* Posts by Keep Refrigerated

655 publicly visible posts • joined 1 Jun 2011

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Feds arrest Paul Ceglia over Facebook ownership claims

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Facepalm

Re: Freedom only for the deserving?

"Sorry guy, even prostitutes can have someone arrested and convicted for rape, given the evidence supports the case. The case is what should be judged, not the person bringing the case."

Unfortunately this is America we are talking about...

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-03-29/news/31256504_1_convict-cop-jury-jurors

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8611957/Dominique-Strauss-Kahn-walks-free-after-maid-rape-case-crumbles.html

If a business woman and a maid* struggle to get justice, not much of a chance for a prostitute.

*Sadly, in the maids case, it was exactly a case of judgement made before trial on her character (the heinous crime of violating some immigration rule) that meant she was obviously fair game.

Surface RT: Freedom luvin' app-huggers beware

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WTF?

Re: Security advantages?

That's the first time I've seen a severe lack of functionality described as a security advantage.

That's like saying any bank has security advantages if it doesn't provide ATM/cash machines.

Just what is the point if the utility is scaled back so much as to make it inappropriate for the task for which it was designed? Or is this a cynical attempt to poison a market - as was done with netbooks by embrace, extend, extinguish?

Yahoo! will! ignore! 'Do! Not! Track!' from! IE10!

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FAIL

The right way to do it

What governments should be doing is regulating the sale and movement of personal data. Make 3rd party sharing illegal - or at least illegal to bundle with the offer of a product or service.

Tax sales of databases, and make it a legal requirement that phone numbers, names and emails must be stripped from the data set.

If they put in place proper regulations, they wouldn't need to fiddle about with such nonsense as DNT.

TSA fails again with adjustable boarding passes

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Terminator

They'll just break the locks... and your case

They have complete legal backing to break into your case - if it gets damage tough shit - try getting it compensated (especially if you are an un-American). I've even had a lock go entirely missing from my bag (fortunately nothing stolen).

I use cable ties now, I use multiple cable ties on each zipper and clip the ends too. They're free to cut them off but the idea is to make it extremely not worthwhile in terms of frustration, time and number of easier bags to open and steal from.

Inventor sues Google Wallet over NFC loyalty patent

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WTF?

How the fcsk...

...is this non-obvious?!

"The server recognizes the person by means of a unique identification code for that person, such as the person's cellular telephone number. The server then grants an award, such as a merchandise coupon or redeemable points, to the person."

Orange Cinema, anyone? Bluetooth stalk-advertising?

Everything this patent describes has already been done and anticipated by the very fact NFC has been invented.

Basically this could be summed up as give someone a loyalty reward when they eat at your restaurant whilst carrying an NFC enabled phone in their pocket. How. very. novel. The original inventors of NFC never could have imagined it would be put to that use!

Read the patent - "s/bluetooth/EDSE/g".

Surface tablets snapped up on pre-order, but no camping in the street

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Unhappy

Re: Brits love it?

I'm going to risk downvotes for this but I think you are close to the mark. My own estimation is that there are unhealthy levels of celebrity and brand culture in the UK; more so than I've observed In other cultures I've visited and lived in.

Example: Just consider the account of cloned high streets that have taken over our towns and cities. Despite better quality, service, value and local economic benefits, huge amounts of Brits will sadly spurn smaller businesses in favour of chain stores. In some cases it makes sense but most of the time there's no real explanation other than brand awareness.

Translated to Tech purchases, this explains why many of us geeks find little of value at CurryWorld and sometimes have no choice but to order our coveted gadgets online. Whereas Asians, Europeans and (to a lesser extent) North Americans can simply wander down to the mall and are greeted by multiple competing brands and choice.

US patent office prepares to kill off Apple's bounce-back patent

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Mushroom

I felt a great disturbance...

...as if millions of fanbois suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.

Seriously though: USPTO - even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.

Windows 8: Microsoft will declare victory, but will anyone believe it?

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Linux

Re: The two release rule

As much as people falsely berate Linux for lack of driver support, Vista pretty much demonstrated what Windows would be if hardware vendors shunned it (which they did).

It goes to show really, you only get to see the true strength of an OS when it hasn't got major arm-twisting backed support that MS enjoyed the luxury of for so long.

I'd love to see however, manufacturers deciding they can't compete with cheap consumer licenses and start releasing their kit without an OS. Won't happen I know, but I can dream.

Facebook won't pull unmarked police plates page

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Megaphone

Re: You know what?

This is what I was thinking - it's escalation of sorts.

The people require a police force - it helps to keep some sort of order in society and with the right checks and balances, a minimal amount of innocents prosecuted as guilty - with compensation in those cases.

The problem is when too many checks and balances are stripped away, or sweeping, overbearing laws are introduced (don't worry we'll only use it against 'real' terrorists). When too many freedoms are given to the police force to arrest people wearing offensive tee-shirts, saying things they don't like to hear, being in the wrong place at the wrong time...

When more 'innocent' members of the populace are caught in the widening perp-classification - then these reclassified perps/people are going to start seeing the police as an enemy of freedom rather than a necessary evil to ensure a certain level of freedom. So someone who's greatest offense towards society may be wearing a 'not nice' political tee-shirt or driving 33mph in a 30mph zone, suddenly finds themselves motivated to be far more anti-establishment by 'outing' undercover cops.

=== tl;dr ===

If the police used these undercover vehicles strictly for serious crimes, then normal, borderline people (parking tickets, minor speeding etc) wouldn't feel the need to go so far to out them.

Same goes for how law is enforced generally - don't abuse your position, and reasonable people won't feel the need to fight back.

Canonical to Windows XP cliff-clingers: Ubuntu safety net's ready... now jump

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Alien

Windows is a mindset...

... as much as anything. Even in IT departments amongst heavy Linux server admins they will be hesitant to step out of their comfort zone into a Linux based desktop.

In my specific role, I am often confined to Windows desktops, even though none of the tools I need are Windows specific (in fact many of the Linux-equivalent tools would be easier to use) - it's a mindset not a functionality problem.

Then there's contracts with firms like Symantec. "But what will we do if we can't destroy our users productivity by installing SEP on their workstations?"

What Canonical, Red Hat and others need to be doing is fighting the mindset. Yes, offer enterprise desktop systems with all the security and productivity set - but it needs to be sold as an alternative to cost center managers. For example, companies could offer their users a choice of a Windows Desktop, or Linux one (the bonus with the Linux desktop being a cheaper asset).

Overnight, the majority of Windows users won't just accept a switch to a Linux desktop. But if users like myself were offered a choice, and slowly something like Ubuntu began to appear on random desktops dotted around the offices - pure Windows users would benefit from the 'peek over shoulders' factor. After seeing how much easier it is for their neighbour to use, they may decide to switch for themselves.

'No cutting off people's internet based on secret evidence'

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Mushroom

Probably not enforceable

I suspect that the £20 fee is there to discourage DOSing the court system because they know ultimately, winning a lawsuit based on shakey evidence and accusations alone is going to be near impossible. Similarly - the setting up of a tribunal (as in most civil offenses in the UK) is an attempt to inject a middle man between the accused and the court - between the accused and justice.

As with any defense, the key is building up a solid paper trail of plausible deniability coupled with attempts to reasonably assist with law enforcement... ergo an immediate response following each accusation - e.g.*:

Dear ISP/MAFIAA boss,

I (run an open wifi network|share my password with all my friends and relatives) and at the time I am accused of downloading "Justin.Bieber.2012.Believe.Tour.XXX.Wicked_Yeah", approximately 12 computers/laptops/devices were attached to my router. Also I should mention that 4 of these IP addresses belong to shared computers that (couple|group|kids) share between them.

I have asked around all my (friends|family|relatives) to tell me what they were doing online at the time of the alleged infringement, but none recall. I have tried to check the router logs, alas they were not switched on at the time.

Is it possible you could assist me in identifying the computer that did the alleged infringing. Here is a list of the 12 IP/MAC Addresses connected to my router at the time. If you could identify which one, I will gladly hand over their details.

Please find enclosed a cheque for £20, I expect that if I receive no response by X deadline, that no action has been taken and it will be refunded to my account.

Yours faithfully

F U Cox

*IANAL and this is not a real template.

The trick is not to stop you getting disconnected, it's to prove the disconnection was unfounded and allow you to seek compensation - as well as showing up the whole process.

Windows 8 and the ‘Dad test’ stunts

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Devil

Re: Dale Vile

Evil Deal?

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Coffee/keyboard

Dude!

Thanks, made me chuckle!

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Windows

Re: Bollocks

I think I just had an epiphany as to the real reason corporations never adopt the latest Windows OS for their environments... let the users crash test it at home, save a small fortune on training costs!

Retailer leaks iPad Mini price list starting at £200

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Terminator

Just so happens...

I'm in the market for a new smaller tablet. A couple of years ago I was warming up to Apple and would have been ready to try out a small form factor iPad. Not now, not after all their vindictive patent malarky. I'm looking at a Galaxy Tab 2 7", would have gone for a Nexus 7 but discovered no SD slot. Still if the rumours about a 32gb Nexus turn out to be true then GoogleAsus will shut up and take my money.

Apple: too little innovation, too much litigation, too late.

Protestors target Google over that video

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Stop

Re: Eventually, un brainwashed folks ...

I don't want to get into the debate, but just inject a little education... Westboro Baptists are free speech trolls, they are all trained lawyers and they take (sometimes contradictive) stances on emotive subjects to goad protagonists into violating their free speech rights.

link: http://kanewj.com/wbc/

There's also this: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/14189/westboro-baptist-church-three-phelps-children-are-on-states-payroll

And bizarrely enough, Fred Phelps was a top campaigner for civil rights (http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/fred-phelps-was-a-brilliant-civil-rights-lawyer-before-he-started-hating-gays-for-a-living.html) - that's right, he was one of the good guys - back in the 60's.

Based on the evidence, I don't know exactly what motivates the current activities of this guy or his 'church' but I'm certain it's not religion or faith-based.

Carry on...

OFT writes volley of stern letters to naughty web retailers

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Devil

Re: There are also in-shop tricks..

There's another tactic you can use for that which equally inconveniences them.

Depending on what else you have in your trolley, or whether you really need it; I will sometimes just say "Fine, I don't want it at that price" and walk off leaving them to place all items back on the shelves. If enough people did this they'd soon change their pricing policies.

British car parks start reading number plates

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Thumb Up

Re: I wonder how rigorously the ANPR cameras are watched?

Wow, that sounds like a hilarious new prank has been invented! Perhaps someone could start to get t-shirts printed with random number plates on them and wear them shopping.

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Trollface

Ignoring private parking...

I always ignore because, although tying them up in their own bureaucracy costs them, it's a little bit like responding to spam emails - in that they suddenly discover there's a person willing to participate in their sham and are more likely to keep haras^H^H^H^H^H annoying you. It is fun to read the escalation letters though - fonts get bigger, blacker, redder, ££££'s...!

Life in the UK pro tip: The more threatening and dire the warning letter from a private company - the less legal power they have to back it up. If they don't take action after their own ridiculously short deadline of 7 days (other than writing another 7 day warning), then they likely never will. IANAL YMMV.

'Stop-gap' way to get Linux on Windows 8 machines to be issued

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Trollface

Quite Simple for me...

I'm no longer going to buy hardware with their shit pre-installed. Where I can't obtain a shit-free alternative - or lets say it's my next company laptop - if I am unable to install Linux, I will bring it back to the supplier and report it as a fault with the hardware.

Apple files disappearing-feature iPhone patent

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FAIL

@Anon 10:20 - It's the other way round...

Apple monitors the things other people physically invent, then patent the next logical step... http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/07/apple-patent-hud-display/

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FAIL

@GavinC Re: You are almost righht wth those two points

Apple hasn't done it either yet... they basically just patented an idea that anyone who has either (a) read/watched a decent amount of sci-fi for the last 30 years or (b) works in the hardware industry, has probably already had - but never thought patentable.

Apple patents things that other people have already thought of, but have too much decency and self-respect to claim they are suddenly the sole inventors (without doing any actual inventing).

Samsung shoots Galaxy S III with shrink ray, unveils 4in Mini

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Thumb Up

Re: I love this...

Not sure why you got the downvotes... a marketing move seems like valid speculation. After all, some companies still do compete using traditional methods outside of the courtroom.

Russian Christians boosted by Pussy Riot law spank 'sinful' Apple logo

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Stop

I call bullshit

If we were talking about Bible-belt America, I'd believe it. But I'd expect orthodox christians to be not only a little more smarter, a little more nuanced... I wouldn't expect them to get caught up in trivialities - especially those that don't actually feature in biblical semiotics.

I suspect that this is an anti-orthodox campaign made to look like it's the orthodox church doing it whilst invoking Poe's law. Could be protestors, rival mobile makers, Apple marketing strategy, anti-theist activists or just trolls.

To convey how ludicrous it sounds to an actual Christian; imagine Apple suing Samsung for copying the iPhone's ability to load a custom rom - it just doesn't make sense and is technically not supported by an facts.

UN locks Apple, Google, Microsoft in a room for patent peace summit

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Megaphone

Microsoft being tricky bastards as usual

Rather than negotiate a cost on Moto's FRAND patents, they left the negotiating table and ran straight to the US courts. As one Python once said to another "don't you want to haggle?".

As it currently stands Microsoft ARE infringing on FRAND patents but they've managed to convince a US judge that FRAND means we get to use it for free and not even negotiate a fair and reasonable price. Which exactly what Moto tried to do by kicking off negotiations with the 2.4% price per handset.

And yet Microsoft continue to crow and charge Android handset makers reportedly 5% per handset For their own dud patents.

40,000 sign petition to oust Rep. Paul 'pit of hell' Broun

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Meh

Re: Elementary

I had a friend who once described American christianity as being like the Mississippi river "as wide and as deep".

Crazed Microsoft robot accuses BBC kids' channel of Win8 piracy

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Holmes

Re: A am not a lawyer, but...

Yes- also this 'whitelisting' bothers me. It speaks of one internet for the big knobs and one internet for the rest of us. Can I get my blog on a whitelist? I suspect not.

Furthermore. AIUI the only 2 options to a DMCA takedown is delete or unpublish content. So whitelisting - no matter how big and 'trusted' the DMCA recipient is - is effectively circumventing the law.

Microsoft should be slapped with a fine for false DMCA filing, but Google should also be slapped with a fine for ignoring a DMCA request... after all lets be fair and show the DMCA up for the farce it is.

I do not like this brave new world that America has decided for us.

Microsoft spruces up crap apps in early Win8 update

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Coffee/keyboard

Re: Been here, refused to buy the tshirt

Screw Active Desktop, who can remember 'channels'? You know, when certain business types still thought the internet was going to be like TV!

Hey, Third World! We know what you need: Mmm, patent wars

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Devil

A Fine Example...

One of the finest and clearest examples of doublespeak I've seen.

Oracle Linux honcho 'personally hurt' by Red Hat clone claims

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Alien

I seem to remember - reported on this very site - that Red Hat were slightly pissed off that Oracle was essentially undercutting Red Hats' prices on support for RHEL, but essentially their support staff were simply reading out of the excellent RHEL documentation (and were unable to offer 'support' outside of what they could glean from Red Hat).

When Red Hat obscured their documentation to the point it couldn't be repeated verbatim by Oracle's cheap support staff - Oracles answer was to produce this half-baked OEL - as if somehow by cloning RHEL into their own Elisteins monster was going to somehow enable them to improve their support offering?

Samsung adds iPhone 5 to patent battle v Apple

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FAIL

It's probably more a case of the MAD button has been activated.

You think the patent madness is over now the first trial is done (subject to appeal)? Apples recent "victory" has simply spilled blood in the water, which will bring every troll for miles around, as well as incentivise Apple into litigation frenzy.

Samsung has no choice now but to fire lawyer salvo's at every new iFap that Apple launches as part of a giant war of attrition in order to wear down their cash flow through legal fees; and Samsung has the cash stockpiles to do it, too.

Strike first and strike hard to try and put the enemy down and frustrate their attack - Apple certainly signaled it's holding back. One only has to look at the amount of vexatious paperwork filed at Judge Lucy Koh - who is totally in over her head.

Perhaps the only good part of this is when America wakes up to see that they have fallen behind the rest of the world in competing technology and choice, they'll look to fix the patent system. But let's not hold our breath - this is America after all.

Another thing is Apple may have just awoken the beast. Now that Tim Cook is in charge, it's obvious he doesn't have the gonads to innovate and produce trend setting products. He's immediately fallen into the game of following the market - which is exactly what all phone makers were doing before Apple came a long and pushed over the *ahem* non-Apple cart.

The problem is that Apple has polluted the delicate ecosystem and turned the environment completely hostile - they will find it harder to compete in the phone market now than it would have been before.

FAIL icon for Apple - because when you're at the top, there's only one way to go.

JK Rowling's adult novel arrives on ebook full of FAIL

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Go

Aight...

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

Google, Microsoft butt heads in browser benchmark battle

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Coffee/keyboard

~ Pro?

What is this, the 90's?

Google in new Maps patent row - but not with Apple

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Boffin

Skyhook claimed that Google forced mobile-makers to stop using Skyhook if they wanted to keep using the Android OS

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the "Android" trademark and associated Google services (e.g. Play, Gmail, Maps etc...).

Small detail but important nonetheless - anyone can make use of the actual "Android OS". They just can't call it Android and offer Google Apps.

Not condoning their action if Skyhook's accusations are true but they are as yet unproven - and last I time I check Skyhook is free to compete against Google and all the other location apps on the Play store. They're also free to partner with anyone using (unbranded) Android.

Personally I'd rather their app was not installed by default on any device I own but that's just me - I like being able to choose my own apps on a vanilla platform.

Fans revolt over Amazon 'adware' in Ubuntu desktop search results

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Holmes

Software Center

Can't see why they don't just bang it as an option in the software center. Piss off less users, yet still have it prominently displayed in a place users might expect something like that to be.

Manchester is 'PIRATE CAPITAL of the UK'

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FAIL

Monetise

"The challenge for copyright holders is to find ways to monetise music files torrented online. While the file sharing network is largely ignored as a proactive channel, little progress can be made on figuring out how this might be possible."

Umm... so slap some ads on the front (middle if TV/Movie) and back of the recording, and release. Can I haz consultancy fee now?

Health minister warns ISPs: Block suicide websites or face regulation

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Boffin

Re: Guidance

Actually - not speaking from experience - but it's incredibly difficult to commit suicide, at least, successfully that it ends in death.

Statistically you are more likely to screw something up and survive with very severe, debilitating, repercussions i.e. by not swallowing enough pills/poison/chemicals; not swallowing the right concoction of pills/poison/chemicals; not managing to cut off enough air support; not managing to damage the right organ(s) or break the right bones...

Basically, the human body is such a resilient thing - it wants to survive even if the owner doesn't.

The danger here is that by cutting off discussion of suicide, the UK government may^H^H^H will also end up blocking websites that offer impartial, expert advice - and after receiving that advice may end up changing their mind - reading what I've read I can't see why anyone would try to risk it!

http://lostallhope.com/suicide-statistics

Microsoft claims Windows Server 2012 is 'first cloud OS'

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Mushroom

Re: Late

Doesn't matter who says it when...

In 3 years time Apple will release "iCloudOS", declare it to be the *1st* cloud OS and then start suing VMware, Google, Microsoft, Oracle and RedHat for infringing on it's Cloud design patents. It will mostly win these lawsuits in the US and the media will report that VMware et al. were finally proven to have stolen Apple's ideas for cloud desktops.

Fanbois will squeal how this proves Apple was the first and all the others should stop copying. El Reg will write an article quoting some tripe from Florian Mueller about how this is going to cost Google big time. Andrew Orlowski will follow up with an article about how this proves design patents are good for the world and will help innovation.

Amirite?

Google/Oracle judge loses interest in paid bloggers

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Holmes

Re: Ha ha

Am I right in assuming that many of Google's "paid shills" were implicated by 3rd party association* as was Mike Masnik for example? http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120824/12563220150/apparently-im-google-shill-i-didnt-even-know-it.shtml

In that case, considering how often Florian Mueller is quoted by El Reg, shouldn't "The Register" be on Oracle's list?

*Not that Google should be let off the hook, mind. I'm of the firm belief that Google included so many tertiary sources was to muddy the water and draw attention off one or two significant ones.

'Nutjob' serves half-baked Raspberry PI scam

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Headmaster

Re: Hahahah. Dick.

Not to take away from your sentiment but 'Steve' is a perfectly acceptable Jewish name, derivative of Stephen.

Like that other Jewish fellow, Mr Spielberg.

Apple and Google in talks to end patent war?

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Mushroom

Initiate MAD!

Wouldn't be anything to do with Google's current WMD aimed squarely at Apple's iEverything then?

http://www.androidauthority.com/google-wants-iphone-ipad-ban-new-itc-patent-based-case-108760/

Court confirms $675,000 fine for sharing 30 songs

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Pirate

Re: Worst than a jail sentence

He'll just have to turn to burglary and robbery to get what he needs. I here the punishments for getting caught are a lot less than copyright infringement so...

Bogus Android markets seized in FBI software crackdown

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Headmaster

Accuracy

The biggest thing that irks me right now is tech sites as well as the mainstream media stating the websites have been seized due to "piracy".

Wouldn't it be more accurate to state "accusations of piracy" until a court of law has decided on the matter. After all... you wouldn't seize an innocent website, hold it illegally for 12 months and then drop the case when you realise no crime has been committed... oh... you would..."

Saudi oil giant seals off network after mystery malware attack

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Facepalm

Re: Not surprising...

You should get out Haradh and head to the coastal province of Dammam. If you get a chance, visit the offices there and see what I mean.

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Holmes

Not surprising...

Running totally unsecured Win Vista desktops that pretty much allow you to download and install anything of the web.

Wonder if they'll beef up network security after this incident...

Don't get sued or cuffed on Twitter: Read these top 10 pitfalls

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Stop

Re: Copied Tweets?

Strictly speaking, I don't think original attribution is a valid defense, otherwise I could share sheet music, an mp3 or movie as long as I stated it was owned/created by Sony etc...

Basically, I don't think retweets have been tested under copyright law (they probably never will be - but I'd never underestimate how low a troll will sink).

Personally I haven't updated my twitter account for months, since the corporates, celebutards and oppressive regimes started using Twitter as a tool to stomp on people expressing themselves harmlessly.

Sick of juggling apps on biz PCs? This install tool will save your sanity

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Angel

Re: Why can't you use your package manager?

TFA was not specific about any OS - only the 'PC' acronym was used - therefore perfectly valid question.

Had TFA specifically mentioned, for example, a Windows OS, then it would have been ignorant, possibly trollish. As it is, your comment is the ignorant one - based on a false premise.

Judge rejects Apple's calls for Samsung censure

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Boffin

Can someone point me...

To a forum post where a fanboi is asking why he can't get siri, facetime, iTunes or something similar to load on his Samsung branded iPad or iPhone?

If they can, then yes I will believe that Apple lost a sale.

On the other hand, I don't own iAnything but did buy a Mac for my wife for Christmas so there's one extra sale they can deduct from there 'lost sales' net figure.

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