Posts by Sandtitz 1712 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Oct 2010
Considering that (at least) HPE Proliants have optional PLC enabled power supplies which provide identification including IP address and host name, they could be hacked to deliver more than just that since the article assumes that the exfiltration would require a compromized host anyway.
"I'm fully behind this, as red tape is communist. The markets will regulate themselves just fine. We need to be pro-business, and flexible."
Riddle me this:
The fishing industry is fishing more than is sustainable in many areas around the world - do you honestly think that removing all regulation would somehow end up all fishing companies coming together and regulating their fishing quotas, and everyone would adhere to that?
"Another example is with the HP 6xx series laptops you could push ONE button on the underside and instantly have access to the insides of the laptop."
Many other HP Elitebook/Zbook business laptops had the same super easy cover.
Alas, HP has abandoned it lately and most computers have a dozen or so torx/philips screws under the rubber feet you first need the pry out. Since the rubber feet are apparently stuck with some sort of adhesive they won't stay quite there... wha a pity.
"but deliberately took artistic licence because having Bowman floating around a room-sized HAL is a more striking and dramatic image."
Did anyone else think that the HAL memory bank room would be practically impossible to service under any sort of gravity and prone for several 'Who, me' stories?
And while we're discussing Asimov - HAL is rather more reasonable than Isaac's vision of MultiVac which in different stories was some city-sized datacenter with cogs and levers and such, and the output was a paper card or such. TV's were by then (50s) not rare anymore. In some stories there were only few MultiVac's around the globe doing all mankind's computation - similar to what Watson predicted at IBM 60 years ago... Isaac had a great mind and many stories are intriguing but he really was no computer visionary.
https://electrek.co/2018/04/02/tesla-fatal-autopilot-crash-recreation/
"Now another Tesla owners tried to film his Model S following the same lane change scenario on Autopilot in an almost identical section of road in Chicago and it might show exactly what happened during the accident:"
"We can see the driver ignoring an alert to ‘hold the steering wheel’ sent out a few seconds before the barrier just like Tesla said in its report based on the logs – though that was likely a time-based alert.
Then it seems like Autopilot’s Autosteer stayed locked on the left line even though it became the right line of the ramp. The system most likely got confused because the line was more clearly marked than the actual left line of the lane.
That led the car directly into the barrier and it’s easy to see how a driver who is not paying attention couldn’t have been able to react in time since the driver who recreated it was barely able to apply the brake in time himself."
"There was another one called Game Constructor Kit, or something, that I found equally unappealing"
Well, there was the Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit for C64 and others. I think I made a game or two (for my own enjoyment) until I was quickly bored because you could only define the sprites and a few bits and bobs here and there, so every game turned out to be rather similar. Performance wasn't a problem, but you could never match games like Xenon, Uridium, Parallax etc.
I had much more fun with the Boulder Dash Construction Kit!
"There are already competent solutions out there to fix your problem, but you just had to come up with your own solution and bake it into your software."
I've seen plenty of technically inept people go to e.g. Youtube by writing youtube on Google search box and clicking the first link. These people would never install an adblocker so I am pretty happy that there is at least *some* protection out of the box.
Same with Defender - it is disabled when you install a 3rd party AV. Or you can just disable it yourself if you really want to.
"DOS 6 then came along and made the process a lot easier by including "memmaker" that could automatically load as much as possible into high memory for you."
Those of us in the know had used QEMM for many years before Memmaker came to be, and even afterwards QEMM was much more efficient in maximizing the available memory.
What I really hated was Origin and their stupid own memory managers starting with Ultima 7 which refused to work with QEMM, HIMEM.SYS and others.
"It is a question of the highest honor a nation can endow to a person posthumously. In Great Britain it is the Westminster Abbey."
Highest honor? Annual national public holiday for "Stephen Hawking day" would eclipse that any time. Years to come those apart from Darwin, Newton and perhaps Hawking - all those other scientists buried at Westminster are only footnotes whereas a Hawking Holiday would make him rather immortal.
Or perhaps erecting a statue at Trafalgar Square. Founding (ok, unlikely) or renaming cities. Or naming the killer Asteroid coming straight at us.
"Your brat and countless others like him are just one of the many sources of frustration that make modern air travel so tiresome."
I see you have no children. Getting a 5-year-old to focus on long 5+ hour journey is pretty much impossible no matter what entertainment is available.
The food was on the tray that cannot be locked down - raise your legs and the tray starts to fold towards the seat in front of you - and that's what happened. Kids have restless feet. Deal with it.
Air travel for me is tiresome because of the constant noise from engines and the waiting times at the airport.
"Inadvertent" my arse!
Unlike you Mr Coward, everyone else makes mistakes.
I was flying on a brand new 737 Max with my family last week. Even the captain blabbed or intercom how new it was and how the leather still smells on the seats and so forth.
The my 5-year-old kid inadvertently kicked his airline meal into the floor and left a nice spaghetti and juice stain. Not so brand new anymore...
"I have several big boxes full of Microsoft's great peripherals. Superb joysticks and SideWinder gamepads that no longer work, because they need a game port."
Just buy a USB game port adapter for very little money. Some features like pedals may or may not work I hear, YMMV.
I have a second hand Thrustmaster 16000m USB joystick for playing Wing/Strike Commander, Privateer, X-Wing and such in Dosbox. Works perfectly though the games don't support the extra axes and buttons the modern stick has.
"nothing listed for mine yet - a Q6600 (yeah a 10 year old core quad)."
The outlook isn't good - Intel has published their Microcode Guidance document and it doesn't mention Kentsfield CPU's - which your Q6600 is. Intel seems to keep updating this doc but since your CPU wasn't mentioned even in the beginning it looks like anything over 10 years old will not be supported.
"And none of the ones I ever saw actually had the slot populated never mind actually in use."
I've seen plenty of corporate laptops with integrated 3G/4G. Usually factory installed but I've also installed plenty of them - the procedure is practically identical to installing a Wi-Fi card, and HP at least provides the screw driver and tool to snap those tiny antenna connectors securely.
I'd still say WWAN models account for less than 25%, and those models are usually reserved for people who need them since most companies just won't splash for no reason. The extra cost for the kit is about €100 for the module and then the extra SIM card adds a bit more to the equation.
4G coverage here in Finland is excellent and prices low so perhaps the OP lives somewhere with great coverage or only has clients who like to buy expensive things.
"Windows 10 user data slurping and continuous upgrades really pissed a lot of users."
Perhaps most of us technical people. The average Joe Sixpacks out there are oblivious to the 'telemetry' slurpage. People I interact with (end users) have never mentioned the whole thing when served with a new Win10 computer. Equally the same end users are buying Android phones en masse.
"And it's still interesting that despite having being first offered as s free upgraded, and then employed any malware tactics - but those that would have had Nadella jailed - to install itself surreptitiously, it's still NOT the world default desktop OS..."
I think the people who updated to Win10 were mostly home users and some users at smaller businesses. I sure as hell couldn't be bothered to upgrade any of my clients to Win10, because while the update was "free" it would still require lots of work and in the end Win10 wouldn't run the users' Office and other software any better. The Win7 death date has been pretty far in the future so more likely the computers would be replaced before that date anyway.
Being 'free' did help Win10 market share at home users because people usually like the notion of having free stuff, whatever it is. Those home users are also more likely to invest in the Store app.
"HP's new toy is "Sure View", a software-driven privacy shield that dithers a laptop's display to narrow the angles from which it can be seen." - not really needed with the quality of their laptop screens. I bet it will also screw users' eyesight.
The Reg author is wrong, Sure View is hardware-based solution HP made with 3M. Whether the Fn+F2 toggle works with e.g. Linux I cannot say, but this definitely isn't just "software magic".
Sure View has been available since some 2016 models, this is just a new iteration of the tech. I have clients who use separately bought privacy screens and this could be quite handy for those users should they buy new laptops.
"Not very impressed with usb-c. for one, you still have to plug power in to your laptop."
Some laptops can be charged with the USB-C dock, HP Spectre Pro G1, Macbooks etc.
The problem lies within the laptops which either consume more power than what USB-C can deliver (or what the USB-C dock/charger can deliver), OR the laptops contain the USB-C connectors but not the circuitry necessary to enable charging through it.
"Now you have a mess of cords going into a plastic hub that only ways a couple of ounces and stressing wires through daily flexing, as well as the chintzy usb-c port. Failure is sure to abound after a couple years of daily use."
Or, you can just select a weighty dock. I can live with light-weight docks with double-sided tape securing them to under the table or whatever.
Side and bottom docks and port replicators are being deprecated by the OEMs because people are buying laptops so thin that they can't be docked. USB-C is a sufficiently thin connector and Thunderbolt has as much bandwidth than the traditional docks. USB-C and Thunderbolt are both standards whereas with docks you had to usually replace them when you're replacing your laptop. You're also not restricted to using vendor-specific docks when you're using TB or USB-C.
"Did you ask Levandowski to bring Google information to Uber?"
"In any job interview the company recruiter is interested in what advantage in skills, knowledge, background etc the applicant will bring to the company?"
Yes. Or at least should be. In this case Kalanick could have just hire him immediately without HR intervention.
Uber cannot ask Levandowski to bring "Google information" since that sounds very much like intellectual property theft. Whatever Levandowski has in his head is fine, but he still cannot bring anything copied from Google, nor can he obviously use anything that Google has patented.
"The first thing I do on a new computer is delete IE and Edge, or at least delete their shortcuts, which is usually enough to encourage the user to browse with something else."
If the user doesn't have the blue 'e' icon on the desktop he won't be able to download that other browser. Worst case scenario: he still has an old CD from the ISP welcome package and you'll find him browsing with NN 3.02 when you're next time checking the computer!
"Seriously Adobe, kill it."
How would Adobe do it - by stopping all support immediately and let the bugs roam free? What would that accomplish - millions of never to be patched browser/plugin combos?
Since there is no kill switch (or perhaps the final update will disable it or prompt?) the only way to "kill" Flash in even remotely well handled manner was for Adobe to inform that support will end by the end of 2020 and to honor that commitment. Yes, the development on a dead-end technology for almost 3 years now costs money to Adobe but for me that is praiseworthy whereas pulling the rug from under it is something more associated with e.g. Apple which may inform *afterwards* that 'by the way, Safari and QT haven't been supported for some time now.'
Since there are still plenty of Flash based services available (someone mentioned BBC) it will take time to move. Whether because of transcoding the movies, music etc. media to something more suitable for HTML5 presentation or for whatever reason (DRM?). HTML has only in the last few years caught up with the capabilities Flash had 20 years ago.
"You get only IE instead of Edge - significantly less secure."
How is it less secure? According to CVE Details, IE had "only" 79 vulns last year, whereas Edge has 202 vulns and for comparison Chrome had 153 vulns.
In any case, lack of Edge doesn't mean IE only since there are several other browsers available, Chrome and Firefox come to mind. IE can be locked down pretty well through GPOs.
"And data slurping is the exact same"
Wrong. The telemetry shit can be tuned down (but not off) as in the normal Enterprise versions.
"But you DON'T get the security feature updates with the LTSB."
"Security feature updates"? LTSB versions, release every now and then, will all get 10 years of security updates from the release dates. For example, the 1607 LTSB version ("anniversary update") will get security updates for about 8,5 years as of now, but whatever fancy things MS has concocted in later versions won't be backported to it.
for instance no option to run Office Pro Plus - which is a common requirement in most enterprises that are not fully O365."
The recent Reg article referred to the MS article which specifically states that the upcoming Office 2019 will run on LTSC 2018 version. Office 2016 Professional Plus has feature parity with 365 Proplus.
"And you cant make sites that require IE automatically select it like you can in Edge. The list of problems with such an inappropriate build choice is significant..."
Many choices have pros and cons. Lack of Edge is either a pro or con for some.
"You cannot (usefully) ssh into a Windows box and use your standard text editor or e-mail software."
No argument there. If the users are only using text based stuff then SSH is fine.
Companies using Windows have this thing called RDP which allows the users to use their ERP, Office programs ("standard editors") and email software which I reckon is probably not going to be elm or pine in most businesses around the world.
One client had the single server rack installed into a stupidly tight space in a corner. There was barely space to stand in front of the rack for the times when you needed console. And behind the user was a big fuse board with circuit breakers aplenty.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who managed to turn off several of those breakers with my posterior and thus turning off several office computers, lightning, and worst of all, the coffee machine. I felt pretty stupid for doing that.
You couldn't remove or install servers in the rack unless you carefully turned the rack at least 45 degrees or so. Didn't really help that the ethernet patch panels were built into the back of the same rack...
"thought about getting the battery replaced for the low promo price while you still can?"
I tried that with my iPhone 6 (nonplus). It was a scam.
I had noticed earlier that the phone had become much slower when I upgraded to IOS11. People scoffed at the notion - before the deliberate slowdown was to become public knowledge...
Anyway, I called Apple helpdesk and the helpful and knowledgeable (really!) guy told that I am eligible for the €29 battery replacement program even though the remote diagnostics said that the battery wasn't too much worn. He directed me to the only authorised Apple reseller around where I live, which I promptly called only to hear that the price would be €49... Apparently Apple advertises this €29 replacement program but no-one here in Finland swaps even no-name batteries at those rates. I asked a few further questions and yes, they would have swapped in an Apple approved battery and no, Apple doesn't sponsor either the labor or the part.
Since the reseller tech said that the phone would be ready a day after I brought in the phone I went to the nearest mall where a small shop replaced the battery for €49 in half an hour or so.
And yes, the phone became about as responsive as it was before IOS 11 and the battery lasts longer than it did before.
"No, we wont accept plans to shows Ads through the Browser etc!"
The masses don't care about things like that. If people don't care about their privacy (Chrome has what, 60% share and growing?), they sure won't care about some start screen ads that can be toggled off.
I can honestly see no way for Firefox to oust Chrome no matter what Mozilla devs do with the browser. Technical superiority doesn't matter, speed advantages etc don't seem to matter when they are fighting against Google.
Chrome is sideloaded at several download sites along with e.g. free Adobe downloads, FF doesn't have that luxury. People will install FF deliberately if they have had previous contact with it (like I do). A Linux distro may have it preinstalled, but because Linux-On-Desktop is a niche it won't really help FF's share.
Regarding your outlook on the dwindling market share Firefox has - how would you fix it? If you can pay mobile phone companies to preinstall it, pay for every other sw company to sideinstall and endorse FF and so on. Bidding against Google would be insane since they have infinite money and Google isn't dropping Chrome 'project' any time soon.
7. The Indian Army have perfected the funniest joke in the world into a comedy show, killing the enemy with laughter.
My conscription service had its WTF moments but this takes goes straight to the twilight zone.
...or Ms. Sandberg attended more board meetings than Mr. Dorsey. Sandberg has also been on the board longer than Dorsey. The board compensation rules for new members may have also changed before Dorsey was appointed. IDK and frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Whatever the reason I'm sure both are compensated more than enough and the whole board and CEO should be fired just for the latest Star Wars disaster movie.
"I work at a recently commissioned ballistic missile warning HQ somewhere in the Pacific. The 24/7 job consists mostly of playing Counter strike, watching Netflix, and boredom. There is also a spiderweb clogged red alarm light with klaxons which supposedly tell when we my every others' lives in the island are coming to an end. At that point we press the recessed and sealed Red Button to tell about this fate to the rest of the denizens."
"My boss decided to take a weekend night shift from us technicians because the pay is multiple of his already ridiculous salary and his new car needes a big down payment."
Someone else can continue from here...
"I know a bunch of old retired folks that use Linux and have far fewer problems due to the lack of malware messing up their systems."
Do they install everything from repos or do they also download software packages from random sites?
They old folks could just be restricted to the app store on Windows and be just as safe.
"Security through deception?"
Fake security cameras. They usually have a battery powered led and are hard to tell from the real ones unless you're handling them (plastic and lightweight). I'm sure they have some effect on graffiti artists, vandals and thieves when prominently placed. Better than nothing I'm sure.
"If there's a bright side to all this, it's that the PCID feature in Intel's x86-64 chips since 2010"
"PCID first saw Linux support in the 4.14 kernel released in November 2017"
If the Reg article is correct, why on did this tech take 7 years to be included in Kernel? Was PCID an unnecessary CPU feature until Meltdown was discovered?
"Forever War Joe Haldeman"
I think that has been in some sort of preproduction hell for years with Ridley Scott attached at some point.
Need not bother with the Forever sequels though...
I've read many books with thinking how great a movie would be but some have just so complex concepts for the common movie going people to swallow that the films would need too much explained and that would just ruin the film. Vernor Vinge's Realtime or Zone book series were brilliant stuff but I can't see how they could be filmed - the former has timespan of millions of years and the latter has alien point of views which was fun to read but probably just too...alien for the masses.
"For whatever reason the AMD models they do use a different charger + battery."
HP has for a couple years now transitioned to a smaller 4.5mm plug for several laptop models - probably because some laptops are too thin to sport the older 7.4mm barrel connector. Nothing to do with AMD. A few models only have a USB-C for charging.
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