NeowinCAST News Edition for April 20, 2007
Neowin.net & PowerUser.TV present the NeowinCAST News Edition for the week of April 20, 2007. This week our panel consists of Christopher Vendemio (bangbang023) and Rob Wright (Rob). The topics this week are as follows:
- Dell Bringing Back XP: (Read)
- Sony's Broken DVD DRM: (Read)
- Possible Rebate on the iPhone: (Read)
- Apple Has Upper Hand in Music Industry: (Read)
- Thread of the Week: When Threads Collide
Download: NeowinCAST News Edition Episode #25 (Right click, Save As)
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Senate Press Gallery Ejects Consumer Journalist
The U.S. Senate Press Gallery has ejected ConsumerAffairs.Com reporter Joe Enoch after his credentials expired and Gallery officials refused to renew them. (Read on Source)
Over 16 Small Games For Ubuntu Linux
... install a large number of small , easy and less resource hungry games on Ubuntu Linux with screen-shots of games . 16. LBreakout2 The polished successor to LBreakout offers ...
Fedora 7 Tips Hat to Developers
Red Hat's Fedora Project has released the Fedora 7 version of the Linux operating system, which features a new build capacity allowing for the creation of custom appliances to meet individual needs. Fedora 7 offers users an appliance development platform that it says is 100 percent open source, with an entirely free distribution build tool chain.
Post questions here
I have been traveling around a lot and not pulling questions from posts so if you had a direct question you want me to address on the “monday questions” post it here. Please don’t ask for details of the AuctionAds sale cause they will not be disclosed. Otherwise feel free to ask whatever. (Read on Source)
Apple Could Spill Guts on Euro iPhone Next Week
Apple plans to hold a press conference Tuesday whose subject is a secret -- sparking intense speculation by telephone companies as to who will be named to distribute the iPhone in Europe. The computer and consumer electronics company sent invitations to journalists on Thursday with the line, "mum is no longer the word."
GREENSPAN'S MUM, WAY OFF THE RECORD
FEDERAL Reserve former chairman Alan Greenspan has served almost every president since Franklin Pierce. For his new book, "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World," a political/financial-type guest list heavy on blue suits feted him at the...
F1: Motorsport and the great unwashed
Those F1 fans who mourn the days when it was possible to wander the paddock, getting up close and personal with the stars and their machinery, should spare a thought for NASCAR fans. (Read on Source)
Plaid Cymru MP wins web award
Plaid Cymru's Adam Price wins the British Computer Society's best MP website award.
Mastering the ECQ Essays for Entry into the SES
The ECQ essays are required for entry into the SES and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs define the competencies to build a Federal corporate culture to drive for results, serve customers and build successful teams and coalitions with and outside the organization. Typically these essays are 1-2 pages each. FederalResumePros writes ECQ statements using examples to show how you uniquely add value. There are 5 ECQ essays to be written: ECQ 1 - Leading Change ECQ 2 - Leading People ECQ 3 - Results Driven ECQ 4 - Business Acumen ECQ 5 - Building coalitions Each ECQ must address the subject of the ECQ and the competencies under each ECQ. In addition, SES candidates must show the following Fundamental Competencies: Competencies are the personal and professional attributes that are critical to successful performance in the SES. The fundamental competencies are the attributes that serve as the foundation for each of the Executive Core Qualifications. Experience and training that strengthen and demonstrate the competencies will enhance a candidate’s overall qualifications for the SES. Definition: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications. Competencies Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations. Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. Integrity/Honesty: Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics. Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience. Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development. Public Service Motivation: Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests. More information on each ECQ is below. The competencies under each ECQ need to be addressed in the ECQ essays: ECQ 1: Leading Change Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Competencies Creativity and Innovation: Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes. External Awareness: Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment. Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Strategic Thinking : Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks. Vision: Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action. ECQ 2: Leading People Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Competencies Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner. Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods. Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals. ECQ 3: Results Driven Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Competencies Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules. Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement. Decisiveness: Makes well-informed, effective and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions. Entrepreneurship: Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives. Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations. Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations and policies related to specialized expertise. ECQ 4: Business Acumen Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Competencies Financial Management: Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities. Human Capital Management: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations. Technology Management: Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems. ECQ 5: Building Coalitions Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Competencies Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Political Savvy: Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly. Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
Robin Schlinger is a Certified Federal Resume Writer who specializes in writing <a href="http://www.resumeedge.com" title="federal resume">Federal resumes</a> for all levels, from entry to SES. Her expertise is adding value, based on over 20 years in senior level engineering andbusiness positions for Fortune 500 companies. Visit ResumeEdge for your <a href="http://www.resumeedge.com" title="resume writing">Resume Writing Services</a>.
Firefox 3 Beta 4 Brings Lots Of Updates
The latest testing version of Firefox 3 brought along several hundred fixes and tweaks from the previous version released to the Web.
AD Integration Tip: Dealing With More Than 1,000 Users
For Active Directory integration scenarios involving more than 1,000 users, here's information on a Registry change that might be beneficial.
Laptop searches at the border: No reason? No problem
The Ninth Circuit says that customs agents in the US can legally search laptops without needing a reason. The debate turns on whether a laptop is more like a piece of luggage or the human mind.
Old people scientifically illiterate?
I've posted on general scientific literacy broken down by demographic groups in the GSS. I've also pointed to data which suggested that the lower scientific literacy of church goers vis-a-vis non-church goers is an due mostly to the influence of Young Earth Creationism. Finally, I put up a post which suggested that Americans aren't that ... (Read on Source)
The ABCs of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Macs Problems
A. First of all, who are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac...
United States: Drug Warning Claims 'Impliedly Preempted' But Asks High Court To Hold Off
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. solicitor general on Dec. 21 told the U.S. Supreme Court that failure-to-warn claims involving a drug are barred by implied preemption, but he urged the court not to take up the case until it issues preemption rulings in separate drug and device cases that are pending (Wyeth v. Diana Levine, No. 06-1249, U.S. Sup.). Full story on lexis.com
N. Korea to expel South Koreans from resort Sunday
North Korea says it will expel all South Koreans from its mountain resort starting Sunday amid mounting tension following the ...
China jumps Olympics air hurdle
Despite fears in the run-up to the Olympic Games, the skies above Beijing have met clean-air standards, officials say. (Read on Source)
Too Good to Pitch? 9-Year-Old Is Barred - New York Times
 Washington Post | Too Good to Pitch? 9-Year-Old Is Barred New York Times - By AP NEW HAVEN (AP) - Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player - too good, it turns out. Keep up with the latest news on The Times?s baseball blog. Search BostonHerald.com for Past 7 days Archives Pitching politics |
An iPod Buyer's Guide
Let's get one thing straight: You can't go wrong by buying an iPod. Any iPod. But that's not to say the decisions between which iPod to buy aren't hard. In fact, it can be downright tough. The tiny iPod shuffle is awesome for working out, but it lacks a screen. The iPod nano has a screen but lacks applications.
McAfee, WilmerHale Texas Fee Fight Dwindles to Fraud Claim
A Texas district judge has dismissed most of the claims in a civil suit that McAfee Inc. filed against Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr, but he has allowed a fraud claim in the suit to proceed. In the suit, McAfee alleges that the Boston-based firm overbilled the computer security company by charging $12 million to represent McAfee's former chief financial officer in a criminal case.
Kelly Pavlik Gets National Spotlight, HBO To Replay Pavlik/Taylor I, Tarver/Hopkins
Ohio's favorite boxer, Kelly Pavlik, ... (Read on Source)
Novell: Targeting Service Providers With Latest Acquisition?
Novell has acquired Managed Objects, a software company that mainly targets corporate IT. But the deal gives Novell a potential path to more aggressively target managed service providers. Here?s how, according to MSPmentor.
New Google Help Forums
For the last few years, the Google Help Forums have been a great gathering place for users, developers, and anyone else who has an opinion about Google or its products. We've been taking stock of what you have to say, and we've been impressed by the hundreds of thousands of people who really understand our products and are willing to share their ... (Read on Source)
Mobile Spamming and Bulk SMS Marketing
The popularity of mobile communications today spans the entire globe. Everywhere you go you'll see people talking or holding their mobile phones. In today's high technology age, mobile communications have become part of our daily lives. Like high-powered businessmen walking the halls of their offices with briefcases in hand, ordinary people are walking the streets with their mobile phones. For some it is a necessary tool. Friends and family are never too far away when you can send a message or call them. Small business owners can contact suppliers, employees, or customers with just a call or text message. The convenience and the affordability of mobile communications have led to its rise and popularity among all types of users. There is practically no limit to the uses and functionality of these mobile phones. That is why more and more business owners are turning this into a marketing tool worth investing in. One of the ways of using mobile phone for marketing is via the popular short messaging system or more commonly known as SMS or text messages. Most businesses will want to use this feature of mobile communication because it is cheaper than regular calls and because it can reach more people at the same time and quicker. You will not even need 100 operators to call 100 possible clients. You just need a system and a database of numbers and send a text message at one go. This is called Bulk SMS. Bulk SMS is being used by many marketing and advertising firms as a way of promoting their clients products and services. To do this right and to make it work, companies are asking potential customers first if they want to receive SMS updates about their products and services before sending any SMS marketing campaign. This is what's known as Opt-in bulk SMS marketing. Recipients of messages are asked for their consent about receiving marketing updates, promotions, and bulletins about certain products and services that they'd be more inclined to respond to. Opt-in SMS marketing is a great tool for distributing mass messages to a targeted clientele. It's easy, fast, and can reach far more people than any other means. Plus, with subscribers that opted-in on your marketing campaign you are assured that they will be receptive to any SMS that you send out. You can even group different subscribers based on different keywords or subjects that pertain to different products and services. This makes it easy to send a specific message to a particular group. However, some aggressive marketing via email has also caused a bit of problem for SMS marketing. The proliferation of spam emails in people's inboxes has turned a lot of people off from signing up for any product and services updates of any kind. This includes repeated SMS messages that people did not agree to. It is annoying and useless because they don't even get to be read. Most of the time, they are blocked and rejected outright. That is why opt-in SMS marketing, in moderation, is the way to go because you are sure that people will be happy to receive information from you.
42ITs prime focus is <a href= "http://www.42it.eu/">bulk sms services</a> and large scale message handeling. 42IT focus is Bulk SMS, MMS, <a href= "http://www.42it.eu/">Premium SMS</a>, PhoneCall, Fax.
Is primary care set for a turnaround?
The recent news is certainly grim. Almost half of primary care doctors want to quit . Only 2 percent of internal medicine residents want to enter the field. Yet, I think there will be a turnaround ahead, if only because we're close to the bottom. Here's why. The powers that be, President-elect Obama , and influential Democrat Max Baucus , have ... (Read on Source)
Egyptian system integrator Minimax signs partnership agreement with Sunrise Software
... enough to adapt to their needs. 'Along with software development, our core competencies include web design and the formatting and presentation of multimedia content - so know how important it ...
The Internet's 100 Oldest Dot-Com Domains (PC World)
PC World - The Internet's been around in some form for decades. It wasn't until the mid-80s, though, that the Web as we know it started coming together -- and those precious dot-com domains started getting snatched up.
name: MAGPIE