Posts by Rafael #872397

One of the world's most prominent blockchain apps looks like being binned

Re: Because now it is going to be built on generative AI!

How sad it is that NFTs are already forgotten!

BOFH takes a visit to retro computing land

Short, shameful confession

I keep punch cards (the ones I used at the university!), 8-inch floppy disks, and such in my office, in a small museum/shrine. Recently I got hold of some Jaz disks and some hard disks for 1980's computers. I'm still looking forward to buying a ZX-81-like model we had in Brazil in the 1980s...

Old fart icon because...

Microsoft wants to stick adverts in Bing chat responses

Re: the blather about curated news

Even all adblocks cannot stop some news sites from showing "sponsored content", ads disguised as news. In a Brazilian news site there were lots of ads for "NFT, the future of investments" or similar bullshit.

Is Neuralink ready for human brain implants? Allegedly so

Speaking of this, where is Kevin Warwick nowadays?

Roses are red, algorithms are blue, here's a poem I made a machine write for you

Lesson learned: never trust a chatbot with your love life!

Well, duh? It looks like you're not really thinking about putting any effort into your love life. Or thinking at all.

Microsoft tells people to prepare for AI search engine that goes Bing!

The elephant in the room

How will it force ads down our throats?

"Hi BingBardBoom, I was thinking about visiting Robonia, what are the best tourist traps?"

"Let's talk about travel insurance first".

McDonald's pulls plug on Wi-Fi, starts playing classical music to soothe yobs

I was going to say "any branch of any government" but you beat me to it.

AI cannot be credited as authors in papers, top academic journals rule

Being banned from submitting papers to major journals would kill an academic career, since 99% of universities work on the principle that the number of articles produced in major papers is the only way to tell if an academic is any good or not. (The other 1% prefer nepotism).

Depends on the university. Predatory Publishing and Vanity Publishing rose just because for many universities quantity is better than quality.

I get a lot of spam from "publishers" asking for my "contributions" on fields I know nothing about, or asking to resubmit a paper ("as is, no need for new material") to a conference to their journals, all for a tiny little contribution to keep the journals open access.

Fraudulent ‘popunder’ Google Ad campaign generated millions of dollars

I have zero sympathy for the advertisers themselves getting scammed.

In fact, what are the adult sites displaying those ads? I'd like to visit it regularly to help the scammers in their noble cause of taking money from advertisers.

Elon Musk to step down as Twitter CEO: Help us pick his replacement

Re: That Ye guy

Obligatory Tom the Dancing Bug: https://www.gocomics.com/tomthedancingbug/2022/12/09

Re: Ughhh...

Out of curiosity and boredom, I clicked on this link to see what it was. Twitter started to ask me questions about my (old, seldom used) account, then sent me an e-mail with an alert about whatever.

I decided that I wasn't that curious, and realized (again) that I don't really care about most of the information on Twitter and just came back to El Reg.

I guess I just don't see the value of it as a medium for communication.

‘Mother of Internet’ Radia Perlman argues for centralized infrastructure

Re: Perl is confusing

I'd say. I still cannot understand why is there a "unless" statement, and why "use strict" is not a default feature :-)

Neuralink's AI brain chip could be in humans within six months claims Elon Musk

Re: It's always six months away

Plus, at this point who'd want Musk in their brain except for the doofs who still worship him in spite of the Twitter debacle?

Those are probably the same ones willing to drill a hole in their heads.

NASA uses space station dust sensor to map 50 methane 'super-emitters' on Earth

Earth surface Mineral dust source InvesTigation (EMIT ... seriously?)

Yes. It is BAD (Backronyms Are understanDably weird).

No, Apple, you may not sell iPhones without chargers

Re: Simple Compromise?

Just for reference: the basic iPhone 13 mini costs 699 US dollars in the US store. It sells for 6599 Brazilian reais.

According to Google's currency converter, 6599 Brazilian reais is 1257.34 US dollars.

I know that there are many taxes on electronics in Brazil, but at that price range, they could at least include a voucher. The charger bought separately goes for the equivalent of 36,39 dollars.

Icon because you can get lots of good beer in a local pub for 36,39 dollars.

Businesses should dump Windows for the Linux desktop

Re: "Businesses should dump Windows for the Linux desktop"

Some 20 years ago I was teaching CS at a local college and was managing a laboratory with Linux machines for the programming classes. The computers had just the basics: a text editor, one free IDE, browsers, etc.

The lab worked great for our purpose.

Some people in a local branch of the government got wind of this and decided to copy the idea to save money on Windows licenses. After they converted one of their labs their boss came to visit and asked about the software they planned to use, and I got a frantic call asking "where can we download Autocad for Linux". They got really upset when they learned that they could not run all their applications on Linux as if it were a free, compatible version of Windows.

(icon for the "20 years ago" bit)

You're not wrong. The scope for quantum computers remains small

Re: Wow !!!

SMBC is wonderfully weird! I strongly recommend "Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543", a collection of cartoons you can read for free on the site *plus* amazing short interviews with some scientists and writers.

Florida man accused of selling fake, broken Cisco devices from China to hospitals, schools, military

Decadence!

Florida Man used to be cooler, as per other news ("Florida man run over by van after dog pushes accelerator"), ("Florida man enters wrong home, tries to kick everyone out"), ("Florida man builds mini car for his pet parrot"), ("Florida man mistakes girlfriend for hog, shoots her").

First steps into the world of thought leadership: What could go wrong?

It's a trap!

"Yup, that's exactly the kind of baby-sitter we need on Thursday nights!"

While you're here keeping Junior from destroying the house, do you mind checking our printer? It keeps complaining about something about the ink.

Leave that sentient AI alone a mo and fix those racist chatbots first

Re: It's Hard To Tell If It's Human...

Lucky you. Whenever I try to contact my provider I get passed from one to other specialists like a very hot, very poisonous potato.

All those specialists start with "please let me know what's your problem", and after I explain, "I'll pass you to another specialist".

Apparently, my problem is that I keep using the same company.

The next time your program is 'not responding,' (do not) try these steps

Re: Cynical

It is worse -- sometimes when you search for a specific XYZ error message you get, as top results, pages like "Problem XYZ - SOLVED!!!1!" or "How to completely and permanently solve issue XYZ".

Usually, the steps are just like the ones Dobbs listed (ranging from "uninstall and reinstall the software" to "format and reinstall the whole OS"), with an additional "buy our software that will not only solve XYZ but also clean your registry, your basement, your face's skin and the nastiest entries in your browsers' history".

Lovely.

We've never even built datacenters using robots here on Earth

Re: Proof that there are idiots that have way too much more money than sense.

Pssst, Elon, want to store your favorite Tweets in a safe place? I just got the thing for you.

Original killer PC spreadsheet Lotus 1-2-3 now runs on Linux natively

Re: Never mind 1-2-3

Feh! ChiWriter FTW!

And where's the "I remember old tech" icon?

Switch off the mic if it makes you feel better – it'll make no difference

… before secretly selling your transcribed recordings to advertisers.

Come on, that is nonsense. They would never sell these recordings to Procter & Gamble, a fine company that makes Pepto-Bismol, which I hear you're needing.

US Army may be about to 'waste' up to $22b on Microsoft HoloLens

Re: a couple more nuclear aircraft carriers

Or they could use the money for other very useful military equipment.

Google 'Switch to Android' app surfaces in iOS App Store

Google, which supports sideloaded apps on Android devices

Supports, tolerates, or can't stop people from doing it?

When the expert speaker at an NFT tech panel goes rogue

Don't you just love boffins.

Sadly it is just a question of time until the NFT/Cryptoscam peddlers get something like the Tobacco Institute to get "scientists" to tell that NFT/Cryptoscam is the best thing ever!

Beijing to build Communist training college in a metaverse

Re: Of course it will officially be massively popular – regardless of how many actually use it

Are you talking about the third life metaverse or the communist playground on it?

Meta sued for 'aiding and abetting' crypto scammers

Can we do Alphabet next?

I for one am sick and tired of spam messages with either a link to a Google Document (never clicked, probably contains the spam contents?) or a fake sender and a "contact us at [e-mail] for your bazillion US DOLLAR cash prize".

No way to report either case. Spammers rejoice.

AI-created faces now look so real, humans can't spot the difference

Re: Fascinating

So.. you're the only robot (sorry, synthetic person) among all your friends?

Developer creates ‘Quite OK Image Format’ – but it performs better than just OK

Re: Zig, Rust, Rust, Rust, Go, TypeScript, Haskell, Ć, Python, C#, Elixir, Swift, Java, and Pascal

(at the top of my lungs)

Lovely Rust! Wonderful Rust!

James Webb Space Telescope gets all shook up – launch delayed again

Re: a "sudden, unplanned release of a clamp band"

We have the Regomizer and The Reg online standards converter. It is time we get an El Reg Magnificent TechSpeak Excuse Disguiseolator! (Powered by NASA and BOFH)

Apple's Safari browser runs the risk of becoming the new Internet Explorer – holding the web back for everyone

Re: programmatically determine

The Battery Status API specification defines a means for web developers to programmatically determine the battery status of the hosting device. Without knowing the battery status of a device, a web developer must design the web application with an assumption of sufficient battery level for the task at hand.

Determine is a funny word.

Determine, verb 1. cause (something) to occur in a particular way... 2. ascertain or establish exactly

So they can 1. use all my battery charge and 2. ascertain my battery level so they can... what? Display a huge pop-up with a Dennis Nedry video telling me I am about to run out of juice?

Facebook may soon reveal new name – we're sure Reg readers will be more creative than Zuck's marketroids

Re: What ever the choice

Sure will do!

VisitorCorp too obvious? Too obscure?

NFTs not annoying enough? Now they come with wallet-emptying malware

Have siphoned off $5.3bn in Bitcoin payments

How much is that in Pogbas?

Or, for a livelier discussion, can I buy 5.3 million entry-level iPhone 13s with that amount of money?

Technology has the potential to close the education divide. Key word: Potential

It's the economy, stupid!

Technology may help, but a solution to reduce the divide must involve policies and resources *and long-term planning* -- education must be seen as a strategic investment. Just spending money on technology benefits only the sellers of said technology.

Case in point: some years ago, some cities in Brazil decided to equip public schools with low-cost computers and provide schools with Internet access (which wasn't common at the time). Absolutely no money was earmarked to train teachers, hire tech staff, replace equipment when it inevitably broke, or even prepare a plan for using the resources adequately. Of course, the idea failed, but the money was spent, so the politicians who endorsed the whole boondoggle were happy.

More recently, due to the pandemic, some public schools (never adequately funded in Brazil) suggested students use their cell phones and provided cheap 4G access. Again, no plan, no tech or any kind of support -- just thrown some technology and hope the users can sort it out.

Also, remember One Laptop per Child?

Adding AI to everything won't make sense until we can use it for anything

Who doesn't want to have a graphics program that will respond to the command...

That is going to be abused/misused in 0.0000000000000003 seconds.

Horizon Workrooms promises a virtual future of teal despair

Re: Environment

You no longer would have to buy fancy furniture

Nor fancy pants, or pants at all. And I can pretend that what's I am drinking is coffee.

But I can still do that with a computer, no need for a VR that will add another nausea-inducing layer to the experience.

(1.5 years of this and still we didn't get a no-pants icon?)

You MUST present your official ID (but only the one that's really easy to fake)

Re: process failure and gaps

That's because, in France, average Joe (librarian, sex shop owner, me, your neighbour) doesn't have any authority to ask for your ID card or passport

Here on the other side of the Atlantic (and of the equator line), even shopkeepers are allowed to ask for a photo ID. Some do, some don't, it depends on the type of transaction. We sort of got used to it.

Even so, identity fraud is rampant. To get a prepaid SIM you just need to inform your national registry number, which is not checked against any document. As a result, our meek citizens have to check from time to time how many SIMs are registered in their names.

To CAPTCHA or not to CAPTCHA? Gartner analyst says OK — but don’t be robotic about it

determine if answers are given too quickly — as would be the case for a professional

Heck no. I click on the answers too quickly because I want to get to whatever the captcha is blocking me to as soon as possible instead of wasting time looking at crosswalks.

More power to web apps, cries Google, and more privacy, too

Re: "less intrusive and more tolerable"

Or if I buy a lawnmower online (because I've obviously had an aneurysm), then you wait a year and show me ads for lawnmower repairmen in my area.

Do you need medicine for your aneurysm? CI1AAL1S XANAXX V1@GRA CANADIAN PHARMACY CHEAP

(sorry. I agree with your rant but could not resist)

'Big updates' to Mac design app Sketch add real-time collaboration – but you'll need to fork out for a subscription

but you'll need to fork out for a subscription

Hell no then. Affinity Designer does what I need to.

Microsoft demotes Calibri from default typeface gig, starts fling with five other fonts

Re: Microsoft’s new default font options, rated

Thanks for the link. Am I the only one that read "BITARSE" on the mix of letters in the first image on the article?

Zorin OS 16 beta claims largest built-in app library 'of any open source desktop ever'

No thank you.

Nothing from Zorin, except maybe Grace Jones.

Google proposes Logica data language for building more manageable SQL code

No.

It's not just you.

I could be interested in seeing how a query with several outer joins would be represented, but not interested enough in googling it.

I'd also like to be the first to XKCD this board: https://xkcd.com/927/

Cross-platform Windows Presentation Framework, anyone? The short answer: yes. Unpacking Avalonia

Perhaps a confusing amount of choices is a healthy thing.

No.

A moderate amount of choices with clear development paths and reasonable expectation that the time we invest in those will not be lost is a healthy thing.

Faster than a speeding... tab opening? Vivaldi 3.7 is here

Re: "What next, a better shade of white?"

Now Gluten Free.

Tab minimalists look away: Vivaldi introduces two-level tab stacks

Re: Only two rows pfft

Soon we'll have more tabs than contents on the browser -- see https://ophtek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/toolbar.jpg

Developers! These 3 weird tricks will make you a global hero

Keep your damn "OK" and "Cancel" buttons way apart!

Let me be clear: in dialogs or web forms where we have to fill many many fields the "OK" button should be located WAY APART from the ones that will ignore the data we've just laboriously entered.

It is a pet peeve of mine since my hands shake because <del>I drink a lot on the job</del> they're tired from petting puppies and kittens.

Facebook rolls out full-page ads, website complaining Apple is forcing it to get consent before tracking you

> 1. Their ads provide a dreadful ROI, no idea why people use them.

I'd guess there's a bit of "we need to advertise because the competition is doing it!" mentality -- perhaps one bright, young, relentlessly perky graduate from a marketing school "consulted" on those small companies on how they could increase profit?