Posts by Pascal Monett

"can reach out for help when there's no cell signal coverage over satellite connections"

Hang on, am I supposed to understand that, in the middle of the Grand Canyon, two hiking days out from civilization, I can still call 911 if I have an iPhone ?

Have they managed to include Iridium technology in a slab 8mm thick ?

Somehow I doubt that. Have you seen an Iridium phone ?

Or does Apple have a deal with Starlink ? Because if so, Apple might want to find a way to make sure that His Muskiness doesn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed one morning and shut them off.

Challenge accepted

"this one requires victims to fall prey to both a phishing attempt via malicious advertising and questionable prompts"

Ooh, because you think that'll stop them ?

No, my friend, there will be idiots clueless users who will do whatever some random stranger tells them to do.

As someone wrote in these forums not long ago, it is strange how people completely forget real life and do things online that they would absolutely never do in the same situation in real life.

What's that, random stranger I just met in the street ? But of course I will give you the keys to my house so you can take pictures for your scrapbook. And, when you're done, just be nice and put them under the mat when you close the door. Have a nice day !

Of course Borkzilla wants everyone on Graph

That way it can fleece the userbase even more.

"what they trade for that peace of mind"

is the ability to get home when "smart" doorbell servers are offline.

Which is, of course, a million to one chance, so it happens nine times out of ten when you really need to get inside.

And I'm sorry, but I think there must be a mid-term between selling my personal data to all and sundry and living like a cave man.

It's called dumb terminals, dumb switches, dumb doorbells (get your fat ass off that couch and go see who's there), dumb shutters and a VPN for when you just can't help it.

Out of space

I'm not a DBA, but I do believe that those people keep an eye on that sort of thing, normally. And, if I'm not mistaken, there should be notifications about storage space, and regular reports. You don't just run out of space one morning.

So, if all of that is true (and I have no reason to believe that Toyota DBAs are incapable of using such tools), then how on Earth can this have happened ?

Could it be that the DBA was clamoring for the budget to augment storage and was being basically ignored ?

If so, I don't think they'll ignore him again.

"We have temporarily increased the team size "

Temporarily.

So, the next time there's a "power sag", you'll be in exactly the same position again ?

That's manglement for you. Always use the minimum resources until you hit the wall, then boost like crazy until you feel safe enough to go back to minimum.

What could possibly go wrong ?

"The Register was able to download from Microsoft without entering channel partner credentials"

Hmm. Doesn't that mean that you are guilty of terrorist hacking and computer abuse in the eye of the Home Office ?

Couldn't you get fined for that ?

I mean, people are apparently under risk of arrest for having accessed data that was publicly available, even if posted by mistake by some fat-fingered bobbie with a donut in his hand and another one in his mouth, so where does that put you ?

A speaker and BluTooth in a PoS kit

I am waiting with baited breath to hear how the miscreants are going to abuse that kit.

Because I'm pretty sure it's going to happen.

Why BluTooth ? Don't shop merchants already have a sound system if that's what they want ? It's not difficult to put a CD player in a corner, and these days, you can probably find something that takes a USB key and has all the usual audio controls and speakers. Yeah, maybe it costs a bit more than 9 bucks, but it's already there. Adding BluTooth under the pretext of allowing music is really reaching for an excuse, as far as I'm concerned.

But hey, if they're happy with it . . .

Privacy

I fail to see how a web app is globally more privacy-conscious than a native one. Facebook is going to screw you whatever you use. If El Reg had a native app, I doubt that it would be so impolite.

Know who you're working with. How you do so is less of an issue.

"a big growth opportunity to drive more value for our customers"

Drive more value ?

You mean extort more money.

Hey, customer, this cloud thing is dandy isn't it ? Be a shame if you couldn't take more advantage of it. So, how about doubling your budget ? You're sure to see a lot of benefit, trust me. What's that ? You can't double your budget ? But, it's The Cloud^TM ! Surely you see that using The Cloud^TM improves your business, right ? So have some more.

Regulatory pressure

The only thing that can keep unbridled capitalism in check, eh Ma ?

Capitalism has its good side, no argument there. But capitalism is the golden path to monopoly, and that is where somebody with some muscle needs to step in.

Money is all good and well, and everybody wants some, no argument there, but those who have too much soon fall to the Dark Side of considering they're the only ones who have the right to have some, and everyone else should be paying them for the privilege of using their someone-else's-server that falls over at random intervals.

The good old make-something-that-works-and-they-will-come is eternally replaced by make-something-you-can-lock-them-into.

That's where regulatory pressure needs to be applied.

Preferably with a SWAT team and some think time in a private cell.

"given my previous relationship with Arm"

Oh honey, you had no relationship with Arm.

You had a relationship with people working at Arm.

Now you know what your relationship with Arm is : that which Arm lawyers accept.

And apparently, they don't accept nuthin'.

So maybe you should stop promoting the marvellous people at Arm, since Arm lawyers don't give a shit.