Hardware Disk Encryption for the Masses, Finally!

PC security is a significant challenge, particularly in environments like Turbo’s, where highly secure PCs and laptops are necessary but can also be prone to being lost. Turbo has been advocating for hardware encryption as an excellent way to maintain the integrity of transient data on the machines. Software encryption, despite its benefits, often leaves lingering doubts.

Recently, Turbo came across a product called GuardDisk from Thales eSecurity, which is a UK government-approved solution. GuardDisk is a modified disk equipped with an RFID token. The process is simple: during the boot-up of the laptop, Turbo places the token near it. The disk drive reads the ID and the DEK from the token, enabling block encryption and decryption on the fly. The best part is that it remains transparent to the machine, allowing any operating system to run without restrictions.

While the Thales solution is effective, it comes with a relatively high price tag, making it less accessible for everyone. However, there’s hope on the horizon as similar technology might soon become available to home users at no extra cost. ABIT, a motherboard manufacturer, is reportedly working on implementing hardware-based IDE disk encryption technology into their standard motherboards.

This move by ABIT is both smart and interesting, showcasing how manufacturers can innovate to enhance PC security. If more companies follow suit, it could significantly improve data protection for users across the board.

That SCO Business does just seem to be a money scam

The SCO Group’s recent threat to sue Linux users who don’t buy a Unix license has caused quite a stir. However, a closer look at the company’s subsequent announcement reveals a more intriguing story. SCO claims to have entered the Web services business through its acquisition of Vultus Inc., which was facilitated using newly issued SCO stock.

This move, while seemingly straightforward, has deeper implications. SCO has been seeking ways to generate revenue since January, when it attempted to persuade Linux vendors and users to purchase Unix licenses. Their subsequent actions included suing IBM, sending threatening letters to numerous companies, and making grandiose claims about potential lawsuits against prominent figures like Linus Torvalds. Despite all these threats, SCO has struggled to sell Unix licenses.

Surprisingly, the more outlandish SCO’s threats became, the higher its stock price soared. Speculators took advantage of the rising stock value, driven by the seemingly endless stream of legal claims from the company. SCO’s stock price is now approximately ten times higher than six months ago, despite the fact that these threats are unlikely to yield substantial cash flow for years.

The legal and business sense behind SCO’s tactics is questionable at best. Their threats haven’t led to successful legal actions, with the company failing to obtain an injunction against IBM. Moreover, a German court has ordered SCO to stop threatening Linux users, and an Australian government agency is investigating allegations of extortionate behavior.

With a struggling business and diminished brand value, SCO has been using its inflated stock price as a form of currency. This tactic was evident in its acquisition of Vultus, a company majority-owned by The Canopy Group, an investment fund controlled by former Novell boss Ray Noorda. Notably, Canopy also controls SCO and several other smaller firms.

The acquisition of Vultus involved printing new stock worth around $3 million, which was then cashed out, with the majority of proceeds going to Canopy. The details of this deal were disclosed in SCO’s recent filings with the SEC. It’s evident that Canopy leveraged SCO’s stock price, fueled by its Linux threats, to generate a significant sum behind the scenes.

As long as Canopy finds ways to capitalize on SCO’s threats against Linux users, it’s likely that the threats will persist, regardless of their questionable merit.

Source: Computerworld

IBM Tries to Calm Customers over SCO threat.

IBM is addressing the concerns of its customers regarding the legal threats posed by The SCO Group Inc., a software company that accuses IBM of incorporating its code into versions of the free Linux operating system.

Lindon, Utah-based SCO has filed a $3 billion lawsuit against IBM, claiming that the computer giant utilized portions of its Unix operating system code to enhance the performance of Linux, an increasingly popular open-source operating system used in corporate computer networks.

Recently, SCO announced plans to offer licenses to companies using the version of Linux distributed by IBM, stating that this would protect IBM customers from potential legal battles (see story).

In an internal memo obtained by Reuters, IBM urged its sales representatives to address customer concerns and provide accurate information, stating that SCO’s demands are based on unsubstantiated threats without factual basis.

According to SCO spokesman Blake Stowell, IBM’s response indicates that they consider the claims to be a viable threat. Stowell also mentioned that many customers have expressed interest in obtaining a license.

IBM, being the world’s largest computer company, has firmly rejected SCO’s claims, asserting that SCO has not demonstrated any violation of its intellectual property rights.

SCO’s Unix-based software is utilized for various corporate functions like accounting and manufacturing systems and is licensed by IBM for use in their version of Unix, known as AIX.

An IBM spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.

Source: Reuters

SCO threats don’t have Linux users worried

The SCO Group’s recent threats of suing businesses using Linux seem to be having little impact on users’ attitudes. Tom Pratt, information systems manager at Coastal Transportation Inc., expressed a lack of concern, pointing out that too many companies use Linux for SCO to sue them all successfully. He stated that he doesn’t recall signing any agreements with SCO regarding licensing fees.

Kevin Gray, IT operations manager at DreamWorks SKG’s film studio, dismissed SCO’s claims as a “big red herring” and doesn’t see them going far. DreamWorks extensively uses Linux in various aspects of film production and animation.

Brad Friedman, vice president of IS at Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., stated that SCO’s legal front won’t change their strategy. Burlington Coat Factory currently uses Linux for point-of-sale machines and in-store transaction processing, and they are considering back-end uses for Linux as well.

Overall, these users do not seem concerned about SCO’s threats and continue to rely on Linux for their business operations.

Brad Friedman, vice president of IS at Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., expressed a cautious approach regarding the SCO situation, mentioning that they are not rushing to license every single Linux box they have, but they are keeping a close eye on the developments. He compared it to the uncertainty surrounding Oracle’s takeover attempt with PeopleSoft Inc. and J.D. Edwards & Co.

The SCO Group’s pursuit of lawsuits against businesses running Linux if they don’t acquire a special SCO UnixWare 7.1.3 license has raised concerns. The prices of these licenses have not been disclosed yet, but SCO expects them to be comparable to existing UnixWare licenses.

SCO has been involved in legal battles since March, suing IBM for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets related to SCO’s Unix products benefiting IBM’s Linux strategy. While the IBM lawsuit is still pending in court, Linux users appear to be waiting to see its outcome before deciding how to handle any potential licensing arrangements with SCO.

Harry Roberts, CIO at Boscov’s Department Stores, shared that his company is closely monitoring the SCO situation. They run both Red Hat Linux and SuSE Linux in their operations and believe they are compliant with their agreements with these vendors.

Those Loonies At SCO want a license fee for Linux now!

The SCO Group is now demanding licensing fees from enterprise Linux users, warning of potential copyright infringement lawsuits otherwise. SCO’s CEO, Darl McBride, stated that the $3 billion lawsuit against IBM in March was just the beginning of their efforts to protect what they believe is their Unix System V intellectual property.

In a conference call with reporters and analysts, McBride asserted that SCO’s Unix IP has been misappropriated into Linux, and they are now offering customers of any Linux distribution the opportunity to run Linux legally by obtaining a specially tailored SCO UnixWare 7.1.3 license. McBride emphasized that this move marks a shift from a contracts case against IBM to a broader stance against all enterprise Linux users.

Earlier in May, SCO had warned commercial Linux users about potential code misuse and advised seeking legal advice. Recently, some corporate Linux users approached SCO to find a resolution, and this licensing scheme is seen as an attempt to address both parties’ concerns.

Additionally, SCO announced that it has obtained copyrights for its System V code, a procedural step in their legal case against IBM. The proposed SCO UnixWare 7.1.3 licenses will support runtime, binary use of Linux for commercial users based on kernel Version 2.4.x and later. The pricing details have not been disclosed yet but are expected to be similar to existing UnixWare licenses. By obtaining a license, enterprise Linux users can comply with SCO’s copyrights, and the company won’t pursue legal challenges related to the code.

SCO’s CEO, Darl McBride, stated that their new licensing offer to enterprise Linux customers represents a new front in the ongoing dispute. McBride emphasized that obtaining the license would resolve the issue without resorting to court battles.

During the conference call, SCO’s lead attorney, David Boies, clarified that the licensing offer is not dependent on resolving the SCO/IBM case, which is still pending in court. Boies asserted that Linux corporate users should not be using SCO’s IP in Linux if it is deemed improper conduct.

Analysts have varying opinions on SCO’s approach. Some believe that SCO is targeting users because going after Linux vendors like Red Hat would involve more resistance. Others express concerns that if SCO succeeds in extracting licensing fees from users, it could create a new tax on Linux, affecting the total cost of ownership argument in favor of Linux.

Regarding SCO’s argument about alleged code infringement, some analysts point out that the impact may be more pronounced for symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) capabilities in Linux kernel 2.4 and later. This could potentially slow down Linux’s advancement in certain areas, such as higher power uses, and affect planned purchases.

Source: Computerworld

Linux advocates doubt validity of SCO licensing scheme

Open-source advocates have strongly criticized a Linux licensing scheme proposed by The SCO Group Inc. to address alleged copyright violations in the Linux operating system. SCO CEO Darl McBride announced the licensing plan, stating that they are prepared to offer a license for SCO’s UnixWare 7.1.3 product for use in conjunction with any Linux product to ensure compliance with SCO’s intellectual property rights.

However, Linux advocates are challenging the scheme, claiming that it appears to violate the GNU General Public License (GPL) software license that governs Linux. Open-source advocate Bruce Perens and others argue that SCO’s terms would restrict Linux users’ ability to modify and redistribute source code, which contradicts the GPL.

An intellectual property lawyer also acknowledges the validity of Perens’ contention, saying that it seems plausible. However, SCO disagrees, stating that their new license won’t conflict with the GPL, although the details of the license have not been publicly revealed yet.

SCO’s Linux licensing plan comes after they sued IBM for $1 billion in March, claiming that IBM had harmed SCO’s market for Intel-based Unix operating systems by adding code to the Linux kernel improperly. The value of the suit has since risen to $3 billion. SCO had initially focused on its dispute with IBM but later warned 1,500 companies that they could be held liable for IP violations in Linux. They also hinted at the possibility of pursuing case-by-case litigation against companies using Linux.

Free Software Foundation general counsel Eben Moglen argues that the licensing plan would be in violation of the GPL and entirely unnecessary. He emphasizes that users don’t need a copyright license to use any program and suggests that SCO is engaging in a distraction tactic.

Linux distributors, including Red Hat Inc., express no interest in adopting SCO’s license, as they have confidence in their code and believe the license is unnecessary. Furthermore, Linux vendors demand that SCO publicly identify the alleged violations before any discussion of licensing takes place.

SCO also announced that it received U.S. copyright registration for its Unix source code, which could potentially be a precursor to any copyright-based litigation.

Source: IDG News Service

eInk

The world of thin, flat displays is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of Electronic Paper.

Electronic Paper is a remarkable technology that allows anything presently printed on paper to be replaced with a soft, electronic equivalent. For example, envision a broadsheet newspaper that refreshes its content every morning or a Soft Book that lets you load an entire tome and flip through pages just like a physical book.

This technology addresses many of the limitations that plague current display technologies. It offers high resolution, a wide viewing angle, no need for backlighting, and low power requirements. The display has a paper-like white background with excellent contrast.

While the best available monitors today provide around 100 dpi resolution, Electronic Paper already offers 150 dpi and has the potential to scale much further.

The technology is based on the principles found in traditional printing, using black pigments on a light background. One of the significant advantages of Electronic Paper is that it is non-volatile, meaning it can hold its picture without the need for continuous power. This feature makes it highly appealing for mobile devices, and some prominent mobile phone manufacturers are already expressing interest in the technology.

The potential of Electronic Paper has not gone unnoticed, with impressive investments from companies like Philips, Motorola, and Lucent. e-Ink, the company behind this innovation, has raised $100 million from these influential investors.

With such strong backing and promising features, e-Ink is expected to make significant advancements in the field of electronic displays. Keep an eye on e-Ink as it is likely to bring about exciting changes in the display technology landscape.

Turing Test Finally Finds A Real World Use

AT&T has been facing challenges from the ‘Yes Yes’ Scam, where hackers exploit poorly configured voicemail systems. The scam involves hackers identifying voicemail boxes with weak PINs through war dialing. Once a vulnerable box is found, the hacker modifies the greeting to repeat ‘Yes Yes Yes’ continuously.

Next, the hacker uses the voicemail number as a chargepoint for calls. When AT&T’s automated system calls the number and asks for permission to place the charge and authorize the call, the repeated ‘Yes Yes Yes’ fools the system and often the real operators as well.

AT&T initially placed the blame on the poor security of the voicemail services rather than their own cross-charging procedures. They started demanding payments from the victims, leading some to take legal action against AT&T. Eventually, AT&T dropped the payment demands and improved their security checking procedures.

To combat the scam, AT&T developed a Turing-style test to verify that the ‘YES’ response is indeed coming from a human and not a machine. Now, instead of just saying “yes,” the operator asks the person to read back a specific number to confirm their authenticity. This measure aims to prevent future scams and ensure more secure transactions.

Regenerate response

Todays New Virus Warnings

Today, there have been reports of several new viruses:

  1. W32/Sage-A: This worm disguises itself as ICQ software and installs itself as svch0st.exe. It modifies the registry to run on startup and makes numerous outbound connections, potentially allowing remote control. There are only a few reports of this in the wild.
  2. W32/Yaha-T: This virus writes itself as WINTSK32.EXE and modifies the registry to run at startup. It may function as a keystroke recorder and launch DOS attacks against machines based in Pakistan. It spreads through SMTP and network shares, with only a few reports of its existence in the wild.
  3. W32/Sobig-E: A worm virus propagating as an email attachment with various subject lines resembling replies to previous messages. It will stop spreading after July 14th. The attachment is called ‘your_details.zip.’ There have been numerous reports of this worm in the wild.
  4. WM97/Simuleek-B: This Word macro worm creates a VBScript file called WordSeek.vbs. It adds a line to wini.ini to infect Word files with another virus, VBS/Simuleek-B. There are only a few reports of this virus in the wild.
  5. JS/Fortnight-E: This is a combination of JavaScript and Java applet that forces HTML-aware email clients to open a website. The website runs Troj/ByteVeri-A to install itself locally. It tries to modify some websites by adding entries to the local hosts file and exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft VM ActiveX component. It also adds some porn-related favorites. There are only a few reports of this virus in the wild.

Be cautious and ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date to protect against these threats.

SCO Business

Time for a catch-up on the latest SCO events. The SCO share price has risen significantly, but some speculate that it might crash soon. Now, there are murmurs from an unknown source suggesting that SCO may have violated the GPL by using parts of Linux in the UnixWare product without proper attribution. This is quite amusing, and many are hoping it turns out to be true.

In Germany, a court has granted a preliminary injunction against SCO, sponsored by SuSE AG and others. This injunction prohibits SCO from making further claims in Germany that ‘Linux is an illegal derivative of Unix,’ with a hefty penalty of 250,000 Euros if they fail to comply.

Remember that SCO’s claim to Unix is solely through acquisition, and they might not understand how it works as well as they think. Lawsuits seem to be their preferred method of making money from it.

More updates to follow! If you come across any interesting news, please use the ‘Submit News’ button. I appreciate all contributions and am here to write about it!

SCO Ho Ho

It’s quite amusing to watch the litigious actions of SCO Group and its CEO, Darl McBride. On June 16th, SCO made good on its threat to revoke IBM’s license to sell Unix (AIX). According to SCO, every AIX customer is now supposedly breaking the law.

The root of this problem lies in a convoluted history of share trades, mergers, acquisitions, and questionable business practices that ultimately left SCO holding the rights to Unix. Since Unix System 5 usage was declining and not worth much, SCO sought a way to profit from it.

However, SCO’s approach to taking on IBM may either propel them to the top of OS vendors or lead to their downfall. Every time Darl McBride speaks, either a corporation gets sued, or law-abiding computer users get upset. The question is whether SCO’s bully boy tactics will work against the 1,500 Linux-using CEOs they’ve targeted as lawbreakers.

MacBride’s history in the courts includes lawsuits against almost everyone he’s dealt with, including previous employers. SCO should be cautious in case MacBride decides to leave the company.

SCO’s main premise is that Linux is great, particularly the advancements made in the 2.4 kernel. They claim that IBM and other vendors illegally used source code under NDA and inserted it into the Linux codebase. SCO is not happy about this, but they face a challenge. They can’t reveal the problematic code because the open-source community would simply rewrite it, leaving SCO without a case against Linux, but potentially with a case against IBM.

SCO has a $1 billion lawsuit against IBM, but they won’t specify the exact problem with Linux publicly. They claim it involves “hundreds of thousands of lines of code,” but even experts they’ve consulted haven’t looked at code chunks larger than 80 lines. This lack of transparency and clarity is intriguing.

Adding to the intrigue, SCO sells a version of Linux called OpenLinux, which contains compatibility libraries for running Unix V5 code on the Linux platform. Talk about covering all bases!

Now, approximately 100 days after SCO’s letter to IBM, they’ve revoked IBM’s Unix license, affecting AIX sales. The best course of action TurboTas sees is for the open-source community to review IBM’s contributions to the codebase in CVS and rewrite them.

For those who prefer direct action, they can approach SCO’s customers who openly support the company’s bullying tactics. Some companies, like McDonald’s and BMW, are SCO customers, and engaging with them could raise awareness of SCO’s actions.

TurboTas is even considering creating a list of SCO customers on their website. They invite readers to use the voting form to share their thoughts on this matter.

JK has the Last Laugh?

Today, I couldn’t resist the news hype surrounding the launch of the new Harry Potter book, ‘Order of the Phoenix.’ Curiosity got the better of me, so I logged onto my favorite file-sharing network to see if any copies were floating around on the internet.

After a quick search, I found about 20 different versions of the book. Intrigued, I tagged them all and took a break for dinner. Upon returning to my computer, most of the files had finished downloading. I eliminated some versions that turned out to be ripped copies of JK Rowling’s earlier books with the title changed. Two more were obviously rubbish – too short and poorly written.

I was left with three texts that looked identical in preview. I decided to start reading the real version in vi format. However, after about 10 minutes, something felt off. The narration and dialog seemed a bit flat, as if reading a translation. Skimming through the book, I found the story itself was excellent with smart twists and familiar characters, but it lacked the depth I expected.

Thinking it might be an early draft or OCR’d rip with heavy editing, I switched to the .doc version. It was perfect, indicating it came from the same source as the vi format. Then, the PDF version revealed more metadata, pointing to a website: http://hpfanfiction.net/books/book5/. Curiosity got the better of me again, and I clicked the link only to realize I had been fooled.

It turns out that an enterprising Harry Potter fan site had grown impatient waiting for JK Rowling to write the books. They took matters into their own hands and wrote their own version of ‘Order of the Phoenix.’ The website even has a forum where people discuss suggested storylines, and the final product is a result of a collaborative effort.

These fan-written books are impressively clever, so much so that even little Johnny might struggle to tell them apart from the real thing. The website clarifies that the final version is a sensible amalgamation of the fans’ ideas. Surprisingly, they’ve already completed book 6 as well.

As a Harry Potter enthusiast, this discovery only heightened my anticipation for the real book. I want to compare the storylines and see how the hive mind’s creation measures against JK Rowling’s work. However, I couldn’t find a genuine version of JK Rowling’s new book. It’s surprising, and I’m even tempted to stand in line at a shop in Crawley just to get an official copy before it hits the internet.

In conclusion, I was taken in by the fan-written version, but it made me all the more eager to read the authentic ‘Order of the Phoenix’ and experience JK Rowling’s storytelling firsthand.

Hopefully Lightning Never Strikes Twice

I’m sorry to hear that the TurboTas site had a not-so-nice experience due to lightning today.

A few weeks ago, the UPS failed its battery test, and it was taken out of service pending an engineer’s test. Today, at around 15:00, a massive lightning flash was heard and felt. Although the exact proximity of the lightning strike has not been determined yet, the flash and sound were nearly simultaneous.

Out of the ten hosts, here’s the condition: The primary server managed to stay up, but one 10 Meg Hub port got damaged, and one DSL Hub Port was fried. The main firewall lost three NICs, including its internal one. Two servers also locked up, but fortunately, power cycling resolved the issue.

Thankfully, all the damages were repaired relatively quickly. The diskless firewall, running on an old PC, was back in action with a spare box and plenty of ubiquitous NICs available for replacement.

The damaged hub will be replaced as it was only a 10 meg device, and there are more alternatives available. However, the DSL-based hub presents a tougher challenge as it’s still functioning except for one port. Even though it’s less than 6 months old, the decision was made to keep it since the built-in hub is not critical, and maintaining an active connection is crucial.

Considering the lightning strike incident, the plan is to install either a new UPS or a proper filter soon to safeguard against any potential future strikes.

It’s essential to take precautionary measures to protect the hardware and systems from such unexpected events, especially when dealing with elements like lightning. Installing the UPS or filter will offer added peace of mind and ensure smoother operations in the future.

The Ultimate in Environmentally Friendly Computing?

Prepare to be amazed by possibly the most unusual case design you’ve ever seen – a beast made entirely out of cardboard! Unsurprisingly, it arrives in a flatpack, and assembling it may prove to be a bit frustrating and time-consuming. However, the good news is that it seems to be a glue-free process, so you only need to watch out for stray coffee cups and paper cuts!

Hardware is attached to the case using small clips, and the finished case can be personalized to your liking using paint, markers, papier-mâché, and more.

While it’s not entirely clear if this is just an elaborate April Fool’s joke, the attention to detail suggests that this cardboard case does indeed exist, and you can purchase it. On the plus side, it would make your setup much lighter, making it more convenient for attending LAN parties. Sending the case would also be easy – just tape up the openings and write the address on top.

However, there are some downsides to consider. Think about the risk of paper cuts while upgrading components. Moreover, placing coffee cups on top of your PC would no longer be a good idea, and there might be a fire risk if you’re running demanding hardware.

If you’re truly intrigued by this cardboard case, you can check out the source below, although it’s not in English. It seems like TurboTas is even considering the potential advantages of cardboard motherboards, hard disks, RAM, and a cardboard keyboard, which might cause less damage when thrown out of frustration!

Source: lupo.co.jp

New Themes Available

Exciting news! There are some fantastic new themes available now. Although not all of them have been edited for perfect English yet, feel free to let us know if your favorite one needs any adjustments.

I’m particularly impressed with Dezina; it’s so good that I’ve made it the new default theme for the site. I would love to hear your feedback on the new themes and see what you think of them. The themes include Dezina, norwich, seriartnukeblue, EYellow, and Chama.

And don’t forget, your opinion matters! If you think any of the themes are not up to par, make sure to vote and share your thoughts. Your feedback will help us in making further improvements.

Try out the new themes and let us know which one you prefer or if there’s anything we can do to enhance your experience on the site!

Rubiks Cube on Speed?

If you, like me, prefer the unconventional method of prising off a corner to solve the Rubik’s cube, then you might want to skip the following information.

The latest craze involves attempting to solve a 4D version of the renowned puzzle. A group of mathematicians and programmers has collaborated to create a computer simulation (available for Windows and Linux) that allows users to try their hand at solving the 4D Rubik’s cube.

This 4D version introduces a vast number of permutations, surpassing the quantity of atoms in the entire universe. However, despite the increased complexity, those who have already mastered the 3D Rubik’s cube may find the 4D version to be only slightly more challenging.

As for me, I’m not entirely convinced. If I could somehow manage to prise off a corner of the 4D cube, I’m fairly certain there would be leftover pieces that I couldn’t quite figure out!

Source: www.superliminal.com

More Delays For Mars Rover

As the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ‘Mars Express’ spacecraft reached a distance of 1,000,000 kilometers from Earth, the first of the NASA-backed Mars Rovers remains grounded due to thunderstorms surrounding the launch site.

The two rovers, named ‘Spirit’ and ‘Opportunity,’ are scheduled to reach Mars in January 2004. These golf cart-sized explorers are specifically designed to study the Martian geology and search for past evidence of water.

The end of this year promises to be exciting for Mars exploration as the Beagle II, part of the Mars Express mission, is expected to arrive around Christmas.

The coordination between Mars Express and the NASA MER (Mars Exploration Rover) mission is not coincidental. A rare proximity between Mars and Earth at this time allows for more payload and faster transit, shortening the typical journey from 9 months to 7.

Both missions also employ the same landing approach: using airbags. Although it may sound risky, this technique has been proven successful in previous missions and significantly reduces the mass of the landing system.

Sources: ESA Mars Express, NASA MER

DVD Lending Library

Great news! The DVD Lending database for Horley/Crawley is now fully operational, boasting approximately 150 recorded movies. If you’re curious to explore the database, you can use the guest/guest login credentials for a sneak peek.

Participants in the scheme can enter the details of their own DVDs into the database, and they can access the lists of others through search and browse functionalities. One of the highlights of the system is the Reserve/Borrow feature, which sends an email to the DVD owner, requesting to lend the media to the borrower.

Moreover, the database takes care of reminders and provides statistics to facilitate smooth operation. To join this clever lending scheme, simply send an email to the site administrator, and they will set up an account for you. Participation requires personal acquaintance with the administrator or being part of the same company to ensure implicit trust, which is essential for the scheme’s success.

It’s an innovative and convenient way to share DVDs among trusted individuals, making movie nights even more enjoyable and collaborative. If you meet the criteria and are interested in taking part, don’t hesitate to drop an email and get involved in this fantastic initiative!