Posts by Chet Mannly

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

Re: Easy fix, Redmond

That's bigger than the recovery partition on my laptop!

Yeah but it's not MS storage. It means MS have lower loads on their servers, lower costs for flinging out updates and that is all that matters to them.

The fact that it's your resources makes no difference to MS. They know 99% of users won't even know how to find the disk cleanup function, let alone figure out how much space is being eaten up by MS' updates.

Just like using people's PC's to build MS' generative AI models using local data then uploading the models to the main codebase (like they are doing with Skype). Using people's PCs is free, running the same process on MS hardware costs money...

Musk dreams of launching five Starships to Mars in two years

Re: I'm pleased to hear this!

"we were supposed to have boots on Mars this year."

Did he say those boots would have people in them? LOL

Windows 11 users still living in the past face forced update, like it or not

It's all about copilot

"23H2...introduced Microsoft's Windows Copilot AI assistant"

That is what this is all about - shoving copilot down everyone's throats so MS can get all those windows 11 pc's generating AI models in the background that can then be uploaded and added to the main codebase.

Skype has been doing it for months now.

Re: You will do as you are told

"they're only doing this because they don't know how to QA so many different major versions"

They are doing this to force Copilot down everyone's throats.

Starlink U-turns, will block X in Brazil after all

Re: I'm no fan of the Space Karen but...

I assume it's aimed at journalists. If they quote something said on X, they get slapped with a fine for accessing it, as with the ban VPN is the only way they could do it.

That's really the point of this, to keep independent stuff about the government published on X out of the papers...

Console yourself – research finds gaming may actually boost mental health

Or is it more to do with winning the lottery?

The subjects in this won a lottery to get the console (run due to the shortage).

So just owning the console gave them a mental health benefit as it was something they won and probably also gave them a benefit from playing as it reminded them of the thing they had won.

I don't see how this has been corrected for in the article. It's plausible that this study found benefits while others didn't just because they were studying lottery winners...

Chrome Web Store warns end is nigh for uBlock Origin

Re: Firefox

Google was actually ruled a monopoly yesterday - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-06/us-judge-rules-google-has-a-monopoly-on-search-in-antitrust-case/104187194

Punkt MC02: As private, and pricey, as a Swiss bank account

Cmon it also has a terrible launcher that you can't change and blocks you from installing software like FDroid to force you to use their apps.:)

Seems a superior, and cheaper, option...

Err why not just buy a Pixel and install GrapheneOS yourself...

As the title says, buy a Pixel, install GrapheneOS and add a double press action to volume or something to turn on flight mode. Alternatively you can just buy Pixels with GrapheneOS preinstalled. Add Proton Mail and calendar for free if you want to avoid using google equivalents.

Why pay such an expensive subscription for a phone and an OS that a Swiss company has wrecked when you can do all that for free?

Skype goes ad-free, which is unusual for Microsoft

Re: I have to ocassionaly use skype...

It's used widely by language teachers as it's free, allows screen sharing etc and runs on pretty much anything. Like Whatsapp in Europe - there are better alternatives, but it's pretty much become the default.

Breaking the rules is in Big Tech's blood – now it's time to break the habit

Re: killing music...

The other issue I have with streaming services like Spotify is they change the mixes of songs from time to time - mostly for the worse. And once they are changed that's it, you can't hear the original/real version anymore.

Another good reason to have CD's or at a minimum buy a downloadable version of tracks you really like.

Police allege 'evil twin' of in-flight Wi-Fi used to steal passenger's credentials

"Unless they used those credentials I can't see how unauthorised access to a computer system occurred."

I assume they found evidence of that when they searched his home. HIghly unlikely he was doing it for educational purposes...

American interest in electric vehicles short circuits for first time in four years

Re: Why make it personal?

Tesla actually bought the entire mechanical design from Lotus - it was a superceded model.

It's actually not unusual. IIRC the Chrysler Crossfire was a superceded Mercedes SLK chassis design, and half the small cars in Europe are either VW Golf or Polo designs underneath.

Re: The sight of a Telsa accelerating with a half million watts of power is heartwarming

"are these numbers from actual (impartial) studies or are they from (I have an agenda) studies?"

Where are the impartial studies? Pretty much every study I've seen has either been from an EV/battery booster or an anti-EV mob. There's very little research I've seen that appears impartial on this subject...

Re: Right on the mark about Musk being responsible

I think the problem is that when people ask what kind of car you drive and reply Tesla the next thing you will hear is 'did you hear what brainfart Musak posted on X last week?'

Not saying it's a reason not to buy a car, but surely that gets old pretty fast.

Indian govt probes claims Foxconn won't hire married women

Re: Not just Foxconn

TBF the same was true in the 50s in pretty much every western country. They changed, India can too.

For sure it's holding them back economically at the moment, but once extra money starts rolling in self-interest will beat culture...

How Europe can force Apple to support competition

And absolutely nothing that the EU is requiring affects your ability to choose that in any way whatsoever.

Re: EU: DON'T KILL iOS SECURITY!

So stay in the walled garden then (and take a chill pill). The EU is only demanding the option of going elsewhere if people choose.

Been in the 'Android nightmare' for years with zero issues - sounds like you have Stockholm syndrome...

Re: isn't against the law

What he means are drafting notes that pass along with the law, and are part of the bill that is passed by parliament. These lay out the intention and reasoning behind the law, the intent of the lawmakers. Where there is a grey area judges rely on these as part of their deliberations.

There will always be a grey are with law as situations evolve fatser than laws do. If there is no grey area Judges wouldn't be ruling on the matter in the ifrst place as the law would be obvious.

Re: Why should the Android model be forced onto everyone?

The 'Android model'? I think you mean the model of basically every computer system in the world apart from iOS, as all the others allow you to install software from multiple sources, including open-source, and choose your web browser.

Anyway, you aren't being forced into anything mate - if you wanna stay in the walled garden doing everything Apple dictates then you are free to do so.

EU attempt to sneak through new encryption-eroding law slammed by Signal, politicians

Re: Signal

Not really - if there's a legal requirement I'll happily let the cops read through me and my mates talking cr@p, I have nothing to worry about in my signal feed (but that doesn't mean I'm remotely interested in giving them permission to scan ahead of time like proposed)

Re: U-turn par excellence

Hate to break it to you but it hasn't - it's still all over websites everywhere.

Just this morning I had a website demand I either subscribe or allow tracking from 838 different advertisers (I didn't even know there were that many of the parasites...)

Defiant Microsoft pushes ahead with controversial Recall – tho as an opt-in

Re: For now

Or we find out that opting out doesn't disable it entirely, and there's still some subsystem hoovering up data like there's no tomorrow - just not screenshots etc

Australia drops legal action that aimed to have X take down stabbing vid

Re: Don’t draw attention to idiots

I don't see any contradiction. The video was geoblocked in Australia so the treatement is the same.

Photos of the tank man can't be published on Chinese TV and will be swiftly removed if posted on Chinese websites, but can be found on foreign websites - because Chinese law applies in China.

Just like Australian Law only applies, and should only apply, in Australia.

Re: Would love to learn he truth

I think because they were doing it for 'won't someone think of the children' attention/votes but realised that Australian law can only apply, you know, in Australia.

While the video is horrible and probably should have been taken down on decency grounds IMO, the precedent of one country determining what could be censored world-wide couldn't stand - Governments like China, Saudi Arabia Russia et al would be demanding censorship of all kinds of inconvenient (for them) material worldwide...

Windows 11's Recall feature is on by default on Copilot+ PCs

Re: On by default

I think what he means is that if you introduce a new feature and it's turned off by default it's likely to stay that way and it will never be a central part of the platform. So from MS' perspective they have no choice but to have it on by default if they really want this to be part of the platform.

Of course from my perspective they can go to h*ll with this and it will be the first thing turned off and uninstalled. Many users (maybe even the majority?) just accept defaults though so it would be running on a huge number of pcs and I have no doubt that while processing is done locally MS have a way of getting the AI training from all this data fed back into the greater copilot program so they can win the AI war.

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

Re: How much data stored?

That will be the way they do it - it would make sense for this to be stored as a bookmarked video file, as opposed to a billion jpgs...

An attorney says she saw her library reading habits reflected in mobile ads. That's not supposed to happen

Where did you obtain said book? The fact you bought/borrowed it and the title would be plenty of info for targeting.

Re: Pay attention to the wording - think like an attorney or barrister.

PressReader refused to answer any questions from either the lawyer or the journo. Pretty sure that's your culprit, rather than one of the others playing legal word games...

German plod defend Tesla gigafactory from eco-warriors

Re: Could someone please explain ?

The alternative to tax and spend Comrade is people keeping more of the money they earned and spending it in their own best interests.

Would have thought that was pretty obvious...

EU duties might not be enough to hold off flood of Chinese EVs

Re: the problem

It's not just China, everyone is doing it. A mate of mine ordered a Toyota Hilux, discovered in the paperwork that it has an esim in it constantly phoning data home. He asked to have it disabled and Toyota told him if he disables it he loses warranty coverage.

Given the BYDs are designed primarily for the Chinese market, I think it's a fair assumption that a lot of their baked-in data gathering is even more extensive than cars from EU manufacturers.

Elon Musk's X to challenge Australian content takedown orders in court

100%. We'd end up with a great firewall of China worldwide...

Spot on. If Australia gets to ban stuff worldwide then China (and every other country) will be lining up to demand the same right to censorship of anything they don't like worldwide - that's why Elon is pushing back.

Unintended acceleration leads to recall of every Cybertruck produced so far

Re: every single Cybertruck it has produced thus far, a sum of 3,878 vehicles.

'... and pre-rusted '

Think you mean 'cybertruck - with the all-new a patina finish' LOL

Google location tracking deal could be derailed by politics

Re: If anyone can pay people small amounts

Plus many google accounts have payment details already saved for play store purchases and the like. Dead simple to send money to those details. Those without payment details can be asked howe they want to recieve their refund.

Majority of Americans now use ad blockers

Re: I wouldn't mind reasonable ads

Every web page has tags attached to it (or can have). Eg here at El Reg their website overall would be it-focussed, but if they have a review of a mobile phone they can add tags that advertisers will use to serve up more specific ads related to phones. Takes 2 seconds to do.

If the website doesn't add the tags they get less relevant ads, their ad revenue will suffer and the bosses will tell everyone to add the tags.

Easy peasy, no invasive tracking required.

Microsoft to use Windows 11 Start menu as a billboard with app ads for Insiders

More likely inside 24 hours an ad blocker or privacy app makes the ads go away and everyone gets on with their lives...

The OS upgrades aren't really free. MS gets their Windows tax when people buy a new PC. It basically costs nothing to provide that software to others as well. So sure you may get an 'upgrade' (assuming that's the adjective you use to refer to Win 11 lol) gratis, it costs MS nothing at the same time. They'll get their pound of flesh from you next time you buy a new PC.

Your point about the core apps is spot on - I have 6 key apps I use constantly and they are pinned to the task bar. The start menu gets opened maybe 1-2 times a week for out of the ordinary tasks.

Apple's failure to duck UK antitrust probe could bring £785M windfall for devs

Because on Android there are multiple app stores, and sideloading is allowed.

While Google's cut is basically the same as Apple's (or was the last time I checked) it's less clear cut that they qualify as a monopoly, whereas Apple's app store is clearly a monopoly.

Academics probe Apple's privacy settings and get lost and confused

Re: Its almost like that was the plan

It isn't either/or.

In Android you can change privacy settings in each of the individual app settings or go to the central permissions section of settings and change them for all apps. Does exactly the same thing.

Canva acquires Affinity, further wounding a regulator-bruised Adobe

Re: I don't get the premise

100% - the photoshop division in particular will be breathing a sigh of relief.

You can just hear Canva's plans now - drop tools and no more feature updates for the current version (V2) Affinity apps, everyone get cracking on subscription-based V3 apps.

The way Apple, Alphabet implemented DMA rules 'seems to be at odds' with law

I hope they kill the 'pay or consent' model

I see 'pay or consent' popping up on more and more sites now, even android apps - I do hope they kill that...

What strange beauty is this? Microsoft commits to two more non-subscription Office editions

Re: First hit is always free-ish.

+1 for LibreOffice.

Recently got a new PC and after uninstalling from the old laptop MS refused to activate the Office licence on the new one, kept trying to shove a subscription down my throat.

Installed LibreOffice and haven't looked back. It's a little less polished, but can do everything I could in Office, and haven't had compatibility issues with any docs.

AI models show racial bias based on written dialect, researchers find

Was my thought immediately - if someone isn't speaking or using english to a high standard they aren't suited to a professional job that relies on being able to use english to a high standard.

Google dresses up services for the EU's Digital Markets Act

Re: Google, why are you like this?

Yeah you need to break out ADB and uninstall it completely rather than just disable. I used to find that merely 'disabled' apps were strangely still running in the background even though I had restarted and they should have been dead.

How do you lot feel about Pay or say OK to ads model, asks ICO

So basically this is just a way to get around the GDPR by setting a stupidly high pay figure like FB did.

The options should be:

- targeted advertising with tracking consent

- untargeted advertising without tracking consent (and without payment)

- zero advertising/tracking with payment.

Chinese 'connected' cars are a national security threat, says Biden

Re: Are the United States

That was the view a while back. Actually current estimates have it peaking below the size of the US. Mainly due to falling population. It is predicted to peak lower, and age faster, than before. Plus of course the real/estate construction industry declining faster than anticipated.

Still a very big economy obviously.

Meta kills Facebook News in the US and Australia

Re: No Loss

Indeed. If news is blocked on FB I may actually start using it again. Got so sick of the inevitable pile ons and hysterics every time someone posted a news articale on FB - really brings the worst out in people...