* Posts by Gio Ciampa

503 publicly visible posts • joined 26 Jul 2008

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Don't believe the IT hype: Ye cannae change the laws of physics

Gio Ciampa

Re: @Gio Ciampa

I'll admit the code was written to fit the hotel example, so is quite specific to that. You can play "spot the language" if you like - the code would work as written (bar the dumb error as mentioned...)

My point was that the rigid adherence to the row/column table paradigm isn't necessariy the best way to go - best tool for the job and all that...

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

oops... should have set distance to the result of the $$howfar() function... ah well... the joys of knocking out bits of code in 2 minutes flat...

Gio Ciampa

"The best you can do is find a cunning way to crunch the numbers faster - by disregarding bits of data that you know aren't relevant, for instance, or by using a parallel-processing system, or by using a heuristic algorithm that gives a slightly less (but still acceptably) accurate solution with a significantly smaller amount of work."

Or..

You could use a different database paradigm entirely - drop the row/column stuff and use sparse arrays where the coordinates are the subscripts, and the search (assuming the longitude/latitude restrictions are still being used) becomes a matter of:

(apologies for the '.'s - quickest way I could think of to get some manner of indentation)

set long=startLong

for {

....set long=$next(destinationList(long))

....if long>endLong quit

....set lang=startLang

....for {

........set lang=$next(destinationList(long,lang))

........if lang>endLang quit

........if $$howfar(long,lang,userLong,userLang)<maxDistance {

............set resultList(distance)=destinationList(long,lang)

........}

....}

}

then just go through the resultList array, picking out as many as you need... self indexing, simpler, quicker, and a whole long easier to debug...

Virgin Mobile coughs to choking its customers

Gio Ciampa

I'd say those limits are tethering-related - from the giffgaff website:

Patterns indicating illegitimate usage

We monitor the mobile internet activity which takes place on the network each day and we have developed a system to identify tethering based on this information.

The specific triggers which help us to identify tethering are referred to as ‘tethering indicators’. The tethering indicators which we use are varied. They include, but are not limited to:

Having tested a number of devices and applications, we feel that any usage over 1GB/hour or 3GB/day is indicative of illegitimate usage

Using a significant amount of data for a long period of time (ie we’d expect someone to sleep at some stage within a 24 hour period).

It is a very small minority of members who are identified as tethering using these indicators, but unless this usage is prevented, illegitimate usage consumes an unfair amount of network resources.

Clarkson: 'I WILL find and KILL the spammers who hacked me'

Gio Ciampa

Took years though to get to that point - here's hoping they've learned from it

Ubuntu? Fedora? Mint? Debian? We'll find you the right Linux to swallow

Gio Ciampa

Re: Another example of why Linux fails to gain market share

If - by "leader" - you mean the one installed on most desktops... doesn't that mean you're advocating sticking with Windows? Rather negates the point of the article wouldn't you say?

How to destroy a brand-new Samsung laptop: Boot Linux on it

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

Ubuntu 12 ???

Never heard of it...

Oh.. you mean (from the article) Precise Pangolin 12.04 - where the 12 stands for the year...

My top tip for Microsoft: Stop charging for Windows Phone 8

Gio Ciampa

And spineless ACs?

Gio Ciampa

Re: Most "desktops" are mobile

"to add to the long list of missing text-processing concepts that have been with us for decades. Such as cursor keys or "Home", "End", or "Delete".

Try the Hacker's Keyboard - a full 5 row keyboard with all those lovely buttons present

The Oric-1 is 30

Gio Ciampa
Thumb Up

Re: Fond memories

Ah yes, the joys of learning 6502 on mine (courtesy one of those little flip-page books from ?Bernard Babani?)

Ofcom: You like to make CALLS, yeah? Tell us what you want from mobiles

Gio Ciampa

Re: T Mobile gripes

Silly question - why haven't you just turned off the mobile data network on the phone, so the apps can't update unless you're on wifi?

Gio Ciampa

Re: " and then a tiny amount of data."

Until they change the T&Cs without warning... that's why I left them

BT's 'six-month free broadband' offer is a big fat FIB - ads watchdog

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

When it says "Offer ends 10/01/13"...

... I've always assumed that it meant that anyone applying for the offer by that date got the next 6 months for free...

Shows how much I know... *slaps forehead*

UK armed forces could be 'fatally compromised’ by cyber attack

Gio Ciampa

Re: HERE WE GET RIPPED AGAIN!

"one billion dollars"

That'll be figures from the same set of beancounters that claimed Gary McKinnon caused hundreds of millions in damage (that they obviously didn't spend on doing the repairs necessary)?

MEGAGRAPH: 1983's UK home computer chart toppers

Gio Ciampa

Re: Plus4

Ditto here with the C-16 I acquired from somewhere...

2012: The year that netbooks DIED

Gio Ciampa

Re: Ultrabooks with "premium specs"

Just spotted that the T60 is also 5 years old...

...and about 8 times more expensive than the 701 from the reviews i could find from that time

Gio Ciampa

Re: Ultrabooks with "premium specs"

I call bullshit on your bullshit - specifically the "is shipping" part, given that you're comparing modern-day laptops with five-year-old 701s - and your quote from Linus is just a reiteration of that

Oranges, apples, etc...

After Sandy Hook, Senator calls for violent video game probe

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hmm...

"Actually it isn't as, according to FBI data, hands and feet accounted for nearly 750 homicides in 2010. "

As opposed to the roughly 10,000 gun murders...

Pentagon hacker McKinnon will NOT be prosecuted in the UK

Gio Ciampa

Re: Child's Play

No, it's not OK.

That said - if you spent however many millions to fix the locks after the event (given the massive damages the US were claiming) - I'd like to know that what you paid for actually works...

...unlike the reality - some 10 years after... http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-017.pdf

Ready for ANOTHER patent war? Apple 'invents' wireless charging

Gio Ciampa

Re: Wirelessly Charging Mobile Devices!

"If only electric car makers had thought of using induction charging for cars"

Already being done it seems - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18984160

Skype 3.0 lands on Android tabs, says all your bass are belong to it

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

Installed...

...did my usual call to the test service - it carried on ringing even though she was giving me the spiel - then two pings about a second apart indicated that I could talk (and then stop)...

...so no change to it's behaviour from the last year or so - apart from logging in first time which it hasn't done for ages...

...and thus uninstalled (from my Wildfire)

Ten Linux apps you must install

Gio Ciampa

Re: You missed one

Ditto here - but then that's probably due to using Norton Commander on DOS oh so many years ago, and being happy with the way it works.

Might give PeaZip a go though - if only to compare it to the 7zip equivalent I tend to use on Windows boxes

Apple said to have let the name of the next OS X cat out of the bag

Gio Ciampa

Re: Lynx → Linux

I'd expect so - just make sure the witnesses are standing far enough away so that the differences aren't obviously discernable...

...I believe that's the accepted practice...

Apple and Samsung add iPhone 5, Note, S3 to brewing law-storm

Gio Ciampa

A suggestion...

Add every product from both companies to the list - then ban sales of both lists until they see sense...

Vodafone will rent you an iPhone 5 for 69p* a day

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

Re: Lets do some maths

RTFA... "which essentially puts the hardware rental at just 69p a day"

They've calculated what the difference is - they're not saying that's what the deal is

UK prosecutors, cops ponder new probe into NASA hacker McKinnon

Gio Ciampa

Re: The US should be thankful..

NASA's systems are still just as insecure a decade later...

http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-017.pdf

If there was a security review - someone should be done for defrauding NASA out of a bunch of cash

Firm-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's tax dodge profit shift? Totally legit

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

Re: Fair play to them

So you're happy to pay more tax - so big business can pay sod all?

Really???

Apple unveils iPad mini, upgrades its big brother

Gio Ciampa

Re: A must have?

Fine by me - means I won't have to spend my time queuing to pay the extra...

Everything Everywhere prices up UK 4G

Gio Ciampa

Re: ouch

(a small clarification - for those not covered by the 4G phone or £99 upgrade path)

Gio Ciampa

Re: ouch

" if you are already a T-Mob or Orange customer"

...you also get charged 2/3 of your remaining contract for the privilege - timing is all...

Education Secretary Gove: Tim Berners-Lee 'created the INTERNET'

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hmm

(aimed at NomNomNom by the way)

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hmm

Michael? Is that you? Internet != Web and Teacher != Pedo

McKinnon will not be extradited to the US, says Home Secretary

Gio Ciampa

Re: Oh for goodness sake

Ditto - add the Daily Mail to that list also!

Final decision by Home Sec on McKinnon extradition due today

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hacker, yes. Extradite, no

Who is saying anything about no punishment? He should have been tried here years ago, and that would have ended the matter.

If you don't fix your shitty locks after the event, that isn't the intruder's fault, is it?

Gio Ciampa

Re: Not consequential

"I suspect the monetary "damage" they talk about was spent upgrading their security"

They may have spent it... but certainly not on upgrades - there have been numerous reports since that show security is just as bad even now so, as you say, <enemy du jour> will have no trouble at all getting in

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hacker, yes. Extradite, no

"The witnesses are located in the USA, the evidence is located in the USA"

And the people who are still in jobs at the Pentagon, and NASA, who should have tightened up security on their systems before this happened... and have yet to do so even to this day... are in the USA - and looking to cover their arses

Gio Ciampa

Re: Not consequential

"Mr McKinnon was only diagnosed with Aspergers after he was arrested, which is rather convenient."

You (conveniently) forget the fact that the diagnosis was suggested by Simon Baron-Cohen - a leading authority on the condition - and NOT by Gary, his mother, or his supporters.

iOS 6 Alarms bug hits Australia

Gio Ciampa
Coat

Re: Patent 34563285-4

But there's Prior Art!!!

Oh... that was Apple as well...

Nokia pumps up Lumia browsing with Xpress

Gio Ciampa

Re: Why aren't others doing this?

"Nokia Drive - Navigation by Google"

Err... offline vs online so not the most suitable comparison I'd say. Even as an ex-Nokia now-Android user I prefer not to have to rely on a signal if using the phone as a satnav (other than the GPS one of course).

A better comparison would be with NavFree World by the way - if only it did waypoints...

Linux-based Tizen mobile platform lives!

Gio Ciampa

Re: Hmmm...

Curious - my Wildfire is running an ICS mod quite nicely (see here on XDA - there are others there also), and it's hardly a high end device

Jelly Bean boots, though there are still issues to fix so it isn't ready for daily use yet (but fingers crossed...)

GiffGaff: We've got no iPhones, but here's how to cut down your SIM

Gio Ciampa

Then they (3) change the T&Cs without giving the required 30 day notice (thus breaching their own contract), but somehow that doesn't give you the right (enshrined in said T&Cs) to walk away without paying them another penny...

Horses for courses... if GG piss me off - I'm out of there, no fuss, no waiting (and no Ombudsman to try to get onside)

iPhone 5 'jailbroken' ... before most fanbois even have it

Gio Ciampa
FAIL

Re: what’s the point?

Just to prove the point ... grammar fail on my part

Gio Ciampa

Re: what’s the point?

"But showing a lack of attention to the details is hardly surprising for any non-Apple company...."

So Apple's foulups with Daylight Saving Time are the result of perfect QA? Nobody (not even Apple) are perfect

'Over half' of Android devices have unpatched holes

Gio Ciampa

Re: Carriers don't care, Nothing new, I'm a Nexus user.

In theory I tend to agree... but whose life-cycle?

The manufacturers? (Very short - so they can sell you the next latest and greatest 5 minutes after you've bought it)

The operators? (Very long - so you keep paying them through the nose for all eternity if at all possible)

New iPod nano and touch: Lightning strikes again

Gio Ciampa

"backside illumination"

Cue "Sun shining out of ...'s arse" comments...

Why is the iPhone so successful? 'Cause people love 'em

Gio Ciampa

Re: @JEDIDIAH

Says the AC thrown generic insults... grow up yourself!

Amazon flings open doors to Android Appstore in Europe

Gio Ciampa

re: "At what point does choice turn into fragmentation?"

See... Cars... PCs... TVs... etc... no "fragmentation" there, but plenty of choice!

Brummie plod cuffed in Facebook troll hunt

Gio Ciampa

Re: Quality of Police Officers (Selection and Review)

I'll wager that if the incident happened in precisely the opposite manner... the outcome would not have been the same

A dark day for British justice that was

Ten Androids for under 100 quid

Gio Ciampa

Re: Wha? Pointless...

Same goes for opinions from ACs...

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