The EDSAC was the world’s first stored-program computer to operate a regular computing service. Designed and built at Cambridge University, England, the EDSAC performed its first calculation on 6th May 1949. The Edsac simulator is a faithful software evocation of the EDSAC computer as it existed in 1949-51. The user interface has all the controls and displays of the original machine, and the system includes a library of original programs, subroutines, and debugging software. The simulator is intended for use in teaching the history of computing; as a tutorial introduction to the classic “von Neumann” computer; or as an historical experience for current computer practitioners. [via] Link.

NPR’s Morning Edition has an interesting show about Photographers Becoming Security Concerns. Photographers across the country have complained of getting harassed by law enforcement officials citing security concerns since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Here’s the flyer mentioned in the broadcast. Link.

Several sources are reporting that it does indeed work. You’ll need to do some funny trick with swapping Memory Sticks (so you do need two of them) and modifying the PBP file of the homebrew application you’re trying to run, but when all is said and done it will hopefully work for you. All necessary files, including a tutorial, are available… Link. Bonus link: PSP MAME is updated.

Boingboing has a post about Pinatas fashioned after popular cartoon characters and sold by small-time street vendors are the subject of a new legal crackdown by big entertainment companies including Disney. Bummer, but don’t fret- if you really want that Nemo or Winnie the Pooh Pinata Disney Online’s Family Fun shows how to make your own. [via] Link.

DVDFab Decrypter (Win) is a simple version of DVDFab Express. It copies entire DVD movie to hard disk, and removes all the protections (CSS, RC, RCE, Macrovision, UOPs and Sony ARccOS) while copying. Good for when you need to make backups of your DVDs or put a copy of the movie you bought on another device, just like we can with CDs. Link.

The Nerd Vittles staff will be taking a breather for a bit to recharge our batteries. But, in the finest college tradition, we’re leaving you lots of homework. Here’s a listing of what we’ve built thus far in our Mac mini ISP-In-A-Box project. So, while we’re taking it easy, pick out a few projects you haven’t tried and knock yourself out. Any Mac running at least Mac OS X v10.3 aka Panther is a suitable candidate for these projects. Many also have been tested with Tiger. Link.

Today’s stylish PCs may perform billions of calculations a second and store tens of billions of bytes of data, but for many, they have got nothing on the 32, 48 or 64-kilobyte machines that were the giants of the early 1980s. This renewed interest in old-school computing is more than just a trip down memory-chip lane. Early computers are a part of our technological heritage, and also offer a unique perspective on how today’s machines work. And within growing collections of original computers and home-made replicas, and the anecdote-filled web pages and blogs devoted to them, lies the equipment and expertise that will one day help unlock our past by reading countless computer files stored in outmoded formats. [via] Link.