June 26, 2008
Have that latte, this car reads road signs for you
Wired
Matthew Phenix writes about a new GM car that can read signs as far as 100 meters away and relay it to the driver via a digital display.
“Available early next year on GM’s new European-market Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, the new Front Camera System scans the road ahead at 30 frames per second, processing the image both for lane departure and road-sign recognition. Why it’s easier to read a speed-limit sign on a tiny digital display between your speedometer and tachometer, rather than on a passing sign, we’re not entirely sure. But if the system saves even one life by reminding a driver to slow…down or not to pass in a no-passing zone, then it seems like money well-spent.”
Yeah, your IT guy is probably reading your e-mail
Techdirt
With this finding, Mike Masnick sheds some light into just how much privacy employees may have at their workplace.
“There’s a decent chance that someone in your IT department may be snooping on at least someone in your company — and they don’t seem to mind admitting it. It’s not overwhelming, but about one in three IT folks admits to snooping using admin passwords to access information they’re not supposed to look at. Given that there are probably plenty who won’t admit it, there’s a pretty good chance that the actual percentages are higher.”
No reprieve: XP phase-out begins June 30
ZD Net
Mary Jo Foley writes that a Microsoft letter has confirmed that Windows XP is soon on its way out.
“Microsoft is sticking to its plan to cease providing PC makers with XP to preload on new PCs after June 30, as Microsoft is now letting customers know via a letter it has posted to its Windows XP and Windows Vista Web sites. The June 23 letter…from Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group, reiterated that PC makers won’t be getting more copies of Windows XP to load on new machines after June 30, 2008. (There are two exceptions to this rule: “white box” system builders and makers of ultra-low-cost PCs are allowed to continue to preload XP through 2009 and 2010, repectively).”
