Posts by joed 827 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Jun 2013
I don't think that any 3 letter agency cared for your disk encryption when files are stored in DB. Now, having these files encrypted before the upload could possibly get their attention. No idea why DB would care for the encrypted file system though - the app handles whatever OS provided and shouldn't depend on underlying FS (as long as some minimum requirements are met).
years ago I've switched to Economy Internet (they'd started to jack up prices while using moronic excuses for doing so). It hurts, but it hurts them as well (they get less than prior to starting the stupid game). I'm no netflix user and have no intent to sign up for any cloud service (that required subscription and was bandwidth intense) so it's not too bad for single household. Recently I looked into their current offer (guest at home) and while the initial rate for next tier up wasn't too bad, required bundles (I have no fricking need for any of added services and costs) cut my search short. To be honest, an idea of contacting support and going through the ordeal I had to go through to settle on my current plan is probably the best reason to avoid any changes.
Lose, lose is sometimes the only winning strategy.
I'd think that retail store costs are much higher so 30% markup would be quite justified (though unlikely for all merchandise sold). I'm not quite sure that Google deserved the same cut but at least they develop Android and distribute platform for free (sure, they also skim user data). Apple simply does not deserve 30% as users of their toys already paid premium that covers all development cost and maintenance of the marketplace.
Not sure if you realize that this has already been "taken care of". Some "better" printers now require you to sign in to vendor's account so effectively manufacturer not only controls your source of consumables, but even that fancy printer (that you spent big $ for) may become a piece of fancy junk at a their whim or if your internet connection went down. Not exactly the premise under which the whole 3D print craze gained popularity.
No surprise. PayPal discloses unnecessary details of your transactions to your bank (when wiring funds to cover for the purchase). It should only provide PP transaction ID (that could be referenced when logged in to PP portal) but this would be too much to ask. The end result is not only potential privacy breach, but also - if bank didn't like some of details of PP transaction - possibility of your bank just bouncing the transfer and PP chasing you for failure to pay. Fun times fixing the mess, trust me on this one.
Same here. It's just about abandoned. And it seems that I was about the last one to turn off the lights (family wide). Logged in today to find out that MS added Cortana to my "contact". Well, they somehow had not grayed you "block this contact" for the snitch. Blocked her and "reported abuse" for good measure. Got the update reminder. Exited the application. Full satisfaction.
It all depends how badly you want to pass - this can make the whole thing an exercise in frustration and colossal waste of time (I'm not sure if failing is worse than overstudying for a passing grade). And what really sucks is how insufficient course materials are (or maybe excessive range of questions) - forget about scoring without brain dumps. I've noticed is that seemingly lower level exams require system admin experience and notably some W10 ones seemed to be mixed up with one another, with a "healthy" dose of questions on in-the-state-of-flux subject of Azure/Intune that few would have hands-on access to (plus the test jumped into next course topics). If you realize the craziness of W10 semi-yearly update cycle introduced changes you can only imagine what it does to test answers.
exactly my thought. I'm really surprised that Amazon let something like this slip out. Not sure about compliance with GDPR but definitely it's a security risk for customers and great opportunity for for criminal when time with release of an iDevice or alike (buy one, pick bunch free en route).
I don't know who I'd be afraid more - the company with "concern for their employees" or the service provider. For this reason I've refused to install their app and I've never checked in outside of the "in private" mode (during emergency drills). Location services are off (most of the time) but who knows how soon mdm will disable possibility of users (like me) having this choice.
I bet all they are looking for is a loophole (for EU laws) and a watered down (but formally sanctioned) GDPR-like law on this side that on one hand would help them spin positive PR to their customers while not adding any resistance to their data collection methods. Salesforce acts - for all intents and purposes - like creepy big brother and it's customers (businesses) opt in consumers with little regard to reasonable expectation of privacy.
"Real game changing technology then. How much was spent on this tech per arrest?" - Plenty (which is the real goal) - the security theater/hysteria has been exploited by governments and business to funnel public money with virtually no oversight. Ironically, significant portion of "consumers" supports this "military industrial complex" with voluntary contributions to the bottoms line of players that established themselves also as major consumer goods/services providers.
Technically this can be done securely - make a purchase from any computer (that you find convenient to browse/do research) while signed in with Google account but approve the payment from a "secure" mobile device linked to the same account. Apple has the advantage of providing now both iOS and macOS devices that have all the necessary hardware built in, but technically this increases the risk of fraudulent transaction (more devices with your payment information) no matter how secure the base system was. BTW, Google had the desktop version for years (Google Wallet?) or was it just PayPal alternative? I recall using it like once (way back) and didn't bother to update any of my info (or worse yet, link it my disposable Google account linked to just as disposable - and by now expired - gifted prepaid CC). I do use Apple Pay but I have no particular urge to have all my web activity and purchases tracked by Google or MS (sure as hell the'd like me to sign in to Windows with their account, use Edge and their crap Store).
The closer one looks the closer the model resembled cable TV. Basic service that ain't worth s... and expensive premium packages that bring little of value to the overall experience (besides vendor lock-in benefiting MS'). Market disruption - sure (if temporary). Innovation - not so much. Windows and Office environments are ripe for cord cutters.
Same here. BTW, "agency's e-file system" is an oxymoron unless it refers to online option open to "free-market" providers. While doing taxes old school is pita, it's the only way to stick it to the middleman that lobbied hard to prevent direct file option. Screw them.
I'd add price to drawbacks - expensive to start with, limited coverage and will make data caps much more obvious (where service is available). I can only guess that the same consumers that wised up to longer phone upgrade cycle and switched to SIM only plans (often payg) are just as willing to burn their cash on high speed Internet at home and on the go (easily 2k$ over the year period). Basics like email/messaging, maps etc do not require anything over reliable 3G.
Though if it can be written off as business expense, why not (just pity the customer).
I bet that average motorist can't predict the outcome of being pulled over the way big corp's legal and finance departments can guesstimate liability of non-compliance and its impact on profit. What's surprising here is that T has not avoided fines - after all Walker's state is pro "free market" and the great leader and his FCC pawn seem to share the same sentiment.
It's not just "discoverability". What matters just as much is repeatability (without frustrating average user, e.g. force touch and forwarding an sms on iPhone). Opera was a browser that brought mouse gestures to desktop browser, gestures only few mastered so it never proved to be of particular value and - having not much more to offer - the browser never gained much traction. Nobody's going to read the manual or spend time watching youtube just to perform basic tasks.
Now, give me real home button, audio jack and (u)SD card slot.
"Microsoft Privacy Dashboard. There's a few things there you can delete your data that Microsoft has already collected." - the problem is that this requires one to create and login with MS account thus making it even easier for them to collect more personally identifiable information. Pointless if you've asked me. Once data is collected it's out of your reach, MS' word can be believed, or not.
If any of this can be trusted, one can turn off some of the slurp in newer build. At the same time it's becoming more difficult to dispatch Cortana that creeps her way into tasks that never required connected search. I'm not particularly convinced by MS' intentions.
No repair manual but - allegedly - you'll now have to certify your team (unlikely for free) to make any in house repairs or upgrades (if any possible). And with the whole BS of "supply" constraints it's no wonder their sales slide when equipment is not delivered on time (or at all).
You forgot to mention the crappy touchpad of t450/60/70 series. Keyboard is acceptable. Build quality - well, what can one expect from cheapo plastic. Fragile as heck and replacement screen cost a fortune.
BTW, none of new mainstream machines will allow for RAM upgrade (at all) or even SSD swap (without voiding warranty). Built in battery, no Ethernet jack and the "greatest" OS yet as the only option. Obviously more expensive.
You may be onto something. Even with "normal" settings set to limit Cortana, when the network glitched out (net security), an attempt to look up anything brought the whole system to crawl until explorer restarted itself. I'm not surprised with any sort of issues affecting this nosy system that's trying to be as helpful as it is creepy.
I would not be so coy about Cisco - aren't they behind development of China firewall? Besides this, Cisco likely aggregates enough data about you at work, and there' really no reason to help them link your home browsing history (and maybe sell to HR/network team as value added of the security subscription they peddled).
Also, while I can see reason why some nightly build users may feel unhappy, it's not like cloudflare didn't serve most of the content they consumed (for this reason alone they may be the best entity to run this kind of test). I'm not sure if possible or in scope of the project, but it'd be nice if "revolving" part of the DNS thing included option for multiple trusted provided queried at random (so none had full insight into traffic patterns) or research if such setup had any merit.
I'd guess that the choice of Alexa, Cortana and Siri was also dictated by the sexism. I've kept my microphones disabled (equal opportunity for voice recog systems;). Now, I'll be glad if I could also completely disable these irritating voices (agent C in particular). I'll do this in the name of equal rights.
But while "Johnston poured water on the idea that retail orders for Samsung's Galaxy S9 will be 10 to 15 per cent higher than last year – he estimated them falling some 50 per cent on 2017's Galaxy S8.", the manufacturers have now built in physical fragility in addition to the old trick of planned obsolescence. Not only the fancy S8 (or any recent premium device) loses "shiny" and battery life over time, but the design makes it almost certain that few will survive exposure to everyday use. I've seen brand new ones with cracked screen (sure it may still work, but next impact will do it for good). I bet they'll also reinstate headphone jack and include SD card slot to get people buying again.
Real PayPal story regarding funds availability. Purchased some software, 9.99$ total - dirt cheap, paid with PP - just in case and because what could go wrong (it's usually the seller who's on the hook, right). Well, to my surprise I had to contact PP's collection department to take care of negative balance on my account as their system would not even process my CC that had been on the account before I was forced to link bank account (transfer was just a fraction of linked account, the bank had no record of denied transfer). More hassle and wasted time that it's really worth. My only explanation is that PP discloses details of transactions to all parties (instead of just acting as a proper proxy) and the bank flagged the transfer as going to fraud rife region (Russian vendor, software absolutely legit though and not linked to any IP circumvention etc). Anyway, neither my bank nor PP explanations make much sense (PP customer support being definitely lacking knowledge of their product beyond script, past experience was better). This put the whole idea of using PP in question. I use it mostly for fraud protection but since the concept of cash like transactions failed since the forced switch to linked bank accounts - banks do not see it the "cash in the pocket way" and will charge you in case of insufficient funds instead of just rejecting transactions and keeping one safe from scammers etc trying to clean up the account - I may as well just switch to using Internet purchases dedicated credit card or Apple Pay.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
