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WiFi nets: Stop sharing!... iPod for Linux... Super-sized notebooks |
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Sylvia Carr Senior Editor, AnchorDesk Wednesday, July 10, 2002 |
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Remember back in the '80s, when cable providers started getting all uppity about people pirating their cable TV service? Well, it's happening again. But this time the cable guys are upset with customers who are setting up local wireless networks. Why? Because those WiFi networks allow one paying customer to share his or her high-speed Internet connection with anyone within about 300 feet of the WiFi "hot spot." Time Warner of New York City has given 10 of its customers less than a week's notice to stop sharing their Net access with others. AT&T Broadband is expected to do the same to some of its customers. Apparently, the two companies are particularly targeting people who advertise their ad hoc networks through grassroots groups like NYCwireless and the Bay Area Wireless Users Group.
Go to the full story by Ben Charny.
Though intended for Mac users, Apple's iPod is quickly being ported to other platforms. Already software exists for letting Windows users access the sleek MP3 player. Now, a small San Francisco-based software company called Tex9 is promising the same sort of functionality for Linux users. Tex9 says it has begun beta testing a plug-in that will allow anyone using Linux to drag-and-drop music files to the iPod. The plug-in works with Tex9's xTunes software, a Linux clone of Apple's iTunes music-management software. But Linux devotees wanting to use the iPod will still have to overcome some hardware hurdles; since most PCs don't support FireWire (the protocol the iPod uses to transfer data to desktops), they'll need to add a FireWire controller, too.
Go to the full story by Matthew Broersma.
Big is in, judging by the number of extra-large notebooks being released these days. Toshiba is the latest to join the pack with its Satellite 1955-S801, a full-figured system that weighs in at an impressive 9.6 pounds. The 1955 features a spacious 16-inch display, a 2.2GHz Pentium 4 desktop processor, and a removable wireless keyboard. Toshiba--and others like Hewlett-Packard--are hoping these beefy notes will appeal to those who want to replace a desktop with something equally powerful, but more portable. Still, there are drawbacks: The 1955 has a short battery life (about 2.5 hours), and at nearly 10 pounds, is hardly a light load to shoulder when you venture away from your desk.
Go to the full story by John G. Spooner. MORE NEWS WORTH NOTING: Should cable companies let you share Net access over a WiFi network? Why or why not? TalkBack to me! For more tech news and up-to-the-minute headlines, go to ZDNet News.
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