Posts by localgeek

More than half of Americans now view AI negatively

Jobs won't be our top concern if these data centers continue to ravage our planet by using up precious resources.

Windows 11 movable taskbar edges closer to general release

Re: Progress I guess?

It's been said before, but I use everything.exe when I actually want to find files and not get random online suggestions. It's one of the first utilities I install on a new Windows build.

This one time, at Hacker Summer Camp …

Not a word

About the ethics of using a planet-destroying plagiarism machine to "stay relevant"?

Microsoft says 8 GB of RAM should be enough for anyone running Windows 11

Same hardware, no comparison

I'm forced to support Windows in my everyday job, and have no illusions that the current memory shortage will lead to 2026 or 2027 heralding the year of Linux on the desktop (although I've seen hints of growing usage in recent surveys).

Not long ago, I bought a refurbished Dell Optiplex 3060 Micro PC (Intel Core i3-8100T, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD). Upon liberating it from Windows, I installed Linux Mint. Under Linux, that little machine is perfectly snappy. Because reasons, I temporarily installed Windows 11 Pro back on it, along with all the available firmware and driver updates. I also did the usual ShutUp10 cleanse to eliminate all the cruft. Even with those measures, the machine was significantly slower and laggy. There was a noticeable delay in just right-clicking the desktop, whereas Linux jumps to attention.

If Microsoft chose to do so, I have no doubt they could optimize Windows 11 to run more efficiently on modest hardware. But they would have to trim more fat to properly address the issues than I suspect they're willing to do.

AI music platform Suno hits bum note as 55M users exposed in data breach, claims infosec expert

Re: People paid for that?

I buy the recordings of artists whose work I enjoy.

People paid for that?

I'm a little taken aback at the idea that 55 million users ponied up their hard-earned cash for musical AI slop. I don't want to hear that plagiarized garbage for free, and I'm happy to give my money to real artists making an honest living.

Former Microsoft engineer shrinks Notepad down to size

Re: EDLIN fan responds

I remember edlin from my very earliest days using DOS. But, as Billy Joel sang, the good old days weren't always good.

'Resistance is futile,' says Qualcomm CEO. AI agents will be become invisible, inescapable, follow you across devices

GrapheneOS and Linux

How does Amon imagine the pending assimilation of outliers like me who run alternative OS's on their phones and personal computers?

Folk are getting dangerously attached to AI that always tells them they're right

Re: AI

The lowest scores being assigned to those who use it.

Windows 95 was too fat to install itself so needed help from the slimmer 3.1

Re: Nothing ever changes

1999 called, and would like its dated Linux commentary back.

The biggest issue holding people back from using Linux today is application compatibility. Linux Mint, for example, is a highly polished and stable platform. Installation is done via a GUI, with hardware detection being flawless in most cases (certainly no worse than Windows 11).

Junk is the new punk: Why we're falling back in love with retro tech

I bought a Mitsubishi Mirage last fall, and that exact behavior drove me to distraction. I despise when devices do things I didn't expressly request.

If I'd last left the stereo set to Bluetooth, about 20-30 seconds after starting the car it would start blaring whatever music or podcast I'd been listening to on my phone. It didn't matter if I'd powered the stereo off before turning off the engine. I even checked with the stereo manufacturer (Alpine), and they confirmed there was no way to disable that behavior. The only workaround I found was to turn the volume way down so at least I wouldn't hear it.

In the end, I found a way to prevent the stereo from automatically turning on: I replaced the pricey head unit with an aftermarket JVC stereo. It stays off when powered off. Fortunately, nothing in the cars control functions required the touch screen. I did lose the backup camera (never had one in almost 4 decades of driving, so no loss there), and steering wheel stereo controls don't function. In return, I gained peace of mind. Plus, the stereo sounds great, especially with the Kenwood Excelon door speakers I installed to replace the wimpy OEM cone speakers.

Microsoft CEO feels weighed down by job cuts

It's almost like AI isn't positioned to improve the lives of those 8 billion people.

AIs have a favorite number, and it's not 42

You beat me to the Weird Al reference. :)

Attackers pwn charter airline helping Trump's deportation campaign

I can't get past the fact that your factual statement managed to generate 3 down votes. The irrational hatred on the far right for anyone who doesn't look like them, or speak the same language, reveals the failure of our educational system — to say nothing of their lack of humanity.

Windows profanity filter finally gets a ******* off switch

You have won the internet today, sir or madame. :)

Windows isn't an OS, it's a bad habit that wants to become an addiction

Re: Losing text

Another simple workaround is to first compose it in something like Notepad++. Then copy and paste your text into the browser when you've finished massaging it. If your browser or the server glitches when you submit the form, you can easily recover. I generally follow this approach for any online form that requires more than a sentence or two.

Microsoft hits Ctrl-Z after Teams trips over file sharing

Maybe Microsoft should consider — oh, I don't know — giving users the capability of sending actual file attachments in Teams, rather than making them inline shared files with all the attendant permissions problems they create?

This could be just a me problem, but trying to open shared documents in Teams using multiple user accounts (one privileged) via Firefox results in being denied access because FF guessed at the wrong user profile to access from that tab. I end up having to open a private browsing window, then copying and pasting the Teams document link into a new session so I can force the right account. It's a multi-step process to open some file that may or may not be important.

Privacy died last century, the only way to go is off-grid

Re: Horse has bolted, burn the barn

Thinking about your data as one horse is the wrong way to approach it, I think. Imagine instead that you have a barn filled with multiple stalls containing multiple horses. If one horse escapes, you wouldn't leave the door open so all the rest can also run away. If you have just one horse, it's likely you'll replace the animal - in which case you may take extra preventative measures to protect from future loss. Implement a mantrap (horsetrap) as a security tool, add surveillance measures to keep a close eye on the livestock, etc.

Protecting against stolen data should be looked at as an ongoing fight. Someone may steal all of your data today, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from those failures and take reasonable measures to prevent further incursions. It's not a zero sum game.

Glitchy taxi tech blew cover on steamy dispatch dalliance

Re: The order of the events sounds a bit odd

It's probable she realized that she'd already been busted, and was being graciously extended the opportunity to put a stop to it.

I worked as a hotel desk clerk years ago for a large chain. The computer that received reservations allowed for direct communication with other hotels, so desk clerks could exchange information about vacancies, guest questions, etc. The tech setting it up warned us about a case of clerks at different locations exchanging some steamy thoughts between sites. Unfortunately for them, they didn't realize that all of those "private" chats were logged.

Re: Hilarious

You'd think that would be the case. Years ago, I noticed one of our older users always turned the mouse around. I can't recall having a specific conversation with her about it, but she had learned early on to operate a mouse upside down and it didn't appear to impact her health of productivity. She used the heel of her hand to select a button. I just got used to turning it around to the proper orientation whenever I needed to do something at her workstation.

This was before scroll wheels became commonplace, so I don't know how she would have adapted to that.

Acer signals 10% laptop price hike in US, blames Trump's extra China tariff

What you've stated is so manifestly true, I'm genuinely surprised that someone could downvote it.

Ignorance really is bliss when you’re drowning in information

Re: @Richard 12 - "Don't feed the troll"

I don't see value in cynically dismissing the very notion of a fact checker. If there are facts to be discovered about specific claims, it makes sense to have people documenting them. As for who they are and who "appointed" them, the answers are wide-ranging. What they are not is a priestly class claiming to have Gnostic insight into realities us mortals can't begin to comprehend. That is the role of the conspiracy theory peddler who despises facts, and who would throw cold water on any criticism of their pet theories. Those are the gullible ones.

No, a fact checker is anyone who takes the time to research claims using well-documented and generally trustworthy sources. If you begin by presupposing that any factual claims that disagree with your pet theories are wrong, then there's little that can be done to change your mind. On the other hand, if you're willing to look at a range of unrelated sources that all align on key claims about a topic, then there is a much higher chance that the claims being made are factual.

Fact checkers aren't infallible, but any fact checker worth their salt is going to present multiple evidences that can be verified and taken into consideration. Better to have imperfect fact checkers than to be blinded by confirmation bias.

Why users still couldn't care less about Windows 11

Re: Elaborate?

There's more than one tool out there, but the best one I've found for the purpose is ShutUp10. It lets you disable a long list of unwanted "features," including telemetry. It's the first thing I install on any new Windows build.

Windows 10's demise nears, but Linux is forever

Re: I don't run an OS, I run applications...

No argument from here on the very real issues preventing people from migrating fully to Linux. I mentioned some of my own in a comment above.

The one problem you raised that might be solvable is the monitor calibration problem. I don't know which calibration device you use for your monitor, but I have an older Spyder Pro 4. I used it recently with the free DisplayCal to calibrate my Linux Mint laptop display with great results.

Another "trick" I discovered is that you can copy the *.icc calibration from your Windows PC and import it in Linux. I upgraded the display on my primary Windows 11 PC, and moved the old one over to a Linux box I have in my office. I was feeling lazy, so I found the Spyder calibration file and copied it to my Linux machine. Instant calibration!

Re: I agree with the majority of the article...

It always comes down to applications. If a user has fairly modest needs, then everything in the article applies.

I love Mint and have it running on a few PCs, but my main computer runs Windows. What keeps me there is the unavailability of certain programs that I use regularly - mainly for photo editing. I have played with all the open source editors commonly cited (GIMP, RawTherapee, darktable,etc). Most of them are packed with sliders whose function is totally opaque to me as a seasoned photographer. GIMP is comparatively user-friendly, but lacks features commercial software can perform without resorting to clunky plugins that haven't been updated since 2010. Try stitching multiple images together to create a panoramic photo in GIMP, as I attempted last weekend. That's a super easy task in Affinity Photo or Photoshop.

None of the image editing applications I use in Windows run (at least not their recent versions) under WINE. I've checked the database for all of them. I've even tried running some of them inside a Windows VM on Linux, and found that doesn't work well. Affinity Photo, for example, crashes just trying to open an image.

If we're going to advocate for Linux, we should make a point of asking people what they use their computers for. Linux isn't currently the answer for everyone.

No, I can't help – you called the wrong helpdesk, in the wrong place, for the wrong platform

I have a personal cell and a work issued iPhone. Nobody outside of management has my personal cell number, and when I clock out for the day I turn off the company iPhone. Fortunately, I'm not salaried, so anything that happens outside my scheduled hours is not normally my concern as I'm not on call.

I also mute my personal phone and leave it in my home office to charge at night.

Microsoft starts boiling the Copilot frog: It's not a soup you want to drink at any price

Re: OOSU10?

I don't have ShutUp10 installed on this work PC so I can't check, but I'm about 99% sure there is an option to disable Copilot. And I have it selected on my home PC. You might check to verify that you're running the latest version.

Valve powers up Arch Linux – because who needs Windows when you have a Steam Deck?

Re: I Just Wish Winning Felt Better

I'm currently running a Pixel 6 Pro with GrapheneOS. I've installed Organic Maps and the voice synthesizer RHVoice - both open source, free apps - and it's served me fairly well for navigating on the road. I probably could run Google Maps, but that sort of undermines the whole reason for getting away from regular Android.

Adobe fixed Acrobat bug, neglected to mention whole zero-day exploit thing

Just recently I discovered the open source SumatraPDF. Light, free and fast. I prefer it over using a browser for viewing as it has a TOC frame for quick navigation (no scrolling up and down to get back to the index).

If every PC is going to be an AI PC, they better be as good at all the things trad PCs can do

Re: Pre-owned

I did exactly that about 18 months ago. I bought a refurbished Dell Latitude laptop from a seller with good ratings on Amazon. It's a decently spec'ed business class machine (16 GB RAM), that set me back around $200. I replaced the tired battery and installed a faster NVMe for another $50 or so.

It's running Linux Mint like a champ, and still gets periodic BIOS updates. I've got Steam installed with a few older titles like Serious Sam and Half Life, which run more than acceptably. (I'm not a big gamer, so I haven't tried anything more resource intensive.)

WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free

Re: No f-n interruptions

Maybe a year ago, I stumbled upon the free FocusWriter word processor. I have it running on both a Windows and two Linux machines, and in each case have it configured to use a black background with amber text - just like my first monochrome monitor back in the mid-90s.

If you're looking for an unobtrusive program that just does what it's supposed to do without making constant unwanted suggestions, it's worth checking out.

Smartphone is already many folks' only computer – say hi to optional desktop mode in Android 15 beta

Re: The kids today, eh?

I think of my phone as a backup for the times I can't use a desktop computer. Part of that is probably getting older in terms of my thought processes, plus the fact that I find staring at a tiny pocket computer screen tiring on my eyes. And despite using mobile devices since my early Droid, I still dislike touchscreens for typing more than a brief text.

Given a sufficiently powerful phone that you can dock with external displays and peripherals, I could get by with that.

X marks the spot where Twitter's severance math doesn't add up

Re: "Thanks for your support!!"

If only there were a parable about a man forgiven an enormous debt trying to shake down someone who owed him a much smaller amount that might apply here.

Microsoft really does not want Windows 11 running on ancient PCs

Re: Alternative operating systems are available

MX Linux is a nice distro that still releases a 32-bit version of their software. I ran it on an old netbook until I sold it last year.

LG to offer subscriptions for appliances and televisions

Re: Rent seeking

We bought a 65" Sceptre TV when we moved into our current house 2 years ago. It may not be a high-end device, but it works well enough for our needs, and it's dumb as a brick - like a TV screen ought to be. I use it mainly to watch the occasional DVD. While we do have a Roku connected, Pi-Hole does a decent job blocking ads there.

NASA experts looked through 800 UFO sightings and found essentially nothing

Warp Drive

They won't take any notice of us until we invent the warp drive. I saw a documentary about this one time.

Europol warns ChatGPT already helping folks commit crimes

I can confirm the accuracy of this statement. I once had the police called on me by a paranoid neighborhood watch captain. I was taking photos of random, innocuous things (not even people) in my own neighborhood with a vintage camera. They sent two officers to investigate my "suspicious" activity.

Ransomware crooks steal 3m+ patients' medical records, personal info

Record Profits and Accountability

I read a recent report about hospitals, much like big oil companies, enjoying record profits of late. It doesn't appear those excess dollars are being reinvested in protecting their customers' private information, and the token year of credit monitoring after the fact is being treated as just another cost of doing business. Steep, mandatory payouts directly to affected patients might help their administrations re-prioritize cybersecurity.

Scammers steal $4 million in crypto during face-to-face meeting

NFC?

Is it possible that some kind of NFC vulnerability was exploited? If the thief had to get close enough to take photos of a small screen, would that be close enough?

Here's something communism is good at: Making smartphones less annoying

Re: The phone I want doesn't exist

I bought a refurbished Pixel 4a earlier this year for the express purpose of installing GrapheneOS. The installation is web based and went surprisingly smoothly. I think I paid around US $130 for the phone. So far, it's running very well.

Elon Musk to abused Twitter users: Your tormentors are coming back

Don't Blame Autism

I'm diagnosed on the spectrum, and can say definitively that Musk is an asshole because he enjoys being one. Autism / Asperger's is a social impairment, but his neurological differences don't fully account for his mistreatment of other people.

Consultant plays Metaverse MythBuster. Here's why they're wrong

Re: "where they fill a room with LED screens"

That was my first thought, too. What better way to keep the population docile and distracted than through living in an immersive, fictional world?

Playing jigsaw on my roof: They can ID you from your hygiene habits

Re: Scrodinger's Shredder

Unless, that is, one of the members of your household is a floppy-eared basset hound. I always make a point of turning off my small office shredder between uses to avoid a canine disaster.

Researchers reckon 500k PCs infested with malware after dodgy downloads install even more nasties from Bitbucket

Re: Instant karma

Great program. I use it (legally) as a Photoshop replacement. It also has the added advantage of not being rental software. Buy it once and own it.

Are you getting it? Yes, armageddon it: Mass hysteria takes hold as the Windows 7 axe falls

Re: Panic? What Panic?

I have found one browser that still supports XP, and that's MyPal. It's based on Palemoon. I was poking around on my old Asus EeePC earlier today, and there was a new version posted in just the past few months.

Also, ClamWin still works with XP.

Google causes more facial-recog pain, machine learning goes quantum ­– and how to lose a job if an AI doesn't like your face

I'm on the spectrum, and don't have problems making eye contact in most cases. I'm more likely to trigger concern by failing to break eye contact at normal intervals. While I do try to approximate "normal" breaks, I'm not always successful at it. My facial expressions don't always reflect typical behavior, either.

In any event, this process of weeding out applicants via an AI evaluation is bound to end poorly for a host of people, and for a host of reasons.

Fairphone 3 stripped to the modular essentials: Glue? What glue?

The headphone jack on my LG V30 got worn out (I use it a lot), and it was difficult to make any plugs stay securely inserted. Thankfully, it was still under warranty, and I got the whole phone swapped out for free.

Lights, camera, camera, camera, action: iPhone, iPad, Watch, chip biz in new iPhone, iPad, Watch, chip shocker

Re: Peak tech

Years before that, Edwin Land developed the groundbreaking Polaroid SX-70, a true SLR-type folding camera that required considerable creativity and engineering.

Hong Kong ISPs beg Chinese govt not to impose Great Firewall on them

Re: Question

Judging from the alt text, I'd say it's almost certainly a stock photo.