Posts by JaitcH
2780 posts • joined Monday 12th October 2009 20:43 GMT
Page:
Posted in Cloud dollars fluff Rackspace's quarter
Disclosure
The Register is hosted by Rackspace.
Given The Register's up time speaks volumes for Rackspace reliability.
Some patch at 378MB - sounds more like a REBUILD
There is no way such a huge download, presumably compressed, can ever be considered as a 'patch'.
And who gets to pay for this LemonAid download - maybe a visit to an Apple outlet would save users data allowances?
Another tribute to Job's skills in 'under statement' or as some might call it ... lying. And they actually tested Lemon 4 before they released it? Perhaps Job's should hire the hackers to do he testing.
Maintaining the faith can be very testing and expensive.
Ain't technology wonderful - especially Facebook
It was Shakespeare who gave the line: "For tis the sport to have the enginer Hoist with his owne petar" to Hamlet in 1602 - for an explanation see: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petard > - and Facebook is a wonderful example.
Facebook subscribers have no one to blame for their public exposure as the web site has behaved as immaturely as it's purported owner. There have been plenty of warnings that privacy should not be expected either by technology failings or malicious intent of the web site operators.
If you want your privacy, don't publish your information anywhere.
Missing some Apple Lemon 4 features
It appears the Apple Death Grip and External Antenna features have not been copied by RIM. And what of Flash?
The most obvious advantages in this new RIM is that so many of the tried and tested features such as the keyboard remain meaning users of older BlackBerries will feel right at home with this new device.
No news about the battery or the charging connector. The screen appeared to be a little too reflective in the video clip as we could clearly see the users facial features in several frames.
Posted in India threatens to ban 1m BlackBerrys
ECHELON is the answer
The countries who are signatory to the ECHELON interception network can always claim to 'never spy on their own citizens' by having other members do the work for them. Bit with the Patriot Act the U.S. government is vacuuming all forms of communications in the USA, and world-wide, which is really self-defeating as analysis is falling way, way behind that results in the Detroit would-be bomber getting a visa, or flights in mid-At;antic either being turned around or told to land in Maine.
Besides, there are RIM servers physically located in the UK (distributed processing).
Useful insight into Plod mindset & 'thought process'
This, in Plod terminology, is INCITEMENT or maybe even RACIAL INCITEMENT. But the insight into what passes for Plod thoughts is very interesting .. and useful.
Many people are unemployed and unlikely to become bank customers - they like people with money - and what if people choose to keep their curtains dawn.
Next thing the 'Englisman's Castle' will be required to divest their estates of all leafged shrubbery exceeding 6 feet in height. Maybe they should ban all those gause/chintz curtains that prevent plain view of house interiors.
Or could it be that due to Plod budget reductions means they are abandining police cars for surveillance and masses of detectives are riding around on the upper decks of buses peeping in windows.
They could ask Google to run two sets of cameras on heir Streetview cars: a lower one for Google and a higher one for Plod.
Then building regs will need rewriting banning bedroom windows not facing the road, in case some miscreant tries to commit his crime in private.
As for myself, I will continue to use cash because any supposed privacy connected with banking or cards of any type is totally illusory. And a closing hint for terrorists: use a debit card and your bedroom curtains open!
Written by Apple fanbois
I have various hand-held devices and all of them are protected by screen overlays and they don't smudge. Besides, having chubby fingers I honestly prefer a stylus which leave no smudges.
Several are tethered to my belt and these crazy ideas are unlikely to be very practical.
I hope any government funding for these types of stupid studies are cut, soon.
A winning tablet ...
needs full communications capability as well as at least one SD memory socket, one or two USB sockets and an OS that will have plenty of Apps, Flash and a real keyboard.
Whilst Android 3.0+ would be the best OS, I guess we will have to put up with RIM OS.
Posted in India threatens to ban 1m BlackBerrys
RIM is quickly losing it's advantage
The major factor in opting for RIM, apart from it's thumb exercising keyboard, was security.
Where is Phil Zimmerman when we need him?
We need a multi-platform e-mail client that offers plain and encrypted communications and elected use of encryption would likely go unnoticed. BTW, please drop the file header - it's too obvious!
Looks like Steve is becoming more like King Canute each day
King Canute, legend has it, sat on a beach in his throne and issued certain commandments to his minions which Nature immediately challenged.
King Job, of California, is slowly learning his commandments are slowly being challenged, too.
First the Law of Physics 'radio frequency division' failed to comply and now mere civil servants are challenging his commandments. Will this usurping of his power never cease?
Way to go, Britain, other countries do exactly the same and win
How dumb can British governments get?
With today's rapidly changing technology continual updating/retraining is required.
In my North American business career I have spent, at employers expense, approximately 6.8 years at non-university product related training.
The dummy politicians who made this decision should study places such as Singapore, Greece (even), China and VietNam and see just how determined people are to improve their skill-sets.
British Gas simply passing the buck (pound or euro)
Seems like British Gas has problems that are common to utilities, often started when meter readings were misread.
Our wonderful Toronto Hydro electrical supply utility had such belief in their computers infallibility they cut me off for a month whilst they figured out that I was right.
My biggest security concern with smartphones is ...
knowing what data is collected by the smart-phone OS issuers themselves.and what it is used for.
Any GPS feature should be controlled by the user, including remote functions.
Word, it's time has passed
Word was nimble and good - although Wordstar was better.
Word has too many features that go unused to warrant the hard drive real estate it occupies.
Posted in Air steward resigns via emergency chute
Why do you quote the WSJ
when Murdoch, the Neanderthal is, he first to try monetising what others provide at no cost? This ignores the fact the WSJ is now simply an opinion column for Murdoch.
Apple most likely has ...
a patent for that.
Posted in Voda UK rings up PAYG plans for iPhone 4
Maybe the Brits are smarter than Americans ...
in expecting when they buy something like the Lemon 4 they expect it to work and this is is Vodafone's answer to moving sales?
Posted in Garmin Asus Nüvifone M10
Asus is Good but Garmin ...
is the most unreliable company for product accuracy, ruggedness and what they call 'service'.
I bought a Garmin unit and the case retaining moulded-in screw socket worked loose, breaching the 'waterproof' feature of the unit.
Cost me $45 to get my 'free replacement' as my country Garmin rep was forced to pay Garmin's handling costs - and they made me pay.
Garmin never responded to my complaints.
Posted in Palm Prē design lead ejects from HP
Merging companies is more than money
With HP's acquisition of Palm paying the bill is often the easiest challenge.
Deciding whether a Palm type entity remains whole under the HP umbrella as a separate operating unit or whether it is integrated INTO HP will make a lot of difference.
Management style, work conditions even dress can affect employees.
The difference between a Republican and a Democratic FCC
is that the former tended to simply rubber stamp industry proposals whereas the Democratic appointed chairman seems to place consumer interests ahead of industry.
If only other Western countries had such an open process - compare that to the UK's slow response to maps of transmitter sites.
What the courts didn't achieve, Alaska's ATC did
Stevens was an influence pedlar from the Republican camp who grabbed millions of dollars for worthless projects instead of getting Alaska's air traffic control to work in areas where traffic demanded better coverage.
He was a greedy politician whose hunger for 'appreciation' knew no limits.
Posted in Apple iPhone exec falls on sword
The corporate disappearing act
A large reservation travel company, once owned by an airline in the U.S., runs a program that removes permissions for a terminated employee that is triggered the minute the employee is notified.
All computer access, web and e-mail references are removed with e-mail forwarding implemented, telephone systems reprogrammed, credit cards cancelled along with all employee privileges such as airline discounts.
The employees access card is, of course nuked, and they have to be escorted out of the premises! By the next business day all traces of employment, such as parking spots, office names, etc have vanished done by gremlins who work overnight.
Only HR retains contact to finalise all the paperwork, etc.
Pretty amazing to watch, as long as you are not the reason!
It's nearly that time again ...
the Hajj.
Borders are almost wide open, to muslims, and the vulnerability is highest.
Since 2007 they have had a couple of high tech vehicles ...
for deployment in high crime areas.
The FBI/DEA device is described here: < http://www.spyzone.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=gpsrecorder&sid=t5nd57eu6f6p864joe3bw66s5sp29ts1 >.
The hardest part is concealing the device under a layer of grease, dirt or paint. Most any person familiar with a vehicle can locate these things with the use of a vehicle hoist and bright light.
Of course a GPS jammer, easily constructed to emit a carrier at L1 (1575.42 Mhz) and L2 (1227.60 MHz) will defeat these devices. Google provides numerous low cost schematics for those interested in their very own low power GPS station that should be mounted under your vehicle.
Fortunately with government budgets coming under extreme constraints police budgets can no longer afford these goodies. In fact a Colorado has just sold off it's police helicopters so Big Brother has taken another hit.
Apple built it's early UI on plagiarised goods
Apple simply co-opted Xerox ground breaking UI work and they have continued to do so, as well as plain stealing others names, such as the Fujitsu iPad. MS is little better.
Those pathetic little screens Apple is seeking a patent for have already been employed, several years ago, in travel res terminals. The terminals were also touch, although a very early version.
The concept was liking checking boxes only with the customers finger, rather than having a keyboard vulnerable to vandalism and permitting them to type their requirements. The screen labels changed discretely as selections were touched.
Apples copies appear to be static, which a step to the rear. Like external antennae.
Given that GPS tracking is akin to cell tracking ...
could this new ruling be applied to the tracking, without warrant, on the cell identity numbers in which a handset of interest is located?
One good thing about the U.S. is that at least the judges look out for the public whereas in other jurisdictions the judges acquiesce to the extremes imposed by politicians aided and and abetted by wimpy citizenry.
It also looks like the bulldog has vacated Britain, too.
MS worse than Apple
Apple has only reached Lemonaid Version 4 and still hasn't got it right. but MS after over 10 years, seven Versions and service packs beyond my fingers and toes still can't get it right.
Makes Linux look pretty solid.
Hollow threats ... these are public domain docs, now
The fiasco continues. I guess the Pentagon thinks Wikileak supporters are quaking in their boots.
All the Pentagon has done is to set themselves up to have their bluff called. Maybe the Pentagon thinks American law extends beyond the 200 mile limit?
Time to open the insurance package?
Could it be because it's Friday?
All faithful muslin BlackBerry users should be on their mats in the mosque on Fridays from 12:30 to 14:00H for noon prayers so they would only discover their losses afterwards.
RIM users can revert to Apps for e-mail although the security will be missing.
Posted in O2 blamed for iPhone's data sucking
Not a problem for Fanbois
The purchasers of Lemon 4 have demonstrated they are gullible and are happy with defective Lemons and second rate service so the carriers are simply taking advantage of their purchasing habits
Posted in eBay photocopier data risk ignored
Car crushers are the answer
A large Canadian company in Toronto, Ontario securely warehouses all discarded hardware and periodically moves the collection, under security guard control, to a local car crusher where two members of the companies accounting office witness the destruction and disposal.
Another company I'm familiar with places all their electronics surplus in a sizeable tank at which point conductive foam, in a liquid form, is poured in and the foam generates destructive voltages killing the electronics as it solidifies.
The ONLY reason that the US would step up to the plate for a Canadian ...
is because the U.S. has easy access to the RIM servers - the US, Canada and the UK are all members of Echelon - and the Bin Laden type comms they are desperate for. No more convenient ways exist than to access high quality data, with or without RIM's cooperation. than RIM servers rather traipsing around to all those e-mail servers dotted around the globe.
Nothing but nothing beats independently sourced encryption software - RIM's scrambling techniques and keys are common to all BlackBerries other than Obama's customised units.
Using software applied to individual handsets makes it hard for centralised monitoring as the odd encrypted call might easily be passed off as a bad connection if detected at any point. Using two handsets at each end of the conversation, one at each end used on different carrier networks
Perhaps using PGP products provide the best solution.
Posted in Extreme porn law on the ropes
Porn, like beauty depends on the eyes of the beholder
One person's idea of porn is another's idea of art.
Personally I would prefer someone indulging in their preferred home entertainment rather than seeking to practice it on an innocent victim.
The problem is that Porn Plods have to justify their pay and they often have a narrow view of their calling, as do prosecutors. Has anyone actually linked porn to sexual attacks scientifically?
Whenever Plod arrests some deviant they often trumpet they found pictures, too. Does an interest in graphics really suggest a predilection for assault?
Do schoolboys with their well thumbed books of naked women, or men with pictures of well endowed naked females on locker doors really mean anything criminal will occur?
I don't think so.
Many years ago I was an electronics technician in a video duplicating company and between 12 midnight and 6 AM the 'dirty' tapes, and I mean extreme including bestiality, were dubbed 400 at a time and most of the crew amused themselves by sleeping for an hour or so between tape changes. I must admit on occasion even we were surprised by the screen action but none of the crew were ever charged with a sexual offence.
Is Octopus Holdings that hard up for cash?
I understand cultural differences exist between East and West but HongKong is a world city whose residents have similar sensitivities to privacy as most Westerners do but Chan's actions beggar belief.
At least HK Oysters have a cash option unlike some schemes and no doubt this abuse will encourage the use of the cash option.
The only more egregious example I can think of is where a certain large tax preparation company sells transcripts of its clients tac returns to credit bureaus.
When I was in the Army ...
we were set some tasks in order to get weekend passes.
On only one occasion the challenge was to fight off an attack dog. Unfortunately the soldiers determination in getting away for the weekend, complete with free rail pass, cost one dog it's life and two others were retired invalided out of their careers.
These armoured dogs will have some weaknesses and as sure as hell their effectiveness challenged. If they can bite, they are vulnerable. They should try throwing a mixture of powdered anise (aniseed) and dried blood at them and watching their reaction.
I do have a couple of questions, though. (1) Why are Navy Seals operating in one of the most parched countries around; (2) Seals usually attack ships, and most ships are made of steel, so how will their wondrous through the wall vision equipment work?
Sounds like typical 'enlightened' military thinking.
Job's Mensis Horribilis just got extended
What started with Jobs sort of admission that not all was well with Lemon 4, his 'Mensis Horribilis' (horrible month) just got extended. He has no one but himself to blame as his arrogant high and mighty attitude is just right to incite people to take him down a notch or two (or 4).
He is learning that notwithstanding his glorious blue anechoic rooms and his talented engineers that he hasn't a monopoly on infallibility.
And if Jobs thinks it can't get any worse, just wait!
RIM total privacy, except for Obama, is illusionary
Few hardware based encryption systems are government-intrusion proof and this includes RIM.
RIM servers are scattered around the world, not all traffic is routed through RIM Canada. The ever nosey Canadian Government's Communications Security Establishment Canada performs some functions as does the GCHQ. They have an interesting document here: < http://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/its-sti/publications/itsb-bsti/itsb57-eng.html>.
Note the following extract: "Although PIN-to-PIN messages are encrypted using Triple-DES, the key used is a global cryptographic “key” that is common to every BlackBerry device all over the world. This means any BlackBerry device can potentially decrypt all PIN-to-PIN messages sent by any other BlackBerry device, if the messages can be intercepted and the destination PIN spoofed. Further, unfriendly third parties who know the key could potentially use it to decrypt messages captured over the air. Note that the “BlackBerry Solution Security Technical Overview” document [****] published by RIM specifically advises users to “consider PIN messages as scrambled, not encrypted”. "
[****] BlackBerry Enterprise Solution: Security Technical Overview, for BlackBerry Enterprise Server Version 4.1 Service Pack 5 and BlackBerry Device Software Version 4.5, Document Part #17930884 Version 2, Research-In-Motion, 2008. < http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/deliverables/3317/BB_Ent_Soln_Security_4.1.5_STO.pdf >
In other words RIM can, and does, provide the means to monitor in-country traffic.
If you want secure comms see < http://blogs.forbes.com/firewall/2010/05/25/android-app-aims-to-allow-wiretap-proof-cell-phone-calls/ >.
RIM has the creds
Unlike a certain California toy manufacturer, RIM-Blackberry has street credibility.
In fact it has so much credibility that The Most Powerful Man on Earth (NO, not Jobs) demanded he remain united with his RIM. Speaks volumes about this Canadian product that no one else can claim.
As Rodney Dangerfield used to say: "I don't get no respect"
What is good for the big boys is now demonstrated to be good for the 'little' guys.
That arrogant Westinghouse lawyers chose not to appear no doubt made success easier but in gaining this judgement you can be guaranteed that GPLv2 terms will command one hell of a lot of respect, now.
Posted in Feds admit storing pervscanner pics
It's not the fact that governments consistently lie ...
but what in earth do they want with disembodied images that cannot easily be linked to live bodies and serve no apparent purpose?
The only reason they are able to do this because storage is so cheap.
Maybe we should claim copyright infringement after all our body image is our property.
Another answer might be to have a persons national flag embroidered on the underwear in the genitalia area(s) using metallic thread which should prove impervious to these government perverts.
Posted in Lonely Planet augments muggers' earnings
Lonely Planet: A BBC property unlike others
Lonely Planet is the oldest but not the greatest travel resource. Many others - Footprint, Roughguide, Fodors, Frommers - have a far better record for accuracy and currency. LP's staff cuts are reflected in it's regurgitation of old, inaccurate data published annually for, seemingly, the sole purpose of cash flow generation.
LP was famous for maintaining service on the KunMing <> HeKou narrow gauge railway in Western China in it's guide books for two years after it fell into a river following a landslide.
They also recommended a hotel in the Philippines for 3 or 4 years, in it's guidebooks, after the property was consumed in a fire!
Their low point came when it was revealed guide writers accepted gratuities in return for write ups in they guides (see: < http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/blog/2008/apr/14/thelessthanlonelyplanet > and < http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Writers-Hell-Swashbuckling-Questionable/dp/0307394654 >).
Let's hope that Lonely Planet's venture into new media is built on fresh data for cities like SaiGon and Ha Noi are changing so frequently that even residents have a tough time keeping up with progress.
A double-edged sword, all this vetting
For once, a thorough investigation revealed, however it was only successful because the instigator was technically a cell phone neophyte.
Too frequently Plod gets tunnel vision disbelieving anything other than the original target was guilty. Then they believe everything they get from some database even though another Plod points out deficiencies - see: < http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/04/scotland_data_entry_record/ >.
Let's hope the intended victim learns about passwords and the need to keep them confidential.
Posted in Murdoch predicts iPads all round
Given Murdoch's record of backing losers ...
his predictions aren't really worth a bucket of sh*t.
How's MySpace, Murdoch?
Posted in Swedes decline to FCKU2MF
Canadian provinces have a huge list ...
of letter/number combo's deemed unsuitable for vanity plates.
The list was published in response to a freedom of information and reveals the ingenuity that is used to devise combinations. Two - INVALID and NOT VALID were approved as there is a separate check box on infraction tickets to indicate cancelled tickets.
It also reveals the dirty thoughts of civil servants enforcing these things.
Ontario requests will not be approved if they are determined to be objectionable under the following criteria:
-Sexual
Sexual messaging or meaning.
-Abusive, Obscene Language and Derogatory Slang
Abusive, vulgar, derogatory, obscene or profane language;
Known offensive slang in any language, text-messaging language etc.
-Religion
Religious meaning or messaging.
Only the use of Religious titles that are considered formal designations of persons within the religion are permitted.
-Drugs/Alcohol
Reference to the use of or sale of legal or illegal drugs;
Effects of drugs or alcohol;
Alcohol-related words, including brands.
-Political Figures, Dignitaries/Law Enforcement Officials
Political opinion, slurs, affiliation or organizations are prohibited except non-profit advocacy groups/trade organizations;
Negative or derogatory message or meaning with respect to government;
Falsely suggesting association with a public institution and/or law enforcement;
Reference to well-known figures or names;
Badge numbers of police officers.
-Violence/Criminal Activity
Messages or meanings that could be associated with violence, as well as promoting discrimination or bias against individuals;
Illegal or criminal activity of any kind.
-Human Rights Discrimination
Messages that express contempt, ridicule or superiority of race, religion, ethnic origin, ancestry, place of origin, citizenship, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, physical characteristics, disability or political affiliation.
-Clarity and Readability for Law Enforcement Officials
Plate selections that are deemed to lack clarity or would be difficult to read. This also includes combinations with:
No more than 4 identical characters in sequence;
Interchangeable letters/numbers are not allowed (i.e. S/5, A/4, G/6, Q/O);
For example, if a plate has been issued with an “S” in its combination and an identical plate request is submitted substituting the “S” with a “5”, that plate will not be approved.
-Graphic + Characters
Any combination of graphics and characters that together could be determined to be objectionable under the above criteria or violate the contract with a Graphic Partner.
-Intellectual Property (such as trademarks)
Infringement of intellectual property rights such as trademarks;
The characters on a plate must not infringe on any third party intellectual property rights such as trademarks. It is your responsibility to check that the characters on the plate do not infringe upon any intellectual property rights.
Not much left!
There is one exception - Scottish Health
This web site for travel health is the exception and u=is bused by travellers from many countries: < http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/home.aspx >.
Reality at last? Fanbois acknowledge V4 is a Lemon?
It appears this survey has finally begun to reveal the truth - Lemon 4 users admitting it isn't perfect.
Call dropping might be the result of software changes made in iOS4+ to reduce battery consumption. Obviously there is more than that disappointing Lemon 4 owners but the sample of 231 users is hardly a big enough sample to flesh out accurate numbers and details.
If AT&T is the problem, why not survey owners of liberated/jail broken Lemon 4's? At least we would have better picture of which element in a call is not meeting expectations,
We have those - unbranded and unlocked!
In VietNam most handphones are sold unlocked and unbranded ... today's youth roll the models over so quickly telco's would have a hard time designing a plan. The pricing is either just below and at par with contract prices in Europe only without the contract.
Supporting this hungry market is a 74-page monthly magazine that highlights ll the latest and greatest goodies. VietNam is also a test market which frequently gets handsets before others.
VietNam has over 140,000,000 active, working cell numbers deployed over 8 networks. The total population is around 90,000,000 so there must be many subscribers with more than one cell phone.
Rhe chicken or the egg?
Who found the exploit first - Jailbreakme.com or is the German Federal Office for Information Security?
Whilst the Jobs gang plays catch-up what are they doing about fixing all the other iOS problems such as Bluetooth. etc? Mind you, Jailbreakme.com did manage to actually get Apple to admit they have 'issues' with the Lemon ware.
that means much more dangerous, than official Tasers
Tasers, made by the American company, have been held to be responsible for many deaths.
In Vancouver, Canada, the RCMP killed an immigrant who did not understand English, see: < http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/14/bc-taservideo.html >.
A US report claims at least an additional 70 deaths, see: < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/12/earlyshow/main648859.shtml >. A BBC report expands the detail, claiming 300 dead in the US, see: < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7784665.stm >.
Not to be outdone, the Irish Plods also killed at least one person: see < http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17140 >.
The Chinese versions of these weapons are on sale in Cambodia for USD$15. When I checked a couple of versions out the devices had not ability to fire barbs so they were, in effect, more like cattle prods. This means the intended victim is within arms reach of the person applying the shock whereas Plod is way off their victims.
Perhaps the Oz defendant should have said he was experimenting with spark transmissions used way back when Titanic hit that frozen water.
Did you know that Alberta, Canada is RAT FREE (animals only)
Check out: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta >, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rat >.
The last one found in Alberta was after provincial inspectors captured a single varmint believed to have entered the province from neighbouring Saskatchewan on a recreational vehicle in 2009.
Rat control costs the provincial government about $500,000 a year but the effort is said to save tens of millions of dollars in potential crop damage, disease, food contamination and damaged buildings.
Unfortunately the Progressive Conservative stronghold of 'rats' remains.
