| Facebook Improving Efficiency of Data Servers With Potatoes Posted: 22 Sep 2013 11:44 AM PDT  French-fried server lids?
We talk a lot about Facebook lately, implementing video ads and other bizarre new features, but this time around we're going to talk about potatoes. While other companies are implementing more widely-accepted strategies to stay green, Facebook has toyed with using potatoes in its servers to keep things cool. Yes, potatoes. As just one part of the Open Compute Project, PCWorld reports, Facebook aims to improve efficiency of its various servers and data centers. When they attempted taking the top lids of their servers away in a bid to remove anything that wasn't useful, they attempted fashioning lids out of the same material used in creating Spudware kitchen tools. They're 80 percent starch and 20 percent soy oil, and while it smelled delicious in the office, the thermal lid created from Spudware ended up failing the efficiency test. The social networking juggernaut is exploring other venues and options, such as running their data centers devoid of air conditioning, and building their centers from scratch. Even though it wasn't exactly efficient, we're still partial to the potatoes. |
| Internet Explorer Security Flaw Impacting Business Users Posted: 22 Sep 2013 10:52 AM PDT  Zero-day exploit targeting businesses utilizing IE 8 and 9
If your business happens to use Internet Explorer exclusively, you may want to keep an eye out for a recent zero day flaw in the browser that impacts all versions. Though Microsoft has promised a patch is in the works, the exploit may be in the wild for quite some time considering the next security patches aren't due to be released until October 8th. While the exploits seem to target mainly IE versions 8 and 9, researchers at Websense, according to PCWorld, have revealed that almost 70 percent of Windows business users may be affected by the zero-day flaw. Until a patch is released, Microsoft is encouraging users to install the FixIt patch to minimize any possible damage. Are your IE installations at risk? |
| Ready Your Whips, La-Mulana 2 Announced Posted: 21 Sep 2013 10:00 PM PDT  A new challenger appears!
Challenge junkies of Steam, come forth and show yourselves! We know you're out there, every single one of you looking for platformers that test your patience. La-Mulana, the cult favorite re-released via Steam, is finally receiving a sequel. The trap-laden ancient ruins of the original game are going to be polished up for a brand new journey that should put a smile on your face as you bash your head into your monitor. Fun times! And this time around, it looks to be much more welcoming to players who are just now jumping aboard. USGamer recently had a chat with developers Nigoro about that very subject: "The difficult gameplay in retro games, I want to keep that," Takumi Naramura mused during the interview. I want to keep that feeling. I'm not going to get rid of that. But we're thinking about how to evolve other parts of the game." La-Mulana 2 will see the daughter of the original game's hero doing some serious spelunking, but that's about all we know now. Who's ready for some more whip-wielding wackiness? |
| State of Decay Available Via Steam Early Access Program Today Posted: 21 Sep 2013 09:01 PM PDT  Send more brains.
Hankering for some more zombie goodness? Happen to do most of your gaming on PC? Of course you do! That means you probably haven't played State of Decay. Good news -- as of today, the Undead Labs open-world zombie massacre-fest is available via Steam's Early Access program. For $20, the same price as the Xbox 360 version, you'll receive the Early Access version of State of Decay, then the final version upon its release for free. It's a wide world of zombie carnage just waiting for you to dig in, especially if you've got friends wanting to get in on the fun. However, if you've got reservations about bugs or unfinished builds, Undead Labs cautions you to wait until the final release. 
"This process is not for everyone. Casual players, the easily frustrated, and the short of time should NOT get the Early Access version," they warned. Makes sense, especially since keyboard and mouse support is not available at this time. If you've got an Xbox controller or third-party gamepad, however, have at it! Are you going to be wreaking havoc in State of Decay? |
