'Prison-like' conditions for workers making IBM, Dell, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo...

'Prison-like' conditions for workers making IBM, Dell, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo products

Chinese factory workers are working in prison-like conditions for 41 cents an hour to make computer parts for IBM, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Dell, a report claims.

US organisation the National Labour Committee (NLC) found 2,000 workers at the Meitai factory work an average of 74 hours a week, for a base wage of 64 cents an hour. This drops to 41 cents an hour after room and board is removed.

The workers, mostly young women aged from 18 to their mid-20s, are not allowed to talk, listen to music, look around them, put their hands in their pockets, or go to the toilet unless it is an official break.

Read the whole article here.

-Ken

Facebook's New Terms Of Service: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content.

Facebook's New Terms Of Service: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever."

Facebook's terms of service (TOS) used to say that when you closed an account on their network, any rights they claimed to the original content you uploaded would expire. Not anymore.

Now, anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any way they deem fit, forever, no matter what you do later. Want to close your account? Good for you, but Facebook still has the right to do whatever it wants with your old content. They can even sublicense it if they want.

You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in...

Microsoft, Nokia offer app stores

Microsoft, Nokia offer app stores

The success of Apple's AppStore for iPhone and iPod Touch has prompted two major rivals to follow suit.

Handset giant Nokia and Microsoft have announced their own versions of the online markets for mobile device application software, or apps.

From May, Nokia's Ovi Store will offer apps as well as multimedia content specific to a user's location.

Microsoft's new "Windows Phones" will feature Windows Marketplace, launching in the last quarter of 2009.

Read the whole article here.

Compliments to GiddyG for the find

-Ken

Join New Zealand Internet blackout protest against insane copyright law

Join New Zealand Internet blackout protest against insane copyright law

New laws that arrive in New Zealand on 28th February mean anyone *ACCUSSED* three times of copyright infringement gets their internet connection disconnected. No court+jury required. In protest of this insane and draconian law, New Zealanders are doing a blackout protest - changing avatars to black, and websites to black.

If you have any form of copyright infringement you can stand to lose your Internet connection. That includes things such as Avatars for forums, which are so common and hard to find copyrights on sometimes. Also if your have any form of "Internet service" your an ISP, but what constitues an internet service? Apparently Schools, libararies, even sharing your net connection at home could mean your an isp!

What's more, under the new law, anyone who provides any form of services over the Internet is an ISP. That means libraries, councils, schools, businesses,...

Nigerian web scam bilked Utah out of $2.5M

Nigerian web scam bilked Utah out of $2.5M

Thieves apparently used a Nigerian-based scam to steal $2.5 million from the Utah treasury, covering their tracks by using intermediaries and a church address.

A Salt Lake Tribune review of the names listed in a search warrant as receiving or transferring money have names of African origin or connections to that continent. Michael Kessler, president of Kessler International, a forensic accounting and investigation agency in New York City, said the thieves appear to have used a simple scam that originated in Nigeria about five years ago.

The Utah theft is the first time he's seen a government victimized.

"Their IT people should have known better," Kessler said after reviewing a copy of the search warrant Thursday. "It sounds like any kid could have done this."

In one case investigated by Kessler's firm, thieves used computer software transmitted by e-mail to monitor financial information input by the chief financial...

Software and communication skills in demand

Software and communication skills in demand

Software programming skills are still in demand despite companies cutting back IT spending. But programmers must have strong communication skills if they are to secure work

Last week the monthly Recruitment & Employment Confederation and KPMG UK Employment Report saidkey programming skillsare in short supply despite a sharp drop in IT vacancies.

UK businesses need more permanent staff with .net, C#, and PHP, said the research. Temporary staff with CNC programming skills are in high demand.

The financial services sector, which has been hit hard by the recession, is still looking for people with the right skills, according to Philip Treleaven, professor of computing at University College London (UCL).

UCL launched a PhD course in Financial Computing this month. Graduates will carry out research using niche skills such as programming for algorithmic trading.

Read the whole article...

Microsoft to launch retail chain

Microsoft to launch retail chain

Computer software giant Microsoft has announced plans to open its own stores, at a time when many other retailers are struggling in the economic downturn.

The company plans to sell computers installed with Microsoft software and other products, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said.

The stores will also promote new operating system Windows 7 and updates of Windows Live and Windows Mobile.

Ex-Wal-Mart executive David Porter will head the new retail division.

The company's rival Apple already has high-profile stores located around the world.

Read the rest of the article here.

Compliments to GiddyG for the find

-Ken

MS To Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrade To Vista Users

MS To Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrade To Vista Users (limitations applied)

The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program Rev. 2.1

The Windows 7 Upgrade Program is designed to assist Microsoft's OEM partners in minimizing the number of end users who may postpone acquiring a new computer because of the impending release of the Windows 7 operating system. This program allows OEMs to offer an upgrade to Windows 7 to end users who qualify.

This is a consumer-oriented program targeted at individual consumers and small businesses that have purchased eligible PCs during the Program Eligibility Period. End users will have to meet these requirements to be deemed eligible for the upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released:

End users must purchase a new PC that is pre-installed with an eligible Windows Vista Operating System (OS), during the program eligibility window.

The PC must have a valid Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached.

The only...

Virtualisation hotting up in 2009

Virtualisation hotting up in 2009

Virtualisation technology is going to become even more significant in 2009 with businesses increasingly realising its potential benefits.

Analyst house Gartner predicts global revenue from virtualisation software will grow by 43 per cent this year, hitting $2.7bn, compared to $1.9bn in 2008.

In addition the global penetration of virtualisation technology in businesses is forecast to hit 20 per cent by the end of the year - up from 12 per cent in 2008.

Read the whole article here.

I agree, I've already virtualised 3 of our servers (plus 1 test virtual server) and currently building another virtual server running sharepoint 2007 connecting to our MIS system. With a view to virtualising more of our servers this year (summer time)...

-Ken

'Extremely difficult' NHS IT roll out cost hospital £10m

'Extremely difficult' NHS IT roll out cost hospital £10m

A London hospital is looking for £10m compensation after an "extremely difficult" implementation of the Care Record System, part of the NHS National programme for IT.

The introduction of the system at the Royal Free Hospital caused a "£10m problem for the trust," said Andrew Way, chief executive of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust.

It had to pay an extra £4m to get the system working, and lost £6m because it was unable to bill other parts of the NHS for work done.

He said the trust "is in discussion with other parts of the NHS to seek to resolve this financial issue". It is not seeking compensation from the NHS or other trusts, but through the NHS London Local Strategic Health Authority and the London Programme for IT.

Read the whole article here.

-Ken