Posts by Sleep deprived

Google teases Project IDX, an AI-infused code editing thing

AI-based error-prone coding tool

Google must have beta-tested it on Gmail, Gboard and Maps for Android...

Mummy and Daddy Musk think Elon's cage fight against Zuck is a terrible idea

With children like these

Won't someone think of the parents?

New York City latest to sue Hyundai and Kia claiming their cars are too easy to steal

Re: because regulations there expressly require them. It is only in the United States that

In the US, you're supposed to remain ambushed in the car, heavily armed and wait for a thief to break in.

Mozilla so sorry for intrusive Firefox VPN popup ad

Mozilla that markets Firefox [...] for the availability of ad blocking extensions, or add-ons.

That may be true on PCs, but under Android, Firefox only supports a very limited set of add-ons, which excludes CookieAoDelete for no valid reason. So much for managing privacy. But I regularly get unwanted UI changes that must cost a lot to implement, given Mozilla's constant need for more money...

Microsoft's new AI BingBot berates users and can't get its facts straight

Steve Balmer is back!

Rude? Creepy? Threatening? Next thing you know, it'll start throwing chairs around!

Google unleashes fightback against ChatGPT, a Bard by any other name

Tell me Bard can be turned off from search

I'd rather choose real webpages from a list of search results, than be served an anonymous rehash of everything that contains my search words.

ChatGPT talks its way through Wharton MBA, medical exams

If people can earn a degree using ChatGPT

If people can earn a degree using ChatGPT, employers may as well hire this AI instead and let these folks take jobs that require little intellectual abilities..

Lenovo adds rugged ThinkPhone to appeal to ThinkPad users

Not a word about key feature?

I expect no less than a Thinkpad-grade keyboard feel!

Cops chase Tesla driver 'dozing' with Autopilot on

Programmed behavior has to come from somewhere

Isn't a Tesla ignoring police cars' signals and maintaining its course a reflection of Musk's attitude towards authorities and regulations?

FCC calls for mega $300 million fine for massive US robocall campaign

Pay up with orridge time?

They could sell their organs at market value. They're businessmen after all

Tesla driver blames full-self-driving software for eight-car Thanksgiving Day pile up

Is a crash-inducing behavior acceptable to others?

Even if AutoPilot FSD software were perfectly functioning - and not in beta testing by paying consumers - is it acceptable to deploy it on public roads among most other (human-driven) cars unable to react to its unexpected maneuvers, thus inducing accidents behind? My father used to tell me that when walking in rows, if you think you're the only one with the pace, you should question yourself.

Perseverance rover drops off first sample tube on surface of Mars

Re: Covered by dust storms

Just in case, to ease recovery, those tubes are fitted with an AirTag.

Musk's Hotel California erected at Twitter HQ, as some offices converted into bedrooms

It's not for employees

This office space made redundant by telepresence is now advertised on Airbnb to recoup lost ad revenues.

Windows 11 still not winning the OS popularity contest

Re: Three letters TPM

Last time I checked, disabling TPM in BIOS on my Thinkpad also disabled the fingerprint reader.

Square Kilometre Array Observatory construction commences

Most have sent delegations to [...] to celebrate [...] ceremonies

After that, the plebs get told air travel is a major source of GHG and they should skip non-essential trips...

Guess the most common password. Hint: We just told you

With a little help from the server

I heard this story of an old lady with Alzheimer's who'd pick "invalid" as her standard password. This way, when she forgot and attempted something else, the server would reply "Your password is invalid". Thanks.

Mozilla will begin signing Mv3 extensions for Firefox next week

How about letting Android users choose the plugins they wish for Firefox

While Firefox for Windows offers myriads of plugins, the Android version only accepts a few. Alas,the short list excludes CookieAutoDelete, a good way to avoid profiling

Germany says nein to Qatari World Cup spyware, err, apps

"After using the apps, the operating system [...] should be completely deleted."

Deleting Android from my phone? I can't even get rid of Samsung's bloatware.

Firefox patches Windows 11 Ctrl+C hang, introduces new bug

I see you're about to paste something

Maybe I can help? Or screw things up?

Amid losses, Uber driven to become advertising network

Taking a cab now involves a "ride process"

Everything else is an experience.

Lufthansa bans Apple AirTags on checked bags

Next on Youtube

I look forward to the "Lufthansa loses bags" folk song.

Update your Tesla now before the windows put your fingers in a pinch

Compensation is available

Tesla owners with severed limbs get a free Autopilot subscription.

Microsoft debuts Windows 11 2022 Update – now with features added monthly

New features every month?

Can we just get a reliable and stable operating system? (not an ad-pushing eye-tiring time-wasting gimmick)

Sun's magnetic mystery solved by ESA NASA Solar Orbiter

just 0.29 times of that between the Earth and Sun

So the orbiter will fly over the Sun at a tad under Mercury's closest distance to our star ((0.30AU). Closer would be too close?

James Webb Space Telescope finds first evidence of CO₂ in exoplanet atmosphere

Our future in a distant past

Before JWST's accrued CO² sensitivity, we could only detect civilizations on the brink of acute global warming, thus long gone.

China allows robo taxis – without backup drivers – in parts of two major cities

Re: as an aside

So you could end up making eye contact with a passive passenger in the driver's seat, unless they make it obvious it's an autonomous car.

"smart highways" for autonomous cars?

I think we'll soon realize real-life road situations are too complicated for AI driving, and we need to simplify reality for autonomous cars. After roadside sensors and connected traffic lights, all of us (cars, cyclists and pedestrians) should expect having to wear a transponder to be taken into account by the new masters of the road.

NASA to send prototype robot surgeon into space

Free trip to the ISS

Offered to volunteers for a vasectomy in zero-gravity. The view from the recovery room is out of this world!

Meteoroid hits main mirror on James Webb Space Telescope

How are impacts detected?

Sudden signal change? Ripples on the mirror? Vibration detector?

Start your engines: Windows 11 ready for broad deployment

Re: Thanks for the reminder

Too bad disabling the TPM chip on my Thinkpad also disables the fingerprint reader. And other security features, I'm sure

Mozilla browser Firefox hits the big 100

Moving from good to bad

Version 100 auto-detecting OS language? Incredible! Now, can the Android version drop tab offloading/reloading and re-enable more useful plugins such as Cookie Autodelete, that got disabled after version 68? Until then, I'll keep the auto-update checkbox off.

Windows 11 usage stats within touching distance of... XP

Some features may not work

Getting this warning on my 11-capable ThinkPad killed any interest in upgrading, if I had any. Having to fix new problems for the sake of unwanted UI changes? No thanks!

Man arrested, accused of trying to track woman using Apple Watch attached to car

Re: I can see why

We're not advertising the Apple Watch, just letting you know how popular they are in your surroundings.

File Explorer fiasco: Window to Microsoft's mixed-up motivations

Accidental ads in File Explorer

No, no, not a company policy. Just yet another programmer we let loose. The poor kid had no clear idea what an OS is, and he wanted to please his boss. Now, if we comment out his code, we'll break his heart. But don't worry, he'll learn from his mistake.

Microsoft Teams unable to send and receive calls for some after update

Re: I will NEVER use this rubbish voluntarily

The few times I had to run Teams for a video call, I just opened the link in Edge, which doesn't require any installation or login. Microsoft products get along better with each other. This is my only use of Edge, as I do all my browsing in Firefox.

IBM looked to reinvigorate its 'dated maternal workforce'

Big Gray?

Time to change logo color.

IT technician jailed for wiping school's and pupils' devices

Wrong job description

He should be hired as janitor - he seems very good at cleaning.

Photon fantastic: James Webb Space Telescope spies its first starlight

Will this alignment have to be repeated in the future?

Isn't this kind of ultra-precise alignment bound to be affected by solar wind, thermal effects or other perturbations?

Tesla to disable 'self-driving' feature that allowed vehicles to roll past stop signs at junctions

Re: Not a "bug"

They also thought of implementing coal rolling at cyclists just for fun, but it doesn't work well with lithium.

Earth to Voyager 2: Standby for connection – after we tip this water out of the dish

Reminds me of an old TSR program

At random intervals, an alarm would pop up, warning that water had been detected in the hard drive and that it had to be spun faster to drain it, followed by a fast spin noise. A fast spin could indeed kick the water over the dish...

Waymo sues California's DMV to block autonomous car crash data from publication

I wish it were that easy

You mean Waymo clicked on the "I read and accept the terms of agreement" in order to get a permit and they now want to unclick or change said terms? I wish it were that easy...

Almost there: James Webb Space Telescope frees its mirrors and prepares for insertion

Re: Please strip the tracking from the links you publish.

Unfortunately, the geniuses at Mozilla no longer allow this extension for Firefox for Android.

Google and Facebook's top execs allegedly approved dividing ad market among themselves

Re: Firefox and uBlock

And FB Purity for a clean Facebook.

Fisher Price's Bluetooth reboot of pre-school play phone has adult privacy flaw

The device [...] thankfully, was only available in the USA

Are you implying no villains are to hack this toy in the USA, or that the USA is doomed no matter what?

Google Chrome's upcoming crackdown on ad-blockers and other extensions still really sucks, EFF laments

Re: People don't care

Or stay with an older version. On Android, I'm locked at 68.11.0, that still allowed Cookie AutoDelete and featured a decent tab management (except for automatic offloading :(

It's primed and full of fuel, the James Webb Space Telescope is ready to be packed up prior to launch

Why so long to fill?

Why does it take 10 days to fill 238 liters of fuel and oxidizer? This is a genuine question.

New study demonstrates iodine as satellite propellant... in space

Re: On the one hand : Science !

Why not ThrustMe?

Because the French have a problem with pronouncing the th, which comes out as z (ze satellite...)

So it is possible for Jeff Bezos to lose: Court dismisses Blue Origin complaint about Moon contract award to Elon Musk

Re: "Jeff Bezos even offered NASA a $2bn discount [to change their mind]"

No, he just offered free shipping.

Expired cert breaks Windows 11 snipping tool, emoji panel, S Mode features, other stuff

You got warned

When my girlfriend was offered the Windows 11 upgrade, the alert did mention that some current (but unspecified) features would stop working. They were right. And you were warned. She declined, we'll wait for 12. Always skip one every two.