* Posts by mittfh

416 publicly visible posts • joined 7 Feb 2008

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Google releases open source browser

mittfh
Coat

Guess what? It encourages you to let it phone home - just as we predicted!

Earlier today, I wrote:

Finally, as others have commented, it wouldn't surprise me if there's an option (enabled by default of course!) to report "anonymous" usage data back to the 'plex...

So, what do I see on the EULA screen:

[ ] Optional: Help make Google Chrome better by automatically sending usage statistics and crash reports to Google.

Follow the Lean more link:

Information that's sent to Google includes crash reports and statistics on how often you use Google Chrome features. When you choose to accept a suggested query or URL in the address bar, the text you typed and the corresponding suggestion is sent to Google. Google Chrome doesn't send other personal information, such as name, email address, or Google Account information.

We're psychic!

You already know which coat I'm reaching for...

mittfh
Boffin

google.com/chrome = Fake 404

Ho hum - when they get around to releasing it, it will be available at www.google.com/chrome

Try typing it in now and you'll get a very basic (but fake) 404 error. Quite unlike the usual Google 404 (e.g. www.google.com/random)...

In the light of Chrome's release, keep an eye on how Firefox evolves - if the Chrome code is released as promised, then given the fact Google funds FF, there'll probably be an expectation that some Chrome code will make it into FF. That is, a Firefox release, as opposed to Minefield. Whereas Chrome will probably remain in Beta until 2012 or beyond...

It'll be interesting to see how customisable Chrome is - e.g. will you be able to change Chrome's chrome?

As for add-ons, it's possible they'll use xpi, but of course, as with FF updates, developers will need to add the relevant comptability line - given Chrome's insistence on security I expect they'll ensure you can't disable the compatability checker.

Finally, as others have commented, it wouldn't surprise me if there's an option (enabled by default of course!) to report "anonymous" usage data back to the 'plex...

That 'Elderly Persons' sign: Can you do better?

mittfh

The Drumnadrochit sign...

http://www.missiondifficult.org.uk/disabled%20drivers.jpg

Lag log leaks - Home Office contractor loses entire prison population

mittfh
Flame

It's not just central government...everyone's losing data!

A couple of years ago a consultant working for Worcestershire lost a laptop containing that county's payroll database. Outside the county. The database was apparently encrypted...

The East of England Strategic Health Authority reported back in March of the loss of a UFD (I refuse to misappropriate the Sony device) containing the records of 35 patients, and printed details of a further 25 dumped in a bin.

Also in March, HSBC managed to lose a CD containing customers names, dates of birth and insurance details.

Back in October, Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup somehow lost 25 years worth of employee information stored on microfiche, together with the reader. Leeds Building Society also lost employee records when it relocated its HR department.

A survey by The British Chambers of Commerce covering e-crime and businesses in the UK found that 19 percent of the 3,900 businesses that responded had suffered data loss because of a virus and 8 percent reported having laptops stolen.

Which brings me onto another question. When organisations lose "encrypted" information, would they mind telling us how strong the cipher was? Theoretically you could claim a ROT-13 transformation is encryption, and the ciphers used by MS Office and previous versions of WinZip were notoriously easy to crack...

Fire, because you can be fairly certain data lost in the process can't be reused by people with malevolent intentions...

Teachers give toilet CCTV top marks

mittfh

Cameras in loos?

Depends what they're being used for. You don't need cameras to catch pupils smoking - just very sensitive smoke alarms wired into the mains (don't want the little blighters removing the battery!)

At a squeeze, one facing down the line of basins, but surely a sensitive mic would be just as effective?

I expect most incidents captured on CCTV during school hours could be sorted out without involving the parents watching the footage - the school would just deploy a member of staff to the affected area, and if necessary dish out a lunchtime detention.

Lunchtime detentions are used quite frequently because as they take place during school time, you don't need to give the parents 24 hrs written notice (which means in reality the pupil gets the detention at least 2 days after the event)

Arctic ice refuses to melt as ordered

mittfh
Flame

Timescales...

While it is important to take regular measurements of weather / ice / pollution etc., what many people (especially the media) fail to realise is that climate change isn't measured over pathetic timescales like one year, but over decades and centuries.

Smaller scale example: imagine a temperature data logger. You look at it at 6am and 9am and notice the temperature is rising. Quick - get your sunhats - we're in for a heatwave! By 11am, the temperature has dipped as a raincloud comes over. By 1pm it's risen again, and by 6pm it's feeling rather chilly. Looking at the longer term data, you might notice a week or so when the temperature constantly dips aroundabout 11am. But it's only when you've got a year or so's data that you can see the overall average temperature patten, and only afer several years that you can confidently say that September tends to be warmer than November.

Remember that what the climate scientists are saying is that a significant change in weather patterns can be caused by a global average rise of only 1-2 degrees C. Normally we wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Whilst glib statements like "We need to cut our CO2 emissions by 90%" are laughable, even if AGW isn't happening, surely it makes sense to do what we can to reduce energy use, especially as the world's oil and gas reserves will one day reach peak (even though noone knows yet when that will be, and statisticians have as much success on predicting the date as cults do in predicting the second coming or the end of the world), the world's human population continues to rise, and countries will increasingly find the export / import of resources hindered by hotheads who find arms more exciting than jaws...

The flame (if it appears!) because AGW is so contentious, and politicians and scientists alike delight in generating hot air...

Microsoft starts stoking hype for Windows 7

mittfh
Gates Horns

Don't forget Orifice...

What's the betting Orifice 2009 won't be able to run on XP?

Or, knowing M$, they'll try and merge Windoze and Orifice (whilst producing a cut down version without Orifice - or virtually anything else - to please the lawyers)

Let's face it - they've (just about) got away with bundling (mainly very basic, cut down versions of) an Internet browser, an email program, an IM application, a media player, a video editor, a DVD creator, and a firewall.

What's left apart from a useless AV / security suite, some form of photo editor, and Orifice?

Then by Windows 8 or 9, it will probably be virtually impossible to run the OS on a standalone box, as they'll try to wean us onto subscribing to online versions of many applications, especially Orifice...

Bill because everyone at M$ will still treat him like a prophet and lap up every crazy new idea he comes up with...

BOFH: Burying the hatchet

mittfh
Flame

@Jim

Who cares if he's a troll? His appallingly spelled ramblings provide a dose of extra amusement to the comments page.

Hmm..."I don't care for NASCAR or any other kind of racism" (sorry, couldn't resist translating) - strange, I always thought NASCAR was a kind of motorsport...

And the biggest indication that he's either a troll or is in serious need of improving his hand-eye coordination:

"IT SPLELLED BUFFOON"

Surely anyone genuine would have ensured the second word was "spelled" correctly?

Now, could someone please invent an all-metal keyboard with integrated high-voltage transformer, wired up to a modified spellchecker that lets lusers know in no uncertain terms that their life expectancy will be greatly enhanced through the use of correct spelling....

>>Bzzzzzt!<<

Oops, anyone fancy fried luser for lunch?

Windows XP crashes out of Olympics?

mittfh

Funny location for a projector

According to the Beeb's coverage, the images on the inside lip of the roof aren't projected, they're from plasma screens.

The BSOD is sitting on the inside of the roof, where nobody should be looking. The rest of the stadium doesn't have anything projected there.

Given the lack of keystoning on that image, the projector must have been directly under the roof. It would have been interesting to see pictures of what was in that area of the stands - as I'm sure the authorities wouldn't have allowed someone to saunter into the stadium weilding a laptop and data projector.

So either someone's been doing some very clever fakery, or someone in the general vicinity of the stand tilted the projector upwards when the OS crashed.

The alien because someone, sooner or later, will come up with a conspiracy theory...

Surfing Google may be harmful to your security

mittfh
Paris Hilton

They're not unique...

Vulnerable platform, lots of users - err, why does a certain Redmond-based company spring to mind? They've got your IP address, your platform, all the bits of their software you've installed, and nowadays a hash key representing your hardware configuration... Shall we burn their HQ down as well? :P

As for this redirection thingy, I can understand gadgets pulling data off third party sites, but whyever would a gadget need automatic full-page redirection? I can understand links to third party sites (e.g. weather gadget with links to a more in-depth forecast), but if their gadgets do automatic full-page redirection, that's another matter entirely.

There is one way for Google to retain the dodgy code and still maintain "Do no evil" - a "Report" link in each gadget's title bar, to allow you to report dodgy stuff. It's hardly a new concept - it already exists on another Google acquisition - ewe choob...

Paris because (a) she hasn't appeared here yet, (b) she'd be an ideal target for any code exploit, (c) she probably wouldn't understand a report link even if it was provided, and (d) because...

Microsoft readies XP for One Laptop Per Child computer

mittfh
Flame

Malware Ahoy!

Ooh goody - do I forsee a whole new generation of script kiddies honing their skills on this box? Or Nigerian 419ers 'educating' their offspring in the subtle art of MMF (Make Money Fast) scams?

Gov pulls plug on prison PlayStations

mittfh
Pirate

Brain Training!

Forget the consoles - give them all a DS and Brain Training...

Muhahahahaha!

Or Pee Cees loaded with SimCity or Lemmings. But definitely not Worms, Half Life or Unreal Tournament.

Although having said that, allowing them to deathmatch could keep 'em occupied...especially if someone 'skins' the monsters to resemble the warders...

BOFH: Shafting the consultants over the new layout

mittfh
Alert

Bombay Sapphire?

Surely various earth incarnations of a certain H2G2 cocktail would be more appropriate...

But the morgue trays would make an interesting fate for a clueless consultant / engineer / beancounter / luser (delete / expand as appropriate)...

As for the excuse for installing the sauna and morgue trays - something along the lines of "with global climate instabilities, we need to test our equipment to perform adequately under all conditions".

And something others have forgotten - a tesla coil or two (to simulate the combination of a lightning strike and corroded lightning conductor, of course - what, you mean 500kV is dangerous to humans?)

BOFH: Testing the obscenity filters

mittfh

PFY's box

We don't know what the PFY's work box is, but we do know he does (or at least, did) have a stockpile of Acorn Archimedes boxes...

BOFH: On the brink

mittfh

Ancient kit

At a former workplace I caught sight of a MS-DOS 3 manual...

So the PFY's been released into the community with OS/2 Warp. It could be worse - he could have a copy of Windows ME...

Then again, perhaps he'll rediscover his fondness for Acorn boxes...

BOFH: Carbon neutrality

mittfh
IT Angle

Re: keyboard cleaning

Once when I was at Uni, I took a rather long-winded way around the issue...

Unscrewed the keyboard, removed the top portion (leaving the base and plastic/rubber sheets behind), and gave it a good scrub in a bowl of hot and soapy water. I still wasn't satisfied with the extent to which the section under the keys was cleaned, so I carefully removed all the keys...

Surprisingly enough, 24hrs later when the keyboard was completely dry and reassembled, it worked again. Needless to say, the hassle involved in that method makes it completely impractical for all but the most grimey keyboards!

-oOo-

I've worked as a school IT tech since - imagine the delight of rearranging keyboard letters so they no longer spell out "interesting" words, or spending "holidays" unscrewing 300+ balled mice to clean the rollers because I'd previously superglued the ball compartment cover on to prevent pupils castrating the rodents...

If I was still in school IT, I'd've been tempted to imagine the fun that would ensue if the BOFH paid a visit :)

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