Posts by LybsterRoy

UK tech minister negotiated nothing with Google. He may get even less than that

Re: National security

Major upvote for the TSR2 mention

Looks like 1,300 Indeed and Glassdoor staffers will need their former employer's websites

Re: "We're going to have more agentic experience" ?

I think I had one recently. Phone call and the person at the other end had one question he desperate;y needed an answer to "Do you spend more than £60 a month on electricity". No matter what I said (with one exception) resulted in occasionally my question being answered but more often a repeat of his favourite question delivered in the exact same words and tone of voice.

The one exception to his response was when I accused him of being a badly programmed piece of AI crap - he terminated the conversation and stated I'd be removed from their database.... VICTORY!!!

Having to DOGE being spotted

Post Office and Fujitsu execs 'should have known' Horizon IT system was flawed

Re: break! The criminals involved need to go to jail

Is whoever does the sucking being rewarded or punished?

We're number 1! Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10

Re: 2.17%

You are correct. I'm one of the recalcitrant home users still on W7 - I usea chromium based browser (Slimjet). There are a few sites that don't work correctly with it )or Chrome or Firefox) but I'm happy to say I'm not really interested in visiting them anyway.

Re: Fine

Fully support your comments re home users but I would add - as long as there is an up to date anti-virus, anti-malware on the PC that is a) maintained and b) catches things before the PC does

NASA tests shrinking metals to help it find more exoplanets

Re: A new way to solve an old problem?

and how about

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucible-Time-John-Brunner-ebook/dp/B007PR3224?crid=1TJX3H6PD41XY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g1CBtj6FRNEJi4tMs5hRTxJbr0erWXdJwRi8CnAdPvk.WhZyMQozwpkbah1Y0CwG_NT8HlSD1G9YPpDb3XZ_OE4&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+Crucible+Of+Time+-+John+Brunner&qid=1751527538&sprefix=the+crucible+of+time+-+john+brunner%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1

Microsoft's next Windows 11 update is more 'enablement' than upgrade

Ah, the joys of W7

Exif marks the spot as fresh version of PNG image standard arrives

-- 16 but variant --

Shouldn't there be two tees in but?

Kaseya CEO: Why AI adoption is below industry expectations

Thanks for letting us know what the picture was, I'd have worried about it all day. Now I've seen it I'm worrying about your boss's wife <G>

Re: AI is just the latest IT Hype

-- most techies are in agreement that it's a waste of time. --

Unfortunately the majority of the public are being conditioned into thinking its great.

Re: Agenthicc

I was reading it and thinking "all we have to do to make AI a success is to totally change everything about the way we currently work" - errrr NO THANKS.

Anyone else remember the mantra of "change the way we do things to the way the package does" and just how often that was a total success?

Google faces UK clampdown as watchdog floats market power rules

I've read the article here and on the beeb and I'm obviously being even thicker than usual today.

The various browsers I use allow me to choose my default search engine. If I want to use something else I can go to the appropriate website. Whilst I agree that google is dominant (both search and on-line advertising) I'm unable to understand just what they are going to be asked to do.

Lenovo shows what a Chromebook packing a MediaTek Kompanio Ultra can do

Re: Calculator

Or something to answer the question "I know that actor but who is he" whilst watching TV

Huawei's latest notebook shows China is still generations behind in chipmaking

This -- I haven't needed a bleeding-edge powered computer --

Thanks for the post. it saves me having to turn my RI (real intelligence - based on obsolete Mk I equipment) on to write it myself

The one thing SME IT can do that the big guys can’t: Change the world

Re: Text is better than graphics, graphics are better than video. Text is magic, ...

I would agree with you apart from one small problem - I can write, I can type but I have problems videoing.

I'd also like to see concepts like the measurements to make something expressed as a video (and yes I know you can have text as part of a video)

Brit space sector struggles to compete with £90K graduate banking salaries

Re: > banker salary in London

The solution is much simpler 105% tax rate on salaries, bonuses, perks over £50,000 <G>

Re: Not Medicine!

-- And if your computer dies you can't add the cost on to the next bill to your client. --

Not freelance but I know (its a few years back now) some consultancies who did just that - senior consultant "needs" a new laptop so junior consultant was sent down Tottenham Court Road to source one - on credit card.

Re: self inflicted bullshit

"No political party in the UK would win an election based on policies of high-enough taxes to fund the services that we all say we want but are not willing to pay for."

They might but I think the correct comment would be

No political party in the UK would win an election based on policies of high-enough taxes to fund the pet projects that only the politicians want and are cash sinks.

HS2 comes to the forefront of my mind, other projects do exists (eg NPfIT)

‘AI is not doing its job and should leave us alone’ says Gartner’s top analyst

Re: Monday morning tasks

Near, but I have 3. get up & take dog for walk

Put Large Reasoning Models under pressure and they stop making sense, say boffins

Re: Breaking: Intelligence works like Intelligence.

-- employ Neanderthals to run multi-billion dollar enterprises --

you should have added "unless they are politicians" because looking around the world today that's exactly what we, the public, are doing.

Half of businesses rethink ditching humans for customer service bots

Hmmm. I still remember when my mother died. Phone up the insurance company to let them know to be told "sorry I need to speak to Mrs Lambert" and would not accept that she couldn't come to the phone. Fortunately my brother's wife was in the house at the time. The moron at the other end accepted - "this is Mrs Lambert" from her.

Re: No feaces, private investigator

Would you really expect competent people to work hell desk?

Re: On the rare occasions I contact customer support

You missed out the circular reference web page and one I had recently. I'm type II diabetic and has been prescribed a continuous glucose monitor. Had a problem with a sensor and went to the company website to report it and get a replacement issued. I gave up and sent an email. I eventually found that what I needed to do was wade through 7 pages with one piece of information on each and if you pick the wrong option on any of them you get sent back to the start.

AI might be better than the designers here.

Oh yes I forgot to mention they had a captcha if you wanted to download your own data (after 2FA logon) which at its worst went through 9 stages of select hills, bikes or whatever.

Re: Good

I remember on one occasion with Orange (as was) and being on hold for >45 minutes. The first thing I did when I got through to a person was apologise and explain that I would be shouting at her even though it wasn't her fault. She then went on to make it her fault!

Google outfoxed by crafty squatters in $1B London HQ's rooftop garden

Re: Fox's or Fox'es?

would they then come back on a small boat?

£127M wasted on failed UK nuclear cleanup plan

Re: Live to Fight Another Day

-- it would be a feather in one's hat to say they worked on a team that finished a large project on-time and within budget --

Or, in the public sector "finished a project"

Elon Musk pukes over pork-filled budget bill with Tesla subsidies on the line

Re: USAID is a CIA front

-- ‘unalienable right to food’ --

I'll get the memo to evolution and history into the pipeline shall I?

Whilst making sure people get fed is a good idea I'm rather pissed off with all the "rights" people (including children) keep on getting with no corresponding responsibilities or duties.

-- But the way to deal with this is carefully, you use the scalpel not the chainsaw. --

I agree with the carefully bit if the US civil service is anything like the IK civil service a chainsaw would be ineffective - lets go with the "Alien" option and nuke from orbit.

AI can spew code, but kids should still suffer like we did, says Raspberry Pi

Re: Learning to code

You beat me to it - we need politicians who can think things through, not judt mskr press releases

What will UK government workers do with an extra 26 minutes a day?

Has anyone yet suggested that Copilot produced the report itself?

Re: Nothing new here…

-- fought voice recognitian in a car --

me: SELECT TRACK

car: sorry steering command are not available

third attempt:

car: say name of track

me: landslide (just for those who don't know its Fleetwood Mac - and no I didn't say that to the car)

car: gives me a choice of several tracks none of which are landslide

If I want real fun I try "select artist" and "ygdrassil"

Re: Nothing new here…

When I damaged my wrist I tried Dragon Naturally Speaking (I think it was called) - it was faster and more accurate to go to one handed typing.

Re: The more time you save the more fireable you are

If the output is a report showing how the grant to [insert organisation of choice] is improving eveyone's wellbeing and contributing to DEI targets you may not be right.

Signed a Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister viewer

Re: 26 mins per person, per day?

Don't worry when they do answer them you have to go through security.

I'm retired now but I was self employed. Once only one of the tax forms arrived so I phoned to ask for copies of the missing ones. Blank forms you understand. I had to go through security before I was allowed to ask my question - "can I have my forms please".

I can understand the need for security for some queries but this was silly, and a waste of two peoples time.

Re: 26 mins per person, per day?

I fully agree with you or I would if I thought you were right. If we started to measure outputs rather than inputs it might help. The only problem is it would have to be useful outputs not reports that show bears shit in woods.

I had a similar thought. I then had a second one - if these 26 minutes a day are used for "strategic" activities I begin to understand the mess our government has been in for many years , and is still in.

Don't be silly - if the computer said it then it MUST be right.

Regulator sues product comparison site alleged to only compare products on which it earned commission

Re: Hmm...

Personally I always start with the 1 star reviews. I'm generally not to concerned with them as long as they represent 10% or less of the total reviews

Tesla FSD ignores school bus lights and hits 'child' dummy in staged demo

That makes me wonder how would it cope with a) spaghetti junction or b) the magic roundabout

Been there here in the Highlands. My best one was I had to reverse round a bend and quite a way back to a passing place on a single track road in snow because the idiot drive going the other way could not reverse back 20 yards. We also have a few who will, rather than reverse a bit, drive onto the verge which is sometimes quite soggy and often has a bloody great ditch a few inches in. I don't mind them doing it but I really don't like those who expect me to do it. I especially dislike those who will shout and scream at you for not risking your car in the ditch.

European Commission: Make Europe Great Again... for startups

Re: Offering absolutely nothing..

In addition to supporting your post I want to reinforce one point. The article says " a kernel of truth" about the EU's bureaucracy but its more like a giant slobbering monster. Shame there's no good antonym for kernel.

Anthropic CEO frets about 20% unemployment from AI, but economists are doubtful

I agree - recently I needed to replace the little solar powered water feature (running over the lead with a lawnmower is not recommended) and thought I'd try the AI search feature. Lots of "try a garden centre" type suggestions but nothing actually useful.

However, AI/LLMs would be ideal for the large number of bullshit jobs out there.

Re: Career Ending Oracle

I think the problem this time is that the jobs that will be replaced will be the bullshit jobs (Bullshit Jobs - David Graeber) and the people doing them aren't suitable to do other things.

On the upside maybe we're heading for a post scarcity economy. I want my StarTrek make things out of thin air machines!

Apple has only 30 days to comply with EU DMA rules

Re: So the EU is saying

Apple could just charge for hosting the app on the App Store.

Europe warns giant e-tailer to stop cheating consumers or face its wrath

Re: Interesting

I remember when this was introduced in the UK. Companies put the article for sale at the higher price but only in the store located 3 miles from Jon'o'Groats - perfectly legal after 3 months to offer that enormous discount.

What would a Microsoft engineer do to Ubuntu? AnduinOS is the answer

Re: "reshapes GNOME in the image of Windows 11"

The " taskbar with centred icons" was so popular that there's an option been added to left justify it.

Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad as 'Copilot all the things' mania takes hold in Redmond

Re: Just more evidence (as if we needed it)

Old SF novel The Silver Eggheads - Fritz Leiber

Re: It makes me happy

Peple say "but I'm used to Windows" but generally mean that they're used to a few (often two) applications and can easily switch to clicking a different icon to load them. The problem is finding the same application to run on a different OS.

NOTE: I said same more similar or equivalent.

If you can get a Windows application to transfer to Linux WINE may solve the problem. If it doesn't use the bottled variety.

Re: It makes me happy

If you ignore the Microsoft support and only update antivirus/antimalware the need for the type of support you mention seems to vanish.