Posts by d3vy

Brit prosecutors ask IT suppliers to fight over £3 USB cable tender

I heard CSC won that bid.

The cable supplied was a 3cm long rs232 male to male and ended up costing £50,000.

Bonkers call to boycott Raspberry Pi Foundation over 'gay agenda'

Re: LGBTQI?

There's a bloody A on the end too!

I reckon we are just a few months off finally being able to solve the conundrum and winning a teapot.

#countdown

In the week Uber blew up, Netflix restates 'No brilliant jerks' policy

Re: Well they already cut themselves off from a big portion of the "market"

Really?

They run a subscription service, how long would that last if you could fire off a bot to download and entire genre of movies over the course of a few days?

I know what younger me would have done.. 30 day trial, download the lot and watch at leisure.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft's 'Ms Pac-Man beating AI' is more Automatic Idiot

Does the computer know it's playing a game or does it think it's trapped in a neon maze being chased by ghosts?

Sounds like we need rights for AI to prevent further torture of these poor machines :)

DXC Technology puts reluctant office movers on naughty step

Re: Not getting this....

"Underlying all of this there will be an initiative to force people into central London office space when they have been perfectly constructive shuffling in to work from a spare bedroom at home"

If they are on a CSC wage and live anywhere near London there's​ no way they've got a spare room.. they probably can't afford a dedicated bedroom...

First-day-on-the-job dev: I accidentally nuked production database, was instantly fired

"Nah, we’re in the 21st century now: correct horse battery staple"

FFS Now I have to change my password.

BA IT systems failure: Uninterruptible Power Supply was interrupted

"Adequately enough to cough up £150M?"

I'd have thought so.. I'm just a contract developer but because of the systems I work on carry £50m prof indemnity insurance.

Seminal game 'Colossal Cave Adventure' released onto GitLab

Re: PC World

"Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox One port requires a 14GB update to run."

I'd laugh but I'm waiting for a 60GB halo5 update at the moment... Every time I try to.play the bloody thing!

How the Facebook money funnel is shaping British elections

The conservative add targeting is so effective that currently every advert my 10 year old son gets on his YouTube account is for the conservative party... He just wants to watch stampy... Needless to say he won't be voting for them.

Windows is now built on Git, but Microsoft has found some bottlenecks

Re: SourceSafe

"Are you sure of that? There's this little product called Team Foundation Server that is really VSS under the hood. Give me Bazaar, Subversion or if necessary Git over it any day."

VSS was discontinued, the last released version was 2005.

Saying that TFS is really VSS under the hood is like saying a proton is a lotus under the hood because some small parts are common.

For a start TFS is not just source control, secondly users can choose a source control provider for TFS (GIT is one of the options)

That aside TFS does include TFSVCS which probably does share some small parts with vss but to say it's the same is plain wrong.

Britain's on the brink of a small-scale nuclear reactor revolution

Re: Renewables are not as green as its promotors claim

"Killing loads of people suddenly would be an environmental disaster too"

Not if we eat them.

"I remember watching a documentary on Windscale/Sellafield, and back in t'day they just dumped the spend rods in to a swimming pool that was on site."

Was that the one on BBC4 last month? they did a whole night about nuclear - still on iPlayer I believe and well worth a watch.

They went into detail about the outdoor ponds that they dumped everything in - basically the number one concern was producing enough material for the h bomb so nut much thought was put into the mess left behind - which they are cleaning up now.

Re: Sounds sendible but...

"I'd like to see 40ft container sized reactors."

Genuine question - what size are the reactors on subs? How are they cooled?

I really don't know that much about this area but it seems to me that if we can make a sub with a reactor we could make a sub that is JUST reactors (and propulsion) - we can connect offshore windfarms to the grid why not offshore reactors? or at the bottom of a lake?

What's got a vast attack surface and runs on Linux? Windows Defender, of course

Re: But isn't the environment itself just as important?

"Partly useless, because you can't fake PANIC. You can't fake a fire, and so on"

I used to write business continuity software for the H&S department of a large company, they used to like to get everyone in the team involved in the planning of drills, I assure you it is possible to fake a fire (I have been the guy standing next to the main fire escape when the alarm goes off shouting "Im a fire, find another way out" - fun and made sure that people knew where more than one exit from the building was.

I was also involved when our datacenter experienced a "thermal event" that blocked an exit and no one panicked - Maybe it was the drills, maybe it was the fact that deep down everyone knew that after an hour in the sun on the car park that they were getting home early...

It's just 'Pro' now, guys: Microsoft gives Surface a subtle resurfacing

Re: thicker keyboard?

You are describing a surface book.

That already exists

Bye bye MP3: You sucked the life out of music. But vinyl is just as warped

Re: Listening to Vinyl is a bit like eating at a posh restaurant

"Linux isn't a brand.

It's a way of life."

While I like to think that is sarcasm I am sure that there are people who actually feel that way and they are ruining it for the rest of us who just want to get on with our work/driving/leisure time.

PS. My dad could batter your dad.

Re: Listening to Vinyl is a bit like eating at a posh restaurant

"The BMW comparison is wrong. You buy a BMW because you feel your man snake is inferior to your neighbour."

FFS, is this going to deteriorate into another fucking brand war? windows vs linux, BMW vs kia, MP3 vs FLAC, PS4 vs XB1

Seriously, its getting ridiculous.

Can we not just leave people to use/buy what they want without being dicks to each other?

Re: Shame

"Only issue I will have is being able to play those tunes on future radios / devices"

I'd have thought if anything the patents expiring will mean more devices offering support as I assume that means no licencing costs.

That video player is terrible...

DeX Station: Samsung's Windows-killer is ready for prime time

"They could have made non-multimode aware apps run in a smaller window, more apt to the small screen"

But then there would be no incentive for developers to create proper multi mode apps. Its a fine line.

I agree though that it would have made a difference to continuum if it did this.

"What exactly is the imagined use case here? I fail to see how lugging around an unwieldy docking station plus charger, plus keyboard, plus screen, plus mouse, plus laptop (you *will* still need yours, and its charger)"

I don't think that the idea is that you carry the charger around with you.

While you are right that there are times when you will need a laptop too there have been plenty of times where Ive been out without my laptop but could have done with access to a desktop like environment (Being called on holiday to fix issues on a server and having to RDP in over a 3G connection using a 5" screen was a particular favourite of mine) - I'd like to see a chromecast like device that plugs into the back of the monitor and allows this functionality wirelessly - much easier to chuck in a pocket/bottom of a bag as you leave the house - Still need a Bluetooth Kb and mouse though I suppose.

""...Slack and Evernote are UWP apps in the Windows 10 Store but for desktop only, so after you dock your phone they don't open on your main display: the phone versions aren't multimode."

Seriously?"

Yes, seriously, if the developers dont develop the apps to allow multi mode then they wont work on multi mode environments - I dont see that as a failing of the OS. That said MS really should have pushed continuum more than it did/does - it is one of the features that would really make me willing to pay more for a phone - to the extent that Im considering the s8 now having made do with an HTC One for the last 4 years.

At this point you're not paying £700 for a phone, you're paying for a fully fledged computer that fits in your pocket and has an app to let you phone people.

Need to know if this can drive a 4k screen (so requires hdmi 2.0)

If so I might finally be able to justify getting rid of my aging HTC One

Do we need Windows patch legislation?

Even if my were legally obligated to provide non-ending support for XP most of the affected machines were windows 7&10 machines that had not had the march update rolled out to them. At least the instances I have seen in my dealings with CCGs in the north west.

PC repair chap lets tech support scammer log on to his PC. His Linux PC

Re: I've done the Linux thing

Ubuntu, suse and fedora now!

Microsoft touts next Windows 10 Creators Update: It's set for a Fall

Re: Updated to it today....

Updated to what? The fall release?

I have no doubt that it broke lots of things bearing in mind how far from release date we are.

Re: This Holiday

"Does he mean "Next Christmas"

Personally I'd rather they used neither of the above and just said "mid to late December" much clearer.

Re: No linux comments yet?

I know it's a joke but don't encourage them!!

Re: Updates yes, but please stop breaking working programs

Try Microsoft's remote desktop connection manager.

I had the same issue and it resolved all of the scaling issues that I had.

I think v2.7 is the one I had success with some of the later ones had some issues if I remember rightly (though now I've said that it might have been 2.5)

10Mbps universal speeds? We'll give you 30Mbps, pleads Labour in leaked manifesto

Re: @AC

@LoyalCommenter

Thats out of date, our CT rates are now 19%

That said, I dont agree that these should be increased, if they are then it needs to be tiered as a rise above 20% would cripple many small businesses.

Google buys developers of VR goof-around Job Simulator

I had a try at job simulator a few months ago - after a long day on site with a client.

Just what I needed - virtual work.

We are 'heroes,' says police chief whose force frisked a photographer

Re: Again?

"I discovered this once, when someone parked on my drive. The police happened to be passing, and I asked them what I could do. They told me that, strictly, there was nothing they could do. But they found the car wasn't properly locked, and helped me push the car off my drive and across the road onto a yellow line. Then they gave it a parking ticket."

I'd have phoned a local builders merchant and ordered a few tonnes of hardcore to be delivered. Have it left at the end of the drive. When they come to pick up their car tell them that you are planning on landscaping your garden and should have it all moved within the month.

Re: Again?

"I remember many years ago I was with someone who was given a ticket for obstructing, because cars couldn't get past. She pointed out that the other side of the street had been clear, with plenty of room to pass when she'd parked there. Another car had then come and parked on the other side, leaving no room to get past. She still had to pay the fine."

I got two tickets for parking on the same bit of road in bolton once. The road is pretty much wide enough for one car but has a loading bay - I was taking kit into an office so I parked in the loading bay, came back to find a ticket for blocking the road despite being in a clearly marked bay. Next time I pulled up half in the bay and half on the pavement to allow cars to squeeze past - got a ticket for parking on the pavement when there was a bay available... Had to pay both tickets.

HD and SSD Prices not declining - why ?

Re: HD and SSD Prices not declining - why ?

"Except that it _has_ always come down in price, unless Cartels are operating to prevent that."

Just because something has happened in the past does not mean that it will definitely continue to occur.

I would however argue the opposite of your point using my own experience, I bought several £80 128GB SSDs a few years ago to put in to my various Pcs and laptops to extend their lives a bit - I have just replaced two of those with £70 256GB drives... So I'd argue that the price is coming down.

China's first large passenger jet makes maiden flight

Based on?

I assume the scarcity of oil based propellants?

If thats the case then I think you should look at the aviation biofuels currently in development - The price might go up a bit but not significantly more than the current cost of oil extraction and refinement.

Re: as long

"as they aren't these fancy moving stairways they seem to be unable to make safe"

You know escalators over here work the same way and could have the same issues if not closed properly?

Re: Fly on one - if you have a death wish

"In early 2015 I boarded the high speed express train from Nanning to Guangzhou; the service had opened TEN DAYS earlier.

There were already substantial amounts of rust showing through the paintwork on the bridge supports along the way."

I see a flaw in your logic there.

Presumably they built all of this BEFORE the service started... Didnt just throw it up the morning that the service started.

So while the service had been operational for 10 days the bridge supports were how old?

UK.gov job ads entice IT bods with promise they will be OUTSIDE IR35

Most people in the "gig economy" are not working through limited companies, they are Self Employed so are already subject to "normal" tax rates - basically they dont need to be deemed inside IR35 because they should already be declaring their income and paying the same tax as if they were permies.

Re: What?

So why not resign and work as a contractor? Without wishing to be rude, it would seem that by your willingness to work for 20% of what others will, you're encouraging them to exploit you.

Thats something that i suggest to permies all the time when they complain about contractor pay.

very few actually do it, because they that its not as easy as they think it is.

As an example, I started work on a contract back in feb.. two weeks ago i was told the company had almost run out of money and might not be able to pay me... How many permies would accept that as a risk of their work?

As a plus side, i'm sat in bed readin el reg and watching daytime tv... cant complain. :)

Re: What?

"What on earth do they pay people actually doing difficult dev work"

Depends on the work - the average is around £400 + VAT p/d in the north west MUCH more if you have some special skills.

Re: What?

"600 quid a day, for the trivially simple task of managing software licences."

managing licences isnt just keeping track of a few hundred installations on a spreadsheet.. the role will encompass the negotiation for discounts all of the compliance checking etc.

If you're responsible for licence compliance you're f*ck ups could cost the company millions in fines, so you will need a lot if insurance and will need to be compensated accordingly.

Its quite a senior role in any reasonably large company.

Re: It may be outside of IR35 now...

If the MoJ deem.ut outside they are liable.

So if HMRC do change the rules the contractor is still fine.

Re: Deemed by whom?

Doesn't matter, if they put it in the contract that they deem it outside ir35 the contractor will not be liable the MoJ will be.

From a contractors point of view this is ideal.

Re: Hey its all part of treasury's plan!

HMRC are currently paying several of my friends more money... So that they can pay more tax to HMRC.

Genius.

Re: May the farce be with you

Mark - You might want to get that reviewed by QDOS or another specialist, the bad news is that a substitution clause alone wont be enough.

In fact ANY clause in the contract not backed up in the day to day working practices are not worth the paper they are written on as under investigation is is the working practices that actually goes into making the determination on whether you are inside or not.

Drone maker DJI quietly made large chunks of Iraq, Syria no-fly zones

Re: Missed opportunity ...

"silently send drone location to the relevant security services when used in these areas"

Using what connection?

Base specs leak for Windows 10 Cloud – Microsoft's wannabe ChromeOS assassin

Re: Elephant in room ?

@annon

"no maintenance costs"

I call bullshit.

Burger King's 'OK Google' sad ad saga somehow gets worse

Why do they need to advertise? Surly by this point everyone knows what they sell?

It's like coke and pepsi running adverts.. who exactly do they think they are reaching with these?