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* Posts by VaalDonkie

108 publicly visible posts • joined 20 Sep 2011

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US lawmaker blames bicycle breath for global warming gas

VaalDonkie
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Re: Why can't politicians leave science to scientists.

Because scientists can't leave politics to the politicians?

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VaalDonkie
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Because the buzz is around CO2. Do try to keep up with the narrative.

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VaalDonkie
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Trollface

Re: Facepalm...

Why? He is right after all: cyclists produce CO2 and use public roads. It is only fair that they also pay the penalties and taxes. Granted, a smaller amount should be asked of them, but his logic is sound. Factor in drivers having to sit behind cyclists in a lower gear, thereby increasing the amount of CO2 that their cars produce,and it makes even more sense. My car uses 8.5 liters per 100km in top gear, but 10.5 in third, which is where I'm stuck in if I have to follow a cyclist. I reckon it's unfair that I have to pay for that extra 25 odd percent CO2 my car produces.

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So much noise on WinMob, but Microsoft's silent on lovely WinPhone

VaalDonkie

Only one fault IMO

is that the WP7.x stack does not support bluetooth to the same extent other platforms do. I was left red-faced after I presented the idea for an app that does fancy things with the bluetooth serial port, only to learn that that is impossible.

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Strategic SIEGE ROBOTS defeated by 'heavily intoxicated' man, 62

VaalDonkie
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Holmes

Re: "Dangerous Ordnance"

.22 rounds do nothing but piss off your attacker. Nothing dangerous about those.

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US insurer punts 'bestiality' to wide-eyed kiddies, gasp 'mums'

VaalDonkie
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Angel

Re: Entirely Typical

How's that secular, gun-free utopia that is Britain working out for you?

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VaalDonkie
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Re: 'Right-minded'

Well, of course. Why would anyone hold a personal view that they deem "wrong-minded"?

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North Korean citizens told: Socialist haircuts are a thing... go get some

VaalDonkie

At least they get to choose between 28 styles. Turkey has the most hilarious history in this regard.

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You've made an app for Android, iOS, Windows - what about the user interface?

VaalDonkie
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Trollface

there is always the option of speaking to the hardware in a delightful MONOtone...

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VaalDonkie
Megaphone

If only there was some sort of runtime that compiled code Just In Time into native code. We could then write apps on that platform and not worry about the underlying hardware. I would imagine a lot of Coffee would be consumed by the developers entrusted with such an undertaking. Hell, if I were in charge, I'd even name the framework after the most popular type of Coffee consumed during the process...

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Sony promises PC-based PlayStation 4 for Christmas

VaalDonkie
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Re: headphones

The Xbox controllers have that too.

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VaalDonkie
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Re: And of course

As long as I get to play Final Fantasy XV (if it comes out before I turn grey) and either Forza or GT, I don't care what logo is on my console. But then I'm not a fan of FPS titles on any console.

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VaalDonkie
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I believe the idea of platform-locked titles is rather to artificially inflate the allure of a particular console as opposed to it being a problem simply because it's hard to do.

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Ubuntu? Fedora? Mint? Debian? We'll find you the right Linux to swallow

VaalDonkie

I'm not a serious Linux user, but I've had experience(s) with a few distroes. My favourites ones by far from a setup and usable-out-the-box perspective are Ubuntu and Suse (in no particular order). Knoppix was kind of cool, but the other two were nicer.

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Men's rights activists: Symantec branded us a 'hate group'

VaalDonkie
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Nope

Their job is to filter sites which can harm your computer.

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Superbowl blackout was a stuff-up, not Anonymous

VaalDonkie

Too bad...

...it didn't happen during the Beyonce Lipsynchin' Striptease Extravaganza.

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Illicit phone rings in Sri Lankan inmate's back crack

VaalDonkie
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Re: charging

I would assume it's a long-life phone like a Nokia 2100. I would also assume the guy only switches it on when he wants to make a call. It could easily last for a week or two like this, by which time a buddy could smuggle in another one.

Or, if you're in a South African prison, the cost of charging a phone is one pack of cigarettes to your favourite guard.

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Oh, Sony, you big tease: Mystery PlayStation reveal date set

VaalDonkie
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Being from Africa...

It costs me around 25 of your first world Pounds in data charges to download an average-sized XBox game. Add that onto actually paying for said game, and a piece of plastic from a shop seems like a good idea.

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Dead Steve Jobs' patent war threat to Palm over 'no-hire pact'

VaalDonkie

Sounds familiar

I recall the Church of $cientology employing similar scare tactics.

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Student claims code flaw spotting got him expelled from college

VaalDonkie

Ahmed Al-Khabaz

... is a strange name. Is that French or something?

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Time has already run out for smart watches

VaalDonkie

I already own a great watch

...It;s called a Nokia Lumia 900.

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What Compsci textbooks don't tell you: Real world code sucks

VaalDonkie

TIim is money

When a client suddenly decides 75% of the way through the project that something integral to the system should work completely differently, few project managers would have the crown jewels necessary to start a new project from scratch. Instead, one will have to find the quickest way possible to deliver the project on time and within the original budget.

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Mark Zuckerberg doesn't know how to use HTML5

VaalDonkie
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Re: How would you block ads on an iPhone.

Disable your data connection when using your aps. A bit pointless if it's a cloud-based app, but it works a charm when playing ad-sponsored games.

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Goldman Sachs: Windows' true market share is just 20%

VaalDonkie
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Re: Ms hate

"Because they don't listen to customers, attempt to bamboozle us at every turn, have byzantine and purposefully misleading licensing, are insanely expensive and generally treat customers like shit."

Ever had dealings with Apple?

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Valve chief confirms Steam-centric console-killing PC

VaalDonkie
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FAIL

Re: OK, what frameworks does Windows have for running Mac games?

Trick question. Macs don't have "Mac games". They have Linux games.

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BLAZING HEAVENLY gas BRIDGE filament links galactic clusters

VaalDonkie
Trollface

It's probably just hot air from the recent US presidential elections.

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Design guru: Windows 8 is 'a monster' and 'a tortured soul'

VaalDonkie
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Re: What's new?

Hamster dance

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British Ruby conference cancelled after diversity row

VaalDonkie

I misread Ruby as Rugby. It got a little strange towards the end.

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Sydney Uni boffin wants database to track smokers

VaalDonkie

This is just ridiculous. Or the motives are a bit more sinister.

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Coders grill Herb Sutter on future of C++ at Microsoft

VaalDonkie
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Re: oops

XBox?

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VaalDonkie
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Trollface

Re: So cancelling Win32 APIs and forcing Metro is "to get back to parity" ?

Pfft. Real programmers use a magnet, a needle and a steady hand.

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Mozilla: Windows 7 browser bungle cost us nine MILLION downloads

VaalDonkie
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Re: While I think that to some extent users are suffering from download fatigue in

I use Firefox for the range of developer-focused add-ons, but if I have to suggest one to a loved one, it'd be Opera.

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VaalDonkie

Yes, because we couldn't easily choose a different browser on Vista, XP, 2000, ME, etc. Also, Opera is better than both Firefox and Chrome.

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Slideshow: A History of Horror in 20 Scary Games

VaalDonkie
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I can't take any Clive barker game seriously because when I hear the name, I immediately think "South African Soccer Coach from the 1990's".

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iPhone owners sue Apple for locking Jesus mobe to AT&T

VaalDonkie
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Re: Anti-competitive?

And to think people like you have the right to vote.

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Microsoft: Just swallow this tablet ... the rest will take care of itself

VaalDonkie
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Re: "Microsoft actually writes fantastic software"

What don't you like about WP8?

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VaalDonkie
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Re: "Microsoft actually writes fantastic software"

Please tell me how Eclipse is so much better than Visual Studio, for starters.

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Samsung's Japanese iPhone block bid fails

VaalDonkie

The moment when you stop putting the customer first is the moment I take my business elsewhere.

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Samsung, not Nokia, fans' most favoured WinPho brand

VaalDonkie
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Re: I want a Galaxy Note screen with WP8

Don't know about baked-in, but I got Skype from the marketplace for my Lumia 900(WP7.5). It's just a little download and install. Now, I will admit that I don't know whether or not Skype qualifies as a SIP service, but Wikipedia seems to suggest so.

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VaalDonkie

I find the Windows Phone interface to be the most natural feeling mobile phone interface. It's pretty too. The only thing I don't like is that you can't really customise the look of your home screen. But maybe I'm just nostalgic over windows mobile 6.5 and my Samsung Omnia i900.

All I want to see in the end is for sanity to prevail and Apple to lose a bit of market share to the other players. The iPhone is good, but it doesn't warrant the share it currently has. None of the players do. There's almost nothing to choose between Android and iOS and Windows Mobile should be a major contender if the number of available apps increases.

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Hate the Windows 8 touch UI? Try Kinect-like finger shaking instead

VaalDonkie
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Trollface

Re: Sign language?

Why would you need to enter text via sign language when you can simply use ye olde keyboard?

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Microsoft to comply with Brussels over browser choice gaffe

VaalDonkie
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Windows

Re: I still don't get why this only appies to MS

I always thought you could just download an installer for FF, Opera, etc. Seems like I was wrong.

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Organic food offers basically no health benefit, boffins find

VaalDonkie
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Re: Science and allergies

Did you know that your wife has a supply of "organic" milk in her blouse?

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Torvalds bellows: 'The GNOME PEOPLE are in TOTAL DENIAL'

VaalDonkie
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Trollface

Re: Torvalds is turning out to be

Toe-jam anyone?

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BIG BOOBS banished from Linux kernel

VaalDonkie
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Re: Bill Gates is obviously Guilty

That's too mainstream

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Samsung fails to get Galaxy Tab ban in US lifted pending appeal

VaalDonkie
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Trollface

Re: AS GREEDY AS APPLE

Surely you mean "the tablets have turned"?

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Square kilometre array decision delayed again

VaalDonkie

There are jsut as many stars in the karoo as in the Australian outback.

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VaalDonkie
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There are just as many stars in the Karoo as the Australian outback.

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2012: The year when smartphones become smart?

VaalDonkie
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Those things are all perfectly possible with existing technology.

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Mobile industry needs Windows, handset vendors warn

VaalDonkie
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Boffin

Really?

Being an ACTUAL mobile developer, I happen to love Windows Phone 7. It's easy to develop for (which might also be a bad thing), You have superior (and free) development tools and the interface does everything the other 2.5 mobile OS'es are capable of.

I also like working on Android, but the other two (iOS and whatever the Blackberry one is called), ca suck it.

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