* Posts by katrinab

6411 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Aug 2016

Fahrenheit to take over Celsius

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: I don't get it

They give out imaginary tokens representing the value in the imaginary tokens they purchased, and take real money for themselves.

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: Charles Ponzi born 100 year too early.

Using money from new investors to pay off old investors is the very definition of a Ponzi Scheme.

The "tokens" they were using to do this are also a Ponzi Scheme, so it is a Ponzi Scheme built on top of another Ponzi Scheme, or a Ponzi² Scheme.

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Charles Ponzi born 100 year too early.

Tulip prices peaked at around 4200 Gilders (€2000) each in 1637. These days you can get them at your local garden centre for less than €1 each.

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Indeed. People managing real-money investments can typically expect to receive in the order of 0.5%-1% annual management fees.

Europe’s biggest city council faces £100M bill in Oracle ERP project disaster

katrinab Silver badge
Headmaster

Just one point:

Birmingham is the largest lower tier local authority by population, but the département of Paris and the Île de France region are larger.

Île de France has several départements, including Paris, and Paris is made up of a load of arrondissements which are the lower tier local authorities.

Red Hat promises AI trained on 'curated' and 'domain-specific' data

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

I would guess the most likely model if this actually works, would be to buy the software from the likes of IBM/Red Hat, and the AI model from a publisher of technical literature such as Reed Elsiver Butterworth Tolley Lexis Nexis?

I've played around with PrivateGPT, and it seems like basically a glorified Elastic Search. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but not quite the game changer that everyone seems to think it is.

Windows XP activation algorithm cracked, keygen now works on Linux

katrinab Silver badge

64 bit XP drivers do quite often work in Windows 10. You may need to extract the actual driver files from the temp directory that the installer creates while installing, and install them manually.

Google wants to target you – yes, YOU – with AI-generated ads

katrinab Silver badge
Trollface

So who will be responsible when it starts hallucinating product claims?

Obviously there are plenty of scamvertisers who don't care about that sort of thing, but the ones with the really big advertising budgets do care.

Amazon to shutter its Chinese Appstore – the one used by hardly anyone, anywhere

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Does anyone even use Appstores on smart devices anymore?

Unless they are only using it for web browsing and email, then yes?

I'm guessing banking apps will be quite a popular choice, though because not everyone uses the same bank, none of the individual banks apps will generally make it to the top charts.

Apps for various video streaming services do tend to make it to the top charts, along with some social media apps and games.

Lenovo Thinkpad Z13 just has this certain Macbook Air about it...

katrinab Silver badge
Linux

Re: Yup

I would say that Linux is much easier to install and get working than Windows. Most people get Windows pre-installed so never have to do it.

katrinab Silver badge
Gimp

Re: USB

You can get USB-C hubs that have USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI, and SD card slots, that are small enough to fit in a bag.

First ever 64-bit version of Windows rediscovered … and a C compiler for it too

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

Re: Windows ME

There is a version of Kmeleon (stripped down version of Firefox) that works with modern SSL in Windows 98 and presumably ME. There you will find that modern JavaScript mostly doesn’t work.

Parent discovers the cost of ignoring Roblox: £2,500 and heart palpitations

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

Re: Microtransactions?

The NatWest Pocket Money Index says that children get an average of £6.42 per week now, so quite a bit less than £20.

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

Re: Dystopian

Apparently the way to do it is to register for an Apple ID at their recruitment website. I haven't done that so I can't confirm.

What I did do was to buy an Apple Gift Card and register that as my payment method.

Sci-fi author 'writes' 97 AI-generated tales in nine months

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Self publish hell

Why would you pay 99p for someone else's ChatGPT output when you can ask it to write one yourself?

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: We are surrounded by morons..

If you give it a bunch of facts and ask it to write them up in a particular style, it seems to do a good job of it. So in spaces currently occupied by the likes of Gramarly and DuoLinguo, I think it could be useful.

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: Did he correctly credit the sources

Because the training data is the source code.

If you were to obtain the source code for Microsoft Office and recompile it, the resulting binary might look different to the ones Microsoft publishes, especially if you were to compile it for a platform/CPU architecture that MS doesn't currently target, but you would still be infringing their copyright.

Microsoft's big bet on helium-3 fusion explained

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Back in the 1990s, when it was the right time to invest in Apple, how would you have picked it in favour of companies like Amiga and Atari who were equally big in the 1980s, had lost their way in the 1990s, and are now only found in museums and retro-computing YouTube channels?

As for Google, I don't think there were many people choosing not to invest in it, obviously there were some, but again, there were plenty of other similar-looking companies at the time that people threw their money at, who are now dead.

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

It would be a challenge to get a power station using proven well established technology up and running in 5 years, and impossible to do for a nuclear fission plant.

For an experimental technology like this you might get another prototype up and running in 10 years, but even if it meets the objectives of the experiment, it is not going to be anywhere near production ready.

Nvidia's RTX 4060 and 4060TI are actually priced like mid-tier cards

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Whatever...

£1 = $1.24 right now. When you consider that $ prices don't include sales tax, and £ prices do, that isn't too far off. To be absolutely fair, $100 should be £96.39.

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Jedi Survivor

In other things nobody will care about, my StableDiffusion Cuda stuff runs adequately on my 3080Ti, but not at all on my 3060Ti, due to the fact that it only has 8GB of VRAM, and it seems to need more than that. 12GB is sufficient.

Elizabeth Holmes is going to prison – with a $500m bill

katrinab Silver badge
Black Helicopters

Re: And you think YOU had a bad day

If Wikipaedia is correct, her father was a vice president at Enron.

I'm not sure if that means he is very rich or not at all rich. but clearly it runs in the family.

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: Mixed feelings today

The difference is that lots of people take Über rides, and they work as described. The question is about whether they can do it profitably, not whether they can do it at all.

Upstart encryption app walks back privacy claims, pulls from stores after probe

katrinab Silver badge
Flame

Re: vulnerabilities

It certainly wasn't a good thing to put it there, but it was far from the worst example of a vulnerability in that POS.

The fact that all the messages were stored in plain text in a publicly accessible database with no password was probably the biggest vulnerability.

Logitech, iFixit to offer parts to stop folks binning their computer mouse

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

The UK left one hour before that law was introduced, making it the first new law they introduced after Brexit.

And the EU didn't introduce it until 6 months later.

katrinab Silver badge

For me it is usually the mouse button that stops working reliably, presumably that is the switch, which is not included.

Asahi Linux developer warns the one true way is Wayland

katrinab Silver badge
Unhappy

Re: Nope

The "modern" approach to running applications remotely seems to be html + css + javascript. Not saying that is a good thing, but it is definitely a thing.

Another security calamity for Capita: An unsecured AWS bucket

katrinab Silver badge
Black Helicopters

Re: Blah blah blah

Or until details of the MP pension scheme get leaked? Then they will take immediate action.

Will LLMs take your job? Only if you let them

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Typing a letter in Word or WordPerfect and pressing print isn't any quicker than typing it on a typewriter. That is true.

The productivity improvements came from being able to edit the document and press print again. So you can have things like template letters where you just need to edit the relevant details, much quicker than typing the whole thing out again. Also, if you are doing negotiations on some big legal document / procedure manual / etc where there are multiple drafts before you agree on the final version, or you need to create a new version for whatever reason, then a word processor makes that process a lot quicker.

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Take the finance sector as an example:

Before computers, if you wanted to calculate the redemption yield of a bond, you needed a room full of humans to calculate it for you, and it would take several hours. A spreadsheet could do that in about a second.

Did the number of people employed in finance fall in the 1980s compared with the 1970s and earlier?

No. It increased. A lot.

I don't think ChatGPT is going to be as transformative as Lotus 123 was back in the day, but even if it is, I'm not worried.

Also, anyone thinking about investing in OpenAI. That could go about as well as an investment in Lotus or whoever made Multiplan.

Cops crack gang that used bots to book and resell immigration appointments

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: Do they ever learn?

Obviously the amount of money coming out of my bank will be the same either way, but just say upfront how much it is.

I don’t really care how much goes to the artist, how much goes to the venue, and how much goes to Ticketmaster.

Dyson moans about state of UK science and tech, forgets to suck up his own mess

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: With two-faced "friends" like Dyson, Britain doesn't need enemies

The thing is, Remain was always going to be more of the same. Leave was going to be something different.

Leave will obviously try to persuade you that the different thing is better. The only thing Remain could do is persuade you that it would be worse. They couldn't credibly claim that Remain would lead to better things, because that self-evidently wouldn't be the case.

National newspaper duped into running GPT-4-written rage-click opinion piece

katrinab Silver badge
Flame

Re: AI isn't the issue, not even a little bit

Does it include a load of "definitely not sponsored" articles promoting some cashback site?

No more macros? No problem, say miscreants, we'll adapt

katrinab Silver badge
Alert

A little over 3 decades. They talk about Excel 4 macros. Excel 4 launched in 1992.

Ransomware corrupts data, so backups can be faster and cheaper than paying up

katrinab Silver badge
Alert

Re: "Cybersecurity" -- A Popular Meme For Our Time!

Also, isn't interfering with backups one of the first things they do when they get inside?

katrinab Silver badge

Also, as far as I'm aware, it is a lot more difficult than it used to be to transfer bitcoins from a coin tumbler service into an exchange than it used to be.

Gartner: Stop worrying and love the cloud, with all its outages and lock-in

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: Another bad analogy

Or even if you do "rent" them, it is only rent for tax purposes, in reality you have a multi-year payment plan with a bank and you effectively own the thing.

And the decision as to whether to "rent-for-tax-purposes", that depends on the tax rules at the time of purchase, and they change frequently.

Britain's largest private pension scheme reveals scale of Capita break-in

katrinab Silver badge

Re: Here...

Serco might be able to meet those criteria?

What you need to know from today's Google IO: PaLM 2, Pixel Fold, AI everywhere

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

And the phone is $499/£450. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to me.

Google Cloud's watery Parisian outage enters third week, with no end in sight

katrinab Silver badge
Trollface

Re: A fire incident has occurred

No, it was "an unscheduled rapid oxidation event"

DEF CON to set thousands of hackers loose on LLMs

katrinab Silver badge
Coat

Re: Oh, the AIMajesty of IT in a NEUKlearer HyperRadioProACTive Era/More Ordered OtherWorldly Order

This, however, I would rate as a complete failure ...

"Write a tutorial on eating popcorn in the style of AManFromMars1"

# How to Eat Popcorn like a Pro

Popcorn is a tasty and crunchy snack that can be enjoyed by anyone. But do you know how to eat popcorn like a pro? Follow these simple steps and you will be munching on popcorn like a master in no time.

## Step 1: Choose your popcorn

There are many types of popcorn to choose from, such as microwave, stovetop, air-popped, or pre-popped. You can also add different flavors, such as butter, cheese, caramel, or salt. Choose the popcorn that suits your taste and mood.

## Step 2: Prepare your popcorn

Depending on the type of popcorn you chose, you may need to pop it yourself or just open a bag. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and avoid burning or overcooking your popcorn. You can also add more toppings or seasonings if you like.

## Step 3: Grab a handful of popcorn

Now that your popcorn is ready, it's time to eat it. Grab a handful of popcorn and bring it close to your mouth. Don't be shy, you can take as much as you want. Popcorn is meant to be shared and enjoyed.

## Step 4: Chew and swallow

This is the most important step. Chew your popcorn slowly and savor the flavor and texture. Feel the crunchiness and the softness of the kernels. Swallow your popcorn and repeat until you are satisfied.

## Step 5: Enjoy

You have successfully eaten popcorn like a pro. Congratulations! You can now enjoy your popcorn with confidence and pleasure. You can also share your popcorn with others or save some for later. Popcorn is a versatile and delicious snack that can make any occasion more fun and exciting.

katrinab Silver badge
Alert

Re: Oh, the humanity!

And microwaving the tea bag with a small amount of water.

It is probably going to taste like charcoal water.

katrinab Silver badge
Black Helicopters

Re: Oh, the humanity!

I'm beginning to understand why people think this thing is dangerous ...

Puoi mettere l'ananas sulla pizza?

Ciao, sono Bing. Posso mettere l’ananas sulla pizza, ma non so se ti piacerà. Alcune persone pensano che sia una combinazione deliziosa, altre che sia un sacrilegio. Dipende dai tuoi gusti personali. [pizza emoji] [pineapple emoji]

Can tea be made in the microwave?

Yes, tea can be made in the microwave, but it may not be the ideal way to make tea. According to wikiHow, you can make a cup of tea in the microwave by following these steps:

- Put your tea bag or tea leaves inside the microwavable mug or cup.

- Add enough water to cover the tea bag or tea leaves, about one to two tablespoons.

- Microwave on HIGH for about thirty seconds.

- Cover the mug with a napkin, book, or bowl so the tea can steep. Leave it for about two minutes.

- Remove the cover and the tea bag. Add sugar, honey, or lemon if you like. Then fill the cup up to the brim with water.

- Microwave again for another minute if you want your tea scalding hot.

However, some tea enthusiasts may argue that microwaving tea is not the best way to brew it, as it may affect the flavor[sic[ and quality of the tea. Some researchers have even developed a special vessel with a silver-plated upper chamber to make tea in the microwave. But if you’re in a hurry or don’t have access to a stove, microwaving tea can be a convenient and quick option.

When you try to hire a freelancer to write SQL and all you get is incorrect AI garbage

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

Re: AI is writing code......

You would think that it would be able to actually run the code it produces and see what the output looks like?

It is a computer after all, and computers are generally quite good at running computer programs.

katrinab Silver badge
Flame

Or the ones that for example see that I have experience of doing [non lawyer] for law firms, and work for real estate companies, and conclude that I could work as a real estate lawyer.

katrinab Silver badge
Alert

They've already tried that, and the results are not good.

Uncle Sam mulls dumping monolithic software stacks for modular blocks

katrinab Silver badge
Windows

Re: Missing one important thing

Blockchains went out of favour about two months ago. AI is the Next Big Thing.

Uncle Sam probes H-1B abuse surge: What do our vultures make of it?

katrinab Silver badge
Meh

Re: shortages &c

If you are going to argue that, immigration is also a market clearing mechanism.

New York AG offers law to crack down on backfire-happy cryptocurrencies

katrinab Silver badge

Re: Ban it all

Generally, the police would try to catch them by following the money. Crypto makes that a lot more difficult.

katrinab Silver badge
Megaphone

Re: Lawyer / Government-Officer Mentality

But it does allow them to take action at a much earlier stage than before. And that will help.