Posts by JaitcH

King Canute, all over again

China and VietNam, along with some other countries, have blocked access to Facebook and, in China, many other web sites.

I would dare to say there is no computer or smartphone owning school aged child in either country, especially VietNam, who doesn't know how to circumvent blocking tactics used by ISP's.

China arguably has the most advanced Firewall/blocking around but it doesn't work that well, either.

When the Grim Reaper comes a calling not even Jobs can resist

Why are so people about death, even talking about it?

It'll be kind of ironic for the guy who has spent so much time telling people what they can, or cannot, do with their property when the Grim reaper calls - even Jobs will have to listen.

Perhaps he should have skipped the transplant as the anti-rejection drugs have, according to experts in the field, made it risky for alternative, more aggressive, treatment.

MS caught hands down - to cheap to monitor inputs!

No doubt MS will revamp whatever it uses as an algorithm soon, like monitoring the various inputs for glaring spelling mistakes.

As some one said: " Use Google, Bing does"

You'll upset iPhans presenting data this way

To keep the Jobs Mob happy you are supposed to divvy up the Android market, on the basis that they are not really the same, by manufacturer and then iPhans will think Apple is on top.

Of course, the real world knows the truth - likely why they don't buy the Lemons - that Android is No. 1 no matter what the Cupertino lie factory, sorry, Apples PR lot say.

This could be interpreted as a re-write of BAE, EADS & BA's business practices

With all the dirty money sloshing around in the aircraft manufacturing and operating businesses some companies are going to really change their operating practices.

The U.S. has a similar law but it seems to have little effect on bribery, in fact the U.S. government has become quite a dab hand at 'persuasion' by either denying Most Favoured Nation status, offering quid pro quo deals or other 'incentives'.

Neither the UK or the US governments are 'nice' - ask the Brits who stayed over in Guantamo

Given the history of both the UK and the US governments, especially the anger expressed so publicly by members of the government and congress, Assange is likely wise to have regard for his security.

It is is interesting to see how the UK beneficiaries of Wikileaks downloads is now turning against Assange. The Guardian, along with the New York Times, have really been scraping the gutter trying to disparage Assange.

It makes one wonder why? Is it because they know he is going for different leak partners and the newspapers respective increased circulation, and profits, will suffer as a consequence?

What the newspapers are printing about Assange personally say more about their 'professionalism', or rather lack of it, than anything else.

Whatever personal foibles Assange adopts still doesn't detract from the fact that he has produced the goods in a way, and in a quantity, that no one has ever achieved or is likely to achieve again.

I have no interest in whether he is a cross dresser, has unusual ways of expressing his happiness, or is particular about his security - but I am interested in his product which stands on it's own.

Did anyone even consider the plight of the property owners?

I imagine there will be many property owners upset at the information displayed as it forces the value of their properties yet lower, as if the banking industry hadn't done enough.

The insurers will love it though, as they will use it, no doubt, to force their premiums further skyward.

Criminals will be able to pick 'quiet' spots where Plod doesn't expect trouble so their escape is almost guranteed.

A winner all round?

Since 2001SEP11 schools have overreacted in many ways

It is right that the ACLU challenged the school authorities over their extreme reaction to an opinion that may, or may not, have been founded on fact.

Even in England of the last century we all had names for teachers, each reflecting a consensus of opinion of a given class on the attributes of the said teachers. This student, no doubt a little unwisely, chose to post his opinion for all to see.

The school should draw a line between school activities and those in students private arenas. Did whomever find the comment do it on school equipment during school hours?

As for 'cycberbullying' - what a ridiculous charge - the teacher had many remedies that he could have used but chose to dramatise the comment instead of using it as a learning opportunity.

The ramifications could have followed a similar path to a case in Chicago: < http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/41373-student-sues-to-expunge-record-of-cyberbullying-charge?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20tgdaily_all_sections%20%28TG%20Daily%20-%20All%20News%29 >.

Jobs is trying to prove history doesn't repeat itself

There are nuggets of truth in what Patrick Lo espoused, irrespective of his business affiliations. Apple, when Jobs was ever involved, has always tried to suppress it's openness and interconnectedness. It has suffered as a result.

And whether Jobs likes it, or not, this world is increasingly interconnected. And that 'interconnectedness' is assuming proportions never before, by many, be it in manufacturing, service or domestic markets.

Whoever thought a washing machine would talk to an electricity meter before commencing a heavy wash cycle? Software updates for automobiles through the InterNet, etc.

A closed environment might be a a profitable one for Jobs, ever noted the disproportionate costs of Apple connectors, but how many ATM's run on any Apple software whereas the MS Blue Screen of Death appears all over the place. How many embedded controllers run Jobs software?

Apple, a public company, is run like a private one with, seemingly, one man determining it's policies and practices. This might be successful in the short-term but even the Apple shareholders are questioning Jobs practices. And they would like a share of the riches, too, after all it is there money that put Apple where it is today.

Jobs might be innovative but others can run rings around his Walled Garden. He might have developed the smartphone market but now Apple is losing it. Ignoring all inputs other than sales, Android is now ahead of iOS and it was a late starter. Android starts off with a rich choice of software options whereas Apple adds them year after year - scoring additional sales along the way.

P.S. If you don't like Netgear range extenders, try TP-Link. TP-Link equipment can *really* be extended by downloading 'patches' that some independent developers have devised.

If the Google man is so smart ...

he should know sticking his finger in to the melange that is Egyptian politics can be a very, very dangerous thing.

Smart people with a high profile should reduce their profile during this period of instability. Tunisia amply demonstrates that both pre and post rumble periods are fraught with danger as people seize the opportunity to eliminate problems, and people, in their lives.

Good for Google in helping circumvent the communications outages.

Just exercising their ...

'Fair Use' rights (See: < https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Fair_use >) which is permitted in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders.

However, they should have post a hat's off to the source.

Are they available in ...

Versace 4044B Sunglasses?

If not, how about Christian Dior Black Tie 68/S?

Thanks.

"since IE is the only known vector"

IE has always been a liability since Version 1.

I like the way they say: "The vulnerability results from the way Windows processes web-pages containing MIME-formatted content."

But you can understand MS not wanting to expose IE to the derision it deserves.

No wonder they need faster processors

With all these Apps on their favourite e-toy, little wonder users are clamouring for faster, multi-core processors.

What did these iPhans do with their hands before the smartphone came along?

Another greedy party wanting a bit of Googles action

So damn simple - turn the WiFi password on - whatever good it will do given all the hacks that are floating around.

Competition is healthy and the American Way!

Vic Gundotra, of Google, once said: "... a draconian future where one man, one company, and one device would be our only choice. … That's a future we don't want."

It's healthy to have competition - imagine the market place if there was only a single smartphone - would there be an incentive to innovate, to improve, to make different coloured cases?

The answer is no. We would be back to the early 1900's where Ford said they can have any colour as long as it is black.

The ferocity of the 'war' between the Android and iOS factions is healthy, even that conservative old familiar RIM had to get off it's duff and actually add colour screens.

In North America, although not China, Apple was one of the first to mass market pads/tablets (Fujitsu and Panasonic were the first out with heavy duty units). MS had one but was it ever sold. Apple is back where it has traditionally been - a market opening innovator but drops the ball by building a Walled Garden.

The one disturbing thing about smartphones is that OS writers - even maybe manufacturers - collect data that is really intrusive in peoples lives. We, the user, are also entitled to the big 'off' switch. The FCC mandated that GPS modules be incorporated into cell telephones.

I had my non-smartphone module disabled - where I am can be determined well enough by using cell data from the operator. My employer does subscribe to a satellite based geo-location system ( the 'toy' in this market is Spot which requires an annual fee) which is effective world-wide and has no annual fee, but I have no problem with this during working hours or if I am in a remote location. If, however, I want to visit the Hard Rock cafe or The Apocalypse Now bar (heaven forbid) it is no ones business - except possibly my wife's.

Users are entitled to determine who gets what information - and I could care less who wants to get it's hands on it - my data is mine. Period. And, in my case, I take sufficient precautions including using alternative SIMs.

Pagers and GPS receivers have one great benefit - they are essentially one way devices.

These days even credit cards are used as geo-locators with the FBI getting real time reports on card usage.

Who will be the first to add the no-location option?

This is why governments LOVE cell communications!

When you consider cell telephones amongst all the other paraphernalia that crosses international borders they are rarely the subject of intense interest - unless the carrier is flagged.

Governments have total control of cell services which have limited distance communications, are subject to network control, provide positive identification and pretty accurate location.

There are very few governments that deny cell service as a policy, Burma comes to mind, as the benefits that accrue to authorities are as great as those for cell subscribers.

The recent world-wide crackdown on pre-paid SIM cards was an attempt to tighten up one weakness but I find any bell hop will be happy to procure a SIM card in his name for you to use! Cambodia forbids foreigners to purchase SIM cards but most every traveller has one.

The best portable phones are the satellite ones but the dorky antennae are a dead give away to any border post personnel and are outright banned because local governments have no control of their use.

Hard to comprehend but it looks like a database being used to replace an ID card

It will be interesting to see how they build up a persons profile based on Third Party information.

By this I take it they will use credit bureau data, charge accounts and all the other minutia that an average individual leaves behind in their travels.

I was asked to piece together my life's history a while back for a company profile and quite honestly I couldn't even remember when I was married, or much else. I remember the dates when I gained to other citizenships but little else. I remember where I was, and doing, when Kennedy was assassinated or the same when I heard about Princess Diana but not the dates.

My credit bureau history is a laugh. The UK one doesn't even have my name - when my UK bank forwarded my name to it they replied 'does not exist'.

My governmental correspondence has been through an e-mail system in Scandinavia, the couple of real mailings they did were c/o my bank. The one thing I do remember is my Army number - hard to forget those.

So where is this wonderful database going to fill it's crevices?

Passports? I remove all my used visas from my 'big version' passport as I am tired of buying replacements, so they can't collect that, don't use a UK driving licence or even own a car there. Never book travel in the UK, and usually switch passports when changing countries to achieve a degree of privacy. I love rail and road travel because there are minimal formalities.

Doomed to failure, like so many other government schemes.

Gatwick security as dumb as U.S. Homeland Security

You have to wonder just how purile 'security' experts can get. And they wonder why people think airport security is a joke.

Good to have a heads-up on where yet another bunch of idiots live in England, apart from Heathrow and Manchester. It's hard to believe that Gatwick actually has a new management team.

Do airports really appreciate how tales like these hurt tourism, along with the high cost of living in the UK, and Plod checking your camera and telling people you can't take pictures of ancient monuments?

What if he had used a 'cloud' service: How do you impound a 'cloud'?

Another recent unlock exploit was achieved by using a 'cloud' service. If this had been the situation in this case how would you go abut impounding the 'cloud'.

I hope the Defendant in this action has gathered together all his old 386/486 junk, and a very old hard drive to give to the court - suitably erased, of course.

In the mean time Google has, once again, come to everyone's assistance with their 'Cache' feature <https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:30hHr5XIU2UJ:geohot.com/old_index.html+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=firefox-a&source=encrypted.google.com >.

An interesting part of the page reads:

-----

erk: C0 CE FE 84 C2 27 F7 5B D0 7A 7E B8 46 50 9F 93 B2 38 E7 70 DA CB 9F F4 A3 88 F8 12 48 2B E2 1B

riv: 47 EE 74 54 E4 77 4C C9 B8 96 0C 7B 59 F4 C1 4D

pub: C2 D4 AA F3 19 35 50 19 AF 99 D4 4E 2B 58 CA 29 25 2C 89 12 3D 11 D6 21 8F 40 B1 38 CA B2 9B 71 01 F3 AE B7 2A 97 50 19

R: 80 6E 07 8F A1 52 97 90 CE 1A AE 02 BA DD 6F AA A6 AF 74 17

n: E1 3A 7E BC 3A CC EB 1C B5 6C C8 60 FC AB DB 6A 04 8C 55 E1

K: BA 90 55 91 68 61 B9 77 ED CB ED 92 00 50 92 F6 6C 7A 3D 8D

Da: C5 B2 BF A1 A4 13 DD 16 F2 6D 31 C0 F2 ED 47 20 DC FB 06 70

-----

Just paste the above into Notepad and all should be revealed/readable.

Guess this is yet another judge who is gaining InterNet knowledge whilst 'on the job'.

Where is Fred Kite when you need him?

The employer groups bellyache about everything ... claiming all sorts of hardships. In suggesting these changes the government is simply pandering to all their friends in business.

When employees are treated fairly, they usually respond in kind. I was a production manager many years ago and I made sure that my staff were well cared for. The women who suffered spousal abuse didn't have to come in with their black eyes and other bruises and I made sure their pay wasn't docked. Sick child? No problem, get them to the doctor and then get into work - no loss of pay.

When I had an urgent production order and needed people to work way into the night, they were always there to help.

This proposed two-year period is way too long; 3 months probation followed by full entitlements is the proper way to go. The answer is to sue the employer and see if they like the expense of court.

Arbitration does have the benefit of refining a dispute but shouldn't be the place where all matters reach resolution.

If other countries can make Tribunals work the government should be asking why can't the British.

It is these types of decisions make the Fred Kites** of the union movements necessary.

** Peter Sellers played an old died in the wool union shop steward in the 1959 movie entitled "I'm All Right, Jack".

Wireless communication is all good and well but people live too close to each other

I was in Toronto a short while back staying over in an apartment on the 15th floor of a building. Scanning for service I found I had 71 WiFi signals detected using a TP-Link directional antenna. These included 5 coffee shops, two McBarf outlets (not the same one), and other commercial establishments along with all the domestic installations.

There are simply insufficient channels to accommodate all these co-located signals.

Likewise, at a very nice hotel in the Far East, all the rooms had TV and audio equipment from the same manufacturer and every so often the programme would be interrupted by signals from an adjacent room.

Things are unlikely to improve from an accommodation standards point of view so it is incumbent upon the standards people to enable systems that at in close proximity to operate without interference. Infra red, possibly, is an answer.

Why should Plod be entrusted with making any RIPA decisions?

Plod is one side of the RIPA equation/stop-&-search, and the proposed victim is the other. Only judges should be entrusted when anyone's civil rights are about to be curtailed or breached.

Civil Liberties, as the words are understood in other countries and in the UK until the 1970's, no longer exist in the UK. Enforced answering to Plod questions; your password or jail; detention without trial; etc.

Either Plod, 'security forces', et al, have enough to charge someone with an offence - the Crown has everything going for it in any event - or get off the pot and let the guy go free. Enforcing any regime on an alleged offender is has not undergone judicial process is an insult to the words 'civil liberties'. It's bad enough with most judges having a myopic viewpoint and siding with 'authorities' as if they have some God-given power.

What gets me, and others, why are the British so accepting of all this authoritarian trash. Something has happened to the British psyche between WW2 and the 1970's to permit this to happen.

If you let a government take anything from you it is awfully hard to recover it.

No problem in the Far East - Plod busy collecting New Years bribe money

The end of every month can be expensive for those breaking laws such as driving or selling on streets, etc. in China, VietNam, Cambodia and Laos as the Plod seize every opportunity to solicit bribes - as opposed to issuing tickets - so they can pay their rent or mortgages.

Chinese New Years, Tet in VietNam, exacerbates the problem as the under-paid (really) government employees are too busy enriching themselves - a restaurant with about 30 illegal bikes parked on sidewalk costs about VND4,000,000 ($200) per month. Buying all the needed requirements for the upcoming can get expensive, especially since the government hasn't awarded any pay increases for 3 years now.

The same in China, except that money is contained in 'red packets' (envelopes). Food prices have really increased and Plod returning to their ancestral roots need train and gift money.

If MS, or the heavy gang from the software industry, ever want piracy 'investigated' they actually have to pay the Plod to start an investigation - even more if they actually want results.

So any DDoS practitioners, along with all the piracy shops, are quite free to carry on with their pursuits in these parts!

An important item overlooked ...

is why the GSM networks aren't deploying the latest encryption standards?

Most networks use aged encryption techniques which render their cell toting customers open to NoW and other newspapers invading their privacy.

Like putting a bloody great padlock on a field

The weak security IS Facebook as well as it's policies.

Putting on front end security will do little good if Zuckerberg is selling the info.

Given all the crime the Northampton Plod bases it's budget demands on ...

you would have thought they have plenty to do separating warring spouses, eliminating vehicle thefts and dealing with hate crimes without wasting time on some twit who is intent on eliminating others enjoyment.

More money, indeed. Get out the bicycles!

Israel: One of the few countries that make cells dutiable

Either the offence is for duty or to ensure compliance with their radio equipment approvals regime.

Most countries accept the ubiquitous FCC approval, although Canada and EU require compliance.

Another freedom loving bosom mate of the U.S.A.

Ever notice how the U.S.A. enjoys 'close relations' with many of the dictators of this world - at the same time spewing 'human rights' to other countries.

Not that I support Mubarak - the problem arises when he, or any other dictator, dies - mayhem often follows. In Egypt's case it is the Muslim's who are demonstrating.

The biggest problem is the Suez Canal through which much of Euro trade passes.

Another war, anyone?

This decision illustrates just how brain-dead the BBC Trust is

What better example do we need to show just how out of touch the BBC Trust members are completely out of touch with the listening public's demands of the BBC are.

This is as empty headed as people can get. They most likely think Melvyn Bragg satisfies the audience!

Just an upgraded Google Street View with better coverage

The only difference between this bit of hardware appears to be the transportation techniques as well as the optics.

Guess other governments won't be filing privacy complaints about this 'bird'.

Just think the whole thing is financed on bonds sold to the Chinese!

CIA: With all the budget cut backs, we need time to get the evidence together

With all the powers that many governments have given themselves including the Canadian, United Kingdom and the U.S. of A. they don't even need to cobble together a believable version of tosh as all they need do is to declare the evidence to be 'secret'.

In Canada and the UK the defendants don't even get to see the 'evidence' against them.

Likely it is even worse in the U.S. and as for military 'justice' heaven help Bradley Manning - he is living in hell now, just wait if he gets convicted.

I remember escorting prisoners to military jails in the UK when I was in the Army. We, the escorts, gave the prisoners every indulgence we could afford on our meagre pay. The last thing we did was hold the victim just outside the prison for his last 'fag'.

The minute they crossed that massive white line the prisoners double marched until their sentences were completed.

No doubt the Marines have even more exquisite torture which they will subject Bradley Manning too.

And what is this revenge for? The memos I have read are simply embarrassing, hardly secrets, to the American government that reveal they are duplicitous, dishonest and lie to their electorate. Of course, 'embarrassment' hardly encompasses the aerial murder of those Reuters reporters, along with innocent children.

And the American governments wonder why they are so despised?

I love the acres of white space provided by ...

No Script.

It makes you realise just how much advertising Facebook is buying.

All the options/add-ons available for use with Firefox makes it a hard browser to match. It puts the USER IN CONTROL!.

Our company, like many, have purchasing policies ...

that preclude us buying any products from regimes that murder women and children.

Besides, how do you know how secure the product is.

Why bother with passwords?

FB doesn't use security - it abuses it. THE problem IS Facebook.

Good advertising ... FB security at it's usual low/non-existent state

Wonder if Zuckerberg likes having his privacy invaded?

Now he knows what it is like to be an FB subscriber.

Naked.

I like Portable Firefox...

for browsing controversial sites.

It leaves no tell tale bits around after you leave.

Ellison worse than Jobs: at least Jobs registers Tosh

Ellison must think he is King Canute of Sun derived software.

Jobs is smart enough to register his Tosh, even though a lot of it is prior art - sometimes 25 year-old prior art.

Scotland bans smut. What (is) smut?

A Welshman, wearing Wellington boots chasing sheep might test a kilt wearing Scotsman fattened on haggis.

Difficult to know what might constitute 'community standards' by people dressed in female attire and without underwear.

I like those security types dressed like Filipino Plod with those huge badges

I saw this goon at a checkpoint in Toronto International and a woman had her sweater bulging from the top of her carry on.

Big Badge tells her she can't board. Woman passenger puts sweater on and her bag passes under the baggage frame. Big Badge satisfied.

Woman, after passing through the baggage check gate, takes the sweater off and stuffs it partly in to her carry-on bag. Big Badge yells at her she is 'illegal' . Woman, obviously undeterred by a big badge, carries on and Big Badge loses face!

Guess Microsoft needs the money

When things get tough, financially, litigation usually heats up.

Since the MS product line success is shrinking, they have to get income from somewhere.