(engadget.com) And we thought we were serious about our internet access, what with that $50 check and spotless goat we offer to the cable co. each month. Seems like a certain small-town Canadian man has us beat — with a 60-foot tower and 14,000 pounds of cement. After suffering with a 56k connection for long enough, he was excited to hear of a new wireless ISP in his area, but couldn’t establish a line of sight due to a nearby church that stood in the way. But not one to give up so easily, our Canadian protagonist proceeded to erect a 60-foot tower in his yard, complete with a 6-foot deep concrete anchor. What have you done with your week?

Read Full Story: Man builds 60-foot tower to nab some wireless broadband - Engadget

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(zdnet.com) The rumors have been flying around that Google will introduce a low-cost PC sold through mass market retailers like Wal-Mart. According to the sources-said report from the Los Angeles Times, the PC would run Google’s Linux-flavored operating system and be tuned for online services. And, it would cost far less than a share of Google. As my colleague David Berlind speculated months ago, a Google PC is not a new or unexpected concept:

Read Full Story: » The Google PC…why not? | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

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(cnet.com) You can get lots of gadgets–laptops, mice, even a $30 flash drive–that lock with the swipe of your fingerprint. Fingerprint scanners are no longer only for spies; they use them at the gates of Disney World to keep you from sneaking in. But don’t assume that these tools are foolproof. Biometric-enabled devices may spare you from memorizing yet another password, but they can be cracked like any other security method. Case in point: engineers at Clarkson University have fooled fingerprint scanners with phony fingers made of Play-Doh.

Read Full Story: Play-Doh can fake your fingerprint - Alpha - Blog.CNET.com - CNET.com

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(zdnet.com) Does it take the worst sort of disaster to provide a city with a glimmer of modern technology? New Orleans will become the first city to operate municipally owned Wi-Fi today, with a system deployed in the French Quarter. Launched with donated equipment, the network will meet a number of crucial public safety needs.

Read Full Story: New Orleans is up and running with muni Wi-Fi | ZDNet Government Blog | ZDNet.com

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(ebay.com) The eBay Developers Program, a world-class Web Services program focused on creating the next generation of solutions for eBay buyers and sellers, today announced that all developer and affiliate members will now be able to access eBay Web Services for free. Designed to encourage and accelerate innovation on the eBay platform, free access to eBay Web Services will allow Developers Program members to create new solutions, explore new business models and expand on their current offerings while potentially saving thousands of dollars.

Read Full Story: eBay Enhances Developers Program by Enabling Free Access to eBay Web Services — eBay Developers Program

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(zdnet.com) I am frankly bemused that anyone seriously believes Microsoft or anyone else is going to fund their on-demand applications from advertising revenues. The idea is complete bull, on two counts.

Read Full Story: » Advertising isn’t enough to fund on-demand | Software as services | ZDNet.com

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(zdnet.com) Is Google is creating its own branded digital television DVR/satellite service? Imagine the possibilities…

Read Full Story: » Google: Thinking about the future of TV ads | Googling Google | ZDNet.com

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Who says the VHS format is dead? VCRs could have a scond chance at creative, new lives.

Read Full Story: MSN Tech & Gadgets

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(chicagotribune.com) Segways give visitors a little extra zip as group discovers a new way to explore the downtown [of Chicago].

Read Full Story: Chicago Tribune | On balance, a great way to take city parks tour

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(eweek.com) Opinion: A widely misunderstood Oct. 1 deadline set by a group of states calling themselves the Streamlined Sales And Use Tax Project is making some e-commerce players worried. But the move actually has little to do with the Web and a lot to do with Halloween.

Read Full Story: No Web Tax Yet

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Mandatory sales tax on Internet purchases isn’t here… yet.

(eweek.com) The Streamlined Sales Tax Project may sound to some like the states are getting ready to start charging state sales tax on all e-commerce purchases, but the reality isn’t that simple.

Read Full Story: Internet Sales Tax on the Horizon

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