Patent No. 8,246,454: Say “McDonald’s” to Make It Stop
There's just something very wrong with this: I guess I'm worried that at some point it'll no longer be optional. Via Eurogamer.net and @Glinner.
Technology
If You’re Greek, Someone Probably Just Stole Your Identity
Potential math-test question for Greek children: If someone steals nine million computer files containing the personal data of Greek citizens, and the population of Greece is 11 million, what percentage of Greek citizens have had their personal data stolen? The…
Jet Skier Who “Breached” JFK Security Pleads Guilty to Trespassing
Daniel Casillo, the stranded jet skier who walked through the über-high-tech security system at JFK Airport without being detected, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing charges but is also suing the Port Authority for alleged mistreatment. The Port Authority is…
$100 Million Security System Breached by Drunken Jet Skier
Multiply this by about 1,000 to get an idea of the problem with our entire approach to security post-9/11. Sorry—I meant 1,000 times the wasted money, although I imagine that 1,000 drunken jet skiers could wreak a lot of havoc…
Disabled Spectator Arrested for Not Visibly Enjoying Olympic Event [Updated]
Well, this is pretty goddamn appalling: Mark Worsfold, 54, a former soldier and martial arts instructor, was arrested on 28 July for a breach of the peace shortly before the cyclists arrived in Redhouse Park, Leatherhead, where he had sat down…
Two More Plaintiffs Are Mad at Siri Now
As I mentioned earlier, somebody sued Apple earlier this month claiming that the electronic assistant “Siri” who lurks in each iPhone 4S does not work as advertised. Two weeks later – but only a day or two after the first…
Lawsuit Claims Siri Doesn’t Know What She’s Talking About
In a complaint filed on March 6 (available on Scribd via the WSJ's Law Blog), a New York man alleges that the virtual assistant Apple built into his iPhone 4S doesn't work as advertised. Frank Fazio is suing Apple in a…
Non-Standard Explanation Offered for Bugging Wife’s Bedroom
According to this report in the Beaver County Times, a 66-year-old Raccoon Township man has been charged with invasion of privacy and felony interception of communications for hiding a listening device under his wife’s bed. (Yes, the fact that this…
Note: Before Attaching Ankle Monitor, Make Sure Leg Is Real
Because if the leg is detachable, that defeats the purpose of attaching a monitor to it. Unless your goal is to keep track of the leg, in which case no problem, but normally that's not what you're after. In August, The…
Richard Dreyfuss Does a Dramatic Reading of the iTunes License Agreement
In connection with a podcast on the subject of why end-user license agreements for software are so full of legalese, CNET asked Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss to do a dramatic reading of the iTunes EULA, which he did. They've posted four…