From the second you pull into a store’s parking lot, you can be relatively certain there are electronic eyes on you. But we’re way past the days of black-and-white monitors to discourage vandalism and shoplifting. Today’s retailers follow you everywhere and know lots about you. [More]
Linksys: Where A 1-Year Warranty Sort Of Isn't A 1-Year Warranty
Yes, Linksys products ostensibly have a one-year warranty, but there’s a catch. When Cody tried to contact them to replace a router, he learned that in order to actually use that original warranty, you need to pay extra. Specifically, after the first 90 days, you need to pay for either phone or chat support to talk to a real person who can authorize the return of your defective router. [More]
Cisco Flips 6,500 Workers Into The Unemployment Line
Cisco employees are apparently paying for the company’s ill-advised decision to spend $600 million to buy the company that made Flip video cameras. Cisco is reducing its workforce by 16 percent, cutting 6,500 jobs, including 2,100 early retirement volunteers, and losing other employees by selling a business. [More]
Cisco Shutters Flip Cameras Forever
Two years ago, Cisco spent nearly $600 million to acquire the company that makes Flip video cameras. Apparently that was a mistake, because the networking biggie announced earlier today that it will be shuttering its Flip division as it faces increased competition from video-capable smartphones. [More]
Cisco Now Offers Cardboard Nesting Wireless Access Points
The Stupid Shipping Gang strikes again! Their visit to Cisco led to a lovely set of matryoshka wireless access points being shipped to an unsuspecting university in Oregon. Reader Eliot had the confusing experience of opening these packages, and took pictures of the process and the mind-boggling pile of waste it left behind.
U.S. Seeks to Silence Tax Evasion Prophet
In a blatant maneuver to put the “scur” into tax evaders, the Justice Department is seeking a court order against a Michigan couple promoting what the government says is the number one tax dodge scheme in America.


