* Posts by poopypants

419 publicly visible posts • joined 3 Sep 2013

Page:

70% of Windows 10 users are totally happy with our big telemetry slurp, beams Microsoft

poopypants

Re: I did it another way...

I had no problem with the minimum telemetry setting until I tried to record sound from a microphone onto my PC. It turns out on my system the telemetry causes the audio device driver to fail to fill all the input buffers, causing audio drops. That's when I added some rules to the firewall, and now audio recording works fine. The fact that I had to go out of my way to disable something just so that my PC could function correctly is, to put it mildly, annoying.

nbn™ to offer 100Mbps fixed wireless service

poopypants

Re: Smart Country?

The latter. Because that's what the vast majority of voters care about.

'Windows 10 destroyed our data!' Microsoft hauled into US court

poopypants

Re: @Will

I've already flagged my Ethernet connection as metered. If I don't download any updates, the associated functionality can't be deprecated. :)

Ecuador admits it cut Assange's internet to stop WikiLeaks' US election 'interference'

poopypants

Slow motion catastrophe

The lead-up to the election is an interesting train wreck to watch. It is difficult to support either side when one candidate is a scheming, criminal mastermind and the other is a nauseating, unintelligent, self-obsessed man-child.

nbn™ says nobody needs gigabit internet, trumpets XG-Fast at 8Gbps anyway

poopypants

"A year before, those tiers were at 18 per cent, 42 per cent and 35 per cent, indicating waning interest in 100Mbps plans but rising interest in the 25/5 plans."

Could it be that people are discovering that 100Mbps plans are not delivering reliable 100Mbps connections?

Romania suffers Eurovision premature ejection

poopypants

Re: Euraustralia??

Being Australian I guess I should be surprised, but then again our head of state lives on the other side of the world, so business as usual really.

Prof squints at Google's mobile monopoly defence, shakes head

poopypants

Many of the accusations made against Google could equally be made against Apple. Can I set Chrome as my default browser on an iPhone?

Australia's smut-shocked senators seek net censorship (again)

poopypants

It starts with porn ("protect our children"), then extends to terrorists ("protect our citizens") and before you know it the government is blocking anything that it considers "disruptive to good order". Like comedy shows that make them look stupid, stories from investigative reporters and FaceBook posts that insult our Dear Leader.

Then we become Turkey.

NBN's good-to-go dates remain confidential

poopypants

Thank you!

Gamers Steaming over dumb Valve password vuln

poopypants

Re: Steam Guard is a PIA

That's odd. I've been using Steam Guard for over a year and it very rarely asks me to type in an authentication number. In fact I can't recall the last time it did. Same with Google. Still, I'm sure the gamble of not having two factor authentication gives you a little thrill of excitement, so there is that.

Australia to tax ALL international online purchases

poopypants

I hate to say it but collection won't be a problem if they pay the collector a percentage.

Google says its AI will jetwash all traces of malodorous spam from your box

poopypants

Re: So they've nailed spam

What are you talking about?

It is a NASA site. There are no ads. I just went there using Google Chrome, and saw no ads.

AdBlock reported that it was not blocking any.

E3 2015 in a nutshell: Hurry up Hoth, and plenty to Unravel

poopypants

Fallout 4 and Dishonored 2 are the only two games shown at E3 that I am actively looking forward to.

Why? Because they tell interesting stories.

Vintage Ask toolbar is malware – and we'll kill Jeeves, says Microsoft

poopypants

strange...

I have never understood why Oracle would continue for years to identify itself so blatantly as a sleazy corporation with this cheap, low rent association. I can't imagine that any revenue that it generates makes up for the millions of dollars worth of brand damage that results.

They are the only major corporation I know that pulls this kind of stupid stunt.

Everything Apple touted at WWDC – step inside our no-hype-zone™

poopypants

Re: The Fall

So no love for the Southern Hemisphere? Typical geographical hegemony that one has come to expect from the latitudinally privileged.

Vic cops want 'potential radicals' off the Internet

poopypants

More proof that we are governed by dangerously incompetent morons.

At least that statement won't get me executed. Yet.

Amazon game dev brain slurp bid revealed in industry back-page ad

poopypants

Sounds like it might be a MOBA. Given their lack of experience, I suspect they have absolutely no chance against League of Legends and DOTA 2, which completely dominate the market.

A good effort, if a bit odd: Windows 10 IoT Core on Raspberry Pi 2

poopypants

Re: but there will still be cases where it makes sense.

WinCE an RTOS? Depends on your definition.

Typically WinCE can have interrupt latencies that vary between 50-100 microseconds. If your application requires periodic interrupts in the millisecond range then this can be acceptable. However, for applications that require periodic interrupts in the 1-100 microsecond range, WinCE will fail miserably. The interrupt latency with WinCE is just too large and it will cause interrupts to be missed.

Yow! It's the HOT NEW 'Collections' from Google! Oh wait ... it's a Google+ thing

poopypants

Maybe I'm unusual, but

I use Google+ regularly, and don't have a Facebook account.

Want to hide your metadata? You probably can't

poopypants

Amazing

I read the entire article and all the comments so far and saw no mention of VPNs.

Gamers! Ransomware will scramble your save files unless you cough up $1,000

poopypants

Meh

I follow a regime of regular backups. Doesn't everyone?

Minecraft debuts new block – one that blocks Java crapware, that is

poopypants

I guess that's a start

Conversion to C# would be better.

Google opens 'Inbox' heir-to-email trial to biz users

poopypants

Re: If it ain't broke

@Robert Grant Spam? What's that? I never see any. Oh wait, that's probably because I use gmail. :)

The Order: 1886 – Round Table gaming's all right on the knight

poopypants

What is a game?

The key element that distinguishes games from other forms of entertainment is player agency. The various other forms of entertainment - movies, theatre, books, etc. - treat the audience as passive observers. To take this unique medium and turn it on its head by deliberately removing player agency through such travesties as obscenely long cut scenes and quick time events (which of course are devoid of meaningful choice) shows that The Order 1886 should really have been a movie, and sold for a lot less. (Come to think of it, that's pretty much what it is.)

Euro broadcast industry still in a fug over that 4K-ing UHD telly

poopypants

Again?

I've seen it all before. TV broadcasters vied to compete with shiny new 1080p channels, then in short order (after the novelty had worn off) they one by one decided that they could make more money from using the bandwidth for multiple 720p channels.

Bandwidth isn't free. It must be paid for by capturing as many eyeballs as possible. I expect history to repeat itself.

If you want 4K, you can get it right now by playing games on your PC (hardware permitting).

Australian ISPs agree to three-strikes-plus-court-order anti-piracy plan

poopypants

But...

I have two sons living with me, one of whom has a girlfriend who also lives here.

The house is owned by me, and the account that we have with our ISP is in my name. Everyone living in the house has free and open access to the ISP account via WiFi.

I have no idea how each individual uses our shared internet connection, nor do I wish to know. I am letting them use my ISP account in much the same way that I let them use the water and electricity supply. If they choose to drown or electrocute somebody, I am not legally responsible.

Unlike the situation with the water or electricity, am I to be held responsible for the actions of these other people? Must we have four separate ISP accounts? We have a single copper wire land line connection. As with the water and electricity, I don't even think four separate accounts over a single connection are possible.

How do I avoid being held responsible for the actions of other adults, if there is no mechanism provided for me to do so?

Lenovo shipped lappies with man-in-the-middle ad/mal/bloatware

poopypants

Very effective program

If there was any possibility before that I might buy something made by Lenovo, that possibility no longer exists.

Australian government's 'cyber-security' review delayed

poopypants

FFS

In 2013 Australia had 1,193 road fatalities. To combat this extreme public safety issue, we tolerate moderate legislation that requires us to have licenses to drive, and restricts how we act on roads.

It does not mandate permanently fitted devices that record the speed at which we travel, the time between signalling and turning or force us to take breath tests. No attempt is made to determine whether we know anyone who has been found to drive badly, or whether we play Grand Theft Auto V.

If the time ever comes when we lose 1,000 people per year to terrorist activity then, and only then, will it be reasonable to impose the level of restrictions and supervision that are currently imposed in an attempt to reduce the road toll.

Boy, 16, cuffed after posting selfie with body of kid he allegedly killed

poopypants

A scary reminder

that the veneer of civilisation is thin.

'If someone in Australia says lick my toad, it's not a euphemism'

poopypants

Correction

That's not how you spell Vegemite!

Snowden leaks LEGALISED GCHQ's 'illegal' dragnet spying, rules British tribunal

poopypants

Well that's some spooky quantum shit right there. Schrödinger's espionage. As long as you don't know about it, it's neither legal nor illegal. As soon as it becomes public knowledge, a determination is made, and it becomes one or the other.

BITE that APPLE if you want to escape the Android garden, Microsoft

poopypants

MS wants users

Android has many more users than iOS. Apple's profitability isn't relevant.

Developers, developers, developers! But WILL they support Windows 10?

poopypants

Re: Uh-oh...

@RyokuMas You'll be pleased to know that Unity continues to support coding in C#. You can even link in your own DLLs written in C++, if you want to limit yourself to Windows. Of course it doesn't have the same portability as XNA. It is far better than that, allowing you to target Windows Desktop, Windows Store, Windows Phone, Windows tablets, Android, iPhones, iPads, OSX, XBox and Playstation. Oh, and Blackberry too.

poopypants

Re: we're already developing for Windows 10

What kind of irresponsible idiot uses Windows as a foundation for safety critical software? That's criminal negligence, right there. If you don't get it,

here's a simple primer.

2015: The year of MAD TV science, but who can keep up?

poopypants

I solved this problem years ago

when I stopped watching TV and started playing games on a high end gaming PC. Currently on 2560 x 1440 (1440p), which is good enough for now. All the modern games that I buy will render at that resolution. The rig is capable of driving 4K VR if it eventuates, so that's a possibility. If I want to watch a movie I'll rent it on Blu-ray.

Free Windows 10 could mean the END for Microsoft and the PC biz

poopypants

Re: WTF.....- "supported lifetime"

I think their plan in the consumer space is to make money from their Windows Store. In particular, they would like a slice of that yummy 30% that enables Steam to rake in billions just on the sale of games.

Imagine a store front like Steam built into every PC, offering not just games but a whole range of software, some for purchase, some with a subscription. That is why they want Windows 10 with Windows Store and integrated XBox app on every consumer desktop, and are prepared to give it away to achieve that.

LEAKED: Samsung's iPhone 6 killer... the Samsung Galaxy S6

poopypants

It's all about the use cases

Unless you have shares in Apple or Samsung, it really comes down to what you use it for. The most valuable things my phone does for me are

- provides a pathway for the second factor in two factor identification

- goes "beep" when someone tries to chat with me on Google+ (which I then respond to on my PC)

- lets me set a timer when I'm cooking something

- gives me turn by turn driving directions

- gives me the weather forecast

- lets me check the latest news at a glance

I use it as a phone less than once a month.

In my case I happen to have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, although just about every other Android phone would provide the same services. I have no compelling reason to buy a new one.

US military finds F-35 software is a buggy mess

poopypants

Australia has ordered 72

Meanwhile, we keep buying more Super Hornets, just in case.

Flash zero day under attack

poopypants

"obsensibly"? "immanent"?

Don't you guys spell check your articles?

Windows 10: The Microsoft rule-o-three holds, THIS time it's looking DECENT

poopypants

I will keep pestering you

until you love me.

- MS

REGARD our TINY but POWERFUL LASER, suitable for very SMALL sharks

poopypants

Here you go...

I hold before me a hair dryer rated at 2,200 Watts. One billionth of that is (I think) 2.2 microwatts.

Or not. But at least I have given people the incentive to work it out, if only to prove me wrong.

AT LAST: Australia gets its very own malware

poopypants

Yet another advantage

to using a Chromebox for most of my recreational computing stuff. (Except games, of course. So far that's been the only reason for me to occasionally wake up my big desktop PC.)

Acer Chromebook 13: The best Googletop on the market?

poopypants

Another consideration

Where I live (South Australia) we have the most expensive electricity in the world. (Seriously - my last electricity bill was $924.65 for the quarter.) Being retired, I spend a lot of time using my own computers, so I have to pay for their electricity use. My main desktop PC has an Nvidia Titan, and the machine draws hundreds of watts. Recently I bought an Asus Chromebox (http://promos.asus.com/us/chrome-os/chromebox/), which supports 90% of my PC activities. It is currently driving two screens (one at 2560 x 1440, the other at 1920 x 1080), switches on nearly instantly, is maintenance-free, and most importantly uses only a fraction of the electricity.

By my calculations it will pay for itself in under two years. The only thing it doesn't support that I often do is play PC games, for which I occasionally power up the Windows based machine.

poopypants

Re: have they sorted out the lack of citrix yet?

Is this what you're looking for?

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/citrix-sharefile/fjphemlndlpgcngpgbaofdbkccjomopc?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

Global PC market's not dead, it's just resting – Gartner

poopypants

The statistics don't include high end PC gamers

since they traditionally assemble their own rigs. There's quite a few of them - at least 700,000 have backed Star Citizen, which will definitely require a high end PC, and that represents only a fairly niche segment of the PC gamer market.

As for the less demanding PC gamers (ones more likely to buy off the shelf), Steam has 75 million active accounts (logged on in the last month), and the release of the PS4 and XBox One has resulted in the release of PC ports of AAA games that are considerably more hardware demanding.

This may well result in a significant portion of that 75 million deciding to upgrade their PCs.

It's not a huge number in the grand scheme of things, but could make a measurable difference.

poopypants

Re: Waiting with baited breath

bated

Google v Oracle: US Supreme Court turns to Obama in Java copyright war

poopypants

Imagine the worst outcome possible

That's probably what will happen. Why should 2015 be any better than 2014?

No, the Linux leap second bug WON'T crash the web

poopypants

Re: FFS

Point taken. That doesn't excuse the spelling.

poopypants

FFS

Please learn how to spell QANTAS. There is no "U", and it is all caps. It is an acronym for the "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services".

RMIT boffins fast-track space junk search

poopypants

I wonder how much

of the funding for EOS Space Systems comes from the Defence sector.

Page: