Posts by Test Man

Static electricity can be shockingly funny, but the joke's over when a rack goes dark

Re: This comes of being agile

Very good

EU: These are scary times – let's backdoor encryption!

Re: EEC

*grew

Microsoft's many Outlooks are confusing users – including its own employees

Re: Point of pedantry

Yeah I remember all of this. In fact to me Outlook 97 looked like it was based on Mail and Schedule+.

After a long lunch, user thought a cursor meant their computer was cactus

Re: Follow these simple instructions...

"unfolded it" LOLOLOL *facepalm*

The Automattic vs WP Engine WordPress wars are getting really annoying

Mullenweg is weird. In short, he complained that WP Engine forked their WordPress.org open source software, so then goes and forks their plugin.

Is he on something?

When old Microsoft codenames crop up in curious places

Re: It isn't like they didn't have obvious options

No, it's way too close to the "WindowsNT" identifier. When it comes to coding, it's far more advantageous for many reasons to use completely distinct names, it'll lessen the risk of misidentifying for one.

Coder wrote a bug so bad security guards wanted a word when he arrived at work

Dunno why this reminds me of Superman III...

Badass Russian techie outsmarts FSB, flees Putinland all while being tracked with spyware

Re: "Always keep a second passport"

Someone's already commented but some countries DO allow multiple passports to the same person. This is separate from having multiple citizenship that qualifies you for multiple passports from multiple countries. In other words, a one-to-many relationship.

Re: "Always keep a second passport"

Ha, that sounds familar! :D

Asda hits the brakes on tech tweaks to avoid festive fiasco

I think there are supply issues with some stores due to a recent distribution system issue that's caught a few other big supermarkets too. So probably nothing to do with this at all.

Certainly round my local store strawberries and other odd items have been in very short supply.

Supply chain management vendor Blue Yonder succumbs to ransomware

So this is why I can't get strawberries in Tesco and Sainsbury's, and why my local Morrisons is looking a bit bare.

iOS 18 added secret and smart security feature that reboots iThings after three days

Re: So all you have to do to bypass is use the phone once a day?

No, you have to UNLOCK it before 3 days has elapsed.

So the feature is useful.

Windows 95 setup was three programs in a trench coat, Microsoft vet reveals

I don't know if this applies to the "Upgrade" disc. I distinctly remember back in uni I had to install MS DOS and then Windows 3.1x (3.11) before I could install Windows 95 as I had an upgrade disc that wouldn't install Windows 95 if Windows 3.1x wasn't on the HDD already.

Although thinking about it, I vaguely remember a Windows Setup programme that was an "Upgrade" disc that was fine installing on a blank HDD if you at least "proved" that you have a previous version of Windows (the proof was by inserting the floppy disk or CD of the previous version so that it could check). Did the Windows 95 Upgrade disc work like this? I can't remember for sure.

Hide the keyboard – it's the only way to keep this software running

Why hasn't anyone mentioned and castigated the bloke who threw their lunchbox at the keyboard repeatedly every day at the same time? He's the culprit! He shouldn't be slinging anything around this sort of equipment!

Windows 11 24H2 hoards 8.63 GB of junk you can't delete

Calm down, it's merely a reporting error.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24H2#disk-cleanup-might-incorrectly-report-space-available-for-cleanup

Elon Musk's X mashed by Australian court for evading child protection reporting

X is dumb for trying that one. It's the same company legally, something that they can't wave away with a name change or the act of another entity buying the company.

Windows 11 user hurt by the KB5043145 update? Microsoft offers a way out

Re: Unfortunately...

Finally, someone with a sensible comment.

Desktop hypervisors are like buses: None for ages, then four at once

Re: Hyper-V Type1

There is a need if you want to use an older version of Windows such as 7 or older. IIRC HyperV won't let you install an older version of Windows.

Woman uses AirTags to nab alleged parcel-pinching scum

Re: Interesting timing

They go live on different dates for different people, there isn't a set launch date.

For instance, mine went live last week.

Deadbeat dad faked his own death by hacking government databases

Re: Yeahbut

Ah, Wargames!

:D

School gets an F for using facial recognition on kids in canteen

The question here should always be: "what actual issue are you trying to fix here with this new system?". If there isn't any substantial reasons, then it should be killed there and then.

In respect to this, we can go back and forth over how good this system is, or the risks (of hacks), but at the end of the day, if there isn't any real reason for implementing it, then it's pointless.

I didn't touch a thing – just some cables and a monitor – and my computer broke

Re: IT Crowd

Philips HQ in Croydon? That massive building in West Croydon going towards Mayday Hospital? Long gone IIRC - Philips I mean, the building is still there but it's now a massive block of flats.

Giving Windows total recall of everything a user does is a privacy minefield

Taking aside the fact that BitLocker will only come into play on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise devices – everyone else must make do with "data encryption"

It's all BitLocker, even on Home. The only difference is that on Home it's "feature-limited" which they name something else, while the full-featured-with-lots-of-options feature on other editions is called BitLocker.

Functionally speaking, it's the same encryption and therefore absolutely no difference in this context.

BT delays deadline for digital landline switch off date

And that's not to mention that most people have cordless phones... which don't work in a power cut anyway, PSTN or no PSTN.

Specifically, this only affects people with corded phones or other equipment that gets its power from the phone line.

Apple says if you want to ship your own iOS browser engine in EU, you need to be there

Re: matter of time

It's trivial for an organisation of Apple's size. Right now they have to go through a ton of very different regulations that apply to specific regions and countries just to sell the "same" device (which technically speaking aren't actually exactly the same due to said differing regulations). Having to maintain separate code bases is nothing.

Microsoft really does not want Windows 11 running on ancient PCs

Re: Alternative

"forcing the ribbon interface"

what, 17 years ago?

In-app browsers are still a privacy, security, and choice problem

For me the absolute reason why I hate these in-app browsers is because they do not contribute to my History list, so I don't know whether I visited particular sites, nor do they allow me to utilise my existing autofill texts.

I really hate Facebook, Instagram and Threads' in-app browsers, and being forced to use them. There is only one reason they are utilising it - in order to more easily see what people are clicking on.

Microsoft sends OneDrive URL upload feature to the cloud graveyard

Re: This .ru site has a solution

.ru site

"they promise"

No thanks.

Meta says risk of account theft after phone number recycling isn't its problem to solve

This is a Meta issue whether they like it or not. It's been well known right from when mobiles started to become popular in the 80s and 90s that numbers get recycled in much the same way that landlines do, yet companies like Meta use them for identification without coming up with a solution for number recycling. It is they who need to find a solution, not telecoms companies.

At last: The BBC Micro you always wanted, in Mastodon form

Re: I still have the real thing

I had a BBC Master 128. I don't know anyone who had the variations (512, Scientific, Compact).

New cars bought in the UK must be zero emission by 2035 – it's the law

Re: Think of the Grid!

Yes of course, e.g. in my area there's 40MPH signs for roads. Basically you don't sign roads "30MPH" if they are the National Speed Limit anyway.

Also the comment re "painting over 20MPH signs" - doesn't sound illogical at all.

Re: Think of the Grid!

Yep, all of this.

I read *UNSIGNED* as "National Speed Limit", because different class of vehicles have different limits, although *currently* it's 30MPH across all classes for vehicles in built-up areas (apart from Wales, where it's 20MPH).

See here - https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Epic decision sees jury find Google's Play store is illegal monopoly

Re: confused

I think it's not because there are other app stores, it's that Google have selectively allowed these app stores by way of payment, which means unless you are a massive company like Samsung you are not going to be able to launch an app store on Android, or launch your app on another app store without contravening Google's Android agreements.

Microsoft to kill off third-party printer drivers in Windows

Re: Confused

Not a ban, as said within artlce it just means they won't be distributed via Windows Update

China reportedly bans iPhones from more government offices

Why iPhones and not all phones?

Microsoft still prohibits Google or Alibaba from running O365 Windows Apps

Nope. Nothing stopping you from using an alternative suite.

It's clearly a business decision to get you to use a setup Microsoft likes. Whether as a business you need to, is completely up to the business.

Amazing you haven't heard of FAST or the numerous similar licensing organisations who will readily take your business to court for non-compliance.

Netflix flinging out DVDs like frisbees as night comes for legacy business

Re: bizarre state of affairs

Ha yeah, I remember when DVDs started to become a thing, and the likes of Warner Bros would put out bare minimum on their DVDs in order to fill the shelves. I still have Passenger 57 - a DVD with just the movie (at "acceptable" quality), and a static menu, nothing else.

Cruise self-driving taxi gets wheels stuck in wet cement

Re: Well...

Yeah I would have presumed that the majority of the operations of the self-driving features would be done on-board, and therefore any bandwidth issues would merely stop real-time reporting back to the mothership, or the ability to cope with more advanced driving (and still leave it with the capability to drive around at least).

Hacking a Foosball table scored an own goal for naughty engineers

Re: Blank coins

Has anyone ever tried to freeze water into coin shape and use them? Would be the perfect "crime", the evidence left would be a few wet patches.

This sounds really REALLY familiar... as in tapping the switch in the headrest at a quick enough rate so that the phone didn't hang up the line but registered a "pulse"... which sometimes would get round the need to put a coin in first.

Quirky QWERTY killed a password in Paris

Imagine going to France and thinking that a QUERTY keyboard was sufficient for the French.

LOL

Shocks from a hairy jumper crashed a PC, but the boss wouldn't believe it

Same here! Well, I was at uni where it was full of Sun workstations.... with that mat.

PC component scavenging queue jumper pulled into line with a screensaver

"This was in the days when Windows 2000 was our OS of choice because XP looked a bit too colorful,"

Did they forget that Windows XP had a "Classic" theme option?

Microsoft debuts Windows 11 2022 Update – now with features added monthly

Re: The best update?

LOL "SP5" for Windows 98SE

No, Apple, you may not sell iPhones without chargers

Re: The rest

My last one didn't - Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Re: The rest

There's these things called shops, and they sell multiple things, one of which are chargers.

Was solved decades ago. So you don't have a problem in that regard.

Former Microsoft UX boss doesn't like the Windows 11 Start menu either

Re: Windows 11 early adopter…

>I just wish that Office kept a standard file save dialog rather than their cluttered complicated cloud-first design, but that could just be the muscle memory talking.

It's still in there, but buried. IIRC you may be able to set it as default again.

Hive to pull the plug on smart home gadgets by 2025

Re: Thanks for the money but your stuffed.

Nah, 3 years is nothing for these sort of tech. They are not mobiles, no one replaces doorbells or cameras every 3 years, they should last 10+ years.

Legacy IT to blame for UK's inflexible benefits system

Re: My BS-o-meter just shot off the scale

"The DWP staff would sometimes ask me to fix multiple problems, and I'd decline. "The first one is free, the second one is £50 cash in hand - and don't tell the Dole". One time one of the managers agreed to that even though I'd just been joking. Paid me out of their pocket. Took an afternoon but worth it for the story."

This is the most amazing set of sentences out of an amazing story!