* Posts by Ian Michael Gumby

4454 publicly visible posts • joined 11 Apr 2006

Julian Assange: I'm quite happy to sleep on Ecuador's sofa FOREVER

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: His victims, on the other hand, deserve to see justice done

"Funny how they then refused to edit out the names of the Afghan informers, because it was their job to just release stuff, but seemingly that didn't apply to playing silly-buggers with the evidence in a different case."

This could be potentially damaging since it would separate him and wikileaks from being a member of the press.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: This would be an Assange view of the law..... @Titus

test,

I think you need to reread the court documents of the first extradition hearing.

He never had the green light to leave Sweden.

He left because he knew that the interview was a formality before they charged him with the crime.

And to your point, no. He's not worth creating an international incident over. He's a prick, sure, but if the US has enough evidence to haul him in on an espionage charge... there is no statute of limitations.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Bah @ Bleu

Uhm just a couple of nits...

Rape is one of the 32 offenses where you don't have to show a duality of the crime.

So whatever Sweden says is rape, is considered rape in Sweden.

The interview where he 'ran away' was the formality meeting where he would be charged with the crime.

Its not an 'interview' in terms that many people understand.

The only person abusing the system is Assange.

He needs to man-up.

Ian Michael Gumby
Black Helicopters

@Titus Re: This would be an Assange view of the law.....

If Julian goes to Sweden, faces the music... it gets murky.

Because of his actions, the UK could refuse to let him in.

He jumped bail, and caused a lot of embarrassment for the UK. Does he get charged after the Swedes are done? I don't know.

Could he go to Ecuador? Maybe, but he may be forced to go back to Australia. He is travelling on an Australian passport.

From Australia, he may be allowed to go to Ecuador or they may take his passport.

I'm not saying that he can't get to Ecuador but that it may not be that easy.

And this is regardless of what the US Government does or doesn't do.

Ian Michael Gumby
Devil

Re: The question is...

If they want him out... import some bed bugs. :-)

Then all they need to do is flea bomb the place after he leaves.

That Microsoft-Nokia merger you've been predicting? It's no go

Ian Michael Gumby
Devil

Re: That would be a long wait.

They would have gone to a different OS.

The point is that if Google had introduced Android and then introduced their own handset, other phone manufacturers would have questioned why would they enter a market where Google's phone would have the latest and greatest and they would be a second tier phone.

Google can still do this via Moto Mobility.

They could do it and laugh all the way to the bank...

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

That would be a long wait.

Nokia can limp along for a while.

There are some 'crown jewels' that certain fruity companies would want. Map Data and GPS tech is very important in the mobile phone / tablet market place.

If Microsoft becomes a handset manufacturer, you can kill Windows adoption goodbye.

Had Google bought Moto earlier, half of the handset makers would have bailed on Android because Google's phone would always have an advantage.

Six nations ask Google for answers on Glass privacy

Ian Michael Gumby
Big Brother

Re: FFS

Sure.

But if you catch someone with the spy camera glasses, you could punch them in the face and then break the glasses. Why? Because they are spy glasses...

The big issue is that you didn't sign away your rights or expectations to privacy. So when the d1ckhead with the glasses decides that he wants to come in to your house and your party, you have no way of opting out.

Sorry, but if someone wants to use their camera phone to snap some pics, I can always walk away, same too w video. But you have no real warning that his camera is on, unless you notice the red led is on.

I'm not saying that Google glasses don't have some value, but that I do understand how the lack of privacy can be a pain.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: FFS

Yes you wear it. That's the point and the problem.

Much less obvious that a guy walking around with his smart phone out all the time and pointing the camera lens around.

When to say those three little words: 'I am quitting'

Ian Michael Gumby

@Tom Re: "protecting management from the staff"

Dominic is right on this one.

HR exists to protect the company. When they seem to be on the side of the employee, it's to make sure that they are in compliance with labor laws.

Overall, they are incompetent. Not to be trusted.

They don't know what real work means.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

@Peter Re: Caveat Emptor

7. Be careful withthis one : some people treat you like crap because they are under the false impression you will not break their face because you are civilized, and all the reasons why they regularly had beaten the crap out of them on high school no longer hold true. And that they therefor can insult you, your parentage and your offspring as much as they like. This is blatently untrue. At least it is with me. There is a line. It is not a fine one. It is big, wide, brash in fluorecent colours lit by 10 kW floodlights. Don't cross it. It will be very painful.

-=-

Most bad managers are bad because they have never learned or were taught on how to be a good manager. More than likely they were just tossed in to the role and told sink or swim.

There are those who are bullies, those who think that knowledge is power, and those who misinterpret Machiavelli. And of course the worst kind are those managers who actually thrive on the conflict.

If you are at the point of wanting to get physical, step back and walk away. Leave your job immediately.

This is what I meant by a caustic environment.

Remember that there is this thing called karma, and she's a bitch.

Ian Michael Gumby

Tosser or not, there's always some truth in the article...

I think the question you have to ask is what can I take away from the article.

1) Don't jump ship until you have some place to land.

2) While you may value your skills at X, doesn't mean that other employers will agree.

First, while I think its common sense to always make sure you have an exit strategy.

However, I have to disagree with the author because there are times when your work environment has become so caustic that you just have to leave. Even just to regain your center and focus before moving on to the next big thing.

One thing that would make anyone jump before finding something is when you're doing 100% travel and you can't really interview, and your former employers think that just because your a salaried employee (exempt) that they can expect you to pull a 60+ hour work week for 10 weeks straight.

The second issue is also common sense.

Just because the average salary for a position is X doesn't mean that your skills are at that level or higher. Or that you have enough work experience. (Among other things)

Oracle's Ellison outlines plans for Hawaiian Electriclarryland

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Go nuclear

While an electric island powered by solar sounds nice, the realities will set in. Mother Nature can be a real bitch sometimes.

A small latest generation plant could power Larry's dream. Maybe using wind to augment the power plant would be possible, but I wouldn't bet the future on it.

How long has the US run a nuclear navy? Longer than most readers have been alive.

See also nuclear salt batteries..

Google seeks to calm facial recognition furor with app block for Glass

Ian Michael Gumby
WTF?

Re: WTF?

How many people are running facial recognition software on photos on flickr?

That's the point. You nor I have the computing power and library of images to go through to do the photo recognition.

Another commentard pointed out that one could take the video and then run facial recognition. Really? Your point that you need to have reference photos would make that impossible. However... The government, Google and Facebook have those photos...

And also to your point... yes privacy issues have been around. Only its taken this to make people aware of how much of their privacy has been eroded.

Ian Michael Gumby

WTF?

Sorry but how do you opt-out of any facial recognition software when you're not the one wearing the glasses?

Clearly the Feds need to get ahead of the curve on this.

Oh wait. Google already has an army of lobbyists working on their behalf already and are padding the politician's pockets as we speak.

Graphene QUILT: A good trampoline for elephants in stiletto heels

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Ninja silks....

The idea would be to make a composite shell using the graphene. You could then wrap it within the kevlar/nylon material to help reduce shrapnel and/or ricochets. (Imagine the vest deflecting the bullet in to your throat or face...)

You could then put a cotton pad or even a neoprene gel pack to help absorb the shock.

(Cotton goes back to ancient Japanese armor.)

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Bullet proof vests...

@Charles,

With respect to a bullet proof anything is that while the round may not penetrate. You still have to deal with the Kinetic Energy behind the round.

Going from memory, the layers of kevlar trap the bullet and will deform as it absorbs the energy. However, teflon coated bullets were able to defeat the kevlar.

In today's vests, you have a kevlar vest (plate carrier) w a ceramic plate inside the carrier.

Even if the round doesn't penetrate the first layer of kevlar, the force of the round is spread over the mass of the plate so that instead of 800-1200 foot pounds per square inch (400 yard shot), its spread out over a larger square.

Imagine if you had a bullet proof riot shield. Someone fires a large enough round at you... you will end up getting a broken limb or a very sore shoulder from the torsion effect. But at least you will be alive.

I was thinking more of using it to skin a vehicle where you would have a lighter frame.

Or if you've looked at carbon wraps around rifle barrels... you could create a very thin walled tube, wrapped in less Graphene which would withstand more pressure. The same could go for a frame of a car, so you can reduce the weight without reducing the safety.

A very expensive car.

Quantum boffins send data ACROSS TIME AND SPACE

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Neither... Its a proof...Re: Genius or Brainfart?

Time travel? I think not.

Photon 1, 2, 3 and 4 are linked.

Even though Photon 1 is lost, its state is captured in 2 which is linked to 3 which is linked to 4.

Can you say associative property?

A is to B as B is to C there for A is to C?

No time travel.

A past photon sets the state which is carried forward.

Amazon cloud threatens entire IT ecosystem – report

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Anybody remember Timenet?

Back in the 70's, most companies couldn't afford their own systems.

So they went the timesharing route.

Seems like things are cyclical ...

Big Data is bovine excrement says Obama's Big Data man

Ian Michael Gumby
Devil

@AC Re: @ergu you're so old! @Ian

I did catch his sarcasm, however the issue is that the 'privacy' controls are all a bit of a sham.

And that only the young who are so trusting fall for it.

As an example... I get tagged in a photo on Facebook. What recourse do I have in getting my name and tag taken down? Especially since I have no way of knowing about the tag unless a friend happens to tell me.

Gets even worse with Google Glasses.

The LOL was that his 'sarcasm' and naivety make me chuckle...

The Devil because you don't believe that he exists. ;-)

Ian Michael Gumby
Big Brother

@ergu Re: you're so old!

You're so young that you don't know that the greatest lie the devil told was that he didn't exist.

The point junior is that they do capture a lot of PII. The only thing that they do is that after a period of time, they anonymize the data so that it doesn't point back to you. However, I'm willing to wager that its still possible to tie that data back to you... (Facebook that is...)

The fact that you trust Google after their War Driving incident? Or that Schmidt admitted that even after attempting to change your name that they could still tie data to you?

LOL...

Be afraid, be very afraid...

Ian Michael Gumby
WTF?

@Jake Re: First of all ...

You do realize that Google and Facebook capture a lot more data in a day that most of the fortune 500 companies manage in a year? Yeah, its that much.

I'm afraid you live in a little fairytale of a world if you don't think Google or Facebook won't correlate the data in different ways than you imagine. They will if they are not already doing it. Its not just about serving up ads, but figuring out how to monetize the data.

You and your company using gmail? Guess what... your mail is probably being mined. If not by human hands, but by machines.

You log in to your favourite paper using your FaceBook credentials for authentication.... Now Facebook knows what articles you've read and more about your interests.

There's more, but I doubt you could handle the truth...

'Catastrophic failure' of 3D-printed gun in Oz Police test

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Why not bake the gun

You do realize that making a ceramic gun has been around for a long time and would survive more than 10 rounds...

I guess building a proper kiln is harder...

Wikileaks leaks documentary script about Wikileaks

Ian Michael Gumby
Black Helicopters

Re: Seriously though,

You do realize that the US Navy Seals have been in country in Afghanistan, right?

Blogger better be a billionaire, says 'open access' publisher lawsuit

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: How scary

80% of the population are Hindu's and only 13% are Muslim.

Rapes per 100,000 people (2010):

India: 1.8

To be fair, that's reported rapes.

But getting back to the point...

The guy getting sued, if he were in America, he would be protected under his first amendment rights to free speech as long as his speech doesn't run afoul of libel or hate speech.

The lawsuit is bogus and in the US would be considered a SLAPP suit.

Rogue Nokia splinter cell drops its Jolla phone A-BOMB

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Ota tuo, vihreä robotti Google!

While I agree that Nokia was dumb to let these guys go... I don't think it was a bad idea.

Considering the fact that Nokia has enough cash that they could buy out this company and take the device and run with it... It let these guys alone and design in peace.

That may seem like a weird concept, but it really does make sense the more you think about it.

These guys can develop a phone unmolested by pointy haired managers.

Nokia can cozy up to Microsoft's teat, and get needed cash.

The guys who create the phone take all the risk and Nokia doesn't have any risk of devising a new platform.

Those guys who built it will make a shit load of cash for their risk when they sell out. (If they sell out.)

Just food for thought....

Senators: You - Cook. Apple guy. Get in here and bring your tax books

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

If you want to see some of the tax money...

Just create a partial amnesty.

Current corp tax rate... 35%

Amnesty period... drop to 20% or something like that for 1 year.

If they don't like it, then you can have them change the tax laws.

I'm sure California will love that one since they would also get a bonus in taxes too.

Former Fusion-io CEO just wasn't that into operations, says new broom

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Smart Guy for stepping down...

Silicon Valley is littered with companies which have had CEO and Founders who had good ideas but failed to execute on them.

Its rare for a company's founder to be the CEO and have the company survive.

For every successful founder that ends up being a successful CEO, you can find 10+ who's company has failed due to their lack of leadership ability.

Why are scribes crying just 'cos Google copied their books? asks judge

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

@btrower... Re: S/B class action, but authors should lose

I think that its poor form to criticize another poster when you yourself don't grok the basic meaning of the term 'fair use'.

What Google is doing is theft, plain and simple. Google is not being altruistic in their actions. Actually far from it.

First, let clarify what is meant by the term 'fair use'.

I urge you to read the following web sites:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

and

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Fair+use+doctrine

In short you have four parts to the litmus test:

"

The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes

The nature of the copyrighted work

The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole

The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

"

Google is taking large chunks of the work and publishing it online. Note there is no commentary on the part of Google.

Google makes money from this act even if it's 'free' to you.

Google not only sells ads, but they also capture information as to who browsed their selection, how long and what they were interested in.

That is to say, Google knows who you are, what you are interested in, along with other details. The more they know about you, they better they can 'target' ads. The bottom line is that they gain value from your visit, even if they don't show an ad. (The advertisements are a bonus).

Note that none of this 'value' flows down stream to the author of the work. That is theft. They are using the work of another person to gain value for themselves.

Note that this isn't for books no longer protected under the copyright laws but what they consider 'orphaned' books. That is to say that these books are no longer in print, yet still protected under the copyright laws.

Google is ignoring the law, yet again. They should be fined. Not sure if the Judge's comment was taken out of context, or if he was making a comment based on what had been presented in court.

The one thing that Google has in its favor is that the authors need to show harm which isn't a simple argument.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Seems counterproductive...

I think that the argument of 'fair use' doesn't pass the sniff test.

As to Google wanting to fight many smaller suits is that without class action status, many of the authors couldn't afford to fight Google. Google has that deep of a pocket that even if found guilty of copyright infringement in all cases.. it would put a dent only in 1 qtr's earnings.

Google is on the hook potentially for 3Billion USD. If they can win some of the cases, it would come out ahead in terms of dollars and cents.

Nokia's debuts new 'Fastlane' UI in $99 flagship Asha 501

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: I don't get the this Landfill Android meme

He means that the cheaper the phone, the greater the chance that it will break and rather than fix it, its cheaper to throw it away and buy a new one. Hence the landfill...

Unfortunately that's the sad truth. Cheap disposable devices will win out.

'Quantum network? We've had one for years,' says Los Alamos

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: But this is *not* a network, by your own definition.

You do realize that this is still experimental right?

Do you remember the first phone networks?

Give it time....

Google's Schmidt calls for 'DELETE from INTERWEBS' button

Ian Michael Gumby
Devil

Re: That's quite a turnaround.

Funny, but you do realize that even changing your name doesn't work.

There is still going to be a public record between your new name and your old name so that all of the data will still exist.

The only way to get stuff off the web is to die and no longer generate net new data. Of course if you are dead, you will not care what is said about you on the web....

Just saying....

Plans for fully 3D-printed gun go online next week

Ian Michael Gumby
Devil

Re: One shot

You could build a ceramic gun that could take the pressures of multiple rounds.

You could build a ceramic/carbon fiber barrel that could take multiple rounds through it.

As to caseless ammo, it does exist however its very expensive and its a collector's item. Its not made out of ceramics or carbon fiber, btw....

The drawback to caseless ammo is that you need an electronic firing device to set it off.

Ironically while there is fear of the case less ammo, if you wanted to insert an RFID tag/ring or some other biometric feature to the gun, it would be easier to do it to a gun that fired case less ammo.

There is a reason why the gun doesn't have a barrel ;-)

The interesting thing about this gun is that you could print it but to be in possession of such a gun would be an instant jail term.

I think its cool as shit, while I'd be willing to download the plans, I am sure as hell I wouldn't actually consider printing it.

Thousands rally behind teen girl cuffed, expelled in harmless 'explosion'

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: @h3 ... OOPS!

Clearly you've never gone in to a Fleet Farm or maybe the seed and feed.

(Yes, I have).

Again, try buying Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer and you will see how much things have changed over the years.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

@h3 ... Re: OOPS!

Yup, you pretty much proved my point.

When my father was a kid. The pharmacist had everything. That was pretty much the same up into the 50's and 60's.

When I was a kid, you could get certain things via mail order. But some of the stuff was controlled, but it was still possible.

Today? Not so much.

Heck 10-15 years ago, you could get Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers and of course diesel fuel. Today? LOL... try it and the feds will come a-knocking.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

@Mad Mike Re: OOPS!

I think you've been watching too much TV.

First school age kids can't run around with weapons legally. Technically the .22 rifle they got for Xmas or their birthday is owned by their parents. Also you better believe that when a parent give a gun to a teen, they teach the teen about proper gun safety. (Or rather they should...) [Think of it as evolution in action]

Also in an accidental shooting, no one is let off scot free. They may not face charges or jail time, but there are still repercussions.

Note that I'm not advocating any jail time, however because they did this on school property, I think that its fair that the school does something.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: OOPS!

Why all the down votes?

Clearly I'm old enough to have a) done worse as a youth, and b) have kids their age.

The difference is that

1) We didn't have the constant worry about home made bombs going off killing or seriously injuring people.

2) Unlike the the girls, we took precautions to keep us safe.

3) We didn't do any of this on school grounds.

Should the girls face criminal charges? No.

Should the girls face disciplinary action from the school? Yes.

There's a reason why there is a disclaimer on the TV shows that kids shouldn't do things on their own.

Sorry, but lets be real. The school system has to protect itself and it has to re-enforce that its possible to do something stupid and someone can get hurt. They have to set an example so others think before doing something similar but even more dangerous...

I wonder if you can still buy iodine crystals at a local pharmacy these days....

Ian Michael Gumby
Pirate

Re: OOPS!

I think most of us as teens did similar things.

But that was then and before things like 9/11, 7/7 and now 4/15 (Boston).

Yes its very easy to walk in to a grocery store or a pharmacy and buy household chemicals to make explosives. Heck, you don't even need to do that to make thermite.

While I don't condone the girls getting charged, I do think that they were stupid and should have been more careful.

Doing it on school grounds should have been reason for a short suspension, but other than that... imagine if they mixed amonia and bleach together in a confined space with poor ventilation....

Google 'will be pulled back in front of MPs' on its UK tax affairs

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Don't bash the MPs for doing their job

Its a clear and simple tax dodge that fails the simple sniff test.

If this was done in the US, the IRS would have a field day. Oh wait, they did with Amazon's Affiliate programs. The Affiliate is in NJ, not Amazon even though Amazon is doing the fulfillment from their warehouse in Indiana so Amazon should pay taxes in NJ. (This is just an example. I don't know if Amazon has a presence in NJ or not.)

I also agree about the double standard. Which is why I universally hate all politicians just on principal. Lawyers too and you will see me cheering when the revolution comes and they line up all of the lawyers first. ;-)

The point is that what Google is doing doesn't pass the sniff test.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: @IMG

Well thats the thing.

Sure you can create a bill from Ireland and have the person in the UK sign a contract with Google Ireland but that doesn't stop the transaction from occurring in the UK.

Google clearly has a presence in the UK, Whatever you call the office its essentially a sales office thus the transaction is local to the UK.

The tax dodge should fail under existing laws.

With respect to Starbucks, they got a bit clever saying that they were buying their coffee beans from a supplier in the Netherlands. (I think it was the Netherlands.) As it turns out, its a wholly owned subsidiary set up to sell coffee to only Starbucks at a 20% mark up. So you have Starbucks selling coffee to itself as a way to capture the 20% revenue at a lower tax bracket, increasing the costs in the UK so that they either make little or break even in the UK.

Again its a tax dodge, however it would be a bit harder to stop.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

From the article:

"He said ‘if [customers] want to buy advertising from us they are encouraged to do so by our people in the UK - they will buy it from our expert team in Dublin ... the people on the ground [in the UK] are helping people make the most of the web and the people in Ireland are helping to operate the systems and sell advertising to the businesses that want to work with us'.

-=-

Translation.

The man on the ground in the UK may be a representative, but Google is saying that the sales transaction is occurring with the guy in Ireland who is handling the paperwork.

So the man on the ground isn't doing the sale, just providing information about the product and company. At least that's google's perspective.

The reality however is different. The man on the ground is the sales person. This is clearly a tax avoidance scheme and you can bet that Google will sue their auditors for a failed scheme. Oh and this isn't the first time such schemes were created.

Don't bash the MPs for doing their job. Time for Google to cough up the cash.

Brit horologist hammers out ‘first’ ATOMIC-POWERED watch

Ian Michael Gumby

This could be a very cool device.

Years ago, the atomic clocks used in satellites were the size of cigarette lighters. (That was state of the art.) Not sure how much drift (accuracy) occurred when compared to this slightly smaller unit.

The cool thing is that while its a bit big for a watch, its possible to build a pocket watch that could be used to make a more accurate personal GPS device.

While they sell 'atomic' wall clocks (they receive the radio signal from the national time centers), imagine having your own clock that can automatically give you the correct time without having to sync with base stations or other devices.

Ok, so its just a pure geek thing. ;-)

I definitely want one.

Ginni blasts 'slow' IBM staff after poor Q1 results

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Ginni got played...

A woman running IBM? Say it aint so!

Just kidding. I'm not trying to be sexist, because I'm not.

But you have to realize that IBM has been playing accounting tricks for the past decade and longer. Offshoring back room functions, onshoring substandard and cheap labor in to GS outsourcing contracts. Letting their products get long in the teeth why buying companies...

Propping the stock up with buy backs which incidentally, exec's pays are tied to stock performance...

The house of cards were eventually about to fall, and Ginni happens to be the CEO when it happens.

Coincidence that the exec who's in charge when the wheels fall off the cart? I think not.

Just some food for thought.

Here's a free clue. You sell off your server business (keep the mainframe because they are dying...) [Hint: Mainframe == prehistoric Big Data System] What's left? Overpriced hoard of consultants and aging software.

Doesn't take a genius to figure out that to save the company, you need a big axe and some deep pockets to re-invent itself.

Fed up with database speed? Meet Big Blue's BLU-eyed boy

Ian Michael Gumby
FAIL

Re: Dear TMP

Clearly he doesn't know anything... ;-)

First, this is a repackaging of the IWA ( Informix/IDS Warehouse Accelerator) which was an extension of Kevin Brown's work done in the Financial Foundation done a decade earlier.

Second, the acceleration comes from the fact that you're putting everything in to memory and only a TB at that. (Note: they compress it to give you the feeling of more...)

That's pretty much it. Keep in mind that you have to load everything in to the accelerator and that takes time. So while you can query on things faster, its not really going to meet your needs in terms of 'big data' performance.

Its a hack to get a bit more simple analytics out of your RDBMS.

And yes, in spite of Janet Perna, IDS still has a large customer base. Its probably the best RDBMs on the market.

But this BLU is more smoke than mirrors. All it does is put a relatively small bit of data in memory for faster analytics than if it were on disk.

Movie review: Oblivion

Ian Michael Gumby

Re: Nothing puts me off a film more

I wonder how much of the main character follows the Scientology mantra of Hubbard.

Belief in ones self and one can do anything... The hero as an unknown 'super man' .

I haven't seen the film, but that tends to be Tom Cruise's characters.

Intel demos inexpensive 100Gb/sec silicon photonics chip

Ian Michael Gumby
Thumb Up

Forget computing...

Think of real world use cases!

TELEVISION!

Now your cable company can stream either more carp at you or maybe, just maybe that super high 4HD images.

That is to say that this technology can now be used to restart the TV and Video/Movie tech industry too.

Apple files patent for iPhone with wraparound display

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Re: Oh great

Uhm... Just a nit. If you create a wrap around display, there is no back.

There also isn't an easy way to replace the battery, or sim.

Google vows no patent prosecution for open source cloud tech

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

Very misleading...Re: OPN Pledge.

More smoke and mirrors and a bit of a reach.

First Google cant make a pledge and say that they won't sue companies that support and use apache licensed code, and then attempt to assert patent enforcement on a company that creates a derivative based on Apache which is permissible under Apache's license.

It doesn't wash.

The statement is more about image management than about protecting an invalid patent.

A lot of the techniques used have been around longer that the ability to register a software patent.

Sorry, but when you see pledges like this, you start to realize why software and business process patents are so wrong.

Ian Michael Gumby
Boffin

I don't think you understand...

First I think you have to see which patents google has.

To your point, google releases GWT.

They can't now go after companies who use it because they are infringing.

Even if they embed GWT into their product, a lawsuit will be tossed.

What google is saying is that if a company creates or uses software in their own products which are based on the open source code that violates a google patent , then they might sue.

While google wont win, they will spend you into the ground. This was clearly a warning shot meant at a specific large company.