Posts by garden-snail

Only 'natural persons' can be recognized as patent inventors, not AI systems, US judge rules

Photons Be Free!

It's quite provocative...

Linus Torvalds drops Intel and adopts 32-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper on personal PC

Re: Minimum spec?

Running the kernel and building the kernel are two very different workloads, the latter requiring far more horsepower. Most Linux users will never build their own kernel.

You can guarantee that Linus has other, lower powered devices for testing purposes, if only to keep his primary development and build machine (s) stable and clean.

Rats revive phones-and-cancer scares

Rats

Rats that live longer are more likely to get cancer? No shit!

US govt says it has cracked killer's iPhone, legs it from Apple fight

Passcode

Turns out the passcode was 0000.

VW’s case of NOxious emissions: a tale of SMOKE and MIRRORS?

Re: So..

VED is based on emissions of CO2, not NOx. It's an important distinction, because CO2 is almost completely harmless, while NOx emissions are relatively deadly. Unfortunately, our obsession with CO2 emissions has led to an explosion in demand for diesel-engined cars (in this country at least).

In order to maintain low CO2 emissions, diesel engines have to kick out more NOx. Cheating on the NOx test was inevitable, and I'll be extremely surprised if the other manufacturers aren't at it as well.

With little to no compelling evidence of the danger of CO2 emissions, and a mountain of evidence about the dangers of NOx and diesel particulate matter, isn't it time we stopped incentivising the purchase of diesel cars?

I think the bootnote makes the most salient point of the whole article here. The media seems focused on the "shocking revelation" that VW cars contain software to detect when they're undergoing an emissions test, but the truth is just about all modern cars have to use similar software.

In a "normal" driving situation, a car with traction control, ABS and all that gadgetry would flip its nut if it saw the front wheels spinning at 50 mph with the rear wheels stationary, assuming a catastrophic loss of traction.

So *all* car manufacturers have to program a "testing mode", which determines how the car behaves when it thinks it's undergoing a test. Given the behaviour in this scenario is entirely arbitrary, why would any manufacturer choose to program this mode to produce suboptimal emissions?

Tossed all your snaps into the new Google Photos? You read the terms, right? ... RIGHT?

New?

Genuinely confused about the way this is being reported. I've been using Google Photos (with its unlimited cloud storage) for over a year.

It seems this announcement is an update to the way you can search your photos (I.e. by automatically generated categories), but the core Google Photos service is the same as it's always been.

It seems like both on The Register and elsewhere it's being reported like Google Photos didn't exist until this week!

Out of time: Huawei, LG unveil watches nobody wants to buy

Re: Smartwatches

You almost just described the LG G Watch R. I've just bought one, and it seems to satisfy all of your criteria.

1) It tells the time;

2) The battery lasts a couple of days (maybe longer if you dim the screen and turn off auto-wake, but charging it with the included dock is as simple is taking the watch off and putting it on the bedside table at night - something I would do with a regular watch anyway);

3) It pairs with your phone to display notifications;

4) It looks like a normal watch, and is water-resistant to 1 m. Which is fine, unless you do your washing up at 25 m.

Yes, you can also read your messages or get directions with it, although in both cases it's just acting as a second screen for your phone, so there's no point removing those features. The watch doesn't have its own LTE radio or GPS receiver.

Mine cost £190 from Amazon, which for me is worth it. It's especially reasonable considering we're still in the "early adopter" period.

Paranoid Android Kaymera smartmobe takes on Blackphone

Re: Confusing Headline

AceRimmer, that's closer to the truth than you may realise. Several members of the Paranoid Android team are now on the payroll at OnePlus, tasked with developing the new official ROM for the OnePlus One to replace CyanogenMod...

https://oneplus.net/blog/2015/02/introducing-the-oxygenos-team-a-first-look-at-the-oneplus-rom/

Vodafone didn't have a £6bn tax bill. Sort yourselves out, Lefties

Re: Grossly misleading and innacurate

Yep, the most reliable source here is going to be an Anonymous Coward who can't even spell "Vodafone". No problem with that!

Goes like the blazes: Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 late 2014 edition

Re: Nice piece of kit

That is why Amazon Fire is struggling, in a nutshell. You can't strip useful stuff out of Android then expect people to pay more for it.

The Fire tablets either need to have some new, killer, must-have functionality or a rock-bottom price. The combination of missing features and high price-point is not attractive.

TalkTalk customers demand opt-out fix for telco's DNS ad-jacking tactics

Re: I'm not an expert but...

Virgin Media have also nobbled the DHCP server built in to their "Smart Hub" home routers so you can no longer change the DNS servers that get assigned to hosts. I don't know if TalkTalk devices are similarly crippled.

Yes, you can manually specify DNS servers on most hosts, but the more devices you have on your network the more of a pain that becomes.

Currently running my own DHCP server on a Raspberry Pi, but it's not a solution that would suit everyone!

Sinclair is back with the Spectrum Vega ... just as rubbish as the ZX

Re: RCA? Pah. Young 'uns know nothing

Commode 64 better than a Speccy? Don't make me swear!

Did North Korean hackers nobble Sony Pictures?

Re: What proof does anyone have that Sony was hacked at all?

Most Sony executives don't know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?

Technology quiz reveals that nobody including quiz drafters knows anything about IT

Re: Odd Choice

I would hardly call Mosaic an "obscure browser". It was the first browser in popular use, and it credited with single-handedly popularising the World Wide Web.

It may no longer be in development, but it's achieved legendary status in the history of the WWW, and has had (and continues to have) a profound impact on the way we access information in the modern day.

In a supposedly tech-savvy quiz, I'd say the phrase "NCSA Mosaic" has a similar level of relevance to the phrase "Tim Berners-Lee".

Re: hansel sprockets

Driving the Gretel chain, obviously.

LARGE, ROUND and FEELS SO GOOD in your hand: Yes! It's a Nexus 6

Re: Very meh ....

+1 for OnePlus One

I was lucky enough to get my One pretty early (during the OnePlus Race) and was worried that the Nexus 6 would come along and cause me regret. When the specs for the Nexus 6 were announced I nearly had a heart attack, assuming they were going to be selling it at the classic Nexus price point.

As it stands, the OPO was the right choice, and I'd make the same call even if I was buying it now. I can't help thinking Google should have released a more affordable Nexus 6, and saved this high-spec beast for the launch of their "Android Silver" range...

GOD particle MAY NOT BE GOD particle: Scientists in shock claim

Re: Science marches on then stubs its TOE

Who is one to believe? No-one! Science isn't about belief. We make observations, formulate a theory that explains those observations (and predicts the outcome of future experiments) then perform experiments to see if the theory holds up.

If the theory holds up to repeated testing, it becomes "accepted knowledge", though this still isn't the "closure" you were hoping for. Even accepted knowledge is up for debate, if new observations are made that challenge the expectations of the theory.

Science doesn't offer any closure, and doesn't tolerate belief! Many of the theories are extremely useful both in everyday life and in the constant advancement of Mankind, but while Science's accepted knowledge is the closest thing we have to the Truth - no true scientist will ever tell you that it's above scrutiny, and nothing will ever be known for certain!

The announcement from these Danish physicists is not a setback for Science - it's all just part of the process!

OK Google, do I have CANCER?

Please...

"Conrad believes that the nanoparticles could then be attracted via magnets in a wearable device or other implement"

My vote is for "other implement"...

http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/StarTrek-Medical-Tricorder-Prop.jpg

Something ate Google's 8.8.8.8 at about eight in Asia's evening

Re: Never trust in centralized services

All your arguments also apply to "proper DNS servers". You shouldn't be saying, "don't rely on Google DNS" - you should be saying, "don't rely on any single DNS provider".

Will Apple give Chinese iPhone workers cancer? THE TRUTH

Re: About time...

Not quite that simple, thanks to skewed demographics.

For example, it's easy to suppose that suicide rates are higher amongst the unemployed. Some proportion of the population of Wolverhampton will be unemployed, while all of the workers at Foxconn are - by definition - in gainful employment.

4K-ing excellent TV is on its way ... in its own sweet time, natch

Re: Tag line...

Have a thumb.

Freenode IRC users told to change passwords after securo-breach

Sniffing

Sounds like a server was compromised in a way that allowed the attack to sniff NickServ passwords while in transit. Are we to assume that the database itself was not compromised?

I only ask since - like everyone else - I haven't logged in to an IRC server in about 10 years.

Not appy with your Chromebook? Well now it can run Android apps

Re: Yet another layer?

Android apps run in a Java virtual machine, so I'm sure they don't need to emulate the entire Android OS. Rather, this is probably an implementation of Dalvik (or ART) for Chrome OS that provides the necessary APIs for Android apps to interact with Chrome OS I/O.

Apple Watch will CONQUER smartwatch world – analysts

The difference is that the Apple Watch only works with iPhones, while Android Wear works with just about any recent Android phone.

It's an important distinction, because while the iPhone may still be the best-selling individual handset, iOS only enjoys about 15% market share. Android's market share, on the other hand, is up over 75%.

The point is that there's no reason you shouldn't be able to buy a Motorola smartwatch and use it with an LG phone, or vice versa. Hypothetically, 75% of smartphone owners can use an Android Wear watch, where only 15% can use an Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch may become the best-selling individual model, but Android Wear is almost certain to become the dominant platform.

Apple's ONE LESS THING: the iPod Classic disappears

Re: So, for people like me that still get good use out of theirs

"how does that work when you receive a call, use your Note 3 as a satnav ?"

Much better, for me at least. I don't have a Note 3, but a OnePlus One which I hook to my car via Bluetooth.

When I take a call, the music automatically pauses, and then resumes when the call ends.

While using sat nav, the music dims while the voice is giving a direction, then returns to full volume afterwards.

All in all, everything is better now I'm using my phone as my music player.

Celeb nudie iCloud pervs hatched photo-slurping Flappy Bird plot

Re: "the app. It now secretly downloads all of the phones pictures to my server"

I understand Android L is going to revamp the way permissions are granted, but for now I'd recommend CyanogenMod's "Privacy Guard" feature, which lets you allow or disallow individual permissions for installed apps. Worth getting CM for that alone!

Rubbish WPS config sees WiFi router keys popped in seconds

Is that why my kids smell like hammers when they've been using the WiFi?

Top Ten 802.11ac routers: Time for a Wi-Fi makeover?

Re: Unused speed

If you only ever use your WiFi for Internet access, you might be right.

For the rest of us, the extra bandwidth is essential. Streaming HD video from a NAS to a TV/media centre, for example.

Cut price Android on steroids: OnePlus One – should we look gift horse in the gob?

Battery/SD

I used to be one of the "no removeable battery, no SD card, no sale" crowd, but the OnePlus One is what made me rethink my position. Those specs for that price were too good to resist.

I managed to get my One just over a month ago, and it's definitely lived up to the hype. It's a dream come true! Most of my data (photos & music) is stored on the cloud, thanks to Google+ Photos and Google Play Music, so 64 GB is more than enough for me.

Cisco patches OSPF bug that sends traffic into black holes

OSPF

I never even considered the Open in OSPF as a verb. Now you mention it, it actually flows a lot better that way.

I'm going to start thinking about that way, even if it's wrong. "Router! Open my shortest path!"

14 antivirus apps found to have security problems

Re: Point of Issue

I don't think any of these rank quite as highly as "burglarize".

Google shows off new Chrome OS look

Re: Looks very

Yep, I just came here to post that, then saw you already had.

But yes. 90s UNIX. What he said.

iWatch 'due November'... Y'all know what time it is? Now you do

Re: Who actually wears a watch anymore?

You seem to be making the assumption that smartwatches do nothing but tell the time.

For me the major benefit of a smartwatch is the ability to read and dismiss notifications without having to take my phone out of my pocket.

iWatch? No, I'm waiting for the Moto 360...

Standby consumes MORE POWER THAN CANADA: IEA

Sky boxes

The more recent Sky+HD boxes now have an "eco" mode (on by default), which turns the box into a low power mode overnight if the box is not in use. The LNB power is cut, disk spins down, network disconnected - basically everything is off but for an RTC that wakes it up in the morning or for a scheduled recording or software/CA update.

During the day, the disk powers off when not in use as well (the very early Sky+ boxes used to spin the disks 24/7).

Samsung's 'OS of Everything' Tizen still has little to offer

Unfamiliar UI

From the pictures, it looks like it should actually be pretty familiar to someone who's used TouchWiz on Android...

Do you use NAS drives? For work? One just LEAKED secret cash-machine blueprints

Re: how is it vulnerable?

Many consumer NAS devices are now exposing themselves over the Internet by design. They may use UPnP to poke holes in your firewall and/or NAT with the intention of allowing you to access your files at home even when you're out and about. I believe Netgear markets it as "Personal Cloud" (or similar) on its ReadyNAS devices.

I would guess the vulnerability mentioned in this article relates to such a device, where it's opened itself up to the Internet without enabling authentication.

A first-world problem solved: Panoramic selfies, thanks to Huawei's Ascend P7

Re: They're listening...

...won't the Chinese secret service be listening to all my calls if I use a Huawei phone?

No. Your calls are boring.

Review: GFI Cloud eliminates need to nursemaid Windows

Can we get a screenshot?

Bill Gates: Sell off Bing? Nah. Xbox? Maybe...

Non-financial returns

As I understand it, the data mined by Bing are more valuable to Microsoft than the paltry sum they'd make by selling it off to the likes of Yahoo!

Chap builds mobe based on Raspberry Pi

PiPhone

Nice looking device; probably wouldn't want to try taking it through airport security though...

OnePlus One equals 'killer' new mobe running CyanogenMod

Re: Normal Person Here

Dear Normal Person,

I, too, have never changed a battery in a phone. However, I cannot count the number of times I've yanked the battery out of one to recover from a lockup. It's not a regular occurrence with my current phone, but it's not an option I'm prepared to give up.

A premium smartie lump: Oppo N1 CyanogenMod Edition

Nope

I know it's been said time and time again, but if we keeping repeating it like a mantra the manufacturers may one day get the message - no SD slot, no removable battery, no sale.

This review highlights some of the great features of CyanogenMod, but you can install CM on a whole range of devices. Chances are you already own one...

http://www.cyanogenmod.org/devices/

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS: Great changes, but sssh don't mention the...

Menus in Title Bars

Tried it. Hated it.

It's better than having menus fixed at the top of the screen, but it's only a small improvement. The problem is that you can't see the menus until you hover over the bar, so you need to move your cursor into the position where you want to click before the thing you want to click on is even visible! It's also a PitA if, like me, you click on title bars to raise and focus windows. Try that now and you're accidentally opening menus left, right and centre.

My personal preference would be putting the menu bars back underneath the title bars, and saving vertical space by removing the now unnecessary top bar.

Bonus comment: I know this isn't new to 14.04, but does anyone else find it impossible to use Nautilus since they removed Compact View? I don't know what they were smoking when they made that decision. Previously, when I had a nice big directory open in compact view I could see the entire listing on the screen in neat little columns. Now about two thirds of my screen resolution is wasted, and if I want to see my files I have to scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll.... Infuriating!

The... Windows... XPocalypse... is... NIGH

More pedantically, UDP is still part of the TCP/IP suite of protocols, and runs on top of IP.

Help a hack: What's in your ultimate Windows XP migration toolkit?

Re: What's in your ultimate Windows XP migration toolkit ?

In all seriousness, a Linux Live CD or Live USB is always worth having in your toolkit - even in a 100% windows environment. I've found them particularly useful when sorting out partition issues or botched imaging operations. I've run into several situations where the quickest way out was to boot a Knoppix CD and fix a disk with GParted, which can generally handle anything you throw at it.

"rm -rf /" may or may not be a Linux troll, but there's plenty of merit to his suggestion.

X-rated Android antics: Motorola's Moto X puts boot in chunky brother

Stop making excuses for these manufacturers...

If you can't replace the battery and it doesn't have an SD slot, it's not even worth considering. You can't compensate for a missing SD slot with extra internal storage (is 16 GB even that generous? I already have a 32 GB card in my feeble Huawei Ascend G300). The SD slot is about data security, portability and future-proofing. That last point in particular is probably why the manufacturers hate SD slots and replaceable batteries. They think that if they limit their phones in this way we'll buy new ones more often. Not me. I'll just buy from a different manufacturer.

The sooner these reviews stop glossing over these issues, the sooner phone manufacturers might think about getting their heads out of their arses.

Gamers in a flap as Vietnamese dev pulls Flappy Bird

Re: Won't uninstall, help...

Heisenberg, apparently the best way to uninstall Flappy Bird is to sell your iPhone for £6,000,000 then buy a new one.

Apple RESURRECTS the iPhone 4: report

Re: Not one thing or another

You mean like Peugeot continuing to produce and sell the 206 long after it had been rendered "obsolete" by the newer, shinier 207?

ZX Spectrum game devs allege Elite Systems Ltd didn't pay their royalties

Re: Shock and horror.

If there is a distinction between Elite's infringement and that committed by downloading pirated software it's that Elite are making a profit from it. I'm not condoning either one, but there is a difference.