Linus Fixes Kernel Regression Breaking Witcher 2

jones_supa writes There has been quite a debate around the Linux version of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and the fact that it wasn’t really a port. A special kind of wrapper was used to make the Windows version of the game run on Linux systems, similar to Wine. The performance on Linux systems took a hit and users felt betrayed because they thought that they would get a native port. However, after the game stopped launching properly at some point, the reason was actually found to be a Linux regression. Linus quickly took care of the issue on an unofficial Witcher 2 issue tracker on GitHub: “It looks like LDT_empty is buggy on 64-bit kernels. I suspect that the behavior was inconsistent before the tightening change and that it’s now broken as a result. I’ll write a patch. Serves me right for not digging all the way down the mess of macros.” This one goes to the bin “don’t break userspace”. Linus also reminds of QA: “And maybe this is an excuse for somebody in the x86 maintainer team to try a few games on steam. They *are* likely good tests of odd behavior..” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Visit link:
Linus Fixes Kernel Regression Breaking Witcher 2

WhatsApp vs. WhatsApp Plus Fight Gets Ugly For Users

BarbaraHudson writes WhatsApp is locking out users for 24 hours who use WhatsApp Plus to access the service. The company claims they brought in the temporary ban to make users aware that they are not using the correct version and their privacy could be comprised using the unofficial WhatsApp Plus. “Starting today, we are taking aggressive action against unauthorized apps and alerting the people who use them.” Is this a more aggressive rerun of “This site best viewed with Internet Explorer”? Read more of this story at Slashdot.

View post:
WhatsApp vs. WhatsApp Plus Fight Gets Ugly For Users

Winklevoss Twins Plan Regulated Bitcoin Exchange

itwbennett writes They of the square jaws and famous dispute with Mark Zuckerberg over the origins of Facebook, are also believed to be among the largest holders of Bitcoin in the world. Now they want to launch a regulated Bitcoin exchange—named Gemini, of course. To bolster confidence, they said they have formed a relationship with a chartered bank in the state of New York. “This means that your money will never leave the country, ” the twins wrote in a blog post. “It also means that U.S. dollars on Gemini will be eligible for FDIC insurance and held by a U.S.-regulated bank. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Link:
Winklevoss Twins Plan Regulated Bitcoin Exchange

UHD Spec Stomps on Current Blu-ray Spec, But Will Consumers Notice?

An anonymous reader writes Details have emerged on the new UHD Blu-ray spec and players set to start shipping this summer. UHD promises resolutions 4X greater than Blu-ray 1080p as well as much higher data rates, enhanced color space and more audio options. But, will consumers care, and will they be willing to upgrade their HDTV’s, AV Receivers, and Blu-ray players to adopt a new format whose benefits may only be realized on ultra large displays or close viewing distances? The article makes the interesting point that UHD isn’t synonymous with 4K, even if both handily beat the resolution of most household displays. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

See original article:
UHD Spec Stomps on Current Blu-ray Spec, But Will Consumers Notice?

Uber Is Punishing Drivers for Following the Law 

Uber drivers attempting to follow the law are getting screwed by Uber in California. A Buzzfeed investigation revealed that Uber suspended at least 12 drivers last month for properly registering their cars as commercial vehicles. To get their jobs back, Uber said the drivers had to re-register the cars as personal vehicles, which is a clear violation of DMV rules. Read more…

Read the article:
Uber Is Punishing Drivers for Following the Law 

Bulletproof Coffee: Debunking the Hot Buttered Hype

People are putting butter in their coffee. And hey, if you’re just craving a new flavor experience, more power to you. The problem is that Bulletproof Coffee , the company behind the trend, is claiming that drinking a mug of fatty joe every morning instead of eating breakfast is a secret shortcut to weight loss and mental superpowers, and now the butter coffee has developed a cult of highly caffeinated, shiny-lipped adherents. So now we have to talk about it. Read more…

See original article:
Bulletproof Coffee: Debunking the Hot Buttered Hype

America Enters Its Darkest Days, as SkyMall Lands in Bankruptcy

It’s a dark day for Lord of the Rings necklace collectors and elaborate pet furniture enthusiasts everywhere. This morning, SkyMall’s parent company, Xhibit Corp. ( different Xzibit ) has filed for bankruptcy. Let’s take a moment of silence for the garden bigfoots that may never be. Read more…

Continued here:
America Enters Its Darkest Days, as SkyMall Lands in Bankruptcy

Pro Tools Is Releasing a Free Version of Its Legendary Audio Software

Pro Tools is the industry standard for digital audio production, but if you wanna get with the pros, you’ve always had to pay. No longer! Now, there’s a free version of the software targeted at beginners, and that rules. Read more…

Read the original:
Pro Tools Is Releasing a Free Version of Its Legendary Audio Software

Barrett Brown Will Spend 5 Years In Jail For Linking to Hacked Material

A federal judge just sentenced journalist Barrett Brown to 63 months in prison and ordered him to pay nearly $890, 000 in restitution for charges related to the 2011 hack of Stratfor Global Intelligence. Brown’s supporters maintain that the young writer and activist was “merely linking to hacked material.” For that, he’ll spend about five years behind bars. That sucks. Read more…

Read More:
Barrett Brown Will Spend 5 Years In Jail For Linking to Hacked Material

Pentagon Scolds Air Force for Wasting Nearly $9 Billion on Drones

Drones are expensive. Aircraft like General Atomics’s MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper cost millions of dollars piece, while the cost of maintaining the fleet stretches into the high tens of billions dollars over their lifespans. The Pentagon’s internal watchdog is aware of this, and recently lambasted the Air Force for not justifying the purchase of 46 Reapers— potentially wasting $8.8 billion of taxpayers’ money . Read more…

Read More:
Pentagon Scolds Air Force for Wasting Nearly $9 Billion on Drones