Posts by The Sprocket

Apple emergency patches fix zero-click iMessage bug used to inject NSO spyware

Re: Truth in Advertising

Hmmmm . . . 15 years later. World has gotten mega-nastier since then.

Ad tech ruined the web – and PDF files are here to save it, allegedly

Re: Flash!

Bwahahaha! Back to the Future.

Re: Adobe

The Mac version of LibreOffice does a fine job of creating PDFs.

Re: Dunning-Kruger

". . . of what could (and often should) be a static page." Agreed 100%

That IS light and responsive. I designed sites like that in the late 90's with Adobe PageMill for 640/800 pages.I loved it!! God, I miss those days.

What Microsoft's Windows 11 will probably look like

Answer—probably. It's Microsoft. *yawn*

Google's FLoC flies into headwinds as internet ad industry braces for instability

Re: It's imperative that the new technology ... allows for legally compliant data-sharing

"You wanna see the cutting edge? Try a casino's surveillance network."

Do you know how much dough casinos put into their surveillance? FAR MORE that what the average retail chain wants to put in—and pay to administer constantly.

Re: It's imperative that the new technology ... allows for legally compliant data-sharing

Hmmmmm . . . not quite. Digital stalking can garner a lot of information about a person to a much greater degree than a security camera ANYWHERE can. Security cameras only capture your face, and may capture your movements within a store. Information that is not captured and stored in a databank like digital stalking can be. Unless you interact with checkout at the brick-and-mortar location, you are still invisible. Use cash at the checkout and you may remain so.

Not really the same comparison.

Report commissioned by Google says Google isn't to blame for the death of print news

This isn't a new story. The handwriting has been on the wall since the late 90's. And the news biz has done precious little except reluctantly getting online, and having their lunch eaten. Well all know that paywalls suck, especially when ALL the content is there. But maybe a selection of 4-8 stories, in an abbreviated form can be accessed? Perhaps the ones the various media outlets promote on social media. Why? It looks like a fair compromise and a 'meeting in the middle'. The rest can be paywalled if one enters from any other place other than a social media channel. Just a thought.

Today I shall explain how dual monitors work using the medium of interpretive dance

Re: Qualifications before being allowed to use a laptop

CORRECT. I've been saying that for eons.

Basics like how to attach a JPEG to email, adjust the size of ones browser window, enlarge or reduce type on a web page, etc, etc, etc.

And upon failing, a simple series of tutorials to remedy the issues. But I can now hear the excuses . . .

"I'm too busy—and besides my kid knows more about that interweb and computers than I do."

The Obvious not being so Obvious even after 20+ years

Mine has been discovering that people STILL (over the last 20 years) have no idea that a web browser in a laptop/desktop environment can be made narrower/smaller by just grabbing the lower right corner and pulling it in. I suspect this has accounted for a large amount of 'why' we ended up with 'responsive design'. (The other reason, of course, would be people's obsession of trying to do everything on a fondlephone)

Apple sent my data to the FBI, says boss of controversial research paper trove Sci-Hub

Re: "You have NO privacy. Get over it"

Ditto.

Pakistan cut off Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram – for just four hours

They could still use Parler and Signal. I trust those operate in that part of the world.

There's no place like GNOME: System 76 introduces COSMIC desktop GUI for its Pop!_OS Linux

Tossers and OS wars. How 1996.

Facebook says dump of 533m accounts is old news. But my date of birth, name, etc haven't changed in years, Zuck

How did you know they wanted your 'real' name? FB has no database that has your email and real name attached. You could seriously called yourself 'I.P. Daily' and gotten away with it. The only problem is your pals wouldn't recognize you.

Re: FraudBook

I remember signing up for Facebook (business purposes) I gave them false info to shut them up. Fake DOB, no phone, and fake location. My name and email is near-everywhere anyhow, but one can't do anything with that. I don't know why people think they have to be so honest with these data slurpers. My Twatter account is even sparser, and fake-ier. LOL!

Ready, at anytime, to pull the plug on the lot of them, frankly.

Apple emits patches for iOS, macOS, Safari, etc to stop dodgy websites hijacking people's gadgets

Thanx for the heads-up. Sorted.

Apple faces app store payments fight in Arizona, Throttlegate suit in Portugal

Naw . . . gave this a second thought after I signed in and realized—I don't give a toss anymore. These two horses are a bloody pulp.

Mozilla Firefox keeps cookies kosher with quarantine scheme, 86s third-party cookies in new browser build

Re: "Google [..] are racing to develop various Privacy Sandbox proposals"

Works for me . . . for now.

Apple slapped with €60m lawsuit from Italian consumer rights org for slowing down CPUs in old iPhones

Really . . .

Various forms of this has been going on in the electronics industry since I remember when getting in around 1993. In those days it was new computer gear released 6 months after you bought yours that was twice as fast and two-thirds the cost. Consumer outrage ensued!!! Lawsuits were rampant, as were the accusations.

Then it was updates of OS's that sucked machine performance that required more ultra-expensive memory that some couldn't (or couldn't afford to) install, or sucked up the puny hard drive space. Follow that with Apple's insistence of changing from '040 to PPC to Intel, and today, to M1. That can sideline perfectly good hardware in a short period of time due to dwindling updates to software for the old system.

While I have lived through it, I can't say I like it, but that's the reality of the electronics world. I applaud the Briggs & Stratton business model, and I know of a few like that in my world outside of digital 'stuff', but I can hardly expect a 1998 Apple G3 Wallstreet to be fully functional, AND serviceable, in today's world. I think this Apple battery thing is really overblown by a lot of folks who haven't yet faced the reality of the electronics world. And I might add, Apple isn't alone in this battery thing.

Would I like to be able to field-strip my MacBook Air (which is pretty easy already) and add in a new M1 chip to continue. You bet I would! Do I think for a second Apple is going to be a stand-up firm and accommodate me? Nope.

That's it. It's over. It's really over. From today, Adobe Flash Player no longer works. We're free. We can just leave

Re: Best thing to happen...

Ditto.

Apple's M1: the fastest and bestest ever silicon = revolution? Nah, there's far more interesting stuff happening in tech that matters to everyone

Indeed they are. Perhaps to the chagrin of some.

I used Macs through the 1990's, 2000's, etc., because I was working in the ad agency world, so postscript was standard. Today, I still use Macs, and I my MacBook Air is smooth. But every now and again, I will fire up my . . . PowerBook 3400c and it runs wonderfully as well (800 x 600). With 16mbs of RAM. Yes, they CAN last a long time.

* Yawwwwn *

Heard this whining in the transition of '040 to PPC to Intel, and now M1. Here we go again.

My M1/Intel Affinity Software updates run smooth as silk.

Apple now Arm'd to the teeth: MacBook Air and Pro, Mac mini to be powered by custom M1 chips rather than Intel

Gawd, I've gone from '040, to PowerPC, to Intel, now this. I'm really tired of the BS that goes along with these transitions. *rolls eyes*

The GOOD NEWS is, that this M1 chip sounds like it can really deliver efficiently, but I wish I knew this was on the horizon about a year and half ago. Looks like some really solid performing new-ish Apple Intel kit of mine could get sidelined prematurely. Bugger!

If you suddenly can't print to your HP Printer from your Mac, you're not alone: Code security cert snafu blamed

Re: Nothing but problems

I'd suggest Canon. I have zero problems, but you may want to check Apple support community to see if others aren't having issues with Canon. Dig around.

https://discussions.apple.com/welcome

Adobe updates Creative Cloud: Pushes out Illustrator for iPad and full sky replacement in Photoshop

Re: Photography plan not expensive

I was replying to someone who looked like they were in need of an option, not someone who is satisfied with Adobe. Good for you.

But I too added up the costs to 'rent' Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign, and if I added up the yearly cost, the entire Affinity suit still cost less as a one-time fee. And small intermittent updates are no-charge. Although my final decision was based on a number of factors, the one-time fee was really a pleasant bonus.

Re: Go away and come back when I can buy it

You could consider Affinity suite of software. Very reasonable and very full-featured. I miss nothing. Just a suggestion. Check it out.

After 24 years of using Adobe software, I moved last year entirely over to the Affinity suite of software. Not interested in Adobe's 'extortion-ware'. Haven't looked back since. No problems. Price was EXTREMELY reasonable too. Wow.

BlackBerry hopes phone flinger Punkt is feeling lucky to be new licensee

Re: Hmm... looking at that phone...

Not similar enough. I have the MP02 (internally advanced MP01) and a working Braun calculator right here, side by side. Close—but no cigar. And if you can live without a fondle-phone, the Punkt MP02 is brilliant.

iOS 14 suffers app preference amnesia: Rebooting an iThing resets browser, email client defaults back to Safari, Mail

Re: All hail the ghost of Jobs

I'd say we 'iRent' just about anything digital, be it Apple branded or not. But since we're talking about the fruit company, over the weekend I spent some serious time with my fully functioning PowerBook 3400 running FA-18 Hornet 2.0 and having a blast. I updated the address book on my 2007 iPod Touch and added two albums. So frankly, I'm not too concerned about the longevity of my 2017 iPad Pro and 13" Macbook Air. They'll live on, and on, and on. My fully functioning 12" G4 PowerBook from 2005 is nodding approvingly from across the room. :-)

Chime after chime: Apple restores iconic Mac boot sound removed in 2016

Yes, I do. I think the first time I heard that was on my 8100/80. At least I think that was the box.

Scared the be-jebus out of me, really. "WTF just happened?" expecting to see smoke.

Face masks hamper the spread of coronavirus. Know what else they hamper? Facial-recognition systems (except China's)

Tempted to go full executioner's hood. Let AI figure that one out.

Mind the airgap: Why nothing focuses the mind like a bit of tech antiquing

Re: I have a few of these babies!

I have to agree. But even if one uses the Powerbook 12" or iBook (as per the article), even simple limitations start to set in. I was noticing this on my last gen of 12" iBook G4.

- No can wirelessly connect to home 5G. I have to use slower option

- No near-current browsers work with it (even TenFourFox is lethargic). Web is OUT.

- Email providers are advancing their connection requirements that are leaving this kit behind.

But if you DON'T need much connectivity, why not? I still use my 12" iBook G4 (late 2005) quite often! And FTP still works a treat!

Talk about a control plane... US Air Force says upcoming B-21 stealth bomber will use Kubernetes

Both.

You, Apple Mac fan. Put down the homemade oat-milk latte, you need to patch a load of security bugs, too

I wouldn't go near iCloud for anything. And I'm a Mac user.

FYI: There are thousands of Chrome extensions with so, so many fake installations to trick you into using them

Use another browser, that's how. I always suggest Firefox.

Photostopped: Adobe Cloud evaporates in mass outage. Hope none of you are on a deadline, eh?

I would have said 'twunt', but I do agree.

This is a form of extortion that guarantees continued cash rolling in. I just prefer the security of the software on my drive.

Re: "people can't use some of its stuff in the cloud nor access their documents"

Yes, agreed. Products that come out of the 'New Age of Stupid' really deserve to fail. This just demonstrates that some businesses are too full of arrogance, and themselves, to do market research—and take it seriously.

Re: "Pinegrow" Thanks for that, I may well take if for a spin...

It depends on your situation. You owe it to yourself to at least check it out. I am finding it, yes different, but once I understand their line of thinking, it is pretty darn simple, and seems to me to be very full-featured to craft up a pro job. I also like the way they do the 'behind the scenes code' options. Really useful. But check it out—it just may not work for you.

Yup. And as an independent designer, I use Affinity too with no problems. Admittedly, things can potentially get murky if you work in a collaborative environment where some are still using Adobe. Thankfully, that isn't my situation.

Re: "Good job Serif!". Harumph...

Pinegrow.

Re: Affinity

Yup. I knew this day would come, so I jumped the Adobe ship too. And I was a loyal, paid, legit user since 1994. I hope arrogant and tone-deaf Adobe likes this. Buh-BYE!

Apple hardware priced so high that no one wants to buy it? It's 1983 all over again

Re: ' by 1998 there was no actual need to buy a mac for DTP. NT4 was excellent'

I remember all that well. During that time I was an Art Director in a mid-sized ad agency here, and had just gotten laid off (merger). This digital revolution hit during my 'time off'. Now headhunters were demanding 'Mac skills'. Typesetters were closing down, photo retouch shops were closing, and now Art Directors were expected to know 3 major pieces of software, be creative genius', be ultra-precise Studio Artists, fully trained photo retouchers, and completely versed in Typesetting — all for about a THIRD less than what I was making previously (which was rather modest). What a wonderful way (sarc) to be introduced to the Mac world.

No matter — I got my reward later, as I started my own Design shop. And I'm still really grateful we've moved past shutting down to just add a SCSI component like a Syquest drive. LOL!

Re: Multi-tasking

Oh brother, does that ever bring back fond memories. Challenging days at times, but still fond. I miss the whole System 7x - 8x 'thing'. Time to crack out my PowerBook 3400 w/8.1 for a flit around, and maybe a game or two. Where did I put that NeXT mouse?

Apple breathes new life into MacBook Air with overhauled 2018 model

Re: Apple takes aim at foot - again...

“Someone tell them a 256Gb SSD is about 50 quid and is really tiny these days

and 8Gb of ram not much more

As for the rest, I dont give a shit how thin or light it is, I just want something reliable that wont cook itself on its battery because the thing can't be removed if it overheats.

Because I really don't want to buy a chromebook”

I’ve been buying various Apple laptops since my first PB 520c in 1995. Sadly, Apple keeps doing the same type of very stupid things you mention. I think it’s all about timing. I bought the last Macbook Air, and yes, retina would have been nice, but the screen is pretty spectacular even without. This MBA runs my pro graphics stuff quite smoothly.

Re: Well it will look so stylish...

I have a PowerBook G4 and an iBook G4 still operating just fine since being bought new in 2006. My previous laptop, a G3 Wallstreet from 1998 died in 2008 after 10 years of rigorous service.

No. As a rule, Macbooks are pretty robust, but there are exceptions.

McAfee says cloud security not as bad as we feared… it's much worse

Having worked in a number of corporate environments during my career, when I heard the ‘Rhodes Scholars’ in management squeal ‘cloud’ with glee around 2006 or so, I just knew this was going to be a disaster. It has been, but nobody wanted to listen. Fortunately, I’m retired, so these bumblefuks can enjoy their nightmare. I personally ‘cloud’ nothing.

WordPress is now 30 per cent of the web, daylight second

Re: Wordpress is NOT a CMS

"Wordpress is biggest piece of shit I ever seen. How people became convinced it was easier to use than HTML is one of the most stunning con jobs I've ever seen."

Wow. That's a very brave statement. Bravo!

As a career Communication Designer, I do agree though, that it is a con job, as it creates a false illusion that 'anyone' can create an effective web presence. True, any monkey can slap in poorly crafted text, a litany of square-cut photos into a common template, but that doesn't make for a well-crafted piece of communication that stands out in a noisy marketplace. Yes . . . WP is a stunning con job indeed.

More ad-versarial tech: Mozilla to pop limited ad blocker into Firefox

Re: Adblocking is stealing

"Adblocking is NOT stealing. Unsolicited advertising hogging my bandwidth IS. The adslingers are soaking up bandwidth I have paid for, without my consent, meaning that I cannot use it for the purposes for which I paid for it. Taking someone else's goods without their consent satisfies every definition of theft that I have ever seen."

Well, the sword cuts both ways. You are right in the sense that it does hog bandwidth without asking permission, and the videos that start loading really drive me nuts as well (What ever happened to opt-in?). But in the cases where sites are funded by advertising (and would/could only exist with the revenue it brings in) the owners feel it needs to exist. It is their prerogative. And it is yours to visit or leave, accordingly. So in a way, using an adblocker on those sites, is stealing their content by way of viewing without their form of 'payment'. Trust me -- I'm not fond of online advertising either, even though I spent 20+ years working in it as a senior creative guy. The last point is, 99.999% advertising is UNSOLICITED, be it magazine, newspaper, television, outdoor, transit, and the list goes on. Block it if you wish (online) as I do, but it STILL is a form of stealing.