* Posts by David Nash

1434 publicly visible posts • joined 15 Jul 2008

Huawei masters the great vanishing act as UK sales evaporate

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Please stop repeating the lies, or tag your articles as "fake news"

Isn't it the case that the given reason is due to spying fears, even if there is most likely another reason (competition).

In which case the article should report both and explain.

IT phone home: How to run up a $20K bill in two days and get away with it by blaming Cisco

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Bloomberg downloads

Did the license allow this? Sounds like the kind of thing they would explicitly ban!

David Nash Silver badge
Unhappy

Re: I had the reverse: a legit bill being refused

You were using a company phone on company business and the company wouldn't pay the bill? How did they attempt to justify that?

Did you make a claim in the court after you had resigned?

Here's a fun idea: Try to unlock and drive away in someone else's Tesla

David Nash Silver badge

It's proximity

Clearly this happened because you don't need to press any kind of unlock button, you just try to open the door and the car will unlock if a phone registered to a valid keycard is within distance. I believe this works through Bluetooth.

In this case the other guy's phone must have been nearby, maybe he was still there. Maybe they were returning to their cars together.

Either way it's the downside of an admittedly incredibly convenient way to lock and unlock (just walk away) your car.

Thought you'd opted out of online tracking? Think again

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Consent management is bollocks

I've seen this too and I wondered if it's because I have opted out of various platforms so many times. But I wouldn't expect them to care about website B if I opted out on website A though.

Don't worry, that system's not actually active – oh, wait …

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Why would one ...

Isn't that a "grill" or an "oven". Not a Toaster Oven.

Don't get me started on so-called "grilled sandwiches" which never see a grill.

Why ChatGPT should be considered a malevolent AI – and be destroyed

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Gross misunderstanding of the tool

What's the difference between "AI" and "a language statistical model" and why does it matter?

A statistical model just provides realistic output, it doesn't have to be factual.

AI is expected to be factual.

This article demonstrates exactly that.

PC tech turns doctor to diagnose PC's constant crashes as a case of arthritis

David Nash Silver badge

Re: South don't work in the North

Gave.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: past tenses

Well I'll be....

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Don't get me started...

"Yet, oddly, the US pronunciation of the word "herb" pretentiously drops the "h" as if it were a French word (yet doesn't correctly stick the extra "e" on the end)."

Yes what's that all about? given that in American English normally no attempt is made to speak with anything like the original pronounciation (see also "Niche", various central- and eastern-European names containing W, and so on.)

David Nash Silver badge
Pint

Re: Don't get me started...

"Or offer 'em a pint. The poor blighters could use one, and they are hardly the enemy."

Thanks.. But make sure it's a proper British pint, not one of your inferior small U.S. versions .....

David Nash Silver badge
FAIL

Re: Don't get me started...

Also doesn't "gifted" just mean "given"?

A tip for content filter evaluators: erase the list of sites you tested, don't share them on 100 PCs

David Nash Silver badge

Why did all user accounts contain the browser history of his admin account?

I'm interested to understand.

Fixed it for you. Why would someone fake that detail?

Sick of smudges on your car's enormo touchscreen? GM patents potential cure

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Make touch screens illegal in cars?

Yeah the wiper screen is relatively simple, the one I hate is the air recirculation control. If it's on a touch screen it should be permanently showing, like a real button is. Otherwise yes it's too much of a distraction.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: A better idea

Where do the broken-down molecules go? There must be some residue.

The Pentagon is shockingly bad at managing its employee smartphones

David Nash Silver badge

Re: The entire App model

"The Web has been built on principles of security" - Really? It looks to me as if it's had security added on as an afterthought, with many lessons learned along the way.

Creator of Linux virtual assistant blames 'patent troll' for project's death

David Nash Silver badge
Facepalm

Re: Shame but..

Someone will be along to call you a "boomer" soon

Learn the art of malicious compliance: doing exactly what you were asked, even when it's wrong

David Nash Silver badge

I heard a recent study found that washing by hand in a bowl of water ("British way"?) is most economical/environmentally friendly. Modern Dishwashers are second, and washing by hand with continuous running water ("American way"?) the worst. Makes sense.

Prepare to be shocked: Employees hate this One Weird Clause

David Nash Silver badge

Re: I enjoyed my non-compete

A non-compete as a cleaner? Worried about the trade secrets you might take with you?

Native Americans urge Apache Software Foundation to ditch name

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Bit ridiculous

How many Texans are in the Scottish band "Texas"?

etc etc.

Stupid complaint.

Of course U2 is one of Bill Gates' favorite bands

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Is/Are

I started replying to say it depends on context, but changed my mind because on reflection it seems that using the plural is the normal case in Britain at least. Not sure about Ireland.

Forget the climate: Steep prices the biggest reason EV sales aren't higher

David Nash Silver badge

Re: The sticker price ...

My model 3 cost £40K a little over a year ago.

Not sure how much they are now, given inflation and all but I would be surprised if that were not a significant exaggeration.

Sure, not everyone can afford £40K but there are cheaper brands and as the tech matures and becomes more common I expect the prices will come down further.

My view is that the infrastructure is the biggest barrier to higher adoption. Cities and especially places where most people live in apartments with for example underground parking, (I just came back from Spain where this is normal in most places) will have a huge problem making charging accessible.

Cops chase Tesla driver 'dozing' with Autopilot on

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Some clarifications to comments below

Also a Tesla driver here (basic Autopilot, not FSD). It's very nice to drive but of course not perfect (what is?) and that doesn't make me a Musk-fan any more than a Ford driver would be a personal fan of the head of the company - so please don't generalise, people.

I have to say, aircraft Autopilot is not marketed at the general consumer, whereas Tesla is. There is a general perception of what "autopilot" means, which may be wrong but Tesla need to take that into account because it does mislead people. However "Full Self-Driving" is just out-and-out wrong. Clearly optimism got the better of them when naming these features.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: What gets me ....

I agree....I find the adaptive cruise control is great but the lane-keeping is almost pointless because you have to keep your hands on the wheel, and naturally steer anyway.

David Nash Silver badge

"Cyclists or people"?

So "people" then.

Two signs in the comms cabinet said 'Do not unplug'. Guess what happened

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Always leave an empty 13 A socket

We built one into our house when we built it 22 years ago. It's still working great, with no leaks, although somewhat superseded by lightweight cordless vacuum cleaners.

Similarly most of the cat5 and network points we also included are superseded by WiFi, which wasn't a thing back then.

'What's the point of me being in my office, just because they want to see me in the office?'

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Vacation, sick time and PTO

Sick time quotas and banking them etc seems like a sign of a company that doesn't trust its employees.

Who knows when you are going to be sick, or for how long? The company not allowing you paid time off if sick unless you have "earned it" is abusing the employees, and vice versa if someone takes sick time when not sick, or thinks they have an entitlement to time off because they were not sick, is the opposite.

Of course if someone has a chronic illness that results in a major change to their work that should be discussed and addressed in some agreed way.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Contract clauses

"Were I salaried, I would start and stop exactly at my start and stop times, and if I had to work over for some reason I would immediately take the time back at a time and a half rate for the time over 8 hours"

You are misinterpreting what "Salaried" means, by treating it as an hourly rate, multiplied up over the year.

I treat my salary as a fixed amount for getting the job done. Hours vary because sometimes things are urgent and I work more hours, or things have to be done outside of business hours, and other times they are not and I compensate for the other hours. If I need to go to the doctor or dentist, or take the car for an MOT I just do so.

Neither side abuses the situation and all is good (well it's still work, but there you go).

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Contract clauses

Agreed, a good boss, but it shouldn't need to be be quietly.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: If everyone is back in the office..

Just because my generation was more fortunate than my children's generation regarding studying, doesn't mean that I pulled any ladders up, metaphorically. We all are in the situation that society makes for us. I didn't choose the situation my children find themselves in, although I try to make it easier for them.

There is too much generalisation and implicit (or explicit) blaming of all individuals of a particular generation.

Someone has to say it: Voice assistants are not doing it for big tech

David Nash Silver badge

Re: We recieved one as a gift from a family member

That's what I thought. We upgraded from an old fire stick to a newer one and the Alexa button was one of the differences. I have never pressed it and don't intend to.

David Nash Silver badge

2 Echos in one room? I thought you were going to say you got entertainment by having them talk to each other!

FAA wants pilots to be less dependent on computer autopilots

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Dum dum dum dum dum

Exactly, trains have a "dead man's handle" to cut the speed if the driver becomes incapacitated. And signalling intended to prevent trains getting close to each other.

Whereas a dead man's handle in a plane is clearly not possible and the potential for disaster is greater because it's flying rather than on solid ground.

Job 1: Get the boss on the network. Job 2: Figure out why Job 1 broke the network for everyone else

David Nash Silver badge

Re: But ...

That's how I read it.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: I hope it was only the WiFi

I used to use MAC allow-list at home but I was persuaded that it was not worth the effort, because it didn't add significant protection. I forget where but it might even have been comments here that persuaded me.

US Supreme Court asked if cops can plant spy cams around homes

David Nash Silver badge

Re: BSP

I don't think it's gas vs water, there is BSPT (tapered) and BSP straight. Both can be found on water fittings for example. It depends on the type of fitting. A parallel/straight thread needs an end washer to seal, a tapered one does not.

David Nash Silver badge
Pint

Re: re: Quick question... What's a foot?

Feet and inches are generally understood I think (TV screens, anyone?) but US pints and gallons just means you get less beer and should be banned.

IT manager's 'think outside the box' edict was, for once, not (only) a revolting cliché

David Nash Silver badge

At one time (maybe they still exist) there was a type of microwave pizza that came with a shiny silver cardboard base that you were supposed to keep it on when putting it in the microwave. I believe it was supposed to enable the base to crisp but of course didn't work properly.

David Nash Silver badge

Maybe a different type of pizza but the ones we get are not, and need proper cooking.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Static wouldn't have been the only problem

Very subtle!

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Just Packaging

Exactly, you'd have to use two and only take one with you.

Security firms hijack New York trees to monitor private workforce

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Watching the watcher

Because it can be turned off? I don't keep GPS on mine unless I need it.

Go ahead, be rude. You don't know it now, but it will cost you $350,000

David Nash Silver badge

Re: You get what you order

Although strictly speaking I think you're supposed to tell your insurer even if you are not claiming. Not a criminal offence though.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: You get what you order

Happened to me in Spain. A driver hit me from behind when I stopped at an amber which was red by the time I stopped. He didn't expect me to stop and piled into me. According to him it was my fault and he called the police, who just laughed at him.

David Nash Silver badge

Re: You get what you order

Sorry I must be slow. I don't get it. They sent you 5 bottles because why? You returned them? You lied and said you never received it? What did they decide was wrong with the listing?

Tesla recalls 40k cars over patch that broke power steering

David Nash Silver badge
Boffin

Re: Maybe the roads will last longer

Can we not have this in proper Reg units please?

Run a demo on live data? Sure! What could possibly go wrong? Hang on. Are you sure that's not working?

David Nash Silver badge
Happy

Re: Warning: Language nazi at work!

See also https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2022/11/07/who_me/#c_4562836

David Nash Silver badge
Meh

Re: Warning: Language nazi at work!

Thanks for clarifying the meaning...I just skipped over it, a little confused. Well it is Monday morning.

All of the norths are about to align over Britain

David Nash Silver badge

Re: Or you could...

Digital watches are a pretty neat idea though.

Royal Mail customer data leak shutters online Click and Drop

David Nash Silver badge

Re: "The root cause is now under investigation."

Yes and this is effectively privatisation given that the org to which the service is outsourced is the private sector.