Links

I just realised that website search engines aren’t the only place you can search for information. There’re search engines for FAQs, webrings, mailing lists, newsgroups, encyclopaedias.

The Economist suggests that just as focus of the computer industry shifted from hardware to software, it is now shifting from software to online services. Which means that the computer (hardware and software) will commoditize and only web services will make money.

Acrobat Reader 5 is out. Nothing great, unless you have a Palmtop, or use Asian characters.

Scientists have decided not to publish in journals that do not make their archives available for free. Cheers!

There’s a portal for “404 Not Found” error messages.

The US Budget is online.

Ellen won a spam case against Kozmo. If you get unsolicited e-mail from a company, you can sue them. Unless they have an opt-out mechanism.

I’m looking for accomodation in Mumbai through realestatemumbai.com. Anyone with PG acco or a flat to rent around Nariman Point? (Note added on 31 May 2001: Don’t bother – I found a place.)

This is why you should not use computers for translation. While you are at it, check out www.engrish.com.

Some sites with good cracks, thanks to Alok: astalavista.box.sk, wtcracks.com, kickme.to/FOSI, bannerkillers.cjb.net, and start.at/these.urls.first

With the US economy slowing down, the need for technology workers has dropped 44%. Those with H1-B visas, and body shoppers, are facing the brunt.

PC prices are crashing. Open source hardware could possibly accelerate that.

Pictures of the Year

Drefus’ book on hacking, Underground, is available online.

Windows Media Player 8 lets you convert audio & video files into its new format. It compresses better than MP3, apparantly.

After seeing how costly it is to detect hacking, and the fact that anything you say can be logged against you, one wonders if being online is worth it. If you’ve got a permanent Internet connection, keep it switched off.

Agentland is a portal for online agents – somewhat like Apps.com

The preview release of Internet Explorer 6 is out.

BIFR has a website. Their ‘Hearing Schedule’ section is a useful way of keeping up with what companies are in trouble. I’m surprised to see Dunlop India (West Bengal) on the list. Currently, the site does not have the actual decisions. Maybe soon. Comments m s b 16 Mar 2001 12:00 pm: the schedule is not updated after March 2007

Two MIT students have written a 7-line program that unscrambles protected DVDs. It’s downloadable. The legal issue is whether source code deserves protection on par with freedom of expression.