Posts by Bruce Ordway

Windows 10 pilot rollouts will surge in early 2016, says Gartner

Re: When has Gartner ever been wrong

>>...pent-up demand for tablets and two-in-one devices

Yes, I'd sure like to know how Gartner arrived at this this.

Love your IoT gadget but could you keep the noise down?

Re: Shut the F**K Up!

>>that is why I work from home

I have worked exclusively from home for several years.

Everything I need to facilitate remote work is in place.

I've been at it long enough that I almost miss the office sometimes.

The feeling passes quickly though.

Doctor Who's Under the Lake splits Reg scribes: This Alien homage thing – good or bad?

Doctor Who is still better than 99% of other shows on TV.

I always view Doctor Who... even when I might not quite like some of the modern scripts or characters.

Pro tip: Servers belong in dry server rooms, not wet cloakrooms

Re: Backup

>>pressing the Enter key when it periodically asked for the next diskette...

In my case it was self corruption that led to total data loss.

The secretary "stored" the backup disks on top of her monitor.

Doctor Who returns to our screens next week – so, WHO is the worst Time Lord of them all?

Dr Who vs. the writers?

When Doctor Who is mentioned I see Tom Baker, Lalla Ward and K9.

I actually like Peter Capaldi and Jenna-Louise Coleman too.

Rather than compare actors, I get a bit more interested in comparing previous writers with the current crop.

I have fond memories of a low tech, campy and fun to watch.

The version I was first exposed in the U.S.(around 1983).

Recently the more serious themes and emotional baggage are detracting from my viewing pleasure. Think about character of Danny Pink. Who would write this way and why? When Danny wasn't boring me completely, he just came off as mildly creepy or even sad.

Even if it's not as light as I'd like, I think Doctor Who still > most other shows.

Why is the smart home insecure? Because almost nobody cares

Not only JVPESS

>> job is to give advice that's routinely ignored or overruled

Sounds like my function too...

Two weeks of Windows 10: Just how is Microsoft doing?

Windows 10 so far

I upgraded one of my non-essential systems & my wife upgraded her main system

I don't play games, use phones, tablets or touch, she uses all of those things.

I've seen nothing compelling and my wife is happy with hers.

She's part of the target audience for Windows 8 & 10. (she likes new gadgets & spending money).

I'm resolved to the fact that MS couldn't care less about people like me.

A close shave: How to destroy your hard drives without burning down the data centre

Need more time

>>60 seconds of a three-letter agency knocking at the door.

This reminded me of a custom spring loaded security door mentioned in "The Construction & Operation of Clandestine Drug Laboratories".

Might give a person a lot more time to destroy drives... as long as they can get into the room and close that door.

An auto-destruct button would certainly be cooler but.. I really liked the diagrams for that door too.

Crazy Chrysler security hole: USB stick fix incoming for 1.4 million cars

Quality of programmers

I watched a video many years ago where a Darpa speaker questioned the potential dangers with ABS due to the quality of the programmers involved.

If I remember, his point was that the best graduates don't end up working for auto makers. In his mind, probably C or B level at best.

I didn't put too much stock in it at the time but now...

Black and Latina boffins regularly mistaken for janitors, study finds

Tackling the issues at school age would be a good start.

>> school age would be a good start.

I fear many children are "set" before they arrive at schools though.

Even so, I'm still in favor of exposing youth to the best examples, mentors & role models as possible.

Unfortunately I haven't noticed any significant changes to cultural bias's in my location yet.

I reside in a liberal US city where a significant percentage of the population is well educated.

Even on my best day I still make numerous, erroneous assumptions about the people I encounter.

It's all Uber! France ends its love affair with ride-sharing app

Taxi Licenses

In my city taxi licenses are expensive and limited in total number granted.

If I were a taxi driver I'd probably be upset with Uber and the governing body.

Hardcore creationist finds 60-million-year-old fossils in backyard ... 'No, it hasn’t changed my mind about the Bible'

Creation

These comments have made me become more interested in how Nernberg applies his beliefs.

We've all chosen what to believe.

I'm not sure we can tell the quality of a person from one of their beliefs.

Maserati Ghibli S: Who cares what Joe Walsh thinks?

cars are something

>>you buy with your head and your heart

In my case it would be a '65 Volkswagon Beetle

The Apple Watch: Throbbing strap-on with a knurled knob

Re: send a brief recording of your heartbeat

Maybe on Valentines Day?

Windows Phone 10: Less stuff that does more – plus IE-killer Project Spartan

Re: So, after trying to put a phone UI on the desktop.....

>>Desktop OS for PCs,

>> touchscreen OS for tablets and phones is the only way for me personally.

>>And many other people too I expect.

I'm not sure how many others but I'm with you.

All kinds of business reasons for MS to justify a universal system, leverage everything they can

At what point will users get something new that they want?

So far, the newer UIs are a been a downgrade and Windows 7 rules at every business I work with.

When working, I need a full sized computer with multiple displays that packs a lot of info.

Phone are important too but... only for performing a limited number of tasks in my case.

Microsoft uses Windows Update to force Windows 10 ads onto older PCs

Re: KB 3035583 CLONE

>>KB3035583, KB2952664

I noticed both of the updates since "More Information" was so vague.

Recently had a display driver update go bad recently too.

My first new glitches with Windows Updates in several years.

Hoping this isn't a new trend starting.

Midlife crisis, suck ingenuity? Microsoft turns 40; does the dad dance

next 10 years

For sure I'd expect devices to continue getting smaller, faster with bigger networks connecting everything. If that is what Mr Gates means by evolving.

I'm hoping we get something revolutionary too. Not sure what that might be but... as SpnogeBob would say "I'm ready".

Dot-com intimidation forces Indiana to undo hated anti-gay law

Discrimination

I must admit I like being surrounded by people who speak and think like I do. I've wondered if I we could accept a little discrimination in our lives. I have to remember how easy it is for me to feel included (for the most part). I'm a white male & grew up with plenty of liberal christian neighbors in a suburb.

But discrimination will always lead to exclusion and violence, eventually. "My" people, who are otherwise warm and friendly (as I imagine Crystal O'Connor might be) just can't resist.

.

Tim Cook: I'll give just a THIRD of what Gates gave to charity last year

Tim's and Apples's wealth

a.) Keep accumulating as much cash as possible and start giving to charity.

b.) Reduce profits by increasing wages and/or lowering prices.

c.) Accept taxation

I am sure which I'd pick if I were Tim.

I'm not really sure which I'd prefer if I had the power to force just one choice from the list above.

Dear departed Internet Explorer, how I will miss you ... NOT

Compuserve

I'm kind of nostalgic for the old Compuserve.

It was nice orderly forums and had many talented, respected members.

Technical issues of Mosaic aside, the chaos of the internet bothered me the most.

It wasn't until Google came along that I really got over the change.

So You've Been Publicly Shamed, Style and The Buried Giant

jon_ronson

Thanks El Reg... I will be sure to take a look at these titles.

In the mean time... I just watched the jon_ronson video.

I could appreciate the "academics" work a bit more if they had let Mr Ronson in on their joke and/or not re-purposed his photo. Rather than stupid, they just seemed so oblivious to me.

I confess I played with identities on Facebook once.

It was after I discovered I was not as unique as I thought.

There was a user with my same name.

I did contact that user before I proceeded with my project though.

Ready to fill out your US taxes? Cool. Got ObamaCare? Not so fast

Re: THIS isn't my problem

>>This year I'm going uninsured... I dread dealing with these damn insurance companies

>>and tax headaches, more than anything else

Uninsured for similar reasons here too.

I would add that I really hope national health succeeds eventually in the US.

For now I can't get past the government dysfunction and a feeling the insurance companies are making out like bandits.

(Re)touching on a quarter-century of Adobe Photoshop

Sure, other packages

".. popular with artists exist, from Corel Painter .."

I still remember seeing my first demo of FD Painter on PBS.

Mark Zimmer became my hero instantly.

At the time, Photoshop had noting to match the "natural media"... beautiful.

Hellooo, NSA? The US State Department can't kick hackers out of its networks – report

systems must remain operation for security reasons

"IT staff can't switch off the network to freeze the infection because the computer systems must remain operation for security reasons."

Catch 22

How many Watches will Apple flog? 20, er, 18.5, no, five, wait, 50 million!

Who wears watches anymore?

I'm just wondering who might buy watches anymore and why?

The only use I have for a watch is when I go hiking or camping.

Once I get civilized there are clocks and phones everywhere.

I have known a couple people who still like to wear watches as jewelry.

50 million?

Smartphones don’t dumb you down, they DUMB you UP

Re: GPS maps are not the same

A few years ago I found out GPS doesn't always work when you're in the jungle and on foot.

Some GPS models can't get signals thru the tree canopy and/or won't register when standing still.

I had to wait for clearings where I could jog around before obtaining location information.

Still using Adobe Flash? Oh well, get updating: 15 hijack flaws patched

Flash & NoScript

I can do without most Flash content but not all.

So I keep Flash installed and use NoScript to occasionally, temporarily allow Flash content (and will apply the latest Flash update first).

I've assumed Flash is then not executed by default & am protected from most issues but... maybe not?

Zuckerberg asks the public to tell him where to go in 2015

Ethics?

How about dedicated study of ethics?

I'd guess everything else would then fall into place.

Huawei? Apple and Samsung's worst nightmare, pal

Huawei = Android?

More of Android?

Ref: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08/26/huawei_only_has_love_for_android/

Doctor Who's tangerine dream and Clara's death wish in Last Christmas

Coleman and Capaldi, they haven’t found a chemistry that makes sense yet

>>Coleman and Capaldi chemistry

This year I have felt real pain for those actors, when I imagined myself speaking their lines.

Oh how uncomfortable and embarrassing.

And I really want to like their characters but... the relationships they have to portray are just too awkward for me enjoy.

'Things' on the Internet-of-things have 25 vulnerabilities apiece

Re: Not surprised, but...

>>Why does John Q. Public need the 'Internet of things' in his home?

but... I think he does want them.

Due to some romantic notions, ill-informed and/or impulse purchasing.

The quality of code probably won't bother the companies who produce the gadgets until some unfortunate event brings the subject more attention. Casual users want something simple & easy to access.

>>Fuck them.

I agree, but... Most people say I am overly cautious.

I put tape over the lens of the webcam on my laptop, require MAC authentication for access to my network, etc...

Movie industry's evil plan to destroy the internet is going precisely nowhere

Re: Control your media better.

>>They're actually working on that. Many upscale theaters are actually film-free.

>>They download the movies off dedicated private connections to local storage.

By coincidence I was given access to a projection room a few week ago.

I saw the device that held the movie, looked like some sort of drive.

The guy said that after they are delivered to the theater, he had to get codes entered by a techs at a remote support network.

I remember he was pretty adamant in stating that content never traveled over a network.

It would have been interesting to know more but... he was an old projectionist, not that familiar with all the workings of the new technology.

Happy 2nd birthday, Windows 8 and Surface: Anatomy of a disaster

Re: Sinofsky

>>a fat toolbar called a ribbon, or the “Fluent user interface.

Didn't realize W8 and the ribbon came from the same guy.

I've totally avoided W8. None of the companies I work with have shown any interest in allowing W8 in.

100% Win7 or XP(still)

Forced to work with whatever version of Office available at a site...I did adjust to the ribbon but... I still HATE it.

Maybe W10 will win me over?

I have wanted to buy new PCs for a couple years now but... couldn't accept what was offered by MS.

Linux systemd dev says open source is 'SICK', kernel community 'awful'

Environment hostility

When inquiring about the arcane, I have received abuse rather than useful feedback... on occasion. Unfortunately even the software specialty forum I frequent has members who are guilty of bullying. When I see poor behavior I might try to intervene, if I have time and something useful to add (both of which are rare).

Huawei prez: A one-speed internet is bad for everyone

Technical background?

Do we really need technical backgrounds to recognize an industry that is trying to get an advantage? I'm more comfortable with John Oliver Al Franken than Ryan Ding in this case.

I sold 10 MILLION iPhone 6es at the weekend, says Tim Cook. What did you do?

Good for Apple

Good for Apple.

I don't personally understand the mass appeal but... they are certainly doing something right.

Zuck: Yo, Mexico! My $19bn WhatsApp could connect THREE BEEELLION people

Get them while they are young?

As a 50 something of course I also don't use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc...

But... I vaguely remember what I was like at age 13.

And I'm not so sure I'd have had the sense to avoid the use of those services at that age.

Wall Street's internet darlings require an endless supply of idiots

>> Getting an "internet economy" that benefits the people who do the work, take the risk,

>> or provide the resources

Who's the dreamer now?

Govt control? Hah! It's IMPOSSIBLE to have a successful command economy

Project Cybersyn

Even though there I have read the good arguments against planned economies I still wish for one to succeed. How can I resist the attraction of a project cybersyn?

Microsoft's naughty Cortana NOT ALLOWED NEAR CHILDREN

Data collection

I'm sure most kids will be just fine in spite of all the new technology but...

I never had kids so I do wonder how they are coping with so many distractions.

When I was 13, TV was the only "tech" I had access to.

My parents maintained a schedule for viewing, there were only 5 channels with very mild content.

I ended up reading for entertainment.

I QUIT: Mozilla's anti-gay-marriage Brendan Eich leaps out of door

Message for Mozilla users acessing OkCupid?

From the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26868536

Mozilla users acessing OkCupid....

"Hello there, Mozilla Firefox user. Pardon this interruption of your OkCupid experience.

"Mozilla's new CEO, Brendan Eich, is an opponent of equal rights for gay couples. We would therefore prefer that our users not use Mozilla software to access OkCupid."

If this is true...?

What do you think of Brendan now?

iFrame attack injects code via PNGs

NoScript

>>It's another example of why JavaScript was always such a stupid idea.

>>disable javascript in your browser!

Why not by default? I rely on NoScript.

It is good for thwarting attacks like this and even better... it gives me some control over the annoying video and audio files found in many web pages.

How the NSA hacks PCs, phones, routers, hard disks 'at speed of light': Spy tech catalog leaks

The focus of attention.

Religious beliefs, political affiliations and disputes will always draw someones attention.

It is disturbing to hear of the ease with which an interested party can collect, use or expose my details

John McAfee punted from Portland party pad

McAfee in Canada?

Ontario? Hanging with Rob Ford?

John Kerry bombshell: 'Yes, the NSA... reached TOO FAR, inappropriately'

What other possible outcome

Is anybody really surprised?

I doubt it, I think we all know what to expect when we're using modern conveniences like cell phones and the internet.

Such easy targets and people will always abuse access in the quest to know what other are "up to".

Today I'm not too worried about what they're collecting about me on a day to day basis for "security".

I'm not planning anything that needs to be kept secret.

But... I am terrified by the idea of massive data collection and retention over long periods.

I expect multiple cases of misuse to be exposed in our future.

In a meeting with a woman? For pity's sake don't read this

Children with gadgets

At university gadgets are universally frowned upon.

I don't know why meetings should be different.

Although I know that people like to bluff and play act in meetings a lot.

Isn't it fun to say "Excuse me, I must take this call..."?

I suppose it adds a temporary boost to one's sense of self and importance.

Kind of like this post too... uhhh

Are you for reel? How the Compact Cassette struck a chord for millions

personal and portable

I belong to that generation who considered a cassette collection essential.

Much of my teenage activity revolved around portable music systems.

It was the first technology to provide access to "my" music at any time or location.

Sometimes I am still a little overwhelmed by the idea of converting events into objects.

Microsoft waves goodbye to Small Business Server

Won't miss SBS

I'd be interested in using Linux to fill in.

Anyone know of a Linux mail server that can play well with Outlook?

One small company I know of migrated from SBS to a domain server and Office 365.

I'm not a big fan of Office 365 but it is working for the most part.

And I won't miss SBS.

It seemed like there were continual problems.

To be fair, I didn't have to any faith in the person who originally installed and maintained SBS.

Once he moved on, it seemed to stabilize a bit.

As for Sharepoint, it is one of those things that sounds great but seems like it is hardly ever utilized.

Users I know seem to prefer a simple directory structure they can remember and browse using Windows Explorer

Forget Snowden: What have we learned about the NSA?

"If you aren't doing anything wrong.....now"

What about people who can be connected with questionable activities. Or they become the target of an investigation...... someday in the future?

Heaven help us then. The government has mountains of historical data on file right now.

I'm pretty sure I don't have anything to hide but.... I wouldn't want someone rummaging around in my history.

Prince of Persia: Baggy trousers and curvy swords

I'd rather have the original version of The Legend of Zelda in 2D

I'd still rather have the original version of The Legend of Zelda - in 2D

I have lost interest in most recent games, especially those from the big production houses.

I've really only enjoyed some of the recent indie games.