for his desktop, so he built a Windows XP machine inside the Windows XP cardboard box and a similar...
Calculating the tab with RFID
March 25, 2004
Reuters is reporting that Japanese Sushi restaurants are beginning to use RFID tags to calculate customer tabs. Waitresses just wave a handheld reader over the plate of dirty dishes (each...
Power tools for the accident prone
March 25, 2004
You have to see this to believe it. A company called SawStop has developed a technology that can distinguish between solid wood and a user's finger, allowing the cutting blade...
Off-road Segways
March 24, 2004
Is it possible to make the Segway useful? Off Roads Adventure of Mississippi is trying like hell by outfitting it in camouflage, giving it studded tires - and in the...
You technosexy thing
March 24, 2004
Move over metrosexuals, you're as played out as the trucker hat. Let's get all lathered up over the new kids in town - or at the help desk - the...
Sanitized for your protection
March 24, 2004
Word to the wise: If you're going to sell your - or your company's - old hard drives make sure they've been wiped clean. Make really sure or else whoever...
Miss Y2K news?
March 24, 2004
If you bought a Pontiac Grand Prix in the past year, you're now many dollars short and officially a date late. Engineers who programmed the car's software - oopsie -...
Chemists like to experiment
March 23, 2004
Your co-worker's nasty coffee cup's probably got nothing on these, which were entered into a "Who Can Grow the Most Disgusting Stuff in their Mug" contest. Or, as The Royal...
Two unholy unions
March 23, 2004
America's favorite monopolist has teamed with America's beloved pastime. Major League Baseball announced Monday that Microsoft's MSN portal now has the exclusive on game highlights, video and the like. MLB.com's...
Your money or your server
March 23, 2004
BBC News says British bookies' Web sites are getting the online equivalent of having their legs broken if they don't pay extortion demands. The legal betting sites are being slowed...
Seniors savvy to spam
March 23, 2004
And with that headline, we've just used up our alliteration allotment for today. Thank you, goodnight! Onto the news, Symantec recently polled users as to whether they've fallen for spam...
New contest starts
March 22, 2004
You've got until 8 p.m. Eastern Friday to send us the best caption for this photo. Win and we send you official Fusion graft! Lose and face eternal damnation! Oh,...
A musical plague
March 22, 2004
Any schmo can bring a guitar to a party or bang out some Elton John classics on the resident piano and think he's cool. But true hep cats come ready...
Contest winner
March 22, 2004
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is very exciting. Longhorn will require this many fingers to reboot your PC." Kudos and huzzahs to winner Bryan Zabchuk of Ottawa. A copy of...
Lord of the Servers
March 22, 2004
Apps running a little slow lately? "Lord of the Rings" Director Peter Jackson has just what you need. Word from Kiwi Nation has the special effects arm of Jackson's movie...
E.T., phone Paul Allen
March 22, 2004
Microsoft co-founding father Paul Allen's rolled his spare change again, donating $13.5 million to his namesake Allen Telescope Array, run by SETI. Including this latest move, Allen has donated $25...
Go home, goof off
March 22, 2004
We don't know who came up with the idea for National Goof-Off Day, but we like the way they think. Today is said holiday, and had we known in advance...
Coming attractions
March 19, 2004
Reason No. 1 to come back to work Monday: to pick up that new Network World and check out the following: Spambuters: The best of the anti-spam set were at...
The cult of Tivo
March 19, 2004
We've just found our new personal hero - PVR addict Jeff Davies. A software engineer (shocker) from Mountain View, Calif., Davies owns six Tivos and ReplayTVs, and brags he can...
Contest ends today
March 19, 2004
You have until 8 p.m. Eastern today to put your words in Bill's mouth. The best caption - and folks there is a lot to work with here - wins...
Politics isn't funny
March 19, 2004
Many say humor is an important ingredient in a partner, but what about your elected representatives? If it's true, we're all hosed. Writing as a 10-year-old boy, John Hargrove over...
Press Send for love
March 19, 2004
Those crackerjacks at MIT are unleashing a new technology on the masses - think personal ad meets mobile phone. Called Serendipity, the service would allow subscribers to store a personal...
No. 1 mum
March 19, 2004
England voted and the results are in - Marge Simpson is Britons' favorite mum. Why is the former real estate agent, weight lifter, pretzel saleswoman, help line volunteer, bordello wrecker,...
Folding the Force
March 18, 2004
Love Star Wars? An origami fan? Then you'll enjoy this site, which features some spectacular models of famous Star Wars ships and equipment - all made out of folded paper....
Hacking for fun and satisfaction
March 18, 2004
The suits at Southern California Edison recently ran a customer satisfaction survey, and its employees wanted to ensure the results were good. So enterprising people that they are, several worker...
Wash 'n' Fax
March 18, 2004
NW colleague and Multimedia Editor Jason Meserve's on top of all the hot technology breaking out Southern New Hampshire - or as we call it - Silicon Valley East....
Divine Right of Bling
March 18, 2004
Do you yearn for the days of Divine Right of Kings? Long for the accoutrements of the original gangsta, the first king of bling, Henry XIII? If you want to...
Trek tech
March 17, 2004
To the masses, Gene Roddenberry invented a TV show that has churned out generations of nerds and the best Saturday Night Live skit ever. But all you have to do...
RSS and the campaign trail
March 17, 2004
Want a side-by-side comparison of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry vs. President George Bush? This site offers up the five latest blog entries from each camp via RSS. There's more...
Finally, a use for Outlook
March 17, 2004
Before your brackets collapse like a teetering Jenga tower, easily load all those March Madness match-ups into Outlook so you can stay on top of who's playing who. If you're...
Dot com boom officially over
March 17, 2004
As the final nail in the coffin of the dot com era, DotComGuy has announced he's auctioning off his annoying moniker and legally changing back to his birth name, Mitch...
DVDs and birds and bees
March 16, 2004
The in-car DVD player is the 21st century equivalent of the drive-in, or more like the drive-by. Back in the day, if we spied a drive-in ahead we'd furiously study...
I love UBE
March 16, 2004
Orlando Soto engages in a love that dare not speak its name: a true affection for - and appreciation of - spam. After his day job as a building supervisor...
Favorite swears of the stars
March 16, 2004
Remember those seven words you can't say on TV? Well, you're going to hear the stars of "The West Wing", "The OC", "Scrubs", "Without a Trace", "Six Feet Under" and...
New contest starts
March 16, 2004
You've got Bill. You've got jazz hands. What more do you need to spark the flames of funny in your noggin? Not much, my friend. Give us the best caption...
Why we love networking
March 15, 2004
We knew there would come a time when "dongle" would be unseated as our favorite networking term. Hello, Port Knocking. Your firewall: Yes? Outside node: Hi, I'm here for your...
This week's winner
March 15, 2004
"If you think this is funny wait until you see where the other leads are wired into!" Michael Hoddy has been declared the funniest man on the planet as...
Schedule your defibrillation for Sunday
March 15, 2004
Like eating deep-fried beaks and snouts off a stick? Enjoy college basketball? Then you'll love National Corndog Day, a celebration of the, er, "food" and March Madness. The 12th annual...
Getting in on Google
March 15, 2004
Good idea: Buying Google stock early. Bad idea: Buying Google stock too early, say, before it exists. It seeks a New York man jumped the gun by - oopsie -...
Guinness defies nature
March 15, 2004
Step away from your keyboard and get your arse to a bar. Scottish chemists have proven that the bubbles in Guinness drop instead of rise, and it's your job to...
50 million served
March 15, 2004
Apple's tooting its "Yay us!" horn today, noting that the 50 millionth song has been downloaded from its iTunes Music Store. And no, it wasn't Outkast's "Hey Ya!". The answer...
Get out the Lysol
March 12, 2004
We know what we're doing this weekend: Cleaning our keyboards. Turns out the average keyboard may have 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. Yes, you can throw up...
Oh, crap!
March 12, 2004
According to an article in New Scientist magazine, University of Pennsylvania Researchers have developed an electricity generator fueled by, well, crap. The thing takes in raw sewage, breaks it down...
Robot racing
March 12, 2004
Darpa's Grand Challenge is this weekend. No, it's not a NASCAR event (go fast, turn left), rather its 20 robotic vehicles attempting to cross the Mohave desert without a human...
Still time to enter
March 12, 2004
There's still time to get in on our weekly caption contest. Is this nose picking gone hi-tech? Drop us a line by 8 p.m. EST (that's 20:00 hours) with your...
Martian view
March 12, 2004
Everyone has looked into the night sky and seen Mars. But ever wonder what we look like from afar? Thanks to one of the Mars Rovers, we now know. [Via...
Dumber than we thought
March 12, 2004
Remember that tough final exam we reported on last week that was given to students of Georgia's Coaching Principles and Strategies of Basketball class? According to the current Sports Illustrated,...
Bracket management
March 12, 2004
Office pools around the country will be getting cranked up Monday in anticipation of the 2004 NCAA Men's (and Women's) Basketball Tournament. Most probably use brackets printed on paper, but...
I thought it was real
March 11, 2004
The case of the woman accused of trying to pass a $1,000,000 bill at a Walmart in Georgia took another twist today: The woman, Alice Pike, thought the bill was...
Recycling and reuse
March 11, 2004
Let's face it, there's a lot of content that's been generated in our life time by a lot of people. Why make the effort to create something new when you...
For the the do-it-yourself type
March 11, 2004
Are you a wannabe Bob Villa? Then Technical Video Rentals is for you. It's like NetFlix in that videos are mailed to you and after a week or so, you...
Does he sleep?
March 11, 2004
Robert Scoble, author of The Scobleizer Weblog and a Microsoft evangelist, says he reads 1,348 RSS feeds a day and through tools like Technorati and Feedster tracks some 1.4 million...
The pickpocket culture
March 11, 2004
Bob Arno has an interesting hobby. The security consultant from Las Vegas records and interacts with pickpockets around the globe to gain insight into their culture. Arno uses some sophisticated...
What will they think of next?
March 10, 2004
The Swiss Army knife can do it all, including back up your data. Huh? The company that makes versatile tool, Victorinox, is adding a USB memory stick to the knife,...
Out with the new, in with the old
March 10, 2004
Like retro sports jerseys, vintage video games and equipment seems to be the in thing. New versions of old classics don't cut the mustard. If you want to immerse yourself...
Brookstone or Sharper Image
March 10, 2004
It's sort of like the Coke or Pepsi debate: What's the big difference between gadget kings Brookstone and Sharper Image? Michael Lasky over at sister-pub PCWorld examines the issue and...
Hello, is Chris there?
March 10, 2004
Imagine getting a new telephone number only to find out it previously belonged to someone famous (rather than a now defunct pizza place or other annoying business that gets a...
Encyclopedias gather dust
March 10, 2004
Looks like printed encyclopedias like the venerable Encyclopedia Britannica are becoming nothing more than dust collectors and the occasional coaster as students turn more to online resources than their static...
No sense of humor at Apple
March 09, 2004
Before we could even mention it, Apple has come down on Starbrite Solutions for its $20 pPod application, which replicated iPod's interface on a PocketPC (except it played MP3s and...
Can I get $1,000 bills in change?
March 09, 2004
Seems as if a Walmart shopper tried to pull a fast one by passing a $1,000,000 bill to pay for $1,675 in merchandise. When that didn't work, she tried to...
Terrorists not Mensa members
March 09, 2004
Looks like the U.S. and its allies hit it big when a couple of Al Qaeda bigs didn't understand how Swisscom's "anonymous" SIM cards worked: [Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,]and indeed...
Where's my MTV?
March 09, 2004
This explains the weird messages warning of doom scrolling across our local CBS affiliate last night during CSI: Miami: Satellite TV provider EchoStar pulled the plug on Viacom-owned stations, including...
Thanks for sharing
March 09, 2004
The award for "Too Much Information in an Amazon.com review" goes to this review of the short-film 405: A viewer from Phoenix, AZ, United States I stumbled upon this film...
Fashion trends
March 09, 2004
Today marks the debut of the new men's shopping magazine (men need a shopping magazine?) Cargo, a guide to clothes, cars, gadgets and everything else a man needs to keep...
RSS not just for techies
March 09, 2004
The little orange button at the top of this page seems to be the latest rage among the Web set, and not just the technically savvy. If you don't have...
Missed opportunity
March 08, 2004
Of all the weekends not go to McDonald's we had to pick this past one. An ad in last Friday's Wall Street Journal (which we're regrettably reading today) says McDonald's...
New caption contest
March 08, 2004
It's Monday and faithful readers know what that means: Time for the latest Caption Contest. Send us (layer8@nww.com) your wittiest caption for this week's photo by 8 p.m. EST (6...
Stern: "It's over"
March 08, 2004
Howard, say it ain't so? Howard Stern last week predicted the demise of his popular radio show could come as soon as this week, claiming his breed of shock radio...
Contest winner
March 08, 2004
"Hey, anybody ever tell you that you look like that Shaq guy in NBA Live 2004?" Edward Ponikvar of Willoughby, Ohio takes the caption prize this week. For his...
Pot calling kettle black
March 08, 2004
Seems Presidential candidate John Kerry, who says shows like Howard Stern's should be censored, needs to review his own Web site before talking about obscenity. According to The Drudge Report,...
PR Spam works
March 08, 2004
Throughout the Martha Stewart trial Layer 8 editors (well at least this one) have been getting bombarded with public relations pitches from Karen Bond, a former lawyer who spent time...
A weighty issue
March 08, 2004
Maybe McDonald's is on to something with its plan to eliminate the Supersize option on its menu. According to a recent brief in the Wall Street Journal: "Obese white-collar women...
Coming attractions
March 05, 2004
5 p.m. today is exciting, but next week's edition of Network World is - in a word - exciting-er. Landing on your desk Monday: Well, there's the lead story about...
It's a crash-free world after all
March 05, 2004
This just in from the "Oh, Thank God" news desk: Bill Gates says he's not interested in acquiring Disney. Were said deal to take place, we'd never feel quite the...
A slam dunk
March 05, 2004
We always tend to chuckle when NCAA football and basketball players are repeatedly referred to as "student-athletes." Hee. See, we can't help it. But you won't think we're so cynical...
Time-saving technology
March 05, 2004
Reader Matt in Michigan, fresh off long nights trying to rid an e-mail server of viruses, sends us this: "Management works tirelessly at saving money by introducing technology at all,...
Demand appreciation
March 05, 2004
Stand up fellow worker bees and demand your due - today is Worker Appreciation Day! Technically it's the 10th annual Worker Appreciation Day, which means it's the tenth year in...
Last day to win
March 04, 2004
8 p.m. Eastern today is the deadline for putting your words under this picture. Now, c'mon, this is an easy one. Having Shaq in this picture is a lay-up -...
Now that we have your attention...
March 04, 2004
Press release headline of the day: How to Make a Colonoscopy a More Pleasant Experience Our first thought: "Don't go." But seeing as March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, that's...
Password-lending prosecution?
March 04, 2004
Ever lend your ID and pass to a friend? Say, they wanted to get onto a paid site and you - being the good person you are - sent your...
The revenge of Noah Webster
March 04, 2004
They're flying without a net at the Dow Jones newswire, where spell check has been banned from use and removed from all company PCs. It seems lazy reporters and editors...
Nigeria fights back
March 04, 2004
A Nigerian official says the entire country has been dishonored by the e-mail scams perpetrated in its name, and the country is fighting back. Nuhu Ribadu, head of the country's...
Flaming fraud
March 04, 2004
We had such high hopes for the RFID-chips-in-the-$20s story. The pictures were great, the story was enthralling but, alas, it was too good to be true. Just like the "I...
Incoming!
March 03, 2004
Want to scare the bejeezus out of your coworkers? Head over to AirRaidSirens.com, pick your favorite and crank it up. Mwah ha ha ha. Via Metafilter...
Pardon the Earth
March 03, 2004
This just in from NASA - don't blame the dog, blame El Niño. The agency says the warming phenomenon causes an increase in greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide concentrations. Even...
The political Web
March 03, 2004
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is turning to blogging to better share information with his constituents. His new blog, downingstreetsays.com, is aimed at giving the public easy access to Blair's...
But what about the chocolate?
March 03, 2004
Swedish experts are employing the old "monkey-see, monkey-do" theorem, saying video games can make kids violent - or even criminal. That's not new. But the Swedes are also saying excessive...
Avast ye copyright infringers
March 02, 2004
Sick of The Man telling you you can't copy your DVDs? 321 Studios - which just happens to sell software that lets you do that - feels your pain. That's...
Dear Mr. Powell...
March 02, 2004
Americans have never been shy about expressing their opinion, which is why it's not a shock that the FCC got nearly a quarter-million letters and e-mails regarding the burlesque (half...
Rose to enter Hall of Fame
March 02, 2004
Well, not that Hall of Fame. Charlie Hustle is set to become Charlie Headlock as former scandal-soaked baseball great Pete Rose will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame...
In space, no one can hear you rock
March 02, 2004
MP3 playlist getting a little dusty? Need to shake things up? Take a tip from the Casey Kasem of NASA, who's spinning situation-appropriate tunes for the crew of the Mars...
Action prankster news
March 02, 2004
If we wanted to read the newspaper, we wouldn't watch the news. But the two seem to be one-and-the-same these days as newscasts are increasingly framed with scrolling scores, weather...
New contest starts today
March 01, 2004
Out with the old, in with the new. Try this pic on for size and send your best snark, sarcasm - you name it - to layer8@nww.com by 8 p.m....
17 syllables of scam
March 01, 2004
In our book, there's nothing more fun than haiku. We know, it's rather sad. So you can imagine our unbridled joy when we found a site that combined our favorite...
Contest winner
March 01, 2004
Sony's new DC-2300, an updated version of the Navajo DreamCatcher. This model features Pause, Fast Forward, and Rewind. A USB version is planned for Fourth Quarter 2004. San Diego's...
Day late, millions short?
March 01, 2004
The team that created the first networked personal computer, the Alto, were recently honored by the National Academy of Engineering. Alan Kay, Butler Lampson, Robert Taylor and Charles Thacker were...
The Fall of the House
March 01, 2004
"The Return of the King" Oscar sweep is great news for Lord of the Rings fans, but terrible news for bookies. The world's largest bookmaking chain, Ladbrokes, has been defeated...
Coming attractions
February 27, 2004
As refreshing as a cold beer on a hot day is the latest edition of Network World. Hitting your desk Monday: Microsoft talked a lot of security at this week's...
Everyone's doing it
February 27, 2004
Why not you? Get in on the fun and frolic of our caption contest. This week's tilt ends today, so send your best caption to us by 8 p.m. Eastern...
Dot-com crash: The movie
February 27, 2004
We've had the wave of post-crash books, how long until there's a movie starring Keira Knightley and John Cusack living high on their late-'90s tech hog, only to have it...
Getting lucky with Apple
February 27, 2004
To celebrate tomorrow's opening of its San Francisco super store, Apple will be selling "lucky bags" to those who want to pony up $250. You fork over two bills and...
Paging I.P. Freeley
February 27, 2004
A Massachusetts jokester went off the pranking menu recently when he (or she) called several area Wendy's and convinced each restaurant manager to strip search an employee. Identifying himself (or...
The Hummer Driving Academy
February 27, 2004
We were trying to come up with a funny headline for this post, but the truth was amusing enough on its own. Yes, there is a special driving school for...
Toy scare
February 26, 2004
You know you're getting old when you start yearning for toys of yore while decrying the junk your kids love today. Chances are both generations will find at least some...
Two Apples, too much
February 26, 2004
It's a fine line. Selling a music player under the Apple name is OK. Selling music under the Apple name, not so much. At least that's what Apple Corp., The...
See shy
February 26, 2004
One has to be very adventurous - or desperate - to visit London's latest tourist attraction, an outdoor loo enclosed in one-way mirrored glass. Sitting near the banks of the...
That's gotta smart
February 25, 2004
Think you're having a bad day? Check out the story/footage of the poor schmuck who proposed to his girlfriend at half-court of a recent Pacers-Wizards game only to have her...
Back to the future
February 25, 2004
In the world of Morse Code, this is big news. In fact, it's the biggest news since VJ Day - literally. The International Telecommunication Union has declared a new Morse...
Sweet justice
February 24, 2004
Got one of those cubicle neighbors who talks loudly into the phone, yammers on incessantly and is an all-around pain in the keister? This short, work-friendly clip is for you....
Your iPod or your life
February 24, 2004
It's not easy being an iPod user. First, its battery stinks. Now you're more likely to be mugged for your music, at least if you're in London. According to The...
The fresh alternative
February 24, 2004
Many are unhappy with Ralph Nader's decision to run for president, fearing he'll siphon votes away from expected Democratic nominee John Kerry. Yet, they're surprisingly unafraid of PETA's candidate Cris...
Ugly people, ugly albums
February 24, 2004
If you thought the covers of those New Christy Minstrels or Sgt. Barry Sadler albums in your folks' house were ugly, you're not even close. You've probably seen this list...
Outsourcing = trade?
February 24, 2004
Is outsourcing just another form of trade? That's what an Arizona economist writes in an interesting defense of the movement. If, like many of us, you have a hard time...
Cuddling up with controversy
February 24, 2004
Microsoft's Japan unit was having a hard time moving Xboxes, so it decided to have a little giveaway. Buy a special Xbox package with the console and a version of...
Caption contest starts today
February 23, 2004
Another week, another weird photo begging for your assistance (click for a better view). Now, if you're wondering why a woman is sleeping with a coffee maker on her headboard,...
No place like gnome
February 23, 2004
Lawn ornaments are like crab grass. One gnome begets a Victorian gazing ball, which leads to plastic deer, which fathers small windmills, and pretty soon it looks like a permanent...
New winner
February 23, 2004
"Sure, it's safe. See, as long as you keep one foot on the ground, you're never in danger of tipping over." Douglas Lancaster of British Columbia claims the title...
Ni! Ni! Ni!
February 23, 2004
First ABBA, then John Waters, now The Pythons. Aint-It-Cool news has early scuttlebutt that Eric Idle is kicking around the idea of a Broadway musical version of the most-quoted-by-nerds movie...
I, pornbot
February 23, 2004
You can admit it. Every once in a while you get a message you think is legit, only to open it and realize it's a come-on for losing, saving or,...
Microsoft subterfuge?
February 23, 2004
Are our friends in Redmond greasing the skids at the U.N. to kneecap the adoption of ebXML? That's what today's New York Times is wondering in a piece that examines...
Coming attractions
February 20, 2004
Trucking toward you like that giant boulder chasing Indiana Jones is next week's edition of Network World. You're in for a technological treat as we unveil our annual Best Products...
Last call
February 20, 2004
Time to mine whatever leftover genius has been hiding in your noggin this week and apply it to our weekly caption contest. Deadline's 8 p.m. Eastern tonight, winner gets a...
Don't mess with this man
February 20, 2004
We always thought U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wanted to kick the crap out of, well, pretty much everyone. Now we have photos to prove it. Lord help the...
Math by Mattel
February 20, 2004
Math is hard - hard plastic, that is, if you're a seventh grader at one Michigan middle school. That's where a teacher had her students study proportions by measuring the...
User friendly
February 20, 2004
We don't want this post to turn sepia-toned on us, but remember the old days of the TV/cable remote? The ones that were the size of a paperback and made...
iTunes giveaway cheat
February 19, 2004
If you're uncomfortable downloading illegal music, but you're not above a little cheating, we've got you covered. Pepsi and iTunes have teamed to give away free, legal song downloads. Yet...
Risky business
February 19, 2004
There's two troubling bits of shuttle news from NASA this morning. First, agency engineers say it's infeasible to retrofit the current shuttles with an emergency escape system. It would take...
Vengeance is theirs
February 19, 2004
Hopefully this will end Steve Bartman's long, dark winter. But probably not. The Today Show will be live in Chicago later this month to televise the destruction of the baseball...
Another reason to bag AOL
February 18, 2004
AOL is apparently like smoking or a cult - it's difficult to quit the first time. Reporter Sam Allis tried, he really did, but the ISP wouldn't let him go....
Nuisance auction foiled
February 18, 2004
A New York lawyer whose phone number is (212) 867-5309 tried to cash in by unloading the annoying digits on eBay. A lawyer? Trying to cash in? Proving P.T. Barnum...
Best book ever
February 18, 2004
Sometimes computer glitches are more funny than annoying, especially when you're not involved. Such is the case with Amazon's Canadian site, which over the past week has been gleefully ignoring...
Be afraid
February 18, 2004
The other day I passed a billboard with the ominous message: "We can be afraid or we can be ready. www.ready.gov". Naturally I checked it out when I got home,...
So fake-lookin' it's real
February 17, 2004
There should be an award for "Legit Photo That Most Looks Like a Crap Photoshop Job", 'cause if there were, this picture would win, hands down. Seriously, you can click,...
Don't shake it
February 17, 2004
If you've been taking your photography tips from the band OutKast, you're barking up the wrong tree. Their inescapable hit "Hey Ya!" urges listeners to "shake it like a Polaroid...
New contest starts today
February 17, 2004
Time to get that frontal lobe cookin'. We're looking for the best caption for this piece of, um, art (click for a better view). Also falling into the "caption" category...
She bangs, he wins
February 17, 2004
William Hung is our American Idol because he couldn't carry a tune if it had a handle and he's making the most of it. If you missed the 132 AI...
We have a winnah
February 17, 2004
The funeral procession for Windows 3.11 finally makes it to the conference; delays were experienced due to 16-bit speed restrictions on the highway. Tim Roberts is this week's reigning...
Carving your Apple
February 17, 2004
The iPod is awesome. Its battery, not so much. The fact that the internal iPod battery goes kaput in less than 2 years has created a nasty kink in Apple's...
Back-up only
February 17, 2004
PC game creators could soon begin to feel the pain of their music and movie brethren, as 321 studios has released a utility to let folks copy PC games. According...
Holiday!
February 16, 2004
Today's President's Day in the U.S. - a time to think about democracy, reflect on our leaders and, most importantly, nap. Your Layer 8 staff will be enjoying the latter...
Coming attractions
February 13, 2004
It's never easy to head back to the office after a long weekend, but we've got a few reasons you'll want to come in and grab that new Network World...
Too stupid
February 13, 2004
Years of reading "Entertainment Weekly" has taught us at least one thing: It's hard for a TV pilot to become a hit. Here's an idea for the networks (this includes...
Once more, with feeling
February 13, 2004
Oh, for Pete's sake, Redmond's secret sauce is out in the open. Honestly, Microsoft and its security misadventures are starting to remind us of the neighbor who keeps letting his...
Best of both worlds
February 13, 2004
Our favorite mean Brit is taking on our favorite fat, lazy, incompetent nuclear power plant technician on Feb. 22, according to today's NY Post....
Contest: Last call
February 13, 2004
The bell over the bar is ringing, signaling it's time to wrap up this week's caption contest (click for a better view). You've got til 8 p.m. Eastern tonight to...
What I meant was...
February 13, 2004
Publicly stating offshore outsourcing's a good thing is OK if you're a politician in India, not so much if you're a senior economic advisor to President Bush. That's what Gregory...
Your Valentine's Day gift
February 13, 2004
Gentlemen, we so know what you're getting from your S.O. for Valentine's Day. Try to look surprised. If you need some help looking extra snazzy tomorrow, The Fab 5's...
You work too hard
February 12, 2004
It's Thursday afternoon, who couldn't use a little rappin' luchadore?...
One nerd to rule them all
February 12, 2004
Hockeystud29 is taking on Flipdog0 in a battle to determine the guy most in need of a life, er, I mean, the winner of the first XSN Sports World Championship....
Survey says
February 12, 2004
I tend not to put a lot of stock into survey results unless, of course, I like what they have to say. If you're of my ilk, you may enjoy...
Revisionist history
February 12, 2004
Have you seen the new Kentucky Fried Chicken TV ads? The chicken chain, which for recent years has gone by KFC to help people forget their fried leanings, now says...
Patching pain
February 12, 2004
If it's a day that ends in "y" you must be patching your net faster than a state work crew tackling a pothole-ridden highway. On second thought, you better be...
Spim, spim, spim, spim
February 11, 2004
Saying the word "spim" immediately floods my head with Monty Python's "Spam Song": "Lovely Spaaam! Wonderful Spaaam! Lovely Spaaam! Wonderful Spam." And so on. Now that I've got that bouncing...
Big-time playaz
February 11, 2004
It's 2 a.m., do you know where your mom is? AOL says she may be playing games online. Its recent survey says the majority of online gamers are women over...
Now she covers up?
February 10, 2004
Hey, look, gang - Janet's upcoming CD cover. I heard the working title was "Premeditated"....
File under: What?
February 10, 2004
Scanning The Drudge Report is good for nothing if not the headlines, such as: "Jesus Passes Adam Sandler". Drudge alerts us to a Variety story (itself with the double-take head:...
Its time has come
February 10, 2004
Writer Matthew Baldwin has one fine idea. Instead of tossing away $3 on that phony-baloney Presidential Election Campaign Fund checkbox on your income tax return, put it toward nationwide festivities...
Star Wars hits DVD
February 10, 2004
The good news: The original trilogy will be released on DVD in September. The bad news: Grand Moff Lucas insists on only releasing the souped-up special editions, which Star Wars...
Daddy grows a conscience
February 10, 2004
The king of mistyped URLs is going straight. Daniel Parisi, who started the infamous www.whitehouse.com in 1997 says he's selling the domain because his son is about to start school...
New contest today
February 10, 2004
Here's the subject of satire for this week's caption contest (click on it for a better view). Hit me with your best shot at layer8@nww.com by 8 p.m. Eastern time...
Instant karma
February 10, 2004
Been spoiling for a good reason to watch the 283 home shopping channels? Here's one: A demonstration gone awry. Here's a clip of Shop At Home host Shawn Leflar dinging...
Bombay backlash
February 10, 2004
Offshore outsourcing has become quite the controversial issue as of late, and it's not just the U.S. that's grappling with the issue of profit vs. people. The U.K. is also...
And the winner is...
February 09, 2004
... Gene LeDuc, who offered the following: "Want to know why I invented Linux? I've never been able to hit CTRL-ALT-DEL with these flippers."...
Love isn't grand
February 09, 2004
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways - via The Edelman Valentine’s Day Index. Today's Ridiculous Release of the Day says love isn't grand - it costs...
You monster!
February 09, 2004
Wanna make your Mac-loving friends mad? I mean, apoplectic-bordering-on-a-stroke insane? Point them to the story of Andy, the guy who wanted a Dell for Christmas, but got a G5...
One giant shrimp for mankind
February 06, 2004
There's a lot on the line with the current Mars mission - the possibility of significant scientific discoveries, technological advances and, of course, free giant shrimp. You think you're dreaming,...
Digital dollars
February 06, 2004
E-mail is great for many things: solving erectile dysfunction; learning of the latest urban legends from panicked family and friends; and parting you from your money. Democratic presidential candidate Howard...
Quote of the Week
February 06, 2004
As a public service announcement, we urge you to put down your beverage and swallow whatever's in your mouth before you read this, lest you do a spit take all...
Contest ends today
February 06, 2004
You have until 8 p.m. eastern to send your best caption to us at layer8@nww.com. The winner will be granted fame and not-so-much fortune. But fame. Definitely fame. And...
Viva la Jeep Cap
February 05, 2004
Here's Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady doing his best Radar O'Reilly impersonation at the Patriots victory parade in Boston earlier this week (Click here for a better view). Head's up...
At what price free music?
February 05, 2004
The good news: You get to download music free with no chance of ending up in a Pepsi commercial. The bad news: You have to live in Rochester, N.Y. The...
Domain-gate
February 05, 2004
The IT staff of The Washington Post got to work this morning only to find its domain, washpost.com, expired. The culprit? The drop box, of course. In a memo to...
Beating Bayesian filters
February 05, 2004
Have you noticed an increase in more-gibberishy-than-normal spam hitting your inbox? Anti-spam researcher John Graham-Cumming says it's the latest method spammers are using for sneaking past filters. According to the...
Like, damn
February 05, 2004
The Wall Street Journal says Gen Xers are growing up, taking positions of power and prestige in industries, and bringing their frequent misuse of "like" with them, much to the...
Paying up
February 05, 2004
Many of you took the under in Sunday's Super Bowl and the fine folks at Nevada's 152 sports books thank you for that. Bettor losses in that wager - among...
Houston help desk
February 04, 2004
Wow, it turned out to be science Wednesday here at Layer 8. Anyway, NASA's Spirit rover has stopped its exciting work of examining a rock so Houston can tinker under...
One giant toner bill
February 04, 2004
Hey, look, a crater! Ooh, more dust. NASA's playing the role of friend-with-the-neverending-stack-of-vacation-pics by printing out gigantic, motorhome-size panoramas of its trip to Mars and giving them to local museums....
P2P and Betamax
February 04, 2004
For the first time since your Macintosh 128K was cutting edge, Betamax is in the news again. Kinda. But if you're Betamax you'll take what you can get. Yesterday the...
To boldly stay put
February 04, 2004
"Star Trek" god Patrick Stewart loses out on any potential NASA gigs by telling the BBC he thinks manned space missions are low on humanity's to-do list: "I would like...
Na na na na na na
February 03, 2004
Redmond says Microsoft.com has yet to be affected by a MyDoom-B DDoS attack, unlike the SCO site, which is still under a Helm's Deep-like siege. Is Microsoft painting a big...
Certs: Hot or not?
February 03, 2004
The value of certifications continues to be a hot-button issue. Some think they're the Golden Ticket, while others say they're not worth the paper they're printed on when compared with...
Slow Cooker: The anti-drug
February 03, 2004
We get a lot of strange press releases from the PR mavens everyday and thought we'd share some of the more, um, newsworthy ones with you. According to this one,...
You knew this was coming
February 03, 2004
What was Monday termed a "wardrobe malfunction" has been upgraded to a "costume reveal" by America's new favorite stripper, Janet Jackson. And in the least-surprising revelation, CNN reports: "[Jackson...
Your tax dollars at work
February 02, 2004
FCC Chief Michael Powell says his agency is going to look into the peep show that busted out at half-time Sunday night....
A defensive masterpiece
February 02, 2004
The MTV halftime debacle sure looked like the lingerie bowl, but the real deal was on Pay Per View. For you Super Sunday completists, Team Dream beat Team Euphoria, 6-0,...
Linux + Eminem
February 02, 2004
Separated at birth? The Linux kid from the IBM "Prodigy" ad series and Eminem....
Contest starts today
February 02, 2004
Feeling creative? Feeling lucky? Fantastic. Check out this picture (click for a better view) and enter our weekly caption contest....
"I'm comin' Elizabeth!"
February 02, 2004
The Pats pull yet another one out of their collective wazoo and our arrhythmia is still a little wonky this morning after. Where did I put that defibrilator?...
I only watch for the ads
January 30, 2004
If that's true, check out SuperBowlAds to relive last year's (Terry Tate, anyone?) and preview the new class. Coming Sunday: The Simpsons (Woo hoo); scantily-clad Britney (redundant); Willie Nelson for...
Is it wrong if it's true?
January 30, 2004
With the MikeRoweSoft.com case by the boards, it's time for the man to keep another little guy down. Bradley D. Jones of London, Ky., runs RadioShackSucks.com, which for some reason...
That's just crazy talk
January 30, 2004
This just in from the Hubris News Desk: "Hasselhoff claims he had hand in Berlin Wall falling" via Ananova....
"I want them alive. "
January 30, 2004
Bill roots through the couch cushions at Redmond HQ and finds a quarter mil to offer some lucky virus bounty hunter who IDs the MyDoom author(s). Surely there must be...
And you are...?
January 30, 2004
"Wait a minute..." you say warily, "there is no such thing as Layer 8." Au contraire. That's where Cisco and the gang hide all the fun stuff. Welcome to the...
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