Please create an account to participate in the Slashdot moderation system


Forgot your password?

Comment Re:That's a billion people (Score 1) 126

Since GA is based off of Urchin, I assume that they are using something close to it. Urchin works off of a server's access logs. Primarily, it tries to set a cookie that is then used for tracking. The standard practice is to modify the access logs to include that tracking token in the log entry. If no cookie can be set, then it approximates a session based on source IP, user-agent, referrer, time between requests, etc.

I would imagine that most people are being counted multiple times, thus inflating the number considerably.

Comment What are the intention? (Score 2) 61

Some companies get patents for defensive purposes to ensure no one else patents it and uses it against them. I had a serious knee-jerk reaction when my employer sent out an email advertising our patent program. The explanation I got was that we weren't going to be patenting stuff to keep others from doing those things, but to patent them before others do so that we can't be sued. Facebook could be doing just that. In that same email, I was told that the company despises the state of IP and have active lobbying efforts to change things. I felt much better about my employer after hearing all of that.

Comment Re:I'm not giving them my data! (Score 3, Insightful) 396

It sounds like you're not the type of person that is the target of most managed solutions. Cloud products aren't right for everyone and certainly not for every application. Cloud solutions won't ever take the place of bare-metal hardware for folks that need it. I am an operations admin for a cloud product and I have no problem telling customers when their stuff just isn't the right fit for our product. But, what's not right for you, doesn't make it wrong for everyone else.

Comment Stop being a douche (Score 5, Insightful) 539

As someone that works in support for a hosting provider, you're the type of customer that irritates me the most. While they shouldn't be rebooting your box to get root access without your consent, you should at least help them help you. Give them an account with limited sudo access to view your logs. If that won't do, then provide them with the necessary logs. If that's not good enough, don't expect support and move your stuff to some place that doesn't provide the level of support you're paying for.
GNU is Not Unix

Submission Joomla! GPL Compliance Issues Sparks Upheaval->

jascat writes: "An article at highlights the recent flap with developers of closed-source extensions to the Joomla! Content Management System after Open Source Matters, Inc., the organization created by the Joomla! developers to serve as protector of Joomla! and copyright owner, announced that such extensions violate the GPL.


Link to Original Source

Submission PS3 Cell Processors Making Their Mark in F@H

Shadyman writes: "PS3s are dominating the Folding@Home scoreboards. According to Engadget, "Cell processors have more than tripled the project's power even though they only account for around 13% of the total machines grinding away at any given time." If you have a PS3, join in the Sunday Night Foldathon! Check out the whole story at Engadget."

Submission Scanning Ajax for XSS Entry Points







The Courts

Submission GPL click-through licenses?


Submission Search for New Autism Genes


Tech Toys Dominate Toy Fair 2007 48

Edis Krad writes "An CNN Money article previews the Hot Toys for 2007 from this past week's Toy Fair. The article is a great place to start looking through the hundreds of new products that were on display at the annual industry event. Among those featured in the article, I was particularly impressed with the Video Journal (blogging for kids?), the virtual bicycle (apparently, riding a real bicycle isn't cool enough anymore), and last but not least, the robotic parrot, that oddly reminds me of the replicant owl in Blade Runner. For more details on tech toys at the event, IEEE Spectrum has a rundown on the nerdier toys available. Artificial snow and a pre-assembled Mentos/Coke kit were two of that journalist's favorites. For different perspectives Forbes has a look at the toy business as it stands since last week, and Wired's Luddite column crabs that kids have too many techie toys nowadays. Dagnabit."

Submission New bill that will curb outrageous cell phone tax

ziggz writes: "If you have a cell phone, then you are probably aware that you are paying much more each month than the calling plan you signed up for. Why? Greedy Uncle Sam is hitting you up with double digit taxes. Everyone is required to pay a 6.05% federal tax plus all kinds of various trumped up state taxes. Baltimore, for example, simply decided to add a $3.50 additional tax to their residents' bills in 2005. A USA today article breaks down the total taxes you are paying by state, most averaging 15% or more. States have gotten so ridiculous in hiding taxes on your cell phone bill that Congress has finally stepped up by introducing the Cell Phone Tax Freedom Act of 2007. You can also have emails sent to your congressmen."
