Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share

Yahoo Messenger Big Brother censorshipWe've all thought it, but never dared think it could be true: what if Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL actively monitor our instant messenger chats? What if mentions of 'bomb' and 'underage' are tracked and sent to law enforcement agencies? What if chat providers don't agree with the things we say, or the links we share, and filter or censor the content of our transmitted messages?

Well, it looks like our fears may actually have some basis in reality: Yahoo Messenger strips FilesTube links from instant messages. It doesn't tell either party that a URL has been removed from chat -- it just deletes it. Poof. FilesTube, in case you were wondering, is one of the largest file hosting meta search engines on the Web -- it indexes RapidShare, Megaupload, Mediafire, and many other 'cyberlocker' services.

It's fairly obvious why FilesTube links are being removed -- the Censor General at Yahoo is probably one of those perplexed primates who think all uses of BitTorrent are illegal -- but this situation poses a far more important question: is Yahoo censoring messages on the client side, or the server side. Does the messenger client itself maintain a list of 'blacklisted' words -- and if so, why are we not told that FilesTube links are banned? What other words and terms does Yahoo protect us from?

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Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/yahoo-messenger-now-censors-links-raises-serious-privacy-issue/

Arne Koller Fiona Brandenburg Franziska Spanier Erna Van den Hout

Syria Cuts Internet Access to Stop Video Uploads of Protests [Blip]

Around three hours ago, Syria's ISPs were taken down so protestors wouldn't have a way to upload video of the uprising. It's all kicking off in Hama today, with 27 protestors sadly killed in the clash with security. [Al Jazeera via USA Today] More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/a_GGe4NOxP4/syria-cuts-internet-access-to-stop-video-uploads-of-protests

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One-Man Mini-Rocket Has Shaky Second Launch [Rockets]

As the one-man Heat-1X rocket started to veer off course and outside the designated launch area, mission controllers cut the engine and ended the test flight well short of the 15-kilometer goal. Also, the parachute did not fully open. Success! More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/27to5mPaOfs/one+man-mini+rocket-has-shaky-second-launch

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Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin

This is one of those posts that could probably be condensed into a tweet: Apple has released the second Preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. If you're running Preview 1, it looks like you'll first receive a small update via Software Update, and then you can download Preview 2 from the Mac App Store.

There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.

So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.

Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/mac-os-x-lion-preview-2-released-introduces-mega-exciting-leath/

Henrik Brenner Karla Reusch Wilhelm Klassen Nathalie Füllgraf

NASA Wants Snowboarding Display Tech in Space Helmets [Space]

Most NASA innovations come from within their own labs, which are used in space, then sometimes produced for the masses. In the case of potential heads-up displays in space helmets, NASA is looking at Recon Instruments' HUD tech for ideas. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TTUMyA8UyKU/nasa-wants-snowboarding-display-tech-in-space-helmets

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Something Shiny Might Be Hiding Behind Apple's iCloud

What company can create an awesome tablet, wickedly thin notebooks, a HDTV set-top box, a leading smartphone, a music-movie-game-email-social-everything device, and deliver the operating systems to run them ... and move acres of dirt around to build a massive data center that might have the capability to deliver a leap forward in cloud computing that ties all of these things together? The answer is Apple, of course.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/72571.html

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CrunchGear Week in Review: Primary Train Edition

Treintafel Is Dutch For Train Table, And That?s Exactly What This Is Weekend Giveaway: Something Called An iPad Two (??) Samsung?s New High-Resolution Screens: Too Good To Be True? World Record Set For Most Flashes Used In One Picture: 300 Viral video: Robot 1 ? Human 0

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/05/16/week-in-review-primary-train/

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If Only iOS Could Do Even Half of These Magical Things [Video]

With WWDC upon us, there's already been a lot of talk about what wonders iOS 5 will include. Suffice it to it will not include anything like the above features, which is kind of a shame. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-FOad_2HR-4/if-only-ios-could-do-even-half-of-these-magical-things

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James Bond?s Collar Stays

I know most multi-tools have more than four functions, but none I’ve seen are as small and unusual as these Titan Multi Tool Collar Stays from Yanko Design.  The stays are made of 100% titanium, and they are 2.5″ long, 5/16″ wide, and less than 1/8″ thick.  Each stay also functions as a half-phillips and [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/06/03/james-bonds-collar-stays/

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Official Steve Jobs Biography Gets a Cover and Price Thanks to Amazon [Unconfirmed]

Amazon is now taking pre-orders for the Walter Isaacson-penned Steve Jobs biography, iSteve: The Book of Jobs, slated for release March 2012. Along with the listing is what might be the final cover and price for the tome. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NOBuHTeCcy0/official-steve-jobs-biography-gets-a-cover-and-price-thanks-to-amazon

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