* Posts by People's Poet

45 publicly visible posts • joined 5 Sep 2014

10 PRINT "ZX81 at 37" 20 GOTO 10

People's Poet

I stopped reading at.....

"At least the membrane keyboard featured an early version of Intellisense, with commands and functions popping up while the user typed. A proficient user could rapidly fill the diminutive memory with only a few keystrokes."

No it bloody well didn't! The author has clearly never used one. You had to use key combinations to get certain commands or functions to come up, usually meaning you were holding 3 keys down to get to more advanced commands. Shite journalism to say the least!

Five ways Apple can fix the iPhone, but won't

People's Poet

Re: A back button

Which is a 2 handed operation and utterly shit, especially if there's a link or other button near the top of the screen and your finger brushes that by accident instead. Stop kidding yourself that this is any type of solution.

Linus Torvalds pens vintage 'f*cking' rant at kernel dev's 'utter BS'

People's Poet

Cunts

Whether Torvalds is right or not doesn't make him any less of a cunt. Jobs was a cunt too, it seems that if you're brilliant at something some people think it's ok to act all cunty. I"m just waiting for someone to lamp him and really hope it gets filmed on someone's phone, hopefully a Windows phone at that!

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

People's Poet

Just do what the SAP used to tell women who got heavy breathers calling them, they'd even supply the means! Get a Police whistle and blow it very loudly into the mouth piece. You won't get a call back.

Tuesday's AWS S3-izure exposes Amazon-sized internet bottleneck

People's Poet

Re: Lies and Urban Myths

Nah.... you're just talking a load bollocks.

I want to remotely disable Londoners' cars, says Met's top cop

People's Poet

The condescension in "actually" is literally oozing out the screen.

Swedish appeals court upholds arrest warrant for Julian Assange

People's Poet

Re: Ah, yes, the famous "afraid of the US" bogeyman.

"Personally, I think extradition would be tough. Assange not a US citizen. He didn't hack any US servers. Proving jurisdiction on a crime seems to be a stretch. And rendition of a public figure would lead to too many questions about black ops."

Are you kidding me? You can break US law from within the UK and still get sent to prison on the US after being extradited.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/11/businessman-extradited-iran-arms-sale-charges

For selling batteries!!!

Forget Khan and Klingons, Star Trek's greatest trick was simply surviving

People's Poet

Re: Huh?

Very good points, However to write ST off as just a space opera is nonsense, albeit it is more SO than SF. It's easy to define what is SF, take Warp Speed, Transporters (Matter), Communicators, Phasers etc.

All of the above was based on SF when the programme was released, we now have working Communicators but we don't have the rest (yet). They're still based on scientific rationale but are purely fiction until mankind achieves them.

As an aside, the original series is still the best, Kirk's if you can't sh@g it kill it philosophy was brilliant, the show had a humorous side to it too. TNG was awful, with its "it wants to kill me, but lets hug it & talk about it" approach. The fact the new reboots are based on the original just proves the point.

BBC detector vans are back to spy on your home Wi-Fi – if you can believe it

People's Poet

Detector vans indeed!

I can't believe El-Reg is even posting this and the amount of people who seem to think it has merit.

If the government/BBC want to find out who's streaming from iPlayer it would just need to request that information from the ISP.

So many experts on here trying to show their knowledge of packet sniffing, encryption and vans and getting sucked into a nonsense argument.

Article was clearly written by someone who got their knowledge of IT from Hollywood.

The Microsoft-LinkedIn hookup will be the END of DAYS, I tell you

People's Poet

I've worked out my way to quit IT and become a millionaire....

I'm going to start selling tinfoil hats on Amazon and eBay!

Google Chrome deletes Backspace

People's Poet

I think it's more a case of people being stupid rather then he being the clever one.

How to not get pwned on Windows: Don't run any virtual machines, open any web pages, Office docs, hyperlinks ...

People's Poet

Re: How not to get pwned on Windows...

It's a shame it's just not true though, I received 50 Security Advisories from Red-Hat between the 2nd March and 7th April. I've often woken to seeing 10 or more come out in 1 night. Stop believing the hype that Linux or any OS is any more secure than Windows. It's just the sheer numbers of Windows desktops that make being pwned more likely however give your average Windows user a Linux desktop and don't apply the patches and they're just as likely to get pwned over time.

Oh, sugar! Sysadmin accidently deletes production database while fixing a fault

People's Poet

http://www.taobackup.com/

They should have read this first! In fact if you haven't read it yourself you probably should!

Microsoft buys SwiftKey, Britain's 'stealthiest software startup'

People's Poet

If you had used one it would probably not have capitalized your first two words.HTH.

Doctor Who: Oh, look! There's a restaurant at the end of the universe in Hell Bent

People's Poet

The true identity of the Hybrid.

I didn't bother to read all the comments on here so someone may have posted something similar to this. If no one else spotted it, my daughter who's a super Dr geek certainly didn't and it blew her mind when I told her, here goes.

The whole point of the story line about was the hybrid and that's exactly what the episode and series ended with being created. You now have 2 immortals, neither can be killed as Clara is already dead and as for Me we know why, who are flying around time and space in a TARDIS, they are the hybrid. Me alluded that it was The Doctor and Clara, not so but that should have given you your clue.

I think the next series or 2 will revolve around getting back to the hybrid were the Doctor has to deal with his creation one way or another. How the story will get there is another thing.

PS I only watched the episode last night hence the late reply.

Coding with dad on the Dragon 32

People's Poet

re : The CPU

Correction to all those on here, it wasn't the 6809 it was actually the MC6809E in both the TRS-80 CC & the Dragon 32. Still got my CC and BBC Micro. Another correction to the person who said that the Dragon wasn't a copy of the TRS-80. If you're going to be pedantic about the TRS-80 which are you referring to? The Model I, Model II (purely a business machine) or Model III which was used in both business and home, all of which used the Z80.

If you ever used a Dragon or CC you might remember this, POKE 65495,0 or POKE 65497,0 the first of which would increase the internal clock speed of the 6809E and the latter would increase it even more, although to such an extent you lost use of the tape ports on the first and both the tape ports and display port on the latter, handy when you wanted to process something faster and didn't need video out during processing. POKE 65494,0 returned the system back to normal mode.

Linus Torvalds targeted by honeytraps, claims Eric S. Raymond

People's Poet

Re: Sh...it happens

As pointed out earlier the thread "Even with these precautions you need to be prepared for well intended people to leap to the defence of shit stirrers without bothering to investigate facts." Clearly you've not actually read the details behind Assange's case and how these "sexual assaults" are classified. It's more a case under Swedish law of sexual co-ercion because he slept with 2 women and didn't use protection with either and didn't tell them about each other. Amazingly both women went into police stations at the same time in Cities 200 miles apart and made reports. Now I don't know about you but to me this smacks of some sort of manipulation, originally Swedish prosecutors threw it out but then suddenly had a change of heart. There's a lot more detail but that's it in a nutshell.

Flickering screens turn Microsoft Surface Books into Microsoft Surface paperweights

People's Poet

I think you're confusing them with Apple.

Outlook.com had classic security blunder in authentication engine

People's Poet

Being a whitehat does pay!! Instead of trying to extort money from people, it's a pity more don't take this approach. It's also kudos to Microsoft for paying this person for "fixing" the issue.

Linux-powered botnet lets rip on victims with 180Gbps network floods

People's Poet

But Linux is the way forward and is safe...

I can still hear the arguments and they're still thrown around that a Linux box is safer than a Windows box.

Sony sends muso stratowards on vintage TV set

People's Poet

I've seen some bad post editing before but that is definitely up there with the worst.

Total War: Warhammer, Blood Bowl and other Games Workshop table-to-screen delights

People's Poet

No one above this post has ever been laid! ;)

Hutchison will float O2 … as soon as the Three merger is done

People's Poet

As a Three customer I don't like the idea of this, I use both networks, Three for personal use and O2 for work. I'd take Three any day and the not-spots people talk of are few and far between. You might get always get a signal from O2 but it's rarely 3G especially in rural areas and when you do get one it's slow!

Linus Torvalds warns he's in no mood to be polite as Linux 4.2 drags

People's Poet

Governments adopting Linux on the Desktop

The Elbonian government for one!

Microsoft to Windows 10 consumers: You'll get updates LIKE IT or NOT

People's Poet

I really get sick of the Linux fanbois getting in a lather over Windows. Look we get it, you like Linux and hate Windows. No one is forcing you to use Windows.

This isn't such a bad idea and most web browsers have been doing this by default for ages. Yes it may lead to problems for some, but look at some iOS updates that mess up for some and not others on the exact same hardware. MS are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

BTW I'm not an MS fanbois or a Linux hater. Both have their place and faults.

Hands off, Apple! Irish dev studio sues over alleged iWatch infringement

People's Poet

I love it when Apple...

get it up them! They've been doing this kind of thing to other people for years! I hope they have to pay through the nose for it!

Linux on the desktop is so hot there's now a fight over it

People's Poet

Re: +1

" Disclaimer - the last Windows desktop in the house was wiped in 1997 and I presently have 5 (a personal per head + 1 shared) Linux desktops, 4 Linux laptops, 3 Linux STBs and 2 RPi based controllers. All of that is running Debian. Based on running that Linux is fit for purpose to be a desktop for Joe Average User 99% of the time."

Oh you're my hero! Can you tell us the colour of your walls while you're at it. Totally irrelavant to the whole argurment.

Actually you've highlighted the problem yourself. There are a myriad of Linux distros and on top of this a myriad of desktops. Imagine the following scenario, Bob is talking to Fred in the pub who is having an issue and he doesn't understand how to change his screen resolution for the new monitor he's purchased. Bob says don't worry mate I'll pop over and show you how. The trouble is Bob is running Ubuntu and Fred is running Mint. (Try not to be a pedant and point out that Mint runs on Ubuntu.)

Bob only knows how to do it in Ubuntu and doesn't have a clue how to do it in Mint. This doesn't deter him and he manages to royally cock things up! Yes it's a very simplistic view but it gets the point across as to why businesses and people like to stick with Windows for the main part. People know it.

Kamikaze Rosetta probe to ram comet it's chased for billions of miles

People's Poet

Will no one think of the Clangers!

Three's 'Home Signal' femtocells fail, restore mobile black spots

People's Poet

@ johnaaronrose - You could simply keep tweeting them about it / bad signal / service etc. They don't like bad tweets. I had complained previously about no home signal and never even knew about the service, I found out by them helping some young lady out with the problem on Twitter. I just rang support and they said they would send me a text to test my signal, I said go for it as I wouldn't get it. If you do the same just put your phone in Flight mode if you get a bad signal.That seemed to satisfy them.

Alternatively you could always make a Twitter account as a young lady, fake pic and see how much help they give you! ;)

DRONE ALONE: US Navy secretary gives up on manned fighters

People's Poet

The proposed use of drones ie unmanned fighters has been around for years, I can remember discussions back as far as the 80's, a fighter without a pilot onboard can pull much greater G then one with a human master inside.

You don't lose millions in training someone to fly them if they crash or are shot down as they can't kill the occupant.

There's also a saving on weight for all the equipment to keep the pilot alive so this can go toward fuel or armaments.

Videogame publishers to fans: Oi, stop resurrecting our dead titles online

People's Poet

The EFF are a suprising bunch, one minute they're vandalising Colonial Statues and threatening white South Africans that the honeymoon period is over and the next minute they're urging the US Copyright Office to allow players to be exempt from DMCA takedowns Life is full of surprises!

Facebook preps for class action lawsuit as angry EU mob lawyer up

People's Poet

Re: This action is fundamentally misguided

No the US Government isn't entitled to access to said data, especially if said data is held on servers outside of the US. You sound like a Yank who's been blinded into thinking that having your liberty taken away is OK as long as you're free which without liberty will never be the case & safe (although from whom, certainly not your government).

Bonking with Apple is no fun 'cos it's too hard to pay, say punters

People's Poet

Re: I just don't understand the need for the concept to be honest

You don't see the point? It makes things so much easier for small purchases. Have you ever been waiting to buy a drink and the guy in front of you is paying using chip & pin or cash? Wait for him to insert the card, make sure no one can see him enter his pin, hand the terminal back to the cashier, wait for the paper slip to print. As for cash, wait for them to get your change, check it's right and then you're carrying something that's been in countless peoples hands. Chip and pin is a god send!

I can't wait for them to up the limit to £30. While £20 is OK it is the only downside. You're also only allowed a maximum of 5 purchases a day using it and if someone pinches your card and tries to make a couple of transactions in the same store they can't. You're then forced to use chip & pin.

I hardly every carry cash, things like the tunnel taking cash won't be around for long. The number of small merchants who now have chip & pin terminals on 3G is amazing. Perhaps it's just in the civilised south! ;)

Becoming Steve Jobs biography: ‘Much of it was chutzpah and self delusion’

People's Poet

In a homage to the late Steve Jobs I named my iPod Touch, "Steve Jobs was a cock!"

Sync that Apple!

Canadian bloke refuses to hand over phone password, gets cuffed

People's Poet

Re: CAN$25,000 (US$19,900)

@ Sarah Balfour Buy yourself some of these (available in Tesco) and calm down woman! PS. Instant coffee is vile and should only be used for people you don't like!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lyons-Coffee-Bags-Break-bags/dp/B009YXLY5O?SubscriptionId=AKIAIQWHH4HRPK7LRQTQ&tag=ip-bd-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B009YXLY5O&ascsubtag=Lyons000Coffee000Bags

You'll NEVER guess who has bought I Taught Taylor Swift How To Give Head dot-com

People's Poet

Taylor Swift is sweetly pretty and I want to protect her! (Spot the reference)

While her lawyers might be some what vociferous in their approach to protect her IP, Taylor Swift is actually one of the few decent pop stars around these days. I hear all about her and her good deeds from my daughter. She regularly buys fans gifts and invites them to parties, pays off their student loans etc.

As for her music which most of is written by her, personally I don't mind it, I have to listen to it often enough so perhaps that's why.

REVEALED: TEN MEEELLION pinched passwords and usernames

People's Poet

Ah the old "But I did it for the greater good!" argument! What a complete bell end! As for his tweet about every hack today not being his fault, I can guarantee there are a few that are!

Jupiter Ascending – a literally laughable train wreck of a film

People's Poet

I am about to commit heresy in some people's eyes but all the Star Wars films are dreadful if you listen to the dialogue. It doesn't stop you enjoying them though.

I think it's better not to have too many expectations when watching a film like this and just use it to kill a couple of hours while not having to think too hard.

$10,000 Ethernet cable promises BONKERS MP3 audio experience

People's Poet

I'm using an Akai turntable circa 1982, through a Denon Amp circa 1990 and Gale speakers Circa 2001. No buffers in sight, just the lovely sound of the stylus clicking as it moves across to start the track and the beauty that is known as analog with neither a 1 or 0 in sight.

ZX81 BEATEN at last as dev claims smallest Chess code crown

People's Poet

My father brought home a friends ZX-81 they'd only just purchased so I had it for a week or two. Like so many others I was hooked at that point and was soon spending my Saturday mornings and most of my holidays in the only computer shop in Durban, BBM Microworld. Most of that time was spent on TRS-80 Model 1's and III's. I got so well known that the staff would let me demonstrate the kit to customers.

Another friend of my father had his ZX-81 held down onto a flat heavy piece of wood woth a metal bracket and the RAM pack held in place in similar fashion and the power cable with a clip also screwed down. It never crashed from RAM pack wobbles!

I ended up with a TRS-80 Color Computer and a BBC Micro, the latter of which would overheat in the Durban climate when playnig Elite. I used to keep the top off it with a small desk fan directed over the CPU and motherboard. Worked a treat.

Ah the heady days of micro-computing!

SCREW you, GLASSHOLES! Microsoft unveils HoloLens

People's Poet

No promo video? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30927356

It amuses me how so many people don't know how much great R&D MS actually do. For example the digital table, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VfpVYYQzHs oddly called Surface at the time.

The possibilties for these glasses are fantastic. Kudos to MS for getting these to launch first.

Hinge: An app that scours Facebook friends for dates banks $12m

People's Poet

Another developer who thinks iPhones are the only platform people use.

As for getting out and meeting real people have you tried that as a middle aged man recently? It might be ok if you live in a city but plenty of people live out in the sticks and there are very few places to go where you can actually meet other single people.

And this is the 21st century after all.

Microsoft, Docker bid to bring Linux-y containers to Windows: What YOU need to know

People's Poet

@ AC by which argument Linux is still playing catch up with Solaris etc.

People's Poet

It's fun to sit and watch two camps arguing over Windows copying Linux and noting how oblivious/blinkered the Linux camp are to the fact that containers are a Sun invention and have been around for years. So exactly who is copying who?

Just accept that it makes sense to build other peoples good ideas into your own products.

Beer in SPAAAACE: Photographic PROOF

People's Poet

IPA - Indian Pale Ale - It was brewed for the troops out in Colonial India to stop it turning cloudy in the heat & humidity. It had nothing to do with the Royal Navy you bloody Philistine, they were given a ration of rum.