General - ThunderNews

A Broadband Tax Could Be in the Works

Just as the Universal Service Fund (USF) was set up to make phone service available to all, what’s being called the ‘Connect America Fund’ was set up to expand broadband access to everybody according to certain USENET newsgroups. The Federal...

September 24, 2012

General Newsgroups

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer Not Worried About Microsoft 8

Should you worry that Microsoft 8 isn’t all that great? Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer isn’t. In fact, when asked about his company’s plan should the new operating system not “take off”, Ballmer brushed it off, responding, “You know, Windows 8 is...

September 21, 2012

General Technology Usenet

FCC Reports Many Without Broadband or USENET

In its eighth annual broadband report, the Federal Communications Commission reported that 19 million Americans still do not have any access to wired broadband — including nearly one-fourth of the country’s rural population. That means no USENET access to many...

September 11, 2012

General Technology Usenet

Irish Government Focused on Faster Broadband

Irish communications minister Pat Rabbitte announced in late August a government plan to expand fast broadband access to every home or business within the country. The plan calls for 30Mbps connections throughout the country by April 2016. But that’s not...

September 4, 2012

General Technology Usenet

Consumers May Register for the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade

If you’re interested in upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro when the new operating system is released in October, you may now register for the Windows Upgrade Offer. Those who register can buy the Windows 8 Pro upgrade...

August 22, 2012

General Newsgroups Technology

Windows 8 90-Day Trial Available

IT professionals and developers may now download the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 8. Downloads are available through Microsoft Developer Network and TechNet to subscribers. The general public will have access to the new OS on October 26. However, a...

August 20, 2012

General Technology Usenet

UK USENET Speeds On The Rise

Faster USENET access is one the rise as UK residential broadband average speeds have increased by 1.4 meg to 9.0 meg according to speed research conducted by Ofcom. The increased speeds recorded in May 2012 show an 18% increase on...

August 15, 2012

General Newsgroups Technology Usenet

DNSChanger Server Shut-Off Goes Smoothly, According to ISPs

For about eight months, the FBI had kept temporary servers operating so that users whose computers were infected with a DNSChanger computer virus would not lose internet access. On July 9, the FBI shut off the servers, and some...

August 8, 2012

General Technology Usenet

United Kingdom ISPs Pledge Support of Open Internet

Several internet service providers in the United Kingdom have pledged that they will provide their customers will open access to the Internet. Participants in the pledge will not restrict access to legal content and will not employ traffic controls that...

August 6, 2012

General Technology Usenet

Students Create Sign Language-to-Speech Gloves

First reported on USENET newsgroups, Ukrainian students participating in the Microsoft Imagine Cup in Sydney, Australia have revealed a new glove system called Enable Talk. The team of students, called QuadSquad, aimed to create a solution that would allow mute...

July 12, 2012