Hasta La Gadget!

So, previous taxi WiFi solutions were too slow, or you weren’t underground. What’s a smartphone-tethered Londoner on the hunt for WiFi supposed to do? The current answer is to flag down one of London’s 40 4GEE taxis, all of which will be loaded with WiFi router connected to EE, the UK’s only LTE network. If you’re not dahhn sahhf, you’ll still be able to pick up the signal in ten cabs that’ll be circling Birmingham. Ironically, these 4G-ready black cabs will no longer be black. Nope, they’ll be coated in the turquoise hues of the EE network, which should make them easier to spot. Anyone living in either metropolis should have no troubles keeping up with new Doctor Who, Downton Abbey or Peep Show ever again. At least for the next three months, which is how long the service is set to last.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Internet

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ReDigi took a gamble that it could resell legally purchased song downloads, much as you would that one-hit wonder CD you bought in high school. Unfortunately for ReDigi, the odds weren’t ultimately in its favor: a Southern District of New York court has shot down ReDigi’s appeal against a Capitol Records lawsuit accusing it of copyright infringement. The court didn’t accept ReDigi’s view that first sale principles apply to strictly digital music, at least as its service implements the technology. While the startup tries to keep traders honest by making them delete originals after a resale, the process by its digital nature still involves making a copy of the track without Capitol’s permission, according to the court. We’ll have to wait to know what penalties ReDigi might pay, but there’s enough legal precedent in the case that it’s doubtful others will follow in the service’s experimental footsteps.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: The Verge

Source: Santa Clara Law (PDF)

We’re sure the man who has been spending the last six years at an Internet cafe can be considered a person who is addicted to not only the Internet, but games itself as he spends the majority of his waking moments at the cafe. But until he admits he has a problem, he’ll just continue living his life at the Internet cafe. That is, unless he one day becomes so addicted he calls the police on himself.

A 22-year-old Chinese man called the cops on himself after a two-day Internet cafe binge asking authorities to keep him away from the Internet. The man took his Internet addiction extremely serious as he sold his laptop and smartphone and even took a job with long hours to help him fight his own addiction. Ultimately, he couldn’t fight the urge to visit the Internet as he found himself in an Internet cafe in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province where he spend two whole days there. Realizing he had lost his battle with Internet addiction, he proceeded to call the police, saying “Lock me up for a few months, I can’t control myself.” (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Game Of Thrones Season 3 Premiere Illegal Downloads Peak Over A Million, Feedly Updates Mobile Apps, Adds New Features And Better Search,

There are number of places around the world where the government blocks all sorts of Internet content to prevent citizens from accessing things deemed inappropriate. While no one would be particularly surprised that Internet content is being filtered in the Middle East or in some parts of Asia, you might be surprised to learn that some content is being blocked in Russia.

Since Russia is no longer a communist nation, it may come as a bit of surprise to some that the Russian government has been making use of the new law that gives it the power to block certain Internet content within the country. The new law allows the Russian government to block content that it deems in illegal or harmful to children. Reports indicate that communications regulators within Russia have asked Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to remove content deemed objectionable.

The only website of those three that reportedly resisted the Russian government efforts to forcibly remove content was YouTube. However, YouTube did remove a video that Russian officials objected to that the Russians felt promoted suicide. YouTube did file a lawsuit in a Russian court objecting to the forced blockage of the video.

The video in question is reportedly designed to show how to fake wounds using makeup materials and a razor blade. YouTube says that this particular video is intended for entertainment and should not be restricted. Supporters of the Russian law say that it allows Russian authorities to control child pornography and content promoting drug use are suicide. However, those who oppose the law say that it opens the door to increased Internet censorship.

[via New York Times]

Russian government blocking some Internet content is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Hacking is still a loaded concept for many, often conjuring negative images of corporate espionage, fraudsters and prank-minded script kiddies. PBS’ Off Book wants to remind us that hacking wasn’t always seen this way — and, thanks to modern developments, is mending its reputation. Its latest episode shows that hacking began simply as a desire to advance devices and software beyond their original roles, but was co-opted by a sometimes misunderstanding press that associated the word only with malicious intrusions. Today, hacking has regained more of its original meaning: hackathons, a resurgence of DIY culture and digital protests prove that hacks can improve our gadgets, our security and even our political landscape. We still have a long way to go before we completely escape movie stereotypes, but the mini-documentary may offer food for thought the next time you’re installing a custom ROM or building your own VR helmet.

Filed under: Misc, Networking, Internet, Alt

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