Content and news by Rob Williams

A friend of Hans Reiser has admitted to have been responsible for eight unrelated killings.

Sean Sturgeon, a one-time friend of Reiser’s, had already been a focus of the defense team’s efforts to shift suspicion off Reiser in the disappearance of his estranged wife, Nina Reiser. Sturgeon’s alleged confession to a series of unrelated murders will likely complicate the trial, which is set to begin Monday.

Sturgeon denies killing Nina but urges Hans to take a lie-detector test. Even though these new findings are unrelated, it might throw things a little off-course since he was a potential suspect in this case.

Source: Wired

Although Super Talent is still growing in popularity, they know how to put together a solid kit of ram. Today we will be taking a look at their latest “Performance” 4GB PC2-6400 kit with timings of 5-5-5.

Intel indicated that Fab 11X also produces 200mm silicon wafers, which is now an obsolete technology. Because of this, those involved in that technology will be let go. Intel’s push to expand its 300mm technology is in full force. The company recently announced that it will expand its 300mm production facilities in China with a focus on a move to 45nm fabrication.

It seems no matter how well a company is doing, job cuts are a definite possibility. Some of the included employees were at Intel for over twenty-five years! As would be expected, there are severance packages and the option to apply for another position.

Source: Daily Tech

Colleagues at my former outlet, PC World magazine, have told me that Editor-in-Chief Harry McCracken quit abruptly today because the company’s new CEO, Colin Crawford, tried to kill a story about Apple and Steve Jobs. The piece, a whimsical article titled “Ten Things We Hate About Apple,” was still in draft form when Crawford killed it.

It’s honorable to see Harry leave as he did, upholding the stance all editors should have. Altering stories (or ridding them entirely) to please advertisers is a huge no-no at Techgage. If a product sucks, it takes the heat. Honesty is what makes sure these companies push out kick-ass products.

Source: Wired Blogs

In total, there are 12 new search engines this month (and 12, sadly, went “down to the minors”). From the first List in January through to this one, there have been 160 Alternative Search Engines in total!

So you want to get your search on, but are sick and tired of hanging around with the big boys. Read/Write Web presents to you an incredibly large list of alternative search engines that might just help you better find what you need. Better brew up a fresh pot of coffee before you get underway.

Source: Read/Write Web

But the stupid link policy isn’t completely dead, as mobile operator Cingular illustrates, with its legalese saying “you are granted a limited, nonexclusive right” to link to the site’s homepage (that’s right, no deep linking!), which can be “revoked” at any time. It also says links can’t portray Cingular in a derogatory manner, so things like Cingular sucks or Cingular’s cellular coverage isn’t so hot are apparently against the rules.

I have to agree, as we have the same rules. You cannot call Techgage stupid or lame or tell us that we suck. We know this already and need no help from anyone.

Source: Tech Dirt

Hardcore might be the better word.

Tomorrow I am going to interview over at Google. Before I do so, I need to sign an NDA which states, among other things, that I’m not allowed to tell anyone I’m interviewing over there, or indeed, to mention the name of Google at all. So I’m going to do all that now and get it out of my system, so I’m not tempted to violate the agreement after I’ve signed it.

No mentioning Google, no mentioning that you had an interview with Google and certainly no mention of what came within your sights at Google. Overboard? Perhaps. Personally, signing all this would just turn me off of wanting a job there.

Source: C. Scott Blog

Let me share with you what I think is missing from Apple’s basically awesome Mac product line. A REGULAR MAC! – With no monitor and a full-height PCI-Express 16x slot! Price range: $600 – $1200. Dual-core, 1GB RAM. Nothing fancy!

Not that I ever plan to purchase an Apple, I agree with the author completely. As it is right now, if you wish to use your own monitor, you’d need to pick up the weak Mac Mini or expensive Mac Pro. There is no in-between!

Source: Michael Frager Blog

The RIAA based its case on information that the cable modem used to partake in file sharing was registered to Mr. Thao. However, both the ISP and the RIAA failed to recognize that Mr. Thao was not a subscriber to the ISP at the time of the alleged file-sharing, and therefore did not have possession of the suspect cable modem at that time.

This seems like a good thing, but it’s not so much. The case was dropped without prejudice, meaning that the defendant is left to pay his own legal fees. I’d hate to know what this poor fellow has to haul out of his own wallet for the RIAA’s huge oversight.

Source: Recording Industry vs The People

Nikon not only knows how to produce high-quality digital imaging equipment, but they also know how to throw together a totally addictive learning tool. Appropriately called the Universcale, it displays a timeline with various objects, from DNA to soccer balls to humans to planets. After clicking on something, you can read a snippet about it and compare it’s size to something else. Impressive, and addictive.

Source: Nikon Japan

BOISE, Idaho, May 3, 2007 – Micron Technology, Inc., today announced sample availability of the industry’s fastest main memory 1 gigabit (Gb) DDR2 components, capable of running at 1066 megabits per second (Mbps). Used primarily in data-intensive computing applications, such as video editing or high-end gaming, Micron’s new DDR2-1066 memory modules increase user productivity and make images on screen seem more life-like.

Yes, I’m sure a faster memory chip will make images look more life-like. The interesting thing is, that even the top end DDR2-1200 kits on the market were developed using 333MHz or 400MHz chips, so is this boost going to pave the way to DDR2-1300 and higher? Hard to say. One thing is for sure, these chips will be expensive. If there are no such gains (or advantages over GMH/GKX), manufacturers will stay away.

There’s another thing that caught my eye though. All three 533MHz chips available use a CAS latency of 7. Which motherboards out there will support that?

Source: Micron Press Release

In the second half of 2008, AMD will begin to migrate its K10 architecture to the 45nm node. AMD explicitly mentions that its 45nm process technology utilizes silicon-on-insulator (SOI). Intel’s 45nm process node, slated for introduction later this year, uses conventional CMOS process technology.

It’s too bad they are lagging behind in the engineering department, but they seem to be on the road to recovery. As an AMD fanboi talking… I just want to see them come out of this rut and start kicking some ass.

Source: DailyTech

Next week, new HD DVD movies will hit the shelves that won’t play on some players, the first countermeasure by the content and software industries to combat intensive efforts by hackers to break copy-protection technology.

Once again, these lame protections are hurting only the consumer who plays it legal. Imagine slapping down money for an HD-DVD player, and to have it not play certain new releases. Ugh.

Source: Yahoo!

Vonage said the lower court should be instructed to review the case taking into account the Supreme Court’s call for ”a more expansive and flexible approach that allows for consideration of common sense when assessing whether an invention is ordinary or obvious, and thus ineligible for patent protection.”

I have to agree with Vonage here, it’s spot on. It’s going to be an interesting trial… hopefully one that works in their favor.

Source: NY Times

The website names individual schools and teachers, scoring their performance, and in many cases defaming them. One Sydney principal, who is given a score of 1.7 out of five for “overall quality”, is described as rude, condescending, pompous and arrogant.

It’s not difficult to see where the teachers are coming from. It doesn’t matter how great you are. There are far too many immature students out there that overpower the sensible ones. Welcome to the internet.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

While details may be lacking, the structure of the conferences planned for Mix’07 gives a few hints. Improvements in RSS, CSS, and AJAX support are all being given high priority. It is also widely speculated that IE 8 will include support for microformats, small tags embedded in HTML code that can be interpreted in various ways by software, such as calendar events or contact information. Microformat support is scheduled for Firefox 3, so IE 8 will have to include them in order to keep up.

I know there are many out there who swear by IE7, but I am looking forward to seeing what Microsoft plans to do with the next version. I can’t stand using the current version because of it’s clunkiness and nag-factor.

Source: Ars Technica

A fire started by a homeless man knocked out service between Boston and New York on the experimental Internet2 network Tuesday night. Authorities say the fire, which also disrupted service on the Red Line subway, started around 8:20 p.m. when a homeless man tossed a lit cigarette. The cigarette landed on a mattress, which ignited and led to a two-alarm fire.

It goes to show just how sensitive the Internet2 really is, when it can be taken down with a single cigarette.

Source: Slashdot

Apple has been criticized by some environmental organizations for not being a leader in removing toxic chemicals from its new products, and for not aggressively or properly recycling its old products. Upon investigating Apple’s current practices and progress towards these goals, I was surprised to learn that in many cases Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors in these areas. Whatever other improvements we need to make, it is certainly clear that we have failed to communicate the things that we are doing well.

It’s nice to see Apple opening up so much to their consumers, and even better to see that they are wising up to their practices.

Source: Apple.com

When we took the VX1 for a test drive in November, we were impressed. ASUS has returned though with an update, appropriately called the VX2. It includes revamped styling, a much more appropriate video card, a fingerprint reader and high-end webcam. If you’ve been holding out for a revision, you will be glad you did.

The base spec includes Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processors, 512MB ATI Radeon X1950 CrossFire video cards, Gigabit Ethernet, and 500GB hard drive. There’s a 1000GB option too. According to Gateway the only choices available for a quad-core system in the US retail channel “have been extremely expensive propositions from boutique specialists”.

At this years CES, we were told by Gateway that they are beginning to focus more on gaming machines, and now we have proof. A quick check of Dells website only shows a single system that utilizes a Quad-Core processor… and it costs over $5,000. Competition is good, so here’s to hoping Gateway continues their move into the gaming realm.

Source: The Register