* Posts by jelabarre59

2005 publicly visible posts • joined 16 Aug 2013

Your McDonald's demo has expired. For full functionality, please purchase a licence or try another fast-food joint

jelabarre59

Re: I think we need a new acronym... POS is doubly accurate...

For me it's "SLA" (as in Service Level Agreement). Even all these years later I still will think "Symbionese Liberation Army" (and that dates me right there).

C'mon SPARCky, it's just an admin utility update. What could possibly go wrong?

jelabarre59

Re: Just following instructions....

I'm familiar with the Morris worm, my story/series has an *accidental* release (the particular malware was meant to be used on very specific targets).

jelabarre59

Re: Just following instructions....

Perhaps when the whole edifice collapses when a hapless fool innocently changes something which is replicated endlessly around the globe by aggressive dependency policies it might be cause for thought

And that gives me a possible solution for a problem in a SF story of mine, how a particular attack vector hits computers worldwide when originally meant for localized targets.

Smartwatch owners love their calorie-counting gadgets, but they are verrry expensive

jelabarre59

Smartwatch owners love their calorie-counting gadgets, but they are verrry expensive

Well, what better way to reduce your caloric input than to spend *SO* much money on worthless tat that you don't have money to spend on food.

Those who said they don't own a smartwatch said the biggest barrier was price.

No, the biggest barrier for me is why the fuck would I want one.

jelabarre59

Re: RE: AC

Couldn't you just bring it closer to your face?

Not much use if you can't focus on something that close.

Researchers trick Tesla into massively breaking the speed limit by sticking a 2-inch piece of electrical tape on a sign

jelabarre59

as for the Delorean

I recall a joke many (many) years back that the Delorean had an autopilot system that would follow the white line...

jelabarre59

Re: Adversarial attacks

{e} Mars

It's official: In May, Microsoft will close the door, lock the vault, brick over the entrance of dreaded Windows 10 1809

jelabarre59
Trollface

Re: I'm still stuck

One of the major secrets with Windows 10 upgrade problems is that you MUST remove any aftermarket AV products.

So if your antivirus product prevents you from installing/"upgrading" MSWin10, doesn't that imply MSW is a virus?

AT&T insists it's not blocking Tutanota after secure email biz cries foul, cites loss of net neutrality as cause

jelabarre59

Re: Net Neutrality is a bit more complex than all that

I'd agree on your "slightly" preferring Net Neutrality. It's the original intent of the internet, although I could see particularly egregious abusers of the system having to chip in a little more to compensate (but just *how* to determine that is the next problem).

Biggest problem I've had with NN is that it can readily be used by any administration in power (or even your typical petty bureaucrat) as a weapon to punish any company that dares to oppose some particular political/social agenda. I prefer to see as few weapons as possible in the bureaucratic arsenal. Add to that the government administrators who can't tell the difference between technical issues vs wilful blocking (not saying AT&T wasn't blocking, just that there actually *might* have been technical issues), or some abuser of the system trying to present themselves as victims.

It comes down to trying to establish static rules to something that doesn't lend itself to a static ruleset.

Cache me if you can: HDD PC sales collapse in Europe as shoppers say yes siree to SSD

jelabarre59

Re: The days of spinning rust in lappies looks numbered...

And if I hear it from an "analyst" AGAIN, I just shrug.

There's a reason they're called "analysts"; because they're usually talking out of their ass...

(BTW, ElReg: just HOW is it if I reply to a message that has a long title, you suddenly think it's too long? It was posted before with the same title)

Microsoft brings the pane: You'll be looking at Xamarin and React Native to design apps for dual-screen gizmos

jelabarre59

Aw... you beat me to it...

Dual screens, fast updates, no registry cruft and security in mind: Microsoft gives devs the lowdown on Windows 10X

jelabarre59

Re: Er, who?

Erin Megiddo, corporate veep for Windows and education

I think you mean Eran Meggido, who may well be one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

I've noticed that name before. "Meggido" being an alternate name for the ancient city of "Armageddon".

Netgear's routerlogin.com HTTPS cert snafu now has a live proof of concept

jelabarre59

Re: No problem here

My Netgear router fixed this problem by blowing itself up on the same day the warranty expired.

Yeah, Belkin routers have the courtesy to blow up 2 weeks after you buy them. The replacement units maybe last 4 weeks.

Linksys routers are minimally functional, but the parental controls act just like the teenagers you're trying to put time limits on; they ignore what you're saying and do whatever they want anyway.

At least the Netgear router I'm trying a recent build of DD-WRT on didn't cost me anything, so no money lost if I brick it.

Astroboffins agog after spotting the first repeating fast radio burst that pings every 16 days from another galaxy

jelabarre59

Re: Aliens? Or something more prosaic? We're hoping for aliens

Preposterous! Of course aliens are not the cause of all unexpected phenomena.

You lose your keys -> gnomes.

Nope, not that either. It's just that the blue-suited construction workers forgot to place them there when they built that minute.

jelabarre59

Re: Aliens? Or something more prosaic? We're hoping for aliens

It's unreasonable to suggest that aliens might be broadcasting messages in arbitrary directions at cosmic power levels on varied schedules from multiple locations across the galaxy and even other galaxies.*

The big issue I've seen with trying to detect "alien" transmissions (presuming they even broadcast in a band/frequency we'd recognize as radio/TV) is we have to detect them at JUST the right period in their development. Just look at our own broadcast history; from Marconi's earliest transmissions in the 1890's to 125 years later, we went on a curve of more and stronger broadcasts, but then moved to cabling, terrestrial satellite (which would be transmitting down to the surface rather than out), and various encoded streaming services over those lines. Moving to digital broadcast meant while we had more bandwidth, we have less range (our house gets *no* broadcast television). I'd suspect we're leaking far less for broadcast signals than even 25 years ago.

So effectively you'd have to catch that other civilization's signals during their century-long "noisy" period. I could be wrong, my wife would attest to that...

Tens of millions of biz Dell PCs smacked by privilege-escalation bug in bundled troubleshooting tool

jelabarre59

Re: Remind me again:

I'd also presume that having and using the supplied bloatware is part of the support contract or warranty support. I mean slapping an offshore call centre in front of a flow chart who's first question is "What does the software say?" saves on their budget.

But even if you're forced to leave the SW on the system, the next-best option is to make sure the software doesn't auto-load at startup. Only run it when absolutely necessary. If you're having to leave it on corporate desktops, delete the icons for it as well.

But you don't even have to be a *small* operation to have your system loaded down with crap. I remember seeing the IBM internal MSWin image, where all the bundled applications were loading all their memory/CPU-hogging accessories that the vast majority would never need/use. It was quite obvious whomever was setting up the apps simply clicked past ALL the default settings without even looking at them. Your tech-newbie grandmother could have done a cleaner install.

Built to last: Time to dispose of the disposable, unrepairable brick

jelabarre59

You used to be able to buy a CCD array that fitted in place of the 35mm film without changing the back cover.

Now that would be cool if I could do that with my mid-1940's Exacta.

Windows 7 will not go gentle into that good night: Ageing OS refuses to shut down

jelabarre59

There's always Captain Obvious from some hotel commercials.

jelabarre59

Re: "Less well supported"?

Several MS employees and graybeard-equivalent experts on the Microsoft forums would lead the seeker-of-truth down many twisty passages which didn't help.

http://www.tensionnot.com/jokes/customer_service_jokes/microsoft_tech_support

(although my favourite is still http://www.rantnroll.com/html/gates.html#divine)

jelabarre59

Re: What is Nt?

"Nice Try"

"Not There"

"Neutered Technology"

"Not Today"

jelabarre59

MS-DOS was never an operating system worthy of the name.

I'd think MS-DOS would qualify more as a "bootloader" (and not even a proper example of that in modern parlance).

jelabarre59

Re: Adobe testing

Perhaps he was pirating software, so meant to say "arrrrrr"?

A new entry in the franchise: Microsoft Windows and the Goblet of Meh

jelabarre59

Re: Chromium Edge

I just can't think of why I would *want* to install a Chromium-based browser in the first place. FORCED into it for particularly-braindead websites (looking at YOU, Google) perhaps.

MWC now stands for 'Most Won't Come': Intel, Vivo and MediaTek drop out of mobile industry kneesup over coronavirus

jelabarre59

Re: They should just cancel the whole event

The alternative is for attendees and presenters to adopt a new dress code: https://i.pinimg.com/236x/00/8d/91/008d919f89d0c615e2df9a882d23a18c.jpg

NexDock 2 revisited: Could it be more than a handy Pi hole?

jelabarre59

Re: missing something

But once you're putting the SBC inside the case, you might as well get a PineBook (this is exactly what they do).

But as a convenient KB/screen for your phone, it could still have it's uses. If I were one to actually use cellular data (rather than syncing through wifi before I leave home) I'd consider it. I had intended a similar idea with the current Barnes & Noble 10" tablet & keyboard, but the KB cover accessory for their tablet is non-functional shit.

Google Chrome to block file downloads – from .exe to .txt – over HTTP by default this year. And we're OK with this

jelabarre59

Re: Not as disruptive as it sounds

I'm not so sure the expense ends up being as bad as you thuink. Considering they can replace expensive, one-use CommonCore-mandated textbooks, and can be readily used for 3-4 years. Add in the other consumables the Chromebooks can replace, they might end up being a cheaper solution. Just forget for the moment they come from the GoogleHydra, and just think of them as portable terminals.

jelabarre59

Re: The long game

[3] All links resolved by javascript, with their HTML anchors blocked by #, ensuring that the user can't browse without being snooped on.

The other problem I've encountered with links calling javascript, is it means you can't open links in the background to be read later. Taleo would do a lot of that (but Taleo are general shitheads anyway)

MWC now means 'Mobiles? Whatever! Coronavirus!' as Ericsson becomes latest to pass on industry shindig

jelabarre59

Re: You might have thought in this day and age...

Just have every company staff the booths with robots, and your attendees could just send swag-collecting drones in their own stead.

Come to Five Guys, where the software is as fresh as the burgers... or maybe not

jelabarre59

Re: It could be embedded

Knowing NCR, it definitely is the embedded version of Windows 7, POSReady7.

It's MSWindows. It's ALWAYS "P.o.S. ready", but that has nothing to do with point of sale...

Hear, hear: The first to invent idiot-cancelling headphones gets my cash

jelabarre59

just a damned reference...

And props for the vid with The Captain and Dolly Mixture...

jelabarre59

Re: That's a winning idea!

Maybe headphones with #MAKA built in so we can select the idiots we want to dispose of - I'd buy those!

Wait, Maka built in??? I mean sure she's small, but not that small...

Google's OpenSK lets you BYOSK – burn your own security key

jelabarre59

Re: It's all very fascinating

the security key is registered once with some trusted authority (please let it not be Google)

Well you *DID* say "trusted", so that would leave Google out...

Petition asking Microsoft to open-source Windows 7 sails past 7,777-signature goal

jelabarre59

Instead of this

Someone once tried to get IBM to open-source OS/2, that didn't go any either (for much the same reasons).

If people are so desperate for an open-source "Windows", go work on ReactOS.

Vendor-bender LibreOffice kicks out 6.4: Community project feel, though now with added auto-█████ tool

jelabarre59

As a coder myself, I understand the value of using someone skilled at UI/UX and using graphic designers to make the functionality usable by casual users.

GRAPHICS designers? Nope, they just like making things fancy, not usable. If they were capable of usability, we wouldn't end up with the sort of crap Jony Ive and his ilk come up with.

Thunderbird is go: Mozilla's email client lands in a new nest

jelabarre59

Re: "Around 0.5% of emails opened in the 'bird today, apparently"

Their results include the footnote "Some email clients may be over or under represented due to image blocking"

Yeah, then absolutely they won't be registering my installs of it.

Need 32-bit Linux to run past 2038? When version 5.6 of the kernel pops, you're in for a treat

jelabarre59

Re: Can someone...

Proper battery, or a Dallas chip ? Horrible bloody things.

At least the Dallas chips mainly just die quietly. The "barrel" batteries in Amiga, Mac (?) and other 90's kit are notorious for leaking out when they die, corroding the system board around them. They have spot-welded leads and are soldered on the boards. Whomever thought having batteries permanently soldered to the board should be made to lick a few of those damaged boards clean.

jelabarre59

Re: Can someone...

I fully expect future generations to just reset the clocks and carry on.

The AT&T 6300 PCs had an oddball clock chip, where you could only set the clock for dates from January 1984 to December 1991. I had to "fix" one in January 1992, and there already was a clockfix utility to set an offset for the system clock to allow you to set dates later. Apparently it will still work too (just have to set the appropriate multiple of 8). Although that's compensating for a hardware issue, while this is OS & software.

In the red corner, Big Red, and in the blue corner... the rest of the tech industry

jelabarre59

Re: A solution?

Then why haven't they sued?

Because they're a significantly smaller studio than Disney, and the rep from Tezuka Studios outright said "Disney has too many lawyers". The lawsuit would likely kill them.

jelabarre59

Re: A solution?

...for instance why isn't Disney paying the Sami or Viking descendants royalties for their mythology?),

Heck, Disney won't even pay the Osamu Tezuka estate for the content they stole for "The Lion King".

Windows takes a tumble in the land of the Big Mac and Bacon Double Cheeseburger

jelabarre59

Actually, I was making a flippant reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat, just wanted to see if anyone would get the joke.

jelabarre59

Audio driver?

More likely the person(s) developing the UI couldn't be bothered to remove an unneeded driver, didn't know how, or the environment didn't allow the removal of unneeded drivers. I'm sure there are floppy and SCSI drivers someplace in there too.

jelabarre59

The grease-monger has also been installing touchscreens in its restaurants to save customers having to bark orders at staff.

More likely because as more states move to a $15/hr minimum wage, it has become cheaper to replace staff with self-serve signage.

Just waiting for someone to invent a restaurant where the kitchen staff are hidden behind a wall of compartments, and you just put your money in on the side of the compartment to pull out your food selection. Maybe call it something like "Automat"...

jelabarre59

MickeyD's is how the cool left-pondian kids generally refer to the burger slingers.

I remember when "Murder Burgers" was the popular name. As opposed to the other chain being known as "Booger King".

Well, well, well. Internet-of-Things speaker biz Sonos to continue some software support for legacy kit after all

jelabarre59

Re: Drop support, make it open source

My question here is: are they bricking the entire unit, amplifier and all? Or just the remote-services function? Because if the latter, you just take the old kit, wire in an auxiliary input directly to the amp (if it doesn't have it already) and use them as powered speakers. it's the only way I would use such a device anyway, as I would never buy hardware completely reliant upon an internet service, readily subject to being cancelled at any time.

Curse of Boeing continues: Now a telly satellite it built may explode, will be pushed up to 500km from geo orbit

jelabarre59

10nm woes, CPU supply shortages, competition from AMD... What? Sorry? Intel can't hear you over the cash register going bonkers

jelabarre59

Power-ful

Seems here's an opportunity for the re-ascension of Power. All those cloud centres could be running OpenStack on it.

jelabarre59

Re: Translation?

Do these guys get the obscene pay levels because they can talk like this, which would give 0 out of 10 in a high school English exam?

I think they'd have have trouble competing with this lobbyist's game of Bullshit Bingo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd3Qa9tlA3o

jelabarre59

Meh. It took me 3 months to get hold of a couple of NUCs after pre-ordering 3 times, only to get let down each time with no stock appearing after the stock due date.

So I guess there's been an advantage in my habit of using only used/cast-off x86_64 (and a few straight x86) hardware. I think the last time I had brand-new x86 kit was a homebrew Athlon64 back in 2004. Now, Arm and Atom-based hardware is a different story (yes, I know Atom is technically x86, but I'm considering "mobile" as a separate animal)

Don't mention the seam! Microsoft releases Surface Duo Android SDK, more on Windows 10X

jelabarre59

Come on, you turn it sideways and you can watch Crunchyroll on one screen and Funimation in the other... (especially fun if you run the subbed and dubbed versions of the same episode).

But the big problem is if you want to use a physical keyboard with them in landscape mode. You'd have to have some tall extender to hold the two screens up. I guess that's where you'd fold them in laptop-mode and do a soft-keyboard on the second screen.

jelabarre59

Re: By by byeeeeeeeeee

The B and Y on the keyboard itself are nuked by the seam...!

That's to keep you from saying (or typing) "BYE".