* Posts by Slartybardfast

177 publicly visible posts • joined 20 Apr 2008

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As Trump signs away Americans' digital privacy, it's time to bring out the BS detector

Slartybardfast

Re: We'll follow as usual

Drain the swamp - and fill it full of shit.

Palmtop nostalgia is tinny music to my elephantine ears

Slartybardfast

Re: A man after my own heart

The last two pairs I've mended I've use this type of Neutrik connector.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neutrik-Stereo-3-5mm-Mini-Jack-Plug-NTP3RC-B-Gold-Plated-1-8-Angled-Connector-/150550012640?hash=item230d7ae2e0

The connector is very good but it's metal so it does add extra weight.

Chinese electronics biz recalls webcams at heart of botnet DDoS woes

Slartybardfast

Re: UPNP is convenient.

My point is the "Joe Stupid" doesn't have to be STUPID to get caught up in this. Not literally that doctors and professors are a special case. I thought you may have realised this, but obviously I have to spell it out to you.

"They should go to the IT professional because they are the experts" - So that includes everyone who wants to plug in a PS4 and just have it work? You are living in cloud cuckoo land.

"Standards would be great if they were universal, applied properly, and adhered to by ALL manufacturers and developers" - Correct, and?

Slartybardfast

Re: You have got to smile

Their English is probably better than your Chinese

Slartybardfast

Re: UPNP is convenient.

Sorry but "Joe Stupid" could well be a professor of physics or a doctor etc, just not I.T aware, networking experts or sys admins. Blocking these people from using the products they have bought, just because they aren't aware of the implications is just wrong. It's the fault of the standards committees and manufactuers/developers not the users.

Apple iPhone 7 launch hysteria? Not in Viking land

Slartybardfast

Re: "only pre-ordered phones were available to collect"

Did you bother to read the article

"Orchestrated queues usually only appeared outside Apple stores – you could usually walk straight into an O2 shop and pick up the phone without being photographed or high-fived by over-excited staff."

Slartybardfast
FAIL

I hope they got done for littering.

Height of stupidity: Heathrow airliner buzzed by drone at 7,000ft

Slartybardfast

Re: Sorry, but . . .

Yeah, I'm sure that the residents of certain London Boroughs would love to have their WiFi cut out each time a plane goes over.

Londoner jailed after refusing to unlock his mobile phones

Slartybardfast

Re: Hmm

"Guns in the UK! Never! Has he not heard the law bans them?"

Strange comment. Yes, I guess he certainly knows now, having been given 5 1/2 years for owning them.

Apple Watch exec Bob Mansfield 'gets into secret Apple car'

Slartybardfast

Re: An iAUto would ....

Each year to get into the new model you would have to go on a diet, as each one would be thinner than the last.

Lester Haines: RIP

Slartybardfast

RIP Lester

It was an honour to read your posts over the years. You always seemd like someone it would have been good to have gone and had a few beers with. There is no higher tribute in my books.

Computex 2016: Full of people in cold sweats, retching after VR demos

Slartybardfast

Re: RE : Lego is an obvious health and safety risk in the office.

Bottom! He he

Idiot millennials are saving credit card PINs on their mobile phones

Slartybardfast

Encryption?

No mention however if these were stored in the clear or encrypted using something like Keypass. I keep mine on my phone using Keypass. Getting my .kdbx file won't be of much use to you without my key.txt file (on USB stick) and long, complicated but memorable password. BTW I'm 54.

Just how close are Obama and Google? You won’t believe the answer

Slartybardfast

Nice click bait headline

"Just how close are Obama and Google? You won’t believe the answer"

Is this The Register or Mashable?

Brit brewer opensources entire recipe archive

Slartybardfast
Pint

I've just had a look and not only have they given away the recipies they have produced a very good quick start guide and pdf book. Well done to all concerned.

Brit hardware hacker turns Raspberry Pi Zeros into selfie slayers

Slartybardfast

Re: I want one to block facebook and whatsapp

"That's why they are blocked on my home WiFi."

It's your WiFi and you're obviously free to block whatever you want. Stopping other people visiting sites that they want to does sound a bit like control freakery though. So you're stopping your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend and or children (if you have any of them) visiting sites that you don't like. When other people are using your WiFi then you are to a certain degree being their 'ISP by proxy'. Wouldn't you moan if your ISP blocked access to sites you wanted to go to?

Ofcom spins out Wi-Fi checker app just in time for Christmas

Slartybardfast

Re: Choices, choices

My small tree has got fibre optic lights is that ok :-)

Prudish Indian censors cut James Bond Spectre snogging scenes

Slartybardfast

A thousand elephants...

Online pharmacy slapped with £130,000 fine for flogging customer data

Slartybardfast

Tweets by Dr Ben Goldacre

ben goldacre ‏@bengoldacre

"So: the bloke who makes the GP software that stores your NHS patient records also just flogged NHS data to scammers."

" EMIS (GP computer system) CEO is director of t'dodgy pharmacy that sold thousands of NHS patients data to fraudsters http://flnx.co/Iovnx "

Drones need their own version of Asimov's laws of robotics – MEPs

Slartybardfast

Floating operators?

"in Berlin, operators need a licence to fly higher than 30 metres"

I thought the operators stayed on the ground.

Microsoft co-founder recovers ship's bell of 'The Mighty Hood'

Slartybardfast

"Do you propose that the bell of the Bismarck be retrieved to remember the crew who fought for their country? Or the bell from the French navy battleship Bretagne, sunk in port by Hood, with the loss of a thousand French sailors?"

If they want to, why not?

Viagra found in Chinese 'Kung Fu rice wine'

Slartybardfast

It might cause the agencies to prick up their ears a bit

Trebles all round: The BBC's won this licence fee showdown

Slartybardfast

It's a shame I can't up vote you more than once.

Got a big day planned in 15 billion years? You need this clock

Slartybardfast

Re: Obligatory Terry Pratchet reference

OK who's the sad little fucker down voting a harmless Terry Pratchett meme? And why?

Sir Terry remembered: Dickens' fire, Tolkien's imagination, and the wit of Wodehouse

Slartybardfast

I'm 54 year old man who has never met Sir Terry but feels like he knew him. I've had a couple of tears in my eyes today. Daft really, but I'll miss him.

I shall wear the Lilac in remembrance

'Roly poly' soft, wobbly robot BANGS EXPLOSIVELY, leaps 0.5m in air

Slartybardfast

Cat Scarer

I could do with one of these linked up to a PIR. It would probably scare away the multitude of cats that like to use my garden as a toilet.

(Re)touching on a quarter-century of Adobe Photoshop

Slartybardfast

Before Photoshop - Crosfield Electronics

Crosfield used to supply many of the top repro houses and newspapers with drum scanners page make-up systems. We're talking big money here £150000+ for a page make-up system. However they were great in their time. The earlier systems worked using DEC 11/34's, 23's (for scanner terminals) and later 11/73's for the page make-up systems. Later on they designed their own 68000 based systems.

The page make-up system couldn't touch the Photoshop of today but they could do things like USM and colour changing and many other features that for the time seemed almost like magic. A good operator (who were paid mega money by those days standards) could be amazing things given the limitations of the system. The systems needed a proper "system room" for cooling etc, although not all users had them. I can remember looking fondly (until the heads crashed) on a room full of CDC9766 340MB disc drives. I seem to remember 17 heads and a whole 340MB (unformatted) of data.

Kids today etc, etc, etc

Internet of Thieves: All that shiny home security gear is crap, warns HP

Slartybardfast

Maroons

This sort of thing makes me see red.

Microsoft eyes slice of Raspberry Pi with free Windows 10 sprinkled on top

Slartybardfast

Re: Now this explains it

"I was wondering why the hell upping the core count and RAM on the Model B. This explains it."

It wasn't so that you can run more intensive applications, of course not. I'm really pleased about this as I'm interested in it's use in RTL/SDR applications. The B+ is ok as a front end but doesn't have enough grunt to be used as a full SDR. This looks like it should be much more capable, it might be able to run some low spec'd GNU Radio apps.

"So the answer to the "why raise the hardware spec" is now clear - it needs to comply with the minimum spec for Windows 10 which surprise, surprise is 1G RAM." - OH FFS!

Turbocharged quad-core Raspberry Pi 2 unleashed, global geekgasm likely

Slartybardfast

Re: damn

I've just ordered one from RS for £27 inc vat and next day delivery. It's in stock and I'm expecting it tomorrow.

NASA launches new climate model at SC14

Slartybardfast
Facepalm

My quotes better than yours club

Just because someone once said something it doesn't mean that it's true.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, president of IBM, 1943

"Nuclear-powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality within ten years." - Alex Lewyt, president of Lewyt vacuum company, 1955

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." - Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

"Two years from now, spam will be solved." - Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, 2004

"The coming of the wireless era will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous." - Guglielmo Marconi

SEX BEAST SEALS may be egging each other on to ATTACK PENGUINS

Slartybardfast

Christmas

Not what the boy in the John Lewis advert was expecting

WinShock PoC clocked: But DON'T PANIC... It's no Heartbleed

Slartybardfast

Strange

I've just listened to the last Security Now podcast in which Steve Gibson acted like Chicken Little. Now Steve is sometimes prone to histrionics but after listening to his reasoning he did make some valid points. This certainly has the potential to be worse than Heartbleed or Poodle. I suggest anyone interested has a listen.

iPad AIR 2 and iPad MINI 3, 5K iMac: World feels different today – and it IS

Slartybardfast

Re: No ipod touch 6th generation

I really don't understand why you got a down vote.

Likewise, I was hoping for a new iPod Touch as my 4th gen is starting to show it's age. It'll probably work for another year so I'll just put up with it until it either dies or Apple bring out a 6th Gen.

Son of Hudl: Tesco flogs new Atom-powered 8.3-inch Android tablet

Slartybardfast

Re: Does it have GPS capability?

Yes - and I've read a review (from an owner) who said it was alot more sensitive than the HUDL 1

Google swallows SMARTSPOON manufacturer Lift Labs

Slartybardfast

Re: Great idea

"I'd probably have bought him a mug" - what a factious glib comment

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. A mug even half full is no use to him as the tremor causes the mug to shake too much and spill over the edge. He is forced to drink coffee/tea from a "sippy" cup. Which for an intelligent man in his early 70's is not much fun. All his soups have to be liquidised thoroughly before he could drink them. Which takes alot away from the pleasure of a hearty home made soup.

Slartybardfast

Great idea

My father suffers from a Familiar Tremor which means that he can no longer eat such things as soup, which he used to love. One of these devices would be a lovely present for him. I'm going to have to look into this further.

CNN 'tech analyst' on NAKED CELEBS: WHO IS this mystery '4chan' PERSON?

Slartybardfast

Non-technical news outlets

.. and we have the Daily Fail today telling their readers that when people upload to the Cloud they aren't uploading their photos to a real cloud.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2014/sep/03/daily-mail-icloud-celebrity-photos-hacked-naked?CMP=twt_gu

Dropbox cuts cloud storage prices $10 per terabyte, matching Google and Microsoft

Slartybardfast
WTF?

Re: Don't shoot the messenger!

"You obviously don't get it: the two propositions are not comparable and I listed some of the reasons why."

Yep, I get your thinking and that's why it's not suitable for you.

BTW Dropbox does not "work" offline. It syncs an existing file tree (encrypted or not) into the Cloud when running and then to other devices. However, when off line Dropbox does sod all. You are only accessing a system already on your drive. Therefore, Dropbox is NOT working off line. What I think you mean is DropBox can sync local files across a number of devices, can OneDrive do this?

I believe that OneDrive does include file syncing for Windows users and OneDrive For Business allows cross platform syncing. So yes it can if you're using the correct OneDrive product and probably paying more for it.

As for picking on Skype, it's hardly a deal breaker if you don't use your free 60 mins. If you don't want to use it then don't. It's really just a side argument against what is a cracking good deal for home users and one very small part of the package.

For many home users the products are comparable and with the the extra "benefits" thrown in it is an option worth considering. Not for you I DO get that and i understand why

Slartybardfast

Re: Don't shoot the messenger!

I get it, it doesn't suit you, fair enough.

Good point about business use though.

You don't want Skype, fine then don't use it. I'm really pleased that you've found some other way to make your calls.

For every 500 people from ElReg that hate it, there maybe one home user who will finds the storage and use of Office (5 licenses) useful, that person(s) will save money over Dropbox.

Slartybardfast

Don't shoot the messenger!

Right I'm just pointing this out, so please be gentle.

Office 365 Home, costs £79.99/year works out at £6.65/month.

And you get,

5 Licenses for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, OneNote, Publisher and Outlook running on PC's or Macs

Plus

5 Licenses for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, OneNote, Publisher and Outlook running on iPads or Surface (if available) or other mobile

Plus

60 minutes/month of Skype World calls (60 countries)

Plus

1TB of OneDrive storage for each of the PC of Mac users (5 * 1TB)

So saying that Dropbox have matched Microsoft in their charges is a bit misleading. I'm no Microsoft apologist but it does seem on heck of a bargain, even if you only use the storage. Yes, I do know that Dropbox is easier to sync across, and it maybe shows that MS are desperate but it's still a good deal.

Firefighters deliver trapped student from GIANT GERMAN LADYPARTS

Slartybardfast

What a cunning stunt!

Tech that we want (but they never seem to give us)

Slartybardfast

Re: Print dialogs

If run out of a colour or two in my Epson printer it allows me to print B&W, but only if you select "bordered" prints rather than "borderless". Why this should make any difference goodness only knows.

EBay, you keep using the word 'SECURITY'. I do not think it means what you think it means

Slartybardfast

Re: "eBay has reset everyone's passwords as a precaution"

Likewise.

Is this just ebay.com, or is ebay.co.uk etc affected as well?

Anonymous develops secure data over ham radio scheme

Slartybardfast

Re: The irony is

"Then you're free to experiment with whatever takes your interest"

Certainly in the UK or US you're not.

Dragon capsule arrives at space station for Easter Sunday delivery

Slartybardfast

Because when it reaches the ISS it won't be 5000lbs at all. So they won't be unpacking 5000lbs of goods just a certain volume which when on Earth weighs 5000lbs. Simples

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