* Posts by rwill2

28 publicly visible posts • joined 28 May 2017

Where does Microsoft's NPU obsession leave Nvidia's AI PC ambitions?

rwill2

Will Microsoft support Co-pilot on Macs M2

That would be funny on top of Windows GPUs Co-pilot support, but yes I think NVidia are right to support developers over AI PC things no one wants (and could be done on server-side)

Microsoft, PC makers cut prices of Copilot+ gear in Europe, analyst stats confirm

rwill2

Isn't an a Mac or PC+GPU better than ARM/Intel AI PC

I mean you can run LLMs with Mac and PCs AMD/NVIDIA GPUs already much better supported. Would you really want to run Llama 3 LLMs on a Surface ?

ARM based variants of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon but has advertises Intel "Built on Windows 11 and the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processors."

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/business

From Intel AI PCs are about running LLM locally, but how many people will really do that? https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/ai-pc-brings-larger-llm-development-to-your-desk.html

I mean doesn't co-pilot run the Microsoft Azure cloud anyway? Seems a very fine point about privacy and running "local plugin/extension in your IDE" maybe.

Just how deep is Nvidia's CUDA moat really?

rwill2
Go

What about Apple M2 Vs NVIDIA / AMD

The M2 chip from Apple boasts superior efficiency in power and thermal management, making it highly suitable for LLMs and general AI applications with lots of dev libraries support. Although Apple's market share in the AI hardware landscape is smaller compared to NVIDIA's dominant position (maybe less on servers but did see AWS offer them), it is progressively encroaching on AMD and well lots of devs use macs over x64/x86!

Microsoft seems intent on buying the gaming industry with $68.7bn purchase of troubled Activision Blizzard

rwill2

At least they won't repeat killing Tex Murphy with Access again

For those fans ... they killed off classic PI adventure game with Tex after buying Access to focus on golf.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Murphy#Hiatus_and_revival

For those who have not seen it 1st CD ROM version used 3D + FMV shots way ahead of it's time a short trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbaUReyXtC8

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s: Impressively average, which is how corporate buyers like it

rwill2

T480 / T580 are still the best swappable battery

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad L15 Ryzen Pro 7 that was a disappointment on battery length and CPU performance, but I have bought a T480 with i7 on eBay last week best as still better as I can swap battery and upgrade to 64GB best laptop overall!

Hoping swapping of batteries comes back!

Google proposes Logica data language for building more manageable SQL code

rwill2

Be real Google - Data scientists and most devs would rather use Pandas or SQL

I mean common which one would you prefer? And less typing

--Google new crap with :- ==

MagicComment(comment_text:) :-

`comments`(user_id:, comment_text:),

user_id == 5;

--SQL

SELECT comment_text FROM comments WHERE user_id = 5;

# Pandas

comments[comments["user_id "] == 5]

SQL still has a place for quick queries, join and reporting but Python has full functions, classes, unit testing available!

Vietnam pursues ten-year AI plan, aspires to crack world’s top 50 for R&D by 2030

rwill2

AI is hot but they should got for things like Quantum Computing and open data

AI will need data to be exchanged, ingested and prepared to work from it's not magic, I don;t think AI along will do anything !

Quantum computing is getting massive investment in China, US and EU, e.g. https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/04/china_quantum_computing/

Japan pours millions into AI-powered dating to get its people making babies again

rwill2

But now this has changed with COVID-19 and remote working!

Even in Japan like over here employees can work remotely so no more commuting or staying in those small crash hotels.

Here they say it's 65% of people: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-companies-office-poll-idUSKCN25E2Y8

Photostopped: Adobe Cloud evaporates in mass outage. Hope none of you are on a deadline, eh?

rwill2

It's all about DRM and monthly revenue

It's all about DRM to protect their software and charging you reoccurring fees, then again Photoshop 6.0 still runs perfectly offline for me!

Microsoft announces official Windows package manager. 'Not a package manager' users snap back

rwill2

Ubuntu Shell Vs PowerShell Views

Always hated PowerShell and since I've installed the Ubuntu Shell I don't see the point of powershell is you are a developer, data scientist, or big data engineer.

Maybe only if you are an Admin setting up Windows decktops/laptops only.

But seriously why would you use PowerShell/Windows as containers, servers, micrservices, or IoT ... makes no sense LINUX Bash rulz and so many patterns and examples out there!

Amazon flicks switch on AI-powered enterprise search service Kendra – but where are all the connectors?

rwill2

Probably Elastic Search + Ultrawarm under the hood

Elastic search with Ultrawarm https://docs.aws.amazon.com/elasticsearch-service/latest/developerguide/ultrawarm.html

I doubt it will be like Alexa for you business documents because of the variety, quality and ad-hoc nature, even if they have an AI semantic quantum powered engine as this is an NLP hard problem.

IT services sector faces armageddon as COVID-19 lockdown forces project cancellations – analysts

rwill2

Big outsourced contracts will fail but the right startups won't

We are used to working from home and boostrapped, never worked so hard!

Line-of-business folk will have bigger role in growing robotic process automation revolution

rwill2

RPA is the same as last decades BPM

Example is IBM FileNet BPM https://www.ibm.com/cloud/automation-software/business-process-management

When I was a consultant I implemented a BPM insurance claim and mortgage system for large clients, IBM used to tell clients that you don't need tech staff anymore business people can now draw full workflow (BPMN notation), and you have full visibility on the work items. The truth was that you still needed to write custom integration code for some of the steps or SOAP integrations, and really you still needed tech people to draw the workflows of course!

BPM sounds like the same if you read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_process_automation

If they are that confident with RPA, let's see big organisation fire all their tech staff, and have the robots take over and deliver BS and fail!

What big orgs hate is the power the full stack developers (they don't want to pay) have with Cloud Computing, Serverless and APIs right now, they could automate a lot of manual backoffice tasks (with underpaid and demotivated staff, well paid managers/leaders who don't give a s**t about them).

Surge in home working highlights Microsoft licensing issue: If you are not on subscription, working remotely is a premium feature

rwill2

Just RDP int your work computer!

Open the RDP port on a desktop or laptop at Work, main issue if someone turns it off - Lol!

Anyway companies who don't have VPN in place are probably not worth working for!

IBM's outgoing boss Rometty awarded $20m+ in 2019 for growing revenue 0.1%

rwill2

She didn't do anything beyond being female ... Quantum, AI and educations all done way b4 by IBM

New

Good pay packet for introducing more leadership diversity and ethical AI!

[...]

The Compensation Committee said it also took into account her "exceptional personal leadership in several areas": this ranged from taking an "industry-leading role shaping a socially responsible approach to AI"; "record results in IBM's diverse leadership representation"; R&D in quantum computing and AI: and "preparing society for future work with new approaches in education and apprenticeships".

UK contractors planning 'mass exodus' ahead of IR35 tax clampdown – survey

rwill2

Legally work outside IR35 = Easy ditch large companies and go for startups and SMEs!

Time to ditch big companies they don't deserve your skills and experience, work for startup and small companies which is much more interesting, fast paced and less political and now earn more outside IR35 legally too!

Having worked over a decade in large organisations, I am much more hands on techy and involved in all key tech decision minus political layers in a startup now!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/april-2020-changes-to-off-payroll-working-for-clients

The rules apply to all public sector clients and private sector companies that meet 2 or more of the following conditions:

* you have an annual turnover of more than £10.2 million

* you have a balance sheet total of more than £5.1 million

* you have more than 50 employees

Deutsche Bank calls in AWS, Microsoft and Google to tout for cloud biz: Come in to tender, deal value unknown

rwill2

Don't wait for your Employer to upskill for public cloud they won't!

Don't expect your employer to do upskilling, they don't give a s**t about u - especially in big org (and banks like this one) you are a resource or body that costs money and disposable they would rather get in a new grad. I got made redundant last time round and did it all myself and got my new role in an SME as an AWS expert!

If I was them I would start upskilling with free tier on AWS, Azure and GCP, or go contracting if they are good.

Yes the following are hot - serverless, microservices, ioT, streaming analytics, and maybe data engineering, data science time to start you have the free courses, data sets, and laptops to do it as no one else will do it for you!

Think about it another way - you could work and kiss ass for 40 years for a large IT company and they only need to give u £15K or £525 per year service (after 2 years) when they make you redundant - so what is the point of working for them?? The Government has made it very bad to be an employee recently - £525/year seriously!

ttps://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

"If you were made redundant on or after 6 April 2019, your weekly pay is capped at £525 and the maximum statutory redundancy pay you can get is £15,750"

In memory of by neighbour M. who was recently made redundant from CSC/DXC after working for them for decades, and died a month later - all very sad.

As for me I'm much happier in the startup world!

Fujitsu warns HMRC Projects team that 30% of them could be out of a job come April

rwill2

Time to upskill to Public Cloud!

Don't expect your employer to do upskilling, they don't give a s**t about u - especially in big org you are a resource or body that costs money and disposable, I got made redundant last time round and did it all myself and got my new role in an SME as an AWS expert!

If I was them I would start upskilling with free tier on AWS, Azure and GCP, or go contracting if they are good.

Yes the following are hot - serverless, microservices, and maybe data engineering, data science time to start you have the free courses, data sets, and laptops to do it as no one else will do it for you!

Think about it another way - you could work and kiss ass for 40 years for a large IT company and they can give u £15K or £525 per year service (after 2 years) so what is the point?? The Government has made it very bad to be an employee recently!:

https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

"If you were made redundant on or after 6 April 2019, your weekly pay is capped at £525 and the maximum statutory redundancy pay you can get is £15,750"

In memory of by neighbour was recently made redundant from CSC/DXC after working for them for decades, and died a month later - all very sad.

Contractors welcome Lords inquiry into IR35 before tax reforms hit private sector but fear it's 'too little, too late'

rwill2

Time to ditch the large corp and go for SMEs/Startups

Time to ditch big companies and work for startup and small companies which is much more interesting, I am!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/april-2020-changes-to-off-payroll-working-for-clients

The rules apply to all public sector clients and private sector companies that meet 2 or more of the following conditions:

you have an annual turnover of more than £10.2 million

you have a balance sheet total of more than £5.1 million

you have more than 50 employees

GlaxoSmithKline ditches IR35 contractors: Go PAYE or go home

rwill2

Perms can still get fired with nothing

GSKer Don't bother going permie, you get nothing if you are fired within 2 years and after that £525 per year of service, what is the point???!!!

Having been made redundant ... I recommend you go contracting or start your own company (like me)!

FYI - the law sucks in this country ...

https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

"[...] If you were made redundant on or after 6 April 2019, your weekly pay is capped at £525 and the maximum statutory redundancy pay you can get is £15,750 [...]"

Imagine u a fired after working for 30 years on a great job and you get only £15K!!

In Luxembourg I know a guy, made redundant for incompetence getting 1 year salary, he sued them and got 2 years full pay!

UK political parties fall over themselves to win tech contractor vote by pledging to review IR35

rwill2

Who has not pivoted on GreenTech, Startup investment, Brexit and IR35?

Maybe time for LibDems ... for me only clear party that has not flipflopped or sat on the fence (Labor) on Brexit and IR35 from start!

And they have some green, start-up and ethical AI:

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252474448/General-election-2019-the-Lib-Dems-technology-policies-and-digital-plans

Are you a Dapr Dan? Microsoft teases runtime for Kubernetes to make microservices sparkle

rwill2

Sounds like DARPA

Interesting choice of name sounds like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA

Europe publishes 5G risk assessment; America scrawls ‘Huawei’ on the side of a nuke and goes for a ride

rwill2

Yes ban Cisco gear too in the EU, otherwise will be open for data leaks and corp espionage!

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/18/want_to_dodge_nsa_supply_chain_taps_ask_cisco_for_a_dead_drop/

MIT USA VP: ZTE? OMG, WTF! GTFO

rwill2

Lol will have no effect as those PhDs or Post-docs doing the actual research will likely be from China, Russia or ME anyway!

Did you know that Huawai is already heavily embedded with the top UK universities too:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/12/13/mps-warn-huaweis-disturbing-ties-uk-universities-amid-security/

Germany, US staffers to be hit hardest as SAP starts shedding 4,400 bodies

rwill2

Upskilling would be easy ... all about ML now

Upskilling would be easy if they were my team, as exsiting staff have data experience and domain knowledge.

But ATM they are a big corp and need heads rolling so won't happen.

Lol SAP used to very hot and could ask for good $$$ as a contractor, now it's all about AWS, ML, IoT, Crypto times change!

SAP chart going down:

https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/london/sap.do

ML going up:

https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/london/machine%20learning.do

DXC Technology utters words 'hiring' and 'digital' 105 times in Q3 earnings car-crash

rwill2

Looking at the earlier comment with https://jobs.dxc.technology/ListJobs/All/Search/DXC-Location/United Kingdom

It looks like weblogic engineer, BA, PM, and architects - surely they have them inhouse and could upskill for agile and cloud?

There are exciting opportunities like "51145527 - Data Processing Clerk - Cheque" and "51135926_2 - SFTP and EDI Integration Engineer" that sounds bleeding edge AI powered crypto with mixed reality UI on a quantum computer type jobs [sarcastic].

But I did see data scientist roles for those who want to live in Newcastle so there is hope!

https://jobs.dxc.technology/ListJobs/All/Search/DXC-Location/United%20Kingdom/keyword/data%20scientist/

Oh good. Transport for London gives Capita £80m for WAN, LAN and Wi-Fi

rwill2

At least the Crapita jobs might stay here in the UK ... even if low paid.

Looks like they have a heavy UK presence, India not listed: http://www.capita.com/careers/job-search-and-apply

Nice to see a lack of PR on their Wiki too, lots of fund stories on their failures

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capita

BA's 'global IT system failure' was due to 'power surge'

rwill2

May's way to reduce immigration ... outsourcing skilled IT jobs to India

May's way to reduce immigration ... lets replace UK/EU workers with jobs in India or low paid Indians in UK, what can go wrong:

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/24/ba_job_offshoring_gmb_union_hand_delivered_letters/

Generally I think it's time we all leave big companies and their fat cat managers that outsource us and cut down on IT security / infrastructure budgets, and join much more rewarding startups with modern 100% cloud solutions, where we get some respect for our skills, can innovate and even get company equity/shares. I've done that few years back, so much more happier and no ways going back.