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A transistor for (almost) everyone

Microsoft has announced a new version of the XBox games console.

While the release data includes a raft of fluffy "bullet points" and a long list of improvements, perhaps the most astonishing thing about this new bit of kit is one number...

The new XBox One has an astonishing 5 billion transistors.

Yep, that's nearly one transistor for every man, woman and child on the face of the planet -- in each console!

By comparison, the previous incarnation of the XBox (the XBox 360) has a paltry 500 million transistors.

Read more...

Spying whitewash

The report is in and apparently the GCSB has done no wrong by breaking the law and spying on NZ residents.

Despite the fact that the law prohibits the GCSB from spying on NZ residents and citizens, apparently it is "arguable" that they were acting within their mandate by doing so.

Excuse me?

If the law says you can't do something then how can you argue that to do it is not illegal?

What a whitewash!

Apparently the ends justifies the means, at least in the eyes of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Paul Neazor. However, it becomes very difficult to believe that his report isn't simply what we'd expect when you ask the fox to guard the chook-house.

But hey, what if the GCSB was right and it was *essential* to conduct this illegal surveillance in order to protect us from "weapons of mass destruction", foreign espionage, people smuggling and drug smuggling?

Well if the GCSB *was* right, where are the prosecutions that followed in the wake of their surveillance activities?

Apparently, there have been none -- which alls into question their claims that such surveillance was essential to protect the security and safety of the nation and its peoples.

Also, if as Neazor asserts, there were no breaches of the law involved, why is there now a need for government to change that law so as to remove NZers right to protection from the spying eyes of the GCSB?

Yes, it smells like a week-old fish that's been left in the boot of the car to me.

But of course, as we all know, government departments are exempted from the laws under which they are supposed to operate. Even if they are caught out, they will either be granted a whitewash inquiry or those laws will be retroactively changed to accommodate the violations discovered.

What a shame that the mere citizens of the country aren't afforded such luxuries and indemnity.

And yes, the news headlines HAVE been updated today

Have your say in the Aardvark Forums.

Forums Are UP!

Woohoo.. better late than never (I hope).

I'm afraid you'll have to re-register and there are bound to be issues but at last we can get the discussions going again. Remember the word "aardvarkrox" when you go sign up.

The Aardvark forums.

And yes... the Sci-Tech headlines links are updated again today with some great stories!

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