Posts by foolonthehill

The Register IBM Bluemix programming challenge: The winner!

I'm surprised only three solved all the test data - could you at least publish some selected test data which caught out the majority? Unless you were using some weird input format cases, I assumed most would spot the "designed-to-catch-you-out" cases (ie question 1 - anything which overflowed an int, question 2 - anything which had a non-"greedy" optimal).

I assumed we'd get to see the test data after - otherwise there's not much incentive to enter. I imagine most didn't expect to win, but were entering for the challenge of spotting your sneaky boundary cases - it's a bit disappointing to be told "most of you failed to pass the test" and then not hear what we failed at! I guess I won't be rushing back for the next one.

Unfair

"fastest ­running programs"

Huh?! The brief was very clearly to run "most efficiently". That doesn't mean "fastest". Why run on a multi-language platform, if anyone writing in a slower language didn't stand a chance?

What about memory use? What about quality/resuability/clarity of code?

None of those problems were particularly processor intensive, so surely speed is largely irrelevant.

(To be fair, I assume mine failed to parse the input anyway!)

Hardbitten NYC cops: Sir, I'm gonna need you to, er, upgrade to iOS 7

Disable Find my iPhone?

Just swipe up from the lock screen and enable Airplane Mode. How is that an improvement in security?

And let's also add the fact that iOS7 adds the highly useful "call any number from the lockscreen" bug too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1Tary_Qoc)

WIN a RockBLOCK Iridium satellite comms module

If we're going to have MILEY, it should surely be:

Manual Improper Location Emergency Yank.

But on the REHAB theme, though we have already seen LOHAN in PLAYBOY, perhaps she would be better if remaining SOBER.

Pulling Lever Activates Yellow-Bellied Overcautious Yank

Spain Ordinanced Balloon Ejection Relay (though of course not quite technically "relaying")

Of course, having already been to REHAB, noone wants to see LOHAN subsequently head off to JAIL:

Just-in-time Abort Instruction Lever

(or perhaps Judicial, as it's been imposed by the Authorities)

Not sure about the final N, but...

KARDASHIAN - Key Activated Remote Detach Apparatus Safely Halting Increased Altitude Now

(or maybe Key Activated Remote Detach Agent Sending Height Interupt Abort Notice.)

Ebuyer on the naughty step for fondleslab promo cock-up

It's not unusual

Ebuyer do this all the time. I regularly see prices on items fluctuate by 50%+ over the course of the 2-3 days, only to settle at the lower price with a "save 50%" tag line.

What are the rules on setting up an external price tracker these days? Have e-tailers managed to illegalise screen-scraper sites yet?

UK cyclists hit by fraud after online purchase at website

oh dear

Just waiting for my new bike to arrive from CRC today.

Guess I'll also be waiting for some extra transactions too then.

Fukushima is a triumph for nuke power: Build more reactors now!

It's a relative thing.

Significantly lifted from http://morgsatlarge.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/why-i-am-not-worried-about-japans-nuclear-reactors/ but at least it's a refreshing change from the suggestions elsewhere that these power stations represent a significant environmental/human threat. Compared to the lack of power/clean water/accessibility parts of Japan will see over the next few weeks, the nuclear impact (currently expected) doesn't even register.

All that aside, the conclusions are entirely premature and you're just asking for trouble by titling it "Fukushima is a triumph for nuke power" and suggesting that they were/are "entirely safe throughout and sustaining only minor damage"

Dim Brits think TARDIS IS REAL

Bad source or bad article?

The only thing worse than a poorly written research report, is an article accepting it without any evidence of critical thought! Having just read the original "news" release from Birmingham Science City (whatever that is), I'd like to see details of how they chose their 3000 participants: based on the ridiculous and vague questions they used, I think I can guess at the quality of their sampling!

"Seven out of ten adults questioned thought it was impossible to move objects with their mind" - I think I'd probably agree. But apparently, that's wrong because technology exists that can "read analogue electrical brainwaves and turn them into digital signals". Huh?

And I'd commend the 30% who agreed that "time travel is actually possible" due to their clearer understanding of relativity! We time travel forward in time without any difficulty, and furthermore, not at a fixed rate - the Discovery astronauts will have travelled forward very slightly in time from our reference frame. And so do you every time you get in a plane.

Nuance Flext9

Swype?

"Swype is only available fitted to certain phones at source" - actually Swype has an just released a (second) beta, which is available to most Android phones...

Adobe (finally) makes it easier to delete Flash cookies

Want to see your entire browsing history?

Try looking here: http://www.adobe.com/go/settmgr_storage_en

I use FF and BetterPrivacy and still had a worryingly long list of visited sites...

Chrome

I think you'll find that Chrome comes with Flash built-in - you can't avoid installing Flash and therefore "Flash cookies" on Chrome (though you can disable them completely). Try FF and BetterPrivacy.

MYSTERY of vanished PARIS spaceplane, playmonaut

Medals, a knighthood, a book deal

Book in the ticker tape parade; Clear the chat-show schedules: The hero is coming home!

"Vulture 1 recovered intact. Completely intact. Playmonaut safe and sound." (from twitter)

A pint in recognition of his achievements.

Paris Perdu

Tim, the tracker for Vulture 1 (G6UIM-12 the one with a plane icon) is still showing the last location transmitted yesterday morning; it has not sent any updates today.

Has anyone on the PARIS away team owned up to forgetting to turn it on, perhaps? And is there any other way of finding it?