* Posts by sandman

653 publicly visible posts • joined 8 Jul 2009

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Google snubs Chinese Android developers

sandman

Put pressure on?

Quite frankly I don't think any major nation state should really give a rats about what Google thinks.

Company A - "We are going to show our annoyance by not having a conference".

Nation State - "Oooh, scary".

Company A - "And we're not going to release a couple of handsets which run on open source software"

Nation State - "OK, our manufacturers can knock up some of their own - oh, and by the way, our non-attributable crackers said that all your source code are belong us".

Company A - "We'll take away our search engine".

Nation State - "OK, we've got a good one of our own".

Company A - "The internet community won't like you!"

Nation State - "How many regiments does Brin have?" (With apologies to Joseph Stalin).

iPhone: The OS with big aspirations

sandman

Mere child

Perhaps because Linux didn't really exist when we first went on the net?

Google digs 6-foot hole for Gears

sandman

Ooops

Damn, I blinked and missed its entire existence.

Mixed messages for UK small biz

sandman
Thumb Up

Better for some of us

We've noticed a considerable improvement this year, orders are up, business activity in general is good and we've even recruited a few new bods (well, there were quite a few laid off last year). Oh, and we are a software company, not insolvency lawers.

Opera cuts cord on first open-source baby

sandman

Goes with the TV

Probably works like the TV in some cars, only works when you're stationary. I'm told this makes traffic jams a bit more bearable. I've seen this in a BMW M6, uses the same screen as the sat nav. So, if you have more money than sense, I'd go for it ;-)

Kipping at your desk is highly productive, say boffins

sandman

More productive?

Did they research the bit where you're nodding off and typing garbage first?

Google and Yahoo! join Oz protests

sandman

Confused

What about if you don't like Conroy but aren't that fond of rug rats either?

Google co-founder: Maybe we'll stay in China after all

sandman

Impossible

It really is impossible to be TOO cynical.

Avatar whups Confucius's sorry ass

sandman

Re: wait for Confucius II

Damn, I thought you were a genuine Hollywood script writer - that seems far too close to a likely movie plot...

Air Marshal: RAF may not have to be disbanded

sandman

Air Superiority

While the war we are fighting at the moment don't seem to require much in the way of a strategic airforce, there is still a big tactical requirement. Now, this function could be absorbed into an "army airforce" with some ease and may even have benefits from a command and control point of view.

However, in a war such as the first Gulf War there was a requirement for strategic bombing, gaining local air superiorty, etc. This is really the function of a conventional airforce, as is long range defence of UK airspace (although you could argue that this is coastal defence and perhaps the navy could do it)...

As always, we don't know what threats we might be facing 10/20 years down the road, roughly the time it takes to design and build a new military aircraft, so perhaps better safe than sorry?

It might also be worth noting that although the new generation of drones are pretty good, they are being used in a theatre where we have total air superiority and wouldn't be much use in a contested air environment.

Apple vs the iPad Bedwetters

sandman
Alert

No real threat

The furore surrounding the iPad is getting beyond silly. (Best summed up by Steve Bell's cartoons in the Guardian). Neither the iPad, nor indeed Apple, pose any real threat to the internet.

It could however be lethal in the hands of phone throwing celebrities, so perhaps should be banned on health and safety grounds?

Adobe heats up iPad Flash bash

sandman
Thumb Down

Meh

Can't take the iPad seriously with no Flash support. We need it for everything gem software simulations to animation. There are some alternatives but not as suitable for rapid development.

Italians salute Mussolini on the iPhone

sandman

psst...

I think they would rather you forgot that "unfortunate" lapse in taste. Mind you, looking at the Mail it seems their ideas haven't changed that much since the 1930s.

sandman

It's History

Now, I really (with added emphasis) don't like Fascism, but Mussolini's speeches are of genuine historical interest. The guy can't simply be airbrushed out of history (he was machine-gunned out and hung upside down in a garage, along with his mistress Clara Petacci). Sure, some fascists will play his speeches on their phones and get a warm, fuzzy glow, but historical documents can be used or abused for all sorts of purposes. (Anyone interested in a slightly dodgy dossier?)

Confirmed: no iPad iBooks for Blighty

sandman

Paper is still useful

As someone who has done a lot of research it can indeed be easier to use paper stuff. Let's say I'm doing some historical research. I probably won't be carrying a lot of books, I'm going to be heading for a big library or a major archive. Here I'll grab a big table and get the books, papers, etc that I require. I can have them all open at the same time, track events, compare/contrast,etc. This is sort of hard to do on any form of reader. Oh, I'll also be at it for days or weeks at a time, so I really don't need the eyestrain a backlit screen is going to cause. I'll probably make my notes using a writing stick on more dead trees as well.

Then I'll write it all up one of the new fangled Babbage engines and publish on more dead trees and the web.

Next from Apple: The Pocket iPad

sandman

Not just the tech articles

The mainstream press seem to have been just as obsessed, two whole pages in the Guardian this morning - the first two inside pages. It did strike me that there are a few more important things happening in the world than the release of a niche product by a technology company but my knowledge of what is importnat to the media is obviously defective. Must drink more kool aid.

South African Police reveal Apple tablet photos

sandman

Right form factor

At least these tablets will fit in your pocket.

Got any salmon?

Aurora-style attacks swiped oil find data from energy giants

sandman
Thumb Up

Good analysis

Could well be true - with the added bonus that the Chinese Govt would get the blame. (Please note, this isn't to say it wasn't the Chinese, but there is no concrete evidence either way). It's all getting a bit Gibsonesque out there.

China swings at Clinton as Schmidt fudges exit plan

sandman

Remember Kent State

"It's fine to do *some* business with a country that runs over students with tanks?"

Not at all the same as doing business with a country where National Guardsmen shoot students?

sandman

Remember Kent State

"It's fine to do *some* business with a country that runs over students with tanks?" Would that be the same as doing business with a country where it's OK for National Guardmen to shoot students?

Vomit cannon to protect vessels from pirates, paparazzi

sandman

On the same theme

On the Tudor gun theme, you could also produce a "bastard culverin" to fire at people you really didn't like.

Google ices Android launches in China

sandman

Do Less Evil

Most private companies (barring some defence contractors) are unlikely to imprison, kill, torture or deport you for dissent so you could argue that tracking is less evil if done by a private company. Unless of course they have an agreement with a government to supply the information or the information is obtained from them by interception, hacking or subterfuge.

Lightning catches up with Thunderbird

sandman
Troll

Doesn't matter

Let's face it, people who use Thunderbird are rarely important enough in an organisation to need to calendar meetings. Ever seen a senior executive use anything other than Outlook?

Software fraudster 'fooled CIA' into terror alert

sandman

French Intelligence

I have a feeling that at least the technical branches of French Intelligence are pretty good. One of my ex-students went that way and he was technically awesome. I'll never forget the look on the face of the IT security expert for a major jewellers when this guy broke into his system in under 2 minutes :-)

It might also be worth remembering that the French do have extensive contacts in Lebanon and Syria for historical reasons.

US bests UK in iTunes Xmas giftiness

sandman

Bah Humbug!

What an appalling collection of dross - ooh, love the Apple counter-culture song collection (sarcasm alert). I don't usually look gift horses in the mouth, but none of that lot is cluttering up my iPhone/iPod.

RAF's new military airlifter finally lumbers into the air

sandman

Always friends?

From a purely political/military point of view it makes sense to develop your own capabilities. There are no eternal alliances in poitics and today's friends can be tomorrows enemies (well, at least neutrals). I seem to remember not all the US administration being entirely in favour of us retaking the Falklands (Malvinas for any Argentinian readers).

Video surfaces of alleged Apple tablet

sandman
Thumb Down

Count me out

Whether real or fake the form factor is wrong for me, it's simply too large. If Apple produce something about the same size as the Sony Pocket Reader I'd be sorely tempted, but my netbook is the size of the demo model, complete with a real keyboard and an acceptable(ish) Linux OS.

PGP disk encrypt approved by MoD for military use

sandman

Connection problems

I can envisage a number of scenarios where you might want to access restricted documents but not be able to connect to a server. Shall we start with something mundane like looking up vehicle or weapon repair details somewhere in the field. We might go on to looking at pictures of suspects in a hide somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Then of course there is the scenario where there are no servers left to access, but I think that's called a "worse case scenario".

Accused phone thief snared after phone sends pic to victim

sandman

Spoiler

Now, I know it might spoil your collective fun to have access to some actual statistics on US gun deaths, but for anyone who's interested: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNSTAT.html

UK mulls extension of McKinnon judicial review period

sandman
Thumb Down

Unfair to the spineless

I do think it's unfair to call Alan Johnson "spineless". This is an insult to all invertebrates. If Giant Squid had lawyers they would sue.

Google: We avoid hiring too many smart people...

sandman
Happy

Fellow Travellers

"it's important that we not hire these guys. It's better for the ecosystem to have an honest industry, as opposed to aggregating all this talent at Google.'"

During the Cold War the terms for ideologically motivated Communist sympathisers in the West ranged from "fellow travellers" to "useful fools".

I'm obviously not making in any comparison between Google and the Soviet Union, no, definitely not your honour.

MPs slap ICO for bad language

sandman
Alert

First stone?

The acronym addicted, jargon spewing IT world hasn't much of a leg to stand on either.

Johnson refuses to intervene in McKinnon extradition

sandman

With you

This is one of the final straws - I'll be handing in my party membership if Johnson becomes leader.

sandman
Thumb Down

Disgusting

Never did like Alan Johnson and really loath him now. A Minister of State doesn't have the discretion to block an extradition? In that case what are they for?

Atlantis glides home with choked pee nozzle

sandman
Happy

Intergalactic Laxative

To quote Dononvan...

I was amazed like everyone when man began to fly

out of earthly regions to planets in the sky

My romantic vision shattered when it was explained to me

Spacemen all wear diapers in which they shit and pee...

Firefox millions - now only 9 per cent Google free

sandman

Sensible alliance

It may seem like heresy but an alliance between Microsoft/Yahoo and Firefox might make sense if Google looks like getting too dominant. It's not really in anyone's interest to see a single company dominating the web, that would possibly be worse than one doing the same on the desktop. Also, the idea that Firefox would use Bing as it's default browser would have a touch ironic.

Libel reform campaigners seek £10k damages cap

sandman

Never happen

Too much common sense and too little consideration for the easily hurt feelings of poor libel lawyers (no defamation intended your honour).

WarMouse pushes gamers' buttons with OOMouse

sandman
Thumb Down

RSI Special

Why in the name of Satan and all his little imps (TM Blackadder) would I want a mouse with almost as many buttons as a keyboard? That really looks like an RSI special - you should be giving your mouse hand a break, not making even more tiny repetitive motions. Interesting opposing viewpoints though, an Apple mouse with 0 buttons (at least visually) and that thing with a lot. Think I'll stick to a penpad.

Early adopters bloodied by Ubuntu's Karmic Koala

sandman

@HollyHopDrive

Actually, Windows users have plenty of time to smoke whatever takes their fancy while watching the Linux users struggle to install their funny little animals. Some may even use the paperclip to hold a roach.

Big business bullies EU into open source U-turn

sandman

Irony?

Did anyone else see the irony in having an MS Exchange Server whitepaper ad at the bottom of that article?

Top drug boffin renews criticism of cannabis policy

sandman
FAIL

Not a shock

Governments of any hue (yes, for the children out there, once upon a time we had Conservative governments) only indulge in evidence-based policy under certain conditions.

1. The advice they are given supports their political or personal prejudices

2. The advice supports the line taken by certain tabloids and their editors and proprietors

3. It doesn't upset the a powerful ally (for the Brits that's usually the USA)

If these criteria are not met you could give the best researched, most cogent advice in the history of history itself and it would still be ignored, nay, denigrated even.

Ubuntu's Karmic Koala bares fangs at Windows 7

sandman
Linux

Linux Aussie Haters?

"Given its stability, most Linux users tend to just leave the system running indefinitely..."

OK, so Linux users are major contributors to the global warming which will force Australians to flee their beach properties. QED, Linux users hate Australians. Oh, and since global warming will trash the Antartic sea ice, they will also wipe out their cute little bird mascot - the bastards!

Note for literalists: Yes, I know that global warming is a slightly contentious issue here, but the above is meant as a weak attempt at humour. Mind you, their electricity bills shouldn't be that funny. Still need an evil Penguin icon (and an evil Google one).

Firefox nabs 30 million users in eight weeks

sandman
WTF?

@Nigel 11

I love it when Linux users get all uppity and threaten to take their service to another company because the corporate website won't play with their browser/OS combi. Since under 1% of us use Linux on the desktop, that makes us a rounding error for any corporate. There's a much higher percentage of disgruntled Firefox on Windows users, and that may have some effect on web development (eventually).

Yahoo! nukes GeoCities

sandman

@Matt 89 @Cliff

I'm having an "I am Spartacus" moment here as well!

Musos demand Guantanamo Bay playlist

sandman

Track I'd least like to be tortured with?

I vote for "The Laughing Gnome" or possibly "Grandad". If you don't know them, look em up and experience true horror.

Atheists smite online God poll

sandman

No sting involved

Perhaps it's just that us non-believers are over-represented on the web. Let's face it, in this country many Christians are even older than myself and may not be totally in tune with these new-fangled Babbage machines.

Aussie atheists knocked offline

sandman

No one expects...

Has the Spanish Inquisition updated its methodologies?

WTF is this country called America?

sandman

God Bless America?

On present evidence I think he/she sort of forgot to!

Raytheon unveils Linux 'Insider Threat' rooter-out routers

sandman
Linux

New icon please?

Can we have an evil Penguin icon now?

Google apes Microsoft's Twitter pact in real-time

sandman
Happy

It's the end of the world as we know it...

This answers the old question for once and for all, there is a God and she hates us.

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