* Posts by Martin Eddington

12 publicly visible posts • joined 5 Sep 2007

PGP wiz Phil Zimmermann and pals tout anti-snoop mobe – the Blackphone

Martin Eddington

Re: Right. NSA-proof, as long as you don't use it as a phone

That's why it doesn't work like that.

Voice -> app -> encryption -> phone -> mast-> internet -> "Silent Network"

"Silent Network" then sends data to the receiving phone's App over IP; you don't just call each other up...

So the metadata will only really show that you send packets to Silent Network ...

Obviously that's as long as Silent Networks calling system is as safe as they say it is...

The TWEET got me drunk, Conshtable, I SHWEAR IT

Martin Eddington
Paris Hilton

Hmm... well since you can't drink until 21 in the US and 18 in the UK I wonder whether the App has location sensitivity as well ?

Paris - 'cos she enjoys the odd bevvy...

Microsoft releases JavaScript alternative

Martin Eddington
Linux

It looks nice

I was very impressed by the video. It would be very helpful on a project I'm working on at the moment.

It seems to produce acceptable JavaScript, and I was surprised at the open source license.

However, when you think a little deeper you realise that it is almost exclusively useful for it's code-completion and error-checking which only really appears to be that active in Visual Studio.

I'm not despoiling my fast, simple and beautiful machines with such an intrusive and bloated stack.

With an appropriate toolkit, and an editor with parenthesis matching and code-folding it is no harder to write good, object-orientated JavaScript than with a full-featured IDE; especially for large applications.

It is not a bad thing to make sure your design and implementation strategy are already correct before you start typing...

Edgy penguins test-fly Ubuntu's Quantal Quetzal

Martin Eddington

I quite like Unity

It took a little bit of learning, and you need to set Compiz up properly (I have a nice spinning cube for my desktops and a few fairly calm animations to make things pretty).

The "Dash" means that any application is only a couple of keystrokes away. The HUD is handy for complex applications where you can't remember where the menu item is, and for mouse-less control whilst typing).

It's clean, functional and I can't actually remember it crashing on me.

Oh, I program. I don't really "consume" much on my machine - I build stuff. So I'm not just talking about using it for surfing the web or playing music...

Here lies /^v.+b$/i

Martin Eddington

Perl

$/=pop;@b=split'',<>;map{$n=-1;@b=map{++$n;/

/?$_:($t=grep/X/,@b[map{$n+$_,$n-$_}1,80..82])==3|$t+/X/==3?X:'.'}@b}1..$/;print@b

-- obviously it's Conway's Game of Life... :-)

How bin Laden thwarted US electronic surveillance

Martin Eddington
Badgers

First!

Also RFC1149...

http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1149

Abigail's Windows 7 Party

Martin Eddington
Linux

Setting up with E's ?

... dancing to the EULA! Gurning as it trashes your XP data. Frantically babbling "I love you" to the girl on the phone telling you the 40 character activation key you need as your wireless doesn't seem to work...

Sounds fun.

Stallman warns open-sourcers on Javascript-browser trap

Martin Eddington
Linux

Give him a break

... in his Ivory Tower of pure software Freedom; Stallman has a message for us all of an ideal world where we can use all our computers without being taxed, licensed or otherwise encumbered.

He is, ideologically, absolutely correct.

He is not arguing about the reality we all face, or the fact that 99.999% of us don't actually give a shit.

He is a voice calling for a beautiful ideal. His warnings tend to become relevant a few years down the line. Someone has to shout about this - he's got a lot of experience of being told to sod off.

That doesn't actually stop him from being right.

Free. As in freedom! I'll finish my £1.35 beer in his honour...

Ghost of Lennon punts laptops for kids

Martin Eddington
Linux

Don't knock OLPC

"What will they use it for ?", "Who pays for the internet access ?", "Why not just teach basic subsistence farming", "Why would they want one when they're starving ?".

etc. etc.

The mesh wireless network pioneered with the OLPC can use a single internet connection (for example at the local school) and the laptops themselves form a wireless network enabling connection for as far as their combined ranges allow. The information flow from village to village can significantly improve resource management, skills in farming, exchange of goods locally and medical advice - as the children connect on a larger scale, so will the adults.

The OLPC is not a replacement for any help charity can give in terms of food, farming or development - it is supplementary to that. It is focussing on communication and understanding amongst the children. For there to be the political and idealogical solutions required to help developing countries - giving the children the chance to connect to one another, and the skills to find out for themselves the information they need in life - is essential.

The OLPC project is one of real hope, and the disgruntled complaining about other people's charity (one presumes those who complain are not contributing) is deeply unpleasant to see.

Ex-Logica boss to teach UK.gov how to identify crap IT

Martin Eddington
Paris Hilton

Shouldn't be a difficult job.

... if a government minister insists it's value for money then bin it instantly.

Or perhaps take advice from people without a vested interest in drawing out projects towards eternity and infinite spending... which excludes all their traditional suppliers!

Paris 'cos she's probably better at IT projects than they are...

Teen battles City of London cops over anti-Scientology placard

Martin Eddington
Pirate

Never mind

Rumour has it that "Does the City of London Police support a CULT ?" is going to be a popular placard on June 14th when the next protest happens.

As will

"'Scientology is a CULT' - Justice Latey 1984"

"City of London Police say I can't call Scientology a CULT"

"Religious Hatred Act says I can call Scientology a CULT (Section 29J)"

Anyone who fancies protesting a nasty, brainwashing CULT on June 14th should hae a look at http://www.londonlulz.com

Microsoft spins standards defeat into victory

Martin Eddington

OSI ?

... think the last sentence should read ISO not OSI ;-)